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OSP stays local with motorcycle purchase



ANDREW CUTLER | ARGUS OBSERVER Apache Cycle Sales' Brian Belnap (left) and Bret Bennett (middle) load one of the Yamaha TT-R250's as Randy Caldwell, looks on.
Andrew Cutler Argus Observer

ONTARIO

With more than 26,000 square miles to cover in three different counties - and only seven people to enforce the law - the Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division's southeast team will take any new tool it can get.

A matching grant from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department helped enable OSP to purchase two new motorcycles and a new ATV to help patrol the vast high desert steppe in Malheur, Harney and Baker Counties.

"The grant funded our team," OSP Sgt. Eric Newman, who heads up the OSP Fish and Wildlife Division's southeast team, said. "It's 5.5 million acres. It increases our range. It will help us save fuel, and help us get out and make more contacts."

OSP was able to purchase a pair of Yamaha TT-R250 dirt bikes and a new ATV vehicle. Apache Cycle Sales, Ontario, submitted a bid that provided OSP the most value for what the agency could spend.

"Just like any other government service there is a bid process. We contacted a number of motorcycle dealerships in eastern Oregon, we really didn't want any over on the coast, because we also wanted some servicing," Newman said. "Apache provided the most value for the amount of funds we were able to spend. So it worked out great for us, we could purchase them locally and get them serviced locally. It was the right equipment we needed."

The total grant cost came to $20,000 for the bikes and the ATV, along with helmets and various safety equipment. Newman said the grant was a 60/40 match, so the total grant from OPR came to $14,000.

"We really only spent about $600. Our matches came through personnel hours, we get billed for our hours essentially," Newman said. "We are contacted to do a certain number of hours of patrol on the machines in these areas."

Funding for the grants come through ATV/OHV operating permit. The funding from those stickers goes to support a number of projects the ORP is involved in, including grants.

"(ORP) supports riding access programs for trail maintenance and a portion of that is law enforcement and medical services," Newman said. "We applied through the law enforcement grant and typically in the past grant funds were spent on small specific riding areas. We were funded on a pilot program basis where we cover just wide open areas of public lands, like BLM and forest service, places that receive no law enforcement services."

Newman said the new equipment was used during the first weekend of antelope season, with great success.

"I think it did a couple of things for us, it saved us a lot of gas, and gave us a lot of range. We could go further in a shorter amount of time, and we made more contacts with hunters," Newman said. "We just got into more remote areas in less time than we would have in trucks. And we were able to contact other ATV users, which was one of the primary purposes of the (new bikes)."




Comment Blog - Note: All Comments Subject To Approval

No Dhimmi wrote on Aug 14, 2009 9:38 PM:

" Islam is a woman-hating, human-enslaving ideology that should NOT be taught in our public schools. It's obvious the Saudis and the rest of the Muslim fanatics who are trying to take over the world have bought off the State of Oregon. Expect lawsuits.

And this isn't "racist," because Islam is not a race, anymore than Communism or Nazism are races, both of which killed far fewer people than Islam.

Disgusting. "

anonymous wrote on Aug 10, 2009 2:19 AM:

" The girl was Latasha Rodriguez "

Cody W. Ables wrote on May 16, 2008 11:04 PM:

" May 16, 2008

Here is something that we should all read. This is a letter from an angry woman in New Jersey regarding the War in Iraq and all of the war’s negative publicity. Pay attention.

'Are we fighting a war on terror or aren't we? Was it or was it not started by Islamic people who brought it to our shores on September 11, 2001?

Were people from all over the world, mostly Americans, not brutally murdered that day, in downtown Manhattan, across the Potomac from our nation's capitol and in a field in Pennsylvania?

Did nearly three-thousand men, women and children die a horrible, burning or crushing death that day, or didn't they?

And I'm supposed to care that a copy of the Koran was 'desecrated' when an overworked American soldier kicked it or got it wet?...Well, I don't. I don't care at all.

I'll start caring when Osama bin Laden turns himself in and repents for incinerating all those innocent people on 9/11.

I'll care about the Koran when the fanatics in the Middle East start caring about the Holy Bible, the mere possession of which is a crime in Saudi Arabia .

I'll care when these thugs tell the world they are sorry for hacking off Nick Berg's head while Berg screamed through his gurgling slashed throat.

I'll care when the cowardly so-called 'insurgents' in Iraq come out and fight like men instead of disrespecting their own religion by hiding in mosques.

I'll care when the mindless zealots who blow themselves up in search of nirvana care about the innocent children within range of their suicide bombs.

I'll care when the American media stops pretending that their First Amendment liberties are somehow derived from international law instead of the United States Constitution's Bill of Rights.

In the meantime, when I hear a story about a brave marine roughing up an Iraqi terrorist to obtain information, know this: I don't care.

When I see a fuzzy photo of a pile of naked Iraqi prisoners who have been humiliated in what amounts to a college-hazing incident, rest assured: I don't care.

When I see a wounded terrorist get shot in the head when he is told not to move because he might be booby-trapped, you can take it to the bank: I don't care.

When I hear that a prisoner, who was issued a Koran and a prayer mat, and fed 'special' food that is paid for by my tax dollars, is complaining that his holy book is being 'mishandled,' you can absolutely believe in your heart of hearts: I don't care.

Sooner or later, it'll get to the people responsible for this ridiculous behavior!

If you don't agree, then by all means quit reading. Should you choose to do so, then please don't complain when more atrocities committed by radical Muslims happen here in our great Country! And may I add:

'Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem' -- Ronald Reagan

I have another quote that I would like to add

'If we ever forget that we're One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under.' Also by.. Ronald Reagan

One last thought for the day:

In case we find ourselves starting to believe all the Anti-American sentiment and negativity, we should remember England 's Prime Minister Tony Blair's words during a recent interview. When asked by one of his Parliament members why he believes so much in America , he said: 'A simple way to take measure of a country is to look at how many want in.. And how many want out.'

Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you:
1. Jesus Christ
2. The American G. I.
Important for us all!!!!
One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.

MANY SEEM TO FORGET BOTH OF THEM. AMEN!’


I hope you take this woman’s viewpoint into consideration. It closely parallels my own. As I begin my journey in becoming a soldier of the greatest country in the world, hearing this woman’s words sets my heart at ease. It is warming to know that there are people in this great country who still care about those men and women who have no choice.


Cody W. Ables
U.S. Air Force Academy 2012
"


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