Camp Sherman campaigns for deputy

A "posse" of about 30 Camp Sherman residents wearing "Save our Sheriff" badges trekked to Madras Thursday, March 12, to press for funds to keep Deputy Sheriff Dave Blann on the job in the community west of Sisters.

The Camp Sherman contingent fears Blann's post will be cut because of a $1.2 million shortfall in the Jefferson County budget projections for 1998-99.

Jefferson County Sheriff Jack Jones explained his department's budget request before the county budget committee.

Jones was laudatory about the job Blann has done at Camp Sherman. Blann's efforts have provided 24-hour police presence at Camp Sherman where Blann lives with his family; the marine patrol at Suttle Lake; protection of public lands; protection of private timber interests and plowing on the local roads after snowfall.

The job also provides police presence for summer and winter tourists visiting the extensive Camp Sherman area.

The meeting with the six-member Jefferson County budget committee included input from Camp Sherman residents Chan Cathcart, Lee Farm and Mike Ellsworth.

"He's there and very visible," Ellsworth said. "This is very necessary in a remote location like Camp Sherman. Dave has also melded well with the community and takes part in many public events with local citizens. The snowplowing this winter has kept the roads open on a very prompt schedule, thanks to Dave Blann.

"The Camp Sherman community has a very positive ongoing program of law enforcement and should not be penalized by losing our deputy sheriff," Ellsworth said.

Sheriff Jones also echoed these feelings during his remarks, noting that "citizen satisfaction is at its highest in many years with Dave Blann's duties as deputy sheriff at Camp Sherman."

Residents and tourists attest that speed limits are more carefully monitored than they have been in the past. Ellsworth mentioned "the safety factor with our children bicycling and walking in the Camp Sherman area, and this cannot be underestimated."

Citizens of Camp Sherman instituted a local voluntary garbage program for the Camp Sherman transfer station that has saved Jefferson County $30,000 this year.

Budget deliberations for Jefferson County continue on April 15 and 23 in Madras with final decisions due by May 4.