Times-Journal

06/09/2026

Oregon law gives county treasurers broad authority over public funds. It leaves County Government and the public almost no way to hold them accountable.
For the final part of our Broken Books series, The Times-Journal looked around the state and country to see how the role of county treasurer is changing.

FULL STORY HERE: 🔗

The first thing Steve Milligan noticed about being elected Polk County Treasurer was that there was nothing to do. Voters had handed him a constitutional office in 2020. The county handed him a basement room, a $1,000-a-month stipend, and software access that let him look at the county's money witho...

06/05/2026

We’ve had a record breaking month on social media and in new newspaper subscriptions. We’ve been working hard on stories in Gilliam, Wheeler, and Sherman counties and you responded. We’d like to thank everyone who has read our stories, sent comments, followed us, and subscribed to The Times-Journal. We have been blown away by the outpouring of support. To make a bigger impact, please consider subscribing. Just $1 a week for Gilliam, Wheeler, Sherman and $1.35/wk outside. 141 years of local, community news!
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06/04/2026

Young historian shares love of area history with classmates.

FULL STORY: 🔗https://bit.ly/4uitkTB

06/04/2026

Rural-Unincorporated town of Mayville could host Gilliam County’s first ma*****na dispensary.

FULL STORY HERE: 🔗https://bit.ly/3Q6doFM

The Times-Journal

06/03/2026

The Gilliam Co. Court has appointed Kelly Smith as Interim Treasurer following the resignation of Nathan Hammer. Smith led Hammer by 4 votes in primary election, which was headed to a runoff before Hammer resigned.

FULL STORY HERE: 🔗https://bit.ly/4xnDB3I

06/03/2026

Gilliam County, OR, awarded 12 organizations nearly $1 million in competitive grants to support operations and special projects.

FULL STORY: 🔗https://bit.ly/4fp5amH

06/02/2026

The Wheeler County Sheriff's Office is looking to make contact with Ethan Burlingame after several fires were started in Fossil on June 1. The Fossil School was locked down on Tuesday morning, and then students were released on Tuesday afternoon.
FULL STORY HERE: 🔗https://bit.ly/49zyRxz

05/29/2026

Avangrid's $200 million upgrade of the Leaning Juniper IIB wind farm came after the Gilliam Co. Court approved a 15-year tax break in 2025. Shortly after, the company created a new LLC and shifted ownership of the site certificate. The Leaning Juniper sister-site Leaning Juniper IIA sold equipment and assets to a national bank, which leased equipment and assets back to Avangrid. The power from both sites is bought exclusively by data centers. This all comes as Avangrid awaits a court's order over $652,346 in taxes held from 2024 and 2025, in which Avangrid contested asset valuations. As a result, only a portion of the taxes has fully reached Gilliam County schools, health centers, ambulances, and fire halls.

Full Story: 🔗https://bit.ly/4vn4DXc

05/29/2026

Fossil's Bill Potter - longtime public works director, fire chief, and EMT - has submitted his resignation notice from all posts in November.

Full Story by Bennett Hall: 🔗https://bit.ly/4u2YFta

05/28/2026

All the news in Gilliam, Wheeler, and Sherman you need to know.
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