Praying for Those in Authority: Lake County

Lake County, Oregon
The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” Isaiah 40:3

Having spent many years on the green, wet “west side,” of Oregon, just reading about Lake County is like exploring another country, much less part of the same state…a fascinating section of the state, the south-central high desert of Oregon. It is named for its abundance of lakes.

Lake County was established in 1874 from portions of Wasco and Jackson Counties. The town of Lakeview is the county seat.  

Ancient history is everywhere. It was home to the Northern Paiute and Modoc. Famously, ancient sandals over 10,000 years old were found near Fort Rock in the northern part of the county, revolutionizing the scientific view on how long the Native Americans resided here. Ancient petroglyphs near the town of Paisley and other archeological sites make this a rich area for research.

1832 saw the first white explorers when HBC trappers traveled through. In 1843 the John C. Fremont party explored the area.

Lake County, Oregon
Lake County currently covers 8,275 miles and has a population of 8,130, one of the lesser populated counties in the state. The economy is built around timber, livestock, agriculture, and government. There is also a focus on renewable energy including solar, geothermal, and biomass. The county is known for Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge, established in 1936. The 278,000-acre refuge has a population of 1500 pronghorns and 300 other species including mule deer, bighorn sheep, coyotes, and sage grouse.

 The earliest pioneer settlement was established near Lakeview in 1873. The first settler was M.W. Bullard who homesteaded along Bullard Creek at the mouth of Bullard Canyon at the northern end of the Goose Lake Valley. In 1872 William Heryford brought cattle into the valley and in 1873 the first post office was opened at Tenbrook Ranch, just south of where the town of Lakeview is now.

 As of the 2020 census, the population of Lakeview is 2,418. The town bills itself as the “Tallest Town in Oregon” due to its 4,798-foot elevation.  

 Lakeview is in Lakeview School District 7, which provides education for Lakeview and surrounding communities in the southern portion of the county. There are three elementary schools in the district, including Fremont Elementary School, A.D. Hay Elementary School, and Union School. Daly Middle School is the only school for the district’s 7th and 8th graders. Lakeview District’s performance rates high in Oregon’s statewide assessments. The high school has an enrollment of about 250 students.

 A recent development in Lakeview is the scheduled opening of a faith-based school, St. Patrick Academy, which is set to start this fall with a K-12 curriculum. Local community members began planning the school in June of 2022 and toured St. Peter’s Catholic School in Ontario for advice. They have been strongly supported by the Catholic leadership in eastern Oregon. They are hoping to fill a need for faith-based education in Lakeview that promotes Christian values. The basic education offered will be Christian morals with classical academics. Their first-year enrollment is capped at 30-40 students, and they are working with the school district to coordinate the best education possible for local students.

 The county is governed by a three-person Board of Commissioners. The three County Commissioners are elected to four-year overlapping terms. All Commissioners serve the entire county. Duties are executive, quasi-judicial and legislative which includes preparing the budget, overseeing committee appointments and activities, adopting and enacting ordinances and policies. They also oversee any issues that affect agriculture, the environment, and the economy of Lake County. The current commissioners are Barry Shullanberger, James Williams, Mark Albertson

 Michael Taylor is the Lake County Sheriff.

 His office works with other law enforcement agencies including Oregon State Police, Lakeview Police, BLM Rangers, and Forest Service Law Enforcement. In addition to civil services, like gun permits, and maintaining custody and jail service, the crime suppression and criminal investigation officers are tasked with monitoring an area the size of New Jersey and one that borders Nevada and California. They are called on to help those states due to the shared remoteness of this whole area. Citizen volunteers, who often supply their own equipment including airplanes and scent dogs, provide search and rescue services. The Sheriff’s Office is based in Lakeview.

 Stacie Geaney is the Lake County Clerk. Ted Martin is the Lake County District Attorney.

 

                                                                                                                           

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