Praying for Those in Authority: Gilliam County

 

Lonerock Church, Gilliam County, OR
He sends out His word and melts them; He causes His wind to blow, and the waters flow. Psalm 147:18

We are moving west from Morrow County and the Northeast Region into the North Central Region beginning with Gilliam County. The county is bordered on the north by the Columbia River and to the east by the John Day River.

The North Central Region is still east of the Cascade Mountains for the most part, and much drier than the temperate rainforest to the west of the mountains. The part of Gilliam many of us are most familiar with is the city of Arlington, which lies along I-84 and the Columbia River. It is a convenient stopping place on trips through the Columbia River Gorge. The county is mostly flat but intersected by canyons created by streams out of the Blue Mountains. One mention of Gilliam indicates it is known for “Wheat, Wind, Waves,” a reference to agriculture, the Columbia River, and the windmills that dot the landscape. Shepherds Flat Wind Farm began construction near Arlington in 2009. Built by Caithness Energy, it is one of the largest land-based wind farms in the world and brings in an estimated $16 million to Oregon. It began production in 2012.

The county seat is Condon, although originally it was Arlington when the county was first established in 1885. It was named for Cornelius Gilliam, a colonel who commanded the forces of the provisional government after the Whitman Massacre. The population is 1,995, making it the third least populated county in the state.

Gilliam County, OR
There are three incorporated towns in Gilliam County: Arlington, Condon, and Lonerock. Lonerock, although it began as a supply area for local ranchers and experienced several years of growth and industry, now has a population of 22. It is named for a large standing stone nearby. In 1896 a Methodist minister, Reverend Deuse, moved to the area and built a Methodist Church, an attractive white building up next to the huge stone. Today the church building is still in use for weddings and other events. The town is about 20 miles east of Condon.

Fire season has begun, and a fire watch has been in effect for Gilliam, Morrow, and Umatilla Counties for the past few weeks. The Devils Butte Fire, northwest of Condon, is still in the news, having burned around 3500 acres and destroyed two firetrucks. The wind that drives the windmills also pushes wildfires. No one has been injured - just the trucks. Pray for the firefighters.

Gazebo at Arlington along river

Gilliam County operates under the County Court system of government. The County Judge is Elizabeth Farrar Campbell along with Executive Assistant Delaney Watkins. The County Commissioners are Pat Shannon and Leah Watkins with Assistant Miranda Rees.

The Assessor’s Office is made up of tax collector Chet Wilkins, deputy assessor Jamie Aamodt, and Appraiser Kelly Smith.

The Gilliam County Treasurer is Nathan Hammer and the County Sheriff is Gary Bettencourt. In the Sheriff’s Office Joely Jaeger recently became Gilliam County Emergency Coordinator in addition to her duties as the safety officer and Road and Weed Department office manager. 

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