Harney County official going to D.C. to talk land issues

For Harney County Judge Steve Grasty, this is all personal — not just for his community, but his family.

Grasty was emotional Friday when he told NewsChannel 21 how his wife recently asked him for a refresher on how to shoot her pistol, because she’s so frightened with what’s going on.

The county judge (not a court judge, but actually the title for the head county commissioner in many rural counties) said nothing makes him more angry than that. He’s fed up with the Bundys — but also fed up with federal land management.

So Grasty is flying to Washington, D.C., next week to try to get the ball rolling on some changes.

But that doesn’t mean he’s glad the militia members turned their town and lives topsy-turvy over the past week.

“All of that, every bit of my anger is at Mr. Bundy,” he said. “Leave our community and go back to your family. We know how to take care of this one, and you are not helping.”

It’s been a roller-coaster week of emotions for Grasty. He said it’s especially tough to go to work at the county offices, with added security measures in place as a result of the outside arrivals.

“I’ve personally been in tears walking up to this building, and looking at how we’ve made this a fortress,” he said.

They are measures of caution against a group many here feel both connected to and repulsed by — a small armed militia occupying the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.

A majority of the community, and the sheriff, have asked them to leave, to no avail.

With no end in sight, Grasty is vowing to do the one thing he know he can: He’s flying to the nation’s capital.

He said although Harney County is fed up with these outsiders, many feel they bring valid points: Government is too intrusive and lands are not being managed properly.

“I’ve spent 17 years as county judge and we haven’t gotten there,” Grasty said. “And it deeply saddens me an armed militia is what it takes to get the focus.”

Next week, Grasty plans to meet with lawmakers and Interior Secretary Sally Jewell.

He said he’s outlined specific changes he hopes will bring more local control to these lands, which are vastly under federal authority.

One other community frustration: land managers never last long: “Many times we see a turnover in the second or third year, and we never build relationships.”

Grasty is hopeful a solution is on the horizon, although he’s clear he’ll never give Bundy credit.

As for Bundy’s followers, Grasty is afraid they could be here for the long haul.

But with schools set to reopen Monday, after a week closed over safety concerns, many are hoping things get back to something close to normal.