Wallowa County Chieftain
News
wallowa.com
March 18, 2015
A3
OK lands Grammy-winning cowboy group
By Steve Tool
Wallowa County Chieftain
Scoring a major coup,
the OK Theatre snagged re-
nowned western music group,
Riders in the Sky, for an April
23 concert at the venue. The
group is the only act strict-
ly dedicated to “western” or
“cowboy” music to win a
Grammy award. The group, in
fact, won two of the awards in
the past.
The four-man ensemble
features “Ranger Doug,”
known as “the Idol of Amer-
ican Youth” or alternatively as
“the Governor of the State of
Rhythm,” on guitar and lead
and baritone vocals. He’s also
an accomplished yodeler.
“Too Slim” performs ten-
or vocals, plays upright bass,
and is the resident wit of the
group.
Woody Paul, “King of the
Cowboy Fiddlers,” sings both
lead and tenor vocals and per-
forms rope tricks.
“Joey, the Cowpolka
King,” plays accordion. In
the past, Joey played with
musical luminaries as var-
Courtesy Photo
Riders in the Sky will perform April 23 at the OK Theatre.
ied as Roy Rogers and U2.
Joey is the newest member
of the group.
The group played its first
show in 1977, and unlike
virtually every major mu-
sical act, has managed to
retain its original members.
Paul played with the group
for a time in the ’80s and re-
joined the group permanent-
ly in the ’90s.
Riders in the Sky have
performed over 6,000 con-
certs, had their own TV and
radio shows and have the
distinction of being the only
cowboy group that received
and accepted an invitation
to become Grand Ole Opry
members. The group has
received a number of mu-
sic awards and is a Hall of
Fame member of the West-
ern Music Association. The
group has no plans to retire.
Darrell Brann, owner of
the OK Theatre, is excited
about the prospect of host-
ing Riders in the Sky. It was
he who had the idea of con-
tacting the group for a show.
Brann grew up in Maine
with parents who had a
country western band and
exposed him to the western
genre of music. “I grew up
with (Riders in the Sky) on
TV in the ’80s and ’90s, and
they were definitely a part
of our life. I was always im-
pressed with them,” Brann
said.
When Brann first ac-
quired the theater over a
year ago, Riders in the
Sky immediately crossed
his mind as a desirable act
to book. “I’ve been work-
ing on this for over a year
to make it happen,” Brann
said. He added that the Los-
tine Tavern is co-presenting
the event.
The band is an expensive
act to book, but was will-
ing to negotiate with Brann
and eventually reached
an agreement with him.
“They’re double Grammy
winners and living legends,
so to speak,” Brann said.
With the cost and the ef-
fort to secure the act, Brann
is confident everyone, in-
cluding attendees, will walk
away winners. “Anyone who
comes will be thoroughly
impressed and entertained
as well.” He added that even
though he has not yet heav-
ily advertised the event, a
third of the tickets are al-
ready sold and he expects a
total sell-out of the venue.
“This pushes our limits
a bit, but it brings in some-
thing really worthwhile, and
something we believe in,”
Brann said.
Circle 100 Club invites women to join at annual meeting
Circle 100 Club will hold
its next “One & Only Annual
Meeting” Thursday, March 19,
from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in the con-
ference room and cafeteria at
Wallowa Memorial Hospital.
Women interested in participat-
ing are asked to RSVP to the
Wallowa Valley Health Care
Foundation, 541-426-1913.
7KH FOXE QRZ LQ LWV ¿IWK
year, is a giving circle of wom-
en from Wallowa County whose
only requirement for member-
ship is to attend the One & Only
Annual Meeting and give a
check for $100.
“We want everyone to know
you do not need a formal invi-
tation to join,” said Wallowa
Valley Health Care Foundation
board vice president Saralyn
Johnson. “And if $100 is too
steep, you can split the member-
ship with a friend, and together
you make one member.”
About 50 women attended
WKH ¿UVW PHHWLQJ LQ DQG
word spread quickly about this
new club, where nothing but a
check for $100 was required.
“I love that you don’t have to
worry about being asked to bake
cookies or make a centerpiece
chemotherapy and investing
in two more heated massage
chairs to allow more patients to
be treated at the same time. That
helped expand the department
and serve more patients locally.
“We had one patient tell us that
he would have refused treatment
had he had to drive out of the
county,” said nurse Traci Frye.
The second year, proceeds
reached $13,000 and were in-
vested in new equipment for the
physical therapy department, to
help patients better recover from
strokes, injuries and surgery.
Courtesy photo
Year three, the request for
The late Sharon Spriggs-Flanders was featured speaker at support came from the imag-
the 2014 gathering of the Circle 100 Club.
ing department, to invest in
stress echocardiogram technol-
or man a booth at some event,” dation board and chief nursing ogy to allow ultrasounds of the
said Kathy Drake, who has been RI¿FHU-HQQL:RUGWRORRNIRU heart to be taken during stress
D PHPEHU VLQFH WKH ¿UVW \HDU appropriate projects to fund. tests. This program will serve
“It’s just so simple.”
³2XUJRDOLVWR¿QGVRPHWKLQJ as many as 200 local residents
The main business at the that will improve patient care annually who need this test,
Circle 100 Club’s annual meet- and satisfaction, and provide a according to imaging director
ing is to decide what to do new service in the county that Sarah Johnson.
with the proceeds raised. The wasn’t previously available,”
purpose of the Wallowa Valley said Word.
Health Care Foundation is to
7KH ¿UVW \HDU WKH JURXS
help improve and expand health donated $10,100 to the chemo-
care services in the community therapy and infusion therapy
The family of
so foundation director Stacy department, including paying
Berneice Hafer would like
Green works with the Foun- for training for four nurses in
to thank you each and
every one for your
kindness during this
time of loss.
Your
thoughts,
prayers,
Those who knew Bob Evans
memories of a life
remarked about his sense of
humor and his smile.
well lived, the food,
Our thanks to those who
donations and
remembered him in your
friendships
have
thoughts and prayers, your
warmed us and helped
presence at his Celebration
us in every way.
of Life, the beautiful cards
Sharon Spriggs-Flanders, who
spoke of what she had learned
about healing through her bat-
tle with ovarian cancer. Sad-
ly, Sharon passed away just
weeks later.
Now in paperback
Gemini
an intriguing medical thriller
by
Carol Cassella
T HE B OOKLOFT
Across from the courthouse in Enterprise
107 E. Main • 541.426.3351
always open at www.bookloftoregon.com • bookloft@eoni.com
Thank You
Local businesses to
Thank You
celebrate Quilting Day
Businesses in Enterprise
and Joseph announced plans
for a celebration surrounding
National Quilting Day.
The National Quilting As-
sociation, Inc. began spon-
soring National Quilting Day
in 1991 with a resolution
passed by members attend-
ing the 22nd annual meeting
in Lincoln, Neb. National
Quilting Day is celebrated the
third Saturday of March. This
\HDU¶V RI¿FLDO ZLQQLQJ SDW-
tern, “Crooked Path,” was de-
signed by Danniele Bohannon
of Harrisonville, Mo.
In Enterprise, everyone’s
invited to view quilts in the
windows of the Litch Build-
ing on the corner of River
and Main streets, Wild Car-
rot Herbals at 114 West Main
Street and Deb’s Apparel and
Gifts located at 115 West
Main. Quilts will be on dis-
play from Wednesday, March
19, through Saturday, March
21. Favorite Finds on Main
antique shop will have an ar-
ray of both vintage and new
quilts on display, light re-
freshments will be served on
Saturday and you may sign up
to win an in-store gift certif-
icate.
Cattle Country Quilt Shop
in Joseph is also celebrating
National Quilting Day on
Friday and Saturday, March
20-21. They have added their
RZQ WZLVW WR WKH RI¿FLDO SDW-
tern, called “Crooked Path,”
and have the 2015 quilt hang-
ing in their shop at 203 N.
Main Street, Joseph. For their
“Crooked Path” quilt, they
used bright springlike colored
fabrics. Kits for the “Crooked
Path” quilt are available at
Cattle Country Quilts. During
the celebration, quilters are
welcome to stop by the shop
and pick up a free copy of the
Last year, three choices
were presented to the attendees
at the meeting, and a state-of-
the-art incubator for newborns
and infants was chosen. A spe-
cial presentation was made by
Courtesy photo
“Crooked Path” is the official
pattern for National Quilting
Day 2015.
RI¿FLDOSDWWHUQHQMR\UHIUHVK-
ments, and enter the drawing
for door prizes.
and floral offerings, food,
donations, and help.
Special thanks to Red and
Elsie Evans and Ardis Klages
for your remarkable help,
the Presbyterian Church, the
staffs of the Wallowa
Memorial and Grande Ronde
Hospitals for all your care and
concern for Bob. All has been
greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
Teacher Thursday Happy Hour 4-7
Live Music w / Janis & Carolyn Saturday 8-10pm
Sunday Brunch 11-2
Open 11am-10pm, Wed-Sun
HIGHWAY 82, LOSTINE
541-569-2246
Stay Connected On Facebook
May God bless you all,
The families of
Bob and Colleen Evans
Ag Banking Online
Bob Williams
Loan Officer
John Bailey
Loan Officer
Today, many of our ag customers are
banking online from laptops & smart phones.
Agriculture keeps changing but
one thing always remains the same:
BEO’s believed in it & invested in it since the
day we first opened our doors for business.
Call or stop in & get your ag & commercial loans from us!
Term Loans • Lines of Credit • Ag & Commercial Real Estate Loans
Enterprise Branch • 101 Hogan Street • 541-426-4205 •