News
Blue Mountain Eagle
Volunteer Fire Depart-
ment, 541-932-4688.
7:30 p.m. – Outlaw
Group
of
Alcoholics
Anonymous, Presbyterian
Church in Mt. Vernon. 541-
932-4844.
7 p.m. – John Day Val-
ley Bass Club, Outpost
Restaurant. All are wel-
come. William Gibbs, 541-
575-2050.
TUESDAY, FEB. 24
10-11 a.m. – Story Hour
and craft project, Grant
County Library, for pre-
schoolers 0-6 years old.
541-575-1992.
12 p.m. – Seniors Meal
Program at the Monument
Senior Center.
12 p.m. – Transient
Room Tax Committee,
Grant County Chamber of
Commerce, 301 W. Main
St., John Day.
5:15 p.m. – Grant Edu-
cation District ESD Board,
835 S. Canyon Blvd., John
Day. 541-575-1349.
6:30 p.m. – New Begin-
nings Recovery Group,
Living Word Christian Cen-
ter, Mt. Vernon. 541-932-
4910.
7 p.m. – John Day City
Council, City Hall.
7 p.m. – Grant County
Genealogical Society, old
parsonage behind the His-
toric Advent Church, John
Day. 541-575-2757, 541-
932-4718.
7:15 p.m. – Boy Scout
Troop 898, John Day Elks
Lodge. 541-575-2531.
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 25
9 a.m. – Grant County
Court, courthouse, Canyon
City.
9 a.m. – Shepherd’s
Closet, open, with free
clothing for all ages and cof-
fee, at Prairie City Assembly
of God. 541-820-3682.
9 a.m-1 p.m. – Grant
County Food Bank Surplus
Food Distribution, 530 E.
Main St., John Day. Bring
empty boxes. Call 541-575-
0299.
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. –
TOPS weigh-in, meeting.
United Methodist Church li-
brary, 126 N.W. Canton St.,
John Day. 541-575-3812,
541-932-4592.
Young ranchers take reins
By Scotta Callister
Blue Mountain Eagle
The stereotype of the
graying rancher, holding
on in an aging and chal-
lenging industry, is getting
a revise in Grant County.
The next generation of
cattle ranchers has tak-
en the reins of the Grant
County Stockgrowers.
In December, Alec Oli-
ver, 26, became president.
The group also has drawn
other young adults to its
leadership: Justin Gal-
breath as vice president
and Melissa Helmick as
secretary. Longtime ranch-
er and former Oregon Cat-
tlemen’s Association pres-
ident Sharon Livingston
fills out the board as trea-
surer.
While young, Oliver is
well rooted in the indus-
try – and in the county, as
a fifth-generation resident.
His great-great-grandfa-
ther Joseph Caton “Joe”
Oliver came to the area
from the Azores of Portu-
gal, and took up ranching.
Participating in the
Stockgrowers comes natu-
rally, following in the foot-
steps of his father J.C., and
ranchers like Ken Brooks
and immediate past presi-
dent Jack Johns.
“I’ve always gone to
meetings with my dad,”
he said. “It’s like a lot
of groups that just need
somebody new to step
up.”
He said there are plenty
of other young producers
in the county, but it’s a
challenge for them to find
time for organized groups
and meetings.
His goal this year is
to make sure the Stock-
growers meetings have an
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Debbie Ausmus
245 South Canyon Blvd.
John Day, OR 97845
OPEN WED. & THUR.
9 am - 5 pm
541-575-1113
24 hrs/7 days wk
debbie.ausmus@
countryfinancial.com
Alec Oliver
educational aspect – some-
thing that will help produc-
ers be successful and deal
with issues facing their in-
dustry.
He said meetings will
focus on practical matters
such as cost analysis, in-
creasing pasture yield, and
factors used to predict bull
and herd success.
Oliver juggles the or-
ganization’s schedule with
his work in the family
business, raising Hereford
cross cattle. He also has a
job with Country Natural
Beef in marketing and cost
analysis.
It’s a workload he might
not have anticipated at one
point.
Oliver was critically in-
jured in a rollover accident
two and a half years ago. He
survived, but now must use
a wheelchair to get around.
After the accident, he
said, he questioned his fu-
ture: “I thought about it,
you know, ‘What am I go-
ing to do now? Am I just
going to sit here and look
out the window?”
But Oliver had good
advice and encouragement
from others, who stressed
how much he could do –
with his brain, not just his
body.
Today, he has a special
lift on his truck, and can
shift onto a tractor and even
a horse to do his work. A
modified saddle and auto-
matic gate openers help.
But determination – to
get back into his life, the
ranching life – was the key,
he said.
It’s a life he would rec-
ommend to others, no mat-
ter what their age.
“I would not do any-
thing else,” he said, adding
it’s not just the outdoors
and the lifestyle that ap-
peals.
He noted it’s a good
way to recycle our natural
resources, and, when done
right, helps to improve the
environment.
As for the Stockgrow-
ers, he noted, “It’s a great
organization that can and
does do a lot for the local
community.”
Kam Wah Chung & Com-
pany, Kam Wah Chung
Interpretive Center, N.W.
Canton St., John Day. 541-
575-2800.
5:30 p.m. – Blue Moun-
tain Hospital, Board of Di-
rectors, hospital conference
room, John Day.
5:30-7:15 p.m. – Youth
Connection, Living Word
Christian Center, Mt. Ver-
non. Kid-friendly dinner
and Bible activities. Van
rides available. 541-932-
4910.
6 p.m. – “The Girl-
friends” Women’s 12-
step Recovery, John Day
Church of the Nazarene.
541-620-0065.
7 p.m. – Prairie City
Volunteer Fire Depart-
ment, Fire Hall. 541-820-
4360.
7 p.m. – American Le-
gion Unit 77, Alec Gay
Hall. Call Art Pereira, 541-
575-1841.
FRIDAY, FEB. 20
3-6 p.m. – United Meth-
odist Church, weekly food
box distribution, 126 N.W.
Canton Street, John Day.
6 p.m. – Alcoholics
Anonymous, open to non-
members too, Long Creek
Community Center. 541-
421-3888.
7 p.m. – Whiskey Gulch
Gang, Sels Brewery, Can-
yon City. 541-575-0329.
SATURDAY, FEB. 21
9 a.m.-noon – Old re-
cycling center in Prai-
rie City, accepts glass for
crushing.
12 p.m. – Oregon
NORML-Eastside Chap-
ter, Long Creek. Communi-
ty Hall. 541-620-0768.
4 p.m. – Bingo and pot-
luck, Mt. Vernon Commu-
nity Hall.
SUNDAY, FEB. 22
Fun Jam, musicians and
listeners welcome for blue-
grass, gospel and traditional
country western music. Call
for time and location, 541-
575-1927.
MONDAY, FEB. 23
Noon – Seniors Meal
Program, John Day Senior
Center, 142 N.E. Dayton St.
541-575-1825.
6 p.m. – Mt. Vernon
A7
B USINESS S POTLIGHT
G RANT C OUNTY M EETINGS
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 18
12 p.m. – Seniors Meal
Program at the Strawberry
Grange Hall, Prairie City.
12 p.m. – Women’s
Support, by Heart of Grant
County, for domestic vio-
lence survivors. Free lunch.
541-575-4335.
1 p.m. – Grant Cooper-
ative Weed Management
Area, Grant SWCD office.
541-575-1554.
3:30 p.m. – Humbolt
Elementary School Site
Council, library. 541-575-
0454.
4 p.m. – Grant County
Safe Communities Coali-
tion, Canyon City Commu-
nity Hall. 541-575-1799,
ext. 29.
5:30 p.m. – Grant
County Law Enforcement
Review Council, Grant
County Courthouse Confer-
ence Room.
6 p.m.– Grant County
Public Forest Commis-
sion, Squeeze-In Restau-
rant. 541-620-1949.
6 p.m. – Prairie City
Community Association,
held in the PCCA office
in the former Methodist
Church, 211 W. Sixth St.,
Prairie City.
6:30-8:30 p.m. – Fam-
ily History Center open,
Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, John Day.
541-656-8069.
7 p.m. – VFW 3597, 240
S. Canyon Blvd., John Day.
541-932-4113.
7:30 p.m. – Let Go
Group of Alcoholics Anon-
ymous, St. Elizabeth Parish
Hall, John Day. 541-575-
0114.
THURSDAY, FEB. 19
6:30 a.m. – John Day/
Canyon City Park and
Rec. Board, Belshaw of-
fice.
9 a.m.-5 p.m. – Fam-
ily History Center open,
Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, John Day.
541-656-8069.
10 a.m.-1 p.m. – Mon-
ument Food Pantry, food
distribution, trailer west of
the Senior Center. 541-934-
9191.
Noon – Seniors Meal
Program and bingo, John
Day Senior Center, 142 N.E.
Dayton St. 541-575-1825.
1:30 p.m. – Blue Moun-
tain Hospital Caregivers’
Support Group, first-floor
classroom at Blue Mountain
Hospital, John Day. 541-
575-0728, Ext. 248, or 541-
820-3341.
4-7 p.m. – Blue Moun-
tain Forest Partners, For-
est Service supervisor’s of-
fice, John Day.
5:30 p.m. – Friends of
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
TREAT
YOUR
FEET
Our Services by a registered nurse include:
• Pedi-Spa treatment for your feet
• Particular attention to Diabetic Foot
• Multifunctional massage chair
• Skin Inspection • Callus Removal • Nail Cutting
We also check your blood pressure, blood sugar level and oxygen saturation.
Call
541- 575-1648
for an appointment
$35 00 fee
Blue Mountain Hospital
FOOT CLINIC
www.bluemountainhospital.org
Services available at the
Home Health Office,
422 W. Main, John Day.
JUNIPER ARTS COUNCIL/GRANT COUNTY
CULTURAL COALITION SEEKING GRANT
PROPOSALS FOR OREGON CULTURAL
TRUST GRANTS AWARDS
The coalition has $6,000 from the
Oregon Cultural Trust to distribute in
Grant County to organizations for
projects relating to culture.
Applications are available from Karin
Barntish, 131 W. Main Street, John Day
or call Kris Beal at 541-932-4892 for
more information or an application.
Grant applications will be accepted until
February 27, 2015 at 5:00 PM.
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