Blue Mountain SADDLE UP FOR FUN! EAGLE The Bailey McCracken races in the Cinnabar Mountain Playdays Rodeo. – PAGE A10 Grant County’s newspaper since 1868 W EDNESDAY , J UNE 3, 2015 • N O . 22 • 18 P AGES • $1.00 Contributed photo www.MyEagleNews.com Gas emerges as likely cause of fumes EPA team using drill rig to map the path, extent By Scotta Callister Blue Mountain Eagle -2+1'$<±7KH(QYLURQ PHQWDO3URWHFWLRQ$JHQF\VD\V JDVROLQH±SRVVLEO\PL[HGZLWK other solvent chemicals – is the PRVWOLNHO\FDXVHRIYDSRUVWKDW KDYHEHHQULVLQJLQWRVRXWKZHVW -RKQ'D\EXLOGLQJV +RZHYHUWKHVRXUFHRIWKH FRQWDPLQDWLRQ±ZKHUHLWHQWHUV WKHJURXQG±UHPDLQHGDP\V WHU\HDUO\WKLVZHHN $W D FRPPXQLW\ PHHWLQJ 6XQGD\ LQ -RKQ 'D\ (3$ RQ VFHQHFRRUGLQDWRU0LNH%R\NLQ VDLG DQ HPHUJHQF\ UHVSRQVH team is continuing to test air DQG WDNH ZDWHU VDPSOHV LQ WKH DUHD QHDU &DQ\RQ %RXOHYDUG DQHIIRUWWKDWEHJDQ0D\ 6R IDU WKH (3$ FUHZ DQG contractors have checked about EXLOGLQJV ¿QGLQJ WKDW had vapors coming from base- PHQWV DQG FUDZO VSDFHV LQWR OLYLQJ DQG ZRUNLQJ DUHDV 7KH monitoring is continuing on D GDLO\ EDVLV ± WZLFHGDLO\ LQ some cases – and residents are urged to continue ventilating their homes. +H VDLG ZKLOH UHVSRQGHUV KDYH³DKXQFK´DERXWDVRXUFH WKH\ QHHG WR FRQWLQXH LQYHVWL Contributed photo/EPA Contractors use a small drilling rig to collect groundwater samples near Canyon Boulevard in southwest John Day. gating and determine the chem- LFDO³¿QJHUSULQW´RIWKHFRQWDP ination to match it to possible sources. ³%HFDXVH RI WKH FRPSOH[ QDWXUH RI WKLV LQYHVWLJDWLRQ LW FRXOG WDNH ZHHNV WR ¿JXUH RXW WKHVRXUFH´KHVDLG³:HGRVFL HQFH:H¶UH QRW JRLQJ WR SRLQW D¿QJHUDWDQ\SDUWLFXODUVRXUFH XQWLOZHNQRZLW¶VWKHP´ %R\NLQVDLGRQFHWKHDJHQF\ ¿QGVWKHVRXUFHWKH\DGYLVHWKH UHVSRQVLEOHSDUW\WRJHWLQWRXFK ZLWKWKHLULQVXUHUDQGVWDUWKHOS LQJ ZLWK WKH UHVROXWLRQ RI WKH problem. +H QRWHG WKH LQYHVWLJDWLRQ LVDPXOWLDJHQF\HIIRUWDQGWKH SXEOLF¶VKHDOWKLVWKHWRSSULRULW\ $ERXWUHVLGHQWVDWWHQGHG WKH VHVVLRQ KHOG DW WKH )RUHVW 6XSHUYLVRU¶V2I¿FH-RLQLQJWKH (3$ DW WKH PHHWLQJ ZHUH -RKQ &RPEV *UDQW &RXQW\ SXEOLF KHDOWKRI¿FHU'DYLG$QGHUVRQ DVWDWH'HSDUWPHQWRI(QYLURQ PHQWDO 4XDOLW\ PDQDJHU DQG .DWWDU\QD6WLOHVOLDLVRQZLWKWKH 2UHJRQ+HDOWK$XWKRULW\ 6WLOHV VDLG DQ\RQH LQ DQ DI IHFWHG KRPH ZKR H[SHULHQFHV KHDGDFKHV WUHPRUV RU RWKHU SK\VLFDO HIIHFWV VKRXOG WDON WR WKHLUGRFWRURUFDUHSURYLGHU6KH QRWHG FKLOGUHQ DQG WKH HOGHUO\ can be more susceptible to the effects of vapors. 6KHVDLGWKH2+$ZLOOKDYH PRUHVSHFL¿FKHDOWKUHFRPPHQ dations for residents once more LVNQRZQDERXWWKHFRQWDPLQD WLRQOLNHO\LQDIHZGD\V %R\NLQVDLGUHVLGHQWVZKRDUH ventilating their homes but still sense persistent vapors should FDOO-RKQ'D\'LVSDWFKDQGWKH (3$WHDPZLOOFKHFNLWRXW See EPA, Page A9 Focus on teen health By Angel Carpenter Blue Mountain Eagle -2+1 '$< ± )URP ELNHSRZHUHG JUHHQ VPRRWKLHV to stretching muscles to prevent VSRUWV LQMXULHV *UDQW &RXQW\ VWXGHQWV OHDUQHG D YDULHW\ RI KHDOWKWLSVDWWKH0D\7HHQ +HDOWK)DLUKHOGDW*UDQW8QLRQ -XQLRU6HQLRU+LJK6FKRRO 6WXGHQWVIURP*UDQW8QLRQ 3UDLULH&LW\DQG/RQJ&UHHNLQ JUDGHV SDUWLFLSDWHG LQ WKH event. 7KH *UDQW &RXQW\ +HDOWK 'HSDUWPHQWVSRQVRUHGWKHHYHQW ZLWKSDUWQHUVIURP%OXH0RXQ WDLQ +RVSLWDO 6WUDZEHUU\ :LO GHUQHVV&RPPXQLW\&OLQLF$G YDQWDJH 'HQWDO *UDQW &RXQW\ 'LVWULFW$WWRUQH\¶V2I¿FH+HDUW RI*UDQW&RXQW\DQGRWKHUV 1XUVH /LQGVD\ 0DJKDQ FRRUGLQDWRU RI WKH QHZ VFKRRO based health center located at WKHVFKRRORUJDQL]HGWKHHYHQW 6KH VDLG VWXGHQWV OHDUQHG DERXW KHDOWK\ HDWLQJ DQG H[HU cises and the dangers of drink- LQJ WRR PDQ\ HQHUJ\ GULQNV DV ZHOODVJRRGGHQWDOK\JLHQHDQG WKHULVNVDVVRFLDWHGZLWKFKHZ ing tobacco. 7KH '$¶V RI¿FH DQG +HDUW VWDII VSRNH ZLWK ROGHU VWXGHQWV LQ JUDGHV DERXW WKH LP SRUWDQFH RI VKRZLQJ UHVSHFW LQ GDWLQJDQGZDUQHGRIWKHFRQVH TXHQFHVRIVH[WLQJ Maghan said she and the staff at the health center realized WKHUHZDVDKHDOWKIDLUIRUDGXOWV DQGDKHDOWKDQGVDIHW\IDLUIRU HOHPHQWDU\VWXGHQWVEXWQRWKLQJ for teens. ³:H ZDQWHG WR JLYH WKHP WHHQV DQ RSSRUWXQLW\ WR H[ plore health in their communi- W\´0DJKDQVDLG *UDQW&RXQW\VWXGHQWVOHDUQZHOOQHVVWLSV Contributed photo Fields near Kimberly and Monument are growing crops with the water-saving technology of subsurface drip irrigation. Farming from the roots up LV D VXEVXUIDFH LUULJDWLRQ V\V WHPKH¿UVWWULHGIRXU\HDUVDJR ZLWK D JUDQW IURP WKH 2UHJRQ :DWHUVKHG(QKDQFHPHQW%RDUG WKURXJKWKH0RQXPHQW6RLODQG :DWHU&RQVHUYDWLRQ'LVWULFW By Scotta Callister +H JRW D VHFRQG JUDQW LQ Blue Mountain Eagle IURP WKH (QYLURQPHQWDO 4XDOLW\ ,QFHQWLYHV 3URJUDP :KHQ-LP%DKUHQEXUJORRNV WKURXJK WKH 1DWXUDO 5HVRXUFHV DFURVV WKH ODQG KH¶V ZRUNHG LQ &RQVHUYDWLRQ6HUYLFHWRUHSODFH WKH 0RQXPHQW DQG .LPEHUO\ ROG SXPSV LQVWDOO PDLQ OLQHV DQGVHWXSDQXQGHUJURXQGV\V DUHDVKHVHHVEXULHGWUHDVXUH WHPRQDFUHVRIODQGOHDVHG That trea- IURP %DQVHQ )DUP //& QHDU VXUHLVQ¶WJROG EXWZDWHU 0RQXPHQW ZKLFK DOVR JURZV FURSVWRGD\ ' U D Z Q ,QDUHJLRQSUHRFFXSLHGZLWK IURPWKH1RUWK GURXJKWDQGZDWHUVXSSO\ZRHV )RUN-RKQ'D\ KH VD\V VXEVXUIDFH GULS LUULJD 5LYHU WKLV WLRQ LV D SDWK WR PRUH HI¿FLHQW ZDWHU ÀRZV Jim through small Bahrenburg ZDWHU XVH EHWWHU FURS \LHOGV DQGDPRUHVHOIVXI¿FLHQWIDUP underground LQJHFRQRP\ tubes to grad- XDOO\LUULJDWHEORFNVRIODQGIRU The beginnings FURSV 6WDUWLQJ RQ WKH 1RUWK %DKUHQEXUJZKRKDVEHHQ )RUN 5DQFK LQ WKH .LPEHUO\ DUHD %DKUHQEXUJ VDLG KH ¿UVW IDUPLQJ LQ *UDQW &RXQW\ IRU SODQWHGU\HWRFKRNHRXWWKHWKLV \HDUV LV FHUWL¿HG DV DQ WOHVRQZKDWZDVMXVWDQHJOHFWHG RUJDQLF JURZHU PHDQLQJ KH SDVWXUHDQGWKHQFRQWLQXHGWKH FDQ¶WXVHKHUELFLGHVSHVWLFLGHV WUDQVIRUPDWLRQE\SODQWLQJURZ RUFRQYHQWLRQDOIHUWLOL]HUV+H said he started looking into crops. 7RGD\ WKH ODQG SURGXFHV the subsurface approach after FRUQ RQLRQV EHHWV SHSSHUV EHFRPLQJIUXVWUDWHGE\ZHHGV squash and dill. See FARM, Page A9 7KH NH\ WR WKDW DEXQGDQFH Producer touts water savings with SDI system Eagle photos/Angel Carpenter Seventh-grader Mason Gerry rides the bike-powered smoothie machine at the OSU Extension office’s booth during the May 29 Teen Health Fair. He is assisted by OSU extension agent Shanna Northway. To her side are office coordinator Carol Waggoner, far left, and 4-H-SNAP-ED program assistant Christal Culley, middle. OSU Extension agent Shanna Northway holds down the blender lid as Grant Union seventh- grader Austin Catron Grant Union students get busy at the booths tries the smoothie bike during last week’s Teen Health Fair. at the Teen Health Fair. Rodent ranks boom in Fossil Beds area Prehistoric finds include early beaver, mice Blue Mountain Eagle KIMBERLY – Paleontologists are cel- ebrating a bonanza of prehistoric rodent ¿QGVDWWKH-RKQ'D\)RVVLO%HGV1DWLRQ DO0RQXPHQWDQGQHDUE\%XUHDXRI/DQG Management land. 7KH GLVFRYHU\ RI QHZ SUHKLVWRULF VSHFLHVLQWKHDUHDZDVUHSRUWHGLQDVWXG\ published in the current “Annals of Carne- gie Museum.” 7KHVWXG\E\VFLHQWLVWV-RVKXD6DPXHOV RI WKH )RVVLO %HGV DQG :LOOLDP .RUWK RI WKH&DUQHJLH0XVHXPRI1DWXUDO+LVWRU\ ORRNHGDWVSHFLHVLQDOO±QHZDQGSUHYL RXVO\XQGRFXPHQWHG 7KHQHZRQHVLQFOXGH ‡0LFURWKHULRP\VEUHYLUKLQXVDQHDUO\ EHDYHUWKDWPD\EHWKHGLVWDQWDQFHVWRURI WRGD\¶VEHDYHUV ‡ 0LRVFLXUXV FRYHQVLV D GZDUI WUHH VTXLUUHO VPDOOHU WKDQ DQ\ OLYLQJ LQ 1RUWK $PHULFDWRGD\ ‡ %XUVDJQDWKXV DWHURVVHXV D SULPLWLYH SRFNHWPRXVHSRVVLEO\DQDQFHVWRURIWR GD\¶VGHVHUWPLFH ‡3OHVLRVPLQWKXVIUHPGLDELUFKPRXVH QDPHGIRUUHWLUHG-RKQ'D\)RVVLO%HGVSD OHRQWRORJLVW7HG)UHPG ³7KLVVWXG\¿OOVVRPHVXEVWDQWLDOJDSV LQ RXU NQRZOHGJH RI SDVW IDXQDV VSHFL¿ FDOO\VPDOOHUPDPPDOV6RPHRIWKHQHZ VSHFLHV DUH UHDOO\ LQWHUHVWLQJ LQ WKHLU RZQ ULJKWDQGZLOOXOWLPDWHO\KHOSLPSURYHRXU understanding of the evolution of beavers DQG SRFNHW PLFH´ VDLG 6DPXHOV ³7KHVH ¿QGVVKRZWKDWGHVSLWHWKLVDUHDEHLQJVWXG LHGIRUZHOORYHU\HDUVQHZGLVFRYHU ies continue to be made. ³(DFKQHZGLVFRYHU\KHOSVWRJLYHXVD IXOOHUSLFWXUHRI2UHJRQ¶VSDVW´ 7KH-RKQ'D\%DVLQFRQWDLQVRQHRIWKH PRVWFRPSOHWHIRVVLOUHFRUGVRQ(DUWKVSDQ QLQJ QHDUO\ PLOOLRQ \HDUV RI WLPH 7KH EHGV UHYHDO WKH KLVWRU\ RI DQFLHQW HFRV\V WHPVFOLPDWHFKDQJHDQGSODQWDQGDQLPDO HYROXWLRQGXULQJZKDWLVNQRZQDVWKH$JH of Mammals. 2I¿FLDOVVD\WKH-RKQ'D\IRUPDWLRQKDV D GLYHUVLW\ RI IDXQD LQFOXGLQJ PRUH WKDQ VSHFLHV±VDEHUWRRWKHGQLPUDYLGVHDUO\ GRJVWKUHHWRHGKRUVHVDQGJLDQW³KHOOSLJV´ 7KHQHZURGHQWVZHUHFROOHFWHGWKURXJK GHFDGHVRIFROODERUDWLYHZRUNWKURXJKRXWWKH -RKQ'D\%DVLQE\SDOHRQWRORJLVWVIURPWKH )RVVLO%HGV%/08QLYHUVLW\RI&DOLIRUQLDDW %HUNHOH\DQG8QLYHUVLW\RI:DVKLQJWRQ S TUDENT ART Brandon Gillihan Grade 11 Prairie City School Teacher: Raymond Field