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About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 20, 2015)
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 13 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2015 Local & Entertainment Halfway’s Snowmobile Poker Run awards cash, prizes Bebe’s word search Carmelita Holland / The Baker County Press Gordon Crook receives his $1,600 prize from Whitey Bloom. By Carmelita Holland News@TheBakerCountyPress.com "It's a success!" ex- claimed Whitey Bloom, President of the Pan- handle Snowmobile Club, referring to the Fifteenth Annual Poker Run, which remains one of the Pan- handle's most interesting and popular activities. Bloom spoke to a crowd gathered at the Halfway Lion's Club Hall following the Poker Run on Sunday, February 15th at 6 p.m. The crowd came to see who won $4,000 in cash prizes and nearly $2,000 more in donated gifts dis- tributed in a drawing. "A lot of people were spooked about the shortage of snow this winter and called to be sure we were going to have the Poker Run," said Bloom. "But it’s a different world up there," he said, motioning toward the mountain. "We have plenty of snow up there." First prize was $1,600 won by Gordon Crook of Pine Valley. Second prize of $1,000 was won by Delmer Hanson of La Grande. Third prize was $800 won by Al Iverson; fourth prize was $400 won by Bill Waldron and fi fth prize was $200 awarded to Brit- tany Gulick. The last three winners were residents of Pine Valley. Bloom and his wife, Katy went to the Lion's Hall before 7 a.m. to join The Mike and Mary Herold, Jo Ellen Stile and Merrilyn Seal to set up Station One at the hall while trucks and trailers, loaded with snomobiles, lined up for blocks. Blooms estimated there were approximately 250 participants who asked for over 500 "hands." Contestants registered, then Whitey Bloom spun the wheel, and punched hands (cards), which owners received to take to the Clear Creek Sno Park which was Station Two. Snowmobiles were un- loaded here and cards were punched by Tina Thomas and Don West, then con- testants sped off to Station Three, at the Beecher Creek Turn Off, where Tom and Denny Curtis waited to punch cards. Station Four was at the East Pine Junction where station attendants, Marty Harriman, Jason and Bai- ley waited. The route chosen for the Poker Run generally follows Forest Road 66, which leads to Fish Lake. Station Five at The Burn was manned by Eagle Valley's Mike and Rusti Lattin, and Angie Tucker. Station Six was at the Rail Pile, the waiting place of Jan and Denny Oliver. Station Seven was the last, upper most station, located at the Short Cut near Fish Lake, manned by Ron Stile and Warren Whitnah who punched cards for the last time. There were no acci- dents on the Poker Run. Had there been any, they would have been treated by Emergency Medical Technicians, some of them participating in the Poker Run. There was even one dentist —Dr. Whitnah. Bloom and other Snowmobile club mem- bers worked hard to make the Poker Run a success. Two days before the event someone reported a rough spot in the snow near the Sno Park. The snow groomer had it smooth shortly. The program was so pleasing most of those par- ticipating announced they intend to come back for a Poker Run in 2016. A partial list of winners in the drawing were: Laura Nolan, an oyster dinner value $50 donated by the Shorthorn in Richland; Denny Oliver, a $200 gift certifi cate donated by Oregon Trail Sports; Jason Harriman a $350 trip for four adults with Hells Can- yon Adventures; Joe Denig won two crab feed meals, valued $80 donated by the Halfway Lion's Club; Joe Spelman won one of two large baskets donated by Snake River PCS of Richland. There were twenty two winners in the drawing, counting four prizes won by Blaine Schwendiman of Pine Valley. Baker County Press Subscribe Today! Name: Address: City, State, Zip: Email address: Phone: E-Only $29.95/yr. 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Mail the check with this completed form to: PO Box 567, Baker City, Ore. 97814 To pay by credit card, please visit www.Th eBakerCountyPress.com This week’s crossword puzzle Across 1- Bridge feats; 6- Mouth bones; 10- Pond organism; 14- Synagogue scroll; 15- Immensely; 16- Blackbird; 17- Bahamanian island; 18- Fermented grape juice; 19- Switch ending; 20- Delayed; 22- Fame; 24- Sudden assault; 25- Restrictive; 26- Wyoming range; 29- Silage storage tower; 30- Lots and lots; 31- Surmise; 37- Adapted to a dry environment; 39- Animal park; 40- Can’t stand; 41- Having the same color throughout; 44- Tirade; 45- Isn’t wrong?; 46- Gibson of tennis; 48- Dwelling place for bees; 52- “East of Eden” direc- tor Kazan; 53- Secret stuff; 54- A lawyer; 58- Smoke deposit; 59- Succulent; 61- Eye drops; 62- Wight, for one; 63- Charge per unit; 64- Put off, as an agenda item; 65- Propagative part of a plant; 66- 365 days; 67- Goose genus; Down 1- The closest one to us is the sun; 2- Ear part; 3- I smell ___!; 4- Composed of a mix- ture of languages; 5- System of aircraft navigation; 6- Having jaws; 7- Put ___ on it!; 8- Took the gold; 9- Aseptic; 10- Change for the bet- ter; 11- Vive ___!; 12- Adult; 13- As a companion; 21- Round object, often used to store computer data; 23- Tennyson’s “___ Arden”; 25- A jewel; 26- Cab; 27- French summers; 28- Mower brand; 29- Snob; 32- Form of oxygen; 33- Infernal; 34- Mormon state of western USA; 35- Actress Russo; 36- It is in Spain; 38- Series of metal rings; 42- Competition; 43- Preservative; 47- Ray of “GoodFellas”; 48- Foundation; 49- Uneven; 50- French school; 51- Despised; 52- Early anesthetic; 54- “The Thin Man” dog; 55- Apprehends; 56- Author ___ Stanley Gardner; 57- River of Flanders; 60- Abu Dhabi’s fed.;