8 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017
Local
The quest of a family tree
SUBMITTED BY
MILLIE LUTZ
Family history, or ge-
nealogy as some may call
it, is a growing interest
around the world. People
young and old are dig-
ging up the past, acquiring
knowledge of how the
life experiences of their
ancestors helped to create
the world in which we live
today.
Are you one of these
individuals with a secret
passion to know about
those who came before
you? Do you have a thirst
to explore your family’s
past and pull the ghosts out
of the closet … you know,
the ones Granddad always
talked about whenever you
asked to know about your
ancestors? Well then, Sat-
urday, February 25, is your
opportunity to learn how to
do just that.
The Family His-
tory Center, located at the
Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints, is spon-
soring a one-day “Family
History and You” activ-
ity to help you. And it’s
free. This is your chance
to learn the steps and the
tools available to transport
you back to the time of
your ancestors through
classes designed to help
get you started.
If you’re already an
ancestral enthusiast, there
will be classes offered to
help hone your skills and
assist you in breaking
down the brick walls that
you have been agonizing
over. It all starts Saturday
at 9:00 a.m. on February
25th, 2017.
The instructors are local
and seasoned in the field
of family history, so the
avenues of research they
will be sharing have been
tested and proven to be
helpful to them—and can
be for you. Just to give
you a tidbit of what is
being offered, here are a
few of the courses: “Basic
Family History;” “Orga-
nizing your Paperwork”;
“FamilySearch;” “Mobile
Devices;” “Maps;” “Prov-
ing Grandma’s Story” and
many more!
Bishop Tom Isaacson
will be giving the keynote
address to get you excited
and ready for your day.
A free light lunch will
be served, there will be
displays, and even door
prizes. Family History
Consultants will be avail-
able in the Family History
Center to give you per-
sonalized help in building
your family tree.
If for some reason, you
are unavailable to attend
this informative and fun
event, the Family History
Center is located at 2526
Hughes Lane in the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter
Day Saints building (en-
trance is on the east side),
where you can find con-
sultants ready and willing
to assist you, one-on-one,
with your research needs.
An additional benefit of
visiting the Family History
Center, which many are
unaware of, is the access to
many paid research sites,
such as Ancestry.com and
Fold 3.com—for free!
The time is now to learn
about those who shaped
your life - your grandpar-
ents, great-grandparents,
great-great grandparents,
and so on - bringing them
to life, helping you to bet-
ter understand the roots of
your family tree.
Mark your calendars and
make the commitment to
begin or continue your
quest.
Halfway woman to compete
on television’s ‘The Voice’
Violin lessons
offered
Baker 5J School District in partnership with Cross-
roads Carnegie Art Center have contracted with Jeremy
Clawson to teach violin lessons at Brooklyn Elementary
as part of Friday Academy. At this point, the classes are
full and a waiting list has started. This project is only
made possible to the support of the Grande Ronde Sym-
phony and Art Center East in LaGrande who are loaning
their children violin kits to Baker School District for the
starter instruments needed for the students.
“Crossroads is so appreciative of the Grande Ronde
Symphony and Art Center East who are loaning their
youth violins. GRSA purchased these violins from a
grant they received from the Wildhorse Foundation.
Students will be loaned the instruments and they and their
families will be responsible for the care of this expensive
instruments. In fact some students have come to classes
with their own instruments which has allowed for more
students to play,” stated Ginger Savage, Executive Direc-
tor Crossroads Carnegie Art Center. “Baker 5J School
District is pleased to be able to partner with Crossroads
Carnegie Art Center, the Grande Ronde Symphony and
the Art Center East in La Grande in providing this experi-
ence for our students. By continuing to develop partner-
ships with the greater community we believe that we can
better serve the needs of our families and students.”
Mr. Clawson, a recent transplant to Baker City will be
assisted by Brian Watt, Board Chair of Crossroads as a
volunteer to assist every Friday at Brooklyn Primary.
Currently, they need two full size violins for students and
one, one-quarter size violin. These can be donated to
Crossroads or they can be loaned to the student. Cross-
roads has a sample instrument loan contract. If you have
a violin to be donated or loaned please call Crossroads at
541-523-5369.
BY SUNNY WERNER
Sunny@TheBakerCountyPress.com
17 year-old Karry Davis
has been singing since
she was tiny. Her family
are all musically gifted,
and recognized Karry’s
special talent when she
was very young. She has
performed in public since
she was three, singing at
local rodeos and commu-
nity events. She sings with
her sisters, her parents, her
grandmother and grand-
father.
Even so, when her
grandmother, Linda Miller,
talked Karry into sending
in a submission to NBC’s
“The Voice,” she wasn’t
expecting the return email
inviting her to try out in
Baltimore. But it came
nonetheless.
The costs of the trip were
a stumbling block, but
family and friends have
rallied with fundraisers and
personal support.
Karry has suffered
through a series of surger-
ies over the past couple
of years, which prevented
her from attending Pine
Eagle High School with
her friends. Fortunately
Halfway is a very small
town of 280, and the local
residents support their
own. Karry’s friends are
delighted for this oppor-
tunity for her, and have
been a constant source of
encouragement.
Amy Lord, owner of The
Hells Canyon Inn outside
Oxbow, who has long been
a friend of the family, sug-
gested running a raffle out
of her establishment. Lord
collected prizes includ-
BLM seeks
reclamation
award
nominations
Submitted Photo.
Karry Davis left for Baltimore this week to audition on ‘The Voice.’
ing the grand prize which
was front row tickets to a
Seattle Seahawks game,
with other prizes includ-
ing a Snake River boating
trip. The event was very
successful, raising $2,000
in four hours.
Individuals, family and
friends, have also contrib-
uted. The community of
Halfway has been very
supportive of Karry, hav-
ing heard her sing and
watched her grow from a
little performer at rodeos
to a contestant in a national
venue.
Messages on her
Facebook page from the
townspeople are full of
excitement and praise:
“I’m proud of you,
Karry, and so glad to see
you doing what you love”
“Best of luck ... Knock
‘em dead, girl!”
“I can’t even begin to tell
you how happy I am for
you, kiddo! I wish you the
best of luck”
“You got this!”
“Good luck, love!”
“Keep your head up and
show those judges what
you’re made of! A small
town cowgirl from Half-
way Oregon, rocking The
Voice!”
Old Pine Market in
Halfway invited her to
hold another fundraiser
on Tuesday, adding to
the travel funds. Karry
performed there in the
afternoon, and entertained
some surprised shoppers
as well as those who had
gone to the Market specifi-
cally to support her.
Amy Lord bought the
plane tickets and will be
accompanying Karry to
Baltimore in the place of
Karry’s mother, who is ill.
The two leave Halfway
early tomorrow, headed to
Baltimore via Boise.
Karry is hoping this will
bring her the exposure she
needs to jumpstart her ca-
reer. She has big plans, and
sees this opportunity as her
ticket out.
Karry knows this is the
chance of a lifetime, and
says “I hope I can in-
spire others to chase their
dreams.”
EOU announces concert in Haines
The Grande Ronde
Symphony Association
is pleased to announce
their third Chamber Series
Concert on March 4, 2017
at the Haines United Meth-
odist Church in Haines,
Oregon. Entitled, “An
Evening of World Melo-
dies” attendees will be
treated to folk music from
all over the world, through
the enchanting instruments
of violin, guitar, man-
dolin, bass, ukulele and
the hammered dulcimer.
Musicians performing on
these various instruments
will be Anthony R. Corig
(Corigliano) and Angela
Rosemeyer.
Mr. Corig, known to
most as Tony, started his
musical career at the age of
eight when he began violin
study with Reggero Ricci,
world renowned violinist.
Anthony’s repertoire grew
as he branched into guitar
study in Southern Califor-
nia with jazz artist Howard
Roberts, composition with
Florence Jolly and Piano
with Anita Priest, Principal
Pianist at the Los Angeles
Music Center. Anthony
wrote his first composition
in September of 1970 a
piece entitled “The Death
of Shiela” Corig is the
owner of Direct Music
Source in La Grande,
where he teaches music.
He is the lead jazz guitar-
ist in Pendulum Swing, a
local jazz band.
Rosemeyer has been
playing guitar for over 40
years. She is a graduate of
the University of Portland,
receiving her Bachelors
in Music Education and
a Masters in Education.
Angela studied Classi-
cal guitar with Maestro
Manuel Lopez Ramos,
Frank Costa, along with
various other well-known
artists.
The Chamber Series
performance on Saturday,
March 4, 2017 will mark
the first time the Grande
Ronde Symphony Asso-
ciation has brought their
popular Chamber Series to
the Baker Valley.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
and performance begins
at 7:00 p.m., with refresh-
ments provided by the
GRSA following. Baker
Valley Introductory ticket
price is $20 per person for
non-Season Pass holders.
For more information,
visit: GrandeRondeSym-
phony.org or contact Patty
Sandoz at 541-963-7595.
The Bureau of Land Management is seeking nomina-
tions for the 2017 Reclamation and Sustainable Mineral
Development Awards. These awards recognize those pro-
grams created to foster sustainable development, which
encourages environmental health, social responsibility,
and economic security.
“These awards represent some of the finest examples of
responsible mineral resource development,” said Michael
Nedd, BLM Assistant Director for Energy, Minerals and
Realty Management. “We are proud to recognize those
companies or individuals who are helping to realize the
needs of the present generation without compromising the
ability of future generations to succeed as well.”
Awards are presented through one of five categories.
These include the Hardrock Mineral Environmental
Award, the Hardrock Mineral Community Outreach and
Economic Security Award, the Hardrock Mineral Small
Operator Award, the Hardrock Mineral Director’s Award,
and the “Fix a Shaft Today!” Award.
The Hardrock Mineral Environmental Award recognizes
achievements demonstrating continuous or repeated ef-
forts to successfully meet or exceed federal, state, or local
reclamation requirements with minimal oversight.
The Hardrock Mineral Community Outreach and Eco-
nomic Security Award recognizes the successful coordi-
nation of projects with local and regional stakeholders,
including those projects that contribute to the quality of
life or demonstrate concern for the long-term health of
the local community.
The Hardrock Mineral Small Operator Award recog-
nizes operators or organizations, with 15 employees or
fewer, who have demonstrated continuous or repeated ef-
forts to successfully meet or exceed federal, state, or local
reclamation requirements with minimal oversight.
The Hardrock Mineral Director’s Award is presented to
a single operator, one whose dedication has resulted in the
use of a new or innovative design or technique that allows
or enhances successful operations in technically challeng-
ing conditions.
The “Fix a Shaft Today!” Award recognizes active
participation in the FAST! Campaign, a partnership initia-
tive aimed at eliminating unsafe abandoned mine land
features including open mine shafts. Individuals, as well
as organizations, are eligible for this award.
Nominations should be submitted to the BLM state office
where the individual or organization is located (Attention:
Solid Minerals). A brochure offering detailed information
on the nomination and selecting process, as well as state
contact information, is available here.
The deadline for submissions is April 28, 2017. Awards
will be presented this Fall.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of
public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land,
known as the National System of Public Lands, is primar-
ily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The
BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface
mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM’s mis-
sion is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of
America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of pres-
ent and future generations. In Fiscal Year 2015, the BLM
generated $4.1 billion in receipts from activities occurring
on public lands.