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Kudos to Fire Department
Haines and North Powder vol­
unteer fire fighters respondedlo a
grain / combine fire east of
Haines on Friday along with
BLM and ODE It did bum sev­
eral acres within the field, but did
not spread to the power lines, a
nearby haystack, or very dry sage­
brush thanks to the excellent ef-
THURSDAY, JULY 30,2015
By Gina Perkins
541-856-3615
news@therconline.com
forts of the fire departments and
agencies.
Accident Near Dean Place
The Baker County Sheriffs Of­
fice stated the following per the
Deputy on the scene: Shawn
Skidgel was operating a large log
loading vehicle toward Haines on
the Anthony Lakes Highway
[Monday afternoon]; as he was ne­
gotiating the left turn at the South
Rock Creek intersection, his vehi­
cle, for unknown reasons, rolled
onto the roadway and eventually
came to a rest on its side, partially
in a ditch.
A witness following directly be­
hind Skidgel watched the left side
rear tires come off the ground as
Skidgel drove through the curve:
The witness stated that Skidgel
was travelling at about 40mph
through the curve. It is unknown at
this time if a mechanical failure
caused the crash. There was no in­
dication of careless driving, exces­
sive speed, driver distraction nor
driver impairment.
Skidgel had minor injuries.
SREC conducted the cleanup of
the spilled diesel and oil. SREC
and Superior Towing uprighted the
vehicle.
Baker County Road Dept, made
a temporary pavement patch on a
large gouge mark caused left in the
pavement.
Open Horse Show
Sandy Moore along with Sarah
and Anna Seymour competed in
the open horse show held in
Baker City on Saturday.
Friends of Haines
Reviewing of this year’s Fourth
of July celebration and planning
for the next started on Monday
evening as the volunteers held
their meeting at the Haines Steak
House. Plans are underway for the
fall "Dollar-a-Dip" fundraiser and
the group is hopeful they will
once again be able to have the
Elks Drum and Bugle Corps per­
form.
Log Loader Rolls onto Roadway for Unknown Reason
Artists Invited to Show their Artwork
Crossroads would like to invite artists to show their artwork at the 17th Annual Art at the Cross­
roads regional art exhibit. Artwork will be accepted Monday, Aug. 31, and Tuesday, Sept. 1 from
8:30 - 5:30 p.m. each day, and the show will open on Friday, Sept. 4,2015. Cash awards totaling
over $1000 will be awarded at the judge’s discretion including a special Northwest Pastel Society
Award. The People’s Choice cash award will be selected by those attending the opening reception.
There is a $20 entry fee for up to 3 works of art.
For entry guidelines go to our website crossroads-arts.org and click on forms, or call Crossroads
at 541-523-5369.
Photo by Gina Perkins
Virgil Borger Celebrates with Applause
and Laughter in Five Octaves
By Dan Sizer
Laughter of all ages fills Virgil proves it. (Nearly) five genera­ ing for major corporations in­
Borger’s living room on sunny tions are present and only one cluding Pillsbury and ConAgra.
Saturday morning. Of the more tupperware of Jackie Borger’s He retired from Long Beach in
than thirty relatives present, 44 dozen cookies remains. Lit­ 1984, moved to Eastern Ore­
some cook, others clean, but tle ones run in and out, couples gon and built their home on
most sit listening. The youngest snuggle, everyone seems Pocahontas Road the same
is two, the oldest is ninety. happy to be together, Virgil year.
Looking back on 90 years,
That’s Virgil. The native Iowan most of all.
‘The Lord has blessed us with Virgil admits that the world has
and WWII veteran’s 90th birth­
changed
a lot -in many ways
day celebration has lasted a a wonderful family,” Virgil
counts his blessings as they not for the better. He speaks of
week, and it’s not over yet.
simpler times and simpler wars,
Terra Hahn, Virgil’s great- walk past him in the kitchen.
A gunner’s mate in the South that while still horrific, do not
granddaughter, picks from a jar
of brightly colored post-its and Pacific during WWIf, .Virgil compare to what the news por­
reads another favorite memory thanks God for his own life as trays today. Virgil remembers
gas at 10 cents a gallon and, at
of Virgil, written by one of his well.
When suicide boats hit the the end of the day, having only
family members. This particular
note describes a trick Virgil landing craft support vessel Vir­ 19 cents to spend on potatoes
used to play on new boyfriends gil was stationed on at Bhutan, for dinner. They were poor days
the girls brought home. If a he was the only one in his de­ but happy days, for as Jackie
young man asked for butter at partment to survive. He doesn’t remarks, ‘We didn’t know we
dinner, Virgil passed it to hirri in remember the sound of the ex­ were poor. Everyone else was
such a way that the fellow plosion or what happened to the same.”
While it irks Virgil to see his
would mistakenly plunge his him. He came to in a life raft.
thumb into the soft stick. “Run Only later was he told that he youngest offspring in front of an
the butter up his thumb,” he had been blown across a rocket Ipad instead of playing out-
.launcher., and.thata mate had, doors, family, he says,t*is the
calleddt
“Did that happen to dad?” a thrown him overboard, saving most important thing in life.
Sitting in a living room packed
his life.
great-granddaughter asks.
If he had not been on watch full of family members listening
‘Yep,” her mother answers,
“He broke the ice that way and duty, he says, he would have to their own memories of Virgil
everything was somehow more died. Some would call it chance being read aloud, I began to
or good luck. With a twinkle in form a good picture of the man
comfortable?’
Amid giggles and hoots, Virgil his eye, Virgil says otherwise. I had just met minutes ago. A
surveys the crowd with a smile “God’s looking out for you, but man who, despite the world
and says to his wife Jackie, “We often you’re too dumb to know changing around him, contin­
ues to live by the principles of
made this.” Next year marks the it.”
Virgil was awarded a purple his youth, treating those around
couple’s seventieth wedding
anniversary, and they will soon heart for his service. He met his him with honesty, kindness and
be great-great grandparents. wife Jackie while on survivors humor.
The last post-it was read to a
Terra, the woman reading the leave, and they were married as
post-its, is three months preg­ soon as Virgil was discharged. loud round of applause and
She was 19. He was 21. Virgil laughter in five octaves.
nant.
Virgil is a family man and the made a living doing what he
scene in the Borger living room calls “chicken peddling,” work-
Photo by Gina Perkins
Fire fighters re­
sponded to an ap­
parent combine fire
at Allen Farms east
of Haines. Several
acres burned, but it
was contained.
Thank You X 90
Dwight Riggs' family along with
Charlene, want to extend our
appreciation for the outpouring of
support, cards, calls and great
attendance at his 90th birthday
celebration. AND the appearance of
the Elks Drum & Bugle Corps put the
icing on his cake. THANK YOU all for
honoring this awesome guy!
Please join us for fellowship &
worship Sunday mornings at 10:45.
Haines United Methodist Church
721 Robert Street, Haines, Oregon
Sally Wiens, Lay Minister • 541.963.6991 (home phone)
25% Off
Denture Work
Photo by Greg Hahn
Virgil
Borger's
family helped him
celebrate his 90th
birthday.
Longtime
Subscriber
Stops By
at Blue Mountain Denture Center
Troy Stewart, LD
2194 Court Street, Baker City
541-523-4752 • Cell: 541-519-4696
Join
Baker County Cattlewomen & Cattlemen
and
Support the Shriners Hospital for Children
Saturday, August 1st
Cowboy Breakfast!
6:30 a.m. -10 a.m. Geiser-Pollman Park in Baker City
Steak, eggs, pancakes & coffee only $10 • No steak? $7
Kerwyn Tally who lived on
Talley Dobbins Lane and
graduated from Powder Val­
ley in 1945 stopped by the
office to say hello. He's a
long time subscriber and had
returned from his home in
Myrtle Point for the All
School Reunion.He shared
that he worked for the high­
way department for years
and happened to have the
late Vernon Shull as his boss
in The Dalles, long after Tally
had moved from this area
and prior to the Shulls mov­
ing to Haines. It's a small
world.
New This Year, ’’GRIDIRON” Tailgate & Grill-Off with Auction.
Tailgate 12-6 p.m. • Auction 2 p.m.
Prior to football game - watch for more details.
To pre-order tickets: www.eastwestshrinefootball.com/store/cl/Featured_Products.html
Proceeds from both events help purchase
the Shrine Steer which is auctioned off
during half time of the E-W Shrine game;
Those funds go directly to the Shriners
Hospital for Children
Shriners Hospitals
for Children
Love to the rescue?