Blue Mountain
WILD
RIDE
AHEAD
EAGLE
The
The Challenge of Champions
is coming back to John Day
this weekend
– PAGE A10
Grant County’s newspaper since 1868
W EDNESDAY , J UNE 10, 2015
• N O . 23
• 18 P AGES
• $1.00
www.MyEagleNews.com
Fire season gets an early start – again
May rains just a
fond memory as
dry heat returns
By Scotta Callister
Blue Mountain Eagle
JOHN DAY – The Ore-
gon Department of Forestry
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last Saturday – about three
weeks ahead of the norm.
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tra requirements for commer-
cial operations on lands pro-
tected by ODF.
The June 6 onset isn’t
much earlier than in 2014 –
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owners of ODF-protected
lands are urged to contact
the John Day Unit and pro-
vide their phone numbers
for an emergency contact
data base.
Those landowners can
another dry year – when the
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However, it continues a de-
parture from past years, when
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of July.
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Bridge Road, during busi-
ness hours to provide their
contact information.
The agency is creating a
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Predictions for dry and
warmer-than-usual weather
throughout the summer set the
stage for the declaration.
It could have come even
earlier, according to George
Ponte, Central Oregon Dis-
– both resident and absen-
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have been hampered by lack
of complete contact infor-
mation, such as cell phone
numbers, to reach land own-
ers or managers.
trict forester.
In town last week for a
meeting with landowners,
Ponte said the dry winter and
conditions were a clear con-
cern even in April. Howev-
er, May’s cool weather and
GOLD ON WHEELS!
Blue Mountain Eagle
CANYON CITY – The an-
nual ’62 Days Parade took to
the streets Saturday, with can-
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four-wheelers revving their en-
gines.
The parade entries were bol-
stered this year by the addition of
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er vehicles representing Citizens
for Public Access. The group
numbered so many, organizers
had to shift them to the Grant
Union High School parking lot
for staging, while the rest of the
parade staged at Humbolt Ele-
mentary. The public lands access
group won this year’s Sweep-
stakes prize.
The Best in Theme, which
comes with a $100 check, went
to the Friends of the Grant Coun-
ty Historical Museum.
For more photos, visit MyEa-
gleNews.com online. For Gold
Rush Run and Walk coverage,
see Page B1.
Over the weekend, warm,
dry weather returned to the
region – and forecasters say
the heat is likely to continue
through the summer.
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agencies are preparing for the
possibility of a “very severe”
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At the June 4 meeting, held
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John Day, Ponte stressed the
importance of cooperation
and communication with pri-
vate landowners.
Ponte also emphasized that
in a May 27 letter to district
See FIRE, Page A9
Hunt goes on for
JD vapor source
days or weeks” – to increase
the risk.
He said this situation
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in the EPA probe are not un-
By Scotta Callister
common, and people may be
Blue Mountain Eagle
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routine situations, he said.
He said one positive is
JOHN DAY – The source
of chemicals seeping through that, unlike some contami-
the soils in a John Day neigh- nants, these vapors have an
borhood remains a mystery odor so people can sense if
this week.
they are being exposed and
Environmental Protection get away.
The OHA and Commu-
Agency workers are con-
tinuing to take air samples in nity Counseling Solutions,
buildings near South Canyon which operates Grant Coun-
Boulevard, while contractors ty Public Health, issued a
drill more test holes to tap and fact sheet with the following
WHVW JURXQGZDWHU 2I¿FLDOV tips:
• If you smell the chem-
said most homes checked so
far had no or “very low” lev- ical odor, call John Day
541-575-0030.
els of vapors, but some con- Dispatch,
tinue to have levels that could Dispatchers will relay the
information to the EPA to
cause health concerns.
The preliminary results respond.
• If you smell the odor
of the investigation point to
gasoline, possibly with other and get a headache or feel
solvents, as the cause of the nauseated, leave the house
vapors that began cropping and notify your doctor.
• Ventilate the house,
up in homes and buildings,
mostly in the past month but basement or room where the
vapors are found. If levels
some as early as March.
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pors as volatile organic com- may help with additional
steps, such as vapor barriers
pounds, or VOCs.
Oregon Health Author- and gas vacuum systems.
“Sometimes, the level of
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last Friday that vapors from volatile chemicals may re-
VOCs can cause headaches, main high even after efforts
dizziness or nausea, but those to decrease it. In this case,
symptoms usually fade when moving to another place for
the person moves into fresh a while may be needed, un-
til the problem is under con-
air.
The OHA’s Dr. Richard trol,” the statement said.
Agencies are not recom-
Leman said “prolonged ex-
posure” can increase the risk mending evacuations, saying
of health problems including ventilation is still the best
nerve injury and leukemia. measure to address the prob-
However, he said, it would lem for now.
take persistent exposure –
See HUNT, Page A9
and for “months or years, not
Officials advise
fresh air to limit
symptoms
Grant County Fair and
Rodeo
Queen
Rietta
Wyllie waves to the crowd
as she rides the route.
Del and Mary Raymond
are celebrated as grand
marshals in this year’s
´62 Days parade.
Citizens for Public Access
supporters used four-
wheelers and signs about
roads and public use to
make their point.
Parade results
Commercial:
1st – Team National
2nd – John Day Polaris
3rd – It’s a Dirty Shame
Schools/Organizations
1st – Friends of Grant County Museum
2nd – John Day and Rural Fire
Department
3rd – Cinnabar Mountain Rendezvous
Horse Drawn Entry
1st – Del and Mary Raymond, grand
marshals
Classic Vehicle
1st – Hal Smith, 1963 Dodge Dart
2nd – Luke Claughton, 1967 Buick
Mounted Costumed Individual
1st – Reitta Wyllie, Grant County Fair
Queen
Mounted Costumed Group
1st – Rocky Top Riders 4-H
Derby Cars
1st – Tyler Nodine
2nd – Steve Patterson
The parade was the centerpiece of the
two-day festival, which also included
music in the park, a pancake breakfast
and a tri-tip lunch, a pie social and
some fast-draw shooting contests.
above normal rainfall delayed
the onset of severe burning
conditions, he said.
“The cool and unsettled
weather of the past several
weeks has kept fuel moistures
in small fuels such grasses,
needles, and twigs relatively
high,” Ponte said. “But we
have not received enough
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change the ongoing drought
conditions and the larger fuels
remain dry with fuel mois-
tures that are below average.
The smaller fuels will dry out
very quickly with the return
of hot and dry conditions and
this will result in the rapid in-
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Eagle photos/Scotta Callister
Cousins Morgan Molyneux, Nolan Mobley and Torie Coalwell take parade
spectators back in time with the Friends of Grant County Historical Museum’s
award-winning float.
F ISH STORY
New officer helping veterans
may qualify for. She said she
would especially like to meet
with veterans who’ve never
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She’s a member of the
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Community Advisory Council
Blue Mountain Eagle
for the East Oregon Coordinat-
CANYON CITY – A new Grant County Vet-
Erin
ed Care Organization, and the
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Osgood
Grant County Committee of
their families who have questions on such topics
New Hope for Eastern Oregon
Animals, and is a 4-H leader.
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She and her husband, Charles, enjoy scuba
Erin Osgood began the job April 27. She suc-
diving, travel and cruises. He is the owner of O
ceeds Bob Muenchausen, who retired.
2VJRRG KDV EHHQ LQ WKH RI¿FH DW WKH *UDQW So Good Essentials in John Day, offering mas-
County Courthouse three days a week, while also sage and essential oil services.
The Osgoods have a daughter, Taylor, who
working part-time as the accreditation coordina-
will be in seventh grade at Grant Union Junior-Se-
tor at the Grant County Health Department.
Osgood comes to the job as a veteran. In the nior High School this fall.
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ply specialist and a unit armorer, including a year located at the southwest corner of the Courthouse
in Canyon City.
in Korea.
Hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays, Wednes-
“I love to meet the veterans and listen to their
stories,” she said. She added that she likes “trying days and Fridays. Appointments are preferred but
walk-ins are welcome. Osgood says when the
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Osgood encourages vets and family members 86ÀDJLVÀ\LQJRXWVLGHWKHRI¿FHLVRSHQ
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to come in and learn more about programs they
Osgood takes on duties
for Grant County vets
The Eagle/Scotta Callister
Cajsa Timko holds the big fish caught by brother
Chance at the free fishing day in Prairie City. The
event drew hopeful anglers of all ages to McHaley
Pond for a morning of fishing, games and a barbecue.
The event was hosted by the Confederated Tribes
of Warm Springs, the Oregon Department of Fish
and Wildlife, and the Malheur National Forest. More
photos online at MyEagleNews.com.