News
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
A9
LETTERS
Continued from Page A4
Adding value to
our public lands
Since it was founded for
research purposes in 1940,
much has been said about the
Starkey Experimental Forest
& Range in the Blue Moun-
tains.
It has not ignored contro-
versy in its research. Indeed,
ongoing research on motor-
ized and nonmotorized ac-
cess to our public lands, road
densities and the response of
elk to these human activities
has stirred up a hornet’s nest
in some circles. Groups such
as Backcountry Hunters &
Anglers appreciate Starkey’s
science-based approach to the
management of our national
forests, and we strongly sup-
port its continuing efforts.
Our members know that those
of us who generally avoid
motorized areas to hunt elk
have better success rates.
These areas also represent the
best of the backcountry sol-
itude we seek. While access
is essential, we strongly urge
land managers to reduce road
redundancies where possible
as they consider revisions to
their land management plans
for the forests of the Blue
Mountains.
Motorized travel in our
forests must be compatible
with the needs of wildlife
and the health of the habitat.
New Starkey research into the
mule deer population decline
is also welcome news. And
new research into the impact
of predators, such as bear and
cougar, can’t and won’t be ig-
nored at Starkey.
Research is never perfect,
but the bottom line is Starkey
is adding value to our public
lands by providing a road-
map for their best use by all
groups. We thank them for
their efforts.
Brian Jennings, outreach
coordinator
Backcountry Hunters &
Anglers - Oregon
Please comment
on proposed
timber sale
In its July 29 edition, this
newspaper published a legal
ad announcing that the Starr
Aspen timber sale preliminary
Environmental Assessment
(EA) was available for public
review and comment for 30
days. The preliminary EA can
be read in the “projects” page
RADIO
Continued from Page A1
“Magic Valley Televi-
sion was the station’s tag-
line,” said Gray, who can
still readily recall the var-
ious station call letters he
worked for and the dates he
was employed.
Of the stories he has
stockpiled over the years,
and there are a lot of them,
two stand out in particu-
lar, and they endear him to
Grant County and the peo-
ple who call it home.
“A day or two after 9/11,
Dave Barntish (owner of
Prime Time Video) came
into the station in the morn-
ing and challenged people
to contribute $100 towards
the relief effort. By 7 p.m.
that night we had over
$40,000 in contributions
from the community,” Gray
recalled. “This communi-
ty has never failed to open
its pocketbooks to someone
who needs help.”
Another time, it was
Gray himself who needed
help, and the community
responded. This followed
an automobile accident in
1996 that left him with two
crushed feet. During the
six-month period he was
laid up afterwards, Gray
said he didn’t have to cook.
“People just kept stop-
ping by and dropping off
meals. I don’t think I fixed
one meal during that six
months,” he said.
Looking back on a ca-
reer spanning over 50 years,
Gray, who started out play-
ing 45s as a teen on week-
of the Malheur National For-
est website.
The proposed timber sale
is located eight miles north of
Seneca. Logging will occur
on 1.6 square miles.
The forest plan for the
Malheur National Forest has
guided forest activities for
over three decades. The forest
plan prohibits logging trees
larger than 21 inches in diam-
eter.
The Starr Aspen EA indi-
cates the forest plan will be
amended to allow trees larger
than 21 inches in diameter to
be logged.
Please submit comments
on this proposed timber sale
before Aug. 27. Electron-
ic comments should be sent
WR FRPPHQWVSDFL¿FQRUWK-
west-malheur-bluemoun-
tain@fs.fed.us.
Dick Artley (USFS
retired)
Grangeville, Idaho
Try howling with
the dogs
My late husband joined the
-RKQ 'D\ YROXQWHHU ¿UH GH-
partment along with a friend
in February 1967. When the
¿UH VLUHQ VRXQGHG GXULQJ D
meal or the middle of the
night, Jim was off on a run
and sometimes didn’t return
until dawn, smokey, dirty and
tired. He would then clean up
and go off to work for the day.
I remember an incident he
related that happened in the
early seventies during a sum-
mer Monday night training.
The Scott air packs were be-
ing recharged, and the pump
was noisy. A disgruntled
neighbor loudly announced,
“I’m not getting any sleep!”
6WDQ3KLOOLSVWKH¿UHFKLHI
simply responded, “Neither
DUHWKHVH¿UHPHQ´
When I read a letter in
the newspaper about a citi-
zen complaining because the
alarm woke them up, I’m
reminded that we should be
thankful there are those that
will leave home to sometimes
risk life and limb for others. I
suppose there will always be
grumpy individuals for whom
creature comforts always
FRPH¿UVW
Here’s a suggestion if
someone can’t deal with the
VRXQG RI WKH ¿UH DODUP -XVW
vent your frustrations. Go
outside and howl with the
dogs!
Mary Jane Allen
John Day
ends, says he’d do it all over
again in a heartbeat; he has
no regrets.
“It’s a lot more automat-
ed now,” he said. “It used to
be very hands on, we phys-
ically manipulated things,
and now it’s pretty much all
computerized.”
But while some things
changed,
others
did
not.
“We still do the small
town things,” he said of
the KJDY experience, “...
an announcement about a
lost dog or relaying infor-
mation that comes over the
dispatch. We try to be a part
of the community... be there
for our listeners.”
Radio, said Gray, will
probably always be around,
but it will continue to
change with the times. The
latest innovation he is privy
to is smart phones that will
have the capability to access
FM stations.
“The technology to do
that is in place,” he said,
and it’s only a matter of
time.
Speaking of time, hav-
ing a little more of it on his
hands is something Gray is
looking forward to as his
impending retirement nears.
He’s “cautiously optimistic”
that will happen by Sept. 1,
pending FCC approval of
the station license transfer.
“I don’t have any big
plans yet, relax a little,
maybe sleep in a little more.
We’ll see how it goes,” he
said.
One thing is certain,
however, he said. He and
his wife, Peggy, won’t be
moving any time soon from
the area and community
they, too, call home.
Quality Healthcare Close To Home
170 Ford Road, John Day • 541-575-1311 • www.bluemountainhospital.org
Tobacco-Free
Campus
Blue Mountain Hospital District
(BMHD) serves as a model in
promoting good health by
influencing public attitudes
about the use of tobacco
products. BMHD is committed
to promoting health, wellness,
prevention and the treatment
of diseases, as well as to
providing a safe, clean and
healthy environment.
Due to this motivation and our
desire to provide a healthy
environment for our patients,
families and staff, a Tobacco
Free Campus has been
adopted for all Blue Mountain
Hospital District properties
including the Annex and Care
Center. This has been in
effect since July 1, 2015. We
appreciate your cooperation
in improving
the health of
our
community.
2015, Blue Mountain Hospital
District will provide laboratory
draw services beginning at
7AM, Monday through
Friday. Registration will be
open at 6:30 AM for your
convenience.
Also, in the
interest of
improving
patient
satisfaction,
effective
August 10,
Blue Mountain Hospital Foundation would like to
thank all of our donors who made contributions
in July 2015
Greg & Melody Jackson, Tom Bridges, Brian Donahue, Deanna Fox, Tony & Carmen
Gardner, Dan & Jen Goldblatt, Patricia J. Keith, Kara Kohfield, Ansel & Judy Krutsinger,
Angela R. Lusco, Tami L. Manderscheid, Craig W. Maxwell, Mark & Jenelle Moulton,
Barbara Oliver, Sarah Russ, Loren & Piper Stout, Keith Thomas, Cydy Fox, Julie & Mark
Witty, and Leslie K. Ricker
Dan & Jen Goldblatt
Gardner Enterprises, Inc., Bar WB, Rolf & Judy Jarnes
Greg & Melody Jackson, Gary & Virginia Miller, Bank of
Eastern Oregon, Outpost Restaurant & Lounge, Len’s Drug, Oster Professional Group, and
KDJY
Rober & Nita Van Voorhis, Malheur Lumber, Northwest Quadrant Wealth
Management, Keith Thomas, and Cyndy Fox
C.T.S. Partnership
OTEC and Tim & Tracie Unterwenger
BLUE MOUNTAIN
CARE CENTER
Resident of the Month
Reba Berry
Blue Mountain
Hospital District
Presents
August
Visiting Specialists
5th - Dr. Barrett - Bend Urology
6th - Dr. Petropoulos - Bend Cardio
7th - Dr. Sandefur - Baker Ortho
12th - Dr. McLellan - Bend Cardio
18th - Dr. Rushton - Baker Podiatrist
21st - Dr. Sandefur - Baker Ortho
26th - Dr. McLellan - Bend Cardio
Reba was born on October 5, 1954 to
Edna and Auther Dickens at home in
between John Day and Canyon City.
She married Steve almost 44 years
ago. They have 2 sons. She raised her
family in Mt. Vernon. She has lived in
Oregon most of her life. She has 3
brothers and 3 sisters and is the baby
of her family.
Reba has 3 granddaughters and a
great grandson.
Reba was very involved in her
children’s lives while they were
growing up and she did a lot of
babysitting.
Reba enjoys crocheting, reading,
visiting with friends and old time rock
and roll music. She also enjoys playing
bunco.
Reba came to the Blue Mountain Care
Center on April 15, 2009.
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