News %OXH0RXQWDLQ(DJOH :HGQHVGD\1RYHPEHU Student musicians harmonize for October treat Seven students head to honor band, choir By Angel Carpenter A3 BEO announces dividends and quarter earnings Blue Mountain Eagle Blue Mountain Eagle TOWN Continued from Page A1 Kowing said they are also in the planning stages on making improvements at the town’s park, which include upgrading the play equipment and putting in a walking path. The entire town underwent a transformation in 2009 with a safety and enhancement project that included new side- walks, vintage street lamps, improved curb and storm drainage upgrades and brick paving along Main Street and WKH+LJKZD\DQGLQWHU- section. The Silver Spur restau- rant is under new ownership, effective Nov. 1. Dawnna Reed, Samitha Hollingsworth and Darrinn Manuel bought the restaurant from longtime owners Dale and Clay Finley. Only a name change is planned for the time being, to Racers Restaurant – Reed said they are NASCAR fans. Beyond that, the trio plan to just “grad- ually improve on Finley’s suc- cess,” Reed added, maintain- ing the same hours and menu customers have come to know and enjoy. Anderson said, “We’re an- ticipating a great contribution to the community from the new owners, and also give thanks to Dale and her service over the years.” He added the old Mt. Ver- non Middle School property is owned by Oregon Telephone, who has been using it for equipment storage. As far as cleanup of the Mt. Vernon Mo- tel, which burned in a Septem- Eagle photos/Angel Carpenter The Grant Union combined choir performs at the fall concert, led by music director Mary Ann Vidourek. )OR\G WURPERQH DQG FKRLU members Devon Vargas, Nikki Jones, Tiana Allen and Avery Lenz. Chloe Bentz and Annie Wall will take part in the Nov. 20-23 Western Interna- tional Band Clinic in Seattle. Last summer, Grant Union senior choir mem- ber Devon Vargas toured Europe with Kelsey Long FKRLU DQG 0DUWD )DXONQHU EDQG IOXWH JUDGX- ates, and Grant Union music director Mary Ann Vidourek Performing with the other junior high band as Ambassadors of Music. members are (back row) Caleb Dilley, left, Sierra The group, which includ- Cates, Peyton Neault and Madison Spencer; (front ed student musicians from 18 row) Gabriel Torres, Levi Carpenter and Katie Allen. states in the U.S., performed in concert in the United King- cians have been selected for cluding band members Chloe dom, Germany, Italy, Swit- honor band and honor choir %HQW] ÀXWH 6DP %HQW] zerland, Austria and France Nov. 9-10 in Hermiston, in- VD[RSKRQH DQG 6DPDQWKD during the 16-day trip. EHU ¿UH $QGHUVRQ VDLG the city is in the legal stages of that effort. The town boasts a spacious community center at the cor- ner of Ingle and Cottonwood streets, which received a com- plete reconstruction nearly 10 years ago, and is the site of several functions and fundrais- ers. The Mt. Vernon Grange Hall a mile east of town also hosts several events through- out the year. Mt. Vernon, which has a SRSXODWLRQ RI .RZLQJ said, is home to active com- munity groups such as Cinna- bar Mountain Rendezvous and the Grant County Piecemakers Quilt Guild. The Rendezvous organizes such events as the annual Ren- dezvous weekend – with lum- berjack contests and parade during Memorial Day, and a Halloween party at the com- munity center. The Quilt Guild meets monthly at the Shiny Thimble Quilt Studio and hosts the annual Grant Coun- ty Quilt Show each autumn. Members share their talents through goodwill activities in the community. In a recent endeavor, the group present- ed nearly 100 locally crafted quilts to Canyon Creek Com- SOH[¿UHYLFWLPVDWDVSDJKHWWL dinner night out. Just outside Mt. Vernon is Clyde Holliday State Park, one of only two Oregon state parks in Grant County, offering near- by day and overnight recre- ational opportunities along the scenic John Day River. Anderson pointed out the town’s strong and active vol- XQWHHU ¿UH GHSDUWPHQW ZKLFK is under the leadership of Chief Bill Cearns. The department holds several events annually including an Easter Egg Hunt in the park, and in November, a food basket drive for elderly folks in town and a holiday ba- zaar. Anderson, who grew up in Prairie City, moved back to Mt. Vernon with his wife Carla, a Mt. Vernon native, in 1997. He is almost midway through his term as mayor, and previously served on the city council. Mt. Vernon’s councilors include Mike Cearns, Wayne Saul, Eva Dougharity and Jan Lowry. Anderson said, “We all work toward common goals and anticipate participation in good things for our communi- ty.” Debbie Ausmus 245 South Canyon Blvd. John Day, OR 97845 OPEN WED. & THUR. 9 am - 5 pm 541-575-1113 24 hrs/7 days wk debbie.ausmus@ countryfinancial.com Be au f ul l D o w n t own a ut ti ifu ow o wn P r ra a ir ie C i ty ty G rant County’s Most U nique S hop Everything you need this Holiday Season • H olida y decora tions • Fine w ine • Vis itor Inform a tion • Full line of H a rdwa re • H a ndcra fted Beer • Europ ea n Chocola tes Open Mon-Sat 8am-6pm 541-820-3739 3 Ž3‘“¨Ž3­œ¦3Š3¡ŽŠ£œš3¤œ3£˜“—Žဘ Dr. Norm DeJong, DDS MPH PC Melanie DeJong RDH Family Dentistry 541.820.4369 888.820.4369 New Patients and Emergencies Welcome Prairie City Huffman’s MARKETS Prairie City • 541-280-3588 Kowing, who has been the city recorder for 2-1/2 years, lives in Canyon City; unlike the mayor and councilors, Mt. Ver- non residency is not required for her. But, with as much time as she spends in Mt. Vernon, she said she feels a close bond with the town. Anderson spoke highly of Kowing and the “excellent job” she does as city recorder. “I can’t express how much the council appreciates her sup- port,” he said. City council meetings are held the second Tuesday of the month. Mt. Vernon City Hall hours DUH DP SP DQG FORVHG from 12:30-1:30 p.m. For more information, call HEPPNER – The Bank of Eastern Oregon, or BEO, announced the Board of Di- rectors of BEO Bancorp voted to declare a $.70 per share div- LGHQGIRU$QLQFUHDVHRI 16.7 percent over last year’s shares of $.60 President and CEO Jeff Bai- ley said, “The dividend will be paid to shareholders of record DVRI'HFSD\DEOHRQ RUEHIRUH'HF´ According to Board Chair- man Gary Neal, “BEO Ban- corp has paid a dividend 29 of the past 30 years. Dividends DUHDUHÀHFWLRQRIWKH¿QDQFLDO VWDELOLW\DQGSUR¿WDELOLW\RIWKH bank. We are very happy to be able to provide this dividend to our shareholders.” “The support of our share- holders, communities and employees have made it pos- sible for us to succeed. We are pleased to be in a position to provide this dividend to our shareholders,” said Bailey. Year to date earnings rose SHUFHQW LQ IRU %(2 Bancorp and its subsidiary, Bank of Eastern Oregon. The bank announced con- solidated third quarter earn- ings of $761,000 compared to $679,000 in 2014. The bank also reported a 10 percent increase in total assets, to $341.1 million. Net loans of 282.1 million FAMILY HEALTH were up 11.3 percent from the same period in 2014, while de- posits increased 9.2 percent to $301.3 million. “Earnings for the quarter are strong when compared to last year and year to rate numbers are slightly better than 2014. Growth in deposits, loans and assets are primarily attributed to the acquisition of Bank Reale earlier this year,” said Bailey. &KLHI 2SHUDWLRQV 2I¿FHU Gary Propheter said, “The Fed- eral Reserve continues to hold interest rates steady. It will be interesting to see whether or not the Fed raises rates during fourth quarter or if they keep with the status quo.” BEO Bancorp is the hold- ing company for Bank of Eastern Oregon, which oper- ates 13 branches and six loan SURGXFWLRQ RI¿FHV LQ WZHOYH eastern Oregon and 1 eastern Washington counties. Branch- es are located in Arlington, Ione, Heppner, Condon, Irri- gon, Boardman, Burns, John Day, Prairie City, Fossil, Moro, Enterprise and Pasco; loan SURGXFWLRQ RI¿FHV DUH ORFDWHG in Hermiston, Ontario, Pendle- ton, Island City, Lakeview and Madras. Bank of Eastern Or- egon also operates a mortgage division, and operates the Pas- co branch under the name of Bank of Eastern Washington. The bank’s website is www.beobank.com. Treatment and Surgery of Foot and Ankle • In-Grown Nails Bunions • Warts • Gout Corns & Callouses Diabetic Foot Screening Foot Odor • Athletes Foot Treatment for pain in feet, shins, heels, knees, lower back. Custom molded orthotics. MICHAEL RUSHTON, DPM Podiatric physician & Surgeon Dr. Rushton is Preferred Providerfor Lifewise and Blue Cross/Blue Shield and a Medicate participant. ÓnÎäÊ£ä̅Ê-Ì°]Ê>ŽiÀʈÌÞ]Ê", | x{£‡xÓ{‡ä£ÓÓ OFFICE HOURS: EVERY OTHER TUESDAY 007: SPECTRE PG-13 A cryptic message from Bond’s past sends him on a trail to uncover a sinister organization. FRI & SAT (3:30) 6:30 9:30 SUNDAY (3:30) 6:30 MON-THURS (4:10) 6:30 THE PEANUTS MOVIE G Snoopy embarks upon his greatest mission, while Charlie Brown begins his own epic quest back home. FRI & SAT (4:00) 7:00 9:35 SUNDAY (4:00) 7:00 MON-THURS (4:10) 7:00 BURNT R Bradley Cooper. A chef, who destroyed his career, tries to redeem himself by spearheading a top restaurant. FRI & SAT (4:10) 7:10 9:40 SUNDAY (4:10) 7:10 MON-THURS (4:00) 7:10 $9 Adult, $7 Senior (60+), Youth 02926 JOHN DAY – The Grant Union student musicians pre- sented a fall concert Oct. 27, which was a melodious treat for the crowd in attendance. Music director Mary Ann Vidourek conducted a range of music, with the combined choir singing “Lightning” by Greg Gilpin, the junior band playing the “Star Wars Main Theme” by John Williams, and the senior band ending on a fun note, with the “Addams Family” theme song by Vic Mizzy which had the audi- ence snapping along. Megan Maxwell, a John Day resident, accompanied the choir on piano. In other music news, the choir attended the Oct. 21 Ione Tri-Co Music Festival. The event gave the choir the opportunity to harmonize with a larger group of stu- dents – the Grant Union choir has only one male member, so singing with more voic- es made the trip especially worthwhile, Vidourek said. Seven Grant Union musi- The doctor speaks Spanish - El Doctor habla Espanol.