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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 11, 2015)
W EDNESDAY , N OVEMBER 11, 2015 N O . 45 18 P AGES $1.00 www.MyEagleNews.com Commission deciding fate of gray wolf status By Eric Mortenson Capital Bureau SALEM — A packed meet- ing room was expected Mon- day, Nov. 9, as the Oregon Department of Fish and Wild- life (ODFW) Commission de- cided whether to remove gray wolves from the state’s endan- gered species law. Livestock producers strongly favor the idea and conservation groups are just as deeply opposed, and a full GD\ RI HPRWLRQDO FRQÀLFWLQJ testimony is likely. The wolf delisting is the only item on the commission’s agenda. State wildlife biologists recommend delisting wolves. Under the state’s wolf recov- ery plan, the commission can take wolves off the endan- gered list if they determine: Wolves aren’t in danger of Patriarch of family LQÀXHQFHVPLOLWDU\SDWK Pattie Melanson served seven years in Marines; two sons currently on active duty Marine Sgt. Patricia Melanson, right, stands with her co- worker while stationed at Camp LeJeune, NC, in 1985. By Angel Carpenter Blue Mountain Eagle C ANYON CITY – Patricia Melanson of Canyon City says her dad was a “big in- VSLUDWLRQ´ LQÀXHQFLQJ KHU DQG many family members to follow his footsteps in the military. “It was the life we grew up in,” she said. Her dad, Hugh Laurance, who formerly lived in Prairie City, was an Army sergeant Hugh major, spending his career in the service. He died in 2012, having served two tours Laurance in Korea, one in Vietnam and four in Ger- many, while raising a family with his wife, Twila, who is also deceased. See PATH, Page A3 Contributed photos Top photo: Brothers Ryan Melanson, left, and Jason Melanson have followed in their parents’ and grandfather’s footsteps. Courtesy of ODFW OR-3, a 3-year-old male wolf from the Imnaha pack in Wallowa County. extinction in any portion of their range; their natural re- productive potential is not in danger of failing; there’s no imminent or active deteriora- tion of their range or primary habitat; the species or its hab- itat won’t be “over-utilized” IRU VFLHQWL¿F UHFUHDWLRQDO commercial or educational reasons; and existing state or federal regulations are ade- quate to protect them. See WOLF, Page A5 Students, staff, have local health option School-based health offers primary care By Angel Carpenter Blue Mountain Eagle JOHN DAY – The School- based Health Center located at Grant Union Junior-Senior High School offers health care for Grant County students and school staff. The health center opened last May, and has their doors open again this school year. “I’m really excited that it’s something we’re able to offer to Grant County to provide them with an alter- native and help keep them in school,” said coordinator Jes- sica Winegar. “It’s just down the hallway for Grant Union students.” She wants to let resi- dents know the services are available for all Grant Coun- ty school-age students and school staff, not just those liv- ing in John Day. Winegar is a registered nurse and also manages the Grant County Health Depart- ment. She said the goal of the school-based health center is to work with families to pro- vide health services, regard- less of ability to pay. Family nurse practitioner Karen Triplett is at the school 10 hours a week, 8 a.m.-12 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and 1-3 p.m. Wednesdays. She can prescribe medication, if needed. Registered nurses Winegar or Jenni Workman are avail- able on Tuesdays from 12-5 p.m. The health center has two new staff members, including Cindy Baker who provides staff support at the health cen- WHURI¿FHDW*UDQW8QLRQ 7KHRI¿FHLVORFDWHGDWWKH north end of the school inside the main building. See HEALTH, Page A3 O N THE TOWN Seneca: Small town boasts a golf course, shooting range %\&KHU\O+RHÀHU Blue Mountain Eagle SENECA – Whoev- er coined the saying “Big things come in small pack- ages” just might have had Seneca in mind. Not many towns with a population of 200 can boast having their own 9-hole pas- ture golf course and shooting range, not to mention a hand- ful of businesses – offering gas, food, groceries and lodg- ing – and a spacious commu- nity park with a variety of amenities and features. All this, plus some of the most picturesque scenery and prime hunting grounds Oregon has to offer. Seneca Mayor Andrea Combs grew up on a ranch in Bear Valley and attended Seneca School. She returned to the area in 1998 with her husband, John, and knows what a special place it is. “I love this town and the people in it,” Combs said. “We, John and I, have worked to make a life here not because we were stuck and didn’t have any other op- tions, but because we knew there was no better place to raise our children than in this small town,” she said. City recorder/manag- er Josh Walker spent much of his youth in Seneca, and moved his family back there to make their home after he and his wife, Mindy, finished their careers in the military. to those who have courageously risked their lives fighting for our freedoms. 541-575-1631 A PROUD SALUTE Grant County Courthouse Grant County VETERAN SERVICES OFFICE See TOWN, Page A5 Eagle file photos The small but active community of Seneca boasts a school, several businesses, a park, shooting range and 9-hole golf course.