A8
News
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
VFW essay winners give voice to democracy
First-place
winner
competes at
district level
By Angel Carpenter
Blue Mountain Eagle
JOHN DAY – The Grant
County Veterans of For-
eign
Wars
Post
3597
sponsored the
Voice of De-
mocracy es-
say and audio
contest for lo-
Gregg
cal students.
Starr
This year’s
theme
was
“My Vision for America.”
County VFW Com-
mander and Chief Gregg
Starr announced the win-
ners, all Grant Union se-
niors, last week: Taylor
McCluskey, first place,
$200; Mackenzie Wood-
The Eagle/Angel Carpenter
Winners of the Veterans of Foreign War’s Voice
of Democracy essay contest are Grant Union
students Taylor McCluskey, left, first place, $200;
Mackenzie Woodcock, second, $150; and Joshua
Taynton, third, $100. VFW Commander and Chief
Gregg Starr presented the students with their
awards at the school Nov. 24.
cock, second place, $150;
and Josh Taynton, third
place, $100.
Judging the essays were
Ken Delano, Buzz Gilm-
ore, Jim Jerome and Starr.
A TTENTION G RANT C OUNTY
Starr said he was pleased
with the effort the students
put into the contest, and the
essays showed a love and
respect for the country.
“They were well thought
out,” he said. “They took
Forest Service offers free trees
V ETERANS :
Did you know there may be VA benefits available for
you as a result of your spouses’ military service?
See your Grant County Veteran Services
Officer today for more information,
located at Grant County Court House.
Call 541-575-1631 for an appointment
Open: Mon, Wed, & Fri 10am-4pm by appointment.
Please return
our dog.
the time to do the job, write
and read it, and record
it.”
McCluskey’s essay and
audio recording were for-
warded to the district con-
test in Athena. The state
contest is judged in New-
port.
The state winner re-
ceives a minimum schol-
arship of $1,000 and an
all-expense-paid trip to
Washington, D.C. The na-
tional winner receives a
$30,000 scholarship.
The program is open to
students in grades 9-12.
The VFW post has had
a presence in Grant County
for over 50 years.
The group holds month-
ly meetings on the third
Tuesday of the month at 7
p.m. at the volunteer fire
training hall in John Day
on South Canyon Boule-
vard.
Starr said members of
the VFW are veterans of
foreign wars who were part
of a combat zone.
Blue Mountain Eagle
Fourth-graders are eligible
for a free holiday tree permit
through the U.S. Forest Ser-
vice’s “Every Kid in a Park”
initiative.
Malheur National Forest of-
¿ ces in John Day, Prairie City
and Hines will be open extend-
ed hours, until 5:30 p.m. Thurs-
day, Dec. 3, and open from 8
a.m.-noon Saturday, Dec. 5, to
accommodate fourth-graders
who live outside the area and
can’t get in during regular oper-
ating hours. Students can visit
www.everykidinapark.gov and
follow the instructions to ob-
tain and print a paper voucher,
which can then be presented at
any national forest of¿ ce to re-
ceive the permit.
Students must be present
with the voucher to receive
their pass as well as the free
Christmas tree permit.
Local Malheur National
Forest of¿ ces are at 431 Patter-
son Bridge Road in John Day
and 327 SW Front St. in Prairie
City.
Reward
WHAT’S
HAPPENING
The deadline for What’s
Happening items is 5 p.m. Fri-
day. Call Cheryl at the Eagle,
541-575-0710.
THURSDAY-FRIDAY,
DEC. 3-4
Holiday Dance
Showcase
7 p.m., Grant Union High
School old gym
Dancers in the high school
team and Body, Fitness and
Dance, ages 4 through high
school, will perform in the an-
nual holiday event. Admission
is $5 and a canned food item.
FRIDAY, DEC. 4
Carrie Young Memorial
5:30 p.m., John Day Elks
Lodge
The annual by-donation spa-
ghetti dinner, which includes si-
lent and live auctions, supports
the elderly in Grant County. Pro-
ceeds go toward the purchase of
gifts and every day living items
for patients in local assisted liv-
ing facilities, plus 150 home-
bound elderly and handicapped
people. To donate or for more
information, contact Lucie Im-
moos at 541-620-2098.
SATURDAY, DEC. 5
Two holiday bazaars
9 a.m.-4 p.m., Grant Coun-
ty Fairgrounds, John Day
The Blue Mountain Hospi-
tal Auxiliary bazaar will be in
Trowbridge Pavilion, and the
fairgrounds bazaar will be in
Keerins Hall. Together, they
feature dozens of vendors offer-
ing an array of crafts and other
goods. There will be several gift
drawings in Keerins Hall, and
soup and pie will be available in
the Pavilion. Santa Claus will be
there too, so bring your camera.
Call the fair of¿ ce, 541-575-
1900.
THURSDAY, DEC. 10
Light up a Life
If you have any information, please
contact the Grant County
Sheriff’s Department
541-575-1131
Call the John Day Golf Course Clubhouse
at 541-575-0170 and ask for Jessy or Ronda
NO ONE KNOWS YOUR EQUIPMENT BETTER.
Your AGCO Parts Dealer has the parts you need when you need them.
Hardware, chain, batteries, tillage, belts, cutting parts. We have the quality
parts you need to keep your AGCO equipment running smoothly during
the demanding harvest season.
Highly trained service personnel at AGCO Parts make it all come together,
so you can rest easy. Visit your AGCO Parts Dealer and get the parts and
services you need to “Keep you in the Field” this season. Find out more at
agcoparts.com.
6 p.m., Valley View Assist-
ed Living, John Day
All are welcome to the can-
dlelight remembrance which
honors loved ones who have
died. The service, organized
by Blue Mountain Hospice,
includes readings, music and
refreshments. For more infor-
mation, email sdowdy@blue-
mountainhospital.org.
02991
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Contributed photo
Hospice director
Sylvia Dowdy offers
an introduction at the
2014 Light up a Life
remembrance. This year’s
event will be at 6:30
p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10,
at Valley View Assisted
Living in John Day.
FRIDAY, DEC. 11
Forest plan meeting
6-9 p.m., Grant County Re-
gional Airport, John Day
The public meeting is part of
a series scheduled by the For-
est Service to discuss the Blue
Mountains Forest Plan Revi-
sion. The topic will be “Pace and
Scale of Restoration,” presented
by Malheur National Forest. A
facilitator will be present to en-
sure those attending have time
to speak, listen and propose
solutions.
Community choirs
debut performance
7 p.m., United Methodist
Church, John Day
The Juniper Arts Council
presents Youth Arts Program
students in an evening of holi-
day music and more. Admission
is by donation and proceeds
bene¿ t the Youth Arts Program.
FRIDAY-SATURDAY,
DEC. 11-12
Christmas Mt. Vernon
9 a.m.-4 p.m., Mt. Vernon
Severals businesses in Mt.
Vernon have teamed up to pres-
ent an annual holiday shopping
feast of handcrafted items and
gifts, door prizes and refresh-
ments. Participating merchants
include: Shiny Thimble Quilt
Studio at the northeast corner
of highways 26 and 395; Lou’s
Heartfelt Quilting, 430 Moun-
tain Blvd., Maudean Brown’s
home, 711 Mountain Blvd.; Pa-
tricia Ross, and friends, arts and
crafts studio, 311 Ingle St.; and
Racers Restaurant – formerly
the Silver Spur – offering hot
chocolate and coffee for half
price. Watch for the red and
green balloons. Call 541-932-
4503 or 541-932-4707 for more
information.
SATURDAY, DEC. 12
AARP Smart Driver
course
9 a.m.-4 p.m., John Day Se-
nior Center
Topics include defensive
driving techniques, safety strat-
egies, and new traf¿ c laws and
rules of the road. Those attend-
ing should bring a lunch. The
cost is $15 for AARP members
and $20 for all others. Sign up
at the senior center or call Ron
Dowse, 541-575-4268 or 541-
792-0587.
Timber Truckers
Light Parade
6 p.m., downtown John
Day
This year’s theme is “An
Old-Fashioned
Christmas.”
Winners will be announced at
the Elks Lodge following the
parade. The entry fee is $10;
preregistration is encouraged.
Call 541-620-4032 or 541-575-
1862.
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#LLFCLCL
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