A18 Outdoors/Sports Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, January 6, 2016 Stepping out: Walking group makes sociable strides Strawberry Striders stroll, rain or shine By Angel Carpenter Blue Mountain Eagle JOHN DAY — “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these cou- riers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds” is a phrase well-known for postal carriers, and it could also apply to a local walking group, the Strawberry Striders. 7he walkers, usually ¿Ye or more, can be seen in the neigh- borhood keeping a brisk pace, almost 365 days a year. Doug Smith joined in 1978, when the Striders were a jog- ging club. He said Mike Higgins and Tony Johns started the group in 1975. “It was just a group of peo- ple in town who were interested in running, and they sponsored some races in town,” Smith said. “At that time, there was a run- ning boom going on the in U.S.” As the years haYe passed, the Striders haYe switched oYer to walking, moYing at their indi- Yidual pace. They meet each morning at 7 a.m. near Families First Parent Resource Center at the 400th block of South Canyon Bou- leYard, going from that point up Main Street and turning on the Third Street Extension near John Day City Hall. They take the Bob Miles Trail and Pros- pector Trail along the John Day RiYer to Bridge Street, then loop around the Jimmy Allen Memo- rial Trail at SeYenth Street Com- plex, traYeling back on Bridge to Main Street. They also take an eYening walk at 5:20 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursdays, meeting at the two-story home across from Best Western, walking straight The Eagle/Angel Carpenter The Strawberry Striders walk every day, no matter the weather. The snow-covered ground doesn’t slow them down. From left: Barbara Zak with Bella, Doug Smith, Mike Lenz, Andy Reyes and Mike Cosgrove with Katie. The Eagle/Angel Carpenter Tracks in the snow left by the Strawberry Striders. down Bridge Street to the path at SeYenth Street Complex and on back. If the weather is good, the group will go out for an after- noon bike ride on Sundays. Not much slows them down. Former John Day postmas- ter, Andy Reyes, was walk- ing with the group on a recent chilly morning with snow on the ground. The Eagle/Angel Carpenter The Strawberry Striders walking their route in John Day includes, from left, Doug Smith, Mike Cosgrove with his dog Katie, Barbara Zak with dog Bella, Mike Lenz (in back) and Andy Reyes. “We wear spikes or traction on our feet, and we bundle up and make sure we don’t fall,” he said. “We know where to walk.” One morning, when the wind was whipping and snow blow- ing, just three people showed up for an abbreYiated walk, Smith said. “If there’s bad weather, we kind of shame each other into walking,” he said with a smile, adding some in the group don’t braYe the elements. Smith said he enjoys walk- ing for ¿tness, and the camara- derie. “Usually, after a walk we’ll hang around and socialize,” he said. He said the group is di- Yerse, Yarying in age and back- ground. “You get different ideas and discuss it on the walks,” he said. He said the Strawberry Strid- ers haYe become a tight-knit group, and anyone is welcome to join. “OYer the years, we’Ye had a lot of people who’Ye come and gone, including medical resi- dents and Forest SerYice work- ers,” he said. “We still keep in touch — we get Christmas cards and email.” Some bring a furry friend on the walks, including Barba- ra Zak who said her dog Bella looks forward to it. “She’s so excited — she knows we’re going for a walk, and she has so much fun,” Zak said. Zak, who’s been part of the group for ¿Ye years, said she en- joys the exercise. “I enjoy walking because I’m getting older ... Just because you’re getting older doesn’t mean you haYe to stop exercis- ing,” she said, adding she enjoys socializing. “There, generally, is nothing that stops these Striders from walking — they kind of haYe the postman’s creed,” she said. “Doug’s door is always open for new people interested in being ¿t,” she said. “They’re just the nicest group of people I’Ye eYer met. If eYer you need anything, they’re right there to help.” Where the buffalo roam JD man takes trophy buffalo in three shots By Angel Carpenter Blue Mountain Eagle HANKSVILLE, Utah — Rod Carpenter of John Day claimed a trophy-sized buf- falo — and a freezer full of meat — NoY. 14 on a once-in- a-lifetime hunt. Carpenter and a group of eight friends and family mem- bers traYeled to the Henry Mountains of southeast Utah for the expedition. The area is one of only a few places in the U.S. where buffalo roam freely. After two days on the hunt, Carpenter found the bull, taking it in three shots at 330 yards with his .338 Win- chester magnum. The Boone and Crocket trophy club rated Carpenter’s buffalo in the top 10 for Utah, scoring 124. Carpenter is a nurse anes- thetist at Blue Mountain Hos- pital in John Day and enjoys target shooting at the local range and hunting in his spare time. The 1,200-pound bull yielded 400 pounds of pro- cessed meat. “It tastes Yery good — a little like elk,” he said. He added Joe Hitz of Prai- rie City will make a shoulder mount for him. “It was the best time of my life,” he said. “It was my fourth time applying for the tag.” corn e r’s the 6+ 7 +27 EEK OF THE W ' ,//21 M ALEY School: Grant Union Grade: 10 Parents: Rocky and Deanna Maley Sport: Wrestling What I like best about my sport: “It takes discipline, and it’s a challenging sport that I don’t think a lot of people could play or finish out. You get to spend time with friends from your own team and other teams, and you wrestle more teams than those in your district.” Coach’s Comment: “Dillon works incredibly hard and is a great example for his teammates.” Contributed photo Rod Carpenter, left, is joined by friends and family members during his once-in-a-lifetime bufflao hunt on Nov. 14 in the Henry Mountains of southeast Utah. From left: Carpenter and his son Josh (front), Neil Clayton (Delta, Utah); Abe Johnson (Delta, Utah), Darrel Holliday (John Day), Mark Woodbury (Prairie City), Eric Livingston (Provo, Utah), Doug Hansen (Midvale, Idaho) and brother-in-law Gary Hatton (Gresham). PROS Continued from Page A11 The Prospectors went from a 16-point lead to a 25-point lead in quick order in the third, end- ing the quarter 57-30. Wyatt WeaYer scored off an assist from Trace Gill. Then WeaYer picked up a defensiYe rebound, and Gill scored, and scored again. A few plays later, Wade Reimers made a shot off an as- sist from Brady Burch. Then Reimers oYertook Enterprise halfway down the court. Gill sank two at the free-throw line, and Burch scored. Cauy WeaYer and Clayton Vaughan (with a three) also got in on the scoring. Reimers led the Prospec- tors with 17 points, followed by Burch and Nathan Gehley with nine each. SeYen other teammates contributed to the scoring. Reimers and Vaughan each scored two behind the three- point line, and Wyatt WeaYer had one. “Our team played well,” said Prospector Ricky We- Your Rural Fa mily Health Clinic 100 E. Main ¬6WRSOiJKW in -RKn 'a\ 10 03272 HEALTH Department 528 E. Main, St. E, John Day Monday - Friday 8am - 5pm - Coach Andy Lusco Karen Triplett, FNP Services Provided: Proud sponsor of Grant County athletes Grant County • Primary Care • Acute Care • Women’s Health Exams • Men and Children Exams • Immunizations • Family Planning • Contraception • Pregnancy Testing & Referrals • HIV Testing & Referrals • Cacoon • WIC • High Risk Infants • Maternity Case Management Grant County Health Department does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, or age in admission, treatment, or participation in its programs, services and activitie s, or in employment. Appointments available Call and schedule your appointment today! ickum. “We passed the ball good and played great de- fense — we played selfless team ball.” At the Dec. 28-30 Central Linn Holiday Tournament in Halsey, the Prospectors had one loss and two wins. Facing Toledo, Grant Union was up by 12, only to see its lead slip away when the Boomers cashed in with threes. “We made a couple mis- takes at the end, and they got an offensiYe rebound and made a desperation shot,” Speth said. “We hope, in league, to haYe a couple go our way in those close games.” Grant Union was in the driYer’s seat against Monroe, taking a decisiYe 88-24 win. Facing the 4A Marsh¿eld junior Yarsity, which includes some tall talent — including two players oYer 6-foot-5 — the Prospectors claimed an 80-45 Yictory. Tuesday, Grant Union hosted the Burns Hilanders, past press time, and they were scheduled to traYel to Union Friday for a 7:30 p.m. game and will host Elgin at 5:30 p.m. Saturday. The stats GU boys vs. Enterprise Points/rebounds/assists/steals Wade Reimers: 17/7/0/2 Brady Burch: 9/2/1/6 Nathan Gehley: 9/4/1/1 Zack Deiter: 8/1/1/3 Trace Gill: 8/7/3/1 Wyatt Weaver: 7/5/3/0 Cauy Weaver: 6/9/0/3 Ricky Weickum: 6/3/4/2 Clayton Vaughan: 6/2/0/1 Duane Stokes: 1/4/4/0 Brogan McKrola: 0/0/0/0 Ty McDaniel: 0/0/0/1 Team totals: 77/47/17/20 MEET YOUR LOCAL DENTIST DR. KENT CHERRY ADVANTAGE DENTAL CLINICS Advantage Dental Group, PC 750 West Main John Day, OR 97845 888-468-0022 ext. 61863 www.AdvantageDentalClinics.com TOLL FREE 888-443-9104 or 541-575-0429 Emergencies, most Insurance Plans and Oregon Health Plan Patients are all welcome.Some level of treatment inancing is available to everyone.