Community
Blue Mountain Eagle
FIREFIGHTERS GRADUATE
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
A3
Monument speech and debate duo compete
By Angel Carpenter
Blue Mountain Eagle
FOREST GROVE — Mon-
ument High School sent a start-
up speech and debate team to
the Jan. 8-9 Hap Hingston Fo-
rensics Tournament at Paciic
University in Forest Grove.
It was freshman Sophia Pet-
tit’s second time competing this
school year, and junior Brittani
Hays’ irst, up against about 420
competitors, mainly from larger
schools.
Pettit earned a spot on the
Sophia
Pettit
Brittani
Hays
podium, and a trophy, with a
ifth-place overall inish in Ex-
pository Speaking.
She also placed ninth in Ra-
dio and competed in Impromptu
Speaking.
Hays, a junior, competed for
her irst time in the Impromptu
and Original Oratory categories.
Their speech and debate
coach Earl Pettit, who is also
superintendent/principal, said
he was pleased with both girls’
performances.
“Despite our small size and
limited resources, our speakers
compete at the highest level in
the state due to their dedication
and hours of practice,” he said.
“I am hopeful that this is the
start of a long-lasting and grow-
ing forensics team at Monument
School.”
Prairie City FFA competes in Burns
Blue Mountain Eagle
Contributed photo
Twenty firefighters from Grant and Harney counties graduated from the
Entry Level Firefighter Academy sponsored by the Grant-Harney Training
Association. Back row, from left, Brennan Huffman, Prairie City Fire; Dale
Plemon and Shane Koppel, Seneca Fire; Tony Homan, Monument Fire; Thomas
Taylor Sr. and Thomas Taylor Jr., Long Creek Fire; Kody Stoddard, Canyon
City Fire; and Jordon Walker, Seneca Fire. Middle row, from left, Micha Porter,
Connor King and Marilyn Alexander, Hines Fire; Don and Denise Porter, Long
Creek Fire; and Rocky Desimin, instructor from the Department of Public
Safety Standards & Training. Front row, from left, Ryan Pettyjohn, Matt Wenick,
and Josh Walker, Seneca Fire; Quade Day and Tamara Homan, Monument Fire;
and Nathan Gordanier and Dan Vandehey, Canyon City Fire.
Twenty men and women
complete 60 hours of training
Blue Mountain Eagle
JOHN DAY — Twenty
firefighters from Grant and
Harney counties graduat-
ed on Feb. 14 with certif-
icates of completion from
the 2016 Entry Level Fire-
fighter Academy.
Those
from
Grant
County were Ryan Petty-
john, Matt Wenick, Josh
Walker, Quade Day, Ta-
mara Homan, Nathan Go-
rdanier, Dan Vandehey,
Don Porter, Denise Porter,
Brennan Huffman, Dale
Plemon, Shane Koppel,
Tony Homan, Thomas Tay-
lor Sr., Thomas Taylor Jr.,
Kody Stoddard and Jordon
Walker.
Harney County students
were Mica Porter, Connor
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King and Marilyn Alexan-
der. Rocky Desimin from
the Department of Pub-
lic Safety Standards and
Training was the instruc-
tor.
The academy, which en-
compassed 60 hours over
three weekends, was spon-
sored by the Grant-Harney
Training Association.
BURNS — Several mem-
bers of Prairie City School’s Fu-
ture Farmers of America came
away winners at the Strawberry
Mountain District FFA Career
Development Event Feb. 10 in
Burns.
Both of the Advanced and
Beginning Parliamentary Proce-
dure teams took irst place. Ad-
vanced members were Brianna
Zweygardt, Wyatt Williams,
Amaya Zweygardt, Danner Da-
vis, Sierra Dahlen and Marnie
Woodbury. Beginning mem-
bers were Aries Bice, Declan
Zweygardt, Shaelynn Bice, Jon-
athan Haskins, Emily Ennis and
Carson McKay.
Lane Williams received third
place and Kyla Winton, second,
in the FFA Creed Speaking Con-
test.
In Sophomore Public Speak-
ing, Megan Camarena took third
place and Marnie Woodbury,
second. And in Extemporane-
ous Public Speaking, Amaya
Zweygardt received third place.
Contributed photo
Prairie City School FFA students competed at
the Strawberry Mountain District FFA Career
Development event Feb. 10 in Burns.
Overall, the Prairie City
Chapter brought seven banners
home.
On Monday, Feb. 29, both
Parliamentary Procedure teams,
and members of Creed Speak-
ing and Sophomore Public
Speaking will compete at the
Sectional Career Development
Event in Bend.
A TTENTION G RANT C OUNTY
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.
Subject to $100 minimum charge.
Offer valid for income tax return preparation fees for new clients only. A new client is an individu al who did not use H&R Block office services to prepare his or her 2014 tax return. Valid receipt fo r 2014 tax preparation fees from tax preparer other than H&R Block
must be presented prior to completion of initial tax office interview. May not be combined with othe r offers. At participating offices only. Offer period Feb. 22 – March 31, 2016. To qualify, tax retu rn must be paid for and filed during this period. OBTP#B13696 ©2015
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