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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (June 15, 2016)
A10 Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, June 15, 2016 WEDNESDAY June 15, 2016 Contributed photo/Lindsey Wyllie Long Creek’s GW Clark competes in steer wrestling at the Oregon High School Rodeo State Finals last week in Prineville. Although he came up short at state, Clark finished the season 10th overall in the event. He qualified to attend the Silver State International Rodeo in Winnemucca in both steer wrestling and team roping. The Eagle/Angel Carpenter Runners make an uphill climb at the start of Saturday’s Gold Rush Run and Walk 5K in Canyon City. Leading out the group are Nicholas Smith (217) of Wisconsin and Mark Kerstens of Massachusetts. Both are staying in John Day while working for the Forest Service this summer. Smith won overall with a time of 18:49. Gold Rush runners celebrate ’62 Days By Angel Carpenter Blue Mountain Eagle CANYON CITY — A drop of the golden nugget into a pan signals the start of the Gold Rush Run and Walk 5K. The Canyon City event kicked off Satur- day’s ’62 Days festivities. The winner of the event with a time of 18:49 was Nicholas Smith of Wisconsin who is staying in John Day while working for the Forest Service this summer. Sheila Comer of Canyon City won overall for women racers with a time of 25:16. Plenty of sunshine made the race enjoyable for the 25-plus competitors. “We’re glad to do it and keep the tradition,” said organizer Hugh Snook. He said the race started in 1975 and went by the wayside for 8-9 years in the late ’90s until he restarted it in 1999. Snook is a former longtime Canyon City resident, now living in Salem; he said he en- joys keeping in touch with friends from Grant County. He noted the entry fee for the race covers the costs of the event for race bibs, T-shirts and food. “The purpose of the event is to add to com- munity life and celebrate our history as part of ’62 Days,” Snook said. JOHN DAY — Grant County Stockgrowers Ranch Rodeo ac- tion starts up at 9 a.m. Saturday, June 18, at the Grant County Fair- grounds. The rodeo, sponsored by sev- The Eagle/Angel Carpenter Organizer Hugh Snook, left, gives route instructions to the Gold Rush runners and walkers. More photos online at MyEagleNews.com eral local businesses, will have competitors vying for a Top Hand Buckle for the high money win- ner, and there is a 100-percent event payout. The IZ Ranch has donated a Top Horse Headstall. Events include: Open Calf Branding (four-person team), Women’s Calf Branding (four-women team), Team Doc- toring (four-person team), 60 Plus branding (two ropers ages 60 and older; two ground crew, any age) and Team Load and Tie (four-per- son team). Entry fee is $25 a person for each event. All proceeds benefi t the Grant County Stockgrowers Association. For pre-entry, call Jessica at 541-477-3880. For more infor- mation, call Mike at 541-620- 0945. Geocachers to visit Grant County bridges By Angel Carpenter Mary Jane Lanier, left, her mom Jody Tuttle and Lanier’s son Riley, along with Molly the dog, sit outside the Grant County Chamber of Commerce in John Day ready to set out on their geocache hunt last year. Blue Mountain Eagle JOHN DAY — This weekend’s “Bridges of Grant County” Geocoin Challenge is expected to bring dozens of geocachers from around the state and beyond to the county. The challenge starts Satur- day, June 18, with “passports” handed out at 9 a.m. at the Historic Church yard, 261 W. Main St. in John Day; pass- port will be available at that location all day. A no-host dinner will be held at 5 p.m. at the Outpost Restaurant. Geocachers use GPS units or smartphones to enter coor- dinates in what is becoming a popular “treasure hunt” activ- ity. Those participating in this year’s event will take a path which includes Canyon City, John Day, Mt. Vernon, Day- ville, Kimberly and Monu- ment. Long Creek cowboy also qualifies for SSIR in team roping Blue Mountain Eagle Grant County Stockgrowers Ranch Rodeo to stir up competition Blue Mountain Eagle Clark ends season 10th overall in steer wrestling PRINEVILLE — Long Creek’s GW Clark punched his ticket to the Silver State International Rodeo at last week’s Oregon High School Rodeo Association State Finals in Prineville. The top 20 contestants in each event com- peted in two go-rounds with the top contestants moving on to a fi nal round. Clark competed in steer wrestling, team roping and calf roping. Even though he came up empty handed in steer wrestling at the state fi nals, he fi nished the season in 10th place overall, his mother, Toni, said. In team roping, Clark and his partner, Corrie Hirschbock of Klamath Falls, placed fourth in the fi rst round with a time of 13.43. In the second round, they placed 10th with a time of 34.01. They ended up tying for 13th overall on the year, Toni said. The top four in each event qualifi ed for the National High School Finals Rodeo in Gil- lette, Wyoming, and the fi fth- through 15th- placed athletes qualifi ed for the Silver State International Rodeo June 27 through July 3 in Winnemucca, Nevada. Clark qualifi ed in both steer wrestling and team roping. Clark competed in calf roping in Prineville as well, missing his fi rst calf and placing 10th in the second round with a time of 20.88. He fi nished 17th overall for the year, Toni said. Clark also competed in an NRA rifl e and trap shoot where the top four qualify to com- pete for scholarships at the national rodeo in Wyoming. He placed third but does not plan to attend the national contest. Clark, who recently completed his junior year at Monument High School, rides with the Harney County High School Rodeo Club. GU’s Moulton earns All-State softball honors File photo “It’s going to be a fun route,” said Tammy Bremner, one of the Geocoin Challenge organizers and a member of the Chamber of Commerce board. She said some of the bridg- es are pretty, and the activity will be a good excuse to get out to see the scenic views in Grant County. Those who fi nd 15 geo- caches will receive a 2016 Bridges of Grant County trackable geocoin, and the fi rst fi ve people to fi nd all 25 geocaches in the challenge will receive the 2014, 2015 and 2016 coins. Last year’s goecaching challenge, which included travels through Logan Valley, drew 130 people, and 97 of those visitors stayed in area hotels. Bremner said she’s espe- cially glad people will have the opportunity to travel to Monument. “It’s a neat community,” she said. “Hopefully, this will make people want to go back.” File photo Grant Union Prospector Mariah Moulton doubles in the May 13 game against Riverside/Arlington. Moulton was named to the 3A All-Oregon Softball second team. “I’m very happy for Mariah,” said Grant Union head softball coach DeAnna Nash. “State recognition for athletes from the east side at the 3A level can be difficult to achieve. The all-state selections are well-represented by our league, and that is also nice to see.”
