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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.”