Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (June 29, 2016)
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY The Blue Mountain EAGLE W EDNESDAY , J UNE 29, 2016 Monmouth boy drowns in John Day River • N O . 26 • 20 P AGES www.MyEagleNews.com Four celebrations planned for 4th Dayville event Saturday features memorial car show for Jake Streeter By Sean Hart Blue Mountain Eagle Blue Mountain Eagle Authorities recov- ered the body of a youth from Monmouth who drowned in the John Day River Sunday near Spray. The body of Cody Lane Watson, 16, was recovered from the riv- er near mile post 82 on Highway 19/207 at about 10 a.m. Monday, Wheeler County Sher- iff’s Office Chief Depu- ty Michael Boyd report- ed. At about noon Sun- day, Wheeler County deputies responded to a report that Watson had disappeared beneath the surface of the river while swimming with friends about 8 miles west of Spray. They were assist- ed by Wheeler Coun- ty Search and Rescue, Wheeler County Fire and Rescue, the Oregon State Police and mem- bers of the Spray Fire and Ambulance depart- ments, which searched extensively without suc- cess. About two hours after the search began, members of the Grant County Fast Water Res- cue Team also respond- ed to help. Boyd said the initial investigation indicated the incident was an ac- cident. “The John Day River continues to be decep- tively dangerous with sudden changes in both the current and the un- derwater features of the riverbed,” Boyd said in the press release. “Swimmers should use extreme caution when swimming in any natural waterway.” • $1.00 Eagle file photo Grayson Schmedeka of Dayville, left, and Kendall Skillings of La Grande at the 2015 Dayville Parade. Dayville, Long Creek, Monument and Prairie City will all proudly display their stars and stripes during the Fourth of July weekend. Several fun events are on schedule, in- cluding parades, fi reworks displays, mu- sic in the park, contests and barbecues. Dayville has a new schedule this year, with their main events on Satur- day, July 2. “I’ve been enjoying Dayville’s 4th of July Celebration for decades,” said city recorder Ruthie Moore. “This year, things are defi nitely different, but I’m sure the event will still be full of fun, family and friends. I am especially look- ing forward to the car show; I think it’s a great way to honor a man (Jake Streeter) who gave so much to the Dayville com- munity. And an evening parade should be lots of fun — come to Dayville, and celebrate with us.” See FOURTH, Page A10 IS SCHOOL WATER SAFE? By Sean Hart Blue Mountain Eagle L ocal schools are testing their water taps for lead, joining a scramble of oth- er Oregon districts who are doing the same. Schools are hurrying to test in the wake of large amounts of lead found in the Flint, Michigan, city wa- ter supply and, more recently, in Portland public schools. Federal law does not require schools test for lead. Al- though the Oregon Board of Education is working on a new rule, current Oregon law only requires schools with their own water supply to test. Most districts in Oregon use city wa- ter systems, which handle their own testing. While pub- lic systems test on a regular basis and treat water to help reduce corrosion, lead in pipes and fi xtures can enter the water at the tap and later into any- one who drinks from it. The Eagle asked all of the school districts in Grant County for records of lead tests. Dayville was the only district that had completed testing, but other districts indicated they plan to test soon. Dayville tested the elementa- ry, high school and gym drinking fountains and the kitchen sink June 9. The results were sent back from Box R Water Analysis Laboratory in Prineville June 24. “Dayville Schools passed the lead test well within accepted (Environ- mental Protection Agency) levels,” Superintendent Kathryn Hedrick re- ported Tuesday. The EPA’s maximum allowed level of lead in drinking water is .015 milligrams per liter. The highest level detected in Dayville was .00374. Local districts testing after lead problems elsewhere See LEAD, Page A10 EO Media Group/Kathy Aney Most area school districts are testing for lead in drinking water at the schools this summer. EO Media Group/E.J. Harris The U.S. Forest Service has said the roadside memorial to Robert “LaVoy” Finicum on Highway 395 north of Burns must be removed. F.S. says Finicum roadside memorial must be removed By Amanda Peacher Oregon Public Broadcasting Supporters of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge oc- cupiers are in confl ict with the U.S. Forest Service and other agencies over an impromptu memorial site for Robert “La- Voy” Finicum, the Arizona rancher killed by law enforce- ment during the occupation. Rocks, fl ags, balloons, photos and fl owers are in place at the remote site along U.S. Route 395 north of Burns, where the spokesman for the armed occupation died in a confrontation with Ore- gon State Police troopers. The Forest Service says the memorial, which sits on Malheur National Forest land, is illegal. “While the placement of a monument or memorial on public land may help some individuals through diffi cult times, these memorials are generally of signifi cance to only those most closely tied to a specifi c person or event,” said Mike Stearly, public af- fairs offi cer with the Malheur National Forest. “Others may feel that memorials intrude on their experience of the forest.” Two men have been guard- ing the memorial for nearly three weeks, in response to several instances when the memorial was altered or dis- appeared completely in the middle of the night. William Fisher, of Salmon, Idaho, and Jamey Landin, of Burns, say these three weeks are the longest the site has been un- touched. “They know we’re there,” said Fisher, referring to any- one who might want to alter the site. “We’re doing some- thing here.” After reaching the 14-day stay limit allowed in the near- by designated campground, the two moved across the road and founded a dispersed campsite. There, they can stay for an additional 30 days. See FINICUM, Page A10
