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)
Business Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, June 29, 2016 Silver Spur is back in the saddle OTEC receives safety award Blue Mountain Eagle Mt. Vernon restaurant returns Oregon Trail Electric Coop- erative has received irst-place honors at the 2016 Northwest Public Power Administration Safety Awards competition. OTEC was up against util- ities across the Paciic North- west, Alaska and California in the annual safety contest, in which awards are based on a review of each utility’s incident rate, which is the number of recordable injury/illness cases, and the severity rate, which is lost work days. Jeff Anderson, OTEC’s Manager of Safety and Loss Control, said it was a great hon- or to be recognized. “This award acknowledges that OTEC’s safety record is well above average and that is attributed to the culture of care we have for one another and a healthy respect we have for the incredible power of electricity,” said Anderson. “It is constantly at the fore- front of all of our operations — whether our crews are working out in the ield on top of a power By Angel Carpenter Blue Mountain Eagle The Silver Spur Cafe in Mt. Vernon is back, and the coffee is on, with a menu full of traditional, stick-to-your- ribs fare. Owners Michelle and Kristofer Johnson opened the Silver Spur in March and held a grand opening this weekend. The restaurant, at 150 Ingle St. in Mt. Vernon, is open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mon- days through Saturdays and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. “The theme of the restau- rant is Western culture, ranching and farming, which is big in this area,” Michelle said, adding the atmosphere is family friendly. Favorites from the menu include hamburgers, chick- en-fried steak and enchila- das. “We hand-bread the chicken-fried steak, and we run out as soon as we make them,” Michelle said. She said the custom milk- shakes and homemade pies are also popular. “A lot of people come here for the milkshakes,” Kristofer added. Pies, soups and gravy are made fresh daily, with bis- cuits baked in-house. Michelle grew up in Mt. Vernon and has a bachelor’s degree in business adminis- tration with a minor in man- agement. She’s been in the restaurant industry for two years as a waitress and cook. The Eagle/Angel Carpenter Michelle and Kristofer Johnson offer a traditional menu at the Silver Spur Restaurant at 150 Ingle St. in Mt. Vernon. She said she looks for- ward to providing good jobs, and hopes to be involved in the community. Kristofer grew up on farms in Wisconsin and Bak- er City. His parents own the Haines Steakhouse, where he was head chef for eight years, and he drove long haul trucks for two years before starting the new business. As kitchen manager, Kris- tofer cuts the meat fresh each day at the Silver Spur. “I like the loyalty we have from our customers,” he said. “They keep coming back, and it shows they like our food and our prices. Before we get here in the morning, they’re here waiting for us.” For more information, call the restaurant at 541- 932-4545. A3 Contributed photo OTEC Manager of Loss Control Jeff Anderson and Director of Human Resources Debby Ray were all smiles as the accepted the first-place Northwest Public Power Administration safety award for 2016. pole or processing documents in the district ofices,” he said. In 2015, between the 150,001-500,000 hour cate- gory, OTEC had no lost time accidents. This, paired with the lack of injury cases, is what put OTEC in the lead for the recog- nition. The awards competition was held at the Engineering and Op- erations Conference in Spokane, Washington. Unemployment rate drops to 7.6 percent Blue Mountain Eagle Grant County experienced its lowest unemployment rate for the month of May this year since 2007. The seasonally adjusted rate fell from 8.8 percent in May of 2015 to 7.6 percent in May of 2016, according to an economic indicators report released by the Oregon Employment Depart- ment Tuesday. Grant County gained an esti- mated 60 jobs over the year. The private sector added 90 The Eagle/Angel Carpenter Michelle and Kristofer Johnson, owners of the Silver Spur Restaurant in Mt. Vernon, welcome customers with their Western theme and traditional menu. jobs, including 20 in mining/ logging, 20 in retail trade, 20 in private education/health ser- vices and 10 in professional/ business services. No private industries lost jobs. The public sector decreased by 30 jobs, with losses in feder- al and local government — 20 each — outpacing a gain in state government. Grant County still has the highest rate in the state. The statewide unemploy- ment rate is 4.5 percent, and the national rate is 4.7 percent. Dental care service aims to help people in need Blue Mountain Eagle A new dental care service, Greater Smiles of Eastern Ore- gon, hopes to put bright smiles on the faces of people who need it most. The charity, based in John Day, will be a cooperative agreement with dentists in private practice to provide services to people who meet a certain criteria for need, such as sliding scale federal poverty inancial guidelines, according to board of directors member Craige McMillan of John Day. Priority will be given to veterans, domestic violence abuse victims, the working poor and children who have no other options for dental care, McMillan said. Bad teeth often hold people back in life and re- sult in health, employment and self-esteem issues, he added. “For those without insur- ance, restoring normal chew- ing function, treating chronic infection or restoring even a simple smile can seem impos- sible,” McMillan said. He said, for some peo- ple, a new smile alone might not be enough to provide the necessary turnaround in life. Through assessments, Greater Smiles will be able to partner with other organizations to Steer for smiles What: Steer rafle to beneit Greater Smiles. When: Drawing will be Sept. 30. Cost: Tickets are $10 each, three for $25, 6 for $50, plus a bonus ticket; or 12 for $100, plus two tickets. Where: Tickets are available at the Austin House, Prairie Gifts and Hardware, True Value Hardware, Ace Hardware, 1188 Brewing Company, Squeeze In, Russell’s Custom Meats, Canyon City Shell, Grant County Chamber of Commerce, Virginia McMillan DDS, Silver Spur in Mt. Vernon, OK Garage in Long Creek and Boyers Store in Mon- ument. help with other issues the per- son might have. Greater Smiles is an out- reach of Christian Communi- cation and Ministry, a 501(c) (3) nonproit. McMillan’s wife, Virginia, is a John Day dentist and also on the Greater Smiles board. The pilot phase of the proj- ect will start in Grant County. After the irst year, the organiz- ers plan to expand the service into Harney County, followed by other areas of Eastern Ore- B REAKING N EWS A LERTS myeaglenews.com/breakingnews Your Rural Fa mily Health Clinic Grant County HEALTH Department 528 E. Main, St. E, John Day Monday - Friday 8am - 5pm Services Provided: Karen Triplett, FNP • 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! TOLL FREE 888-443-9104 or 541-575-0429 Contributed photo Craige McMillan is one of the organizers of Greater Smiles, a new dental care service that aims to put smiles on the faces of those in need. gon, Idaho and Eastern Wash- ington. McMillan said fundraising for Greater Smiles will be a two-step process. He said there are many private foundations in Oregon available to help fund such services as Greater Smiles. However, to get the plan be- fore those foundations, orga- nizers have determined a need of $12,000 for specialized software and fundraising ex- perience. They plan to raise that mon- ey locally, with the rafle of a steer raised by the Voigt ranch, as the irst fundraiser. The prize includes cutting, de-bon- ing and wrapping by Russell’s Custom Meats in John Day. Tickets are on sale at var- ious locations. The drawing will be Sept. 30. However, people can win prizes even before the big drawing. Everyone who pur- chases a ticket gets a big, shiny red button advertising the steer rafle. Fundraiser organizers are out and about looking for people wearing the buttons and are ready to award them a prize on the spot. Terry Williams, who was “caught” leaving the Squeeze In in John Day, won a gift card for lunch for two — coinciden- tally, at the Squeeze In. Toni McCollum, a waitress at the Squeeze In, was wearing her button and won a gift card for chocolate from Flower Shop and More. McMillan said no one in the organization is taking a sal- ary this year, “so almost all the money we raise will go for the tools to target Oregon founda- tions for the funding to take this project across all of East- ern Oregon.” To make a donation, volun- teer or for more information, call Eddie Smith at 541-620- 1895 or contact Greater Smiles at 541-628-7866 or donor@ greatersmiles.org. Visit Greater Smiles at greatersmiles.org. Cowboy Chapel H our KJDY, Sunday, 7 a.m. “Free Fireworks - Die Without Christ” Debbie Ausmus 245 South Canyon Blvd. John Day, OR 97845 OPEN WED. & THUR. 9 am - 5 pm 541-575-1113 24 hrs/7 days wk debbie.ausmus@ countryfinancial.com 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. THE LEGEND OF TARZAN PG-13 Tarzan, having acclimated to life in London, is called back to his former home in the jungle to investigate the activities at a mining encampment. FRI-THURS (12:45) (4:10) 7:10 9:45 Call 541-575-1631 for an appointment INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE PG-13 Two decades after the first Independence Day invasion, Earth is faced with a new extra-solar threat. FRI-THURS Open: Mon, Wed, & Fri 10am-4pm by appointment. (12:45) (4:00) 7:00 9:40 FINDING DORY PG Let our family of Pharmacists The friendly-but-forgetful blue tang fish reunites with her loved ones, and everyone learns a few things about the real meaning of family along the way. FRI-THURS (12:45) (4:20) 7:20 9:35 $9 Adult, $7 Senior (60+), Youth 04080 Steer raffle benefits Greater Smiles serve you! Renaissance Medispa LLC Open for business • Botox, Dysport, Xeomin • Hyaluronic acid fillers- Juvederm, Bolotero • Chemical Medical Peels for photo aging, acne, and melasma Zoe Thompson, RN, is certified through Northwest Laser Institute in cosmetic injectables, medical peels and laser. For confidential free skin consult call or text Zoe at 541-647-4540. Flexible appointment times, including evenings and weekends. Private room inside of Studio 20 at 1326 Hines Blvd in Burns Give us a call today 541-676-9158 - Heppner 541-384-2801 - Condon We welcome the opportunity to visit with you about our services! Heppner & & Condon Heppner Condon
