Community & History
Blue Mountain Eagle
O UT OF THE P AST
Blue Mountain Eagle
Jan. 2, 1942
75 years ago
Chromite Stock Pile to
be Established in John Day
“The metal reserves de-
partment has just issued a
new setup on the purchase of
chromite ore,” Earl K. Nixon,
director of the state depart-
ment of geology and mineral
industries, announced in a
letter to the local offi ce of the
department.
“The price of high grade
chromite has been upped to
$50.70 per ton for 48 per cent
Cr. 203 with a three-to-one
iron ratio; 45 per cent ore is
accepted in this bracket with a
penalty for lower chrome and
lower iron ratio that brings
the fi gure down to $40 pet
ton. the so-called lower grade
chromite, that is 40 per cent,
has been upped in price to a
$28 base,” Mr. Nixon stated.
“Stockpiles will be desig-
nated within 100 miles of the
mines that produce the ore.
Probably a stockpile will be
designated in the John Day
area, but I have no informa-
tion of this yet. The prices
stated are for stockpile, and I
understand Mr. Smith, head
of the metals reserve depart-
ment, to state that the gov-
ernment would take care of
sampling, assaying and ac-
ceptance,” Mr. Nixon said.
“We have prepared a ques-
tionnaire to send out to all
chrome owners and operators
as we are working with local
bankers, the Oregon Econom-
ic council, mining associa-
tions and county agencies to
try to get this chromite mov-
ing out of the hills,” the direc-
tor said.
Blue Mountain Eagle
Jan. 5, 1967
50 years ago
Favorable Snow Depths
Forecast Good Summer
Prospects for an improved
irrigation situation for Grant
county this summer are favor-
able, reports Len Dugan, SCS
work unit conservationist.
With the exception of Beech
Creek, snow course readings
in the county are above both
last lear’s and the average
snowfall is needed this year
due to doughy-like conditions
of the past summer. The SCS
snow survey was taken during
the last week of December.
Snow depth at Beech Creek
was 7.7 inches with a water
content of 1.3 inches. Last
year the snow course was 8
inches with a water content
of 1 inch. The average water
content for the snow course is
2 inches.
At Starr Ridge snow was
12 inches deep and had a
water content of 2.5 inches
as compared to 10 inches of
snow with a water content
of 1.2 inches last year. The
average water content is 2.4
inches.
Water content of the
snow at the Izee Summit
was slightly over two inch-
es above last year’s reading.
With 16.5 inches of snow, the
water content was 3.9 inches
as compared to 12 inches of
snow with a water content of
1.8 inches last year. The av-
erage water content for De-
cember at Izee Summit is 3.1
inches.
A marked improvement in
snow depth and water content
over last year was revealed at
the Lake Creek snow course.
According to the snow sur-
vey the depth was 19.1 inch-
es with a water content of 4.5
inches. Last year the snow
depth was 11 inches with a
water content of 2.1 inches.
There is no average water
content fi gure available for
the course.
Blue Mountain Springs
snow course had 26.9 inches
of snow with a water content
of 6.75 inches. A year ago the
snow depth was 15 inches
with a water content of 2.8
inches. The average water
content for the course is 6
inches.
Snow course measure-
ments taken by the Burns dis-
trict of the Malheur National
Forest show a snow depth
of 12.6 inches with a water
content of 2.1 inches at Rock
Spring. This is near normal.
The Idlewild course had
a snow depth of 11.9 inches
of snow and a water content
of 1.7 inches. This is slightly
less than the 1948-62 aver-
age.
Eagle file photo
From Jan. 2, 1992: Chris Yriarte (middle) of
Canyon City shows off her new Mosberg 12-gauge
shotgun she won in a fundraising raffle for the
Grant County Child Center - Kiddie Kastle. The
shotgun was donated by the Whiskey Gulch Gang,
represented by Hugh Farrell, and representing the
center was Elizabeth Boyer. Funds raised will help
offset expenses of running the center located in
Canyon City.
Blue Mountain Eagle
Jan. 2, 1992
25 years ago
Prairie City looks at
closing out its landfi ll opera-
tion
PRAIRIE CITY - During
a regular session of the Prai-
rie City Council on Dec. 10,
1991, Hank Goslin addressed
the topic which is causing
heated discussion throughout
the county.
Roslin said that he felt that
the “little people” were being
forced out of the landfi ll busi-
ness. Goslin then supplied the
council with literature that
he had received concerning
closure procedures, and call
attention to the fact that it
would take fi ve years to close
the landfi ll. Then it could pos-
sibly have to be watched for
30 years afterwards. Goslin
urged the council to look into
beginning the closure process,
due to the length of time in-
volved.
In a related matter, Don
Welch, Prairie City public
works director, said that he
would be meeting with Mary
McGowan of the planning de-
partment to discuss the land-
fi ll problem. His decision to
meet with McGowan is due to
her past work with the Depart-
ment of Environmental Qual-
ity. Welch added that there
is a need for plans and goals
concerning not only landfi ll
issues, but also recycling,
throughout the county. The
Prairie City recycling center,
which just recently opened,
had a good turnout for its fi rst
day of operation, Welch said.
Welch also reported that
he had spoken to Dick Brown,
director of the Grant Coun-
ty Department of Planning
and Economic Development,
concerning the Comprehen-
sive Plan and that the next
meeting will be scheduled for
Jan. 7. He added that as far as
time limits were concerned,
the city was still okay for the
time being. Welch also spoke
to Brent Lake, and suggested
that a preliminary Compre-
hensive Plan be sent to him so
he could review it and suggest
any changes that might need
to be made for the Review
Order.
In other council action:
Tom Hebard, Prairie City
police chief, reported that
there had been more reported
problems with dogs at Wish
Poultry. There had been re-
ports of some poisoned dogs
a few months ago, but as of
late, the department has not
been very busy lately.
Welch reported that the
fl ow meter on the water sys-
tem had been sent in for re-
pairs. This is what normally
regulates the chlorine into the
chlorinator. Until the regula-
tor is returned, the chlorine is
being manually fed into the
water system.
Bob Titus reported that the
Depot Park project was still
underway and steady progress
was being made.
There was some discus-
sion on the Johnson Ave.
project and it was noted that
there was a water line loop
proposed and that this should
be done before the street proj-
ect so that it would not have to
be torn up again.
The architect’s report on the
Blue Mountain Nursing Home
project was presented along
with request no. 6 for payment
in the amount of $13,993.50.
Wednesday, January 11, 2017
A7
The deadline for What’s Happening items is 5 p.m. Friday.
Call the Eagle, 541-575-0710, or email editor@bmeagle.com. For
meetings this week, see our list in the classifi eds on Page A15.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 11
Democrat Party meet and greet
• 6:30 p.m., Canyon City Community Hall, 125 S. Wash-
ington St.
Local Democrats are wel-
come to attend a meet and greet
gathering of the Grant County
HAPPENING Democrats. For information,
call 541-542-2633.
WHAT’S
SATURDAY, JAN. 14
Chili Feed fundraiser
• 12:30-4 p.m., Grant Union Junior-Senior High School in
John Day
A chili feed will be held at the Grant Union cafeteria during
the Prospectors vs. Union basketball games. The dinner, $5
a ticket, offers chili with all the fi xings, cornbread and salad.
Proceeds benefi t Jozie Rude and Kaylee Wright’s Down Under
Sports trip to Australia next summer where they will compete
with international opponents at a track and fi eld event. Tickets
can be purchased from the students, King’s Discount Store or at
the door. For more information about tickets, call Aimee Rude
at 541-206-2421 or Jozie Rude at 541-620-8702.
Second Saturday Ladies Gathering
• 9:30-11:30 a.m., Outpost Restaurant, John Day
Ladies of Grant County are invited to the Second Satur-
day Gathering. The theme is “Yesterday’s Bridge Into Today.”
Kathy Rogers and Lis Davis will present music at the no-host
breakfast. Coffee and tea are complimentary.
Documentary viewing
• 7 p.m., Grantville Theater, Canyon City
The public is invited to attend a showing of a documenta-
ry fi lm featuring Desmond Doss, the fi rst non-combatant to be
awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, and the inspiration
for the 2016 movie “Hacksaw Ridge.”
THURSDAY, JAN. 26
Landowner seminars and annual meeting
• 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Monument Senior Center
The Monument Soil and Water Conservation District will
host its 2017 landowner seminars and annual meeting. Sem-
inar topics include “Land Trusts and Working Land Ease-
ments,” “Controlling Juniper with Herbicide” and an over-
view of the Cavender Wetland Enhancement project. At noon
Monument FFA members will serve a fundraiser tri-tip lunch
at a cost of $8 per plate. The annual meeting will follow the
landowner seminars at 2:30 pm. Those planning on attending
the seminars and lunch are asked to RSVP at 541-934-2141 or
mswcd@centurytel.net.