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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (May 24, 2017)
Pettit, Wright, Hutchison win titles. Grant Union girls place second. Complete coverage Page B1 BACK AGAIN EO Media Group Kathy Aney Monument’s Sophie Pettit lets out a victorious yell after winning the 1A girls 100-meter dash Friday at the OSAA Track and Field State Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene. The Blue Mountain EAGLE Grant County’s newspaper since 1868 W EDNESDAY , M AY 24, 2017 • N O . 21 • 20 P AGES • $1.00 C ONGRATULATIONS , CL ASS OF 2017 G RANT U NION H IGH S CHOOL AND H OME - SCHOOLERS GRADUATES ! P AG E S A8-A9 Forest plan revision will be followed by travel management planning Beverlin encourages public to submit concerns about road closures By Rylan Boggs Blue Mountain Eagle The Malheur National Forest will wait until its for- est plan revision is complete before moving on to the re- quired travel management plan. Malheur National Forest Supervisor Steve Beverlin gave an update on the Mal- heur forest’s travel plan to the Grant County Court and members of the public May 10. While the Forest Service hopes to complete its forest plan revision by the end of June, the travel management plan for the Malheur is ex- pected to begin in the spring of 2018, after the forest plan is complete. Beverlin said, in the version of the forest plan currently being revised, Quilters display colors, patterns and memories By Angel Carpenter Blue Mountain Eagle Visitors from near and far admired the workmanship shown in 101 quilts on display in John Day at the 17th annual Grant County Quilt Show. The exhibition is presented by the Grant County Piecemak- ers Quilting Guild with a lot of volunteer help, said guild presi- dent Karen Hinton. She noted several volunteers who are not guild members also assisted with the show, includ- ing Ferguson Surveying staff, which set up the display frames. Guild member Dotty Par- sons said she heard people say- ing it’s a top-notch quilt show. “The variety was awe- some,” she added. “I’ve heard some nice feedback.” “It is really nice to see how the quilters come together,” Hinton said. And it’s all for a good cause. Along with the quilt dis- plays, artwork was also exhib- ited, and vendors had booths with fabric and other sewing items, jewelry and more for sale. The guild uses proceeds from the show to further their work in the community, including giving quilts for babies born at Blue Moun- tain Hospital and for victims See QUILTERS, Page A10 the Forest Service removed portions about “designated routes,” opting to address those issues more appropri- ately in the travel manage- ment plan. Beverlin said a federal rule fi nalized in 2005 required all national forests to undertake travel management planning, but the Malheur is one of few that has not yet done so. A travel plan centers around three parts, he said. The fi rst part — the only one completed on the Malheur — is an analysis of what is need- ed to administer and maintain the road system. The second part of the plan identifi es what trails, roads and areas can be used by motorized vehicles. The third part of the plan identifi es what routes can be used for over-the-snow travel. Beverlin said the public would be able to submit feed- back on the travel plan during comment periods. The feedback process of- ten includes public meetings where people can voice con- cerns and gather information about the project. For each plan and project, a scoping period takes place where the Forest Service can identify important issues and incorporate feedback into a See FOREST, Page A10 The Eagle/Rylan Boggs Malheur National Forest Supervisor Steve Beverlin presents information about the Malheur’s upcoming travel management plan during a Wednesday, May 10, Grant County Court meeting. HIGH DESERT OYSTERS Local residents began the feed to raise money for the golf course By Rylan Boggs Blue Mountain Eagle Hundreds fl ocked to Sen- eca to enjoy fresh oysters last weekend. The annual Seneca Oys- ter Feed is a local tradition, though most are not quite sure when it began. Orga- nizers Andrea Combs and Mindy Walker said it was either 26 or 27. Pete Walk- er, who’s helped with the fundraiser every year, said it might be less. “Everybody argues over that,” Pete Walker said. “I think it’s 23 or 24. There’s a few old timers around here who could tell you exactly, but I don’t know.” According to the Eagle archives, the fi rst oysters were hauled into town in 1992. Pete Walker transported this year’s oysters from the Oregon coast. “You can’t get fresh oysters over here, and our guys drive over on Thurs- day, pick them up and bring them back on Friday so Eagle photos/Rylan Boggs Brady Long prepares oysters at the Seneca Oyster Feed Saturday, May 20. See more photos on Page A10 they’re fresh. They’re right off the oyster beds,” Mindy Walker said. At this year’s festival there were 75 gallons of shucked oysters and 275 dozen oysters still in the shell, according to Mindy Walker. Andrea Combs and Mindy Walker helped organize this year’s event. Local residents began the feed to raise money for the golf course. Mindy Walker said they usually Wendy Ballou batters oysters at the Seneca Oyster Feed Saturday, May 20. raise $2,000-5,000 for the golf course and city park. During the fundraiser, soft- ball and golf tournaments were held with participants from all over the area. Along with all-you-can- eat oysters, attendees had land-based options, and 1188 Brewing provided a beer garden. There was also a raffl e si- lent auction and 50-50 draw- ing that handed out over $1,000 in prizes.
