SOFTBALL TEAM WINS DISTRICT
The
IN SPORTS,
PAGE B1
Blue Mountain
EAGLE
REECE
JACOBS
Grant County
Wildfire softball
Grant County’s newspaper since 1868
W EDNESDAY , J UNE 28, 2017
• N O . 26
• 20 P AGES
• $1.00
www.MyEagleNews.com
Local crews
contain nine
wildfi res
Blue Mountain Eagle
UNDER THE
RAINBOW
The Eagle/Rylan Boggs
Nine lightning fi res Monday serve as a
reminder fi re season is here.
After a severe thunderstorm passed over
the area on Monday afternoon, Malheur
National Forest fi re crews responded to
seven confi rmed lightning-start fi res on the
forest, according to a Forest Service press
release. Quick response and initial attack
efforts allowed crews to contain all of the
fi res at about 1/10 of an acre. Crews will
continue to staff the incidents and continue
with mop-up efforts, as well as respond to
new reports of smoke.
Crews continue to staff and monitor three
prescribed fi res on the forest. No further
ignitions will take place on the prescribed
fi res, and all active burning is taking place
well within the established perimeters.
Oregon Department of Forestry crews,
also dispatched out of the John Day Inter-
agency Dispatch Center, responded to sev-
eral reports as well. ODF crews staffed and
contained two fi res on state protected lands.
A pile of garbage prepared for pickup at the Rainbow Gathering on Monday, June 26.
Impacts of gathering
are ‘detrimental’ to
natural ecosystem
By Sean Hart
Blue Mountain Eagle
R
ainbow Gathering attendees
have vowed to leave the land
better than they found it, but
Forest Service offi cials said
such a large group in such a
small space will negatively impact the
ecosystem.
Up to 20,000 attendees are expected at
the loosely organized, unauthorized gath-
ering July 1-7 in Flagtail Meadow off of
Forest Road 24 south of John Day. By
Monday, more than 2,500 were at the site.
Also at the site are a variety of sensitive
resources — heritage, wildlife, botanical,
range, aquatic — that will suffer from the
infl ux, Forest Service Agency Administra-
tor Ryan Nehl said.
“Despite best intentions, the amount
of impact from that many people in that
small of space is going to be detrimental,”
he said. “There will be impact, and that’s
what’s been expressed to these individuals
who profess their concern for the environ-
ment: It’s a large forest, disperse.”
Forest Service resource specialists
have fl agged off certain areas to try to
protect resources. Blue Mountain District
Ranger Dave Halemeier and National En-
vironmental Policy Act Planner Sasha Fer-
tig spent days trying to protect the site but
said in a statement in response to questions
from the Eagle many concerns remain.
See GATHERING, Page A6
The Eagle/Rylan Boggs
Sean Claughton, right, plays ping-pong
during the Grub & Grog at the Seventh
Street Complex Friday, June 23.
Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer Jay Norris chats with two
attendees at the Rainbow Gathering on Monday.
Grub & Grog
delights an
adult crowd
Parks and Recreation
considering future events
By Rylan Boggs
Blue Mountain Eagle
Rainbow Gathering attendees relax at their camp on Monday, June 26.
MORE on the Rainbow Gathering inside | See Page A6
The Grub & Grog at the Seventh Street
Complex was a hit with local adults.
The 18 and older event provided live
music from I4NI, food from the Little Can-
yon Food Cart and Veraci Pizza and beer
from 1188 and Suds Pub.
The event was put on by the John Day
and Canyon City Parks and Recreation Dis-
trict. Proceeds benefi t the district.
Local resident Rob Raschio said he was
thoroughly enjoying the music, food and
beer and would go to similar future events,
if offered.
See PARKS, Page A10
New medical responders trained in Monument
Firefighters, residents
certified to respond
in emergencies
By Sean Hart
Blue Mountain Eagle
Contributed photo
Thirteen students graduated from an emergency medical responder
class held in Monument. Back row, from left, Jeff Schafer, Earl Pettit,
Quade Day, Peter Case, Jennifer Garinger, Ed Studtmann and Jeremy
Boyer; front row, from left, Melody Holmes, Kristi Emerson, Tara Holmes,
Brittani Hays and Nittaya Pettit. Not pictured are Shawnah Schafer and
instructors Rose Howe and Rebekah Rand.
Northern Grant County has seen a
resurgence in emergency medical re-
sponders.
Thirteen people graduated from
an EMR class in May, greatly boost-
ing the numbers of people who can
respond for medical emergencies.
The class came only months after
the Monument-based ambulance was
placed back in service after being shut
down in 2016 because of a lack of fi rst
responders.
Monument Fire Chief Earl Pettit
requested the class to provide med-
ical training for his fi refi ghters, Blue
Mountain Hospital District ambu-
lance director Rebekah Rand said. A
large number of interested attendees
allowed the class to be offered in the
small community, she said.
“We think it’s a great opportunity
for people out there to be more in-
volved in their community,” Rand
said. “And the more medically trained
people there are, that’s just going to
help our community members because
they’re going to have that knowledge.”
Rose Howe, an intermediate emer-
gency medical technician and certifi ed
instructor, and Rand taught the class.
Howe said the new EMRs will hope-
fully facilitate a faster response time,
and she was excited so many people
were interested in the class.
“The new administration at BMHD
See TRAINING, Page A10