News
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, July 12, 2017
A3
The Eagle/Angel Carpenter
Prairie City’s American Legion float included veterans, from left, Merritt Woodley (Navy), Chip Wood (Navy), Clayton
Curtis (Army), Del Lake (Army) and Juan Rubio (Army). See more photos on Page A18 and at myeaglenews.com.
Celebrating the Fourth
By Angel Carpenter
and Rylan Boggs
Blue Mountain Eagle
Four local cities celebrated
the country’s independence on
the Fourth of July.
The events went off with a
bang in Prairie City, Dayville,
Monument and Long Creek.
See more photos on Page
A18.
Dayville
The Dayville parade fea-
tured fi re trucks, horses and
more candy than the kids could
handle.
The Eagle/Angel Carpenter
Color guard for the Prairie City Fourth of July Parade
include, front to back, Bob VanVoorhis, Ted Thompson,
Dick Theide and Terry Williams.
Post-parade, the Dayville
Fire Department served up
Jakeburgers, hamburgers with
a special relish, outside city
hall. A horseshoe competi-
tion and car show kept every-
one entertained as well.
The Jake Streeter Memo-
rial Classic Car Show began
last year in memory of Jake
Streeter, who died in 2016.
“He loved classic old
cars,” said Cindy Streeter.
The Streeter family is
trying to keep it going for
as long as they can, though
there were fewer entries be-
cause it fell on a Tuesday,
Cindy said.
She described the event as
an “informal car show” and
said last year they even had a
tractor enter.
Monument
Festivities in Monument
drew hundreds from across
the region, according to Lon-
nie Lawrence.
This is Lawrence’s sev-
enth year helping with the
Monument Fourth of July
Jubilee. She said it began as
a family gathering and has
grown every year.
“It was started seven years
ago as a spur of the moment
idea to offer something pos-
itive to our community and
help the people come togeth-
er,” Lawrence said.
Long Creek
Long Creek residents and
others gathered for old-fash-
ioned fun at the eighth annual
Founder’s Day celebration.
The Long Creek Histori-
cal Society, which sponsors
the event, provided hot dogs,
hamburgers and drinks for a
potluck lunch.
About 50 attended the pic-
nic outside Long Creek Com-
munity Center.
Rhoda DuFresne, the
great-great granddaughter of
the Keeneys who were prom-
inent pioneers to the area,
spoke about her family history.
Reiba Carter Smith, secre-
tary for the historical society,
said the Keeneys immigrated
to America in the 1600s, mi-
grating west after some fought
in the Revolutionary War.
In Long Creek, the Kee-
neys owned a ranch, race hors-
es, saloons and a store.
The historical society is
working toward restoring
Long Creek’s Fort Townsend,
which was built in the 1870s
in seven days, with the help
of Civil War veteran Billy
Townsend.
“We’re trying to preserve
it and build a museum,” said
Gaylene Pruit, a member of
the historical society.
Monument parade
Best fl oat: Jeanne Strange
Best classic vehicle: Jimmy Mael
Best adult costume: Mary Cade
Best kid costume: Taylor Hamilton on
horseback
Winner of the 4-H Color Run: Dakota
Emerson
Dayville parade and contests
Grand marshals: Merle and Ralph Metcalf
Best of Parade
Grand marshal entry by the Metcalf family
Horse division
First place, Amy and Keira Stiner
Second place, Jarrett and Sydney Smith
Third place, Strawberry Riders 4-H
Kids and non-motorized division
First place, Jake Streeter Memorial Car
Show, Tanner and Piper Swagger and
Zach, Nate and Kiah Nichols
Second place, John Deere Fun, Grayson
and Everleigh Schmadeka
Third place, Barbie Jeep, Carson and
McKenzie Thompson
Motorized division
First place, Old Gypsy Cowgirl
Second place, Dayville Mercantile
Third place, 4-H Community Club
Horseshoe tournament
First place, Larry Powell and Casey
Fretwell
Second place, Toby Thomas and Mani
Martin
Repurposed cowboy boot contest
First place, Simmie Waddel
Second place, Tiffnie Schmadeka
Jake Streeter Memorial Car Show Event
Favorite car award
First place, Frank Schrier
Second place, Larry Wall
Third place, Dayville Merc
The Tanner Award: Jerry Ray
The Zach Award: Frank Schrier
The Nate Award: Jerry Ray
The Kiah Award: Dayville Merc
The Piper Award: Larry Wall
Prairie City parade and contests
Grand marshal: Lyn McDonald
Sweepstakes winner
Little Miss Hayla LeeAnn Reilly
Classic cars
First place, 2 Cow Cattle Company of
Prairie City
Second place, Farrel Clark
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Local author
pens western
‘Quintana’ tells
story of a post-
civil war hero
By Rylan Boggs
Blue Mountain Eagle
Local author Don Jones
just released his fi rst book.
Writing under the name
D.L. Jones, he penned the
historical fi ction “Quin-
tana,” the story of Carlos
Quintana, a civil war vet-
eran, who gains national
attention after saving Presi-
dent Andrew Johnson from
an assassination attempt.
The book follows Quintana
as he and his men hunt down
the Quantrill Gang, put
down a Mexican rebellion
in Texas and escort wagon
trains of Mormons through
hostile territory, all while
hounded by a U.S. Marshal
determined to bring Quin-
tana in for a double murder.
The book is largely set in
Missouri, Kansas and Okla-
homa.
“The last part of the
1800s is one of my favor-
ite parts of history because
so much is going on in the
country,” Jones said.
He taught 31 years of
history, 27 at Grant Union
High School, and said he
has always been drawn to
western history. He had the
idea for the story in his head
for years and fi nally had the
time to write it.
“It’s been an adventure
into the dark,” he said.
“Spittin’ into the wind, I
had no idea what would
happen.”
He wrote the novel in
The cover of Don Jones’
new novel, “Quintana.”
short chapters, reminiscent
of James Patterson’s books.
Those who enjoyed the
novel “Lonesome Dove,”
by Larry McMurtry, would
also fi nd “Quintana” inter-
esting, Jones said.
He based some of the
characters in his fi rst book
on his colorful relatives and
friends.
Jones graduated from
the University of Montana
in 1961 with degrees in his-
tory and political science.
He went to school on the
GI Bill after serving in the
Army from 1954-1956.
The book is currently
available on Amazon, or di-
rectly from Jones. He is cur-
rently halfway through a se-
quel to “Quintana” and has
his fi ngers crossed he will
be able to get his books in
larger retailers like Barnes
& Noble.
“Quintana” was pub-
lished by Dorrance Publish-
ing, who also provided the
cover art.
Jones hopes to have a
book signing in the future.
JOHN DAY VIDEO & ELECTRONICS
Clearance Sale on all SONY 1080p TVs,
Audio Systems, Blu-ray Players and Cameras.
Located in the West Main Plaza
THANK YOU
The Grant County Family Heritage
Foundation, a private non-profit
dedicated to supporting youth in
agriculture in Grant County, wishes to
thank its partners in its first Mother’s and
Father’s Day basket drawing. Thanks to
these partners, “Bench Made” Knives, Ace
Hardware, Adoni’s Pine, Better Blooms
and Gardens, Flower Shop & More,
Leupold Stevens, The Snaffle Bit Dinner
House, and ZPT Silver; Jessica Wilson and
Jake Reynolds received a combined $1,518
retail value of prizes.
The Foundation additionally wishes to
thank those who purchased the 240
tickets for this drawing.
• Veteran Owned
• Competitive Pricing
• Serving Central & Eastern Oregon
541-620-1405 Burklevi@yahoo.com
05745
05879
These events kicked off the Foundation’s
efforts to raise funds necessary to bring a
cooling system and electrical upgrades to
the Heritage Barn at the Grant County
Fairgrounds. The project is designed to
bring cooling comfort to the animals, 4-H
& FFA participants and attendees alike.
05902
Prairie City
Prairie City’s “Celebrate
the Spirit of 1776” parade
kicked off a day of Fourth of
July fun.
It started with a bang of the
Whiskey Gulch Gang’s can-
non.
“People went all out this
year,” said City Recorder Taci
Philbrook.
Parade coordinator Anna
Smith agreed.
“I think the fl oats have re-
ally gotten better,” she said,
adding it made the judging that
much harder this year.
“My theme is ‘go big, or go
home,’” she said.
Rose Coombs sang the
national anthem as members
of the American Legion post-
ed the colors, and parade an-
nouncer was Logan Bagett.
Sweepstakes winner was
4-year-old Hayla Reilly who
was dressed as a rodeo prin-
cess, riding Rooster the horse,
who was also patriotically
“dressed.”
Parade-goers were encour-
aged to wear a red hat in hon-
or of military servicemen and
women.
A red-hat contest and log
sawing competition were two
new events in Prairie City this
year.
The festivities were capped
by a fi reworks display at the
Oxbow Ranch, where glow
sticks were given out to chil-
dren.
“Someone purchases 500
glow sticks each year, and
they don’t even live here,”
Philbrook said.
The fi reworks display is
paid for by the city.
“We want to thank the
pyrotechnician team headed
by Boyd Britton and all the
fi re services,” she said. “We
couldn’t have done it without
them.”
The Eagle/Rylan Boggs
Local author Don Jones stands for a photo at his
home Thursday, June 22.
05883
Third place, Trever Hamsher
Floats
First place, DeWitt Museum
Second place, Chester’s Thriftway
Third place, City Hall Prairie City
Non-motorized vehicles
First place, Skylar McKay/Ava Gerry
Walking groups
First place, Prairie Post 106 American
Legion
Second place, Blue Mountain Care
Center
Third place, PCHS cheerleaders and
cheer camp girls
Horse drawn
First place, Del Raymond
Mounted individuals
First place, Little Miss Hayla LeeAnn
Reilly
Second place, Rowdy Israel, Lil Miss
NPRA
Mounted group
First, Grant County Fair Court
Second, Carson McKay and Jaden
Winegar
Third place, Bryan Martin and Kettery
Decorated vehicle
First place, Prairie City Baptist Church
Second place, JoAnne Cordis-Phippen
Third place, Prairie City football team
ATV/Dirt bikes/motor
First place, Trenton Winegar
Second place, Gabriel and Emma
Third place, Jack Strong
Derby cars
First place, Tyler Nodine
Second place, Eddy Hicks
Third place, Steve Patterson
Emergency vehicles
First place, Blue Mountain Hospital
Ambulance
Second place, John Day Fire Department
Log sawing competition
First place, Trever Hamsher and Daniel
DesJardin
Second place, Ed Guzman and Rose
Guzman
Third place, Taci Philbrook and Amanda
Rockhill
Locals enjoy
a variety of
festivities