Community & History
Blue Mountain Eagle
W HAT ’ S H APPENING
Wednesday, July 12, 2017
O UT OF THE P AST
75 years ago
July 10, 1942
Eagle file photo
Tyler Nodine of John Day waits for a crew to
extinguish a fire from the final blow of his derby car
in last year’s Whiskey Gulch Gang Demolition Derby
at the Grant County Fairgrounds in John Day. The
event is scheduled for July 22 this year.
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 A17.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 12
Solar eclipse meeting
• 4 p.m., Canyon City Community Hall
The Grant County Cham-
ber of Commerce will host a
meeting to update county res-
idents about the Aug. 21 total
solar eclipse. City, EMS offi -
cials and others will share how
they’re planning for the infl ux of visitors to the county.
WHAT’S
HAPPENING
SATURDAY, JULY 15
Mt. Vernon class reunion
• 1 p.m., Mt. Vernon Community Center
The graduates of Mt. Vernon classes 1955-1959, as well
as anyone else interested, are welcome to attend the reunion.
An optional dinner is provided; the cost for dinner is $18. To
RSVP for dinner or for more information, call Mary Ellen
Brooks at 541-932-4540.
SUNDAY, JULY 16
Ritter, Range and Three-Mile schools 42nd
reunion
• Noon, Ritter Hot Springs
Students, families and friends are invited to a potluck at
noon. Coffee, lemonade, paper plates, silverware and nap-
kins will be furnished. Call Vivian Morris, 541-421-3868, for
more information.
SATURDAY, JULY 22
Demolition derby
• 7 p.m., Grant County Fairgrounds, John Day
The 28th annual event, sponsored by the Whiskey Gulch
Gang, will feature a variety of prizes, including $2,000 for
fi rst place, $1,500 for second place and $500 for third place.
The entry fee is $50 per car, which includes the driver and one
pit crew person; pit passes are $30 a person. Pre-sale tickets,
$10 for adults and $6 for children 12 and younger, are avail-
able at John Day True Value, Nydam’s Ace Hardware and
Les Schwab Tire Center. Tickets at the gate will cost $2 more.
Children under 6 are free. For further information and rules,
call Hugh Farrell at 541-575-0329 or 541-620-0931, or email
farrelhugh@yahoo.com.
A7
Shaw Sawmill, Fox Val-
ley, Totally Destroyed by
Fire Thursday Morning
The Shaw Lumber com-
pany sawmill in Fox Valley,
owned by W.B. Shaw and Dick
Graham, was totally destroyed
and 160,000 feet of lumber
consumed by fl ames early
Thursday morning in a fi re re-
ported to have started under the
boiler walls about 5 o’clock.
The fl ames spread to a barrel of
gasoline, which exploded and
set off a box of dynamite in an
adjoining building, resulting in
a terrifi c explosion; however,
all of the employees and people
at the mill escaped injury.
Forty thousand feet of green
lumber was piled alongside the
mill creating a fi re of most in-
tense heat, and the fi re was still
burning at noon; however, it was
well under control and none
of the dwelling houses in the
neighborhood were damaged
except for a few broken win-
dows caused by the explosion.
The entire Fox neighborhood
turned out to help and a Forest
Service pumper was rushed to
the scene to help keep the fl ames
under control. Besides the mill,
the bunkhouse, oil house and
sawdust pile were all destroyed.
Most of the machinery was
damaged beyond repair; how-
ever, the planer and three big
trucks were saved. There was
no insurance to cover the loss.
50 years ago
July 13, 1967
Double Golden Wedding
Anniversary Observed by
Simmons Couples at Fox
Mr. and Mrs. Ervan Sim-
mons of Mt. Vernon and Mr.
and Mrs. Harve Simmons
of Pendleton were honored
guests at a double golden wed-
ding anniversary celebration
July 4 in conjunction with the
annual Fox community picnic.
The social was held at the Fox
community center beginning
with a potluck at noon. About
110 persons attended. The two
couples were married in a dou-
ble wedding ceremony in 1917
at Pendleton, and both returned
to Fox where they made their
homes for over 35 years.
Mr. and Mrs. Ervan Sim-
mons have three children, Jim
Simmons of Fox, Mrs. Cecil
Lovan of Portland and Mrs.
Bud Trowbridge of John Day.
They have eight grandchildren.
Mr. and Mrs. Harve Sim-
Eagle file photo
From July 9, 1992: Tegan Stewart, 13, of Dayville fords the
John Day River on her way to the finish line and victory
Saturday in the 10th annual Dayville Cross Country
Horse Race. For her winning efforts, she received $500 in
cash, the championship belt buckle, a ribbon and trophy,
and her name was added to the perpetual trophy. She
completed the circuit in 12:00.60.
mons have fi ve children, Jack
and Wayne of John Day, Mar-
vin of Stanfi eld, Calvin of Po-
catello, Idaho, and Mrs. Wayne
Burton of Pilot Rock. They
have 12 grandchildren and one
great grandchild.
25 years ago
July 9, 1992
Survey results in: too few
deer and too high license and
tag fees
A survey of Grant Coun-
ty hunters yielded predict-
able results – most agreed the
number of deer in the county
is too low and the cost of tags
and license fees too high. The
survey was mailed to members
of the Grant County Chapter of
the Oregon Hunter’s Associa-
tion. It was conducted March
3 through April 10, and it in-
volved 16 questions. It should
also be noted that the survey
represents only the views of
Grant County OHA members,
and not necessarily the views
of the OHA as a whole.
The fi rst two questions
asked whether hunters were
satisfi ed with the number of
deer and with the buck to doe
ratio in the county. Of the 122
responding to the number of
deer, 83 percent, or 101, said
they were not satisfi ed with the
number of deer. Regarding the
ratio of bucks to does, 109, or
96 percent of the 114 respond-
ing, said they were dissatisfi ed.
The same questions regard-
ing elk drew a more moderate
response. Fifty-four percent of
the 119 answering the survey
were satisfi ed with the number
of elk in the county, while 72
percent of the 108 responding
to the bull-cow ratio said they
were not satisfi ed with the ratio.
Also asked was whether
hunters feel they should be able
to hunt in the county in which
they live without having to draw
a tag. Of the 126 respondents,
122, or 97 percent, believed
they should be able to hunt in
their own county without a tag.
The survey also asked about
the multiple-use philosophy of
management on national forest
lands. Of the 121 responding,
107, or 88 percent, agreed with
the principle. The survey also
asked about the Forest Service
road closure plans. Of the 115
responding, 60 percent agreed
with the closures while 40 per-
cent disagreed.
Respondents were also asked
to rate the performance of the
Forest Service and Oregon De-
partment of Fish and Wildlife on
a scale of one to 10, with 10 be-
ing the highest. With 127 people
responding to each question, the
Forest Service rated out at 3.4
while ODFW was graded at 2.0.
A question on whether or not
ODFW should be buying pri-
vate land also drew a one-sided
response. Of the 126 respond-
ing, 106, or 84 percent, said the
agency should not purchase pri-
vate land. A question on wheth-
er or not water quality is being
protected within the county
drew an even response with 55
percent of the 110 responding
saying they do not believe it is
being protected, while 45 per-
cent felt it is being protected.
An open-ended question
asked what the respondent felt
was the biggest problem as far
as wildlife habitat and water
quality. Of the 132 people an-
swering, management led the
list with 30, followed by cattle,
16; logging, 11; and roads, 10.
The survey also asked
whether chapter members
would physically help to cor-
rect wildlife habitat and water
problems within the county. Of
the 100 responses, 21 said they
could not help while 79 agreed
they could help.
Two questions dealt with
the cost of license fees and tags
and the waiting period between
making application and receiv-
ing notifi cation. Of the 124 re-
sponding, 80 percent believe
license and tag fees are too high,
while 93 percent of the 113 re-
sponding about the waiting peri-
od feel the length of time is too
long. Of the 126 people asked,
111, or 88 percent, said they
were hunters while 15, or 12
percent, said they were not.
Copies of the survey, re-
sults and comments were sent
to state and national political
leaders, ODFW, the Malheur
National Forest and regional
forester, the governor, mem-
bers of the Oregon Fish and
Wildlife Commission and the
executive director of the OHA.
KNOW WHEN TO THROW IN.
KNOW WHEN TO MAKE THE CALL.
Community Counseling Solutions
528 E. Main Street | John Day
Baker City
2830 10th St.
541-524-0122
Every other Monday
in John Day at
Blue Mountain
Hospital
170 Ford Rd.
541-575-1311
541-575-1466
CAUTION
Old Photos
Kids - Famil
y - Trophy
Wildlife - E
tc.
HUNTING STORIES
NO MATTER
HOW BIG OR SMALL YOUR TROPHY WAS
or you just want to share a hunting adventure,
SEND OR DROP OFF YOUR BEST
HUNTING PHOTOS
195 N. Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR 97845 • kim@bmeagle.com
Your photos will be published in this year’s
EAGLE HUNTING JOURNAL
Please have them to the Eagle by August 11th.
to