History
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, August 16, 2017
A9
O UT OF THE P AST
50 years ago
Aug. 17, 1967
Loggers asked to cease
during danger periods
All operators of industrial
activities on forest land east
of the Cascade Summit were
advised last Tuesday by J.E.
Schroeder, Oregon State For-
ester, to cease and desist the use
of power-driven machinery at
specified times during the pres-
ent period of fire danger, Harry
G. “Swede” Pearson, district
forester, advised yesterday.
Pearson, of John Day, stat-
ed, “the burning index is the
highest in years in the East
Central Oregon District. Be-
cause extreme fire hazard con-
ditions east on forest lands east
of the summit of the Cascade
Range, we notify all users of
power-driven machinery that
such hazard exists, and that life
and property are endangered by
the continued use of such ma-
chinery,” he said.
Although the use of such
machinery can be stopped by
Eagle file photo
From Aug. 13, 1992: Four days and better than 26 miles
later, a tired but happy group of backpackers reached their
destination at Strawberry Campground. They included (left
to right) Justin Rowell, Thad Cowan-Thompson and Tim
Nelson. The six young men, two counselors and an adult
leader took the trip to learn more about backpacking,
outdoor cooking, the surrounding environment and, most
importantly, themselves.
law west of the mountains, the
common sense approach is nec-
essary in this part of the state,
because statute does not give
the state forester the authority
to close down operations.
“It is suggested operators
curtail the use of power-driven
machinery in any operation on
forest land between the hour of
1:00 p.m. and 12:00 midnight,
each day. This includes the use
of power saws in felling and
bucking operations. It is all-in-
clusive. We further suggest that
maximum watchman service
be provided for either three
hours after the operation is shut
down each day or until 8 p.m.
each day, whichever is later.
Lastly, that a limit be placed on
personnel allowed in those ar-
eas covered by an entry permit
closure, Pearson added.
“We know from experience
that our good fortune cannot
continue based on the ‘law
of averages.’ It is our hope in
this district that our man-made
troubles will be kept to the min-
imum as all our efforts will be
needed to combat those fires
that are sure to come,” he con-
cluded.
25 years ago
Aug. 13, 1992
4-H summer camps pro-
mote learning with fun activ-
ities
Two successful 4-H camp
ventures this summer helped
turn the surrounding forests
and mountains into outdoor
classrooms to employ fun and
games in helping teach young-
sters more about themselves
and their environment.
The first involved young-
sters in grades four through six
who gathered at Lake Creek
Camp in Logan Valley for
four days of camping and fun,
and the second focused on a
four day, 26.5-mile backpack
through the Strawberry Wilder-
ness.
“Under the sea” was the
theme of this year’s 4-H camp
at Logan Valley that attracted
62 campers from the Grant and
Harney County 4-H programs.
Also on board were 17 counsel-
ors and five adults to help with
the camp that ran from June 30
through July 3.
Elaine Husted with the
Grant County 4-H program
said this year’s theme was ac-
tually selected by campers last
year. Maintaining the tradition,
next year’s theme, “Back to the
Future,” was chosen before the
close of camp this summer.
The idea of both camps is
to incorporate activities and
classes to help youngsters learn
more about their surroundings,
getting along with one another
and themselves. “Our goals for
the camp were to have a safe
environment to meet friends,
to teach youngsters how to get
along, to have fun, teamwork
and to discover what the theme
meant,” Husted said. Working
with the theme, the activities
and classes are planned by the
counselors who are all 4-H stu-
dents in grades 10 through 12.
Husted said the camp was
used as a learning environment
in which youngsters sampled
things like dried squid and sea-
weed, and learned plant iden-
tification in the surrounding
areas. It was also an opportuni-
ty to teach recreation in an out-
door setting. The arts and crafts
classes allowed youngsters to
stretch their imagination and
creativity, and the activities also
showed campers how to teach
games and activities.
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