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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 23, 2017)
W EDNESDAY , A UGUST 23, 2017 • N O . 34 • 18 P AGES The The Eagle/Sean Hart • $1.00 www.MyEagleNews.com Blue Mountain EAGLE Grant County’s newspaper since 1868 Eclipse watchers marvel at totality in John Day TOTALLY WORTH THE TRIP SOLAR SCIENCE By George Plaven EO Media Group A nticipation turned to cheers Monday morning in John Day as visitors from around the world celebrated the arrival of the 2017 total solar eclipse. For about two minutes, the moon came in perfect alignment with the sun, casting an otherworldly darkness that left spectators in awe. The skies remained mostly clear throughout the morning, offering a pristine view of the cosmic dance. Then, just as quickly as it came, it was over and light returned. Located deep within the path of totality, John Day played host to thou- sands of eclipse watchers who made the trip to witness the once-in-a-life- time event. A large crowd gathered over the weekend at the John Day In- dustrial Park, where campers reserved their spots months in advance to expe- rience the eclipse in its full glory. See ECLIPSE, Page A6 EO Media Group/E.J. Harris Henry Greutert and Katie Mertel, both of Mercer Island, watch the eclipse on Monday in John Day. TOP PHOTO: The total solar eclipse from Mt. Vernon Aug. 21. Grant Union science teacher, students complete solar mission Students test the waters of astronomy Image of the total solar eclipse taken by Sonna Smith and her students, along with help from astronomer Tom Schad on Aug. 21 in John Day. By Angel Carpenter Blue Mountain Eagle EO Media Group/E.J. Harris Patricia Johnson of Sacramento uses a pair of homemade eclipse viewing glasses on Monday in John Day. More eclipse coverage inside SPORTS “I was absolutely star- struck,” said Declan Jensen after Monday’s total solar eclipse. Participation in a na- tional total solar eclipse ex- periment gave Jensen, her former Grant Union teach- er Sonna Smith and three other students a chance to follow in the footsteps of an astronomer. Astronomers and am- ateur astronomers across America took part in a Contributed photo National Solar Observa- tory project called Citizen CATE (Continental-Amer- ica Telescopic Eclipse). The group, and 67 oth- ers from coast to coast, captured 1,000 photos each of the eclipse. The photos were streamed together into a 90-minute movie, which is now featured at citizencate. org. Grant Union sopho- mores Gage Brandon and Donavan Smith, and Jen- sen’s friend Anthony Al- len, a 2016 graduate from Rocklin, California, were also involved in the local project that took place in Canyon City. The high-resolution, rapid-cadence photos of the eclipse were not tak- en just for the purpose of See SCIENCE, Page A6 Marching against hate County residents stand in solidarity with Charlottesville By Rylan Boggs Blue Mountain Eagle FALL SPORTS PREVIEWS, – PAGE A10 Roughly 60 people marched through John Day Aug. 15 in a demonstration against hate in soli- darity with Charlottesville, Virginia, where a car appeared to intentional- ly crash into a group of counterpro- testers at a “Unite the Right” rally attended by white supremacists. Dozens were injured, and one person died from the crash. The driver was arrested. Two police of- fi cers also died in a helicopter crash while overseeing the marches and counterprotests. Marches condemning neo-Nazis, the KKK and similar groups sprung up across the nation. The Eagle/Rylan Boggs Ashley Stevick, left, and Lindsay Rausch embrace after a march against hate through downtown John Day on Tuesday, Aug. 15. Demonstrators marched along Main Street to the county’s only stoplight where they chanted, waved signs and stood for photos. To end the evening, Janine Good- win played a song on her viola in memory of Heather Heyer, Lt. H. Jay Cullen and Trooper Berke M. See RALLY, Page A18