Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 2018)
WEDNESDAY August 1, 2018 4-H Sharpshooters share love of the sport Club ready for fair after state competition By Angel Carpenter Blue Mountain Eagle Three 4-H Sharpshooters, Cody Bowden, Logan Namitz and Trevor Gabbard, are still meeting for weekly shooting practice after competing at the Oregon 4-H Shooting Sports State Contest in Albany earli- er this summer. This was the first year the Sharpshooter club members have competed at the state level. “The boys put in a lot of time training for the state shoot and much of that was in pretty harsh weather con- ditions,” said Steve Namitz, who coaches the team with his wife, Brenda. “The state com- petition went well, and I was very pleased with the boys’ performance.” The event had 309 partici- pants competing in 390 cours- es of fire, and each of the local boys earned at least one blue ribbon. Contributed photo Contributed photo Cody Bowden, left, and Logan Namitz take aim during the Oregon 4-H Shooting Sports State Contest in Albany last June. Trevor Gabbard also competed at the event. The boys are members of the 4-H Sharpshooters club. Grant County 4-H sharpshooters, from left, Trevor Gabbard, Cody Bowden and Logan Namitz. The club will compete in archery, rifle, pistol and shotgun contests for the Grant County Fair. Bowden, 16, is the squad captain and competed in the advanced division. Logan Na- mitz, 14, and Gabbard, 12, are in the intermediate division. “It was my first time go- ing to state,” said Bowden, who was chosen to represent Grant County as a 4-H shoot- ing sports ambassador. “It was really exciting to go and see how they put it together. They have an outdoor and indoor As a shooting sports am- bassador, Bowden will speak at various events, such as ben- efit auctions. “I’ll go and tell people what it’s really about and how they can get their kids in- volved in it,” he said. “I need to represent the 4-H shooting sports in the best way possi- ble.” Both Bowden and Logan Namitz competed in the Na- range, and an archery course throughout the back area.” Bowden enjoys target shooting and said the sport has helped him learn skills such as being a better listener. “It requires discipline and patience, because you have to think of a lot of things at once,” he said, adding it’s also helped him in school. “I’ve learned to slow down and take my time with things.” tional Championships Quali- fication Track Hunting Skills Contest, Small Bore Rifle and Small Bore Pistol. Their favorite event was the Five-Stand Hunter’s Course, which included clay pigeons launched at random angles, including some called “rabbits,” which skipped across the ground. In the 3-D archery shoot portion of the event, the two released arrows at a veloci- raptor target. Gabbard, who is in his first year with the program, competed in the entry-level track for small bore rifle and small bore pistol and said he hopes to compete in the hunting skills contest next year. Logan Namitz, who’s been in the 4-H program for five years, said the club is fun and teaches useful skills. “It improves my shooting skills, and I like the guys in the group,” he said. He first learned to shoot at age 6 or 7 and has en- joyed hunting elk, deer, turkey and grouse since age 11. “I enjoy hunting — the hunt itself, spending time with my dad and bringing home food,” he said. The state competitors are now joined by a couple more members of the Sharpshooters as the Grant County Fair ap- proaches on Aug. 15-18. That group and other clubs and their leaders are preparing for competitions. See CLUB, Page B10 Golfers swing in support of Blue Mountain Hospital Funds go toward new nurse call system By Angel Carpenter Blue Mountain Eagle Seasoned golfers and those new to the sport had an enjoyable day on the John Day Golf Club course Saturday at the 12th Annual Blue Mountain Healthcare Foundation Fundraiser Golf Scramble. All funds raised this year will benefit a new nurse call system at the hospital. A total of $9,000 has been raised so far. “This call system is going to cost over $100,000, so we have a big goal ahead of us for the year,” said Foundation Director Jena Knowles. “The Foundation board is made up of community mem- bers, local business own- ers, and hospital employees who are all passionate about healthcare in Grant County,” she said, adding the funds raised go to the hospital dis- trict, usually to purchase something that is needed but that may not be included in the budget for the year. Knowles joined 60 other golfers and played on a team with family members, includ- ing her mother-in-law Sally Knowles. Jessica Knowles participates in Saturday’s Blue Mountain Healthcare Foundation golf scramble at the John Day Golf Club. Eagle photos/Angel Carpenter Gaylene Moyers drives the ball at the start of Saturday’s golf scramble, her daughter Shae Voigt looking on. Moyers’ daughter Cecylee Bruce and Rebekah Rand were also on the team, and all work for the Blue Mountain Hospital District. “We’re just so happy to be out here on a beautiful day in support of the hospital with family,” Sally said. There were 16 teams in all, with some representing businesses, and at least one group represented a town. Torin Foster said his team- mates Lucas Moore, Shane Koppel and Reuben Harvey talked him into joining in. “We’re here to support the hospital and represent Sene- ca,” Foster said. Their team finished in sec- ond place gross. Winning first gross were Brad Smith, Matt Wenick, Jay Kenyon and Billy Colson. Smith said because it was a fundraiser, the team donat- ed their winnings back — so did all the other teams — and they also donated their 50/50 raffle winnings back. Jena Knowles called the event a success. “A huge thank you to everyone that came out to play, all the businesses and individuals that sponsored our event, and the John Day Golf Club for allowing us to use their great course,” she said. From left, the team of Torin Foster, Lucas Moore, Reuben Harvey and Shane Koppel enjoy competing at Saturday’s scramble at the John Day golf club. Results First gross: Brad Smith, Matt Wenick, Jay Kenyon and Billy Colson Second gross: Lucas Moore, Reuben Harvey, Shane Koppel and Torin Foster First net: Lucas Moore, Reuben Harvey, Shane Koppel and Torin Foster Second net: Keith Thomas, Bob Hous- er, Greg Jennings and Brandon Sickler Highest gross: Brenda Mosier, Carmen John Day swimmers finish 3rd at district competition Hodge wins high- point award at meet By Angel Carpenter Blue Mountain Eagle “It was a fantastic way to finish the season,” said John Day swim team head coach Stephanie LeQuieu of last weekend’s East Cascade Dis- trict Finals held in Prineville. Justin Hodge won the high-point award for the meet, with Hodge and Rhea Mead winning high-point awards at the meet for the team. Prineville’s team won the meet with 915 points, Lakeview finished second with 562, John Day was third with 388 and Hi-Desert (Burns) came in fourth with 211. LeQuieu said her team, ranging in age from 5-17, performed well con- sidering the hot weather and the lon- ger days, competing in preliminary and final events. “They supported one another well,” she said. “Most of our swim- mers placed in the top six of their events.” In addition to Hodge and Mead, Sierra May, Silas Hansler, Thomas LeQuieu, Jack Strong and Andrew Hung placed first in events. Eagle file photo John Day swimmer Justin Hodge races ahead to the finish line, in first, during an event July 21 at the home meet at Gleason Pool. One especially thrilling moment was seeing a 9-year-old fill in for one of their boys relay teams competing in the 18 and under 200-meter free- style relay, LeQuieu said. Grant LeQuieu (18), Brady Wyllie (13), Ryan Coalwell (12) and Rowdy Wilson (9) finished third in the event. “It was a strategy that worked,” LeQuieu said. Five-year-old Annabelle Raschio, new to the team, was nervous at the start of the competition but won her first event, LeQuieu said. “Swimming every day is differ- ent than getting up on the blocks and competing,” the coach said. “To me, the highlights are when they go into something thinking they can’t do it and come out knowing they can — any of those moments that build self-confidence.” Thomas LeQuieu placed third in the backstroke preliminaries, then won the race in the finals. “It was cool to see him dig in and draw from what little he had left,” the coach said. She said Grant and Thomas are her sons, but each of the swimmers feel like her own. “When you work with kids in any capacity, you connect with them,” she said. “I was thrilled to be a part of their lives over the season.” She said involvement in the sport of swimming not only gives kids something to do in the summer, but keeps their bodies and minds fit. “It’s a team they can call a fam- ily,” she said. “It’s uplifting and en- couraging for them to be a part of something.” She added, “It’s inspiring to me to be around them to see their determi- See SWIMMING, Page B10 Gardner, Denise Houser and Rayne Houser Highest net: Brenda Mosier, Carmen Gard- ner, Denise Houser and Rayne Houser Long drive, men: Matt Wenick Long drive, women: Lacy Avera KP, men: John Avera KP, women: Lacy Avera Men’s winners: Brad Smith, Jay Ken- yon, Matt Wenick Grant Union plays at Knappa on Aug. 31 Blue Mountain Eagle A youth football camp for grades 3-8 will be held at Grant Union Junior-Senior High School from 4-6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, Aug. 6-9. There is a $30 reg- istration fee that includes a T-shirt. The Grant Union football conditioning camp for high school athletes will be held 6:30-8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursdsay, Aug. 6-9. Daily doubles will be held Aug. 13-17 with prac- tices from 6-9 a.m. Monday through Friday, and 5-7 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday. Afternoon practices are set for 4-6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, Aug. 20-24, and Monday through Thurs- day, Aug. 27-30. The Prospectors will trav- el to Knappa on Thursday for their first game of the season against the Knappa Loggers at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 31.
