A16 News Blue Mountain Eagle WATER Continued from Page A1 The city is also applying for a $1 million emergency grant from the U.S. Depart- ment of Agriculture Rural De- velopment, but it could be 18 months before it’s awarded, Hamsher told the Eagle. State funding would become avail- able practically right away. If the city is awarded the federal grant, that money could be used not only to pay off the state loan but also to pay for the water tenders haul- ing water to Prairie City from John Day since Aug. 12. The level in the city’s mil- lion-gallon water reservoir had dropped to 1.5 feet over the Aug. 4-5 weekend, forcing the city to declare a water emer- gency Aug. 6, Hamsher said. With residents cutting back on sprinkling lawns and gardens and as many as eight tenders hauling water on one-hour turnaround trips, the level in the reservoir has reached a saf- er level despite losing several tenders to firefighting, he said. Hamsher said he remains concerned about residents who continue to violate wa- ter restrictions. The city sent “stiff letters” to several over-users, he said, and some responded by trying to justify their water needs. The city drilled several wells up at Faiman Springs in 2005, Hamsher said. One well put out 700 gallons per min- ute when tested — more than enough to handle the city’s needs in peak summer time, he said. The city owns water rights to the springs and the wells, but it would need to arrange a lease agreement with John Coombs, the landowner, and arrange for an easement about 2 miles long for an access road, water pipe and electrical power. But first the Faiman Springs well needs a long-term flow test and sampling for wa- ter quality. Hamsher said he has secured permission from a landowner to access the well site. Now with state backing, the city can move forward to- ward developing the site. Wednesday, August 29, 2018 Photos by The Eagle/Richard Hanners Above: Prairie City’s $2 million sand filter system along Dixie Creek Road went into operation in 2008. At left: The plaque at the Prairie City water treatment plant on Dixie Creek Road lists the officials involved in the 2008 project. TEST Continued from Page A1 The Eagle/Angel Carpenter Sixth-grade students walk up the ramp to their classroom on Monday with their teacher Georgia Boethin. SCHOOL Continued from Page A1 Lorie Croghan, who has 20 years teaching experience, is a new third- and fourth- grade teacher. She previously worked at Humbolt Elementa- ry School. Prairie City School is con- tinuing to implement a Ca- reer and Technical Education grant, building a barn that will house animals and feed. A greenhouse will also be built for agriculture classes and the FFA program, led by Lindy Cruise. “This staff is truly a great team, and the students are very fortunate that we have such passionate teachers that want to make the greatest dif- ferences and opportunities for them,” Hallgarth said. Dayville School District 16J Superintendent/Principal Kathryn Hedrick said they have three new teachers for The Eagle/Angel Carpenter Darbie Dennison is the new principal at Humbolt Elementary School. grades 6-12, including Em- maleigh Larson for mathe- matics, Sydney Thompson for English language arts and Josh Williams for science, ag- riculture and CTE. Long Creek School Dis- trict’s new superintendent/ principal, Karl Coghill, previ- ously taught at the school for three years. The school is also welcoming Jake Reynolds, a former Grant Union gradu- ate, who will teach the classes previously taught by Coghill, social studies for grades 7-8, electives for grades 7-12 and PE for grades 9-12. Monument School Dis- trict’s new superintendent/ principal is Donald Peters- en, who was formerly di- rector of Klamath Falls’ Ea- gleRidge Charter School. An EagleRidge colleague of Pe- tersen’s, Michael Metts, will teach junior high and high school math and science at Monument School. Superintendent Bret Upt- mor has filled the position at Grant School District 3 for- merly held by Curt Shelley. Within the district are Grant Union Junior-Senior High, Humbolt Elementary and Seneca schools. New music teacher Le- van James, a former Grant Union graduate, will instruct students at Grant Union and Humbolt; Jessica Lane, also a former Grant Union graduate, will teach English for grades 10-12, including honors courses; and Ryan McKnab will teach physical science and seventh-grade math and science. Kristi Moore is now the dean of students and career coordinator, and Sonna Smith is the athletic director for Grant Union. Humbolt Elementary has a new principal, Darbie Denni- son, and new teachers include Teagan Wick, first grade; Kel- li LaFramboise, second grade; Sharon Fritsch, sixth grade; and Shanna Northway, special education. Andrea Ashley, who is in her third year at Seneca School, is the new head teach- er. Leann Coalwell is a new educational assistant and con- tinues as a bus driver. “Our big push this year is an emphasis on building good character, as well as academ- ics,” said Seneca office spe- cialist Laura Stinnett. http://public.alertsense.com, by using a cellphone app or by filling out a paper form available at the emergency management office, 530 E. Main St., John Day. Subscribers can choose among various types of emergency notices they want, from flood to fire to extreme weather. They can later modify their choices or unsubscribe altogether. The alert system recognizes when people receive mes- sages and will connect to answering machines and devices for the blind or deaf, Williams said. Additional emergency information can be found on Facebook at the Grant County Oregon Emergency Management page. When the new Grant County web- site goes online in January, its user-friendly format will enable Williams to upload much of the emergency in- formation he’s been gather- ing since he took the job. Williams became the Grant County emergency management coordinator in November 2015 following the Canyon Creek Complex fire. Before that, the county judge, who is the director of the emergency management office, handled many of the office’s tasks, Williams said. About 90 percent of the alerts Williams composes are for wildfires and floods, but he also sends out alerts for ice jams, wind storms and last year for the solar eclipse event. After speaking to inci- dent commanders for ongo- ing emergencies, Williams will choose a trigger point for sending out alerts to the public. The sheriff and the county judge also have the authority to direct him to issue a notification through AlertSense. In areas with numerous canyons and mountains, like northwest Grant Coun- ty, cellphone coverage is spotty and residents rely on landlines for telephone com- munication and satellite for internet access. Cellphone towers are set up to provide coverage in valley bottoms because that’s where most people live, Williams said. Alert effectiveness Williams recommends residents sign up for the free AlertSense notices. He tests the emergency communica- tion system once a month by sending an alert to certain first responders and uses the software to see how many people received a notice to determine its effectiveness. About 1,500 people successfully received alert notifications during a flash flood event this past spring, Williams said. He estimat- ed more than 500 people in northwest Grant County re- ceived the Level 1 alert for the Gilman Fire. But the system was not foolproof. Kay Steele, who lives close enough to be able to see flames from the Gil- man Fire, said her landline phone rang about 10 p.m. the night the alert was put out, but there was no mes- sage, no voice at all. She said a neighbor had the same problem. Steele said she learned about the alert about an hour later when someone saw the alert posted on Sheriff Glenn Palmer’s personal Facebook page, which was reposted on a community group’s web- site that Steele frequents. Steele lives in rugged, isolated country. There is little cellphone coverage or commercial radio reception, and she relies on satellite for internet access. On the first day of the fire, visibility was down to a quarter-mile because of thick smoke settling in from distant fires. Steele and her closest neighbors didn’t know how close the Gilman Fire was to their homes, she said. Steel said she signed up for AlertSense the next day with the hope of receiv- ing email notifications, but sometimes her emails arrive one day after they’re sent, she noted. Blue Mountain Eagle EARLY DEADLINE We’re Celebrating! for the Sept. 5 edition Our office will be closed on Monday, Sept. 3 Display advertising, classified & legal deadline 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 30 jeffry l meyerholz Thursday, August 30 We are celebrating our 5th Anniversary as well as our 2nd location in Burns with music in both locations! Music in John Day: Elwood • Music in Burns: Danika & The Jeb. We will have giveaways throughout the day in John Day and during the evening event in Burns. John Day will kickoff Labor Day weekend, which will be our last Summer Sunday Brunch. We will be open all day on Sunday, regular menu at 3:00. 195 N. Canyon Blvd., John Day 541-575-0710 | MyEagleNews.com 1188 B rewing Company 141 E. Main, John Day 541-575-1188 32996 See our Facebook pages for ticket information & more.