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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 24, 2018)
News Blue Mountain Eagle Philbrook announces write-in campaign for Prairie City mayor By Richard Hanners Blue Mountain Eagle Editor’s note: Taci Phil- brook contacted the Eagle about her write-in campaign after the publication of last week’s article, which featured the other three candidates. Two candidates will ap- pear on the ballot for a two- year term as Prairie City mayor, Carole Garrison and Frances Preston. Mayor Jim Hamsher and Taci Philbrook did not file to be on the ballot but recently mounted write-in campaigns. Taci Philbrook Taci Philbrook said she decided to mount a write-in campaign for mayor of Prai- rie City after learning the names of the two registered candidates and after Hamsher announced his write-in cam- paign. Philbrook grew up most- ly in Oregon, visiting Grant County for about 20 years before moving to Prairie City five years ago. She has an as- sociate degree in accounting and has owned five business- es over the years, including a collection agency. After moving to Prairie City, Philbrook worked as the city recorder and treasur- er. Following her separation from the city last year, she worked with several local small businesses, she said. Philbrook said she serves on the boards of the Grant County Chamber of Com- merce, Friends of Kam Wah Chung, Grant County Library Foundation and the Fiberfest 2019 group that is planning to hold an event in Prairie City next year. She also volun- teered at the Prairie City Food Bank and the recycling center in Prairie City when it was operating. In ad- Taci dition to Philbrook s e c u r i n g a back-up water source to the proposed Fainman Springs project, Philbrook said she wants to address the divisiveness she sees between city government and residents. She said she wants to set up committees to oversee projects so support for key projects will continue if city government changes. Among the projects Phil- brook said she wants to see completed are an overhaul of the city water ordinance gov- erning overuse, late payments and base rates; the upcoming sewer project; fencing to pro- tect children at City Park; and reopening the recycling center. Philbrook said she is for- ward-looking and believes Prairie City has “lost its brand.” Gone are the Art In The Park and the Huckleberry Festival events, and the annu- al car show is sporadic, she said. Her experience in writ- ing grants would be valuable to the city, she said. One of her goals is to get the city involved in the state- run Main Street Program, which develops comprehen- sive, incremental revitaliza- tion strategies. She said she was involved in the same program for 12 years when living in Oregon City. While providing funds to upgrade storefronts and signs on Front Street, the program would bring “trickle-down” effects to other neighborhoods in the city, she said. Wednesday, October 24, 2018 A3 ‘Good service at a reasonable price’ Isaac & Bailey Studtmann buy OK Garage By Angel Carpenter Blue Mountain Eagle Isaac Studtmann, a mas- ter certified mechanic, and his wife, Bailey, are the new owners of OK Garage & Mini Mart in Long Creek. The couple moved from La Grande to Long Creek in July and took ownership of the business Aug. 1. For Isaac, the move is a re- turn to roots, having lived in the town from 2008 to 2013, when he graduated from Long Creek School. Bailey, who hails from Walla Walla, Washington, has visited Long Creek on several occasions. Isaac worked at Legacy Ford in La Grande for five years, and he is master certi- fied in automotive repair. On Sept. 12, he was chang- ing out a transmission on an SUV in the shop and checking fluids on a semi-truck. Other services include changing all fluids, changing tires, brake work, engine per- formance and repair, steering and suspension. He said his work is most- ly automotive, and he doesn’t work on 4-wheelers that much. Just about the only ser- vices he can’t provide are air conditioning and alignments because he does not have the proper equipment. He said his motto in serv- ing customers is offering “peace of mind that they’re being treated fairly and re- spectfully with good service at a reasonable price.” Isaac said he and Bailey and their children, 3-year- old Alayna and 5-month-old The Eagle/Angel Carpenter Bailey and Isaac Studtmann are the new owners of the OK Garage & Mini Mart in Long Creek. Madison, frequently traveled to Long Creek to visit his parents, Linda and Ed Studt- mann. During some of their vis- its, Isaac said Craig and Don- na Palmer, longtime former owners of OK Garage, would ask him when he planned to buy the shop, which they had for sale. “We weighed the pros and cons of owning our own busi- ness as opposed to working for someone else,” Isaac said. “The opportunity to make your own decisions, setting your own hours, being your own boss instead of doing whatever you’re told, regard- less of whether you agree with the ethics of it” were pros in the decision. Bailey said they were also interested in raising their daughters in a small commu- nity. She said area residents are personable and she enjoys knowing them on a first-name basis OK Garage also has a gas station, including diesel, un- leaded and nonethanol fuels, and a mini market. The convenience store is stocked with snacks, drinks, liquor, basic grocery items, ice cream, toiletries, charcoal, lighter fluid and more. They also sell a selection of Outwest Gifts, including wallets, hats and sunglasses. The Studtmanns would like to add fishing gear and larger camping items such as coolers and camp chairs in the future. Other future goals for the business include adding tow- ing services and another me- chanic on a service truck. When he’s not working, Isaac enjoys camping, hunt- ing and winter snowboarding. He also enjoys creating clocks and lamps out of old automo- tive parts. He and Bailey both love classic cars. “My dad is a mechanic, and I grew up around cars, race tracks and car shows,” she said. She also enjoys crochet- ing and making homemade household products, such as laundry soap. The couple said Alayna en- joys playing outside and vis- iting her grandma’s horses in Walla Walla. Isaac said he likes starting his day off chatting with the ranchers, who stream in when they open, to drink free coffee and talk about local happen- ings. “It’s one of the highlights of my day,” Isaac said. OK Garage, located at 151 North Highway 395, is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week, except for cer- tain holidays. “People are welcome to call or come on down and tell us what they need,” he said. “I’ll help them out if I can.” 77206 Monday - Thursday 7am- 6pm Friday 8am - 5pm A TTENTION G RANT C OUNTY V ETERANS : Mendy Sharpe FNP Are you using or interested in learning about Choice Card Medical Care? Katee Apppointments available See your Grant County Veteran Services Hoffman Officer today for more information. Monday through Friday 10 am – 4 pm. Call 541-620-8057 for an appointment 84550 530 E. Main, Ste. 5, John Day, OR. 71661 Thank You! We from Rally for the Cure would like to thank everyone who helped make our event such a success! 1188 Brewing Co., Ugly Truth Bar, Grubsteak Mining Co., Hair It Is, Cloud 9, Jonna’s Hair Care, Big Joe’s Barbershop, Nydam’s Ace Hardware, True Value Hardware, John Day Auto Parts, John Day Polaris, Squeeze In, Timbers Bistro, Outpost Pub & Grill, Prairie Trading Post, Bar WB, Roan Outwest, Mitch’s Fabrication, Bruce Ward, Darrell Simmons, Valley Golf Club, Razzle Dazzle Commmittee, Jeanette Hueckman, Les Schwab Tire Center, Radio Shack, Clay Tanler, Dan Propeck, Melody Miller, Carlene Johnston, Tawnya Kemper, Linda McClellan, Micki Burke, Sharon Livingston, Joe Burke, Gail Burton, Kathleen Lee, Vicki Mullany, Kim Ward, Chuck Coffman. Every other Monday in John Day at Blue Mountain Hospital 170 Ford Rd. • 541-575-1311 Lynn Findley FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE ENDORSED BY Oregon Farm Bureau Federation Oregonians for Food & Shelter Oregon Gun Owners Oregon Chiefs of Police Association Sheriffs of Oregon Oregon Cattleman’s Association AG-PAC Oregon Nurseries’ Association Association of Oregon Home Builders National Federation of Small Business Oregon Right to Life Oregon Dairy Farmers Association w w w. l y n n f i n d l e y.c o m Paid for by Lynn Findley for State Representative, Bob Kemble Treasurer
