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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 31, 2018)
Community Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, October 31, 2018 A7 F OREST HEALTH WORKSHOP Beetles follow butterflies By Bob Parker For the Blue Mountain Eagle Eagle photos/Angel Carpenter Julianna Moulton and her grandkids created this smiley friend for the Dayville Scarecrow Contest, winning first place. Something to crow about in Dayville Blue Mountain Eagle Nineteen creative char- acters have livened up Day- ville’s main street this month for the town’s sixth annual scarecrow contest. Winners this year are Juli- anna Moulton and grandkids, first; Emma Winkelman, sec- ond; and Lyndee Biller, third. City Recorder Ruthie Moore said they had the most entries since starting the con- test in 2012. “We had quite a few first- time creators this year,” she said. “It’s really fun to see others catch the scarecrow bug and realize how fun it is to create these wonderful guys and gals.” Emma Winkelman designed this youthful scarecrow, winning second place in the Dayville Scarecrow Contest. Biller, who is expecting, made a pregnant scarecrow, and across the street is a father scarecrow taking a small child trick-or-treating — on a kid’s tractor. “We thank all those who created a new October res- ident for our town,” Moore said. “We love having them visit.” Lyndee Biller’s scarecrow, which placed third, smiles with hands folded on top of her ‘baby bump.’ Remember the pine butterfly outbreak that hit Grant County and other parts of the region from 2009 to 2012? In some of the more heavi- ly affected areas, such as south and east of Sen- eca, the clouds of white butterflies looked like a summertime blizzard, and thousands of acres of pine forests were heavily defoliated. After the butterfly populations suddenly crashed, ev- eryone was relieved that, overall, trees seemed to recover well and mortality was light. However, the 2018 aerial survey of tree mortality has indicated a notable increase in tree mortality, particularly in those areas that had experienced the most defoliation. Dr. Dave Shaw, forest health specialist for Oregon State University Extension Service, came to John Day on Oct. 16 to investigate and lead a forest health tour for interested wood- land owners. According to Shaw, the pine for- ests were sucker punched by the prolonged drought that followed the defoliation event, greatly exacerbating the stress on trees. Other conifer tree pests are quick to take advantage of trees weakened by stress, and in this case, the western pine beetle (Dendrocto- nus brevicomis) has really moved in. Usually, WPB is a relatively low-level problem, com- pared to its infamous cousin the mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) that has killed millions of acres of trees across the U.S. and Canada in recent years. But now we’re see- ing large numbers of trees killed by the WPB. Another concern is that there are indica- tions of a growing Douglas-fir tussock moth (Orgyia pseudotsugata) population in the same region where the pine butterfly defoliation was high. The tussock moth is appearing in the higher elevation, mixed-conifer forest types, and we could not find extensive defoliation on our short tour, but it seems to be building in numbers and may be more evident by next year. The tussock moth is typically a short- term defoliator with populations rising sharply then dramatically crashing from the combined effects of parasites, predators, disease and star- vation, but we’ll have to see how this outbreak develops. Contributed photo Dr. Dave Shaw, forest health specialist for Oregon State University Extension Service, led a forest health tour in Grant County Oct. 16. Shaw chopped away the bark on some of the ponderosa trees to reveal the unique spa- ghetti noodle-like pattern that the WPB leaves on the surface of the wood by eating away the cambium layer. But further chopping at ground level and below revealed a distinct stain in the wood. Blue stain fungi is common in pine trees that have been killed by WPB and MPB, low- ering the commercial wood value, but is a re- sult, not a cause, of mortality. However, Shaw expressed concern that this stain resembled that of the black stain root disease, which is common in southwestern Oregon but usually not here. He took some samples to have the stain positively identified in the lab, and we’re waiting to hear the results. Stay tuned! Bob Parker is the Baker and Grant County Extension forester. For more information about these and other forest pests, visit fs.fed.us/for- esthealth/protecting-forest/forest-health-moni- toring/monitoring-forest-highlights.shtml. Veterans Deserve Healthy Relationships Love • Safety • Respect Dometic Violence Awareness Month Grant County Veterans Services 530 S Main St. Ste 5, John Day • 541-575-1631t 541-523-6377 541-963-6577 541-573-6377 541-576-2160 84502 Thank You! The Blue Mountain Healthcare Foundation would like to thank the following individuals and businesses who donated items to this year's Annual Meeting, Dinner and Auction held October 20th at the John Day Elks Lodge. The generosity of our community is amazing and we are truly grateful for each and every one of you who supported such a great cause! Funds raised are being used to purchase a new updated nurse call system and a vein finder. 1188 Brewing Company Aaron & Emily Lieuallen Adoni’s Pine Massage AirLink Ansel & Judy Krutsinger A Flower Shop & More April Bieber & Nick Lulay Bar WB Blue Mountain Care Center Blue Mountain Eagle BMHD Ambulance Department BMHD Business Office BMHD Dietary Department BMHD Home Health BMHD Medical Records BMHD Radiology Department Bob, Denise & Tristan Houser Brandon Hueckman Contracting Brandon & Janessa Sickler Brenda Mosier Brent & Shawna Clark Brian & Ali Lenz Bruce & Kim Ward Cecil Gagnon Dan & Chris Cronin David & Alicia Hall Derek Daly Dr. Keith Thomas & Cyndy Fox Ed Staub & Sons Gardner Enterprises Gary & Virginia Miller Grant County Building Supply Grant County Fairgrounds House to Home Hutch's Printing Janet Myers JD Rents Jeff Meyerholtz Jeff & Sally Knowles John Day Eye Care John Day Parks & Rec John Day River Vet John Day True Value Kimberly Orchards KJDY L&L Excavating Les Schwab Tires John Day Little Canyon Food Cart Li Dansa Creations Malheur Lumber Mike & Sharri Slinkard Mobile Glass Mosiers Home Furnishings Napa Auto Parts Nathan McFarland & Rafaella Betza Nydam's Ace Hardware Pendleton Round-Up Prairie Trading Post Right Lane Ranch Rose Howe Snaffle Bit Dinner House Southworth Brothers Squeeze-In Strawberry Wilderness Community Clinic Stylish 10 Subway Tanni Wenger Photograhy The Dowdy Family Tidewater Contractors Tim & Tracie Unterwegner Tom Winters Trevor & Jena Knowles Ugly Truth Bar & Grill Zac & Heather Bailey “ I don’t think the benefits would have been paid if Greg Walden hadn’t gotten involved. Martha who sought assistance with her husband’s VA benefits. I’m sure of it. What he did for me is something that can never be replaced. Greg Walden is one of the good ones.” “ Walden’s record on constituent services is a good one, helping residents of the 2nd District navigate bureaucracies ranging from the Social Security Administration to the Bureau of Land Management.” (The Bulletin, 4/21/18) PAID FOR BY WALDEN FOR CONGRESS, INC. 87255
