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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (March 27, 2019)
A2 FAMILY Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, March 27, 2019 OUT OF THE PAST 75 years ago Prairie City man in active combat in Bou- gainville Jungle With the Americal (CX) Division at Bougainville, Private Alvin E. Polasek, former resident of Prai- rie City, in the John Day valley, is in active com- bat against the Japanese at this base in the South Pacifi c. “I have been on patrols into the Bougainville jun- gle behind the enemy lines,” Polasek said, “and I’ve heard the weapons the Japs use.” Since his arrival at this base Christmas day, 1943, Polasek has been at the front lines with an infantry regiment with the Americal (CX) Division. Prior to coming to this combat zone in the Sol- omon Islands, Polasek, assigned to a regiment whose members are the grizzled veterans of the battle of Guadalcanal and winners of a Presiden- tial citation for gallantry in action last year. He was in jungle warfare maneu- vers in the Fiji Islands with the seasoned fi ghters of his outfi t. 50 years ago ‘62 Days Celebration plans unfold Can-can girls, a muck- ing contest, sack racing will be some of the new features which will be added to the regular pop- ular events for the annual ’62 Days Celebration in Canyon City, according to the Whiskey Gulch Gang, sponsors of the celebration. Carpenter graduates from commercial diving school Daniel M. Carpenter of John Day graduated from Divers Institute of Technol- ogy in Seattle, Washington, on Feb. 26. H e received an award for perfect atten- dance in the seven-month commer- cial diving program. Daniel M. C a r - Carpenter penter, a 2018 grad- uate of Grant Union High School in John Day, has since started work for a dive contracting company in Louisiana. The celebration, com- memorating the discov- ery of gold in 1862, will be held June 6-7. Further planning for the two-day festivities will be made at a meeting Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Canyon City Fire Hall. All inter- ested persons are urged to attend. “One thing for sure,” states Dave Traylor, “there is going to be something for everyone.” Tentative plans call for a cross-country horse relay race from Prairie City to Canyon City on an old county road. Each contes- tant will ride three horses in the relay. It is hoped that a $100 cash prize will be offered for the winner. A wide variety of events, such as a muck- ing contest, ax throwing contest, wheelbarrow and sack racing and a skil- let-tossing event, are being planned. The Medicine Wagon Show is being revamped and will be staged follow- ing the parade instead of prior to the parade as in the past. The show will feature new acts and is expected to run an hour and a half. Black powder shooting and old time fi ddling will continue to be a part of the ’62 Days Celebration. Contestants for the beard contest can start sprouting whiskers April 7, which is 62 days before the celebration. Emphasis this year will be on costumes as well as the beard. Everyone will be encouraged to dress up in the style of ’62 Days for the the library, will help bridge the needs between where the library is at now and where it hopes to go. The building will not be available until September. The county asked the library board to get a written agree- ment with the lumber com- pany to formalize the deal. The unit will house some new computers for public use. 10 years ago Eagle fi le photo From March 31, 1994: The lack of any signifi cant rain or snow this winter is refl ected in the level of Canyon Meadow Lake. Looking out from the dam, the level is not too much higher than it was last August, and there is not too much surrounding snow to provide much spring runoff . Last spring, the water level covered the rocks seen at the left and extended to the tallest pine trees in the center of the picture. celebration said Traylor. 25 years ago Library board gets the OK to accept Malheur Lumber mobile home Grant County court mem- bers last week voted unani- mously to allow members of the library board to enter into an agreement with Mal- heur Lumber Company to get a single wide mobile home the company would like to donate to the library. Although the 12-by-60- foot mobile home will be free, it’s estimated it will cost the library about $2,600 to get it moved, set up and hooked up, according to Melody Jackson, the county librarian. Malheur Lumber Com- pany is building a new offi ce. When complete, the company will surplus the single wide and another double wide mobile home it’s now using as its offi ces. Jackson said the sin- gle wide, with one bath- room and electric heat, is fully paneled and carpeted. Based on estimates, she said it would cost $750 to get it hooked up; $500 to get it moved from the mill to the library; $200 to $300 for the tires and axles; and another $800 to $1,000 to install an air conditioner. Even if the estimates are low, Jackson and the court agreed the addition, once complete, would be worth far more than its cost. Funds for the project would come from the library’s capital outlay budget. Grant County Judge Kevin Campbell said the addition of the mobile home, which will be located behind SWAT team raids ranch An Oregon State Police Special Weapons and Tac- tics (SWAT) team and other police swept to a ranch near Long Creek last week and arrested a federal fugitive in connection with a drug case. John Charles Rock Jr., 51, was arrested on a war- rant for conspiracy to import controlled substances, con- spiracy to possess marijuana on board arriving aircraft and conspiracy to distribute marijuana. The action began about 6 p.m., Thursday, March 19, as about two dozen SWAT offi cers armed with search and arrest warrants arrived at the ranch on Low Gap Lane, about 2 miles north- east of Long Creek. They were accompanied by other OSP offi cers from the John Day and Baker City out- posts, Grant County Sher- iff’s deputies and John Day Police offi cers. OSP Sgt. Gordon Larson of the John Day outpost said that, when the police moved in, Rock emerged from a trailer he had been staying in and was arrested. He was not armed and offered no resistance. Into the sunset No one else was at the ranch at the time. “He was there by him- self, with some dogs,” Lar- son said. Rock had been staying at the ranch off and on for about a year and a half, with the permission of the absen- tee owner. Larson said Rock was born in Washington and had lived in Alaska, where he was a pilot. He came to the attention of authorities after an inci- dent about a year ago in Canada, when he crashed an airplane that turned out to be “full of marijuana,” Larson said. Canadian authori- ties notifi ed the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administra- tion, which investigated the incident. That led to a crimi- nal indictment from the U.S. Attorney’s Offi ce. Acting on a warrant for Rock’s arrest, the U.S. Mar- shals Service traced him to the Long Creek ranch, and enlisted the aid of the OSP to make the arrest. Rock was taken to the Grant County Jail, where he was held without bail until Friday, when two U.S. Mar- shals picked him up. Rock is expected to remain in custody pending arraignment in federal court. The SWAT team used in last week’s raid was made up of specially trained offi - cers from across the state. Larson credited Grant County Undersheriff Todd McKinley, who was familiar with the terrain and build- ings of the ranch, for provid- ing good information to help prepare for the raid. OBITUARIES Colleen Rae Conlee Colleen Rae Conlee, 62, of Canyon City died Sunday, March 24, at her residence. A graveside memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 30, at St. Andrews Catholic Cemetery in Canyon City. Memorial contributions may be made to the Elks Children’s Eye Clinic or to Blue Mountain Hospice through Driskill Memorial Chapel, 241 S. Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR 97845. To offer online con- dolences to the family, visit driskillmemorialchapel.com. Carl John Lino Carl John Lino Jr., 75, of John Day passed away Dec. 23 at Blue Mountain Hospital in John Day. Services were held March 23 at Grant Union High School in John Day with John Martin and Tom Winters offi ciating. A reception fol- lowed at the John Day Elks Lodge. Memorial contributions may be made to Blue Mountain Hospital or the Elks Casey Eye Institute through Driskill Memorial Chapel, 241 S. Can- yon Blvd., John Day, OR 97845. To leave an online condo- lence for the family, visit driskillmemorialchapel.com. About Obituaries Contributed photo/Heather Ann Reilly Heather Ann Reilly took this shot at the Grant County Regional Airport March 21. If you have taken a great photo, send it to editor@bmeagle.com with the photographer’s full name and a brief description. News obituaries of 300 words or less are a free service of the Blue Mountain Eagle. The paper accepts obituaries from the family or funeral home. Information submitted is subject to editing. Obituaries submitted to the Eagle with incorrect information may be corrected and republished as paid memorials. Obituaries longer than 300 words may be published as paid memorials. Send obituaries by email, offi ce@bmeagle.com; fax, 541-575-1244; or mail, 195 N. Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR 97845. For more information, or to inquire about a paid memorial, call 541-575-0710. 2ND ANNUAL KIDS PASSPORT TO FUN! Attend a Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Dinner and Benefit Auction March 25-29 Where fun and fund-raising combine for a memorable evening. Date: Time: Join us for adventures in history, science, arts and crafts, games, prizes and much more! Passports and information/instruction packets are available now at the Grant County Chamber of Commerce. First two children $5 each, families $12; Children 5 and under are free, no passport needed. Every other Monday in John Day at Blue Mountain Hospital 170 Ford Rd. • 541-575-1311 The community hall in Canyon City will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on March 28th with many activities by a variety of community partners. Passports are required for entry for children age 6-12. For more information about the event or about the daycare provided on the 28th please call the Grant County Historical Museum at 541-575-0362. Last Week’s Temps John Day HI/LO Tuesday ........................................................... 64/32 Wednesday ..................................................... 64/41 Thursday .......................................................... 60/37 Friday ............................................................... 62/34 Saturday .......................................................... 49/34 Sunday ............................................................. 51/33 Monday............................................................ 61/37 24/7 F ORECAST A UTOMATED : 541-575-1122 R OAD CONDITIONS : 511; TRIPCHECK . COM NOAA W EATHER R ADIO FOR J OHN D AY 162.500 MHz Saturday, April 20 4:00—Doors open 5:30—Dinner 7:30—Auction Place: Pavilion— Grant County Fairgrounds Ticket Information: Gale Wall (541) 575-2661 A great time for a great cause. Proceeds benefit elk and other wildlife. W EATHER F ORECAST FOR THE WEEK OF M ARCH 27-A PRIL 2 Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Mostly cloudy Cloudy Clouds and sun Mostly sunny Mostly cloudy Sun and clouds Mostly cloudy 52 51 51 56 59 57 56 36 29 32 34 37 33 35
