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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (April 17, 2019)
A6 COMMUNITY Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, April 17, 2019 Mighty Youth Track Meet gives youngsters a day to shine By Angel Carpenter Blue Mountain Eagle Eighteen boys and girls in grades 3-6 were in the spotlight April 6, competing in the Mighty Youth Track Meet in John Day. Grant Union stu- dent Kaylee Wright orga- nized the event, held at the school’s athletic field, for her senior project. Children from the John Day area and neighbor- ing towns were invited to compete. Several volunteers assisted Wright with taking down times for the sprint races and marks for the long jump and softball throw. Others helped walk the ath- letes through the events, including Grant Union senior Trinity Hutchison for the long jump. “I love little kids, and I just want to get them involved in track,” Wright said. “I want them to enjoy all the sports they have the opportunity to do.” She added, “Track pro- vides a great opportunity for lifelong enjoyment.” There are organized teams for several other sports for this age group, such as softball, base- ball, basketball and swim- ming, but not for track and field. One exception is the Oregon East Track Club headed up by Jenny Jacobs at Prairie City School. For more information about Oregon East Track Club, visit tracktownyouth- league.com and click on “Resources,” then “Track clubs” and then “USATF Oregon — Clubs.” This team will hold a qualifier meet at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 27, at Prai- rie City School’s athletic field for youth to advance to the TrackTown Youth League Championship in Eugene. Taylor Parsons, 11, of John Day competes in the softball throw at the April 6 Mighty Youth Track Meet. Eagle photos/Angel Carpenter Nine-year-old Silvie Holliday competes in long jump at the Mighty Youth Track Meet April 6. Americanism essayists tackle veteran homelessness By Angel Carpenter Blue Mountain Eagle Americanism Essay Chair- man Sherry Feiger said the entries in this year’s writing con- test were thoughtful as students in grades 3-12 answered the question: “How can we address and prevent veteran homeless- ness in our communities?” The local contest is spon- sored by the American Legion Auxiliary Ellis Tracy Unit 77. Feiger said this year’s theme was different from any over the past couple years. “(It’s) a social issue that affects us all and so many com- munities,” she said. There were 113 entries in all, and Feiger said she was grate- ful that teachers took the time to include the essay contest as part of their class instruction. Students winning first, sec- ond or third place in their divi- sions were invited to read their essays for friends and family at a potluck dinner in March at Alec Gay Hall in John Day. She said she was impressed by the empathy the students had for the veterans’ situation and the wide range of ideas on how to assist them. “Some were eager to help with food and money,” she said. “Others wanted to find a way to give them life skills and means to heal any illness they had.” “Veterans served our coun- try so now we should serve and help them, just as they did for us,” wrote Humbolt Elementary fourth-grader Keira Stiner. Humbolt sixth-grader Mad- elyn Bailey said, “Sometimes everyone needs encourage- ment. ... We could promote this Kaylee Wright, right, oversees the Mighty Youth Track Meet, which she organized for her senior project with help from her father, Kelsy Wright, who is measuring a softball throw. PRAIRIE CITY HONOR ROLL — THIRD QUARTER Seniors 4.0 GPA: Deja Amsden and Josiah Hoeffner. Honor roll (3.5-3.99 GPA): Levi Burke and Haley Pfefferkorn. Honorable mention (3.0-3.49 GPA): Jonathan Lawrence, Lane Williams, Brett Copenhaver, Raven Maloy, Paige Moore and Kyla Winton. Juniors 4.0 GPA: JoLynne Ashley, Shaelynn Bice, Cole Deiter and Johna Long. Honor roll: Aleah Johns, Jessica Reames, Madalyn Way, Shaine Madden, Carson McKay, Rilee Emmel and Abby Winegar. Honorable mention: Opie McDaniel, Lucas McKinley, Kaden Madden and Emily Ennis. Sophomores Angel Carpenter/Blue Mountain Eagle Winners of the Americanism essay contest gathered at the American Legion Auxiliary’s Ellis Tracy Unit #77 for a potluck dinner with family and friends. This year’s winners are: front, left to right, Samuel Smith, Keira Stiner, Eliza Bailey and Mason Benge; middle row, Money Anderson, Sarah Smith, Amelia Hall, Madelyn Bailey and Jueun Park; back row, Max Bailey, Mason Morris, Maverick Miller, Emily Springer, Taylor Allen and Mya Kilby. Alici Archibald, not pictured, was also among the winners. by having successful veterans mentor those that struggle” to “show them ways to overcome obstacles.” Mya Kilby in the grade 11-12 division said, “War will always be one of those things that nobody really wants to do, but some brave people do it to keep us safe and they should be able to rely on us to help them when they get back.” The first-place winning essays have advanced to state for judging. 2019 essay contest winners Division I (grades 3-4) First, Keira Stiner, Humbolt, teacher Joan Walczyk Second, Samuel Smith, Sen- eca, Andrea Ashley Third, Eliza Bailey, Hum- bolt, Joan Walczyk Division II (grades 5-6) First, Madelyn Bailey, Hum- bolt, Georgia Boethin Second, Monel Anderson, Seneca, Andrea Ashley Second, Sarah Smith, Sen- eca, Andrea Ashley Third, Mason Benge, Hum- bolt, Georgia Boethin Division III (grades 7-8) First, Max Bailey, Grant Union, Angela Smith Second, Amelia Hall, Grant Union, Angela Smith Third, Alici Archibald, Grant Union, Angela Smith Division IV (grades 9-10) First, Mason Morris, Grant Union, Angela Smith Second, Soren Caudill, Grant Union, Jessica Lane Third, Maverick Miller, Grant Union, Angela Smith Division V (grades 11-12) First, Mya Kilby, Grant Union, Jessica Lane Second, Taylor Allen, Grant Union, Jessica Lane Third, Emily Springer, Grant Union, Jessica Lane Special recognition Jueun Park, GU Jr/Sr High, Angela Smith 4.0 GPA: Aries Bice, Brandon Horrell, Caitlin Willet and Declan Zweygardt. Honor roll: Katie Hire, Mikiah Kimble, Jayden Winegar and Samantha Workman. Honorable mention: Abbey Pfefferkorn. Freshman 4.0 GPA: Riley Reames and Isaac Koopman. Honor roll: Marcus Judd. Honorable mention: Seth Moore, John Titus and Hannah Wall. Eighth-graders 4.0 GPA: Kaitlynne Ashley and Janie Koopman. Honor roll: Laken McKay, Leif Rausch and Cole Teel. Honorable mention: BettyAnn Wilson, Paige Shaw and Caitlin Titus. Seventh-graders 4.0 GPA: Cayden Howard. Honor roll: Cliff Bice and Jaycee Winegar. Honorable Mention: Brianna Kimble, Porsche Kite, Brooke Teel, Wes Voigt, McK- enzie Lawrence, Cody Reagan and Tristen Gibson.