Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (April 24, 2019)
Blue Mountain Eagle Rodeo runs in the family OBITUARIES Leslie ‘Les’ Guttu Leslie “Les” Guttu, 76, of John Day died at his home Wednesday, April 17. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home and Cremation Services. Online condo- lences can be shared at tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com. Katheryn E. Maley Katheryn E. Maley, 73, died on April 15 at her home in Burns surrounded by her family. A memorial service will be held at a later date with burial at the Fox Cemetery. Joan Marie Howell Dec. 13, 1947 — Feb. 17, 2019 Joan Marie Howell, 71, of Monument, Oregon, passed away Feb. 17 at her home. A celebration of life and potluck will be held on Saturday, April 27, at 1 p.m. at the Monu- ment City Park. She was born Dec. 13, 1947, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Lewis and Gertrude Miller; she was the fourth out of fi ve siblings. The family moved from Missouri to Long Beach, California; then, in 1962, they made the move to Grant County, Oregon, to the W4 Ranch. Joan attended Monument School where she met Sam Howell, and they married in 1964. Sam and Joan had two children, Sandy in 1965 and Sammy in 1968. She was a jack of many trades. She worked in the mint fi elds planting mint for Paul Jewell, cooked at the school, and then in 1993 she went to work for Thomas Orchards. She did everything from staking, planting and fertilizing trees to working the fruit stand, sorting, working in the kitchen dry- ing and canning fruit, making jams, pie fi ling and pies. Joan was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband, Sam Howell; a brother; sisters, Dorothy Richards and Carol Williamson. She is survived by his daughter, Sandy McKinney, of Prineville, Oregon; a son, Sammy Howell, of Monument; grandsons, James Jewell of Prairie City, Oregon, and DJ Howell of Monument; granddaughter, Jessica Hemphill, of Powell Butte, Oregon; and four great-grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made to the Monument EMTs, 50214 Highway 402, Monument, OR 97864. You may sign the online condolence book at sweeney- mortuary.com. Allen E. Chappell Sept. 18, 1950 — April 14, 2019 Allen E. Chappell, 68, passed away peacefully at his home in Fox, Oregon, on April 14. A celebra- tion of his life will be planned and announced in the coming months. Allen was born and raised in the valley and had just recently moved to Fox with his wife, Kelly, to enjoy the rest of his retirement. He was a member of the National Guard from 1970- 1975. Allen also was a long-time log hauler (both owner and operator) and worked as a driver/dispatcher for Siletz Trucking in Independence, Oregon. He was preceded in death by his parents, John Rex and Lilia Lu (Eubanks) Chappell; and his two brothers, Jack J. Chappell and Kenneth W. Chappell. He is survived by his wife, Kelly McGirr; stepdaugh- ter, Amanda Born, and her partner Nolan Riis of Seneca, Oregon; brothers, Bill Chappell of Salem, Oregon, John (Shirien) Chappell of Christmas Valley, Oregon, Leroy (Sonia) Chappell of Redmond, Oregon, and Jim Chappell and his partner Nancy Lenig of Gresham, Oregon; daugh- ter, Brook, of Salem, Oregon; and many nieces and neph- ews and prior (step) family members. Memorial contributions may be made to Powerland Heritage Park through Driskill Memorial Chapel, 241 S. Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR 97845. To leave an online condolence for the family, please visit driskillmemorial- chapel.com. Join our School Today Love to Learn! Class sizes are limited ENROLL TODAY SONSHINE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Registrations are being accepted for 2019-2020 We offer a high-quality school-readiness program for little learners. *Eligibility requirements apply. Pre-Kindergarten (4-5 yrs): 3 days a week, (T, W, TH). Now registering for afternoon classes 12:15 pm-3:15pm. *Must be 4 years old by Sept. 1, 2019. Pre-School (3-4 yrs): 2 days a week, (T, TH) 8:15 am- 10:45 am. *Must be 3 years of age by Sept 1st, 2019 and be independent when using the bathroom. Wednesday, April 24, 2019 FAMILY Register before July 31st Office Hours: Tues-Thurs 8:00 am-3:00 pm Chris and Shannon Bravos named grand marshals of Spray Rodeo By Jody Foss To the Blue Mountain Eagle “A lot of people don’t like peacocks because they are noisy,” Chris Bravos explained. “But they sure take care of the rattlesnakes.” When the Bravos’ fi rst moved into their place years ago, it was a common sight: rattlesnakes curled up com- fortably in the sun by the front door. Once they came home with peacocks, the rat- tlesnakes disappeared. “We have a real Heinz 57 bunch around here,” said Chris. Happy dogs wag their tails. A donkey and minia- ture horse graze the back hillside along with the goats. Barn cats keep the mice population at bay. Coming up the drive, one is greeted by two gentle giant work horses. “I saw them on the inter- net, and they were in the feed lot without much time left,” Shannon said as she stepped up on the edge of the feed bin and slides onto Bob’s back. “I called Lisa Neuberger of Silent Wave Horse Rescue, and she went with me to get them.” Silent Wave paid for the cost of the trip, and Shannon paid for the horses and their care. Dixie is blind in her left eye and so has to be on Bob’s right side in a hitch. The couple are honored to have been chosen to serve as grand marshals of the 72nd annual Spray Rodeo on Memorial Day weekend and are still discussing their chosen mode of transporta- tion for the parade. “He wants to ride my horse,” said Shannon with a smile. For many years, Chris and Shannon have donated all the hay to feed the stock at the Spray Rodeo. Chris Bravos was raised 541-575-1895 or 541-968-9865 office@ johndaynazarene. com 113568 A boy, Cody Kenneth Kraft, 9 pounds, 5 ounces, was born to parents Brian and Spring Kraft of Fillmore, California, April 8. He joins siblings Gregory, Adam, Luke, Gideon, Titus and Annie Mae. Grandparents are Mar- ion Holladay of Fillmore, Kevin Kraft of Camarillo, Califor- nia, and Cheryl Hoefl er of Prai- rie City. Great-grandmother is Audrey Martinson of Santa Bar- bara, California. 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 Grade 7 Macy Carter Parents: Mat and Jennifer Carter Grade 8 Jack Strong Parents: Mike Strong and Katie Bruzas Grade 9 Paige Weaver Parents: Jarrod and Janine Weaver Grade 10 Madison Spencer Parents: John Spencer and Cindy Dougharity- Spencer Grade 11 Emily Springer Parents: Mike and Shannon Springer Grade 12 Marissa Smith Parents: Brent and Kim Smith MyEagleNews.com OREGON CAPITAL INSIDER 1809 First Street • Baker City • (541)523-5439 BARGAIN MATINEE IN ( ) Adults $7 ALL FILMS $6 ON TIGHTWAD TUESDAY Get the inside scoop on state government and politics! The Avengers assemble once more in order to undo Thanos’ actions and restore order to the universe. FRI. (3:45) 7:30 SAT. (12:00) (3:45) 7:30 SUN. (12:00) (3:45) 7:30 MON-THURS 6:30 THE CURSE OF LA LLORONA (R) Ignoring an eerie warning, a social worker & her own small kids are drawn into a frightening supernatural realm. FRI. (4:00) 7:10 9:35 SAT. (12:20) (4:00) 7:10 9:35 SUN. (12:20) (4:00) 7:10 MON-THURS 7:10 THE MUSTANG (R) A violent convict is given the chance to participate in a rehabilitation therapy program involving training wild mustangs. FRI. 7:20 9:30 SAT. (12:10) 7:20 9:30 SUN. (12:10) 7:20 MON-THURS 7:00 $9 Adult, $7 Senior (60+), Youth Last Week’s Temps John Day HI/LO Tuesday ........................................................... 56/38 Wednesday ..................................................... 62/40 Thursday .......................................................... 74/40 Friday ............................................................... 76/42 Saturday .......................................................... 50/43 Sunday ............................................................. 61/40 Monday............................................................ 69/35 You can go to college all you want and learn about agriculture, but you’ve got to be out there and be hands on to really learn.” He credits the area locals for teaching him “the ropes” when it came to raising cows and growing hay. “When I moved up here, I learned a lot of stuff from the older ranchers. I am a lit- tle shy and I just listened to how they did it. I listened to old Tom Campbell and Bud and Gary Engels, and Ellis Hunt — all those guys that have been here forever.” Shannon was born and raised in John Day and spent a great deal of her childhood in Dayville with her aunt and uncle and cousins. The Greggs owned and ran the Dayville Mercantile and had horses. “We would ride all over,” Shannon remembers, “even swim the river on our horses. I have gone to the Spray Rodeo with my fam- ily my whole life. I like the rough stock events. Chris likes the timed events.” Her mom and dad, Gary and LoLieta Gregg, still live in John Day. At 87 and 80, they have a lifetime of rodeo and parade memories. Her dad and Uncle Gibb were in rodeos. Shannon’s brother Mitch was a bronc rider. Her dad, a wagon and buggy builder, restored wagons for Oxbow Trading Company in Canyon City. “Dad bought a driving mare from the Amish,” said Shannon. “He drove her in a lot of parades when she was younger.” His beautifully restored surrey and a ranch wagon are stored in his workshop. Chris’ son Dusty and grandson Kolby are com- ing to Spray to compete in the Spray Rodeo. They team rope, do tie down rop- ing and steer wrestling and compete in rodeos in Cali- fornia. The younger attends Feather River College and team ropes on the college rodeo circuit. Dusty Bra- vos recently won the No. 15 Western States Team Rop- ing Qualifer with his roping partner James Ferraeri. Chris’ son Jason is a veter- inarian in Dixon, California, and comes up to help Shan- non and Chris preg test and check out the herd. Cassie, who graduated from Mon- ument, is a teacher in Cot- tonwood, California. Shan- non’s daughter Amanda rode in the Spray Rodeo and Parade on the Rodeo Ban- dit drill team, and this year, her 12-year-old daughter Jenna will ride her horse in the parade. Whitney’s aunt, Nellie Miller, is 2019 World Champion Barrel Racer. Shannon has driven the Monument school bus for the past 23 years and is retir- ing after this year. “I am really gonna miss the kids,” she said. “I have watched a lot of kids grow up. I drove their parents too.” She works as a parapro- fessional and assists with the Video tel Spanish Class and in the grade school as well. “I help any teacher who needs help,” she said. Chris and Shannon lease property for their summer pasture and sell their calves in October and Novem- ber when they bring the herd down off the summer pasture. “I really enjoy the cat- tle,” said Chris. “If I didn’t enjoy it, I wouldn’t be doing it. When you are out there at 2 o’clock in the morn- ing with a calf? You have to enjoy it!” GRANT UNION STUDENTS OF THE MONTH — MARCH Cody Kenneth Kraft MOVIE SCHEDULE APRIL 26 - MAY 2 521 E Main Street John Day in Sonoma County, Califor- nia. Chris helped out with the high school rodeo team and worked for Diamond Lumber for 20 years. He moved to Oregon in 1987. “Everyone said you’ll be back in a year. You’ll go broke,” he said. “I went down to Long Creek and got hired at the mill.” Chris met Shannon, who was working at the store in Long Creek and raising her daughter Amanda and son Jeffrey. “He’d come in and buy a loaf of bread and a cou- ple beers,” she says. “That’s how we got to know each other.” They were married in 1994. Chris and Shannon have fi ve children: Jason, Dusty, Cassie, Amanda and Jeffrey. They also have seven grandchildren: Jess, Kolby, Rio, Whitney, Jenna, Shelby and Ryan. After working for Cross D Ranch raising hay and cat- tle for 25 years, Chris greatly values his life around live- stock and agriculture and all that he has learned. Amanda and Jeffrey both worked for Chris on the Cross D grow- ing up. “I always hired kids on the ranch. They have gone and done real well and have good jobs as doctors and teachers,” he said. “Every young person should have at least one summer work- ing on a hay ranch or a cat- tle ranch. You learn how to do things that you wouldn’t know how to do otherwise. BIRTHS AVENGERS: ENDGAME (PG-13) SONSHINE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Contributed photo The grand marshals for the 2019 Spray Rodeo are Chris and Shannon Bravos, longtime residents of Grant County. The most valuable and respected source of local news, advertising and information for our communities. eomediagroup.com 116578 A2 113905 W EATHER F ORECAST FOR THE WEEK OF A PRIL 24-30 Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Partly sunny Partly sunny Times of clouds Partly sunny Plenty of sunshine Sunshine and clouds Partly sunny 68 74 65 61 55 59 64 41 41 32 29 30 28 29