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FAMILY
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, June 12, 2019
EO Media Group to purchase La Grande, Baker City papers
EO Media Group
EO Media Group’s pres-
ence in Oregon is set to get
even stronger.
Pending court approval,
the Eagle’s parent company
will be adding two more
newspapers to the fold with
the expected additions of
the La Grande Observer
and the Baker City Herald,
Heidi Wright, chief operat-
ing offi cer of the EO Media
Group, announced last
week.
“We’re excited to wel-
come the La Grande
Observer and Baker City
Herald into the EO Media
Group family,” Wright said.
“Our family-held company
has deep roots in Eastern
Oregon since 1908.”
The reported purchase
price was $775,000 for the
two papers. Fourth-gen-
eration EO Media Group
owner Kathryn Brown
of Pendleton said she is
excited about the purchase.
“My cousins and I are
committed to keeping local
journalism alive in the rural
communities we serve,” she
said. “We look forward to
providing credible and rel-
evant news to Union and
Baker counties for many
years to come.”
Wright said that if all
goes well, the sale will be
completed July 1.
Western
Communica-
tions Inc. owns the two
Eastern Oregon newspa-
pers, along with the Bend
Bulletin and a few other
EO Media Group photo
Pending court approval, EO Media Group will be adding two
more newspapers to the fold with the expected additions
of the La Grande Observer and the Baker City Herald, Heidi
Wright, chief operating offi cer of the EO Media Group,
announced last week.
publications in Oregon and
California. The corporation
fi led for Chapter 11 bank-
ruptcy protection in Jan-
Aviation Day introduces sixth-graders to fi eld of fl ight
said the expectation is the
court is going to give the
approval.
Western
Communica-
tions previously fi led for
Chapter 11 protection in
August 2011, following
a three-year dispute with
the Bank of America, the
company’s largest credi-
tor at the time. The com-
pany emerged from Chap-
ter 11 protection in April
2012.
Earlier
this
year,
the motor failed on the
53-year-old press that
had long printed the La
Grande Observer and the
Baker City Herald. Since
then, the two newspapers
have been printed on the
East Oregonian’s press in
Pendleton.
uary. Lawyers for West-
ern Communications told
the bankruptcy court the
plan was to sell property
and buildings, according to
court records, and in a hear-
ing last week said all the
newspapers had offers.
“A few weeks ago, the
(EOMG) put in a bid to
take over ownership of the
papers in La Grande and
Baker City,” Wright said.
“These towns are in close
proximity to the company’s
other publications on the
east side of Oregon, which
makes this a great oppor-
tunity to strengthen news
coverage for all of Eastern
Oregon.”
The bankruptcy court
has the fi nal say in accept-
ing EOMG’s offer. Wright
May slightly colder than normal
Blue Mountain Eagle
By Angel Carpenter
Blue Mountain Eagle
Aviation Day at the
Grant County Regional Air-
port in John Day introduced
over 62 fi fth- and sixth-
grade students to the facets
of fl ight, including explor-
ing the fi eld as a possible
future occupation.
“It’s about exposing
the students to a variety of
career paths in aviation,”
said airport manager Haley
Walker, who organized
the event with Didgette
McCracken, Oregon State
University Open Campus
coordinator.
Students from Hum-
bolt Elementary, Dayville
School, Prairie City School
and four homeschooled stu-
dents attended fi ve morning
and fi ve afternoon sessions.
McCracken said besides
the classes, Aviation Day
also introduces students to
the facility.
“We want kids to see
what a great airport we
have,” she said.
Volunteers from the
Grant County Airport Com-
mission, Oregon Depart-
ment of Aviation and local
pilots lent a hand instructing
the students.
Local pilots assisting
included Kathy Stinnett,
who taught about general
aviation and the labeling
on runways, and Bob Bag-
The Eagle/Angel Carpenter
Kristal Hansen, right, is one of many volunteers helping at the May 16 Aviation Day at
the Grant County Regional Airport in John Day. Prairie City senior Jake McHatton, also
standing, assisted the group of sixth-graders at the fun paper-airplane segment.
gon Department of Aviation.
A total of 20 volun-
teers were present, includ-
ing Ashley Armichardy of
Blue Mountain Community
College, who spoke about
college and career readi-
ness, and a Southwest Air-
lines fl ight attendant. Some
volunteers traveled from
Salem, Bend and Boise to
share their expertise.
The event was a collab-
orative effort between the
airport, Oregon State Uni-
versity Open Campus and
the Grant County school
districts.
“The goal of the day is
to showcase the variety of
careers aviation can provide
through hands-on, interac-
tive learning,” Walker said.
The Eagle/Angel Carpenter
Humbolt Elementary sixth-graders Hannah Vaughan and
Mallory Lusco earn their wings during the May 16 Aviation
Day at the Grant County Regional Airport in John Day.
ett and Doug Ferguson, who
talked about Grant County
Air Search with a discus-
sion on safety — students in
their session earned “wings”
(small pins to wear).
Stinnett, Bagett and Fer-
guson are all members of
Air Search, Ferguson as
chairperson. Bagett and Fer-
guson are also members of
the Grant County Airport
Commission, and Ferguson
is on the board for the Ore-
Wherever
this Summer
takes you,
take Us Along.
Temperatures in John
Day averaged slightly colder
than normal during the
month of May, according to
preliminary data received by
NOAA’s National Weather
Service in Pendleton.
The average temperature
was 52.4 degrees, which was
1.9 degrees below normal.
High temperatures averaged
66.9 degrees, which was
1.9 degrees below normal.
The highest was 82 degrees
on May 12. Low tempera-
tures averaged 37.8 degrees,
which was 1.9 degrees
below normal. The lowest
was 21 degrees on May 1.
There were four days
with the low temperature
below 32 degrees.
Precipitation totaled 1.86
inches during May, which
was 0.04 inches below nor-
mal. Measurable precipi-
tation was received on 11
days with the heaviest, 0.63
inches, reported on May 20.
Precipitation this year has
reached 6.63 inches, which
is 0.34 inches above normal.
Since October, the water
year precipitation at John
Day has been 9.70 inches,
which is 0.17 inches below
normal.
The outlook for June
from NOAA’s Climate Pre-
diction Center calls for
above-normal temperatures
and near-normal precipita-
tion. Normal highs for John
Day rise from 73 degrees
at the start of June to 83
degrees at the end of June.
Normal lows rise from 43
degrees to 48 degrees. The
30-year normal precipitation
is 1.43 inches.
OBITUARIES
James T. Mael
James T. Mael, 77, of Monument died Nov. 4, 2018. A
military service will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 22,
at the Monument Cemetery, followed by a potluck luncheon
at noon at the Monument Senior Center. Memorial donations
may be made to either Silent Wave Horse Rescue, Kim-
berly, or Hope 4 Paws, John Day, through Driskill Memo-
rial Chapel, 241 S. Canyon Blvd., John Day, 541-575-0529.
Norman DeJong
Norman DeJong, 77, of Prairie City passed away June 1
at his residence. If desired, memorial contributions may be
made to the Blue Mountain Hospice through Driskill Memo-
rial Chapel at 241 S. Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR 97814.
To leave an online condolence, visit driskillmemorialchapel.
com.
Theodora Marie Richardson
Theodora Marie Richardson, 81, of Prairie City passed
away June 1 at St. Charles Medical Center in Bend. Arrange-
ments have been entrusted to Driskill Memorial Chapel of
John Day. To leave an online condolence, visit driskillme-
morialchapel.com.
Contact us if you’re
traveling to another
state or out of the
country. We’ll make
sure you’re all set.
About Obituaries
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.
541.676.0201
Father’s Day on the Train!
Gold Rush Bandits to Rob Train!
Saturday, June 15
& Sunday, June 16
Download
BEO MOBILE
Summer Solstice
Dinner Train
Saturday, June 22
for Apple & Android.
Tickets online or
call 800.323.7330
Schedule & Descriptions www.eaglecaptrainrides.com
Member FDIC
Last Week’s Temps
John Day ...........................................................HI/LO
Tuesday ........................................................... 78/46
Wednesday ..................................................... 84/49
Thursday .......................................................... 58/45
Friday ............................................................... 55/39
Saturday .......................................................... 63/40
Sunday ............................................................. 74/41
Monday............................................................ 83/48
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
W EATHER F ORECAST FOR THE WEEK OF J UNE 12-18
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Partly
sunny
Mostly
sunny
Mostly
sunny
Sunny
Clouds
and sunshine
Sunny
Sunny
90
84
82
83
82
83
86
58
54
52
53
49
47
44