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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (July 3, 2019)
FOURTH OF JULY MyEagleNews.com Wednesday, July 3, 2019 A3 Cal and Dana Brooks are Dayville grand marshals By Angel Carpenter Blue Mountain Eagle The Eagle/Angel Carpenter Carla Wright is Prairie City parade’s grand marshal. Prairie City Grand Marshal Carla Wright holds day’s memories dear By Angel Carpenter Blue Mountain Eagle Carla Wright, this year’s Prairie City Fourth of July Parade grand mar- shal, has experienced many memorable Inde- pendence Day celebra- tions in the town. “One year it snowed, and it wasn’t one to two years after that, it was 104 degrees,” she said. “Grant County weather is something else.” Another Fourth of July memory: “The kids, helping with kids games at the football field and at the park,” she said. “It was fun.” There were three- legged races, balloon games and kids dig- ging for coins, including 50-cent pieces, in sand. Children have been, and continue to be, at the center of Wright’s world. Now retired, she was a well-loved third-grade teacher at Prairie City School for 32 years. “They’re still young enough to like you,” she quipped. “When I went back to subbing, I enjoyed the junior high kids.” Wright grew up in Mt. Vernon and graduated from Mt. Vernon High School. She received her teaching degree from Eastern Oregon Univer- sity in La Grande. At the start of her career, Wright taught for four years in New Mex- ico on a reservation. She then taught two years in Bates, where she and Everett King were the last two teachers before the school closed. She was then offered a job in Prairie City. “I’ve always liked kids, to be able to teach them not only academ- ics, but life,” she said. “I always said, if I made a good citizen out of a kid, then I knew I did a good job.” OREGON CAPITAL INSIDER Although Wright retired from substitute teaching a year ago, she still stays active, volun- teering for the Prairie Baptist Awana. She also volunteered for Young Life in the past, bus- ing youth from Prairie City to John Day for four years. Wright is the secre- tary-treasurer of the Prai- rie City Cemetery Dis- trict. The organization received funding and in-kind assistance to install a well earlier this year, since the irriga- tion ditch used to water the cemetery lawn often runs dry in July. Now the district is fundraising to install plumbing and electricity for the well. She and her husband, Larry, enjoy attending all the Prairie City Panther basketball games. The couple will cele- brate their 45th anniver- sary in August. Larry was the plant superintendent at Grant Western Lumber Co. in John Day before it closed. They have four chil- dren, Julie Combs, Rusty Wright, Brenda Lovell and Jason Wright, and have 11 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. Last year, Carla and Larry rode on the Prai- rie City Senior Citizens float, and this year he’ll accompany her in a ‘57 Chevy. The classic car is one they previously owned and gave to their son Rusty. They also gave Jason their ‘65 Ford Mustang. The couple were mem- bers of the Grant County Kruzers classic car club, when the organization was active. They travel all over Oregon with a visit to Hawaii every other year. “If I go to the city, I’m always glad to come home,” she said. Cal and Dana Brooks will ride together on a four- wheeler as grand marshals of the Dayville Fourth of July Parade. Dana said, when they moved to Dayville about 20 years ago, they wanted to become a part of the community. “They’re like a family there, and we always felt welcome,” she said. Cal was a Dayville vol- unteer firefighter for many years and enjoyed using his four-wheeler to plow snow in town during the winter months. Dana was on the city’s budget committee then served as a city councilor for several years. Both now retired, Cal Contributed photo Cal and Dana Brooks are grand marshals of the Dayville Fourth of July Parade. worked at Grant County Building Supply in Can- yon City, and Dana was the director of the Grant County Commission on Children and Families. While in her position as director for 10 years, she helped the Grant County Safe Communities Coali- tion when they applied for and were awarded a Drug Free Communities Grant that totaled $1 million over 10 years. She then worked as an administrative assistant at Old West Federal Credit Union for six years. Dana also worked with the late Denise Smith several years ago to bring the slogan “Our Fossils are Friendly” to Dayville, giving attention to the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument being “in their backyard,” she said. The Brooks moved to Albany in March to be closer to Julie Wallin, Dana’s daughter, and Nikki Wood, Cal’s daughter, and four granddaughters. One of Dana’s favor- ite pastimes in Dayville has been the community dances. “You see kids from 1 year old to 91 out on the dance floor,” she said. “It’s what communities should be.” FOURTH OF JULY EVENTS PLANNED ACROSS COUNTY PRAIRIE CITY DAYVILLE MONUMENT LONG CREEK MY HEART BEATS RED, WHITE AND BLUE 4TH OF JULY SUMMER DAYS AND COUNTRY WAYS CELEBRATION 4TH OF JULY FUN FESTIVAL AT J. DEMPSEY BOYER PARK FOUNDERS DAY FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION 7-10 a.m.: Calvary Horse Camp breakfast at the Teen Center 9 a.m.: Parade line-up (judg- ing at 11:15 a.m.) 7-9 a.m.: Breakfast at the community church 7-11 a.m.: 4-H pancake breakfast 7:30 a.m.: 4-H Color Run 9 a.m.: Classic car show registration at city hall 9 a.m.: Horseshoe compe- tition 9:15 a.m.: Parade line-up and judging, east of town 9:30 a.m.: Vendor booths open Noon: Parade 10 a.m.: Parade 10 a.m.: Parade 1 p.m.: Fay Burril Memorial Horseshoe Tournament Following the parade: Jake- burgers in front of city hall and Jake Streeter Memorial Car Show at city park 11 a.m.: Family games, face painting booths 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Green Thumb Garden Club straw- berry shortcakes 1 p.m.: FFA tri-tip barbecue 1-4 p.m.: Gold panning at DeWitt Museum Dusk: Fireworks at the Ox- bow Ranch A corn hole competition at Prairie City park will start before the parade, and Mr. Pickle’s cross cut saw and log sawing competition will take place following the parade near Highway 26 and Cozart Street (saws and wood provided). Entry forms for the parade can be picked up at Prairie City Hall, Roan Coffee Co., Bar WB and the Grant Coun- ty Chamber of Commerce office. 11:15 a.m.: Baked goods auction at city park 11:30 a.m.: Jackpot Horse- shoe Tournament at city park Noon (approximately): Car show winners announced, followed by duck race at city park 12:30 p.m.: Winners of duck race and star (decorating) contest will be announced Events and times are subject to change. Check the Dayville Post Office bulletin board for schedule updates or contact city hall at 541-987-2188 or dville@ ortelco.net. A Founders Day barbecue will be held at noon in Long Creek at the commu- nity hall on Second Street. The event is sponsored by the Long Creek Historical Society. Hamburgers and hot dogs will be provided, and those attending may bring a dish to share. Noon: Pledge of Allegiance 1 p.m.: Corn hole contest 2 p.m.: Apple bobbing contest 3 p.m.: Duck race at the bridge, family games re- open 5 p.m.: Dessert and live auction 6 p.m.: Potluck in the park with table services and drinks provided 7 p.m.: Talent show 10 p.m.: Fireworks over the river To register for the color run, contact Sahara at 541-934- 2532; to participate in the talent show, call 541-934- 2032. For more information regarding overall events, call Lonnie at 541-934-2696, Kacy at 541-934-2032 or Monica at 541-934-2061. Monument parade officials said they do not plan to have grand marshals this year. We’re investing in Salem coverage when other news organizations are cutting back. Get the inside scoop on state government and politics! Wishing you a happy, safe e c n e d n e p e d n I ! ! y a D JOHN DAY • PRAIRIE CITY Growing Generations Together Member FDIC
