A6
NEWS
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Amateur radio operators prepare for disaster
Drill Oct. 12
simulated major
earthquake near
Sisters
Blue Mountain Eagle
Grant County ARES
(Amateur Radio Emer-
gency Service) mobi-
lized their equipment and
resources to participate in a
state-wide simulated emer-
gency exercise Oct. 12.
The scenario was that
of a major earthquake near
Sisters that closed all the
roads, knocked out all elec-
tricity and normal commu-
nication service in Grant
County.
In order to assist with
intercounty
communica-
tions, ARES sent digital
messages via radio to neigh-
boring counties to request
mutual aid. They also suc-
cessfully contacted neigh-
boring counties with voice
on various frequencies.
There were stations
operated in south, central,
north and west John Day as
well as mobile stations east
of Prairie City and south of
Contributed image
Motor carriers must detour around Highway 207 for two
weeks until about Oct. 31. A local detour on unimproved
roads near the closure, which are not suitable for commercial
freight, will be available for passenger vehicles.
Contributed photo
Seth Klingbeil takes traffic to send via Winlink in his pickup south of Long Creek during a
Grant County Amateur Radio Emergency Service drill Oct. 12.
Highway 207 near Mitchell
closed for repairs until Oct. 31
Blue Mountain Eagle
Long Creek.
The emergency opera-
tions center was located in
a recently acquired mobile
communications
van
located east of Prairie City.
County Commissioner Sam
Palmer oversaw the opera-
tion and approved the sim-
ulated emergency messages
from the mobile communi-
cations van east of Prairie
City.
Contributed photo
From left,
County
Commissioner
Sam Palmer,
Steve Fletcher
and Carl Metler
stand outside
a mobile
command post
during an Oct.
12 amateur
radio drill.
A section of Highway 207
near Mitchell will be closed
at all hours until about Oct.
31.
The closure is necessary
for emergency work to repair
slide damage, according to a
press release.
Motor carriers will be
directed to use Highway 26
to Highway 19 as a detour. A
local detour on unimproved
O utlook
SENI
R
roads — not suitable for
trucks or commercial freight
— is available near the clo-
sure for passenger vehicles.
A landslide that occurred
April 24 along Highway
207 near milepost 24, one-
half mile north of Mitch-
ell, caused the damage to the
roadway.
For more information, con-
tact Joel McCarroll, ODOT
District 10 manager, at 541-
388-6498 or 541-419- 0791.
Quality Eye Care... Quality Eyewear
401 W Main St., Ste. A • John Day • 541-575-1819
‘Twas a lovely fall day
on Tuesday, Oct. 15,
Prairie City
so we took a drive to
Monument and had
Seniors
a meal at the senior
center there. Surprised
Rose Coombs
Soo, oh yeah. We did
have another reason to
go there: to celebrate our 58th wedding anniversary. So when we came
back through Mt. Vernon, we were able to retrieve the pickup, so we
are back to a two-vehicle status.
Our special guests today were Beth Simonson representing the
Economic Development and Cindy Kalin representing Heart of Grant
County. They had a very interesting display about discrimination in
housing in Oregon through the years. Wonder if all that information is
available in pamphlet form? It was hard to read with bifocals 18 inches
off the floor. Ya get a crick in your neck!
Ginger led the flag salute and Jack asked the blessing. Del Lake was
the winner of the gift certificate donated by Chuck’s Little Diner.
Tom’s word of the day: Ask not what your country can do for you; ask
what’s for lunch. Har, har. The first table to go through the food line had
a hand in their centerpiece. Read Ps. 37:24 and you’ll find out why.
We had a good ‘ol country breakfast for lunch today: sausage
scramble, potatoes, muffins, fruit cup and orange slices. Amber, Tom
and Andy did a bang-up job.
Forty-six names were registered in our book.
Lorna and Krystin brought Marilyn Randall, Gordon Sindt and
Charlene Dean from the Blue Mountain Care Center.
Carla Wright went last week to Boise and had her eye cataracts
removed. Yes, both eyes – in one week! I could hardly believe it! When
we had ours done, we had to wait two weeks between eyes. She waited
one day! My, how times have changed. And she doesn’t need glasses
anymore, either. I wouldn’t either except for the astigmatism, drat it.
When my grandparents had their eyes done back in the 60s, they had
to lie out flat on their backs for hours afterwards. Ah, the marvels of
modern medicine. We haven’t quite got to the Star Trek hand scanner
that Dr. McCoy used. Since we have our cell phone ‘communicators’
now, we are making progress.
It is nice to see the different activities that go on in the ol’ hall on
Wednesday morning. The pinochle playing begins at 10 a.m. and the
tai chi at 11. One of the tai chi participants was early, so he wandered
over to see what we were doing at the card table. Discovered that he
knows how to play pinochle, so next week there will be another person
to play before tai chi. PTL. If you don’t want to do either of those,
there’s always the Senior Sales Corner and the library. Carol has been
watching the shelves to see if a certain book that she wanted to read
had made its way back. Then she discovered it at home in a box that
was put away two years ago. That’s called serendipity, I think…
Ecclesiastes 12:12 “… Of making many books there is no end…”
Today I have to
apologize for always
calling people by
other peoples names.
Today it is Darlene
Nodine - I keep calling her Joyce. I am so sorry Darlene.
Next I said something improper. It was not Buzz Gilmore that was
injured last week. It was a different person whose name is similar to
Buzz. Forgive me Buzz Gilmore.
Monday, Oct. 14, it was Darlene Nodine and Gregg Starr at the desk
to get everyone signed in. They do a very nice job with smiles and an
occasional chuckle for all. Thank you two for your service to us.
Buzz Gilmore led us in the flag salute to get our lunchtime started.
There were 35 fresh meals and 24 frozen meals delivered throughout
our community and Mount Vernon by Bonnie and Francis Kocis and
David Harvey of Step Forward. Thanks all of you for your time and
service to our community.
Chester’s Thriftway held their annual holiday showcase on Thursday,
Oct. 17. There were 35 vendors, prizes and goodies and lots of tasting of
new and well-known products at Chester’s. Last year it was terrific. You
have to see it to believe how much buzzing there is for this occasion.
Friday, Nov. 1 will be the AARP driver course at 9 a.m. led by Chrish
Hamilton. Hear about all the rules of driving and be reminded of
operations of driving that we take for granted and sometimes forget due
to habit. $15.00 is the fee for AARP members and $20.00 is the fee for
non-members so no one is left out.
It was previously announced that the John Day Senior Center will be
closed on the Nov. 14, but that has changed. Lunch will be served as
usual on Thursday, Nov. 14.
Billie Bullard won the Len’s Drug gift card and Francis Kocis won the free meal.
Francis Kocis asked the blessing for our meal and 27 diners proceeded to
be served by Bonnie and Francis Kocis of the Redeemer Lutheran Church.
Thanks Bonnie and Francis. We dined on a Monte Cristo bake casserole
and potato salad, rolls with butter and jam if desired, coffee, milk and juice
were served as well. Fruit salad was for dessert. Great meal.
On Thursday, Oct. 17, it was Jeanette Julsrud and Gregg Starr greeting
everyone at the front desk getting everyone signed in. Smiles and
chuckles were in practice too. Love that.
Nancy led our flag salute. Thirty-eight fresh meals were delivered to
homes in our community by Dennis and Linda Dickens and Dave and
crew of Step Forward. Thanks to all of you for your time and passion to
be of service to others.
Dusty Harris was finally back with great difficulty but we were so
pleased to see her being able to get around on her own again. It was good
to see you Dusty.
Shea won the 50/50 drawing, Delores Beldon got the Chester’s Thriftway
gift card and Marge Gritz got the free meal. Congratulations all of you.
We had four special visitors: two were here before, Elder Speakman
and Elder Weehanggee, and two were first timers, Edler Walker and
Elder Risenmay. It was nice to have guests and they are welcome here.
An honorary birthday wish was given to Billie Bullard as her birthday
is on Oct.18 and she will be 98 on that day. We all sang happy birthday
to her. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BILLIE!
Becky Carey of the United Methodist Church asked the blessing for
our meal and several members of the United Methodist Church assisted
Becky in serving 38 diners a luscious meal of pork chops in onion gravy
(yum), real mashed potatoes (yum,yum), peas with shallots, oatmeal
rolls with butter and jam if desired, and brownies for dessert. Juice,
coffee and milk as well. A terrific meal.
Nehemiah 8:10 “The Joy of the Lord is my strength.”
John Day Seniors
We had a most
wonderful
lunch this
Monument
past week! Oh, yeah, it
Seniors
was very delicious and
enjoyable. Clarence and
Sharon Harvey, along
Soo Yukawa
with Dennis and Linda
Abraham, donated our
meal for Oct. 15. They and David Stubblefield smoked brisket for
our meal. Terry Cade and Carrie Jewell prepared the rest of the meal,
which consisted of baked potatoes, salad, dinner rolls and pineapple
cooler cake for our dessert. Oh, if you were not there, you missed a
fabulous meal. We thank the generous friends for donating this great
meal and for everyone involved in the cooking.
We thank our generous donors for all the hard work for also
preparing and smoking the brisket all night long just so we could have
this awesome meal. So, if you run into any of these folks, give them a
warm thank you and show them your appreciation.
Our usual greeters were Jimmy Cole, Kristi Guimont and Ricki
Doland. Jimmy and Ricki collected and counted the money. Kristi
checked in the guests and wrote down the announcements. Bodean
Andersen led us in the flag salute, made the announcements and
prayed the blessing over our meal.
We had 67 guests on the books and 14 takeouts. Among the guests
that came to visit was fellow correspondent, Rose Coombs and her
husband Derrol from Prairie City. Happy anniversary to you both!
Thanks for coming out to celebrate your special day in Monument.
BIOSMILE
Family, Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry
165 NW 1st St., John Day
541-575-0363
Open
Monday-Thursday
DrJ@BiosmileDental.com
We offer a wide range of primary
care and medical treatment.
Zachary Bailey, MD • David Hall, MD • Raffaella Betza, MD
• Janessa Sickler, DO • Emily Lieuallen, DO
• Nora Healey, FNP Shawna Clark, DNP
Available Monday - Friday
180 Ford Road, John Day • 541-575-0404
Darlene Forrest had her daughter Tami Forrest come to visit too. We
also had guests from Spray, Jean and son, Scott Hammel, Ellen Mann,
David Steiner and Dick and Pam Wanous.
The winners of the free meal tickets were Christian Yukawa and yours
truly. Tamera Stroh was the lucky winner of the Len’s Drug gift card.
We thank all our generous supporters.
The Monument Food Bank is taking up any and all donations that
will go towards purchasing turkeys for Thanksgiving. There will be a
donation box at the greeting table.
The second annual open house benefitting the Silent Wave Horse
Rescue is coming up for Saturday, Oct. 26. The time is from 1-7 p.m.
I believe the theme is 70s Disco. There will be dinner by donation,
Studio 54 cocktails, children’s games, door prizes, a shotgun and quilt
raffle, a silent and live auction and bonfire. You also get to meet some
horses and I think there is mule involved. The location is 48852 Hwy.
402, Kimberly, OR. For more info, please call 541-934-2132.
I want to remind you that the time change of turning back the clocks
is coming up, yay. I like that change for sure. That will be happening
Nov. 2. Oh, and fall is here. Did you see the beautiful change of
color in the leaves all over the place? It seemed like it just occurred
overnight. We had a crazy windy storm come through and a dead tree
fell over. I know that God is good because it fell between our newer
truck and old truck, only four feet between them. All the time God is
good right?
Ecclesiastes 7:1 “A good name is better than precious ointment; and the
day of death than the day of one’s birth.”
We are happy to transfer and mail prescriptions
and would welcome the opportunity to visit
with you about our services!
Heppner and Condon, Oregon
541-676-9158
Quality Healthcare
...close to home.
170 Ford Road
John Day
541-575-1311
112 E. 5th
Prairie City
541-820-3341
Located in the Blue Mountain Hospital
Keith J. Thomas, MD, FACS
Board Certified General Surgeon
Office Hours by Appointment • 541-575-1311
241 S. Canyon Blvd. John Day • 541-575-0529
T roy Hanson - Funeral Director
