A2
COMMUNITY & FAMILY
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
More visitors find Kam Wah Chung
OBITUARIES
Rod Paulson
By Rudy Diaz
Blue Mountain Eagle
More visitors are coming to the
Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site,
but a recent survey showed that addi-
tional growth is possible.
Don Merritt, the museum curator,
shared with the John Day City Coun-
cil and the Grant County Court that
the study helped show the museum
what can be done to improve their
reach with tourists and how to better
direct guests to local businesses and
attractions.
The survey showed that 9,382 peo-
ple visited Kam Wah Chung so far
in 2019. The survey gave visitors an
opportunity to note what would make
their visit more enjoyable.
“I was having a conversation
with someone in my office when I
was typing up this presentation and
they said ‘Coffee shop? That’s really
silly. Everybody knows there’s like
five coffee shops in John Day’,”
said Didgette McCracken, the Ore-
gon State University Extension Open
Campus coordinator, speaking at the
county court meeting. “I said that was
a good comment because we know
there’s like five coffee shops in John
Day, but our visitors don’t know what
our amenities are.”
Another common request that vis-
itors made was to have a Chinese
restaurant.
Comments like this have indicated
how Merritt and volunteers at Kam
Wah Chung can better inform people
about what the area can provide.
With the survey showing that 63%
of the visitors were over the age of 56,
this prompted Grant County Commis-
sioner Sam Palmer to ask what can be
done to market to millennials.
“We knew that we had a gap in
advertising and marketing,” said
Merritt. “In our front group we are
working on a new Facebook page,
we are currently developing a brand
Rod Paulson, 61, of John Day, Oregon, passed away
on Nov. 10. Arrangements have been entrusted to Drisk-
ill Memorial Chapel. To leave an online condolence for the
family, please visit driskillmemorialchapel.com.
Richard Courchesne
The Eagle/Rudy Diaz
Didgette McCracken (left) and Don Merritt (right) talk about Kam Wah Chung
State Heritage Site’s increase in visitors, speaking at the Nov. 13 county court
meeting.
new website and we want to market
that as well. We are also working on
grant money for extra marketing and
funding.”
Merritt noted the importance of
marketing to people from out of state
and internationally as well.
The amount of people visiting
Kam Wah Chung has doubled in the
last three years and the amount of vis-
itors will continue growing with help
from national and international televi-
sion shows.
In other county court news:
• The court approved the revised
contract between Community Coun-
seling Solutions and Grant County.
The state developmental disabilities
office recently had some changes that
they wanted passed into the county
contracts.
• The court approved the Airport
Runway Decoupling/Supplemental
Project CatEx.
• The court accepted the Critical
Oregon Airport Relief Program Grant
agreement. This COAR grant will
provide almost $136,000 that will
supplement other grant agreements
at a 9% match funding for the FAA
eligible project cost. This is for the
North Corporate Apron project.
• The court approved and signed a
letter of support for an Oregon Water-
shed Enhancement Board applica-
tion. This will aid a study on empty
subsurface aquifers that can be filled
or refilled with water when there are
heavy flows or can be pumped out
later when there are low flows.
• The court approved an easement
to the city of John Day for the sewer
line near the fairgrounds. After dis-
cussion between the county and the
city, it was made final that no land
change hands.
• The court approved an amend-
ment to reinstate the search and res-
cue line funds of $14,000. Previously,
the county closed three accounts that
were no longer necessary for their
services provided by the county. The
search and rescue line was closed in
error.
The two accounts that were cut
and returned to the general fund were
$60,270 for the jail expansion and
$25,180 for the book mobile reserve.
Hello Grant County,
Well, the holiday season has officially begun!
Thanksgiving is next week and then only 27 days
until Christmas! Are you ready?
Ladies, don’t forget Ladies Night at Len’s Drug
Thursday, Nov. 21 st from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM!
The Annual Free Community Thanksgiving
Dinner will be held at the John Day Elks Lodge from
1:00 – 4:00 PM. Home deliveries are available. Call
541-575-1824 if you would like one!
In Prairie City, A free Thanksgiving Dinner will be
provided at the PBC Teen Center. Call 541-820-3696
for more information.
Check out the downtown John Day Business-
es – Many will be participating in the Hometown
Holidays decorating contest. Let them know you
appreciate their efforts in making downtown look
festive for the holiday season!
Friday, November 22 nd there will be a Spaghetti
Dinner & Silent Auction in the Seneca gymnasium.
Proceeds will go toward a new Fire Station. Doors
open at 5:00 PM.
There will be Holiday and Christmas Bazaars
galore, starting with Christmas on the Prairie No-
vember 23 rd and Santa Paws will be there as well!
The Black Friday Bazaar will be at the Canyon
City Community Hall on November 29 th . There
will also be a Christmas Tree Lighting at The Corner
Cup at 6:00 PM. Bring the kids to visit with Santa!
This is what December is looking like:
Dec 5th – Light up a Life at Valley View Assisted
Living – 6:00 PM
Dec 6th – The Carrie Young Memorial at the
John Day Elks Lodge
Dec. 7th – The Blue Mountain Hospital Auxilia-
ry Christmas and Keerins Hall Christmas Bazaars
Dec 14th - The Timber Trucker’s Light Parade –
The Chamber will have fire pits, cookies and hot
cocoa 6 PM to 9 PM.
Be sure to check out what is happening at the
Painted Sky Center for the Arts. They have a lot of
great things going on!
If I missed anything it’s because I didn’t know
about it! Sorry! Please let me know if you have any
events going on so I can get them on our calendar.
This month’s Chamber Board meeting and no-
host luncheon will be Thursday, November 21 st .
The board meets at the Chamber office at 10:30.
Everyone is welcome. Don Merritt and Didgette
McCracken, will be sharing information from a sur-
vey that was done at Kam Wah Chung this summer.
Our speakers at the Luncheon will be Kurt
Renstrom from Johnson Benefit Planning. Kurt
works with the Bend Chamber of Commerce to
offer Health Insurance to Small Businesses at a more
affordable cost. Kathy Cancilla from the Grant
County Health Department will also be sharing
information from the 2019 Community Health
Assessment.
Remember to Shop Local!
Tammy Bremner
Manager, Grant County Chamber of Commerce
Last Week’s Temps
John Day ...........................................................HI/LO
Wednesday ..................................................... 59/40
Thursday .......................................................... 60/36
Friday ............................................................... 55/35
Saturday .......................................................... 54/35
Sunday ............................................................. 59/33
Monday............................................................ 55/23
Tuesday ........................................................... 48/21
24/7 F ORECAST
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NOAA W EATHER R ADIO FOR J OHN D AY
162.500 MHz
Richard Courchesne of Long Creek
passed away in Bend on Nov. 13.
He was born May 3, 1946, in Berkeley,
California, the third of five sons of Wil-
liam and Gail Courchesne. He graduated
from El Cerrito High School.
In his youth, he was active in his
church, sports, Boy Scouts and DeMolay.
After high school, he attended the Univer-
sity of California, Berkeley, receiving a
degree in social welfare.
He worked as a Probation Officer for
Alameda County for 20 years. There he met Beverly Bouillez and
they married in 1978. They lived on a small ranch in Vacaville,
California, until 1987, when shortly after the birth of their two
daughters; they purchased their ranch in Long Creek.
While ranching he also drove school bus for Long Creek
School and later became an activity’s bus driver for Grant Union
High School and greatly enjoyed his trips around the state. He was
a member of the Elks, Masons and the Grant County Stockgrow-
ers Association.
Richard never hesitated to lend a hand to friends or family. He
was a true people person. Richard was always smiling and wav-
ing at friends and strangers alike. He took great joy in his involve-
ment and support of school activities, tending to his ranch and ani-
mals, and spending time with his two young granddaughters. His
bright and infectious smile will undoubtedly be missed by many.
He is survived by his wife, Beverly, daughters Danielle (Lee
Kramer) and Amanda, granddaughters Rylie and Hannah, broth-
ers Alfred, Gaylord, Eric and Bill and numerous nieces and neph-
ews. He was preceded in death by his parents.
A celebration of life will be held at the Long Creek Sev-
enth-Day Adventist Church at 1 pm on Saturday, Nov. 23rd. Din-
ner will follow at the church’s Friendship Hall.
Mona Lee Nodine
Mona Lee Nodine, 72, of Mt. Vernon passed away on
Nov. 14, at Blue Mountain Hospital in John Day. A memo-
rial service will be held at a later date. Arrangements have
been entrusted to Driskill Memorial Chapel. To offer online
condolences to the family, Visit www.driskillmemorial-
chapel.com.
Budget 8 Motel
711 W. Main St. John Day • 541 575-2155 • 541-575-2156
• Wi-Fi
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• In-Room Coffee
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• Pets Welcome
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Debbie Ausmus
245 South Canyon Blvd.
John Day, OR 97845
OPEN WED. & THUR.
9 am - 5 pm
541-575-1113
24 hrs/7 days wk
debbie.ausmus@
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W EATHER F ORECAST FOR THE WEEK OF N OV . 20-26
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