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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (April 15, 2020)
A2 FAMILY Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, April 15, 2020 Upcoming National Rappel Recertification Training in John Day modified over virus concerns Blue Mountain Eagle Because of the current coronavirus situation within the county and state, the National Rappel Recertification Training in John Day has been updated to provide for augmented smaller training groups and greater physical distancing. The plans for this nationally recognized, mission critical training have changed to reduce the impact on the local community. The John Day Airbase will host a one week long annual refresher session, beginning April 21, for returning rap- pellers. Concurrently, refresher sessions will be occurring in Salmon, Idaho, and Missoula, Montana, which allows for smaller gatherings at the individual train- ing sites. “We have been in contact with Grant County commissioners and others to gather thoughts and provide informa- tion, and we have a good plan in place to get our firefighters and aviation experts trained in accordance with Forest Ser- vice Policy and guidance while still being sensitive to current events and possible impacts,” said Anthony Hernandez, John Day Airbase manager. “While we see this as an important part of the national fire- Eagle file photo Two rappellers descend from a training plat- form at the Grant County Airport in 2017. fighting and wildland suppression effort, we also understand the negative impact this training could have on the commu- nity at a time like this. Our current plan has crews from within the state of Ore- gon having little to no interaction with the local community.” Approximately 20 rappellers at a time (about 80 in total) from Oregon will uti- lize the 50-foot-high rappel tower, two GRANT UNION STUDENTS OF THE MONTH — FEBRUARY rappel simulators and two helicopters to accomplish their annual refresher. The training sessions are also refreshers for helicopter rappel spotters and pilots. They will be training in small groups, a crew at a time, to assist in maintaining social and physical distancing. The crews will have the capability to be self-sufficient as to not unnecessarily impact the community. The National Rappel Recertification Training is a performance-based training setting, which requires all veteran rap- pellers to demonstrate full proficiency at each stage of the training. The objec- tive is to ensure that all veteran rappellers, rappel spotters and rappel pilots receive the highest quality training experience possible. Returning rappeller sessions are held for United States Department of Agri- culture recertification purposes. The ses- sions involve safety review, tower train- ing, helicopter mock ups and live rappels. Live rappels are conducted at heights up to 300 feet above the ground. Rappelling provides for rapid deploy- ment of personnel nationwide in locations with limited landing areas. U.S. Forest Service rappellers may respond to wild- land fire, medical or all-risk incidents. 7th grade Morgan Walker Parents: Kevin and Haley Walker 8th grade Alex Finley Parents: Aaron and Janita Finley 9th grade Shyanne Smarr Parents: James and Corinna Smarr 10th grade Lauryn Pettyjohn Parents: Ryan and Melissa Pettyjohn 11th grade Abby Lusco Parents: Andy and Angie Lusco 12th grade Donavan Smith Parents: Kerry John Smith and Robin Herburger Baker Technical Institute designs and produces face shields for health care providers to battle COVID-19 Blue Mountain Eagle Baker Technical Institute is work- ing to make face shields using 3D print- ers in their engineering lab to help Baker County health care providers and emer- gency first responders meet the rising need for personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic. CDC guidelines recommend that health care professionals use face shields to protect themselves when in close prox- imity with patients showing COVID-19 symptoms, according to a press release. The demand for this type of safety equip- ment has outpaced the supply across the globe, leaving hospitals and clinics with- out enough of what they need on a daily basis. BTI started working initially with Saint Alphonsus Hospital in Baker City on their design needs for face shields. “When the hospital reached out and asked if BTI could produce these, I was excited to have an opportunity to contrib- ute to the cause,” said Chris Wittich, BTI engineering instructor. “We immediately went to work on the design and began Contributed photo Baker Technical Institute is making face shields using 3D printers in its engineer- ing lab. prototype production with the use of 3D printers in our lab.” BTI completed the first models, then worked with the various health care pro- viders to gain approval, before moving on to the production phase. “We worked with Boise State Univer- sity on the final design knowing that they OBITUARIES had already worked through the medical approval process,” said Wittich. The masks are made by first printing the visor, then cutting and attaching the thin plastic shield, followed by an elastic headband. The shields then are replace- able as needed. Currently, multiple print- ers are creating about three shields every three hours. “Manufacturing these face shields for our health care providers is an incredible gesture from BTI. It will allow us to fur- ther protect our colleagues on the front line fighting this pandemic. This effort demonstrates BTI’s innovative organi- zational cooperation, which is one of the many community strengths found in Baker City. We are truly grateful,” said Dr. Leslie Jackson, vice president of med- ical affairs, Saint Alphonsus Baker City. BTI is currently producing fully assembled face shields for Saint Alphon- sus Hospital, Saint Lukes Clinic and Baker County Emergency Management. If other communities or health care providers are in need of this prod- uct, contact BTI at bakerti.org or call 541-524-2651. Social distancing on the pond Fawn Warrington Fawn Warrington, 38, of John Day passed away at her residence on April 8. No services will be held at this time. Arrangements have been entrusted to Driskill Memorial Chapel. To leave an online con- dolence for the family, visit driskillmemeorial- chapel.com. Harold R. Dean Harold R. Dean, 81, of John Day passed away on April 6 at Blue Mountain Hospital. No services are planned at this time. Arrangements are being handled through Driskill Memorial Chapel. The Eagle/Steven Mitchell A duck waddles to the pond at Seventh Street Complex April 7. A major- ity of Seventh Street Complex’s facilities — including the pond — are closed due to COVID-19. Emerson named to TVCC president’s list Blue Mountain Eagle Kyla Emerson of Monument was named to the Treasure Val- ley Community College winter quarter president’s list. Emerson achieved a 4.0 grade point average. Painted Sky Center for the Arts suspends in-person classes Blue Mountain Eagle Painted Sky Center for the Arts is aligning with Gov. Kate Brown’s stay-at-home order and suspending all in-person programming and meetings until the order has been lifted. This will affect all April classes, workshops and Painted Sky Book Club meetings. It may also impact the May water- color workshop, which may be rescheduled. For now, Painted Sky Sum- mer Day Camps (June, July and August) are still scheduled to go ahead. Register if inter- ested. If cancellation occurs at a future date, payments will be refunded. Virtual classes, including the Virtual Story Telling Group, and the Young Writers Club will continue as scheduled. The Virtual Story Telling Group will “meet” using the Zoom app every Friday from 7-8:30 p.m. There will be a bit of orientation to the art of sto- rytelling, and a very short and easy homework assignment. To register, email kind.coach. kati@gmail.com. People with ideas for vir- tual classes they could host can email ideas to paintedskycen- ter@gmail.com. William “Bill” M. Choate A MAN WAKES UP in the morning after sleeping on... an advertised bed, in advertised pajamas. He will bathe in an ADVERTISED TUB, shave with an ADVERTISED RAZOR, have a breakfast of ADVERTISED JUICE, cereal and toast, toasted in an ADVERTISED TOASTER, put on ADVERTISED CLOTHES and glance at his ADVERTISED WATCH. He’ll ride to work in his ADVERTISED CAR, sit at an ADVERTISED DESK and write with an ADVERTISED PEN. Yet this person hesitates to advertise, saying that advertising doesn’t pay. Finally, when his non-advertised business is going under, HE’LL ADVERTISE IT FOR SALE. Then it’s too late. AND THEY SAY ADVERTISING DOESN’T WORK? DON’T MAKE THIS SAME MISTAKE Advertising is an investment, not an expense. Think about it! Blue Mountain Eagle MyEagleNews.com S183409-1 December 19, 1931 ~ April 5, 2020 William “Bill” M. Choate, age 88, passed away on April 5, 2020 in Newberg, Oregon with his daughter, Susan Howard, by his side. A private interment will take place this week. A public memorial service will be announced at a later date. Bill was born on December 19, 1939 in Ringling, Oklahoma to Ernest Choate and Annie (Martin) Choate. He grew up and worked on the family farm with his 5 other siblings. At the age of 17, he moved to Oregon with his sister Lorene and her husband. He became a ranch hand in Izee, Oregon, and had a hand in rebuilding the Canyon City courthouse after it burned down before being drafted in 1952 to the Korean War. Bill became a tank driver and mechanic stationed in Germany. Returning home, he was briefly married to Leona, they had one son, John. He then went on to marry Mona (Hancock) Choate on December 10, 1954, living in Izee and working for the local lumber company. Over the next decade they had two daughters, Letha and Cynthia, settling in John Day while he worked at various lumber mills in the area. In 1963, after the untimely passing of their daughters, they adopted their daughter Susan. William retired from Prairie Wood Products after 27 years as the head saw filer. Throughout his retirement he enjoyed many hobbies. He enjoyed fishing with his wife and their friends, Jack and Betty, and hunting elk. His goal was to bring home 30, but only managed 27 before his doctor told him to slow down, which didn’t come easy even after suffering 2 heart attacks. He and Mona were well known for their garden they raised every year. He could build anything out of wood and there wasn’t a carbureted engine that could best him. He enjoyed having his granddaughters staying with him in the summers and then his two great grandsons. He will be remembered for being a kind and generous man. If you met Bill, you were a friend for life. He follows in death his parents, Ernest and Annie; his wife, Mona; daughters, Letha and Cynthia; son, John; and sisters, Joy, Ruth, and Lorene. He is survived by his daughter, Susan Howard; sister, Betty Pemberton; brother, Bob Choate; granddaughters, Lee Ann and Melanie Howard; two great grandsons, Marshall and Colin Allen; and many friends and extended family. Memorial contributions in memory of Bill can be made to a VA organization of your choice in your local area. To leave an online S183592-1 condolence for the family, visit: www.driskillmemorialchapel.com. Paid for by the family of William Choate. Don’t get left behind, call today! Kim Kell 541-575-0710 Last Week’s Temps John Day ...........................................................HI/LO Tuesday ........................................................... 60/32 Wednesday ..................................................... 67/32 Thursday .......................................................... 71/34 Friday ............................................................... 70/37 Saturday .......................................................... 59/36 Sunday ............................................................. 52/30 Monday............................................................ 52/25 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 A PRIL 15 - 21 Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Slight chance of showers Sunny Sunny Partly sunny Partly sunny Partly sunny Mostly cloudy 55 58 67 66 69 66 65 32 31 37 39 41 35 37
