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