A2
FAMILY
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, July 1, 2020
Summer lunch details expected to come soon East Oregonian looks
Blue Mountain Eagle
John Day-Canyon City
Parks and Recreation Dis-
trict is planning for what
summer lunches may look
like this year.
They
have
been
approved for the grant that
they have had in the past for
the summer lunch program,
but there are no details as
of now in terms of how the
program will look, accord-
ing to Parks and Rec board
member Lisa Weigum.
“I imagine it will look
different than it has in years
past just because of the
restrictions around COVID,
but we should know any-
time now about the grant,”
Weigum said.
As soon as Parks and
Rec receives additional
information, they plan to
share the details on how the
program will work.
“We’re exploring a lot
of different options, try-
ing to see if we are funded,
what can that poten-
tially look like,” Weigum
said.
within for new publisher
By Alex Castle
EO Media Group
Eagle file photo
Children enjoy lunch at the John Day city park near Gleason
Pool last year.
Northeast Oregon forests seeking members
for Resource Advisory Committee
Blue Mountain Eagle
The Northeast Oregon For-
ests Resource Advisory Com-
mittee is seeking nominees
for new members to serve
on a vital Resource Advisory
Committee.
The committee is tasked
with recommending proj-
ects to improve forest health,
watersheds, roads and facilities
around Malheur, Umatilla, and
Wallowa-Whitman national
forests, according to a press
release.
The projects that are funded
through the RAC are important
to the communities of North-
east Oregon and are varied in
focus and scope, ranging from
fish passage restoration to con-
structing new trails. Beyond
getting important work done,
projects have also utilized
youth crews which provide
young people with unique
opportunities to develop a love
of the outdoors while gain-
ing valuable hands-on work
experience.
RAC committee mem-
bers are officially appointed
by the Secretary of Agricul-
ture for a term of two years,
and although they cannot be
compensated for their work,
members can get reimbursed
for travel expenses to, during
and from meetings. In order
to ensure that the group can
accomplish its goals, mem-
bers are expected to partici-
pate in two full-day meetings
each year. Residents of Baker,
Crook, Grant, Harney, Mal-
heur, Morrow, Union, Wal-
lowa and Wheeler counties
are particularly encouraged to
submit applications, although
OTEC announces trade
and lineman school
scholarship recipients
Blue Mountain Eagle
Oregon Trail Electric
Cooperative has awarded
five local students schol-
arships to attend either a
trade school or lineman
school.
Luke
Barnes
and
Tristain Pogue, both from
Baker City, were recently
each awarded a $5,000
OTEC scholarship to pur-
sue a career as a lineman.
Cole Furtney of Baker
City, Opie McDaniel of
John Day and Tayler Wood
of Baker City were each
awarded a $2,500 OTEC
scholarship to attend trade
school.
Scholarship
winners
are selected by the coop-
erative’s board of direc-
tors from a pool of candi-
dates from OTEC’s service
territory in Baker, Grant,
Harney and Union coun-
ties. Scholarship funds
come from unclaimed cap-
ital credits.
Applications for both
trade and lineman school
scholarships are open
year-round at otec.coop/
scholarships.
others may apply.
RACs have been found to
work best when many interests
and industries are represented
by their members. Recreation
groups, environmental groups,
industry leaders and employ-
ees, tribal representatives,
elected officials and local resi-
dents are all needed to provide
a balanced and diverse group.
The three categories of
committee members needed
are: A) Industry profession-
als with experience in forest
products, recreation, mining,
grazing or timber; B) environ-
mental groups and individuals
connected to groups interested
in wild horses, archeology
and dispersed recreation; and
C) elected officials, American
Indian tribal representatives
and school officials or teachers.
Nominations will be
accepted until Sept. 30.
Nominations must contain
a completed application packet
that includes the nominee’s
name, resume, and completed
Form AD–755 (Advisory
Committee or Research and
Promotion Background Infor-
mation). The package must be
sent to: Malheur National For-
est, Prairie City Ranger Dis-
trict, Attention: SRS RAC,
P.O. Box 337, Prairie City, OR
97869.
The Form AD–755 may
be obtained from the follow-
ing SRS RAC website: fs.usda.
gov/main/pts/specialprojects/
racs.
For more information, con-
tact Ed Guzman, Northeast
Oregon forests designated fed-
eral official, at 541-820-3801
or edward.r.guzman@usda.
gov.
Area students graduate from OSU
Blue Mountain Eagle
More than 7,000 students
representing all 50 states and
73 countries have earned
degrees as part of Oregon State
University’s class of 2020.
While Oregon State’s tra-
ditional commencement cer-
emonies were postponed in
keeping with the university’s
measures to help reduce the
risk and spread of COVID-
19, the graduating students are
being celebrated this month
online. To watch celebra-
tory messages and learn more
about the Oregon State class
of 2020, visit commencement.
oregonstate.edu.
This year’s class includes
7,181 total graduates earning
7,452 degrees, with 267 peo-
ple earning double degrees
and two receiving three
degrees. With this year’s grad-
uates, Oregon State has now
awarded 265,147 degrees in
the university’s history.
From John Day, Jennifer
I. McCloskey earned a Bach-
elor of Fine Arts, summa cum
laude, in applied visual arts,
and Taylor A. McCluskey
earned a Bachelor of Science
in biology.
From Mt. Vernon, Sky-
lar Powell earned a Bache-
lor of Science in agricultural
sciences.
From Seneca, Kelsey D.
Long earned a Bachelor of
Arts in anthropology, and
Joshua T. Walker earned a
Bachelor of Science in natural
resources.
Vet clinic to host spay, neuter clinic
Sue Orr
July 26, 1945 ~ June 17, 2020
Sue Orr, 74, passed away at her home
of 33 years in Prairie City surrounded
by her family.
Sue was born in Caldwell, Idaho to
Maurice Claire Hire and Elaine K.
“Kitty” (Combs) Hire. They named
her Claire Elaine but always called her
Suzy. The family lived in Caldwell and
Baker City. In 1952 her mom and stepfather Harvey Spivey moved the
family to live in a cozy cabin at Camp 5 logging camp; her most cherished
memories are here leaping from the dock into the lake.
Blue Mountain Eagle
John Day River Veter-
inary Center will host its
annual spay and neuter clinic
July 14-15.
Dale
Franklin Heaton
June 19, 1934 ~ June 19, 2020
She was preceded in death by her parents; sons, Joseph Mattison and
David Orr; brother, Bill Roberts and sister, Lois Colleen Hire.
Memorial contributions can be made to Blue Mountain Hospice through
Driskill Memorial Chapel, 241 S. Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR 97845.
To leave an online condolence for the family, visit:
www.driskillmemorialchapel.com
Paid for by the family of Sue Orr
Paid for by the family of Dale Heaton
Dale Heaton passed away on June 19th, the morning of his 86th birthday, at home surrounded by his family.
Dale was born in 1934 to Wayne and Alice Heaton. He grew up in his beloved hometown of Bates, Oregon, with his
four brothers and sisters, spending his days raising heck with his lifelong best friends, Dave Connolly, Gene Larkin, and
Denny Cook. In 1952, Dale graduated from Prairie City High School and joined the Air Force. His military service took
him to London, where he encountered a dark-haired beauty named Toni Lumley, who would accompany him back to
Bates and spend the next 63 years by his side.
Sue graduated from Wheeler County High School in Fossil, Oregon in
1964. She married David Mattison and raised two daughters in Kinzua
where she loved to play pinochle, sew, and crochet until it closed in 1979.
She lived in Heppner and worked for Central Market until she married
Gordon Orr in July 1987. They moved to Prairie City where they had a
lovely home and yard. Sue spent 50 years following the Portland Trail
Blazers.
Survivors include her husband, Gordon; daughters Jodi (Matt) Ferguson
of Walla Walla; Robin Mattison of Pendleton; Pamela (Russ) Orr-Powell
of John Day; sons, Mike (Gina) Orr and Greg Orr of Winnemucca; Jeff
Orr of Heppner; grandchildren: Connor & Brett Ferguson of Walla Walla;
Mikaela (Alley) Conway of Huson, Montana; Brett Alley of La Grande; Ca-
sey, Chase and Justin Orr of Winnemucca; Jaden Orr; Megan (Orr) Fischer
of Hermiston; Cody Orr of Isle, Minnesota; seven great-grandchildren;
brothers, Robert (Laura) Hire of Heppner and Frank Spivey of Baker City;
sister-in-law’s Norma Roberts of Biggs, CA and Earlene Dillard of Bend.
Dogs will be treated July
14, and cats will be treated
July 15.
To make an appoint-
ment at the clinic, call
541-932-4428.
A familiar face is taking
on new roles within the East
Oregonian and the EO Media
Group.
Andrew Cutler, who has
spent the last 13 months as edi-
tor of the East Oregonian, is
stepping into the duties of pub-
lisher of the East Oregonian
and Hermiston Herald, taking
over the role from Chris Rush.
Cutler will take over as pub-
lisher on Wednesday, July 1.
“Sometimes you have good
luck and don’t have to look
very far to find the right per-
son,” said EO Media Group
Chief Operating Officer Heidi
Wright. “It’s critical to be able
to have someone with the past
experience of Andrew to main-
tain our role in the communities
we serve and keep a relevant,
reflective and credible connec-
tion to those communities.”
Cutler said the past year
as editor of the East Orego-
nian has been eye opening but
he’s excited to assume the new
role and help the paper moving
forward.
“It’s incredibly humbling
and gratifying,” Cutler said of
being named publisher. “The
company and its east side
papers have a long, proud his-
tory, and I don’t take my posi-
tion and responsibility of con-
tinuing it lightly.”
Rush is leaving after a little
more than two years in Pendle-
ton to move to Amarillo, Texas,
with his wife at the end of June
to be closer to their family in
the region.
“I am hoping to leverage
my many years of experi-
ence in the news industry into
a possible teaching career at
the college level, as well as
some other professional proj-
ects,” Rush said of his next
steps while speaking highly
of his replacement. “Andrew
Cutler is a consummate jour-
nalist and one of the best edi-
tors I’ve ever had the privilege
to work with. He places high
value on accuracy and telling
the full story.”
During his time, Rush
helped lead the company
through its regional transi-
tion when it purchased the
La Grande Observer and the
Baker City Herald in 2019.
“These last couple of years
— and especially these last few
months — have been a chal-
lenging time for the newspaper
industry, and Chris Rush has
been an integral part of help-
ing EO Media Group navigate
through these times,” said EO
Media Group Vice President
Kathryn Brown. “We will miss
his wisdom and experience,
but he leaves the East Orego-
nian and our sister papers in the
region in good hands.”
In addition to the publisher
duties, Cutler will also serve
as the regional editorial direc-
tor oversee-
ing the East
Oregonian,
Hermiston
Herald, Blue
Mountain
Andrew Cutler Eagle, Wal-
lowa County
Chieftain, La Grande Observer
and Baker City Herald.
Cutler will team with Kar-
rine Brogoitti, the regional pub-
lisher of the La Grande Observer
and Baker City Herald, to over-
see the company’s east side
publications. In March, Bro-
goitti was named regional sales
director for EO Media Group’s
east side operations.
Born in Pocatello, Idaho,
and raised in Fruitland, Idaho,
Cutler, 48, has long had his
roots in the Northwest and spent
five years as the editor of the La
Grande Observer prior to join-
ing the East Oregonian.
Cutler got his start in jour-
nalism as a senior sportswriter
for Ontario’s Argus Observer
in 2000 before being promoted
to sports editor shortly after in
2001. He then spent time on the
Boise State University sports
beat for the Idaho Press-Tribune
before returning to the Argus
Observer in 2004 in a dual role
as sports and news editor.
Cutler later spent time as
managing editor of the Capital
Journal in South Dakota, where
he and his newsroom were
awarded the 2008 South Dakota
Newspaper Association Gen-
eral Excellence Award for the
state’s daily newspapers with a
circulation under 16,000. It was
the first time the Capital Jour-
nal had earned the award in 126
years of existence.
Cutler was also a part of
general excellence award-win-
ning newsrooms at the Argus
Observer and Rapid City Jour-
nal, and he led the La Grande
Observer to a second-place fin-
ish in general excellence for
the Oregon Newspaper Pub-
lishers Association Division C
category.
While in La Grande, Cutler
spent three years in a joint role
as editor and publisher.
“Andrew Cutler’s knowl-
edge of Eastern Oregon, and
his experience as both an edi-
tor and publisher, made him the
logical successor to head up the
company’s editorial team in this
region and take on the publisher
role here in Umatilla County as
well,” Brown said.
A 1990 graduate of Fruit-
land High School, Cutler
joined the U.S. Army in 1991
and served as a combat medic
in Germany, Fort Stewart,
Georgia, and Honduras before
his discharge in 1995. He
went on to earn an associates
of arts degree from Treasure
Valley Community College
in 2000 and a bachelor of arts
degree in multidisciplinary
studies from Boise State Uni-
versity in 2016.
Dale left his job at the Edward Hines Lumber Company after 11 years, and he and Toni moved from Bates to Boise in
1968 with their two children. He spent the next 30 years working in the Albertsons ice cream plant, much to his grand-
kids’ joy. Eastern Oregon was never far from Dale’s mind, however. After several years in Boise, they purchased land near Sumpter, and with the help of
friends and family, Dale built the summer cabin that would be the centerpiece of favorite family memories for the next 35 years.
Dale’s greatest passions were photography and the kids in his life. With seven granddaughters and twelve great-grandkids, he was never short on sub-
jects. He spent hours in the editing room, so everyone could see what it would have been like if Toni had met celebrities like Marilyn Monroe or George and
Laura Bush, or if his great-grandson really had been a toddler farmer. The legacy of a nearly forgotten mill town lives on, thanks in part to the countless
hours of video Dale put together honoring his hometown and the people who lived there.
In 2011 Dale and Toni moved to Scappoose, Oregon, so that they could be closer to family. Dale spent the last nine years coaching all of the babies in the
art of the great high-five. He was an amazing husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend. He will be greatly missed.
Dale is survived by his wife, Toni; his brothers, Wayne Heaton and John Heaton; sisters Peg (Larry) Auld, and Polly Dockweiler; kids Dave (Sand-
ee) Heaton and Deanne (Wade) Evans; grandchildren Ami (Kirk) Halvorson, Lindsay (Neil) Elder, Chelsea (Derrick) Vargason, Jennifer (Josh)
Heaton-Rounsville, Samantha Dale (Andrew) Cooper, Alyona (Phillip) Merriman, and Olya (Kyle) Evans; and his twelve great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. Please sign our online guestbook at www.columbiafh.com.
S196229-1
S196711-1
Last Week’s Temps
John Day ...........................................................HI/LO
Tuesday ........................................................... 92/55
Wednesday ..................................................... 82/59
Thursday .......................................................... 85/53
Friday ............................................................... 90/53
Saturday .......................................................... 80/52
Sunday ............................................................. 55/46
Monday............................................................ 70/48
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 J ULY 1-7
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Sunny
Sunny
Slight chance of
thunderstorms
Slight chance of
thunderstorms
Sunny
Mostly
sunny
Sunny
69
76
86
87
85
84
85
46
50
52
53
52
46
50