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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 16, 2020)
A2 FAMILY Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, September 16, 2020 Grant County comes together to help fire victims across the state By Steven Mitchell Blue Mountain Eagle As deadly wildfires swept across the state last week and forced many people to flee their homes, Grant County sprung into action in a vari- ety of different ways to help the tens of thousands of evacuees. The community, in less than a week, opened up four drop-off locations and cre- ated a Facebook group with more than 2,000 members from around the country. According to a press release last week, Grant County Sheriff’s Office uti- lizes the office as a drop off site for personal hygiene items, such as deodorant, toothpaste, razors, shaving cream, socks, T-shirts and undergarments in new condi- tion. The office is also accept- ing non-perishable food items and gift cards. Palmer said, due to the sheriff’s office’s size, it can- not accept clothing items. Canyon Creek Commu- nity 4-H Club is gathering donations that can be dropped off at Pioneer Feed and Farm Supply. Club leader Laura Brown said only new items can be accepted to prevent spreading COVID-19. She said personal hygiene items, clothes, blankets, pil- lows, pet food and non-per- ishable food, such as canned goods are accepted. Pioneer Feed and Farm Supply owner Courtney Fox said plastic tote storage con- tainers are very helpful for people who have just lost a home and are carrying their belongings with them from place to place. Brown said tents are very much in demand and that a used tent, provided it is in decent condition, would be accepted. The club is also accepting monetary donations for peo- ple to purchase basic neces- sities, she said. Brown said checks can be made out to Canyon Creek Community OTHER DONATION EFFORTS OBITUARIES Brenda Joyce Densberger April 6, 1943 — Sept. 13, 2020 Brenda Joyce Densberger, 77, of John Day passed away Sept. 13, 2020, with her family by her side. Arrangements have been entrusted to Driskill Memorial Chapel. Fanny Fitzgerald Hay for John Day Anyone interested in donating hay or other re- sources to those affected by the fires can contact Grant County Commis- sioner Jim Hamsher at 541- 620-2861 JD Outdoor & Power Equipment A collection site for items to go to victims of fires. According to its Facebook page, they are accepting personal hygiene items. The Eagle/Steven Mitchell Canyon Creek Community 4-H Club stands in front of Pioneer Feed and Farm Supply with the donations the club gathered for people affected by the wildfires burning across Oregon. From left, Sierra May, Pioneer Feed and Farm Supply owner Courtney Fox, Lauren Wenger, Trey Brown, Madison Whit- more, Brooke Taynton, club leader Laura Brown, Alyssa Cata- lani and Ava Brown. 4H Club. Brown said the club is debating on how or where they will distribute the money and donations they receive. She said right now the club is trying to collect as many donations as they can. “We don’t really have a end date,” Brown said. “We’re just trying to get as much as we can to make a good load.” Brown said she really wants the members of the club to deliver the donations to the drop-off location the group decides on. “It’s important for the kids to see what good deeds can do,” she said. “You know, that they understand there’s a bigger picture involved with everything they do. We’re obviously not going to be touring any of the devas- tated areas, but being able to follow through and drop off donations and see the other volunteers and evacuees will give them a bigger scope of the picture.” The Squeeze-In Restau- rant and Deck is accepting dog and cat food for displaced pets. The owner, Shawn Dun- can, said Candy Olson-Rea- Evacuated family The Squeeze-In Restau- rant and Deck is accepting a donations for a family from Grant County who were evacuated from their home in Molalla over the weekend. Olson-Reagan said the family asked to remain anonymous. gan donated her trailer to be parked on the side of the restaurant, and once it is full, it will be “driven to wherever it is needed the most.” “We’re taking care of our furry friends too,” Olson-Reagan said. Olson-Reagan, who started the 2020 Oregon Fire Aid and Assistance Facebook group last week, said it grew exponentially in just a few days. “Suddenly all these people just started joining, and it just sort of took off from there,” she said. Olson-Reagan said the page’s administrators include John Day resident Patti Ross, Lori Brown of Vancouver and Becky Smallwood of Bend. Ross said she has made sure the page stays apolitical. So far, she said, she has only had to kick one person off the page for spreading disinfor- mation that places the blame of the wildfires in the region on Antifa, short for “anti-fas- cists” and an umbrella term for leftist militant groups that confront or resist far-right, white supremacist groups, often with violence. The rumors were debunked by law enforce- ment officials in Molalla — a city south of Portland where residents were evacuated as two fires were merging — and in Douglas County an area south of Eugene with at least four fires burning, Port- land’s KOIN-TV reported. “How does that help someone who just lost every- thing and has nowhere to go,” Ross said. Olson-Reagan said before the start of the Facebook group she had “lost faith in humanity” because of how divided the country has become along political, social and cultural lines. “This has shown me, and probably a lot of other peo- ple, that we have not lost our faith, we haven’t lost human- ity, we’re still together,” she said. “People are help- ing without asking, are you Republican, are you con- servative, are you a liberal. They don’t care whether you’re gonna vote for Trump or for Biden — they want to help.” Oct. 16, 1943 — Aug. 29, 2020 Fanny Fitzgerald (aka Joanne Frances Singer) came into the world with fists balled on Oct. 16, 1943. She went out fighting on Aug. 29, 2020. Fanny shared a love of remote living with her husband and partner of 58 years, Fred Fitzgerald. She shared a deep and abiding love of music with her eldest son, Trek, the love of good fight with her son Skye, a passion for the written word with her daughter Token and love of an ice- cold beer with her son Star. Fanny was a fierce devotee of music in all forms and received a degree in music from Eastern Oregon University in 1993. She was also a regular sight in La Grande and Pendleton, playing classical clarinet in both the Grande Ronde Symphony and Oregon East Symphony for decades. Those who knew her knew Fanny as stubborn, fierce and sin- gular in every respect — never afraid to speak her mind and often seen giving the middle finger to anyone who disagreed with her. Fanny leaves behind her Fred, her four children and four grandchildren, Taber, Jeffrey, Quentin and Chance, to figure out what to do in a world without her. There will be no public service, as Fanny would not have wanted one. All who wish to remember her may do so by listening to Lud- wig Van Beethoven’s Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor; Adagio Sostenuto — Attaca (“Moonlight” Opus 27 No. 2) — one of the last classical pieces she listened to before her move into the unknown. It’s recommended you turn the volume up just a little higher than is comfortable — just as Fanny did each day she moved through this world. KING AWARDED BACHELOR’S DEGREE Contributed photo Janelle King, formerly of Canyon City, was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in market- ing with a minor in graphic design from Northwest Nazarene Univer- sity Sept. 6. King graduated magna cum laude. King was homeschooled and currently resides in Caldwell, Idaho. Her parents are Everett and Pam King of Canyon City. John Day Street Fair to honor firefighters and law enforcement Blue Mountain Eagle The John Day Street Fair will honor local firefighters and law enforcement Friday and throw hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill from 5-9 p.m. In addition to visiting with the men and women in pub- lic service, John Day Farmers Market Manager Stephanie LeQuieu said there would be a beer garden, hosted by 1188 Brewing Company, street ven- dors, arts and crafts for kids and the opportunity to connect with the community. LeQuieu said Friday’s Street Fair is the second of three the city has hosted this year. Last month’s fair drew roughly 100 people. The event will follow state guidelines. Face coverings, proper social distancing and other safety guidelines to stem the spread of COVID-19 will be required. LeQuieu said the Street Fair is a collaboration with the John Day Greenhouse and the farmers market. It is a way, LeQuieu said, to build com- munity and mental health. “I think we’ve experienced enough loss with COVID,” she said. “I don’t think we need to lose anymore.” TOM CHRISTENSEN CHRISTENSEN TOM CONSTRUCTION Debbie Ausmus 245 South Canyon Blvd. John Day, OR 97845 OPEN WED. & THUR. 9 am - 5 pm (541) 410-0557 • (541) 575-0192 CCB# 106077 541-575-1113 24 hrs/7 days wk REMODELS • NEW CONSTRUCTION • POLE BUILDINGS CONCRETE EXCAVATION • SHEET ROCK • SIDING ROOFING • FENCES • DECKS • TELESCOPING FORKLIFT SERVICES debbie.ausmus@ countryfinancial.com S204805-1 Monday - Thursday 7am- 6pm Monday - Thursday 7am- 6pm Friday 8am - 5pm Friday 8am - Mendy Sharpe 5pm FNP S204808-1 Steel on the inside where it matters most. Apppointments available S204807-1 139101 Shops Garages Commercial Industrial www.WSBNW.com 855 • 668 • 7211 Catering Services Available Breakfast & Lunch Daily Specials Sandy, OR Follow us on Facebook S199195-1 Last Week’s Temps John Day ...........................................................HI/LO Tuesday ........................................................... 73/37 Wednesday ..................................................... 83/41 Thursday .......................................................... 91/49 Friday ............................................................... 85/52 Saturday .......................................................... 79/51 Sunday ............................................................. 94/54 Monday............................................................ 91/56 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 S206496-1 W EATHER F ORECAST FOR THE WEEK OF H HHHHHH Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Smoky Smoky Showers likely Showers possible Sunny Sunny Mostly sunny 91 92 75 71 80 82 80 53 51 47 44 44 38 37
