Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 23, 2020)
CHRISTMAS MyEagleNews.com Wednesday, December 23, 2020 A3 Monument author contributes to Christmas Chicken Soup for the Soul book Howe tells the true story of a small tree off the side of the road decorated for Christmas By Steven Mitchell Blue Mountain Eagle The Eagle/Rudy Diaz Mt. Vernon residents had the option to deco- rate a tree provided by the city or to decorate their own tree. The Eagle/Rudy Diaz Residents in Mt. Vernon used a wide array of items to decorate trees on Main Street. A local author contrib- uted to this year’s Christ- mas edition of the long-run- ning anthology Chicken Soup for the Soul. Rose Howe, a published author from Monument and widely-followed blogger, told the Eagle she had never heard of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. “I thought it was some sort of cookery book,” Howe said after a writer friend suggested that she submit her story for publication. Howe, who runs the Tri- ple H Ranch with her hus- band of 33 years, Darrell, said she was “astounded” at how big and far-reaching the series is. “I felt very humbled, that they would consider my lit- tle story,” Howe said. Contributed photo/K’Lynn Lane Monument author Rose Howe at the Condon holiday bazaar. H o w e ’s contribu- tion to the book tells the true story of a young girl, Ashley Mund, who roughly a decade ago began decorat- ing a small scraggly tree off of the side of the road every year at Christmas with her father, Mitch. The tradition carries on to this day. Howe, who, at the time, drove an ambulance late at night, said the tree always made her smile — and, she said, soothed her after diffi- cult calls. “You come around that corner and in your head- lights pick out that purple tree,” she said. “It really does kind of give you a sense of peace and make you tear up.” She said she thinks the story evokes in people the realization that the world, even before the pandemic, goes at such a fast pace and is ever-changing. “They’ve got their fancy phones and they’re always on the internet and Face- book and this, that, the other,” she said. With families becoming more and more spread out and disconnected, she said, the meaning of Christmas can get lost. “I think it appeals to people when they realize that there is still a young lady out there who is com- mitted, and determined, no matter where she is to come back and find a scrag- gly little tree on the side of the road and decorate it so that when people drive by they see this tree,” she said, “and it honestly can- not help but bring a smile to your face.” The Eagle/Rudy Diaz The Eagle/Rudy Diaz People traveling through Mt. Vernon’s Main Street can see various Christmas trees deco- rated in front of businesses. Courtney Montague, the organizer of Mt. Ver- non’s second annual Christmas tree decorating contest, said she hopes the decorations and trees lining Main Street will help build Christ- mas spirit this year. Christmas trees bringing holiday cheer to Mt. Vernon By Rudy Diaz Blue Mountain Eagle Main Street in Mt. Vernon is lined with Christmas cheer as residents decorated trees for the most wonderful time of the year. Courtney Montague, the organizer of Mt. Vernon’s sec- ond annual Christmas tree decorating contest, said they wanted to do something fun for the community during the season. She also said she hopes the decorations and the trees will help build Christmas spirit amid the tough year it has been. “It has been a rough year, and that’s one of the reasons why I wanted the trees, so people driving through Mt. Vernon or walking can have something nice to look at,” said Montague. “It’ll hope- fully boost people’s spirits.” Montague said a couple of years ago she purchased 10 trees for the city for this event to have residents decorate. She said the event is planned next year as well. “I’m hoping this builds the community spirit and gives people something to look at as they’re driving through town,” Montague said. From Doug and the crew at Ferguson Surveying & Engineering, May your holidays be merry and bright! S220965-1 Wishing you the Peace and Joy of the Christmas Season. Best wishes for 2021 from your friends at Eastern Oregon Realty. Merry Christmas From the Staff and Management at Malheur Lumber Company Jerry, Michal, Lindsey, Traci, Deann, and Jo S219842-1 S220860-1 S215862-1 and a happy New Year, from all of us at We would like to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas. S219703-1
