FAMILY
Blue Mountain Eagle
A2
Wednesday, February 17, 2021
Grant Union’s automotive shop comes to fruition
GRANT UNION STUDENTS
OF THE MONTH
Growth provides
more opportunities
to learn and work on
vehicles
By Rudy Diaz
Blue Mountain Eagle
Automotive students at
Grant Union now have a shop
where they can do more than
ever before.
Grant Union teacher Jason
Miller said the shop provides
numerous benefits for students
such as more space for more
projects to pursue at the same
time.
Prior to the new shop, the
automotive class shared the
indoor space with the metal
shop class.
“This benefits us by being
able to pull cars in and work on
vehicles and projects at any-
time,” Miller said. “When we
shared a shop, we had to coor-
dinate when I can have some-
thing in there with the metal
shop teacher.”
The extra space now allows
the class to work on multiple
cars at the same time or carry
out longer projects that could
take weeks to complete.
“I have space to work on
small engines with the automo-
tive one classes, the beginners,
and still have automobiles in
the shop to work on throughout
the day,” Miller said.
Senior Devon Stokes said
he likes the move to the new
building because it allows the
automotive program to work
on more projects and different
The Eagle/Rudy Diaz
Seventh grade
Aaliyah Judd
Parents: Jesse and Marci
Judd
Eighth grade
Cash Madden
Parents: Jesse and Michal
Madden
Ninth grade
Lavina Kiser
Parents: Pat and Jeanna
Kiser
10th grade
Andrew Hunt
Parents: Robert and Shana
Hunt
11th grade
Cooper Peterson
Parents: Bob and Jennifer
Peterson
12th grade
Abby Lusco
Parents: Andy and Angie
Lusco
From left, Grant Union sophomore Wyatt Nolan, senior Noah Blood and senior Michael Dilley work
on an engine at the new automotive shop.
The Eagle/Rudy Diaz
Senior Devon Stokes points
at the engine of the 1973 Ford
F-250 he is working on and
the fuel injection kit being in-
stalled.
vehicles at a quicker rate.
“Being able to learn from
different things from differ-
ent vehicles and how to take
them apart have been a bene-
fit,” Stokes said. “This class
has been important for me per-
sonally because I learned a lot
about my vehicle and other
people’s vehicles so I can feel
comfortable when somebody
asks me for something simple
that I can help out with.”
Senior Logan McCluskey
said this is his first year in the
class, but it’s nice to work on
different vehicles and do more
types of projects than when the
program was in a shared space.
Stokes and McCluskey are
helping refurbish a 1973 Ford
F-250 owned by their friend
Quinten Hallgarth.
“Quentin’s deal is kind of
a special deal,” Miller said
about the truck Stokes is work-
ing on. “It’s something that he
and I have been planning for a
long time. It’s a good opportu-
nity for a lot of kids to see that
come together and then for him
to take a vehicle that’s been in
his family for years and refur-
bish it.”
Miller said students can
now set up appointments, so
maintenance, such as chang-
ing oil or changing the transfer
case, can be completed on their
vehicles.
“It’s good for kids to know
about their own vehicles,”
Miller said. “I hope at some
point in the near future we can
start offering maintenance for
teachers at first, and then once
we get good at that, we can
open it up for a car a day to
get oil changed and give these
kids experience with different
vehicles.”
Sophomore Wyatt Nolan
said the shop has been nice for
students so they could save
money by fixing some of the
vehicle problems while learn-
ing how to do it.
“Being able to fix our own
vehicles and learning how to
do it and having the tools avail-
able to us that we don’t have at
home have been some of the
benefits,” said Senior Noah
Blood.
The funds for the new shop
came from High School Suc-
cess — funds from Measure 98.
CORRECTION
OBITUARIES
The Eagle misidentified Blue Mountain Hospital
District board secretary Linda Ladd as board member
Dotty Parsons in a photo caption regarding the hospi-
tal district’s move to part ways with Health TechS3 in
the Feb. 10 edition.
The Eagle regrets the error.
Allan R. Olson
Homer Harrison
June 10, 1941 ~  February 8, 2021
Homer Harrison, 79, of Mt. Vernon,
died Monday, February 8, 2021 at
his home. A private family gathering
will be held at a later date.
Homer L. Harrison was born on
June 10, 1941 in Decatur, Iowa. The
family moved to Columbia County in
1945 and Homer attended elementary school in Yankton, Oregon. Ho-
mer graduated from St. Helens High School in 1960.
Following high school, Homer was drafted into the Army serving in
Germany from 1963 to 1965. Homer met and married Jeannette Huck-
ins on June 22, 1968 in Drain, Oregon. They made their first home in
Delena and had two sons, Bill and Scott. They later purchased a ranch
and moved their family to Mt. Vernon in 1979.
Homer loved working with wood and building things. He was a 4-H
leader and loved being involved with his boys activities. He was the
hog barn and also the fruits and vegetable superintendent for several
years. Homer was also a member of Mount Vernon Rural Fire Protec-
tion District and served as fire chief for a few years.
His favorite color was green, favorite season: Spring, favorite team: the
Blazers. Homer enjoyed home grown foods and his good health. A few
catch phrases “Huh!” or “he went to Drain and got caught in the trap.”
Homer would not answer a question with “yes” or “no,” it was always
“maybe” or “I guess.”
Memorable times in his life included the birth of his sons and his and
Jeannette’s 50th wedding anniversary. He was proud to have fulfilled
his dream as a young boy of having a ranch of his own and raising
cattle. He had a personality that never knew a stranger, they were all
friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, a sister and 3
brothers-in-law. Homer is survived by his wife Jeannette; sons Bill
Harrison and Scott Harrison; special niece, Patti McAndrew; special
nephew, Melvin Vanderford; Sisters Iona (Don) Dworschak of St. Hel-
ens, OR, Lola Nichols of Portland area, Janice (Wm) Grady of Bend, OR,
Sharon Chambers of Beaverton, OR; many nieces and nephews.
For those who would like to make a memorial donation in memory
of Homer, the family suggests the John Day Farmer’s Market through
Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home & Cremation Services, PO Box 543
Halfway, Oregon 97834. Online condolences may be shared at
www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com.
Paid for by the family of Homer Harrison
S231403-1
Sept. 7, 1935 – Feb. 3, 2021
Allan Robert Olson, age 85, passed
away Feb. 3, 2021, at his residence in
John Day, Oregon. A funeral service will
be held on Saturday, Feb. 20, at 1 p.m. at
the Grant County Regional Airport.
Allan was born Sept. 7, 1935, in Twin
Falls, Idaho, to Sidney and Beulah (Bee-
son) Olson. He attended Boise High
School and Northwest Nazarene College
and graduated with a master’s degree
from the University of Idaho. He served
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
EO Media Group
Thomas James Bronson Sr.
July 20, 1936 — Feb. 1, 2021
Thomas James Bronson Sr. was born on July 20, 1936, in
Ontario, Oregon, to Otto and Loise (Domby) Bronson. He
passed away in Boise, Idaho, due to heart complications on Feb.
1, 2021.
Tom grew up on the family ranch,
northeast of Ironside, Oregon. He and
his little sister, Lavelle, attended grade
school in Malhuer City and Grouse
Creek. He graduated high school in
Ontario, Oregon, in 1955.
In 1958, he joined the Air National
Guard, as a fuel supply specialist. He was
honorably discharged in 1964.
Tom met the love of his life, Lois
Affeld, in Ironside at a neighbor’s ranch
where she was babysitting, when he went to gather up some stray
cows. The two were wed on May 20, 1959, in John Day, Oregon.
Tom and Lois spent the rest of their lives on the Ironside fam-
ily ranch raising their four children, along with hay and cows.
Tom was a hard worker who loved to ranch. He was an excel-
lent equipment operator and a hay truck driver. He was very
generous in helping others and loved to play practical jokes on
friends and family. He enjoyed hunting elk and fishing, if you
could get him off the ranch.
He was a member of the Burnt River School Board and a
member of the Ironside Road District for many years.
Tom was preceded and death by his parents, sister and wife.
Tom is survived by his children, TJ (Joann) Bronson of
Ontario, Oregon, Eric (Rhonda) Bronson of Huntington, Ore-
gon, Peter (Terri) Bronson of Prineville, Oregon, and April
Bronson of Burns, Oregon; grandchildren, James Bronson,
Kyle Bronson, Robert Bronson, Wade Bronson, Aaron Lang-
ley, Audryonna Langley, Adrian Langley, Kathrine (Lee) Butler,
Jesse (Wendy) Bronson and Danielle Bronson; and great-grand-
children, Tanner Harp, Stark Langley and Beorn Butler.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
Last Week’s Temps
John Day ...........................................................HI/LO
Tuesday ........................................................... 41/22
Wednesday ..................................................... 45/20
Thursday .......................................................... 37/20
Friday ............................................................... 22/16
Saturday .......................................................... 26/15
Sunday ............................................................. 34/20
Monday............................................................ 45/33
Umatilla National Forest selects
new deputy forest supervisor
The Umatilla National
Forest will soon have a new
deputy forest supervisor.
Heidi McRoberts will step
into the new role, according
to a press release, effective
March 14. McRoberts cur-
rently serves as a fish biologist
on the Nez-Perce Clearwater
National Forest.
“The Umatilla is fortu-
nate to have such a highly
qualified individual who is
so familiar with our commu-
nities and landscape join the
Forest in this leadership role,”
said Umatilla National Forest
Supervisor Eric Watrud. “Her
skills and background are an
outstanding complement to
the priority work the Forest
has underway and the inter-
ests of the communities and
partners that we serve.”
McRoberts brings a variety
of experience to the Umatilla
National Forest, including a
strong natural resources back-
ground and experience work-
ing with a variety of Tribal
governments, County Com-
missioners, partners, pub-
lic stakeholders and several
National Forests.
Since 2019, McRoberts
has worked as a fish biologist
on the Forest Plan Revision
team for the Nez-Perce Clear-
water National Forest, helping
to develop and write the plan.
This position also requires
her to coordinate with other
federal agencies and a vari-
ety of external stakeholders to
understand differing interests
and develop
the
plan
components
to meet mul-
tiple
use
needs.
Prior to
Heidi
this position,
McRoberts
McRob-
erts spent
22 years working for the Nez
Perce Tribe, including 10
years as deputy director for
the Department of Fisher-
ies Resource Management/
Watershed Division. During
her time with the Nez Perce
Tribe, McRoberts was respon-
sible for leading a large and
geographically
dispersed
department, managing a com-
plex budget and working with
a variety of federal agencies,
including 13 national forests,
tribes, state and local gov-
ernment and private interest
groups. She said the position
provided extensive experience
in collaboration and partner-
ship development, and a thor-
ough understanding of forest
management.
McRoberts has a master’s
degree in fisheries resources
from the University of Idaho
and is currently working
toward a doctorate in natural
resources and society from the
University of Idaho.
“I look forward to serving
as the Umatilla National For-
est’s deputy forest supervisor,”
McRoberts said. “I am eager to
meet the forest staff and build
relationships with the commu-
nities and our partners through-
out the area in this new role.”
W EATHER F ORECAST FOR THE WEEK OF F EB . 17-23
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Chance
of snow
Snow
Chance of
rain/snow
Slight chance
of snow
Chance of
rain/snow
Partly
sunny
Mostly
cloudy
36
41
45
42
46
50
52
15
32
28
29
36
27
26