A2
FAMILY
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, June 9, 2021
Seniors helping seniors
Outgoing high-schoolers give
back to their community
By Steven Mitchell
Blue Mountain Eagle
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, com-
mitted citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the
only thing that ever has.”
These words by the late Margaret Mead, an Ameri-
can anthropologist and educator who wrote about social
relationships, are fi tting for Tanni Wenger’s Senior Team
— a group of high school seniors coming together to
help the community.
Wenger, a Grant County native who snaps portraits
of the county’s graduating seniors each year, said the
motivation behind creating the fi rst Senior Team last
year was to bring the students together in their fi nal year
of high school to make memories and give back to their
community.
This year, Wenger said 18 Grant County seniors
joined the team, and Parker Manitsas, Quinten Hallgarth,
Peyton Neault, Madison Spencer, Quaid Brandon, Abby
Lusco and Caitlin Willet were the most active partici-
pants who completed each community service project.
Wenger’s Senior Team program kicks off at the start
of the school year. She said the team collectively decides
on a community project.
COVID-19 brought unforeseen challenges this year.
Wenger said the group decided to deliver food, pre-
pare fi rewood and take care of miscellaneous chores for
Grant County’s senior citizens, arguably the most vul-
nerable demographic this year.
Beyond the opportunity to apply for a small schol-
arship sponsored by Wenger for following through on
their year-long commitment — Hallgarth received $200,
and Willet received $100 — the seniors said they volun-
teered because Wenger asked them to step up.
Hallgarth, who broke his leg earlier this year, showed
up to the Elks Lodge to deliver food twice and stacked
wood once he was out of his cast and in a boot. He said
volunteering with a broken leg while in considerable
pain was a simple, quick decision.
“I said I would do it,” he said. “I gave my word.”
Wenger said the students committed a few hours each
week, which they balanced with their classes, sports and
other extracurricular activities and responsibilities.
“Doing just a few hours of work has made life eas-
ier for so many of these people in our community,” she
said. “I think my seniors really got to witness this with
some of our projects.”
Hallgarth concurred. He said, for the senior citizens
they served, the students were likely the only social inter-
action they had during the pandemic.
Breaking out, bonding
and realizing what matters
In addition to community projects, Wenger said the
seniors participate in themed photo shoots. She said the
themes included Fourth of July, hunting, boho at the
Painted Hills, pumpkin patch, sledding, Valentine’s Day,
prom and cap and gown. The “thrift shop” theme, she
said, turned out to be the most popular shoot of the year.
Contributed photo/Tanni Wenger Photography
From left, Grant County high school seniors Peyton
Neault, Quinten Hallgarth, Quaid Brandon and Jor-
dan Hall work on a community service project.
Brandon and Hallgarth agreed. Hallgarth said
Wenger purchased bags of hand-me-down clothes
from a thrift store in John Day. He said the group posed
for photos in outfi ts chosen by a teammate who drew
their name from a hat.
Madison Spencer said her 1980s-style solid striped
polo shirt and khakis made her look like a golfer. Pey-
ton Neault, in a button-up collared shirt, laughingly
said he looked like a little kid dressed up for a family
reunion in his brand new school clothes.
Along with experiencing the gratifi cation that
comes when helping others, the group said they culti-
vated lasting friendships — in part — by getting out of
their comfort zones.
“I’m usually more of a stay-at-home person, so
when I did go out I saw their personalities and how
they saw the world,” Spencer said.
She said she had never talked to Brandon. But she
said now when she sees him she says, “what’s up.”
“All of the groups started to mesh together,” Spen-
cer said.
Hallgarth said at beginning of the year they all had
their own social circles, but the more they worked
together the more they started hanging out together as
the year progressed.
“I bonded with a lot of my classmates a lot more
than I ever had before,” Hallgarth said.
Neault said incoming seniors would not regret a ser-
vice position should they be on the fence about making
the commitment.
“It’s the best feeling in the world when you help
someone out,” he said. “If they truly appreciate it and
have a smile on their face, it is better than anything you
could ever do in your life.”
Mead, the anthropologist who also said, “The solu-
tion to adult problems tomorrow depends on large
measure upon how our children grow up today,” would
likely approve.
“I think a lot of us found that with helping older
people or whoever,” Spencer said, “that you tend to
fi nd out that the smaller things matter the most.”
COVID-19 vaccine clinic planned
Blue Mountain Eagle
A COVID-19 vac-
cine clinic will take
place from 9 a.m. to
3 p.m. Friday, June 18, at
Strawberry
Wilderness
Community Clinic in John
Day.
The event is for people
18 and older.
Call
ahead
to
make an appointment,
541-575-0404.,
Jan. 24, 1932 – May 12, 2021
Albert “Big Al” Newman
of John Day passed
away at his home on May
12, 2021.
He was 89.Al was born in
Burns, Oregon, on Jan.
24, 1932, to Thomas and
Velma (Pyne)
Newman. He joined older
sisters, Effie (Elsie) and
Tommie Lou, then came
younger brother, Wilford
(Bill). He grew up in Sen-
eca, Oregon, then years
later the family moved to
Mt. Vernon, Oregon. He
left school at the age of 13, and along with brother Bill, they
traveled and became road scholars. In 1949, at the age of 17,
Al joined the United States Army. He served six years, which
included 13 months in the Korean War. He was awarded three
Purple Hearts.
On April 28, 1961, Al married Shirlee Cooper. They raised five
children, Delbert, Thomas, Andrea, Leo and Albert. Al worked
for the Oregon Department of Forestry for 30 years. He was a
forest practice officer. He retired in 1994. He was active in the
Jaycees, the Elks Lodge, as well as being a reserve deputy for
the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.
He enjoyed golfing, fishing and hunting. Al is survived by his
wife, Shirlee, of 60 years; his children, Delbert Newman of John
Day, Tom (Karrie) Newman of Bend, Andrea (Glenn) Ennis of
Prairie City and Leo Newman of Canyon City; 11 grandchildren;
and 12 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his fa-
ther and mother; sisters, Elsie and Tommie Lou; brother, Bill;
and son, Albert “Little Al” Newman.
No service will be held. The family will spread his ashes at a lat-
er time at his favorite hunting spot. Paid for by the family of Al Newman
Contributed image
May was colder than normal in John Day. Above-normal temperatures and be-
low-normal precipitation are expected in June.
May colder than normal in John Day
Blue Mountain Eagle
Temperatures in John Day averaged
colder than normal during the month
of May, according to preliminary data
received by NOAA’s National Weather
Service in Pendleton.
The average temperature was 51.7
degrees, which was 2.5 degrees below
normal. High temperatures averaged
66.5 degrees, which was 2.3 degrees
below normal. The highest was 83
degrees on May 7. Low temperatures
averaged 36.9 degrees, which was 2.8
degrees below normal. The lowest was
28 degrees on May 3.
There were four days with the low
temperature below 32 degrees.
Precipitation totaled 0.56 inches
Grant County implements fi re season
The Grant County Fire
Defense District implemented
fi re season June 1. No burn
barrel or yard debris burning
is allowed during fi re season,
according to Chief Ron Smith.
Camp fi res, cooking fi res
and warming fi res are allowed
with landowner approval until
regulated use is implemented.
There is no date set for regu-
lated use at this time.
during May, which was 1.34 inches
below normal. Measurable precipitation
was received on six days with the heavi-
est, 0.25 inches, reported on May 2.
Precipitation this year has reached
3.13 inches, which is 3.16 inches below
normal. Since October, the water year
precipitation at John Day has been 4.50
inches, which is 5.37 inches below
normal.
The outlook for June from NOAA’s
Climate Prediction Center calls for
above-normal
temperatures
and
below-normal precipitation. Normal
highs for John Day rise from 73 degrees
at the start of June to 83 degrees at the
end of June. Normal lows rise from 43
degrees to 48 degrees. The 30-year nor-
mal precipitation is 1.43 inches.
Blue Mountain Hospital Auxiliary
yard sale planned June 19
Narcotics Anonymous holds meetings at 6 p.m. each Tuesday
at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 627 SE Hillcrest Road, John Day.
Blue Mountain Eagle
The Blue Mountain Hos-
pital Auxiliary will hold
a yard sale from 8 a.m. to
4 p.m. Saturday, June 19,
at Keerins Hall at the Grant
County Fairgrounds.
CORRECTION
In last week’s Artisan section special, the Eagle incorrectly
reported the number of board made by Clinton Coalwell from
Custom Wood Creations. Coalwell made 200 boards. The Eagle
regrets the error.
Monument
Fireworks needs
sponsors and
donations to
make this year’s
masterpiece in the
sky!
Contact Steve @
Northfork RV or call
541-693-3087
http://restoreoregonnow.org/sff/ • 541-820-4463
S248357-1
Last Week’s Temps
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
Malheur National Forest crews
continue to plan for prescribed
fi res.
Emigrant Creek Ranger District
fi re crews were tentatively sched-
uled to begin ignitions on 200
acres in Silvies 7 Tuesday. Silvies
7 is south of Forest Road 31.
Prairie City Ranger District
crews continue to monitor for
smoke and hot spots on Elk 16
units C and Qa. Crews are begin-
ning prep work on Unit FB. There
is not set date for ignitions on this
unit.
Blue Mountain Ranger Dis-
trict crews will continue to patrol
Galena 30 and Murderers Creek 6
this week.
Additional information about
prescribed burning is avail-
Contributed photo/Thomas Dekany
able at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/
Prairie City Ranger District fi re offi cials
incident/7426.
For more information, call burned a 100-acre unit near Prairie City in
2019.
541-575-3000.
Blue Mountain Eagle
S248385-1
John Day ...........................................................HI/LO
Tuesday ........................................................... 89/53
Wednesday ..................................................... 97/58
Thursday .......................................................... 94/64
Friday ............................................................... 85/56
Saturday .......................................................... 76/46
Sunday ............................................................. 63/38
Monday............................................................ 69/37
Blue Mountain Eagle
NA meetings held on Tuesdays
Blue Mountain Eagle
Albert J. Newman
Prescribed fi res planned
S245043-1
W EATHER F ORECAST FOR THE WEEK OF J UNE 9 - 15
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Chance of
thunderstorms
Mostly
sunny
Slight chance
of showers
Mostly
sunny
Sunny
Sunny
Sunny
70
68
73
82
90
91
86
42
48
48
51
54
50
47