SPORTS
MyEagleNews.com
Wednesday, October 27, 2021
A7
District volleyball roundup
By STEVEN MITCHELL
Blue Mountain Eagle
JOHN DAY — The Grant Union vol-
leyball team opened its postseason with a
3-1 win over Union Saturday, Oct. 23.
The Lady Pros bested the Bobcats in
the fi rst set, 25-19, but dropped the sec-
ond one, 25-15.
Grant Union clawed their way back in
the third set, 25-19, and won a 25-22 nail-
biter to close out the match and move on
to the league playoff match in Stanfi eld
Tuesday, Oct. 26. That match began after
press time.
Senior Paige Gerry said the team was
generally pretty nervous, with Saturday’s
game being so consequential. However,
she said, the team knew they would come
in and “get it done.”
In the last minute of the fourth set,
which saw the Lady Pros down 22-20 at
one point, senior Grace Taylor said the
team turned the “fear into excitement”
because they knew they would keep mov-
ing on to the second round of the playoff s.
Steven Mitchell/Blue Mountain Eagle
The Grant Union girls cross country race kicks off Thursday, Oct. 21, at the Seventh Street Sports Complex in
John Day.
Steven Mitchell/Blue Mountain Eagle
Grant Union senior Paige Gerry (8) blocks
a shot by Union sophomore Marielle
Graff under Saturday, Oct. 23, during the
Lady Pros’ district playoff match against
the Bobcats. Grant Union won the match
3-1 and moved on to face Stanfi eld Tues-
day, Oct. 26.
Prairie City
The Prairie City Lady Panthers hosted
the six-match High Desert League Tour-
nament Saturday, Oct. 23.
In the fi rst match, Prairie City swept
Dayville/Monument
25-13,
25-7,
25-10, but they lost their second match
to Crane 3-1. However, the Lady Pan-
thers came back to win their third match
against Adrian 3-1 and will go on the
road to face Central Christian in their
fi rst league playoff match at 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 27.
Contributed photo/Chris Carlin Photography
Dayville/Monument freshman Bethany Wilburn chases down a ball Saturday, Oct. 23,
as senior Ana Bayard (11) and freshman Jin Bo Ciochetti (3) look on during the Tigers’
match against the Panthers at the High Desert Volleyball Tournament in Prairie City.
Prospectors run for gold
By STEVEN MITCHELL
Blue Mountain Eagle
JOHN DAY — Grant Union High School hosted
upwards of 100 cross country runners for the Pros-
pectors’ 2021 home meet, the Gold Rush Run, at the
Seventh Street Sports Complex on Thursday, Oct. 21.
Visiting schools included Heppner, Burns, Vale,
Nixyaawii Community, Union, Pilot Rock, Enter-
prise, Four Rivers and Culver.
Prospectors head coach Sonna Smith said the meet
was an excellent way to showcase the Seventh Street
Complex and the riverside running trail for those not
familiar with the area.
The Pros honored seniors Paige Weaver, Riley
Robertson and Katelyn Hughes to kick off the meet.
Hughes said the opening ceremonies brought
a realization that this was her last home meet with
teammates she has grown up with.
While Grant Union will be hosting the
3A/2A/1A-Special District 3 Championships Friday,
Oct. 29, at the Seventh Street Complex, Robertson
said Thursday’s meet was her last high school cross
country competition. After that, she said she would be
in Nashville for the FFA National Convention.
“I was really excited at fi rst (about the race), but I
almost started to cry a couple of times because Kate
and I have been running together for three years,”
Robertson said.
Robertson said initially she did not know if she
would enjoy cross country, but ultimately she came
to love the sport.
“It is hard, but it’s rewarding,” she said
Robertson called Smith an amazing coach and
said the sport has a supportive culture.
“You can be fi rst or you can be last, and you’ll
defi nitely get the same amount of cheering,” she said,
“as long as you’re gutting it out.”
And she said the people who cheer are not neces-
sarily supporters of one’s own team.
“It’s awesome to run into that screaming crowd,”
she said. “It gives you the energy to keep going.”
SPORTS ROUNDUP
By STEVEN MITCHELL
Blue Mountain Eagle
Prairie City beats Joseph for fi fth win in a row
After falling to the Eagles 48-26 earlier this year, the
Panther football team avenged the loss with a decisive
66-12 win over Joseph on Thursday, Oct. 21.
The newspaper was unable to get in touch with Prairie
City head coach Nick Thompson for comment.
The Blue
Mountain
RIE POSTPONED | PAGE
CHRISTMAS ON THE PRAI
MyEagleNews.co
er 18, 2020
m
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 27
Grant Union falls to Umatilla, 28-22
Prairie City volleyball @ Cen-
tral Christian, 5:30 p.m.
After a diffi cult homecoming loss to Heppner earlier this
month, the Prospector football team fell to Umatilla by six
points on the road Friday, Oct. 22. Grant Union will take on
Weston-McEwen Friday, Oct. 29, at 7 p.m.
Prospectors head coach Jason Miller did not immedi-
ately respond to the Eagle’s request for comment.
EAGLE
Takeout
or leave it
Local restaurant owners
react to statewide two-
ng
week freeze prohibiti
dining in
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By Rudy Diaz
Blue Mountain Eagle
The Eagle/Steven
Thriftway. Roughly
15 employees
as COVID-19
were put on quarantine
cases doubled in
in Grant
Local restaurants
and
County expressed concerns
as Ore-
hopes for the future freeze on
gon enters a two-week
many activities.
Gov. Kate Brown announced
on Nov. 13,
the two-week freeze
on
which will place limitations
many businesses.
scheduled
is
The freeze, which
will restrict
for Nov. 18 to Dec. 2, only serv-
to
restaurants and bars
ing takeout.
of 1188
owner
Adair,
Shannon
in John Day,
Brewing Company
frustrating, it
said, while this is the rise of
was expected with more activ-
COVID-19 cases and
ities taking place indoors.
weeks,
“I hope it’s just two if it’s
me
but it’s going to surprise said.
only two weeks,” Adair
shut-
During the statewide spring,
the
down that began in along with
1188 closed its doors and did
many other businesses the time.
at
takeout
not provide
provide
Adair said they didn’t
were not
they
because
takeout
the option
prepared to provide
focused
and the local area hadn’t prior the
out
too much on take
¿UVWVKXWGRZQ
changes
Adair said 1188 made a new
with
through the summer provided
that
program at the pub
to order
customers an option website or
online through their
Takeout App.
by using the Toast
also got-
The community has the take-
ten more used to using since the
restaurants
at
out option
¿UVWVKXWGRZQ
posi-
“I think we’re in a better said
Adair
tion to at least try it,” around.
time
about takeout this
to where
“If we get to a point money than
we’re spending more then we’ll
in,
what we’re bringing
close until we can open.”
Mitchell
Grant County in
YONE
TY, AND IF EVER
FEED THE COUN
TROUBLE.”
“IT’S OUR JOB TO
WE’RE IN
operations manager
ISN’T HERE THEN
Chester’s Thriftway
—Bill Wyllie,
T
By Steven Mitchell
Blue Mountain Eagle
fast
cases has strained a
he rapid spike in COVID-19 store in Grant County.
grocery
15
food restaurant and
Halloween, roughly to
In the days following
employees were advised
Chester’s Thriftway by contact tracers after com-
quarantine for 14 days who contracted the corona-
with someone
ing into close contact
Man-
Operations
virus, according to Chester’s
most
ager Bill Wyllie.
with
in touch
Wyllie said he has kept
any
and had not heard that
people in quarantine
themselves. However,
of them tested positive has led the business to
the lack of personnel
close at 8 p.m.
the county,” he said,
Bill Wyllie
“It’s our job to feed here, then we’re in
“and if everyone isn’t
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trouble.”
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spike in cases.
report pub-
cant driver in the recent
weekly COVID-19
cases associated
Oregon Health Authority’s
45 deaths and 9,226
lished Nov. 12 reported
t program,
governmen
with all workplace outbreaks.
a
that, through
weeks that they
Wyllie told the Eagle
employees for the two
Chester’s will pay the and can get reimbursed through a tax
are out due to quarantine
submits a form from
credit.
employee
the
Essentially, Wyllie said,
A16
See Quarantine, Page
See Freeze, Page A16
STATEWIDE
RESTRICTIONS
The Eagle/Steven
in John Day informs
customers of both
Mitchell
the limited staff
and
Brown
Oregon Gov. Kate
freeze
announced a two-week Nov.
from
on many activities
18 to Dec. 2.
Page A9.
See the story on
the Year
ployee of UNDER
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project coordinator honored
1 MILL and
and it
“It was very nice,
people to
was gracious of
said.
think that way,” Colson
it.”
math “I appreciate taught at Prairie
Prairie City School
Colson has
director
for 12 years and
teacher, athletic
coordina- City School different responsi-
and senior project
the has many
tor Billy Colson received
at the school, accord-
bilities
School
2020 Grant County award.
ing to Prairie City Superinten-
The Eagle/Rudy Diaz
Employee of the Year award dent Casey Hallgarth.
advisor and coordinates
the
Colson’s
got
math, is the athletic
Colson
2020
Hallgarth said
in the
s Billy Colson teaches Prairie City School. He was named the
at
during an assembly 26 in ability to build relationship
Oct.
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s.com
s.
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Colson
to go them all.”
of time with
152nd Year of recommendations received
City dant amount them build a for students who want ien, Col-
Hallgarth said planning
the staff at Prairie
help
Col-
school,”
to
from
to
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led
seniors
has
four-year
to a from Witt
com-
2020
the kid with seniors
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state said. “What
about
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y contr
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ay, Septem
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he said.
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ng, but said with the
but
Paper
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county
a safe, have the
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ty is track
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f of the
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Blue Mountain Eagle
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ABOUT OTHER STUFF
Prairie City
City High School, on
at Prairie
—Austin Cates, a junior
School’s Billy Colson
con-
son having a great after
nection with students
graduation.
of his
Colson said one
with
goals is being involved he can
as
the school as much
while helping others.
“If people need assistance
to help
with something I try
rela-
and try to have a personal
and staff
tionship with students said.
here at school,” Colson
size
He said, with the
easy to
of the school, it is connec-
develop a personal some-
tion with students and If a stu-
times their families.
the
dent graduates and leaves,
with the
continues
connection
updates
family when he gets
after
on how kids are doing
graduation.
See Teacher, Page A16
airport
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for
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said
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habits
ent Casey
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students are faculty
the new schoo
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and
ment
and adjust to. However, staff
ders of
ting used help kids with remin
options for
to
providing
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the guide
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ts have
students.
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Sheri ff
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er
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face cover face masks, face shield
a hat.
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that
let
s
shield
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but this face shield
in school,
their hats want to have your ed to wear
ment. If you then you’re allow not speak-
hat,
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over your
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this
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‘S
SPORTS SCHEDULE
Prairie City will host Alsea on Saturday, Oct. 30, at
1 p.m.
• 16 Pages • $1.50
2nd Year • No. 47
152
152nd
N
QUARANTINE LEA
Friday at Chester’s
District tourney
For the fi rst time since the 1990s, Grant Union
will be hosting the district tournament this year. The
meet is set for 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29, at the Seventh
Street Sports Complex.
“Grant Union athletes are ready to race hard on
Friday,” Smith said. “I would like to invite everyone
to come and support the team.”
Smith said she is looking for six more volunteers.
Anyone interested can text Smith at 541-620-0073.
meet, Seventh Street Sports
Complex, 3 p.m.
Grant Union football @
Weston-McEwen, 7 p.m.
FRIDAY, OCT. 29
SATURDAY, OCT. 30
Grant Union cross country,
Special District 3A/2A/1A
Prairie City football vs. Alsea,
1 p.m.
Grant County’s newspaper since 1868
A3
Wednesday, Novemb
piled up
A line of customers
less than a week.
Smith said Grant Union ran good
races overall. For the boys, she said
all but two athletes fi nished with
their best times of the season. She
added that the two who did not log
their best times were struggling with
injuries.
Brady Dole,
In the boys’ race, Prospector
a junior,
junior Brady Dole fi nished 18th
fi nished in
overall with a time of 18:05. Dole
18th place
said he carved roughly 25 seconds
with a time of off his previous time. Junior Quinn
18:05.
Larson fi nished 29th overall with a
time of 18:59, followed by junior
Max Bailey, who fi nished 55th
with a time of 20:43. Reid Dole fi n-
ished 74th overall with a time 22:59,
while fellow freshman Logan Rand-
leas fi nished 84th with a time of
24.53.
On the girls’ side, Smith said all
Quinn Larson, the runners had their season’s best
times. Aliciana Archibald, a soph-
a junior,
fi nished 29th omore, fi nished 14th overall with
with a time of a time of 22:58, lopping off nearly
four minutes from her last time.
18:59.
Maddie Bailey, a freshman, fi nished
26th overall, logging a time of 23:39. Hughes fi nished
39th with a time of 25:24, while sophomore Abbie
Justice fi nished 55th with a time of 28:29. Eliza Ash-
ley, a freshman, fi nished 60th with a time of 30:04.
Christine Moore
Advertising
Executive of
the Year -
Kim Kell
First Place Awards
Best Writing- “A New Generation of Political Action,”
“Plowing Snow,” “COVID-19 Fallout,” Rudy Diaz
Best Graphics - “Oregon Lawmakers Unholster New Gun
Controls,” Randy Wrighthouse
Best Government Coverage - “Sex Talk,” Sean Hart
Best Coverage of Business or Economic Issues -
“Quarantine Lean,” Steven Mitchell
Best Enterprise Reporting - “EOC Overspends Budget,”
Steven Mitchell
Best Page One Design - Randy Wrighthouse
Best Special Section or Issue- “Explore,” Blue Mountain
Eagle staff
2020 Oregon Newspaper
Publishers Association
Better Newspaper Contest
Awards
Second Place Awards
Best Spot News Coverage - Rudy Diaz, “Neighbors
Rescue Jewell from Fire”
Best Writing - “The Changing Face of Rural County Fairs,”
“BLM March Proceeds Peacefully,” “Many Rapid Tests Not
Being Counted by the State,” Steven Mitchell
Best News Photo - “BLM March Proceeds Peacefully,”
Steven Mitchell
Best Sports Photo - “Prairie City Girls Extend Win Streak,”
Steven Mitchell
Best Overall Website - Blue Mountain Eagle staff
Best Editorial - Sean Hart
Best Enterprise Reporting - “Sex Talk,” Sean Hart
Third Place Awards
Best Lifestyle Coverage - Steven Mitchell, “A Distant
Mother’s Day”
Best Editorial Page - Sean Hart
Best Special Section or Issue - “Election 2020,” Blue
The Astorian
East Oregonian
Bend Bulletin
Capital Press
LaGrande Observer
Baker City Herald
Wallowa County Chieftain
Blue Mountain Eagle
Hermiston Herald
Seaside Signal
Redmond Spokesman
Chinook Observer
Coast River Business Journal
Mountain Eagle staff
BlueMountainEagle.com
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