OUTDOORS
Prospector passion
MyEagleNews.com
Wednesday, December 8, 2021
A9
Grant Union’s
new mascot
brings infectious
enthusiasm to the
sidelines
By STEVEN MITCHELL
Blue Mountain Eagle
Contributed photo
“Sixguns by Keith” taught the author, shown here, the funda-
mentals of good handgun shooting.
SHOOTING THE BREEZE
The fi ne art of
handgun shooting
M
Steven Mitchell/Blue Mountain Eagle
Steven Mitchell/Blue Mountain Eagle
Colton Lyman, right, busts a move during Grant Union’s “Dig Pink”
volleyball game on Oct. 2. Lyman, a seventh-grader, dressed up
as school mascot John Prospector at home football and volleyball
games during Grant Union’s fall sports season this year.
was born,” Huerta said.
Lyman, who is a cousin
of Huerta’s wife, Jessie,
moved to the county a little
over a year ago.
Lyman had missed out
on opportunities to get
involved in school activi-
ties when he was younger,
Huerta said, so it was
important to him and his
wife that the young man
take advantage of those
opportunities while he’s
living in Grant County, be
it sports, student govern-
ment or the school band.
“We want to give him a
good foundation to grow up
to be a successful adult, just
like I do with all my other
kids,” Huerta said. “He’s
our cousin, but he’s like
a kid to us, and we really
enjoy having him.”
When he’s not perform-
ing as the school’s mas-
cot at Grant Union sporting
events, Lyman plays sax-
ophone in the school band
and serves as Grant Union’s
seventh-grade vice presi-
dent. And, starting later this
month, the 13-year-old will
give wrestling a go.
Lyman said Jessie’s
brother, Ultimate Fighting
Championship competitor
Eddie “Short Fuse” Her-
man, was his inspiration for
signing up for the wrestling
team this year.
Lyman, who dove into
the role of Prospector John
with both enthusiasm and
the steadfast commitment
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ost folks who have by pressing it into my palm
done any shoot-
with the pads of my fin-
ing have heard
gers rather than wrapping
the name Elmer Keith.
my fingers tightly around
Besides his famous long-
it. Then, just as I do with a
range handgun feats and
rifle, to squeeze the trigger
wildcat cartridges, he was
with the pad of my trigger
a well-known author. After finger rather than with the
reading his book “Six-
fold of the first knuckle.
guns by Keith” care of a
This not only helped me
childhood mentor of mine, to master a proper trig-
I became quite intrigued
ger squeeze but to greatly
with the fine art of hand-
increase hit percentages.
gun shooting.
Most rifle shoot-
Although Keith
ers I know have
preferred his .44
learned to make
and .45 big bores,
use of whatever
a .22 became my
field rests that pres-
favorite hand-
ent themselves. A
gun cartridge early
stump or rock, a
Dale Valade
on for many rea-
tree branch or fen-
sons. Keith was a hunting
cepost, or their pack can
guide and as such needed
all be used to steady their
a handgun capable of dis-
aim. Yet most handgunners
patching everything, come
I see, regardless of skill
what may. I needed some-
level, tend to shoot off-
thing with cheap ammo,
hand, unsupported. Some-
affording more practice;
times offhand is all we can
low recoil so I could refine do, but early on I learned,
the fundamental skills
again from Keith’s writ-
needed; and a trajectory
ings, that taking a proper
flat enough to require lit-
rest can be the difference
tle holdover for practical
between a hit and a miss.
shooting ranges. Keith may The same informal rests
have been able to shoot
we use with rifles can be
five or six football fields
employed for use with
away with his sixguns, but handguns.
believe me, even as a teen
As I’ve gradually mas-
I had no such delusions of
tered larger and more pow-
grandeur.
erful handguns over the
Quickly I learned that
years, I often revert back
whatever shooting mis-
to Keith’s sage advice upon
takes we make with a rifle
the subject. To fully glean
are amplified 10 times
as much of Old Elmer’s
with a handgun. Breath
knowledge as possible,
control, sight picture and
find a copy of “Sixguns by
trigger squeeze must be
Keith” and beg whoever
optimal with each shot.
owns it to sell it to you for
Trigger squeeze can prove
whatever price they name.
to be the most difficult of
If you aim to be better than
all as we already have our
average with a handgun,
fingers wrapped tightly
you’ll need expert advice.
around a grip. As such it’s
Are you a handgunner?
natural as we tighten one
Write to us at shootingthe-
finger to tighten the oth-
breezebme@gmail.com!
ers simultaneously and, in
Dale Valade is a local
effect, pull our shots wide.
country gent with a love for
With practice I learned to
the outdoors, handloading,
grip the handle of the gun
hunting and shooting.
JOHN DAY — Grant
Union High School’s sport-
ing events are not unlike
others across the country.
You’ll see the crowd, the
band, the school adminis-
trators and the students all
rooting for the hometown
team.
But, this year, Grant
Union added another ele-
ment that brings them all
together:
A school mascot.
He’s known as “John
Prospector,” a name Grant
Union’s students came up
with at the beginning of the
school year, according to
RC Huerta, Grant School
District No. 3’s engage-
ment coordinator and Grant
Union High School’s boys
basketball coach.
Huerta said the stu-
dents chose “John” to honor
hunter and fur trapper
John Day, after whom the
school’s town is named.
Under the fake beard
and old cowboy hat, sev-
enth-grader Colton Lyman
twirled his pickaxe and
whipped up the crowds at
fall sporting events this
year.
Lyman is an aspiring
comedian with an innate
ability to entertain peo-
ple and a genuine desire to
make sure everyone is hav-
ing a good time, said Huerta,
who was a mascot and spirit
commissioner during his
own high school years.
A schoolwide eff ort,
Prospector John’s costume
came together with dona-
tions from Grant Union
teachers J.J. Collier and
Rick Callahan, Huerta said.
The fake beard, Huerta
said, came from an old Hal-
loween costume he had at
home while the old cowboy
hat was one he retired long
ago.
“Boom! Prospector John
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of a Method actor to stay
in character as the gold
rush-themed mascot for the
entirety of games, admits
that he was a little nervous
before his first game.
“I was a bit anxious,” he
said. “The first time dress-
ing down, looking like a
goofball running around in
front of the whole crowd, I
was a bit anxious.”
Soon enough, Lyman
said, getting and staying in
character became second
nature.
“More games passed by
and it just became a natu-
ral thing, and I really like it
now,” he said. “Now, dress-
ing down and looking like a
goofball running around is
nothing for me.”
Huerta pointed out that
Lyman studied other mas-
cots to prepare the night
before his first time dress-
ing as John Prospector for a
Lady Pro volleyball game.
Huerta said Lyman was
nervous, but remained open
to Huerta’s pointers, though
he really didn’t need much
prompting. He said Lyman
began jogging around the
gym and greeting fans at
the door before he knew it.
Both the football and
volleyball teams loved hav-
ing Lyman on the sidelines,
according to Huerta.
The volleyball team
appreciated Lyman so much
throughout their season
(which ended in a fourth-
place finish at the state
Colton Lyman, a Grant Union
Junior/Senior High School sev-
enth-grader, gets into charac-
ter as John Prospector. Lyman
is the school’s fi rst mascot.
Steven Mitchell/Blue Mountain Eagle
Colton Lyman’s energy and
enthusiasm are infectious.
tournament) that they pre-
sented the seventh-grader
with a $50 gift certificate to
Timbers Bistro.
Lyman said he was
taken by surprise when he
showed up early for one
of the team’s final home
games to change into
his John Prospector cos-
tume and was called into
the lunchroom by the vol-
leyball team, where they
handed him the gift certif-
icate and thanked him for
getting the crowds pumped
at every home game.
“I really appreciated it,”
Lyman said. “It was super
cool, and they did really
good this year.”
When reflecting on
Lyman’s growth this year,
Huerta gushes with pride.
“I’m just proud to be
raising such good young
men and women,” Huerta
said. “It just makes me
super happy to see him out
there enjoying himself and
having a good time.”
Hello Grant County,
With our first snow now, it really is
beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
Christmas trees are everywhere and Grant
County is shining! The countdown has
begun. when you read this, only 16 more
days till Christmas.
This time of year we really try to focus
on one of our most favorite mottos -
“Shop Local.” Please support our local
businesses whenever you can. They
support our schools and other events year
around.
Santa will be at the Grant County
Fairgrounds on Saturday, December 11th
from 4:00 to 5:30 PM. Bring the Kids
and drive thru and see him. The county
tree lighting will happen at 5:00 PM and
the City of John Day will have kids crafts
in the Pavilion.
The Truckers’ Light Parade will take
place at 6:00 PM. A lot of effort goes into
this event every year, so be sure to come
out and support the participants as they
“Light up the Night.” We will have an
open house at the Chamber office with
fire pits, treats and hot cocoa and cider.
During this Christmas season, I realize
how fortunate I am to live in such a
beautiful place where folks help each other
when times are tough and pull together in
spite differences in points of view.
The Carrie Young Memorial and the
Tree of Giving are just two examples of
how we help each other. Both are well
supported by our county, and both help
people who live here and need a helping
hand. We appreciate all of you who work
so hard on these amazing programs.
In closing, I wish you a very Merry
Christmas and a Happy and Healthy
New Year!
Stay Well,
Tammy Bremner
Executive Director
S272723-1
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