A2
FAMILY
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, January 12, 2022
Split city council denies pool permit appeal
By BENNETT HALL
Blue Mountain Eagle
JOHN DAY — A divided
John Day City Council rejected
an appeal of the conditional use
permit for a proposed aquatic
center on Wednesday, Jan. 5.
The council voted 3-2 to
uphold the permit, which was
issued Nov. 9 by the John Day
Planning Commission. John
Morris, an outspoken critic of
the aquatic center proposal, fi led
an appeal of that decision on
Dec. 8.
Councilors David Holland,
Gregg Haberly and Paul Smith
voted for a motion to uphold
the permit, while Councilors
Heather Rookstool and Elliot
Sky voted against it. An earlier
motion by Rookstool to hold the
record open for two weeks at the
request of Morris was defeated
along identical lines.
Mayor Ron Lundbom and
Councilor Shannon Adair
recused themselves from vot-
ing because both had spoken in
favor of the pool project at the
Planning Commission meeting.
In his appeal, Morris argued
that the Planning Commission
was biased and prejudicial in
its decision to grant the permit
because he was not given “the
same opportunity to provide and
to complete his testimony” as
those who spoke in favor of the
pool project.
He expanded on his objec-
tions in 15 pages of written tes-
timony, which he and his wife,
Charlene, read into the record at
the appeal hearing.
Among other things, their
comments claimed that the coun-
cil “is spinning out of control,”
that City Manager Nick Green
“controls the city council” and
that Councilors Holland and
Shawn Dale Nebeker
September 6, 1967 ~ December 28, 2021
Shawn Dale Nebeker passed
away in Phoenix, AZ December 28,
2021, due to complications follow-
ing COVID-19. He was 54.
Shawn was born on Septem-
ber 6, 1967, in Burley, Idaho to
his parents, John Dale and Bertha
(Moore) Nebeker. He graduat-
ed from Thurston High School,
Springfield Oregon in 1985. He
worked for George’s Shop N’ Rock
in Vale Oregon during the late 90’s
and Pinal County in Casa Grande, Arizona at the time of his death.
He was a volunteer EMT for the Vale Fire and Ambulance for 11
years.
If you were blessed to know Shawn, you knew he was hilari-
ous, generous, stubborn and would do anything for anyone. His
laugh was contagious, and his heart was huge.
Shawn is survived by his sons, Harry Colton Nebeker and Kyle
Nebeker, his mother and stepfather Bert and Doug Kruse, twin
sister Shauna Phillips, sisters Lynda Reynolds, Merna Bennett
and many friends who loved him fiercely. He is preceded in death
by his father, John Dale Nebeker on November 17, 2021.
Shawn will be cremated, and his ashes spread at Duck Lake
per his request. A memorial will take place on May 14th at 10:00
a.m. at the Geiser-Pollman Park, Baker City, Oregon. All are wel-
come to attend and celebrate Shawn’s life.
S277290-1
Paid for by the family of Shawn Nebeker.
Eva Jean January
Earnest
Kidd
3, 2022
Eva Jean Earnest Kidd, 80,
of John Day, died Monday, Jan-
uary 3, 2022 at Valley View As-
sisted Living in John Day.
She is survived by her hus-
band of 51 years, Marvin Nor-
man Kidd and three children,
Norma Russell (Jamie) of Dil-
lon, MT, Dan Kidd (Jasmine)
of Mt Vernon, OR and Cynthia
Kidd (Brad) of Mt Vernon, OR.
She also has one surviving sis-
ter, Imadell Moore of California
and brother Marcus Earnest of
Arkansas.
She also celebrated the lives of her five grandchildren, sis-
ter and brother Haley Olson and Damon Olson and brothers Dan
Kidd, Jr, Trenton Kidd and Mason Kidd.
She was fortunate to live long enough to have three
great-grandchildren, Emmie Reinstra of John Day and Everett Ol-
son and Traisin Kidd of John Day, who were born in 2021.
Eva was born in Finley, Oklahoma to Forest and Sarah Earnest
and was the ninth child in a family of 11. She grew up in Chow-
chilla, California and then lived most of her life in Redding, Cali-
fornia where she raised her family. She and her husband became
traveling camp hosts for approximately 15 years and traveled
mostly to Arizona and Montana to be with various family mem-
bers. After that they lived in Idaho for a short time, before settling
in John Day for the past 15 years.
In her young years, Eva worked picking cotton in Chowchilla.
She held many fast food cook positions and worked as a lunch
lady at her children’s high school. She also served as a home
care attendant. Her favorite job was at the University of Idaho
Agricultural Experiment Station where she assisted in agricultural
experiments near Parma, Idaho for approximately five years.
She joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in
1973 and was active in many positions such as primary teacher,
stake missionary leader, and first counselor in the Relief Society.
She was a kind, generous and loving wife, mother and grand-
mother. She was forthright and compassionate when it came to
the affairs of her family and friends. She was a natural born prank-
ster and jokester and loved pulling a fast one when she had the
opportunity. She also loved to read, work crossword puzzles and
do various crafts.
She had a special place in her heart for dogs and cats and over
the years, she spoiled and cared greatly for all the family pets.
She loved traveling the backroads with her husband with a cold
Pepsi and peanuts and she was able to visit quite a few states and
Mexico in her lifetime.
She will be greatly missed by all who loved her.
A private ceremony with her immediate family will take place
this week. Paid for by the family of Eva Kidd.
S277551-1
Sky had “demonstrated a lack of
integrity, morals and ethics” by
their actions in regard to the pool
project.
“This entire process is a cha-
rade, a farce,” their testimony
stated in part. “It is a deceit-
ful, fraudulent way of doing
business.”
John Morris concluded
by asking the council to hold
the record open for 10 days to
allow additional testimony to be
submitted.
At the suggestion of City
Attorney Garrett Chrostek,
Rookstool made a motion that
the record be held open for seven
days to allow additional testi-
mony and another seven days to
allow Morris, the appellant, to
respond.
“I need more time, the com-
munity needs more time — I just
think we’re jumping the gun,”
Rookstool said.
“I want to make sure that I do
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ther. But they both said the city
needs to fi nd a way to have more
public involvement in the deci-
sion-making process.
The proposed aquatic cen-
ter would replace the old Glea-
son Pool, located in a city park
adjacent to the Kam Wah Chung
State Historic Site. That pool,
which opened in 1958, has been
closed the last two seasons due to
COVID-19 concerns and signifi -
cant deferred maintenance issues.
The City Council recently
approved the sale of Gleason
Park, where the pool is located, to
the Oregon Parks and Recreation
Department. The state is planning
a $4.5 million expansion of the
Kam Wah Chung Historic Site
on the park property.
Plans for the new aquatic cen-
ter call for a six-lane, 25-yard
competitive pool with spectator
seating and an 8,000-square-foot
structure to house locker rooms,
a lobby and offi ce space for parks
and recreation staff .
The project has an estimated
price tag of $6 million, but the
city has already obtained $2 mil-
lion in state funding and is con-
sidering up to $1 million more in
cash and in-kind contributions for
site improvements, including the
money from the sale of the Glea-
son Park property. The city also
plans to cover utility costs for the
new pool.
The parks and rec district still
needs to raise $3 million to $4
million to cover design and con-
struction of the aquatic center.
The district plans to put a bond
measure on the ballot next
year for either the May or the
November election.
If voters in the John Day
and Canyon City area (the
area covered by the district)
approve the bond measure,
the new aquatic center could
open as soon as the summer
of 2023.
Area hospital welcomes fi rst baby of 2022
By BENNETT HALL
Blue Mountain Eagle
JOHN DAY — It’s a girl!
Mykaila Giff ord, the fi rst baby born
in Grant County in 2022, is the daughter
of Amanda Bogen and her fi ancé, Tylor
Giff ord.
She arrived at 12:04 p.m. on Wednes-
day, Jan. 5, at Blue Mountain Hospital,
weighing 5 pounds, 15 ounces and mea-
suring 18¾ inches at birth.
Mykaila was born about three weeks
early due to a complication, “but I think
we’ve got it squared away now,” said her
mother.
Other than the birth itself, the hardest
part of the process might have been set-
tling on a name.
“The naming of her was a nightmare,”
Bogen said. “We couldn’t agree on any-
thing until the last second.”
Contributed Photo
Tylor Giff ord and Amanda Bogen pose
with daughter Mykaila Giff ord at Blue
Mountain Hospital in John Day.
The newborn has three older siblings
waiting to welcome her home – sister Sky-
lar, 13; brother Zerik, 10; and sister Grayce,
2 – although it sounds like the reception
might be a little one-sided at fi rst.
“Zerik is not very happy about having
another sister,” Bogen said. “But the girls
– the girls are real excited.”
Being the county’s fi rst baby of the
year comes with some perks: Mykaila and
her parents were presented with a gift bas-
ket at the hospital. The goodies included
$100 worth of Grant County Greenbacks
from the Grant County Chamber of Com-
merce, a $50 gift card from 1188 Brew-
ing Co., a newborn photo session valued
at $250 from Meaghan Leigh Photogra-
phy, a welcome baby bag from Families
First, toys from the Blue Mountain Hos-
pital Auxiliary and a baby tub with dia-
pers, wipes and accessories from Ches-
ter’s Thriftway.
Bogen said she was looking forward to
being able to bring her new baby home.
What’s on the agenda?
“A lot of nothing,” Bogen said. “Just
spend time with the babes.”
Law makes remote access to meetings permanent
By APRIL EHRLICH
Oregon Public Broadcasting
SALEM — What was once
a solution during the pandemic
— allowing people to participate
in public meetings remotely to
accommodate COVID-19 health
guidelines — is now state law.
House Bill 2560, passed by
Wilma Marie (McKern) Bauer
March 13, 1927 ~ January 5, 2022
Wilma Marie (McKern) Bau-
er, age 94, of Mt. Vernon passed
away January 5, 2022, in Prairie
City, Oregon. A memorial ser-
vice will be held at 11:00 am on
Thursday, January 13th, 2022
at the Grant County Fairgrounds
Pavilion. A potluck reception
will be held immediately fol-
lowing the service, also at the
Pavilion. A private family inter-
ment will be held at Canyon City
Cemetery prior to the Memorial
Service.
Wilma was born March
13th, 1927, at the old McKern
place outside of Mt. Vernon to Jay and Jessie McKern. She went
to school in Hermiston and in Mt. Vernon and graduated in 1945.
Wilma married Herb Bauer on August 20th, 1946, together they
had three children. She worked in various grocery stores through
out the years, in Redmond, Mt. Vernon and Long Creek. She re-
tired in 2002 after working for Chesters Thriftway for 17 years as
a checker. After her retirement she enjoyed volunteering, traveling
with groups and friends and family to various places, weekly card
games, baking and sharing her famous apple pies.
Wilma was a member of the Mt. Vernon Presbyterian Church,
the Mt. Vernon Grange, American Legion Auxiliary, the Grant
County Museum and she wrote the Senior Center News for the
Blue Mt. Eagle. She loved Grant County especially the Century
Farm property west of Mt. Vernon. Out of her 94 years she only
lived outside of Grant County for seventeen years, living one year
in Hermiston, Oregon. While in Hermiston she worked at Ordi-
nance Depot in 1945. Also, her and Herb lived in Pendleton, Ore-
gon where they resided for sixteen years. Herb worked at Wood-
pecker truck and Wilma worked at the Prowler RV Factory.
Her greatest accomplishments were being a loving wife, mom,
grandma, and great grandma. She had many friends and lived a
life of loving service.
Wilma was preceded in death by her parents, Jay, and Jes-
sie Bauer; her husband, Herb Bauer; sister, Charlyne Rutler; two
brothers, Melvin (Shorty) McKern and Merrill McKern.
Survivors include her son, Neil (Jan) Bauer of Mt. Vernon, Or-
egon; daughter, Karen (Tom) Love of Umatilla, Oregon; daughter,
Marcy (Bill) Bacon of Hermiston, Oregon; six grandchildren and
twelve great grandchildren.
Memorial contributions in her honor can be made to the Shri-
ner’s Children’s Hospital through Driskill Memorial Chapel, 241 S.
Canyon Blvd., John Day, Oregon 97845.
Paid for by the family of Wilma Bauer.
S277553-1
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my due diligence.”
But other councilors said they
saw no merit in the appeal.
“I feel that the conditions, the
criteria of the application (for
the conditional use permit) were
met,” Holland said. “I don’t see
any major reason not to do this.”
After the vote, John Day-Can-
yon City Parks and Recre-
ation District board member
Lisa Weigum invited commu-
nity members to direct any com-
ments, questions or concerns
about the proposed aquatic center
to the board.
“We appreciate the conver-
sation, we appreciate the Mor-
rises … and we understand how
important community input is in
this,” she said. “We will happily
accept comments and informa-
tion from the community at any
time.”
For their part, the Morrises
said they have not yet decided
whether to take their appeal fur-
the Oregon Legislature in the
2021 session, took eff ect Jan.
1. It requires governing bodies
to make most public meetings
remotely accessible when it’s
“reasonably possible.”
At the start of the pandemic,
governing agencies across Ore-
gon — from small city com-
missions to statewide legisla-
tive committees — transitioned
to hosting public meetings
remotely, or at least providing a
way for people to view and par-
ticipate in meetings from home.
That could change as soon as
social distancing requirements
lift, according to one of the bill’s
sponsors, Sen. Elizabeth Steiner
Hayward, D-Portland. During
a Senate committee meeting in
April, Hayward said some gov-
erning bodies in Oregon were
planning to go back to hold-
ing in-person meetings at which
people can only testify in person.
“We have people who travel
from Enterprise to Salem — a
six-hour drive — to testify for 15
minutes,” Hayward said. “That’s
not OK. We need to make it so
that they don’t have to do that
if they want to get their voices
heard.”
Oregon is among the largest
states in the country in square
mileage, ranking ninth between
Colorado and Wyoming. That
makes for some long drives
for people wanting to testify in
Salem on statewide rules and
legislation.
Tom Averette
May 24, 1951 ~ December 13, 2021
Tom Averett was 70
when he passed away
from a stroke at Legacy
Emmanuel in Portland,
December 13, 2021.
Tom was born May 24,
1951 in Baker City Ore-
gon.
He is survived by his
wife Sherry and his be-
loved dogs, Patch, Ken-
zie and Ollie. Also his
mother Rosalie Averett
of Austin Oregon, Brother Dan and his wife Karla Av-
erett, In-laws Tony & Evelyn Johns and several neph-
ews and families.
He graduated from Prairie City High School in
1969.
He was preceeded in death by his father Tom Sr,
loving grandparents, Roy and Elva Wright and Ray
and Oma Averett.
There will be a memorial service in the spring to
be announced.
Paid for by the family of Tom Averett.
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