A6
SENIORS & STATE
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, March 2, 2022
Superintendents react to Senate Bill 1521
By ALEX WITTWER
EO Media Group
EASTERN OREGON — The
Oregon bill that would protect
school superintendents from firings
is making its way through the reg-
ular session, passing in the Oregon
Senate 16-7 on Feb. 10.
Senate Bill 1521, which would
protect
superintendents
from
no-cause dismissal, was brought
about by recent high-profile superin-
tendent firings. The bill itself explic-
itly prohibits firing superintendents
who are pressured by a school board
to go against state laws and man-
dates, such as what happened to for-
mer Adrian School District Superin-
tendent Kevin Purnell last August.
The Senate bill is sponsored by
the Senate Interim Committee on
Education, and no individual sen-
ator’s name was attached to the
legislation.
Testimony attached to the bill
showed a large amount of opposi-
tion to the legislation, mostly from
concerned parents arguing that the
bill would diminish local control of
schools.
“I’m certainly a local control sup-
porter, but then at the same time we
don’t want superintendents that are
just being let go because they won’t
break the law,” said Morrow County
School District Superintendent Dirk
Dirksen. “It’s kind of a Catch-22 if
you want to look at it from a local
control perspective.”
The Albany, Adrian and Newberg
school districts fired their superinten-
dents last year. The Newberg School
Board drew ire for its banning of pride
and Black Lives Matter symbols in
the classroom — and then fired its
superintendent, Joe Morelock, for
not enforcing the ban. Adrian’s for-
mer superintendent, Purnell, was dis-
missed in part because he would not
stand rogue against statewide mask
and vaccination mandates.
School boards asking superinten-
dents to disregard or flout state laws
and mandates puts them in a tough
position, according to Grant County
Education Service District Superin-
tendent Robert Waltenburg.
“We’ve had — occasionally, but
not very often — superintendents
being asked to act in a way that’s con-
trary to legislation,” he said. “That
puts them in a bad place. When your
boss is asking you to do something
that is illegal, what is your recourse?”
Dirksen noted that the new leg-
islation would offer stability for
schools, and that would be a boon for
students.
“It just is another method for
stability, and as we’ve experienced
this COVID-19 dilemma, one of
the most difficult parts is the lack
of stability,” Dirksen said. “That’s
just not good for students. I see this
as a step in the right direction in
regards to staff stability. (Staff sta-
bility) is very important to support-
ing students, and that’s what I see as
advantageous.”
GRANT COUNTY SENIORS
John Day
Seniors
Elsie Huskey
We had some fabulous
meatloaf with mashed potatoes
and gravy, dinner rolls, roasted
carrots, and chocolate cake
with glazed cherries. Yum-
mers. Oh yes, it was delicious.
We thank our cooks Terry Cade
and Carrie Jewell for making
such a wonderful meal for us.
I don’t think I could ever be a
vegetarian, no way.
Our greeters at the table
were Kristi Guimont and
Bob Cockrell. Kristi led us
in the flag salute, made the
announcements and filled out
the papaerwork. Kristi and
Bob collected and counted up
the money. Yours truly prayed
the blessing over the meal.
We thank our volunteers for
their service.
We had our friends from
Spray join us for lunch. It’s
nice to have them over and
fellowship with them, enjoy-
ing our lunch together. Ron
Odette from Long Creek was
the winner of the free meal
ticket.
I have much to tell ya’ll
about my goats. A lot has hap-
pened since the week before!
Frita had triplets and I had
to take the female. She has
really long legs and one of
her hind legs was weak and
bent funny. I figured her two
brothers would push her off
and she would starve. I named
her Leah. She is a dark choco-
late with white spots and she
also has blue eyes.
Leah is a cutie. Unlike
Belle, she likes to be cuddled
and likes to sit on my lap. She
is also a true minigoat. She is
in the house and in a box. She
sleeps most of the day away.
She is getting more alert every
day and her back, weak leg is
getting stronger and is no lon-
ger bending wrong. I take her
to the goat pen and let her play
with her brothers.
So, I was correct in my
assumption of Marianne. She
was pregnant. She decided
to go into labor on Saturday
morning and she was having
a hard time pushing. I saw the
feet. I sat near her in the back
of the shed and waited just in
case she needed assistance.
Well, after a few hours and it
was around noon, I decided
that I would go up to the house
and eat a quick bite and I also
had to feed Leah.
After the hasty lunch and
feeding of Leah, I quickly
made my way back to Mar-
ianne in the goat shed.
Wouldn’t you know it, while
I was gone, she had had the
baby and was almost done
licking it dry! Really? Man,
I missed it by that much! Ha.
Marianne was huge and so
I decided that I was going to
stay put until she had the next
one. I must have sat there
for like five hours! She kept
moaning every so often and I
figured she was close.
At 7 p.m., I gave up. I
decided that waiting in the
cold was for the birds. I fig-
ured I will just come back
early the next morning to see
how many more she would
have. It was super cold. To be
continued…
Proverbs 10:2 Treasures of
wickedness profit nothing, but
righteousness delivereth from
death.
Monument
Seniors
Soo Yukawa
So, if you looked at the
menu for today, the entree was
listed as Hobo Dinner. Some
might have been put off by that
designation, but let me tell you,
it was a great meal! If that’s
what hoboes eat, bring it on!
Head cook Pam and assis-
tant cook Pam started with a
few onions and some more
potatoes in the bottom of the
pan, then added carrots around
a big chunk of hamburger in
the middle of the pan. It was
delicious!
To go along with it was a
fruit cup and Jell-O and our
birthday cake supplied by
Driskill Memorial Chapel, our
sponsor for the day. A most
satisfying and filling meal.
Thank you, ladies. You did
good!
And yes, you did read
that right. Our cooks are both
named Pam… and along with
our faithful volunteer at the
registration desk who is also
named Pam, we have a genu-
ine “Pam-demic” here! We are
very happy to have Pam Gan-
gler join the team at our cen-
ter as the new assistant cook.
She is very qualified for the
position, and we hope she gets
to stay a long time. There is
another Pam who volunteers
now and then, and that is when
things really get interesting
when you call out “Pam.”
Speaking of interesting…
we had quite an experience.
On Sunday, Derrol was flown
to Bend to the heart section at
St. Charles after experienc-
ing some chest pain. He spent
from midnight Sunday until
10 a.m. Wednesday getting all
kinds of tests. Final diagno-
sis was angina. Prescription?
Don’t work so hard.
Therefore, I missed being
at the center for the meal
delivery, but those who came
included Carlos, Carla, Arlene,
Mary, Ginger and Del. There
may have been others, and if
I missed you, thank you, too.
Plans are moving forward! It
is time to get things back to
normal, right?
To move your thinking on
to more normal ideas: The
stores have taken delivery of
this year’s supply of garden
seeds! I type this while the
snow is falling… but that’s
OK ‘cause we need the snow
to make the garden grow! And
since we’ve moved on through
two months of winter, we of
the SAD affliction are start-
ing to perk up. Only one more
month till spring! A couple of
weeks ago, when it was really
nice outside, one “damdelion”
thought it should show its col-
ors. Then it got cold again,
and so it closed up to wait for
another warm spell.
James 5:7-8 Be patient,
then, brothers, until the Lord’s
coming. See how the farmer
waits for the land to yield its
valuable crop and how patient
he is for the autumn and spring
rains. You too, be patient and
stand firm, because the Lord’s
coming is near.
Prairie City
Seniors
Rose Coombs
Progress is continuing at
the John Day Senior Cen-
ter. Plans are being made to
improve some of the landscap-
ing around the main entrance.
No dates yet.
When several or many peo-
ple are involved, it takes time
to coordinate to make things
happen. The flooring was piled
up in the center of the audito-
rium when I was there Thurs-
day to pick up my meals.
A little bird told me that
the suggested date for reopen-
ing for congregate dining was
April 4. Nothing set in stone,
though, but we are working
towards that date. Watch this
space in the coming weeks for
more details.
Speaking of reopening, we
have need for more volunteers
for a couple hours each week.
I sure have enjoyed my time
as a volunteer for the last 14
years in different areas. I feel
like a jack of all trades now as
I have been involved in sev-
eral aspects of our center.
Last Thursday was the first
time I ever dined on fish tacos.
Not too bad, just not my favor-
ite food.
The oatmeal cookie with
raisins sure did put my mouth
in awe. Great flavor! Thanks,
Kim.
Lunch on Thursday, March
3, will be: sausage and pepper
hoagie, tater tots, cheeseburger
soup and birthday cake. Mon-
day, March 7, lunch will be
sesame chicken and noodles,
fruit cup and banana pudding,
YUMM! To order your to-go
lunch/es: 541-575-1825 by
10 a.m. and pick up between
11:30 and noon at the front
door entrance. Thanks for sup-
porting the senior center.
The sponsor for our Thurs-
day meal is Driskill Memorial
Chapel. Thank you, Driskills,
for supporting our center with
birthday cakes each month
and for sponsoring our meal.
Our volunteer drivers for
Monday’s deliveries for two
meals each stop are: Peggy
Molnar, Jeanette Julsrud,
Joyce Atchley, Patty Davis.
Thanks, ladies, for your time
and service.
Proverbs 16:9 A man’s
heart deviseth his way: but the
LORD directeth his steps.
MT. VERNON
PRESBYTERIAN
Community Church
SUNDAY SERVICE..............9 am
SUNDAY SERVICE ...........9 am
541-932-4800
EVERYONE WELCOME
St. Thomas
Episcopal
Church
Join us on Facebook
live Sunday 10am
Like us on Facebook!
Redeemer
Lutheran Church
Come Worship with us at
Grace Chapel (EMC )
154 E. Williams St.
Prairie City, Oregon
541 820-4437
Pastor Robert Perkins
Sunday School (all ages)
9:30-10:30
Sunday Worship
10:45-12:00
John Day Valley
Mennonite
Church
Meeting every Sunday
at Mt. Vernon Grange Hall
Sunday School ...............................9:30 a.m.
Sunday Morning Worship ............10:50 a.m.
Pastor Leland Smucker
Everyone Welcome • 541-932-2861
2 Corinthians 5:17
Every Sunday in the L.C.
Community Center
(Corner of Second & Allen)
Contact Pastor Ed Studtmann at
541-421-3888 • Begins at 4:00pm
JOHN DAY
UNITED
METHODIST
CHURCH
Sunday Worship • 9AM
(541) 575-1326
johndayUMC@gmail.com
126 NW Canton, John Day
Food Pantry Friday 3-4PM
Like us on Facebook!
24/7 Inspirational Christian
Broadcasting
Tune into KSPL 98.1 FM
For more information,
call 541 620-0340
CHURCH OF THE
NAZARENE
Sunday School .......................... 9:30 am
Sunday Worship Service......... 10:45 am
Sunday Evening Service ...........6:00 pm
Children & Teen Activities
SMALL GROUPS CALL FOR MORE INFO
627 SE Hillcrest, John Day
59357 Hwy 26 Mt. Vernon
1 st Sunday Worship/Communion ..................10am
3 rd Sunday Worship/Communion/Potluck ...4:30pm
2 nd , 4 th & 5 th Sunday Worship .........................10am
Sunday Bible Study .....................................8:45am
Celebration of Worship
For information: 541-575-2348
Midweek Service
FIRST CHRISTIAN
CHURCH
Sunday School ..................... 9:45 am
Sunday Worship ...................... 11 am
Fox Community Church ............. 3 pm
Sunday Evening Bible Talk ......... 6 pm
Saturday Men’s Study ............... 6 pm
Weekdays: Sonshine Christian School
Full Gospel- Come Grow With Us
Pastor Randy Johnson
521 E. Main • John Day • 541-575-1895
www.johndaynazarene.com
541-575-1202 Church
311 NE Dayton St, John Day
Pastor Al Altnow
Sundays 5:30pm
Youth: 0-6th Grade
Thursdays 6:30pm
Youth: 0-6th Grade
Jr./Sr. High
Youth Connection
Wednesdays at 6:30pm
Overcomer’s Outreach
Mondays at 6pm at
LWCC
A Christ-Centered, 12-Step
Recovery Support Group
Pastor Sharon Miller
541-932-4910
www.livingwordcc.com
S283670-1