A6
SENIORS
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, March 16, 2022
Massive Oregon solar project OK’d
By MATEUSZ PERKOWSKI
Capital Press
SALEM — A solar facil-
ity planned for 3,900 acres in a
south-central Oregon farm zone
has won regulatory approval
despite objections that it will
interfere with surrounding
agriculture.
The state’s Energy Facility
Siting Council has voted unan-
imously to clear the Obsidian
Solar Center for construction
near Christmas Valley, roughly
four years after the project was
initially proposed.
The decision comes after
a state hearing officer rejected
arguments by neighboring land-
owners that the solar facility
will impermissibly disrupt farm
operations due to fugitive dust,
invasive weeds and displaced
wildlife such as elk and rodents.
“The protestants failed to
establish the proposed facility,
as conditioned, would seriously
interfere with accepted farming
practices or that the facility will
materially alter the overall land
use patterns in the area,” said
Jesse Ratcliffe, a state govern-
ment natural resources attorney.
Opponents hadn’t proven
that mitigation measures
planned by the solar developer
to address such problems would
fail, he said. “Essentially, the
hearing officer concluded that
the protestants hadn’t provided
evidence that the impacts they
alleged were likely to occur.”
Revegetation and erosion
control measures will ensure
the solar facility meets soil pro-
tection standards, while plans
to mitigate its impacts on wild-
life habitat are also sufficient,
according to regulators.
The solar facility doesn’t
diminish living standards, pri-
vate property values or busi-
ness interests, according to
regulators, and won’t exceed
the capacity of public utili-
ties, roads and local emergency
services.
The project will be limited
to extracting 5,000 gallons of
water per day from any wells
located on the property. Since
it was first proposed, the proj-
ect’s size has been scaled back
from about 6,000 acres to
3,900 acres.
“That was to avoid impacts
to sensitive resources,” said
Kellen Tardaewether, senior
siting analyst with the Oregon
Department of Energy.
The solar developer was
also permitted to take an excep-
tion from the statewide land
use goal of farmland preserva-
tion, though some EFSC mem-
bers said future projects should
better support such a decision.
“I really think that appli-
cants need to do more in the
future,” said Hanley Jenkins,
an EFSC member and for-
mer county planning director.
“There need to be reasons to
do that other than, ‘Gee, there
are going to be economic ben-
efits to the community.’ Any
development is going to pro-
vide some additional financial
benefit.”
GRANT COUNTY SENIORS
John Day
Seniors
Elsie Huskey
Goodness, it is daylight
saving time already. My
office clock never got set
back all winter so now it has
the right time. It was nice
today for the daylight lasting
longer.
My sisters came last week
and surprised me with a one-
day visit. We had a great
time. We laughed, joked with
each other, talked a lot as we
don’t see each other often, so
we had a good catching-up
time together.
The other day I heard
talk that we are still hoping
to open for in-house dining
on April 4. Every time I go
in the building, some things
are changed in preparation.
Keep that date in mind and
we will be sure to let you
know if it is really happen-
ing like that. It feels good
to know that all the air in
the building is clean and is
being cleaned seven times
every hour.
The pokeno players are
enjoying time together and
playing pokeno. We do have
room for more players, if
you are interested in hav-
ing a good time away from
home for a couple hours on
Friday from 1 to 3 or 3:30
at the senior center. Call
541-792-0202 if you would
be interested in know-
ing more about the pokeno
game.
Shay and Kim are mak-
ing the special Irish meal
on Monday so that the
folks we deliver meals to
can have it fresh instead of
frozen to reheat on Thurs-
day, as we only deliver on
Monday.
Lunch on Monday will
consist of the famous Irish-
style meal. Corned beef,
scalloped potatoes, red cab-
bage, relish tray and peanut
butter cookies. Yum yum
yum.
Then on Thursday, the
real St. Patrick’s Day, lunch
will be baked chicken, rice,
copper penny salad (which
I have never heard of), and
whoopie pie for dessert.
Thanks, Shay and Kim, for
food variety.
The Carrie Young Memo-
rial sponsored our meal for
Thursday. Thank you so
much. Without sponsors
and volunteers we could
not make the senior center
successful. The volunteer
drivers this week are Peggy
Molnar, Jeanette Julsrud,
Joyce Atchley, and Patty
Davis. Thank you, ladies,
for your dedication to this
cause.
To reserve your lunch,
call
541-575-1825
by
10 a.m. or so Mondays
and Fridays and pick it up
between 11:30 a.m. and
noon. The suggested dona-
tion is $5 for 60 years of age
and older and $6 for under
60 years of age.
2nd Timothy 1:7 For God
hath not given us the spirit
of fear; but of power, and of
love and a sound mind.
Monument
Seniors
Soo Yukawa
Our cooks Terry Cade and
Carrie Jewell prepared for us
some Asian food. We had sweet
and sour chicken with steamed
rice, a fresh green salad, and
cherry fruit tart for our dessert.
I had to get a second helping for
I was extra hungry. We thank
them for their hard work and
appreciate our meals.
Our greeters at the table were
Kristi Guimont, Bob Cockrell,
and Jan Ensign. Kristi and Bob
collected and counted up the
money. Kristi led us in the flag
salute and made the announce-
ments. Yours truly prayed the
blessing over the meal.
The Monument School is
selling citrus fruit right now, so
if you would like to order and
support the students, please
give them a call. Don’t forget
that bingo and potluck dinner is
held every last Saturday of the
month. Bingo starts at 4 p.m.
We had our friends from
Spray join us for lunch. We can
help support their town. They
have their senior lunch on Thurs-
days at the Grange in Spray. The
winner of the free meal ticket
was Christian Yukawa.
I am so grateful that the Lord
gave us some more snow. It
came and melted away quickly,
but everything counts, right?
Let us continue to lift up prayers
for more moisture, and may the
Lord give us lots of spring rains!
After I fed little Billy (I
thought it was befitting of him),
I noticed that his mouth was
really cold, his body was cold,
and he kept crying. I don’t think
Yuki licked him dry enough. I
decided to use the blow dryer
on him and dry Billy off.
I wrapped him up in a towel
and proceeded to dry him with
the blow dryer. He stopped cry-
ing and I just kept rubbing him
all over, turning him over to dry
him off, and I could tell he was
just loving it. He did not pro-
test or squirm.I then heated up
the towel that he was in with
the dryer and wrapped him up.
He fell asleep, and I laid him
down in front of the stove.
I then went down to the goat
shed and milked Yuki while she
ate some grain. I brought the
milk back up and fed little Billy.
Within a couple of hours, he
was up and moving around. No
more funny position of his head,
no more glazed look in his eyes,
and no more look of death!
Scotty was cute, but I have to
say, Billy is way cuter! He has
the most adorable face. I think
the good Lord made human
babies and animal babies irresist-
ibly cute so that we would love
them. I think for animals, so that
we would take pity on them and
take care of them. Leah got a
new companion, Billy. That was,
until a couple days later, I went
down to the goat pen and there
were two sets of twins that were
born on the same day. Oy! I had
baby goats up to my ears.
2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless
the foundation of God standeth
sure, having this seal. The Lord
knoweth them who are His.
And, let everyone who nameth
the name of Christ depart from
iniquity.
Prairie City
Seniors
Rose Coombs
We live in the “Temperate
Zone” of weather, you know.
That is why we can have snow in
the morning and robins searching
in the green grass in the afternoon
of the same day. Even heard the
“cooey” birds this week. That’s a
sure sign that spring is coming!
The newspapers have some
info on the grants that are com-
ing to Grant County. We are
waiting with bated breath for an
official notification so the con-
tractor can order materials. Our
request was for new flooring,
new roofing, and new counter-
tops. Along with the new sid-
ing, the ol’ Hall will really be up
to snuff soon! (Isn’t that a queer
saying — up-to-snuff? Wonder
how that got started?)
Anyhow, on to the news of
the day — our meal today was
a slice of ham, macaroni and
cheese, peas, that delicious cot-
tage cheese/fruit/Jell-O salad,
and cherry pie for dessert.
Thanks to Pam W. and Pam G.
for a delicious meal.
Pam H. was at her place
at the reception desk. Deliv-
erers Gwynne, Mary, Carlos,
Carla, Ginger, and Tom did their
respective duties in order that all
the meals got to where they were
supposed to go. Thanks to all.
Our sponsor for today’s meal
was Joel Coombs General Con-
tractor. And he actually was pres-
ent to get a meal. If you are a
sponsor, you can come, too. We
would be very happy to have
you. And in April, you can come
in and sit down with us at a table
and we can eat TOGETHER!
Without masks! PTL
As I was thinking about all
the upgrades that have been
made and are being contem-
plated for the future in our cen-
ter, I was reminded of all the
presidents that have had a part in
keeping the center going for the
last 50 years. One of them was
my father, who along with Der-
rol’s dad, secured the funding
that made the construction of the
present kitchen and restrooms
possible. Bruce Kaufman and
Joe Phippen were the men who
made the sale of the Grange to
the seniors possible. Frances
Preston secured the grant to put
in the new handicapped ramp at
the back door. And Ginger Ken-
dall has been our guiding light
the last five years through lots of
changes in personnel and build-
ing upgrades. I thank each of
them for all their hard work.
I see by the minutes of the
last board meeting that the yard
sale is set for May 13 and 14 here
at the hall. So mark that on your
calendars. Some people put it on
their phone, others in a planner,
but if I want to see it and remem-
ber it is coming, it has to be on
the calendar. The one by the
phone and the one in the bath-
room and the one in the bedroom
all receive a notation. If you
write it down three times, you’ll
remember, I hope. See you there.
Hebrews 3:4 For every
house is built by someone, but
God is the builder of every-
thing. Ephesians 2:22
And in Him you too are
being built together to become
a dwelling in which God lives
by His Spirit.
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