A2
NEWS
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, July 6, 2022
Grease fi re damages Mt. Vernon
restaurant; no one injured in blaze
By STEVEN MITCHELL
Blue Mountain Eagle
MT. VERNON — Fire-
fi ghters put out a grease fi re at
a Mt. Vernon restaurant in the
early morning hours on Thurs-
day, June 30.
Grant County Sheriff Todd
McKinley said bystanders
reported smoke coming from
the Silver Spur Cafe at 150
Ingle Street around 7 a.m.,
and fi refi ghters had the blaze
put out within an hour. There
were no injuries, he said.
Chris Gibson, whose
mother, Jackie Osborne, owns
the Silver Spur, said other than
smoke damage and the odor
from a grease fi re, the blaze
did not cause any harm to the
building. However, he said the
restaurant would be closed
until further notice.
In the meantime, Gibson
thanked everyone in the com-
munity for all the support.
“There’s been tons of sup-
port with people calling,
checking in on us, and mak-
ing sure everything’s OK,” he
said. “We just really appreci-
ate that.”
Contributed Photo
Fire engines are parked in front of the Silver Spur cafe in Mt. Ver-
non on Thursday, June 30, 2022.
RV crashes and burns near Long Creek
By STEVEN MITCHELL
Blue Mountain Eagle
LONG CREEK — A moto-
rhome crashed and burned
Wednesday, June 29, on Highway
395 North after the driver rolled it
off the road.
Grant County Sheriff Todd
McKinley said the single-vehi-
cle crash was reported just before
6 p.m. near milepost 77B. The
driver, Glen Andyke, 70, and his
dog walked away with no injuries.
Contributed Photo
McKinley said speed might
An RV smolders on Highway 395 near Long Creek on have been a factor in the cause of
Wednesday, June 29, 2022, after rolling and crashing. the crash.
He said the wreck closed the
highway until approximately
9 p.m. as fi rst responders, after
extinguishing the fi re, had to drag
the wreckage to the side of the
road.
In addition to a deputy from
the Grant County Sheriff ’s Offi ce,
the Oregon Department of For-
estry, Oregon State Police, Long
Creek Fire Department and Ore-
gon Department of Transpor-
tation responded to the crash,
according to McKinley.
McKinley said he appreciated
the response from the local agen-
cies and volunteers.
MyEagleNews.com Public works has new head
By JUSTIN DAVIS
Blue Mountain Eagle
Stephen Duane Cade
July 10, 1950 ~ June 19, 2022
Stephen Duane Cade, age
71, of Kimberly passed away
June 19, 2022, with his loving
family by his side. A celebra-
tion of his life will be held July
9, 2022, at the Monument City
Park in Monument at 1:00 p.m.
Stephen was born July 10,
1950, in Albany, Oregon to
James Calvin Cade and Gertrude
Russell. He attended school
in Albany and became a Certi-
fied Welder. Not only was he a
certified welder, but Stephen also held many other occupations
such as a carpenter, mechanic, commercial fisherman, logger and
truck driver. Eventually he owned his own trucking business for
fourteen years out of Tillamook up until his retirement in 2019.
He married the love of his life Terry Neal on March 2, 1991,
in Monument, Oregon. Together they raised a beautiful family.
Stephen taught everyone he knew something useful and made a
legacy for himself and his loved ones.
He enjoyed Harley Davidsons, fishing, hunting, lounging in
the river with lawn chair, being a good neighbor, cruising on his
four-wheeler with his dog and making friends and family laugh.
He will be missed and remembered by many.
Stephen was preceded in death by his parents, James and
Gertrude; his stepfather, James Lobdell; his brother, James Cade;
stepbrother, Mike Burch.
Survivors include his loving wife, Terry Cade of Kimberly, OR;
daughter Darby Cade of Boardman, OR; daughter Tiffanie Cade of
Orange, CA; daughter Mary Gilbert of Monument, OR; son Riley
Cade of Monument, OR; brother Kenny Cade of Fort Rock, OR;
sister Kathy Prantl of Scio, OR; sister Cindy Hogan of McFarland,
OR; sister Linda Grell of Tangent, OR; stepbrother Ron Burch of
Monmouth, OR; stepbrother Gary Burch of N. Albany, OR.
To leave an online condolence for his family, please visit www.
driskillmemorialchapel.com.
Paid for by the family of Stephen Cade.
ARE YOU A
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JOHN DAY — The John
Day Public Works Depart-
ment is welcoming a new
director following the retire-
ment of former head Monte
Legg. Legg retired on Thurs-
day, June 30, following 21
years of employment with
the city of John Day.
The retirement makes
way for Casey Myers to
take the role of public works
director. Myers has been
employed by the city of
John Day for 14 years, hav-
ing previously served as the
head of the water treatment
facility and foreman of pub-
lic works prior to his cur-
rent role. Myers has spent
the last seven months train-
ing with Legg in preparation
for becoming the head of the
Public Works Department.
“He was head foreman
for public works between
November 2021 and now.
During that seven months he
was receiving trining from
Monte on how to take over
the mantle of public works
director. He’s really been
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leading the crew solidly for
the past two months under
Monte’s direction,” John
Day City Manager Corum
Ketchum said.
Ketchum said there was
never really an eff ort to look
outside the department to fi nd
a new director once Legg had
decided to retire.
“We like to promote from
within where possible in the
city,” he said. “It encourages
loyalty and retains institu-
tional knowledge, which is
something we really value.”
Ketchum also said that
Myers’ previous role as
foreman helped prepare him
to transition into the top job.
“Putting him in as fore-
man seven months ago gave
him that gradual ramp-up in
responsibility that let him
gain the trust of his crews and
understand their roles and
their skill sets and not com-
pletely dump him off in the
deep end as the city has been
doing all these capital outlay
projects,” Ketchum said.
Myers officially began
his duties as the public
works director on Friday,
July 1.
LOCAL BRIEFING
Malheur fi re danger levels rise
JOHN DAY — Fire danger levels have been increased on the
Malheur National Forest, the agency announced.
The Malheur National Forest has raised the fi re danger rating to
high for the Burns Interagency Fire Zone eff ective Thursday, June
30.
The change aff ects the southern portion of the Malheur National
Forest managed by the Emigrant Creek Ranger District, as well as
the Bureau of land Management’s Burns District.
Meanwhile, the Blue Mountain and Prairie City ranger districts
raised their fi re danger levels to moderate as of Wednesday, June 29.
There are no public use restrictions or industrial fi re protection
level changes at this time.
At “high” fi re danger levels, fi ne dead fuels ignite readily and
fi res can spread quickly. Fires may become serious and diffi cult to
control unless hit hard and fast, the agency said in a news release.
“Moderate” fi re danger means that fi res can start from most acci-
dental causes and fi res that start in grassy areas can spread quickly,
especially on windy days. This year’s cool, wet spring has led to a
signifi cant increase in cheatgrass, creating an above-average poten-
tial for grass-driven wildfi res, the agency noted.
Eric Miller, the deputy fi re staff offi cer for the Malheur National
Forest, asks forest visitors to keep campfi res confi ned to fi re rings
and make sure they’re fully extinguished before leaving camp.
Miller also reminds visitors that fi reworks are prohibited on all
national forest lands.
OTEC to test power poles
BAKER CITY — The Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative has
begun testing utility poles as part of an annual eff ort to ensure
the poles are sound, as mandated by the Oregon Public Utility
Commission.
OTEC has contracted with National Wood Testing to implement
the program throughout the coop’s service territory. Crews were
scheduled to start work in mid-June in Baker and Union counties,
then move to Grant and Harney counties over the next few months.
“Testing requires digging around our power poles, and this
means that in some instances National Wood Treating employees
will be working in OTEC member-owners’ yards and maybe even
driving four-wheelers across open fi elds testing each power pole,”
said Joe Hathaway, OTEC’s communications manager.
“OTEC and our contractor will both be doing their very best
to make contact with each property owner,” he added. “But if a
rancher is out in the fi elds or a family isn’t home for one reason
or another, we are just wanting to give a heads-up that they will be
working in the area.”
OTEC’s power pole testing program calls for each pole to be
inspected and treated on a 10-year cycle. Approximately 10 percent
of the system is inspected each year to identify any poles that need
to be replaced and to extend the lives of those poles that remain in
service. OTEC maintains more than 44,000 poles, so around 4,400
poles will be tested this summer.
Members who have questions or concerns can call OTEC at
541-523-3616.
Beeman Junkins trail closure
PENDLETON — An unsafe bridge has prompted the tempo-
rary closure of a section of the Beeman Junkins Trail in the North
Fork John Day Ranger District of the Umatilla National Forest, the
agency announced.
Bridge supports at a crossing of Desolation Creek have deterio-
rated, making the bridge unstable.
Until further notice, the Beeman Junkins Trail No. 3015 will be
closed from the Welch Creek Trailhead off Forest Service Road 10
to its junction with FSR 427-3231. Forest Service offi cials are work-
ing to create a safe crossing and hope to reopen the trail this summer.
Blue Mountain Eagle
DEATH NOTICES
Timothy Leland Bailey
Timothy Leland Bailey, 76, of John Day passed away on June
30 at his home. No services are planned at this time. To off er online
condolences to his family, visit www.driskillmemorialchapel.com.
Thomas Allen Murphy Sr.
Thomas Allen Murphy Sr., 73, of Monument passed away on
June 30 at Valley View Senior Living in John Day. His family has
not scheduled a memorial service at this time. To off er online con-
dolences to his family, visit www.driskillmemorialchapel.com.
ANNIVERSARIES
Kelly and Tammy Workman
Kelly and Tammy Workman of Mt. Vernon
will celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary on
July 11.
He is the operations manager for radio station KJDY,
and she is the office manager for the Grant County Road
Department.
NOTICE
HOME SCHOOL PARENTS
Grant ESD will offer assessment testing for home school students
finishing grades 3,5,8, and 10. Cost is $20.00 per student.
Payment is due at the time of testing. Register your student for
assessment testing by calling Jo Sproul, 541-575-1349 on or
before July 26, 2022.
Home school students participating in any
OSAA activity through their local school district
must be tested before the 15th of August
prior to participation.
Testing Dates:
July 27, 2022 • July 28, 2022 • 8am to 2pm
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Last Week’s Temps
John Day ...........................................................HI/LO
Wednesday ..................................................... 79/49
Thursday .......................................................... 82/51
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Saturday .......................................................... 85/53
Sunday ............................................................. 79/53
Monday............................................................ 72/48
Tuesday ........................................................... 77/50
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