A2
NEWS
Blue Mountain Eagle
CyberMill comes to Prairie City
By TONY CHIOTTI
Blue Mountain Eagle
PRAIRIE CITY — It’s
hard to miss the newest loca-
tion of Grant County Cyber-
Mill, with its intense lemon
yellow fascia and modern
logos situated among the sun-
bleached wooden facades and
wagon wheels that line Front
Street in Prairie City. In a
storefront that has been vacant
for several years, there is now
fresh paint, a gaggle of brand
new computers and the mak-
ings of a very cozy meeting
space.
The CyberMill will offi -
cially open to the public on
Monday, Oct. 17, with an
Tony Chiotti/Blue Mountain Eagle
extended open house, running
Monday and Tuesday from Grant County CyberMill board member Didgette McCracken shows a visitor around the nonprofi t’s
4-7 p.m. Residents and curi- new location in Prairie City.
ous passers-by can stop by
119 Front St. to see the facil-
mat and a coat rack. You learn
ities, meet the board members,
about things as simple as rugs
enjoy food and drink from
because rugs absorb sound.
the neighboring El Cocin-
You learn about things as sim-
ero restaurant, and sign up to
ple as a recycle bin for cans
become a member.
and (having an) outdoor gar-
This will be the second
bage can and a picnic table.
location for the Grant County
These are all things we did
CyberMill project, an inde-
after we saw that use and and
pendent nonprofi t established
took people’s input.”
to provide computer access,
Observing, listening and
high-speed internet, a wel-
adapting are a design philoso-
coming public meeting space
phy of the CyberMill project.
and a sense of community in
For example, after seeing how
Tony Chiotti/Blue Mountain Eagle
Grant County. The fi rst Cyber-
many members of the Seneca
Mill opened in Seneca in The Grant County CyberMill’s new location opens on Monday, location were using the tele-
November of last year, and Oct. 17, at 119 Front St. in Prairie City.
conference room to access
there are plans for additional
distant medical and counsel-
sites around the county. But board of four volunteer mem-
The keypad entry allows ing appointments, the board
for now all the focus is on get- bers plus two part-time staff : a the board to know who is went back and added more
ting this place in shape to open “technology guru” to keep all using the space and how it robust soundproofi ng to the
the machines up and running, is being used. “We know all room to ensure privacy. And
the doors.
Membership means you and a local cleaning person to those demographics, which is that lesson carried forward to
will get a keypad code that look after the space.
phenomenal for us, because the design of the teleconfer-
allows access to the space
By keeping the space that helps us tell our story,” ence room in Prairie City.
from 5 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., use self-service, the budget is kept McCracken explained. The
McCracken
explained
of the public computers and lean, down basically to the goal is to keep the member- some of the old-school out-
meeting space, plus no-cost rent, utilities and a bit to cover ship free by using those demo- reach eff orts that are necessary
printing of up to 10 pages each upkeep on the computers. The graphics to demonstrate the when specifi cally trying to
month and the ability to sign total operating budget for the positive impact the project has reach people without internet
up to use the meeting and tele- year is anticipated to be close on the local economy and res- access. “We try to get the word
conference room. All of this is to $20,000, although some idents, hopefully turning that out as best we can, whether it’s
free of charge and open to all. expenses such as heating are into ongoing fi nancial support locally at a minimart or on the
On Monday, Oct. 10, board unknowable until they’ve seen from the community.
radio station,” she said. “We
member Didgette McCracken what it takes in a year of real-
Traveling workers can stay put fl iers at bed and breakfasts
was busy piecing together a world operation.
connected with home; local and hotels and at the Seneca
coff ee table between apply-
The
Blue
Mountain residents without access to and Prairie City RV parks.
ing coats of paint on the con- Masonic Lodge has commit- broadband can schedule distant
“I’ve watched people in
ference room door. One week ted to funding the fi rst year medical visits with specialists; Seneca that don’t know each
out from the grand opening at the Prairie City location, local veterans groups can hold other come into the Cyber-
and there were tools and paint and a combination of grants meetings. McCracken said the Mill,” McCracken added.
cans scattered around the including funds from the city board has been surprised by all “One is maybe on a stand-
space, staged in empty boxes of Prairie City, the Prairie City the ways the Seneca space has alone computer and one of
that recently carried fl at-pack School District, the Round- been utilized, and that they are them in the corner on a laptop,
furniture. The photo mural house Foundation, the Ford excited to see how it plays out and pretty soon you’ll notice
and keypad should be coming Family Foundation and North- in Prairie City.
they’re all conversing and just
by Wednesday, Oct. 12. The west Farm Credit Services
“We knew we needed to be getting to know each other.
copier was somewhere, hope- covered the startup costs. The fl exible. We needed to watch That piece of community
fully, in transit.
Seneca location already has and learn,” said McCracken. we’re providing is something
The CyberMill is an inde- a year’s operating budget in “So you learn about things that’s diffi cult to measure but
pendent nonprofi t, with a reserve.
as simple as (having) a door- really rewarding to watch.”
Lorna Diane (Peiterson) Schafer
DEATH NOTICES
Nov. 9, 1942 – Sept. 8, 2022
Renee ‘Demis’ Thiede
Lorna Diane (Peiterson) Schafer
was born November 9, 1942 in Eu-
gene Oregon to Clarence and Vera
Peiterson.
Lorna grew up on a farm near
Junction City Oregon until she left
home for college. Lorna graduated
from Western College in 1965.
In 1963, she married the love
of her life, Ron Schafer. They had
three sons, Michael, Gregory
and Jeffrey, three daughters-in-
law, nine grandchildren and four
great-grandchildren.
Lorna’s loves were the Lord
Jesus Christ, her husband, family,
friends and music. She also loved being a pastor’s wife and serv-
ing others.
Ron and Lorna served as pastor and wife in Cherry Grove,
Seaside, Salem, and Monument Oregon. In 2004, Ron and Lorna
began STEPS Ministry, serving and teaching pastors and wives of
smaller churches around the Northwest.
Lorna was very thankful for all the support, encouragement,
kindness and care she received from family and friends. She
loved life, but also looked forward to being with her Savior, Jesus
Christ. She is now home.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at Salem Heights
Church on October 15, 2022 at 11am. All are welcome to attend.
Paid for by the family of Lorna Schafer.
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my
heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26.
Renee “Demis” Thiede, age 67, of Prairie City passed away Oct.
6, 2022, with her loving family by her side. To leave an online con-
dolence toward her family, visit www.driskillmemorialchapel.com.
Alva
Dale Conlee
July 21, 1932 ~ September 21, 2022
Alva Dale Conlee, 90, of John Day
died peacefully at home after a short
illness, with loving family by his side.
Those we love never go away, they
walk beside us every day. They are un-
seen, unheard, always near, still loved,
still missed, and always dear. Their
death leaves a heartache no one can
heal, love leaves a memory no one can
steal.
Alva was born in Grant County, OR,
July 21, 1932 where he spent most of
his life. After the death of his first wife,
Helen, he married Margaret Sabina
Wagner at the John Day United Methodist Church on April 23,
2011. This brought two families together in a loving way.
Stepchildren included Mike (Diane) Wagner, Greg (Deborah)
Wagner, and Jon (Rhonda) Wagner. Grandchildren included Emily
(Will) Hulden, Ethan (Khadija) Wagner, Shayne (Kelley) Wagner,
Rebecca Wagner, and Eliza Wagner. Great-grandchildren included
Margaret Hulden and Warren Wagner.
A public service and burial will be held at the Canyon City
Cemetery on October 8, 2022. Please send any donations to the
John Day Elks Lodge #1824, through Driskill Memorial Chapel.
Online condolences tot he family can be sent to mwagner3@cen-
turytel.net. Paid for by the family of Alva Conlee.
Last Week’s Temps
John Day ...........................................................HI/LO
Wednesday ..................................................... 83/48
Thursday .......................................................... 83/48
Friday ............................................................... 81/47
Saturday .......................................................... 81/47
Sunday ............................................................. 81/46
Monday............................................................ 77/45
Tuesday ........................................................... 72/43
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Wednesday, October 12, 2022
Harvest Festival, quilt
show set for Grant
County Fairgrounds
By BENNETT HALL
Blue Mountain Eagle
JOHN DAY — Two fall
favorites are returning to the
Grant County Fairgrounds this
week: the Harvest Festival and
the Best of the Old West Quilt
Show.
Sponsored by the Grant
County Farmers Market, the
Harvest Festival will take
place from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday,
Oct. 14, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 15, in the Her-
itage Barn at the fairgrounds,
411 NW Bridge St. in John
Day. Admission is free.
More than 20 vendors from
Grant and neighboring coun-
ties will be on hand to sell their
wares, ranging from locally
raised meat and produce to
wooden kids’ toys, cutting
boards, ceramics, knives, ter-
rariums, jewelry, honey, baked
goods, macramé and home
décor.
There will be live music,
kids’ activities, face painting
and a drawing for an eight-
burner grill. Food will be
available from Curbside Crav-
ings, Hot Dig-Ga-Dy Dogs
and Fire and Ice Ice Cream.
A cider press will be avail-
able. You can bring your own
apples and containers or pur-
chase both on site.
Just east of the fairgrounds,
the John Day Community Gar-
den will have free pumpkins
available for kids, as well as
refreshments and a StoryWalk.
The Best of the Old West
Quilt Show, sponsored by the
Strawberry Mountain Quilt
Guild, will be held in the
Trowbridge Pavilion from 3 to
7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 14, and
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday,
Oct. 15.
Quilts for the show can
be dropped off at the pavilion
from 4 to 6 p.m. on Wednes-
day, Oct. 12, and 10 a.m. to
2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13.
There is no admission
charge, but donations will be
accepted to support Sleep in
Heavenly Peace, a charity that
builds bunk beds for families
in need.
Viewers’ Choice awards
will be given to the most pop-
ular quilts in three categories:
Grant County, Grant County
hand-quilted and “Beyond
Our Borders,” for quilts pro-
duced by out-of-county quil-
ters. Winners will receive
baskets with $100 in cash
and $200 worth of quilting
supplies.
Coff ee, tea and cookies
will be available, and fi ve ven-
dors from around the area will
be off ering quilts, runners,
cloth and quilting supplies at
“show discount” prices.
LOCAL BRIEFING
Malheur lifts use restrictions
JOHN DAY — With the arrival of cooler temperatures and
moderate weather conditions, all public use restrictions are being
lifted on the Malheur National Forest, the agency announced.
The restrictions, intended to reduce wildfi re danger, were pre-
viously lifted for the northern zone of the forest that includes the
Blue Mountain and Prairie City ranger districts.
Starting Tuesday, Oct. 11, restrictions will also be lifted on the
Emigrant Creek Ranger District in the southern portion of the for-
est. At the same time, the industrial fi re precaution level will be
reduced from Level 2 to Level 1.
However, forest offi cials warn, the fi re danger in the southern
portion of the forest remains high.
Hunters, campers and other forest visitors are asked to be
careful with fi re. That includes using existing fi re pits for camp-
fi res wherever possible, not leaving fi res unattended and keeping
water and a shovel handy.
Winter clothing drive for kids
PRAIRIE CITY — The Grant County branches of the Bank
of Eastern Oregon are collecting new and gently used winter
clothing items for children.
The Prairie City location, 178 NW Front St., is seeking coats,
hats, gloves and mittens for kids in grade school and older.
The donated items will be given to local school counselors for
distribution.
The John Day location, 200 W. Main St., is collecting hats,
gloves and mittens for children in grade school and older. Those
items will be given to Families First to hand out.
Donations will be accepted through Oct. 21, and the public is
invited to join staff at both branches on that day for refreshments.
BLM looks to fi ll advisory board
PRINEVILLE — The Bureau of Land Management is seek-
ing nominations for open seats on its John Day-Snake Resource
Advisory Council.
The council helps develop recommendations to address pub-
lic land management issues in the BLM’s Prineville and Vale dis-
tricts and the Malheur, Umatilla, Wallowa-Whitman, Ochoco and
Deschutes national forests.
The commission has fi ve open seats. Individuals can nominate
themselves or others. Nominations will be accepted until Nov. 4.
For more information, contact Katlyn Webb at 541-460-8781
or kwebb@blm.gov.
Prescribed burning to begin
HINES — Prescribed burns intended to reduce wildfi re
danger are scheduled to begin soon in the Emigrant Ranger
District of the Malheur National Forest, potentially impact-
ing hunting and camping opportunities in several hunting dis-
tricts, forest offi cials announced.
Plans are dependent on weather and fuel conditions, but the
prescribed burns could start as soon as Wednesday, Oct. 12.
The fi rst unit scheduled for burning is Silvies 7, a 1,500-
acre tract 3 miles west of the junction of U.S. Highway 395
and Forest Service Road 31.
Two other units are in line for prescribed burns this fall.
Wolf H covers 300 acres near the junction of FSR 17 and FSR
15, 10 miles east of Highway 395. Marshall Devine D cov-
ers 3,172 acres along FSR 2820, about 1 mile east of High-
way 395.
Hunters are advised to avoid camping in any of the desig-
nated prescribed burn areas.
Blue Mountain Eagle
W EATHER F ORECAST FOR THE WEEK OF O CT . 12-18
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
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