A2
NEWS
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, October 26, 2022
The pig behind the pumps
By JUSTIN DAVIS
Blue Mountain Eagle
Clerk’s post tops list
of uncontested races
Grant County Neighbors
E
very weekend, the Leathers
Fuels gas station in John Day
goes to the pigs.
For the past year, Leath-
ers employee Arthur Cave
has been taking his pet pig, Elfi e, to
work with him, starting when she was
just a piglet.
Cave said the reason he started
bringing Elfi e with him to work was to
take people’s minds off the ever-rising
price at the pump.
“The prices were going up and peo-
ple were coming in looking straight up
at that sign. Now they come in looking
straight for the pig,” Cave said.
Elfi e has quite a few fans, according
to Cave and even has her own Instagram
page. “She’s got regulars that come in
here just to see the pig,” he said.
“I’ve also met people that passed
through a year ago and they come back
and say, ‘Good, the pig is still here,’”
Cave added.
Elfi e has a knack for brightening the
mood of upset customers, who are often
pleasantly surprised when they meet her
and discover she is very people-friendly.
“I just had a gal come through and
she was in somewhat of a bad mood,”
Cave said. “She said, ‘I’m having a ter-
rible day,’ and I said, ‘Let me introduce
you to my baby over here, she’ll make
you smile.’ And she left with a big ol’
grin on her face.”
There was no adjustment period for
Elfi e in making regular appearances at
the gas station, said Cave, noting she-
has been with him since she was three
days old.
ings, and in Granite, no one has
fi led to fi ll the two open council
seats — even though three peo-
CANYON CITY — ple are running for mayor.
As Grant County clerk,
Brenda Percy has served as
Grant County clerk since 2011 Percy is the offi cial keeper of
and appears poised to serve for all the county’s public records.
at least another four years — Her offi ce is also responsi-
ble for processing all
she is running unop-
Board of Property
posed for re-election
Tax Appeal petitions,
to a fourth term.
Commissioner’s Jour-
Percy is just one
nal documents, county
of the candidates run-
orders, plats and real
ning without opposi-
property transactions.
tion for various polit-
In addition, Percy
ical offi ces in Grant
Percy
oversees all elections
County this election
season, although her position is in the county.
Percy started working in the
perhaps the most high-profi le
Grant County Clerk’s Offi ce in
of the bunch.
There are uncontested 1999 and rose to the position
races for mayor in three Grant of deputy clerk before being
County municipalities: Day- elected clerk in 2010. Before
ville, Long Creek and Mt. that she worked in the real estate
industry. She decided to seek
Vernon.
There are also unopposed another four-year term as
races for city council in Canyon county clerk because she fi nds
City, Dayville, Long Creek, the work rewarding.
“I enjoy my job,” Percy
Monument, Mt. Vernon, Prai-
rie City and Seneca. In some said. “I enjoy working for con-
of those communities, there stituents and making sure elec-
are more open seats than can- tions and all the responsibilities
didates: Canyon City has three of this offi ce are done correctly.
candidates running for two It means a lot.”
Percy’s current salary is
council seats, Prairie City has
one candidate for three open- $67,140 a year.
By BENNETT HALL
Blue Mountain Eagle
NAME: Arthur Cave
NAME: Elfi e the pig
AGE: 49
AGE: One year and two months
RESIDENCE: Long Creek
RESIDENCE: Long Creek
OCCUPATION: Fuel attendant and
cashier at Leathers gas station in John
Day.
OCCUPATION: People piggy and
emotional booster at Leathers gas
station in John Day (works pro bono)
HOBBIES: Hanging with his pet pig,
Elfi e, spending time with his wife of
20 years, and woodworking with the
goal of opening his own shop
HOBBIES: Roaming around her
residence in Long Creek, pigging out
and, according to her owner, making
gas that Leathers Fuels can’t sell
“She
thinks
friendly, Cave keeps
I’m Mama,” Cave
a tusk cover on hand
added.
to prevent accidental
Now Elfi e looks
injuries to those who
forward to her trips
choose to pet her.
with Cave to Leath-
The bottom line,
ers Fuels.
though, is that peo-
“I set her up in
ple seem to like Elfi e,
the morning, and
and she seems to like
when I start walk-
them, and that’s why
Justin Davis/Blue Mountain Eagle Cave keeps bringing
ing out of the gate
with her she runs Arthur Cave with Elfi e on Sunday, Oct. 23, her to work.
up in here and she’s 2022, at Leathers Fuels on Main Street in
“I just thought I’d
like, ‘Time to go John Day. Cave has been bringing his pet change things up,
to work, man.’ She pig to work with him for a year.
make the old gas sta-
actually likes com-
tion a little more fun,
ing to work more than
I suppose. … She gets
she likes going home,” Cave said.
a lot of attention out here — I love it,”
Elfi e’s favorite thing to eat is a mix Cave said.
of walnuts and Cheerios that Cave
Cave laughed when asked if he
keeps handy for when he wants her to would make it a requirement that the
come out of her enclosure in the back of next job he accepts has to take him and
his truck and meet people. Cave shakes Elfi e as a package deal. “I might make
the bottle containing the snack mix, and it that way, but I think my next job I’m
Elfi e exits her enclosure to get a treat.
going to be doing is setting up my wood-
Despite the fact that Elfi e is very working business,” he said.
DEATH AND SERVICE NOTICES
Clay Gyllenberg
Clay Gyllenberg, 63, of Baker City died at his home Tues-
day, Oct. 18, 2022. A memorial service will be held at the
Baker City Church of the Nazarene Saturday, Oct. 29, at
1 p.m. Friends are invited to join the family for a potluck
reception immediately following the service at the Family
Life Center adjacent to the church. Online condolences can
be shared at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com.
Three-way race for Granite mayor
By TONY CHIOTTI
Blue Mountain Eagle
GRANITE — Three out
of 30 residents have reg-
istered to run the town of
Granite this time around,
with zero people interested
in being on City Council.
In a registered ghost
town, campaigning might
be intimate affair. But that
doesn’t mean the stakes are
low.
The candidates who
responded to the newspa-
per’s questionnaires are
looking to shape up the for-
SANDRA SMITH
Smith
Jewell
mer mining town they call
home, and if you’re one of
the other 27, they’d like
your support.
David Mosteit is also reg-
istered to run in the race but
had not responded to our
attempts to reach him by
press time.
MyEagleNews.com
Kenneth Robert Moore
NAME: Sandra Smith
AGE: 78
OCCUPATION: Retired
CANDIDATE STATEMENT: I was
mayor from 2015-2016, also city
recorder and treasurer for four
DOROTHY JEWELL
NAME: Dorothy Jewell
AGE: 60
OCCUPATION: Retired
CANDIDATE STATEMENT: Goals
are harder to obtain and issues
can be challenging to solve due
to Granite’s smaller size and
remote location. I would like to
inventory and connect with our
local resources more eff ectively
as well as review grants that can
accommodate rural communities
such as ours.
Residents have not lately had a city
years. I was on city council for
seven years.
Dale McCormick
I have lived in Granite for 20
years. If appointed mayor in
Granite, I will not be an absen-
tee mayor. I was known through
this time as The Back Bone of
the City.
Dale McCormick, 71, of Seneca passed away at his home
on Oct. 17, 2022, surrounded by his family. Arrangements
are under the direction of Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home
and Cremation Services. Online condolences can be shared at
www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com.
offi ce in Granite. Therefore, records,
bill paying and other inquiries have
been challenging to accomplish.
I would like to again provide the
community with an offi ce in which
business can be conducted suc-
cessfully and in a timely manner.
Robert B. Myers
Robert B. Myers, 78, of John Day passed away Oct. 19, 2022,
with his loving wife by his side. Memorial contributions in his
honor can be made to the American Red Cross or a charity of
one’s choice through Driskill Memorial Chapel, 241. S. Canyon
Blvd., John Day, OR 97845.
The community of Granite has
had its share of fractions and dis-
content. I would like the residents
to again realize the importance of
each individual in making Granite
a thriving community. By bringing
a voice back to its people I feel that,
together, this can be accom-
plished.
Troy Leon Thompson Pruit
A memorial service for Troy Leon Thompson Pruit from
Long Creek will be held at the Long Creek Seventh Day
Adventist Friendship Hall on Friday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m., with
a dinner following the service. He was born Feb. 7, 1935, and
passed away Sept. 14, 2022.
March 28, 1941 ~ September 4, 2022
Kenneth Robert Moore, 81
years old, of Mount Vernon went
home to be with his Lord on Sep-
tember 4, 2022. He was born
at his grandmother’s farm to Ira
Dale and Leora Mae Moore on
March 28, 1941 in McMinnville.
Ken was raised in Beaverton
where he attended and graduat-
ed from Beaverton High School
in 1960. He was a member of
the All National Guard Rifle Team
and Hillsboro Rifle Team. Ken
received many accolades for his
fine marksmanship.
In 1966, Kenneth accepted a position with ODFW and moved
to Grant County. On September 27, 1966, Ken married Diana Ol-
son. They had two children: Victoria and Daniel.
Ken “The Griz” Moore was an avid hunter and trapper. He sea-
sonally guided big game in Alaska for many years, and was known
for his convictions for the proper game management. Some of
his other interests included: Target shooting with friends, reading,
gardening, preserving his harvests, collecting antiques and Indi-
an artifacts, rock hounding, and garage saling. Ken was a simple
man. In his heart he was born in yesteryear, and lived his life this
way.
On February 13,1993, Ken married Jane Richert. On that day,
he gained three more daughters and another son. Ken and Jane
opened the Canyon Mountain Traders Antique Store together.
Ken is survived by his brothers Norm Moore of Chemult and
Bill Moore of Paris, Kentucky; wife Jane Moore of 29 years; his
daughter Victoria Stacey (Kevin) of Lyons; and his son Daniel
Moore (Heather) of Bend; and his grandchildren Ashley, Mac-
Kenzie, Sabrina, Dakota and Storm; and great-grandchild Charlie.
In his blended family, he had six children, 13 grandchildren
and 19 great-grandchildren, all who loved him very much.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to:
Blue Mountain Hospice, John Day Church of the Nazarene, or the
NRA.
Paid for by the family of Ken Moore.
Thank You
from the
BLUE MOUNTAIN EAGLE
to the
THINK PINK SPONSORS
We at the Blue Mountain Eagle
would like to thank all of the businesses who
participated in our October 12, 2022 Think Pink
publication. Without supportive businesses like you, we
wouldn’t be able to raise money for our October cause.
This year we raised $1,305.00!
BIG THANKS TO:
A Flower Shop & More
1st Choice Auto Body
Bank of Eastern Oregon
Blue Mountain Hospital District
Central Oregon Pathology Consultants, PC
Cloud 9
Dark Horse Group
DP Home Entertainment
Driskill Memorial Chapel
Duke Warner Realty
Grant County Chamber of Commerce
Grant County Health Department
Last Week’s Temps
John Day ...........................................................HI/LO
Wednesday ..................................................... 78/41
Thursday .......................................................... 76/42
Friday ............................................................... 66/41
Saturday .......................................................... 45/31
Sunday ............................................................. 47/32
Monday............................................................ 44/34
Tuesday ........................................................... 50/35
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NOAA W EATHER R ADIO FOR J OHN D AY
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Grubsteak Mining Co.
Land Title Company
Madden Realty
Murray’s Drug
Nydam’s Ace Hardware
Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative
OTC Connections
St. Charles Care Center
Solutions, CPA
Tidewater Contractors, Inc.
Virginia McMillan D.D.S.
W EATHER F ORECAST FOR THE WEEK OF O CT . 26-N OV . 1
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
AM rain/snow
Partly
cloudy
Mostly
cloudy
Mostly
cloudy
Rain/snow
showers
Rain/snow
showers
Rain/snow
showers
43
51
54
53
51
51
48
26
30
32
36
34
35
32