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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 16, 2022)
A2 NEWS Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, November 16, 2022 Painted Sky gala raises $12,000 By JUSTIN DAVIS Blue Mountain Eagle JOHN DAY — There are always worries when you try something for the fi rst time. A large turnout of well-dressed Grant County residents put those worries to rest for the Painted Sky Center for the Arts on Saturday, Nov. 12, when the nonprofi t held its fi rst holiday gala. Dubbed “Deck the Halls,” the black tie-optional event took place in the Trowbridge Pavilion at the Grant County Fairgrounds and featured local youth performing Christmas songs and skits as well as a pair of silent auctions, one of works by local artists and the other of fully decorated Christ- mas trees. In addition to the colorful art and festive trees, the pavilion was decked out with Christmas lights and din- ner tables clothed in a white, gold and black theme. The event was a fundraiser for Painted Sky, which teaches arts and crafts classes for both children and adults. Proceeds from the gala will be used to cover scholarships, operating costs and programming for the art center. Oregon Trail Elec- Justin Davis/Blue Mountain Eagle Children from Painted Sky Center for the Arts perform Christmas songs for attendees at the Deck the Halls gala on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022. tric Cooperative was the chief sponsor. A dinner of roast beef, mashed potatoes and broccoli was served before each table group had the opportunity to place money into numbered envelopes to bid on a dessert for the entire table. The high- est-bidding tables got fi rst choice of dessert. Musical numbers per- formed by children who reg- ularly attend Painted Sky included “Rudolph, the Red- Nosed Reindeer,” “Jingle Bells” and a duet of “Silent Night.” Following the music, the children performed a short skit about elves making shoes followed by a rendition of “The Night Before Christ- mas” in the form of a skit. Cowboy poet Kathy Moss was the master of cer- emonies for the gala and treated attendees to one of her best-known poems. “I think, really, for the fi rst event it exceeded our expec- tations,” said Allison Field, one of the organizers of the gala. “We had approximately 150 people that came to the event, and it just showed a lot of community support out there.” Field added she was happy the people in attendance came formally dressed for the most part. “That was great to see,” she said. “I think people were excited to do something a lit- tle diff erent and have a reason to dress up. Being out here, you just don’t get the oppor- tunity as much.” The gala raised just over $12,000 for the art center between ticket sales and auc- tion items, according to Field. “We didn’t want to have super-high expectations, like $30,000 or anything, so we kept it between 10 and 12,” she said. “It was great to see the community come together … hitting that fundraiser mark,” Field said. Painted Sky Center for the Arts intends to make the gala an annual event and is already planning the 2023 event. Rodeo court coronation Saturday Blue Mountain Eagle JOHN DAY — The mem- bers of the 2023 Grant County Fair & Rodeo Court will make their offi cial debut this week- end at a fundraising dinner and auction in their honor. Laramie Kiser is next year’s queen and her twin sis- ter, Lavina, is the princess. The girls live in Mt. Vernon and are juniors at Grant Union High School. They will be crowned at the Cowboy Christmas Coro- nation Dinner and Auction on Saturday, Nov. 19, in the Trow- bridge Pavilion at the Grant County Fairgrounds, 411 NW Bridge St. in John Day. Doors open at 5 p.m. for a happy hour and auction preview. The grand marshal of the 2023 Grant County Fair & Rodeo Parade, Tinka Oliver, will also be introduced at the event. Contributed Photos Queen Laramie Kiser, left, and Princess Lavina Kiser will be installed as the 2023 Grant County Fair & Rodeo Court on Sat- urday, Nov. 19. The twins live in Mt. Vernon and are juniors at Grant Union High School. A tri-tip dinner prepared by Toni Clark will be served, the Snaffl e Bit will staff a no-host bar and DJ Chris Gibson will provide the music. The cost for dinner is $18 per person or $34 per couple, and live, silent and dessert auctions will be held. Proceeds from the event will go toward clothing, travel and other expenses for Queen Laramie and Princess Lavina, who will be representing Grant County in the months leading up to the 2023 Grant County Fair & Rodeo. The rodeo is scheduled for Aug. 4 and 5, and the fair will run Aug. 9-12. Whitney Richey, adviser to the fair and rodeo court, said the Kiser sisters will be mak- ing numerous offi cial appear- ances around Oregon and the Northwest, as well as at local events such as the Timber Truckers Light Parade. Richey also noted that the twins have rodeo royalty in their family tree, with both their older sister and their mother having served on the court in years past. Donations for the live, silent and dessert auctions are still being accepted and can be dropped off at the fairgrounds offi ce during business hours. To make other arrangements, call Richey at 541-228-4604 or fairgrounds manager Mindy Winegar at 541-620-8058. Volunteers needed for Thanksgiving feast Blue Mountain Eagle JOHN DAY — At least 40 volun- teers are needed to help prepare, serve and deliver meals for the annual community Thanksgiving dinner sponsored by the John Day Elks Club. The dinner will be served from 1 to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 24, at the lodge, 140 NE Dayton St. in John Day. Volun- teers are needed to help with cooking, setup, cleanup and meal delivery that day, and others are needed to help with prep the day before. To volunteers, call 541-575-1824 or stop by the Elks Lodge to sign up for a shift. On the menu will be a traditional Thanksgiving feast of ham, turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, rolls, stuffi ng, cranberries and pie. The meal is free to all Grant County Eighth grade Keira Stiner Parents: Nick & Amy Stiner N. Powder couple earn ag honor By BRENNA WIEGAND For the Capital Press NORTH POWDER — Sustainable grazing and top- notch genetics are key for beef cattle raised at Miles Ranch in North Powder. It was here Myron Miles grew up before meeting Dotty, from Klamath Falls, while they were attending Oregon State College — now Oregon State University. The couple, both in their early 80s, married in 1962 and spent years hopscotch- ing around the state for work. Myron was a county extension agent in Josephine County, operated a small feedlot in Klamath Falls, and even found his way back to Baker County as a dairyman. That last arrangement didn’t last, with Myron quip- ping, “Everyone should have to milk cows once in their life — it’s all up from there.” Finally, in 1980, the couple returned to North Powder for good after buying a 1,400-acre property. Today, Miles Ranch runs 250 head of mother cows. The couple will be recog- nized by Oregon Aglink as the 2022 Agriculturists of the Year during the organization’s annual Denim and Diamonds dinner and auction fundraiser on Friday, Nov. 18. Myron also has a breed- ing program, using artifi cial insemination. He works with American Breeders Service Global, a company that sells semen from bulls, carefully choosing genetic traits that will allow his cows to grow bigger, faster and produce higher-quality meat. Cows at Miles Ranch are rotated regularly in pastures to avoid overgrazing and spread- ing invasive weeds. A smaller portion of the land is dedicated to growing alfalfa, with mini- mal tillage and cover crops to prevent soil erosion. “You need to protect the environment and our resources, so our kids and grandkids will still have food,” he said. Away from the ranch, Myron is a board member for the Baker Valley Soil and Water Conservation District and has spent 60 years advo- cating for ranchers with the Oregon Cattlemen’s Asso- ciation. He was president of the Baker County Livestock Association when the county adopted its right-to-farm ordi- nance, protecting growers from nuisance complaints. Meanwhile, Dotty remains active as a board member for Blue Mountain Community College and the local Baker City Rotary Club. “We wouldn’t know how to act if we didn’t have a cal- endar that was completely clogged up with things to do,” Myron said. The couple said they are pleased and honored to be rec- ognized as Agriculturists of the Year by Oregon Aglink. “Not only do we pride our- selves on how we run our ranch,” Myron said, “but we think that we’ve helped others along the way to improve their cattle and way of life, too.” Oregon Aglink is a non- profi t volunteer organiza- tion dedicated to agricul- tural education and outreach. Denim and Diamonds raises money for programs such as Adopt a Farmer, pairing farms with middle school classrooms for fi eld trips and activities. Every year, Oregon Aglink selects a group, business or individual as its Agricultur- ist of the Year, recognizing outstanding contributions to the agriculture industry as a whole. DEATH NOTICES Vernon E. ‘Chip’ Rehder Jr. Bennett Hall/Blue Mountain Eagle, File Flora Cheadle of Dayville, right, waits for her food while volunteers, from left, Ray- mond Sousa, Leslie Traylor and Charlie Caughlin dish up green beans on Thanksgiv- ing Day, 2021, at the John Day Elks Lodge. residents, who are welcome to eat at the lodge or take their food home with them. Delivery is available for disabled and homebound community members. To request a delivery, call the lodge at 541- 575-1824 and leave a message with your name, address, phone number and how many meals you will need. Last year the club prepared and served 300 Thanksgiving dinners. GRANT UNION STUDENTS OF THE MONTH: SEPTEMBER 2022 Seventh grade Adalyn Judd Parents: Jesse & Marci Judd Oregon Aglink/Contributed Photo Oregon Aglink has named Myron and Dotty Miles, of Miles Ranch in North Powder, the 2022 Agriculturists of the Year. Ninth grade Kingdon Mitchell- Kirby Parents: Ken & Kelilu Kirby 10th grade Karly VanLoo Parents: Randy & Melissa VanLoo Last Week’s Temps John Day ...........................................................HI/LO Wednesday ..................................................... 36/18 Thursday .......................................................... 39/18 Friday ............................................................... 41/20 Saturday .......................................................... 41/19 Sunday ............................................................. 42/20 Monday............................................................ 40/18 Tuesday ........................................................... 45/23 24/7 F ORECAST A UTOMATED : 541-575-1122 R OAD CONDITIONS : 511; TRIPCHECK . COM NOAA W EATHER R ADIO FOR J OHN D AY 162.500 MHz 11th grade Abbie Justice Parents: Ken & Julia Justice 12th grade Jasmine Bryers Grandmother: Lisa Hunter-Kennedy Vernon E. “Chip” Rehder Jr. died suddenly on Oct. 14 in Sutherlin. He was 67 years old. Chip was the son of Vernon and Kathleen Rehder of Mt. Vernon. There will be a celebration of Chip’s life in Roseburg in April. Details will be published in the Eagle two weeks prior to the event. Rheanna Cheyenne Cartner Rheanna Cheyenne Cartner, 24, passed away on Nov. 11, 2022. A celebration of life will be held at a later date, at a time and place to be announced. Memorial donations in memory of Rheanna to help defray funeral expenses may be made at www. GoFundMe.com or through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home & Cremation Services, PO Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834. Online condolences may be shared at www.tamispinevalleyfuneral- home.com. CORRECTIONS The Blue Mountain Eagle strives to ensure accuracy. If you see an error in one of our stories, please contact us at editor@ bmeagle.com or 541-575-0710. W EATHER F ORECAST FOR THE WEEK OF N OV . 16-22 Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Sunny Partly cloudy Partly cloudy Sunny Partly cloudy Mostly cloudy Rain/snow 47 38 39 42 45 45 45 22 18 17 18 23 28 30