Malheur reviews Middle Fork grazing permits  JOHN DAY – The Malheur National Forest is resuming its assessment of eight grazing allotments in the Middle Fork John Day River area of the Blue Mountain and Prairie City ranger districts. The original Middle Fork John Day Range Planning analysis was initiated in December 1998. In October 1999, the analysis was put on hold to work on higher priority projects.  In January 2002, the Malheur National Forest proposed resuming efforts on this project. The allotments included in the analysis are Austin, Bear Creek, Camp Creek, Lower Middle Fork, Elk, Blue Mountain, Upper Middle Fork, and Sullens. The allotments are located about 20 to 25 miles northeast of John Day.  The proposed action is intended to permit continued grazing on the allotments, which encompass approximately 185,890 acres. An environmental impact statement will be written that will result in development of new allotment management plans.  The purpose of this proposal is to continue to permit grazing on the allotments while protecting other resource needs. The need for this proposal has three components. There is a need to provide available forage to permitted domestic livestock, maintain riparian habitats that are currently functioning properly, and improve vegetation and riparian conditions in places which have been degraded by past management activities, the agency reported.  Written comments on the proposal should be addressed to the Forest Supervisor, Malheur National Forest, P.O. Box 909, John Day, OR 97845. The deadline for submitting comments is Sept. 4.  For additional information, call Ken Schuetz, interdisciplinary team leader, at 575-3000.  GUHS students register Aug. 28-29  JOHN DAY – Registration for new students at Grant Union High School is Wednesday, Aug. 28.  New students should meet at the counselor’s office near the north entrance from 9 a.m.-noon.  On Thursday, Aug. 29, returning students can register, also in the counselor’s office. The schedule is 8:30-10 a.m. for seniors, 10-11:30 a.m. for juniors, noon-1:30 p.m. for sophomores and 1:30-3 p.m. for freshmen.  First day of school for staff is Tuesday, Aug. 27. First day of school for students is Tuesday, Sept. 3.  For more information, call the school at 575-1799.  Housing Authority board meets Aug. 15

  LA GRANDE – A special meeting of the board of commissioners for the Northeast Oregon Housing Authority will be held via teleconference beginning at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 15, originating at the NEOHA office room located at 2608 May Lane, La Grande.  The agenda will include approving bids for the purchase of two four-wheel-drive vehicles for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program; Resolution 292 to approve a loan for Sunset Meadows Handicapped Accessible House through a Klamath First loan.  All interested persons are invited to attend. The next scheduled meeting is set for 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17, at the Grove Community Room in Baker City.  For more information, call Maggie LaMont at 1-888-483-2664.

  Fair booth results, prizes requested

  JOHN DAY – Anyone with results from the Grant County Fair kid’s games or contests, booth drawings, door prizes or other similar information should contact Heather at 575-0710.  A list of winners, including the winner of the Grant County Heritage Quilt, will be published in the next issue.  Also next issue, look for results of the 2002 Kiwanis 4-H Auction held for the first time in the new Grant County Heritage Building.  Steens planners discuss wilderness issues Aug. 15-16  HINES – A two-day work session of the Steens Mountain Advisory Council is planned for Aug. 15-16 at the Frenchglen School gymnasium.  Attendees will meet 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Thursday; and Friday’s session will be from 8 a.m.-3 p.m., including a short field tour to the Wildland Juniper Management Area.  Matters to be addressed include, but are not limited to, Stonehouse and Yank Springs environmental assessments, wilderness access/cooperative management agreements, transportation, the Frenchglen Community Club and a briefing on the status of the Andrews/Steens Resource Management Plan.  The public is invited to participate. Public comment sessions are scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday and 1 p.m. Friday.  For more information, call Mark Armstrong at 573-4465.  Needs, issues inventory listing deadline Sept. 3  CANYON CITY – Anyone seeking state, federal and/or private funding for the community or an economic development project needs to make sure the project is included in the State of Oregon’s annual Needs and Issues Inventory.  Project notification forms for 2003 are now available at Greater Eastern Oregon Development Corporation at 575-278 or can be downloaded from www.econ.state.or.us/needs-issue.htm.  Deadline for projects to be included for the Grant County Needs and Issues Inventory list is Sept. 3. Projects submitted through this process will be prioritized on Oct. 7 by a consensus of all those submitting projects.  This process surveys all counties, cities, special districts and non-profit organizations in each county of the state for funding needs, particularly from state or federal sources. Each project is prioritized and the list for each county is sent to state and federal agencies for review. If a project matches the funding criteria of a particular state or federal agency, that agency may chose to serve in a “lead agency” position. For more information, call Judy Krutsinger at 575-1786.  Class shows how to harvest logs for top value  PRAIRIE CITY – The Grant County Oregon State University Extension Service led by Extension Forester Bob Parker will hold a class titled “Log Bucking for Maximizing Volume and Profit” 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15, at the Prairie Wood Products conference room in Prairie City.  It is noted that landowners put a lot of hard work and money into harvesting their timber so when the logs are hauled to town, they should be sure to maximize the volume and value of those logs.  An understanding of how logs are measured, or scaled, can help timber owners to manufacture their logs to their best benefit.  This class will provide an overview of log scaling practices then look at actual logs delivered to a local mill and discuss optimum merchandising practices. Registration is requested by calling 575-1911.  Elks Legacy awards open to applicants  JOHN DAY – Application forms for the 2003 Elks National Foundation Legacy awards are now available through the local Elks lodge located at 140 N.E. Dayton St.   The $1,000 awards are for one year and are offered to any child, grandchild, stepchild, step grandchild of an active Elk in good standing since April 1, 2000, and paid up through March 31, 2003.  Applications also may be obtained from the Elks Web site, www.elks.org/enf/scholars, e-mail to scholarship@elks.org or write to: Elks National Foundation, 2750 N. Lakeview Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60614-1889.  For more information, contact Elks Scholarship Chairman, Carol Rudishauser, at 820-3586.  Ideas sought for Pentagon Memorial  PORTLAND – Anyone with an idea for an outdoor memorial to recognize the victims of the terrorist attack at the Pentagon should submit their artistic concept. The congressionally authorized Pentagon Memorial will be built near the impact site.  The competition is open to the public. Deadline to enter is Sept. 11.   Information is available at http://memorialcompetition.pentagon.mil or by calling 1-866-782-4383.  4-H members sell spring flower bulbs  JOHN DAY – Country Critters 4-H livestock club members continue to take orders for spring flower bulbs.  As a tax-deductible fund-raiser, they will take orders for daffodils, tulip, lilies through Nov. 1. For more information, call 932-4212.