Clay pigeon shoot

KIMBERLY – The third annual Shotgun Series Clay Pigeon Shoot to benefit the Spray Rodeo is continuing on Saturdays, March 1 and April 5. Practices are at 11 a.m., at $3.50 for 10 shots. The shotgun shoot begins at noon, and the cost is $15 for 25 shots. The winner at the end of the series takes home a Remington 870. There also will be a women’s shoot for a $100 Cabela’s gift certificate and an 18-and-under shoot for a pair of binoculars. The shoot is held at Kimberly Rock Products, at Milemarker 9 on Highway 402 between Monument and Kimberly. Info: Brad or Julie Smith, 934-2143.

Adult study program

JOHN DAY – St. Elizabeth Catholic Church is offering an adult study program Wednesday evenings 7-8:15 p.m. This is a 10-week DVD series titled “The Footprints of God: The Story of Salvation from Abraham to Augustine.” The series runs Jan. 23 through April 2. All are welcome!

Lenten Lunch Series

JOHN DAY – The Ecumenical Ministerial Association will be starting a Lenten Lunch Series, 11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m., every Wednesday through Lent. Included in each session will be a brief devotional, as well as a lunch of soup and bread. The series begins Ash Wednesday, Feb. 6 at John Day United Methodist Church. Call 575-1326 for more information. The Feb. 13 session will be at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church.

Lenten devotions

JOHN DAY – Lenten devotions at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church begin on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 6. Masses will be held at 6:30 a.m., 12:05 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Women’s retreat

JOHN DAY – Women of St. Elizabeth Catholic Church are holding a retreat on Feb. 9, conducted by Bishop Thomas Connolly. The one-day retreat begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m. with confession and Mass at 5 p.m. The morning and afternoon sessions will have presentations by Bishop Connolly, with time for individual prayer and reflection. A light breakfast and lunch will also be provided.

Poker Ride

SENECA – Grant County Snowballers are having a Poker Ride and Radar Run Saturday, Feb. 9 in Seneca from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Poker Ride offers a guaranteed purse of $1,000 and the Radar Run will have prizes in five categories. Enjoy a day full of fun, food and prizes! More info: 575-5650 or 575-3640.

Fly-tying workshop

JOHN DAY – Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will hold a fly-tying workshop on Feb. 9, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The workshop is open to anyone 18 and up, but space is limited to 15 participants and preregistration is required. A registration fee of $30 covers instruction, program materials, use of equipment and lunch. More info: call 503-947-6025. Registration forms are also available at the ODFW district office in John Day.

Awards assembly

SENECA – Seneca School would like to invite the public to their second quarter awards assembly, Feb. 11, at 7:45 a.m. in the school gym.

Valentine Dinner

JOHN DAY – Support Grant Union High School senior grad night party, a drug-and-alcohol-free evening! Buy a chance, at $5 each, to win a romantic dinner for two on Feb. 14 at the Snaffle Bit Dinner House. Tickets may be purchased by any GUHS senior parent. The drawing will be Feb. 12. Info: Vicki Drewett at 932-4195.

Valentine’s Day Dinner

JOHN DAY – Valley View Assisted Living Community is holding a Valentine’s Day Dinner, free to seniors, at 6 p.m., Feb. 14. Please call 575-3533, by Feb. 8 to make reservations for you and your sweetheart.

Sweetheart Dinner

JOHN DAY – The Ellis Tracy Unit of the American Legion Auxiliary is having its Sweetheart Dinner Feb. 18, at 6 p.m., at the Legion Hall in John Day. This is a catered dinner and the cost is $6 a person. Reservations must be made by Feb. 11. Honored sweethearts will be Phyllis and Alva Farley. More info: 575-0076.

Singing Valentines

JOHN DAY – Send the Grant Union High School Choir to deliver a rose and a song to someone you love! Call GUHS at 575-1799, John Day Floral at 575-2723, or get in touch with any GUHS choir member to reserve a time!

Benefit dance

MT. VERNON – The Mt. Vernon Grange will hold a benefit dance, Feb. 16, at 7 p.m. to help the Coalwell family. Proceeds will help Terry and Leann Coalwell with the many expenses related to the critical illness and hospitalization of their two young sons, Ryan and Trevyn. The Upriver Band will be providing the music and the Grange will furnish coffee, punch and cookies. Cost is $3 per person, $5 per couple, and under 12 free. Call 932-4540 or 575-1007 for more information.

Cows and Creeks program

JOHN DAY – The Grant County Stockgrowers and OSU Extension are sponsoring a Cows and Creeks program that will focus on techniques and strategies relating to maintaining and improving water quality standards and riparian area function as they are impacted by livestock grazing. The program will be held Feb.12, at 9 a.m. at the Federal Building on Patterson Road. Lunch will be served. More information: Gary Delaney at 575-1911.

Genealogy Society

JOHN DAY -Grant County Genealogy Society will host Jeannette Harrison at the Outpost Restaurant on Feb. 19, for the noon luncheon meeting. Ms. Harrison will speak on a family she researched.

Youth group fund-raiser

MT. VERNON – The youth group from Living Word Christian Center in Mt. Vernon will be participating in a “30-Hour Famine,” Feb. 22-23. Students can be sponsored for any amount per hour during their fast which will run from noon Friday to 6 p.m. Sat. World Vision is the organization behind the event, which will take place in Pendleton, along with other church youth groups. All money raised will go directly to help starving children and families in Third World countries. More info: Kevin Steinmetz at 541-278-8082.

Membership drive

JOHN DAY – Grant County Air Search is having its annual membership drive through March. Interested people are invited to join a fun, social organization. For those who enjoy flying, pilots and observers fly over search areas. For those who like to keep their feet on the ground, we can always use members who know the county and can read maps or would like to learn. GCAS sponsors an annual Fly-in Breakfast, participates in the state Adopt-a-Highway program and other community service activities. Membership is open to adults 18 and older and dues are $12 per year. More info: Barbara Smith, 575-0276 or Cheryl Berry, 820-4310.

OngoingPC to DC drive

PRAIRIE CITY – Residents can donate bottles and cans to help the students from Prairie City School pay for their trip to Washington, D.C. and Williamsburg, Va., next June. For more information contact the school, 820-3314.

Can and bottle drive

MT. VERNON – Mt. Vernon Middle School eighth-graders are holding an on-going can and bottle drive with trailers located at Jackson’s Shell Station in John Day and near McKern’s Texaco in Mt. Vernon. Proceeds will go toward their class trip in May.

Fossil Beds

The John Day Fossil Beds National Monument often provides ranger-conducted hikes, tours of sections of the monument and even stargazing at the monument’s Thomas Condon Visitor Center, 32651 Highway 19 in Kimberly. Visitation data online at www.nps.gov/joda. Click on the link “management doc” then click on ” In Depth Visitation Statistics,” Socioeconomic Atlas for John Day” and/or “The Visitor Study 2004.” The center is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Info: 987-2333.

Long Creek center

LONG CREEK – The community center is available for $10 deposit and a refundable $10 cleaning fee for short gatherings and for $10 deposit and $25 usage fee for longer gatherings (five or more hours). Info: 421-3601.

TOPS Membership

JOHN DAY – TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) is changing from evening to daytime meeting times. The new day and time will be Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m., at the Seventh-day Adventist Church, 110 Valley View Dr. Weigh-in will be from 12:30-12:55. Info: Ellen Bush, 932-4592 or Doll Horner, 575-5570.