Last week in this space, we talked about the athletic achievements of the Grant Union/Prairie City softball team, which capped an outstanding season by bringing home the state Class 2A softball title. In last week’s paper we had a big spread in our Sports section about their on-field heroics, and a full-page ad sponsored by local businesses congratulating the Lady Pros.

But let’s not forget the off-field achievements of another outstanding group of Grant County teens: our graduating high school seniors. All around the county, you’ll see their portraits blown up big in storefronts, hanging from the rafters of local businesses or displayed on lampposts along downtown streets. In recent weeks, we’ve had six pages of sponsored advertising in the Eagle celebrating their achievements as well.

Congratulations to the Class of 2023! We’re proud of you!

In case you missed it, last week’s edition of the Blue Mountain Eagle contained full coverage of the Lady Pros’ title game victory, as well as stories about a pair of confirmed wolf depredations in Grant County, the Life Flight evacuation of an injured motorcyclist, the future of the building destroyed in the April fire in downtown John Day, and the grand marshals of this year’s ’62 Days Parade.

Coming up in this week’s paper, we’ll have stories about the resignation of John Day’s city manager (already live on our website here), discussions about funding for the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, the restoration of a classic neon sign in downtown John Day, a plan to manage wild horses in the Murderers Creek area and more.

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— Bennett Hall, Editor