Last week in this space, we reprinted one of our nation’s founding documents: the Declaration of Independence. Running the declaration on the editorial page is a Fourth of July tradition for many American newspapers, and we think it’s a sound one. Thomas Jefferson’s stirring words are always worth pondering, but especially so on Independence Day, when we reflect on the things that make our country great.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness,” Jefferson wrote.

If you got out and about in Grant County this Fourth of July, chances are good you saw many of your friends and neighbors living up to the full promise of the Declaration of Independence by living their best life, exercising their liberty and pursuing the heck out of happiness.

Dayville marked our nation’s birthday with a parade, a classic car show, a goat-roping competition, a horseshoe tournament, live music and free Jake Burgers grilled to order at the fire hall. Prairie City’s celebration also featured a parade as well as a 5K run/walk, yard games and a dunk tank in the park, a horseshoe tournament, a watermelon-eating contest and a pie-baking competition. Monument likewise held a parade, with other festivities including vendor booths, a horseshoe contest, family games (including chicken poop bingo!), a community picnic, a dessert auction, a live auction featuring a prize package donated by the TV game show “Wheel of Fortune” and, to top it all off, fireworks over the river. (We’re not sure what the good people of Granite got up to, but we’ll bet they had a good time doing it.)

See you in the funny papers

As you may have noticed, as of last week we have ditched our half-page “Coffee Break” puzzle package and replaced it with something we think you’ll like even more — a full page of comic strips, puzzles and horoscopes. The comics are a mix of classic strips such as “Peanuts” and “Alley Oop,” more recent mainstays like “Pickles” and “Baby Blues” and new entries such as “Crabgrass” and “Phoebe and Her Unicorn.” The new page also features a crossword, Sudoku and 7 Little Words, plus a horoscope — all printed in type large enough to read without a magnifying glass! We hope you enjoy this addition to our paper.

Save the date

From 4 to 6 p.m. next Wednesday, July 19, the Blue Mountain Eagle will host a community open house at our office, 195 N. Canyon Blvd. in John Day. We’ll be offering tours of our recently remodeled work space, grilling up hot dogs and hamburgers in the parking lot, and serving cold drinks.

It’s a way to reintroduce ourselves to the community and say thank you for all your support through the years. Feel free to stop by and grab a plate of food, say hello and get to know the people who produce your newspaper every week. And don’t forget to bring your best story ideas for things you’d like to see us cover in the paper. We hope to see you there!