4-H Day Camp

JOHN DAY – Come one and come all to learn what 4-H has to offer from 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 1 at the 7th Street Complex. Check-in at 8:30 a.m. Discounted preregistration price is $7.50 (due by July 27) or pay $10 at the gate. Info: 575-1911.

Fair royalty tryouts

JOHN DAY – Ladies interested in becoming part of the 2007-2008 fair and rodeo court may pick up applications at the Grant County Fairgrounds. Applications must be returned by Aug. 3. Info: 575-1900.

Swing dance

JOHN DAY – A first Friday swing dance will be held at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 3 at the John Day Methodist Church hall. Info: Andrew at 575-0227 or Karen at 575-0040.

Couple’s retreat

JOHN DAY – Strawberry Mountain Christian Fellowship will hold a couple’s day retreat from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 4 at the church on Dayton Street. Cost is $25. Ken Ortize from Calvary Chapel Spokane will speak, followed by a concert with Terry Clark at 7 p.m. Info: 575-2006.

Appreciation dinner

PRAIRIE CITY – Blue Mountain Nursing Home will have a staff appreciation dinner on Aug. 8 to celebrate its 8th year of being deficiency free in its state survey. Info: 820-3341.

Horse show

JOHN DAY – The 2007 Grant County Fair open horse show will be held at 8 a.m. Aug. 11 at the fairgrounds. Entries due by 5 p.m. Aug. 8. No post entries. New this year: Ranch horse class. Info: 575-1900 or Shirley Lee at 932-4532.

Vacation Bible school

JOHN DAY – John Day Church of the Nazarene will hold “Tumbleweed Gulch” vacation Bible school from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 12 – 16 at the church. For ages 4 through sixth grade. Register online at www.JohnDayNazarene.com or at 6 p.m. Aug. 12. Info: 575-1895.

Family bike night

JOHN DAY – Families are invited to bike around the path at the Seventh Street Complex from 7-8 p.m. on Aug. 16. This includes a short lesson on helmet safety and hand signals with a couple of loops around the trail. A permission slip signed by a parent is required for youth who come by themselves (pick up permission slips at the district office or the pool). Juice and giveaways will be provided. The event is sponsored by John Day Canyon City Parks and Rec. and Safe Communities. Info, 575-0110.

Family fun night

in the pool

JOHN DAY – Families are invited to Gleason Pool 6-8 p.m. on Aug. 18. Food, games and drinks will be provided by Parks and Rec. The activity is free for pool-pass holders or $1 for each family member. Info: 575-0110.

Recreation football signups

JOHN DAY – Registration for youth football for third- through sixth-graders will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 23 at the district office near the skate park. The program will run through October. Cost is $40. For more information, contact the Parks and Recreation office at 575-0110.

Citizen course

JOHN DAY – Local members of the national organization We The People will hold an educational seminar on constitutional law mid-September in John Day. Info: David Snyder, 932-4810.

OngoingFossil Beds

The John Day Fossil Beds National Monument will offer a Painted Hills auto tour at 10 a.m. Aug. 4 at the Painted Hills picnic area, ten miles west of Mitchell. The two-hour tour is free and no reservations are required. Participants will need to bring their own vehicle, and good tires are recommended for the gravel roads.

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 5 p.m. daily. Info: 987-2333.

Gleason Pool

JOHN DAY – Gleason Pool is open for public swimming from 1 to 5 p.m. for $4 and 6:30 to 8 p.m. for $1.50 daily. Call the pool for season pass prices at 575-9930.

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.

Museums

Grant County Historical Museum, Canyon City Boulevard, Canyon City is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Info: 575-0362.

Grant County Ranch and Rodeo Museum, on Main Street in John Day, across from the Ford dealer at Dayton Street open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday or by appointment. Admission: $3. Under 12, free. Info: 575-5545 or 820-3624.

Kam Wah Chung and Co. Museum and Visitor’s Center, 125 NW Canton Street, John Day, renovated museum opens Aug. 6. Interpretive center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day. Info: 575-2800.

DeWitt Museum and Prairie City Depot of the Sumpter Valley Railway, Main and Bridge Street, Prairie City, will open for special group and school tours by arrangement. Info: 820-3330.

Prairie City Recycling

PRAIRIE CITY – The Prairie City Recycling Center is now taking clean and flattened tin. The center is open from 9 a.m. to noon every Saturday, unless otherwise advertised. The center is run by volunteers. To volunteer, call Ruth McPherren at 820-4326.