We’re still here, and we’re not going anywhere.

There have been a lot of questions since last week, when EO Media Group announced some major changes for many of its newspapers, including the Blue Mountain Eagle.

And that’s not surprising — there’s a lot of information to process.

But let’s start with what’s not changing: There will still be a print newspaper serving Grant County. It will just say East Oregonian at the top instead of Blue Mountain Eagle.  

The last printed edition of the Blue Mountain Eagle will come out on June 26. Starting in July, Eagle subscribers will begin receiving the East Oregonian, which will also be available in our office and at local retail outlets — the same places where you can find the Eagle now. What’s more, this new version of the East Oregonian will include news and advertising from Grant County, every week. As a newspaper of general circulation, it will also serve as the newspaper of record for Grant County — meaning any legal notices that local government entities, attorneys and others have been publishing in the Eagle can be published in the East Oregonian going forward, at the same rates as before.

The Eagle will still maintain an office in John Day, staffed by an editor, a reporter and an advertising rep, to take care of our readers and advertisers in Grant County. The Eagle’s website will still be there, with all of the local content you have come to expect from our weekly print edition, along with a whole lot more that just won’t fit in our printed pages. And starting in July, Eagle subscribers will gain full access to the websites of all our sister papers in Eastern Oregon.

Yes, there are changes underway. And yes, your printed newspaper will look different than it does now. But here’s one thing that won’t change: We are still committed to covering the news that matters to Grant County residents. 

Coming up this week, we’ll have stories and photos from the Grant Union and Prairie City high school graduation ceremonies, plus stories on the dismissal of charges in the burn boss case, what’s next for the CyberMills and a local student going to college on a dance scholarship.

And in case you missed it, last week’s Eagle featured stories on the Dayville School graduating class, the Grant School District budget, the Piecemakers quilt show and, of course, the Lady Prospectors winning a second straight state softball championship. 

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Having trouble accessing the Blue Mountain Eagle online? We can help. We want you to get full value out of your Eagle subscription, and that includes seamless access to our website and our cellphone app.

We know that navigating online platforms can be tricky, but our office manager, Alix Hand, is a whiz at this stuff, and she’s available two days a week to provide our subscribers with in-person assistance. Stop by our office at 195 N. Canyon Blvd. in John Day during business hours on Wednesday and let Alix help you get connected. For best results, bring your smartphone, laptop or tablet with you.

There’s also an online directory of help videos to show you how to activate your account, log in to the e-Edition and more at https://eomediagroup.com/docs. If you have problems, our customer service center is full of nice people who can help you — call them at 800-781-3214 or send an email to support@eomediagroup.com.

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As always, if you have comments or questions about the Eagle, or want to pass along a story idea, send me an email at this address: editor@bmeagle.com.

— Bennett Hall, Editor