Seneca School cooks up chili, baked foods

SENECA – The first Hunter’s Chili Feed and Baked Food Sale will be held 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1, at Seneca School. The public and all elk hunters are invited to stop by and enjoy the chili and cornbread and a variety of home-baked goods.

The event is sponsored by the Seneca Parent-Teacher Association. For more information, call Andrea Combs at 542-2632 or Jennifer Carter at 542-2608.

Christmas in Mt. Vernon on tap

MT. VERNON – Area businesses will participate in the first holiday bazaar of the season this weekend, Nov. 1-3 with Christmas in Mt. Vernon. Those participating will be “showing off American pride,” according to organizers. Refreshments will be served.

The Friday-Sunday event will include Maudean’s Gift Shop with homemade soaps, candy, cards, holiday decor and novelty gifts; Patricia Ross’ Art Studio showcasing original paintings, charcoal portraits and county crafts; Frontier Rentals & MK Parties which provides party supplies and rental equipment such as tables and chairs; and Second Hand Rose featuring musical instruments, Christmas decor, winter clothing and used furniture/appliances.

This is the 13th year for the Christmas in Mt. Vernon event. For more information, call Maudean Brown at 932-4503.

Cash flow clinic rescheduled

CANYON CITY – The Cash Flow Management workshop planned for Oct. 30 has been rescheduled for 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, in the conference room of the Guernsey Building, South Washington Street. Greg Smith will be the instructor.

Anyone wanting to attend can call 962-3391 to register.

Young rodeo riders organize

JOHN DAY – High school students who would like to participate in the Grant County High School Rodeo Club are invited to a meeting to be held 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30, at US Bank.

For more information, call advisor Chris Wenick at 575-1530.

Woodcutter faces hearing for alleged violation

BEND – Stanley Richard Parrish appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dennis Hubel in federal court in Bend Oct. 18 for a sentencing hearing. Parrish was scheduled to be sentenced for a woodcutting violation that occurred in August 2001.

Judge Hubel delayed sentencing until Dec. 5, when Parrish will appear before Judge Thomas Coffin in Eugene. Judge Hubel agreed to give Parrish additional time to prepare his defense on the two recent charges.

In the past two months, while awaiting sentencing for the August 2001 charge, he was arrested on two more occasions for additional woodcutting offenses, the Forest Service reported. As a result of Parrish’s alleged activities and his inability and unwillingness to abide by the conditions of his previous release agreement, Judge Hubel ordered Mr. Parrish be detained in the custody of the United States Marshal’s Service in Eugene.

Parrish has been in jail in Eugene since Oct. 9 after being charged and arrested for a second firewood theft.

Power outage originates at local substation

JOHN DAY – Oregon Trail Electric Co-op customers experienced an hourlong power outage on the morning of Friday, Oct. 25, due to problems that arose during routine maintenance at a substation.

About 1,400 consumers in the John Day, Canyon City and Prairie City areas were affected.

Repairs were made to an insulator and switch, and power was restored after approximately one hour and 10 minutes.

Local commission features Harrington

JOHN DAY – Families First’s new director Linda Harrington will be the featured program provider at the next meeting of the Grant County Commission on Children and Families.

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6, at the Grant School District 3 conference room, 401 N. Canyon City Blvd. Discussion will also include projected budget shortfalls should the tax increase be defeated in January.

For more information, call 575-3600.

GUHS talks grants

JOHN DAY – Grant Union High School will host a financial aid workshop for juniors and seniors in the high school library at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 19.

For additional information, call the school at 575-1799.

GUHS announces parent-teacher conferences

JOHN DAY – Parents of Grant Union High School have an opportunity to meet with teachers from 5:30-9 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6, in the old gym.

A musical interlude by the high school choir will be at 7:30 p.m.

Parents unable to attend are urged to contact the school and make arrangements for individual conferences. Call 575-1799.

4-H members sell flower bulbs

JOHN DAY – Country Critters 4-H livestock club members continue to take orders for spring flower bulbs.

As a tax-deductible fund-raiser, they will take orders for daffodils, tulip, lilies through Nov. 1. For more information, call 932-4212.

Fill a shoe box with love for youths overseas via Operation Christmas Child

JOHN DAY – Operation Christmas Child will again request local participation to fill shoe boxes with new gift items for children in countries affected by war, natural disasters or ravaged by famine.

For many of the recipients, this shoe box of gifts will be the only one they receive this year and may contain their only possessions.

In 2001, local residents contributed to several churches’ efforts by preparing 220 gift boxes. Samaritan’s Purse is the non-profit organization which funds and supports Operation Christmas Child, whose chairman is Franklin Graham, son of Billy Graham. Last year, 5.4 million boxes were distributed; this year’s goal is 6 million.

The public is invited to fill shoe boxes for boys or girls in the following age categories: 2 to 4 years, 5-9 or 10-14. Shoe boxes should be wrapped, with the lids wrapped separately, and must specify gender and age group.

Suggested items include toys such as yo-yos, small cars, balls, dolls/stuffed animals, harmonicas, hard candy, hats, T-shirts, small picture/coloring books, toothbrush/toothpaste, comb/hairbrush, soap/washcloth. Do not include items that are war-related, perishable, liquid or breakable. Those providing gift boxes are also asked to donate $5 inside the box to help with shipping costs.

Drop-off locations are at Len’s Drug and the John Day Church of the Nazarene through the deadline of Nov. 18.

More information is available by calling Corinne Stennett at 932-4905 or Zola Pike at 932-4625.

Livestock producers may qualify for assistance

JOHN DAY – The Farm Service Agency is now accepting applications for the Emergency Conservation Program, which cost-shares for emergency livestock water.

The Drought Emergency Measures practice provides cost-shares for livestock water wells, pipelines, spring developments, and troughs for pastures where livestock feed is available, but due to drought conditions, livestock do not have water. Well and permanent pipelines will be cost-shared at 50 percent of eligible costs. Temporary pipelines, troughs and spring developments will be cost-shared at 64 percent of eligible costs. Under Other Emergency Conservation Measures, cost-shares are authorized for 64 percent of the cost of hauling water. Eligible costs under EC7 include contractor costs, portable or permanent storage tanks, troughs, personal or hired labor costs for delivering water and pipelines. Cost shares may be approved for practices implemented prior to application if implementation was necessary to make feed available timely.

For more information, call FSA at 575-1274.

Bluegrass jam at Pilot Rock features meal, area pickers

PILOT ROCK – Every third Sunday from now through May, White Eagle Grange and the Oregon Bluegrass Association present a bluegrass jam at the hall from 12:30-5:30 p.m. There are pickers from all over the region who show up to play, sing and learn new pieces. The old, the young and the in-between get together to jam to their favorites, whether it be bluegrass, country, inspirational or something new.

To participate or just enjoy the music, there is no cover charge, but donations are accepted.

White Eagle Grange, four miles north of Pilot Rock, offers a meal during the event. The menu includes a turkey dinner, baked chicken, homemade stew or chili. Cost of the meal is $4 and is served from noon-4 p.m. Speakers in the dining room allow visitors to enjoy the music while they eat.

For more information, call Gail Wilson at 276-3778 or 1-800-838-9456, or e-mail to rgwilson@oregontrail.net.

Veterans Day memorial planned at Seventh Street

JOHN DAY – A dedication to veterans will be held 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 11, at Seventh Street Complex.

Members of the John Day Elks Lodge, American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars will participate in the memorial service. The public is invited to attend a soup and bread luncheon after the ceremony. Transportation can be arranged through the Grant County People Mover by calling 575-2370. For more information, call Drew Harmer at 575-0823.

In addition, the Elks Lodge will hold a special Veterans Day dinner beginning at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9. Bacon-wrapped filet mignon with shrimp will be served. Cost is $12 with Elks members who are veterans served free. Reservations deadline is Nov. 4 by calling 575-9937. The People Mover will provide transportation; to reserve a pick-up time call 575-2370.

EORenew to hold annual meeting

JOHN DAY – The Eastern Oregon Renewable Energies will host its annual meeting 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Dirty Shame Pizzeria, 145 E. Main St.

Reports on activities and Board of Directors elections will be followed by a no-host lunch. The meeting program at 1 p.m. will consist of a video “Power from the People”, about connecting the output of home energy systems to the utility grid. The meeting will finish with a field trip and tour of the new intertie location for the solar electric power system at Grant County Fairgrounds.

The meeting, lunch, presentation and field trip are open to the public but only current members may vote in the elections.

Barker also announced that homeowners can apply for a reduced-cost solar power installation through EORenew, the sponsor of SolWest Fair. The installation will be done the week of July 21-25, 2003, by a class of technical students under the direction of an instructor who is a professional solar installer.

Apply to: EORenew, P.O. Box 485, Canyon City, OR 97820 or to info@solwest.org. Phone inquiries are encouraged at 575-3633.

Involvement urged for holidays

JOHN DAY – The Festival of Trees will be held Dec. 13 at Trowbridge Pavilion, and area businesses, clubs, organizations or individuals are invited to join the action by decorating trees or providing other items for the live auction. A matinee will be offered 1-4 p.m. for children and senior citizens. The doors open at 7 for the Festival, bidding begins at 8. The trees will not be shown the next evening during the Timber Truckers Light Parade.

For the fourth year, the Festival of Trees has been a successful fund-raiser for Grant County Fair. To become involved, contact Fair Manager Carolyn Stout at 575-1900.

The Timber Truckers Light Parade is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 14, heralding the theme “Forests Alive Forever.”

A procession of light-emitting, glowing log trucks and other vehicles will parade through the streets of John Day, then participants will gather at Trowbridge Pavilion for an awards ceremony with various prizes awarded.

To lend support or offer donations for this annual event, call Angie Billman at 820-3645.

Tree farmers gather for annual awards luncheon, workshop

PORTLAND – The 2002 annual Awards Luncheon and Workshop, sponsored by the Oregon Tree Farm System and the World Forestry Center, will be held Monday, Nov. 25, at the World Forestry Center, 4033 S.W. Canton Road in Portland.

The luncheon will honor selected tree farmers throughout the state who practice exemplary forestry work. During the event, Oregon’s Tree Farmer of the Year will be announced. Past East Oregon recipients include Lance and Jennifer Barker of Bear Valley, who were awarded Oregon Tree Farmer of the Year 2000, and Howard Johnson who was Wallowa County Tree Farmer of the Year 2000.

A morning workshop will discuss this year’s fire season. Guest speakers from the Oregon Department of Forestry will give presentations and show a video. Steve Fitzgerald will talk about creating a defensible space around homesites, and Keep Oregon Green Director D.C. Haas will give a brief history of the organization and discuss future plans. The morning workshop will be at the Davis Douglas Room at 9 a.m. followed by the Annual Awards Banquet in Miller Hall from noon-1:45 p.m. The annual Awards Banquet will honor tree farmers throughout the state.

RSVP with $15 for the meal by Nov. 20 to: Little Beaver Creek, 14655 N.W. Parson Road, Forest Grove, OR 97116. No tickets will be available to purchase at the door.

An Oregon Tree Farm System Board Meeting will follow the luncheon at 2 p.m. The meeting is open to all Oregon Tree Farm Members who wish to attend. The agenda will include planning activities for 2003.

Logging conference offers seminars

EUGENE – The 65th annual Oregon Logging Conference will be held Feb. 19-22 in Eugene.

A full-day logger training program will be offered at the Eugene Hilton on Feb. 19, and millions of dollars of equipment will be on display at the Lane County Fairgrounds Feb. 20-22. Seminars and panel discussions will be held throughout the conference at the Lane County Convention Center.

This year’s conference will carry the theme, “America’s Forests – Habitat for Humanity.”

On-line registration is available by accessing www.oregonloggingconf.com, or call 686-9191.

Riparian panel meets Oct. 30 at Prineville

PRINEVILLE – The Eastside Riparian Functions Advisory Committee, formed by the Oregon Department of Forestry, will meet Wednesday, Oct. 30, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Crook County Library at the corner of Second Street and Meadow Lakes Road in Prineville.

At the Oct. 30 meeting, the committee will continue deliberations on forest practices water protection rule recommendations that are necessary to meet water quality standards and to protect and restore salmonid habitat in Eastern Oregon. The committee has been meeting since June 2001.

Additional information may be obtained by contacting Gregg Cline, Forest Practices program director, at (503) 945-7482, or Unit Forester John Buckman in Umatilla County at 276-3491.