By Randy Parks
Burns Times-Herald

Sunny skies and warm temperatures greeted the competitors at the Arlie Oster Memorial Lions Invitational hosted by Burns High School on Saturday, April 12.

In the girls meet, the Burns Hilanders placed third and the Crane Mustangs came in fourth. Nyssa placed first in the girls standings with 178.5 points, followed by Grant Union with 139, Burns 124, Crane 91, Madras 42, Culver 37.5, Jordan Valley 17 and Prairie City 14.

The Crane boys team also placed in the team standings, while the Burns boys finished sixth. Grant Union won the boys meet with 161 points, followed by Madras and Nyssa with 112, Crane 109, Culver 102, Burns 39, Prairie City 10 and Jordan Valley 0.

The Hilanders’ Jaela Dinsmore set a new school record in the 200-meter dash with a time of 26.06 and Steven Smartt set a new school record in the javelin with a throw of 166 feet, 3 inches. It’s the third meet in a row that Smartt has set a new school record in that event.

Named as Top Performers for the meet by the Burns coaching staff were Ralph Caldwell and Brea Ribeiro.
Those athletes finishing in the top eight of their event for both Burns (B) and Crane (C) are as follows (* denotes personal record):

Girls
100m — Dinsmore (B) 1st (12.61*), Jennifer Higle (B) 4th (13.48*), Emilee O’Toole (C) 6th (13.68), Caity DeBoer (C) 7th (13.74), Alex Borelli (C) 8th (13.76).
200m — Dinsmore 1st (26.06*), Lindy Steeves (C) 5th (28.50), Deboer (C) 7th (28.93), Natalie Bentz (C) 8th (29.26).
400m — September O’Crowley (C) 1st (1:01.64), Bethany Milburn (C) 6th (1:10.14), Brenda Otley (C) 8th (1:18.54).
800m — Jamie Higle (B) 2nd (2:29.40*), Iris Gunkel (C) 5th (3:01.79).
1,500m — Louisa Van Batavia (B) 2nd (5:35.06), Brianna Cunningham (B) 4th (5:46.91).
3,000m — Van Batavia (B) 2nd (12:44.28), Cunningham (B) 3rd (13:21.39), Delilas Korth (C) 4th (13:24.59), Gunkel (C) 7th (14:39.21).
4×100 relay — Burns 2nd (Ribeiro, Dinsmore, Je. Higle, Ja. Higle 50.95*), Crane 3rd (Borelli, DeBoer, O’Toole, Steeves 53.53).
4×400 relay — Burns 1st (Ribeiro, Ja. Higle, Je. Higle, Dinsmore 4:13.24*), Crane 3rd (Bentz, Borelli, Steeves, O’Crowley 4:14.67).
100m hurdles — Ribeiro (B) 1st (16.71*), Savannah Duff (C) 5th (19.38), Brianna Brown (C) 6th (19.64).
300m hurdles — Ribeiro (B) 1st (50.16*), Milburn (C) 5th (54.99), Brown (C) 7th (58.09).
Shot put — Amber Hodge (B) 3rd (30’ 4”*), Courtney Toney (B) 6th (28’ 9”*).
Discus — Chelsea Siegner (B) 5th (89’ 0”*), Taylor Lee (B) 7th (83’ 3 1/2”*)
Triple jump — Stefani Sanders (B) 7th (26’ 5”), Duff (C) 8th (26’ 3 1/2”).
Javelin — Hodge (B) 3rd (92’ 1”*), Toney (B) 7th (83’ 8”).
High jump — Bentz (C) 1st (5’ 1”).
Pole vault — O’Crowley (C) 1st (8’), Bentz (C) 2nd (7’ 6”), Sanders (B) 8th (6’).

Boys
100m — Chris Brower (C) 4th (12.19), Lucas Schaefer (B) 6th (12.26*), Levi Crisp (C) 7th (12.31).
200m — Brower (C) 4th (24.57).
400m — Milton Merritt (C) 2nd (55.68), Schaefer (B) 6th (57.51).
800m — Ralph Caldwell (B) 6th (2:22.55*), Kenny Willsey (C) 7th (2:30.79).
1,500m — Caldwell (B) 6th (4:56.12*).
3,000m — Garrett DeGraw (C) 3rd (10:11.11), Gus Titus (C) 4th (10:35.19).
4×100 relay — Crane 3rd (Crisp, Blake Steeves, Raymond Thompson, Brower 47.33).
4×400 relay — Crane 4th (Crisp, Merritt, Brower, Levi Harris 3:57.94).
110m hurdles — Harris (C) 3rd (17.65).
300m hurdles — Harris (C) 4th (46.26), Jeran Conaway (C) 6th (47.92).
Long jump — Crisp (C) 3rd (18’ 7 1/2”), Harris (C) 5th (18’ 7 1/2”).
Shot put — Thompson (C) 3rd (44’ 6”), Smartt (B) 4th (41’ 10”*), Carl Neumann (C) 5th (40’ 9”).
Discus — Carraig Colahan (B) 3rd (124’ 6 3/4”*), Smartt (B) 5th (109’ 1/2”), Thompson (C) 6th (106’ 2”).
Triple jump — Steeves (C) 5th (38’ 9 3/4”), Conor Colahan (B) 7th (38’ 2 1/2”).
Javelin — Smartt (B) 1st (166’ 3”*), Thompson (C) 6th (149’ 7”).
High jump — Conaway (C) 3rd (5’ 10”), Kyle Borelli (C) 5th (5’ 6”), Steeves (C) 8th (5’ 4”).
Pole vault — Conaway (C) 5th (10’).

Several other Hilander athletes set personal records in events although they did not place. Those athletes include: Phillip Kness in the 100m (12.99) and the triple jump (32’ 2 1/2”); Anthony Frail in the 800m (2:28.55); Josh Walters in the 1500m (6:07.84); Landon Hannaford in the 3,000m (12:19.00), the triple jump (27’ 7”) and the long jump (13’ 6 1/2”); Ca. Colahan in the javelin (122’ 10”) and the shot put (34’ 9 1/2”); Sanders in the long jump (13’ 2”); Toney in the discus (65’ 9 3/4”); and Natalie Wassom in the javelin (70’ 11”).

•••

The Crane Mustangs competed at Pepsi Invite track meet in Union on Friday, April 11.

The Crane boys team won the meet and the girls team placed third. The meet also included 1A schools Adrian, Cove, Wallowa, Imbler, Harper, Pine Eagle, Powder Valley and Joseph, and 2A schools Pilot Rock, Enterprise, Heppner, Elgin and Union.

The Mustangs’ Garrett DeGraw set a new school record in the 3,000 meters at the meet with a time of 10:11.51.
Individual placers for the Mustangs are as follows:

Girls
100m — O’Toole 4th (13.63), Borelli 5th (13.75), DeBoer 6th (13.88).
200m — Steeves 1st (28.37), de Boer 5th (29.27).
400m — O’Crowley 1st (1:03.15).
800m — O’Toole 4th (2:44.46), Bentz 7th (2:47.88), Korth 8th (2:49.21).
3,000m — Korth 4th (13:20.81).
100m hurdles — Duff 8th (19.95).
300 hurdles — Brown 7th (1:01.39).
4×100 relay — “A” team 1st (Steeves, Borelli, O’Toole, DeBoer 53.04), “B” team 7th (Duff, Milburn, Korth, Brenda Otley 58.60).
4×400 relay — Crane 1st (Steeves, Borelli, O’Crowley, Bentz 4:19.24).
Shot put — O’Crowley 8th (28’).
Discus — Rachael Pelroy 4th (78’ 3”).
Long jump — Duff 7th (13’).

Boys
100m — Brower 4th (11.90), Crisp 8th (12.15).
200m — Brower 3rd (24.60).
3,000m — DeGraw 2nd (10.11.51).
110m hurdles — L. Harris 2nd (17.68).
300m hurdles — L. Harris 2nd (46.27), Conaway 4th (47.31).
4×100 relay — “A” team 2nd (Brower, Thompson, Steeves, Crisp 47.33), “B” team 8th (L. Harris, Ty Harris, Neumann, Borelli 54.30).
4×400 relay — Crane 4th (Crisp, Merritt, Thompson, Brower 3:56.90).
Shot put — Neumann 5th (36’ 11 3/4”).
Javelin — Thompson 5th (131’ 10”).
High jump — Borelli 3rd (5’ 6”), Conaway, Alan Robertson tie 6th (5’ 4”).
Long jump — L. Harris 3rd (17’ 11 1/2”), Crisp 4th  (17’ 8 1/2”), Steeves 5th (17’ 6”).
Triple jump — Steeves 3rd (37’ 8 1/2”).

Former Burns resident, Barbara Louise (Baker) Burke, 62, died of cancer on Sunday, April 6, at Sky Lakes Medical Center in Klamath Falls.

She was born in Burns on May 2, 1945, the middle child of Florence Jean (Capps) and William Gerald Baker.

Burke was raised in Burns and following graduation from high school, she became a waitress and enjoyed this career until retirement last year.

Burke is survived by her children, Mardi Burd and husband George, Florence Jenner, and Dennis Madden, all of Klamath Falls; grandchildren, Brittany, Brandi, Matthew, Katelyn, Bethany, Jessica, Tyler, Dennis, Daniel, Mercedys, Savannah and Kiya; sisters, Linda Cherry and husband Gary, and Donna Baker; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

A celebration of Burke’s life was held on Saturday, April 12, in the First Presbyterian Church, in Klamath Falls. Private interment at Mt. Laki Cemetery followed. In lieu of flowers contributions in Burke’s memory may be made to the charity of one’s choice.

O’Hair & Riggs Funeral Chapel was in charge of arrangements.

Ruth Dorsey Culp, 90, died in Yuma, Ariz., on March 4.

She was born on the family ranch near Dayton, on March 20, 1917.

Culp grew up on the family farm near the Willamette River. She was the fifth of eight children, with brothers, Martin, Elwyn, Norwood (who died at the age of 4 in 1919), David, Vaughn and Bobby, and sister, Rowine. Culp said that Rowine was the pretty one, and then there was her.

Times were tough growing up, and Culp carried a real concern for how hard her folks worked to provide for all of the children. The girls picked wild berries to provide their mother with enough to can for the winter, and also picked in the fields to earn school money. They walked to McMinnville to sell any extra berries — a five-mile hike one way. Once they had sold the fruit, they could go swimming. Her brothers worked the farm with their father. They grew grass for seed or hay, and also had a gravel bunker, a few sheep, a milk cow, and of course the buggy horse and work horses.

Culp entered nurses training at St. Elizabeth’s in Yakima, Wash., when she was 16. The school was a training hospital and a three-year program. She was trained by Catholic nuns. She was very appreciative of the nuns’ work ethic and their life lessons. Culp was hired as the operating nurse by the hospital and worked there until she was called back to McMinnville to work with the family doctor. She then went to St. Vincent’s in Portland. After moving to Burns, she would take special nursing cases for ranching families.

She met Pat Culp while he was a student at Linfield College, in McMinnville. He was the driver for Doctor Reitzel, the Dorsey family doctor. They were married in 1939, and Culp left the Willamette Valley for Harney County; she said “for this God-forsaken country.”

She loved the ranch, and the ranch house. She and her close friend, who was also her mother-in-law, Hazel Mace Culp, worked together cooking for the buckaroo crew, farming crew and haying crew, all eating at different times of the day.

In the fall, they would go to Portland to shop. Culp worked at the hospital to earn enough for special projects at the ranch, like wiring the ranch house for electricity, or indoor-plumbing, or a new well.

Culp returned full time to her nursing career in October 1962. She later became the operating room supervisor, and held this position until her retirement. Upon retiring, she worked as the relief operating room supervisor for another three years. During this time, she purchased a little less than an acre, built a home, and managed to turn the grounds into another Willamette Valley.

Culp liked to spend her winters in Yuma. Always the gardener, she planted one dozen roses in Yuma, along with any flower or tree she thought she could get away with planting. Her yard was the showcase of the mobile park, where she lived. Each morning, roses were cut and given to any passerby, along with oranges, grapefruit and tangelos. Her evenings were spent having a toddy with friends and always telling stories.

Through the years, she was always teaching her grandchildren right from wrong, ethics, morals, integrity, love of sports and the political way of the United States. Culp was known as a person who knew how to have fun, a nurse, a gardener, a sports enthusiast, a humorist, a mentor, a friend, a disciplinarian or a task master. She was also a mom, a grams, and not a great-grandma, but a “GiGi.”

Culp is survived by her daughter, Patricia McDonald, of Burns; grandchildren Dorothy Linville of Rushton, Ind., Deborah Seaman of Anchorage, Alaska, Beverly LaFollette of Burns, and David McDonald of Burns; brothers, David Dorsey of Ukiah, Calif., and Robert Dorsey of Dayton; eight great-grandchildren; niece, Ruthie Miller; nephews, David Litscher, Mark Christy and Ted Tiller; and many other nieces and nephews.

Contributions in Culp’s memory may be made to the Harney County Historical Society and Museum, in care of LaFollette’s Chapel, P.O. Box 488, Burns, OR 97720.

Edwin Harvey Henderson died on April 5.

He was born in Orrville, Ohio, the son of Raymond Charles and Lucille Cox Henderson. His extended family included grandparents, aunts and uncles, and many first cousins in the Coshocton, Ohio area. His immediate family moved to Cleveland upon the death of his father in 1936.

Henderson joined the U.S. Navy in 1943 and sailed on the U.S.S. Enterprise, the aircraft carrier assigned to the Pacific throughout World War II. At the end of the war, he sailed on iron ore boats on the Great Lakes between Duluth, Minn., and Ohio ports.

He met Madelyn Goddard at a church function in Lorraine, Ohio, and they were married on Dec. 30, 1950. They moved to Duluth and then to Silver Bay, Minn., where Henderson worked for Reserve Mining Company.

The family moved to Prineville, in 1965. Henderson built and operated Sunshine Laundromat for several years. In 1972, he returned to sailing, first on a commercial fishing boat from Astoria and, later, on United States Geological Survey, Oregon State University and Columbia University research vessels. He also sailed on work vessels in the off-shore oil fields of California, Louisiana and Southeast Asia. He was rescued at sea when his ship sank off the New England coast in 1985.

In retirement, Henderson and his wife volunteered in Big Bend National Park for three years and were campground hosts in Washington and Nevada. They moved back to Prineville in 1995, and lived for a short period of time in Dufur before moving to Burns in 2004.

Henderson attended church in each community and was a member of Pioneer Presbyterian Church in Burns. He was a member of Masonic Lodge No. 50 and attended Masonic meetings in Burns. He enjoyed family camping vacations, fishing, and listening to “Prairie Home Companion” and Scottish bagpipes. He also enjoyed reading history and geography, and especially enjoyed newspapers from all over the country.

Henderson had many good friends and enjoyed social gatherings. He loved animals and had several faithful dogs.

Henderson is survived by his wife, Madelyn Henderson of Burns; daughters, Martha Henderson of Burns and Karen Gallagher and son-in-law Vince of Salem; grandchildren, Monica and John Tubesing; and niece, Sarah Aspen of Nashville, Tenn.

Henderson’s ashes will be scattered at sea. Contributions in his memory can be made to the Salvation Army of Bend, in care of LaFollette’s Chapel, P.O. Box 488, Burns, OR 97720.

Russel L. Moore of Hines died on April 12.

He was born on Feb. 8, 1950, in Pasco, Wash.

Moore was a Vietnam veteran, and was proud of having served his country. He worked as a teamster in the Tri-Cities of Washington for most of his life.

For 10 years, he lived in Alaska, then moved to Burns in 1997.

Moore is survived by his mother, Vina Tiller of Burns; step-dad, Ray Tiller of Burns; and brothers, Raymond Moore and wife Shellie and Allen Moore, all of Kennewick, Wash.

He was preceded in death by his father, Vernon Moore, and sister, Judy Kaufman.

By request of the family, no service will be held.

Roger Robinson died on April 7.

He was born on May 3, 1938, in Hines, to Roy and Doris (George) Robinson.

Robinson was raised in and lived in Harney County his entire life. He married his high school sweetheart, Mary Ann Baker, on Aug. 9, 1958. They had been married for 46 years when she died in 2004. The couple raised four boys — Dubey, Rod, Mike and Dag — at their home in Burns.

In his younger years, Robinson worked as a buckaroo on the Walt McEwen Ranch. He also worked for the Harney County Road Department and Edward Hines Lumber Co.

He owned and operated Roger’s Texaco in downtown Burns for several years. After selling the business, Robinson went to work for Bob Otley, driving truck and working in the woods. Eventually, he went into business for himself as owner and operator of a road grader. He continued this business until his retirement.

Robinson served in the Oregon National Guard, and was on the Burns Volunteer Fire Department for many years.
He enjoyed elk hunting, collecting guns, tinkering with old Jeeps, camping and fishing with his wife and family at Warm Springs, and spending time at the family cabin. He and his wife enjoyed their many trips to McDermitt and Laughlin, Nev., with their family and friends.

Robinson is survived by his sons Dubey Robinson and wife Deana of Prineville, Rod Robinson and wife Susan of Sisters, and Dag Robinson and wife Rachael of Hines; daughter- in-law, Lisa and husband John of Redmond; granddaughters, Kelly, Randi and Jamie; grandsons, Kenny, Ross and Jackson; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Doris Robinson; brother, James; son, Mike; and wife Mary Ann.

Contributions in Robinson’s memory may be made to the Harney County Home Health, in care of LaFollette’s Chapel, P.O. Box 488, Burns, OR 97720.

Pamela Liebig-Thornton, 56, of La Grande died at St. Lukes Hospital in Boise after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

She was born in Portland on May 22, 1951, to Norman and Dorothy (Drinkwater) Liebig of Hines.

As an infant she lost her first mother and was raised by her father’s second wife Marion (Sutherland) Liebig who she knew as her mother. She spent her childhood in the Hines area where she attended public schools.

She met and fell in love with Fred Thornton Jr. in high school and they married on Jan. 27, 1968, in Weiser, Idaho. They had two daughters, Tina and Kari, while living in Hines. She moved with her husband to La Grande where she had lived for the past 26 years.

Thornton worked at the Harney County Hospital in Burns in various roles within the hospital. In La Grande, she worked at the Grande Ronde Hospital as well as in-home services for seniors. During the past several years, she devoted her time and energy to her family and recently to her two grandchildren. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and daughter.

Thornton enjoyed growing colorful flowers and feeding humming birds in her garden. Birds and squirrels were always welcomed into her yard, where her feeders were kept full. She was an avid shopper who enjoyed giving gifts and never once missed a chance to celebrate a birthday or holiday for her family and friends.

Thornton is survived by her husband Fred Jr.; daughters, Tina Thornton, Kari Mussatto and husband Bob of La Grande; son, Andrew Vilk of Roseburg; mother, Gloria Golden of Texas; sister, Monica Clancy of Texas; step-brother, Steve Russell of San Francisco, Calif.; two grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.

Thornton was preceded in death by her parents Norman, Dorothy and Marion Liebig, and Monte La Lumia; and a brother, Anthony Liebig.

A recitation of the rosary was held at Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory on April 10. A Mass of Christian burial was held on April 11 at Our Valley of the Lady Catholic Church, 1002 L Ave. in La Grande. Burial followed at the Grandview Cemetery.

Contributions in Thornton’s memory may be made to St. Lukes Hospital, MSTI, Grande Ronde Hospital or the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization.

Harney Partners for Kids and Families meets on the third Wednesday of each month.

Babe Ruth meets the third Wednesday of each month in the courthouse basement meeting room, 450 North Buena Vista, at 7 p.m.

Community Response Team meets the third Wednesday of each month at Hines City Hall, 101 East Barnes, at 5:30 p.m. For dinner reservations, call Pam Mather at 573-2251.

Oregon Hunters Association is for all hunters, whether rifle, bow, shotgun, muzzle loader or other. The local chapter meets at Linda’s Thai Room, the third Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m and is followed by a board meeting.

Storytime for preschoolers is held Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. at the Harney County Library.

Burns Fire Dept. meets each Wednesday at the Burns Fire Hall at 7 p.m.

Burns Elks Lodge, 118 North Broadway, meets each Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Alcoholics Anonymous meets each Wednesday at the Foursquare Church at 7 p.m.

James G. Tate, 85, of Eugene died of a heart attack on April 5. He was born in Shelbyville, Kent., on Aug. 3, 1922, to Thomas and Josephine (Bird) Tate. He was the youngest of five children, all whom have preceded him in death.

Tate married Phyllis Cahail on Jan. 27, 1947. She preceded him in death in 2006.
He was a construction millwright, rancher and master gardener. Tate always had a favorite hunting or fishing story to tell.

Tate is survived by his children, Margaret (Maggie) Powell of Eugene, James (Bud) Tate, Jr. of Wallowa, and Robert (Bob) of Bend; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and many friends. A private family service will be held at a later date. Contributions in Tate’s memory may be made to the Greenhill Humane Society.

Burns Planning Commission meets the third Thursday of each month at Burns City Hall, 242 South Broadway, at 7 p.m.

Harney County Historical Society meets the third Thursday of each month at the Elks Lodge, 118 North Broadway, at 11:45 a.m.

The Alternative Energy Club (AEC) meets the third Thursday of each month at Harney County Library, 80 West D Street, at 7 p.m.

Silvies River Spinners meets the third Thursday of each month at 650 East Washington at 7 p.m.

Tween Night is held at the Boys & Girls Club on the third Thursday of each month, from 6-7 p.m. The night is for kids who are told they are too young, or too old, for other activities.

Tai Chi  is held every Thursday at the Harney County Senior and Community Services Center, from 9:30-10:30 a.m. All ages are  welcome to participate.

Kiwanis Club of Burns-Hines meets for a no-host luncheon each Thursday at Glory Days Pizza, 690 Oregon Ave., at noon.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly meets each Thursday at Hines City Hall, 101 East Barnes, at noon. Call 573-2896.