Photographer Ruthie Miller has become a community fixture as she captures the people and events of Harney County through the lens of her camera

By Randy Parks
Burns Times-Herald

If a picture is worth a thousand words, Ruthie Miller probably has enough to fill the Library of Congress and the collection is still growing.

Not only does Miller run her own photography studio, In His Image Photography, but she can be found snapping pictures at just about every event in Harney County.

“I just really enjoy photography,” Miller said. “A single photograph can tell a story,  and that’s what I look for.”

The beginning

Miller first went to work in the building where her business, Ruthie’s, now stands in November 1963. At that time it was a jewelry store owned by Orm and Miriam Carter. She eventually went into partnership with the Carters, and then took over sole ownership in the late 1980s.

Because of changing economics in the area, Miller scaled back the jewelry portion of the store a couple of years ago and began expansion of the photography section.

Although the jewelry inventory has been cut back, Ruthie’s still offers jewelry repair, watch batteries and bands, plaques, trophies, awards and engraving.

The photography

“My first interest in photography started when I was in high school, and then doing photography for other people came about when I started working here,” Miller said.

Since that time, Miller has offered portraits for just about every occasion including birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, reunions, high school senior pictures, newborns and family pictures.

As far as where the pictures are taken, Miller said she can supply a variety of indoor and outdoor settings or she can go to the customer’s favorite location.

The newly remodeled studio at the store features a number of different textured backdrops, a variety of colors and lots of props and costumes.

While Miller prefers to shoot her photos in a natural setting, modern technology has made it possible to put the subjects in almost any setting.

Using a green screen as the background allows Miller to digitally alter the setting to just about anything or anywhere. “I have a disc of different backgrounds they can choose from, or we can use one of my photos of the Steens, Kiger Gorge or wherever and put them in,” Miller said.

While Miller has entered, somewhat reluctantly, the digital world, she still uses film and prints for customers. “People can come in and view photos on the computer, or we can have prints for them to look at,” she said. “Some people like to lay the prints out to compare, so it’s just customer preference.”

Along with portraits, Miller is kept busy with school pictures, individual and team photos for youth sports, attending high school events and many other activities.

Student photos

No matter what level of competition, you’re more likely than not to find Miller close to the action, camera ready. “I love sports,” she said. “I was active in sports when I was in school (Dayton High school), and then when I went to work, taking pictures of the games became a way to still enjoy sports.”

Miller added that by taking photos of students, she hopes they can look at them and see the good of what they’re doing. “I say sports, but it could be band or chorus or whatever,” she said. “Physically, spiritually, morally, you need to make that full circle to make a well-rounded individual.”

Miller’s photos also provide parents with memories of their children they might not have otherwise. “Not every family has the ability to take pictures at all events, so I try to get as many as I can,” she said. “I just really appreciate being around sports and the kids.”

Ruthie’s

Because Miller spends a great deal of time on the go, she relies on her employees to keep the store running smoothly. “Deshaunna Simpson, Shanna Runnels and Peggy Farley are invaluable,” Miller said. “They receive orders, place orders, number photos, sometimes deliver photos and a lot of other things. I couldn’t do it without them.”

Ruthie’s, at 380 North Broadway in Burns, is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
Working six days a week and after hours may seem like a lot, but Miller is unfazed. “I enjoy my work. I love the people. I’m a people person, and I enjoy being around families and kids,” she said.

Jail assessment money to fund coordinator position

By Lauren Brown
Burns Times-Herald

The county may have a new recourse in dealing with repeat drug offenders.  County employees have  been working on and are close to implementing a Drug Court.

According to the state Department of Human Services Web site drug courts offer non-violent drug offenders a chance to clear their record by completing a course of treatment. Only three counties in the state (Harney, Grant and Lake counties) currently do not have drug courts.

Harney County has found a way to fund the court through jail assessment money, which is money that comes from the fines people pay when convicted of crimes.

The committee working on the formation of the drug court addressed the county court at the Sept. 17 meeting, updating the judge and commissioners on their progress up to this point.

Committee members include Sheriff Dave Glerup, District Attorney Tim Colahan, Tammy Wheeler, Cheryl Foster and Harney Behavioral Health Director Chris Seigner. They have determined that the best way to run the program will be to hire a full-time employee to keep track of the program participants. Judge William Cramer will oversee the program. The cost of hiring a full-time employee will be around $45,000 plus the cost of benefits.

Committee members assured the county court that the funding is there for the program and the full-time employee. In addition, three measures on the November ballot may allow for possible drug court funding streams at the county level.

However, County Judge Steve Grasty had reservations about hiring another full-time employee as the county is almost at its insurance limit. As long as the county stays under 100 employees, its insurance costs won’t go up. Once it surpasses 100 employees, it may have to pay an additional $50,000 for insurance purposes.

“The drug courts have been extremely successful in recidivism,” Judge Grasty said. “If it works, it’ll be one heck of a savings for this community.”

According to the Department of Human Services, the average annual treatment cost for a drug court participant in Oregon in the year 2000 was $2,195. To jail a drug felon for a year costs between $21,170 and $37,595.

“We’re one of the last counties in the state to implement a drug court,” District Attorney Colahan said. “The concept has been proven.”
Colahan also went on to say that the program will deal with chronic offenders. “It’s much more effective than the normal probation model,” he said.

Sheriff Glerup said that instead of urine analysis testing a couple times a month, drug court participants will be tested multiple times per week and will meet regularly with Judge Cramer. Participants pay to be in the program and are monitored more closely than offenders in the normal court system.

In the end, the court gave the committee the go ahead to fill the drug court coordinator position.

Paperwork goof puts Len Vohs back in the race for mayor

By Lauren Brown
Burns Times-Herald

At the Sept. 17 Harney County Court meeting, new information came to light regarding the Burns mayoral race set to take place in November.

While two candidates had officially filed, Yvonne Warden and Loretta Carter, a third, Len Vohs, had withdrawn his name from consideration when he resigned from the Burns City Council in August.

County Clerk Maria Iturriaga stated that her office received an e-mail from John Lindback, Director of the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office Elections Division. The e-mail stated that because a “Withdrawal of Candidacy or Nomination” form was never filled out for Vohs, his name must appear on the November ballot.

Iturriaga said that because the ballots have already been printed, they will have to be reprinted at a cost of about $800 to the City of Burns.

Vohs, who had withdrawn his name from the race in August, subsequently decided to run as a write-in candidate in September. Now, his name will appear on the November ballot.

In other business:

• the court heard a report from Weed Coordinator Chris Gregg on the appearance of a new noxious weed in Harney County. It is called African rue. It is a multi-branched and bushy perennial. Gregg stated that it is toxic to cattle. The plant has been found off Hutchison Lane near Lawen.

Gregg said the Oregon Department of Agriculture is working on a grant to treat the weed, and he recommended to the Weed Board that the plant be put on the A-list of noxious weeds.

Gregg stated that he couldn’t say for sure how the noxious plant ended up in Harney County, but that it has been a problem for the last 12 years in Crook County;

• Representatives from Treasure Valley Community College (TVCC) Karen Hendrickson and George Wynn were present to explain why the TVCC budget includes an $8,000 match from the county to run the distance education program in Burns.

Judge Steve Grasty said the court would refrain from making a decision until the October meeting when another TVCC official, Linda Simmons, could be present;

• the court appointed Len Vohs and Pat Howes to the Harney Malheur Community Action Agency Advisory Board;

• the court met with County Planning Director Brandon McMullen and consultant Brent Lakes concerning the wind facilities siting;

• the court met with Planning Director McMullen and Stan Foster, a public affairs research consultant, concerning a technical assistance grant that the county has received. The grant pays for  a company to go through county ordinances and update outdated references as well as fix typos. The company will also assist the county with any new language changes that it might want to add.

• County Health Director Cheryl Keniston and LaDene Hurd addressed the court about the possibility of having the county pay for employees to have flu shots and health screenings.

The court declined to pay for the flu shots, but asked Keniston to come back with more specific numbers on how many employees would take advantage of a health screening;

• the court reviewed the solid waste disposal site closure permit for the Sod House Landfill.

The next Harney County Court meeting will be at 10 a.m. Oct. 8  in Judge Steve Grasty’s office.

Board president states funds were mismanaged

By Lauren Brown
Burns Times-Herald

Boys & Girls Club of Harney County Board President Ron Wulff said that, with the departure of Chief Professional Officer Ruby Bottom, the board has discovered some worrisome budget issues at the Sept. 17 Harney County Court meeting.

Wulff requested $8,600 in emergency aid from the county in order to get the club through the next two pay periods.

In a written overview of the situation, Wulff wrote, “The current financial status shows an inability to make the club’s monthly expenses due on Sept. 30.”

The overview went on to state that the board had become too dependent on the Chief Professional Officer (CPO) and, with her departure, found a lack of a check and balance system. “The consequence of this is that the club has been mismanaged financially,” Wulff told the county court.

Wulff said the board has taken a number of steps to cut costs. These include reducing personnel hours, closing the teen house, eliminating cable TV, closing a storage shed, eliminating bank fees and looking at ways to save energy. Wulff stated that he had gone through the club’s budget line item by line item looking for places to cut.

However, even with all the measures the board has taken to minimize operating expenses, Wulff said the club is still in need of about $8,600 to make it through the next two pay periods.

After that, the club will start its annual fund-raising campaign. Other revenue generating events will include the Diamond in a Glass dinner/auction, the Burns/Hines run/walk, a haunted house, a monthly indoor yard sale and golf tournament.

In the strategic plan submitted to the court, Wulff wrote, “With the new focus of the board, we are confident the club will not only survive but prosper and grow with the community.”

County Judge Steve Grasty thanked Wulff for his presentation and all the work he has done on the club’s budget. “I don’t want to see the Boys & Girls Club go away,” Grasty said. “By the same token, I’m not sure where we can come up with $8,600.”

Commissioner Dan Nichols stated that in private business if one can’t pay the bills, they shut down for a while. Nichols also said that while the club is an important part of the community, it shouldn’t fall on the shoulders of the taxpayers to fund it.

Wulff agreed that shutting the club’s doors for a few weeks would be an option, but it wouldn’t reflect well on the club.

“There’s a pretty big group of kids who won’t have anything to do,” Grasty said.

The Boys & Girls Club of Harney County has a membership of 367 kids. Daily attendance ranges from 20 to 55 children. The club is open every day after school and most of the day on Fridays.

Wulff stated that as the board looks at potential CPO candidates for the club, it is hoping to hire someone with grant writing experience. Grant money would be another way to help fund the club during the leaner months of the year.

Wulff stated that he would be giving a presentation to the Harney Partners for Kids and Families meeting later that day.

Judge Grasty asked Wulff to make his presentation there and then report back to the court in the afternoon.

After breaking for lunch, the court reconvened and heard an update from Wulff on that presentation to Harney Partners, which offered the club $2,000. He said this would help considerably in getting the club through the next pay period.

Wulff said he also found out about some other potential funding out in the community. However, he noted that he would still like to request about $4,000 from the county to help the club get through this lean period.

Judge Grasty said he wasn’t opposed to giving the club some money, but Nichols requested that Wulff give the court some time to think on the request.

By Randy Parks
Burns Times-Herald

The Hilander cross country teams traveled almost 900 miles this past weekend to take part in two races.

On Saturday, Sept. 20, the Hilanders rolled in to Coos Bay to run in the 29th annual Steve Prefontaine Memorial along with 1,250 other competitors.

Ralph Caldwell was the top runner for the Burns boys team, completing the 10,000 meter (10K) course in a time of 41:06, which was also a personal record (PR).

Tyler Rowley finished in a time of 45:35 (PR), followed by Devan Attleberger (53:23), Brendan Palmer (53:24), Travis Farr (53:34), Nathan Drushella (53:46), Truman Mallon (63:10) and Sean Cashen (75:08).

The Hilander girls team was led by Brianna Cunningham, who completed the course in 47:15, followed by Kara Davis (50:21) and Anna Clemens (50:22).

Rowley laid claim to the team’s “Gut It Out” award for taking over seven minutes off his time from last year.

Following the race in Coos Bay, the Hilanders headed north to Portland to participate in the 5K Race for the Cure.

Caldwell again led the boys team with a time of 18:39 (PR). Drushella was the next Burns runner across the finish line (20:58), followed by Attleberger (22:40 PR), Palmer (22:40), Mallon (28:08), Farr (28:43), Rowley (28:43 PR) and Cashen (33:30).

Clemens led the Burns girls team with a time of 23:07, followed by Cunningham (25:04) and Davis (25:04).

Caldwell received the team’s “Gut It Out” award.

“Both days the weather was absolutely great to run in,” Burns coach Alice Herauf said. “It was a great experience, and our thanks to High Desert Physical Therapy, Steens Rim Run and Figaro’s for helping us out. We couldn’t have made the trip without their support.”

•••

The Burns cross country teams traveled to Vale on Tuesday, Sept. 16, to compete in the Oregon Trail Invitational.

The Hilander boys team placed fourth at the meet, finishing with 90 points. Melba, Idaho placed first with 51 points, followed by new Plymouth, Idaho with 54, Vale 71, Burns, Payette, Idaho 112, Ontario 138, Homedale, Idaho 188 and the Fruitland, Idaho team was incomplete.

A total of 67 runners took part in the boys 5,000-meter (5K) race, which was won by Matt Rankin of Ontario with a time of 18:09.
Caldwell led the Hilander team, placing 11th in a time of 21:06. Palmer finished 14th (21:52), Rowley 22nd (22:49), Drushella 23rd (22:50), Farr 24th (22:51) and Cashen 67th (38:47).

Vale won the girls race with a score of 35, followed by New Plymouth with 50, Melba 66, Ontario 75 and Payette 147. Burns and Homedale teams were incomplete.

Michelle Kaaen of Vale outran the other 44 competitors to win the girls race with a time of 22:40.

For the Hilanders, Clemens placed fourth (23:53), Davis ninth (24:53) and Cunningham 10th (24:55).

Rowley and Clemens received the Hilanders’ “Gut It Out” awards for their performances on the Oregon Trail course.

Westley “Wayne” Ousley died on Sept. 17.

He was born in Drury, Mo., on Dec. 20, 1925.

At an early age, he moved to Washington to live with his uncle, Fred Ousley. During this time he worked in the shipyards and competed in many rodeo events across the country.

Ousley moved to Harney County in the 1950s. He worked at the Island Ranch, and then for Virgil Moon at the Double O. In 1962, he moved to Diamond and worked for Gordon and Blanche McWilliam.

In 1971, Ousley and his family purchased Swamp Creek Ranch in Diamond from Harvey and Martha Marx. He made his home there until 2003, when he retired and moved to Dog Mountain.

Ousley spent most of his adult life doing what he loved — ranching in Harney County.

Ousley is survived by his brothers, Jack Ousley and Don Ousley; sisters, Anita Cruce, Virginia Savings, Bess Rueker and Bea Brown; daughter, Missy Ousley; son-in-law, LeRoy Thissell; son, Cameron Ousley; daughter-in-law, Sheila Ousley; grandchildren, Max Ousley, Zach Ousley and Stella Ousley; and numerous nephews and nieces.

He was preceded in death by his father, Homer Ousley; mother, Maelissie Mae Lawson Ousley; brothers, Carrie Ousley and Terry Ousley; sisters, Lillie Brown, Faye Forest, Verta Miller and Zerda Hugges; sons, “Dusty” Jackie Ousley and Matthew Ousley; and stepson, William Orr.

Services for Ousley will be held on Saturday, Sept. 27, at 2 p.m., at the Burns Elks Lodge. Internment will follow in the Burns Cemetery. Contributions in Ousley’s memory may be made to the Burns Elks Lodge, in care of LaFollette’s Chapel, P.O. Box 488, Burns, OR 97720.

Dianne Patrice Cook died on Sept. 15.

She was born on Sept. 17, 1949.

Cook is survived by her husband, Randy Cook; children, Shannon Cook and Randy Cook, II, and wife Bobbi; grandchildren, Noah Gilbert, Breana Cook, Jacob Cook and Baili Cook; brother, Jack Wick and wife Carole; and many nieces and nephews.

Shelby Jean Burt died on Sept. 14 at St. Charles Medical Center in Bend.

She was born on Feb. 4, 1943, in Springfield, Ill., to Casper and Evelyn Davis.

Burt was a filleter for numerous fisheries, from Santa Rosa, Calif., to Coos Bay, until she became disabled in 1989. She loved being outdoors — camping, hunting, fishing, gardening and raising animals.

Burt also volunteered at the senior centers in Coos and Harney counties.

Burt is survived by sisters, Lucille Wells and husband Marvin and Fern Mello; children, Jeanette Martin, Charles A. Burt, Jr. and wife, Cheryl and Billy Joe Burt; grandchildren, Trevor Charles Burt, Teresa Marie Burt, Daniel Burt and wife Kaira, David Burt and Dale Burt; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Burt was preceded in death by her husband, Charles A. Burt, Sr.; father, Casper Davis; mother, Evelyn Davis; brothers, George Davis, Earl Davis, Charles Davis; and sister, Pearl Davis Johnson.

A memorial service will be held at the Harney County Senior and Community Services Center on Saturday, Sept. 27, at 1 p.m. Contributions in Burt’s memory may be made to the Harney County Food Bank, in care of the senior center.

Janice Shyrer passed away quietly at her home on Sept. 15 surrounded by her family: husband, Michael; daughter, Denise; and son, Steven.

Shyrer was the loving wife and light of Michael’s life for 49 years of marriage.

Her greatest joys in life were to spoil her family and friends.

Shyrer was also a barber at the Stewart Avenue Barber Shop for the past 30-plus years in Medford, where she worked with her husband, Mike, and children, Denise and Steven.

Shyrer was always happy to share in her customers’ cares and triumphs. Customers were like family to Shyrer.

Shyrer will also be missed by her special friends in the Red Hat Society, along with her many church families, those who ran the Pear Blossom Run with her, hunted, fished, camped out or walked with her hand in hand.

Those who knew Shyrer are invited to a celebration of her life. It will be held on Sept. 27 at 1 p.m. at the Medford First Church of the Nazarene, 1974 E. McAndrews in Medford.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the charity of your choice.

Arthur J. Seale, Jr., 85, died on Aug. 22, at his home in Lebanon.

He was born in Bishop, Calif., on Feb. 6, 1923, to Arthur and Ruth McGillinary Seale.

Seale attended school in Condon and Crane, and then graduated from Burns High School.

In 1944, he married Lila Cooper of Condon. In the early years of their marriage the couple lived in Burns and Jordan Valley, and then spent 15 years in Pendleton, where their three children went to school.

Seale spent the majority of his life working as a buckaroo and heavy equipment mechanic in Eastern Oregon. Nearing retirement, he moved with his wife to the Willamette Valley, living in Corvallis for several years and then in Lebanon.

Seale is survived by his wife, Lila; daughter, Lee Ann Johnson and husband, Joe of Albany; son, Jay Seale and wife Aggie of Astoria; 10 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his sisters, Aeola Williams and Doris McMahon.

At Seale’s request, no service was held. His ashes will be returned to Harney County.