Alcoholics Anonymous meets every Sunday at Foursquare Church for 12X12 study, at 7 p.m.

The Harney County Health Department will be available at the Harney County Senior Center, 17 South Alder, to check blood pressure the fourth Monday of each month from 1-3 p.m. There is no charge for the clinic and results can be forwarded to a physician or nurse practitioner at your request.

Order of Eastern Star meets the second and fourth Monday of each month at the Burns Masonic Hall, 1210 West Taylor, at 7:30 p.m.

The Torch Club, a teen leadership and service group at the Boys & Girls Club, meets each Monday from 4:30-5:30 p.m.

ImageMakers, a photography program is offered to members of the Boys & Girls Club each Monday from 4-5 p.m. All ages are encouraged to learn and practice black and white, color and digital photography skills as well as image editing.

PRIDE meets each Monday in the Courthouse basement meeting room, 450 North Buena Vista, at 7:30 a.m. to network for community betterment.

The Burns Lions Club meets each Monday at noon at the Burns Elks Lodge, 118 N. Broadway, for lunch. Those interested in serving the community are welcome.

HDH Sports & Physical Therapy will offer a free athletic injury clinic at that facility, 559 West Washington, every Monday from 5-6 p.m. A physical therapist will assess and treat athletic injuries and provide education for athletes and parents on self management of injuries. For more information call 573-1543.

Narcotics Anonymous holds an open meeting each Monday at 7 p.m. at Foursquare Church.

A breast cancer support group meets the fourth Tuesday of each month in the Harney District Hospital conference room, from 5:30-7 p.m. For more information, contact Tammy at 573-8614.

Harney County Chamber Music Society Choir meets the second and fourth Tuesday, September-November and January-March. The choir meets in the Burns High School band room, from 7-8:30 p.m., with Marianne Andrews directing. Singers ages 13-up are welcome.

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

Boy Scout Troop 440, sponsored by the Burns Lion’s Club, meets each Tuesday from 7-8:30 p.m. at the LDS Church in Hines. Boys ages 11-18 are welcome to join.

The Boys & Girls Club holds a cooking class, open to all members, each Tuesday.

Alcoholics Anonymous holds an open meeting each Tuesday at Foursquare Church, at 7 p.m.

The 2008 Harney County Fair, Rodeo & Race Meet, Sept. 2-7, lived up to its promise as residents enjoyed exhibits, rodeo events, horse racing, live entertainment, carnival, a talent show and parade, among other things. The 2008 Fair Queen Lindy Steeves crowns next year’s queen, Jeanne Hogan, on Sunday during the 2008 Fair, Rodeo and Race Meet. Carrie Milburn was crowned Harney County Fair  Princess on Sunday.

Residents should be aware of high concentrations at Krumbo Reservoir

Due to a possible algae bloom, it is advised that contact with the water from Krumbo Reservoir be avoided. This advisory applies to humans, pets (especially dogs) and livestock.  This includes any contact with the water, i.e. swimming and drinking. Contact with water containing high levels of blue-green algae may cause skin rashes, mouth ulcers, fevers, ear and eye irritations, diarrhea, vomiting, or death in extreme cases.
What is blue-green algae? Blue-green algae is a simple, single-celled organism that is naturally occurring in freshwater systems. Normally, blue-green algae is an important part of a healthy ecosystem and harmless in low numbers. However, in high concentrations, blue-green algae produce harmful levels of toxins.

Are the fish safe to eat? Toxins do not build up in the muscle tissue of fish and should be safe to eat. But it is recommended to practice “catch and release” until further notice.
For more information, contact Malheur National Wildlife Refuge at 541-493-2612 or the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife at 541-573-6582.

By Randy Parks
Burns Times-Herald

The Burns Hilanders laid claim to the first place trophy by defeating Cascade Christian 28-26, 25-23 in the championship match of  the Burns Invitational volleyball tournament on Saturday, Sept. 6.

The win over the Challengers capped off an undefeated day for the Hilanders  as they rolled through both pool and bracket play without losing a game.

Burns began pool play with a 25-9, 25-13 win over the Nyssa Bulldogs. They then downed the Challengers 25-18, 25-23, and topped Ontario 25-10, 25-6.

In the first round of bracket play, the Hilanders defeated Vale 25-14, 25-10 to move into the semi-finals.

Burns then beat Madras 25-19, 25-9 to set up the rematch with Cascade Christian in the finals.

For the tournament, the Hilanders’ Courtney Toney recorded 48 kills, 16 aces, 24 digs and seven blocks; Mattea Zabala finished with 53 kills, two aces, 24 digs and 11 blocks; Jessica Wheeler eight blocks, 30 kills and eight aces; Jamie Higle 10 kills, 63 assists and six  digs; Maddye Dinsmore eight kills, 27 digs and 10 aces; Kaci Nonnenmacher 68 assists, seven digs and seven aces; Taylor Lee five kills, two assists; Erin Swindlehurst one kill and two assists; Teri McConnell 18 digs.

•••

Fresh off of winning the Pendleton Invitational, the Burns volleyball team picked up another win by knocking off La Pine in three games, 25-10, 25-13, 25-8, on Tuesday, Sept. 3, at Burns High School.

Toney paced the Hilander offense, recording 11 kills, six aces and six digs.  Wheeler finished with seven kills, three aces, two digs and two blocks; Zabala six kills, two aces and 100 percent serve receive; Higle three kills, six aces, four assists and two digs; Nonnenmacher nine assists, three digs and one ace.

“So far, we’ve been working to find a lineup to fill some voids from last year,” Burns coach Paula Toney said. “Mattea is seeing some limited time to heal a quad muscle strain, and Ashley Schouviller out with a broken leg suffered at Pendleton, has created some changes as well.”

The Burns JV team beat La Pine in two games, 25-9, 25-10, and the Hilander Frosh/Soph team won as well (scores unavailable).

Floyd (Mac) McKeever of Hines died at Harney District Hospital on Sunday, Aug. 31, at the age of 80.

McKeever was born on Oct. 3, 1927, in Duluth, Minn., to Delbert and Eva McKeever. He was the oldest of three children.

McKeever was a construction worker with his dad until going to work for the Federal Aviation Administration in 1957. He started his career in Alaska and worked in St. Thomas, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, as well as Molokai and Honolulu, Hawaii and other U.S. locations. He retired in Honolulu in 1985 after 28 years of federal service. He returned to Eugene, and in 1991, moved to Hines.

McKeever is survived by his wife of 47 years, Kay McKeever; four step-children, Candy and husband John Tilley of San Marcos, Calif., Max and wife Penny Dillavou of Lakeview, Michael Dillavou of Pendleton and Mitch and wife Nina of Winlock, Wash.; five grandchildren, Jason and wife Jamie of Murrita, Calif., Justin Tilley of San Diego, Calif., Travis and wife Tami of Lakeview, Dawn and husband Stephen Miller of Sandpoint, Idaho, Nianna Dillavou of Winlock, Wash., and seven great grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Gladys Minnich of Aztec, N.M.; three nieces; three nephews; and many cousins.

McKeever was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Gordon.

At McKeever’s request, there will be a gathering of friends at his home in Hines on Sept. 20 from 2 to 4 p.m.

Tonya “Sparky” Renee Hendrix of Woodland, Wash., died at her home on Aug. 20.

She was born  on July 15, 1966, in Duncan, Okla., to Loydd and Betty Fones, the youngest of two children. 

In 1976, the family moved to Burns. In 1984, Hendrix graduated from Burns High School, where she was known as “Sparky” for her personality and sense of humor. She was on the dance team and was a cheerleader as well.

Hendrix graduated from Portland Community College Dental Assisting School in 1985. She moved to Bend, where she met Wade Hendrix, and they were married on June 21, 1986, in Burns. The couple had two children.

Hendrix was a proud mother, always speaking of Katelyn and Kyle’s achievements. She was an active volunteer in Clark County Youth Football (CCYF) and Lewis River Little League.  She also worked at the children’s schools whenever time allowed.

Hendrix was a dental assistant for about 10 years.  She went back to college in 1998, getting her prerequisites completed at Clark College in Vancouver. She then graduated from Portland Community College as a Dental Hygienist in 2002.

Hendrix spent time with her family camping, boating, at the Oregon Coast and vacationing in Mexico when possible. She loved to be around the water and sandy beaches.

Hendrix survived breast cancer treatment in 2006.  In February 2008, the cancer came back in the bones and eventually spread to the brain.

She is survived by her  husband, Wade Hendrix; children, Katelyn, 14, and Kyle, 12; parents, Loydd and Betty Fones; brother, Tony Fones; grandmother, Maxine Fones; and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Hendrix was preceded in death by her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Husband, and grandfather, Lloyd Fones.

A memorial service was held on Aug. 24 at David Douglas Park in Vancouver, Wash.  Many were in attendance, paying tribute to the person Hendrix was.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Hendrix’ memory may be made to Hospice, Susan G. Komen Foundation or a charity of one’s choice.
Messages may be sent to the family at: caringbridge.org, name tonyahendrix.

Doris Hotchkiss Burden died on Aug. 19 in Albany.

She was born on April 29, 1913, in Burns to Hull and Edith Hotchkiss the youngest of seven children.

Known all of her life as “Dorey,” she graduated from Burns High School, and while working for US Bank, married Albert Munson in 1936. They had two children.

Burden managed the Arrowhead Hotel, a landmark in Harney County for years, and then worked at the Burns Radar Base and the Harney County Job Corps before she married Floyd Burden in 1970. The couple ran an accounting and tax business out of their home until his death.

Burden was an avid bridge player, baker and member of the Presbyterian Church. It was her great pleasure to listen to children at Slater Elementary School read to her. She was loyal to her aging friends, taking them out for rides, insisting that others walk with her, and setting up in-home bridge games. Burden continued to visit some friends when they no longer recognized her.

The most public recognition of her kindness and service to others came when she was named Harney County Woman of the Year.
Burden is survived by her children, Dick Munson and wife, Joyce; and Molly Twargo and husband Richard. She is also survived by  the Hotchkiss, Burden and George families and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her brothers, Newton, Donald, Harley and Pete; and sisters, Beatrice and Beryl.

A memorial service was held on Sept. 8 at the Pioneer Presbyterian Church after a private graveside service. Contributions in Burden’s memory may be made to the Harney County Library, the Harney County Senior Center or to the Pioneer Presbyterian Church.

Charles Ereno died on Aug. 30 in La Grande.

He was born on May 2, 1922, in Nampa, Idaho.
Ereno was raised in Nampa by his parents, John and Agueda Ereno. After he finished high school, he worked for US Bank before he enlisted in the Army during World War II. He fought in the Japanese theatre.

After the war, Ereno joined his brother, Jess Ereno, in business in Burns.

Ereno is survived by nephew, Gary Ereno; niece, Marianne Kaplan; four great-nieces; and one great-nephew.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Jess.

Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be held on Monday, Sept. 15, at 7 p.m. at the Holy Catholic Church and Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 16, at 11 a.m. at the Holy Family Catholic Church.

Contributions in Ereno’s memory can be made to the Harney County Library or the Boise Basque Museum, in care of LaFollette’s Chapel, P.O. Box 488, Burns, OR 97720. LaFollette’s Chapel is in charge of funeral arrangements.