Don Munkers grew up in Eastern Oregon

By Randy Parks
Burns Times-Herald

The City of Burns has a new city manager.

Don Munkers, former General Manager for the Burns Paiute Tribe, has agreed to accept the position.

Munkers has lived in Burns a little less than two years after moving from Boise, Idaho, where he served as executive director for a non-profit organization. He is married, has two grown children and three grandchildren.

Munkers was raised in Heppner, and after graduating from high school, he attended Eastern Oregon University where he earned his bachelor’s degree in business economics. He then attended the University of Oklahoma and received his master’s degree in public administration.

When asked about the  challenges looming ahead as city manager, Munkers replied, “The biggest right now is the state of the economy. We have to make sure we keep moving forward and are able to provide city services to the community.” He added that even though the area has seen some downturns, such as the mill closing, the temporary closing of Monaco and the rumors of the Oregon Youth Authority (OYA) closing, he remains positive. “We have to look at what we can do to entice businesses to relocate here,” he stated.

Munkers said one strategy he plans to employ is to read through the stimulus package and see what funds might be available for the city’s projects, such as the airport.

There are also plans to work closely with the City of Hines, county government and Burns Paiute Tribe to come up with economic solutions. “If we all work together, we could come through this with flying colors,” Munkers said.

Even though Munkers has lived in Harney County for only 19 months, he has seen a number of positive signs. He cited the downtown area, the rural and agricultural aspects, natural resources and outdoor activities, like hunting and fishing. But most of all, Munkers noted it’s the people who make Harney County special. “There are a lot of people here who want to do things for the area,” he said.

The Burns City Council is expected to confirm his acceptance as City Manager at their regular meeting tonight (Feb. 25).

“It’s great, it’s exciting to have the chance to be Burns City Manager,” Munkers said. “There are some huge challenges, but we just have to move forward.”

Official can’t say exactly where or when, but battalion will head overseas later this year

By Lauren Brown
Burns Times-Herald

It’s official. Burns National Guard Soldiers in the 1st Detachment Delta Company 141st Brigade Support Battalion will deploy sometime this spring to eventually serve overseas.

The Harney County soldiers are part of the 41st Infantry Brigade, and their  squadron headquarters are located in Bend.

1st  Detachment Delta Company Readiness NCO Sean Wilson said that while the Guard cannot say how many soldiers will deploy or specifically where they are going, he did say that in April, the unit will get pre-mobilization training at Camp Roberts in California. In May and June, soldiers will conduct mission specific training at Fort Stewart in Georgia before they are sent overseas.

Wilson will remain at the Burns Armory, which will continue to operate. More than 700 Guard soldiers statewide will stay behind in case of a state emergency. In addition to the 700 stay back personnel, there will be more than 4,000 other Army, Air Guard and State Defense Force members who will be available for any potential state emergency. Brig. Gen. Charles Yriarte, who is the son of Louis and Doris Yriarte of Harney County, will command the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team rear detachment.

One of the National Guard’s main priorities is making sure family members of soldiers have the support they need during the deployment. Each unit has a family coordinator as well as 24-hour, seven-day a week Web site support.

County Veteran Service Coordinator Guy McKay is working with Wilson to organize a community send off for the Burns National Guard soldiers on March 21.  The event will take place at the armory and will include a free barbecue. Local officials will be present, and McKay would like to see as many community members as possible show up for the event. “The more the better,” he said.

The last time a Burns National Guard unit was activated was in March 2003, when soldiers were deployed to Fort Lewis to back fill other deploying units.

The current Burns National Guard unit was officially started in June 2006.

Send-off party

WHAT: A community celebration and barbecue at the Burns Armory to send off Burns National Guard soldiers who will deploy overseas later this year. Local officials will speak and the Boy Scouts will present the flag.

INFORMATION: Volunteers to help with the set up and barbecue are needed. Call Veteran Service Officer Guy McKay at 573-6024.

Federal funds will be spent locally in a number of ways

By Debbie Raney
Burns Times-Herald

What does the signing of the Federal Stimulus Package mean to Harney County and the rest of the state? Since President Barack Obama signed the package into law on Feb. 17, this has been the main topic of a lot of discussions.

The Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) recently released a breakdown of how the $787 billion spending bill could directly affect the counties of Oregon. According to AOC, the highlights of the funding as they relate to Oregon include:

• Smart energy grid program to modernize the electricity grid to make it more efficient and reliable.

• Helping state and local governments make investments in innovative best practices to achieve greater energy efficiency and reduce energy usage.

• Clean renewable energy bonds for state and local governments.

• $7 billion extending broadband services to underserved communities.

• $87 billion for Medicaid to help states match federal funds and maintain Medicaid programs.

• $53.6 billion State Fiscal Stabilization Fund including $45.6 billion to local school districts, $8 billion to states for high priority needs such as public safety and other critical services.

• Modernizing roads, bridges and public transit — $29 billion for modernizing roads and bridges; requires states to obligate at least half of the highway/bridge funding within 120 days; $8.4 billion for investments in transit and $8 billion for investment in high-speed rail. Includes funds for new construction of commuter and light rail, modernizing existing transit systems and purchasing buses and equipment needed to increase public transportation and improve intermodal and transit facilities.

• Prioritizing clean water/flood control/environmental restoration — $18 billion for clean water, flood control and environmental restoration investments, which will create more than 375,000 jobs.

• Tax incentives for state and local economic development including provision to enhance the marketability for state and local government bonds, which will reduce the costs they incur in financing state and local infrastructure projects.

• In addition to increasing food stamp benefits, provides food assistance, including $100 million for emergency food and shelter to help local community organizations provide food and shelter; $100 million for formula grants to states for elderly nutrition services including Meals on Wheels; and $150 million for Emergency Food Assistance Program to purchase commodities for food banks to refill emptying shelves.

•••

On  Feb. 18, Oregon Congressman Greg Walden convened a videoconference with United States Forest Service (USFS) Region 6 Supervisor Mary Wagner and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) State Director Ed Shepard, who between them oversee all USFS and BLM forests in Oregon and Washington, to find out how they plan to spend their portion of the $250 million in the economic stimulus for hazardous fuels reduction, forest health protection, rehabilitation and hazard mitigation.

Walden told Wagner and Shepard, “I voted against the so-called stimulus because it never occurred to me in over 21 years of running a small business that you could borrow your way into prosperity. But now that the money has been borrowed, it’s my job to make sure the Second District of Oregon gets its unfair share. We should use those funds to hire commercial contractors to get into the forest and do the environmentally responsible work necessary on the most at-risk lands to reduce the catastrophic fire we see every summer.”

During the meeting Walden laid out the following principles for Supervisor Wagner and Director Shepard to follow:

1. Prioritize hazardous fuels reduction projects in Condition Class II and III lands — the areas where catastrophic wildfire is most likely to originate.

2. Use commercial contractors to put Oregonians back to work in the woods.

3. Use the authorities available in the strongly bipartisan Healthy Forests Restoration Act to do the work in an environmentally responsible way, but also in a way that saves time and precious funding.

4. Undertake essential forest health projects in areas most desperate for work in the woods. According to the regional economist for the Oregon Employment Division, the loss of 200 jobs from mill closures in Eastern Oregon during 2007 had an economic impact comparable to the loss of 26,400 jobs in the Portland metropolitan area.

•••

Representative Cliff Bentz issued a release to the county commissioners and city mayors throughout District 60, summarizing the estimated grant funding to states for education programs through the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund, included within the Stimulus Act.

According to the report submitted by the Council of State Governments, Oregon would qualify for $567,804,000. A breakdown of the estimated funds includes $99,696,000 to Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), Title 1-A grants to Local Education Agency (LEAs); $31,602,000 to ESEA, Title 1-A, school improvements; $6,365,000 to ESEA, Title II-D, Education Technology; $1,581,000 to McKinney-Vento, homeless assistance; $128,979,000 to Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part B; and $3,879,000 to IDEA, Part C.

According to the overview of the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund, the money will be distributed through the Department of Education to prevent teacher layoffs and cutbacks in education and other key services. Any funds not committed by the Governor of a state within two years of receiving such funds, shall be returned to the Department of Education, and these will then be reallocated to the remaining states.

The Hilander wrestling team heads to state tournament to do what no other high school sports team in Oregon has done before

By Randy Parks
Burns Times-Herald

To win a state championship in high school sports, it takes talented athletes, team chemistry, good coaching and a little bit of luck.
To win two consecutive titles, it takes all that and a little bit more.

No one knows what it takes to win eight consecutive Oregon state titles because it’s never been done before, but that’s what the Burns wrestling team has a chance to achieve this weekend.

In 2002, the Burns wrestling team racked up 181 team points to win the 3A title, and they have repeated as champs ever since.

Head coach Mark Hofman has been with the team every step of the way. He was an assistant coach for Bill Winn for the first three years, then an assistant coach for Jeff Kloetzer for two years, before taking over the top spot. Hofman was also the head coach at Crane Union High School for three years before joining the Burns staff.

While the state title run officially began in 2002, Hofman said it actually started years before that. “It was probably around 1989 and we had about 70 kids in the youth program,” Hofman said. “We went to a lot of tournaments, and people around the state involved in the sport could see that once all these kids got to high school, Burns would win state. You could see it was going to happen.”

While the wrestling community had a pretty good idea that Burns would win in 2002, they had no idea that the Hilanders would continue to repeat year after year. “We figured that after we lost those seniors (in 2002), we might fall off, but we never did,” Hofman said. In fact, the team got stronger.

In 2004, Burns set a new team scoring record for all classes by amassing 245.5 points. They then broke their own record in 2007 with 269.5 points. That record still stands, even though Roseburg challenged it last year with 269 points.

Through the years

Hofman said that one of his fondest memories came during the 2002 state tournament. “It was Friday night, and the Sweet Home coach came to us and said it was statistically impossible to catch us,” Hofman said. “That was a good feeling.”

Another special moment for Hofman was when his son, Talon, won four individual titles (2001-2004), becoming one of just a few wrestlers to accomplish the feat. “For me, watching Talon win four was personal satisfaction,” Hofman said. “But my favorite match was probably watching Abe (Jacobs) come back in the finals to win.”

Preparation

While the Hilanders may not win every match they wrestle, they’re not going to lose because their opponent is in better shape.
A typical practice involves going hard for 40 to 45 minutes, a 10-minute break, and another 40- to 45-minute workout. “We hit it hard for about an hour and a half, and then we’re out of there,” Hofman said. “Yeah, I think we’re in better shape than other teams, although Nyssa is always in good shape, too.”

The Hilanders also prepare for the state tournament by attending some of the bigger tournaments around the West. “It was probably about 2003 that we started to put together a tough tournament schedule,” Hofman said. “We’ve always had a lot of dedicated parents that travel all over, and we wanted to face tough opponents every weekend.” So far, that philosophy has paid off.

This year

Nyssa is the only other team to win seven consecutive wrestling  championships and their run came to an end when Burns beat them in 2007. Now with Burns on the verge of winning eight in a row, the main competition will come from the Nyssa Bulldogs.

The Hilanders had 11 wrestlers qualify for the state tournament, and Nyssa will send 15.

“We’ve got the quality wrestlers to win again this year,” Hofman said. “We’ll need some help, but we definitely have the quality to do it.”
As the Hilanders ready for this year’s chance at history, fans will notice the now-trademark mohawk haircuts on many of the wrestlers.

“I think Abe Jacobs started that. It was his mojo,” Hofman laughed. “And the other wrestlers followed suit, some voluntarily, others not so much.”

Can the Hilanders summon enough mojo one more time? Only time will tell.

Burns sends eleven to state

The Burns wrestling team placed second at the Eastern Oregon League District Wrestling Tournament in Boardman Friday and Saturday, Feb. 20-21, and will send 11 wrestlers on to the 3A state tournament in Portland this weekend.

The Hilanders had four individual champions at the district tournament as Pat Stampke won the 125-pound weight class, Brendan Palmer took first at 130 pounds, Josh Cate was the 152-pound champion and Joe Drinkwater captured the top spot at 160 pounds.

Also qualifying for state with second-place finishes were Dallas Root (112), Dillon Root (145) and Michael Martin (215), and third place finishers Chance Peasley (135), Mike Schaff (140), Zach Hooper (145) and Raymond Wright (152).

Jay Masterson (125) and Landon Hanner (171) both placed fourth for Burns, Cody Bennett (130), Jake Swindlehurst (160)  and Skyler Hickey (285) finished in fifth place, and Jake Yaryan (145) placed sixth.

Nyssa won the team title with 326.5 points, followed by Burns with 288, Grant Union 181.5, Riverside 155, Umatilla 65 and Vale 61.
The Hilanders’ Martin came up with undoubtedly the biggest upset of the tournament when he pinned Vale’s Eric Coy, a defending state champion, in the first period of their semi-final match.

The Class 3A state tournament will be held Friday and Saturday, Feb. 27-28, in Portland, and Burns will be attempting to win their eighth consecutive 3A state championship when the action gets under way.

EOL state qualifiers

103 — Levi Gagnon (G.U.) 1st, Tyler Wentz (Nys) 2nd, Michael Urrutia (Nys) 3rd.
112 — Rocky Garcia (Nys) 1st, Da. Root (Bur) 2nd, Dallon Henver (Val) 3rd.
119 — Landon Hartley (Nys) 1st, James Town (Riv) 2nd, Eric Goodell (Nys) 3rd.
125 — Stampke (Bur) 1st, Mario Gonzalez (Nys) 2nd, Jimmy Urritia (Nys) 3rd.
130 — Palmer (Bur) 1st, Kyle Schoorl (Nys) 2nd, Cesar Jacabo (Nys) 3rd.
135 — Isaac Whitman (G.U.) 1st, Juan Llamas (Riv) 2nd, Peasley (Bur) 3rd.
140 — Carlos Garcia (Riv) 1st, Allen Iverson (Nys) 2nd, Schaff (Bur) 3rd.
145 — Tanor Morinaka (Nys) 1st, Di. Root (Bur) 2nd, Hooper (Bur) 3rd.
152 — Cate (Bur) 1st, Austin Tolman (Val) 2nd, Wright (Bur) 3rd.
160 — Drinkwater (Bur) 1st, Brian Moore (Nys) 2nd, Christian Llamas (Riv) 3rd.
171 — Brigham Hansen (Riv) 1st, Clay Thomas (G.U.) 2nd, Tayler Elizondo (Nys) 3rd.
189 — Jesse Wise (G.U.) 1st, Ethan Kowing (G.U.) 2nd, Zac Stratton (Nys) 3rd.
215 — Zack Stegman (G.U.) 1st, Martin (Bur) 2nd, Coy (Val) 3rd.
285 — Don Speakman (G.U.) 1st, Jeremiah Pine (Uma) 2nd, Travis Hickman (Nys) 3rd.

Ronald L. Williams, 64, died on Feb. 9 at his home in Alaska.

He was born Sept. 14, 1944, in Richmond, Calif. During his youth, his family moved several times, and he attended different elementary and high schools. He graduated in 1962 and spent three years in the military and two years working for William’s Construction and the Edward Hines Lumber Company in Burns.

In 1967, he joined the Pendleton police force and in 1976, was promoted to sergeant. He was honored as Officer of the Year in 1974.

He moved to Alaska in 1983, joining the Kenai police force for two years. This is where he met his second wife, Lorraine, a dispatcher for the department.

He worked for O’Neill Security on the North Slope for three years. In 1988, he joined the Department of Corrections working at different correctional facilities until 2000. He returned to security work with Doyon Universal Services on the North Slope until his retirement in June 2007.

Williams was a longtime member of the NRA and a member of the Kenai Elks.

He enjoyed four-wheeling, fishing, camping, and almost any outdoor activity, especially hunting. He was an expert in rifle marksmanship, firearms instructor and a muzzleloader enthusiast. Williams also enjoyed woodwork and boat building. His Tolman skiff, the HMS Lorraine, was one of his pride and joys. Many friends and family were recipients of his beautiful work.

Williams is survived by his second wife of Nikiski, Alaska; son, Terry Williams and wife, Megan of Austin, Texas; grandson, Kai of Austin; stepson, David Aaron Orsatti and wife, Betsy of Mt. Vernon, Wash.; brothers and sisters-in-law, Charles and Ruth of Burns, Kenny and Julie of Santa Rosa, Calif., Walter of Ontario, and Sam of Clear Lake, Calif; sisters, Anne Andree, Sue Cannon and Judie Townsend and husband, Charles, all of Woodland, Calif.; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Noma (Culp) Williams of Burns; brother, Ralph Williams; and an infant sister, Patricia Williams.

A celebration of Williams’ life was held on Feb. 15 at the Kenai Senior Citizens Center. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Williams’ name may be made to the National Rifle Association, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030.
Arrangements were by Peninsula Memorial Chapel

Tina Mae Agee of Baker City died on Feb. 14.

She was born on July 21, 1968, in Eugene. She moved to Burns, where she lived through her high school years.

Agee worked for many years as an over-the-road truck driver and had visited every state except Hawaii.

She enjoyed camping, hunting, fishing and being outdoors. Agee was very involved in the community of Metolius and was a member of the Madras Lady Elks and Metolius Friends Church.

Agee is survived by her children, Rob Hinton Jr. and wife Erin, of Ft. Worth, Texas, and Megan Hinton of Bend; husband, Darrell Agee of Metolius; parents, Kathleen and Earl Patteeuw of Redmond; brothers, Charles Patteeuw of Redmond, James Patteeuw of Burns and Ronnie Patteeuw of Burns; sisters, Karen Durfee of Madras, Michelle Patteeuw of Vancouver, Wash., Marie Kay Williams and husband, Jason of Warm Springs, and Maria Patteeuw of Burns; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, John and Lois Jones;  nephew, William Hensley Jr; and former mother-in-law, Evelyn Hinton.

A private family service will be held at a later date.

Contributions in Agee’s name may be made to a charity of one’s choice, in care of Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543,   Halfway, OR 97834.

Gerald R. Nygaard, 70, died at Carle Foundation Hospital in Rantoul, Ill., on Jan. 24, surrounded by his family.

He was born on Oct. 27, 1938, in Greenbush, Minn., to Melvin J. Nygaard and Inez (Carlson) Nygaard-Penton. The family moved to Bemidji, Minn., and then in 1942, to Burns to work for the Edward Hines Lumber Company. In 1946, the family acquired the Hines Commissary, where Nygaard worked until leaving the community in 1960.

He graduated from Burns High School in 1956. While in Harney County, he worked for Edward Hines and the U.S. Forest Service, as well as serving as a sergeant in the National Guard.

Nygaard worked for Bendix Corp. in North Hollywood, Calif., from 1961 to 1979. He was then promoted and moved to Illinois to work as the MIS manager at the company’s subsidiary, Caradco, a door and window manufacturer. He worked there until his retirement in 2000.

Nygaard married Sue Walkup in Los Angeles, Calif., on July 21, 1962. They divorced, and he then married Jackie (Wood) Huber on April 16, 1983, in Illinois.

He was considered by those who knew him to be a man of honor and integrity. He enjoyed spending time with his family and found joy in spending time with his kids — riding motorcycles, camping, coaching them in soccer, baseball, football, track and softball, and creating memories. He also enjoyed riding his red scooter around his home town, taking his dog Tucker on long walks and rides and spending time with his friends.

Nygaard’s favorite vacation spot was Disney World, and he wanted everyone to have fun. He was always the first one up in the morning so his family could get to the park first and be the first in line for the roller coasters on Splash Mountain.

He is survived by his wife, Jackie; children, Carolyn Haskins and husband, Brad of Jacksonville, Fla., Michael Nygaard of Gila Bend, Ariz., Sandra Roos and husband, Bill of Simsbury, Conn., and Nikky Flesner and husband, Travis of Rantoul, Ill.; 11 grandchildren; and brother, Melvin T. Nygaard and wife, Mary Sykes of Roseburg.

Lucile Alice “Cile” McIntosh, 88, of Crane, died on Feb. 13 at the home of her family in Winnemucca, Nev. Her two daughters were by her side.

She was born on June 3, 1920, in Corvallis, to John and Elsie Jennings.

McIntosh graduated from Corvallis High School in 1939. She completed her pre-nursing requirements at St. Helen’s Hall Junior college and continued her education at the Good Samaritan School of Nursing in Portland. She there became a registered nurse.

She joined the Navy and served in the nursing corp as an ensign during World War II. McIntosh spoke fondly of “caring for her boys” when they came home from the Pacific.

On March 27, 1945, she married Donald C. McDermond in Seattle, Wash. The couple had five children and published a set of children’s books that she wrote and her husband illustrated. They later divorced.

In October 1960, she married C.H. McIntosh and together, they had a daughter.

McIntosh loved to garden, enjoyed the company of her pets and was known for her “open door, the coffee’s always on” policy at her home in Crane.

McIntosh is survived by her sons, Terry McDermond and his wife, Colleen of Corvallis, Tim McDermond of Arcadia, Calif., and Don McDermond and wife, Lucetti of Crane; and daughters, Cherie McDermond of West Valley City, Utah, Tamra Stoddart of Winnemucca, Nev., and Ginny Dufurrena and husband, Hank of Denio, Nev.

She is also survived by 17 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; brother, Jack Jennings of Salem; and sisters, Ora Mae Lythe of Seattle and Ginny Williams of Salem.

McIntosh was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Evelyn Giles; husband, Mac; and son-in-law, Dmitri Asnes.

A celebration of life for McIntosh will be held this spring in Crane. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her name may be made to the Humboldt Volunteer Hospice, P.O. Box 843, Winnemucca, NV 89445.

Sheila A. Phillips-Barteni died on Jan. 11.

She was born on April 4, 1952, in Missoula, Mont., to Jessie and Ed Kent. She was raised in Hamilton, Mont., with eight sisters and five brothers.

Phillips-Barteni graduated from school in Hamilton. After having her first daughter, she moved to Idaho with her life-partner, Chris Barteni. They then had their second daughter.

Phillips-Barteni had a very large heart and opened it to many others who called her mom.

She is survived by her partner Chris Barteni; daughters, Lee Ann Phillips and Stephine Barteni; grandchildren, Marcus, Jacob, Lane and Cheyenne; sisters Sandy, Pauline, Patty and Nancy (Punky); brothers, Joe, Wayne, Lawrence and Jack; and many other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; four sisters; and one brother.

Phillips-Barteni will be laid to rest on April 4, in the Hamilton, Mont., cemetery.

Figaro’s Pizza will be hosting “Family Pizza Night,” a fund raiser for the Boys & Girls Club of Harney County on Wednesday, Feb. 25. Figaro’s will donate 25 percent of all sales made between 3 and 8 p.m. to the club. For more information, call 573-5500.

Harney County Health District board of directors meets the fourth Wednesday of each month in the board conference room of the hospital, in the entrance off N. Grand, at 6 p.m.

Burns City Council meets the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at Burns City Hall, 242 South Broadway, at 6 p.m.

High Desert Park and Recreation District board of directors meets the fourth Wednesday of each month in their office at the Lincoln administrative building, 550 North Court, at 7 p.m.

Storytime for preschoolers is scheduled at the Harney County Library, 80 West D St., each Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. Contact the Harney County Library for more information at 573-6670.

Gospel meetings will be held each Sunday at 3:30 p.m. at the Ashlock’s house, 112 E. Circle Drive in Hines. All are welcome to join.

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.