FAA to put additional funds toward runway resurfacing at airport

By Randy Parks
Burns Times-Herald

The Burns City Council received updates on several ongoing projects at their regular meeting on Wednesday, April 22.

City Manager Don Munkers told the council that he and Burns Mayor Len Vohs had traveled to Seattle to meet with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials on April 21 to discuss projects at the Burns airport. Munkers said the city is on track with the runway resurfacing project, and during their visit to Seattle, they learned the FAA would be putting an additional $200,000 toward the project.

Vohs stated they also visited with the FAA officials about the city’s vision of the airport and possible future projects. Vohs said the infrastructure at the airport, such as water and sewer, is a key issue, and there have been discussions about including the airport in the city’s water and sewer systems. “Water at the airport is an issue,” Vohs said. “If we do a Band-aid on it, in a few years you’ve got to do it again.” Vohs added that putting in water and sewer at the airport could cost anywhere from four to five million dollars, and the city would explore a number of different funding options.

Vohs said the city is still pursuing the idea of having an industrial park established on West Monroe. “I don’t see anything from the state, county or our level which would prevent us from moving forward on this,” Vohs said.
Councilor Bill Renwick asked if the park would be zoned exclusively industrial, or inclusive, so it could include commercial business. The council agreed it should be zoned an inclusive area. Vohs then reminded the council that the area does sit on a water aquifer, so any business locating there could not produce waste that  could enter the aquifer. “We will have the final say as to what goes in,” Vohs said.

Vohs reported that the Oregon Department of Transportation is continuing to work on the Monroe Street intersection. “It’s pretty much a matter of dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s,” Vohs said. He added that the intersection is crucial to both the industrial park and the new housing project proposed by the Burns Paiute Tribe.

Munkers rendered an administrative decision regarding the auto body painting area at Burns Ford Garage. He said he had reviewed the city codes, and he believed the phrase “auto repair facility” includes painting, so he agreed with the planning commission that the facility could continue operation.

Munkers also told the council he had reviewed the franchise agreement the city has with CenturyTel, and he recommended a couple of minor changes. The council was instructed to look over the changes, and Munkers would have a final draft for the next meeting.

Councilor Linda Johnson said the community should be focusing on the positive aspects of the city and they were working on a project to select a “Yard of the Month.” She said a lot of people go to great lengths to make their homes look nice and they could be rewarded by being selected as “Yard of the Month.” She suggested they could possibly get sponsors who could donate prizes for the winning yards. “Maybe we could get their picture in the paper, too,” Johnson said.

The next council meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 13, at city hall.

The Burns tennis teams got off to a fast start with a number of matches played this season.

Their first match against La Grande set for April 9 was canceled because of rain and was rescheduled for Saturday, May 2.

On April 16, the Hilanders hosted Nyssa. In the girls results, singles junior Olivia Palmer won her match 6-0, 6-1. Freshman Erica Fritts also won her match 6-0, 6-1, and junior Felicia Choate won her match 6-4, 6-4. In girls doubles play, the freshmen team of Rebecca Gibbon and Michelle Ebar lost 2-6, 5-7.

In boys play, junior first year player Francis Cain lost in a singles match 2-6, 1-6, and in doubles, the senior team of Christian Lassan and Tyler Fenton won 6-1, 6-2.

The Burns girls team traveled to Madras for a tournament on April 18.  Seven schools were represented at Madras, including Klamath Union, Crook County, two Hood River teams, Barlow and Sisters.  The Burns girls racked up some valuable playing experience and court time to jump start their season.

In singles, Palmer won two matches and lost five.  Fritts won four matches and lost two. In doubles, the senior girls team of Mattea Zabala and Jess Wheeler won two matches and lost five.  The team of Gibbon and Ebar won two and lost five.

A match with Sisters, played at Black Butte, was next on the schedule on April 21. Palmer won her singles match 6-0, 6-2.  Fritts lost her match 5-7, 0-6. Choate lost her match 2-6, 1-6. In girls doubles, Zabala and Wheeler won 7-5, 6-4. Gibbon and Ebar lost a long fought match 6-3, 2-6, 2-6.

For the boys team, Cain lost his match 2-6, 6-4, 1-6.  Lassan and Fenton won their match 7-5, 6-0.

On April 23, the BHS team traveled to Vale to meet the perennial tennis powerhouse Vikings. In girls singles, Palmer lost 4-6, 3-6, Fritts won her match 6-2, 6-2 and Choate lost 1-6, 4-6. In doubles play, Wheeler and Zabala lost 1-6, 5-7 and Gibbon and Ebar lost 1-6, 2-6.

For the boys team, Cain lost in singles play 0-6, 0-6, Fenton and Lassan won in three sets 3-6, 7-5 and 6-0.

The next match will be in Ontario on Thursday, April 30, and the last home match will be against the Baker City Bulldogs on Thursday, May 7.

Norma Isabell Davies died peacefully on April 17 at Ashley Manor.

She was born on Feb. 22, 1928, at her grandmother, Jennie Fitchett’s home in Crane, to John (Henry Conley) Fitchett and Ramona Officer Fitchett. Most of her life was spent in Harney County.

At the age of 6 she attended her first Sunday school in the church at Crane that later burned down. Church was held once a month by Reverend Redding with lots of singing. Later in life, Davies joined the Catholic Church. She taught Sunday school at Durkee and Crane.

Davies went to school at Crane from first grade until she married, except for half a year as a freshman in Burns. She and her brother, Conley, spent lots of time as children with Carrie Thompson, who they called Grandma Thompson. They also spent spring vacation and Christmas vacation with Amelia and Gus Wilkies,  who they knew as “Auntie” and “Uncle Gus.”

At 14, Davies took her first job helping Mrs. Jess Vickers clean house. At 16, she got her second job staying with and doing chores for Nellie Hill on the Circle Bar Ranch. She had to saddle a horse, get in four cows, milk them by hand, separate the milk, feed the pigs and babysit the children.

At 17, Davies cooked dinner and supper for a hay crew in Happy Valley and when she was 18, she helped her mother-in-law, Catherine Mae Davies with cooking, housework and yard work. She also took in laundry.

She married Maurice Mathew Davies on Dec. 9, 1946, at the Presbyterian Parsonage in Burns. The couple lived on the Harold Saunders place in Virginia Valley near Princeton for six years. During this time they had two sons, Martin in 1947, and Lou in 1950. Davies lived in Durkee for six years, at Jackabsons’ Gulch near Ontario for two years, and then moved back to Harney County in 1961.

Davies and her family lived on the Steele place in Virginia Valley,  the Griffith place in Anderson Valley, her parents’ place between Crane and Princeton, and finally back to their original Harold Saunders place in 1970.

Davies also worked as cook at the Crane High School dorm for 11 years, and was the dorm matron for a few years. She was the Food Supervisor at Harney County Hospital for two years, and the Crane Elementary School cook for five years.

Davies and her husband had the U.S. Mail contracts to Denio and Frenchglen. She helped drive these mail routes. She also worked in the hay field, milked cows, raised chickens for sale and kept chickens to sell eggs, and helped move cattle.

Davies drove tens of thousands of miles as a volunteer for the seniors and disabled persons. She was also a care giver for numerous elderly family members and also took in foster children.

She liked to make quilts, knit, tat, crochet and crowhook. Davies’ biggest joy was to have the grandchildren come stay. Along with her husband, she loved to camp and fish with family.

Davies is survived by sons, Martin Davies and wife, Andrea and Lou Davies  and wife, Mary Jo; 10 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; two step-great- grandchildren; brother, Conley Fitchett; sister-in-law, Emma Davies; uncle, Bob Officer; aunt, Tina Pert; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceeded in death by her parents; husband, Maurice; grandson, Jason; and great-grandson, Joseph.

Recitation of the Holy Rosary was held at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Crane on April 27. Mass of Christian Burial was held on April 28 at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Burns.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Davies’ memory may be made to the Virginia Valley Scholarship at Crane Union High School.

Mathilda “Boots” Rose Smallwood, 71, died on April 8, at Pioneer Memorial Hospital in Prineville.

She was born in East Chicago, Ind., on Dec. 29 to Helen Edna (Perrin) and Joseph Eugene Palmonari Palmer.

In 1948, Smallwood moved to Fontana, Calif., where she was educated and graduated from high school in 1955. In the fall of 1956, she was introduced to Tom Smallwood; six months later they were married in San Bernardino, Calif., on March 1, 1957. They lived in San Bernardino until 1968.

Smallwood moved to Gladstone, where her husband worked for 1st National Bank and she raised their children. She moved to Coos Bay, in 1971, then to Springfield, and in 1980, to Burns, where she and her husband opened a Coast to Coast store. She later moved to North Bend in 1983,  then to Klamath Falls and finally to Prineville in 1987.

Smallwood enjoyed bowling, and bowled on several leagues including the Mop Droppers in Prineville. She loved to play bingo at the Prineville Senior Center and the Redmond VFW Hall, she enjoyed RVing and camping. She loved to cook and share recipes.

Smallwood was a member of the Prineville Garden Club, a lifetime member of the Ladies Auxiliary #4108 of the Redmond VFW and the Catholic Church.

She was always happy and had a smile on her face; she was upbeat even though she was suffering from cancer.

Smallwood will be remembered as a loving mother, always writing to her children after they were grown.

Smallwood is survived by her husband, Tom Smallwood of Prineville; son, Stephen Smallwood of Burns; daughter, Kelly Lee of Prineville; sisters, Anita Cox of Bloomington, Calif., and Beverly Noble of Joshua Tree, Calif.; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by son, James; brother, Wesley Palmer; and her parents.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Smallwood’s memory may be to the Pioneer Memorial Hospice, 1201 N.E. Elm St., Prineville, OR 97754; or The American Cancer Society,  2350 Oakmount Way, Suite 200 Eugene, OR 97401; or to the Sara Fisher Memorial at St. Charles Medical Center,  2500 N.E. Neff Rd., Bend, OR 97701
Prineville Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

John Starbuck died on  Monday, April 27 after a battle with kidney cancer.

Memorial services will be held on Friday, May 1, at 11 a.m. at the Harney County Fairgrounds Memorial Building.

Starbuck is survived by his wife, Karen; sons, Brett and wife, Amy, Luke and wife, Janeen and Wade and wife, Jody; and grandchildren, Wyatt, Sydney, Henry and Elias.

He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Colean Norton; and siblings, LaVern Starbuck and wife, Linda, Darrell Starbuck, Gale Starbuck and wife, Shelly, Gay Cronin and husband, Joe, and Darla Scott and husband, Kent.

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 573-6670.

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.

The Harney County Weed Board will meet on April 30 at 1 p.m. in the small basement meeting room of the Harney County Courthouse. Topics of discussion will include revising the noxious weed list, projects for 2009 and Invasive Species Legislature. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend.

The Region 14 Workforce Investment Board will meet on April 30 at 11 p.m. The meeting will be video conferenced from the Harney County ESD building, at 25 Fairview Heights in Burns.

Dr. Tom Fitzpatrick and the Mobile Health Clinic will be visiting Frenchlgen on April 30. They will be located at the Frenchglen School from 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. This is a full-service health clinic. Appointments are encouraged to ensure adequate time, supplies and equipment for your appointment, but walk-ins are always welcome. Call the High Desert Medical Center at 573-2074 to schedule an appointment and bring your insurance information to assure proper billing.

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 Avenue, at noon.

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

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

TVCC Music and Theatre Arts department has scholarship auditions for students interested in these areas of study. The auditions will be on Friday, May 1. For more information and appointment time, call 541-881-8822, ext. 264.

Oregon Old Time Fiddlers, District 9, meets the first, third and fourth Friday of each month. Call Julia at 573-2770, for time and place.

Alcoholics Anonymous meets every Friday at Foursquare Church at 7 p.m.

Steve Backlund, author, pastor and teacher from Redding, Calif., will be ministering a message of hope, vision and faith at West Bank Christian Fellowship, at 211 W Barnes in Hines, on May 2, at 7 p.m. and May 3, at 10 a.m. For more information, call 493-9544.

A Lew Herrera Memorial Award fund raiser will be held on May 2. The event includes an exhibition baseball game at Corbett Memorial Field at noon, and a chicken fried steak dinner and silent auction at the Burns Elks Lodge at 5 p.m. For more information, call Whitney Herrera at 541-413-0257.

A Cinco De Mayo Fiesta will be held to benefit the Harney County Senior Center on May 2. Dinner will be served from 4-6:30 p.m.

Brain teasers, science experiments and live critters. Join the fun at the OMSI Science Festival at Harney County Library on Saturday, May 2, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The event is free and open to all ages.

Diabetes Support Group meets at the Harney County Health Building, 420 North Fairview, the first Saturday of each month at 2 p.m.

Alanon holds an open meeting each Saturday at Foursquare Church at 7 p.m.

Steve Backlund, author, pastor and teacher from Redding Calif., will be ministering a message of hope, vision and faith at West Bank Christian Fellowship, at 211 W Barnes in Hines, on May 2, at 7 p.m. and May 3, at 10 a.m. For more information, call 493-9544.

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