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

Medicare Assistance Program, through the Harney County Senior and Community Services Center is held the first Monday of each month from 1-3 p.m. Call 573-6024 to make an appointment.

Masonic Lodge meets the first and third Monday of each month at the Burns Masonic Lodge, 1210 West Taylor, at 7 p.m.

HDH Sports & Physical Therapy will offer a free athletic injury clinic at that facility, 559 West Washington, every Monday from 5 to 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.

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

The Hines Volunteer Fire Department meets at the Hines Fire Hall each Monday at 7 p.m. (except the last Monday of the month). Prospective members may contact Fire Chief Bob Spence at 573-7477 or 573-2251.

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

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.

Medicare D and Health Plan assistance is available on the first Tuesday of each month, from 1-3 p.m., at the Harney County Senior Center. For an appointment, call 573-6024.

Harney Basin Writers meets the first Tuesday of each month at the Harney County Library, from 2-4 p.m.; and the third Tuesday of each month at the St. Andrews Episcopal Church Hall at the corner of Diamond Avenue and “A” Street, from 7-9 p.m.

Silvies River Spinners meets the first Tuesday of each month at Native Circle, 90 W. Adams in Burns, at 5:30 p.m.

Harney Hospital Foundation meets the first Tuesday of each month in the Hospital Conference Room at 7 p.m.

Sylvia Rebekah Lodge meets the first and third Tuesday of each month at the I.O.O.F. Hall, 348 North Broadway at 6:30 p.m.

The Chamber Orchestra meets the first and third Tuesday of each month in the Burns High School band room, 1100 Oregon Avenue, from 7-8:30 p.m. with Ken Peckham directing.

Harney County Democratic Party meets the first Tuesday of each month at the Harney County Courthouse, 450 North Buena Vista, at 7 p.m.

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.

All 0 to 3-year-olds and their parents are welcome to attend play group at the Early Childhood Center at 655 W. Fillmore, weekly on Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m.

Patient Assist, Needy Med Program trained volunteers will be at the Harney County Senior Center each Tuesday, from 1-4 p.m. For appointments call the Senior Center at 573-6024.

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.

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

Community Health Improvement Partnership could offer dental and mental health services as well

By Lauren Brown
Burns Times-Herald

Burns High School is moving forward with a feasibility study funded through the Community Health Improvement Partnership program to look at starting a school-based health clinic.

At the Oct. 13 school board meeting, BHS principal Ron Wassom and district superintendent Bob Sari both said this would be a positive thing for the district as well as the community.

The school-based clinic would provide physicals, vaccinations at a low cost and could offer dental and mental health services as well.

Wassom said the initial grant of $30,000 will fund a feasibility study and could also be used for remodeling the school in the late spring. Phase two of the program, if all goes well, would include a $60,000 grant for equipment and set-up. Then, phase three of the project would involve an $80,000 grant to help run the clinic and bill insurance.

•••

Superintendent Sari stated that there will be two initiatives on the ballot for voters to consider in the Jan. 26 election. Both could have quite an impact on the school district’s future budget.

The measures came about because there was enough opposition to the $733 million tax increase passed by the 2009 Legislature to warrant an election.
Measure 66 would raise corporate taxes. Measure 67 increases personal income taxes on individuals with a taxable income of more than $125,000 and households with an income of more than $250,000.

Sari said that it is important that the voters uphold the legislature’s tax increase or else the schools will suffer.
Ballots for the election will go in the mail on Jan. 8. The deadline for registering to vote in the election is Jan. 5.
In other business:

•  there was much discussion about the upcoming flu season, which already seems to have hit Harney County.
Superintendent Sari stated that because the county has only received 200 doses of the vaccine, those in the higher risk categories would be vaccinated before the rest of the population.

He noted that this will force the community to take preventative measures.

Hines Middle School Principal Gail Buermann noted that her staff will be taking extra measures to clean building surfaces to try and prevent the spread of the flu virus;

• Business Manager Petrina White talked about the recent grant obtained by the district from the Department of Energy. They will be used to replace windows at the high school and the Lincoln building. Those projects could start as soon as spring break.

She also said the district’s recent audit went well and there were no findings;

• Bond Project Manager Bill Renwick noted that staff members are continuing with work on the pellet bin at the high school. He also offered to give the new school board members a tour of the facilities that have been improved thanks to the bond measure voters passed in 2005;

• Slater Principal Gayle Mackey stated that the elementary school raised $17,000 through its annual fund raiser. The school will receive half of the money, which it will put toward OMSI presentations, plays, playground equipment and field trips.

Mackey also said that Edie Koenig has been volunteering in the Slater library and has put in enough hours to be a real librarian even though she is not paid.  The school has not had a paid librarian since budget cuts were made in 2008. Mackey said the staff is very grateful for Koenig’s dedication.

• Monica McCanna, the district representative for the classified staff, announced the classified union voted and unanimously decided to ratify their contract;

• Hines principal Buermann said that she and her staff have been working on ways to encourage a positive school climate. This includes rewarding students for good behavior.

She also noted Hines parent conferences would take place on Wednesday, Oct. 21, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the school gym;

• BHS Principal Wassom stated that the high school would be getting a donation of chemistry lab equipment from the University of Oregon;

• Student Services Director Geoff Robinson said he will be working on re-drafting the student handbook for the Eastern Oregon Academy;

• the board voted to approve changing the name of the Silvies River Web Academy to the Silvies River All-Prep Academy.

Superintendent Sari received a letter from the academy’s board stating that they felt the name change would better reflect their educational mission.

The next Harney District No. 3 School Board meeting will be at 7 p.m. Nov. 10 at the Lincoln building.

Proposed option would cut across Harney County

Opposition to Idaho Power Company’s proposed 500-kilovolt transmission line to follow the I-84 corridor has forced the utility company to explore other routes.

One of the proposed alternatives would cut across the west portion of Harney County before turning north toward Boardman.

State Rep. Cliff Bentz suggests that those interested in the location of the proposed Idaho Power 500 kV line, also known as the “Boardman to Hemmingway Project,” attend one of the line location mapping meetings scheduled.

The first meeting will be held  from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21,  in John Day at the Senior Citizens Community Center, 142 N.E. Dayton St. The second meeting will be on Thursday, Oct. 22, from 4 to 7 p.m. in Burns at the Harney County Community Center, 484 N. Broadway Ave.

The goal of these mapping sessions is to assist Idaho Power in finding an acceptable route for this 500 kV line and to educate the public about the project.

Rep. Bentz said,   “The line will constitute a permanent change to the area and deserves careful thought.”
Staff from Idaho Power will be at the meetings, providing information and maps on the proposed routes.

By Debbie Raney
Burns Times-Herald

When Blake Steeves forced a Prairie City fumble that was recovered by Max Miller on the first series of the Crane Mustangs’ game against the Panthers last Friday, it was a sign of what the entire game would be.

The Mustangs dominated the game, taking a 60-0 win from Prairie City.

Crane’s defense overwhelmed the Panther offense, holding Prairie City to a total of just 78 yards for the game. A second fumble was knocked loose by Wilson Witzel and recovered by Jesse Northrup, Steeves and Royal Henricks both recorded sacks and Milton Merritt blocked a Panther punt. On top of these stats, the Mustangs, as a team, had 11 tackles behind the line of scrimmage.

To pick up the first of Crane’s 60 points, the Mustangs’ Pete Joyce scored on a 16-yard run on Crane’s second snap.

The touchdown was followed up with a Henricks conversion run. On the Mustangs’ next possession, Joyce repeated his 16-yard touchdown run into the end zone. This time Steeves pulled down a pass from Ryan Opie for the conversion points and a 16-0 Crane lead.

After forcing the Panthers to punt, Crane began another scoring drive on their 47-yard line. The Mustangs picked up three first downs on two Cole Maupin carries and a screen pass from Opie to Steeves, setting up another touchdown. At the 13, Henricks ran an end-around, scoring with 1:19 on the clock. Miller carried in the conversion to end the quarter with a 24-0 Crane lead.

Over half of the second quarter ticked by before the Mustangs got more points on the board. After Merritt blocked a Panther punt, Crane had possession on Prairie City’s 11. On fourth down, Henricks was left alone on the right side, just beyond the line of scrimmage. Opie got the ball to Henricks and he went in for the score, unscathed. Opie ran in the two points to follow, and a score of 32-0.

Before halftime, the Mustangs put up six more points. Taking the ball on the Panther 38, after Henricks sacked the quarterback for a loss of 11 yards, Maupin began pounding through Prairie City’s line through holes made by freshmen Nic Nyman and Riley Joyce. At the 13, Opie went straight ahead on a quarterback keeper, for a touchdown with 1:54 on the clock.

The first touchdown of the third quarter was a repeat of Opie’s run in the second quarter. This time, he broke through the Panther line and was free for a 62- yard run. Henricks pulled in the conversion pass, and Crane took a 46-0 lead.

With the clock in running time, Prairie City once again had to punt, and the Mustangs began another drive on the Panther 32. Greg Thompson picked up a first down on the first snap, and then Maupin carried for three straight plays; the final a 5-yard run into the end zone at 2:39 in the quarter.

When the fourth quarter began, Crane was up 52-0. The Panthers had the ball as the quarter started, but that only lasted one play as Witzel knocked the ball loose and Northrup recovered the fumble for the Mustangs on their own 38-yard line.

Thompson took over the quarterback responsibilities, with R. Joyce and Witzel in the backfield. On the second snap, Witzel went through a gap on the right side created by Ty Harris and Tanner Titus, running 29 yards for the final touchdown of the game. Thompson passed to Maupin for the conversion and a 60-0 win.

This Friday, the Mustangs will travel to Huntington to take on the Locomotives. Kick off will be at 2 p.m.

1   2     3     4   Final
PC            0   0    0    0     0
Crane     24  14   14   8    60

First quarter
Cra—P. Joyce 16 run (Henricks run) 10:08.
Cra—P. Joyce 16 run (Steeves pass from Opie) 5:56.
Cra—Henricks 13 run (Miller run) 1:19.
Second quarter
Cra—Henricks 11 pass from Opie (Opie run) 5:46.
Cra—Opie 13 run (pass failed) 1:58.
Third quarter
Cra—Opie 62 run (Henricks pass) 7:15.
Cra—Maupin 5 run (run failed) 2:39.
Fourth quarter
Cra—Witzel 29 run (Maupin pass from Thompson) 9:57.
Individual statistics
RUSHING—Opie 7-92, P. Joyce 4-57, Miller 3-10, Maupin 11-81, Henricks 2-26, Thompson 2-65, R. Joyce 2-14, Witzel 1-29.
PASSING—Opie 12-4-38, Thompson 1-1-3.
RECEIVING—Steeves 2-24, Henricks 2-14, Maupin 1-3.
FUMBLE RECOVERY—Miller 1, Northrup 1.
SACKS—Steeves 1, Henricks 1.
BLOCKED PUNTS—Merritt 1.
TACKLES FOR LOSS—Merritt, 1, Henricks 1, R. Joyce 1, Opie 1, P. Joyce 1, Steeves 1, Nyman 1, Witzel 2.
FUMBLES LOST—Crane 0, Prairie City 2.

Meet the “Ghost Hunters,” a group that uses high-tech gear to search for spirits throughout the Northwest. Hear their fascinating stories and see their equipment at 7 p.m., Oct. 21, at the Harney County Library. For more information, call 573-6670.

Malheur National Wildlife Refuge will hold a Comprehensive Conservation Planning Listening Post at the Crane Union High School multi-purpose room on Oct. 21, at 7-9 p.m. For more information, call Terri Hellbusch at 493-2612.

Harney Partners for Kids and Families meets on the third Wednesday of each month at noon, at Glory Days Pizza. Lunch is provided, please RSVP to Michelle Bradach, president.

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

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 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.

Bring the babies to Lapsit Storytime at Harney County Library, each Wednesday at 10 a.m. Enjoy music, stories, rhymes and fingerplays especially for babies and toddlers.

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.

Learn more about the Boardman to Hemingway Transmission Line Project at an open house at the Harney County Community Center from 4-7 p.m. on Oct. 22. For more information, go to: www.boardmantohemingway.com.

Coyote Cinema will present “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” at the Ranch Art Gallery on Oct. 22, at 7 p.m. Free Popcorn! Free Admission! Donations accepted, proceeds go to purchase movies for the Harney County Library.

Disabled Services Advisory Council (DSAC) meets every fourth Thursday at the State Office Building small conference room, 809 West Jackson, at 1:30 p.m.

Harney County Soil and Water Conservation District board of directors meets the fourth Thursday of each month at the Rory and Ryan Best Western in Hines from 5-7:30 p.m. The public is welcome to attend.

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.

Harney County Chamber of Commerce radio auction will be held on KZZR, Oct. 23-24, beginning at 8 a.m. each morning. A list of a auction items is inserted in the Oct. 21 Burns Times-Herald.

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.

Friday Morning Book Club with Lisa, a new program for kids ages 7-10, will be held at the Harney County Library from 9-10 a.m. The program will include stories and crafts.

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

Burns Butte Sportsman’s Club will present “Merchandise Trapshoot” fun and games for Halloween, on Saturday, Oct. 24. Practice will begin at 9:30 a.m., and the shoot will start at 10 a.m. at the trap range on Radar Hill. All levels of shooters are welcome. Lunch will be available.

Harney County Chamber of Commerce radio auction will be held on KZZR, Oct. 23-24, beginning at 8 a.m. each morning. A list of a auction items is inserted in the Oct. 21 Burns Times-Herald.

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