By Randy Parks
Burns Times-Herald

The Malheur National Wildlife Refuge (MNWR) is currently in the process of developing a Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) that will be used to guide the long term management of wildlife, habitat, public use activities, and cultural resources on the refuge.

Because the CCP must deal with a wide variety of issues, a Refuge Health Collaborative Working Group has been established to provide input to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as to how to deal with the challenges facing the refuge.

The group, made up of representatives from federal and state agencies, environmental groups, landowners, technical personnel, and other community members met on Wednesday, May 19, to begin discussions on what direction they would like to see the CCP take.

The meeting was facilitated by the High Desert Partnership (HDP) and Oregon Consensus, a statewide collaborative governance program at Portland State University.

HDP chairperson Bill Renwick told the group that by bringing the different interests together in a meeting before drafting the CCP, they were trying to anticipate and reduce any tensions before they might arise. “We’re bringing people together to find solutions,” Renwick said.

CCP Project Leader Tim Bodeen said that after receiving public input for the past year, a core team of staff from the MNWR came up with a list of what they felt were driving issues. That list included: 1. Water — aquatic health, such as infrastructure, rights, quality and quantity, climate change, Blitzen River and adjoining creeks; 2. The significance of the MNWR for migratory birds; 3. Partnerships/Collaboration; 4. Terrestrial health.

Following discussions in small groups, the collaborative group as a whole formed a list of issues they felt should be addressed in the CCP. That list included, but was not limited to, helping the refuge manage lands outside the boundaries, haying and grazing, noxious weed management, carp control, elevating partnerships, water rights, flexibility with permittees, predation, visitor services, Blitzen River restoration, significance of birds, maintaining terrestrial species and access to those species.

The list was not prioritized, but many in the room felt haying and grazing on the refuge could be the most contentious issue and should be the lead topic at the next meeting scheduled for July 8 at the Harney County Community Center in Burns.

New Hines business features hot dogs

By Randy Parks
Burns Times-Herald

Great ideas are often hatched from fond memories.

Bob Landgrave grew up in Peru, Ind., and he still remembers riding his bike up to a local hot dog stand and ordering three chili dogs and a root beer. “There were two hot dog stands in town then, and they’re still there today,” Landgrave said.

When Landgrave and his wife, Peggy, moved to Burns in February 2009 to be closer to family, he noticed that there was no place to buy a good old-fashioned hot dog or sausage, and from there came the idea of The Doghouse.

Landgrave bought the building that formerly housed an espresso business next to Ebar Oil on Highway 20, put on a fresh coat of paint inside and out, and opened for business on Monday, May 17.

The Doghouse offers German sausage, a spicy beer sausage, smoked sausage and all beef hot dogs with a variety of toppings, including cheese, chili, relish, sauerkraut, grilled onions,  jalapenos, slaw, mustard and ketchup. “There’s chili dogs, cheese dogs, slaw dogs,” Landgrave said. “There’s a lot of people who don’t even know what a slaw dog is.” Nachos, chips and soda pop are also available.

As for the market potential, Landgrave pointed out that every second, 25,000 hot dogs are sold in the United States, which equates to about 20 billion per year.

Landgrave said that while the idea of opening a hot dog stand had been in his head for more than 30 years, the move to Burns kind of forced the thought to the forefront. “About two years ago, we sold everything and moved from Amity  to Ohio to be with my wife’s mom, who was ill,” Landgrave said. “Then we moved here, and I wondered what I was going to do. I’m 58 years old, who’s going to give me a job?

“I had a construction business  in Miami, ran a nightclub in Indiana and had a business in Amity. But it doesn’t matter what I did, or what I know. So I opened the hot dog stand.”

The Doghouse gets its smoked sausages and hot dogs locally from Buermann’s Ranch Meats and gets most other supplies from the local grocery stores. “I try to do business in the area,” Landgrave said. “And KZZR, Inkling Designs, John Ebar and others have worked with me getting going. They’ve been great.”

Landgrave added that his son in Ohio, Tim Wood, provided support and was very instrumental in getting the business going.

The Doghouse is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Landgrave stated the hours may change once summer weather arrives.

“Business has been good so far,” Landgrave smiled. “I’m looking to give people good food at a reasonable price.”

By Debbie Raney
Burns Times-Herald

The goal of an athlete is to reach the peak of their performance level when the stakes are down and when the competition level is at the highest. The Crane Mustang track and field athletes reached this goal during the OSAA state championship meet in Monmouth last weekend.

As the state meet ended on Saturday, the Mustangs had earned 32 individual medals. To top the weekend off, the Crane girls won the team championship by compiling 80 points, and the boys team finished second with 50 points.

Individually, the Mustangs’ September O’Crowley claimed four gold medals of her own. She earned the state championship in the 400-meter run, the 300 hurdles, the pole vault and was a member of the 4×400 relay team.

Running the championship relay with O’Crowley was Beth Milburn, Natalie Bentz and Alycia Jenkins.

In the boys competition, Blake Steeves gave the Mustang fans an opportunity to cheer, as he set a new state record in the triple jump. His biggest rival in the event, Stephen Larlee of South Wasco County, came  back and reset the record by beating Steeves’ jump. The tide turned again, as the Mustang athlete recorded the third record-setting jump of the meet. Unfortunately, the record was broken for a fourth time, when Larlee ended the meet with a jump that claimed the gold medal and the new record.

In addition to Steeves’ silver, second-place medals were earned by Jenkins in the 1,500-meter run and Jeran Conaway in the pole vault.

Coming away with third places were the girls’ 4×100 relay team (Milburn, Na. Bentz, Nichole Bentz and Emilee O’Toole), Jenkins in the 800-meter, Na. Bentz in the high jump and Conaway in the high jump.

Earning fourth places at the state meet were O’Toole in the 200-meter run, Steeves in the 100 hurdles and the long jump and Lewis Whiting in the 3,000-meter run. Fifths went to O’Toole in the 100-meter run, Gus Titus in the 3,000-meter and the boys 4×400 relay (Milton Merritt, TJ Potter, Lance Moser and Steeves).

Rounding out the Mustangs who earned medals were Conaway, seventh in the javelin, Tanner Titus, eighth in the 1,500-meter run, Wilson Witzel, eighth in the 300-meter hurdles and Levi Miller, eighth in the 800-meter run.
Times and distances for the Mustangs are as follows:

Girls
4×100 relay — 3-Bethany Milburn, Nichole Bentz, Natalie Bentz, Emilee O’Toole, 53.49.
1,500 meter — 2-Alycia Jenkins, 5:06.99.
100 — 5-O’Toole, 13.53.
400 — 1-September O’Crowley, 59.61; 4-Na. Bentz, 1:03.62.
800 — 3-Jenkins, 2:32.18.
200 — 4-O’Toole, 28.19.
300 hurdles — 1-O’Crowley, 48.47.
4×400 relay — 1-Milburn, Jenkins, Na. Bentz, O’Crowley, 4:16.70.
Pole vault — 1-O’Crowley, 9-0.
High jump — 3-Na. Bentz, 4-10.
Team scores: 1-Crane, 80; 2-Damascus Christian, 77; 3-Portland Lutheran, 48.5; 4-Imbler, 43; 5-Hosanna Christian, 34; 6-Sherman, Adrian, Southwest Christian, 32; 9-Triangle Lake, 30; 10-Crow, 28.5.

Boys
1,500 meter — 8-Tanner Titus, 4:35.87; 10-Dan O’Crowley, 4:49.07.
100 hurdles — 4-Blake Steeves, 16.50.
800 — 8-Levi Miller, 2:10.89.
300 hurdles — 8-Wilson Witzel, 44.73.
4×400 relay — 5-Milton Merritt, TJ Potter, Lance Moser, Steeves, 3:40.25.
Javelin — 7-Jeran Conaway, 158.08.
Long jump — 4-Steeves, 19-10.25.
High jump — 3-Conaway, 5-10.
Triple jump — 2-Steeves, 45-09.25.
Pole vault — 2-Conaway, 12-03.
3,000 — 4-Lewis Whiting, 9:39.63; 5-Gus Titus, 9:42.27.
Team scores: 1-Southwest Christian, 57; 2-Crane, 50; 3-New Hope Christian, 47; 4-Pacific, 45; 5-South Wasco, Imbler, 38; 7-Triad, 37; 8-Damascus Christian, 30; 9-St. Paul, North Clackamas Christian, 26.

Colahan wins state title in discus for Burns boys team

By Randy Parks
Burns Times-Herald

With only five athletes competing, the Burns girls track team racked up enough points to place second at the 2010 OSAA /U.S. Bank/Les Schwab Tires 3A, 2A, 1A Track & Field State Championships at Western Oregon University in Monmouth May 21-22.

Sophomore Maddye Dinsmore was a three-time state champion at the state meet, winning both the 100 (12.74) and 200 (25.92) meter dashes and earning another gold as part of the 4×400 relay team.

Rounding out the first-place 4×400 relay team were seniors Jamie Higle and Brea Ribeiro and sophomore Jen Higle.

Not only did they win the race, but they set another school record with a time of 4:03.51, breaking the record of 4:04.00 they had set just a week earlier at the district competition.

The same four runners teamed up for a second-place finish in the 4×100 relay. Catlin Gabel won with a time of 50.34, and the Hilanders were right behind with a time of 50.50.

Ja. Higle earned two silver medals in individual events, placing second in both the 400 (59.55) and the 800 (2:25.07) meter races.

Ribeiro brought home two bronze medals in individual events, placing third in the 100 meter hurdles (16.99) and the 300 meter hurdles (49.67).

The Hilanders’ Chelsea Siegner, a junior, added another three team points with a sixth-place finish in the discus with a throw of 106’ 2”.

Catlin Gabel won the girls team title with 85 points, and Burns was second with 69 points. Nyssa finished third with 44 points, followed by Bandon 33, Valley Catholic 32, Reedsport 28, Harrisburg 27, Rainier 25, Warrenton 24 and Riverside 23 in the top 10.

On the boys side, senior Carraig Colahan  was the lone competitor for Burns, and he returned home a state champion in the discus. Colahan’s throw of 168’ 6” easily out-distanced Reedsport’s Ismael Osorio’s second-place throw of 149’ 3”.
Colahan also placed fifth in the shot put (47’ 10 1/4”).

The 14 points Colahan earned placed Burns in a tie for 17th in the team standings.

Horizon Christian won the boys title with 59 points, followed by Rogue River with 53, Reedsport 42, Nyssa 41, Riverside 40, Bandon 35, Grant Union 31, Colton 30, Sheridan 29 and Westside Christian with 26 in the top 10.

“Each and every athlete performed at the highest level,” Burns coach Eric Nichols said. “It was great to see each athlete step it up when performing on the ‘big stage.’ Each of these student-athletes deserves the highest respect from their peers because they get it done in the classroom, in the community and in the athletic arena.

“These kids fought through the tough spring weather, which made it very hard to train. They were a lot like postal workers, rain, sleet or snow, these kids battled through the elements, came to work and performed their job every single day.”

Jerry Levanger, 66, died on May 22, after a battle with myelodysplasia.

He was born on June 7, 1943, in Nampa, Idaho, to Ross and Doris Levanger.

Levanger spent his childhood in Homedale, Idaho. In 1952, he moved to Juntura, where he ranched until 1965. He then moved to Cow Valley, with his new wife, Nancy. He later moved to Vale to continue ranching.

Levanger’s first son, JR, was born in 1966. His second son, John was born in 1967 and his daughter, Billy, arrived in 1970. The family continued ranching in the Vale area. In 1990, he joined the Oregon Brand Department, where he continued to work until his death.

Levanger loved being on the ranch and being with his family — his wife, kids and grandsons. Some of his best days were spent with his grandsons Charlie and John. No matter what the kids wanted to do, he was there for them — riding the horse, driving the tractor and hunting deer — he always had time for the kids.

Levanger is survived by his wife, Nancy; son, JR; daughter, Billy and husband Chris; grandsons, Charlie and John; and brother, Joe.

He was preceded in death by his son, John;  brother, Bill; and his parents.

The Rosary will be at the Vale Catholic Church on Wednesday, May 26,  at 7 p.m. A funeral will be at the Vale Catholic Church, Thursday, May 27, at 11 a.m. There will be lunch following the funeral. Burial will be in Ironside at 3 p.m.

Lienkaemper-Thomason Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

The Hilander Booster Club/S.O.D.A. will hold a meeting to finish the 2009-10 school year, elect new officers and start to plan for the 2010-11 school year. The meeting will be held at Glory Days Pizza, at noon on Wednesday, May 26. All parents are encouraged to attend. For more information, call Katy Nonnenmacher at 541-589-1901.

The Nutrition Support Group will meet Wednesday, May 26, from noon – 1 p.m. in the Harney District Hospital Conference Room Annex. Discuss nutrition questions, get the latest information and offer support to those improving their nutrition habits. For more information, contact HDH Dietary Supervisor Amy Dobson at 541-573-8318.

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 Lincoln Junior High School, 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 541-573-6670.

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 7 p.m. at Four Square Church, 74 S. Alvord, Burns.

A Women’s AA meeting is held every Wednesday at noon at the Harney Behavioral Health Building.

Old Camp Casino  will hold a flea market with crafts, baked goods and a yard sale on May 27, 28 and 29. For more information, call 541-573-1500.

Treasure Valley Community College is sponsoring a presentation on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) on Thursday, May 27, at 12:45 p.m. at the Burns Outreach Center. Dr. Beau Webber will be the presenter. For more information, call Karen at 541-573-1576.

The City of Burns and the Committee For Harney Basin Rural Fire Protection will be sponsoring an informational meeting at the Harney County Senior Center, 17 South Alder, on Thursday, May 27, at 7 p.m. to provide information on the proposed Subscription Model for Structural Fire Protection for Rural Harney Basin.

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 USDA Service Center conference room in Hines, at 3:30 p.m.  The public is welcome to attend.

Living Well with Chronic Conditions will be held each Thursday through June 17, sponsored by Harney District Hospital. Learn how to successfully manage health conditions like asthma, diabetes, heart problems and others. Classes will be held from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at the Harney County Senior Center. To register or for more information, call Amy Dobson at  541-573-8318.

Tai Chi is held every Thursday at the Harney County Senior and Community Services Center, from 9:30 to 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 Ave., at noon.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly meets each Thursday at Hines City Hall, 101 East Barnes, at noon. Call 541-573-2896.

Narcotics Anonymous meets each Thursday at 7 p.m. at Four Square Church, 74 S. Alvord, Burns.

Old Camp Casino  will hold a flea market with crafts, baked goods and a yard sale on May 27, 28 and 29. For more information, call 541-573-1500.

Crane Union High School graduation will be held on May 28 at 6 p.m. in the high school gymnasium.

Oregon Old Time Fiddlers, District 9, meets the first, third and fourth Friday of each month. Call Micky, 541-573-2515, for time and place.

Alcoholics Anonymous meets every Friday at 5 p.m. at Harney Behavioral Health.

Old Camp Casino  will hold a flea market with crafts, baked goods and a yard sale on May 27, 28 and 29. For more information, call 541-573-1500.

ALANON meets each Saturday at 7 p.m. at Four Square Church, 74 S. Alvord, Burns.

The Harney County Ministerial Association holds services every fifth Sunday. The community is invited to join in a time of music, fellowship and praise. For information contact Pastor Jean Hurst, 541-573-4141.

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