Aspens Assisted Living will hold a Fourth of July barbecue on July 5, at noon. Meat and drinks will be provided. Bring side dishes or dessert to share. Everyone is welcome.  For more information, call 541-573-2222.

Harney County Library will be closed on Monday, July 5.

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

Harney District Hospital will hold a free Physical Therapy Sports Injury Clinic on Monday evenings throughout the July. Students experiencing muscle or joint pain due to sports activities will be seen by a physical therapist who will assess injuries and offer recommendations for treatment. High Desert Medical Center’s Dr. Holland Haynie will also be available. To take advantage of this free clinic, call 541-573-1543 to schedule a time to be seen.

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 541-573-7477 or 541-573-2251.

Narcotics Anonymous meets each Monday at 7 p.m. at Foursquare Church, 74 S. Alvord, Burns.

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.

Steens Back Country Horsemen will meet at 6 p.m. July 6 at the Harney County Library. Members will be discussing upcoming volunteer projects and rides. Back Country Horsemen of America is a nationwide organization, with members in 47 states. It is a service and advocacy organization, working to protect the rights of recreational stock use in the back country. Anyone interested in preserving trails and stockmen’s access to our public lands is welcome to attend. For more information, call John O’Connor at 541-678-3502.

Harney Basin Writers meets the first and third Tuesdays of each month at the Harney County Library, from 2 to 4 p.m. Writers of any age and writing style are encouraged to attend.

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 Ave., from 7 to 8:30 p.m. with Liz Taylor  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.

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 1-3 p.m. For any questions on Medicare A, B, C or D, or for appointments call the Senior Center at 541-573-6024.

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 meets each Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Foursquare Church, 74 S. Alvord, Burns.

Since starting the job in March, the postmaster has enjoyed meeting residents

By Lauren Brown
Burns Times-Herald

The new Postmaster at the Burns Post Office came to Harney County from Anchorage, Alaska, but considers Oregon his home.

George Sieveking started work at the Burns Post Office on March 5. He and his wife, Donna, moved here along with their two young boys, Tyler and Jason. “Both my wife and I love small towns,” Sieveking said.

When the job opening was posted in Burns, he did his research. “Burns was one of the places I chose to come to because of the sense of community here,” he said. “People help each other. It’s amazing how friendly people are.”

In the news of late there have been murmurs of the post office going to a five-day delivery schedule. Sieveking said that in order for that to happen it has to be mandated by congress, which could take a while.

In the meantime, he said that the price of stamps will likely increase next year. He noted that the post office is not funded by tax dollars. In fact, the post office runs strictly off stamp sales, package fees and P.O. Box rentals. “Of course, the post office is in a budget crunch right now like everyone else,” he said.

Sieveking likes to encourage people to write letters to one another. He explained that a handwritten letter is so much more personal than an e-mail or text message, and it’s something people hang on to as keepsakes. “It’s an art, writing a letter,” he said.

In his free time, Sieveking likes to listen to music —all kinds. When he worked at the post office in Sweet Home, he volunteered to help organize the Oregon Jamboree, a country music festival that draws thousands of people to the small town at the edge of the Cascade mountains.

Sieveking would like to get involved in the community here in Harney County as well, perhaps through civic groups. “ I do enjoy being here in Burns,” he said. “I’d like to meet as many people as I can. I’m here to serve the community.”

Locals want to know why private vendors’ fees weren’t raised

By Randy Parks
Burns Times-Herald

Several members of the local Lions Club and Epsilon Sigma Alpha (ESA) sorority attended the Harney County Court meeting on Wednesday, June 16, to express their displeasure over the Harney County Fair Board’s decision to increase the percentage of gross sales the fair board receives from the concession booths the organizations, as well as the American Legion Auxiliary,  operate at the fairgrounds.

Acting as a spokesman for the service groups, Lions Club member Pete Runnels said they had heard the fair board wanted to increase the percentage, so he and others attended the fair board’s next meeting to work out a solution.

Runnels said the fair board was proposing hiking the present 20 percent take to either 22 or 25 percent, and requiring the booths to use cash registers.

In response, the service organizations proposed a raise to 22 percent, if the board also raised the percentage and/or space fee for the private food vendors. They also explained to the fair board why using a cash register in the booths just wouldn’t work.

“The board did agree to no cash registers,” Runnels said. “But they came back with a raise to 22 percent for us and left the private vendors at 20 percent and the same lot fee.”

Runnels explained that while the service organizations may not pay a space fee, they have invested a lot of time and money in the upkeep of the booths. “Most of the equipment in there is ours, and we put in a $7,000 fire suppression system,” Runnels said.

Runnels added that the service groups purchase supplies locally and keep the proceeds in the community in a variety of ways, including free meals and scholarships. “The out-of-town vendors bring in their own food, stay in trailers, take the money and go home,” Runnels said.

The groups also found some discrepancies in the rates being charged by the fair board, and compared the Harney County Fair rates with those of the Lake and Grant county fairs. “It’s all spelled out in black and white by them (Lake and Grant counties), and it’s consistent,” Runnels said.

ESA members Delcy Currey and Jennie Stearns said their group had not received a contract offer from the fair board, and they still had concerns that the fair board was requesting that they use a cash register in their booth. They presented a list of reasons why it wouldn’t work. “We feel like they are casting aspersions on us,” Stearns said. “It makes it look like they don’t think people are treating them fairly.”

Lions Club member Phil Turrell echoed the sentiment that the service clubs felt like they were being picked on by the fair board.

Harney County Judge Steve Grasty suggested that the local groups get together with the fair board again to come up with a solution. He said he would try to arrange the meeting, and they should keep it limited to the number of people attending.

Cliff Asmussen and Scott Franklin were in attendance to present a petition, signed by about 100 citizens, asking the court to inquire about the possibility of having the county take over the Burns Municipal Airport.

“We have no authority to take the airport,” Grasty said. “The Burns City Council has a say in it. Maybe have a meeting to sit down and talk with them about what direction it’s taking.”

Grasty told the court he sent a letter to Bob Caine, owner of the property near Crane that the tomato greenhouses were on, asking him to clean up the property. Grasty said he received a message that Caine was currently in the process of cleaning the property.

Not wanting to let it drag on, the court decided to draft a letter to Caine giving him an Aug. 31 deadline.

In other business, the court:

• denied an application from Hunter Brydges to purchase county owned land. The 10-acre parcel is located south of Harney Lake and has no on-site access to electricity nor does it have legal access (roads, easements, right-of-way);

• the court agreed to sign an Out-of District contract with Treasure Valley Community College for another year;

• approved Resolution No. 2010-11 regarding adopting the budget for 2010-2011 in the total sum of $32,227,869. Before approving the budget resolution, the court approved Resolution No. 2010-13 that  established a fund for the money received from the insurance company after the Veterans Administration van was wrecked in a crash. The resolution states the funds could be used solely for the purpose of providing medical transportation services for Harney County veterans, such as purchasing a new vehicle;

• approved Resolution No. 2010-12 imposing taxes for 2010-2011 at the rate of 4.5016 per $1,000 of assessed value, and approved a county court order, in accordance with Oregon statute, distributing a total of $4,514.57 in land sales money.

The next county court meeting will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 7, at the courthouse.

The 12th annual Kids Club of Harney County 5K Run & Walk was held Saturday, June 19, at Hines Park.

In the run portion of the race Bob Walker was the first male to cross the finish line, while Rylee Curtis won the women’s race.

Sue Herringshaw won the women’s walk and Bill Jaques took top honors in the men’s walk.

Proceeds from the race go toward the operation of the Kids Club of Harney County.

Complete results are as follows:

Women’s walk
Age 15-21
Danielle Reynolds 52:32
Megan Kawagoye 52:47

Age 22-35
Sara Burns 46:38
Sena Raschio 46:38
Danielle Buckner 52:48
Lola Johnson 75:25
Cori Wright 75:29

Age 36-49
Sue Herringshaw 35:08
Darla Kawagoye 52:45

Age 50-62
Sherrie Ellson 39:05
Suzanne Thomas 45:44
Terry Farstvedt 46:38
Kim Dougherty 49:25
Connie Hall 49:25
Linda Anderson 57:58
Laurie Whitaker 69:56

Men’s walk
Age 14 & under
Adrian Thomas 58:15
Aiden Whitaker 69:18

Age 50-62
Billy Gifford 48:11
Scott Thomas 58:15

63 & wiser
Bill Jaques 35:08

Women’s run
Age 22-35
Rylee Curtis 26:33
Janelle Whitaker 30:31
Katie Whitaker 58:54

Age 36-49
Tammy McKenna 29:50
Janet Crew 35:00
Gwen Haigh 37:26

Age 50-62
Runell Curtis 32:35

Men’s run
Age 14 & under
Mitchell Wulff 29:23
Mason Wulff 29:35
Dustin Winstead 39:13

Age 50-62
Bob Walker 20:33
Robert Hurley 59:54

The First Brain Trimmer Half-Marathon was held on Saturday, June 12.

More than 50 participants took part in the event, either on foot or riding bike.

All funds raised go toward AVM (arteriovenousmalformation) research at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif.

Results are as follows:

Bike 7 mile
Mac Ireland 49:32
Bob Spence 49:34
Isaac Zamora 50:16
Jenell Zamora 51:11

Bike 13.1 miles
Brianna LaFollette 1:07:47
Karen Miller 1:09:52
John Brawner 1:11:59
Austin LaFollette 1:20:32
Brittnee LaFollette 1:22:08
Nathan Enderle 1:22:09
Kelsee Morefield 1.22:15
Chance White 1:22:15

Men’s Run 13.1 miles
Nick Miller 1:19:42
Sean Nixon 1:23:19
Lewis Whiting 1:39:11
Troy Hooker 1:49:12
Travis Lock 1:49.41
Curt Blackburn 2:12:03
John Driscoll 2:14.21

Women’s Run 13.1 miles
Darby Kemper 1:45:40
Tori Haynie 1:45:41
Ashley Schouviller 2:09:21
Greta Emang 2:21:20
Polly O’Toole 2:28:23
Robin Hampton 2:41:21
Jackie McLaughlin 2:41:22

Men’s Walk 7 Miles
Rick Thein 1:43:12
Gabe Farmer 1:52:58
Brian LaFollette 1:58:24
Billy Giftard 2:34:01

Women’s Walk 7 miles
Sue Herringshaw 1:29:59
Tyra Rickman 1:32:41
Sherri Ellson 1:32:57
Gwen Haigh 1:34.46
Becky Thein 1:43:12
Nellie Franklin 1:43:17
Lori Bailey 1:50:32
Janet Braymen 1:50:33
Bev LaFollette 1:52:48
Renee Scott 1:52:48
Savannah Swisher 1:52:57
Kathy Swisher 1:57:51
Leeta Jantze 1:58:20
Kate Clark 1:58:25
Rachael Allison 1:59:02
Courtney Dorey 1:59:03
Connie Hall 1:59:04
Kim Dougherty 1:59:05
Lynn Carlson 1:59:29
Barbara Nourse 1:59:30
Linda Dobson 2:02:24
Ann Miller 2:02:24
Janice Morefield 2:02:24
Linda Anderson 2:34:07

Curtis Robert Faltstrom died surrounded by family at his home in Kaneohe, Hawaii, after losing his battle with cancer on March 19.

He was born in the family apartment at the Effie Carey residence in Burns on May 31, 1941, to parents Chester A. Felt and Helen Smith Felt.

Faltstrom attended elementary and high school in Burns, where he graduated in the class of 1959. He joined his classmates to celebrate their 50th class reunion last August.

He graduated from Linfield College in McMinnville in 1964 with a bachelor of science in business administration and a minor in art. One of his paintings won the honor to be hung in Melrose Hall. While in college, Faltstrom enlisted in the National Guard and received training in California and Texas. He served the term and was discharged in Hawaii.

After moving to Hawaii, he was employed as a buyer at Honolulu Liberty House, a major department store on Oahu. He decided that battling the racial tensions of the senior employees was not his game so he quit after a year.

While exploring the entire island chain, he paired up with an old sea salt who taught him the intricacies of fishing the Pacific Ocean. During this era, he decided to change his last name to the original Swedish version, Faltstrom. His paternal grandfather had shortened his last name to Felt when he emigrated to the United States.

He next leased farmland and had a period as a farmer. When a developer and devastating fire put an end to that venture, he turned to his second love, the sea.

He met and married Cynthia Gray from Sacramento, Calif. They established an art studio, and Faltstrom turned pots, painted pictures and generally had a fling at making a living with his artistic talents and wood working skills.

Eventually they decided to try organic farming. He found an orchard to lease in Kona, and he developed an organic macadamia nut farm. Single-handedly he designed and built a nutcracker factory, which included a husker, three 20-foot dryer tubes and a stainless steel cracker, which sent the nut meats along a conveyer belt system to be hand sorted and packaged.

Three children were born at the farm, Amon John, Lasha Helen and Lehua Gray.

When statehood came to Hawaii, large corporations could buy up the land and plant huge macadamia orchards and establish major processing centers, which ultimately undersold Faltstrom’s organic production.

He returned to the sea to commercial fishing, built a boat and plied the seas for 15 years. El Nina moved the fish to other waters, so Faltstrom, who was now divorced with no children at home, met new challenges and sought employment on Oahu.

Faltstrom had been the computer network administrator for the Pacific Regional Dental Command for the past 12 years. He was one of two IMO for the command and traveled to Japan and Korea to assist with their issues. He worked daily at his office at Ft. Sam Houston and with many folks at Tripler I M. His duties included responsibility for testing all new patches of CDA software as well as the setup of DEV AA for the Coast Guard Clinic. He was happy and successful in his work, and received a commendable list of citations from the various commanders for his outstanding support of the mission of the Pacific Regional Dental Command.

He met and married Gloria Moore in 2005.

Throughout his life Faltstrom held a deep passion and reverence for the land and dedicated much effort to encouraging others to farm without chemicals. At the time of his death, he served as a board member and trustee of the Hawaii Organic Farmers Association and vice president of the Hawaii Cooperative of Organic Farmers.

Faltstrom is suvived by his wife, Gloria Faltstrom of Kaneohe; step-son, Patrick of Norman, Okla.; son, Amon Faltstrom and wife Ingrid of Germany; daughters, Lasha Faltstrom of Gary, N.C., and Lehua Faltstrom; mother, Helen S. Felt of Salem; sister, Sharlene Walker of Salem; grandchildren, Garion and Taelen Gray of Gary, N.C., and Leilani in Germany; niece, Raelene Walker Edwards of Santa Cruz, Calif.; nephews, Jeffery of Vancouver and Brady Walker of Eugene.

Faltstrom’s father, Chester, was one of 11 children and mother, Helen, was one of seven. All of the aunts and uncles preceded him in death, except Ervene Morgan of Denio, Nev.; Milo Smith of Pegosa Springs, Colo.; Ruth Ann Felt of Indiana; Velma Felt of Heppner; and numerous cousins’ families. Faltstrom is also survived by lifelong friends, Conrad (Dan) Davenport of Seattle and Ivan Houghet of Eugene and a host of farmer, fishermen and Dental Command friends.
He was preceded in death by his father, Chester A. Felt and both sets of grandparents.

The Dental Command Post hosted a celebration of life at his home in Kaneohe on March 28.

A celebration of life service will be held at his birthplace in Burns on Aug. 12. Family and friends will gather at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church for a sharing of love and remembrance followed by the committal ceremony in the Burns Cemetery.

Marie Whiteaker Wodtli died on June 17 at Harney District Hospital, surrounded by her family.

She was born on April 19, 1927, in Tuskahoma, Okla., to John and Ruby Cornelius.

Wodtli was raised and educated in Pushmataha County, Oklahoma. She married Alfred Whiteaker on Nov. 26, 1943, in Norman, Okla. They started their family there, before moving to Burns in 1952. She provided care for her nine children and her husband until he died in 1985.

Wodtli attended the Assembly of God Church for many years, teaching Sunday School and serving as president of Women’s Ministries. She later attended the First Pentecostal Church.

She enjoyed the outdoors, spending time with her family hunting, fishing and camping. Her hobbies were canning, gardening, sewing, crocheting, embroidery and quilting. She loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and friends.

On Aug. 30, 2007, she married Wayne Wodtli, and continued to live in Burns until her death.

Wodtli is survived by her husband, Wayne Wodtli; children, Maxine Seadschlag, John Whiteaker, Jim Whiteaker, Darlene Williams, Janice Martin, Debbie Graven, Allen Whiteaker and Doug Whiteaker; sister, Beatrice Keith; 17 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Alfred Whiteaker, and daughter, Ruby Eggleston.

Contributions in Wodtli’s memory may be made to Harney Home Health, 415 N. Fairview, Burns, OR 97720.

Earle McCullough, 81, of Burns, died on June 9 in Bend.

He was born on Jan. 6, 1929, in Fullerton, La., to  Samuel Elvin and Ola Belle Simmons McCullough.

McCullough was always joking and laughing, and thus was given the nickname “Cutter.” While attending Colfax High School, Colfax, La., he was the school paper’s artist, drawing caricatures and comics of people and events.

After graduation, McCullough joined the U.S. Navy and was on the first voyage of Adm. Richard E. Byrd to the South Pole. When he returned home, he married  Lolette Ivy, and to this union was born two children, Margo and Rahn. He later married Pat Sumberlin, and his daughters, Lisa and Lori were born.

In the 1960s and 1970s, McCullough played the guitar and mandolin and sang in church and on a local radio station with a group including his wife, Pat.

During his working years, he was a machinist, working at Dresser, Roy O. Martin Lumber Company and in several states including Texas, California and Oregon.

McCullough is survived by a son, Rahn Neal McCullough and wife Suk of Huntsville, Ala.; and daughters, Margo Lynn McCullough Bray and husband Eddie of Clanton, Ala., Lisa Gail McCullough Ward and husband Mike of Pasadena, Texas, and  Lori Nell McCullough Condry and husband Ronnie of Fairfield, Va.

He also is survived by  his brother, Ted McCullough and wife Lucille of Ball, La.;  sisters, Juanita McCullough Folk of Sebewaing, Mich. Margie McCullough Martin of Pineville, La., and Geneva McCullough Carmouche and husband Rusty of Ball, La.; seven granddaughters; three grandsons; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel Elvin and Ola Belle Simmons McCullough; brother, S.E. McCullough; sisters, Billie Gene McCullough Hart and Gladys McCullough Palmer; his first wife, Lolette, and second wife, Pat Sumberlin.

A graveside service will be held at a later date at the Oak Grove Cemetery, Bentley, La., with Rev. David Roberts, Pastor of Sanctuary of Praise, Pineville, La., officiating.

Norma “Jean” Faulk died on June 10 at her home in Burns.

She was born on Dec. 2, 1945, in Fort Collins, Colo., to August Wood and Reba Grayson.

Faulk moved to Long Creek in 1946 with her family. She attended grade school in Long Creek. When her parents divorced, she moved to Beaver Creek with her mother. Faulk attended and graduated from Catholic School in Portland.
After graduation, she returned to Long Creek, where she met Jim Hunt. They were married on June 1, 1965. Shortly after marrying she moved to Showlow, Ariz.

Faulk returned to Oregon and lived in Pendleton, Pilot Rock and Monument. Her husband’s job as a log truck driver kept them on the move, going where the work was.

In 1983, she divorced Hunt and returned to Portland. While there she met Jim Faulk and they were married on Oct. 22, 1984, in Reno, Nev.

She lived in Burns for 20 years, working as a homemaker and security guard for Louisiana Pacific. She was a member of the Elks and the Eagles and was a volunteer for the Humane Society and the Harney County Fair. Faulk enjoyed riding horses, sewing and canning.

Faulk is survived by her husband, James Faulk of Portland; mother, Reba Grayson of Long Creek; and children, Tammy Knabe of Burns, Twila Harrington of Portland, James Hunt of Pilot Rock, Clayton Faulk of Burns, and Tanya Hunt of Aztec, N.M. She is also survived by brothers, Harold Wood of Beaver Creek, Berry Jeter of Vancouver, Wash., and Dennis Jeter of Beaver Creek; sister, Janice Hunt of Long Creek; grandchildren, ReEtta, Kimberly, Justin, Jordan, Taira, Catline and Fayth; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her father, August Wood, and brother, Jerry Wayne Wood.

Dean William Abreu, 28, died in Wyoming on June 12.

He was born on Dec. 3, 1981.

Abreu lived in Oregon for 20 years. He was a linesman for a power company and traveled to various locations in different states.

Abreu enjoyed the outdoors and all things associated camping, fishing, hunting, swimming and riding his motorcycle.

He is survived by his parents, Rodney and Keili Abreu; grandmother, Kathleen Abreu; and numerous uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews on both sides of his family.

Memorial services were held on June 22 at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in St. Helena, Calif.