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

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

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.

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

The Burns Lions Club meets each Monday at noon at Figaro’s Pizza, for lunch. Those interested in serving the community are welcome.

West Bank Christian Fellowship will host an evening of worship, teaching and prayer focusing on God’s desire to heal body, soul and spirit, on Tuesday, Aug. 3, at 6 p.m., at 211 W. Barnes Street in Hines.

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.

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: Moving for Better Balance is held every Tuesday at the Harney County Senior Center. The beginner class is held from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. The intermediate class is held from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. All ages are welcome.

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.

Deadline is noon Aug. 4

By Randy Parks
Burns Times-Herald

At their regular meeting on Wednesday, July 14, the Burns City Council agreed to put out a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the airport manager position.

City Manager Don Munkers provided the council with a copy of the RFP and said they would advertise it by way of newspaper, the city’s website, on the radio, employment office and mailings to those who had submitted a written request.

The RFP outlines the airport management services that would have to be provided, and the city must receive the RFPs by noon Aug. 4.

The council also voted to extend the current airport manager’s contract by 90 days. City Manager Munkers said the contract expired on July 1 and the extension would allow them time to receive the RFPs. The extension includes a 10-day cancellation clause in case the airport manager position is filled.

In an update on the Airport Runway 12-30 Rehabilitation Project, Munkers told the council mobilization on the project would begin on July 19, and construction would get under way July 26. At that time, Runway 12-30 would be closed for aircraft use and the west half of the terminal apron will be closed for reconstruction shortly thereafter.

Munkers reported that he had made a short presentation to the Oregon Department of Aviation, and it looked like the city would be receiving about $1.65 million for three other airport projects. “Some of the funding requires matching funds of about $280,000 that we would have to come up with, so we’ll have to find a way to do that,” Munkers said. He noted that with the additional funding, the city will be putting about $4 million worth of improvements into the airport in the next few years.

Dave Cullens, head of Public Works, reported on the street improvement projects under way. He said the old pavement was ground up and pulverized so as to be used for the base for the new pavement, and added the new paving should get under way next week.

The council reviewed the latest correspondence from their legal council regarding the formation of rural structural fire protection program.

The program would be a subscription model and Phil Kessinger, a member of the committee working on the program, said they are looking at models already in place in Hines and Vale, as well as a model previously proposed for Burns.

Kessinger said the committee was asking the council for the go-ahead to keep working toward their goal, and the next steps would be a budget, business plan and public outreach. “How do we do outreach? How do we get this sold and communicate to the public?” Kessinger asked. “We’re not going to just have it here in the office and hope folks walk in.”

According to the proposal, individuals owning improved real property within a certain distance from the city limits would have the opportunity to contract with the City of Burns for structural fire protection services. The proposed contract term would be one year and cost the individual owner $100 per address, plus $30 for multiple structures at the same address. Individual owners would also pay the city $100 per hour for each fire protection response required.

Individuals within the proposed area who do not contract with the city would pay $300 per hour, the city’s estimated actual cost, for each fire protection response made.

The committee estimates about 120 individuals within the proposed area would contract with the city, and with an estimated three to five fire calls each year, the city would realize a net gain of $26,100 over five years.
There was also some discussion about possibly altering a contract if a structure couldn’t be accessed at certain times of the year because of road conditions.

The council agreed by consensus that the committee should keep pursuing putting the plan in place.

In other business:
• the council approved two street closures. The first was for Harney District Hospital who requested Madison Street from Alvord to Broadway be closed from 4 to 10 p.m. Aug. 6 for a Community Appreciation Dinner.
The second request was from Burns Ford who requested Alvord Street from Madison to Jefferson be closed on July 31 for their 100th anniversary celebration;

• Councilor Linda Johnson asked where the city was with residents who had been asked to clean up their property. Johnson said she had been looking at the 2005 Strategic Plan and one of the key issues then was the nuisance properties, and it still is now.

Munkers said they had sent letters out, and some have made an effort to clean up and others haven’t. He added that the property owners were asked to submit a written time frame to clean up, and some haven’t met the time frame.

“That’s the problem, the council hasn’t done anything,” Johnson said. “We need to move forward to the next step.”

The council agreed to go move forward according to policy;

• Councilor Bill Renwick announced that the seats currently held by Johnson and Craig LaFollette as well as the seat vacated by Cody Hodges, would be up for election this November. LaFollette said he does plan on running again, while Johnson will not, as she has thrown her hat in the ring for the county commissioner’s race.

The next council meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 28, at city hall.

By Dylan Thompson
Burns Times-Herald

The Hines Common Council met Tuesday, July 13, to continue the discussion over the Crack Seal Project.

At last month’s meeting, the council agreed to look over the streets of Hines to decide which streets were in the most need of repair.

After the inspection, the council reported that the 200, 300 and 400 blocks of North Saginaw, the first block from the highway of West Conley, and the section of Hilltop behind Hines Middle School were the most problematic streets.

Ron Williams of TopLoc stated that with the $40,000 budgeted toward the project, all of the streets considered a priority, as well as most of the streets in the original report, including East Barnes and Hanley, can be repaired.

The meeting’s new business was piloted by Yummy Meats and their request for a business license within the city of Hines. Yummy Meats home delivers meat and seafood that is USDA approved.

Based in Boise, Idaho, Yummy Meats claims that if a customer has any problem with packaging, they can call and get free exchange of meats. A representative of Yummy Meats stated that the company guarantees freshness, stating that all of the seafood originates from the northwest.

Police Chief Randy Cook gave his report, stating that his department has to reapply for a grant that would pay to add another officer, because there were mistakes in the original application.

Hines Volunteer Fire Chief Bob Spence also gave a report continuing to ask for the public’s vote to grant the Hines VFD a new truck. Citizens can vote at www.E-one.com.

Earl Hofman reported that his department had to clean a dead skunk out of the pipes around the sewer ponds, and that there were some problems with broken sprinklers at the parks.

In other business:

• the council received and filed Crimson Presley’s petition to keep chickens within city limits;

• the City of Hines agreed once again to sponsor the Red S Memorial Race during the Harney County Fair, Rodeo and Race Meet;

• the City of Hines would also like to remind the public to push the crosswalk button just outside City Hall before crossing Highway 20;

• Becky Cunningham of Rimrock Recycling issued a letter of intent to provide recycling bins for merchants;

• West Bank Church donated $100 to the new gazebo as a thank you for letting their band use Hines Park. The concert was a success;

• councilors Presley, Ray Breshears and Tom Choate were all notified that they would be up for re-election soon and that they needed to turn in their applications to be eligible.

The next Hines Common Council meeting will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 27, at city hall.

Tyler Opie of Crane finished in second place in the team roping during the 2010 Junior High National Rodeo Finals in Gallup, N.M., June 28-July 3.

Opie was teamed with Colton Campbell of Klamath Falls.

The duo won the first round of the finals with a time of 8.969, roped their second steer in 15.723 and downed their final steer in 12.691.

In addition to the second place in team roping, Opie’s horse, Gizmo’s Pearl, was named the AQHA Horse of the Year. Opie ended the year in third place in the nation in the All-Around race.

He earned $2,500 in scholarship for his achievements.

The Hi-Desert Swim Team hosted their annual meet July 16-18.
Individual and team results weren’t available.

Harney County Court meets the first and third Wednesday of each month at the Harney County Courthouse, 450 North Buena Vista, at 10 a.m.

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.

Harney Grant Babe Ruth board 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 Glory Days Pizza, the third Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m and is followed by a board meeting.

The Harney County Cattlewomen meet on the third Wednesday of each month at the Tax Office of Melodi Molt, 92 West Adams Street in Burns at 5:30 p.m. For more information, call Melodi at 541-573-1519.

Make a splash at Harney County Library. The summer reading challenge continues at 10:30 a.m. Say cheese  — learn about healthy teeth and gums.

Burns Butte Sportsmen’s Club holds Twilight Trap Practice every Wednesday through September. For more information, call Ralph Steelman at 541-573-2099.

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.

Make waves at Harney County Library! Teen late night will be held from
7-9 p.m. This is free and open to students in grades 6-12.

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: Moving for Better Balance is held every Thursday at the Harney County Senior Center. The beginner class is held from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. The intermediate class is held from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. All ages are welcome.
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.

A Smoky Pritchett Reined Cowhorse Clinic will be held at 8 a.m. at the Bell A Ranch, in conjunction with the Shelman Family Ranch and Performance Horse Sale. Following the clinic the Horse Sale Open House Preview will begin follwed by a stockdog demonstration given by Eric Wanman, who had the 2010 high-selling stock dog in Red Bluff, Calif. At 5 p.m. the Shelman Horse Sale Team Roping Preview will begin at the Harney County Fairgrounds, followed immediately by a barbecue featuring Buermann’s Ranch Meats. Everyone is welcome.

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.

Reading Club meets at the Harney County Library each Friday from 9 to 10 a.m.