Chicano Artist Eddie Melendrez visits Wadatika Reservation Day Powwow Burns Paiute Tribe Community October 28, 2026October 28, 20260 Artist Eddie Melendrez of Ontario attended the 2026 Wadatika Reservation Day Powwow at the Harney County Fairgrounds on Saturday, Oct. 10, and painted a portrait of queen Amaya Garcia. “What inspired me to bring this painting to the Burns Paiute Tribe Community was to honor the culture and history of
BHS Cross Country 2nd at Goldrush Run Burns Cross Country October 28, 2026October 28, 20260 Thaddius Downs runs to 1st place at John Day The BHS cross country teams both battled their way to second place at the Grant Union Goldrush Run held in John Day on Thursday, Oct. 22. Senior Thaddius Downs crossed the finish line first, a full 37 seconds ahead of the second place
Nominations for the 77th Harney County Chamber Awards are open Community News October 28, 2026October 28, 20260 The Awards Banquet Committee has finalized the award categories for the upcoming Chamber Awards Banquet. We are asking that all nominations be submitted by Friday, Dec. 18, 2026. The Awards Dinner will be held Saturday, Feb. 6, 2027. Chamber Banquet Award Categories: • Student of the Year – 3 awards - Crane - Burns - Silvies •
Robert “Bob” Smyth 1934 – 2026 Obituary October 28, 2026October 28, 20260 Robert “Bob” Smyth passed away Sept. 19, 2026, leaving behind a legacy defined by his immense heart and an unforgettable love for people. Born March 15, 1934, in Burns, to John and Grace Smyth, Bob was a man who truly never met a stranger. Anyone who knew him knew that
Betty (Babe) Hawk 1947 – 2026 Obituary October 28, 2026October 28, 20260 Betty (Babe) Hawk, 79, of Burns, passed away on Sept. 18, 2026, at home from Melanoma Cancer. She was born Dec. 18, 1947 in Seattle. Babe grew up boating and Girl Scouting with her family around Puget Sound, BC Canada, learning her work ethics from her parents, a family who cooked,
Elsie (Yee) Keppinger 1930 – 2026 Obituary October 21, 2026October 21, 20260 Elsie (Yee) Keppinger passed away Sept. 9, 2026, in Salem, at the age of 96. Born April 29, 1930, in Crane, Elsie was the sixth of eight children born to Hom Shee and Yee Jue Quong. Her parents and grandfather Yee Hong Ming were longtime residents of Harney County, where the
Chauncey Farrell Bowden. Sr 1939 – 2026 Obituary October 21, 2026October 21, 20260 Chauncey Farrell Bowden, Sr. passed from Earth to Heaven on Sept. 30, 2026, at the age of 87 years old, where he was greeted by those loved ones who had passed before. Chan, as he was known, was born on Aug. 14, 1939, in Roana, Mont., to William Chauncey Bowden Sr,
Mary Kathryn Swarthout 1931 – 2026 Obituary October 14, 2026October 14, 20260 Mary Kathryn Swarthout, 95, passed away peacefully with her husband in Redmond, on Oct. 3, 2026. She lived her life to the fullest, and her memory will live on in the hearts of her family. Mary was born on June 30, 1931 in Portland, to William and Beatrice Eilertson. She and
Darrell Leroy Peasley Aug. 16, 1943 – Aug. 20, 2026 Obituary September 30, 2026September 30, 20260 Darrell was born Aug 16th 1943 at the family farm near Erhard, Minn., to William and Nettie (Helgeson) Peasley, he was the youngest out of eight children. When Darrell was 12 years old he was in the Minneapolis, Minn., hospital for six months with Rheumatic fever which caused severe arthritis. He
Andrea Whitson of Juntura Elementary selected as Regional Teacher of the Year Community News September 23, 2026September 23, 20260 The Oregon Department of Education (ODE), in partnership with the Oregon Lottery, announced that Andrea Whitson as one of Oregon’s 17 2026-27 Regional Teachers of the Year! Whitson teaches at Juntura Elementary in Juntura. Every day in Oregon classrooms, teachers offer their innovation, energy and content mastery in support of students