Community Corner
🌱 How will new Beech Creek thinning change wildfire risk near John Day?
Be sure to catch Skate Night on the John Day Patch calendar

Hello again John Day! We're bringing you the latest town highlights. Don't miss out, keep going! ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- How will new Beech Creek thinning change wildfire risk near John Day?
- Prospectors fall short, but which John Day players shined most?
- How did this record fire season hit John Day's air quality?
Today's riddle: What do you call a belt that is made of watches? 🤔 (Answer below!)
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- Thursday: Warm with plenty of sun, with a high of 80 and low of 49 degrees.
- Friday: Very warm with clouds and sun, temps: high: 81, low: 46.
- Saturday: Sunny and very warm, with a high of 83 and low of 51 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• Pre-commercial thinning to occur near Beech Creek in Grant County (elkhornmediagroup.com) — Work is underway on a major forest-thinning project near Beech Creek and Highway 395, just north of Mt. Vernon and close to John Day, aimed at reducing wildfire risk to nearby communities. Through August 2027, crews will thin over 1,600 acres in the wildland-urban interface, lowering hazardous fuels and improving forest health in coordination with private landowners around Grant County.
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• Junior High Prospectors Fall 20-14 to Hines (koin.com) — John Day's junior high Prospectors football team narrowly lost 20–14 to Hines in a home game at Grant Union High School, but still delivered some big moments. Cooper Cobb rushed for about 100 yards and a touchdown, while Chance Timko turned an interception into a pick-six, giving local fans an exciting mix of offensive and defensive highlights despite the close defeat.
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• 2.1 million acres, $1.4 billion: How two lightning storms set Oregon ablaze (centraloregondaily.com) — John Day residents endured some of Oregon's worst wildfire smoke this summer, with air quality rated unhealthy or worse on 20 different days. A pair of July lightning storms helped drive a record 2.1 million acres burned statewide, straining firefighting resources, exposing management gaps, and sparking debate over forest thinning and environmental lawsuits that could shape future fire policy in eastern Oregon.
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📸 Around John Day
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📣 John Day Shout Outs!
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🗓 Events Nearby
- Skate Night
North Powder Charter School North Powder, OR 97867
5:30 pm - Joseph at Powder Valley →
333 G St, North Powder
7:15 pm - Adrian at Powder Valley →
333 G St, North Powder
4:00 pm - Mingo at The Palace →
The Palace, 260 N. Broadway Ave., Burns
6:00 pm - Ghost Hunting with Big River Paranormal →
Geiser Grand, 1996 Main St, BAKER CITY - Stitch & Learn Craft Club →
Harney County Library, 80 West D ST., Burns
10:00 am - Powder Valley at Pilot Rock →
Pilot Rock OR
10:00 am - Pilot Rock at Powder Valley →
333 G St, North Powder
11:00 am - Pokemon Saturday →
Harney County Library, 80 West D ST., Burns
12:00 pm - Echo at Powder Valley →
333 G St, North Powder
1:00 pm - Open Art Night →
Spark Art Studios and Emporium, 341 N Broadway, Burns
5:00 pm - Business Analytics Certification (CBAP) Training in Baker City, OR →
1705 Main St, Baker City
9:00 am
Thursday October 1
Friday October 2
Saturday October 3
Monday October 5
Tuesday October 6
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), and the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Oregon Commission for the Blind and Oregon Department of Education have organized a webinar series to educate the community about
disability employment services and celebrate the many workplace successes. Join us on Tuesday, October 13 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Zoom for … (Nextdoor )
- LanceSoft posted a job opening for Hiring: RN L&D: John Day, OR: Nights 12*3: $2800/wk in John Day. Apply here.
- Connections Academy posted a job opening for High School Special Education Teacher - Oregon Connections Academy in Prairie City. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near John Day here.
🗞 Nearby News
Baker City
- Commercial thinning planned in Baker City Watershed (elkhornmediagroup.com)
- 'Baker Night at the Opera,' delayed due to summer wildfire smoke, set for Oct. 8 (bakercityherald.com)
- 'Loving every second': Baker City steer wrestler Jesse Brown reflects on his record-breaking season (youroregonnews.com)
La Grande
- Fox Fire Cafe to open in downtown La Grande (lagrandeobserver.com)
Ok John Day! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A waist of time. (Thank you Martin L. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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