1.Public Notice: Sherman County School District Special Board Meeting, June 17

The Sherman County School District Board of Directors will hold a Special Board Meeting at 7:30 a.m. on Friday, June 17, 2016.  This meeting will be held in the meeting room of the Sherman Jr./Sr.  High School/Public Library. 

2.  Senator Jeff Merkley Town Hall Meeting, June 17

Sen. Jeff Merkley

Town Hall Meeting

for all of Sherman County’s residents. 

When:

Friday, June 17, 2016

7:00 pm

Where:

Wasco Annex (old grade school)….cafeteria/auditorium

903 Barnett Street

Wasco, OR 97065

Questions?  Carol MacKenzie 541-442-5079

Your questions can be submitted and will be answered by Senator Merkley. 

3.  History Tidbit: County Judge Dewey Thomas 1982

SHERMAN COUNTY JOURNAL, 22 July 1982

New County Judge Dewey J. Thomas Sworn to Duties

The new Sherman County Judge is Dewey Thomas, a former County Commissioner 1976-1980.  He was sworn in Thursday afternoon by County Clerk Linda Hasch. 

Former Judge Marie Hoskinson, Mrs. Thomas, Reine Thomas Hayes, Mrs. Marvin Thomas, and County Commissioners Gordon Hilderbrand and John Schadewitz, were all present for the installation ceremony.  These and other visitors were served refreshments by Dawn Lohrey and Linda Haasch. 

Dewey Thomas was born in North Carolina and came to Sherman County to visit relatives in 1937.  He stayed to work in the area until 1940 when he went “home” for a while, returning to Sherman County in time to be called up for the first draft for World War II, August 19, 1941.  He served in the army until his discharge October 10, 1945.  He married Catherine Fridley of Wasco on November 10, 1945 and they have lived in Sherman County since.  They have children living in the Wasco area, Rick and Reine Hayes and Kent and Melva Thomas, and five grandchildren. 

Thomas served on the County Court with Lawrence Kaseberg and Robert Holmes, appointed to the Court February 1, 1976 and elected in the May primary.  He was a member of the Mid-Columbia Council of Governments manpower board, a member of the Sherman County Fair Board, and a member of the Board of Equalization and rural advisory board to the County Court.  His term of office will end December 31, the position will be on the November election ballot. 

Dewey Thomas succeeds Marie Hoskinson who has served in the County Courthouse for more than 50 years in many positions ranging from janitor to County Judge.  She has been tax collector, County Clerk and she was even a coal hod carrier in the days when the building was heated by pot bellied stoves and the coal was delivered to Moro in rail cars, and thence transported to the courthouse and other buildings in the area. 

4.  U.S. Army Birthday and Flag Day

Today is the 241st birthday of the United States Army, born in 1775 of the desire to defend Essential Liberty and spread its flame.  As the Army and its fellow service branches continue to lead the way in defending Liberty, let us not forget to pray for these brave Patriots standing in harm’s way and their families awaiting their safe return. 

Today is also Flag Day.  Our flag is a beacon of Liberty, a symbol of hope for all people who “hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.  That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed — that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it…” On this Flag Day, we American Patriots display and pay homage to our national flag. 

BEND, Ore. — The Oregon National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program (OYCP) is scheduled to host a graduation ceremony for its 51st class on June 15, at 11 a.m. at the Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center, Middle Sister Building, 3800 SW Airport Way, Redmond, OR. 

Oregon Secretary of State, Jeanne Atkins and the Deputy Director for the Oregon Military Department, Dave Stuckey, are scheduled to be in attendance. 

OYCP is a statewide accredited alternative high school that serves all of Oregon.  The graduation ceremony features 126 students from 50 different high schools and 17 Oregon counties and features a rigorous five-and-a-half-month in residence phase followed by a year of active mentorship. 

Of the 126 graduates, 13 will receive high school diplomas and 6 will earn GEDs.  117 cadets earned enough credits through OYCP to return to their hometown high schools and graduate with their respective classes.  The ceremony is expected to draw hundreds of family members, friends and community supporters of the graduating cadets from across the state.  The event is open to the public and media is invited to attend. 

As part of their training through the program, 126 cadets earned their food handler permits, as well as first aid and CPR certification.  In addition, cadets donated 130 units of blood through the American Red Cross.  Cadets set a goal of giving 110 units of blood, and exceeded that goal by 20 units.  During the five-and-half-month residential phase of the program, the class also provided 11,015 hours of community service at numerous civic events and nonprofit organizations in the Bend area, averaging 87 hours of service per cadet.  The estimated total value of their combined volunteer service is $101,888.75. 

About OYCP
OYCP is one of 37 nationwide National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Programs and has been recognized as one of the premier programs in the country.  The OYCP program is cost-free to cadets and their families and has successfully graduated more than 4,600 cadets since its inception in 1994.  The voluntary, 17- and- a-half-month program provides youth who are at-risk of not completing their high school education, both male and female, ages 16 to 18, from urban and rural areas of Oregon, with another opportunity to succeed. 

Cadets work through a two-phase program, beginning with an intensive five-and-a-half-month residential program during which they develop life-coping skills, perform volunteer community service work and attend academic classes.  While in the program, cadets continue their education, develop life skills and create a plan, outlining clear and organized steps to keep them along the path of success following graduation.  The second phase of the program consists of one year of mentorship.  During this phase, cadets receive encouragement and support as they implement their plans to re-enter their home environments. 

Details about the Oregon National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program are available at www.oycp.com or by phoning (541) 317-9623.