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The Times-Journal is conducting interviews and republishing articles about the 1994 killing of cowboy Phillip Brooks on the Foppiano Ranch in Wheeler County. Brooks was killed on September 20, 1994. "I would rather know that whoever killed Phil Brooks was rotting in jail now than anticipating that person will be rotting in hell sometime later. In other words, I'm for the here-and-now in the case instead of putting it up to God to dispatch this murderer on to Hades in the...
From the Times-Journal, September 29, 1994 A 23-year old Mitchell man has died from an apparent gun-shot wound in southern Wheeler County, according to Wheeler County District Attorney Thomas Cutsforth. James Phillip Brooks went for a horseback ride on the afternoon of Tuesday, September 20. He was reported missing Wednesday afternoon, and the Sheriff's Search and Rescue team commenced a search of the remote area which continued throughout the night. Additional resources,...
No, you don’t. “I have a Kindle, but I like the physical book in my hands.” Right. “I’ll be back.” No, you won’t. “Is that your best price?” Do you price-haggle in Two Boys Meat & Grocery? Never have I sold a book to such persons, and they darken the doorways of my open-shop bookseller friends, too. Such persons, if they buy books at all, buy them from an Amazon warehouse, not from an independent bookshop. They believe (because they have heard) assertions that the Covid-19...
I recently ate one of Dawn Garcia’s yummy power bars, a healthful cookie packed full of nutrient-dense superfoods. You can eat these cookies with a guilt-free conscious, knowing you are providing your body with true nourishment. One of the reasons I like this recipe is because there is only one bowl to wash. Power Bars 1 cup butter, softened 1 cup brown sugar ½ cup sugar 2 large eggs 2 tbsp heavy cream or half and half 1 tsp vanilla ½ tsp salt 1 tsp baking soda ½ cup almo...
Days of Yore for September 12, 2024 10 years ago— Lee and Karen Kaseberg celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary August 19. They celebrated this momentous occasion with a cruise through the Inland Passage in Alaska accompanied by their children and grandchildren. Sherman County author Jane Kirkpatrick has been named a finalist in the 2011 Willa Literary Awards. The award was named for outstanding American author Willa Cather and recognizes outstanding literature featuring wo...
Wheeler County's only cold-case murder is approaching another grim milestone, as the 30th anniversary of Phil Brook's murder approaches. Killed on September 20, 1994 – the last day of summer – Phil Brooks was out riding his sister's horse on his day off when he was shot through the heart with a high-powered rifle. The assailant was never convicted, and while there are strong suspicions that a couple who had secured hunting rights on the Fopiano could be to blame, the cri...
The Wheeler County Court held its regular session meeting on August 21 at the Jeannie Birch Building in Fossil. The court approved the hiring of Brandy Hornbrook for the Victim of Crime Advocate (VOCA) position. The Victim of Crime Advocate supports victims through the criminal justice system. They assist victims of all age ranges, including victims of child abuse, stalking, elder abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, and even homicide. Carol MacInnis has held that...
Last week I wrote about the joys of blue paper towels, the kind used by mechanics in automotive shops. I discovered they are fabulous for around-the-house cleaning chores. If you have read this column for awhile, you know that I speak of the little joys in life. These occur frequently throughout the day when you look for them. And yes, joy can be found in something as simple as the “just right” paper towel that makes an unpleasant cleaning task easier and more pleasurable. I w...
You, Dear Reader, now, know both that only you can prevent forest fires and that you might wish to have examined, that lovely set of Victorian-era novels by Sir Walter Scott, you know, the ones with the vibrant slivers of green dye-cloth laid onto their spines and that feature the fanciful blue lettering and designs on their covers. Previously, I touched on several ways in which 19th-century wallpaper, curtains and drapes and especially bookcloths covering sometimes quite...
The Condon Quilting Group started in 2021 when Judy Thomsen sent a request to the Columbia Basin Electric Ruralite publication to ask for batting. Not only did people send batting, but they also gave material for quilts, and some even sent quilt tops. Judy took the material, sorted it in her basement, and asked if there were any quilters out there who would like to help make quilts to give away. That first year, the new group gave away 54 quilts and afghans to organizations,...
Juanita Jo Pretty slow But steady That good mule Died today Ripe old age of Twenty six Hooves Sloughed off It's a Crossbreed thing Mother Stock horse 39 Part Percheron Mostly mustang Father Bunkhouse burro Pedro Grew up wild On a Thirteen by Twenty six Mile pasture She'd go through The river Skid on her butt Down declivities Where mortals Fear to tread Scared me Half to death In the saddle Meanwhile Back at the ranch Catlow Valley Don Miller outfit Gary Miller Main buckaroo...
Days of Yore for September 5, 2024 10 years ago— The state’s Seven Wonders advertising blitz has given notoriety to the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument and the Painted Hills, which, indeed, are wonders of the world. The number of tourists has grown and grown! Two groups of volunteers integral to any community will be honored this year at the 19th annual Painted Hills Festival celebration at Mitchell. The volunteers of the Mitchell Ambulance Service and the Vol...
Last week, Dear Reader, I introduced you to a joint project between the Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library and the University of Delaware: the Poison Book Project. Winterthur officials such Rosie Grayburn and Melissa Tedone were led to flag 19th-century books for traces of dangerous chemicals and poisons in the pigments used to dye the bookcloths. They found dangerous levels of arsenic in at least 100 examples of books bound in “Paris Emerald Green,” and other rare boo...
As we work towards managing the valuable resource of water, the Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) may be working in your area and/or on your property. OWRD is the state agency that monitors and regulates legal water use. Under Oregon law, all water belongs to the public and in general landowners with water flowing past, through, or under their property do not automatically have the right to use that water without authorization from the Department. This authorization is...
You may think I’ve gone off the rails when you read this, but I hope that you will find this amusing and helpful, too. I’m veering off from the topic of food and writing about cleaning instead. Oh how I love to clean! My friend once said “Isabel, your idea of going on spring vacation is to find something yucky to clean that has dirty corners”. My son used to say “Mom, you are on continuous cleaning cycle”. Years later, I still laugh at that. It’s true though! I was quite sur...
"Harvesting 115 Years of Memories at the Sherman County Fair" was the theme for the 2024 Sherman County Fair, with Sherman County Educators as Grand Marshalls and Queen Addison Smith. Sherman County 4-H and FFA members entered a variety of competitions, with Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion winners listed below: 4-H RECORD BOOKS: Grand Champion Record Book: Emma Goodenough Reserve Grand Champion: Leah Goodenough PHOTOGRAPHY: Jacob Lanthorn FOOD PREPARATION: Grand...
School is back in session in Arlington, Fossil, Spray, Mitchell, and in Sherman County – and will start in Condon next week. Parents and kids are getting back into the routine, and many kids are starting in their first year of Kindergarten. Enrollment numbers for the schools are fairly consistent with those in previous years. Sherman County, which is a combined school for all students in the county, eclipsed 200 students in the grade school and junior high this year – wit...
Senator Ron Wyden returned from the Democratic National Convention in Chicago last week to hold townhalls in Enterprise on Friday and in Condon on Saturday. Senator Wyden, who started his career in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1981, and was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1996, was introduced by Condon City Councilman Tom Fatland. Wyden began by saying that he has been committed to visiting every county in Oregon and that holding townhalls to engage with constituents...
Days of Yore for August 29, 2024 10 years ago— Condon has a couple internet ‘stars’ in its midst. Mark Winslow and son Hunter can be seen ‘hunting’ on several internet advertisements for Danner boots. The two were filmed over several days near LaGrande earlier this summer. The theme of the ads is ‘passing on the tradition’ of hunting and quality footwear and the father-son duo adds to the idea. Pronghorn is the boot that is featured. Jace Troutman of Arlington will represen...
MITCHELL, OR - The Painted Hills Festival is honored to have Jim & Betty Woodward lead our parade on August 31st in Mitchell this year. They both come with histories and great stories that go way back in the area. Jim was born in Prineville to Bob & Jane (Humphrey) Woodward both longtime Wheeler County residents. Jim holds the framed invoice from the hospital where he was a costly baby at the time for $90! On his mother's side, her parents had homesteaded in the Richmond/Waldr...
Oregon State University's Extension Service in Gilliam County has welcomed a new addition: Skyler Palmer, who was hired as the new Agriculture Outreach Coordinator earlier this summer. But Palmer is not a newcomer to the area. Skyler, who grew up between Condon and Heppner near Hardman, was raised on a cattle ranch and wheat farm. He worked with his dad and learned about agriculture. After graduating from Heppner High School, Skyler moved to Idaho and received a bachelor's deg...
Like a lot of graduate students in the 1980s and 1990s, myself included, Sarah Mentock haunted yard sales and garage sales in hope of finding a signed Magna Carta or a Catcher in the Rye—okay, even a signed Updike. She told Washington Post reporter Ashley Stimpson for a July 24, 2024 story published on-line that, when she spotted at one such sale a copy of a 14th-century Scottish epic poem, “The Lord of the Isles,” an exemplar that was bound handsomely in multi-color cloth...
By Cora Munkers, 4-H Student Reporter The Wingin’ It Poultry 4-H Club met August 12, 2024 at the Gilliam County Fairgrounds. Some members were able to come early to help paint the poultry and rabbit exhibit tables as part of our Community Service for the year. The tables look nice and are ready for Fair. Leader Aubrey Gibson then talked to us about Fair Clean Up Day on August, 25th and the schedule for Fair. Barns will be open at 5:30. Pens are expected to be cleaned by 6...
Last week I wrote about Tina Adam’s champion award-winning cake. I was the lucky recipient of this perfect cake and two weeks later, visions of Champion Cake still dance in my head. You too can make this delicious cake because sweet Tina shared the recipe with us. I just hope that when I make this cake, mine will be as delicious as hers. Tina puts some kind of wonderful magic into her baked goods. How else could she win champion awards, for four years in a row now? Maybe if I...
Days of Yore for August 22, 2024 10 years ago— The Fossil Volunteer Fire Department recently received the gift of a vehicle to be used for an Emergency Response Unit. Columbia Basin Electric Cooperative had retired a 2005 one-ton vehicle, and did not receive adequate bids, so decided to donate the unit. Fossil answered the call immediately and was awarded the vehicle. The rig will be converted to an Emergency Response Unit. 25 years ago— Sally Motley has recently made the leap...
