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Blue Mountain Eagle Your Journey Begins Here Wednesday, July 28, 2010


John Day Fossil Beds National Monument:


“A trip through time” Did you know?


Blue Mountain Eagle


JOHN DAY FOSSIL BEDS NATIONAL MONU- MENT – It’s hard to imagine that three-toed horses, rhinos, saber-toothed cat-like animals and lemur-like primates, lived in this now dry, dusty land. Between 25 and 28 million years ago in the Cenozoic era, the John Day River Basin region was covered with decid- uous forests and tropical jun- gles.


At John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, where visitors literally venture into prehistoric time, the story of the era known as “the age of mam- mals and flowering plants” is told.


John Day Fossil Beds National Monument is spread out over three distinct geo- graphic areas.


The Sheep Rock Unit is centrally-located in the monu- ment. There, the Thomas Con- don Paleontology Center is located, six miles northwest of


• The first horses in North America evolved 50 million years ago. At least 14 differ- ent genera have been found and documented from the fossil beds area. • 44 million years ago, the volcanoes in the Clarno area were surrounded by a near- tropical forest, where about 100 inches of rain fell each year. Tiny three-toed horses, huge rhino-like brontotheres, crocodilians, and meat-eating creodonts roamed the ancient jungles. Pillars of mud preserve the remains of brontothere, creodonts, palm trees and bananas. Brontotheres are large relatives of the horse and rhinoceros.


Dayville, two miles north on Route 19 from Highway 26. The center houses the wealth of fossil records that have been gathered. The center also offers inter- pretive exhibits, programs and audiovisual presentations. It is named for the pioneer geolo- gist, teacher, author and clergy- man who was the first scientific investigator of the fossils in the John Day Region. At the center, scientists, who have unearthed the pre- served remains from 40 of the 65 million years of the Ceno- zoic era, work before a viewing window, uncovering specimens brought out for further study.


The Eagle/Marissa Williams


The John Day Fossil Beds National Monument is an experience you will never forget. Aside from hiking trails, the Thomas Condon Paleontology Center offers interpretive exhibits, programs and audiovisual presen- tations.


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Stage Stop & Lodge


Located 20 miles east of Fossil, Oregon, on


Hwy. 19 at Junction 207. 541-468-3331


Come stay & play on the John Day River. Fishing • Rafting


Hiking • Eco-Tour Trips Shuttles • Golf


Fine Food & Relaxing.


RJ’s Fossil, Oregon


B s t r The Area’s Premier


Situated next to the John Day River and the Grant County Fairgrounds.


RV Park Indulge Your Need to Get Away!


Easy Access • Fire Ring Picnic Table • Full Hookups


Minutes away from City Park, swimming pool, downtown John Day, restaurants, shopping and travel-related goods & services.


www.grantcountyfairgrounds.com/rvpark.php Grant County Fairgrounds


RV Park Fun For The Entire Family


2010 Grant County FAIR & RODEO


August


25th - 28th John Day


Wednesday - FREE 12 & Under - FREE EVERY DAY 13 & Over -


$7 a day / $14 a week


ALL ENTERTAINMENT AND RODEO IS FREE with paid admission


Kidz Go Kartz Carnival Magician Musicians


The Balloon Man Parade


Super Science Co.


CowKids Rodeo Sun., Aug. 29 @ 10 am


Grant County Fairgrounds 541-575-1900


www.grantcountyfairgrounds.com Performing Pigs Performing Pigs FULL


PARTS SERVICE


, Oregon


411 NW Bridge St. John Day, Oregon


WE TREAT CUSTOMERS


LIKE FAMILY! For superior service and a lineup of the best recreational vehicles the industry has to offer, see the RV specialists at Thunder RV in La Grande!


SALES


From campers to luxury coaches, you’ll find the right recreational vehicle to suit your needs, lifestyle and budget.


RV PARK RESERVATIONS Call 541.575.1900 or log onto


John Day GOLF COURSE


Golf Club Road 541-575-0170


2011 R-Vision Trail Sport


$19,400 2011


Travel TS 23RS Our Price


Stock #: 2773


Northwood Manufacturing


Arctic Fox 29-5E Our Price


$46,517


2010 Eagle Cap Camper 955 Our Price


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10401 S. Walton Rd. La Grande OR 97850 Phone: 888-532-3422 www.thunderrv.com


Stock #: 2615 Stock #: 2687 Stock #: 2760 John Day


9 Hole Golf Course OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK


The museum and visitor center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, hours are to 6 p.m. The facility is closed weekends and holidays from Thanksgiving through Febru- ary.


In addition to the center and museum, the unit includes the colorful, layered 1,100-foot Sheep Rock. Several hiking trails are scattered in and around the area. A variety of ranger-guided hikes, talks and other interpretive programs are offered. Visitors are reminded that it is a federal crime to take rocks as souvenirs from any place within the monument. Sheep Rock Unit also includes the monument’s head- quarters. Just 1/4 mile from the visitor center is the James Cant Ranch House. The historic home and outbuildings belonged to James Cant, Sr. at the height of sheep ranching within the region. Indoor and outdoor exhibits there, relate the history of human settlement on the ranch and within the region.


Ranger-guided tours are offered. The ranch was desig-


nated in 1975 as a National Historic District. A second unit within the monument, the Painted Hills are among heavily-eroded lay- ers of volcanic ash. Located 10 miles west of Mitchell, the area features vibrant-colored, ever- changing scenes. There are sev- eral interpretive trails, outdoor exhibits and a picnic area. Those visiting during the peak of wildflower season, late April to early May, receive another spectacular show from mother nature.


The Clarno Unit, the most remote, is located 18 miles west of the town of Fossil. Its most impressive landform is known as the Palisades. On various hiking trails, and at scattered exhibits, visitors can learn of the land as it was 44 million years ago. At that time, mudflows, called lahars, preserved a great diversity of fossils.


The area also has a picnic area.


For more information on John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, call 541-987-2333. For a link to the website, see www.MyEagleNews.com.


TEE-TIME TEE-TIME


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NPRA Rodeo


NPRA Rodeo


Friday & Saturday 7 pm riday & Saturday 7 pm


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K9 Kings


K9


Kings Flying Dogs


Flying Dogs


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GREAT Ste aks


GOOD Spi rits


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