Praying for Those in Authority: Harney County

Mud Lake, Harney County, Oregon
Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, James 2:1

Harney County, the largest by size in the state and the 6th smallest by population, is part of the Oregon Outback. Home to Steens Mountain, The Alvord Dessert, and the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, it is a vast place (over 10,000 square miles) populated by 7500 people, 60% of them living in the Burns-Hines area. The rest are scattered throughout the county on about 500 ranches and farms. Burns is the county seat.

Those ranches and farms produce cattle, dairy products, and hay. This is one of those counties where it’s literally true the cattle outnumber the people. With the wide-open spaces and high desert climate, it is an important place ecologically and for recreation. It is home to the largest Ponderosa Pine Forest in the nation.

Burns annually hosts the John Scharff Migratory Bird Festival and Art Show in April during the annual spring migration of birds through the Harney Basin wetlands. Attendees regularly see Pelicans, ducks, and raptors traveling their traditional migratory route. Burns also hosts the Country Music Jamboree sponsored by the High Desert Fiddlers in June, and the Harney County Fair in September.

Harney County, OR
One of the fascinating features of Harney County is the Alvord Desert, a seven-by-twelve-mile dry lakebed just south of Steens Mountain. Used by racers and windsurfers, it gets about seven inches of rain per year.

Harney County School District #3 includes Burns High School which also serves students from Hines. Established in 1904, it has seen a lot of changes over the years. Sometime in mid-century the mascot became the Scottish Hilander and they have continued to follow a Scottish theme for their school. District #3 includes Henry L. Slater Grade School and Hines Middle School as well as the high school.

The First Presbyterian Church of Burns was organized 1896. Rev. David H. Jones was the first pastor. The first building was purchased from the Methodists, so we assume that denomination also had an early presence in Burns. In 1943 the name changed to Pioneer Presbyterian Church and the congregation is still flourishing.

The county is governed by the county court system with a judge and two commissioners. Currently they are Judge Bill Hart, Commissioner Patty Dorroh, Commissioner Kristen Shelman.

Sheriff Dan Jenkins oversees 10, 228 square miles of high desert. The office has an internship program and recently set up a gym for county employees.

The Burns Paiute Tribe reservation is just outside of Burns to the north. There are about 210 tribe members. The Paiute Tribe Tribal Council Chair is Diane Teeman.

The City of Burns Administrator is Nancy Gardner, the Mayor is Jerry Woodfin.  

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