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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 18, 2019)
REGION/RECORDS Friday, January 18, 2019 East Oregonian Federal shutdown impacts rural Northwest By KATY NESBITT For the EO Media Group As the partial federal gov- ernment shutdown continues into its fourth week, some rural Northwest communities are feeling the pinch. In western Oregon wolves are under federal protec- tion, but federal employ- ees assigned to monitoring them with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and USDA Wildlife Services are on fur- lough. Steve Niemela, Ore- gon Department of Fish and Wildlife district fish biolo- gist in Central Point, said his office is feeling the added pressure. “It has an impact on us,” Niemela said. “We can’t coordinate effectively — U.S. Fish and Wildlife Ser- vice is the lead agency in wolf management.” He said state and federal biologists follow a “good set of guidelines,” but the fur- lough makes it challenging. Niemela said much of the habitat restoration planning for Oregon’s fish and wild- life is also on hold as many of the projects are on land man- aged by the U.S. Forest Ser- vice and the Bureau of Land Management. “Just about everything we do, there is some sort of fed- eral nexus,” Niemela said. In northeastern Ore- gon, federal funding to pay employees of the Tri-County Weed Management Area For the EO Media Group/Katy Nesbitt The Wallowa Mountains office in Joseph has a discreet sign explaining the current federal budget impasse. hasn’t been received, accord- ing to Susan Roberts, Wal- lowa County Commission chairwoman, so Baker, Union and Wallowa County leaders are looking for supplemental money, possibly in the form of a bridge loan. “We are finding a way around the federal reimburse- ments to keep our folks paid,” Roberts said. “They still have bills to pay, but we can’t get reimbursed.” Ongoing talks regard- ing the Blue Mountain For- est Plan Revision with Glenn Casamassa, U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Regional forester, are also on hold. Roberts had hoped to talk to him during the Asso- ciation of Oregon Counties meeting Monday in Salem regarding the plan’s progress, but he was unable to attend because of the furlough. While most Forest Ser- vice grazing allotment per- mittees are not running cat- tle on public land in January, Rod Childers, who ranches in northern Wallowa County, said he normally has had his annual operating instruction meeting by now. “I get mine done first part of January so I don’t have to deal with it before calving, but that isn’t going to hap- pen,” Childers said. “Now I’m concerned about getting it done in time for turnout in the spring.” With calving season on his mind, Childers said he also worries about the Wild- life Services field agents who control predators being fur- loughed at his cattle’s most vulnerable time. As of Tuesday afternoon, there appeared to be no end in sight to the shutdown. Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., said he agrees with the president’s case for increased border security, but he didn’t sup- port shutting down natural resource agencies. “I don’t agree that it makes sense to furlough the peo- ple working on the biolog- ical opinion in the Klamath Basin, forest fuels reductions in central Oregon, or grazing permits in eastern Oregon,” Walden said. “How does a nearly monthlong work stop- page benefit taxpayers who are waiting for decisions and plans and permits?” Walden isn’t the only Ore- gon representative concerned about the shutdown’s effects on natural resource agencies. Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley were two of the signers on a letter sent to the president Jan. 14 urg- ing him to fund the agen- cies responsible for wildfire suppression. The letter, signed by 12 senators, said, “The failure to reopen the government puts peoples’ lives at risk by undermining their ability to respond to wildfires and will only serve to delay critical forest restoration and safety projects. These young men and women put their lives on the line to protect the nation’s natural resources and other public and private property, and they deserve to have the best training possible in preparation for increasingly difficult fire seasons.” State board passes rules for Oregon Agricultural Heritage Program By GEORGE PLAVEN EO Media Group The Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board has approved new administra- tive rules for a voluntary state grant program to protect and preserve working farms and ranches. Established by lawmak- ers in 2017, the Oregon Agri- cultural Heritage Program was conceived to address the increasing fragmentation and conversion of farmland — an issue that simultaneously threatens natural resources, such as fish and wildlife hab- itat supported by agriculture, officials say. An 11-person Agricul- tural Heritage Commission met six times in 2018 to write the program rules, setting in place grants to help pay for conservation planning, ease- ments, succession planning and technical assistance. OWEB approved the rules at a board meeting Tuesday, Jan. 15 in Cannon Beach. Nellie McAdams, Farm Preservation Program direc- tor for the nonprofit Rogue Farm Corps, worked with the Agricultural Heritage Com- mission to coordinate mem- bership and meetings. She said farm preservation is one of the biggest challenges fac- ing rural Oregon economies. “At this point, we are seeing a major transition of agricultural lands,” McAd- ams said. “This would pro- vide the funding to help with that planning, and hand off viable farmland to the next generation.” The average age of Ore- gon farmers is now 60, up from 55 in 2002, according to a 2016 study by Oregon State University and Portland State University. As older farm- ers start to retire, more than 10 million acres, or 64 per- cent, of Oregon’s agricultural lands are poised to change ownership over the next two decades. The Agricultural Heritage Program is Oregon’s first attempt at awarding grants to keep working lands in pro- duction, which in turn bene- fits the fish and wildlife habi- tat they support. “(The commission) sees it as integrating agriculture and natural resource bene- fits,” McAdams said. “They don’t see them as compet- ing. They see them as helping each other.” The program is supported by a broad coalition of farm and natural resources advo- cacy groups, including the Oregon Farm Bureau, Ore- gon Cattlemen’s Association, Sustainable Northwest, The Nature Conservancy, 1000 Friends of Oregon, the Coa- lition of Oregon Land Trusts and Oregon Association of Conservation Districts. The next step is for the Oregon Legislature to approve funding for the pro- gram. State Sen. Bill Hansell, R-Athena, and Rep. Brad Witt, D-Clatskanie, will co-sponsor a bill seeking $10 million to fully implement the program. “Oregon’s working lands are a critical economic driver for the state and it’s import- ant that we preserve our irre- placeable natural resources,” Hansell said in a statement. “I am pleased that OWEB approved these rules so that we are ready to help farmers and ranchers preserve work- ing landscapes and promote resilient rural communities.” With broad bipartisan sup- port from lawmakers, McAd- ams said she is optimistic about the bill passing, even as the state faces a budget crunch in 2019. If the funding passes, OWEB will then decide when to release applications for the grants. McAdams said the program would also help farmers and ranchers secure matching federal dollars for agricultural easements and conservation through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. “We have a huge opportu- nity,” she said. “This would be a way to leverage a small amount of funds from a state program to bring in a large amount of federal funds.” A3 DEATH NOTICES Robert A. Cook Jr. Pendleton Jan. 5, 1945 — Jan. 12, 2019 Robert A. Cook Jr., 74, of Pendleton, died Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019, in Portland. He was born Jan. 5, 1945, in Billings, Montana. Arrangements are with Pendleton Pioneer Chapel, Folsom-Bishop. Robert E. ‘Bob’ Harvey Wickenburg, Ariz. Oct. 29, 1946 — Jan. 16, 2019 Former Pendleton resident Robert E. ‘Bob’ Harvey, 72, died Jan. 16, 2019, in Wickenburg, Ariz. He was born Oct. 29, 1946, in Pendleton. Disposition was by cremation. A cel- ebration of life is planned for September 2019. Shirley Ann Hutchison Hermiston April 19, 1938 — Jan. 14, 2019 Shirley Ann Hutchison, 80, of Hermiston, died Mon- day, Jan. 14, 2019, in Walla Walla. She was born April 19, 1938, in Ft. Indiantown Gap, Pa. A memorial service will be held Saturday, Jan. 26 at 1 p.m. at Burns Mortuary chapel in Hermiston. Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of final arrangements. View the full obituary or leave an online con- dolence for the family at www.burnsmortuaryhermiston.com Michael Patrick Gallegos Hermiston Sept. 3, 1971 — Jan. 15, 2019 Michael Patrick Gallegos, 47, of Hermiston, died Tues- day, Jan. 15, 2019, near Hermiston. He was born Sept. 3, 1971, in Rupert, Idaho. Recitation of the rosary will be held Wednesday, Jan. 23 at 1 p.m. at Our Lady of Angels Cath- olic Church in Hermiston. A memorial mass will begin at 1:30 p.m., also at Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Hermiston Cemetery. View the full obit- uary or to leave an online condolence for the family at www. burnsmortuaryhermiston.com UPCOMING SERVICES FRIDAY, JAN. 18 CAMPBELL, IRIS — Graveside service at 1 p.m. at the Lexington Cemetery. SATURDAY, JAN. 19 BAUM, PERCY — Services at 11 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1821 S. Second Ave., Walla Walla. Interment will follow at 2 p.m. at Skyview Memo- rial Park, 70116 S. High- way 395, Pendleton. PULLEN, GAIL — Celebration of life at 1 p.m. at Life Tributes (Mueller’s), 314 W. First Ave., Kennewick, Wash. A luncheon will be served. SCHRODER, KATY — Celebration service at 2 p.m. at the United Church of Christ, 110 S. Church St., Condon. LOTTERY Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2019 Megabucks 16-21-29-38-46-48 Estimated jackpot: $6.9 million Powerball 14-29-31-56-61 Powerball: 1 Power Play: 2 Estimated jackpot: $112 million Win for Life 11-19-22-44 Lucky Lines 04-07-09-14-FREE-17-24-25- 32 Estimated jackpot: $18,000 Pick 4 1 p.m.: 3-8-5-3 4 p.m.: 5-6-1-8 7 p.m.: 5-0-6-3 10 p.m.: 3-6-5-3 Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019 Pick 4 1 p.m.: 0-6-4-8 OREGON CAPITAL Good Shepherd welcomes new speech therapy manager INSIDER lar passion for working with children with autism. Good Shepherd Health “There is nothing more Care System’s speech-lan- rewarding for me than get- guage pathology depart- ting silly and teaching them ment has a new about social skills manager. and how to be flex- ible,” she said in a Heidii Roberts, speech-language statement. “I also pathologist, will care for individuals head up the depart- with tongue thrust ment. She comes and lisping articu- lation, and I plan to from the Portland Roberts contribute my expe- metro area, where rience with Orofa- she has run her own practice for the past 10 cial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT).” years. According to a news OMT is used to treat indi- release from Good Shep- viduals with orofacial myo- herd, Roberts has a particu- functional disorders, which East Oregonian Church Women United to install officers M I LT O N - F R E E WA - TER — Refreshments, fel- lowship and the instal- lation of officers is planned for the upcoming meeting of Church Women United. The gathering is Thurs- day, Jan. 24 at 1:30 p.m. at the First Christian Church, 518 S. Main St., Mil- ton-Freewater. Everyone is welcome to attend. For more information, contact Helen Richartz at helen_jack@columbiainet. com. interfere with the develop- ment of bones and muscles around the face and mouth, in some cases causing prob- lems with speech. Roberts and her hus- band have two daughters, who also work in the med- ical field. Roberts said she applied for the Hermis- ton position because she was ready for a change of scenery, and she enjoys the friendliness of Eastern Oregon. Speech-Language Ther- apy, at 600 N.W. 11th St., Suite E-25, is accepting referrals. For more informa- tion call 541-667-3635. Get the inside scoop on state government and politics! We’re investing in Salem coverage when other news organizations are cutting back. OregonCapitalInsider.com St. Anthony Provider Spotligh t Dr Reddy is now accepting new patients. Board Certifi cation: Board Certifi ed American Board of Internal Medicine PUBLIC SAFETY WEDNESDAY 12:24 a.m. — The Mor- row County Sheriff ’s Office responded to Northeast Riverside Avenue, Hep- pner, after a caller reported her son was having a con- flict with a woman. The parties told the deputy they would try to calm down for the night. 6:55 a.m. — A Heppner father reported his teen son refused to go to school and injured his wife. 10:26 a.m. — A res- ident on Cowlitz Lane, Umatilla, waved down the code enforcement officer to complain about a bark- ing dog. 12:22 p.m. — Umatilla police responded to Dean Avenue and Raymond Street for a burglary. 2:55 p.m. — A Stan- field resident on Main Street complained about the neighbor’s pit bull dog barking all the time. 7:44 p.m. — The Mor- row County Sheriff ’s Office responded to a report of a suicidal person in Irrigon. Deputies found the per- son was not suicidal and was aware of counseling resources. 8:32 p.m. — Hermis- ton police received a 911 report of a restraining order violation on West Eskimo Avenue. Education: Unity St Mary’s Campus, Bangalore Medical College Insurance Accepted: Most major insurances, Medicare, Medicaid Special Services: Internal Medicine Lohith Reddy, MD 3001 St. Anthony Way Pendleton, OR 97801 Call for your appointment today 541.966.0535 FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.SAHPENDLETON.ORG
