REGION
Saturday, August 14, 2021
Morrow County Fair
off ers country fun
Event returns next
week in Heppner
By TAMMY
MALGESINI
East Oregonian
HEPPNER — With a
theme of Morrow County
Country Strong, this year’s
Morrow County Fair starts
Tuesday, Aug. 17, and runs
until Aug. 21. The fair if
open daily from 10 a.m to
10 p.m., and features open
class displays, live music,
a hypnotist and the tradi-
tional fair activities involv-
ing youth livestock projects.
The Morrow County Fair-
grounds are at 74473 High-
way 74, Heppner. Admission
is free.
Fair secretary Ann Jones
is excited to again offer
free entry to the fair. She
said they have worked hard
to obtain sponsorships so
people can merely walk
through the gates.
“It just helps people out so
more people can get out and
enjoy the fair,” Jones said.
“They can spend their money
elsewhere, like at the food
vendors or to support the 4-H
kids with the auction.”
Highlights of the fair,
Jones said, includes lots
of live music. Aug. 18 will
feature Fat Bottomed Girls
at 7 p.m. The evening also
will include a best dressed
‘80s-themed contest. The
evening of Aug. 20 features
Olivia Harms, playing coun-
try music.
Portland-based coun-
try-rock musician Nate Bots-
ford takes the stage Aug 19 at
2:30 p.m., with an ice cream
social featuring the Tilla-
mook brand at 3 p.m.
Botsford has performed
at the Morrow County Fair
several times, and Jones said
he’s a crowd favorite. And
the feelings are mutual.
“He loves to come to
Heppner,” Jones said. “He
said it’s one of his favorite
places to play music.”
The fair board, Jones said,
was looking for something
new to bring to this year’s
fair — and decided on Justin
East Oregonian, File
Andrew Wenberg of Heppner savors a bowl of ice cream at a
past Morrow County Fair. This year’s ice cream social at the
fair is Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021.
PENDLETON — The
Oregon Health Authority in
a weekly report disclosed
nine COVID-19 workplace
outbreaks, several of which
came from facilities that had
been previously disclosed but
continue to see cases rise.
The state publishes an
active outbreak in nursing
homes if the facility reports
more than three cases, accord-
ing to the state. The outbreak is
considered resolved if no new
cases are reported within 28
days of the last case. The local
assisted living facilities are:
• Regency Hermiston Nurs-
ing & Rehabilitation Center,
Hermiston, has reported three
COVID-19 cases since July 3.
• McKay Creek Estates,
Pendleton, has reported 16
COVID-19 cases since July
21. That’s eight more than last
week’s report.
In addition, the state
publishes a workplace
outbreak when fi ve or more
cases are reported at a facil-
ity with 30 or more workers.
Like assisted living facilities,
the outbreak is considered
resolved if no new cases are
A3
New president will lead Threemile
Canyon Farms, state’s largest dairy
food production, agricultural
processing and bio-renew-
able industrial technologies.
B OA R DM A N
—
In a statement, Antilla
Threemile Canyon Farms said he was drawn to
has hired a new president Threemile Canyon Farms
following the unexpected for its culture, values and
death of founder and general location. The farm is about
manager Marty Myers in 15 miles west of Boardman.
December 2020.
“ I ’m
eager
Bill Antilla, of
t o bu i ld u p o n
Threemile’s success
Longview, Wash-
ington, was selected
of innovation and
to lead the opera-
dedication to the
tion, which includes
team, animal welfare
Oregon’s largest
and sustainable prac-
tices,” he said.
dairy and 39,500
Antilla
Established in
acres of cropland.
1998 by R.D. Off utt
His first day was
Aug. 9.
Co., Threemile Canyon
For the last seven years, Farms is well known for its
Antilla served as general large dairy operation, with
manager at Crown Compa- 35,000 milking cows and
nies and Crown Iron Works approximately 70,000 total
in Blaine, Minnesota, a cattle. The milk is sold to the
world leader in oilseed Tillamook County Cream-
processing technology. ery Association — makers of
There he oversaw all aspects Tillamook cheese — which
of global business, including has a factory at the nearby
fi nancial performance, engi- Port of Morrow.
neering, sales, research and
Myers served as general
development, marketing and manager from day one. He
supply chain.
pioneered the farm’s “closed-
Previously, Antilla spent loop system,” whereby nitro-
26 years at Cargill Inc., a gen-rich manure from the
Minnesota-based global dairy is mixed at agronomic
food corporation, serving rates and sprayed onto the
in various leadership roles surrounding farmland to
including food ingredients, grow potatoes, onions,
By GEORGE PLAVEN
Capital Press
blueberries, carrots and
other crops.
The farm also grows
alfalfa, hay and triticale for
animal feed, which goes back
to feed the dairy cows, thus
completing the closed loop.
Last year, Threemile
Canyon Farms was one of
three dairies nationwide
recognized for Outstanding
Dairy Farm Sustainability at
the 2020 U.S. Dairy Sustain-
ability Awards, lauding
management practices that
“demonstrate outstanding
economic, environmental
and social benefi ts.”
R.D. Offutt CEO Tim
Curoe said Antilla’s lengthy
career in agribusiness and
food processing, combined
with his love of the Pacifi c
Nor thwest, make him
uniquely qualifi ed to serve
Threemile Canyon and build
on its strong foundation of
sustainable agriculture.
Antilla has a bache-
lor’s degree from Carleton
College in Northfield,
Minnesota, and a master’s
of business administra-
tion from the University of
Chicago Booth School of
Business. He has a wife and
two grown children, and will
be relocating from Minne-
sota to Oregon.
IN BRIEF
East Oregonian, File
Kolby Currin of Heppner shows a feeder hog for a friend
during a past Morrow County Fair. This year’s event runs
Tuesday through Saturday, Aug. 17-21, 2021, in Heppner.
James, a comedian and
hypnotist who has performed
in Las Vegas. After watch-
ing a few of his videos, they
decided his interactive show
would be fun. James will
perform a couple of shows a
day Aug 18-20.
Oregon Trail Pro Rodeo
performances are Aug. 20
and 21, at 7 p.m. Tickets are
$10 for ages 13 and up, $6 for
ages 7-12 and free for ages 6
and under. For ticket infor-
mation, call 541-256-0217
or visit www.oregontrail-
prorodeo.com. Featuring
local cowboys, the Morrow
County Jackpot Rodeo is
Aug. 22 at 1 p.m.
After the nightly rodeo
performances, Dan Burns
3D Productions will turn
up the tunes and people can
dance the night away. Atten-
dance at the rodeo isn’t
required to enjoy the music
afterwards.
A parade is set for Aug.
21 at 10 a.m. in downtown
Heppner. And the youth live-
stock auction gets underway
at the fairgrounds at 2 p.m.
For more information
about the fair, visit www.
co.morrow.or.us/fair/page/
county-fair or call 541-676-
9474.
State discloses workplace outbreaks
By BRYCE DOLE
East Oregonian
East Oregonian
reported within 28 days of the
last case.
The Oregon Health
Authority reported local
workplace outbreaks occurred
at the following:
• Keystone RV, Pendleton,
reported 27 cases between its
fi rst reported case on July 28
and its most recent onset case
coming July 31. That’s 16
more cases than was reported
last week.
• Walmart Distribution
Center, Hermiston, reported
21 cases between its first
reported case on April 26
and its most recent onset case
coming July 30.
• Eastern Oregon Correc-
tional Institution, Pendleton,
reported 11 cases between its
fi rst reported case on July 12
and its most recent onset case
coming Aug. 2. Due to the
spread of COVID-19 in the
community, the institution is
at tier level 3, meaning visita-
tion is paused indefi nitely and
no public access is permitted.
• Good Shepherd Medical
Center, Hermiston, reported
11 cases between its first
reported case on July 21 and
its most recent onset case
coming July 27.
• Lamb Weston, Inc.,
Boardman, reported seven
cases between its fi rst reported
case on July 18 and its most
recent onset case coming
Aug. 2.
• Walmart Supercenter,
Hermiston, reported fi ve cases
on July 30.
• Walmart Supercenter,
Pendleton, reported fi ve cases
on Aug. 2.
Wyden holds online town
hall on River Democracy Act
PORTLAND — Sen. Ron Wyden
announced he will host an online town hall
Tuesday, Aug. 31, at 1 p.m. to discuss his
River Democracy Act with rural Oregonians.
The act was introduced alongside Sen. Jeff
Merkley in February and is aimed at protect-
ing nearly 4,700 miles of rivers and streams
in Oregon. It also focuses on expanding recre-
ation access to promote local economies,
protecting drinking water, limiting wildfi re
and sustaining endangered fi sh and wildlife.
“I very much look forward to throw-
ing open the digital doors of democracy on
Aug. 31 to hear from rural Oregon’s county
commissioners, river enthusiasts, small busi-
ness owners and more so the River Democ-
racy Act continues on its path to provide
clean drinking water for families, build an
even stronger outdoor recreation economy
in every nook and cranny of our state, and
improve wildfi re resiliency,” Wyden said in
a press release.
Upon introducing the act in February,
only 2,173 out of 110,994 total miles of rivers
and streams in Oregon are protected under
the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Wyden
initiated the public process in October 2019
to acquire recommendations from Oregon
residents on rivers that deserve protec-
tion. Oregonians submitted approximately
15,000 nominations by January 2020. During
the past year, Wyden has met with county
commissioners to discuss the list of protec-
tions and address any concerns.
Wyden has hosted more than 900 in-per-
son town halls statewide, following his
pledge to hold at least one town hall in each
of the state’s counties at least once a year.
Since the start of the pandemic, Wyden has
continued hosting the town halls virtually.
People’s Town Hall will host the virtual
town hall meeting on Facebook Live at www.
facebook.com/events/244904110829033/.
Chamber to off er update
on Pendleton Comes Alive
PENDLETON — The Pendleton City
Council agenda is light with action for its
meeting Tuesday, Aug. 17, but there will be
a report on a key tourism initiative the city
is sponsoring.
The Pendleton Chamber of Commerce
will be delivering a presentation on Pend-
leton Comes Alive, a tourism eff ort backed
by $500,000 in city money. Since June, the
chamber has begun using the money to add
concerts, pop-up bars, Round-Up tours
and other new attractions to draw tourists.
Supporters have promised an increase in tour-
ists in exchange for the money, which was
derived from the latest round of COVID-19
relief stimulus from the federal government.
Beyond the presentation, the council also
will consider approving the stimulus-funded
purchase of a vehicle for the Pendleton Public
Library as a “pop-up bookmobile.” Before
the council meeting, members will meet as
the Pendleton Development Commission,
where they will discuss the urban renewal
district’s fi nances.
The commission meeting is at 6 p.m. and
the council meeting starts at 7 p.m. Both
meetings will in city council chambers at
Pendleton City Hall, 500 S.W. Dorion Ave.
Audience members also can attend the meet-
ing through Zoom, which can be accessed at
https://bit.ly/3yGKX3o.
— EO Media Group
Have executive leadership experience and
a commitment to restoring salmon and
protecting tribal treaty fishing rights?
The Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission is seeking a dynamic,
high-level strategic thinker, a great spokesperson, and an effective
manager to serve as its Executive Director.
Help guide the organization tasked to provide technical assistance and
coordinate the fisheries management responsibilities of its four
member tribes—the Yakama, Umatilla, Warm Springs, and Nez Perce.
Be a part of the tribal effort to put fish back in the rivers
and protect the watersheds where they live.
To see complete position details, visit:
www.critfc.org/executive
Position closes August 31.
COLUMBIA RIVER INTER-TRIBAL FISH COMMISSION
YAK AMA · UMATILLA · WARM SPRINGS · NEZ PER CE
Por tland, Oregon · www.critfc.org · (503) 238-0667
Tickets include Free Admission to the Umatilla County Fair