News
Blue Mountain Eagle
EPA
Continued from Page A1
The EPA last week brought
in a small drilling rig to take
groundwater samples to try to
track the path of the chemicals.
Boykin acknowledged that can
be tricky – even with advance
clearance from the utilities, the
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FARM
Continued from Page A1
“One year I planted
100,000 onion seeds, with
above ground sprinklers,
and I couldn’t keep up with
the pigweed,” he said. “I
lost the crop.”
He considered surface
drip irrigation, but that
didn’t solve the weed prob-
lem.
Then he read about work
done by Suat Irmak, a Uni-
versity of Nebraska engi-
neer who has developed
irrigation systems for water
stressed areas worldwide,
and was intrigued.
“I hopped on a plane, and
what he showed me solved
many problems,” Bahrenburg
said.
“Fortunately, it wasn’t a
main line,” he said, adding the
city public works took care of
the break quickly.
He said by Sunday night,
the crew should have 10 holes
drilled.
Boykin said a major chal-
lenge in the probe comes from
the disrupted geology of the
area. The homes sit on historic
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by more recent underground
water, sewer and utility line
trenches. The gravel and sand
used in the trenches provide
pathways for contaminants, he
noted, but the course may be
hard to discern.
“There’s no model that tells
us if you spill gasoline here, it
will end up down there,” he said.
“And there have been lots of
tanks in the area over the years
– lots of gas stations.”
Last weekend, Boykin called
How it works
The subsurface drip irriga-
tion, or SDI, system used by
Bahrenburg distributes water
through a network of tubing
that comes in 1,000 foot rolls,
with emitters every 18 inches.
The tubing is set 15 inch-
es beneath the surface, which
irrigates the plant roots with-
out the evaporation, runoff
and weed germination seen in
overhead irrigation. The depth
is important, he said, noting a
farmer in Idaho went too deep
and the system didn’t work.
Too shallow, and the tubing
may be at risk as the farmer
discs or works the soil.
So far, Bahrenburg sees
“tremendous water savings.”
The water is dispersed at .26
gallons per hour, compared to
3 gallons a minute with sur-
face sprinklers that also lose
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and manage labor and power
costs.
Locally, he sees it as a
strategy for large and small
farms, and even in home gar-
The mission
dens. He sees agriculture and
For Bahrenburg, this is not HI¿FLHQW ZDWHU XVH DV D NH\V
just about his own crops.
to a sustainable economy and
A neighbor, Ted Phelps, food security for Grant Coun-
also installed an SDI system ty.
on 20 acres, bringing the to-
“We have a relatively small
WDO WR DFUHV RI 6', ¿HOGV population in a large county,
in that area. Bahrenburg said D VLJQL¿FDQW QDWLRQDO IRUHVW
there also is a 1-acre system at orchards with fruit trees, di-
the Malheur Agricultural Re- YHUVL¿HG FURSV RQ IDUPV DQG
search Station in Ontario, and ranches, with good soils and
a 3-acre plot on a farm in Mil- an important water resource,”
ton-Freewater. Azure Stan- he said.
dard currently is farming one
Bahrenburg recalls look-
RIWKH6',¿HOGVLQ.LPEHUO\ LQJ RYHU D ¿HOG DQG EHLQJ
Bahrenburg cites predic- VWUXFN E\ WKH VLJQL¿FDQFH RI
tions that SDI and no-till SDI, cover cropping, no till
farming will become world- planting directly into the cov-
wide solutions by the end of er crop – “and feeling like I
the century, to conserve wa- have just now learned how to
ter, preserve water quality, farm.”
an EPA environmental response
team for additional help. A spe-
cialist based in Las Vegas was
due to arrive early this week to
start determining the next steps
for monitoring, containing and
cleaning up the contamination.
To report fumes, call John
Day Dispatch at 541-575-0030.
Anyone with concerns about
health can contact Grant
County Health Department,
541-575-0429.
tion. He notes that on a hot
day, an above-ground water-
ing system may lose 20 per-
cent or more to evaporation.
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
A9
Roll up sleeves,
get healthy at fair
Blue Mountain Eagle
JOHN DAY – The
21st annual Grant Coun-
ty Health Fair is coming
up from 6 a.m.-noon Fri-
day, June 19, in the Grant
Union Junior-Senior High
School gym.
Several health tests will
be available: blood tests
for $35, PSA tests for men
for $20, and TSH thyroid
tests, which are not part
of the regular blood tests,
for $15. The Grant Coun-
ty Health Department will
provide A1C testing for
diabetes for $10, tetanus
shots for $20, and iron and
height/weight checks.
Local groups and health
care providers will have
booths set up offering an
array of health and safety
information.
The Health Fair Com-
mittee encourages people
to assist others by donat-
ing to a fund to provide
scholarships for those un-
able to afford the blood
tests. Donations by cash
or check, payable to Blue
Mountain Hospital Aux-
iliary, may be dropped
off at the Grant County
Health Department by
June 16.
For more information,
call the Health Department
at 541-575-0429.
10
Driver cited in rollover near Dayville Worship in The Park
Blue Mountain Eagle
DAYVILLE – An Idaho man was cit-
ed after his vehicle rolled on Highway
26, east of Dayville, on Tuesday, May 26.
Oregon State Police Sgt. Tom Hutchi-
son said the accident occurred about 7:33
p.m. as a 1997 Chevy Blazer driver was
westbound on the highway when it went
onto the shoulder. The driver lost control
and the Blazer crossed both lanes and
rolled, coming to rest on its top.
The driver, Travis Lake of Caldwell,
was treated at the scene by EMTs but re-
fused to be taken to the hospital.
Observing signs of impairment, police
took Lake to the Grant County Jail. He
ZDVFLWHGIRUGULYLQJXQGHUWKHLQÀXHQFH
of intoxicants, reckless driving and pos-
session of less than an ounce of marijua-
na.
OSP was assisted by the Grant County
6KHULII¶V2I¿FHDQG%OXH0RXQWDLQ+RV
pital EMTs.
:RRGODQGFODVVLQ¿HOG
view of basic forest manage-
ment principles, tree spacing,
RITTER – The Oregon LQVHFWV DQG GLVHDVHV ¿UH DQG
State University Extension fuels reduction, and more.
6HUYLFH LV RIIHULQJ D ¿HOG
Participants need to bring
workshop, “Woodland Man- water and lunch, and be pre-
agement Methods,” from 9 pared for inclement weather.
a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday, June 9,
Preregister by Friday, June
at Rush Creek Ranch, 36835 5, by calling the Grant County
Ritter Rd., Ritter.
Extension, 541-575-1911, or
Topics include an over- Bob Parker at 541-523-6418.
Blue Mountain Eagle
Grant County
HEALTH
Department
528 E. Main, St. E,
John Day
Monday - Friday
8am - 5pm
Services Provided:
Karen Triplett, FNP
• Primary Care
• Acute Care
• Women’s Health
Exams
• Men and
Children Exams
• Immunizations
• Family Planning
• Contraception
• Pregnancy Testing &
Referrals
• HIV Testing &
Referrals
• Cacoon
• WIC
• High Risk Infants
• Maternity Case
Management
Grant County Health Department does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin,
disability, or age in admission, treatment, or participation in its programs, services and activitie s, or in employment.
Appointments
available
Call and schedule your
appointment today!
Let our family of pharmacists serve you!
We are happy to transfer and mail prescriptions and would
welcome the opportunity to visit with you about our services!
TOLL FREE
888-443-9104
or 541-575-0429
541-676-9158
We Gladly Accept Visa or MasterCard
‘62 DAYS
CELEBRATION
Canyon City, Oregon
June 5 & 6, 2015
S aturday Events
Breakfast- 7 a.m.
Gold Rush Run & Walk- 7 a.m.
Parade - 11 a.m.
(Theme: Gold Dust or Bust)
Grand Marshals - Del & Mary Raymond
Barbecue- 12-3 p.m.
Old Fashioned Pie Social
Cowboy Fast Draw
Demonstration- Afternoon
Live Music at
Old-fashioned
Sel’s Brewery
Melodrama -
Fri. & Sat. Nights
“ THE AREA ”
The Joint Heirs
for an all denominational Gospel Concert in
Canyon City Park.
June 7 at 6:30 p.m.
Bring your favorite lawn chair and enjoy!
A free will offering will be taken.
In case of inclement weather, the concert
will move inside to the Canyon
City Community Hall.
Family pharmacies serving Eastern Oregon over 50 years.
Heppner and Condon, Oregon
Your Rural Fa mily Health Clinic
The Ministerial Association
presents
Fri. 7 p.m.
Canyon City
Community Hall
A MAN
WAKES
UP in the
morning
after sleeping on...
an advertised bed, in advertised
pajamas.
He will bathe in an ADVERTISED TUB, shave with an ADVERTISED RAZOR,
have a breakfast of ADVERTISED JUICE, cereal and toast, toasted in an
ADVERTISED TOASTER, put on ADVERTISED CLOTHES and glance at his
ADVERTISED WATCH. He’ll ride to work in his ADVERTISED CAR, sit at an
ADVERTISED DESK and write with an ADVERTISED PEN. Yet this person
hesitates to advertise, saying that advertising doesn’t pay. Finally, when his
non-advertised business is going under, HE’LL ADVERTISE IT FOR SALE.
Then it’s too late.
AND THEY SAY ADVERTISING DOESN’T WORK?
DON’T MAKE THIS SAME MISTAKE
Advertising is an investment, not an expense. Think about it!
Blue Mountain Eagle
MyEagleNews.com
Don’t get left behind, call today! Kim Kell 541-575-0710