School board ups business
managers salary offer
E U 1 E N
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9 7 4 o-1
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VOL 110
NO 29 __________6 Pages Wednesday, July 17, 1991___________ Morrow County Heppner. Oregon
City celebrates 100 years Swimming pool
of weather observations Alters installed
G eorge M iller (1) presents plaque to G eorge Stillm an
The city of Heppner and the Na
tional Weather Service celebrated
100 years of weather observations
for the city in a ceremony Monday,
July 15.
On hand for the event were
George R. Miller, area manager,
meteorologist in charge of the Na
tional Weather Service forecast of
fice in Portland, Heppner city ad
m inistrator Gary M arks, city
weather recorder George Stillman,
city crew foreman Dave Winters, ci
ty recorder Rene Devin, chamber of
commerce president Bob Kahl and
M orrow County Judge Louis
Carlson.
Recording of the city’s weather
began in May of 1889 with Arthur
Smith. Smith recorded until
September of 1895. H.T. Bagley
took over from December of 1895
to January 18%. R.E. Smith record
ed in August of 1896 and Arthur
Smith resumed recording from July
1897 to March of 1900. J.M. Ker-
nan assumed the duties from January
1901 until May of 1903 when he
died in the catastrophic Heppner
flood of June 14, 1903.
Other recorders over the years
were: J.H. Huddleston-Nov. 1903 to
March 1904; Oscar Borg-June to
December 1904; George Whiteis-
May 1905 to Nov. 1909; Ralph
Kenton-Jan. 1910 to Aug. 1911;
Frank Gilliam recorded for 22 years
from Sept 1911 to March 1933; his
brother Leonard Gilliam, who
recorded 33 years-March 1933 to
April 1966; and Leonard's son,
Donald F. Gilliam recorded 15
years-April 1966 to May 1981. The
city of Heppner has recorded since
that time with George Stillman do
ing the recording since the city took
over.
According to figures released by
Miller, the hottest average month
over the history of weather observa
tions in Heppner was July of 1906
when temperatures averaged 94.2
degrees. The coolest temperatures
were recorded in January of 1930
when the thermometer plummeted to
an average of six degrees.
The wettest month was December
of 1964 when monthly precipitation
measured 4.4 inches. No precipita
tion at all was recorded in July of
1899, August 1893, September
1932, October 1917 and November
1939. Severe droughts were record
ed from 1924 to 1941. The driest
year was 1939 with only 7.81 inches
of precipitation. 1942, however, has
been the wettest year with 19.23 in
ches of precipitation.
The weather observations are a
joint program with the Department
of Commerce, the National Oceanic
and atmospheric Administration, the
United States D epartm ent of
Agriculture, the Cooperative States
Research Service, the American
Association of State Climatologists
and the city.
City needs council members
Heppner city administrator Gary
Marks is seeking persons interested
in serving on the Heppner city
council.
Board member Rick Curtis has an
nounced that he will be moving out
of the area and another board
member has indicated the possiblity
of his resignation because of health
reasons, said Marks.
Marks said that he expects that
another board member may be ap
pointed to fill the remainder of
Mayor Cara (Costa) Osmin's term.
Osmin recently married and moved
out of the city limits.
Anyone interested in the positions
should contact Marks at 676-%18.
Although the positions were orginal-
ly four-year terms ending December
1994. they would be up for election
in November of 1992.
‘‘It’s a commitment.” said Marks,
but he stressed that the council meets
only once a month.
The Morrow County School
Board, at its regular meeting Mon
day night, July 15, upped their salary
offer to district business manager
Chuck Rhoads.
At the June meeting, the board had
originally offered Rhoads and direc
tor of curriculum, Mike Wsiaki, a
4.5 percent increase and five addi
tional non-contracted days. Their
salary packages also included 20
vacation days, with no more than 30
days accumulated, 12 paid holidays
and a 260-day work year with a one-
year contract. Under the new offer
Rhoads would receive a raise from
$37,183 to $39,413 for 260 work
days, but would not receive the five
non-contracted days. Wsiaki would
receive an increase from $46,053 to
$48,125 for 260 work days and
would retain the five non-contracted
days. A non-contracted day is a per
sonal leave or vacation day.
According to new district
superintendent Ralph Reed, Wsiaki’s
proposed salary of $48,125 is above
the state average of $46,944 for 260
work days for the same job title in
a similarly-sized district, while
Rhoads' proposed salary is below the
state average of $46,944 for 260
work days.
In other business the board award
ed a Riverside High School roof
modification project to Terrell Roof
ing for $42,000;
-awarded a bid for three school
buses to Western Bus Sales for
$146,372;
-approved a request for a non
resident student to attend Riverside
High School;
-approved a request for a school
bus to travel on a private road in
Boardman;
-announced resignations of Kelly
Rhea, Sam Boardman Elementary
sixth grade; Jim Raible, Ione-
LA/Spanish; Bill Kannard, lone-
basic math' Harvey Williams, lone-
industrial arts; Jocelyn Jones, lone-
science PE; Valerie Rickert, Colum
bia Jr High/Riverside High art;
Marie Fuller-Riverside ERC; Kathy
Hoskins, Sam Boardman/Riverside-
vocal music; ReNae Bowling. Col
umbia Jr High-home ec; Lynn Bram-
mon, Columbia-math; Mary-Jane
Hansen, Columbia-Language Arts;
read/LA/math; Liz Curtis, Heppner
High-counselor; Mark Jones, A C.
Houghton-Chapter 1; and Kathy
Rhoads,
Sam
Boardman-
kindergarten.
-announced hiring of Carol Chap
man for SBE 6th grade; Steven
Schaber, lone basic math; Robin
Graff, lone industrial arts; Carol
Oord, lone Science/PE; Becky
Kington, CJH/RHS art; Smokey Joe
Wightman, SBE/RHS vocal music;
Pauline C urham , CJH home
economics; Dale Peters, CJH math;
Mark Jones, RHS C hapter
I/reading/LA/math; Kathy Rhoads,
ACH Chapter 1; Carol Atherly, lone
media specialist; and Susan Baker,
SBE/ACH media specialist;
-appointed the Heppner Gazette-
Times the newspaper of record;
-accepted the abstracts of votes of
995 yes to 993 no from the June 25
levy election;
-raised the school district borrow
ing limit to $4.5 million, half the $9
million budget (previous borrowing
limit was $250,000 in the event the
district need the money until taxes
were received in November);
-announced the expiration of four
budget committee members’ terms-
Clint Krebs, lone; Mark Lovgren
and Dick Nuttbrock, at large; and
John Prag, Boardman;
-administered the oath of office to
board members Marcia Kemp, Mol
ly Rill and John Rietmann; and
-elected Alan Holmes as chairman
of the board.
Merchants’
Committee
to meet
The Heppner Merchant’s Com
mittee will meet Tuesday, July 23,
6 p.m. at the Shoe Box.
Topics of discussion will include
August’s Sidewalk Sale.
Radioactive emissions topic of meeting
study and outlined a guide which has
been established to help people
determine whether they are at risk.
Niles said that the areas closest to
Hanford, especially downwind of the
nuclear plant, received the most
radiation. The areas downwind in
clude portions of Grant, Adams.
Franklin and Walla Walla counties
in Washington; and Umatilla and a
portion of Morrow County. Small
areas of Kittitas and Yakima coun
ties were also affected. The guide,
for 1944 to 1947 residents of these
areas includes questions concerning
consumption of milk-whether the
milk came from downwind, a dairy
or a family cow, whether the cow ate
pasture grass, if those drinking the
milk were infants in 1944 to 1947.
Niles said that is is not possible to
measure the radiation a person
received, but it may be estimated.
Niles said that the Hanford plant,
which produced plutonium for
nuclear weapons during the 1940s
differs from
nuclear power plants
in operation now in that they produce
power not plutonium for weapons,
they are highly regulated, strictly
monitored and are safe. The nuclear
power plant now located on the Han
ford site and the Trojan nuclear
power plant near Portland, release
“ infinitesimal” amounts of radiac-
tivity,” said Niles. He said that
beginning in 1946, Hanford install
ed filters on their nuclear weapons
plant which drastically reduced the
radiation. Hanford produces no
plutonium now, and is involved in
a cleanup that Niles says “ will take
decades.”
Dr. Jeanne Berretta, who attend
ed the meeting, said that persons
who are determined to be high risk
may be screened for thyroid condi
tions. According to a pamphlet
distributed by Niles, about 30 per
cent of Iodine 131 (a radioactive
material released from Hanford in
large quantities in the ‘40s) collects
in the thyroid gland if it is inhaled
or ingested.
Symptoms vary and may take
many years to develop, said
Berretta.
Those wishing more information
may write the Washington Depart
ment of Ecology, Mail Stop PV II,
Olympia Washington, 98504 or call
1-800-545-5558.
New pool filters have been install
ed in the Heppner city pool.
The pool had been plagued by
cloudy water caused by ineffective
filters since swimming season last
year.
Pool manager, Sarah Carlson said
that since the filters were installed
Friday evening, July 12, “ the water
is crystal clear. It was getting really
cloudy on Friday,” said Carlson. “ I
told the maintenance workers that Ken Niles
we’d have to close the pool if we
Over 100 people gathered at the
didn’t get those filters in.”
Until the filters were installed senior mealsite Wednesday, July 10,
cloudy water necessitated that the to learn of a study concerning
pool be drained and refilled around radioactive emissions at the Hanford
Nuclear Reservation near the Tri-
every three days.
Carlson said that installation of the Cities in the 1940s.
Ken Niles, nuclear safety informa
new filters took only 45 minutes to
tion specialist for the Oregon
an hour.
Most of the money for the filters Department of Energy, told of the
was raised by donations from
businesses, organizations and in
dividuals. Total cost for the project
was $6,324. Donations amounted to
$5,975, with a balance of $349.40
left to be raised. City Recorder Rene
Devin said that donations are still be
ing accepted.
The Port o f M orrow has from various barge lines. Shippers
negotiated a lease of its container ter throughout the region take advantage
The M orrow County Weed
minal to Tidewater Barge Lines of the services available at the Port District is having a sign-up for cost-
beginning July 15. This will allow of Morrow terminal. Commodities share assistance for controlling “ A”
the port to work on other projects, barged through the port include hay list noxious weeds. These weeds in
as well as continue to promote cubes, bales, potato flakes, popcorn clude: rush skeleton weed, yellow
economic development in the coun and flour.
starthistle, scotch thistle, spikeweed,
The beginning of school is just
Tidewater brings a 58-year old purple loosestrife, dalmation and
ty, according to a Port of Morrow
over a month away. Families new to
service record with communities in yellow toadflax, tansy ragwort and
news release.
the Heppner/Lexington area need to
eastern
Oregon and Washington
In order to expand opportunities
musk thistle.
register their school-aged children.
for the intermodal facilities, the Port along with terminal operation exper
Landowners and operators having
Children entering kindergarten
and Tidewater agreed to a 15-year tise to the Boardman operation.
problems with these weeds and who
through 8th grade should register at
With Tidewater beginning to
lease. Tidewater will manage and
would like some assistance should
the Heppner Elementary School of
operate the facility, and will pur barge solid waste as early as stop by the weed district office or
fice. The office is open Monay
chase a 4600 Manitowac crane and January, 1992, the timing of the contact David Pranger, 676-5452
through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 3
L-80 container handler along with lease couldn’t have been better, they and fill out an application.
p.m. You will need to bring your
other miscellaneous items from the said. “ We have been a partner with
child’s birth certificate and im
the port from the start when business
port.
munization records when you come
“ It was a good opportunity for the was scarce and with the solid waste
to register.
Port to get back to the original in project beginning soon, this agree
‘‘The staff of Heppner Elementary
tent of the fa cility ,” said a ment is very timely.” explained
and Middle Schools welcomes you
Tidewater President and owner Ray
spokesperson for the port When the
and your child to our community.
mond Hickey. “ We believe we can
terminal was built six years ago, it
We look forward to an excellent and
improve efficiencies and please our
was operated by private enterprise.
exciting 1991-92 school year," said
Shortly after, the terminal was customers which are our goals.”
a school spokesperson.
Kent Goodyear, port commission
returned to the hands of the port.
president,
echoed
H ickey’s
Since that time container barging
The Wranglers Riding Club has
assessment.
through the facility has grown to ap
set their annual trail ride for Sunday
proximately half of the volume on
“ The Port of Morrow believes August 11. The ride will be about six
the Columbia/Snake River System.
teaming up with Tidewater will be miles with a potluck dinner to
The Morrow County port handled
a very positive step in jointly pro follow.
over 8600 containers in 1990.
moting the use of transportation
A cost of $5 per person or $ 15 per
The port expects no interruption
along the Columbia/Snake River family will be charged to cover the
in services during the transition, ac
System,” said Goodyear. “ The port cost of the meal. Non-members are
cording to Port officials. The ter
has many projects in the works and welcome to attend People attending
minal will maintain its public use
this will allow us to concentrate on must RSVP 676-5037 or 676-5822
status, with barge calls expected
expanding development.”
by August 2.
Heppner Mayor Cara Costa
Osmin, will preside over her last
Heppner City Council meeting in
August.
Because Osmin recently married
and moved out of the city limits she
will be forced to step down before
her term expires on December 31,
1992, according to city administrator
Gary Marks.
At a Community bank, you always have access
to top management. No decisions are postponed
The city council has the authority
to appoint a replacement to fill out
because of out of town control. We want to
the remainder of Osmin’s term.
serve you in every possible way because, when
A mayoral election will be held in
you’re prosperous, so are we!
November 1992.
Port of Morrow to lease
terminal to Tidewater
Sign up for
weed assistance
Newcomers need
to pre-register
for school
Riding Club
sets annual
trail ride
Costa to step
down as
Mayor
We’re a
Community Bank,
Not a Branch Office!