Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (April 29, 1992)
K icking up a fuss about dust ffissif - w e t : u OF ORF ’• 1 g u G t N K O K 9 7 4 ■? 35C azette imes VOL. 111 NO. 16 8 Pages Wednesday, April 29, 1992 Morrow County Heppner, Oregon Chuck Nelson farm recipient o f 1992 Conservation Farm o f year Chuck Nelson was named farmer of the year. Chuck Nelson Farms of Lex ington is the winner of the 1992 Morrow County Wheat League Conservation Farm of the Year. Chuck farms 3,100 acres, most of which is leased. The majority of this farm is in a wheat/fallow rotation with 90 percent in winter wheat and 10 percent in winter barley. Chuck is the third generation Nelson on this farm, which was started by his grandfather in 1913. His grandfather orginially came from Sweden in 1910 and farmed with horses. Many of his grass waterways are still in place today. No moldboard plows have been used on the farm since 1918. In 1956, Chuck’s father Nor man Nelson and Uncle Alfred Nelson, Jr., were the Morrow County Conservation Farm win ners. They were cited for ex cellent conservation practices for trashy fallow and for the develop ment of sod waterways and grass rotations. Alfred Nelson J r.’s son, Kenneth Nelson, received the Conservation Farm award in 1985 on land he operates. Chuck graduated from Oregon State University in 1972 with a degree in agronomical crop science. In 1974 the Nelson place was divided and Chuck started farming with his dad at that time. Both Chuck and his dad Norman started developing terraces, sod waterways and diversion dams and today are in compliance with the conservation program as re quired by the 1985 Farm Bill. Chuck has terraces on 10 miles on the home place. 5.1 miles of terraces on the Yamell parcel at lone and 1.5 miles on the McMillan unit and 1100 feet on Rollo Crawford Ranch. Although the majority of the land on the home place is not highly erodible Nelson establish ed 10 miles of terraces on their own. He has 180 acres of peren nial grass cover that is not in the CRF program. Chuck, his wife Lisa, son Justin, 10, and daughter Court ney, six, make up the rest of the family are active partners in the farm operation. His mother, Jean, still lives in the original homestead house and retains an interest in the farming operation. Chuck is a member of the Oregon Wheat League since 1975 and has served on the board of directors for 14 years. He has also been a member of the Mor row County Wheat League for 14 years and a member of the Lex ington Grange. Chuck's philosophy on conser vation farming is early seeding and minimum tillage that is main tained by chemical fallow, and good conservation practices. He has cooperated with many Extension and OSU experiments and commercial innovations since 1974. Chuck was one of the pilot cooperators for the cheat stop “ Inversion” system that was developed by OSU. He has used cheat-stop the past four seasons with excellent results to control cheatgrass. Other innovations on Chuck Nelson’s farm operation include earth dams for draw bottoms and maintenance of 1,000 lbs of stub ble or straw cover for each winter wheat crop. He built his shop in 1985 to in clude all the latest insulation modes to save on energy. He in stalled a forced air furnace for the shop to bum the waste oil from the farm operation. Chuck’s farm operation is designed for maximum efficien cy and conservation. He starts out with a stubble busting operation (flailing) right after harvest to leave a short stubble to hold snow. In early spring he treats volunteer cheatgrass and weeds with eight ounces of RoundUp RT. He then chisels once at eight inches deep and then uses a culti- weeder with a flex-hitch to go over the terraces. His terraces are 100 feet to 110 wide on gradual terrace slopes. He is able to do two tillage operations instead of the conventional four passes. Nelson is also able to fertilize with the culti-weeder and rod weeder in one operation to seal the soil. This must be right because his 10-year field average yield is 50 bushels an acre. “ Chuck and Lisa are excellent representatives of conservation in Morrow County, and have earn ed the right and deserve the honor of Conservation Farm of the Year,” said a spokesperson. “ His conservation practices since he began farming in 1974 proves that he can make an eastern Oregon wheat farm competitive with other areas of the world,” they added. Sheila Torrence has blocked road by her house in effort to stop the dusting Sheila Torrence has decided to kick up a fuss about the dust that is kicked up around her place. She is fed up with dirt. Torrence’s house is located next to an alley which is used as a turnaround and shortcut to Beecher’s Cafe in lone. And when the cars turn around they generate dust-lots of it. The dust is causing Torrence’s allergies to act up~to the tune of around $120 a month in medication. A recent blading job on the road only made the situation worse. So far Torrence has been unable to get the railroad, the owners of the property to do anything about the problem. Tor rence said she has been fighting the dirt problem for 10 years, un til she finally took the matter in- H eppner R anger D istrict to host open house The Heppner Ranger District of the Umatilla National Forest will host an open house and dedication of their new office building, on Wednesday, May 6, from noon to 8 p.m. Everyone is invited to visit the new facility. The district recently moved in to new quarters on Main Street in Heppner. The location is 117 South Main Street just across from the Forest Service Com pound. The new building marks the 86th year of existence of the Heppner Ranger District in the community. Dedication ceremonies will begin at 12:30 p.m. in front of the new building on main street. The day’s activities will feature tours of the new office and information and displays on the following areas; forest health, timber harvest, travel and access management, fire prevention, firewood sales, recreational op portunities, and range and fisheries projects. Refreshments will be available throughout the day with Smokey the Bear on hand to visit with children. The district will also have a tree give-away, in conjunction with their open house. A variety of tree seedlings such as, maple, englemann spruce, mountain ash. ponderosa pine, and white pine will be offered. There will be a limit of trees per household. For more information, please contact the Heppner Ranger District at 676-9187. Cutsforth Park trees damaged People may have noticed that there are fewer trees in Cutsforth Park. The trees are being removed for several reasons, both natural and man-made. Several trees have been af fected by the spruce budworm but people are also destroying the trees with vehicles, fires, axes, hammers and nails and wire and chains. The Morrow County Public Works Department asks park users to refrain from further damaging the trees. “ Morrow County holds a liabilty in protecting the health and welfare of the users to their parks. The tree removers used considerable care so as not to destroy or damage our parks anymore than was necessary, resulting in a commendable job d o n e ,” said a county spokesperson. “ We hope to have the park cleaned and restored for all to use or visit by our opening date of May 16.” Any questions or comments should be directed to the Morrow County Public Works Depart ment, 676-9061, ext. 17. to her own hands, putting up rafters across the area. She also put up a stop sign and a sign that says, “ Closed. Lungs at work.” A previous “ slow” sign that had been erected, “ didn’t do any good.” Torrence contacted the city of lone several days ago and of ficials said they would put gravel down. But so far she hasn’t seen any results. “ My home is bought and paid for. Why should I have to put up with this,” said Torrence. “ I want to be able to live in peace and quiet. I want that road clos ed.” Candidates Forum M ay 5 Heppner Chamber of Com merce and members of the Republican and Democratic cen tral committees are sponsoring a Candidates Forum to be held Tuesday, May 5, 7:30 p.m. at Heppner High School cafeteria. Everyone is invited to come meet the candidates. There will be opportunity to visit one-on-one and to ask each candidate ques tions during the evening. Four teen candidates had responded positively at news deadline time, while others expressed regret at having a prior commitment to a John Day Forum. Mock disaster planned Local EmTs and hospital per sonnel have planned a multi casualty disaster drill Sunday, May 3. Area coordinators stress that this is just a drill and remind local residents not to be alarmed. The drill is part of a continu ing education program for trauma designation, as part of the Oregon Trauma System. Don’t become crime statistic “ With milder weather comes a traveled shortcuts. -Stay on the part of the dramatic increase in outdoor ac tivities,” Morrow County Sheriff sidewalk close to the street and Roy Drago said. "A major por away from shrubbery, trees and tion of this notable increase in doorways. Sometimes, it is even outdoor activity is persons walk safer to walk in the street always facing oncoming traffic, rather ing and jogging.” “ Exercising is certainly good than on the sidewalk. -Always wear reflective for your health, but it can also be hazardous to your health if it clothing at night. -It is advisable for women to causes you to become a crime carry whistles or other noise victim,” he added. Sheriff Drago offered some tips makers to sound loudly if which can help you from becom accosted. “ Lastly, we always advise ing a walking crime statistic: -Avoid walking or jogging anyone out walking, jogging, or alone at night. The common sense bicycling to carry proper iden adage that there is “ safety in tification with them,” Sheriff numbers” applies even on the Drago added. “ This should in streets of your own community at clude your current address, phone number, and person to notify in night. -Avoid running or walking on . case of an emergency anytime dimly lit streets and stay out of you are away from your home,” alleys. Don’t use remote or little he concluded. Not G-T calling A company claiming to repre sent the Gazette-Times has been calling homes in the area, accor ding to local residents. The company does not repre sent the Gazette and people should not give their addresses or credit card numbers. All I want is your blood--S helly Huth (on table), 17.HHS junior, prepares to donate blood at the Red Cross Blood drive held Monday April 27 at the St. Pat’s Senior Center in Heppner. Assisting her is Cindy Smidy, Yakima, WA medical assistant with the American Red Cross Columbia River Region. By 4 p.m. 67 pints of blood had been drawn surpassing their goal of 50. The Heppner Ranger District sponsored the blood drive with Dan Michael coor dinating the event. NEW CAR LOANS DAMKOP — — M 48 months 9 . 5 % O rooon * Arlington • Heppner • lone "Y o u r Indrprndnu Home Oumrd h m t "
