Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 4, 1992)
« H TWO - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, November 4, 1992 M orrow County Grain Growers Wheatland Pomona holds meeting gets good news at m eeting By Delpha Jones M orrow County G rain Growers members received good news Monday night, when told profits for the Lexington based co-op were up more than $77,000 last year. MCGG manager Larry Mills tempered the good financial news however, by reporting that because of the drought conditions profits might be off some in the current fiscal year. “ This year is shaping up to be a smaller year because of the drought,” Mills told the large crowd that had gathered for the traditional dinner and program, but he added that through careful planning the co-op “ wants to make sure we are ready for the future.” Co-op auditor Steve Green of Pendleton told the people at the annual meeting that the company is in good financial shape, and that the increased profits represented a climb of 26 percent. “ Your financial statement reflects favorably on the board, manage ment and staff of the Morrow County Grain Growers,” he said. Total net income, or profit, for the co-op last year was $371,659, up from $294,576 the previous year. Total sales for last year climbed over $6 million to $33.604,054. Each department at the co-op posted a profit, with the biggest gain coming in the farm supply. Grain and fertilizer departments also showed a profit, however fertilizer’s was down significantly over the previous year. Also part of the annual meeting program, was a dramatic slide show presentation from acclaim ed photographer Don Van Polen. Polen used three screens and six slide projectors, along with a sound system, to present a beautiful show about America. When selecting a Diamond Engagement Ring, the honesty, integrity' and gemological expertise of the |eweler are o f paramount importance Your American Gem Society jeweler offers all three Who better to help you understand the 4Cs— Cut. Color, Clarity and Carat Weight— and how they determine a diamond s quality and value We Will Be Closed Veterans Day, November 11 Ì __rj Peterson’s J i/ Heppner dl ■ \;s Jewelers 676-9200 'Savings Wheatland Pomona Grange met on Oct. 24 at the Lexington Grange Hall. The meeting began at 10:30 a.m. by the Master Barton Clark. After the opening the grange was lowered to the fourth degree for the business of the day. The fifth degree had been planned, but due to the illness of Morton Wolver- ton who was assisting, it was cancelled. The legislative chairman spoke about the debate of the candidates and urged members to read all the measures before voting and to be sure to vote. Lewis Halvorsen had been the agriculture chairman and Wilma Martin was appointed to fill the vacancy. An election was held for LAS with Martha Baker of Greenfield elected to the office. Wilma Mar tin spoke on some of the measures, especially measure 7 and the effect it will have on the farmers. GWA chairm an Eulenna Vaughn told of only two GWA reports but said all their meetings had been busy. Helen Crawford gave the report from Willows. They have been busy with activities such as dinners and programs. They will have their annual turkey dinner and bazaar on Nov. 15. Lexington Grange hosted the Blue Mountain Fiddlers and the M orrow County H istorical meeting. They have held all their Focus on leadership training set Identifying, developing and rewarding leadership through the 4-H youth program will be the focus of a training forum Satur day, Nov. 21 at the Morrow County School District office in Lexington. Topics will include: “ Develop ing a Successful Junior Leader Experience” , “ Easy Ways to In volve Members in Leadership” , “ Easy Parliam entary P ro cedure” , “ Community Service Activities for all Ages” , “ Easy Ways to Record Leadership Ac tivities” and more. BE READY TO GO! Get a Perform ance Plus Checkup and Save on service work, too! on labor . Get your tractor in top shape for the busy season and save at off-season \ ______________________ f prices. We ll send a service technician directly to your farm for a Performance Plus Checkup of your Case. IH, or Case International tractor. Then, if you want repairs, we ll do them in our Service Center at a special discount. Don't wait until the busy season hits. Get your tractor ready to roll now at special Pre-Season Service Savings. Any questions please contact Service Center. We will be closed Wed. 11 for Veterans Day Good Nov. 1 through Feb. 28 Morrow County Grain Growers 350 Main Street Lexington, Oregon 97839 meetings and an election of of ficers. Greenfield Grange has held all their meetings and have had good programs. A committee to plan the meeting places for the 1993 year reported the following: Willows in January, Spray in April, a pic- i nic in the mountains on a Sunday i in July and G reenfield in October. A resolution committee of Roger Scharen, Clarence Buchanan and Ken Smouse had only one resolution, a thank you to Lexington Grange for dinner and hospitality. There was a lengthy discussion on attendance at both subordinate and Pomona levels. The granges need more attendance and some of the projects of the grange were mentioned: dogs for the deaf, toys for children’s hospitals, the McDonald House, the part played in resolutions to the legislators on important issues, state and coun ty programs and the insurance companies which benefit the many grangers. To assist in these projects the granges need the assistance of all members. This can be achieved by attendance. Rosalie Scharen reported on the voter’s guide, printed by the Oregon Family Council. This has some good information and she urged members to look this over. Roll call was Lexington 13, Willows five, Greenfield one, and Spray four. The next meeting will be January 30, 1993 at Willows. Lexington 989-8221 1-800-452-7396 Wasco 442-5781 1-800-824-7185 The forum will be a “ hands- on” event. Participants will learn easy ways to increase leadership ability in local youth, and gain skills they can use in other ac tivities. Presenters will include 4-H junior leaders, teen leaders and alumni, plus 4-H agents from Morrow and Gilliam counties. There is no charge to attend the forum. Registration and coffee will begin at 8:45 a.m. The forum will begin at 9 a.m. and end at noon. Pre-registration is not re quired. Participants are welcome to attend individual sessions if they cannot attend the entire program. For more information contact Carol Michael-Bennett, Morrow County extension agent, 676-9642 or Cindy Osterlund, Gilliam County extension agent, 384-2771. Water issues battleground of the future for ranchers Polly Owen of the Oregon Cat tlemen’s Association and Todd Heidgerken, director of Water for Life, Inc., spoke to about 40 Morrow County farmers and ran chers Monday, Oct. i5, about the proposed 1993 legislation that could adversely affect Oregon agriculture. “ There’s no doubt about it, water issues will be the bat tleground o f the 1990’s , ’’ Heidgerken said. He explained that for two and one-half years this non-profit organization has worked to protect agricultural water rights and has strengthen ed their position by joining forces with many Oregon agricultural commodity groups. Water for Life (WFL) main tains that special interest groups have put increasing pressure on the Oregon legislature and on the Water Resources Department to make more water available for so-called public uses including recreation, fish and wildlife, navigation and dilution o f pollution. Representatives of both these organizations are making a statewide tour to make producers aware of the impact of this move ment, Heidgerken said. Without effective representation for water users, special interest groups will attain their long term goals of limiting the availability of water for productive purposes, he added. “ Whoever controls the water also controls the la n d ,” Heidgerken said. Everybody needs to be educated so that they are prepared to hit the decision makers with a common sense ap proach to water use, he added. The Water Resources Depart ment has outlined numerous legislative measures giving the commission the authority to designate what, when and where ground water uses will be allow ed. They have also proposed penalties for wasting water which in turn could nullify water rights. Also suggested are water use reporting forms, license fees for water users, and mandatory watershed improvements without regard to the economy under a new watershed management pro gram. The commission would also define what constitutes waste water. Anyone can make a claim that someone is wasting water and that person would have to go to Salem to defend their position, H eidgerken said. Without substantial evidence, the commis sion has a right to turn down any application for water rights. According to Heidgerken there has to be a balanced perspective with realistic solutions on issues that affect water users. Many legislatures are one-sided on water issues, he said. And the data base that is being used is ob solete and unrealistic. Figures for stream flows are based on 100 percent plus of optimum stream levels, which is unrealistic, especially with eastern Oregon streams that don’t flow year around. Conservation measures have to be feasible, and not put agricultural operators out of business. Morrow County Commissioner Raymond French added that the Columbia River dam operators are now trying “ to shove the blame” on the salmon issue to the livestock industry through poor management of watershed areas. Owens stated that the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association has taken a pro-active stand by pro posing voluntary measures to promote healthy watershed areas. “ It’s the only way we’re going to win and not be shut off of public lands," she said. “ This is the time that all agriculture needs to come together and employ every resource to protect our in dustries.” Both organizations encourage active participation. More infor mation on hearings to be held about Columbia and Snake River basin programs can be obtained by calling Water for Life in Salem, 375-6003. Go Mustangs BEAT UMATILLA! From Your Friends at P L O Y H A R I N S U R A N C E
