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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.
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We Will Be Closed
Veterans Day, November 11
Ì __rj
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i/
Heppner
dl
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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
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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