Art Kegler joins commissioner race
U
Boardman businessman Art
Kegler will vie for Morrow
County Commissioner in the
November general election.
Nominated by the American Par
ty at its county nonimating caucus
on June 4, Kegler will face in
cumbent Republican Ray French
of Heppner and Democrat Jackie
Bergstrom of lone.
“ I hope to narrow the north-
south county split,” Kegler said,
“ and bring my long years o f
business experience to the coun
ty court.”
Kegler recently established a
real estate firm in Boardman.
More than 10 years ago he
established K egler’s Sentry
Market, a family business in
which Kegler, his wife Rose and
their three sons, Dean, Mark and
Matt are all involved.
Kegler has served as Board-
man’s mayor and was active in
the Super-conducting Super Col
lider siting effort and the area’s
bid to locate a medium security
prison between Boardman and
Irrigon.
Since the election of 1992 when
the north part of the county lost
its seat on the three-member
county governing body, the rift
between north and south has
grown, Kegler said. If he is
elected, he said he would “ work
hard to heal that split and get the
county back on track toward solv
ing its problems rather than diver
ting energy on internal bicker
ing.”
“ Any time all three members
of the county court are from one
area, you’re bound to have pro
blems, even if it’s only percep
tion,” Kegler said. He pledged to
support the American Party’s
principles which profess a belief
in a “ responsive and represen
tative government, equality of all
people, a fiscally responsible
government, support of the free
enterprise system and the virtues
of clean air, clear water and wide-
open spaces.”
Ed Glenn, county chair of the
party said, “ we are delighted to
have a candidate of Art’s calibre
to carry the party’s banner into
the November election. He’s
knowledgeable, hard-working
and effective, but most important
he is a diplomat who can heal our
county and lead us away from
wasting our time fighting with
each other.”
Fishing derby June 12 at dam Conservation
In celebration of National for the most and the biggest fish tour June 10
Flash flood warning system in operation
The Heppner area has scored
another first. The flash flood war
ning system now serves as a
model for other parts of the U.S.
and China. The U.S. Corps of
Engineers developed seven
sophisticated weather stations in
the drainage areas above Hepp
ner to monitor precipitation.
It’s doubtful that this develop
ment will make national news
headlines as was the case after the
construction of the Willow Creek
Dam 12 years ago. When this
first-in -th e-n atio n .
rollar-
compacted dam was built, the
down-stream dam face had con
siderable leakage after the dam
pool formed.
Media reports said that the dam
could dissolve and there could be
a disaster such as the 1903 flood
that ravaged the town and killed
over 200 people. The Corps
grouted the dam by drilling deep
holes and filling them with
cement.
The natural healing process
over time has been a major fac
tor to stop leakage, according to
Jam es W illiam s, operation
superintendent of the U.S. Corps
of Engineers of the Portland
District. Mineral and calcium
deposits have formed to seal
leaks, especially evident in the
maintenance tunnels inside the
base of the dam.
Although the primary purpose
of the dam was for flood control,
last year an additional 13 feet of
water was stored behind the dam
to provide irrigation water for
farmers downstream on Willow
Creek. Increased seepage occur
red as more water was held
behind the dam. But after a year,
leakage from that uncured portion
of dam surface decreased by
25 percent, Williams said. The
current pool level is held at
277.10 above sea level, with a
gradual drawdown during sum
mer months.
Flood waters coming down
Willow Creek or Balm Fork can
be held back by the dam.
However Hinton Creek and
Shobe Canyon have also been
prone to dump flash flood water
as they drain into the town's
perimeters.
Weather stations have been
built in various locations to
monitor any type of precipitation.
These solar-powered stations
automatically relay information
into
Heppner’s Emergency
Command Center's computer
systems. Software for the system
was developed by the National
Weather Service.
However, the system had
obstacles to overcome. It was
Williams who designed insulated
tipping
cups
that
now
automatically measure snow or
ice precipitation regardless of
freezing weather conditions.
If flash flood warnings from
Shobe Canyon or Hinton Creek
are received, dam operators can
reduce the amount of water nor
mally being released from the
dam to avoid compounding
flooding conditions.
Three flood warning sirens at
different locations in Heppner are
to be installed. If flood warnings
occur, the Emergency Command
center, in cooperation with city
and county officials are planning
evacuation centers. Sites such as
H eppner High School and
Pioneer Memorial Hospital,
located on high points overlook
ing the town, would be logical
shelters, said Morrow County
Emergency Management director
Casey Beard.
“ If stage three warning sirens
go off, don’t take time to grab a
sandwich or pack a bag ,”
Williams said. Residents in
known floodways could have
about 20 minutes warning time
depending on the origin of
flooding, he added.
There are other factors built in
to the plan including warnings to
residents downstream on Willow
Creek. Also the Emergency
Center and officials must be
prepared to deal with the pro
blems associated with the after-
math of a flood. Beard said.
Shobe Canyon has twice flood
ed the city swimming pool, con
tributing to the permanent closure
of this facility. Presently farm
ground in the Shobe Canyon is
enrolled in the Conservation
Reserve Program which has kept
that ground out of produc
tion. However this 10 year pro
gram will soon expire and Beard
said they are hoping to persuade
the government to permanently
take this ground out of production
in a set-aside program.
The good news is, the lake
behind the dam now offers
recreational opp o rtu n ities.
Because of the success of this
first-time venture, five more
dams of this type have been built
in the U.S. This type of construc
tion lowers construction costs as
opposed to the conventional solid
cement structures. Foreign coun
tries, including Japan, Korea.
China and South America have
also constructed similar types of
dams. The largest one in the
world is now in Argentina.
Further enhancement of the
Willow Creek lake is also plann
ed according to Richard Hess,
U.S. Corps of Engineers Park
Manager. Wildlife enhancement
at the upper end of the lake along
with hiking trails are being
designed. This year the Willow
Creek Park District will complete
the first stage of an overnight
recreational vehicle campsite to
accommodate users.
Fishing Week, June 6-12, the
USDA Forest Service’s Pacific
Northwest Region, along with the
Oregon Department of Fish and
Wildlife have selected Saturday,
June 11 as Free Fishing Day in
the state of Oregon.
Heppner Ranger District will
hold its fifth annual fishing der
by Sunday, June 12, at Willow
Creek Reservoir, one mile east of
Heppner. This event is sponsored
by the Heppner Ranger District
and the Heppner Lions Club.
Registration will begin at 12:30
p.m. and the derby begins at 1
p.m. The derby is open to par
ticipation for all kids up to the age
of 13. All children must be ac
companied by a parent or guar
dian and should bring their own
fishing poles and tackle.
Special prizes will be presented
in many categories. A special
event which will be held during
the derby is the Zebco Casting
Contest. Hot dogs, chips and pop
are provided to everyone who
registers and participates in the
derby.
In conjunction with National
Fishing Week, North Fork John
Day is sponsoring a “ Hooked on
Fishing Derby” , June 11 on the
Umatilla National Forest. The
derby is at Ukiah/Dale Wayside
Park, Hwy. 395, two miles south
of Ukiah. The derby will be held
from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon.
Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.
Kids must be accompanied by an
adult and should bring fishing
gear, rods and bait. For more in
formation contact Renee Mullner
at 676-2166 or 676-9187.
Queen’s dance revived
X
A tradition is being revived in
Morrow County this month for
the Morrow County Fair and
Oregon Trail Pro-Rodeo Queen
and her court. June 17 queen
Staci O ’Brien and her court will
be honored at a family dance at
the Morrow County Fairground
in Heppner. The music is being
provided by Dan Burns Produc
tions of Pendleton who is very
adaptable at playing what the
dance crowd wants to hear. Also
enlightening the evening’s ac
tivities will be a limbo contest,
food concessions and a spotlight
dance for the queen and court
members.
Admission for the dance is $5
per person or SI5 for a family.
Hours are from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Proceeds from the dance will go
towards the local swimming pool
fund.
Members of the court include
Queen Staci O ’Brien, Heppner;
princesses Kim Bedortha, lone
and Jossie Evans and Char Coe.
both Heppner. The court is
“ looking forward to the renew
ed tradition of a court dance and
hopes the public will be there to
share in the fun.”
Morrow County Wheat League
Conservation Tour and Barbecue
will be held Friday, June 10
beginning at 4 p.m. The tour will
originate at the Frederickson Hay
Compression Plant just east of the
Port of Morrow, in Boardman. A
barbecue dinner, hosted by the
Wheat League and local business
concerns will begin after the tour
at approximately 6 p.m. also at
the hay plant.
Tour participants will see how
the Fredericksons, Gary and Ver
non, have used perseverance and
ingenuity to manage highly
erosive soils, deal with en
vironmental restrictions and
multiple agencies while con
tinually improving soil produc
tivity and tilth, said Doug Drake,
president of Morrow County
Wheat League.
Steaks, French bread and
beverages will be provided cour
tesy of the Wheat League. Guests
with last names beginning A-N
are asked to provide salads or side
dishes; O-Z should bring deserts.
For more information call Drake,
676-9883 or Frderickson Farm
ing 481-2818.
To find Fredericksons hay
plant, traveling on 1-84 take exit
165 the Port of Morrow inter
change, turn to the north and go
about 200 yards until you come
to the T. Turn to the right (east)
on the old highway 730. The
plant is on the right side 1.5 miles
from the T-intersection.
The barbecue will be inside the
plant so the weather will not be
a factor. “ Bring your appetite and
a friend to an interesting and in
formative evening,” said Drake.
New fire truck arrives in Heppner
Greenup new district manager
Janet Greenup
Janet Greenup was named
Morrow Soil and Water Conser
vation District manager as of
May 1.
Greenup. 39. has worked with
the district for the past 13 years,
first as district clerk and then as
office manager.
Greenup has assumed the
duties of the district manager,
along with the office manager's
duties. She said that the district
has no plans to hire an office
manager, but may hire clerical
help sometime in the future.
Greenup will be in charge of
grant writing, assisting with the
weed district, and overseeing
district projects, including pro
jects using the straw blower and
the hydroseeder. She will also
handle the correspondence for the
board and keep them informed on
natural resources issues. Her job
also entails attending many
meetings as a result of the
district’s involvement with the
Area 7 Association of Conserva
tion Districts, comprised of Mor
row. Gilliam, Umatilla, Wheeler
and Grant counties, the Oregon
Association of Conservation
D istricts and the N ational
Association of Conservation
Districts. The MSWCD also
cooperates with the Soil Conser
vation Service, ASCS and Mor
row County citizens.
Greenup, the daughter of Bill
and Pat Gentry, grew up in Hepp
ner and graduated from Heppner
High School. She and her hus
band, Greg, have four daughters.
Amy, 21. Sara. 17, Kathleen, 12,
and Kelsey, 9. She is also circula
tion manager of the East Orego
nian for the Heppner area.
She replaces fprmer district
manager, Jerry Anderson, who
moved to Colorado with his fami
ly to operate a family farm. He
was originally hired as a CRP
technician. Jim VanW inkle
preceded Anderson as district
manager.
Volunteer firemen show off new fire truck.
The new fire engine for the ci
ty of Heppner has arrived.
Volunteer firemen Steve Rhea.
Hal Bergstrom. Rusty Estes and
Mike Jones and Fire Chief For-
rie Burkenbine brought the vehi
cle back from Portland on May
26.
The 95 International holds 750
gallons of water and can pump
1250 gallons per minute. Rhea
said that the fire engine has a
remote control front nozzle and
a deluge gun which mounts on the
ground or on the truck for large
structure fires.
The fire engine has a 466
Detroit diesel engine and has the
capacity for five people in the cab
instead of two as in the previous
fire engine. In three of the seats
an oxygen pack is built right in
for fire fighters to strap on. said
Rhea.
“ We’ll be equipped to fight
any kind of fire,” said Rhea. “ It
will improve our fire protection.”
Summer Sale
Going on now
Through Sat. June 18th
Horrow County Crain Growers
Lexington, OR • 989-8221 • 1-800-452-7396