• ■ ■ Exchange program now 16, but still new to 8th graders B 7 3 5 I E i f : E T 2 u o r ore N E ' * ,*> 1- • - ,, . -i' •• * , , , • CRP acreage to be released President Bill Clinton has an­ nounced that Conservation Re­ serve Program (CRP) acreage will be released in all counties nationwide for emergency hay­ ing and grazing based on a na­ tional livestock economic emer­ gency. Grazing is open immediate­ ly through Sept. 30, for five percent of the CRP annual ren­ tal rate per acre per month. Haying may begin July 1, and will cost 25 percent of the an­ nual rental rate per acre. Participants must agree to haying or grazing plan (stock­ ing rate) written with the Na­ tional Resource Conservation Service (formerly Soil Conser­ vation Service) and sign an agreement for terms and con­ ditions, said a Farm Service Agency (FSA) news release. There will be spot checks for compliance. Haying or grazing may be sold or rented. Payments will be deducted from the annual | payments or can be paid up front. According to the FSA, haying and grazing must not occur within 100 feet of a stream or permanent waterbody and 25 percent of each field must be left for wildlife. Twenty-five percent may be acres or stock­ ing rate on grazing. Grazing should not be started before paperwork is completed. Anyone interested in this op­ tion should call the FSA office. Water topic of HCC meeting Water is an integral element in the lives and vocation of many Eastern Oregon resi­ dents. In the 19% political year, it is an important issue on the ballot. The Heppner Coordina­ ting Council (HCC) will be looking at the key water issues on Tuesday, May 14, at 7:30 a.m. at the Heppner Ranger District office. Water issues include Ballot Measure 24, the Clean Water Initiative, and the effects the in­ itiative will have on public lands grazing. Presenters for the issues in­ clude a representative from the Oregon Department of En­ vironmental Quality and a hydrologist from the USDA Forest Service. The public is invited to attend this and all meetings of the HCC. Centennial exchange students The Heppner Junior High- Centennial Middle School ex­ change program is 16 years old, but the experience is fresh every year for the Heppner and Portland-area students who participate. Surprisingly, almost all of the students from the city and the country are enthusiastic about their experiences. Following are some observations from some of the kids who par­ ticipated this year. Kim Pointer, 14, Lexington, stayed with the Piers and Rachelle Munro family of Port­ land who have an eighth-grade daughter, Tamara. "The best thing was all the new friends I made," said Kim. "We went to a Greek restaurant and watch­ ed Tamara belly dance and ate fried squid. The worst thing was the fried squid.” Kim is the daughter of Cathie and Mark Pointer. Amy Papineau, 14, Lexing­ ton, stayed with Gary and Beth Scott of Portland and their three daughters, including eighth grader Jennifer. "It was fun with all my friends at school and on field trips. I got majorly homesick, though, and I hated the rain. It rained every day." Amy’s parents are Jay and Lorrene Papineau. Chris Bowman, 14, Heppner, stayed ..ith Martin and Julie Skinner, Portland, and two of their children, including Nate Feyma, Centennial host stu­ dent. Another child is in col­ lege. "The school was pretty big," commented Chris. "I met a lot of friends, but I like smaller towns." Chris is the son of Ron and Ginger Bow­ man. Casey Ingraham, 14, stayed with David and Becky Hanken, Portland, daughter, Melissa, and the family's two Chihua­ huas. Smokey Bear (alias Marcia Kemp) greets Centennial student Miranda Poppino. "The school was hard to get us­ Jeremiah, and one girl. " I met ed to. I got lost," said Casey. tons of people," said Jake, 14. Casey is the daughter of Mike "I met them in class by goof­ Ingraham, Lexington, and Sally ing off. I'm still getting phone calls from people down there Ingraham, Buttercreek. Matt Jepsen, 14, of Heppner and I'm calling them ." Jake stayed with Steve and Cindy said that his host father was a Pollard, Portland, and their football coach for the team who three boys, including eighth- had a player who was hit by grader, Michael. "The Centen­ lightning last year on the field. nial schedule was so wierd. Jake's parents are Jim and Don­ They did everything different na Roy, Heppner. Macy Rhea, 14, stayed with every day. We mostly did things with a certain group of Robert and Kris McManus, kids," says Matt. "Math was so Portland, their two daughters, easy, it was like junk we did including Amanda, eighth three years ago." Matt is the grade, and one son. "There son of Bill and Nancy Jepsen. were so many people there, it Allison Sykes, 14, stayed didn't even seem like they with Pat and Rhonda Castle, cared. I got kind of homesick, Gresham and children, eighth- but the aquatic center was grader K.K. and Matt. "I didn't fun," says Macy, the daughter like the block scheduling," says of Steve and Molly Rhea, Allison. "The classes were way Heppner. too long. My favorite thing was Corey Miller's host family going to the mall." Allison is was Vickie Schmitt, Portland, the daughter of David and son, Chris, an eighth grader, April Sykes of Heppner. and a daughter. Corey, 13, Jake Roy's hosts were the says, "I liked not having to go Rob and Jill Porterfield family to school because of all the field of Portland who had three trips. I liked the malls, the boys, including eighth grader continued page 3 FOR ALL YOUR PLUMBING NEEDS see Morrow County Grain Growers Lexington 989-8221 1-800-452-7396 ■ « ■ M i • V * »’ ■- V *. ■Ì *. » • ' .,*u ? ■ . « • mm • ' ' v-V'J.*/ * '** l v V, L/** % *. > v, • . -. - : ¡s,* , 4 ■ -: -V •, • * ** ‘ ' 1 i