Listing of ground squirrel continues to be topic
EC 3 1 Ì 3 S e t o l i
U o f 3 ire . j ; n c - Llbr'.ry
Lu^ï.;?, C3 974-J3
VOL. 119
NO. 13
8 Pages
Wednesday, March 29,2000
Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon
Neighborhood W atch committee meets
The Heppner Neighborhood
Watch Committee met on March
6 to receive and share
information since the last
meeting on September 14 under
Floyd G. White, chair.
Heppner Police Chief Doug
Rathbun asked members to get
the word out to keep a watchful
eye out for people with spray
cans, especially at night, as there
has been a rash of incidents.
Another area of concern has
been thefts on ranches. However,
the sheriffs department had a
recent big bust dealing with these
thefts in the lone area, according
to
Marilyn
Bader-Nesse,
Neighborhood Watch Committee
secretary.
Chief Rathbun also shared with
the group information on the
National Town Watch and said
that this association comes with
Lions Club
holds rifle
raffle
police support. This national
event will take place on August
1. Involved communities usually
share a day together with such
activities as a cookout, said
Bader-Nesse.
Ray French offered to look into
this
program
and
bring
information to the next meeting.
Chief Rathbun told the group
that his department provides
periodic checks on residents'
homes while they are away on
extended
trips.
Interested
individuals maycall the city for
further information.
An informational brochure
will soon go out to all new
residents in welcome baskets.
This brochure will give an
understanding of what the
Neighborhood Watch Program is
about as well as extending an
invitation to all residents of the
Heppner area to join the
committee and become actively
involved
in
keeping
neighborhoods safe.
Any resident interested in
serving on this board may call
Ray French at 676-5365.
Bike-a-thon set April 30
The date for the annual lone St.
Jude Bike-A-Thon is Sunday,
April 30, not Tuesday as
mentioned in last week's Gazette-
Times.
"Participants are urged to
gather pledges now to raise funds
for this worthwhile cause," said
ride coordinator Anne Morter.
Riders turning in at least $35
receive a St. Jude t-shirt. Riders
gathering $75 or more receive a
t-shirt and sports bag or
sweatshirt. The person raising the
most money over $100 will also
receive a dual cassette jambox.
"The real prize, though, is the
pride everyone can take in giving
children a chance to live a
normal life," said Morter.
The ride will follow a similar
format of past years with an in-
town circuit route for younger
riders and the 22-mile Ruggs to
lone route for the more
adventuresome.
Both rides will begin at 1 p.m.
with registration prior. As usual,
refreshments and moral support
will be offered to nders on both
routes.
Pledge sheets will be available
soon in several locations in lone,
at Morrow County Abstract and
Title
in Heppner or by
contacting Morter, 422-7429.
All funds raised by this bike-a-
thon go directly to St. Jude
Children's Flospital in Memphis,
TN, America's largest childhood
cancer research center.
Anyone interested in helping
with this event or for more
information, contact Morter.
Corps, county to test Heppner
warning system
A
Heppnsr Lions Club member Jim
Wishart shows rifle to be given
away.
The Heppner Lions Club is
holding its annual Ruger Rifle
Raffle.
The gun to be given away
this year is a M&&R Mark II 6
mm with a 3-9 X 40 mm
Tasco High Country scope.
Value o f the gun and scope is
$500.
Only 350 tickets will be sold
this year and the price is $5
each or five tickets for $20.
The drawing will be held July
5, and you need not be present
to win. You can purchase
tickets for the raffle from Jim
Wishart, Steve Rhea, David
Sykes or any other Lions Club
member.
Sirens will sound in Heppner
on Friday, April 14, as the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers and the
Morrow County Emergency
Management Office test the
town's Flash Flood Warning
System.
The test will run sometime
between 10 a m. and 2 p.m.
This is the only time this year
the test will be conducted.
Officials are performing the test
to ensure local citizens recognize
the sirens and that the system
works
properly.
Heppner
residents will not be required to
do anything during the test.
The last test took place in 1998.
The siren system was installed
in 1996 and is maintained by the
Corps
and
the
county's
emergency management office,
according to Hob Ford, acting
operations superintendent for the
Corps' The Dalles, John Day, and
Willow Creek dams.
In the event of an imminent
flood emergency, dispatchers
will activate the two sirens,
which will blare a continuous
tone for several minutes. During
an emergency, citizens should
immediately move to one of four
designated rallying, points; the
Columbia
Basin
Electric
Cooperative, the Morrow County
Courthouse Annex, the Corps'
maintenance facility on Access
Road or Heppner High School.
Free softball
By Doris Brosnan
Morrow County Judge Terry
Tallman, at the March 22
Morrow County Commission
meeting, shared with the court a
letter from the law firm that is
filing the petition for judicial
review of the Oregon Department
of Fish and Wildlife Washington
ground squirrel listing as an
endangered species and adoption
of survival guidelines.
The letter specified hourly
rates, estimates of expenses in
filing, estimated total cost of the
appeal exclusive of further
challenge to the Oregon Supreme
Court.
Tallman reported having heard
from "a number of people"
around the county who have
offered to help with the appeal.
A discussion ensued which
touched upon weed spraying
being prohibited under the
survival guidelines; a question
of how the listing might affect
the county's Goal 5 amendment;
the survival guidelines applying
only to occupied habitat; and the
question of how the incidental
take permit might apply to the
area that the planning department
permits.
County Counsel Bill Hanlon
recommended a letter of
understanding with the Port of
Morrow outlining how the fees
will be split. He also pointed out
that the letter of engagement
from the law firm does not
contain a limit on expenses.
Former County Judge Louis
Carlson asked what the county
will gain if it is successful in the
appeal. Commissioner Brosnan
said his understanding was that
ODFW would be required to start
the process over, which would
take about 50 days.
Hanlon noted that no request
has been made for a stay of the
listing pending appeal, so the
squirrel, in the meantime,
remains listed.
In response to another question
from Carlson, Brosnan noted that
to require ODFW to justify their
listing would necessitate those
requiring it to hire a biologist to
do the science dataover.
Tallman supported a letter of
understanding with the port and
suggested a letter to the law firm
to
require
the
county's
authorization before proceeding
on an appeal to a higher court.
Hanlon noted that the court's
motion included funding of
$15,000 and he suggested that
the agreement with the port
should identify a dollar limit.
Commissioner John Wenholz
said that the agreement with the
port should occur as quickly as
possible and suggested that the
funding might come from the
tippage fees.
Carlson asked how the listing
will affect the location of dairies.
Tallman reported that in an area
in which no squirrels are found,
no effect will occur. Hanlon
noted that in an area containing
squirrels, an incidental-take
permit might be issued.
County Assessor Greg Sweek
reported that three dairies are
being located out in the circles.
In other business. Public Works
Director Guy Van Arsdale
submitted sealed bids for Wilson
and Patterson roads asphalt work.
The court awarded the bid for
class C hot mix to Blue Mountain
Asphalt Company.
Van Arsdale reported having
all permits, except that for
removing some timber for the
Anson Wright Park sewer
system.
Van Arsdale also reported on
road work about the county:
preparatory work continues on
Washington; dirt was hauled to
the fairgrounds; the broom work
continues on some roads; some
huge potholes on County Line
Road require attention.
Federal legislation for airport
improvement funds has been
passed and Van Arsdale's request
for the Lexington airport was the
first one approved in Oregon. As
the adjacent landowners do not
want to sell land for the airport, and a tape drive. The court
Van Arsdale has developed approved
the
appointment
another plan for moving the of Melanie Hall to the
fence and lowering some land.
Commission on Children and
At a public hearing on a Families.
supplemental budget. Finance
Hanlon offered the court some
Director
Lisanne
Currin questions about the strategic
explained that six funds are being reserve fund grant agreement
adjusted and a later adjustment with the state's economic
might be necessary for setting up development department. He and
a fund for Public Health the court discussed a letter of
Department
fees-carryovers. understanding with Umatilla
Currin identified the 911 funds County about expenses related to
for additional money from the impact aid issue.
Wheeler, Sherman and Gilliam
Weed Manager Dave Pranger
counties; thé new Clerks Record advised the court of enforcement
Fund; DUII Fund for fees for a difficulties with Boeing, which
victims' impact panel; the has not filed a weed management
General Fund; the Planning plan After discussion of the
Department Fund for putting in situation's history and of the
tippage fees for the bicentennial ordinance and, after reading the
committee; Common School recommendation of the advisory
Fund for additional revenues; and board, the court directed Pranger
License Fee Fund for additional to cite Boeing.
revenues.
Representatives of the Special
Currin and the court discussed Transportation Fund Advisory
the funding for the cereals agent Committee met with the court to
position, now paid by OSU. The discuss its funding, a grant
court approved adoption of the application and hopes to replace
supplemental budget.
the Heppner van and purchase a
After further discussion, the van for the Boardman area The
court also approved the vehicle court approved the grant
policy. They also approved application as a number-one
purchase of an additional modem project.
Lions speech contest
winners announced
Left to right: Sally Calvert, Lions Club President Dick Paris and
Paula Spicerkuhn.
Paula Spicerkuhn took first
place in a speech contest
sponsored by the Heppner Lions
Club.
Spicerkuhn, a sophomore at
Heppner High School, won a
$100 savings' bond at the contest
which was held March 10. She is
the daughter of Bill Kuhn and
Ann Spicer.
Sally Calvert, a freshman at
HHS, won second place and
Macy Rhea, an HHS senior, won
third place. They each won a pen
set. Calvert is the daughter of
Lea and Dan Calvert. Rhea is the
daughter of Steve and Molly
Rhea.
Macy Rhea
Morrow-Baker Partnership
meeting sets mission statement
The board of the Morrow-
Baker Partnership held a
planning session on March 6 in
Baker City. Board members
worked with a facilitator to
brainstorm the purpose, goals,
and principles of the new
partnership.
"We've already identified a list
of common issues that the two
counties share, such as natural
resource policy and economic
development. This meeting
allowed us to take the next step
and develop a shared vision for
how we can work together,"
commented Judge Terry Tallman
of Morrow County.
Board member Tom Sly of
Heppner stated that "Our mission
statement is to preserve, protect
and enhance the environments of
our communities. We talk about
environments meaning the built
environment, or infrastructure
and economic development; the
human environment, or social
services and education; and the
natural
environment.
We
recognize that all three are
important to the survival of
communities."
The group also chose their
official name as the "Morrow-
Oregon-Baker Partnership" and
settled on a triangular logo that
represents the three partners and
the three environments of the
communities. So far, this
partnership is unique among
regional partnerships in its focus
on an equal relationship with the
state.
Judge Tallman also commented
on the excitement present in the
room during the planning
sessions.
"There
was
a
tremendous
amount
of
enthusiasm
about
working
together. It was evident that
everyone in the room cares
passionately
about
their
communities and the interest in
reaching solutions together was
infectious. We all left very
inspired."
The next partnership meeting
will be held in Heppner in April,
and the agenda includes further
development
of
operating
principles.
pitching clinic set
Lawn Thatcher Rentals Available
A softball pitching clinic for
ages seven to 14 will be held on
Saturday, Apnl 1, from 10 a m.
to noon at the Shad Hisler Field.
The clinic, by Tina and Linda
Corbin, is free of chaige.
For more information call 676-
5270.
Lawn and Garden Items Arriving Daily!
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