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Annual Town and Country awards presented
The Heppner Chamber of
Commerce
presented
first
citizens' awards at the annual
Town and Country Banquet held
Thursday, January 11, at the
Heppner Elks Club
Kay Proctor was named
Woman of the Year, Bob Kahl.
Man of the Year, Wilbur
Jackson, Lifetime Achievement
Award recipient, Dean Robinson,
Citizen Educator of the Year,
Lindsey
Ward,
Youth
Recognition Award winner, and
the Heppner Gazette-Times,
Business of the Year.
Editorial cartoonist Jack
Ohman entertained the crowd by
drawing
caricatures
of
nationally-known
political
figures and local citizens, spicing
up his presentation with banter
with the audience.
Ohman gave each of the
local "victims" their caricatures
and
donated the political
cartoons to the Morrow County
Museum Foundation to auction
as a fund raiser.
While he was in college,
Ohman became the youngest
cartoonist ever to be nationally
syndicated.
His
cartoons
regularly appear in the Portland
Oregonian, Time, Newsweek,
U.S. News and World Report,
Business
Week
and
The
Economist. He is also the author
of several books.
B a i a l o '"a t u l i
U o f ) ¡‘«o v jp a ' -¡r L i b r a r y
Lu j o i l OR *374J3
VOL. 120
NO. 3
10 Pages
Wednesday, January 17,2001
Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon
AG producers learn more about compliance
Bv Merlyn Robinson
It was "good news and bad news,"
along with conflicting views, as
Morrow County ag producers
gathered Jan. 11 in the Heppner
Elks building, for a long afternoon
session on regulations affecting the
industry.
The purpose of the joint meeting
between the Morrow County
Livestock Growers and the Soil and
Water Conservation District was
to help property owners become
more aware of existing laws con
cerning natural resource manage
ment and how to comply with them.
Weather forecasts, using modem
technology, play a major role in
the ag industry. A presentation by
Bruce Bauck and Dennis Hall, both
from the National Weather Service,
presented graphs showing local
weather patterns over the past 100
years. These charts are used to help
make long-term climate predica
tions. Graphs show a gradual global
warming and higher carbon dioxide
levels in some areas over this
relatively short period of time,
believed to be due to various factors,
including increasing urbanization.
Dennis Miller from the Oregon
Department of Agriculture talked
about the requirements concerning
pesticide use reporting. House Bill
3602 requires that any user of
chemicals, both urban and rural,
must file a report. Users must record
the type, quantity and location of
applications, even by those who
are not licensed applicators.
As numerous as snowflakes,
acronyms abound when it comes
to programs and agencies that impact
Oregon waterways. Tracy Bosen
o f the Umatilla Basin Watershed
Council was present to explain the
clean water standards under the
Total Maximum Daily Loads
regulations and how producers in
the Willow Creek Watershed and
elsewhere are affected.
Statewide standards require that
streams be evaluated for water
temperature and acceptable levels
of sediment or bacteria. The Depart
ment of Environmental Quality is
the lead agency that is currently
citing irregularities and imposing
fines on property owners for non-
pomt source pollution Aenal photos
are being used to spot suspected
problem areas in Eastern Oregon,
such as barren creek banks lacking
vegetation. This is followed by on
site ground inspection, at which time
fines may be issued.
Enc Moeggenberg. water quality
specialist from the ODA and
Morrow County Extension agent
Bill Broderick gave an educational
presentation encouraging producers
to take a proactive approach to
upgrading creek-site management
in order to avoid heavy fines. Slides
were used to illustrate typical
livestock feeding areas along creeks
where runoff could be cited as a
pollution problem.
I
Ward lives with her
parents, Jim and Susie Ward, and
sister, Ashley.
Abby Kahl was the first
recipient of the youth award last
year.
IC M
*
Dean Robinson
Citizen Educator of the
Year Dean Robinson, Heppner,
has been teaching in the lone
Schools since 1987.
Robinson,
the
lone
Junior High School language arts
teacher, is also athletic director at
lone Schools and has coached
football and track for many
years. In 1999 he received the
Oregon Junior High School
Coach o f the Year. He is also
director of theTupper Outdoor
School program for Heppner and
lone.
Robinson has long been
active in the Elks Club and has
been Exhaulted Ruler, a member
of the board of trustees and has
served on the Elks Scholarship
Committee for 15 years.
He has been a member of
the Heppner Fire Department
since 1980 and is a state
accredited Fire Fighter I. He is
also an Oregon Department of
Forestry State Patrol Officer.
He and his wife, Florene.
have two daughters and two
grandchildren.
Citizen Educator Award
recipients since 1988 have been:
Cara Osmin, Jim Byer. Dick
Allen, Betty Rietmann, Linda
Shaw, Dave Gunderson, Barbara
Hayes, Janme Allen, Greg Grant.
Barbara Peterson. Ralph Werner
and Walt Pilgrim.
Kay Proctor
Katie Cate and Karl Jensen
The Willow Creek Watershed
Council will be formulated to outline
plans to bring this area into com
pliance under the Clean Water Act.
Meanwhile, ODA, the Natural
Resource Council and other local
agencies offer technical assistance
to individuals that have problem
areas. For those that qualify, funding
has become available to assist with
the costs involved for changes in
practices such as cattle feeding areas
that border streams where runoff
is said to cause stream pollution
or where off-stream livestock
watering may be required.
Prior to MCLG and SWCD
individual business meetings, Ken
Gneb, the newly-elected secretary
of the Oregon Wheat League,
presented the agenda of the state
association. This organization works
to develop markets and actively
influences the many programs
affecting farmers, while working
in conjunction with other ag groups
photo by Merlyn
Robinson
on natural resource issues.
During the MCLG business
meeting, Karl Jensen, Umatilla
County cattleman, told how the
combined efforts of ag-onented
organizations have helped to miti
gate lawsuits and heavy-handed
litigation against landowners. It was
also discussed how property owners,
particularly livestock operators, are
being targeted and fined.
Katie Cate, representing Oregon
Cattlemen's Association, was also
on hand to provide an update on
the state organization. Along with
beef promotion and consumer
education, the OCA now has the
Oregon Trail Beef program under
way. The first products to be
marketed under this program will
be ready this year. Members of this
co-op will be providing a quality-
controlled product of primal beef
cuts to consumers, thus creating
a value-added, niche market. OCA
members are eligible to become
charter members at this time.
Kinzua power plant may fire up
Port
of
Morrow
Commissioners have decided to
move ahead on negotiations to
lease the Kinzua generating
plant. The plant produces about
10 megawatts of electricity.
According to Port of
Morrow general manager Gary
Neal, Greg Demers, former
owner o f the Kinzua mill,
contacted the port about the
possibility of leasing the wood
fired power plant.
Lisa Mittelsdorf, director
of economic development for the
port, said that they hope the
power plant will be operational
within 90 days.
Under the contract in the
process of being negotiated
between Demers and the port.
Demers would lease the plant for
10 years with five-year renewal
options. The contract also
specifies a 50-50 sharing of
profit. Improvements made to the
facility would be paid back over
the course o f the lease.
If the power plant is fired
up, around 10 local people would
be hired to run it, said Neal.
Woman of the Year Kay
Proctor was noted for her
"behind
the
scenes"
volunteerism.
Proctor was not only
instrumental in procuring the
trees which were placed on Main
Street, but planted the trees and
still prunes them yearly. She
also serves on the Heppner
Beautification Commission.
Proctor, who lives in
Hepper, was also a driving
influence in raising funds for the
construction of the Willow Creek
Waterpark, chairing the original
"People for the Pool" committee.
She started the Ewe-do Bingo
fund raiser, sold t-shirts, bricks Lindsey Ward
and researched grants to fund the
Recipient of the Youth
therapy and spa room at the
Recognition Award, Lindsey
water park, which amounted to
Ward, Heppner, is this year's
over $135,000.
Proctor is active at St. Heppner High School Student
Patrick Church, volunteers at the Body President.
Ward initiated an annual
Elks Club, is active in 4-H and
toiletry
drive to benefit local
has been a 4-H leader for o' er 10
needy
families.
Twice she has
years.
contributed
$100
to the fund
Proctor and he nusband,
Mike, have three children, Josie, raiser and challenged other
students and high school faculty
Julie and Roy.
to
match the contribution. She
Since the first Woman of
also
shops for the articles and
the Year Award in 1981, the
puts
them
together
for
following have been so honored:
distribution.
Theta Lowe, Francine Evans,
She is also involved in
Irene Anhom, Vera Cooley, Jean
the
Cowboy
Christmas Ball,
Nelson, Jane Rawlins, Justine
another
chanty
activity,
regularly
Weatherford, Dot Halvorsen,
takes
her
dog
to
visit
nursing
Gladys Hobbs, Claudia Hughes,
home
residents
and
volunteers
Birdine
Tullis,
Maryan
McElligott, Dorrine Lindsay, and participates in the annual
Helen Craford, Jeanne Berretta. local MS Walk.
She is a member of the
Merlyn
Robinson,
Janet
HHS
golf
team, editor of the
Greenup. Aloha DeSpain and
school
newspaper,
a member of
Cyde Estes.
Honor Society, has participated
in the Knowledge Master team
and has been the HHS
representative to the Chamber of
Commerce for the past two years.
She has also been a
Signups for the hoop shoot will
Morrow County Fair and Oregon
be held from 2-2:30 p.m., with
Trail Pro Rodeo Princess.
competition beginning at 2:30 p.m.
This fall she attended the
Children from eight to 13 years
youth
Law
Leadership
old are invited to participate at no
Conference in Washington, D.C.
cost.
Colt signups, Hoop Shoot slated
Signups for the Colt basketball
program, for boys and girls in third
through sixth grade, will be held
this Sunday, Jan 21, beginning at
1 p.m. at Heppner High School.
Children must bring a parent to
the signups. Cost is $5 each.
For more information, contact
Lon Seitz, 989-8477.
The Elks Hoop Shoot contest is
scheduled to begin immediately
following the Colt Basketball
program signups on Sunday, Jan.
21, at Heppner High School.
NEWS DEADLINE
5 p.m. Monday
1 5 %
Wilbur Jackson
Lifetime Achievement
Award winner Wilbur Jackson
was bom in Gresham and in 1948
moved to Heppner. where he
found his wife. Dorothy. They
have now been married for 51
years. Retirement brought the
Jacksons back to Heppner.
Jackson is active with the
Garden Club, the Hardman
Community Center, the Masonic
Lodge, the Odd Fellows, the
Grange and the American
Legion.
He
is
active
in
community cleanup during the
St. Patrick Celebration, has
repaired the foot bridge at the
Morrow County Fairgrounds, has
been of "monumental" assistance
in building the playground at
Heppner Elementary School and
has donated his time and tractor
at the fairgrounds, local ball
parks and the swimming pool.
He assisted in the start
up of the mini-park downtown,
worked on the water system at
the Hardman Community Center,
presents the Masonic Scholarship
at graduation, collects donations
for the Shriner's Childrens
Hospital, maintains the grounds
at the Grange building and cuts
branches and assists at the
Garden Club Christmas wreath
workshop.
Jackson
was
also
instrumental in the fairgrounds
water fountain and landscaping
projects at the fairgrounds.
During his stint on the
Heppner City Council he
operated a jack hammer to help
remove a "huge" cement safe
during the remodeling project at
the St. Patrick's Senior Center
when he found out the project
was "seriously under-budgeted".
Jackson and his wife
have a son and a daughter and
five grandchildren.
Prior
Lifetime
Achievement Award winners,
starting in 1996, arc: Ron
Daniels, Ray French, Barbara
Struthers and Eleanor Gonty and
Delpha Jones.
1
Bob Kahl
Bob Kahl, who only
recently moved from Heppner to
Oregon City, returned to
Heppner once again to receive
the 2000 Man of the Year aw ard
Kahl has been involved
in
many
local
civic
organizations. He was president
and board member o f the
continued page two
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