South/north county road stalemated
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NO 9_______ 1 0 Pages
Wednesday, February28,2001
MorrowCounty, Heppner, Oregon
Senator Smith speaks to Heppner crowd
U.S. Senator Gordon Smith,
obviously pleased about the new
administration in Washington,
D.C., told a standing room-only
crowd at the U.S. Forest Service
Thursday, Feb. 22, to expect a
change in the direction of the
country and a "sense of honor
and dignity" restored to the
White House. He also told the
rural audience that the election
between George Bush and A1
Gore was "very much a tie" and
"pretty much drawn on city/rural
lines."
"President
Bush
remembers who elected him,"
Smith added.
Representative Greg
Walden, also scheduled to
appear, cancelled because his
airplane was unable to take off
in inclement weather.
After an initial address,
Smith then fielded questions
from individuals in the crowd.
Some o f his comments follow:
-On Ron Wyden: "Ron
Wyden and I continue to work
together. When we vote together
everyone is pleasantly surprised.
When we cancel each other out,
everyone feels represented."
-On the economy: "It's a
time of economic slowdown, a
condition that started last March,
on top o f a very serious energy
crisis. President Bush is on top of
this."
-On a proposal in the
state legislature to place federal
monies designed to offset lost
timber revenues to schools into
the state school fund, which
would be dispersed on the basis
of population: "The subversion
o f intent bothers me.. .It's
something we
(Congress)
wanted to do for timber-
dependent counties. It is a
subversion if the (state)
legislature distributes it through
the (state school funding)
formula. It would be a real
breach of faith with rural folks
and the Congress. I want to help
Portland, but this wasn’t for
Portland. We're making our
feelings known and we'll turn up
the heat."
-On the Clinton-Gore
policy on public lands: "Natural
resource policies will all be
under review in President Bush's
administration.. . It’s not
statutory law. . .This is an
example o f a policy that's not
likely to endure."
-On forest practices: "I
think that's about to change. I
think we're about to go back to
the statutory use of forests. That's
multiple use."
-On analgesics and
Oregon's
physician-assisted
suicide law: "This is the hardest
issue I have faced.Thirty years
ago the federal government
passed the controlled substances
act. Oregonians were asked to
obtaining an easement for this road reversed its stance since they keep
By Merlyn Robinson
has fallen on deaf ears, according part of the old road that runs through
lone's
forward-thinking to
Representative Greg Smith. "The their property, inaccessible toother
welcoming sign "Growing with
repeated
answer has been no," than workers by means of a locked
Pride," may not portray this small
Smith
said
With his persistence gate; therefore they have agreed
Willow Creek town, struggling for
towards
making
this road a reality. to the proposed road development.
survival, if growth comes to a
"It's not all doom and gloom,"
Smith
said
he
has even been
standstill. To offset the loss of jobs,
said Morrow County Port
businesses and declining school threatened that his action could cost Commissioner
Deane Seeger. "If
enrollment, local residents continue his seat in the next election by means we all back this and
for it, we
to battle for a shorter road to link of unlimited campaign spending can save lone." The work
original
plan
from
the
opposition.
lone with the county's north end
was
to
follow
a
cross-country
road
"We're
not
in
control
of
our
own
employment opportunities. This
in early years. A recent
road would accommodate workers destiny," said MorrowCounty Judge established
citing a slightly altered route
who prefer the Willow Creek Valley Terry Tallman. In 1999 we thought survey
in
that
reveals few squirrel
lifestyle for their families, while we had an agreement after jumping colonies area
as
determined
by thermal
through
all
the
hoops.
Then
the
they commute to the county's
imaging
ground
squirrel
issue
slipped
in.
growing number of north end jobs.
At the conclusion of this over
For several years the development The director of Administrative
two-hour
meeting, the battle cry
of this shorter route has had a large Services has the authorization to
was,
"IXm't
give up." It might appear
measure of community support. Now do whatever they w ish and we are
as
though
residents had already
getting
a
cold
shoulder
by
the
with the proposed dairies and
abandoned
the town, when most
Governor.
racetrack development all platted
That destiny, as moderator of the citizens had traveled to Baker
in the PGE coal fire plant area, even
a limited access shortcut road Marvin Padberg explained, is to City to support the lone team at the
becomes more important for an sustain lone schools, which recently state basketball championship finals
estimated 270jobs that will become received an excellency rating, while on Wednesday. February 28. As
available only 20 miles from lone. educating future citizens and the >aying goes, "You ain't seen
A packed crowd turned out last producing championship-caliber nothing yet," as momentum appears
Friday in the newly renovated lone sports teams. A drop in school to be building to converge in mass,
High School gym to express their enrollment would severely impact on the legislators and the Governor
at the State Capitol in the near
community pride along with their lone schools.
PGE
workers
said
they
preferred
future.
concerns and frustrations to the
"It's time for a revolution."
following panel members: to live in lone or the surrounding
Representatives Bob Jenson and area to take advantage of excellent declared farmer Kenneth Nelson.
Greg Smith, the Morrow County schools, community affairs and a Along with trying to get people from
Court Commissioners and the Port quiet, small town lifestyle. If the Governor Kitzhaber's office to meet
o f Morrow board members and limited access road were eliminated, with people here locally, there was
they said they could no longer afford also a suggestion that lone students
director.
"This road would be our salvation to live locally. In the event of the could be part of the exodus to Salem
and a shot in the arm," said John demise of the existing road to the "We'll camp on their doorstep- -
Bristow, lone. Businesses and the south, in the case of a chemical whatever it takes," said Lisa
job market have faded away from weapons incineration accident, the Rietmann So it remains to be seen
the lone area. Over the past number only escape routes for plant workers whether there's a road requiring 10
of years the process to develop this would be in the direction of the acres or if all of that acreage isjust
road has overcome one obstacle Depot. Consequently PGE has for the squirrels.
after another as people sought an
easement through state and
privately-owned lands. From the
prospective of Bristow and other
members of the drama class. The
citizenry, the object is to sustain
of "Lethal Lecture" includes
The lone Drama Class will cast
the heritage of this small-town that
Allison
Halvorsen as Miss Peabody.
is the focal point of a large farming present a dinner theatre, performing Jaysi Bennetto
as Dr. Hillary
"Just Desserts" and "Lethal Lecture" Scheckle, Adrienne
community.
Swanson as
The state is proposing to sell the on Sunday, March 11, at 5 p.m. in Claire Crandall, Ashley
Carmack
state-owned land to J.D. Offutt and the lone High School cafeteria. as Diana Darling. Derek Campbell
Tickets are now on sale at the
32,000 acres of the land has been
Professor Hazelton Crandall and
committed to the Nature R&W Drive-In and Wheatland as
Cory'
Bennetto as Jackson Phillips.
Conservancy . A road would cross Insurance in Heppner and at the
Casting
for "Just Desserts"
that land for a short distance. It has Bank of Eastern Oregon, Wheatland includes Allison
Halvorsen returning
been rezoned from space age Insurance and the high school in as Miss Peabody.
Molly.Banswi
industrial to exclusive farming use. lone.Tickets will be $8 for adults, as Edna Mae Carter, Cyndi Heagy
Bristow said that although the
as Margaret Mason, Chanssa Gates
for students and $2 for children as
Nature Conservancy is a good land $4
Lucy "Scooter" Bright and Cory
and under.
steward, if they take away that 10 The
Bennetto
as Judge Reginald P.
class will serve a lasagna
access, "they'd better be talking to dinner as
Cogs
worth.
well as two "first-class
us."
Jim Raible will direct the two
mysteries."
To prevent development in that
plays,
assisted by Samantha Wilhelm
"Just Desserts" and "Lethal
area, environmental groups have Lecture"
and Tyler Brown.
are
two
short
audience
succeeded in getting that area
"So if you are up for a good
mysteries. "With the
declared the habitat of endangered participation
mystery
and a delicious meal, grab
help of the clever Miss Peabody
Washington ground squirrels. the
your
family
and friends and join
unfolds and the killers
Proposed lawsuits are a means to are enigma
us.
Make
sure
you don't forget to
revealed." according to a news
negate development plus closure release.
bring you detective instincts." said
o f the present limited-access road.
The cast and crew are all the release.
With the listing o f endangered
squirrel habitat in this part of Eastern
Oregon, landowners fear that this
ruling will spread to other private
property. According to potato
The Morrow County' Parks
grower, Ofiiitt, w ho has three dairies
Committee w ill meet Wednesday,
The
Morrow
County
Road
being built at his Three Mile Canyon Committee will meet Thursday, March 14 at 7 p.m. in Lexington
Farms, his company is being March 8 at 7:30 p.m. in Boardman at the Morrow' County Public Works
hammered with numerous lawsuits, at
office.
the Port of Morrow offices.
a spin-off from the squirrel habitat
and land use issues.
"We won't be sold out for $60
million dollars," (the asking price
of that land) said lone farmer Jerry
Rietmann. "They're after us so they
can control all the land and the
water." Adding to that frustration,
Don McElligott, a former Morrow
County Judge, said that the sale of
that land has not been publicly
advertised as stipulated under the
law.
Longtime lone rancher Dick
McElligott added that although these
squirrels have been hunted for as
long as he could remember, it hasn't
made a dent in their population. He
quipped that Oregon's livestock
owners in particular, may be forced
to adopt the "shoot, shut up and
bury" policy when it comes to
dealing with endangered species
such as imported wolves that are
The Board of Directors of Morrow County Grain Growers Inc has
straying into Oregon. "What is really appointed
needed," he said, is a change in the co-op. John Ripple, 49, of Lexington as the new general manager of
environmental laws to prevent this
Ripple has been employed with MCGG since June 1, 1977. He began
type of extortion.
his career as fertilizer dept manager and then went on to serve as grain
All attempts to convince department manager for 15 years Most recently he has been the interim
manager. He is married and his wife's name is Becky
Governor Kitzhaber and the State general
very pleased to have this position and I look forward to working
o f Oregon of the importance of with "I'm everyone,"
he said.
lone Drama Class to present
dinner theater
Road committee
plans meeting
Senator Cordon Smith visits with Barbara Gilbert (right) at a recent
town hall meeting in Heppner
vote on a federal law. It's a
federal issue headed to the
Supreme Court.. . We don't want
to go after doctors. We want
them to have all the flexibility
they can. . .1 don't want the right
to die turned into the duty to
die."
-Free trade: "We want
free trade. We want the
provisions of NAFTA to be
enforced. "
-On
energy
and
hydroelectric dams: "Slower
turbines produce more power and
save more fish. . These dams
will not be taken out as long as 1
am your senator. . .(California's
energy crisis) is a "supply and
demand" problem. "(It occurrred)
because they have a law that
doesn't allow utilities to pass on
costs to consumers.)
-On
educational
standards: ”1 think there will be
nation-wide standards People
say, 'well, they'll teach to the
standards,’ but that's great.
They'll teach to pretty high
standards."
-On school vouchers:
"Ultimately the issue of vouchers
is not a federal issue, but a state
issue. The federal government
should not get involved in
vouchers.. . "I’m not wedded to
that (vouchers) but we shouldn't
give failing schools more
money."
-On the
Nature
Conservancy plan to set aside
acreage to protect the ground
squirrel, thereby closing the road
between lone and Boardman and
an lone proposal for the state to
grant an easement to protect the
road: "I still know some people
in the (state) legislature. I'll call
them (state legislators).
-On the inheritance
tax:"Some (government) people
think it's their duty to distribute
your hard-earned money. .
President Bush has promised to
end this . . We are running
enormous surpluses. We are
projecting trillions o f dollars of
surpluses, when the economy is
running down .. If we leave it in
Washington, D C., I promise you
it will be spent . . . I disagree
with the fundamental idea of
government being the big
spender."
-On Native American
tribes being allowed to establish
a casino on the Columbia, but a
couple who built a house on the
river ordered to move it-”We
have a complex relationship with
the tribes.. .It is fraught with
history and heartache on both
sides We have to be sensitive. .
Neon lights on the Gorge doesn't
seem right.”
Parks Committee
to meet
John Ripple named new
MCGG manager
INTEREST FREE
on
ALL USED COMBINES
Until July 1, 2002 with 6.9% 5-year contract
M o rro w County Grain Growers
Lexington 989-8221 • 1-800-452-7396
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our
til* at www me jg ntt