Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 5, 2009)
Could mean 12-15 jobs if plant starts operating ayain Sweet Home company signs option to purchase Heppner bio-generating plant at industrial site Bv David Sykes A Sweet Home based company, T2, Inc., has signed a deal with the Port of Morrow to purchase the now idle bio-generation facility in the South Mor- HEPPNER imes VOL. 128 NO. 30 8 Pages Wednesday, August 5, 2009 Back in the saddle again Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon 1949 court rides in to take up court duties The 1949 Fair and Kodeo Court (right to left): Dorothy Wiglesworth Graham, Faye Cutsforth, Shirley Rugg. Betty Walker Edwards and Ingrid Mermen Crawford. The 10-megawatt generating facility at the industrial site may be back produc ing power if a deal between a Sweet Home company and the Port of Morrow goes through. row Industrial Park for $4 source available.” He said “The fuel is the key.” Lawn million, it was announced at he was also working now said he would be giving the a special Port meeting last on finding buyers for the Port an update report at its Thursday. electricity the 10-megawatt next meeting August 12. Under terms, T2 plant will produce. "In fact Neal also said has 60 days to accept the I have a conference call there was a w indow of op deal and another 30 days today talking to potential portunity for the plant to to purchase the facility, buyers,” he said. begin operation and then Lawn said T2 has be able to get the pow er out which will include 20 acres of property and various some experience in bio to the grid. He said w ith all equipment. Company of fuels and actually operates the w ind generation moving ficials estimate if the plant four “sides” in the forests into the area that window goes into operation generat chipping and grinding fuel may not be open for much ing electricity from wood for use in bio plants else longer. The proposed sale waste, it could employ 12 where. The company also has two other sides avail includes all equipment, to 15 people. Stephen Lawn, able to bring into produc fixtures, and improvements, business operation man tion if demand warrants plus a truck, fuel handling ager at T2 told the Hep it. T2 intends to use forest system, boiler, turbines, pner Gazette Tuesday he is residuals (waste) and some electric power infrastruc working on securing fuel urban wood. Lawn said, ture, water treatment sys for the plant and also lining including construction and tem and the truck scale at the industrial park. up customers to purchase demolition debris. "We have a lot of The sale also in the electricity it generates. Columbia Basin Electric hurdles to make this thing cludes the right of water has agreed to “wheel” or work, but I am cautiously usage from wells on other transport output of the elec optimistic,” Port of Mor parts of the port-owned tricity to the overall electri row General Manager Gary industrial park property Neal told the Gazette. He for use by the generating cal grid. “Finding fuel for said T2 would be looking facility. The bio-generat this plant has always been for a steady supply of fuel, an issue,” said Lawn, “but and a long term contract ing plant has not operated we think we have private to sell the power to make since 2003. The Kinzua as well as some Forest things work. “When they sawmill closed at the site in Service” fuel to use. “We feel they have a handle on 1998, and the Port of Mor don't w ant to be unrealistic, the fuel they will be able to row acquired the property but we are looking at every move forward," said Neal. shortly thereafter. Getting geared up for fair Morrow County Fair & Rodeo underway this week The 1949 Fair and Kodeo Court gets together again in 1999 (right to left): Dorothy Wigles- worth Graham, Faye Cutsforth. Shirley Rugg. Betty Walker Edwards and Ingrid Hermen Crawford. she spent on the court all gether five years ago and By David Sykes those years ago Rugg said rode in the Morrow County W ith no local young women applying for the Fair & Rodeo Court this year, the 1949 court is com ing back together to pick up the slack. When 1949 Queen and local rancher Shirley Rugg heard there would be no court this year, she called the fair and offered the services of the court that reigned 60 years ago. "I like it,” say Rugg about coming back as a group. “It is our last hurrah,” she says with a smile. Recalling the time the five girls were “pleased as punch to represent our county and our town.” She said the girls were 16 to 18 years old. Among the rodeos and parades they attended were Round-up, and Elgin and Fossil ro deos. “We provided our own transportation for our selves and our horses,” she said. She remembers the girls going to a luncheon at the Catholic Parish Hall where they all introduced themselves. The court got to Heppner man indicted on sex abuse charges Morrow County Sheriff’s Office arrested Steve Clayton Rollis, 36, Heppner, on July 28 in Irrigon, on sex abuse charges. He was lodged at the Umatilla County Jail in Pendleton with SI00,000 bail. Rollis was indicted by a Morrow County Grand Jury on six counts of first degree sodomy, four counts of first degree sex abuse and two counts of incest. All are felony charges. The case continues to be under investigation by the Morrow County Sheriff’s Office. parade and also in the Pend leton Round-up parade. Rugg said the group had planned to get together this year to ride in the Morrow County parade, but when it was discovered there was no court this year, the group agreed to step in and assume the honorary court duties. The youngest of the group is 75 and Rugg herself is 80, but she is still going strong and rides on a regular basis working cattle for a local ranch. She said this may be the last year the court gets together. Rugg’s four prin cesses, Faye Cutsforth, Betty Walker Edwards, Ingrid Hermen Crawford and Dorothy Wiglesworth Graham, are coming from the Tri-Cities, Pendleton, Weiser and Sun City, AZ, respectively. When on the court, all the girls were from the Heppner area ex cept Dorothy Graham, who came from Echo. Patrick Collins, II, in his first year of sewing, speaks to 4-H sewing judge Darcy Tim mons, Milton-Freewater. Also pictured are brother Roy, five, sister Maggie, 13, mom Jeannie Collins and 4-H Superintendent Rita Bergstrom. Peggy Fishhurn. quilt superintendent klynn McNamee, 18 months, helps out her mother Kristi McNamee and her grandma Pam Worden, clothing co-superintendents on Tuesday at the fair. GREEN FEED & SEED IN HEPPNER: Super Fai r Week Specials! Purchase $35 or more of any Wrangler clothing & A ll M ontana Silversm ith Jewelrtj 2 5 % OFF get FREE ticket to Oregon Trail Pro Rodeo Morrow County Grain Growers Green Feed & Seed 242 W. Linden Way, Heppner • 676-9422 • 989-8221 (MCGG main office) Fair Secretary Ren'ee Yocom, right, with Kellie Nelson. Tim Nelson and Kevin Murray (right), pictured in the fair office Tuesday, prepare for a busy week.
