Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 29, 2010)
11 1 1 11 1 1 • I ■ I 111 11 • • 1111•1111 1 I Bessie Wetzell Newspaper Library University of Oregon Eugene, OR 97403 Sheriff’s department sets up own parole and probation department By David Sykes The M orrow County S h eriff’s D epart ment has taken over parole and probation duties from Umatilla County and two local officers will now be handling the duties. Sheriff Ken Matlack recently an- nounced. Dan Robbins has been hired as community corrections supervisor and Deputy John Bowles has been m oved from patrol officer to also s ta ff the position. M orrow C ounty currently has 58 to 60 peo ple on parole or post prison supervision, and Matlack says the new department will allow for better moni toring o f these peo p le’s behavior and activities. “ We want to con trol behavior so people do not engage in bad behav ior,” Matlack said of people who come out o f prison or are on probation in the county. He said previously these duties were handled through an agreement with the Umatilla County Sher iff’s Department. “A couple o f years ago we began to Dan Robbins (left) has been hired as the new Community Cor rections Supervisor in Morrow County. Former patrol deputy John Bowles w ill be assisting him. Photo by David Sykes think about setting up our own department, because we want to do what is best for the people o f Morrow County,” Matlack said. He said much o f the money to fund the new department will come from the state, money that was flowing to Umatilla County, however there will be some expense to the county as the state money does not cover the entire budget. “We want to create a program just for Morrow County,” he said. “One that is just for Morrow County offenders. M atlack said one -See PAROLE & PROBA TION/Page SIX lone Education Foundation holds eighth annual dinner and auction By David Sykes VOL. 129 NO. 39 8 Pages Wednesday, September 29, 2010 Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon Decision on Boardman coal plant future near ‘We are up to bat’, PGE official tells Chamber of Commerce By David Sykes “ We h a v e b e e n working with the DEQ (De partment o f Environmental Quality) for four and a half years to get resolution on the Boardman plant. We are now in the final phase and up to bat,” Wendy Buck, Governm ent Affairs offi cer with Portland General Electric, told the Heppner Chamber o f Commerce last week. Currently DEQ has proposed three options on when and how to close the Boardman plant, and none of them are workable, Buck said. She said P ortland G en eral E lectric (PG E ) has submitted a third 2020 plan that would have the com pany install state o f the art low pollution burn ers, use lower sulfur coal and would end operation at the plant in 2020, 20 years ahead of the plants normal life span. DEQ has rejected the PGE 2020 plan and has three op tions o f its own. A 2015 (w hich w ould close the plant in 2015) is costly to custom ers, does not allow enough tim e to find replacement Wcndv Buck, Government Affairs offi power, and does cer with Portland General Electric, told not provide ad the Heppner Chamber of Commerce last equate transition week that a decision on when coal plant time for employ will close is near. Photo by David Sykes ees, Buck said. A 2018 plan pro additional $100 million in posed by DEQ w ill not controls, she said The 2020 plan pro work because it will require posed by DEQ is too costly installation o f unproven for customers as it would technology at a cost of $ 100 cost about $267 m illion m illion and could create new pollutants forcing an -See COAL PLANT/Page SIX The lone E duca tional foundation held its eighth annual dinner and auction Saturday night. A large crowd enjoyed prime rib and salmon dinner fol low ed by the auction to raise money for the foun dation. D u rin g the d in ner Marvin Padberg pre sented H ow ard M ullins w ith an engraved watch in appreciation for Mul- lin’s eight years o f service on the Foundation Board. In addition to the m any items for auction the Foun dation was also presented w ith a $40,000 check from 2M orrow Energy, LLC. 2Morrow operates a wind farm in the lone area. “On behalf o f 2Morrow Energy, LLC, Gamesa Energy USA and our wind project land- owners, we are happy to make this $40,000 donation in support of the lone Com munity School, its staff and its students. We recognize that donations from the community have made the Gazette-Times Trophy Corner lone Commu nity School the model o f suc cess it is today. Our donation, in conjunction with those of other commu nity members, will help the Foundation c o n tin u e its good w o rk ,” A n d r e w Top Photo: Jordan Beni rose directs the lone O ’C o n n e l l , Community School choir. 2Morrow En Bottom Photo: Howard Mullins received ergy Manager an engraved watch for his eight years of service on the hoard of directors. -Photos said after pre- by David Sykes s e n t i n g t he check. Entertainment was rected by newly hired music provided by the lone Com- teacher Jordan Bemrose. m unity School choir di- Health district receives clean audit By April Sykes The Morrow Coun ty Health District received a clean audit from its ac counting firm, W1PFL1, at a regular meeting held Mon day night in Boardman. CPA Konrad Capel- ler with W1PFL1, formerly the accounting firm of Mike Bell and Company, told the board that the firm gave the district an “unqualified opinion” and discovered “no significant issues” with the district’s controls. He said the “district is one of the most efficiently run” that his company has dealt w ith. H ow ever C apeller did caut i on the district against having its c h ie f financial officer continue to sign checks for the dis trict, which is the current practice. Board m em ber Li nda LaRue caut i oned m anagem ent concerning the practice and commented that even the practice o f having two check signers does not adequately protect the district. As per the audit, MCHD had $5,046,955 in total assets and $3,093,080 in total liabilities for total net assets in the am ount o f $1,953,875 for 2010, com pared to $1,753,080 in net assets for 2009 and $2,140,235 for 2008. The district had $6,095,889 in total oper ating revenues for 2010, com pared to $5,671,798 for 2009 and $5,143,907 for 2008. Salaries and ben efits were up over $200,000 compared to last year and over $800,000 from 2008. Total operating expenses for 2010 were $7,059,017, up from $6,766,853 last year and $5,927,481 the year before. The district had an operating loss, be- -See HEALTH DISTRICTV Page SIX Top Left Photo: Logan Grieh of Heppner recently caught this Chinook and 35”, 15 pound steelhead in the Columbia River off the mouth of the Deschutes River over this past weekend. Bottom Left Photo: Kevin Murray of Heppner shot his first elk w ith a how, a live-point, on Saturday, September 25. Right Photo: Timothy F.mmel hooked into a 25 pound, 36- City officials have asked citizens to keep their inch, C hinook salmon w hile fishing on the Columbia River on eyes open for vandalism at the Heppner City Park. Ap September 12. Fmmel is a high school student at lone School. parently someone has been breaking the tops of the picket - Contributed Photos Citizens asked to watch for vandalism at park fence posts at the park. If anyone observ es this behavior they are being asked to please call city hall or the sheriff's department. The Heppner Gazette- Times wants to see pictures o f your trophy animals from this hunting season. Stop hy to have your picture taken, drop off photos, or email them to editor@rapidserve. net. GREEN FEED & SEED IN HEPPNER: DANNER 0 1 5 % GEORGIA BOOTS O F F M orrow County Grain Growers Green Feed & S eed 242 W. Linden Way. Heppner • 676-9422 • 989-8221 (toCGG main office) 0
