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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)
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