Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (May 23, 2012)
TEN- Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, May 23,2012 Ford Leadership project starts from the ground up This past week was a busy one for the Ford Leadership team and other volunteers as the parts for the covered picnic shelter were delivered, the holes for the posts were dug, the posts set up and the picnic shelter begun, one board at a time. Although the build ing itself isn’t completely finished yet, much was accomplished during the work days. Once the shelter is done, a cement floor and electrical wiring will be added. The Ford Leadership team and many volunteers are excited about comple tion of this project; check for further updates on a “groundbreaking” ceremo ny and celebration. Above: Volunteers Ross Cutsforth, Greg Close, Kai Arbogast and John Flaherty help erect some of the first posts for the new picnic shelter. Left: Thanks to the hard work of the Ford Leadership team and many other volunteers, the new picnic shelter at the fairgrounds is starting to show a more finished look. -Contributed photos Hardman Cemetery work party held On a recent, balmy Sunday afternoon, several members of the Heppner Odd Fellows Lodge held a work party at the his toric Hardman Cemetery in preparation for Memorial Day weekend. Lawn mowers, weed eaters and tractors with bush-hog mowers moved- in and, in short order, had the cemetery looking ship shape. Volunteers donat ing their time, equipment and fuel were Frank Os- min, Butch Laughlin, A1 Riney, Randall Peterson, Corey Sweeney, Wayne Rollis, Bob Jepsen and Tom Wolff. The Hardman C em etery is under the care and maintenance of Heppner Willow Lodge #66 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has graves dating from 1892 to the present. Several century- old grave stones have very Some Odd Fellows hard at work during their recent work day at the Hardman Cemetery, cleaning the grounds in preparation for Memorial Day. -Contributedphoto decorative and unusual P*oneer families interred inscriptions, with many there. k A pathway to jobs. An investment in rural counties. the Morrow ■Pacific project Get to know our exchange students As a continuation o f last week’s feature on our local exchange students, here are a few more. K atharina Bahl K atharina B ahl, or “Katie,” is a 16-year- old student in the j u nior class at H ep pner High atharina School. K Bahl (Katie) She is from F re m d in - gen, Germany and is being hosted by Melba Folcko- mer. What do you think o f Hep pner? “Small but great. Peo ple here are so nice, and ev erybody knows everybody. Everybody says hello, when you want to cross the street, cars stop for you. It was not too hard; my town is only this big, too.” How has the experience been for you? “ G re a t; 1 love the American lifestyle because you have so much opportu nity. The people are more open than in Germany. 1 love the food, my (host) family, America.” What was the most difficult thing about this experi ence? “ The most difficult thing is to leave here. I don’t want to go.” What did you like best? “Food. School, because its like the movies. People, lifestyle, everything. It’s great to have a chance to get these relationships. It’s the best time 1 ever had.” Shan Shan Chen Shan Shan Chen, or “Kama,” is another of Mel ba Folckomer’s family of exchange students. The 17-year-old is also in the junior class at H H S, but comes from Cheng Z h o u , Henan p ro v in c e . C h i n a . Working for jobs and the environment While she likes the food, she isn't as enthusiastic about Ameri can food as Katie is. “I would open a Chinese res taurant here,” she says. What do you think o f Hep pner? “Small. My city is not super big, but even in my school we have 6,000 peo ple.” How has the experience been fo r you? As the Morrow Pacific project continues to move forward through the approval process, we continue to hold to our com mitm ent to doing business the Oregon way. That includes supporting the economy and the environment. Creating New Jobs A recent study by ECONorthwest, a highly regarded independent firm, CRYSTAL APPLE concluded that the Morrow Pacific project will create more than 2,100 construction jobs and more than 1,000 permanent jobs - including -Continued from PAGE ONE trict. Each year, the IMESD, along with local school districts, honors teachers and other education staff for their dedication and commitment to students, as well as their abilities to go above and beyond the call of duty in their schools. Nominations are submitted over a two-month period by administrators, coworkers, parents, students and com munity members. Winners are selected from these nominees by school district office administration. The Crystal Apple honorées will receive their apples during a special ceremony May 23 at the Pendleton Red Lion Ballroom. “ The C rystal Apple workers directly employed by Morrow Pacific, jobs created at other companies and jobs in other sectors created by the infusion of new wages in the economy. These jobs will make an important difference to Oregon, especially in Morrow and Columbia counties. Taking Care of the Environment Safeguarding the environment is equally important. The Morrow Pacific project has been designed to meet all environmental standards - for example, by relying on covered barges to move coal downriver and by eliminating or minimizing coal dust at every stage. Currently, the Army Corps of Engineers is coordinating an enhanced environmental assessment to ensure the project meets all air and water quality standards while protecting fish and wildlife habitat. Over the past several months, thousands of Oregonians submitted written comments to the Corps supporting the Morrow Pacific project for the fundamental reason that the project creates jobs while protecting the environment. Thank You for Your Support We thank all of those who have already expressed their support. We encourage you to learn more - and to continue to show your support Morrow Pacific Project Fact: 1 Awards are a way for the IMESD and our local school districts to show their ap preciation for staff who have shined over the past year,” said Casey White, di rector of the Crystal Apple Awards program. “We often take for granted the work our education employees do each day, so it’s nice to take time to really recognize those special people who really make a difference in our schools.” The C ry stal Appl e Awards are sponsored by the IMESD, Mid Colum bia Bus Company, Bank of Eastern Oregon, KUMA and KWRL radio, First Community Credit Union, Red Lion Hotel, Rotary Club of Pendleton and St. Anthony Hospital. lone library district to meet for jobs and the environment at www.morrowpacific.com. ■ Th« Morrow Pacific project represents a $246 million investment in Oregon. The project will pay property taxes and port fees in Morrow County and has not asked for any kind of tax breaks. Shan Shan Chen (Kama) “Great. It’s completely different. People are so friendly. Everyone will help you if you have a problem, even if they don’t know you. The w eather is so good. The air is fresh; you can see blue sky.” What was the most difficult thing about this experi ence? “ The language. My English was so terrible when I came here, but it is getting better.” What did you like best? “The weather and the lifestyle schedule. In my high school we need to go to school 6-1/2 days. Here 1 get more time to do the things I like. Here is more relaxed. We have an awesome time with our family.” Patricia Nagy P a tr ic ia N ag y , or “ P atti,” is a 17-year- o ld from Eger, Hun gary. She is hosted by A lvin and Linda Liu, Patricia Nagy and studies (Patt‘) in the j u nior class at HHS. What do you think o f Hep pner? “Small, but I love it because it is like a farm. My grandpa has a farm; I spent my childhood in a small town. I love horses, and here there are a lot of horses. The people are so friendly.” How has the experience been for you? “Great, a dream come true. I’m glad I’m here. I don’t’ want to go home.” What was the most difficult thing about this experi ence? “The language. Also, in Alvin’s house, there is both American and Chinese cul ture. It’s good to experience both, I think.” W hat d id yo u tike best? “Everything. The prom. It’s like the movies. The food. It’s so good, 1 can’t stop eating. “I want to thank Alvin and the Liu family for ev erything. It was an amazing experience and I love them so much. They are going to be in my heart always.” Next w eek’s edition will wrap up our exchange student features with con versations with Hyun Jun Kim (Jake), Dominika Sen- kerikova and Jorge Gomez Perrusquia. ambreenergy i The lone Library District will hold its regular monthly meeting on Thursday, May 24, at 2 p.m. at the lone Public Library (385 W. Second Street). Agenda items include: Passage of permanent tax levy, appointment of budget committee members, budget preparation for 2012-13, interim financing for the district and and regular business of the district. The public is welcome to attend the meeting. )
