Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (June 6, 2012)
Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon -Continuedfrom PAGE ONE through the Port o f Mor fellow senators. row for export down the river and on to the Far East. The project will provide employment and money to the local school district, as well as county taxes. “I am trying to get feed back,” Merkley said of the proposed coal-shipping plan. When asked if he knew of the large amount o f pub lic support that has been garnered around the area in favor of the coal-shipping project, Merkley said he was unaware o f the sup port, even though almost all regional city councils, county governments and other groups, as well as many individuals, have made their support for the project publicly known. About the sharp rise in gas prices, Merkley said it was not supply and demand that had caused prices to increase dramatically but, rather, speculators who don’t take end-use o f the oil, who are the ones to blame. He said jitters about the oil supply in the Middle East cause speculators to bid up the price of oil and that America must break its addiction to foreign oil. He said he favors new laws restricting the activity of speculators. One m em ber o f the crowd had especially strong words for Merkley and his Flower or noxious weed? A land scap e p lan t, Euphorbia myrsinites L., commonly known as creep ing spurge, donkey tail or myrtle spurge, is a concern in our area, according to the Soil and Water Conserva tion District (SWCD) and the Morrow County Weed Advisory Board. The plant’s native terri tory spreads from the Medi terranean region to Iran. It is a perennial succulent growing up to 15 inches tall with a 12-inch spread; it propagates by seed or divi sion of the plant. The plant has sulfur-yellow flowers in the spring and is used as ground cover. One concern with the plant is that it is slightly toxic. The sap can be very irritating, producing blisters on the skin. A local resident had a potentially serious allergic reaction over Me morial Day weekend when pulling the plant from the landscape. That’s why the SWCD recommends wear ing gloves when working around the plant. Heppner has several locations in which the plant is growing unchecked. A nother concern is that, in some areas of the country, it has escaped from cultivation and is consid ered a noxious weed. It is becoming a problem in Grant County and, report edly, its sale is forbidden in Colorado. The Weed A dvisory Board encourages garden ers to research plants before purchasing and adding them to their landscapes. - FIVE Local students receive FCS scholarships MERKLEY TOWN HALL and when the government spent the $800 billion it was just a drop in the bucket.” There were also sev eral issues brought up by members of the audience of which Merkley was un aware. On the national level, he was asked his opinion on why the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals was taking a $1 million vacation in Hawaii using taxpayer money. Al though the trip and cost have been widely reported in the media, Merkley said he was not aware of it. A woman in the crowd, who lives at Blakes Ranch, asked Merkley why a $7 billion company such as Chicago-based Invenergy needs tax breaks from the government to build the large 310-tower Willow Creek wind farm east of Heppner in the Freeze Out Ridge area. Merkley said he was unaware of the project, but did say that all formaof energy are subsidized, and that any energy we produce here in the US will offset imported energy. On other energy mat ters, Merkley, whose cam paigns are heavily support ed by contributions from environmental groups, said he had not yet made up his mind on the Ambre Energy plan to ship large amounts o f coal from W yoming Wednesday, June 6,2012 Jack Melligan of Hepp “ Your approval ra t ner praised Merkley for vot- ing in the senate from the American people is 9.3 per íi^an^M erkleyagreed was cent,” said Sam Hombeck a tremendous loss of liberty. of Heppner. “If you were allowing the government to working for a business, you arrest and hold Americans would be fired. without the due process “You people have lost of law. “If the president or his control of the government,” Hombeck added, pointing agents say that you are a out, as an exam ple, the terrorist, then the govern scandals with the G ov ment can strip you of your ernment Services Agency, due process rights. It is an which spent $800,000 on outrageous assault on our a lavish Las Vegas confer rights,” Merkley said when ence. “What is going on explaining the approved legislation. He sited the with this government?” Hombeck said the fed example of a man in Port eral governm ent should land, an American citizen, give education back to the who was falsely accused of states and do away with being a terrorist. The FBI the federal Fish and Wild took away his due process life Department, which is rights. The man was later dumping wolves onto the exonerated. The first questioning population and damaging their animal herds. Merk at the town hall was kicked ley did not respond to any off by a question from a of the comments, and only student. Shadow Kendrick, said some of his fellow sen whose brother had earlier ators had quit holding town died of an unexpected heart halls because of the strong attack, asked Merkley “how feedback from constituents. can we have more reliable, Merkley said, however, that affordable health care?” he has not stopped holding Merkley, who had been town hall meetings. a strong supporter of Obam- Merkley received praise aCare, did not mention the from one audience member health-care bill in his an for voting against the Na swer, but did say more pre tional Defense Authoriza ventive measures was the tion Act, which was passed key to better health care. He by the Senate 92-7, and said community health-care signed into law by President clinics would make health Obama. care more affordable. Northwest FCS dWürds $80,500 in scholarships Three local students were among those selected for Northwest Farm Credit Services 2012 scholarships, the organization announced last week. Mary Reit- mann was a high school scholarship re cip ien t, Brett Har rison was Mary a co lle g e Keitmann scholarship recipient and Natalie Rauch of Lexington was a regional winner. F o rty -fiv e $ 1 ,5 0 0 scholarships were given to sons and daughters of Northwest FCS custom ers in Idaho, M ontana, Oregon, Washington and Alaska; eight high school students and three college students from each state were awarded the $1,500 scholarships. Regional win ners were awarded $250. Mary Reitmann is the daughter of Joe and Donna Rietmann of lone. She was the volleyball and basket ball captain, president of the National Honor So- ciety, lone student body and Spanish Club, and an elementary school teach ing assistant. She plans on attending Oregon State University to study human developm ent and early childhood education. She hopes to be an elementary school teacher. Brett Harrison is from Lexington and is the son of Travis and Kristen Har rison. He attends Oregon State U niversity where he studies agricultur al business manage ment and h o p e s to pursue a ca Brett reer in Ag Harrison finance. He grew up on his family’s fourth-genera tion wheat and alfalfa farm. Harrison has been involved in many leadership roles in his FFA and 4-H clubs and high school ASB. Har rison was also chosen for the Heppner Chamber of Commerce Youth o f the Year Award. Rankin graduates Local groups receive from Harvard Jennifer Rankin o f Heppner participated in com mencement exercises at Harvard University on May 17, Wildhorse grants 2012. Rankin is the daughter of Tim and Kathy Rankin The lone Topic Club and Morrow County Health Department were among 42 recipients of Wildhorse Foundation grartts given out on May 9 for the first quarter of 2012. The lone Topic Club received $5,000 to purchase three computers along with supporting accessories— printer, bar code scanner and dual-performance rout er and necessary furniture to display and use new equipment— for the lone Public Library. The Morrow County Health Department received $ 10,000 toward the remodel of its Boardman office. A total of $221,335 was awarded to the 42 organiza tions for the first quarter, bringing the total since the foundation began in 2001 to well over $5.9 million. The Wildhorse Foun dation, a community ben efit fund established by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reserva tion (CTUIR) as a result o f its gaming operation, hosted their annual recipi ents! Wednesday, May 9, in Cayuse Hall at Wildhorse Resort and Casino- Quarterly deadlines for requests are April 1, July 1, October 1 and January 1. For more information on Wildhorse Foundation guidelines or to receive an application, call foun dation administrator Tiah DeGroffl at 541-966-1628 or visit www.wildhorsere- sort.com. of Heppner. She graduated from Harvard with a master’s degree in political science. Get ready to celebrate Heppner Celebrate Heppner is for adults at Community this Friday, June 8. This Bank. Quality Concessions year’s event will include also will be open on Friday the annual local merchant morning after 9 a.m. sidewalk sales, as well as Event-goers will also special sales and events have a new opportunity this going on inside some busi year to check out all of the nesses. vendors who will be set up Some special features throughout the downtown include children’s games; during this year’s commu small dog races; free cup of nity flea market/crafts fair Starbuck’s Coffee at Hep and fundraisers. Flea mar- pner Family Foods; shaved ket/craft fair participants ice at Murray Drugs; “Red will be setting up in front and Blue River Beverage” of available businesses on sponsored by The Stable Main Street. of Youth (in front of Hair The Bank o f Eastern I Am); basketball compe Oregon will once again be titions on Willow Street sponsoring a community between Murray’s and Ar hamburger/hot dog barbe tisan Village, sponsored by cue meal from 11:30 a.m. - the Willow Creek Baptist 1:30 p.m. in the AmeriTitle Church youth group; mini parking lot. Robert Wiley, 50, after the carnival and face painting See the fu ll schedule on Dec. 28, 2011 assault, ac for kids and a prize wheel PAGE ONE. cording to, Lt. Gregg Hast ings of the OSP. The investigation led to Wiley’s indictment by a grand jury on charges of attempted murder, first- degree assault and unlawful Willow Creek Water Park in Heppner will open for the use of a weapon, according season this Saturday, June 9, from 1 p.m. until midnight. to the Washington County After that, hours of operation will be Sunday, 1-5 p.m. DA’s office. and Monday through Saturday, 1-8 p.m. Call 541-676- Crum prison Bunco for Relay for assailant indicted The inmate who as Life saulted local man Steven A Bunco fundraiser to benefit Relay for Life will be held Thursday, June 14, at 6 p.m. at the lone Legion Hall. Entry fee is $ 10 per person; participants are also asked to bring a $5 gift for raffle that night. For more information, contact Becky Sparks at 541- 676-5131, Sharon Rietmann at 541 -422-7437 or Taranna Patton at 541 -422-7317. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available and that help Is FREE of charge. If Y O U have a fam ily m em ber w ho suffers from gambling addiction, Y O U can also receive F R E E tre a t m ent even if the g am b ler is not receiving treatm ent. If you are a resident of M orrow County and you wish to take ad vantage of the services ab o v e or desire m ore information. P lease call any of the following num bers to set up a LO C A L appointm ent or just to talk: Bobby Harris @ 5 4 1 -6 7 6 -9 9 2 5 or 5 4 1 -2 5 6 -0 1 7 5 Community Counseling Solutions (CCS) @ 541-676-9161 O R 1 -8 7 7 -6 9 5 -4 6 4 8 (1 -8 8 8 -M Y L IM IT ) Are you Crum in prison has been accused of attempted mur der in connection with the incident. The alleged assault occurred w hile the two men were lodged at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility. Oregon State Police detec tives investigated James 5752 for more information, including costs and swimming lesson schedules. The opening date and hours of operation for the lone Christian Life Center den tomato soup, broccoli members will serve lunch salad and strawberry pud pool have not been finalized; check future editions for on Wed., June 13, at St. ding. Menu is subject to more information. change. Patrick’s Senior Center. The meal will include tuna salad sandwiches, gar- Community lunch menu Call BEO Mortgage Division for all your home loan needs. Then, sit back & relax. hungry? Morrow / Grant O H V park would like to welcome Harsh and Patty to The Landing. They will cook a variety o f meals. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Closed on Tuesday. Please take a little time in the Blue Mountains in The Landing and welcome the Harshes. 35 miles south o f Heppner on Highway 207. Coming from Spray, North on 207. I Heppner pool opens Saturday \ Arietta Arnspiger N M LS #508276 Mortgage Lending Manager ■ Purchase ■ Refinance ■ Construction Loans BEO Mortgage Division - 1-877-472-6217 www.beobank.com (You can also apply online.) Bank o f ] íil m DEADLINE FOR NEWS & ADVERTISING MONDAYS AT 5:00 PM
