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
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íil
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DEADLINE FOR NEWS & ADVERTISING MONDAYS AT 5:00 PM