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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 26, 2012)
SIX - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, September 26,2012 BUTTERCREEK WIND FARM -Continued from PAGE ONE interested in developing the wind farm project in an ef fort to get a foothold in the United States wind turbine business. Its subsidiary, the Sany Corp., makes wind towers and needs to dem onstrate the reliability of its Chinese-made turbines to further procure turbine sales in the US. “Ralls will not even own the windfarms when they are operational, be cause of the planned resale of the projects,” the com pany says. “Frankly, the sugges tion that Ralls would ac quire the windfarm projects for espionage or for other purposes inimical to nation al security strikes Ralls and its counsel as not credible.” the court filing said. There is a possibility the project could move for ward with different wind turbines, possibly General Electric or Vestas-type tur bines; however, CFIUS has reportedly not given its okay on this proposal. Ralls and Sany said in court documents they are only interested in gaining a foothold for their turbines sales in the US. “At the outset, it is im portant to understand why, while Ralls and Sany are formally separate and in dependent entities, due to their affiliations described above, it is necessary that Ralls act as a development arm, in effect, for Sany Electric turbines. Although Sany is a large private com pany, Sany Electric—the subsidiary that manufac tures wind turbines— is small. Before it can expect to gain a meaningful foot hold in the U.S. market, it will need to show to large- scale purchasers— such as utilities and large wind developers—that the Sany Electric turbines produce energy efficiently and are reliable. In short, the tur bines need to have what is known in the industry as ‘run-time,’ i.e., a sufficient period of operating expe rience that Sany Electric can point to show that its equipm ent will operate reliably for the long-term,” company lawyers said in their court documents. The ownership of Ralls and Sany Corporations are intertwined between two Chinese citizens. Dawei Duan owns 80 percent of the outstanding stock o f Ralls, and Jialing Wu owns 20 percent of the issued and outstanding stock of Ralls. They are both directors of Ralls, and Wu is the CEO of Ralls. Duan is also the CFO of Sany, and a vice president of Sany Heavy In dustries, a publicly-traded Chinese company that is majorit-owned by Sany. Wu is a vice president of Sany, and also the general manager of Sany Electric, a wholly-owned Chinese subsidiary o f Sany. Sany Electric is the maker of the wind turbines. County Court news The Morrow County Court met at the OHV Park on Sept. 19 with Judge Tail- man and Commissioners Grieb and Rea in atten dance. The court review ed and approved the minutes of the August 30 meeting with Senator Wyden’s staff, and the July 25 and Sept. 12 court m eetings. The court also reviewed and approved the account pay ables in the net total amount of $169,079.33. The court reviewed the cash balance activity for the week of Sept. 17,2012 thru Sept. 23, 2012. The report indicates that, at this point, the county is ahead of last year’s cash balance by $262,924. Road R ep o rt: Pub lic Works Director Burke O ’Brien reported that the work on Bunker Hill and Clark’s Canyon was com ing along well. The crew will be attending Flagging Training on Thursday. On the recom m endation o f the Department, the court reviewed and approved util ity Permit No. OJJ between Columbia Basin Electric Co-op and the county for the installation of an over head line about 1.2 miles south of Social Ridge Road. The service is for a stock water pump. There was a general discussion regard ing trading the D-8 Cat that has been used in the rock pits for a D-6 Cat with blade and ripper. The smaller trac tor would be easier to trans port for snow plowing and could be used on the Bomb ing Range Road project as well as many other future projects. O ’Brien was told to continue looking into the trade agreement. Sheriff’s Association C o llectiv e B arg a in in g Agreement: The court re viewed and signed the Col lective Bargaining Agree ment between the county and the Teamster Union. Employee’s retro pay will be calculated and sent to the employees in a reasonable time after the Union and the Local Union President have signed and fully executed the agreement. The court conducted the follow ing business: At the request o f Steve Myren, the court authorized Sgt. Rayburn to exceed the vacation accrual cap until Oct. 31, 2012. At that time, he must be back in compliance. The court ap pointed Dean Robinson to the Wolf Depredation Advisory Com m ittee as a coexistence proponent. The court appointed Com missioner Rea and County Assessor Greg Sweek to the Strategic Investment Program negotiating com mittee for the “Frog” SIP agreement. Various correspondenc es and upcoming meeting notices were reviewed and discussed. The m eeting adjourned for lunch and a tour o f the OHV Park. The tour lasted longer than expected, so the long-range planning workshop was rescheduled. This inform ation is p ro v id ed by C o m m is sioner Leann Rea; anyone who would like to receive County Court minutes can contact Karen Wolff at 541 - 676-5620. Youth group holds fundraiser The Heppner ecumeni o f a new air conditioner cal youth group is raising for Ron and Beverly Howe funds toward the purchase for their H ow e's About Pizza business in Heppner. " N The project will be ongo ing until enough funds are raised. October 1 - Irrigon Senior Center-11 am -11:30 am A nyone who would October 2 - Boardman Senior Center - 11 am-11:30 am like to donate to this out October 3 - Heppner Senior Center 10:30 am -2:00 pm reach project may con -lone Fire Hall 4:30 pm - 7:00 pm tact youth group leaders Flu s h o ts a re a ls o a v a ila b le a t a ll r e g u la r Robanai Disque at 541- im m u n iz a t io n c lin ic s : 989-8535, Vicki Rayburn Mondays Ik Tuesdays-- Boardman at 541-240-1427 or Shelli ^__________ Thursdays- Heppner Britt at 541-676-5478. F lu C linics Heppner’s scenic bikeway holds inaugural ride Inaugural ride sees Blue Mountain Century Scenic Bikeway from dream to reality Heppner’s Blue Moun tain Century Scenic Bike way became a reality last weekend when the first riders took an inaugural ride along the route. The ride marked the culm ination o f several years of efforts to make the route a reality. In 2009, Tom Mafera, previous District Ranger for Heppner Ranger District, was part of a dis cussion at that year’s Cycle Oregon, where he and other riders talked about an op portunity to develop and Evan Mackenzie of Pendleton (front) and Robin Bredtield of promote designated scenic Heppner wheel along the bikeway during the inaugural ride last weekend. -Contributedphoto bikeways. These routes would be considered the logistical support and co bette and Ali), and motel best of the best bike rides ordination. and tent accommodations “We have a great team by Northwestern Motel and in Oregon. He expressed interest and took the lead in that has worked hard with RV Park and Willow Creek organizing a local commit the chamber to bring the RV Park. tee to propose a route within dream of the Blue Mountain A Saturday evening the Heppner area. He asked Century Scenic Bikeway to barbecue hosted by the the Heppner Chamber of fruition,” commented She- Iqcal bikeway committee Commerce to be the official ryll Bates. “This weekend was well received and gave proponent, with the role of we saw the dream become everyone a chance to get to working directly with the a reality, and it was so excit know each other and learn Oregon Parks and Recre ing to see all of the planning more about other new bike ation Department (OPRD), bring such success.” ways in Oregon that many while the committee would Bikew ay com m ittee o f the riders had already serve as more of an advisory members include Jay Gibbs, experienced. The inaugural Deb Gutierrez, John Ed- ride brought great visitors group to the chamber. With the help of many mundson, Todd Buchholz, who enjoyed the ambience people, the proposal for the Dr. Betsy Anderson, Jean of a small town. They said Blue M ountain Century Cassidy, Robin Bredfield they were impressed with Scenic Bikeway was com and Sheryll Bates. how clean and well-kept the The weekend’s event city of Heppner is and how pleted in early 2011 and sent to OPRD for consideration. started out with dinner and friendly the community is. The 109-m ile bikeway, an evening social at Hager Besides a few flat tires and a which crosses FS Road 53 Park on Friday night. The few drops of rain, the event from Heppner to Ukiah, riders hit the road bright was very successful and the travels north along High and early Saturday morning committee and riders are way 395, then west along with the option o f start already looking forward to Highway 74 back to Hepp ing in either Heppner or an even bigger and better ner, was selected for further Ukiah. Everyone enjoyed ride next year. review by the state bikeway pizza from Howe’s About “All community mem committee. Following a rig Pizza, boxed lunches pre bers are encouraged to join orous review process, it was pared by Heppner Family in the fun and keep the accepted as one of the Or Foods, breakfasts on both dream a reality...either as egon State scenic bikeways Saturday and Sunday by a rider or a volunteer or and officially designated in The Stable o f Youth (Bob- both,” said Bates. September 2011. The committee not only wanted to promote the new bikeway, but also celebrate the fact that it was officially “on the map.” The promo tion and celebration in cluded a two-day ride of the bikeway that was attended by a small group of riders invited from Pendleton, La Grande, Walla Walla, Ma dras, Prineville, Heppner and lone. As this was the inaugural group ride along the bikeway, the number (L-R): Tom Mafera, Chuck Hedges and Rie Hancock, all of of riders was intentionally Prineville, pause for a photo op during the day’s ride. -Con kept small to ensure good tributed photo OWGL fall workshops slated, grower input sought Oregon Wheat Growers League county presidents have begun preparations for their fall and winter work shops. All county events are free to wheat producers and OWGL members. Blake Rowe, Oregon Wheat CEO will provide an industry update at each meeting and engage grow ers in discussions on spe cific wheat issues in each region. FSA/NRCS/OSU updates will also be pro vided. Morrow County Presi dent Eric Orem has cho sen Nov. 1 for a growers workshop and dinner, in conjunction with Morrow County Grain G row ers’ annual meeting. HEPPNER LES SCHWAB CONGRATULATES HEPPNER HIGH SCHOOL'S HOMECOMING COURT! Junior Court- Mekayla Kindle, Samm Lemmon, Jeff Oowdy, and J C Putman _inior Court- Baily Bennel Gould, Emma Osmin, Aidan Wright, Stephen ThompsofLand Bryce Fowler. ÈH k s i i ì m » l /J i 124 NORTH MAIN STREET • HEPPNER OR 97836 541- 676-9481 f
