Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (June 5, 2013)
Heppner celebrates grads Bessie Wetzell Newspaper Library University of Oregon Eugene, OR 97403 5(K Above: I he Heppner School ('lavs of 2013 gath ers for one last photo before the big event last Saturday. Photo by Sandy Matthews Right: Proud new graduates Austin Gutierrez and Maggie Collins recess after the llep- pner High School commence ment ceremony at the high school on June 1, 2013. Photo by David Sykes Sage Center opens with ribbon cutting VOL. 132 N 0. 24 8 Pages Wednesday, June 5, 2013 Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon Despite May rain, moisture still down for year Despite higher-than- norm al rainfall for the month of May, precipita tion is still down by nearly four inches for the water year, according to NOAA’s National Weather Service in Pendleton OR. Precipitation totaled 1.93 inches during May, which was 0.27 inches above normal. Measurable precipitation of at least .01 inch was received on nine days with the heaviest, 0.53 inches, reported on May 28. Precipitation this year has reached 3.61 inches, which is 3.67 inches below normal. Since October, the water-year precipitation at Heppner has been 7.68 inches, which is 3.66 inches below normal. Temperatures in Hepp ner averaged slightly warm er than normal during the month of May. The average tempera ture was 56.8 degrees, 0.6 degrees above normal. High temperatures averaged 70 degrees, which was 1.3 degrees above nonna 1. The highest was 90 degrees on the 11,h. Low temperatures averaged 43.5 degrees, 0.1 degree below normal. The lowest was 28 degrees, on May 1. There was one day with the low temperature below 32 degrees. The outlook for June from NOAA’s Climate Pre diction Center calls for above-normal temperatures and below-normal precipi tation. Normal highs for Hep pner rise from 73 degrees at the start of June to 81 degrees at the end of June. Normal lows rise from 47 degrees to 51 degrees. The 30-year normal precipita tion is 1.38 inches. Oregon wolf case settled In the fall of 2011, Or egon Department o f Fish and W ildlife’s (ODFW) authority to take (lethally remove) wolves under the State Endangered Species Act was challenged by a temporary restraining order filed in the Oregon Court o f Appeals by Cascadia W ildlands,.Oregon Wild and the Center for Biologi cal Diversity. O ver the past year, these three organizations, ODFW and the Oregon C attlem en’s Association have been in talks to try to settle the case outside of court. The Center for Bio logical Diversity withdrew from these negotiations this past winter. Last week, according to a statement by the ODFW, the remaining parties agreed in principle to a combina tion of rule changes and leg islation that, once enacted, will moot the court case. The key changes to the current rules regarding le thal control of wolves are: -Before ODFW can use lethal control against wolves, it must confirm four Queen Krysten on the road for Morrow County Morrow County Fair and Rodeo Queen Krysten Powell represents Morrow County at the Spray Rodeo parade over Memorial Day weekend. She also participated in the rodeo's Grand F.ntry that Saturday. Powell is busy stay ins out and about, representing the county at regional events: she attended theArlington parade and Jackpot Rodeo on May ll.asw ellas the Adams Days’ parade in April. -Contributedphoto qualifying incidents within a six-month time frame (previously, it was two depredation incidents and no specific timeframe). -Requires the develop ment and public disclosure of wolf-livestock conflict deterrence plans that iden tify non-lethal measures for implementation by land- owners. -Requires that these non-lethal m easures be implemented prior to a dep redation for the depredation incident to count towards lethal control. -Puts in rule that any ODFW lethal control deci sion is valid for 45-days (previously the timeframe for an ODFW lethal control decision was not standard ized in rule; 45 days is consistent with what other western states have imple mented). The new tem porary rules are online at http:// w w w .d f w .s ta te .o r . u s/ OARs/l 10.pdf. The Fish and Wildlife Commission will be asked to make these rules permanent at their June 7 meeting in Tigard, OR. “ We are pleased the parties were able to come to an agreement,’’ said Ron Anglin, ODFW wildlife division administrator. “We look forward to finaliz ing both the rules and the legislation so the case can be fully settled and we can move forward on wolf conservation and manage ment.” ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE: MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M. Ribbon cutting at the now Sage Center at Boardman. (Left to right): Port of Morrow Manager Gary Neal; commissioners Jerry llealy, Joe Taylor, Don Russell and Marv Padherg; long-time commissioner Larry Lindsay, cutting the rihhon with the big pair of scissors; State Rep. Greg Smith; and Oregon State Sen. Bill Mansell. Photos by David Sykes The new Sage Center and Sustainable Agriculture and Energy center at Board- man held its grand opening Friday night, when more than 400 guests ate din ner and tried out the new interactive displays and exhibits. The Sage Center is an interactive visitor center that highlights sustainable agriculture and energy. De veloped by the Port of Mor row, the center gives visi tors a unique opportunity to learn about the technol ogy that takes place locally within the Port o f Morrow and the region without visit ing each industry. At 2 3 ,0 0 0 s q u a re feet, the center hosts a 13,000-square-foot, two- level exhibit space; 204- seat theatre; large catering kitchen; and store. In addition to serving as an interactive visitor center, Neil and Tina Livingston try out the interactive tractor driving at the Sage Center grand opening Friday. Neil is a member of the Boardman City C ouncil. Photos by David Sykes the Sage Center is available to be rented for fundraisers, winemaker dinners, civic and social gatherings, as well as school-related func tions. Friday was the grand opening, and visitors dined on barbecue and sipped beverages while various Port of Morrow members and politicians addressed the crowd. On the first open days of Saturday and Sunday, it was reported that the center averaged more than 600 visitors per day. Irrigon city manager named Aaron Palmquist has been named the new Ir rigon City Manager. He will begin his new position June 17. Palmquist, who cur rently lives in Bend, OR, holds a bachelor’s degree in management and com munication, and a master’s degree in business and pub lic administration; he has held previous positions as chief executive officer, chief financial officer, and city manager and recorder, among others. Palmquist replaces cur rent city manager Gerald Breazeale, who retires this month. Premium book now online The Morrow County Fair premium book is now available online for those who want to get a jump on planning for the centennial gon.com/county-fair/2013- fair Aug. 14-17. The book morrow-county-fair-premi- can be viewed online at um-book/. http://morrow countyord’- Celebrate Heppner June 14 This year's Celebrate The schedule has some- event. There will be the an- Heppner event will take thing for everyone at this -See CELEBRATE HEPP- place next Friday, June 14. year's Celebrate Heppner NEE'PAGE FOUR Tmj-Ckk gauge The world's best rain gauge Made in the USA Quality since 1875 $a\& $9.99 Morrow County Grain Growers Lexington 989-8221 • 1-800-452-7396 rorfinne<|iiipnMat.TMtonw«titt«atwww [
