Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 7, 2013)
N ew food processing plants exem pt from B M C C bond levy Bessie Wetzell Newspaper Library University of Oregon Eugene, OR 97403 VOL. 132 N 0. 32 10 Pages By David Sykes L a m b W e s t o n is in the middle o f a $211 million potato-processing expansion, and Tillamook C h e e s e is b u i l d i n g a new $90 m illion w h e y Wednesday, August 7, 2013 Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon processing facility, both at the Port o f Morrow in Boardman. However, these new expansions are in the Columbia River Enterprise Zone (CREZ), and therefore exempt from a proposed 15- year, $28.1 million Blue M o u n ta i n C o m m u n it y By April Sykes lone School S u p e r i n t e n d e n t M a rk Mulvihill told the lone S ch o o l B o ard th a t Morrow County School S u p e r i n t e n d e n t D ir k Dirksen has asked him to h e lp d i s c o v e r w hy B o a rd m a n s c h o o ls are losing student? to lone. M ulvihill disclosed the inquiry at the lone School Board at a work session July 30, p rio r to th e ir regular meeting. M u lv i h i ll sa id th e Intermountain Education Service District (formerly th e U m a t i l l a M o rr o w ESD), of which he is also superintendent, has found that only four p e rc e n t o f B o a rd m a n s tu d e n ts attending Morrow County Schools have transferred to lone, a number that he does not consider significant. “I don't really think you have much of a problem,” he said. “There are some kids coming to lone, but not an alarming number.” He presented information showing that educational data between ir r ig a t e d A g c e n te r in H e rm isto n and a f o o d p ro c e s s in g jo b training center in Boardman, which w o u ld train w o rk e rs to o p e ra te th e new f o o d processing facilities. (See -See NO BMCC BOND FOR PLANTS/PAOE THREE Lamb Weston has started construction on its new frozen potato facility at the Port of Morrow in Boardman. The investment w ill add a new line to the plant and increase its capacity for making french fries and other frozen products. The expansion is expected to create approximately 100 new jobs. lon e School Board discusses transfers of M orrow County students to lone Newly elected board members (L-R) Bill Jepsen, Ann M orter and Lisa Kietmann with Superintendent Mark Mulvihill. Photo by April Sykes College bond levy set to go in front o f voters for approval in November. if approved, the levy would be used to fund a major BMCC infrastructure upgrade, including a new animal science center in P e ndleton, a prec isio n - BMCC to seek $28 million bond levy approval Boardm an schools and lone C om m un i t y School demonstrates very similar educational results and stressed the value o f cooperation and collaboration between the districts. Board m em ber Bink Ramos pointed out that he believed that Boardman schools may also be losing students to the Arlington School District and objected to time spent investigating what he believed was only a Morrow County School District issue. N ew ly-hir ed lone School District Principal S a rah C r a n e - S im p s o n , p ro v id i n g her first p r in c i p a l ’s report, said that she hoped to create a dialogue between ISD an d s t u d e n t s wh o are entering and exiting the district and their parents for better communication and transition between the districts. Louis Carlson of Heppner discusses the upcoming BMCC capital improvement bond levy at a meeting of Friends of BMCC held recently in Heppner. The levy will go before voters for approval in November. -Photo by David Sykes By David Sykes Bl ue Mount a i n Community College will ask voters in Novem ber to approve a $28.1 million bond levy for upgrades and rehabilitation to its Pendleton campus, as well as the ad d itio n o f new fa c ilitie s in H e rm isto n and Boardman. A group -See I ONE SCHOOL o f college officials and BOARD/PAGE FOUR Friends of BMCC came to Heppner recently to explain the proposed expansion and upgrade levy. If approved by voters, the bond levy will replace B M C C ’s c u rre n t bond, which expires in June 2014, at the same tax rate ($0.31 per $1,000). The new levy will raise approximately $28.1 million to support -See BMCC BOND/PAGE THREE Relay for Life ‘Successful More hot weather on the way Rainfall still short for year; predictions call fo r in every way,’ planners say above-normal temperatures fo r August Anticipate exceeding $25,000 mark According to preliminary data received by NOAA’s National Weather Service in Pendleton, OR, temperatures at Heppner a v e ra g e d . wa r me r t han normal during the month of July. The average temperature was 73 degrees which was 3.2 degrees above normal. High temperatures a v e ra g e d 90.7 degrees, which was 5 degrees above normal. The highest was 101 degrees on the 3rd. Low temperatures averaged 55.2 degrees, which was 1.3 degrees above normal. The lowest was 45 degrees, on the 13th. O n 17 d a y s , t h e temperature exceeded 90 degrees. It was at least 100 degrees on one day. Precipitation totaled 0.00 inches during July, whi c h was 0.33 inches below normal. Precipitation this year has reached 5.54 inches, which is 3.45 inches below normal. Since October, the water year precipitation -See HOT AUGUST ON THE WAY/PAGE TWO Special fair section in this week’s Gazette-Times A s p e c i a l 2 8 - p a g e Heppner Gazette-Times, and other information about Fair and Rodeo section T h e s e c t i o n c o n t a i n s the u p c o mi n g M o rro w The Morrow County Relay for Life, though a poignant reminder of loved one* lost in the fight is included in this week’s articles, interviews, photos County Fair and Rodeo. against cancer, also had fun activities, with themed laps and special events to brighten the long hours. Pictured: Representatives from the participating teams show off their spirit during the “Superhero” dress-up lap. -Contributedphoto T he 2013 M o rro w County Relay for Life, held Aug. 3-4 at the Morrow County Fairgrounds, was truly su c c e s s fu l, event planners say. “It started with a great com m ittee who worked endlessly together, getting sponsors, and teams being . put together and having fundraisers and working toward a successful event.” says H e ppner C ham ber o f Com m erce Executive Director Sheryll Bates. Activities were planned for every lap, along with recognition o f survivors and caregivers and a special ( dinner served for all who could j o in in. A silent auction was held, teams had fundraisers, individuals walked lap after lap after lap until the last song was played to remind them why they were there. 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