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. They were
-See RELAY FOR LIFE/
PAGE TWO
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H arvest hours over
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S aturday 7 am -N oonklosed SUNDAYS)
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