FO UR - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Walden urges changes to Blue HHS senior nominated for
Mountains Forest Plan
medical leaders congress
Walden writes to Forest Service about strong
concerns he heard at town hall meetings in
Eastern Oregon this month
U.S. Rep. Greg Walden
(R -H o o d R iv e r) has
written to the U.S. Forest
Service to urge changes
to the controversial Blue
M o u n ta in s F o rest Plan
re v is io n . At tow n hall
meetings in Eastern Oregon
this month, Walden heard
strong concerns from local
c o m m u n itie s that th eir
needs and w ishes w ere
ignored in this plan.
In a letter to Regional
F o r e s t e r J im P e rla ,
W a ld e n w r o t e , “ T h e
federally managed forests
th a t s p a n th ro u g h o u t
E astern O regon provide
significant economic and
cultural benefits to local
comm unities. In addition
to the economic value these
fo re sts hold, a c ce ssin g
and utilizing these lands
is a way o f life for area
residents. However, these
forests are in poor condition
and dire need o f proper
m a n a g e m e n t th a t w ill
restore forest health, reduce
catastrophic wildfire, and
sustain the econom ies in
these rural com m unities.
U nfortunately, it seem s
that this plan falls short
o f m eeting these needs
o f th e fo re s t a n d th e
communities.”
“ O ver the past year,
com m unities surrounded
by the Malheur, Umatilla
and W a llo w a-W h itm an
N a tio n a l F o re s ts have
expressed deep concerns
with the direction o f this
plan. At all o f my recent
to w n h a lls a n d o th e r
public m eetings in these
communities. I heard from
a variety of constituents and
local elected officials who
have found that this plan
not only fails to meet the
needs of their communities,
but also fails to achieve
the desired conditions for
the forest as well,” Walden
continued.
In c o n c lu d in g th e
letter, Walden urged the
agency to work with local
c o m m u n itie s to m ak e
changes to the plan, and
in v ite d th e R e g io n a l
F o r e s t e r to E a s t e r n
O re g o n to d is c u s s the
plan. “1 hope that you will
reassess the proposal and
engage w ith these local
com m unities to develop
a p la n th a t a c c u ra te ly
re fle c ts e x is tin g fo re st
co n d itio n s and o u tlin es
objectives that will reach
the needed environmental
and economic outcomes. I
look forward to having you
join me on the ground in
Eastern Oregon to discuss
this plan and other issues
on our National Forests that
so greatly impact Oregon’s
rural communities,” Walden
wrote.
E a rlie r th is m o n th ,
W a ld e n h e a rd s tr o n g
o p p o s itio n to the p lan
at tow n halls and other
public meetings in Harney,
G rant, U nion, U m atilla,
and Wallowa counties. For
exam ple, concerns have
been voiced that the plan
doesn’t provide adequate
tim ber production for the
region and fails to restore
forest health by allowing
a c tiv e m a n a g e m e n t on
more land. Last month, the
Eastern Oregon Counties
A ssociation unanim ously
rejected the proposed plan.
Erica Nelson, a senior
During the three-day
at Heppner High School, congress, Erica will join
has been nominated to at students from across the
tend the Congress of Future country and hear N obel
Medical Leaders
Laureates and
in W ashington,
National Med
DC on Nov. 14-
al o f Science
lb.
W inners ta lk
The c o n
about leading
gress is an hon-
m e d ic a l r e
o rs - o n ly p r o
search; be giv
gram for high
en advice from
school students
Ivy League and
w h o w a n t to
to p m e d ic a l
becom e p h y si
sc h o o l deans
cians or go into
on w hat is to
medical research Erica Nelson
expect in med
fields. The pur
ic a l s c h o o l;
p o se o f th is
witness stories
event is to honor, inspire, told by patients who are
motivate and direct the top living “medical miracles” ;
students in the country who be inspired by fellow teen
aspire to be physicians or medical science prodigies;
medical scientists, to stay and learn about cutting-
true to their dream and, edge advances and the fu
after the event, to provide a ture in medicine and medi
path, plan and resources to cal technology, according to
help them reach their goal, the relese.
according to a news release.
“This is a crucial time
Erica was nom inated in America when we need
by Dr. Connie Mariano, the more doctors and medical
medical director o f the Na sc ie n tists w ho are even
tional Academy o f Future better prepared for a future
P hysicians and M edical that is changing exponen
Scientists to represent Ore tially,” said Richard Rossi,
gon, based on her academic executive director. National
achievem ent, leadership Academy o f Future Physi
potential and determination cians and Medical Scien
to serve hum anity in the tists. “Focused, bright and
field o f medicine.
determ ined students like
Erica Nelson are our future
and she deserves all the
mentoring and guidance we
can give her.”
The academ y offers
free services and programs
to students who want to be
physicians or go into medi
cal science. Some o f the
services and programs the
academy plans to launch in
2014 and 2015 are online
social netw orks through
which future doctors and
medical scientists can com
municate; opportunities for
students to be guided and
m entored by physicians
and medical students; and
communications for parents
and students on college
acceptance and finances,
skills acquisition, intern
ships, career guidance and
much more.
If anyone would like to
support Erica and help her
attend the trip, she will be
selling personalized knit
Mustang Blankets for $45,
or for an extra $5 a per
sonalized message will be
added. The blankets will
feature the Mustang logo,
and are 63” by 63” . For
m ore inform ation about
the trips itself or about the
blankets, contact Erica at
541-256-0766.
Wildhorse Foundation grants include
BEO drawing
winner announced WCVED, Farm Foundation
David Sykes was Bank of Eastern Oregon's Morrow County
Fair & Rodeo drawing winner. “Dave was very happy to
stop by the Heppner branch to pick up his Coleman Road
Trip Grill and BEO camp chair,” said a BEO spokesperson.
“Congratulations from Bank of EO, David, for the lucky
draw."
The W ildhorse
Foundation, a community
benefit fund established by
the C onfederated Tribes
o f the Uma t i l l a I ndi an
R eservation ( CTUI R) to
support organizations in
northeastern O regon and
southeastern Washington,
has announced the awards
for the second quarter o f
2014. A total o f $202,855
w a s a w a r d e d t o 25
recipients, bringing the total
for 2014 to over $407,000.
Locally funded
p r o j e c t s i n c l u d e the
Farm Foundation w hich
received a $6,000 grant for
newspaper digitization; and
the Willow Creek Valley
E conom ic D evelopm ent
Gr o u p wh i c h re c e iv e d
$6,000 for establishm ent
of a Heppner Pheasant Club
brood house.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
On th e e x p a n s i o n
at Tillam ook Cheese and
ConAgra foods, Neal said
those ex p ansions rep re
sented major expansion in
production and jobs at the
Port. “The Lamb Weston
(ConAgra) project will al
low them to produce one
million pounds o f French
fries per year and hire an
additional 100 employees,”
he told the Chamber. He
said Morrow County now
is the fifth-highest average
wage county in the State of
Oregon.
T he T illam o o k
Cheese expansion added
40 new jobs and will allow
the com pany to produce
w hey and lactose, a b i
product o f cheese making,
for marketing and export.
Neil said the whey, among
other uses, will be shipped
to New Zealand and then to
China where it will be used
in the production o f energy
drinks.
In other develop
ments at the Port Neal said
wind tower parts for a wind
farm in Washington are be
ing transported by train to
the port and then reloaded
by truck to the site.
A $30 mi l l i on
Novus Pacific project to
convert waste products to
synthetic gas to be sent to
California, is in the works.
Neal said the Port will bet
“ green c re d its ” for that
project.
A new $7 million
C O 2 pl a nt is b r e a k i n g
ground at Pacific ethanol
that will have six new jobs
and will h an d le the b i
product of grain ethanol.
Neal said Amazon,
also known as VA Data,
c o n tin u e s to bui ld data
centers at the Port, the latest
being a 120,000 sq. ft. metal
building with a different
type o f design. He said so
far there is $400 million
invested in data centers at
the Port.
To accommodate all
the construction and expan
sion Neal said U m atilla
Electric is building quite a
few new substations in the
area and that Bonneville
Power is putting in a sec
ond substation because of
demand.
Neal said the Port
is working on a lease with
the Corps o f Engineers to
develop 40 acres on the
river with plans to develop
a new park. “It has been a
frustrating and interesting
experience,” he said. He
was not sure how long it
would take to get the lease
approved.
On the old Kinzua
mill site outside o f Heppner
which the Port owns, Neal
said they are still working
with DEQ trying to get a
C T U I R has a long
history o f charitable giving.
While the Foundation was
formed in 2001, changes
in the compact Wildhorse
Resort and Casino made
with the State o f Oregon
expanded their footprint
in 2009. Prior to then, the
Foundation could disburse
grants to Umatilla, Morrow,
Union and Wallowa
C ounties; they can now
al so a l l oc a t e up to 30
percent o f their funding
to governm ent bodies or
charitable organizations in
the Tribes ceded territory in
Washington State (Benton,
Walla Walla and Columbia
Counties) as well as any
N ative A m erican T ribal
G o v ern m en t A gency or
non-profit with its principal
office and base of operation
within the State o f Oregon
- Continued from PAGE ONE
clean bill o f health on the
property for development, a
process he says has gone on
for many years, involving
lots o f water and soil test
ing. “ When we moved the
bark material from the log
yard that is all we needed
to do. But turns out that is
not all we need to do,” Neal
said. Adding that the DEQ
keeps asking for more tests.
Speaking on the role
of the Columbia River En
terprise Zone (CREZ) at the
Port and in the county, Neal
said the Port cannot com
pete in economic develop
ment without an enterprise
zone. “The enterprise zone
is a tool the state o f Oregon
gave us as an incentive to
attract industry. We almost
have to have a zone to com
pete. We used to have a low
tax rate compared to other
counties and we could show
a lower tax rate that other
counties.” Neal said after
Measure 5 was passed it,
equalized tax rates among
counties across the state,
and m ade the Port less
competitive. “This forced
us to get a CREZ. If you
are going to be in the game
for economic development
you need to use it,” he said
o f the zone which replaces
property taxes with lower
“ fees” . He said he hopes
to see the CREZ use those
collected fees to improve
education and livability in
Morrow County.
Neal pointed out that
the highway that provides
transportation opportunity
for B oardm an is also a
“ doubl e edged sw o rd ” .
“ People who work at the
Port don't all live here.” He
said the Port provides 4,000
jobs for the area but that
70 percent o f the workers
live outside the county in
places like Hermiston and
the Tri-Cities.
“I am high on
ed u cation and think we
need to use the money for
education, that and hous
ing,” he said. He pointed
out that the Willow Creek
Valley Economic Develop
ment Group has set up a
program using a $50,000
CREZ grant (see story this
week’s paper) to stimulate
housing in the south county
area. He said he is working
with Blue Mountain Com
munity College to try and
get more training opportu
nity there for the actual jobs
being created at the Port. “I
have talked to the people
m anaging the businesses
at the Port and they tell me
they need trained workers.
I hope to work more closely
with colleges on providing
those workers locally. We
need to fill those jobs from
our own back yard,” Neil
said.
and any national or regional
Indian Organization. Over
1300 local and regional
non-profits have benefited
from over the $7.5 million
given by the Foundation
since its inception. Because
the Wildhorse Foundation’s
annual funding comes from a
percentage of the Wildhorse
R e so rt & C a s in o ’s net
revenue, as the re s o rt’s
business grow s, so does
the F o u n d atio n ’s annual
grant total. In 2013, almost
$850,000 was distributed
to 156 organizations in the
Foundation's giving area.
T h e B o a r d wi l l
consider awarding
g r a n t s to a p p l i c a t i o n s
that co v er the areas of
public health and safety,
education, the arts, historic
p re s e rv a tio n , g a mbl i ng
addiction services, salmon
restoration, environmental
p ro tectio n , and cultural
activities.
The quar t er l y
deadlines for requests are
January 1, A pril 1, July
1 and Oct. 1. For more
information on Wildhorse
Foundation guidelines or
to receive an application,
visit www.wildhorseresort.
com and cli ck on “O ur
Foundation” or call Tiah
DeGrofft at 541-966-1628.
Morrow County
Fair winners
announced
The Morrow County Fair saw 200 people enter
something in the fair this year. People brought out your
handy work from art, photography, fruits, vegetables,
flowers, crafts, baked goods, canning, quilting, needlework
and o f course all the “beautiful art work from all the very
talented children in M orrow County,” said Morrow
County Fair Secretary Ann Jones.
The Wheat League Photo Contest had nine entries
this year with winners as follows: first-Alex Carlson, lone;
second-Larry Lutcher, Heppner; third-Tami Rietmann,
Heppner.
Junior Wheat League Muffins had 13 entries this
year with winners as follows: first- Annabelle McDaniel,
Heppner; second-Cami VanArsdale, Lexington; third-
Hayley Akers o f Boardman.
Wheat League Cake had nine entries this year with
first-Nancy Miller, lone; second-Shelley McCabe, lone;
third-Betty Christman, Lexington.
Mike Arm ato's Un-Ending Quest for the perfect
loaf o f bread: first-Betty Christman; second-Ann Spicer,
Heppner.
Cup Cake Wars winners: first-M adison Palmer,
Heppner; second-Eva Martin, Lexington; third- Annabelle
McDaniel, Heppner.
Sweepstakes winners: Food-Yvonne Morter, lone;
Photo Adult-Alex Carlson, lone; Photo Youth-Skylar
Wightman, Boardman; Needlework-Lila Killingbeck,
Boardman; Quilting-Keziah Birt o f Boardman; Crafts-
Phyllis Piper, Lexington; Kids 3-6-Esther Birt, Boardman;
Kids 7-9-Zandra Masterson, Heppner; Juniors-Keziah
Birt, Boardman; Canning-Kevin Murray, Heppner; Art-
Shirley McNary, lone; Fruits-Claude Birt, Boardman;
V egetables-Paul B eagle, Boardm an; Flow ers-Terry
Tallman, Boardman.
Talent show winners for 2014: Ages 5-9: first-
Mischa Meyer, Hermiston, going on to state; Ages 10-17:
first-MaLinda Morter, lone, going to state; second-Bridget
Wizner; Heppner; third-Aimee Turrell, Heppner; Ages 18
& Up: first-Sam Fisher and Drion Donner, going to State.
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