Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (June 17, 2015)
Busy week for fire crews HEPPNER G T 50¢ azette imes VOL. 134 NO. 21 8 Pages Wednesday, June 17, 2015 Fire season heats up with two grass fires, one structure fire By Andrea Di Salvo It was a busy week for fire crews in Morrow County, with multiple fires that herald an ominous start to what promises to be a bad fire season. Late Wednesday night, about 11:30 p.m., Ione, Lexington and Heppner fire crews responded to a grass fire near the Ione gas transmission plant on Pipe- line Loop off of Gooseberry Rd out of Ione. A double- wide trailer in the vicinity was initially reported as threatened, but Ione Fire Chief Virgil Morgan said no structures were in real danger. Columbia Basin Elec- tric crews were also on the scene to provide aid and check power poles. Morgan said he did not believe any power lines were damaged. About 100 acres of grass- land burned, he said. Crews worked several hours on the fire, which Morgan said was partly a waiting game. “We kind of let it come to us,” he said. “It was on a steep hillside and not easily accessible.” Morgan said fire crews put out the fire between 4 and 5 a.m., but stayed on site until around 6 a.m. mopping up and making sure all the edges were out. Then, Monday morn- ing, all local crews were called out again, this time to a fire on Brenner Canyon Rd. south of Ione. The fire call came shortly after 3 a.m., but Morgan said they estimated the fire had been burning -See LOCAL FIRES/PAGE FOUR Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon Post office bids Watkins Heppner, Ione pools splash flowery farewell into summer Sandford wins Miss Oregon High School Rodeo Ivy Sandford, a soph- omore at Ione Commu- nity High School, has earned the crown for Miss Or- egon High S c h o o l Rodeo As- Ivy Sandford sociation 2015-2016 at the State High Local pools have started their 2015 summer season. See PAGE TWO for more information on School Rodeo Finals held Heppner postal employee Barb Watkins received a flowery farewell on her final day at work on Friday, June 12. Watkins, 60, has worked for the Heppner post office for 22 years, since October of 1992. She says she started as a “casual” and then worked her way through part time postal worker before finally becoming a full-time clerk. Previous to that, she worked for 18 years at the Bank of Eastern Oregon. The Heppner native, who graduated from Heppner High School in 1973, says she is looking forward to retirement. “I’m looking forward to being a Ione and Heppner pools. –Photo by Megan Futter grandmother this year for the first time,” she says. “That will probably fill my time.” –Photo by David Sykes -See QUEEN IVY/PAGE FOUR Home lost in Biggs fire New bike racks extend welcome to passing cyclists has Heppner ties Heppner’s Main Street addition is meant to be functional and inviting Connie Thurston, who works for TREO Ranches, sits amid the rubble that used to be her home in Biggs Junction. –Con- tributed photo By Andrea Di Salvo The owners of the home lost in the Biggs Junc- tion fire last week have ties to Heppner, and Heppner locals are banding together to help the couple in their time of need. Sam and Connie Thur- ston had to quickly evacu- ate their home with their two-and-a-half-year-old granddaughter when winds drove the fire through the house they were renting. The couple escaped with their lives and the lives of their dogs, but lost every- thing but their car and the clothes they were wearing in the fire. They reportedly did not have renters’ insur- ance. Sam at one time taught in Heppner, and Connie currently works for TREO Ranches and TREO Bike Tours as Safety Coordina- tor and Human Resource Person. The Gazette-Time was unable to reach the couple for an interview -See BIGGS FIRE/PAGE FOUR Heppner grad honors fallen linemen at NASCAR event Prior to the Drivin’ for Linemen 200 NASCAR race in St. Louis MO June 13, Heppner graduate Tayler Hodges (far left front) and other linemen climbed to the tops of poles and placed flags on them to honor fallen linemen. -Contributed photo Tayler Hodges, a 2008 graduate of Heppner High School, participated in the 2015 Past and Present Line- man event June 13 in St. Louis, MO. Hodges is the son of local woman Deona Siex. After graduating from HHS he went on to graduate from Northwest Lineman College in Meridian, ID in 2010. He then took a job with Mid-Plains Power, -See LINEMEN CEREMO- NY/PAGE TWO By Andrea Di Salvo More shamrocks will be sprouting along Main Street in Heppner in the coming week, this time in the form of green bicycle racks that sport the town’s favorite symbol. Heppner City Manager Kim Cutsforth said the city purchased the unique bike racks through local fabrica- tor Jay Coil. They were de- signed by Craig Gutierrez and funded by a grant from Good Shepherd Communi- ty Health Foundation out of Hermiston. The six planned bike racks cost $2,000; they will all be installed by next week, Cutsforth said. All the racks will be located on Heppner’s Main Street. Jay Gibbs, a local bik- ing enthusiast who was part of the development process for the bike racks, says the racks are part of a required update to the management plan of Heppner’s bike- way, the Blue Mountain Century Scenic Bikeway. The 108-mile bikeway is a scenic loop starting and ending in Heppner; it fol- lows the Blue Mountain Scenic Byway east through the Umatilla National For- est to Highway 395, climb- ing 3,280 feet followed by a downhill run to Ukiah. The route then heads north, climbing through forest and rangeland to Highway 74 and back to Heppner. The bikeway, which is not considered an easy ride, attracts dedicated cyclists from around the Northwest and beyond. The Heppner Chamber of Commerce hosts an annual Blue Moun- Local cycling enthusiast Jay Gibbs poses with his bike next to one of the new bicycle racks that will soon dot Heppner’s Main Street. –Contributed photo tain Century Ride, planned this year for Sept. 19-20, -See BIKE RACKS/PAGE THREE Big time artist comes to small town venue for down-home Fourth of July James Otto to play at Ione’s Red, White and Blues festival Grammy nominee and Academy of Country Music award winner James Otto will be the featured artist performing on the outdoor amphitheater stage in Ione this Fourth of July. It might seem strange to some that such a big name would come to such a small town. However, Otto is a Northwest boy born in Tacoma, WA and graduat- ing from Benton City, WA before moving to Nashville to pursue his music career. In 2008, Otto released the album “Sunset Man,” which contained the single, “Just Got Started Loving You.” The song went on to become Billboard’s num- ber-one single of the year. He also received the CMA Song of the Year Award for “In Color,” which was also nominated for a Grammy. Otto, who has toured with Reba McEntire, Toby Keith, Trace Adkins and ern Country Rock with great passion and enthusi- asm. A two-year Navy vet- eran, he also brings a great respect for our country and our freedom—characteris- tics quite appropriate for the Fourth of July celebration in Ione. Otto will take the stage at 8:30 p.m. on the Fourth. As impressive as the headliner is, though, that’s Two-time ACM award winner only the cherry on top of James Otto. what promises to be an- Shania Twain, plays his other sweet celebration this own unique style of South- July 4. The day starts early with the Firecracker 5K Run/Walk at 7 a.m. and a Fireman’s Breakfast from 7:30-10:30 a.m. The pa- rade, which starts at 1 p.m., will include vehicles from the Blues Cruise car show. Other events throughout the day include children’s games, volleyball and three-on-three basketball tournaments, and a talent show at 3:30 p.m., which is open to anyone who is -See OTTO AT IONE FOURTH/PAGE FOUR ALL Women’s Clothing 30% OFF JEANS & TOPS Morrow County Grain Growers Green Feed & Seed 242 W. Linden Way, Heppner • 676-9422 • 989-8221 (MCGG main office)