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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 20, 2016)
NRCS releases irst 2016 Water Supply Outlook Report HEPPNER G T 50¢ Oregon’s statewide snowpack at 123 percent of normal PORTLAND, Ore.— Cold mountain tempera- tures and copious amounts of precipitation joined forc- es in December to bring a welcome return of winter to Oregon. According to the irst water supply outlook report for the year—released last recently by USDA’s Natu- ral Resources Conserva- tion Service (NRCS)—all basins in Oregon are ex- periencing above-normal Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon snowpack levels. azette imes VOL. 135 NO. 3 8 Pages Wednesday, January 20, 2016 Further, snowpack lev- els have already surpassed the peak levels of last year’s snow season in all locations statewide. Following a year of re- cord-low snowpack, water shortages, ires and wide- spread drought across the state, water users and water managers are cautiously optimistic that a successful start to 2016 will enable drought recovery. “This is the scenario we had hoped for following last year’s extreme drought conditions,” said Melissa Webb, NRCS snow survey hydrologist. “The fall and early winter precipitation have started to fill reser- voirs across the state that were heavily depleted go- ing into the fall. “Also, the snowpack that we have right now in the mountains is more than we had at any time last year, which is very encouraging.” Heppner gets ‘cabin Heppner holds Town & Country fever’ awards John Wambeke accompanies Eric Jepsen on the iddle at last year’s show in Ione. –Contributed photo The variety show “Cabin Fever” is headed to Heppner soon. John Wambeke and friends will be staging the eighth annual version of the show on Sunday afternoon, Jan. 31, at 3 p.m. at the Hep- pner Elementary School. This year’s concert is a combination of music and humor. Performers with local ties include Joe Lindsey, Cory Cooley, Luke Basile, Rick Drake, Eric Jepsen, and the Heppner High School choir. The show was performed this past weekend to a sold- out crowd of 400 people in Hermiston. Tickets for the Heppner performance can be purchased at the door, or in advance at the Bank of Eastern Oregon in either Heppner or Ione. The $15 ticket price includes both the show and a catered Dutch- oven dessert. For more info, search Facebook for “Cabin Fever Concert.” Rep. Smith honored by two Oregon associations H E P P N E R — R e p . ing in the construction, Greg Smith (R-Heppner) construction materials, and was honored last week with mining industries. The in- two prestigious recogni- dustry continues to rely tions. The irst is from the on Rep. Smith to protect Oregon Fairs Association those interests in Eastern (OFA), which supports Oregon. His commitment to Oregon’s 36 county economic prosper- fairs. Also honoring ity to the region is Rep. Smith was the without parallel. On Oregon Concrete behalf of the mem- and Aggregate Pro- bers of the OCAPA, ducers Association we would like to (OCAPA), an or- thank Rep. Smith ganization that is by presenting him working to build Or- Rep. Greg with a small plaque Smith egon’s economy and acknowledging him support economic as our Legislative development. Champion,” stated Rich “It is an honor to be Angstrom, OCAPA Presi- recognized by both of these dent. associations for what we Rep. Smith was hon- were able to accomplish ored by the Oregon Fairs during the 2015 Legislative Association as their “Leg- Session,” said Smith. “I islator of the Year” for his am grateful to both groups commitment to providing and their members for their stable funding for OFA recognition and support.” operations, including his Rep. Smith was rec- efforts to secure an increase ognized by OCAPA for his in funds for county fairs work on several policies around the state. during the 2015 Legisla- “In Oregon we are tive Session, including the blessed with strong support role he played in passing for county fairs,” said Dan HB 3089. HB 3089 directs Dorran, 18-year Umatilla the Oregon Department County Fair Board Mem- of Geology and Mineral ber. “However, what we Industries (DOGAMI) to are really proud of are the conduct a study of the min- few that not only support eral resource potential of us but take action to help. Eastern Oregon counties Rep. Smith personiies this and report their indings to and more. He is a friend to the Legislative Assembly. county fairs in his district Smith says the bill is a and throughout the state.” positive step toward build- “I want to thank the ing a more robust mining OFA and OCAPA for this industry in Oregon. honor,” responded Smith. “Rep. Smith has dem- “While recognition is ap- onstrated a strong com- preciated, I do this because mitment to the people of it is the right thing to do Eastern Oregon, especially for our communities and the men and women work- Eastern Oregon.” Heppner Chamber of Commerce held its annual Town and Country Com- munity Awards last Thurs- day, Jan. 14, at the Morrow County Fairgrounds in Hep- pner. The gala, sponsored by Invenergy, LLC (dba Willow Creek Energy) and Northwest Farm Services and themed “An Evening with the Stars,” attracted a large crowd that gathered to celebrate local heroes and community icons. The evening began with a photo presentation, “Your Community on the Big Screen,” designed by Dale Bates of CenturyLink and Sandy Matthews of Wind- wave Communications. Dinner catered by Pudding on the Ritz was followed by a welcome speech by Bill Kuhn. Also in the evening’s lineup were a drawing for jewelry donated by Peter- son’s Jewelers, a word from the sponsors, and comments from local volunteer Jo Ann Burleson. The highlight of the evening, however, was the award ceremony for out- standing community mem- bers. The following awards were given out: Man of the Year, Jim Kindle; Woman of the Year, Kathy Turner; Youth Recognition, Patrick Col- lins; Citizen-Educator of the Year, Melissa Coiner; Business of the Year, Ad- ams Distributing (Tim and Terra Adams); and Lifetime Achievement Award, Joe Miller. Special recogni- tion was also given to East Oregonian reporter Tammy Malgesini. Man of the Year “When he first came into my life I thought, ‘What a nut!’” said one person of Man of the Year recipient Jim Kindle. “Little did I know he was a man of great depth and emotion.” When nominating Kindle, community mem- bers also pointed to his community-minded spirit, his ability to get things done, his humility and his good cheer. Kindle was recognized as a dedicated advocate for community youth, a member of the volunteer ire department, a member of the local Elks and Oddfellows lodges, and a regular volunteer at com- munity events like the St. Patrick’s Day celebration and the fair and rodeo. “The citizens of Hep- pner, whether they know him or not, have all ben- eited greatly from his many contributions to the com- munity,” said presenter Ken Grieb of Kindle. “When- ever there is a project to be done or something to be ixed, he is usually there, spear-heading the mission or contributing his time and effort to get the job done. There is always a smile on his face; always a joke and a laugh to be had when you are with him.” Woman of the Year This year’s Woman of the Year recipient Kathy Turner is called a “natural caregiver.” Since moving to Heppner, she is cred- ited with overseeing the $1.2 million remodel of St. Patrick’s senior center and using her “eye for design” to make the center homey and welcoming. Even after stepping down as manager, Turner continues to take care of the St. Patrick’s apartment tenants, both during their time there and by checking in with them after they move away. She is credited with working many extra hours with no extra pay. Turner was also rec- ognized as a driving force behind the renovation of the senior center’s dining room, being called a “mas- ter with a paint brush” and a “master at recruiting her friends to help.” She also adds a tough of whimsy at Halloween, whether intro- ducing trick-or-treaters to her pet spider or playing the role of fortune teller. “She is the first re- sponder in emergency situ- ations, she is the assistant Jim Kindle Kathy Turner Patrick Collins Melissa Coiner Joe Miller Tammy Malgesini Tim “the Bread Man” and Terra Adams of Adams Dis- tributing. manager, janitor, and Jack of all trades,” said Judy Bushke of Turner. “We are so fortunate that she chose Heppner for her home. -See TOWN & COUNTRY/ PAGE THREE Pipes skirl at Condon when Scots toast Robert Burns, heritage The 19 th annual Robert Burns Supper will be cele- brated at Condon Saturday, Jan. 23, at the Condon Elks Lodge on Main Street. The tradition of honor- ing the Scottish heritage of the greater Condon area dates back originally to the mid-1950s, when weekend- long celebrations feted the then-aging Scots, the irst generation of immigrants who had come from the homeland and settled in and around Condon. The cel- ebrations then drew Scot- tish families from miles around to honor those who had hailed from Scotland. The celebrations, re- vived about 20 years ago, still draw a crowd of Scots- men from region-wide to honor past generations and the traditions of the Old Country, including the po- etry and memory of Scot- land’s beloved poet, Robert Burns. The celebration each year is planned on the Sat- urday nearest the poet’s Jan. 25 (1759) birth date. Pipers, drummers, and other participants are antici- pated to come from Pendle- ton, Arlington, Redmond, Portland, Vancouver and ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE: MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M. L-R: Bill Shelton, Carson, WA; Rick McCaul, Portland, OR; Condon Highland Guard Pipers. -Photo by McLaren Stinchield the Carson, WA area to help the Condon community cel- ebrate its Scottish heritage on the 257 th anniversary of the birth of “Rabbie” Burns. The celebration is in its 19 th year as an organized event, and has become a favorite wintertime diversion at Condon. The event features lively music from the “Old Country,” a traditional Scottish meal of “haggis, neeps and tatties,” and an- ecdotes from the annuls of Scottish families who settled in the Greater Gil- liam County area in the mid-to-late 1800s. Area families of Scottish heritage are encouraged to search through their family lore for diaries, notes, photographs and other memorabilia, and to share the information at the gathering. Featured this year will be the Chase-Couture-Fat- land families who are repre- sented in the Condon area, and representatives of those families will provide brief histories of their lineage. It is anticipated that Andrew Jamieson of Con- don will rise to the occasion once again as “spokesman” for the popular poet, de- ceased now two and a half -See CONDON CEL- EBRATES BURNS/PAGE EIGHT WINTER CLOTHING SALE! INSULATED COVERALLS COATS & JACKETS 20 % OFF Morrow County Grain Growers Green Feed & Seed 242 W. Linden Way, Heppner • 676-9422 • 989-8221 (MCGG main ofice)