New phone scam hits local residents HEPPNER Local residents have been hit recently by a new series of phone scams, this time by scammers saying they represent Dish Net- work. Morrow County Sher- iff’s Office says the recent scams have been from call- ers posing as Dish Network employees, talking about upgrades and asking cus- tomers to confirm their credit card numbers. MCSO says it’s a sure sign of a scam if they ask you to confirm the first numbers from your cred- it card—companies with Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon whom you do business will generally have your card number on file and, if G T 50¢ azette imes VOL. 135 NO. 31 8 Pages Wednesday, August 17, 2016 Locals have been warned that phone calls purporting to be from Dish Network may not be what they seem. -Contributed photo anything, may ask to con- firm the last four numbers. However, when in doubt, MCSO advises to call the company rather than giv- ing any information over the phone. In this case, however, Dish Network says it does not call its customers. County fair offers creativity and community fun in 2016 Above left: Paul Beagle of Boardman displays a hand-painted tribal mask, one of many pieces of original artwork entered in the county fair this year. Above right: 4-H members (L-R) Han- nah Palmer, Madison Orem and Grace Ogden display colorful quilts they’ve entered in this year’s Morrow County Fair. The fair opens to the public today and runs through Saturday, with several new additions and old favorites on the schedule this year. The Oregon Trail Pro Rodeo has slack Thursday evening with nightly rodeo performances Friday and Saturday, and the Morrow County Rodeo will take place Sunday afternoon. -Photos by Andrea Di Salvo County considers new Irrigon facility, or moving offices to Boardman Court presented with 60-signature petition against leaving Irrigon Morrow County’s offices in Irrigon are currently located at the Annex building in Irrigon. These facilities are too small and outdated and need to be replaced, according to county officials. Under a second option the county would purchase a building from Blue Moun- tain Community College on Front Street in Board- man, and move the county offices there. Already in Boardman are the juvenile department and district attorney’s offices, and the public health facilities, all of which are located in the Docken Building. If the BMCC building were pur- chased, all these would be combined in that building. The county sheriff also has an annex facility in Board- man. In total, whatever the county decides, offices and facilities will be a need to accommodate 16 or more employees. Sorte had done exten- sive interviews with all county department heads, asking the space require- ments they needed, how many people would be employed in each building, and whether that particular department felt it should be located in Boardman or Irrigon. There was a tremendously and need more space and upgraded technology. Building a new facility in Irrigon…makes the most sense for Mor- row County and our com- munity,” the petition said. Sixty signatures were on the petition. County commissioner Don Russell said he took a tour of the annex building and said if the county is going to spend money on a new facility it needs to be where the services are needed. He said the growth in the county is in the north end of the county. Russell said the BMCC building has a total of 3,500 square feet, and will become avail- able in winter term 2017. He said it should be an inexpensive purchase for the county. “If there is a smoking good deal in Boardman, we should take a look at it,” he said, “and that is how the commission should decide.” Commissioner Leanne Rea said she thought the facilities should stay in Irrigon. “I am in complete op- position,” she said to any moving. She said the county should be able to build the new facility in Irrigon on the land it already owns for $2-$3.5 million. “I would like to see the services that are here stay here,” she said about Irrigon. “Personally I don’t care where the facilities are located,” Russell added. “I just what to do what is in the county’s best financial interest.” Rea said maybe some of the county’s SIP money, or funds received mainly from the wind farms in Morrow County, be used for capital improvements such as buildings. “The SIP money is short-term funds and we mixed range of answers as -See COUNTY OFFICES/ PAGE THREE to which community the facilities should be located in, and all department heads said they could use more space and updated facilities. Attending the meeting and coming out in opposi- tion to the county moving out of Irrigon was long-time Irrigon resident Barb Huwe. “These facilities should be left in Irrigon,” Huwe told the court. She said people realize the current facilities are outdated, small and need to be replaced, but she urged the court to build in Irrigon. “Please leave in Irrigon,” she said while presenting a petition urging the same to the court. “The Irrigon Annex has been there since 1970s, is The county is considering purchasing BMCC’s Boardman facility on Front Street, which outdated and inadequate. becomes available in 2017. The easiest solution is to construct a new building FAIR & RODEO SALE! on land Morrow County currently owns adjacent to the existing Irrigon An- nex,” the petition said. “We understand that the entities currently there have grown 13 mWz ree rodeo tickets with each purchase WRANGLER ORIGINAL COWbOy oF $50 or more oF w rangler clothing ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE: ALL OTHER WRANGLER CLOTHING 20% OFF CuT jEANs $21.95 By David Sykes Morrow County says it needs new office facilities in the North end, and the two options being consid- ered are moving county services from their current location in Irrigon to the BMCC building in Board- man, or constructing a new building in Irrigon. In a recent memoran- dum to the Morrow County Court, Admin Officer Jerry Sorte outlined the options. “A new office building in north Morrow County could be used to accommo- date the services currently located in the Irrigon Annex building; Planning, Justice Court, and Parole and Pro- bation…. The County Clerk also maintains an office open one day per week in Irrigon at the Emergency Assistance Center Building across the street from the Annex,” he wrote. He said building a new building on the current site of the annex building would provide the necessary space for needed county services. MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M. 20% OFF ALL MONTANA SILVER F Morrow County Grain Growers Green Feed & Seed 242 W. Linden Way, Heppner • 676-9422 • 989-8221 (MCGG main office)