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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (May 17, 2017)
City weighs sewage disposal options HEPPNER G T 50¢ azette imes VOL. 136 NO. 19 10 Pages Wednesday, May 17 2017 By David Sykes To satisfy environmen- tal standards from the De- partment of Environmental Quality (DEQ), the city of Heppner is seeking new ways to treat its sewage. DEQ has told the city it must reduce the amount of ammonia in the effluent it puts into Willow Creek following treatment at the sewer plant, and the city will have to make changes to comply. One option presented by the city’s engineering firm is to build a lagoon system, and then disperse the effluent on farm land. However, suitable land for the lagoon has not yet been found. A recent discussion with Ione and Lexington to join in construction of a combined lagoon system apparently met with opposi- tion from Ione. Both Ione and Lexington have septic systems and are exploring options on a central sew- age plant. At the May 8 Heppner city council meeting a dis- cussion was held about the sewer system options, and even if Lexington and Ione agreed to a combined treat- ment facility, the cost and difficulty of piping Heppner effluent that far would be substantial. Heppner Pub- lic Works Director Chad Doherty was skeptical. “That’s a long way to go with a whole lot of water. There is possibility of a lot of problems,” he pointed out. Council member Cory Sweeney also thought it would be expensive to run pipe that far. At a previous utility commission hearing there was discussion on moving -See CITY COUNCIL/PAGE THREE Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon Mustang golf sweeps districts Heppner boys’ track takes second at districts Heppner, Ione athletes advance to state track meets The Heppner boys’ team took second place at the district track meet. Top row (L-R): Carson Borsnan, Jacob Wallace, Amund Berg, Trent Smith, Gibson McCurry, Jorden Sweeney, Alex Lindsay, Leo Waite, Gavin Hanna and Hunter Nichols. Bottom row: Coaches Al Scott, Laura Winters and Russ Nichols. Not pictured: Derek Howard, Makayla Silvia, Alison Cecil, Evan Kollman, Mitchell VonGunten and Austin Moses. -Contributed photo Both the boys’ and girls’ Mustang golf teams took first place at the district tournament in Pendleton last week. Top: Coach Matt Scrivner, girls’ team players Claire Grieb, Caitlyn Scrivner, Nicole Propheter, Amanda Rea, Sophie Grant and Madison Combe, and head coach Greg Grant. Bottom: Coach Matt Scrivner, boys’ team players Reno Ferguson, Logan Grieb, Logan Burright, Jake Lindsay, Dan Bretsch and Kellen Grant, and head coach Greg Grant. -Contributed photos -See full story PAGE FOUR Both Heppner and Ione will send track and field athletes to their re- spective state tournaments this weekend in Corvallis. This past Saturday the Heppner girls’ and boys’ track teams competed at the Columbia Basin 2A District Track Championships in Prineville. Culver hosted the meet. At the meet, the boys’ team earned the second- place trophy, while the girls took fifth. Six Hep- pner athletes secured slots in the state tournament by taking first or second in their events, including junior Alex Lindsay in the long jump, triple jump and -See TRACK DISTRICTS/ PAGE FOUR Local educators receive Crystal Apple honors Pendleton—The In- pner Jr/Sr High School; Jan custodian, Windy River and Sam Boardman terMountain Edu- elementary schools. cation Service Dis- Morrow and trict (IMESD) has Umatilla county win- announced that two ners were recognized Ione School District at an award ceremony and four Morrow on Monday at the County School Dis- Red Lion Hotel in trict staff have re- Pendleton. Union ceived 2017 Crystal County winners were Apple “Excellence in honored on May 8 at Education” Awards. Eastern Oregon Uni- Ione recipients versity in La Grande. were Bridgett All- A total of 44 dritt, an instructional individuals were aide at Ione Commu- nity School, and Eric Clockwise from top left: Bridgett Alldritt, honored this month Jessica Lentz, Curtis Johnston, Lois Tallman, Jepsen, science and Jan Huddleston and Eric Jepsen. -Contributed from the IMESD’s component school art teacher at Ione. photos districts in eastern For Morrow County School District, Huddleston, district office Oregon. The 2017 events recognition was received maintenance coordinator; mark the 18 th annual Crystal for Jessica Lentz (not Jes- Lois Tallman, educational Apple Awards for Umatilla sica Lynch as published assistant at Sam Board- and Morrow counties and in last week’s Gazette), man Elementary School; the sixth annual for Union educational assistant, Hep- and Curtis Johnston, head County. Each year, the IMESD partners with its school districts to recognize out- standing administrators, teachers, educational assis- tants and office and building staff for their dedication and commitment to students and for their willingness to go above and beyond their regular duties. Nomina- tions are submitted over a two-month period by administrators, coworkers, parents, students and com- munity members. Winners are selected from these nominations by school dis- trict administration. “We congratulate each of this year’s Crystal Apple winners and are honored to celebrate these wonderful educators who are making a difference every day for students,” said Michele Madril, IMESD director of communication and print solutions. At the Pendleton awards ceremony on May -See CRYSTAL APPLE/PAGE TWO Heppner celebrates prom Health district employee receives Irrigon award At the Irrigon Chamber of 2015. She has worked as a practitioner at of Commerce “Time Ione Community to Shine” citizen Clinic and now pro- recognition event vides full-time fam- last month, Mor- ily medical services row County Health at the Irrigon Medi- District employee cal Clinic. Vicki Kent received Kent spent 32 the Employee of the Vicki Kent, ARNP years as a registered Year award. nurse before receiv- Kent, an Ad- vanced Registered Nurse ing her nurse practitio- Practitioner, joined the ner degree from Gonzaga health district in the spring University. Kent and her husband Richard have two children and four grandchil- dren. Her other interests in- clude snow skiing, stained glass, golf and fishing. Other Irrigon recipients were Greg Barron, Citizen Heppner High School celebrated prom May 6. Representing the school on the prom court were of the Year; Shirley David, (L-R): Princess Riane Dompier, Prince Kane Sweeney, Queen Onna DeLoach, King Kevin Murray, Princess Meranda Lemmon and Prince Timothy Gould. -Photo by Damon Brosnan Volunteer of the Year; Ma- ria Avila, Youth of the Year; Michelle Morgan, Teacher of the Year; and Stokes Landing Bed & Breakfast, Business of the Year. G-T closed Memorial Day The Heppner Gazette-Times office will be closed Memorial Day, May 29, for the holiday. All news and ad deadlines will be Friday, May 26, by 5 p.m. The newspaper office will reopen on Tuesday, May 30. Morrow County Grain Growers Lexington 989-8221 • 1-800-452-7396 For farm equipment, visit our web site at www.mcgg.net