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