O’Brien retires from Public
Works
HEPPNER
G T
50¢
17 years at the helm
azette
imes
VOL. 136 NO. 47 8 Pages
Wednesday, November 29, 2017
Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon
Kaelyn Lindsay chosen for
Round-Up court
Burke O’Brien at the Spring Hollow Bridge kiosk
Kaelyn Lindsay of Lex-
ington was introduced as
one of the four princesses
for the 2018 Pendleton
Round-Up court at a break-
fast hosted at the home of
Dr. Doug Corey, DVM,
outside of Athena. The new
court also consists of Queen
Betsy West of Athena, Prin-
cess Josilyn Fullerton of
Dayton, WA, Princess Eliz-
abeth Herbes of Union and
Princess Charla Simons of
Pendleton.
Princess Kaelyn Lind-
say is the 19 year old
daughter of Barney and
Kimberly Lindsay of Lex-
ington. She graduated from
Heppner High School in
2016 where she was team
captain her senior year in
volleyball, basketball, and
track. She also excelled in
4-H, drama, FFA, and was
recognized as the FBLA
state champion in bank-
ing and financial systems.
When asked to describe
the characteristics she has
seen of Pendleton Round
Up Court members, Kaelyn
responded, “Kind, poise
and genuine are three words
that come to mind when I
think about the Pendleton
Round-Up Court. They are
role models for many young
girls.” Kaelyn grew up on
her family’s ranch, gather-
ing and working cows. She
was a frequent competitor
in various local rodeos. She
now attends Blue Moun-
tain Community College
pursuing a degree in nurs-
ing, where she made this
winter’s dean’s list. In a
letter of support, Blake
Knowles, three-time steer
wrestling qualifier to the
Wrangler National Finals
Rodeo writes, “Kaelyn’s
kindness is a standout char-
acteristic. She has a knack
for lifting others up and
creating a positive envi-
ronment. When I think of
the Pendleton Round-Up
Court, I think of hardwork-
ing, talented cowgirls who
have a way of bringing
the Wild West to modern
life with impeccable grace
and integrity in all aspects
of life. I could not think
of a better young lady to
represent the Pendleton
Round-Up.”
The Pendleton Round-
Up is the largest four-day
rodeo in America with the
PRCA’s fifth richest con-
testant prize money purse.
Its competitive events are
Kaelyn Lindsay
contested on a pristine grass
arena, with historic wooden
bucking chutes and one of
a kind run-in system for
timed events; all of which
are historic presentations
which cannot be seen any-
where else in the PRCA.
The Pendleton Round-Up
is the reigning PRCA Large
Outdoor Rodeo of the Year
(2003, 2010, 2015, 2016)
and the 2015 PRCA Re-
muda award winner for
having the most consistent
pen of bucking stock. One
thousand volunteers work
together to produce this
annual event, which will
celebrate its 108th year
September 12th – 15th,
2018. Let ‘er Buck!
Heppner FFA competes at
district and state
By David Sykes
Burke O’Brien has seen
lots of changes in Morrow
County since he started
with the road department
back in 1997. And now
sitting in his office at the
public works headquarters
in Lexington, and preparing
for retirement at the end of
this month, O’Brien can
look back and reflect on
some of the accomplish-
ments he has seen since he
took over the head job from
Guy VanArsdale back in
2000. Those accomplish-
ments he attributes much
to those around him, and
the support he’s received
from elected officials and
“the great crew I have had
to work with.”
A good example of one
of the biggest accomplish-
ments during his time at
Public Works, is the lo-
cating and building of an
off-highway vehicle park
in the mountains. Original
planning started for the park
in 2003, and that included
a fairly contentious public
meeting at the Catholic
church in Heppner. There
was local and vocal oppo-
sition to the park as it was
proposed, and O’Brien was
asked if he didn’t just feel
like giving up on the whole
idea at that time. “We got
lots of criticism,” he recalls,
pointing to a video tape he
has of the meeting on a
shelf in his office.
O’Brien says he and
others persevered how-
ever, thinking since South
Morrow County had re-
cently lost its industry and
jobs with the closure of the
Kinzua sawmill, it needed
some economic activity to
help sustain the area.
He recalls that follow-
ing the meeting he thought
to himself, “With the oppo-
sition to the proposed loca-
tion, if not at this location,
then where?” At the end of
the meeting, someone men-
tioned to him that Kinzua
had a large tract of land that
may be for sale, and from
that the Off Highway Ve-
hicle Park was born. It was
not all his doing, however,
saying “I had support from
Judge Tallman and a really
great staff.”
From that vision he
says the park has since
grown to 9,000 acres in
both Morrow and Grant
counties, and sees visitors
from all over, the coast,
central Oregon and out of
state. The park now has a
O’Brien at his office in
Lexington
restaurant, treatment room
and helicopter pad, miles
of trails and thousands of
visitors. And that brings
money and needed eco-
nomic activity into the area
that otherwise would not
be here. “That’s was what
it was about, creating some
jobs and helping out the lo-
cal business people. There
are benefits from that park
that many people don’t real-
ize,” he says.
O’Brien says funding
for the road department
has always been a chal-
lenge, recalling that when
he took over in 2000 there
were 23 people on the crew,
which was then reduced by
five through retirement for
-See O’BRIEN/PAGE
THREE
Ione to host basketball
tournament this weekend
Ione will be hosting the
20 th Annual Basketball Bo-
nanza this weekend, Dec. 1
and 2. The tournament will
consist of 16 JV, varsity,
girls and boys games over
the two-days. Players will
come from Weston-McE-
wen, Enterprise, Irrigon
and Ione.
AJ’s Printed Apparel
will be on site Saturday
personalizing tournament
shirts, sweatpants and even
socks. Bonanza conces-
sions will provide food
and beverages, such as root
beer floats, loaded nachos,
brownie sundaes and more.
See’s candies will be avail-
able for sale as well as raffle
tickets for a chance to win
Pictured front (L-R): Cami VanArsdale, Jaiden Mahoney, Sydney Wilson, Suzy Cason. Back an Apple watch. Games
(L-R): Alex Lindsay, Matthew Orem, Kenneth Troxell, Blake Carter, Justin McAninch, begin at 1 p.m. on Friday
Keegan Gibbs.
and end with championship
T h e H e p p n e r F FA of McAninch and Wilson was held in Hermiston later matches at 4 and 5:30 p.m.
Morgan Orem (L), Ione, stays away from the opponent in a
Chapter’s Ag Sales and placed third and McAninch in November. At the state on Saturday.
previous tournament. -Photo by Sandi Pointer
Service teams recently received top honors in his contest, the team competed
competed at the district practicum.
at the highest level and
level in Athena. Represent-
The beginning team placed second in the state.
ing the chapter/community placed first and included
Brandi Sweeney, Cam
were Sydney Wilson, Justin some top awards, Orem and Sweeney, Jennifer Wilson,
McAninch, Jaiden Ma- Troxell in their practicum John and Ashley Gould,
honey, Blake Carter, Matt and Carter received the Stephanni McAninch, Kev-
Orem, Kenneth Troxell, highest sales score of the in Gray, Eric Orem, Sheryll
Suzy Cason, Cami VanA- contest.
Bates, Jan Huddleston and
rsdale, Alex Lindsay and
The advanced team Jason Hanna were instru-
Keegan Gibbs.
placed first and qualified mental in preparing the
The alternate team for the state contest, which teams for the contest.
MORROW COUNTY GRAIN GROWER
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