Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, February 28 2018 -SIX
February weather report
According to pre-
liminary data received by
NOAA’s National Weath-
er Service in Pendleton
Oregon, temperatures at
Heppner averaged slightly
colder than normal during
the month of February.
The average temperature
was 37.1 degrees which
was 0.7 degrees below nor-
mal. High temperatures
averaged 46.6 degrees,
which was 0.8 degrees be-
low normal. The highest
was 64 degrees on the 9th.
Low temperatures averaged
27.5 degrees, which was 0.7
degrees below normal. The
lowest was 7 degrees, on
the 19th.
There were 17 days
with the low temperature
below 32 degrees. There
were 2 days when the high
temperature stayed below
32 degrees.
Precipitation totaled
0.74 inches during Febru-
ary, which was 0.38 inches
below normal. Measurable
precipitation -at least .01
inch- was received on 11
days with the heaviest, 0.15
inches reported on the 19th.
Precipitation this year
has reached 2.05 inches,
which is 0.54 inches below
normal. Since October, the
water year precipitation
at Heppner has been 5.81
inches, which is 0.84 inches
below normal.
Snowfall totaled 5.5
inches with at least 1 inch
of snow reported on 4 days.
The heaviest snowfall was
2.0 inches reported on the
21st. The greatest depth of
snow on the ground was 2
inches on the 21th.
The highest wind gust
was 63 mph which occurred
on the 17th.
The outlook for March
from NOAA’s Climate Pre-
diction Center calls for
below normal temperatures
and above normal precipita-
tion. Normal highs for Hep-
pner rise from 51.0 degrees
at the start of March to 58.0
degrees at the end of March.
Normal lows rise from 30.0
degrees to 36.0 degrees.
The 30 year normal precipi-
tation is 1.52 inches.
The National Weather
Service is an office of the
National Oceanic and At-
mospheric Administration,
an agency of the U.S. Com-
merce Department.
Sheriff’s Report
January 28: Morrow
County Sheriff’s Office re-
ceived a report on I 84 E,
Pendleton that there is a white
SUV with hazards on. Re-
ferred to OSP.
-MCSO received a report
on SE Utah Ave, Irrigon that
every night he sees a white
Cadillac with black vinyl top
that comes down Utah towards
Division and blows the stop
sign at Seventh the following
morning.
-MCSO received a report
at Love’s Travel Stop and
Country Store that RP is con-
cerned about two persons.
-MCSO received a report
on SE Utah Ave, Irrigon that
there are three Pugs in his yard
from a residence off Seventh.
-MCSO received a report
on SE Utah Ave, Irrigon that
his house just got egged.
-MCSO received a report
on I 84 W, Boardman that a
dark colored sedan, WA plate
is blocking people from pass-
ing and varying speeds of 50-
87. Unable to locate.
-MCSO received a re-
quest on Hwy 74, Ione to
check on her 14 year old
daughter. Father is refusing to
let the daughter have contact
with her mother. Mother is
custodial parent. Concerned
because she hasn’t been al-
lowed to talk to her daughter
in over a week.
-MCSO received a re-
port at Mustang Diner on NE
Chase St, Heppner that 3-4
kids are running on the roof of
the old bowling alley.
-MCSO received a report
on I 84 E, Boardman that there
is something in the middle of
the right lane, possibly a deer.
Referred to other agency.
-MCSO received a report
on NE Court St, Heppner that a
young boy came into the house
and pointed a gun at subject
that lives at the house.
-MCSO received a report
on I 84 E, Boardman that his
daughter was abducted from
alongside the freeway and he
is following the vehicle. RP
did not think she had gone
willingly. Daughter called to
report her father following her
on the freeway. She advised
she is with her boyfriend and
was with him willingly.
-MCSO received a report
at Boardman Chevron on Main
St N, Boardman that a side by
side has rolled over and hit her
head. Heading to Chevron in
Boardman to meet the ambu-
lance. Transported to GSH.
did not see vehicle pass.
-MCSO received a report
at McNab Ln/Zinter Rd, Ione
that a red flatbed pickup is
parked on the east shoulder
partially in the lane. Advised
vehicle is hard to see due to
the fog.
-MCSO received a report
on I 84 W, Boardman that a
semi he is behind is all over the
road. Referred to other agency.
-MCSO received a report
on Kunze Ln, Boardman that
there is a suspicious vehicle
driving down various drive-
ways in the area and would
like it checked out. Unable
to locate.
-MCSO received a report
at Alpine Ln/Bombing Range
Rd, Lexington that there is a
standard poodle and yellow
lab.
-MCSO received a re-
port on SE Utah Ave, Irrigon
that there is an all-white pit
bull that gets out numerous
times. RP advised the dog tries
to jump inside his Jeep that
doesn’t have doors.
-MCSO received a report
at Wilson Ln/Bombing Range
Rd, Boardman that a truck
and trailer are stopped in the
lane and they walked away,
blocking the eastbound lane
of travel on Wilson. Unable
to locate.
-MCSO received a report
at Depot Ln/Division Rd, Ir-
rigon that a little red car was
swerving all over the road.
-MCSO received a report
that Nicholas Garza was ar-
rested by UCSO on MCSO
warrant. Lodged at UCJ.
-MCSO received a re-
port at US Post Office on NE
Main Ave, Irrigon that there
is a woman with red hair and
purple jacket and male in camo
sweatshirt sitting outside.
They have had problems with
them taking mail from garbage
bins. Unable to locate.
-MCSO received a report
on W Idaho Ave, Irrigon that
a dog is coming onto their
property.
-MCSO received a report
on SW Nevada Ave, Irrigon
that there is a dog at large.
Warned for dog at large.
-MCSO received a report
on N First St, Irrigon that
mom passed out. 47 year old
female, unknown breathing.
Transported to GSH.
-MCSO received a report
at N First St/NE Washington
Ave, Irrigon that 4-5 shots
were heard. White van leaving
the area. Unable to locate.
January 29: Morrow
County Sheriff’s Office re-
ceived a report on I 84 W,
Boardman that white food ser-
vice van was swerving, going
about 50 mph. OSP advised
vehicle stopped at Space Age.
Deputy set up in Boardman,
January 30: Morrow
County Sheriff’s Office re-
ceived a report on I 84 E,
Boardman that a semi was
heading west in the eastbound
lane. Unable to locate.
-MCSO received a report
on SE Utah Ave, Irrigon that
every night he sees a white
Cadillac with black vinyl top
coming down Utah towards
Division and blows the stop
sign at Seventh the following
morning. Deputy left business
card on vehicle.
-MCSO received a report
on Piper Canyon Rd, Heppner
regarding phone scams he and
his wife just received.
-MCSO received a report
on Locust Rd, Irrigon that his
dog has been sick lately and
he found raw hamburger in
his yard last night. Concerned
the neighbor might be poison-
ing him.
-MCSO received a report
at Ridge Crest Ln/Parkside
Rd, Boardman that an Eddie
Bauer black bike with red let-
tering is in the ditch, believes
it could be stolen. Unable to
locate.
CCS BUILDING LEASE
-Continued from PAGE ONE
site and needed an agree-
ment with the new owners hired to study the county’s
to keep it there, and be able inadequate office and build-
to crush additional rock if ing space in Boardman and
Irrigon and come up with
needed for road repairs.
Under the five-year solutions to those needs.
deal the county will extract Goal Seven caused concern
rock from the site and pay and quite a bit of discussion
Arcus 25 cents per solid among the commission
yard of rock taken. The and members of the public
county will pay an addi- when it addressed the lo-
tional $200 per year to cation of the county seat.
Goal Seven said: “Pro-
store rock on the site. Pay-
vide
Morrow County with
ments under the contract
a
plan
to build a new fully
can be made either in cash,
functional
and aestheti-
in kind (crushed material)
cally
appealing
facility
or a combination of both.
that
will
allow
for
a north
At a previous meeting
county
presence
to
serve
on February 7 the commis-
its
public
majority
who
sion approved submitting
reside
in
Boardman
and
an application to upgrade
Irrigon,
while
retaining
electrical hookups at the
county’s Off Highway Ve- its seat in Heppner.” “I
hicle (OHV) park. If re- would recommend taking
ceived, the grant from the out any reference to moving
Oregon Parks and Recre- the county seat,” Heppner
ation Department would resident Kim Cutsforth
pay for a line extension told the commissioners.
to certain campsites by “That raises all kinds of
Columbia Basin Electric red flags. Improving ser-
($38,641), installing 400 vice in the north end yes,
amp service to 25 camp- but not moving services.”
sites in sections D and E by Commissioner Don Russell
Wight’s Electric ($46,162) responded. “I am not inter-
and if needed drilling and ested in moving the county
blasting a trench by 4R seat or moving services out
equipment LLC ($11,500). of Heppner. However, as
The county’s $20,000 the county grows we need
match for the state grant to look at the future.” He
will be through in-kind also reminded everyone
labor and equipment usage. that “seventy six percent
In other business Human of county population now
Resources Director Karen lives in Boardman. It’s
Wolff asked the commis- important we have county
sion for directions on what services available to all
to do with a manufactured county residents.” Commis-
home in Irrigon the county sioner Jim Doherty pointed
received through foreclo- out that the Port of Morrow
sure. Wolff was told to con- will continue to grow but
tact any agency including “we are not thinking of
the city of Irrigon, that may moving any services from
have a use for the property, Heppner to the north end.
Former Commissioner
located at 285 SE Fourth St,
Leann
Rea suggested that
and if no interest then send
the
county
build a couple
the property to auction.
of
extra
offices
in the north
In other action the
end
including
a satellite
commission decided to
office
for
the
administrator
change a statement in the
recently completed goals and others to use. Heppner
laying out the building of Mayor Cody High said
new facilities in the north his issue was in building
end of the county. The goals another big administration
were compiled by Crow building in the north end,
Engineering, which was “when we already have one
here (in Heppner).” Com-
missioner Melissa Lindsay
said she is concerned that
the original plan to improve
offices in the north end has
grown bigger. “I understand
we were replacing exist-
ing buildings and existing
services, not growing,” she
said. “I get nervous when I
sit in on some of the Crow
meetings. Our administra-
tion working half time here
(and half time in the north
end) concerns me.” She
said the cost for the project
“is getting big.” Russell
pointed out that his prefer-
ence from the beginning
was to buy the empty Blue
Mountain Community Col-
lege building in Boardman
and convert it to county of-
fices, thus saving costs, “but
that (opportunity to buy)
apparently is gone,” he said.
Lindsay questioned the
size and cost of the plans.
“This (building plans) went
from a reasonable, amount
to a huge amount and that
concerns me,” she told
the other commissioners
and the public. Heppner
resident John Murray said
he understands the growth
of the county, but also the
fear with the public of mov-
ing he county seat, and
wanted to know “why is
that even in the conversa-
tion. I think you should
alleviate those fears now,”
he urged the commission-
ers. Cutsforth agreed and
said talking about it at all
triggers emotional feelings
with the public. Doherty
agreed. “We should change
the Crow statement,” add-
ing “We are not going to
move the county seat.” “I
understand the sensitivity
of the question of moving
the county seat,” Russell
told the public. “I am not in
favor of moving the county
seat.” The commissioners
all agreed and voted unani-
mously to strike out the last
sentence of Crow Engineer-
ing’s goal seven with any
reference to the location of
the county seat.
Street games featured at St. Pats Celebration
Everyone is invited
to enjoy a few “Street Relay
games” while you wait for
the Great Green Parade to
begin, says Heppner Cham-
ber of Commerce Executive
Director Sheryll Bates.
There will be two
“Relay games” on Main
Street while we wait for the
parade to begin. “Whether
you are a participant or au-
dience, you are guaranteed
to enjoy yourself,” she says.
Brought “back
from the past” this year is
the “Bed Race Team Relay”
Competition: This event
will start at 11 a.m. Teams
consist of four participants,
three pushing and one rid-
ing.Teams will start at the
Shamrock and race to the
end crosswalk in front of
Les Schwab and the event
will be timed. Beds will be
furnished. All teams must
report to the shamrock by
11:00 a.m. to get assigned
schedule. All team mem-
bers have to cross the finish
line for the time to stop.
It is strongly sug-
gested that the participants
wear a helmet, knee pads,
shoulder pads or any other
protective gear. The rider
has to remain on the bed at
all times in a laying down
position.
All teams must conduct
themselves appropriately
and no abusive language or
gestures will be tolerated.
All teams are encouraged
to dress up and the teams
dressed up will be judged
with first and second placed
receiving prizes. Winners
will be announced during
the parade at 1 p.m. and first
and second place will be
awarded prizes, and partici-
pation prizes for all teams.
You will need to
fill out an entry form (and
all participants must sign a
waiver) and turn it into the
Chamber office no later than
March 9. There is no cost
to participate. Forms can
be picked up at the Cham-
ber or city hall. Contact the
Chamber at 541-676-5536
or heppnerchamber@cen-
turytel.net.
For the second
year, the O’Planky Team
Relay Race Competition
returns to offer a challenge:
This event will start at
11:30 a.m. and go the other
direction of the Bed Races.
Teams consist of four par-
ticipants. Teams will start
at the Shamrock and race to
the end of May Street, turn
around and return back to
the shamrock to complete
the race. All teams must
report to the shamrock by
2017 O’Plankey Races
11:30 a.m. to get assigned
relay schedule. The team
must end up with the same
number of team members
that they started with. It is
strongly suggested that the
participants where a helmet,
knee pads, shoulder pads or
any other protective gear. It
is permissible for all players
to step off of the “plank” to
turn around and return to
the Shamrock.
Winners will be an-
nounced during the parade
at 1 p.m. and will have their
team name on the trophy.
You will need to
fill out an entry form (and
all participants must sign a
waiver) and turn it into the
Chamber office no later than
March 9. There is no cost
to participate. Forms can be
picked up at the Chamber
or city hall. Contact the
Chamber at 541-676-5536
or heppnerchamber@cen-
turytel.net.
The “Welly Toss”
continues to be a popu-
lar event which is held
on Saturday on Willow
Street between Murray’s
and Quilter’s Roundup:
There are competition lev-
els for all ages, so stop by
and try your luck at tossing
a “Wellington Boot”. There
is no cost to participate (in
the past there was a team
charge). Team competi-
tion will be held from 10
a.m.-12:30 p.m. Children
and individual competition
will be from 10:30 a.m. to
12:30 p.m. Prizes will be
awarded to the top three
teams, two highest finish-
ers in the Individual Men
and Women’s category and
children will receive a gold
coin for participating. Pick
up a team registration form
at the Chamber Office or
city hall.
“So come out,
check out the schedule and
plan on “becoming a little
more Irish”, the Heppner
way as we celebrate our
36th Wee Bit O’ Ireland
Celebration,” said Bates.