Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, August 22, 2018 -- FOUR
DEQ issues air quality advisory Public hearings to be held
The Oregon Depart-
ment of Environmental
Quality has issued an air
quality advisory for Cen-
tral and Eastern Oregon as
smoke from fires through-
out the Pacific Northwest
continues to affect Oregon.
The new advisory
covers Crook, Baker, De-
schutes, Gilliam, Grant,
Harney, Jefferson, Malheur,
Morrow, Sherman, Umatil-
la, Union, Wasco, Wallowa
and Wheeler. Conditions
are expected to last until
Thursday.
On Monday at 9 a.m.,
conditions in Madras, The
Dalles and Enterprise were
moderate. Conditions in
Sisters, Bend, Burns and
Baker City were unhealthy
for sensitive groups. Condi-
tions in Prineville, John Day
and Cove were unhealthy.
Conditions were very un-
healthy in La Grande and
hazardous in Pendleton.
Local smoke levels can
rise and fall rapidly. Resi-
dents can view current air
quality conditions at DEQ’s
Air Quality Index at https://
oraqi.deq.state.or.us/home/
map. The index is also
available on smart phones
by searching for OregonAir
in the app store.
The color-coded Air
Quality Index ranks air
quality as follows: green is
good; yellow is moderate,
which is unhealthy for ex-
tremely sensitive groups;
orange is unhealthy for
sensitive groups such as
children, the elderly, preg-
nant women and those with
respiratory conditions; red
is unhealthy for everyone;
purple is very unhealthy
for all groups and maroon
is hazardous.
County health officials
encourage residents to take
the following precautions:
-Reduce time spent
outdoors when smoke is
present.
-Use an indoor high-ef-
ficiency air filter (HEPA) or
electrostatic precipitator in
your home to help create
one or more rooms with
cleaner air to breathe.
-Set your air condi-
tioning or heating unit to
recycle or recirculate when
at home or in your car.
-Stay hydrated. Drink
plenty of water.
-Reduce other sources
of indoor smoke and dust,
including burning ciga-
rettes, candles, gas or pro-
pane ranges, wood burning
stoves and furnaces and
vacuuming.
-Reduce the time you
engage in vigorous outdoor
activity.
-If you have heart or
lung disease or respiratory
illnesses such as asthma,
follow your health care
provider’s advice about
prevention and treatment of
symptoms.
-Consider maximiz-
ing time in air-conditioned
homes or buildings during
smoky periods or visit pub-
lic, air-conditioned places
such as libraries, commu-
nity centers, senior centers,
restaurants and retailers for
relief from smoke.
Oregon’s monitoring
network does not capture
air quality conditions in
all communities so it is
important for residents to
gauge air quality conditions
where they live and take ap-
propriate actions to protect
themselves.
Chamber announcements
Public hearings will be
held by the Morrow County
planning commission in
Heppner on Aug. 28 start-
ing at 7 p.m. The hearings,
at the Bartholomew build-
ing, are for applicants who
have applied for permits
pertaining to their land or
possible changes to their
land and offers adjoining
property owners and inter-
ested parties the opportuni-
ty to voice support or oppo-
sition to these requests.
The first request is
from John Flynn, who has
applied for a conditional
use permit to allow Ruggs
Ranch to operate as a guest
ranch.
The second is to au-
thorize a land partition on
property owned by Lyle
and Virginia Peck, which
would divide the land into
two separate parcels.
During the month of
July, the Morrow County
Planning Commission ap-
proved the Gala Springs
subdivision to be built just
west of the Boardman city
limits. The subdivision will
consist of 14 lots proposed
at two acres each.
Morrow County Plan-
ning Department and staff
issued four zoning permits
in July authorizing the con-
struction of buildings in
support of farm operations.
Also issued was a permit
within the port industrial
area for industrial activ-
ities and a zoning permit
for a substation on farm
land in support of farming
activities.
The planning depart-
ment works cooperatively
with the Morrow County
Sheriff’s Office handling
code enforcement issues.
At this time there are over
a dozen open code enforce-
ment cases with a half doz-
en cases being closed in
July. Through the summer
months the majority of the
cases are recreational vehi-
cles being used as dwell-
ings, which is not allowed
in Morrow County without
proper permitting.
Housing has been a dis-
cussion in Morrow County
for several years. Starting
in September, the plan-
ning department will be
working with all five com-
munities to accomplish a
buildable lands inventory
and housing analysis to
better understand our cur-
rent land inventory and
housing stock, leading to
potential comprehensive
plan and development code
amendments to facilitate
new housing development.
The current work should
wrap up by March of 2019.
The Morrow County
Planning Department en-
courages you to visit their
website for information on
the planning commission,
code enforcement, special
projects and much more.
The website is available
at https://www.co.morrow.
or.us/planning.
Fire crews respond to new
ignitions following lightning
Fire crews on the Uma-
tilla National Forest are
responding to new smoke
reports following passing
thunderstorms Sunday eve-
ning and Monday morning.
Significant lightning activi-
ty occurred across the entire
forest, with new incidents
on the Umatilla National
Forest reported to the Blue
Mountain Interagency Dis-
patch Center (BMIDC)
and John Day Interagency
Dispatch Center (JDIDC).
More smoke reports are
expected throughout the
next few days as the heavy
smoke in the area lifts and
weather conditions im-
prove. Additional fires were
detected following thunder-
storms Monday.
Local initial attack re-
sources have been busy re-
sponding to these incidents.
With the limited visibility
due to the heavy smoke in
the area, fire detection has
been a challenge. Fire man-
agers have used thermal de-
tection through a software
program called MODIS and
infrared detection from a
National Guard aircraft to
help identify new fires. The
use of aerial resources for
suppression efforts has been
hampered due to the heavy
smoke that has settled into
the area.
On the North Fork John
Day Ranger District, the
Harrison Fire was reported
on Aug. 20 at 8:11 p.m.
within the Greenhorn unit
of the North Fork John
Day Wilderness. The fire is
burning in grass and open
timber approximately 16
miles west of Sumpter, Ore-
gon and 2 miles south of Ol-
ive Lake. Based on thermal
detection from MODIS,
fire managers estimate the
fire to be 30 acres in size.
Firefighters are hiking in
this morning to get a better
size up and develop a sup-
pression plan.
The largest of the fires,
the Gilman Fire, is approx-
imately 650 acres in size
Thursday, Aug. 23 from Summer Movies in the Park Wheeler County Ramblers,
near Gilman Flats on the
5-6:30 p.m., Open House will show the 1995 version a huge silent and live auc-
Heppner Ranger District.
for The Loop Morrow of Jumanji, rated PG.
tion (with 2 Henry Tribute
The fire is burning on both
County Transportation at
Sunday, Aug. 26 from 6 Edition rifles). Dance music
Umatilla National Forest
the Bartholomew Building.: to 8 p.m., Ione Music in the will be provided by Coun-
and Oregon Department of
The Loop will be hold- Park will feature Absolutely tryfied. Tickets are $35
Forestry protected lands.
ing two open houses for Nobody, with the Joe Lind- each and may be purchased
The fire was reported at
gathering information and say and Corey Cooley fam- at MCGG-Wasco, Thrifty
6:19 p.m. and is burning in
ideas for growing Morrow ilies. Concessions available Food Center-Arlington,
primarily grass with some
County Public Transpor- by Tacos Hometown at 5 Condon Chamber, Murrays
timber. One Umatilla Na-
tation. These projects will p.m. The event will be held Drug-Condon and Dinty’s
tional Forest engine and one
be funded by the Statewide at the Ione City Park and Market-Biggs Junction.
Oregon Department of For-
Transportation Improve- is sponsored by Morrow More information is avail-
estry engine are on scene. A
ment Fund. If you are un- County Unified Recreation able on the Woolery Project
Type 3 team took command
able to attend this meeting, District and the Ione Li- Facebook page at www.
of the fire Tuesday.
there will be a meeting in brary Board.
facebook.com/thewool-
The Cupper Canyon
Boardman on Thursday,
Monday, Aug. 27 at eryprojectinc or via email
Fire is located on the Hep-
Aug. 30 in the Wells Spring 6 p.m., Town Hall with to info@thewoolerypro-
pner Ranger District ap-
room at the Port of Morrow. Morrow County Board of jectinc.org.
proximately 4 miles NW
Friday, Aug. 24 the Commissioners to review
of Monument, OR. The fire
Lexington Grange will plans for new north Mor-
was reported at 12:37 p.m.
sponsor the Back to School row County building to
and is burning in grass,
5K Fun Run. Registration be constructed in Irrigon,
brush and timber. The 60-
begins at 6 p.m. and the run at the Heppner City Hall
acre fire threatens a struc-
at 6:30 p.m. The proceeds Conference Room. The
ture approximately one
The Heppner branch of the Oregon Trail Library
from the run will go to- current facility has reached
half of a mile away. With
wards the Grange Scholar- its capacity and is need of District has released the list of new books available in
assistance from the Oregon
ship Fund, benefiting south a great deal of repair and June and July.
Department of Forestry, fire
The new fiction books are: Ride the Savage Land –
Morrow county graduating commissioners felt it was
crews have the fire currently
seniors. The run will begin better suited to be torn William W. Johnstone, The Last Town – Blake Crouch,
60 percent lined. Resources
and end at the grange build- down and a new structure The Eight Mountains – Paolo Cognetti and The Only
on scene include one heli-
ing (66296 Marquardt Rd, put in its place. The de- Story – Julian Barnes.
copter, two Single Engine
Non-fiction books available are: Whiskey Tango
Lexington). There will be sign and floor plan will be
Air Tankers (SEATs), three
Foxtrot – Kim Barker, Frommer’s Easyguide to Disney
fun prizes and drawings for available.
Oregon Department of For-
participants as well as an
Saturday, Oct. 20, 4 th World, Universal and Orlando 2018 – Jason Cochran,
estry engines, one Umatilla
ice cream social following Annual Oktoberfest Auc- Credit Repair – Ama Loftsgordon, The Handy Geology
National Forest engine and
the run. Pre-registration can tion and Dinner. This event Answer Book – Patricia L. Barnes Svarney and The Po-
one hand crew.
be done online by visiting is a benefit for The Woolery tatopia Cookbook – Allen Dikker.
The Low Ridge Fire
lexingtongrange726.com or Project and will be held
consists of two fires located
following the link: https:// in the big tent on the Port
within the Mill Creek Wa-
goo.gl/forms/at6JdNLMK- of Arlington peninsula. A
tershed near Indian Ridge
TvnJOjf2. The cost for the prime rib dinner prepared
approximately 17 miles SE
308 E Gladys Ave
run is $15 or $25 with an by Paradise Rose Chuck-
Hermiston, OR 97838 of Walla Walla, WA on the
event shirt.
wagon Catering will be
Walla Walla Ranger Dis-
Saturday, Aug. 25 at served. There will be dinner
trict. The fires were report-
9 p.m. (or at dark), Ione music by One Hum and
ed at 4:53 p.m., burning in
Office: 541-564-5900
grass and timber. One fire is
hermistonhomeloansrus.com
less than an acre in size and
fully lined. The second fire
Kim Arbogast
Meghan Kae Golden
is approximately 2.5 acres
Sales Manager
Loan Officer
NMLS # 230847
NMLS # 573302
and was staffed Monday
arbogast@fairwaymc.com meghan.golden@fairwaymc.com
night. Containment efforts
continued Tuesday. The
Copyright©2018 Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation. NMLS#2289. 4750 S. Biltmore Lane,
fires are staffed by five
Madison, WI 53718, 1-877-699-0353. Other restrictions and limitations may apply. All rights reserved.
smokejumpers with two
engines and a 10-person
hand crew en route.
Additional thunder-
storms
are forecasted for
ABSOLUTELY NOBODY
Wednesday afternoon. Air
Joe Lindsay, Corey Cooley & Families
quality is expected to be at
The past 5 years Sykes Real Estate has sold more
Office Share
unhealthy levels over the
at Ione City Park
4/15/201
Presented by: properties
David Sykes
than all 541-980-6674
real estate david@rapidserve.net
agents combined. 188 W. Willow next few days.
Sykes Real Estate
Fire
officials
want
to
With 65 sales worth over 5.2 million in the Heppner,
remind
everyone
that
the
Search Criteria
Lexington and Ione market, no one sells more !
current fire danger rating
Property Category = RESIDENTIAL, MULTIFAMILY, COMM/INDUSTRIAL, LOTS AND LAND Area = 422, 423, 424 Status = SLD Status Date Range =
01/01/2014...12/31/2017 Price = 1...99999000 Search Type = Selling Office
remains at EXTREME and
So when it's time to call an agent
Public Use Restrictions
Report Graph
involving campfires and
call David Sykes. - He Delivers!
chainsaw use are in effect.
Residential - Commercial - Recreational
New books available
at Heppner Library
Sunday August 26 6-8pm
SYKES REAL ESTATE
OUT SELLS THE COMPETITION!!
EVERYONE INVITED,
BRING CHAIRS
AND COOLERS
♦
Concessions by
Tacos Hometown
lone's Music in the
Park will have
Performances
Through September
Sykes Real Estate
We Print
Letterhead &
Envelopes
Others
103
8
Box
• P.O. 97886
889
N. Water n, OR
Westo 569-6 376
(888)
one: (541) 566-2 270
566-9 et
or
(541)
Fax: pcfcu@uci.n
al.net
E: mail: u.virtu
reekfc
pinec
Teleph
dit
l Cre
era Since 1960
Fed bers
ek Our Mem
e Cre Serving
Union
ite:
Webs
Pin
WILDH
ORSE RESOR
T & CASIN
72777
PENDLETO HWY 331
N, OR 97801
Report Data
188 W. Willow
541-980-6674
Heppner, OR 97836
david@sykesrealestate.net
O
Heppner Gazette