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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 19, 2018)
Ice bucket challenge for ALS comes to town HEPPNER G T 50¢ azette imes VOL. 137 NO. 38 8 Pages Wednesday, September 19, 2018 Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon County adopts parks plan for the future If followed would see major upgrades at Off-Highway Vehicle Park By David Sykes A county parks mas- ter plan, which guides us- age of the county parks through the year 2038, has been adopted by the county commissioners. And while the plan covers many pos- sible future upgrades and changes for all three county parks, Off-Highway Ve- hicles park would see the most improvements includ- ing increased shopping and stores, to a possible motel. While there were goals for all parks, some of the most aggressive would be at the OHV park. In food services there are many possibilities including spe- cial event vendors, deli ser- vices, snack shack vendors and full-service restaurants. The park currently only has one restaurant, operating under a franchise agree- ment, servicing campers and day users. There could also be a convenience store and snack shacks located throughout the park, with a focus on providing limited food options appropriate to the season. Another op- tion could be fast food and full-service food available in the compound area of the park servicing both camp users and travelers along highway 207, which passes by the park. In addition, the plan looks at convenience stores, pro shops and gift shops that could be added. These retail stores could be in- cluded in a singular store or be offered in a variety of ways. Fueling stations could also be added to pro- vide gas and propane. Also in the plan were suggestions for a large event arena that could host large groups of people to attend events such as con- certs. A motocross track is also mentioned where racing and other events could be held with an area for spectators. Perhaps the largest ad- dition to the park could be ATV riders enjoy the Morrow County OHV park. the addition of more lodg- ing such as cabins, lodges, motels (of four to 24 units) or hotels and resorts which could serve visitors and the travelers with overnight accommodations and ame- nities such as food service, shopping and possibly a swimming pool, spa, gym or lounge. To attract horse camp- ers, build at least four to eight corrals. Construct new outdoor education fa- cilities which would serve snowmobile, bicycle, RV and hiking groups. Create areas for outdoor sports for park visitors such as archery, basketball, frisbee golf, tennis and volleyball. Consider constructing stu- dent lodging facilities. The plan says “most outdoor school experiences include overnight camping experiences. To make the facilities attractive as an outdoor education option, feasibility, design and fund- ing for a student-lodging facility should be pursued.” Encourage rental services for recreational equipment. The plan also suggests building a covered outdoor gazebo in the recreational area for gatherings. For the other camp- grounds in the county, An- son Wright and Cutsforth, there could be upgrades to provide electrical, water and sewer for campers. Make changes to accom- modate larger RVs with rear access doors and slides on both sides of the RV and to provide full hook-up such as power, water and sewer to meet the requests of users Some of the future goals spelled out in the plan would include im- provement in signage with new signs at the entrances and near roads to aid with park visibility to travelers. Reduce campsite density to offer more privacy which enhances customer satis- faction and foster repeat business from campers. Improve the campsite ame- nities by installing upgrades such as power, water or sewer. The plan looks at all these improvements as pos- sibilities which are not necessarily going to hap- pen. It was developed by the planning department staff and the parks plan sub-committee made up of citizens Sheryll Bates, Kirsti Cason, Greg Close, Kim Cutsforth, Mike Gor- man, Carla McLane, Burke O’Brien, Thomas Wolff and Clint Carlson. The commis- sioners voted unanimously to accept it. In other business at the Sept. 5 meeting, the commissioners approved a jail contract with Umatilla County to house Morrow County prisoners. The con- tract says Morrow County will pay Umatilla $430,700 to reserve 20 daily beds at the jail for the current fiscal year. The county will be charged $59 per day for each prisoner lodged at the jail. If the county houses assistance is or will be needed to return the land to productive agricultural use, is unusual and is not the type that would recur frequently in the same area, affect the productive capac- ity of the farmland or impair or endanger the land. The types of measures that may be eligible are removing debris from farm- land, grading, shaping, or releveling severely dam- aged farmland, restoring Heppner has joined in the challenge to raise money and awareness for ALS in a couple of ways. One is with the ice bucket challenge, where business- es and residents agree to have a bucket of ice water poured over their head and then challenge the next per- son. The other is the walk to defeat ALS scheduled for Sept. 23 in Portland where Team Heppner Walk to Defeat ALS will participate. Those who choose to forego the ice bucket may make a donation instead. Local residents Terra Adams, Delia Robinson and Martha Munkers have been diagnosed with ALS (amy- otrophic lateral sclerosis) Lou Gehrig disease. This disease is a neurodegener- ative disease which affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cords. Organizers Judy Healy, Darcy Hostetler-Robinson, Rhonda Winters, Stepha- nie Rill and Betty Fayette Hickerson would like to invite everyone to support the cause by donation or joining them in Portland on the 23 rd from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the World Trade Center, 121 SW Salmon St. for the walk. A donation jar is avail- able at Murray’s Drug in Heppner to raise awareness, help fund research for a cure and help support the needs of the local chapter patients. more prisoners, on an avail- able only basis, than the allotment, it will be billed for the usage. If it houses fewer than the 20 allotted, the county will receive a refund. The commissioners also approved at $486,698 contract with Granite Con- struction Company out of Hermiston for road work between Ione and Board- man. Granite was the low bidder. In other business the council approved an ag- gregate gravel and rock pit site on Aaron Heideman property. In further action the commission voted to ap- prove county administrator Darrell Green to serve as an alternate on the Co- lumbia River Enterprise Zone, CREZ, board. He will replace Greg Sweek who resigned to take on the position as paid administra- tor for the CREZ. The commission was told that a new human re- sources director has hired to replace Karen Wolff who recently retired. The new person is Karmen Carl- son. The commission was also told by Green that the county is proceeding to the request for proposals for engineering and design ser- vices phase of the new Irri- ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE: MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M. -See COUNTY PARKS/PAGE FIVE Bikers pedal through the area Blue Mountain Century Scenic Bikeway Riders posed for the camera as they rode through Heppner. -Photo by David Sykes. The 7 th annual Blue Mountain Century Sce- nic Bikeway group passed through Heppner last week on another successful ride organized by the Heppner Chamber of Commerce and community volun- teers. Twenty-three riders climbed over 8,000 feet in elevation in the 108 mile ride. Bikers came from Men- lo Park, CA; Vancouver, Washougal, Battle Ground and Woodinville, WA; Port- land, Scappoose, Oregon City, Gladstone, Bend, Heppner and Pendleton. Some had participated pre- viously, but some were new riders. Riders noted they enjoyed the beautiful scen- ery, the challenge of the ride and each other’s company. Several riders com- mented that they enjoy the clean, friendly atmosphere of Heppner and will bring others to ride on the next ride scheduled for Sept. 21-22, 2019. Driver cited in Lexington incidents The driver involved in multiple incidents in Lexington last week was cited for reckless driving and reckless endangerment after crashing into the house at Cutsforth Corner. A further update from the Morrow County Sher- permanent fences or restor- iff’s Office stated Jesus ing conservation structures and other similar installa- tions. Producers who have suffered a loss from the fire may contact the local FSA County Office and request assistance from Sept. 17 to October 16, 2018. For more information about ECP, please contact the Morrow County FSA Office at 541- 676-9011 or visit www.fsa. usda.gov/or. Farms damaged by fire may receive assistance Farms and ranches suffering severe damage from the Hinton/Willow Creek fire may be eligible for assistance under the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) adminis- tered by the Morrow Coun- ty Farm Service Agency (FSA). For land to be eligible, the natural disaster must have created new conser- vation problems that, if un- treated, would be so costly to rehabilitate that Federal Desirae Ruth, employee in the Bank of Eastern Oregon Mortgage Department, did her part in the ice bucket challenge to raise awareness for ALS. Rhonda Winters is pouring. -Photo by David Sykes. Garcia was also cited for failure to perform duties of a driver, criminal mischief and trespassing follow- ing reports of additional incidents that were later determined to have been caused by the same driver who crashed into the house. Garcia was cited and 3 released on the additional charges because he was transferred to the hospital in Hermiston for surgery. 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