Osmin takes first in series
HEPPNER
G T
50¢
azette
imes
VOL. 137
NO. 43 8 Pages
Wednesday, October 24, 2018
Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon
Smith attends Chamber
candidates forum
Endorses Buehler for Governor
Left: Kael Osmin shows his
bike skills at the Bike Pit.
Above: Kael Osmin, shown
with his trophy. -Photos by
Staci Osmin.
Kael Osmin, 16, of
Heppner took first place in
his division at the Bike Pit-
OHV track in Pilot Rock
last weekend. Kael has been
racing his bike in the races
at the track for a couple of
years in the beginners class
and has only lost one race.
Each race day consists
of two races with approxi-
mately four to six riders in
the race. There are classes
for beginners, intermediates
and pro racers. Osmin has
participated in every race
held this season and placed
third in the last race of the
year.
According to a source,
other riders who have raced
this year at the track from
the Heppner area are Car-
son Brosnan, Hunter Gree-
nup, Kegan Steagall and
Kenneth Troxell.
The bike pit opened
about 12 years ago and
provides a location where
riders can ride at no charge.
The non-profit bike pit is
open to the public during
most daylight hours.
Drought loans now available to
Morrow County farm
dependent businesses
Oregon State Representative Greg Smith addressed the Heppner Chamber of Commerce at
its candidates forum/ luncheon last Thursday. -Photo by David Sykes.
By David Sykes
“I am the longest serv-
ing member of the Oregon
Legislature. And that is
thanks to you,” Oregon
Representative Greg Smith
told a full house at the
Heppner Chamber of Com-
merce candidate forum/
luncheon last Thursday.
And that length of time
coupled with Smith’s hard
work in Salem and for his
district has garnered him
an impressive list of com-
mittee appointments. Smith
attended the candidate’s
forum even though he is
running unopposed for his
position.
Smith made several en-
dorsements at the meeting,
including:
Ballot measure 102 a
constitutional amendment
that allows local bonds for
financing affordable hous-
ing with nongovernmental
entities. “This would be
good move for communi-
ties,” he said when endors-
ing passage.
Measure 103 prohibits
taxes/fees based on trans-
actions for “groceries.” The
measure is an amendment
to the Oregon Constitution.
Smith said he is supporting
the measure.
Measure 104 also a
constitutional amendment
that expands (beyond taxes)
application of requirement
that three-fifths legislative
majority approve bills rais-
ing revenue. “I am a yes on
this,” he said.
Measure 105 repeals
law limiting use of state/
local law enforcement re-
sources to enforce federal
immigration laws. Smith
said he believes each of
us, including migrants, are
God’s children, but he also
believes in the rule of law.
He said eastern Oregon is
dependent on migrant labor
for its economy, but that
immigration has to be legal.
“I’m for law and order,” he
said on endorsing a yes vote
on this measure.
Measure 106 prohibits
spending “public funds”
(defined) directly/indirectly
for “abortion” (defined);
exceptions; reduces abor-
tion access. “I am a pro-
life person and proud of
it,” Smith said. He said
he was opposed to using
public money for abortion.
“I support passage of this
measure,” he said.
On the governor’s race
Smith says he is endorsing
fellow Republican Knute
Buehler over Democrat
Kate Brown. “Kate Brown
is a good person and I have
gotten along with her, but
it is time for a change and
Knute will do that,” he said.
Smith’s committee ap-
pointments for coming ses-
sion are:
House Revenue Com-
mittee, Co-Vice Chair -
Joint Ways and Means
Committee, Co-Vice Chair
- Joint Ways and Means
Subcommittee on Gener-
al Government, Co-Chair
- Joint Ways and Means
Subcommittee on Capital
Construction - Joint Com-
mittee on Student Success,
Co-Vice Chair - Joint Emer-
gency Board - House GOP
Caucus, Budget Chair.
Deer hunters kill dairy cow
Maybe a deer hunter thought they saw horns or someone just wanted target practice. Either
way, one of JVB Dairy’s cows got shot and killed recently.Dairy owner John VandenBrink
said one of his hands found the dead cow last week and when they turned it over they found
the bullet holes. “They just went and shot it, for no reason,” VandenBrink said. “It was
probably deer hunters.” The large dairy is located on Morter Lane outside of Ione.
G-T Trophy Corner
The Heppner Ga-
zette-Times wants to see
pictures of your trophy
animals from this hunting
season. Stop by to have
your picture taken, drop
off photos, mail them to
PO Box 337
in Heppner,
email them
to editor@
rapidserve.
net or text
cell phone
photos to 541-980-6674.
By David Sykes
Small non-farm busi-
nesses impacted by the
recent drought hurting Mor-
row County ranchers and
farmers, are now eligible
to apply for low-interest
federal disaster loans from
the Small Business Admin-
istration, SBA, it’s been
announced.
According to a release
provided to the Heppner
Gazette by Morrow Coun-
ty Commissioner Melissa
Lindsay, loans up to $2
million are now available
for small non-farm busi-
nesses and most private
nonprofit organizations that
have suffered losses due to
decreased business with the
farmers and ranchers hurt
by the drought which start-
ed July 24, 2018. The loans
can be used to “help meet
financial obligations and
operating expenses which
could have been met had
the disaster not occurred.”
“Eligibility for these
loans is based on the finan-
cial impact of the disaster
only and not on any actual
property damage. These
loans have an interest rate
of 3.61 percent for busi-
nesses and 2.5 percent for
private nonprofit organiza-
tions, a maximum term of
30 years and are available to
small businesses and most
private nonprofits without
the financial ability to offset
the adverse impact without
hardship,” the release said.
Businesses primari-
ly engaged in farming or
ranching are not eligible
for SBA disaster assistance.
Agricultural enterprises
should contact the Farm
Services Agency about the
U.S. Department of Ag-
riculture assistance made
available by the secretary’s
declaration. However,
nurseries are eligible for
SBA disaster assistance in
drought disasters.
Applicants may ap-
ply online, receive addi-
tional disaster assistance
information and down-
load applications at https://
disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.
Applicants may also call
SBA’s customer service
center at 800-659-2955 or
email disastercustomerser-
vice@sba.gov for more in-
formation on SBA disaster
assistance.
Ballots must be received by
Nov. 6
Completed ballots for
the November 6 election
must be received by 8 p.m.
on election day. Postmarks
do not count.
Ballots may be dropped
in Heppner 24 hours a day
at the drop box in the Bar-
tholomew building park-
ing lot. Ballots may also
be dropped in the county
clerk’s office, room 102,
Monday through Friday
from 8 a.m. to noon and 1
to 5 p.m.
The Lexington ballot
drop box is located in the
public works parking lot at
365 W Hwy 74.
In Ione, the drop box is
located on Spring Street, in
front of the turn onto Third
Street.
Outside drop boxes are
currently open 24 hours, but
all drop boxes will close
at 8 p.m. on election day.
Ballot drop boxes are also
available in Boardman and
Irrigon.
Ballot drop sites are available throughout the county. Boxes can
be found in Heppner, Lexington, Ione, Boardman and Irrigon.
DEADLINE:
MONDAYS
AT 5PM
Morrow County
Grain Growers
Lexington
Cody Fletcher shot his buck
in the Ukiah District. -Con-
tributed photo