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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (July 31, 2019)
SIX - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, July 31, 2019 New windfarm construction begins December 300 workers expected at peak Representatives of the new windfarm coming to Morrow County attended a meeting with local people last week. (L-R): Scott Elliott, wind asset manager with Portland General Electric which is partnering on the project; WCVEDG, sponsor of the meeting, Executive Director Sheryll Bates and Nextera project managers Alyssa Kruger and Keleigh Wright. By David Sykes Construction on a new windfarm in Morrow Coun- ty is expected to start in December and will see 300 workers on the project at its peak, representatives of the company behind the project said last week. Project man- agers from Nextera Energy were in Heppner to brief lo- cals on what to expect when construction gets underway. Construction will last until October of 2020. First phase of the Wheatridge Energy project will be installing 292 wind turbines from north of Ione over by Butter Creek and into Umatilla County. Start- ing in February of next year a 150 MW solar farm will also be built and 100 work- ers will be on the site then. The windfarm will employ eight when completed and the solar farm between three and four. There are two parts to the project. Wheatridge West is located in Morrow County and Wheatridge East is located in Umatilla County. The entire project will span 14,624 acres and was originally designed to have a large battery storage fa- cility included, however that has been changed to have battery storage as part of the tower design. The company also increased the blade length from the original plan, which will up the electrical output from each tower. One concern of lo- cal people who came to the Willow Creek Valley Economic Development Group-sponsored meet- ing, was how to get the workers to spend money locally while here on the project. Project managers said Nextera, one of the largest renewable energy companies in the world, does not do the construction itself but has a couple of companies it works with. They said the construction companies will bring in ev- erything, including trailers for their workers to live in. Project Manager Alyssa Kruger said she is asking now for an inventory of all the available RV camping sites in the county where workers may be able to stay during construction. She said based on other projects she has worked on; construction can be an eco- nomic boon for the county if they can get the workers to spend locally. She said the company wants to do everything they can to help accomplish that. The solar project will be about 1,000 acres and is located on Strawberry Rd. along Highway 207. Construction on that project will be from February until November of 2021. The project is a joint venture be- tween Nextera and Portland A new windfarm being constructed in Morrow County will stretch from Lexington north. General Electric which will ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE: initially buy a large portion of the output to meet its green energy requirements. MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M. Sheriff’s Report The Morrow County Sheriff’s Office has released the following information: April 25 (cont.): Mor- Restaurant on First St NW, port on SE Utah Ave, Irri- row County Sheriff’s Office Boardman that a male and gon that a white Honda is received a report on NW female are fighting. Fe- speeding from Tenth. Jones St, Heppner that two male yelling at male to quit -MCSO received a re- juveniles keep harassing and someone being thrown port on SE Utah Ave, Ir- RP’s dogs. against the wall. rigon that there is a Ford -MCSO received a re- -MCSO received a re- pickup flatbed in the right port at Kunze Ln/Peters port at Miller Rd/Kunze of way. Contact was made Rd, Boardman of a person Ln, Boardman of cattle in and individuals will move on an ATV with a toddler the road. Unable to locate. the vehicle. on the back with no helmet -MCSO received a re- April 26: Morrow port on Pioneer Ln, Board- on. Unable to locate. -MCSO received a re- County Sheriff ’s Office man that someone hit their port at AC Houghton on NE received a report at Love’s fence three weeks ago and Main Ave, Irrigon that two Travel Stop on Tower Rd, advised he would come dogs jumped the fence and Boardman that male ad- and fix the fence but hasn’t proceeded to harass him vised he is working and is showed up. Civil problem. and his wife. Owner was having issues with his sis- -MCSO received a re- advised to keep their dog ter. Deputy provided female port on Washington Ln, a ride to Boardman. in the yard. Irrigon that RP has been out -MCSO received a re- of town for two weeks and -MCSO received a re- port at Bob Kilkenny field, port on SE Fourth St, Irri- came home and is missing Heppner that a 28-year-old gon that her ex is trying to irrigation sprinklers high female fell and possibly take their daughter out of rise heads, vandalism and broke her ankle. Trans- the state without her per- items take out of barn. mission. ported. -MCSO received a re- -MCSO received a re- port on SE Utah Ave, Irri- -MCSO received a re- port on SE Utah Ave, Ir- port on I 84 E, Boardman gon that there is a vehicle rigon that a Honda Civic that a blue Honda van with playing music real loud. went at a high rate of speed Idaho plates is passing peo- Unable to locate. ple and going off the road. toward Tenth. -MCSO received a re- -MCSO received a re- Vehicle located. port of a purse found in -MCSO received a re- Spray, OR. Property will be port at Knight’s Inn/Village mailed to owner. -MCSO received a re- port on SE third St, Irrigon that there is a party next door with loud music. -MCSO received a re- port on I 84 W, Boardman of a dark gray Ford Excur- sion unable to maintain lane. April 27: Morrow County Sheriff’s Office re- ceived a report on SE Utah Ave, Irrigon that his friend said he was going to kill himself, is having a hard time breathing and cannot move, advised he took pills. Transported to GSH. -MCSO received a re- port at NE Twelfth St/NE Washington Ave, Irrigon that early 2000 white Chevy shot into a ditch and almost flipped. -MCSO received a re- port at Love’s Travel Stop on Tower Rd, Boardman that a driver came into Loves and has alcohol on his breath, is fueling his truck now. Unable to locate. -MCSO received a re- Agricultural, Construction, Commercial and Home Loans. We’ve got you covered. Plus Friendly Branches where you can bank! Come visit us. CONDON BRANCH IONE BRANCH 326 S. Main Street 280 Main Street HEPPNER BRANCH MORTGAGE OFFICE 279 N. Main Street 269 N. Main Street, Heppner Rates & terms may vary. All loans subject to credit approval. Member FDIC NMLS# 414459 port on I 84 E, Boardman that a black Lexus is going at least 100 mph. Unable to locate. -MCSO received a re- port on SE Utah Ave, Ir- rigon that a vehicle was parked across the street and when neighbor drove off it pulled into his driveway. RP found this suspicious. -MCSO received a re- port at Sinclair Station on Nain St N, Boardman of 81 male with a possible stroke. Patient transported to GSH. -MCSO received a re- port on SE Utah Ave, Ir- rigon that a bigger white box car sped down toward Tenth. -MCSO received a re- port at Linden Way, Hep- pner of two juveniles play- ing in the road. Parents have collected the children out of the rd. -MCSO received a re- port on Hwy 730, Irrigon that a red Toyota is parked on the hill with emergency flashers on. -MCSO received a report at Riverview Mo- bile Court on E Hwy 730, Irrigon of a lift assist of 67-year-old female. Patient refusal. -MCSO received a re- port at MCSO that fiber was cut in the Spray area and people may have trouble calling 911. -MCSO received a re- port at Willow Creek Res- ervoir, Willow Creek Rd, Heppner of a loose dog. Under investigation. -MCSO received a re- port on Toms Camp Rd, Boardman that her daugh- ter is fighting with RP’s husband. Dputy made con- tact with juvenile, they are continuing to work with a counselor. Heppner's First Friday August 2nd We will be serving up tasty Hand-Dipped Corn Dogs Elephant Ears & More!
