Parade winners announced
HEPPNER
G T
50¢
azette
imes
VOL. 138
NO. 34 6 Pages
Wednesday, August 21, 2019
Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon
Lexington RV park planned
10-15 sites on former school property
Owyhee Nite Dazzlers. -Photo by David Sykes.
The Owyhee Nite Dazzlers drill team took first place in the rider’s category at the
2019 Morrow County Fair parade.
In the community float category, Critters with Attitude placed first and Columbia
River Heat was second.
Morrow County Health District was named the first-place winner in the commercial
float category with Bank of Eastern Oregon taking second.
Critters with Attitude. -Photo by Bobbi Gordon.
Local man wants to construct RV park on this former school property in Lexington.
By David Sykes
Lexington man Sam
Bellamy plans to build
an RV park on the former
school property he acquired
in town several years ago,
he informed the town coun-
cil last week. The council
was aware of his plans as
Sam’s wife, Mary Kay, had
been to a meeting several
months ago to discuss the
project.
Bellamy says the park
is going to be mainly vaca-
tion type rentals with may-
be two permanent spaces
available. At last Tuesday’s
council meeting he was not
asking for official approval
from the town council for
the project, just informing
them of the details. He ex-
plained that before anything
can be done, he first needs
Department of Environ-
mental Quality approval for
an adequate septic system.
The entire town of Lexing-
ton is on septic so locating
and installing an approved
system is an important first
piece to building the park.
The town council ap-
peared in favor of the idea
with councilmember Bobbi
Gordon saying it would
be a “plus for Lexington.”
However, one audience
member was concerned if
the park could eventually
become a problem for the
town. “What is the guar-
antee it isn’t going to turn
into Heppner’s RV park,”
they asked. Heppner’s park
is located downtown on
Main Street across from
the motel and has perma-
nent residents. The park
is gaining a reputation for
trashy properties and re-
ports of bad smells and
people didn’t want that to
happen in Lexington. Bella-
my said he is going to keep
his properties clean and
will have only one or two
permanent spots for rent,
mainly for the property’s
caretaker. The rest will be
for short term rentals. “I
will screen people care-
fully, even the two perma-
nent I have there,” Bellamy
assured the council and
public. There could be up
to 300 windmill workers
coming soon to work on the
project once construction
begins, and Bellamy said
he would rent to them, but
plans on keeping a close eye
on things.
Looking at rehabbing
airport well
In other business Bel-
lamy told the council that
he was contacted by the
windmill construction
people about obtaining a
non-potable water source to
be used during the construc-
tion process. He said the
town’s abandoned well at
the Lexington airport may
be an option. Bellamy said
the windmill company will
pay for all the expenses of
putting in a new pump if he
were allowed to run a test on
the well. He said the benefit
to the town would be a new
pump and another source of
water. There were concerns
that the town did not have
water rights on the well, and
also a resident near the well
wanted to know if pumping
would impact the water
level in his well. Bellamy
said a separate monitoring
device could be placed on
the surrounding wells to
make sure they were not
negatively impacted from
the pumping. Bellamy said
he was asking for permis-
sion from the council to
run an eight-hour test on
the well. The council said
they would postpone the
decision until they find out
if they have water rights.
Bellamy said the windmill
company needed to know
soon as they are looking for
a water source by January
or February. Members of
the council suggested to
Bellamy that a better option
might be to have the wind-
mill company help pay for
drilling a new well instead,
but he said there would not
be time for that option.
In other business May-
or Marcia Kemp said she
is still looking for land for
a city park. “There is no
place in this town for kids to
play,” she said. Kemp said
she has a couple of pieces
of land in mind and if she
secures them will begin
applying for grants to fund
it. “People have asked for a
park and I think it’s import-
ant to have a park for the
kids. There are dollars out
there for parks and we need
to get them for our kids,”
she said. Community mem-
bers voiced their concern
that the two parks already in
Lexington are not watered
or maintained, so wondered
if a new park would have
the same problems.
Kemp also talked about
new Welcome to Lexing-
ton signs planned for the
town. She showed a picture
of the Welcome to Spray
sign as an example of how
Lexington’s may look. Al-
though the community has
been asked for suggestions
for the new signs, the Wel-
come to Spray sign was the
only one submitted. Kemp
applied for and received
a grant to pay for the new
signs.
Morrow County Health District. -Photo by Bobbi Gordon.
Walden to hold Heppner
town hall
Continuing a series of
town hall meetings across
Oregon’s Second Dis-
trict, Representative Greg
Walden (R-Hood River)
announced today he will
hold town halls in Sherman,
Gilliam, Morrow, Harney,
and Wasco counties begin-
ning next week.
Heppner’s town hall
will be on Wednesday, Au-
gust 28 at 2:15 p.m. at
Heppner City Hall on Main
Street.
“I’m looking forward
These meetings provide
just another opportunity to
hear from Oregonians and
provide an update on the
issues I’m working on back
in Congress. In addition
to the over 74,000 letters,
emails and phone calls I
have responded to over the
past year, these town halls
help me stay updated on the
issues people are facing in
Rep. Greg Walden
our communities. This is a
to hearing from people top priority for me,” said
throughout the Second Dis- Walden.
trict at these five town halls.
School starts Monday
In other action the
council heard a request
from Sheila and Reid Miller
for a reduction in setback
requirements so they can
put in a new home. The
request was to reduce the
set back from ten to six feet.
The Millers said the reduc-
tion was necessary because
of the odd configuration of
the lot and there was only
one place to place their
new two-bedroom two bath
home. The council voted
unanimously to approve
the request.
In other action Mayor
Kemp asked that the two
town employees laid off
during the recent town shut
down be paid for those sev-
en days. The council said
no to payment because the
shutdown could have been
avoided. “The council was
-See LEX RV PARK/PAGE
THREE
Morrow County School
District students start the
2019-20 school year Mon-
day, August 26. There will
be no school for students
and staff on Friday, August
30, and Monday, Septem-
ber 2, for the Labor Day
holiday.
The district held a dis-
trict-wide staff in-service
on August 19 at Riverside
High School in Boardman,
a building in-service on
Tuesday and eight-hour
staff workdays on Wednes-
day and Thursday, August
21-22.
MORROW COUNTY GRAIN GROWERS
350 MAIN ST
LEXINGTON, OR 97839, CONTACT: JUSTIN BAILEY
541-989-8221
Offers vary by model. *Rebate offers valid on select 2015-2019 new and unregistered Polaris ® RZR ® , RANGER ® ,
Sportsman ® , GENERAL ® , and ACE ® models purchased between 7/24/19 and 9/30/19 and financing offers valid on select
2015-2020 new and unregistered models purchased between 7/24/2019 and 9/30/2019. **Rates as low as 3.99% APR
for 36 months. Examples of monthly payments required over a 36-month term at a 3.99% APR rate: $29.52 per $1,000
financed; and with a 60-month term at a 6.99% APR rate: $19.80 per $1,000 financed. An example of a monthly
payment with $0 down, no rebate, an APR of 3.99% APR for 36 months at an MSRP of $12,699 is $374.87/mo. total cost
of borrowing of $796.27 with a total obligation of $13,495.27. Down payment may be required. Other financing offers
may be available. See your local dealer for details. Minimum Amount Financed $1,500; Maximum Amount Financed
$50,000. Other qualifications and restrictions may apply. Financing promotions void where prohibited. Tax, title, license,
and registration are separate and may not be financed. Promotion may be modified or discontinued without notice at
any time in Polaris' sole discretion. WARNING: Polaris ® off-road vehicles can be hazardous to operate and are not
intended for on-road use. Driver must be at least 16 years old with a valid driver's license to operate. Passengers, if
permitted, must be at least 12 years old. All riders should always wear helmets, eye protection, and protective clothing.
Always use seat belts and cab nets or doors (as equipped). Never engage in stunt driving, and avoid excessive speeds
and sharp turns. Riding and alcohol/drugs don't mix. All riders should take a safety training course. Call 800-342-3764
for additional information. Check local laws before riding on trails. © 2019 Polaris Industries Inc.