EIGHT - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, July 29, 2020 New children’s books available The Ione Library Dis- trict has been awarded The Pilcrow Foundation grant. This national non-profit public charity, in conjunc- tion with a matching two- to-one donation from the Ione Topic Club, purchased 77 books for our library. A second donation from Mr. Look for Farmer’s Market on Thursdays and Mrs. Hal Berenson and Laura Ackerman added 22 math and science books. A final bonus book brought the total of the donations to 100 books. The librarians are get- ting the books prepared for The Willow Creek circulation and ready to be Farmer’s Market is be- checked out. ing held every Thursday evening from 4-7 p.m. at the Heppner City Park. Although the market had been held on Fridays for over 10 years, the public bear for the physical health indicated they would prefer of the students and their an evening instead. F a r m e r ’s M a r k e t families. co-manager Andrea Di Sal- The planned Youth vo told the Gazette, “It’s do- Showcase scheduled for ing really well. We average August 17-21 will be mov- about 10 vendors per week, ing to a “virtual” format and the whole market has through a program called a festive feeling. With so ShoWorks. This virtual many things closed, people format will be for all mar- ket and breeding livestock seem to enjoy the chance to projects, static exhibits, get out and shop and min- fashion revue and presenta- gle, even with masks and tions. The virtual livestock social distancing.” Heppner Art in the Park auction will continue as also takes place during the planned for Saturday, Au- Farmer’s Market on Thurs- gust 22. Detailed informa- day evenings. tion to buyers and families will be released prior to that date. decision,” a spokesperson “Our organizations noted. thank our communities, Questions, comments our families and our sup- and inquiries may be direct- porters for the continued ed to Morrow County 4-H dedication and commitment Educator, Erin Heideman to our youth. This was a at erin.heideman@oregon- difficult and heartbreaking state.edu or 541-676-9642. A rustic horseshoe handle tray kit is the project for Art in the Park on July 30. Left: Laura Winters showing her hometown coffee to cus- tomers. Below: Beth Dickenson on the left and... possibly Andrea Fletcher under that mask. -Photos by Andrea Di Salvo. Youth 4-H showcase to be virtual Morrow County 4-H, Livestock Growers Asso- ciation and the Fair Board have made the very dif- ficult decision to cancel the upcoming in-person showcase for beef, sheep, swine, goat, poultry, rabbit/ cavy, horse, presentations and static projects. “Giv- en the obvious tenure of the COVID-19 situation throughout Oregon and the unknowns within Morrow County, it’s important we keep healthy communities as our highest priority,” they reported. While the groups all feel strongly that there is a need for the youth to have an opportunity to meet and share the culmination of this year’s projects, they also have to balance those needs with Oregon Health Authorities expectations and the responsibility they BEO Bancorp reports second quarter earnings BEO Bancorp and its subsidiary, Bank of East- ern Oregon, announced 2 nd quarter 2020 consolidated net income of $1,401,000 or $1.18 per share. Total assets were $651.6 million; net loans of $517.0 million; deposits were at $526.8 million. Shareholders’ eq- uity was at $38.2 million. “It is hard to fathom what we all have wit- nessed thus far in 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic has touched all aspects of our lives. We have seen the best in people, and sadly we have also seen the worst. One thing is certain, we are reminded what is truly important. In rural America, we stick together and simply do what we have always done, we help each other, our friends, neighbors and businesses get through difficult times. This event is different, it is unlike anything we have witnessed before, but the resolve of our people is the same,” said President and CEO Jeff Bailey. Chief Financial Officer Mark Lemmon said, “The Federal Reserve, SBA, U.S. Treasury, Congress and the President have all taken ag- gressive steps to, hopefully, minimize the long-lasting economic effects of the pandemic. Interest rates are at very low levels. The bank has excellent liquidity and is in a strong capital position.” Chief Operations Of- ficer Gary Propheter said, “The SBA PPP loans have translated into increased de- posits as well as loans. We appreciate the hard work of our banking teams during this pandemic situation.” Bailey added, “I am so very proud of our employees that put in countless hours to make sure our existing, and in many cases, new custom- ers were able to access the SBA PPP loan programs. We were able to process over 770 loans totaling $84.7 million, approved through the SBA system and into the hands of our customers.” “We continue to mon- itor the pandemic situation and will take the necessary steps to promote the health and well-being of our em- ployees and customers. As we monitor the situation, we may find it necessary to limit branch lobby or office access. Please check with your local branch on any possible access restrictions and thank you for your pa- tience during these strange times,” said Bailey. Bailey concluded, “These are truly unusual economic times. With the interest rate environment such as it is, we are seeing margin compression. We are also taking steps to make sure that our loan loss reserve is funded appropri- ately. Supply chain issues brought on by COVID will continue to hamper the economy. The question is for how long? On a positive note, wheat harvest is under way and we are hearing re- ports of average to slightly above average yields. The spring rains proved bene- ficial to crops and grazing conditions in the mountains are very good.” NO FUNDS FOR COUNTY -Continued from PAGE ONE hurdle the county faces is if one person in an extended family test positive for the virus, other family mem- bers do not want to get test- ed. “They are worried not only about themselves but their extended family and a paycheck but also their em- ployer,” Doherty explained. “If we set up screening and good testing instead of bringing in regulatory and punishment, we would get a lot further,” Lindsay said. County Health Nurse Diane Kilkenny agreed, saying we get better results to partner and not punish the local businesses during the pandemic. “When you test and isolate you are able to control what is going to happen in your processing plant or your temporary agency,” she said. Kilkenny said the county is providing education guidance and recommendations to the workers. As an example, she said masks are being provided and if workers have to carpool, they are teaching them how to do it correctly. “We have had huge success with some of our processing plants and businesses that wanted to do the right thing and did do the right thing and I want to commend them for working with us. Because of that their numbers have gone down to minimal or nothing. They may have one or two, but they will take care of them. We are partnering with our pro- cessing plants and busi- nesses,” Kilkenny said. She added that the county needs the community to pitch in, however. “The majority of our COVID confirmed cases are in what I call the bullet proof bunch in their the 20s to 40s, where they feel they do need to go to work. They have children. And not working causes a real hardship not only for the businesses but the families. We need the state to partner with us and work out these dilemmas which are crucial to us going for- ward,” she said. 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