Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 2, 2020)
Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, September 2, 2020 -- THREE Heppner averages slightly warmer in August According to prelim- inary data received by NOAA’s National Weather Service in Pendleton, tem- peratures at Heppner aver- aged slightly warmer than normal during the month of August. The average tempera- ture was 70.2 degrees which was 0.7 degrees above nor- mal. High temperatures av- eraged 85.7 degrees, which was 0.2 degrees above nor- mal. The highest was 99 degrees on the 18 th . Low temperatures averaged 54.6 degrees, which was 1.2 degrees above normal. The lowest was 42 degrees, on the 30 th . On seven days, the tem- perature exceeded 90 de- grees. Precipitation totaled 0.00 inches during August, which was 0.39 inches be- low normal. Precipitation this year has reached 6.84 inches, which is 2.54 inches below normal. Since October, the water year precipitation at Heppner has been 8.22 inches, which is 5.22 inches below normal. The outlook for Sep- tember from NOAA’s Cli- mate Prediction Center calls for above normal tem- peratures and below nor- mal precipitation. Normal highs for Heppner fall from 82.0 degrees at the start of September to 71.0 degrees at the end of September. Normal lows fall from 50.0 degrees to 43.0 degrees. The 30-year normal precip- itation is 0.56 inches. Booster Club auction cancelled The Heppner Booster Club has made the deci- sion to cancel the annual Booster Club Dinner and Auction this year due to the current restrictions. The auction committee made the decision for the health and safety of the commu- nity. The next auction will be scheduled for October 2021. Generous donations from past auctions have supported scholastic, ex- tra-curricular and athletic achievements for students of Heppner Junior/Senior High School in the past and the committee plans to continue that mission for the 2020-2021 school year. The committee stated that donations from indi- viduals and businesses will still be accepted this year for those who would like to contribute. Donations may be sent to PO Box 917, Heppner, OR 97836 and a thank you letter will be returned as a receipt for the tax-deductible donation. Brandi Sweeney, auc- tion chair, told the Gazette, “Our Committee is disap- pointed about canceling our event, it is a great way to celebrate and support our Mustangs, but we look forward to October 2021.” New Baby in Your Family? Engagement? Wedding? We want to share your life events! Stop in the Heppner Gazette office or email us with details and photos. All birth, engagement and wedding announcements are always free! 188 W Willow Street Heppner, OR editor@rapidserve.net Yard Sale September 5 th and 6 th 8:00 am to 4:00 pm or until sold out 275 N. Court Street - Heppner All items are in good condition Holiday, jewelry, end table, games, books, household, wood ammo boxes, play mat squares, camping mats, old army cots, kid’s items, and much, much more Cash sales only – No returns Masks and Social Distancing Required Valby Lutheran Church Valby Road Ione Oregon. 97843 Church Services 1st & 3rd Sundays 10:00 AM No Service September 6th Available for: Weddings • Funerals Family Events 541-422-7300 Old Country Church All Are Welcome NEW COUNTY BUILDING -Continued from PAGE ONE cation was right. On adjust- contractor is awarded a provides public transit for was a little higher than they wanted to spend, especially since it was more than in the budget. “My next question is, where does the mon- ey come from?” Russell asked. “We only budgeted $250,000.” Commissioner Melissa Lindsay speculated that maybe Federal money from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Se- curity (CARES) Act could be used for the new build- ing. Russell said when he heard where some of the other counties in Oregon were spending CARES money the new emergen- cy building “would be an easy spot for the county to spend money.” Lindsay said she felt “a small piece of CARES dollars” could be a good use to spend on an emergency services building. The commissioners eventually voted to move forward with a request for proposals (RFP) from con- tractors to get an idea of the final cost but wanted to also leave open the door to make adjustments to the building and costs later. “I would like to fine tune this more before we approve the final cost of it,” Russell said. “How we pay for it, $300,000 over budget and where does that money come from? Do we need everything that is listed in the engineers estimate?” he wondered. Lindsay said a lot of time was spent with the sheriff on analyzing the site so she thought the lo- ments to the building and costs, she added, “There is a little bit of room but not a ton of room,” for changes. After discussion and hear- ing from the sheriff, Russell said he was “happy with the location.” Adding that “the city of Heppner has been very generous in donating a piece of property to us.” Local company awarded road project In other business the commission awarded a lo- cal construction company a road contract for a recon- struction project on two county roads. Silver Creek Contracting, LLC beat out two other companies with a low bid of $1,085,591 to win the reconstruction and widening project on Wilson Lane and Olson Road near Boardman. The work involves reconstruction of about one-third mile of Wilson Lane, and reconstruction and widening of approxi- mately three-quarters mile of Olson Road. It will also include intersection wid- ening for turn lanes on Wilson Road, installation of approximately 330 feet of 10-inch irrigation pipe, 50 feet of 18-inch culvert, 1,300 feet of wire fencing and associated driveway and road approaches. On awarding the con- tract to a local company, Russell said he was glad to see a county-based compa- ny get the work. “It was a pretty competitive bid and I am happy when a local bid,” Russell said after the commission unanimously approved the contract at its August 12 meeting. “It’s good when a local Mor- row County entity can be competitive and successful in our county bids,” he added. All three of the bids on the project came under the engineer’s estimate of $1,448,100 on the project. Engineering work will be handled by Anderson Perry & Assoc. of La Grande. Public Works Director Matt Scrivner said he expected a mid-September start date for the work. New transporta- tion system for Port of Morrow Workers The commission ap- proved a proposal allowing the county’s Loop Trans- portation system to link up with Umatilla County and the Umatilla Tribes public transportation system to provide bus service for workers living in parts of Umatilla County working jobs at the Port of Morrow food processing plants in Boardman. Under the plan, fixed bus routes would be added connecting the cities of Boardman, Irri- gon, Umatilla, Hermiston, Stanfield, and Echo to jobs at the Port of Morrow and other employers in the cities of Hermiston and Umatilla. Kayak Public Transit is an experienced transporta- tion operator and is run by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reser- vation. Currently Kayak 14 cities within four coun- ties in Northeastern Oregon and Southeastern Washing- ton and this would be a col- laboration and hook up with the Morrow County Loop Transportation system, said Loop Director Kati Imes. “Kayak has experience and has been doing fixed routes for over 10 years. This is Kayak and Morrow County working together to make it happen,” Imes told the commissioners. The new system would also add a shuttle van that will circulate amongst the various businesses locat- ed throughout the Port. The van will provide more localized service to the various Port businesses not located within a close or safe walking distance from the fixed route sys- tem. The commission vot- ed unanimously to move forward with planning and implementation of the new transportation system. In other business the county authorized the pur- chase of a new electric Polaris Ranger. John Day Polaris was low of three bidders with a price of $30,015 for the machine with snowplow and tracks. DEADLINE: FRIDAY AT 5PM Make Morrow County Count! * 2020 Census Opportunity * Census Takers will set-up in Heppner Thursday, Sept. 3 rd & Friday, Sept. 4 th 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Murray’s Garden – between Sage Clothing and Kuhn Law Office on Main Street Need transportation to the location? Call The Loop for times and availability: 1-844-676-5667 or 541-676-5667
