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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 3, 2022)
Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, August 3, 2022 -- SEVEN Harvest Report Senators announce funding to ‘Lot of grain out there this year’ test wells The North Lex elevator last week, a couple days after filling up and wheat began going on the ground. With wheat harvest well underway in Morrow County, reports from the field show a very good crop this year. “There’s a lot of grain out there this year, especially compared to last year’s drought reduced crop,” Morrow County Grain Growers General Manager Kevin Gray told the Gazette-Times. Gray said compared to last year’s drought reduced crop farm- ers are seeing yields above average, “with some that are just excellent,” he em- phasized. Gray said the quality this year is good too. “The soft white wheat quality has been really good with lower protein, which our Asian customers like, and excellent test weights,” he reported. “Speaking of test weights, we’ve seen them as high as 66 lbs. per bush- el, which says that growing conditions during seed fill were ideal and which pro- duced very dense kernels,” he explained. Harvest is running a little bit later than usual this year, Gray says. “With the cool, wet weather this spring, harvest was about ten days later than normal in getting started. I anticipate that many of our customers north of Ione should fin- ish up with harvest by the middle of August,” he said. Gray says wheat producers south of Ione will most likely be harvesting into late August, while many growers towards Condon will most likely be going into September to get fin- ished up. Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced they have se- cured funding that will go to Morrow County and Uma- tilla County to help with the nitrate contamination in ru- ral domestic well drinking water. The congressional direct spending allocation will be used to test wells and to study longer term solutions and options for rural residents who rely on individual wells for their drinking water. “This federal funding will help Morrow County move beyond the short- term nitrate emergency and help us work towards lon- ger term solutions. The Sen- ators support during the ni- trate emergency has been so valuable. This new source of significant funding will allow Morrow County to develop a standardized data and testing program to monitor rural wells and also study long term solutions to clean drinking water for rural residents. I appreciate the collaboration with our Umatilla County Commis- sioners and look forward to working together” said Morrow County Commis- sioner Melissa Lindsay. Commissioner Lindsay and Commissioner Dorran of Umatilla County worked with a staff of individu- als from both counties to make the request of federal dollars. This is welcomed sup- port,” said Morrow County Commission Chair Jim Doherty, who, in consort with staff, has spent count- less hours over the past few months directly involved in the emergency efforts to test water in households and provide them with clean drinking water. However, according to Commissioner Doherty, “Morrow County will continue to vigilantly push the State of Oregon for long-term, permanent sup- port to remedy the negative health effects of high nitrate levels in rural domestic wells.” Since the emergen- cy declaration we are finally receiving attention and re- sources from state agencies. The Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area (LUBGWMA) has been in place for almost 40 years and not until the declaration have we had support from the Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon Department of En- vironmental Quality.” Morrow and Umatilla County have participated in the LUBGWMA volun- teer committee since 1990 when the state declared the area due to high levels of nitrates. The LUBGW- MA committee is currently in the process of imple- menting the Second Ac- tion Plan, designed to re- duce nitrate contamination from a number of sources, septic systems, fertilizer, land application of waste water, washout from the Umatilla Army Depot and feedlots. Funding for the LUBGWMA has been al- most non-existent over the years, primarily in the form of a part time employee to test a small sample of wells. In addition to the LUB- GWMA committee, Uma- tilla and Morrow County, together with help from stakeholders, were able to secure direct legislative funding to more scien- tifically study the source of nitrate contamination. Known as the LUBGWMA Subcommittee, the bi-coun- ty effort will soon have an OSU scientist working on a study of historical data. “Commissioner Lindsay has advocated tirelessly for the research and has been actively involved in the subcommittee efforts,” said Chair Doherty. “We are getting closer to where we need to be to address the short term and long-term groundwater problems. Our immediate priority is public health and ensuring rural residents have clean, safe, potable water. We remain vigilant, however, in our commit- ment to study the sources of pollution and to seek long term remedies. We sincere- ly appreciate the support of Senator Wyden and Senator Merkley and their staff.” dle-type dog at Three-Mile Canyon Farms in Board- man. MCSO retrieved the dog and transported it to Pet Rescue. -MCSO received report of a physical fight of around six individuals at the splash pad in Boardman. -MCSO received a re- quest from a subject on S.W. Wyoming in Irrigon as to how to proceed after his dog killed his neighbor’s chickens. MCSO made contact and advised him of the steps that needed to be taken -MCSO received re- quest for extra patrol at the Ione City Park for subjects spinning cookies on the grass. -MCSO received re- quest for extra patrol for criminal mischief at the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife on Hwy. 74, Heppner. -MCSO received re- quest for extra patrol on Hwy. 74, Irrigon, concern- ing thefts and/or tampering. -MCSO completed ve- hicle checks at the Umatilla National Wildlife Refuge, Irrigon, and Silver Creek Contracting on Hwy. 74, Heppner. Sheriff’s Report The Morrow County Sheriff’s Office has released the following information: July 14: Morrow County Sheriff’s Office re- ceived a report of a dog near Pettyjohn’s that is barking and has been a nuisance for a long time. -MCSO officer report- ed two possible disabled vehicles at Paterson Ferry Rd. and Hwy. 730, Irrigon. -MCSO received report from a Heppner subject that someone had used their credit card for under $5 at a store in Heppner and then tried to make a bigger purchase for $187 that was canceled. The owner can- celed the card and tried to advise the store authorities, but they told her that she had to make a report with her local agency first. -MCSO received report from the Irrigon Shell Sta- tion that a person in a green Honda had been parked there about an hour and seemed intoxicated. MCSO responded and determined that the driver was waiting to meet the PO and did not appear intoxicated. -MCSO received report of a loose Palomino horse on Hwy. 74, south of Cecil. MCSO was unable to locate the horse. -MCSO received report of a domestic disturbance on California Lane in Ir- rigon, with the wife being abusive toward the hus- band and the reporter who worked for adult protective services. She was reported to be pushing the caller. -MCSO received re- quest for a behavioral health transport for a fe- male patient to Cedar Hills Hospital in Portland. -MCSO received report of people parking their truck in a no-parking zone on Court St. near Hager. MCSO responded but re- ported that there were no No Parking signs. -MCSO received report of two Husky dogs with Doberman coloring missing on Kangaroo Court Lane in Irrigon. -MCSO received report of a motor vehicle accident on Hwy. 207 in Lexington with a vehicle, not on its wheels, blocking one land. MCSO, Oregon State Po- lice, Heppner Ambulance, Ione Fire Department and Heppner Fire responded. The patient refused trans- port. -MCSO received report of a domestic disturbance and request for emergency medical services to check on a screaming child in a vehicle on I-84 Boardman. -MCSO received re- quest for a deer to be picked up on Highway 74, Hep- Nursery Sale 20% off all Perennials, Trees & Shrubs Morrow County Grain Growers Green Feed & Seed Heppner - 242 W Linden Way - 541-676-9422 The City of Heppner will be mailing out the annual Drinking Water Quality Report this week. The report can also be found at cityofheppner.org pner. The call was referred to another agency. -MCSO received re- port from a subject that his nephew, who was on proba- tion and has warrants, was seen walking by Hermiston Glass. -MCSO received report from a Lexington resident that someone took out his mailbox and he suspects it was his neighbor by the tire tracks seen. The incident is under investigation. -MCSO received report of a brown Jeep Cherokee speeding down S.E. Utah Ave in Irrigon, heading toward 10th. -MCSO received report from a subject at the Mor- row County Government Center in Irrigon that a male in a grey pickup came by, slurring his words and ap- pearing intoxicated. MCSO was advised but was out of position. -MCSO received re- port of a stray brown poo- YOUR AD COULD BE HERE! Submit Ads heppner.net Call 541-676-9228 Email graphics@rapidserve.net We also offer design and printing services Heppner Gazette-Times Sykes Printing Ready to Purchase a New Home? We offer Loans that allow: • As Low as 3% Down Payment • Flexible Funding sources, such as Gifts or Grants • New Manufactured Home Purchases • Non-Occupant co-Borrowers OUR TEAM takes the stress out of Buying Your Home! GIVE US A CALL or get started at your local branch. 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