Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 21, 2022)
EIGHT - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, September 21, 2022 Ione Senior Spotlight Madison Orem showing at the fair Madison Orem driving a forklift. Madison Orem is a se- nior at Ione Community School. Madison’s re- sume and involvement in our school, community, and region are impressive. Madison is our ASB Presi- dent, a National Honor So- ciety Member, a two sport athlete, and an active FFA member. In the fall, you will find Madison spend- ing any of her extra time on the volleyball court as a captain of our varsity team. In the spring, you will find her on the softball field. The description of “an active FFA member” may not have done justice to her involvement. Mad- ison is the Ione FFA Chap- ter President and the Blue Mt. District Vice Presi- dent. These activities and roles are enough for any school or community member to celebrate and be proud, but I was most impressed when I saw Madison working as a student in- tern with Morrow County Grain Growers. This is the second year that Madison has taken advantage of this internship offered through Public nitrate water meeting Other speakers gave similar testimony with all English statements being translated real time into Spanish and vice versa. All the printed material likewise were offered in both languages. According to the Ore- gon Department of Envi- ronmental Quality (DEQ) high levels of nitrate in drinking water can cause health problems. This in- cludes respiratory and re- productive diseases, as well as kidney, spleen and thyroid problems. Nitrate is most harmful to infants and people who are pregnant. High levels of nitrate can increase the risk of met- hemoglobinemia, or blue baby syndrome, especially for infants who drink baby formula mixed with water containing nitrate above the safe level. Also speaking at the meeting was a represen- tative of business, Debbie Radie vice president of operations at Boardman Foods. She gave a detailed overview of the help her and other businesses in Morrow County have given in the effort to address the high nitrate contaminated water supply. “We want ac- tion we don’t want another 30 years with no money available for this,” she said in referencing how long local and state officials of know about the nitrate problem. Also in attendance at the meeting were repre- sentatives of the Port of Morrow, State Rep Greg Smith and Senator Ron Wyden. Senator Jeff Merk- ley gave a video presen- tation which was played to the crowd. Boardman Mayor Paul Keefer was also in attendance, and it was emphasized that the city treats its water so there was not contamination for those on the city water system of either Boardman or Irrigon. Blamed for the well contamination is exces- sive fertilizer applications on farms, manure from large livestock operations and wastewater from food processors being applied on fields causing high levels of the compound nitrate being leaked into an aquifer that supplies water to people in both Morrow and Umatilla Counties in an area called the Lower Umatilla Basin Ground- water Management Area (LUBGWMA). In answering a question from the audience if any of the companies that created the water contamination would be held legally re- sponsible for damages, Doherty said there were people both federal and DEQ who were supposed to be protecting the people but did not. “For a lot of years, they didn’t or did not do it to a level that protect- ed us. They were protecting some of these things that went on,” he said. Doherty pointed to the Yakima Valley in Washing- ton that also had a severe nitrate problem. He said their water group looked more like the community and “they told the dairy and farm industry that if you are going to do these things, then you have to take care of people that are drinking that water,” Doherty told the crowd. “I don’t know if we want the heavy hand of the federal government here,” Doherty said. The DEQ designated it “But I don’t disagree that a groundwater manage- the state is tasked with ment area in 1990 because coming out and if there are of high levels of nitrate bad actors then those bad in the groundwater. It›s actors are going to pay,” one of three groundwater he said of companies being management areas in liable for damages. Although he recogniz- Oregon. Doherty took a es the work of the LUB- shot a the LUBGWMA GWMA group, none of committee saying there them represent the affected has been no action from community,” Doherty says the group to cure the prob- of that group’s efforts. “I lem “because none of them appreciate what they are drink the water.” doing. Their hearts are in ~ G-T Trophy Corner ~ Madison Orem senior pictures The Port of Morrow’s Work-force Development Program. As pictured, you will see Madison operating a forklift to load a trailer for a customer at MGCC in Ione. Madison is currently ex- ploring college options for life after high school graduation, but she will be looking to major in an ag- riculture related field. We know she will be a great ambassador for us any- where she goes. “We are looking forward to running more Senior Spotlights from the Ione Community School. We are proud of our students, and we look forward to celebrating their accom- plishments with you.” -Continued from PAGE ONE The Heppner Gazette Times would like to see pictures of your trophy animals from this hunting season. Please send a photo along with your name, age, town you live in, location of the hunt and a description of the animal to editor@ rapidserve.net, upload to Heppner.net or text to 541-980-6674. Devon Brittner 5-6 bull Heppner unit Sheriff’s Report The Morrow County Sheriff’s Office has released MCSO August 27 -MCSO officer responded to a report of a disabled truck on the ramp at Hwy. 730 and I-84 Boardman. The vehi- cle was towed away. -MCSO responded to a request for extra patrols at the Over the Tee Cup Country Garden in Irrigon because of drivers tearing It was windy and cool for the Willow Creek Country up the roads. Club Ladies Play Day September 20. -MCSO responded to a subject in Heppner who said Low Gross of the Field-Virginia Grant she had a restraining order against a male who had Low Net of the Field-Pat Edmundson someone make third party contract with her on Face- Least Putts of the Field-Kris Lindner book. She requested to speak to a deputy. The incident Low Gross: Pat Dougherty and Betty Carter is under investigation. Low Net-Jackie Allstott -MCSO received report from a subject on Utah Ave. in Long Drive: Virginia Grant, Pat Dougherty, Kris Lind- Irrigon who said a white Chevy Suburban “went flying ner past his house and went down 10th”. MCSO was un- Longest Putt-Pat Edmundson able to locate the vehicle. Long Drive-Virginia Grant, Pat Dougherty and Kris -MCSO received report from a Spanish speaking sub- Lindner ject at Farmland Reserves, Inc., on Pole Line Rd. in The fall meeting will get underway Tuesday, Sep- Boardman who said he noticed some of his paperwork, tember 27, at 8 a.m., with play at 9 a.m. and lunch at including the title, missing from his truck at work. 11:30 a.m. Some of the paperwork was recovered, but the title was still missing. The caller thought he knew who was re- sponsible. MCSO responded. -MCSO received report of a 40-year-old female who crashed her dirt bike at the Morrow County OHV park. The family said they were driving her to the hospital and no emergency services were necessary. -MCSO received report from a man in Irrigon who said his son was dog sitting and while his son was at the house, a late model dark gray SUV stopped at the house looking for a deputy. The caller said he thought it was suspicious. MCSO advised that he would patrol the area through the night. -MCSO received a hangup/abandoned call and attempt- ed call back, but the line was completely silent. -MCSO received request for a welfare check and wa- ter provided to a disabled motorist on I-84 Boardman. MCSO responded. -MCSO received report of a subject with a possible stroke at Lamb Weston in Paterson. The caller was con- 217 North Main St., Heppner, OR nected to Benton County 911. Phone 676-9158 Floral 676-9426 -MCSO received request for deputy contact from a murraysdrug.com woman in Irrigon regarding prank phone calls she had Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-6pm received. She reported that she believes she knows who Sat 8am-6pm • Sun 9am-2pm it is and wanted to discuss her options. PHARMACY - Mon-Fri 9am-6pm the right place,” but add- ed that “now that there is attention on the problem, they want to get some- thing done because you all are watching them.” Doherty said his wife was at a recent LUBGWMA meeting and said, although the group is working hard, “there is not one of them that drink the water. We have to help them. We can never let the community be outside the equation again,” he said in pointing to the crowd. Doherty has said in the past there is a lack of Latino represen- tation on the LUBGW- MA committee as another reason the group doesn’t accomplish as much as it should. How much funding will become available in the future, and what it will be spent on, is at this point unclear, however Doherty said the state emergency board will meet soon and there should be an oppor- tunity then and in the later regular session of the leg- islature to receive funds. In his video address Merkley also said federal money will probably be coming. Outside of testing, bottled water, messaging and well filters, however, a specific long-range plan and the cost to alleviate the nitrate contamination problem has not yet been put forward either at the local, state or federal level. Obituaries Morris M. McCarl Morris Melvin McCarl of Lexington, Oregon passed away Tuesday, August 30, 2022 at the age of 87. Morris was born at Geddes, South Dakota, De- cember 29, 1934, the son of Henry and Audrey (Field) McCarl. He moved to Crawfordsville, Oregon, at the age of five with his family. He helped his dad on their farm. Shortly after, the family moved to Harrisburg, Oregon. At the age of 16 he helped with the “hop” harvest. Morris moved to California with a friend and worked in a cannery for a short period of time. He soon moved to Lexington, Oregon, and worked as a flagger at the airport. He worked on building the Ruggs Ele- vator. Morris began working at Kinzua Corporation in Heppner and worked at the mill for 31 years. Morris married Shirley Hunt in Albany, Ore- gon, on August 22, 1952. They started their married life in Lexington, Oregon. They raised three children. The entire family enjoyed the hobby of racing horses in past years. They raised a few animals on the McCarls’ mini farm also. Morris enjoyed fishing, gardening, humming- birds, raising goats and spending time with his family. Survivors include his wife, Shirley McCarl, daughters, Barbara Coiner and Sharon Morris (Bill), and son, Lee McCarl. Grandchildren include Aus- tin Coiner (Lindsey), Josh Coiner (Melissa), and Dan Coiner, Kimberly Morris Woolfolk (Mike), Ben McCa- rl (Maddie) and Zach McCarl (Savannah). Great-grand- children include Delainey and Griffin Coiner, Jackson, Keaton and Harper Coiner, Mirri and Sigsby McCarl and Clara McCarl He was preceded in death by his parents, broth- ers and sister. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, September 24, 2022, at Penland Cemetery in Lexing- ton. Gazette Times hires new advertising graphic designer The New Pfizer Covid BiValent Vaccine and Flu Vaccine in stock NOW!! Kirsten Espinola There is a new face at the Heppner Gazette-Times. Kirsten Espinola has joined the team as the new Advertising/ Graph- ics Designer. Kirsten and her family moved to Ione 3 years ago. She has a 13 year old daughter and a 3 year old daughter who both attend school in Heppner. Her oldest is in High School band and Volleyball, so you will see her at games. She was also the Juniors Softball Coach last year. Her hus- band works for AWS. She was born and raised in Foresthill, a small town in the mountains of Northern California. Kirsten has experience in Advertising Sales/Graphics and has worked for her local pa- per in Auburn, California. Any advertising or graph- ics needs come in and say hi or you can email her at graphics@rapidserve.net WWW.HEPPNER.NET
