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SIX - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, February 15, 2023 Commissioner candidates -Continued from PAGE ONE see if we lead with honor, character and good will.” R o y D r a g o , J r. o f Boardman said he has lived in Morrow County since 1980 and raised a family here. He said he has been involved with the county since he was young, begin- ning with his father’s 20- plus years as county sheriff and continuing through 30 years with Tidewater and the Port of Morrow. He currently serves on the Boardman City Council. He also pointed to di- visions he saw within the county and said that work needed to be done to bridge gaps. “My goal is to try to mend some of the issues we have county-wide be- tween city, county, Port,” said Drago. “I feel like there’s some serious issues out there that need serious attention and need some mending.” Mike McNamee of Ir- rigon has been a Morrow County farmer since 1990 and has a bachelor’s degree in machining and process- ing from Oregon Institute of Technology. He said he wanted to be a commis- sioner to give back to the community. “The U.S. Constitution and the Bible both state that elected representatives are not in the position to serve but are there to be a servant of all,” he said. “It is my hope that being willing to serve others will create a more united, prosperous county for all who call this county home.” “We must work togeth- er as a team and strive to achieve solutions and provide guidance that will benefit the entire county. I am aware that our county is a diverse county,” he added. “I don’t see the job as being an easy job. I just see it as a job that we don’t need two guys doing; we need three.” When the candidates had finished their presen- tations, Morrow County Commissioner Jeff Wen- holz asked each of them what they saw as the biggest issue facing the county. Peterson replied that he thought everyone was too busy grabbing for their piece of the pie to work together. “So rather than advanc- ing together, we have been focused on making sure no- body else gets ahead of us,” he said. “If that’s the way we’re going to approach problems, we will not solve any of them.” Drago cited the need for cooperation among ma- jor county entities. “The consistency of city-county-Port relation- ships,” said Drago. “Once we get that, everybody working on the same page, I think we will come together and start working together for the better of the com- munity.” McNamee said one of the hottest issues was still the nitrate issue in the wa- ter in the north end of the county. “It didn’t just spring on us in the last six months,” he said. “It’s been an issue for years. It’s going to take some real thought.” Morrow County Com- mission Chair David Sykes had three questions for each of the candidates. First, he noted that the county is diverse both economically and culturally, and asked each candidate what he would do to make sure he adequately represented the needs of the entire county. “With the Port situa- tion, they are county-wide,” said Drago, noting that there were other places to look for economic devel- opment outside of the Port of Morrow’s Boardman property. “There needs to be more addressed to the areas that don’t have the potential, to look for new potentials and help grow the whole county instead of just the north end,” Drago said. Peterson said he thought the best way was to be prepared and to attend meetings and functions throughout the county so they could be knowledge- able about the issues for everyone involved. “I am more knowledge- able about the issues that affect South Morrow Coun- ty, but if I am selected for this position then I will be spending a fair amount of time in the north at school board meetings, at city meetings, at every meeting I can go to, to make sure that I am informed about is- sues throughout the county so that I can best represent everyone,” he said. “We have to get to know our constituents,” said McNamee. He said he agreed with the other two that one way to do that was to get out and attend meet- ings, and he also thought his background in both rural and city settings would help him with that. “Everybody doesn’t think the same.” Sykes also asked what methods they would use to reach a decision or consen- sus if faced with a difficult or contentious situation. “I think what a person has to do is sort out the truth,” McNamee said. “A lot of times, people get so headlong into what they feel and what they think— maybe they don’t have all the facts. We need the facts and then we need people who are willing to…we can’t all get our way. We have to be willing to bend. There’s a way around it if people are willing to work together.” Peterson said he would look for areas where there were agreements. “There are almost no scenarios where people have 100 percent disagreement about everything,” he said. “So look for the places where there is agreement and use that as the starting point for building consensus rather than focusing on whatever it is that we happen to dis- agree on.” “Communication,” said Drago. “Full transparency, communication with ev- erybody involved. Make sure that we’re all on the same level. Give everybody opportunity to put in their input and go from there and look for agreements.” Sykes finally asked about the greatest attribute they would bring to the job. McNamee’s answer was succinct. “My work ethic,” he said. “My openness and availability to be a team player,” said Drago. “Look- ing to the future. I’m all for growth, but I want it to be responsible growth, not just growing because we can. Getting the right opportu- nities for the county.” “I’m a big dreamer,” said Peterson. “I’m not interested in this position to hold steady and keep everything the way that it is. I want to improve Morrow County and I want to see big change that people can say, ‘This is a place that I am happy to be and I am excited for the future that is here.’” ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE: MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M. BMCC sees hopeful Threemile, Morrow signs for the future County 4-H kick off 2023 dairy heifer program 2023 program participants gather at the educational semi- nar before greeting their new heifers. -Contributed photo Students at the Boardman Workforce Training Center practice using an electrical tester. -Photo courtesy of BMCC Dual credit enrollment improving the website so in Blue Mountain Commu- people don’t have to drive nity College from students to a center to get informa- in Morrow County is up tion. “I think distance is a “significantly” year to year, barrier,” said Browning. part of a larger trend that He said they are also BMCC President Mark moving forward with ef- Browning says he sees as forts to bring education an encouraging sign. Browning appeared be- to the individual cities in fore Morrow County com- Morrow County. First-time program participant Nataly Rodriguez Del Angel “One of the things greets her new heifer. -Contributed photo missioners last Wednesday to give an update on the we’ve found is that we can On Friday, Feb. 3, the specifically giving 4-H par- status of BMCC within have a very good website, Threemile Canyon Farms ticipants the opportunity to Morrow County and told we can have great connec- team welcomed 15 Mor- raise and care for a heifer the commissioners the col- tivity, but if you don’t have row County 4-Hers and themselves.” lege currently has 211 Mor- connectivity at home or their families to the farm To be accepted in the row County high school you can’t download those to kick off the 2023 Dairy program, students must courses, it’s still not a value students enrolled. Heifer Program. Now in participate in an interview “That is providing a to you,” he told the board. its fifth year, the program process to demonstrate they Because of that, the tremendous boost to us,” matches dairy heifers with can care for the heifer, have college has decided to bring he said, and noted that participating students to transportation for the ani- the college’s enrollment is a number of training pro- take home, raise and care mal and are committed to holding steady and slightly grams out to folks where for, providing each student completing the program. up, thanks in large part to they are, even if that means with a unique learning op- At pick-up day, students taking BMCC staff and those dual enrollments. attend an educational sem- portunity. Morrow County Com- equipment to Ione or Lex- Throughout the sev- inar to discuss expectations missioner Jeff Wenholz said ington. They are concen- en-month program, 4-H and receive care instruc- he was glad to hear that trating on three programs students and their families tions. Then, the heifers are numbers were up and that in the effort—commercial attend regular showing and weighed and loaded into high school students were truck driving (CDL), heavy grooming clinics and have trailers, off to their new taking the opportunity to equipment and forklift. routine at-home check-ins homes for the next sev- “We’ve done some get those college credits. with Threemile veterinari- en months. The program “I’m a tremendous work and found that those ans and nutritionists. Partic- culminates at the Morrow believer in that,” replied are very high-need areas,” ipants are also introduced to County Fair, where each Browning. “It gives stu- Browning said. “Our indus- other aspects of animal care participant has the oppor- dents the opportunity to tries around here need them, at Threemile and the dairy tunity to show their animal explore some of those ar- our producers need them to industry such as animal in the ring before returning eas and lay some of those get crops to processing, and welfare and nutrition, man- it to Threemile. foundational courses that, not everybody can make agement, and veterinary “It is rewarding and regardless what they choose the trip over to Boardman science. inspirational to be part of to do, they need those to do an eight-hour forklift Macy Goodwin, Mor- the learning and growing training.” courses.” row County 4-H program the kids do as they move The school is in the Morrow County Board coordinator, said she’s ex- through the project with process of getting simula- Chair David Sykes asked cited about the upcoming their families,” Wendler Browning if he could give tors for training and putting year. said. “We are grateful to be a rundown on any ways them in enclosed trailers “This is a great project participate alongside our the college is working with so they can take them to and a great opportunity for friends and neighbors.” Amazon to provide training different locations. Parent Rachel Archer the youth of Morrow Coun- Browning finished his for their programs. ty to learn about the dairy has had kids participate Browning said they presentation by saying that industry and everything it in the program since its have three, with a couple BMCC ended the 2021-22 has to offer,” Goodwin said. inception. more on the books. He said school year just slightly “The support and en- Jeff Wendler, DVM there is an ongoing data up in enrollment. “Which and Threemile Director of couragement that Threemile technician certificate pro- is nice to see after over11 Livestock Operations, cre- gives the kids is why we gram, and that they have years of decline,” he added. ated the program in partner- have participated in this In fact, he said they been working with Amazon ship with Morrow County program for five years,” have seen hopeful signs in to do a number of custom- 4-H, after he learned about Archer said. ized trainings such as data enrollment around the state. strong member interest in And, Ashley Lindsay, “We’re encouraged that fiber splicing. Fiber splicing second-year member parent dairy operations. involves physically putting that slide has slowed down, “The Dairy Heifer Pro- said, “Claire fell in love the fibers together and map- that people are recogniz- gram is one way Threemile with the heifer as well as ping out the fiber network. ing that there’s value in invests in young people in everyone involved in the He said they had also used training,” he said. “I think our community, as we know program. It’s been a fantas- Amazon funds to repur- for us as an organization, the future of the agricul- tic experience learning to pose a program, previously it’s been a realization that ture industry lies in their care for an animal as well known as industrial systems there are multiple way that hands,” Wendler said. “It is as seeing people involved technology, which was ba- we can provide and serve designed to educate youth and helping for the benefit sically plant maintenance. our communities through and community members of the whole program!” “What we really found education.” about the dairy industry, is that there’s some special- ized areas within their oper- ations that they need, and that’s what we’ve re-tooled that program, to serve those folks directly,” he said. Browning also gave the board an update on how the school is using Amazon funds the board of com- • As Low as 3% Down Payment missioners had previously allocated to BMCC. 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