SIX - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, March 29, 2023
Army transfers thousands of acres
-Continued from PAGE ONE
part of the process was the
incineration or safe transfer
of the chemicals at the De-
pot—about 11 percent of
the entire chemical stock-
pile of the United States.
From 2004 to 2011, 220,604
munitions and 3,720 tons of
chemical weapons were
destroyed, mostly through
incineration.
Incineration was com-
pleted in Oct. 2011and the
depot closed on Aug. 1,
2012.
“Many visionaries have
worked diligently towards
this goal for 30 years. This
transfer is the culmination
of their efforts. It is excit-
ing to witness this historic
event take place today,”
said Port of Morrow Ex-
ecutive Director Lisa Mit-
telsdorf. “The Port would
like to sincerely thank the
Army and local leadership
for their dedicated commit-
ment to return 9,500 acres
of the Umatilla Chemical
Army Depot in Morrow
and Umatilla County back
The Honorable Rachel Jacobson (left) and CDA Executive
Director Greg Smith. -Contributed photo
to local authority where it
can be used for the cultural
and economic benefit of our
region.”
Kat Brigham of CTUIR
said the tribes are glad the
chemical weapons have
been destroyed and the land
transfer is completed.
“Now it is time to move
forward with the planning,”
Brigham added. “Great job,
everyone.”
Now that the CDA is the
new owner of the property,
there is renewed interest
in the development of the
land, and more than 3,100
acres are already slated
for industrial development
on what CDA Executive
Director Greg Smith called
“one of the most significant
industrial sites in the State
of Oregon.”
“This is such a sur-
real moment. There have
been many great commu-
nity leaders, including some
mentors of mine, who have
worked on this,” said Uma-
tilla County Commissioner
John Shafer. “To see this
finally get across the finish
line, and being a part of it,
is very exciting.”
Past CDA Board
Members are Senator
Bill Hansell, Gary Neal,
Bill Elfering, Rod Skeen,
Rosenda Shippentower,
Dave Tovey, John Turn-
er, Carla McClane, Carl
Sheeler, Terry Tallman,
Connie Caplinger, George
Anderson, Larry Givens,
Leann Rea, Ryan Neal, Jim
Doherty, Bill Tovey, Don
Russell and past executive
director Don Chance.
Puzey thanked and
congratulated all the local
authorities and military
partners who have worked
tirelessly on this project
for over 30 years. Quoting
from the Old Testament,
Puzey said, “Twenty-sev-
en hundred years ago the
Prophet Isaiah spoke of the
future when he said, ‘The
nations…shall beat their
swords into plowshares,
and their spears into prun-
inghooks: nation shall not
lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war
anymore.’”
A local celebration is
being planned for July.
Indianhead division Ukiah school celebrates
seeks members for 100th anniversary with
week of festivities
reunion
Olivia, NC—The Sec-
ond (Indianhead) Division
Association is searching
for anyone who served in
the Army’s 2 nd Infantry
Division at any time. The
association is planning a
100 th reunion in Colorado
Springs, CO from Septem-
ber 20-24, 2023.
For information about
the association and the
100 th annual reunion, visit
www.2ida.org/product/re-
union/10 on the web, send
an email to 2ida.pao@char-
ter.net or call Mike Davino
at 919-356-5692.
problem for future devel-
opment. In fact, former
Ione mayor Linda LaRue
told the January gathering
that Ione has already lost
potential housing opportu-
nities because the lots were
too small to support drain
fields.
Meanwhile, many of
the existing houses in Ione
are also on small lots and
have septic tanks that are
on the point of—or already
are—failing. Since all new
septic installations have to
meet Dept. of Environment
Quality (DEQ) require-
ments, including the 180-
foot drain field, septic tanks
that have to be pumped will
no longer be an option for
most Ione residents. With-
out a solution, Rietmann
told the crowd, the town’s
longevity is questionable.
Since a public sewer
system as such would be
both complex and costly,
the city has worked with
engineering firm Anderson
and Perry to find a solution
that will solve the drain
field issue without requir-
ing a public sewer system
and wastewater treatment
plant.
The planned waste-
water system will include
a small diameter septic
tank with on-site treatment
improvements on every
lot. The difference is that
the effluent wastewater
from the individual septic
tanks will be pumped to a
lift station at the base of
Johnson Grade Road and,
from there, up to a drain
field on approximately 20
acres at the top of Johnson
Grade Road.
Rietmann said the
wastewater will be dis-
tributed into a checker-
board-pattern drain field,
utilizing every other square.
If one fails, it will be moved
to an unused square. The
1,000-gallon septic tanks
are similar to what home-
owners would buy them-
selves and meet DEQ re-
The City of Ione will
take responsibility for buy-
ing, installing and hooking
up the new septic tanks, and
will also clean the tanks
once every three to five
years. The city will also be
responsible for maintaining
the system except for the
connection from the tank
to the residence, which will
be the landowner’s respon-
sibility.
The project is estimated
to cost $5.7 million from
start to finish. The Ione
Community Agri-Business
Organization (ICABO) has
committed $175,000 to
cover half the cost of the
design. The $200,000 in
Columbia River Enterprise
Zone (CREZ) funds allocat-
ed to the city has also been
earmarked for the project.
The city has also received
$241,000 from Morrow
County and $72,800 from
the American Rescue Act.
In addition, Ione
School District will provide
$800,000 for its portion
of the project, providing
groundbreaking happens
before the end of the second
quarter this year. If not,
Ione school will rescind the
funding and install its own
septic system. Rietmann
said that once the system is
up and running, the biggest
cost will be electricity. A
proposed monthly waste-
water fee of $45 would be
used to fund system main-
tenance.
Installation of the sys-
tem will be mandatory for
Ione landowners, with the
exception of Emert Ad-
dition. Emert Addition’s
residents have large enough
lots to allow for drain fields
and have already received
DEQ approval for their
septic systems.
The project is expected
to begin in the spring or
summer of this year with
the first hookup expected in
the fall of 2024. Ione school
will be the first system
hooked up.
-Continued from PAGE ONE
Representatives from the Port of Morrow gathered on the new
track surface on Thursday, March 23. The Port of Morrow
was a significant contributor to the project. -Contributed photo
“Our student athletes
are excited to be able to
practice and have meets on
a professional-grade sur-
face and that we no longer
have to bus to Umatilla
for practice,” said Royer,
adding that the improved
facility increases safety for
everyone.
The new track is a sig-
nificant improvement from
the previous gravel and
dirt track that had become
limiting for the track and
field competitors. The final
surface is three inches deep
with a synthetic rubberized
top layer, with lane stripe
painting completed on the
vivid red track in the fall.
Ukiah students dressed up as though they were 100 years
old on Monday, March 13, for the 100 th day of school. -Photo
courtesy of Ukiah School District
Palmer said this track
has brought the IJSHS
community together while
working toward this major
goal.
“I am so happy to be
a small part of this big
project—so many people
worked to make this project
a reality, and I am grateful
to our many community
supporters who made this
track possible,” she said.
“At the end of the day,
we are always working
to serve our students and
community,” Combe added.
“This track is a big thing to
point to and say, ‘Look at
what can happen when we
come together.’”
Heppner students reading
-Continued from PAGE FIVE was very fun. I appreci-
Patterson.
At the end of the four
weeks, students choose
prizes based on the minutes
they read during all four
weeks. The top reader was
Mikalie Duncan with 8,141
minutes.
“Basketball reading
is a fun way to get kids to
want to read for fun,” said
Mikalie.
“Basketball reading
Ione new
wastewater system
-Continued from PAGE ONE quirements.
New track in Irrigon
ated the effort to reward
students for making the
effort to read. I understand
why it has been a program
for thirty-five years. I hope
it makes it to at least fifty
years!” added Jasper Han-
na.
Aside from individual
achievements, there are
team accomplishments, as
well. Students were separat-
ed into teams and competed
weekly for the highest
Ione Easter egg hunt
planned April 8
Ione’s annual Easter
egg hunt will be held Sat-
urday, April 8, at 10 a.m. in
the Ione City Park. Chil-
dren up to the fourth grade
are invited. The Easter Bun-
ny will be on hand for photo
ops and handing out treats.
This event is made pos-
sible by Bank of Eastern
Oregon and community
members’ donations. Any-
one wishing to donate may
do so at Bank of Eastern
Oregon in Ione.
ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE:
Ukiah School’s Technology Student Association (TSA)
presented virtually with Heppner students in Teresa Veach’s
class on Tuesday, March 14. -Photo courtesy of Intermountain
ESD
Ukiah School District
recently marked its 100 th
anniversary. The 100 th day
of school kicked off a week
of dress-up days and cele-
brations, including a day for
students and staff to dress as
if they were 100 years old
and a day to wear a fashion
from their favorite decades.
The community also
was invited to join in the
festivities, which included a
spaghetti lunch prepared by
cook Kari Keen on Tuesday,
March 14. Keen even made
an anniversary cake with a
red velvet swirl frosted with
“Happy 100 th ” to mark the
occasion.
In addition to the social
activities, Ukiah School’s
Technology Student As-
sociation (TSA) present-
ed virtually with Heppner
students, demonstrating
the photography skills they
have learned in classes with
business and math teacher
Teresa Veach.
As a grand finale to
the centennial events, the
school is also planning
a special alumni reunion
in the summer, scheduled
for June 23-24, coinciding
with the Ukiah Rodeo. This
event will bring together
alumni and friends to cel-
ebrate the school’s legacy
and achievements.
“We have a lot to be
proud of in Ukiah, having
served the children of this
community for 100 years,”
said Superintendent Laura
Orr. “I’m so proud of our
wonderful staff and stu-
dents, and I look forward
to celebrating this major
milestone with all our alum-
ni this summer.”
Ukiah School is a pub-
lic K-12 school located
in the foothills of Eastern
Oregon’s Blue Mountains.
The school currently has 27
students and employs eight
staff, including teachers,
teacher aides and Super-
intendent Orr, who also
teaches science classes.
The school was found-
ed in 1923 and has been in
its current building since
1926. Staff say its old-fash-
ioned schoolhouse design
fosters close relationships
between staff members and
students of different ages.
Orr said the Ukiah School
District looks forward to
continuing to provide qual-
ity education for the next
100 years.
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