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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (March 6, 2024)
50¢ VOL. 144 NO. 10 8 Pages Wednesday, March 6, 2024 Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon /HWWHUWR0RUURZ &RXQW\IURP0RUURZ &RXQW\+HDOWK'LVWULFW &RXQW\ ical services county wide &ODVVDFWLRQODZVXLW¿OHGDJDLQVW3RUWRI0RUURZ Health 0RUURZ District wishes to DIWHU0DUFKZKHQ IRUPDOO\ FRPPXQLFDWH WKH 0&+' FHDVHV WR EH WKH DQGRWKHUHQWLWLHVRYHUJURXQGZDWHUSROOXWLRQ HQFORVHG LQIRUPDWLRQ WR DPEXODQFHVHUYLFHSURYLG- By Chris Sykes A class action lawsuit has been initiated in the United States District Court E\SODLQWL൵V0LFKDHO3HDU- VRQ 0LFKDHO %UDQGW 9LU- JLQLD%UDQGW-DPHV6XWHU and Silvia Suter against several entities, including WKH3RUWRI0RUURZ/DPE Weston Holdings, Inc., 0DGLVRQ 5DQFKHV ,QF 7KUHHPLOH &DQ\RQ )DUPV //&%HHI1RUWKZHVW)HHG- HUV //& DQG -RKQ 'RHV 1-10. The lawsuit alleges WKDW WKH GHIHQGDQWV¶ DFWLY- ities have resulted in sig- QL¿FDQWQLWUDWHSROOXWLRQLQ WKHJURXQGZDWHURI0RUURZ DQG8PDWLOODFRXQWLHVSRV- ing a grave threat to public health. 7KHFRPSODLQWRXWOLQHV WKH VHYHUH UDPLILFDWLRQV RI QLWUDWH SROOXWLRQ RQ WKH FRPPXQLWLHV ZLWKLQ WKHVH FRXQWLHV ,W FODLPV WKDW QXPHURXV UHVLGHQWV ERWK those utilizing private wells and those dependent on SXEOLF ZDWHU V\VWHPV DUH HQFRXQWHULQJGL൶FXOWLHVLQ accessing clean drinking ZDWHU 7KH FRQWDPLQDWLRQ KDV OHG WR XQVDIH QLWUDWH OHYHOV LQ WDS ZDWHU FRP- pelling residents to rely RQ ERWWOHG ZDWHU IRU DOO FRQVXPSWLRQFXOLQDU\DQG household needs. Addition- ally, the costs associated ZLWK PLWLJDWLQJ SROOXWLRQ DQGHQVXULQJDFFHVVWRVDIH water have placed a burden RQ UHVLGHQWV ZLWK VRPH IDFLQJ LQÀDWHG ZDWHU ELOOV or higher taxes. The lawsuit attributes agricultural and industrial DFWLYLWLHV DV WKH SULPDU\ VRXUFHV RI QLWURJHQ SRO- OXWLRQ 7KH GHIHQGDQWV including agricultural oper- ations and industrial waste- ZDWHU WUHDWPHQW IDFLOLWLHV DUH DFFXVHG RI GHSRVLWLQJ VXEVWDQWLDO DPRXQWV RI QL- trogen onto the land, subse- TXHQWO\ FRQWDPLQDWLQJ WKH groundwater with nitrates. 7KLV FRQWDPLQDWLRQ KDV UHDFKHG DODUPLQJ OHYHOV with nitrate concentrations WKH%RDUGRI&RPPLVVLRQ- HUV3OHDVHLQFOXGHWKLVOHW- WHULQWKHQH[W%2&SDFNHW HLWKHUDVDQDJHQGDLWHPRU as correspondence. $IWHU FRQVXOWLQJ ZLWKOHJDOFRXQVHO0&+' KDV GHWHUPLQHG WKDW ZH concentrations exceed 10 FDQ SURYLGH WKH IROORZLQJ PJ/ 1LWUDWH FRQWDPLQD- EDFNXS HPHUJHQF\ PHG- WLRQ DW OHYHOV RI PJ/ or above triggers action IURP2UHJRQ¶V'HSDUWPHQW RI (QYLURQPHQWDO 4XDOLW\ '(4 WRGHVLJQDWHDQDUHD DV D *URXQGZDWHU 0DQ- DJHPHQW$UHD WR DGGUHVV FRQWDPLQDWLRQ The lawsuit asserts that JURXQGZDWHU LQ WKH /RZHU 8PDWLOOD %DVLQ VXSSO\LQJ both private well water DQG SXEOLF ZDWHU V\VWHPV KDVEHHQVLJQL¿FDQWO\FRQ- WDPLQDWHGZLWKQLWUDWHVIRU GHFDGHV*URXQGZDWHUVDP- SOHVIURPPRQLWRULQJZHOOV in the area have exhibited +DOOHH+LVOHU KLJK OHYHOV RI QLWUDWH FRQ- WDPLQDWLRQ ZLWK VRPH H[- FHHGLQJ IHGHUDO OLPLWV E\ VHYHQWLPHV 7KHGHIHQGDQWVLQFOXG- ing agricultural entities and FRQFHQWUDWHG DQLPDO IHHG- LQJ RSHUDWLRQV &$)2V DUHDFFXVHGRIFRQWULEXWLQJ WR WKH FRQWDPLQDWLRQ E\ RYHUXVLQJ QLWURJHQ IHU- WLOL]HU DQG PLVPDQDJLQJ DQLPDOZDVWH,WLVDOOHJHG WKDW QHDUO\ SHUFHQW RI 'HODQH\6WHIDQL QLWUDWH FRQWDPLQDWLRQ LQ ,Q DQ LPSUHVVLYH GLV- WKH8PDWLOOD*URXQG:DWHU SOD\ RI VNLOO DQG GHWHUPL- 0DQDJHPHQW$UHDV *0$ QDWLRQ WKUHH JLUOV IURP JURXQGZDWHU FRPHV IURP +HSSQHU +LJK 6FKRRO¶V LUULJDWHG IDUPODQG ZLWK JLUOV EDVNHWEDOO WHDP KDYH IDUPV DSSO\LQJ H[FHVVLYH been selected to the All DPRXQWV RI QLWURJHQ WKDW /HDJXH $OOVWDUV +DOOHH leach into the soil and con- WDPLQDWHJURXQGZDWHU The lawsuit also under- VFRUHVWKHLPSDFWRQSXEOLF ZDWHU V\VWHPV ZLWK PDQ\ V\VWHPV WHVWLQJ DERYH WKH PD[LPXP FRQWDPLQDWLRQ OLPLWIRUQLWUDWHV7KLVFRQ- WDPLQDWLRQD൵HFWVQRWRQO\ residents who rely on pub- OLF ZDWHU V\VWHPV EXW DOVR those who use well water DW KRPH ZKHQ FRQVXPLQJ HUIRU0RUURZ&RXQW\ D 0&+'¶V 4XLFN 5HVSRQVH 7HDPV ORFDWHG LQ HDFK FRPPXQLW\ PD\ UHVSRQGDVQHHGHGWRPHG- ical calls to provide stabi- lizing care. 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This UHPHG\LVW\SLFDOO\VRXJKW ZKHQ PRQHWDU\ GDPDJHV DORQH ZRXOG QRW EH VX൶- FLHQW WR DGGUHVV WKH KDUP FDXVHG E\ WKH GHIHQGDQW¶V actions, or when there is a need to prevent ongoing RU IXWXUH KDUP DQG FRP- SHQVDWRU\ GDPDJHV XQGHU IHGHUDO DQG 2UHJRQ ODZ 6SHFLILF FODLPV LQFOXGH negligence, trespass, pri- vate nuisance, public nui- VDQFHDQGLQYHUVHFRQGHP- QDWLRQ 7\SLFDOO\ZKHQWKH JRYHUQPHQW H[HUFLVHV LWV SRZHU RI HPLQHQW GRPDLQ WRWDNHSULYDWHSURSHUW\IRU SXEOLFXVHLWPXVWSURYLGH MXVW FRPSHQVDWLRQ WR WKH property owner. However, LQYHUVH FRQGHPQDWLRQ RF- FXUVZKHQWKHJRYHUQPHQW takes actions that result in a ³WDNLQJ´RISULYDWHSURSHUW\ ULJKWVZLWKRXWIRUPDOO\H[- HUFLVLQJLWVHPLQHQWGRPDLQ SRZHU RU SURYLGLQJ FRP- SHQVDWLRQ $GGLWLRQDOO\ WKHSODLQWL൵VDLPWRFRPSHO WKH GHIHQGDQWV WR FRQGXFW DVVHVVPHQWV DQG UHPHGLD- tion activities to address the QLWUDWHFRQWDPLQDWLRQ ,QGLYLGXDO SODLQWLIIV shared their experiences with nitrate pollution, de- tailing the challenges they IDFHLQDFFHVVLQJVDIHZDWHU DQG WKH ¿QDQFLDO EXUGHQV LPSRVHGE\FRQWDPLQDWLRQ $FFRUGLQJWRWKHFRP- plaint, exposure to high OHYHOVRIQLWUDWHVLVGDQJHU- RXVZLWKWKH(3$GHHPLQJ ZDWHU XQVDIH IRU KXPDQ FRQVXPSWLRQ ZKHQ QLWUDWH +DGOLH1DWLRQ +LVOHUZHDULQJMHUVH\QXP- EHUZDVQDPHGWRWKHVW 7HDPZKLOH+DGOLH1DWLRQ VSRUWLQJQXPEHUVHFXUHG D VSRW RQ WKH QG 7HDP 'HODQH\ 6WHIDQL ZHDULQJ QXPEHU UHFHLYHG DQ +RQRUDEOH0HQWLRQ These outstanding ath- letes showcased their tal- ent throughout the season, FRQWULEXWLQJVLJQL¿FDQWO\WR WKHLUWHDP¶VRYHUDOOSHUIRU- PDQFH :LWK D FRPPHQG- DEOHUHFRUGRIZLQVDQG only 8 losses, the Heppner High School girls basket- EDOO WHDP GLVSOD\HG JUHDW WHDPZRUN SHUVHYHUDQFH DQG FRPPLWPHQW RQ WKH court. 3URSKHWHUZLQV:HH%LW 2¶,UHODQGEXWWRQFRQWHVW -Continued to PAGE EIGHT 6W3DWULFN¶V5HPHPEUDQFH:DON .5XQ IRUHKDQGSOHDVHFKHFNZLWK RXU IULHQGV DW )ORRGWRZQ %RRNVIRU\RXUSHUIHFW¿W We hope to see your VPLOLQJ IDFHV 6DWXUGD\ PRUQLQJ 0DUFK th :H enjoy putting this event RQIRURXUFRPPXQLW\DQG KDYHEHHQEOHVVHGE\0RWK- HU1DWXUHZLWKJUHDWZHDWK- 1DPHVDQGSKRWRVKXQJXSDORQJWKHUHPHPEUDQFHZDON- Contributed Photo HUHDFK\HDU,ULVKH\HVPXVW 7R NHHS WKH HYHQW DI- EHZDWFKLQJRYHUXV(ULQ Here we are again… ZH ZHOFRPH DOO ZDONV RI LW¶V WLPH WR GXVW R൵ WKRVH OLIH WR MRLQ LQ WKLV VSHFLDO IRUGDEOHEXWDOVREHQH¿FLDO JR%UDJK JKLOOLHV RU NLFNV UDWKHU HYHQW 2XU IRXUOHJJHG WR WKH FDXVH ZH DVN IRU D gather all your green garb, IULHQGV DUH DOVR ZHOFRPH PLQLPXP SDUWLFLSDWLRQ get your heart rate going but we ask that they always donation. 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As usual, will cross paths with the ZRUNYHU\KDUGWRPDNHWKLV ZHZLOOKDYHORWVRI\XPP\ 6KDP:DONHUVDVWKH\KHDG annual event happen each EUHDNIDVWWUHDWVDQGEHYHU- out counter-clockwise on a \HDUDQGDUHJUDWHIXOWREH ages available during the VKRUWHU ORRS %RWK URXWHV DEOH WR EOHVV RXU FRPPX- social hour and registration, start and end at the United QLW\ PHPEHUV EXVLQHVVHV EHJLQQLQJDWDP7KH 0HWKRGLVW&KXUFKORFDWHG DQGIDFLOLWLHVHWFZLWK\RXU grand event is scheduled to DW : &KXUFK 6W LQ donations. WDNH R൵ DW DP DW WKH +HSSQHU 25 %H VXUH WR ) U L H Q G V + H O S L Q J 8QLWHG 0HWKRGLVW &KXUFK swing back through the )ULHQGVZLOOKDYHERWKVKRUW IROORZLQJRXUDQQXDOJURXS FKXUFKIRUDGHOLFLRXVWUHDW DQGORQJVOHHYHGVKLUWVIRU photo. SURYLGHGE\RXUFRPPLWWHH sale again this year, on the Whether you walk, jog, PHPEHUV DIWHU \RX FURVV PRUQLQJRIWKHHYHQW%XW run, stroll, scoot or bike, WKH¿QLVKOLQH LI\RX¶GOLNHWRJUDERQHEH- 1DRPL3URSKHWHU 6W3DWVEXWWRQDUW Congratulations to 1DRPL 3URSKHWHU DQ WK JUDGHU LQ 0UV 1HOVRQ¶V +-6+6 DUW FODVV IRU ZLQ- QLQJ RXU :HH %LW 2¶ ,UHODQG %XWWRQ &RQ- WHVW1DRPLZDVSUHVHQWHG ZLWK D FKHFN IRU KHU DZDUG7KLV\HDU¶VEXWWRQV FDQEHSXUFKDVHGIRUDW WKH +HSSQHU &KDPEHU RI &RPPHUFH or WKH &LW\ RI +HSSQHU 3URFHHGV JR WR WKH6W3DWULFN¶V'D\&RP- PLWWHHIRUIXWXUHIXQGLQJ 0RUURZ&RXQW\5HVLGHQWV We want to provide clarity to the public about ZKDWWRH[SHFWDIWHU0DUFK ZKHQ 0RUURZ County Health District FHDVHVWREHWKHDPEXODQFH VHUYLFH SURYLGHU IRU 0RU- row County. $IWHU FRQVXOWLQJ ZLWK OHJDO FRXQVHO 0&+' KDV GHWHUPLQHG WKDW ZH 3UHVVUHOHDVHIURP0&+' -Continued to PAGE SEVEN CALL 541-989-8221 ext 204 for more information
