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 $OOVWDUV +DOOHH
leach into the soil and con-
WDPLQDWHJURXQGZDWHU
The lawsuit also under-
VFRUHVWKHLPSDFWRQSXEOLF
ZDWHU V\VWHPV ZLWK PDQ\
V\VWHPV WHVWLQJ DERYH WKH
PD[LPXP FRQWDPLQDWLRQ
OLPLWIRUQLWUDWHV7KLVFRQ-
WDPLQDWLRQD൵HFWVQRWRQO\
residents who rely on pub-
OLF ZDWHU V\VWHPV EXW DOVR
those who use well water
DW KRPH ZKHQ FRQVXPLQJ
HUIRU0RUURZ&RXQW\
D 0&+'¶V 4XLFN
5HVSRQVH 7HDPV ORFDWHG
LQ HDFK FRPPXQLW\ PD\
UHVSRQGDVQHHGHGWRPHG-
ical calls to provide stabi-
lizing care.
E 0&+' PD\ WUDQV-
SRUWSDWLHQWVE\DPEXODQFH
-Continued to PAGE SEVEN
/DG\0XVWDQJJLUOV
%DVNHWEDOO$OO6WDUV
IDU VXUSDVVLQJ IHGHUDO DQG
VWDWHVDIHW\WKUHVKROGV
7KH FRPSODLQW DOOHJHV
WKDW WKH GHIHQGDQWV HVSH-
FLDOO\ WKH 3RUW RI 0RUURZ
DQG /DPE :HVWRQ KDYH
repeatedly exceeded per-
PLWV UHVWULFWLQJ QLWURJHQ
discharge. Despite regula-
tory oversight, these entities
have persisted in releasing
nitrogen-heavy wastewater,
exacerbating the pollution.
7KH SODLQWL൵V VHHN LQ-
MXQFWLYH UHOLHI ,QMXQFWLYH
UHOLHI UHIHUV WR D W\SH RI
OHJDO UHPHG\ VRXJKW E\
D SODLQWLII LQ D ODZVXLW
wherein the court issues an
injunction, or a court order,
WR UHTXLUH D GHIHQGDQW WR
VWRSRUUHIUDLQIURPFHUWDLQ
actions or behaviors. 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. As always, your
and get together with your UHPDLQRQDOHDVKGXULQJWKH donation will be kept in a
ROG IULHQGV DQG IDPLO\ IRU event, and that you pick up ORFDO µSRW RI JROG¶ WR DV-
DZDONDERXWLQPHPRU\RU DQ\ WUHDVXUHV OHIW EHKLQG sist with health care needs
3OHDVH YLVLW RXU )DFHERRN ZLWKLQRXUFRPPXQLW\2XU
your loved ones.
7KH 5HPHP- SDJH IRU D PDS RI WKH N )ULHQGV +HOSLQJ )ULHQGV
EUDQFH :DON . 5XQ run route, a clockwise loop FRPPLWWHH RI YROXQWHHUV
will be held on Saturday, around town where we and all our event helpers,
0DUFK th , 2024. 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