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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (March 6, 2024)
(,*+7+HSSQHU*D]HWWH7LPHV+HSSQHU2UHJRQWednesday, March 6, 2024 &ODVVDFWLRQODZVXLW¿OHGRYHUQLWUDWHV ,W¶VWLPHWRVSULQJIRUZDUG -Continued from PAGE ONE GDPDJHDQGLQFUHDVHGULVN SXQLVK DQG GHWHU 'HIHQ- public water at restaurants RUIULHQGV¶UHVLGHQFHV &XUUHQWO\ DERXW KDOI RI WKH UHVLGHQWLDO ZHOOV LQ WKH 8PDWLOOD *0$ KDYH undergone testing, with a VLJQL¿FDQW SHUFHQWDJH GLV- playing nitrate levels above WKH(3$¶VOLPLW7KHVWDWHRI 2UHJRQ KDV WDNHQ VWHSV WR address the issue, including LQVWDOOLQJ¿OWUDWLRQV\VWHPV DWVRPHKRPHVDQGSURYLG- ing bottled water to others. According to court GRFXPHQWV H[FHVVLYH QL- trate levels in groundwater pose severe health risks, particularly to vulnerable populations such as in- IDQWV SUHJQDQW ZRPHQ DQG ROGHU DGXOWV 1LWUDWH FRQWDPLQDWLRQ LQ ZDWHU can result in severe health FRPSOLFDWLRQV LQFOXGLQJ F\DQRVLV %OXH %DE\ 6\Q- GURPHUHSURGXFWLYHLVVXHV and various cancers. The lawsuit underscores that UHVLGHQWVLQWKHD൵HFWHGDU- eas, including those relying on private wells and public ZDWHUV\VWHPVDUHDWULVNRI H[SRVXUHWRXQVDIHOHYHOVRI nitrates. )XUWKHUPRUH WKH ODZ- VXLWDFFXVHVWKHGHIHQGDQWV LQFOXGLQJWKH3RUWRI0RU- URZ /DPE :HVWRQ +ROG- LQJV,QF0DGLVRQ5DQFK- HV ,QF 7KUHHPLOH &DQ- \RQ)DUPV//&DQG%HHI 1RUWKZHVW )HHGHUV //& RI YLRODWLQJ ZDVWHZDWHU SURFHVVLQJ SHUPLWV LVVXHG E\WKH'(4&RXUWUHFRUGV LQGLFDWHPXOWLSOHLQVWDQFHV RI SHUPLW YLRODWLRQV E\ WKH GHIHQGDQWV LQFOXGLQJ XQDXWKRUL]HG GLVFKDUJH RI nitrogen-heavy wastewater RQWR IDUPODQG IDLOXUH WR PRQLWRU DQG UHSRUW ZDVWH- water leaks, and surpassing QLWURJHQ GLVFKDUJH OLPLWV RXWOLQHGLQWKHLUSHUPLWV 7KHSODLQWL൵VDFWLQJRQ EHKDOI RI WKHPVHOYHV DQG RWKHUV ZLWKLQ WKH 8PDWLO- OD *0$ FODLP WKDW RYHU LQGLYLGXDOV DUH DI- IHFWHG E\ WKH DOOHJHG FRQ- WDPLQDWLRQ 7KHSODLQWL൵VDUJXHWKDW WKHGHIHQGDQWV¶DFWLRQVFRQ- stitute negligence per se, as they allegedly violated 2UHJRQ¶V :DWHU 3ROOXWLRQ Control law by causing SROOXWLRQ RI JURXQGZDWHU and discharging wastes into state waters, thereby reduc- ing water quality standards established by regulatory bodies. In addition to seek- LQJ GDPDJHV IRU SURSHU- W\ GDPDJH DQG LQFUHDVHG KHDOWK ULVNV WKH SODLQWL൵V are requesting that the court FRPSHO WKH GHIHQGDQWV WR FRQGXFW DVVHVVPHQW DQG UHPHGLDO DFWLRQ DFWLYLWLHV WRHOLPLQDWHWKHDOOHJHGHQ- GDQJHUPHQW7KH\DOVRVHHN UHFRYHU\ RI FRVWV LQFXUUHG in bringing the lawsuit, LQFOXGLQJDWWRUQH\IHHVDQG H[SHUWZLWQHVVIHHV $ VXPPDU\ RI WKH FRXQWVDQGUHOLHI &2817 , 5( 6285&( &216(59$ 7,21$1'5(&29(5< $&7 5&5$ 3ODLQWL൵V DOOHJH YLROD- WLRQVRIWKH5&5$¶VFLWL]HQ HQIRUFHPHQWSURYLVLRQ 'HIHQGDQWVDUHDFFXVHG RIJHQHUDWLQJWUDQVSRUWLQJ VWRULQJ RU GLVSRVLQJ RI hazardous and solid wastes, causing risks to public KHDOWKDQGWKHHQYLURQPHQW 3ODLQWL൵VVHHNUHPHGLDO DFWLRQ WR HOLPLQDWH HQGDQ- JHUPHQWDQGUHFRYHUFRVWV &2817 ,, 1(*/, GENCE 'HIHQGDQWVDUHDFFXVHG RI EUHDFKLQJ WKHLU GXW\ RI care by causing property RIOLIHWKUHDWHQLQJLOOQHVVHV 3ODLQWL൵VDVVHUWWKDW'H- IHQGDQWVNQRZLQJO\FDXVHG QLWUDWH FRQWDPLQDWLRQ LQ WKH 8PDWLOOD *URXQGZDWHU 0DQDJHPHQW$UHD *0$ GHVSLWH DZDUHQHVV RI LWV hazards. &2817,,,1(*/, *(1&(3(56( 3ODLQWL൵VFODLP'HIHQ- GDQWV YLRODWHG WKH 2UHJRQ :DWHU 3ROOXWLRQ &RQWURO law, causing personal and SURSHUW\ GDPDJH DQG LQ- FUHDVHG ULVN RI VHULRXV LOO- nesses. 'HIHQGDQWV¶DFWLRQVDUH alleged to have breached VWDQGDUGV RI FRQGXFW DQG due care. &2817 ,9 75(6 3$66 3ODLQWLIIV DFFXVH 'H- IHQGDQWVRILQWHQWLRQDOWUHV- pass by causing pollutants to enter onto real proper- ty, resulting in substantial GDPDJHVDQGFRQWDPLQDWLRQ RIZHOOZDWHU &2817935,9$7( 18,6$1&( 'HIHQGDQWV¶ GLVSRVDO RIZDVWHZDWHULVFODLPHGWR KDYHLQWHUIHUHGZLWK3ODLQ- WL൵V¶XVHDQGHQMR\PHQWRI their land, rendering private ZHOOV XQ¿W IRU XVH DQG LQ- FUHDVLQJWKHULVNRIVHULRXV illnesses. &28179,38%/,& 18,6$1&( 'HIHQGDQWV¶ FRQWDPL- QDWLRQRIWKH8PDWLOOD*0$ JURXQGZDWHU LV GHHPHG D SXEOLF QXLVDQFH VLJQLIL- FDQWO\ LPSDFWLQJ SXEOLF KHDOWK VDIHW\ DQG FRQYH- nience. 3ODLQWL൵VDQGWKH&ODVV DOOHJH LQWHUIHUHQFH ZLWK their property rights and LQFUHDVHG ULVN RI SK\VLFDO KDUP GXH WR H[SRVXUH WR excess nitrates. & 2 8 1 7 9 , , , 1 9(56( &21'(01$ 7,21 3ODLQWL൵VUHSUHVHQWLQJ WKH5HQWHU2ZQHU6XEFODVV EULQJ DQ LQYHUVH FRQGHP- QDWLRQ FODLP DJDLQVW 'H- IHQGDQW 3RUW RI 0RUURZ 'HIHQGDQW3RUWRI0RUURZ a public entity, allegedly GXPSHGFRQWDPLQDWHGZD- WHULQH[FHVVRILWVSHUPLWV LQWR WKH 8PDWLOOD *0$ UHVXOWLQJ LQ FRQWDPLQDWLRQ RI 3ODLQWL൵V¶ ZHOOV 3ODLQ- WL൵V DUJXH WKDW WKLV DFWLRQ constitutes an appropriation RIWKHLUSURSHUWLHVIRUSXEOLF XVHZLWKRXWMXVWFRPSHQVD- tion. The excess wastewater GXPSLQJ KDV VXEVWDQWLDOO\ LQWHUIHUHG ZLWK 3ODLQWL൵V¶ XVHDQGHQMR\PHQWRIWKHLU properties, leading to the destruction or substantial UHGXFWLRQ RI WKHLU EHQH- ILFLDO XVHV DQG HFRQRPLF viability. 35$<(5 )25 5( /,() 3ODLQWL൵V VHHN YDULRXV IRUPVRIUHOLHILQFOXGLQJ 'HFODUDWRU\ MXGJPHQW RI'HIHQGDQWV¶YLRODWLRQVRI WKH5HVRXUFH&RQVHUYDWLRQ DQG5HFRYHU\$FW &RXUWRUGHUFRPSHOOLQJ 'HIHQGDQWV WR FRQGXFW DV- VHVVPHQWDQGUHPHGLDODF- WLRQ DFWLYLWLHV WR HOLPLQDWH HQGDQJHUPHQW DQG REWDLQ JRYHUQPHQWFHUWL¿FDWLRQ 3URYLVLRQRIFOHDQSR- WDEOHZDWHUWR3ODLQWL൵VDQG the Class, either through bottled water deliveries, well construction, or con- nection to clean water pipe V\VWHPV &RXUWRUGHUHGPHGLFDO PRQLWRULQJWRDGGUHVVSXE- lic health concerns. *HQHUDO DQG FRPSHQ- VDWRU\ GDPDJHV SURYHG and awarded by the jury or court. 3XQLWLYH GDPDJHV WR 1HZSDSHUVFKHGXOH The Heppner Gazette WLPHVSDSHUZLOOQRORQJHU EHPDLOHGRXWRQ:HGQHV- days, they will now be PDLOHGRXWRQ7KXUVGD\V ,I\RXKDYHDQ\TXHVWLRQV SOHDVHIHHOIUHHWRFDOOWKH *D]HWWH7LPHVR൶FH dants. $Q\RWKHUGDPDJHVDO- lowed by law and awarded by the jury. 3ODLQWLIIV¶ OLWLJDWLRQ costs, including attorney DQGH[SHUWZLWQHVVIHHV $ Q \ R W K H U U H O L H I GHHPHG MXVW DQG HTXLWDEOH by the Court. +HUHDUHWKHQDPHVDQG DGGUHVVHV RI WKH ODZ\HUV involved in the class action lawsuit. 0LFKDHO$%OLYHQ %/,9(1/$:),503& .DOLVSHOO07 5REHUW)'Z\HU,,, %/,9(1/$:),503& %RDUGPDQ25 -RKQ+HHQDQ WREHDGPLW- ted pro hac vice) +((1$1 &22. %LOOLQJV07 6WHYH : %HUPDQ WR EH DGPLWWHGpro hac vice) 0HUHGLWK66LPRQV WREH DGPLWWHGpro hac vice) + $ * ( 1 6 % ( 5 0 $ 1 62%2/6+$3,52//3 Seattle, WA $ELJDLO'3HUVKLQJ WREH DGPLWWHGpro hac vice) + $ * ( 1 6 % ( 5 0 $ 1 62%2/6+$3,52//3 3DVDGHQD&$ The Ohio Clock in the U.S. &DSLWROEHLQJWXUQHGIRU ZDUGIRU¿UVWGD\OLJKWVDYLQJ WLPHRQ0DUFK - Photo from wikipedia By Chris Sykes 'RQ¶W IRUJHW WR WXUQ \RXU FORFNV IRUZDUG 6XQ- GD\PRUQLQJDWDP %HQMDPLQ )UDQNOLQ- While not directly respon- VLEOH IRU LPSOHPHQWLQJ 'D\OLJKW 6DYLQJ 7LPH %HQMDPLQ )UDQNOLQ LV RI- ten credited with propos- LQJWKHLGHDLQDKXPRURXV HVVD\ SXEOLVKHG LQ He jokingly suggested that people could save candles by waking up earlier to WDNH DGYDQWDJH RI QDWXUDO daylight. :LOOLDP :LOOHWW D %ULWLVK EXLOGHU LV FRQVLG- HUHG RQH RI WKH HDUOLHVW SURSRQHQWV RI 'D\OLJKW 6DYLQJ7LPH,Q:LO- OHWW SURSRVHG PRYLQJ WKH FORFN IRUZDUG GXULQJ WKH VXPPHU PRQWKV WR EHWWHU utilize daylight and save energy. *HUPDQ\ DQG :RUOG :DU , *HUPDQ\ EHFDPH WKH ¿UVW FRXQWU\ WR DGRSW 'D\OLJKW 6DYLQJ 7LPH QD- WLRQZLGH LQ GXULQJ :RUOG:DU,7KHDLPZDV WR UHGXFH WKH QHHG IRU DU- WL¿FLDOOLJKWLQJLQWKHHYH- QLQJVDQGFRQVHUYHIXHO 8QLWHG6WDWHV)ROORZ- LQJ*HUPDQ\¶VOHDGGXULQJ World War I, the United 6WDWHV LPSOHPHQWHG 'D\- OLJKW6DYLQJ7LPHLQ DV D WHPSRUDU\ PHDVXUH However, it was later re- YRNHGDIWHUWKHZDUHQGHG 5HLQWURGXFWLRQ 'D\- OLJKW 6DYLQJ7LPH ZDV UH- introduced in the United States during World War II as an energy-saving PHDVXUH,WZDVWKHQVWDQ- GDUGL]HGZLWKWKH8QLIRUP 7LPH $FW RI ZKLFK HVWDEOLVKHG XQLIRUP VWDUW DQG HQG GDWHV IRU '67 across the country. In conclusion, the con- FHSWRI³VSULQJLQJIRUZDUG´ ZLWK WKH WLPH FKDQJH FDQ EHWUDFHGEDFNWRH൵RUWVWR PDNHPRUHH൶FLHQWXVHRI daylight and conserve en- ergy resources, particular- O\GXULQJWLPHVRIZDUDQG HFRQRPLFVWUDLQ Sweeney VSHDNVDW Seniors 0DWWHU 3DW 6ZHHQH\ RI 6ZHHQH\ 0RUWXDU\ VKDUHG KLV H[SH ULHQFHV DV D PRUWLFLDQ ZLWK DIXOOKRXVHRIVHQLRUVDWWKH 7XHVGD\OXQFK0DUFKWK -Contributed Photo YOUR AD COULD BE HERE! Submit Ads heppner.net Call 541-676-9228 Email graphics@rapidserve.net Heppner Gazette-Times Sykes PrintingQua L. 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