Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, January 15, 2025 -- THREE
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How to
build a fire
Sometimes trying to
start a good fire can be
frustrating. So if you’ve
ever had that issue, here
are a few tips: Make sure
the area is super dry and
start with good, dry tinder.
You’ll need a good igni-
tion source…torches work
great. Be sure to fan the
flames; good air movement
is a must. In fact, if you can
wait until a windy day to
start your fire, you’ll find
it will grow much quicker.
If you need someone to
monitor your fire, Gover-
nor Newsome is a great
choice…especially since he
may be looking for a new
job soon. And remember,
water is detrimental to a
good flame. But if you hap-
pen to be in Southern Cal-
ifornia, don’t worry about
fire hydrants…they’re just
for looks.
Please know, I’m not
trying to make light of the
horrific California fires,
and I pray for those who
have lost so much. The
devastation is sickening.
But the idiocracy of those
responsible for the safety
of the people of LA is un-
believable, maddening, and
deserves to be mocked.
I used to think there
wasn’t anyone worse for
this country than Biden.
But he and Newsome are
tied for first place at the
moment. Newsome has put
millions of people in danger
and made it impossible for
firefighters to do their jobs
by making valuable water
resources unavailable…be-
cause saving Smelt fishies
are a bigger priority to the
Climate Change god.
Then there’s the DEI/
LGBTQ worship. So…
question…how many of
you would like to see me
responsible for saving your
house during a fire? Ya….
me neither. I’m old, small,
and struggle to pack the
airway kit to a scene. I
don’t currently identify as a
22-year-old buff male, but I
bet if I did, I’d be a shoo-in
for Fire Chief….especially
if I was “of color.” So, I just
wonder how many quali-
fied firefighters have been
passed up to make the DEI
folks happy? And I wonder
how the fire victims feel
about funds being redirect-
ed from their fire depart-
ment to a “Midnight Stroll
Transgender Café” and an
all-gay men’s choir. And
maybe they would even
like to have those anti-vax
firefighters back. All this
while 60 Oregon fire trucks
sit in Sacramento waiting
for “smog clearance” so
they can help. It’s time for
the “Woke” to wake up and
admit their agenda is not
working.
When I think of the
anti-God, Liberal agen-
da, including the pure evil
coming from Hollywood, I
wonder if God is trying to
get our attention. Ignoring
Him has consequences…
Sodom and Gomorrah ring
a bell? We will all spend
eternity in heaven or hell.
Our last day may be today,
or in 20 years, but all our
“stuff” will mean nothing
then. Jesus died in our place
as payment for our sins, but
we need to pray, repent,
believe and surrender to
Him. God loves us enough
to give us a choice…the
decision is ours. Can He
still bring something good
out of devastating fires?
Yes, He can. Let’s look to
the one who can calm the
wind (and make more fish).
“Now repent of your
sins and turn to God, so
that your sins may be wiped
away. Then times of re-
freshment will come from
the presence of the Lord,
and he will again send you
Jesus, your appointed Mes-
siah” (Acts 3:19-20).
Susie Crosby
Prineville, OR
Death Notices
Harold H. Holtz—
Harold H. Holtz, 95, of
Ione, OR, passed away on
Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in
Kennewick, WA. A funer-
al service will take place
at the Ione Community
Church at 11 a.m. on Sat-
urday, Jan. 25, 2025, with
a concluding graveside to
follow. Sweeney Payton
Mortuary is entrusted with
the arrangements (sweeney-
paytonmortuary.com).
Judy Campbell—Judy
Belle Maime (Alexander)
Campbell, 87, of Hep-
pner, OR passed away on
Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. A
memorial service will be
announced later. Sweeney
Payton Mortuary is entrust-
ed with the arrangements
(sweeneypaytonmortuary.
com).
First baby of the new year
-Continued from PAGE ONE
the family is so blessed in
the coming year; it makes
me tear up thinking about
it,” Wilson said.
Clabaugh is now a stay-
at-home mom, and Warren
does commercial construc-
tion, specializing in HVAC
systems.
In their spare time, the
parents enjoy being togeth-
er outdoors and exploring in
their Jeep.
“We loved the cart that
was gifted to us by the
Family Birth Center,” said
Clabaugh. “We can’t wait
to take Waylon in it on our
adventures.”
Farm Bureau says new farm worker
housing rules will force out farm workers,
shutter family farms
Oregon’s Occupational
Safety and Health Admin-
istration has made changes
to the state’s farm housing
rules—changes that have
some in the ag industry
concerned for the fate of
family farms.
Last week, OR-OSHA
adopted updates to its Divi-
sion 4 – Ag Labor Housing
(ALH) rules.
This rulemaking is a
result of a multi-year stake-
holder engagement process
beginning in 2018, when a
rulemaking advisory group
began meeting to discuss
changes to Oregon OSHA’s
agricultural labor housing
rule.
The group consisted
of growers, employer rep-
resentatives, agricultural
associations, housing oper-
ators and worker represen-
tatives, as well as agency
personnel.
The COVID-19 pan-
demic delayed rulemaking
activities, which Oregon
OSHA resumed in 2021
and has continued through
2024.
“The adopted rule
changes substantially raise
the protective standards
for indoor and outdoor fa-
cilities that operators must
include when they provide
housing,” Oregon OSHA
stated in a summary of the
changes. Changes run the
gamut from site require-
ments to electrical outlets
to driveway signage.
While the changes
made last week mark an end
to regulatory uncertainty
after a tedious and emo-
tionally draining, six-year
process, they also signal the
beginning of a new chapter
of what many fear are un-
sustainable state policies
for farm workers and farm
families alike.
“Small and mid-sized
farms are being pushed to
the brink—faced with an
impossible choice: spend
$400,000 to $1.5 million
per operation on new hous-
ing to meet these require-
ments, or risk losing their
workforce,” said Angela
Bailey, President of the Or-
egon Farm Bureau (OFB).
“After years of devastat-
ing crop losses and brutal
market conditions, taking
on massive loans isn’t just
unrealistic—it’s operation-
ally fatal.
“Meanwhile, off-farm
workforce housing is vir-
tually non-existent in many
OR-OSHA has ex-
rural areas,” she added. “So, pressed a commitment to
where exactly does OR-OS- provide “technical assis-
HA expect workers to live tance” to support the Ore-
during the critical harvest gon Department of Agricul-
season? This is a disaster ture in providing $5 million
in the making for family in grant funds to registered
agriculture in Oregon.”
operators for existing on-
OFB’s Executive Di- farm housing compliance
rector Greg Addington with the rule change.
said that his group and
In addition, Oregon
other agriculture organiza- OSHA says it will support
tions participated in good additional funding for in-
faith for years during this frastructure improvements
rulemaking.
once the existing grant
“We are not just disap- funding is exhausted.
pointed—we’re outraged by
Meanwhile, though,
OR-OSHA’s shortsighted Oregon agriculture is fac-
and heavy-handed approach ing a crisis. USDA data
to these rules. This isn’t shows net farm income is
just bad policy; it’s outright projected to drop another
hypocrisy,” Addington said. 4.4 percent in 2024, follow-
“While the governor claims ing a massive 19.5 percent
affordable housing is a decline in 2023 compared
priority, OR-OSHA’s reck- to 2022.
less decisions will, without
Over just two years,
question, eliminate access U.S. farms have lost $40
to safe, low or no-cost hous- billion in revenue—the
ing for farm workers near largest two-year drop ever
their workplaces.
recorded.
Addington also said the
On average, farmers
rules will create workforce are losing between $97
shortages during peak har- and $373 per acre across
vest periods.
all crops. For example,
“The outcome of this Oregon’s 720,000 acres
process confirms a blatant of wheat are seeing losses
disregard for stakeholder of about $125 per acre,
concerns,” he said.
amounting to $90 million
OR-OSHA eventually in 2024 alone—and that
decided against prohibit- doesn’t even include the
ing farmworker housing steeper losses from 2023.
within 500 feet of livestock
Multiply this impact
facilities, so long as certain across Oregon’s 200-plus
conditions are met, which commodities, and it is clear,
prevents upheaval of local states the OFB: local farms
dairy farms and ranches. simply don’t have the re-
OFB states that may be the sources to rebuild worker
only positive outcome of housing that OR-OSHA has
this rulemaking, which all previously deemed safe—
Bank of Eastern Ore- ute to these student body but ensures the end of many but now doesn’t—and al-
gon has announced that its accounts in support of fu- family-based farms that ready meets federal housing
grow famous Oregon crops. standards.
school mascot debit card ture activities.”
program contributed more
than $7,261 to participating
area high schools in 2024.
“The school mascot
cards provide much needed
extra funding for these stu-
See AMBER and SHANE for
dent body programs,” said
AMBER SCHLAICH
Becky Kindle, EVP and
270 N. Main Street
Equipment
Chief Operations Officer.
Heppner
and Farmland
Initiated in September
Purchases
(541) 676-9125
2013, the Bank of Eastern
Ag/Commercial Loan Officer
Operating Lines
Oregon mascot debit card
program serves the high
school associated student
body programs of Heppner,
Riverside, Irrigon, Ione,
SHANE LAZINKA
Condon and Weston-McE-
280 Main Street
wen in Oregon, and Colfax,
Ione
WA. Three new area high
schools will be added in
(541) 422-7466
2025.
Ag/Commercial Loan Officer
The program generates
$0.05 per transaction per-
formed with each school
mascot card to that school’s
PERSONAL BANKING • BUSINESS BANKING • LENDING
program. The annual re-
newal fee of $10 for each
card also goes directly to
the ASB after the first year.
“Bank of Eastern Or-
MEMBER FDIC
egon is committed to sup-
porting our rural communi-
ties and their schools. The
mascot cards are a great
way for fans to show their
If you or someone you know:
mascot spirit and help gen-
erate funds for local high
• Is 55 or older or
school ASB accounts,” said
Kindle.
18 and older living with
“We encourage ev-
a disability
eryone in the surrounding
communities of Heppner,
• Feels isolated or alone
Ione, Boardman, Irrigon,
Athena and Condon to
• Lacks technology
sign up at their local BEO
branch for a mascot card,”
• Wants to be more
Kindle added. “It’s easy
and a great way to contrib-
connected to others
BEO partners
with high schools
through mascot
card program
Help to connect!
Find out if you qualify
for a free laptop,
tablet or robotic pet.
Call 855-ORE-ADRC
(673-2372)
ADRCofOregon.org