SIX - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, February 19, 2025
Seniors honored during basketball game
Several members of the Heppner High School Class of 2025 were honored with their families during last Friday’s home basketball game versus Irrigon. Pictured L-R: Martin Medina, Ob-
dulia Medina, Wren McElligott, Aimeric McElligott, HHS Senior Marty Medina, Eric Orem, HHS Senior Mason Orem, Brandi Orem, Stephanie Spivey, HHS Senior Katie Spivey, Brian
Spivey, Stephanie Hisler, HHS Senior Hallee Hisler, Shane Hisler, Kim Henrichs, HHS Senior Kadie Henrichs, Josh Henrichs, Josh Coiner, HHS Senior Jackson Coiner, Melissa Coiner,
Chris Gallegos, HHS Senior Ivan Gallegos and Mystique Gallegos. -Contributed photo
Morrow County Clean Water
Consortium holds first two meetings
-Continued from PAGE ONE and construction. Howev- construction and regulato-
tured process to complete
not just West Glen, but
also the next project, and
then the next, until all our
citizens have been provid-
ed access to clean water.”
Second Meeting: Ad-
vancing Grant Proposals
and Selecting Projects
During its second
meeting, the MCCWC
shifted focus to securing
funding for infrastructure
projects. With a looming
February 23 deadline for
a Congressional Direct-
ed Spending (CDS) grant
application, the board dis-
cussed next steps, includ-
ing confirming project el-
igibility with the Oregon
Health Authority (OHA)
and Business Oregon,
drafting letters of support
from MCCWC, Morrow
County, the Port of Mor-
row, and other local stake-
holders, and finalizing
project scope and budget
estimates.
Funding Challenges
and Project Selection
The discussion cen-
tered on the Safe Drink-
ing Water Revolving Loan
Fund, a federal grant pro-
gram that provides funding
for planning, preliminary
engineering, final design,
er, strict eligibility require-
ments limit funding to
public or privately owned
community water systems.
The consortium explored
options to qualify for fund-
ing, including creating a
new water district and in-
terconnecting existing sys-
tems.
After evaluating two
main project options—ex-
tending municipal water
system connections or
drilling new wells—the
board unanimously select-
ed Scenario One, which
focuses on final planning
and preliminary design for
non-connection projects.
This strategy prioritizes
Area 3, near Boardman,
and Area 5, near Irrigon,
as both areas lack adequate
municipal water connec-
tions and are prime candi-
dates for well drilling and
independent water solu-
tions.
Budget
Consider-
ations and Technical
Challenges
Cost estimates for
drilling test wells ranged
from $500,000 to over $1
million per well, depend-
ing on factors such as depth
and hydrogeology, per-
mitting requirements, and
ry approval. To maximize
funding opportunities, the
board discussed requesting
funds for two test wells,
with the flexibility to scale
back if necessary.
Board Vote and Next
Steps
The board unanimous-
ly voted to proceed with
Scenario One, authorizing
the grant writing team to
submit the CDS applica-
tion. Members also em-
phasized the importance of
community engagement,
ensuring that rural resi-
dents stay informed and
involved in decision-mak-
ing.
Upcoming Priorities
Submission of the
CDS grant application by
February 23, continued
feasibility
assessments
and outreach to affected
communities,
formaliz-
ing advisory committee
roles, finalizing financial
management for future
projects, and the next MC-
CWC meeting scheduled
for early April.
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Oregon Lawmakers urge
OSAA to align with federal
policy on women’s sports
SALEM, OR – To-
d a y, R e p r e s e n t a t i v e s
Dwayne Yunker (R-Grants
Pass), Boomer Wright
(R-Reedsport), Darin Har-
bick (R-Rainbow), Ed Die-
hl (R-Stayton), E. Werner
Reschke (R-Klamath Falls),
and Gregory Smith (R-Hep-
pner) sent a letter to Oregon
School Activities Associa-
tion (OSAA) President Pe-
ter Weber requesting an im-
mediate OSAA rule change
to specify that girls’ high
school sports participation
is reserved for biological
female athletes.
Given the federal exec-
utive order signed on Feb-
ruary 5, 2025, to keep men
out of women’s sports, and
the NCAA policy change on
February 6, 2025, restrict-
ing women’s competition to
biological females, Oregon
legislators stress the need
for OSAA to align with
these national standards.
“As sponsors of House
Bill 2037, we are commit-
ted to ensuring fairness
in women’s athletics and
protecting opportunities for
female athletes,” said Rep-
resentative Yunker. “With
national policies now in
place, OSAA must act to
maintain a level playing
field in Oregon high school
sports.”
“As a former teacher,
principal, and superinten-
dent, I know how strong
and talented young wom-
en in our schools are,”
said Representative Wright.
“We must stand up for
women’s rights to privacy
and fair competition by
ensuring that men aren’t
going into the women’s
locker room and protecting
women’s sports.”
“As the 2012 1-A Ore-
gon Girls Basketball Coach
of the Year and past wom-
en’s basketball coach at
a small college, I will do
everything I can to keep
women’s sports fair and
safe,” said Representative
Harbick. “OSAA needs to
act in keeping boys out of
girls’ sports.”
“Oregon needs to get
boys out of girls’ sports,”
said Representative Diehl.
“The OSAA needs to act
immediately and decisively.
This is about protecting the
dignity and safety of girls.”
“It was wrong for the
OSAA to crown a boy as
state champion of the girl’s
200-meter race in 2024,”
said Representative Re-
schke. “The OSAA needs
to immediately reverse its
policy concerning boys
competing in girl’s sports
to protect the integrity of
the sport and the dignity of
female athletes.”
“Women deserve to
compete at the highest level
of competition in a fair and
safe environment, which
is why this bill has my full
support,” said Represen-
tative Smith. “I hope to
encourage and support all
young women looking to
compete athletically and
make sure they are safe
while doing so.”
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But it won’t be a gathering of the global
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Ione Community Church will be hosting
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Please join us on February 28, 2025, from
5:00pm – 9:00pm and March 1, 2025 from
3:00pm – 6:00pm
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Phone 541-422-7530
Les Schwab would like to wish the Mustangs good luck at districts this weekend!
Pendelton Convention Center - February 21, 2025
Girls Heppner VS Weston McEwen - Friday 1:00 pm
Boys Heppner VS Weston McEwen - Friday 7:45 pm
Coach Jeremy Rosenbaum, Jackson Coiner, Marty Medina,
Jace Wilson, Joseph Albitre, Mason Orem, Gage Heideman,
Darby Spivey, Keaton Coiner, Tripp Stewart, Caylan Proudfoot,
Caleb George, Alakae Rodriguez, Asst Coach Ken Grieb
Coach Robert Wilson, Healy Hisler, Katie Spivey,
Kadie Henrichs, Avree Lathrop, Hallee Hisler,
Riley Archer, Isa Payne, Cici Stefani, Maya Payne,
Delaney Stefani, Lily Nichols, Asst Coach Russ Nichols
124 N. MAIN STREET
HEPPNER OR (541) 676-9481