Week of April 18, 2024
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ARLINGTON, VA - U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) and the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) are pleased that U.S. wheat farmers can help increase global food assistance under a new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding program announced today. USDA and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will invest $1 billion in Commodity Credit Corporation funding to provide for the purchase, shipment and distribution of U.S. wheat and other commodities for...
HEPPNER, OR - BEO Bancorp (OTCBB:BEOB) and its subsidiary, Bank of Eastern Oregon, announced first quarter 2024 consolidated net income of $3,527,000 or $2.87 per share, compared to $3,313,000 or $2.75 per share for first quarter 2023. Total assets were $850.1 million, down 0.3% year over year. Net loans of $531.8 million were up 10.9% from the same period in 2023, while deposits were at $762.9 million, down 1.9% year over year. "We are pleased with our first quarter results....
By Mark Salvo, Oregon Natural Desert Association BEND, OR - Today, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released its final "Public Lands Rule" putting conservation, wildlife habitat and cultural resource protection on equal footing with extractive uses like oil and gas development for the first time in over 40 years. The Public Lands Rule joins a list of recent announcements by the Biden administration and the BLM that will finally bring balance to the management of BLM lands...
Data centers owned by global giants such as Amazon and Google have boosted coffers in Morrow and Wasco County in recent years. This has brought a boom in construction that boosts local companies and also provides some long-term jobs. Counties and cities have received tens of millions of dollars in tax revenue. Gilliam and Sherman County have been looking on in envy. With rumors of a possible Amazon data center being built in Arlington, hopes have grown for additional...
CONDON, OR – The Oregon Frontier Chamber of Commerce (OFCC), formerly known as Condon Chamber, announces its search for a dynamic Programs Manager to join its team. Dedicated to serving 11 communities across Oregon's frontier counties of Gilliam, Wheeler, and Sherman, OFCC is not your typical chamber. It operates as a multifaceted organization prioritizing its members while actively contributing to the economic growth and vitality of the region through various grant... Full story
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has released its Annual Wolf Report. With details of packs and known wolf-zones, the ODFW report shares findings from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023. ODFW reports that for the first time in eight years, the population of gray wolves did not increase in 2023. ODFW claims that illegal poisonings and shootings killed 12 wolves last year, while the state sanctioned the killings of an additional 16 wolves for chronic depredation of...
The Dalles, OR - Organizations dedicated to serving families and children in five Columbia Gorge counties now have the opportunity to apply for grants aimed at enhancing early learning and family engagement. The Four Rivers Early Learning and Parenting Hub announced a new funding initiative targeting Hood River, Sherman, Gilliam, Wheeler, and Wasco counties, focusing on prenatal services, parent education, kindergarten readiness, and family engagement. This regional funding...
U.S. Representative Cliff Bentz assembled a panel of county commissioners, state representatives and federal employees at a public hearing on the gray wolf on Thursday, April 4 at the Pendleton Convention Center. It was the third hearing that Rep. Bentz (R-Ontario) has held on the gray wolf, which was reintroduced to parts of Canada and the Yellowstone National Park in the late 90s. The gray wolf has expanded its range and territory over the past two decades. Joining Rep....
Asher Community Health Center has added another permanent provider to its growing care team. Dr. John Ross will now be seeing patients at the Fossil Clinic location and appointments can be scheduled for Tuesdays and Wednesdays. He joins FNP Irina Martin in providing comprehensive care to Wheeler County patients. Dr. Ross is a native Oregonian, growing up in Tillamook, Portland and Beaverton. He graduated from Sunset High School and attended Reed College and Portland State...
Manchester, Vermont-Highland Hills Ranch, nestled just outside Condon, Oregon, has clinched the esteemed title of 2024 Orvis Wingshooting Lodge of the Year, marking its third triumph in this category. Founded in 2002 by Sherman County native Dennis Macnab, the ranch has become a hallmark destination for upland bird hunters. The lodge was built by renowned contractor Dave Allstott of Heppner, Oregon. Spanning 3,000 acres along Rock Creek, Highland Hills Ranch boasts an...
Sherman County Sheriff Brad Lohrey received a remarkable honor from one of the largest sheriffs' organizations in the nation. The Western States Sheriffs' Association honored Lohrey with its esteemed Sheriff of the Year award in March. The organization encompasses 18 states, including Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, California, Arizona, Nevada, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Texas, Missouri and Oklahoma. One of the big...
National Public Health Week, April 1-7, is an opportunity for North Central Public Health District (NCPHD) to highlight the many programs we offer to keep our communities safe. Going strong this year is a free tobacco cessation program, which launched in 2023, available to Wasco, Sherman, and Hood River County residents. It offers not only free cessation counseling for people of any age, but also free nicotine replacement therapy, such as gum, lozenges or patches, for those...
In late February, a two-day old calf was killed by a wolf or wolves in Lost Valley in Wheeler County. Last week, wolves killed a calf in Morrow County and wolf sightings have been on the rise in north-central Oregon. Wolf depredation of livestock has become a part of life for ranchers in Wallowa, Baker, and Umatilla County over the past decade. But wolves are now moving further west through the Blue Mountains and into the sparsely populated and livestock rich ranches in...
Gilliam County Clerk Ellen Wagenaar has scheduled a special election for April 30, 2024. Voters will decide whether Judge Elizabeth Farrar Campbell and Commissioner Pat Shannon should be recalled, or if they will be allowed to finish their terms in office. Ballots are set to be mailed out on Wednesday, April 10 and will be due back on Tuesday, April 30. Recall petition signatures were submitted to the Gilliam County Clerk's Office last week. After being verified, both Judge...
The Condon Round-Up has sold to Nick Smith of Tigard. Smith has been visiting Condon for many years and is a close friend of Scott and Steve Miller and of the Miller family. Smith is the Senior Project Manager at Emerick Construction, one of the largest residential and commercial builders in the Portland area. During trips to Condon, Smith would often visit the town's favorite watering holes, including the Round-Up and the Elks Lodge. After the Round-Up closed on New Year's...
FFA chapters from Sherman County School and Condon High School had a big weekend at Oregon FFA State Convention last weekend. Held in Redmond, the 96th annual Oregon FFA State Convention featured a number of state level career and leadership development events, workshops, keynote speakers, a college/career expo and the election of the next year's Oregon FFA State Officers, Sherman FFA advisor Nels Swenson said. Swenson is Sherman's agriculture science teacher and FFA advisor....
Before Waste Management came to Gilliam County, Cedar Springs Road was one like any other. Two lanes and gravel, the road was used by area farmers and some fishermen that were headed to the John Day River. But over the years, Cedar Springs Road has been used heavily as the Columbia Ridge Waste Management site has grown. With contracts from Portland Metro and Seattle, the Columbia Ridge landfill is the county's largest employer. At the joint work session on February 22 between...
Efforts to remediate and revitalize the old Condon Grade School were discussed by the Environmental Sentry Corp board of directors last week at its monthly meeting. The Environmental Sentry Corp is the non-profit wing of the Port of Arlington. The non-profit has been utilized to help with remediation efforts on large projects that are outside of the Port's scope and abilities. The Environmental Sentry Corps took ownership of the old Condon Grade School last year and has...
Gilliam County Sheriff Gary Bettencourt has been selected to be the next President of the Western States Sheriff Association. The Western States Sheriff Association is made up of sheriffs and command staff from seventeen western states, which spans from Texas to Oregon. Sheriff Bettencourt has been active with the Western States Sheriff's Association for several years and will take over from Sheriff Corey Helton of Lea County, New...
The Sherman County Cultural Coalition has set an application deadline of March 31, 2024 for the Sherman County Cultural Coalition Spring Grant Cycle. Up to $1,500 for local culture, humanities, heritage, and arts. Open to individuals/groups. Apply at www.shermancountyculturalcoalition.com. Questions? Contact Melva Thomas, 541-980-4968 or shermancultural... Full story
Signatures sheets for the recall of Judge Elizabeth Farrar Campbell and Commissioner Pat Shannon were given to the Gilliam Co. Clerk on March 19, 2024. A total of 150 signatures for each recall petition was required and according to members of the recall campaigns, that number was met. The signatures will need to be verified by County Clerk Ellen Wagenaar, and if shown to be valid, will give five days to Judge Farrar Campbell and Commissioner Shannon to either resign or...
The Gilliam county Cultural Coalition has set a grant application deadline for March 28, 2024. Applications will be reviewed on April 4, 2024. Non-profits, groups, and individuals are encouraged to apply for up to $1,500 in funding for activities that focus on arts, culture, heritage, and humanities. Applications are available online at www.co.gilliam.or.us/residents... Full story
After a successful 2023 campaign the Sherman Huskies baseball team is off to a strong start again in '24. They have come out of the gate with a 6-2 record, and, after a week of league action, they sit atop the Special District 7 standings, knotted in a four-way tie with Heppner, Union, and Grant Union, all of whom can boast of 3-0 league records. Returning starters from last year's squad are catcher Brody Geer, first baseman Blake Carnine, second baseman Caiden Walker, third...
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Cliff Bentz, (OR-2) released the following statement regarding his vote in favor of the "The Further Consolidated Appropriations Act" (FCAA): "This was a difficult vote. There is much I dislike in this bill, but when we Republicans barely control only one of the three branches of government (House, Senate, White House), the results our team obtained after months of work and thousands of amendments are deserving of serious respect. Additionally,...
Getting kids away from screens is no easy feat. But the Condon Arts Council did just that at a special camp over spring break. Twenty-two kids from Condon and Fossil took part in the class. Called "Ana Con" – short for Analog Convention – the camp had a no-electronics focus. Kids instead learned how to immerse themselves in role-playing games and character creation, while using their imaginations and improvisational skills to complete tasks. Wendell Seitz, the son of... Full story
Gary Ann (Gross) "Granny" Edwards, longtime Condon resident of Hermiston, Oregon, was born in the Grider House on June 26, 1935 in Condon, Oregon to parents, Wilfred Rae "Billie" Gross and Frankie Isabella (Baker) Gross. She died on April 3, 2024 in Hermiston, Oregon at the age of 88 years. She attended Condon Grade School in Condon Oregon, St. Mary's Academy in The Dalles, Oregon and Arlington Grade School in Arlington, Oregon. Gary Ann moved back to Condon, Oregon and spent...
Arden Kent Meisner of Boardman (formerly of the Condon area) was born July 29, 1940 in Brunswick, Nebraska the son of Clifford and Ruth (Eyer) Meisner. He passed away at his home in Boardman on April 8, 2024 at the age of 83 years. At his request no services will be held. Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements. To leave an online condolence for the family please go to www.burnsmo... Full story
Arthur H. “Art” Starkey of Florence, Oregon, was born on December 29, 1950 in The Dalles, Oregon. He died on March 16, 2024 in Florence, Oregon at the age of 73 years. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, May 4, 2024 at 1:30 P.M. at the Arlington Cemetery, Arlington, Oregon Please share memories of Art with his family at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com. Burns Mortuary of Hermiston, Oregon is in care of... Full story
Marvin Clyde Mabe 8/19/34 – 3/23/24 A loving husband, father, and grandfather passed on March 23rd surrounded by his loving family. Born in Strawfork, just outside of Fossil, Marvin grew up near the painted hills with his parents Harold Random & Ruby Carrie Olson Mabe, as well as his siblings Harold Dean, Rodrick, William, Shirley, Ruby Lee, and Mildred. Soon the family moved to Fossil so the kids could go to school. After finishing school he delivered fuel for Art Robinson and worked at Wright’s Chevrolet until he... Full story
Carol Ann Welborn, 69, of Lonerock, Oregon died March 23, 2024, in Culver, Oregon with family by her side. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, March 29, 2024 at the Heppner Masonic Cemetery in Heppner, Oregon, with a potluck dinner in Lonerock at 2 p.m. at the Community Center. She was born October 9, 1954 at Beaverton, Oregon, the second child of Shirley Mary Greene Phillips and James Terry Phillips. Carol graduated high school and did two terms at Southern Oregon College, and after deciding college was... Full story
