Week of December 19, 2024
Sherman County authorities responded early Sunday morning to reports of a vehicle crash in Wasco, with reported damage to the historic Wasco Train Depot. Deputy Sol Jacobsen of the Sherman County Sheriff's Office said he received a call at approximately 7:40 a.m. Sunday, and proceeded with caution to the crash site due to icy roads. The vehicle, a 2012 white Ford F250 pickup, crashed into the eastern corner of the Train Depot on Clark Street, Wasco's main thoroughfare, just...
SALEM, OR – On January 1, 2025, new laws will go into effect to make Oregon safer, cleaner, and more affordable. These changes will directly impact the day-to-day lives of Oregonians, covering everything from stopping drug use on public transportation and lowering the cost of prescription drugs to making it cheaper to repair electronic devices and increasing transparency in public education. "Oregonians aren't satisfied with the status quo, and neither are we. These changes...
Asher Community Health Center CEO Albert Pacheco has given his resignation to the board and will depart by Christmas. Pacheco joined Asher Clinic in 2021 after serving as the leader of a federally qualified health center near Los Angeles for several years. Pacheco helped to navigate through the choppy waters of COVID, and oversaw an expansion of services in his tenure at Asher Health. As a federally qualified health center (FQHC), Asher Community Health gets a majority of its...
There were high hopes when the Royal Stag opened in 2022. Owner Shawn Hawkins put a considerable amount of time and money into the venture. As co-owner of Tiger Town Brewing in Mitchell, Hawkins brought experience in the restaurant industry and a track record of boosting the profile of a small Wheeler County community. But just over two years later, Hawkins had to pull the plug on the venture. Employees of The Royal Stag were notified last week that the establishment was...
Avangrid, a provider of sustainable energy solutions, is integrating immersive virtual reality (VR) technology into its training programs for wind and solar technicians. The technology is being implemented at the company's National Training Center (NTC) in Sherman County, Oregon, to complement traditional hands-on training methods and prepare employees for complex real-world challenges. The VR modules offer trainees the opportunity to become familiar with various machines and...
The Dalles, OR - The US Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) announced that CGCC has been selected to join the Industrial Training and Assessment Centers (ITAC) network. The ITAC network trains energy and manufacturing workers while helping small- and medium-sized manufacturers improve productivity and lower their energy bills. "This grant enables us to build on several prior initiatives in CGCC's Advanced Manufacturing and...
The Northern Oregon Regional Corrections (NORCOR) facility is grappling with significant funding and maintenance issues, Gilliam County Sheriff Gary Bettencourt informed the county court last Wednesday. Opened in 1999, the NORCOR facility has seen its infrastructure deteriorate over the years, with the roof requiring repairs for several years. The facility houses both adult and juvenile detainees, but operational and financial hurdles have sparked debates over its future....
CONDON, OR - With the retirement of City of Condon Mayor Jim Hassing and Councilor Donald Jamieson, a collective 35 years of public and community service will leave the council chambers. They were honored for their long-time commitments to the city at the December 4 council meeting. The two will officially serve in their long-held positions until December 31. Mayor Hassing followed in the footsteps of his father, Tom Hassing, who served the City of Condon as mayor from 1975...
The Woolery Project, a 501c3 nonprofit organization with an all-volunteer board, led by Olex's Rod McGuire and Arlington's Julius Courtney, has been fundraising for several years in an effort to build an events and community center above Arlington. The Woolery has held events in Arlington and Ione in recent years, with auctions and dinners provided by McGuire's Paradise Rose Chuckwagon. Land was donated to the Woolery by the City of Arlington. Engineering plans were developed...
SALEM, OR – On December 5, 2024, the Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) unanimously adopted the first set of rules the state will use to implement comprehensive, system-wide housing planning reforms to address Oregon's housing crisis. The adopted rules direct the approaches and methods local governments will use to reverse decades of underinvestment in housing production and meet community needs. They do this by: • Standardizing planning: Local...
Gilliam County is taking steps to bolster its emergency response and wildfire management efforts, with updates on a promising grant opportunity shared during a recent county court session. Herb Winters, Manager of the Gilliam Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), informed the court about a FEMA grant that could reshape the county's approach to emergency preparedness. The court plans to apply for the grant, with Gilliam SWCD serving as the sub-grantee. A pre-application...
A respected population study from Portland State University (PSU) was released last week and shows that Gilliam County had the fifth-highest growth rate in Oregon over the past four years. Sherman County grew, but at a slower rate, and Wheeler County's population decreased at the third highest percentage statewide. The study's estimates show that several counties in Oregon are experiencing growth while others are seeing population declines. Gilliam County grew at a rate of...
After being closed for six months, the Arlington Community Childcare Center has reopened. Temporary licensing is in place until December 31st, and permanent licensure is expected soon. Director Ashley Bayliss told the Gilliam County Court that after considerable work, the center has had its inspections and is now a certified center, not just a certified family home, as it was previously. "The daycare has its own status and is not dependent on a director," Ashley Bayliss told...
ARLINGTON, OR - The Gilliam County Court approved a Capital Investment Grant request from the Arlington School District for $825,000 today, supporting the school's commitment to housing for its staff. Superintendent Larry Johnson, who addressed the court before they voted on the funding package, said that the school is well positioned for the future, with the exception of housing. "We have fourteen teachers in our district, six of whom will be retiring soon," Johnson said....
In the Condon Blue Devil home basketball game opener, the Devils downed the Wallowa Cougars 49-40. The tip off went to Condon player Wyatt Johnson who easily laid in the first points of the game. An energized Devil team showed great defense in the key with the triple threat of Blake Carnine, Brodie Bass and Carson Greenwood using their collective height to keep the Cougars from getting a second try under the basket. A slight lead of 12-9 was held by the Devils at the end of...
A fourth-generation wheat and cattle rancher in Sherman County, Larry Edward Kaseberg, died on December 15, 2024, in The Dalles, Oregon. He was born on August 25, 1935, in The Dalles, to Lawrence and Marguerite (Foss) Kaseberg. Larry grew up on the family ranch near Wasco, Oregon, attended Wasco Grade School and Moro High School, and was active in athletics, 4-H and Boy Scouts. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity at Oregon State College, and joined the Reserve Officer...
Shirley May Palmer of Condon, Oregon, was born March 8th, 1938 in Yakima. Washington to Harold (Shorty) and Edna (Crump) Peck. She died on December 7th in Condon, Oregon at the age of 86 years. Shirley was raised in the Heppner area. She married Roger Palmer on December 18, 1955, in Heppner, Oregon. They lived on the ranch at Eightmile. Shirley enjoyed collecting dolls, gardening and sewing. She is survived by her sister, Patricia Hardy (Salem, Oregon), her children: Sandra...
Sue McClure was born Suzanne Eunice Smith on December 24th, 1937 in Portland, Oregon to parents Lyle and Clara Smith. Sue married Philip McClure at the age of 19 on February 7th, 1957. She has resided in Fossil, Oregon for 50+ years and before that she followed her husband's career (State Policeman) from Portland to Baker to Fossil all in Oregon. They also did a stint in Texas while her husband was in the Army. Sue has 2 daughters, Elaine Fleming (& husband Bernie), and...
Arthur James Scott, born February 10, 1929, in Bismarck, North Dakota, passed away peacefully on November 17, 2024, in Raleigh, North Carolina. He was the beloved son of Roy Carlysle Scott and Lila Paine Scott and grew up alongside his six siblings: Dorothy, Sam, Evelyn, Grace, Virgil, and Tish. Arthur was preceded in death by his first wife, Virginia Marie Scott (née Seale), and his second wife, Jackie Bryant Scott. He is survived by his children, Alison M. Scott, Janet V....
With heavy hearts our family announces the passing of Marianne McRae Matthews in Yreka, CA on September 6, 2024 at her daughter, Kimberly Harden’s home. Marianne was 86. Marianne spent her early years living on the family ranch in Clarno, Oregon. Marianne married Alan Matthews July 3, 1954 and lived in Fossil and Bend, Oregon with their children Daniel and Kimberly, then relocated to Gazelle, California. She worked as an administrative coordinator for the Edgewood Schools near their home and enjoyed building and...
