NEWS IN BRIEF

Old Condon Grade School approved for Brownfield grant

The Old Condon Grade School has moved one step closer to getting federal funding for environmental remediation – as the Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization selected the site for negotiations with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The Port of Arlington's non-profit wing – the Environmental Sentry Corp, took ownership of the old school building last year. It is working to remediate the building of asbestos, lead, and other hazardous materials in hopes that it can be developed into housing and community space.

Since 1995, the EPA's Brownfields Program has helped communities around the country to cleanup and revitalize sites with hazardous materials.

There is still a long way to go for this project, and the EPA has not awarded funding, but it is an encouraging step nonetheless.

Aly Sedlock to open restaurant in Hotel Condon

Chef Aly Sedlock has moved into the Hotel Condon and is working to prepare the bar and restaurant for her new restaurant venture.

Sedlock will open Wild Sage Restaurant in the historic hotel on June 14. Sedlock's food is centered around locally grown, seasonal and fresh ingredients. The restaurant will offer thoughtfully produced meals in a family friendly environment.

Aly has gotten approval from the City of Condon to get a permit from the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC). She plans to offer a full service bar to complement the restaurant.

In addition to offering food at the Hotel Condon, Sedlock also will offer catering services.

A native of Salem, Aly Sedlock has lived in the area for several years. She helped to resurrect the Grass Valley Market in Sherman County, and then worked as head chef at the Royal Stag in Fossil. Most recently, she was a guest chef at the Elks Lodge in Condon. Now, she is looking to capitalize on her own vision and sees potential in the Condon community.

More to come.

Mural takes shape in Condon

Residents of Condon and passers-through have seen changes to the south wall of the old Sweeney Mortuary building this week.

Visiting artist Roger Peet is painting a mural on the building. Peet is an artist that is based in Portland but who has painted murals and done other arts activities in rural areas in the U.S. and abroad.

The Condon Arts Council helped to commission the mural and worked with the City of Condon to create a mural ordinance.

Murals have been shown to improve tourism, boost business and interest in towns, and create conversation and dialogue for education.

The Condon Arts Council purchased the Sweeney building in 2023 and aspires to transform the space into the Condon Center for the Arts – a venue for arts classes and events.

The mural will show two steelhead fish swimming upstream, and was selected by the Condon Arts Council to recognize the work being done by its neighbors, the Gilliam Soil and Water Conservation District. Several creeks in Gilliam County have been significantly influenced by the Gilliam SWCD. Thirtymile Creek has received millions of dollars for riparian and restoration efforts – specifically to improve habitat for steelhead, which are listed as an endangered species. Rock Creek, Hay Creek, and other tributaries of the John Day River have also been improved by the Gilliam SWCD.

The mural is expected to be finished on Sunday, May 25. An unveiling of the mural will be held at 3 PM. All are welcome.