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WASCO, OR - North Central Public Health District extends its appreciation to the city of Wasco in Sherman County for approving a policy making its two city parks tobacco/vape-free. The Wasco City Council unanimously passed a policy in late May making Wasco City Park (the Old City Park) and Depot Park (Wasco Depot Park) tobacco/vape-free, effective July 1. NCPHD paid for four new signs for the parks, which were recently installed. Wasco City Clerk/Recorder Ian Melzer said,...
FOSSIL, OR - The US Forest Service has awarded $300,000 to the Wheeler Soil and Water Conservation District for the Wheeler SWCD Mass Timber Facility Project through the Wood Innovation Program. The award was one of 123 projects nationwide totaling more than $43 million through Community Wood Grants and Wood Innovations Grants - longstanding Forest Service grant programs that promote innovation in wood products and renewable wood energy economies. Since 2015, the Wood...
Condon, Oregon - The Lone Rock Fire is being managed under a full suppression strategy by the unified command of the Northwest (NW) Team 2 and Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) Red Team. Yesterday's Activities: An upper-level weather system moved over the fire late yesterday morning bringing high based showers and isolated thunderstorms. Cloud cover and smoke from area fires kept temperatures down with afternoon temperatures generally in the upper 80s. As a result of cooler...
LONE ROCK FIRE UPDATE July 21, 2024 Location: Lonerock, Oregon to west of Hwy 207 | Size: 116,563 acres | Containment: 40% | Cause: Under Investigation | Start Date: July 13, 2024 | Total Personnel: 819 InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/orprd-lone-rock-fire Fire Information Line: 541-208-4369 | Email: 2024.0404rvlonerock@firenet.gov Condon, Oregon - The Lone Rock Fire is being managed under a full suppression strategy by the unified command of the...
FOSSIL, OR - Officials with the Oregon State Fire Marshal's Office and the Pacific Northwest 2nd Team held a community meeting at the Fossil Grade School on Saturday evening. Fire officials shared some success stories, but also said that the conditions on the ground continue to be extremely challenging, as the Lonerock Fire surpassed 100,000 acres. The blaze is currently at its worst near Winlock Road, just outside of Spray. Crews are working to protect homes in that area and...
SPRAY, OR (3:30 PM 07/19/24) - The Lonerock Fire has continued to push further south into Wheeler County on Friday afternoon, threatening ranches and homes near Winlock. Residents in the City of Spray received a Level 3 "Go Now" Evacuation Order from the Wheeler Co. Sheriff's Office just after 3:30 PM. Local residents are reporting that the fire is within 5 miles of town. The Lonerock Fire has now burned more than 84,000 acres and is at 40% containment. Firefighters are in...
Condon, OR - The Lone Rock Fire is being managed under a full suppression strategy by the unified command of the Northwest (NW) Team 2 and Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) Red Team. Yesterday's Activities: Significant fire behavior emerged yesterday afternoon, leading to notable fire growth to the south. The fire's southward growth into timber fuels increases the likelihood of crown fires and long-range spotting. In the northwest area of the fire, firefighters made progress...
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced he secured critical investments in Oregon agriculture, rural housing, food assistance, rural business priorities, and veterans' services in the first set of fiscal year 2025 (FY25) government spending bills to pass the committee-a key first step on the road to becoming law. Merkley helped to make sure the investments-including nearly $15 million for seven...
PENDLETON, OR (3:15 PM July 15, 2024) — Multiple agencies are responding to the Lone Rock Fire and officials have ordered a Complex Incident Management Team which will transition with the current Type 3 Incident Management Team. The fire is approximately 9 miles northwest of the Bull Prairie Campground and approximately 8 miles northwest of Fairview Campground in Gilliam County and is growing towards Wheeler County. Forest officials are temporarily closing all Umatilla N...
Heppner, OR - Bank of Eastern Oregon (BEO) has been named one of the country's top agricultural lenders in 2024 by the Independent Community Bankers Association (ICBA). BEO ranks 18th on the list of community banks with $300 million to $1 billion in assets and is the only Pacific Northwest Bank based agricultural lender on this list. The article in Independent Banker magazine includes photos of BEO personnel visiting Painted Hills Natural Beef in Fossil, Oregon; a customer who...
HEPPNER, OR - BEO Bancorp (OTCBB:BEOB) and its subsidiary, Bank of Eastern Oregon, announced second quarter 2024 consolidated net income of $3,755,000 or $3.06 per share. Total assets were $852.3 million; Net loans of $563.3 million; Deposits were at $754.7 million. Shareholder equity was at $71.76 million. "Second quarter earnings are up 13.1% compared to the same period in 2023; earnings per share increased 10.9%. Total assets increased 3.9%; deposits up 1.7%; net loans...
Condon, OR - The Condon Community Food Pantry is excited to announce the successful completion of its first-ever raffle drawing, held to raise essential funds for the construction of a new building. The grand prize of $650 was awarded to JoAnn Peterson, whose support, along with the contributions of many others, will help the Pantry in its mission to serve the community better. The Condon Community Food Pantry Board, consisting of Kolona Morin, Randy Anderson, Susan Walters,...
SPRAY, OR - Emily Reed participated in the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Auxiliary "Get Excited for the Red White and Blue" competition. She submitted a Youtube video of herself singing the US National Anthem. Emily placed First at the VFW State Convention in the 9th to 12th grade level and received a certificate and a $500 check. The check and certificate were presented to Emily in June by the VFW Dexter Fincher VFW Auxiliary members from Prineville, Oregon after a...
The Gilliam County Public Library is gearing up for an exciting summer with its annual Summer Reading Programs, running from June 13th through August 1st. The programs offer a fantastic opportunity for children of various ages to engage in reading and fun activities throughout the summer months. From 10:00 to 10:45 a.m., preschool-aged children (ages 3-5) can participate in the Early Learning Summer Reading Program. Later in the morning, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., the...
A Cowboy Goes to War Bud Fairclo was a cowboy who loved running wild mustangs and the open spaces of the High Desert. After the Japanese bombing at Pearl Harbor, he went off to war and returned home as one of the most decorated soldiers of World War Two. Following in the footsteps of the Greatest Generation came the Baby Boomers. Bud's son, Larry, finds himself adrift in an era of civil unrest and the prospect of having to go overseas and fight in an unpopular war in Vietnam....
Wheeler County District Attorney Gretchen Ladd provided this report for March through June 2024. On March 8, 2024, Judge Wolf accepted the guilty plea of Mr. Ethan Moore, Grant County, to Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer, a Class C Felony, for a pursuit that occurred on Highway 19 between Service Creek and Winlock Lane on November 10, 2023 at speeds over 100 miles per hour. Mr. Gums of Columbia Gorge Defenders in The Dalles represented Mr. Moore. The matter was...
Mark your calendars and dust off your banjos because the Wheeler County Bluegrass Festival is back for another unforgettable year! Friday, July 5th through Sunday July 7th, this annual event promises three days packed with toe-tapping tunes, engaging workshops, and the camaraderie that defines the bluegrass community. The festival is a free event with donations welcome. The heart of the festival beats on the main stage at the Wheeler County Courthouse Park, where from 3 pm to...
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Indiana's Senator Mike Braun, along with U.S. Representatives Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19) and Rudy Yakym (R-IN-02), introduced a bipartisan, bicameral resolution to recognize the importance of pollinators to ecosystem health and agriculture in the United States by designating June 16 through June 22, 2024, as "National Pollinator Week." The resolution emphasizes the vital role native pollinators play in the health of our...
CONDON, OR - "Harvest the Memories!" is the 2024 Gilliam County Fair theme. "The 2024 Fair will be better than ever," said Fair Board Chair Chris Fitzsimmons. "We're planning on a full, active, fun-filled fair, with county-wide participation." The County Fair will feature exhibits, animals, a Children's Fair, and fun activities in the arena for everyone. The fair will be held August 29th through August 31, 2024, Labor Day weekend, at the Gilliam County Fairgrounds in Condon,...
The Fossil Public Library is launching a series of ambitious initiatives aimed at enhancing its services, engaging the community, and fostering a culture of lifelong learning. The library is focused on the future, from promoting the Children's Summer Reading Program to developing a new Strategic Plan and reorganizing its services to be more people focused. The Children's Summer Reading Program is a highlight of the library's summer calendar, inviting young book enthusiasts to discover the joy of reading through a variety of...
The Eastern Oregon Pioneer Association is in the final stages of planning the 2024 Pioneer Picnic. The annual picnic at Julia Henderson Pioneer Park is scheduled for July 27th, 2024. People will gather at 10:30 AM and will listen to a presentation by Sam Barry, a descendant of an original Wheeler County Pioneer family. “The Barry Family from Johnson County Tennessee to Wheeler County Oregon and beyond” is the title of the presentation. The story of pioneers will include the Barry, Howard, Grindstaff, Britt, Price fam...
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) said today they have introduced bipartisan legislation that would support ranchers who rely upon federal lands in Oregon and nationwide to graze their livestock. "After embracing the Bureau of Land Management pilot program, ranchers in eastern Oregon worked closely with me to include updated operational flexibility in my community-crafted Malheur Community Empowerment for the Owyhee Act to bring certainty, c...
The Olex School Scholarship was started in 1996 after the school was closed and merged with surrounding districts. At the time of its closure it was the longest running school district in the state. This year the Arlington recipient for $1000 is Callahan Troutman and the Condon recipients for $1000 are Megan Aamodt, Theresa Campbell, Abby Colby, Brody Geer, Grady Greenwood, Christian Potter, Kristian Takagi, and Kade Wilkins....
Theresa Campbell and Casey Nelson, graduates from Condon High School, are both recipients of the Kaela Reser Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship is presented annually to a Gilliam County High School graduate to assist in pursuing higher education. Theresa Campbell has been a Gilliam County 4-H member for 9 years and during her many years in 4-H, Theresa has participated in several 4-H clubs including Beef, Leathercraft, Photography, and Ambassadors. After graduation,...
SALEM, OR - The Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) is pleased to announce the confirmation of Ivan Gall as the Department's new director, following his executive appointment by Governor Tina Kotek and confirmation by the Oregon Senate. Gall brings a wealth of experience and a commitment to this critical role of sustainable water management. As the head of OWRD, Gall will oversee the state's water resources, ensuring their responsible allocation, conservation, and...
