Feb 11 2019 thru Feb 17 2019

The president signed legislation that lifts federal restrictions on beet truck sizes traveling across Malheur County roads. The new law allows local producers to ship more beets faster to the Amalgamated Sugar plant in Nampa.

A second top Oregon state official has gone on record with "significant" concerns about the proposed Treasure Valley Reload Center. A string of critical reviews has hit the project as it heads to the Oregon Transportation Commission for crucial funding.

Officials will hold hearings in Salem and beyond on controversial cap and trade legislation, following testimony from stakeholders this past week at the Capitol. Industry leaders critical of the proposal included Ralph Poole of Ontario-based Campo & Poole Distributing and Curtis Lesslie of Durkee's Ash Grove Cement Company.

Alameda Elementary sixth-grader Clare Dwyer recently won a $500 grant from the Peace, Love & Planet non-profit organization. The money will go toward installing a new water bottle filling station at the school.

The Cairo Elementary Parent Teacher Organization will be host the 60th annual chili feed Thursday, Feb. 28. The fundraising tradition started 60 years ago, and proceeds help pay for classroom supplies and student activities.

Three Vale teams will advance to the Oregon State Robotics Championships in Salem after finishing with top scores at the second annual robotics competition held at Vale High School on Friday, Feb. 8.

EDITORIAL: As TVCC celebrates the latest accreditation report, the evaluation was costly for the time it took the college to prepare and participate in this grading. It behooves officials, then, to review the recent accreditation report closely, and be proactive in working through the recommendations. College officials ought to consider every “concern” listed as an opportunity.

About 150 people showed up Sunday for theater in the remote community of Jordan Valley as the high school drama club staged an original production, “Ode to the Outhouse.” Loosely based on the history of Jordan Valley, the play was written by Penny Larrusea and Tara Echave.

The Vikings used an 8-0 run to start the game and then held back a feisty Bulldog squad to claim a 44-27 victory in a first-round Eastern Oregon League district contest Wednesday night. Matyson Siddoway paced the Viking attack with 13 points. Madisyn Hartley led Nyssa with seven points. Vale will now move on to face Burns for the district championship Friday in Burns. That game will start at 5 p.m. Pacific time.

In a finding that is likely to delay Malheur County's rail shipping center, the director of the Oregon Transportation Department said $26 million shouldn't be paid out until key risks are addressed.

Coming up in Vale this weekend is the Vale Senior Center dance on Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m. and on Sunday, the Malheur Gun Club will have a shoot at 11 a.m. In March, there will be a baseball/softball equipment drive to help youth ball players.

A proposal to help the homeless in Malheur County was put on hold last week by the Ontario City Council because of concerns about zoning and funding. Community in Action, in coordination with the city, planned to use a building on 2nd Avenue for the warming center.

Arba Eugene Hager, Frances May Gardner Bell, Allen B. Woods, Marjorie P. Hoots, Sylvia E. Forsyth, Margaret Louise Robson

With technology passing by some rural areas of Oregon, legislators are considering laying on a new fee on cell phone use. The money collected from Oregonians would be invested in expanding broadband internet service to rural areas such as Malheur County.

Legislators say Senate Bill 2 would provide flexibility for eastside counties struggling to draw new industry, without harming the state's land-use laws

The Malheur County state lawmaker wants legislators, pondering a proposal to cut greenhouse gas emissions, to hold public hearings on the issue. Feedback from voters, he said, will be important because the proposed blueprint will impact all of Oregon.

Summons, Trustee Notice of Sale, Estate of Norman Neil Bryson, AT&T

Tyler Richardson, a Vale High School freshman, is heading to the first-ever OSAA girls wrestling state championships. Richardson competed at the OSAA Girls Northern Regional tournament on Feb. 2 in Hillsboro and claimed first place in the 140-pound weight class. She will compete in a four-person bracket at the championships next weekend in Portland.

Jessica Kulm was elected last month and said she wants to gather input from the public and merchants to create a more robust organization. One important element to success, she said, is a renewed focus on the needs of local businesses.

Pacific Powersports Inc. acquired the old Pepsi warehouse on the east side of Ontario. The firm, once based in Temecula, California, sells items such as tires, backpacks and riding boots.

Positions available Special Education Teacher & Case Manager, General Ranch Hand, Road Construction Superintendent

This Friday and Saturday, local quilters and others who work in fiber arts are welcome to attend a “Sew-In” at the Waldo Conference Center in Nyssa. The cost is $10 per person and space is limited. Also coming up, the Nyssa FFA Chapter will host a blood drive next Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the high school gym.

Playoff action for some local hoop squads remains murky after weather triggered schedule changes or the cancellation of games. One regular season game for Nyssa - with Riverside - is yet to be played.