The Men of Hunt of a Lifetime Page 4
Underwood Community Center Page 10
This QR Code will take you to the Extended Online Edition
THE GORGE BUSINESS NEWS Business, Ar t, Culture, Outdoors, Travel & Enter tainment
Published by Studio 6 Designworks
Volume 1 - Issue 4 free
Serving Oregon and Washington
The Dalles - A City at its Tipping Point
By Srephen Lawrence,
free
NOV/DEC 2015
Catalyst Research Management Holds Robins Equity Research Roundup at Skamania Lodge in Stevenson
Mayor of The Dalles
When writers talk about a tipping point,
it seems they are talking about an accumulation of events that suddenly cause change to occur through the combined strength or movement of forces. That is exactly what The Dalles is experiencing. Sometimes it feels as if we are poised on top of a wave, standing on a surf board, wondering if we will be able to stay on as we try to master the wave. The combination of events is part hap penstance and part planning. The Dalles was
The Dalles Mayor Stephen Lawrence with the mayor of Miyoshi. selected by Cycle Oregon in 2014 as the place to start and end their week long ride through the country side. The Columbia Gorge Historic Highway renovation is getting closer and closer to completion. Realizing that we were already a cycling destination and that we were soon to experience more cycling visitors, we began to plan. The Bicycle Master Plan of 1993 is being updated along with our Transportation Plan, which has an emphasis on walking and cycling. Main Street has created a method for businesses to be identified as bike friendly and as a result, we have more bike friendly businesses than any other community in the Gorge. We are currently planning and designing our Bike Hub; a place for repairs, rest, bathrooms and way finding, which will be next to the Riverfront trail, located in the new Lewis and Clark Park in the heart of downtown The Dalles.
The Dalles Continued on Page 5
Historian Roger Wendlick was the evening entertainment at the Robins Equity Research Roundup held by Catalyst Research Management. guys who can make a sustainable impact for small companies in the public markets the The first annual Robins Equity way he can — and that is purely as a result Research Roundup, presented by Catalyst of the track record he has developed over Research Management Group, was held at the course of his career,” said conference Skamania Lodge October 8th and 9th, and brought small and microcap equities togeth- presenter, Mitchell Roth of Southern Coner with portfolio managers, hedge fund man- cepts. During the Robins Equity Research agers, retail brokers, mutual fund managers, Roundup sixteen companies were allotted and individual investors. There is a cluster of people who like 40 minutes each to explain what made their company a sound investment choice. A short to follow small cap stocks, according to question and answer session followed each Marc Robins, creator of the Robins Equity presentation. The afternoons and dinners Group Roundup. Robins, who published allowed for more queries. The Red Chip Review for nearly 10 years, According to John Coyle, an athas been following small cap stocks for tendee of the conference, it gave him an nearly 40 and is considered an icon in the excellent opportunity to visit with company industry. management and be made aware of small “If you want new science and new companies which get little or no coverage. innovation, go to a small-cap company. If Four companies from the Pacific Northwest you want job growth, if you want capital were among those presenting. appreciation, go to a small-cap company. CUI Global, Inc., led by CEO It’s exciting. It’s where new technology William Clough, is a technology company and growth comes from; it’s where wealth that develops innovative electro-mechanical comes from,” said Robins, who is currently products. The company has also patented putting the finishing touches on his upthe Vergeance ® Gas PT2 which is a natural coming book, Confessions of a Ten Bagger gas metering device. CUI Global, Inc. is Junkie. A ten bagger is an investment that located in Tualatin, Oregon. For more inforappreciates to 10 times its initial purchase mation visit: www.cuiglobal.com price. Eastside Distilling, located in Port “Not enough great things can be said land and led by CEO Steven Earles, proabout Marc and others in the industry who have a passion for undervalued, vaguely un- duces high-quality, master-crafted spirits. derstood companies that have a tremendous Robins amount of potential. There are very few
Continued on Page 3
It’s a Wrap!
W
ell, just like that, summer is over, the leaves are starting to fall from the trees and winter is just around the corner. The fires have died down, yet some still burn, the danger however is nothing like it was in the heart of fireseason this year. Of course this publication took me all over this summer, giving me the opportunity to meet people with all different types of occupations. There never seems to be a dull moment in my life and I couldn’t be happier. I was able to go to the fire lines on more than one occasion; I went to a conference on equity research at Skamania Lodge, which was amazing and I can hardly wait to start writing about what I learned there, and I even took pictures of the Brigadier General as he landed just outsied of my hometown. Mark and I also made a trip to Troy to survey the damage that the Grizzly Bear Com-
The Gorge Business News plex left behind, so glad the town is still standing. Of course you just can’t go to Troy without taking a walk to the playground behind the school, (which this year has all of two students), so that you can ride the merrygo-round. The Troy school merry-go-round has got to be the best one in the state. New Mexico fire fighters at the Grizzly Bear Complex Fire It is the only one I have ever outside of Elgin. seen that actually lets you contact me at lorikimbel@neobn.com with any pump it to get it spinning, questions or suggestions. and yes I am easily entertained. I will continue on with my efforts to New this edition I will begin making promote small business in the Columbia River an extended digital version of The Gorge Business News online. I will place a QR Code Gorge as well as Northeast Oregon. If I can help move the economic dial in the right difor you to scan that will take you right to the rection in these areas, than that makes my job extended digital version. Thank you once again for reading The well worth doing. I hope your Thanksgiving and ChristGorge Business News. It is still just a fraction mas are wonderful. Talk to you again come of what I want it to become, but like all good winter. things it takes time. Thank you for your supLori port and I look forward to working with you or interviewing you in the future. Feel free to
Community Bank Gorge Regional Loan Center
At Community Bank, our relationship-focused business banking model allows us to provide the highest quality of customer service found anywhere in the Gorge. Our Gorge Loan team brings you more than 70 years of cumulative commercial banking experience; providing all facets of lending, primarily focused on commercial and agricultural needs.
Volume 1 - Issue 4 November/December 2015 Publisher Lori Kimbel lorikimbel@neobn.com PO Box 295 Elgin, Oregon 97827 541-910-1096 Serving Arlington, Biggs Junction Bingen, Cascade Locks Dallesport, Hood River Lyle, Maryhill Mosier, North Bonneville Rowena,Rufus Skamani, Stevenson The Dalles, Underwood White Salmon, Wishram
When Theresa Draper, of Draper Girls Country Farm, was looking to refinance costly real estate debt to improve the orchard/U-pick fruit stand’s cash flow she came to Community Bank and John Gass. Working in conjunction with the USDA, John was able to structure a loan solution that not only met her needs but exceeded her expectations by saving her nearly $7,000 per year in loan payments.
“John took the time necessary to learn and understand the true entrepreneurial nature of my business in order to craft a solution that was the right choice for me now, as well as into the future.” - Theresa Draper Draper Girls Country Farm
6200 HWY 35 Mt. Hood Parkdale, Oregon www.drapergirlscountryfarm.com
www.facebook.com/thegorgebusinessnews www.linkedin.com/in/lorikimbel Twitter - neobnlori www.studio6designworks.com www.thegorgebusinessnews.com www.lorikimbelphotography.com
Local Money Working For Local People
The Gorge Business News is owned and published by Studio 6 Designworks A Creative Publishing and Marketing Company
Gorge Regional Loan Center 320 E 4th Street, The Dalles 541-296-0779
POSTMASTER: send address changes to Studio 6 Designworks PO Box 295, Elgin, Oregon 97827 Subscription Rates: To subscribe to The Gorge Business News Mail $18 to PO Box 295, Elgin, Oregon 97827
www.thegorgebusinessnews.com
(l-r) Rachel, Stefanie, Crystal, and Theresa.
John Gass VP/Commercial Loan Officer jgass@communitybanknet.com
Member FDIC www.communitybanknet.com
Britt Thomas SVP/Regional Credit Administrator bthomas@communitybanknet.com
Page 2
The Gorge Business News
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES Robins Equity Research Roundup The company started in 2008 and their products continue to gain in popularity. More information can be found at www.eastsidedistillers.com Entia Biosciences, Inc. is a biotechnology company, led by CMO Marvin Hausman MD and CFO Tim timmins, and based in Sherwood, Oregon. According to Entia its ErgoD2® platform may play an essential role in achieving iron homeostasis in various disease states and will be the core of their innovative medical therapies, which aim to positively affect DNA syntheses, red blood cell production, neuronal function, and the immune system and are proving applicable to diseases such as Chronic Kidney Disease, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Multiple Sclerosis, Diabetes, Alopecia, Psoriasis, and those suffering from hair loss. For more information visit: www.entiabio. com H-Source is a cloud-based marketplace for the medical field. Hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers are able to buy and sell medical equipment with each other. The company, led by John Kupice was incorporated in 2014 and is based in Spokane, Washington. For more information visit: www.h-source. com “I thought the event was well organized and gave participants the opportunity to showcase their business and network with interested parties,” said Kupice. “Marc Robins is critical because he understands high growth companies like ours and provides value added advice and networking opportunities for businesses like ours.” The conference began by 8 a.m each day; box lunches made it possible for companies to present during lunch and each day was wrapped up by 2 p.m. giving visitors the chance to enjoy the beauty of the Columbia River Gorge. Some spent the afternoon hiking, others played golf, while others went on a wine tour. This scheduling platform was well received. “The most beneficial aspect for me in making the trip to this and any conference is the opportunity to meet and strengthen relationships with other investment professionals,” said Peter Seltzberg , of Darrow Associates. “Secondarily, with the structure of this particular conference, I had the opportunity to participate in quasi-social events that I normally do NOT do - a barbecue dinner at Marc’s home, a wine tasting at Oregon vineyards, and a round of golf. As a result I was able to spend quality time with a financial writer, a money
Continued from page 1
David LaVance of Integrated Environmental Technologies, LTD talks to the morning crowd at the Robins Research Equity Roundup. manager, and CEOs of companies that I otherwise would not have had an opportunity to get to know. Each of the presentations was also an opportunity to challenge my analytical skills and to consider whether I would want to own shares of each stock, and/or represent each company for IR (potential new business channel).” Evening entertainment included a presentation by Roger Wendlick as he assumed the role as one of the Frenchmen on Lewis and Clark’s travels. Wendlick once owned the largest, private collection of books on and artifacts of Lewis and Clark; his library is now located at Lewis and Clark University in Portland. A trip to the Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum (WAAAM) was another highlight of the conference. While there, Guy Zajonc, of Endurance Exploration Group, Inc., gave a fascinating presentation on his companies treasure hunting expeditions to shipwrecks around the world. Zajonc’s also showed a few ‘home movies’ of a dive he went on to explore the Titanic. “I thought the conference was a terrific opportunity to talk about our business in front of a handful of analysts and investors that I otherwise, likely, would have never met,” said Roth of Southern Concepts. “The most beneficial part of the conference for me, was the opportunity to create some awareness for our public company with finance industry guys, who can really make a difference.”
www.thegorgebusinessnews.com
Other presenting companies: Air Industries Group, led by Board Member, Michael Recca and based in Hauppauge, NY. www.airindustriesgroup.com Calmare Therapeutics Incorporated, led by CEO Conrad Mir and is based in Fairfield, CT. www.calmaretherapeutics.com Endurance Exploration Group, Inc. led my CEO Micah Eldred is based in Clearwater, FL. www.enduranceexplorationgroup.com Galaxy Gaming, Inc., led by CEO Robert Saucier and is located in Las Vegas, NV. www.galaxygaming.com Galectin Therapeutics, Inc., led by Chr. Jim Czirr, is based in Norcross, GA. www.galectintherapeutics.com Hydorcarb Energy Corporation, led by IR-rep Mike Watts and is located in Houston, TX. www.hydrocarb.com Integrated Environmental Technologies, LTD., is led by CEO David LaVance Jr. and is based in Little River, SC. www.ecotreatments.com Lakeland Industries, Inc., is led by CEO Christopher Ryan, and is located in Ronkonkoma, NY. www.lakeland.com SITO Mobile, LTD., is led by CEO Jerry Hug and is located in Jersey City, NJ. www.sitomobile.com Southern Concepts led by CEO Mitchell Roth and is based in Colorado Springs, CO. www.southernconcepts.com Xplore Technologies Corp., is led by CEO Phillip Sassower and is based in Austin, TX. www.xploretech.com
Page 3
The Gorge Business News
ADVENTURE
Business Owners Donate Time and Effort for Hunt of a Lifetime
Lager’s girlfriend and willing volunteer at the lodge. Ross donates all of the food for the Hunt of a Lifetime guests. From lasagna to prime rib, his cooking is a favorite among hunters and volunteers alike. Brent Woolard is from Silverdale, Washington and does a fabulous job capturing memories and putting together DVD’s for the northeast Oregon kids that participate in hunt of a lifetime, according to Bottger. Collin Wilcox happened to be one of the kids that realized his dream of hunting an elk late in the summer of 2015. Collin made the trip from Wisconsin to Oregon with his dad, Kevin Wilcox. “This has been an absolute dream for both of us,” explained Kevin. “The enthusiasm of all these guys, they are all just having fun, it’s amazing.” Once the hunt is completed and the hunters have returned home the meat from the animal is processed and shipped to them. They also Kevin Wilcox standing on the left, Ryan Leonnig, Collin Wilcox, receive a shoulder mount of their animal. For Collin that means a huge Tom Lager, Ron Ross, and Clay McEnroe standing on the right. 6 x 7 point elk from Oregon will soon be hanging in the living room of Photo by Lori Kimbel his home in Wisconsin. Collin was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at the age of 13, he Recently I was invited to visit with a group of hunters in NE wasn’t about to let it take his love of hunting, fishing and the outdoors Oregon. Emotions were hidden by dark sunglasses and tears were away. However, Osteosarcoma can be relentlessly painful and it isn’t forced to be unshed as they each explained what makes Hunt of a always easy to just ignore the pain and go about your day to day activiLifetime so special to them, as men, as hunters, and as mentors. This ties, but Collin gave it his best shot. was a special group, I knew it from the start and was even more con “Everything changed when we got the diagnosis,” said Kevin. vinced as my time with them lingered into evening, ending with a prime “We instantly got thrown into a fire fight. We were in shock and we rib dinner and some photos of the group with the trophy elk, taken by knew we just had to gather our strength. Fortunately my wife and I 15-year-old cancer survivor, Collin Wilcox. work for a company that lets us take time off. We always tried to just stay positive. Collin and I would go out in the boat after dinner until By Lori Kimbel dark. Never once has he said ‘I don’t feel good’ on the boat, or when we are hunting.” lay McEnroe, of Baker County, Oregon has been involved Osteosarcoma is the most common type of bone cancer and it with Hunt of a Lifetime for 11 years and has taken 40 kids on successtypically starts in bone cells in the arms, legs, or pelvis. The disease ful elk, antelope and mule deer hunts. Five premium access tags are set most frequently occurs in people between the ages of 10 and 30 and it aside for Hunt of a Lifetime hunts in northeast Oregon, with each hunt is also more common in males then it is in females. lasting between four and five days. For Collin, Osteosarcoma meant losing his knee and femur “This isn’t real elk hunting,” McEnroe emphasizes, “someone which would later be replaced by a prosthetic rod invented in Great looks out for us.” Britain. Collin underwent two rounds of chemo before a 12 hour McEnroe is the representative for northeast Oregon, but he is surgery each round lasting four weeks. After surgery he received five the first to tell you he couldn’t do it without the group of people that more rounds of chemo every four weeks. Collin endured 30 weeks of have come together over the past several years, volunteering their time chemo at the Children’s Hospital of Milwaukie. and making dreams come true for the kids that come from all over the Kevin shared that he would often find Collin in other parts of United States to go on the hunts provided by the Hunt of a Lifetime the children’s hospital playing games with intercity kids, some more Foundation. sick then himself. Many of the intercity kids arrived at the hospital in a McEnroe’s son Taylor has been involved with Hunt of a Lifetaxi, with no one to worry, or care about them outside the hospital. time since he was 14, he is now 25. The two scout for animals, so that “It was amazing when you went into the ‘hot unit’ and you once the hunter arrives there is a pretty good idea of where the elk, deer would see kids smiling,” said Kevin. “Somehow, with all they are goor antelope are. ing through they can still reach out and find happiness.” When Tom Lager, owner of Timber Tiger Lodge, first heard Now, after a year of treatment, Collin’s cancer is gone and he about the Hunt of a Lifetime, he knew instantly he wanted to be inhas just completed the hunting trip of a lifetime where he was able to volved. stalk, and take a bull elk thanks to a group of people that have dedicat “We wanted to give them a place to stay,” said Lager, who also ed their lives in helping young people realize their hunting dreams. serves as a part-time film maker of the hunts, “so we offered for every- Collin will continue to be checked by his doctors every three one to come to the lodge. It is all for the kids, to put a smile on their months for the next 10 years and once back home he will share his Oreface.” gon Hunt of a Lifetime story with others. Timber Tiger Lodge is located in the Blue Mountains of Eastern “I’m blessed to have a future,” said Collin who was fortunate Oregon. With the Eagle Cap Mountains in the distance andBaker Valley enough to get time off work to make the trip. A normal day for Colbelow, the view is spectacular; a great place to relax before and after a lin includes milking 275 cows each morning, a daunting task for a big hunt. 15-year-old, but he seems to be well able to get the job done. Ron Ross also comes from Silverdale, Washington and spends “We do it because this is what we enjoy doing,” said McEnroe, every September feeding the visitors of Timber Tiger Lodge during with a sincere smile as he wrestled a bit with a rambunctious Collin, a Hunt of a Lifetime hunts. “September I’m just gone from home to be true typical 15-year-old, who was not quite ready to leave the lodge and here,” said Ross. “He is a jack of all trades and we use every single one of them. Hunt of a Lifetime We have even helped him discover a few more,” said Betty Bottger,
C
www.thegorgebusinessnews.com
Continued on Page 3 Page 4
The Gorge Business News
ADVENTURE Hunt of a Lifetime
the people that would forever be a part of his memories of his very own hunt of a lifetime. Danny Benson is the Oregon Ambassador for the Oregon Chapter of Hunt of a Life time, which was started in 2002. “I have set up 69 kids that have come to, or been from Oregon, for the dream hunt,” said Benson. “All have been successful not only being able to take the trophy they wanted but in them having some time to enjoy live in the outdoors and forget about their problem. I have not be able to go on every hunt but on the ones that I have it is the joy in the child’s eye, the smiles and sometime the tears that make this a great program.” Ryan Leonnig was also very involved in Collin’s hunt. He and Collin bonded quickly and enjoyed taking the UTV out on excursions around the lodge after the hunt was complete. Since being home Collin misses all of the men he met in Oregon and truly admires Clay for what he did for him and all of the guys he met there. He also says he could never thank Tina enough for starting Hunt of a Lifetime. He feels sad for her to know she had to loose her own son for this to happen. He is very thankful for what she has done.
Collin Wilcox (right) with his 6 x 7 elk along with Taylor McEnroe.
H
unt of a Lifetime is a nonprofit organization, created by Tina Pattison, with a mission to grant hunting and fishing dreams for children, age 21 and under, who have been diagnosed with life threatening illnesses. When Tina Pattison’s son Matthew was diagnosed with cancer he dreamt he would one day be able to hunt moose with his dad. Tina contacted a wish granting organization to see if Matthew would qualify for one of those dream wishes. Tina was told that since Matthew was past the age of 18 he no longer qualified, and the organization had quit granting hunting wishes. This did not stop this mother who was now on a mission. Tina made phone call after phone call to outfitters and finally received a call from Clayton Grosso an outfitter in Nordegg, a small village in Alberta, Canada. They went above and beyond fulfilling Matthews dream. Within the first day of their adventure Matthew was able to drop a huge bull moose in its tracks. Six months later Matthew passed away. (There is so much more to Matthew’s life story, please visit www. huntofalifetime.com to read the amazing Story of Matthew Pattison written by his mother Tina.) It was after losing her son that Tina decided to start a foundation that would fulfill the dreams of terminally ill children, giving them a chance to embark on an outdoor hunting or fishing adventure. Soon Hunt of a Lifetime was born. According to the Hunt of a Lifetime website, each hunt experience is unique to the child. When diagnosed with life threatening illnesses, most children don’t have time to realize their dreams. Hunt of a Lifetime is dedicated to giving children the possibility of achieving their desired hunting or fishing trip. The hunts are conducted by an all-volunteer group and there are no out of pocket expenses for the hunters.
The Dalles - A City at its Tipping Point
N
ext to the Riverfront Trail, just down from the Lewis and Clark Park, is our new dock. In the last three years, the frequency of tour boats docking has increased to over 100 this season. Costumed “floozies” and gents in western clothes greet the passengers. An average of three boats a week bring hundreds of tourists from all over the world. Commerce in our downtown area and in our museums and tourist areas has grown substantially. Our transit room tax totals have increased almost 70% last year, allowing us to strengthen our tourist outreach and support. All of this activity, of course, stimulates growth. Two new, small breweries will go into production in the down town area over the next year. Main Street is helping building owners receive Urban Renewal Grants for facade restoration or remodeling store fronts and has created the “parklet,” a wooden sitting area for pedestrians and shoppers to sit and rest right on the main street of The Dalles, located in a parking space in front of a popular
www.thegorgebusinessnews.com
restaurant. Plans are underway for more. The Annual MainStreet Convention was held in The Dalles this year giving us exposure around the state. The National Neon Sign Museum is under construction as it remodels the old, historic but iconic Elks Club building. Three stories tall, the building features massive marble columns in front reminiscent of Roman architecture. We hope to see antique neon signs come in from all over the country and bring the curious as well as the passionate neon sign collector. Google has become a stable, corporate partner to the region. As a result of enterprise fees and grants, long held debts have been extinguished, a new Olympic size pool has been completed, The Dalles has received free downtown Wi-Fi, a second firehouse has been reopened along with plans to build a fire fighter’s training tower. Our school system has received somewhere around a million dollars in computers. Wind technology training is combined with both robotics and wind competition. There is more. With a third
Continued from page 1
generation of development just agreed to, Google and The Dalles will continue to grow and prosper. A small delegation traveled to our sister city, Miyoshi in August. Students from both The Dalles and Miyoshi visit each year and this visit solidified our wonderful relationships and investigated possible trade opportunities. The future is bright and that means the immediate future. We are at a tipping point. Come see what The Dalles is doing and enjoy the hospitality.
Julie Krueger, city clerk and Linda Miller, city councilor.
Page 5
The Gorge Business News
THE ‘SPIRITS’ OF GIVING
Hood River Distillers, Inc. Awards Donation to Wrangler® National Patriot™ Program at Pendleton Round-Up $90k donation resulted from proceeds for 2015 Pendleton® Whisky Limited Edition bottle
H
ood River Distillers, Inc., the largest and oldest importer, distiller, producer and bottler of distilled spirits in the Northwest, presented a formal donation of $90,000 to the Wrangler® National Patriot™ program at the 105th Pendleton Round-Up on Saturday, Sept. 19. The donation, which resulted from a portion of the proceeds of Pendleton® Whisky’s 2015 Limited Edition bottle, will benefit Horses for Heroes – New Mexico, Inc.™ Cowboy Up!, a nonprofit providing a unique skill-set restructuring program located on the Crossed Arrows Ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico which serves to provide veterans and active military with the opportunity to recuperate, recreate, and reintegrate into their communities through the great western horse and cowboy culture – supporting their journey, integrating their mind, body and spirit. The check presentation, prior to Saturday’s grand entry, featured Ron Dodge, president and CEO of Hood River Distillers; Kaycee Feild, representing the Wrangler National Patriot Program; and Rick Iannucci and Nancy De Santis, founders of Horses for Heroes - Cowboy Up!. The donation will be used to support Horses for Heroes’ Cowboy Up! Program, which helps post 9/11 veterans and active military members, especially those who have sustained
www.thegorgebusinessnews.com
physical or mental injuries in the line of duty. “The Pendleton Round-Up served as the perfect venue to highlight the significant efforts of both the Wrangler National Patriot program and Horses for Heroes - Cowboy Up!,” said Tia Bledsoe, senior brand manager, Hood River Distillers. “We are honored to be able to support meaningful causes that recognize and salute deserving citizens and organizations.” The Pendleton Whisky 2015 Limited Edition bottle, which honors the integrity and patriotism of those who serve and have served, is available at spirits retailers throughout the country with a retail price of $26.95 (750 ml). For more information about the Pendleton Whisky 2015 Limited Edition bottle, please visit www.pendletonwhisky.com. For more news from Pendleton Whisky, visit the brand on Facebook,Twitter or Instagram. About Pendleton Whisky Pendleton® Whisky is imported, bottled and marketed by Hood River Distillers of Hood River, Ore., and is available nationwide. The oak barrel-aged whisky uses glacier-fed spring water from Oregon’s Mt. Hood and is known for its uncommonly smooth taste and rich, complex flavor. Pendleton Whisky is the official spirit of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), and the presenting sponsor of the All American ProRodeo Series, which includes 400-plus PRCA rodeos. About Hood River Distillers Founded in 1934 and headquartered in Hood River, Ore., Hood River Distillers is the Northwest’s largest and oldest importer, producer, bottler, and marketer of distilled spirits. Pendleton®
Whisky, Pendleton Midnight Whisky, Pendleton®1910 Rye Whisky, Broker’s® London Dry Gin, Sinfire® Cinnamon Whisky, Yazi® Ginger Vodka, ULLR® Nordic Libation, HRD® Vodka, Lucid® Absinthe Supérieure, the complete line of Monarch® distilled spirits and the Clear Creek Distillery portfolio are just a few of the company’s brands distributed across the country. Hood River Distillers is a member of the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility and promotes responsible drinking habits. For more information, visit www.hrdspirits.com. About Wrangler® National Patriot™ Founded in 2009, the Wrangler National Patriot program is a year-round campaign developed to help raise awareness and funds to support American military veterans and their families and to serve as inspiration for all Americans to rally around each other in patriotism. A portion of all Wrangler National Patriot apparel proceeds also benefit this cause. For more information, visit www.wranglernationalpatriot.com. About Horses for Heroes Horses for Heroes – New Mexico, Inc.™ Cowboy Up!, a nonprofit located in New Mexico, provides veterans and active military members with the opportunity to recuperate, recreate and reintegrate into their communities through the greatest Western horse and cowboy culture – supporting their journey, integrating their mind, body and spirit. Horses for Heroes - Cowboy Up! is a partner organization with the Wrangler National Patriot Program. For more information, visit www.horsesforheroes.org.
Page 6
The Gorge Business News
FEDERAL FUNDING
USDA Announces Funding to Aid Rural Businesses and Create Jobs A
griculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced $12.5 million in loans and grants for 39 projects that will help rural businesses in 21 states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. “Supporting small, rural businesses helps create jobs and helps promote entrepreneurship,” Vilsack said. “USDA Rural Development’s field structure enables our community-based staff to engage with local partners and, in turn, enables these partners to provide their local small businesses and start-ups access to the capital and technical assistance they need to be competitive in today’s global economy.” USDA is awarding $12.5 million in loans and grants through the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) program, the Intermediary Relending Program (IRP), the Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) program, and the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP) program.
Sixteen economic development groups will receive $8.4 million through the IRP program to capitalize low-interest loan funds for business projects in rural communities. Funding of each award is contingent upon the recipient meeting the terms of the
loan or grant agreement. USDA Rural Development has a strong track record of strengthening rural businesses and economies through its Rural Business-Cooperative Service, which has helped 85,000 rural businesses.
FEMA Denies Inslee’s Request for Individual Assistance Program G
ov. Jay Inslee late yesterday learned the Federal Emergency Management Agency denied his request for the Individual Assistance Program to help families impacted by the summer wildfire season. Had the program been approved, impacted communities would have had access to assistance with the repairs of homes and aid for things like rental assistance and replacement of household items. The fires destroyed 146 homes and damaged another 476. Nearly two-thirds were uninsured or underinsured. “This is very disappointing news. This is the second time in as many years that we’ve been denied Individual Assistance following a major fire,” Inslee said. “We have homeowners that have lost everything. Despite the decision, I’m committed to helping our fellow Washingtonians and ensuring they get as much help and assistance as possible. It’s my priority to get these communities on the road to recovery.” “As a native of Okanogan County, it is hard to overstate the heartbreak and the suffering the people of Northeast Washington have gone through the past two fire seasons,” said Peter Goldmark, Commissioner of Public Lands. “By refusing to help, FEMA is letting down communities that are in desperate need of assistance.” To help local communities impacted by the 2015 fire season, the governor is forming a Wildland Fire Council. The Council will coordinate restoration and recovery efforts related to this year’s fires and assess plans, policies and resources related to wildfire preparedness, resiliency, response and recovery in Washing-
www.thegorgebusinessnews.com
ton state. The group will be led by Goldmark, Director of the state Department of Commerce Brian Bonlender, and Major General Bret Daugherty of the Washington State Military Department. The council will prepare a preliminary report by July 1, 2016. The Council will hold its first meeting in early Oregon and Washington forest threatened by the 2015 wildfire season. November. Photo by Lori Kimbel In addition, the Washington and counties and is working with wildfire State Department of Commerce is partnering impacted cities such as Pateros, Twisp and with impacted cities and counties to direct others to leverage matching funds for essential Community Development Block Grant funds facilities. for emergency facilities, water system im Inslee said while he is doing what he provements, and disaster recovery services. can to provide state assistance, he reiterated The city of Brewster is receiving funding the need for FEMA and federal officials to to construct an essential water reservoir for reevaluate the criteria used in determining fedfire protection and to address drinking water eral disaster assistance for individuals going needs. Okanogan and Chelan Counties are reforward. ceiving funding for disaster recovery services “Last year I led the 19-state bipartisan to be provided by the regional community Western Governors Association in calling for action councils. The Okanogan County Fire a reevaluation of these criteria. As our state District # 15 is awarded $1 million to expand works to support affected communities, I will its ambulance and emergency medical services continue to fight for greater federal support facility. Commerce is making an additional for disaster recovery, particularly as our state $4 million in Community Development Block encounters hotter, drier and increasingly devGrants available for qualifying cities/towns astating fire seasons.”
Page 7
WILDFIRE
The Gorge Business News
The Anatomy of an Interagency Incident Management Team
By Lori Kimbel
T
he process fascinates me. With roughly 50 experts, they come together, like a family gathering, only it’s never a picnic. Many of the people organizing the safety of the firefighters, the equipment they need and the supplies they will go through have been away from home most of the summer. With a constant deluge of new wildfires Incident Management Teams are getting scarce and the prayers for rain have gone unanswered. The Washington Interagency Type 2 Incident Management Team #4, (WIIMT)#4, led by Commander Brian Gales was stationed at the Elgin Stampede Grounds, set to battle the Grizzly Bear Complex fire that started on August 13. The day they took command, August 20th, the fire blew up, burning 37,802 acres in a single day. Many of these people were at the Oso Landslide in 2014, some still carry the heaviness around with them, others have seen so much destruction and too much death, they have found their own way of coping. Some most likely hold the most vivid and
heart-wrenching details inside, maybe to never surface, I can’t pretend to know. Maybe they cry out at night after a nightmare, maybe they are scarred to silence. During the 2015 fire season, WIIMT#4 was on command on the Mt. Adams Complex Fire on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest from July 3 – 17, the Baldy Fire six miles NW of Ione, Washington from August 1 - 16, the Grizzly Bear Complex 20 miles SE of Dayton, Washington (this fire also came into the town of Troy, Oregon) from August 20 – September 5, and the Meeks Table Fire near Nile, Washington from September 12 -21. This was a long, tiring fire season and this team and many others like them answered the call to put their knowledge to the test, keep firefighters safe and communication flowing. The list of professionals that become part of an interagency incident management team is impressive. For the WIIMT#4 they come from many different agencies in both Oregon and Washington. From command, to finance, planning, logistics and operations, this team works quickly and efficiently on each and every disaster they go on. According to Gales
there are approximately 50 people on the team and a lot of them have worked together for more The Washington Interagency Incident Management than a decade Team #4 Inciagency administration briefing. By dent management teams first started in the 1970’s and were formal- 4 p.m. a strategic meeting is held to go over the planning for the ized by the 1980’s, according to Larry Nickey, the deputy incident next 72 hours. At 5 p.m. there is another stakeholders call and at 6 commander of the Grizzly Bear Complex who is working his 38th p.m. there is the night shift briefing. fire season. “It is our job to meet the “Our primary goal is mission of the people we are public and firefighter safety,” said working for. We are there to serve Gales, “from there we minimize them,” said Gales. “We are there the acres burned on private and to protect the values at risk while state lands.” managing the public’s exposure.” A typical day for Gales On September 5th the starts at 5:30 a.m. with an operaWIIMT#4 left as quickly as they tions briefing, then at 6 a.m there came. Cables were coiled, yurts will be the day shift briefing. were folded, pickups were loaded At 7:30 the incident command and all those people who made call, with up to 35 people occurs. their way to Elgin to battle the Between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. he holds a deliberate risk assessment Grizzly Bear Complex quietly and a stakeholder conference call. slipped out of town. Little did Often the stakeholders are private they know then, but seven days land owners concern for the safety later they would be off to their of their home, their livestock, and next mission, the Meeks Table Fire. or their livelihood. At noon there Thank you for all you do is a command and general staff and for giving me the opportunity meeting and by 3 p.m. there is an to learn about it.
Insitu Conducts Successful Fire Monitoring Demonstration with Unmanned Aircraft in Olympic National W
hile more than 625,000 acres of wildfires burned throughout the Pacific Northwest, crew members of the Insitu Rapid Response team launched a ScanEagle unmanned aircraft into the hazy skies above the Paradise Fire in Washington’s Olympic National Park. The event marked the beginning of an operational demonstration designed to show how unmanned aircraft technology can be a powerful force multiplier in the fight against wildfires. ScanEagle flew six operations, delivering more than 37 hours of infrared video in real time to Incident Command personnel. Insitu’s suite of motion imagery software provided enhanced video and geo-registration capabilities that enabled fire officials to pinpoint the fire’s perimeter and identify areas of intense heat. ScanEagle also assisted helicopter assets with evaluating water drop locations. “This and other planned unmanned aircraft systems demonstrations will serve to guide our policies, procedures and requirements for the safe, phased integration of UAS
www.thegorgebusinessnews.com
in support of wildfire management,” said Mark Bathrick, Director, Department of the Interior, Office of Aviation Services. “These demonstrations are part of a larger interagency strategy aimed at employing UAS to provide firefighters on the ground with time-sensitive information that will give them the highest level of situational awareness and support possible.” “We are honored to support the individuals who are risking their lives to protect the natural resources endangered by wildfires in the Pacific Northwest,” said Insitu President and CEO Ryan M. Hartman. “This exercise demonstrated our ability to collect, process and deliver information that helps fire officials achieve better outcomes.” ScanEagle flew within an emergency certificate of authorization (ECOA) issued to the Department of Interior from the FAA that permitted its operation within the confines of
the temporary flight restriction. Insitu is an industry-leading provider of information for superior decision making. With offices in the U.S., U.K., and Australia, the company creates and supports unmanned systems and software technology that deliver end-to-end solutions for collecting, processing and understanding sensor data. We proudly serve the diverse needs of our global customers in the military, commercial and civil industries. To date, our systems have accumulated more than 842,000 operational flight hours and 104,000 sorties. Insitu is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company.
Page 8
WILDFIRE
The Gorge Business News
Forest Service Chief Reviews Fire Season, Calls for Two-Part Solution Large-scale restoration projects are designed to restore fire-adapted forests while helping, Forest Service Chief Tom in the long run, to lower the growth of both Tidwell reviewed the 2015 fire season and provided insight into longer term trends and wildfire suppression cost and the share of the Forest Service budget that goes to fight challenges for the agency during testimony before the House Agriculture, Conservation wildfires. To accomplish this, the Forest Service is accelerating restoration and and Forestry Subcommittee. Tidwell highlighted concerns over the increasing cost of management of the national forests through suppressing wildfire, emphasizing that more innovative, science-based approaches, than half of the agency’s annual budget now increased collaboration and using new authority provided by the 2014 Farm Bill to goes toward fire suppression. increase the pace and scale of restoration. Tidwell outlined two key issues the “Despite the severe loss of resources Forest Service is wrestling with that must be and staffing for restoration work, we are still resolved by Congress. First, the chronic increase in the por- getting good work done,” said Tidwell. “We tion of the Forest Service budget devoted to accomplished more than 4.6 million acres of restoration that improves the health of our fire suppression must be stopped. The current rate of increase results in progressively forests and watersheds in 2014, an increase of nine percent compared to 2011. We are less funding for fire prevention and restoeager and poised to do even more, if we ration activities. In 1995, fire suppression can solve the two-part suppression budget made up 16 percent of the Forest Service’s crisis.” annual appropriated budget—this year, for The cost of fighting wildfires this the first time, more than 50 percent of the season reached a record high, exceeding budget will be dedicated to fire. $1.7 billion. During the 2015 fire season, This trend is having a debilitating the Forest Service spent 24 days with all impact on the Forest Service budget, as available ground and air assets committed well as non-suppression activities within the agency. According to the Forest Service to priority work managing more than 50,000 wildfires across the nation. Report Rising Firefighting Costs Raises The frequency and intensity of wildAlarms three quarters of Forest Service fire, prolonged drought, increased developtrails cannot be maintained to standard. ment in areas near forests, and the way that That not only impacts families wanting to fire suppression is paid for all combine to use those trails, it also puts at risk small businesses and communities that depend on limit the agency’s capacity to realize additional gains in land management and restorecreation jobs and dollars. ration. More than nine million acres have “Left unchecked, the share of the already burned across the United States budget devoted to fire in 2025 could exceed 67 percent,” said Tidwell. “We are at a this season, destroying 2,500 single family homes and disrupting many businesses. critical moment in the history of the Forest “The greatest losses this year inService. Urgent action is needed in order volved the fatalities of 13 wildland fireto ensure that the Forest Service does not fighters who made the ultimate sacrifice to become further hindered by the continually protect the lives of others,” said Tidwell. increasing percentage of our budget that is The mission of the U.S. Forest Serdedicated to wildfire suppression activities.” Second, we must stop the practice of vice, an agency of the Department of Agriculture, is to sustain the health, diversity “fire transfer” which occurs when fighting and productivity of the nation’s forests and fires in a given year costs more than Congress appropriates for that specific function, grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. and the Forest Service must deplete restoThe agency manages 193 million acres of ration, watershed and recreation programs public land, provides assistance to state and to pay for fire suppression. This fiscal year private landowners and maintains the largest the transfer was a record $700 million. forestry research organization in the world. It is this double-hit—permanent shifting and fire transfer—that severely im- Public lands the U.S. Forest Service manages contribute more than $13 billion to the pacts the Forest Service’s ability to restore economy each year through visitor spending forests and serve the public. Experience alone. Those same lands provide 20 percent shows that acting now to reduce the threat of the nation’s clean water supply, a value of future wildland fires drastically reduces estimated at $7.2 billion per year. The agencosts in the long run. The agency’s fire management goal, cy also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 80 percent of the 850 especially near homes and communities, is million forested acres within the U.S., of to prepare forests and grasslands to resist stresses like drought and to be more resilient which 100 million acres are urban forests following disturbances, including wildfires. where most Americans live.
U.S.
www.thegorgebusinessnews.com
Photo at right was taken October 6th near Troy, Oregon where a still active Grizzly Bear Complex fire continues to burn. The Grizzly Bear Complex fire started on August 13, 2015 and has burned 82,659 acres.
Burnt trees from the Canyon Creek Fire near John Day and Canyon City. The Canyon Creek Fire burned 110, 422 acres.
Page 9
The Gorge Business News
COMMUNITY
Underwood Community Center: The Gem of the Columbia By Marc Robins
A
cross from Hood River and way above the Columbia River resides the berg of Underwood, WA. For those that drive State Highway 14, travelers might notice the originating vestiges of the community—a winery tasting room, a major residence that looks like an old fashioned store front and a collection of other buildings—but wholly miss the involved community built on the backs of pear orchards, Broughton Lumber, and now a thriving vineyard and winery acreage. Probably the best descriptor for Underwood today is the hilltop residences for wind surfing and kiting aficionados and devotes…that group of swarthy, sun-tanned, health crowd trapped in the age where sidewalk surfing is too dangerous for broken bones and the need for physical speed means the risk drowning. But after years of merely existing as an unincorporated gathering of homes populated by 1400 residents, a group of dedicated locals have been working towards saving the one physical monument to community…the Underwood Community Center… and reinvigorating the society of the neighborhood. The remnants of the Underwood grade school—the gymnasium, fields and out-buildings are being revitalized to serve
as a real center for community activities, rental hall for banquets, weddings, fiesta de quinceañeras, village rummage sales, dances, and seasonal festivals, as well as the emergency shelter. Cleaning of the kitchen, gym and Underwood Community Center meeting room; painting; refurbishing of the lavatories; and just an Given the state of Skamania County’s overall collection of improvements are startfinancial affairs, Underwood has been given ing to improve the old building’s appearance the option to “re-acquire” the property and and utility. buildings or see it be sold-off in a surplus Performed almost entirely by volproperty auction. To accomplish the volununteers, the “new” Center’s life as a usable teers’ goal of saving the facilities, a Parks and inviting meeting, conference, and wedand Recreation District needs to be formed ding destination has begun to show real during the November, 2016 election with the gains: Already the UCC has booked several requisite operating commission and nominal weddings, two quinceañeras, a handful of tax-base financing. Already the volunteer conference/meetings, a baptism, the village group has shown that there is a need and the rummage sale, and is planning to hold a foundation of an operating budget just from Harvest Festival and Dance on the night of the nascent facility rental activities staged so October 24th. The options for employing the far this Center are practically boundless: the physiyear. cal amenities include the Center itself which If you have interest in finding out houses a full basketball court, meeting room, more about the Underwood Community kitchen, Center as a location for your party, celebraas well as a horse arena, park area, picnic tion, meeting or conference, please refer to pavilion, sports field, tennis courts, horsewww.underwoodcommunity.org. shoe pits and more.
Subscribe to The Gorge Business News Name:_____________________________ Address:____________________________ ____________________________________ Mail $18 to Studio 6 Designworks PO Box 295 Elgin, Oregon 97827
www.thegorgebusinessnews.com
Page 10
ART
The Gorge Business News
Maryhill Museum of Art Receives $1 Million Grant
project and have appropriated funds to cover a significant portion of the costs,” says executive director aryhill Museum of Art Colleen Schafroth. “The board and is pleased to announce a $1,000,000 staff of Maryhill are committed grant from the State of Washington to caring for and improving this to support the repair and replaceNorthwest architectural treasure; we ment of the exterior stucco on the know others in the region feel the museum’s historic building. The same way and will help us meet our funds were appropriated in Washfundraising goal.” ington State Legislature’s HB Schommer and Sons of 1115. The total cost of the project Portland will carry out the repairs. is estimated at $1,394,000, with the The firm has in-depth knowledge of remainder to be raised from private the design and construction of the sources. historic building, having completed Designed in 1914 by the the museum’s Mary and Bruce Stevenson Wing, a 25,000 square foot Washington, D.C. firm of Hornblower and Marshall, architects of addition that opened in 2012. the National Museum of Natural It was during the museum’s History and other landmarks in the expansion project that the full scope nation’s capital, the Beaux Arts of the stucco issues on the historic mansion above the Columbia River building came to light. During 2011 Gorge has long been an icon of and 2012, Architectural Resources Washington state; the museum and Group, an architectural preservation its surrounding 5,300 acres were firm based in San Francisco, conplaced on the National Register of ducted an in-depth analysis of the Historic Places in 1974. stucco, diagnosed the problems, and Over the years, the harsh made recommendations for approclimate in the Columbia River priate repairs. Gorge has caused the building to “The restoration project sustain water damage and stucco will be thorough and long-lasting,” failure. While past repairs represent- says Schafroth. “We are addressing ed the best solutions at the time, un- the underlying causes of the current derlying causes were not adequately damage and implementing repairs addressed, leading to subsequent that will keep the exterior in excelissues. lent condition for many years to The state’s $1,000,000 grant come.” (less a 3% administrative fee), will Those interested in learning allow the museum to properly admore about the project or making dress the underlying causes of water a donation online are invited to damage by removing old repairs visit maryhillmuseum.org/belong/ and applying new solutions to the support/capital-projects or to call problems. The project will repair Colleen Schafroth at 509.773.3733. and replace the exterior stucco on the museum’s historic building, ABOUT MARYHILL MUSEUM replace decking on the building’s OF ART: roofs and ramps, and make repairs Housed in a glorious Beaux to the flashing and gutters to prevent Arts mansion on 5,300 acres high further deterioration of the facade. above the Columbia River, Maryhill Finally, the entire stucco exteriMuseum of Art opened to the public or will be painted in the original May 13, 1940 and today remains historic color, reinvigorating the one of the Pacific Northwest’s appearance of the building and plac- most enchanting cultural destinaing it within its historic context. tions. The museum was founded Fundraising for the remain- by Northwest entrepreneur and ing $394,000 project cost is undervisionary Sam Hill, who purchased way, with $37,500 committed and the property and began building the requests out to a number of regional house with dreams of establishing a grant making organizations and Quaker farming community. When individuals. The goal is to secure that goal proved untenable, Hill was all of the funding by spring 2016 encouraged by friends Loie Fullso that work can begin in early er, Queen Marie of Romania, and summer and be finished by late fall Alma de Bretteville Spreckles to 2016. establish a museum. “We are extremely grateful Maryhill Museum of Art to Governor Jay Inslee and State boasts a world-class permanent of Washington legislators who collection, rotating exhibitions of recognized the importance of this the highest caliber, and dynamic GOLDENDALE, Wash.
M
www.thegorgebusinessnews.com
Maryhill Museum educational programs that provide opportunities for further exploration by visitors of all ages. On view are more than 80 works by Auguste Rodin, European and American paintings, objects d’art from the palaces of the Queen of Romania, Orthodox icons, unique chess sets, and the renowned Théâtre de la Mode, featuring small-scale mannequins attired in designer fashions of post-World War II France. Baskets of the indigenous people of North America were a collecting interest of Hill; today the museum’s American Indian collection represents nearly every tradition and style in North America, with works of art from prehistoric through contemporary. Maryhill’s William and Catherine Dickson Sculpture Park features more than a dozen largescale works by Northwest artists. The Maryhill Overlook is a site-specific sculpture by noted Portland architect Brad Cloepfil; nearby are Lewis and Clark interpretive panels. Four miles east of Maryhill is a lifesized replica of Stonehenge, Stonehenge Memorial, which Sam Hill built to memorialize local men who perished in World War I. Nearby, the Klickitat County War Memorial honors those who have died in the service of their country since World War I. The museum was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. In 2001 the museum was listed as an official site of the National Historic Lewis and Clark Trail and in 2002 was accredited by the American Association of Muse-
ums. In 2012 the museum opened the Mary and Bruce Stevenson Wing, a 25,500 square foot expansion that is the first in the museum’s history. The new wing boasts the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust Education Center, a collections storage and research suite, a new cafe and terrace, and the Cannon Power Plaza with an installation of sculpture, and sweeping views of the Columbia River Gorge and Mount Hood in the distance. VISITOR INFORMATION: Maryhill Museum of Art is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., March 15 to November 15. Admission is $9 for adults, $8 for seniors, $3 for youth age 7-18 and free for children 6 and under. Admission to the Stonehenge Memorial is free; it is open from 7:00 a.m. to dusk daily. Sandwiches, salads, espresso drinks, cold beverages, and freshly baked desserts and pastries, as well as a selection of local wines are available at the museum’s cafe, Loie’s, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily; the Museum Store features art and history books, jewelry, Native American crafts and other mementos. Maryhill is located off Highway 97, 12 miles south of Goldendale, Washington. Drive times to the museum are 2 hours from Portland/Vancouver, 3.5 hours from Bend, 4 hours from Seattle, and 1.5 hours from Yakima. For further information, visit maryhillmuseum. org.
Page 11
The Gorge Business News
SAVING MONEY
Energy Trust of Oregon Helps Businesses Save on Lighting Costs Oregon businesses switch to energy-efficient LED lighting at record pace Business owners across Oregon are
saving money and energy thanks to a new era of energy-efficient LED lighting products. Lighting accounts for 35 percent of a typical commercial building’s electricity use. With Energy Trust support, businesses can cut up to 75 percent of lighting energy costs by installing LED lighting and controls. Energy Trust provides cash incentives and technical assistance to businesses that upgrade their lighting systems. In 2014 alone, Energy Trust business customers completed 2,000 lighting projects ― and for the first time the majority of projects included LEDs. “We’re seeing LEDs grow in their appeal for all types of customers. LEDs work well for many uses in all types of businesses like high-bay fixtures in warehouses, lighting for refrigerated spaces, retail and hospitality
www.thegorgebusinessnews.com
displays and for outdoor and street lighting, museum exhibitions, car dealerships and more,” said Susan Jowaiszas, Sr. Marketing Manager. “Energy Trust has seen a big increase in completed projects over the last few years, and this trend continues as more customers see the benefits from the technology.” In addition to energy savings, LEDs provide numerous other benefits attractive to businesses. They are durable, produce almost no heat, last longer than conventional bulbs, maintain high-quality color and distribute light evenly. According to ENERGY STAR, LEDs can last 25 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs, so businesses that install LEDs can also reduce labor costs associated with replacing failing lamps. The improved color quality from LEDs creates a more versatile suite of applications that can be appropriate for all types of businesses. As a result, LED lighting can improve the aesthetics of a work space, increase comfort levels and productivity and contribute to improved health and safety.
For more information on Energy Trust lighting incentives and information, visit www.energytrust.org.
Page 12
BUSINESS
The Gorge Business News
Governor Kate Brown Announces New Loan Program for Oregon Small Businesses
Business Oregon Secures $450,000 to Help Small Businesses Reach Global Markets
Governor Kate Brown today announces a new pilot program
to help small Oregon companies finance their growth. Small and young companies often struggle to find conventional financing. The Small Business Expansion Program is a $5 million fund that will provide an alternative for small businesses, especially those in underserved or disconnected communities.“ Businesses that start and expand in Oregon provide about 70-percent of new jobs here,” said Oregon Governor Kate Brown. “By connecting small companies with the resources they need to thrive, Oregon is seeding job growth while supporting businesses that might otherwise not have access to these kinds of tools.” The Small Business Expansion Program will be managed by Business Oregon, the state’s economic development agency. It will be funded by the Oregon Business Development Fund, a long-standing program that provides direct loans to fuel growth at small Oregon companies, such as Face Rock Creamery of Bandon. How the loans work: The Small Business Expansion Program provides an alternative to conventional debt and equity financing by allowing businesses to make periodic revenue payments as a percentage of net sales, combined with traditional monthly payments. Business Oregon will begin accepting applications Dec. 1. To learn how to apply and for details about the program, visit oregon4biz.com/Revenue
SAPA Acquires Aluminum Casting Plant in The Dalles
S
apa, the world leader in aluminum solutions, announced today it has completed an asset purchase agreement with Northwest Aluminum Specialties, Inc. to acquire its casting plant in The Dalles, Oregon. This facility brings Sapa’s North American cast house network to a total of nine locations and provides additional strength to Sapa Extrusion’s West region, including the Portland manufacturing plant. Under the terms of the agreement, Sapa has purchased the physical assets of the Northwest Aluminum Specialties casting facility including: plant, property,
equipment, and inventory. The company looks to retain the majority of the more than 50 employees employed at the plant. “This asset acquisition provides us with vertical integration for our extrusion pressesand expands our casting business, allowing us to better manage our internal metal supply chain while also growing our high quality aluminum log sales to the market,” said Michael Stier, Vice President and General Manager of the West region at Sapa. “We look forward to welcoming The Dalles cast house to the Sapa family and continuing to strategically grow our business.”
www.thegorgebusinessnews.com
Metolius Climbing of Bend
B
usiness Oregon, the state’s economic development agency, has secured $450,000 in federal grants to help small businesses export their products and services to international markets. “Marketing Oregon’s products to the world starts with access,” said Governor Kate Brown. “These grants open the door for Oregon’s small businesses to markets around the globe.” The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) grants help Oregon companies offset the cost of overseas marketing, including booth fees at international trade shows. About 95 percent of the world’s consumers live outside the United States, but less than 1 percent of U.S. small businesses export. The State Trade and Export Promotion grants encourage small businesses to pursue growing sales globally, which can drive job growth locally. This is the fourth straight time Business Oregon has been awarded grants through the SBA’s competitive application process. During the previous three years, Oregon received a combined $1.2 million. Business Oregon has provided grants to 153 Oregon small businesses, producing a
reported $36 million in immediate export sales. That’s a return of $31 in export sales for every $1 in federal grants provided. Metolius Climbing of Bend, Bulk Handling Systems of Eugene and Plasti-Fab of Tualatin are examples of companies that have used Business Oregon’s export promotion program to attend overseas trade shows and reported a growth in exports. “The export assistance program enables small Oregon businesses, like Metolius, to expand into international markets with confidence by offsetting some of the costs that make these trade shows prohibitive,” said Chip Miller, the company’s global sales director. About the State Trade and Export Promotion program: It’s a federal-state partnership grant initiative to increase the number of small businesses that export and the value of exports by the small business sector. The Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 authorized the program. To apply for Oregon grant funding: Oregon small businesses can apply online. To qualify, at least 75 percent of the company’s total employees must be employed in Oregon.
Page 13
The Gorge Business News
THE ISSUE OF HOMELESSNESS
“I Spent Friday on the Streets of Portland and Learned So Much!”
move because he didn’t have By Renee Spears a permit. 7. Nobody tried to 1. It’s not a big deal to hold a sign ask- sell me drugs but 3 people ing for money, because everyone ignores you. asked me if I had some for I found an unoccupied corner right off 405 and sale. stood there for an hour holding a sign saying 8. I fell in love with ‘Local business owner trying to understand our Portland in a whole new way. homeless problem. All funds to be donated’. This city is alive and I felt Nobody made eye contact with me. They fidalive in it. I saw a TV show dled with the radio, texted, looked everywhere taping, dancing in Directors else. I did make $25.52 in that hour, thanks Park, a dude beautifully mostly to one woman that gave me $20. All playing a flute in front of the people that gave me money were women. I Powells, three different muplan on donating $250 to Sisters Of The Road sic acts at the Bite, a miniain honor of this experience. ture stonehenge made out of 2. Right after holding the sign, I met an bananas, numerous history 82 yr old woman sitting on her walker, holdplaques, another band and ing a cup for money in front of Whole Foods. the movie Grease on Pioneer Square. I walked I asked if she sat out every day and she said by hundreds of people on their phones missing ‘only when my social security runs out and I the whole thing. need to eat’. She wasn’t interested in talking. 9. The line between the haves and have I touched her arm when saying good bye and nots was very apparent. I was on the outside of she teared up and said ‘I can’t remember the the fence at the Bite of Oregon while watching last time someone touched me’. People just people pigging out on the inside of the fence. walked by ignoring her too. I was two feet away (thru a window) of a deli 3. I saw a man washing his clothes in cious steak at Ruth Chris Steak House. the Saturday Market fountains. He then laid 10. There are different groups of them out to dry in the sun. They looked great! homeless. There are those interested in drugs I was impressed. down on the waterfront, there are those with 4. I had some wonderful conversations mental illness wondering around everywhere, with complete strangers. I wore my ‘Kindbut most of those I met were having a crisis of ness Matters’ t-shirt and a woman commented spirit and trying to find themselves. There was that kindness is often mistaken for weakness an executive from Seattle whose life fell apart and we had a deep 5 minute conversation on when his wife left him and he is trying to pick the philosophy of kindness on a street corner. up the pieces. There were many people here I now also know everything about poodles, from other cities because Portland is a great the breakdown of society in Somalia and the place to be homeless. I understand this after different types of immigrants (economic and spending a day falling in love with the city too. political). These were deep, smart conversa 11. What can we as a city do? Clearly tions. People are very lonely and just wanted we need to address the bigger issues of poversomeone to listen. ty, mental illness and addiction but we can do 5. It’s exhausting being homeless. better right now. We need more public reMy body hurts from walking and carrying strooms. There aren’t enough and they are too a backpack. There’s nowhere comfy to just far apart. We need more water fountains. We relax. By 4pm, I was exhausted and took a nap need a public laundromat and bathing facility. on a park bench. All of these years, I thought We need a public place for people to come in that the people sleeping on the sidewalk in the from the elements and relax in safety. We need day time were just totally strung out druggies. a place for people to store their belongings so I’m sure some are, but the people I met told they don’t have to carry them around all day, me that they sleep during the day because it’s and it litters up our city. safer. They can’t rest as deeply at night and 12. What can YOU do? Remember they are tired! After one day out there, I was they are people! Talk to them. Listen to them. grumpy, tired and dehydrated. It sucks! I can’t Acknowledge they exist. Show some ****ing imagine the toll that a week out there would compassion! They are tired, sore, thirsty, maltake on a body and spirit. nourished, ignored and being out there takes a 6. I only saw one policeman the entire huge toll on your spirit. Put down your phone time. He was harassing an old man in a wheel and pay attention to what is going on outside chair that was trying to sell some of his home- of yourself. made stuff on the sidewalk. He told the man to 13. I ended up going home in the early
www.thegorgebusinessnews.com
Photo courtesy of Evelyn Spikes morning hours. My intention was to learn from the people there and I did that. I didn’t feel unsafe for one minute. I found the people kind and friendly. I wondered what would change if we all just opened our eyes to what is happening instead of ignoring it. Thank you for excusing my typos and poor grammar. I’m a visionary, not a writer. At the heart of Smuggle Portland is its gentle creator and co-owner, Renee Spears. A speaker and campaigner of the importance of employee happiness, she can frequently be found sharing her entrepreneurial knowledge on company culture, universal laws of attraction and how to be a green and socially responsible company. Renee has been a major part of the Portland business scene through her many roles in networking organizations and groups that give back to the community. Currently, she is the President and Founder of Rose City Mortgage. Under her leadership, Rose City has been named the BBB’s 2005 Small Business of the Year and the #1 Small Company in Oregon to work for in 2009 and 2012. Oregon Business Magazine also recently named them the #1 Green Company in Oregon for the second year in a row. An optimist who lives with a deep sense of peace, for her it’s really all about being in the moment while thinking positive and big with the knowledge that everything always works out. A major fan of yoga and meditation, Renee can be found playing with her dog, Jack, spending time on Whidbey Island in the home her grandparents built or hiking through the Columbia Gorge. Over the years, Renee has received numerous awards, including Portland Business Journal’s Orchid Award in 2013 and 2005, Raphael House of Portland Advocate for Change Award in 2010 and an Equity Foundation Award in 2013.
Page 14
FORESTS
The Gorge Business News
McDonald’s, Mars, and Other M”arketplace Brands to Engage with Family Forest Owners on Sustainabili
GreenBlue and American Forest Foundation Announces Sustainable Forest Management Partnership and Summit
G
reenBlue and the American For est Foundation (AFF) today announced a new partnership to bring together America’s family forest owners and several of the most well-known marketplace brands, including Mars, Incorporated; McDonald’s USA; Avery Dennison; and Evergreen Packaging. For the first time ever, both ends of the forest products supply chain will connect and take part in a dialogue to explore their respective needs and challenges relative to sustainable forest management. The dialogue, which will take place in January, builds on GreenBlue’s Forest Products Working Group efforts to examine the role of forest certification to explore, in partnership with AFF, frameworks for providing assurance that wood from family woodlands is produced sustainably. “We know that America’s family forests are a critical source in supplying the wood fiber for McDonald’s packaging,” said Townsend Bailey, Director of Supply Chain Sustainability at McDonald’s USA. “The GreenBlue/AFF partnership creates an opportunity to connect with family woodland owners and explore ways to assure and engage our customers around the sustainability of our products.” “Our goal at Mars, Incorporated is to achieve a fully sustainable supply chain for all the pulp and paper-based packaging materials we use,” said Rachel Goldstein, Global Sustainability Director at Mars, Incorporated. “As demand for sustainably sourced products grows, we’re working with our suppliers to make this happen. We look forward to participating in the Sustainable Forest Management Summit so we can engage with family forest owners and drive meaningful collaboration.” “AFF operates our country’s oldest and largest sustainable woodland program, the American Tree Farm System (ATFS), showcasing its impressive history of working with family forest owners to ensure their forests provide an incredible range of benefits such as wood, wildlife habitat and clean water,” said
Nina Goodrich, GreenBlue’s Executive Director. “We are honored to partner with AFF to expand their work and be a part of connecting these two vital audiences in a dynamic value chain.” The GreenBlue and AFF partnership is part of a new larger initiative launched by AFF this month, to help meet the growing and changing global market needs for sustainable wood supplies from family-owned forests, while protecting and enhancing wildlife habitat and other forest benefits. The initiative is currently in phase one gathering input and data from the forest products supply chain, from manufacturers to consumers, forest land owners themselves, and many others to identify priority areas and wood supply needs. “Brand owners play a key role in the supply chain of wood products, as they are at the forefront of customers,” said Tom Martin, President of AFF. “This partnership with GreenBlue offers the potential to uncover new insights and help us increase our impact on ensuring family-owned forests continue to provide for all Americans.” About American Forest Foundation: The American Forest Foundation (AFF) works on the ground with families, teachers and elected officials to promote stewardship and protect our nation’s forest heritage. A commitment to the next generation unites our nationwide network of forest owners and teachers
www.thegorgebusinessnews.com
working to keep our forests healthy and our children well-prepared for the future they will inherit. Visit forestfoundation.org to learn more. American Tree Farm System: The American Tree Farm System® is a network of 82,000 family forest owners sustainably managing 24 million acres of forestland. It is the largest and oldest sustainable woodland system in the United States, internationally recognized, meeting strict third-party certification standards. Visit treefarmsystem.org to learn more. About GreenBlue: GreenBlue is an environmental nonprofit dedicated to the sustainable use of materials in society. Our mission is to promote the principles of sustainable materials management — use wisely, eliminate toxicity, and recover more. Through our projects, we achieve our goal by influencing the debate, enhancing supply chain collaboration, and creating action. For more information please visit www.greenblue.org and follow GreenBlue on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Forest Products Working Group: The Forest Products Working Group is a collaborative network of companies that rely on paper, wood, and other forest products. Our members pool their collective knowledge and resources to identify science-based solutions that work for business, people, and the forests. The Forest Products Working Group is a project of GreenBlue’s Sustainable Packaging Coalition.
Page 15
The Gorge Business News
AGRICULTURE
ODA Traps Yield 14 Gypsy Moths in Oregon intercepting every potentially viable gypsy moth egg mass are challenging. It is likely that the adult moths trapped this year in the Portland Vancouver area originated from one of those egg masses. “We are receiving an increased number of shipments into our ports from Russia, Korea, China, and Japan,” says Burfitt. “Those Asian ports are well lit and near forested areas. The Asian gypsy moths are attracted to the lights. Female Gypsy Moth Caterpillar moths fly onto the ships, then potentially a much more danger- lay their eggs on containers and ous insect. Unlike its European commodities. Based on the high fter six straight years cousin, the female Asian gypsy population of moths at these of single digit detections, the moth has the ability to fly, which Asian ports and the egg masses Oregon Department of Agriculcould lead to a more rapid inture has trapped 14 gypsy moths festation and subsequent spread. that have been recovered from the ships the past couple of this summer including two Asian The Asian gypsy moth also has years, there is a heightened alert gypsy moths in the Portland area. a larger appetite for what grows nationally to be on the lookout The results signal an increased in Oregon, including a taste for for Asian gypsy moth.” concern of the threat posed by conifers. There have been just Oregonians have more the plant-eating invasive species three Asian gypsy moths detected experience with the European and has prompted an evaluation in Oregon prior to this year– a gypsy moth, which is usually of next steps to deal with the single catch in North Portland in introduced when new residents insect pest. 1991, one caught in Portland’s or travelers from areas of high “This is an exceptionalForest Park in 2000, and one gypsy moth populations in the ly destructive insect that would caught in St. Helens in 2006. eastern US unwitchange the health of our forests, It’s notable that two of the three tingly bring the making them far more vulnerable Asian gypsy moths trapped in pest with them on to other invasive plant issues, Oregon were relatively in the outdoor housecausing a loss of foliage on trees same locations as this year’s dehold furniture or as well as damaging agriculturtections. Additionally, an Asian other items that al-related industries that would gypsy moth has been trapped may harbor gypface quarantines should the gyp- across the Columbia River near sy moth eggs. sy moth get established,” says the Port of Vancouver in Wash For the third straight Clint Burfitt, manager of ODA’s ington. year, ODA has trapped European Insect Pest Prevention and Man- The detections of Asian gypsy moths near Grants Pass agement Program. gypsy moth are not completely and the seven detected this year After placing approxisurprising since the insect pest are further proof of a breeding mately 15,000 traps statewide was ultimately transported by population in the area. this spring, ODA has found ships arriving from Asia, particu- Now that nearly all of the seven gypsy moths near Grants larly Russia. 15,000 gypsy moth traps have Pass in Josephine County, five “We can speculate that been checked and removed for in the greater Portland area, one the moths likely came from Far the year, ODA and its partners in Forest Grove in Washington East Russia as thousands of steel are examining the data while County, and one in West Linn in plates are imported from areas considering the best course of Clackamas County. Two of the across the Pacific that are infest- action. While no plans have moths were trapped in or near ed with Asian gypsy moth,” says been determined yet, there is Portland’s Forest Park, another Burfitt. the possibility of gypsy moth two in the St. Johns area and the Patrols from US Customs eradication projects next spring Port of Portland’s Terminal 6. and Border Protection as well as in Josephine County and North Perhaps most significant is the US Department of Agriculture’s Portland. This year, the State of detection of Asian gypsy moth– Animal Plant Health Inspection Washington has caught Asian one in Forest Park, the other near Service (APHIS) have worked gypsy moths as well, incuding St. Johns. The other 12 moths with shipping companies to the one in Vancouver. A USDA are the more common European inspect vessels before they arrive technical working group will strain of the insect. in Oregon and elsewhere around be offering recommendations Asian gypsy moth is the country, but the chances of to both states on the next steps,
A
www.thegorgebusinessnews.com
which may include spray projects in spring 2016 using Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (Btk)– an organically approved product and natural-occurring bacterium that targets the gypsy moth. For many years, spraying for gypsy moth was an annual event in Oregon, but the most recent eradication project took place in 2009. Oregon’s gypsy moth history shows the cyclical nature of the insect. Prior to this year’s 14 detections, there were just four detections in 2014, two moths caught in 2013, one moth in 2012, and no detections in 2011. By contrast, more than 19,000 gypsy moths were trapped in Lane County alone in the mid-1980s. Despite the lack of moths up until this year, the threat of new introductions to Oregon is constant on an annual basis. So far, Oregon has avoided the unsavory prospect of having to learn to live with the gypsy moth. That’s why the just-completed detection program continues to be an important tool in fighting off an unwanted invader. “History shows that we have a very good program that finds gypsy moth populations while they are small and treatable,” says Helmuth Rogg, ODA’s Director of Plant Programs. “We have a track record of eradicating small pockets of gypsy moth in Oregon as soon as we detect them. Without a good trapping program and a safe, effective eradication program, that would not be possible.” As officials mull over the options and contemplate what needs to happen next, history shows that the Oregon Department of Agriculture’s emphasis on early detection and rapid response to the gypsy moth threat fits well with ODA’s mission to protect the state’s natural environment and economy from the impact of an invasive species that has caused havoc in other parts of the country and the world.
Page 16
BRIDGES
The Gorge Business News
The Colorful History of the Bridge of the Gods By Warren R. Johnson
America has quite a number of
famous bridges including suspension, fixed, moveable and arched, to name a few. Often their fame comes from their construction; other times fame comes from their history. A few of these are the Brooklyn, Golden Gate, Sunshine Skyway and Royal Gorge. The Columbia Gorge has several bridges, one of which can compare with the most famous of American bridges. The Cascade Locks Bridge, better known as the Bridge of the Gods, has a long history. It predates the arrival of white men and still functions today. The earliest bridge was a stone or natural bridge and was very important to Native Americans. This bridge, scientists believe, was created from a landslide on the north side of the river, creating a dam and a large sea behind it. With time, the water eroded the center of this dam, leaving an arch in place. An earthquake likely destroyed the bridge, creating the rapids where it fell. Native Americans have their own story. Since the river was difficult to cross,
the Native Americans asked their God Manito to put a bridge in place for them. Still, they thought the bridge would eventually fall, so they again appealed to Manito, this time to protect the bridge. Hence, they called it the Bridge of the Gods. It still carries that name today. Frederic Balch published a novel in 1890 titled The Bridge of the Gods. Balch was a Congregational minister in The Dalles and the novel depicted a minister hiking west from New England because he had had a vision of a natural bridge. He felt called to minister to the natives and make his home near the bridge. Balch died of sickness a year after the book was published, and he was buried in Lyle at the Lyle-Balch Cemetery. The book met with great acclaim and has gone through many printings, still published to this day. Even today the bridge holds interest for many. It serves as the crossing point for the Pacific Crest Trail, the hiking path from Mexico to Canada and is the lowest point of elevation for the Trail. Portland author Cheryl Strayed wrote a popular novel, Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, upon which the movie Wild was based. The bridge makes an appearance in this movie starring Reese Witherspoon
(2014). The Bridge of the Gods is the third oldest bridge across the Columbia, completed in 1926. The total cantilevered structure is 1,131 feet and the full bridge length is 1,858 feet. The 35 foot width was originally a wooden deck at 91 feet above the river. When the Bonneville Dam was completed in 1938, the bridge had to be raised 44 feet to accommodate the rise in water. In 1961, the Port of Cascade Locks became the owner of the bridge. Roughly, 1.6 million vehicles cross this toll bridge yearly, which pays for maintenance and staff. The Bridge of the Gods is not just another bridge. It has brought Oregon and Washington fame and fortune. - Warren R. Johnson - freelance writer, publisher and bookseller
Maintaining Good Bridges Is Critical To a Strong Economy Bridge condition report identifies need for stable strategic investment to protect Oregon’s economy and lifestyle
O
regon’s bridge system needs contin ual investment to avoid falling into a state of disrepair The latest bridge condition report from the Oregon Department of Transportation puts a dollar figure to the cost to Oregon’s economy if the state’s bridge system isn’t adequately maintained: In the next 20 years, Oregon could forfeit $94 billion in production and 100,000 jobs if action isn’t taken. The good news: If we act soon, Oregon still has time to keep our bridges healthy. Oregon’s state highway system contains more than 2,700 bridges. (The state’s cities and counties own about another 4,000.) More than half of the state highway bridges were built in the 1950s and ‘60s; these bridges are 50 to 65 years old. “If these bridges were people, we’d be throwing retirement parties for them,” said Bruce Johnson, Oregon State Bridge Engineer. “Instead, we’re asking them to carry more traffic at higher speeds and heavier weights.” “Healthy bridges are critical to Ore-
www.thegorgebusinessnews.com
gon’s economy and our lifestyle,” said Matthew Garrett, ODOT Director. “They connect communities; they link lives. We cannot let those bonds break. We must be willing to make the necessary strategic investments.” ODOT’s 2015 Bridge Condition Report summarizes bridge conditions statewide. And, because of previous investments beginning a dozen years ago, the system looks pretty good at the moment. Only two in every eight state highway bridges show signs of wear and tear that would call for significant repair or replacement. But without continued investment to repair or replace the state’s oldest bridges, Oregon’s bridge system will fall into disrepair: Funding levels for the near future are the lowest in the past 20 years, and inflation continues to erode the purchasing power of each dollar. The report documents some basic, stark facts: • To replace each state highway bridge on a 100-year cycle requires replacing an average of 27bridges each year; Oregon taxpayers fund the replacement of an average of three bridges per year. • Bridges should normally receive major maintenance every 30 to 50 years; current bridge funding covers major maintenance only
once every 100 years. In coming decades, hundreds of state bridges will deteriorate to the point that they will have to be restricted to truck traffic. Detours increase transportation costs for Oregon businesses, making them less competitive in national and world markets and costing Oregonians their jobs. “Without the funding to proactively address bridge needs to prevent problems before they occur, we are forced to react to problems after they occur,” said ODOT Director Garrett. “Patching holes in decks and making emergency fixes to bridges is not a strategic use of taxpayer money, and is very inconvenient to all travelers. Strategic investment to repair or replace older bridges in a coordinated manner protects our economy; minimizes detours, delays and traveler inconvenience; and keeps Oregon moving well into the future.”
Page 17
The Gorge Business News
OUT WITH THE OLD IN WITH THE NEW Celilo Shuts Down Historic Equipment and Ushers in a New Era
equipment and to the invalu- made it!’ and relief because there were many able senior staff at Celilo, times over the last 10 years that plant personseveral of whom have come nel were unsure if the old controls were going back to work on contracts to make it this far,” Koski said. post-retirement. However, afterward there was a rec After 45 years, much of ognition that life was going to be radically the equipment at Celilo was different going forward – all new equipment, well beyond its original dea single set of integrated controls and a much sign life. The controls were cleaner, simpler plant to operate and maintain. a hodgepodge of multiple Two 21st century converters will take over the plant expansions, different responsibilities of the four old ones. manufacturing types and “Yet, like that quirky relative with technologies. After the last all their idiosyncrasies who drove you crazy two similar plants in the while they were visiting, there was a certain BPA’s crew at the Celilo Converter Station arrived dark and early Saturday morning to retire a pair of 45-year-old converters. From world were mothballed in familiarity and comfort in knowing what you left, Mike Overeem, Dave Potter, Vicki Petroff, Carl Reindel, Steve Fittje, recent years, finding rehad,” Koski explained. “We are going to miss Jesse Floria, Bob Canavan, Nancy Williams and Marv Rickett. placement parts has entailed the old Celilo now that it is gone.” international treasure hunts When Celilo returns to commercial opand salvaging expeditions. eration Dec. 21, it will be made up of all new t 0400 hours Saturday morning, “We’re thankful for us and our custom- main circuit equipment and boast the newest chief operator Dave Potter pressed two green ers that converters 3 and 4 made it through this in control technology that engineering firm plastic buttons on the manual-control console year,” said Erich Orth, project manager on the ABB has to offer. at the Celilo Converter Station in The Dalles, upgrade. “We’re really lookOre. ing forward to a new chapter With that gesture, Potter halted in Celilo’s history.” the flow of electricity to a pair of hulking Thyristor valves are 1970s-era converters, effectively retiring them among the equipment in the and propelling BPA into the future. two new converters expected A converter is a device that changes to be operating by the end of alternating current into direct current, or vice the year. versa. At Celilo, a critical part of BPA’s pow These valves and the equipment in the yard are all part of retired converters 3 and 4 at Celilo. For the past deer system portfolio, those converters and two cade, BPA’s expert staff has others had provided major service to a unique Work on the overall $498 million portion of the West Coast transmission grid for coaxed, cajoled and nursed every bit of life out project, including the line upgrades, is exof Celilo’s aging equipment. Key contributors almost half a century. pected to be complete in the fall of 2016. The include the Substation Maintenance and Op “We had a countdown calendar going modernization will strengthen the line against erations and Systems Protection and Control for seven months. It’s reading all zeros now,” weather and other threats to reliability and persaid Potter, the longest-serving active member teams with significant support from Substation formance, as well as raising the capacity from of the crew at Celilo, where he started in June 3,100 megawatts to 3,220 megawatts. When 1984. “It was kind of a historical moment.” BPA’s improvements are complete, Celilo The Celilo Converter Station is BPA’s will have the potential to convert and transmit only interconnection point with Southern up to 3,800 MW of energy, after upgrades by California. It anchors the northern end of one BPA’s southern partners to their portion of the of the world’s longest and highest-capacity DC line. transmission systems, the Pacific Direct Cur At 4:04 a.m. Saturday, it was time rent Intertie. The 500-kilovolt line runs 846 to get back to work. There is switching to miles to Sylmar, Calif., near Los Angeles, delivering renewable Northwest hydropower and complete to clear the DC line between Celilo Thyristor valves are among the equipment wind energy to California, as well as carrying in the two new converters expected to be operating and Sylmar so that BPA’s Transmission Line electricity north when there is peak demand in by the end of the year. Maintenance crews can start work to reinsuthe Northwest. late the line and swing the conductors to new BPA is investing $498 million to mod- Maintenance and High Voltage Engineering. structures. There is much work remaining to “The retirement of this old equipment ernize both the converter station and the 265 decommission the old equipment and commiles of BPA-owned intertie that runs from the and the upgrade to the new system is only plete the integration of the new equipment. Columbia River to the Oregon-Nevada border. part of the story out here,” says Dave Kos These valves and the equipment in the ki, operations and maintenance manager for Saturday’s “blocking” of converters 3 yard are all part of retired converters 3 and 4 at The Dalles District. “This team at Celilo has and 4 was a bittersweet event, symbolizing a Celilo. final chapter and the beginning of a new era of time and again proved that with ingenuity and “This technology transition is a salute teamwork, they could keep this great machine operation for BPA’s only high-voltage direct to the many men and women who sacrificed a performing well for decades.” current converter station. While the mood before the 4 a.m. shut- lot of their time and energy to make sure the Potter, the longest-serving member of down was celebratory, once the old converters lights stayed on and the power kept flowing, the Celilo crew with 31 (“almost 32”) years no matter what kind of challenges came their were de-energized, feelings were mixed. of service, loves to joke about his “antiques” way,” Koski said. “There was an initial sense of ‘We – affectionately referring to both the valuable
A
www.thegorgebusinessnews.com
Page 18
WILDLIFE
The Gorge Business News
Historic Conservation Campaign Protects Greater Sage-Grouse
By Kayli Hanley
Secretary of Interior Sally Jewell made the announce-
ment that the Greater Sage Grouse will not be listed on the endangered species list. “This is truly a historic day in the history of the American West cattle business,” said Oregon Cattlemen’s Executive Director Jerome Rosa. “Through collaborative efforts by ranchers, energy companies and conservationist reducing the decline of the sage grouse habitat in 11 Western states, the need for a listing was not needed.” Ranchers have been working hard for several years to prevent a listing, including partnering with other groups to booster sage grouse habitat. Rancher’s Tom Sharp and John O’Keeffe have led many of the efforts on behalf of the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association. Sharp sees the decision as a product of hard work. “The on the ground efforts that were led in the state of Oregon by Oregon Cattlemen’s Association for the Candidate Conservation Agreements (affecting public lands) and by the eight Oregon counties, that have sage grouse habitats, for the Candidate Conservation Agreement Assurances (affecting private lands), have achieved many acres of sage grouse protection,” he said. President Elect for the OCA, John O’Keeffe, is satisfied with Fish and Wildlife’s verdict. “It’s totally appropriate,” he said. “The Fish and Wildlife Services recognizes the value that ranchers bring to sage grouse conservation and the importance of keeping ranchers on the landscape.” While the decision not to delist is seen as a huge victory to Oregon ranchers, O’Keeffe said the process to keep bettering the sage grouse environment is not over. “It (FWS’s verdict) points to the success of the hard work that has gone into this effort and it is important to view this as a milestone and not a finish line.” Rosa said he wants to thank not only Sharp and O’Keeffe for their valiant efforts, but other key players as well. “Oregon Cattlemen’s Association would like to thank Governor Kate Brown and Interior Secretary Sally Jewell for their support,” he said. At the end of the day, Sharp believes all parties involved should be excited that the bird has not been delisted because it means conservation efforts are working. “This is a three way win. It’s a win for the sage grouse. It’s a win for the farmers and ranchers. It’s a win for the conservation groups.” The Oregon Cattlemen’s Association was founded in 1913 and works to promote environmentally and socially sound industry practices, improve and strengthen the economics of the industry, and protect its industry communities and private property rights.
The Elgin Stampede Crab Feed
The Elgin Stampeder’s Annual All You Can Eat Crab Feed February 6, 2016 at 4 p.m. at the Elgin Stampede Hall www.thegorgebusinessnews.com
Page 19
Northeast Oregon Business News News The Gorge Business
Hawk M2M Specializes in Machine-to-Machine Technology
By Lori Kimbel
T
ucked away in a modest office in the heart of Baker City is Hawk M2M, an electrical and electronic design firm owned by Baker County native Orrin Bigelow. Shelves are lined with circuit boards and all of the intricate parts that go along with them. A desk, free from clutter, sits along one wall and a white board with brainstorming notes grabs each visitor’s attention immediately. I stood in the office, clueless of what all these bits and pieces of components and circuit boards could do. I soon found out these circuit boards may be small, but they were mighty. “We specialize in custom electronics design for commercial applications,” said Bigelow. “M2M is short for Machine-to-Machine Technology, which allows both wireless and wired systems to communicate with other devices of the same type across multiple communication networks. An example would be a sensor and a valve installed in a field, mountain side, or stretch of highway. The sensor and valve communicate with the cellular network, which acts as a bridge to the Internet.
Once connected to the Internet, the sensor can provide real-time data to a user on a mobile device, or on a computer dashboard. The user can view the status of the sensor or receive alerts, while also exercising full control of the valve remotely or automatically. Hawk M2M can build the entire system, including a custom electronic device in the field.” Bigelow received his Bachelor’s Degree in Electronic Engineering from Eastern Washington University before moving to San Diego where he worked at SeaBotix, a manufacturer of underwater robotics. It was during his time with SeaBotix that he realized he wanted to pursue electronic hardware design, so he would work his day job, then go home and teach himself how to design circuit boards. Eventually, he began moonlighting for Seabotix designing circuit boards from his home. At Hawk M2M, Bigelow invented a circuit board that is installed in hotels around the world, which is an integral part in fire and smoke suppression during the event of a building fire. The boards are assembled, tested, sold, and shipped from Boise, Idaho. Bigelow, in collaboration with Boise State, Stanford, and the USGS, is currently working on a circuit board that wirelessly transmits data from underground wells to cre-
ate hydraulic tomography, a 3D image of groundwater movement, a necessity when dealing with environmental cleanup throughout the world. Hawk M2M is also providing solutions on how to monitor thousands of miles of electric fence in real-time, as Orrin Bigelow Owner well as develop- of Hawk M2M ing a new RFID tracking system for very large cattle operations. Perhaps the most exciting development at Hawk M2M, is the development of new electronics for hobby and commercial UAVs and drones. “We’re developing the world’s best electronics for a niche market in drones, and I want to manufacture them right here in Baker City.” Hawk M2M is a creative company and ready to monitor and control the most valuable assets to an organization, or bring an entirely new invention to market.
Hawk M2M www.hawkm2m.com
Basche-Sage Place 2101 Main Street Suite 222 Baker City, OR 97814 Orrin Bigelow
208-249-7527
orrin@hawkm2m.com
Take your organization to the next level of productivity with Hawk M2M
Boardman Subway NOW OPEN 115 W Front Street 503-781-4559 Hours: 7 a.m. - 11 p.m. www.neobn.com www.thegorgebusinessnews.com
Page Page 2020
The Gorge Business News
www.thegorgebusinessnews.com
Page 20
Northeast Oregon Business News
LET ‘ER BUCK
Trevor Brazile Wins Record 4th Consecutive Title Texan Trevor Brazile wins record 4th consecutive title at the 105th Round-Up, NE Oregon’s Signature Event
T
exan Trevor Brazile surprised no one by winning a record fourth consecutive All-Around title at the 105th Pendleton Round-Up, following Saturday’s championship rounds. Brazile, 38, often referred to as the King of the Cowboys, has won every major award in rodeo numerous times since becoming a professional rodeo competitor in 1996. His record prize money winnings of over $5.5 million may represent an insurmountable hurdle for future competitors to top for decades. He has won 21 world championships in the
PRCA, qualified for the WNFR 45 times and won nearly 20 rodeo All-Around titles this year alone. He hosts regular high-end horse training workshops at his Texas ranch, sponsors all sorts of products, produces his own line of clothing and horse and rodeo gear. He is often described in glowing articles as America’s richest ever cowboy. The Round-Up is a sanctioned rodeo of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, PRCA, which stages the annual Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (WNFR) in Las Vegas, rodeo’s national championship event. The Round-Up is a four-day event, Wednesday-Saturday, with awards given in each of eight events as well as an All-Around award for the cowboy winning the most money over multiple events. Fans were watching in anticipation as the world’s most successful rodeo competitor, Texan Trevor Brazile, was in position to capture a fourth consecutive Pendleton Round-Up All-Around award when he returned to the competition on Saturday. Final results for the eight Round-Up events: Bareback Ty Breuer, Mandan, ND, continued his comeback from injuries with the title in the bareback event at today’s Pendleton RoundUp, his eighth title in rodeo competition this
www.neobn.com
year. The 25-year-old Breuer took a score of 84, which, with his earlier score of 86, ensured his top position and giving him $5,066 as his share of the championship purse. The 2014 world champion in the event, Kaycee Feild, Spanish Fork, UT, posted the top score Saturday, 85, but had only an 80 going into today’s competition, to finish with a combined 185 and 4th place. The championship title is based on the total of the two rides. Richmond Champion, The Woodlands, TX, took second in the combined scores, with 167 to Breuer’s 170, for $3,884 for the day. Tying Breuer today with 84 was local favorite R.C. Landingham, Pendleton, OR, who came into the finals with an 82 for a combined 166 to take third place in the finals and $2,871 in prize money. Breuer qualified for his first Wrangler NFR in 2013 but was injured during the event, underwent surgery and missed the beginning of last year’s rodeo season. He competed against his younger brother, Casey, who finished down the list on Saturday, with a combined 157. Tie-down roping J.C. Malone, Hooper, UT, caught his calf in 10.6 seconds Saturday to take home the championship award and $5,254 in prize money in the Pendleton Round-Up’s tie-down roping event on a time of 9.4 for the average of three events. He was followed by Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, LA, with a time of 9.7 Saturday and an average of 9.9 for second place and $4,569, and in third by Randall Carlisle, with Saturday’s best time of 9.2 and a 10.2 second average for $3,883.43. Malone, 30, bested the man he describes as his rodeo idol, Trevor Brazile, Decatur, TX. Malone joined the PRCA in 2004, eight years after the 38-year-old Brazile and after Malone had won the Utah high school championships in 2001-03 in both tie-down roping and steer wrestling. This year he has won six rodeos, including this Round-Up. Trevor Brazile, vying for a record 4th consecutive All-Around title at the Pendleton RoundUp, finished 4th in tie-down roping with a 10.23 average and $3,198. Saddle bronc Last year’s world champion in the saddle bronc event won the Pendleton Round-Up Saturday. Spencer Wright, Milford, UT, one of six highly accomplished brothers in rodeo, took a the top score of 87 on Saturday for a best combined score of 169 in two events, accomplishing the feat by beating two of his own brothers and a nephew. In second, with a Saturday score of 84 and a combined 166 was Jacobs Crawley, Boerne, TX, followed by a tie at a combined 164 for CoBurn Bradshaw,
Beaver, UT, and Clay Elliott, Nanton, AB. Wright won $4,284 for Saturday, while Crawley took home $3,284. Bradshaw and Elliott each received $1,999. All residing in Milford, UT, Cody, Spencer and Jake as well as Cody’s 19-yearold son, Rusty, now in his second year of professional competition after winning the national high school championship in this event in 2012 and 2013, competed on Saturday. Spencer, 24, was the 2014 world champion in the event, while Cody, 38, won the national title in 2008 and 2010 and has won six rodeos this year. 2010 was also the year Cody won at the centennial Pendleton Round-Up. Jake, 26, has won a dozen rodeos this year after finishing fifth in the world standings at the 2014 WNFR and also won in Pendleton in 2013, the year he finished second in the world standings. A documentary of the Wrights was filmed after four of the brothers (including Jesse) qualified last year for the WNFR, a first for the event. Crawley also travels with a rodeoing brother, Sterling, who won Resistol’s PRCA Saddle Bronc rookie award in 2011. Jacobs Crawley has won 15 rodeos this year, placed 7th in the world in this event last year, and currently stands at #4 in the world. He has yet to win at Pendleton. Steer wrestling Hunter Cure, Holliday, TX, took his first place finish on Friday and held on to it
Page 20
Northeast Oregon Business News
LET ‘ER BUCK to win the steer wrestling championship at the 105th Pendleton Round-Up on Saturday for prize money of $5,282. With a combined time of 16.6 seconds for three events, today’s and two earlier in the week, Cure edged out Casey Martin, Sulphur, LA, who finished with 17.3 and $4,593, just ahead of Jason Thomas, Benton, AR, at 18.6 with $3,904. Martin had Saturday’s best time, 5.1 seconds, just ahead of Baylor Roche, Tremonton, UT, with 5.5. Roche finished 4th with an aggregate of
18.9 and $3,215. The 31-year-old Cure won the WNFR world championship in 2013, five years after joining the PRCA and four years after his first qualification for the WNFR. Like so many of the competitors here, he works and raises cattle, even supplying steer wrestling stock to rodeos in Texas and Oklahoma. He was ranked 4th in the world standings coming into the Round-Up with nearly $80,000 in winnings for the year. Martin is ranked 17th in world standings but finished 6th last year, including winning this event at the Pendleton Round-Up. Team Roping Rodeo is an individual accomplishment except for this one event, where two cowboys burst from their chutes on horseback to pursue and rope a steer with a head start. The “header” first ropes the steer’s head, while the “heeler” then ropes the steer’s hind legs. There is a five second penalty for roping only one leg and a 10 second penalty if the team breaks the chute barrier before the steer is out. Local favorites Jake Stanley, Hermiston, OR, and Bucky Campbell, Benton City, WA, managed the day’s best time of 5.9 seconds for roping their steer but the championship for the event, based on aggregate scores
www.neobn.com
accumulated in multiple events over the four-day rodeo, ended in a tie. With aggregate times of 20.0 seconds the title was shared by the teams of Clay Tryan, Billings, MT/Jade Corkill/Fallon, NV and Trevor Brazile, Decatur, TX/Patrick Smith, Lipan, TX, with each of these finalists receiving $5,677 for the aggregate and additional prize money for their Saturday scores. The Tryan/Corkill team won last year’s world championship at the WNFR in this event—for the second consecutive year. While Brazile is currently #1 in the All-Around world standings, thanks to his adeptness in all roping events, Tryan is ranked the #1 team roping header to Brazile’s #4 and Corkill is the #1 heeler to Smith’s #4. Bull riding Bull riding is a tough sport. Consider Dylan Vick, Escalon, CA, a Hollywood stuntman who was thrown on Saturday from Buck’er Sox Off, which then proceeded to stomp on him. No sooner had Vick limped from the field then the next rider, Jared Parsonage, Maple Creek, SK, got to do the dance with the bull that results when a rider leaves the bull but can’t get his tightly wrapped hand loose. As he danced with the bull the bullfighters attempted to distract the bull while eventually helping the rider free his hand. As he attempted to move away from the bull, Western Hauler, Parsonage was tossed to the ground by the bull’s horns and then run over. That’s certainly why you don’t see bull riders much past 25. Today’s champion at the Pendleton Round-Up, Sage Steele Kimzey, Strong City, OK, last year won the national championship in bull riding at the WNFR at 20, becoming only the second rookie bull rider to win a gold buckle in 52 years. His WNFR winnings total of $175,466 was the highest of any competitor at the WNFR in 2014, giving him the RAM Truck Top Gun award. His younger brother, Trey, is also a bull rider. Today, at 21, he topped the field with a score of 86, just beating Dustin Bowen, 24, at 85. Steele had an aggregate score of
170 for two events to win $4,241 in aggregate prize money, while Bowen finished with 169 and $3,251. They won additional money for their Saturday wins. Probably still nursing an aching hand and more, Parsonage, 22, took third place in the aggregate Saturday with 161, for $2,403 in prize money. Parsonage beat Kimzey in a match last year at the annual College National Finals Rodeo, finishing first ahead of Kimzey’s third in bull riding. In second at that CNFR was Joe Frost, who also competed in this Pendleton Round-Up. Parsonage won the title at a PBR competition in June, presented by the Ponoka Stampede, Ponoka, AB. Steer roping Steer ropers had a good day Saturday, with seven of the 12 finalists catching their steer, although all of the times were in the triple digits, not usually winning territory. Brent Lewis, Pinon, NM, didn’t have the best time on Saturday, 14.4 seconds, but it gave him a winning aggregate of 41.4 over three events and the championship title with $5,640 in prize money. Lewis came into the Round-Up ranked #18 in this event but the win should move him up. Lewis, 45, has qualified for the WNFR 11 times beginning in 1991 but last made an appearance there in 2004, after winning the event title in 2000. He has won just one rodeo per year since 2012, after taking a break from the professional competition 20052010. But this is the fourth rodeo he’s won this year so rodeo’s obviously playing a bigger role in his life these days. Behind Lewis was a local favorite from nearby Boardman, OR, Joe Bartlett, with a 43.1 aggregate time and $4,904 in prize money. Will McBride, Ogallala, NE, took the third spot with his time of 44.6 and $4,168. Barlett, 53, and McBride, 50, demonstrate the point that ropers have much longer careers than rough stock riders. Bartlett joined the PRCA in
1987 after qualifying for the College NFR in 1981-82 and has competed ever since at a moderate level. McBride has also competed at a moderate level, winning a rodeo every couple of years and is ranked #44 in current world standings in
steer roping. Barrel racing Kimmie, Wall, Roosevelt, UT, who was #20 in world standings last year, won the barrel racing title at the Pendleton Round-Up Saturday with an aggregate time of 57.33 seconds in two events for $4,558 in prize money. Right behind her at 57.76 was Tobi Richardson, Craigmont, ID in second for $3,907, and at 57.82, Pamela Capper in third for $3,256. Capper had the best time on Saturday, 28.43 seconds. Christy Loflin, who won consecutive titles at the last three Round-Ups, finished 8th, with a time of 58.42. Earlier Loflin appeared to have a strong opportunity to repeat, after winning the Thursday event. But six of the 12 competitors on Saturday broke the stiff 29-second barrier on rodeo’s longest barrel racing track while Loflin finished at 29.34, pushing her down the list. Of all these winners, coming into this Round-Up Capper was ranked highest in the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association standings, at #25, followed by Wall at #27, although these positions should switch after today’s results.
Page 20