Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
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July The Odessa High School chapter of the Future Business Leaders of America sent 16 students to the national FBLA conference in San Antonio, Texas last summer. The chapter, as a whole, won first place for its Partnership with Business presentation. The group worked on a program with the 2nd Harvest Food Bank to provide backpacks filled with weekend take-home food for needy youngsters in area communities. At a town council meeting, the new Chief of Police, Helen Coubra, was sworn in by Mayor Doug Plinski. Coubra came, most...
At the January 14 Odessa Town Council meeting, Mayor Doug Plinski got right to business by reading a letter of resignation from councilman Lynn Schmidt, dated December 31, 2012. Schmidt cited his recent move to a location outside the town limits, thereby making him ineligible to serve on the council as the reason for his resignation. He will continue to serve on some committees as a private citizen. Plinski then officially swore in Gail Kiesz as the new town clerk/treasurer...
Though the 2013 Washington legislative session faces many challenges in the state’s budget, the session also offers opportunities to improve the state’s economy by investing in workforce development via public higher education. Seventy percent of jobs in Washington State will require some postsecondary training by 2018, according to a report by Georgetown University. This trend is based on two principles: more education leads to greater productivity, and skill requirements have increased over time – a phenomenon known as “ups...
Businesses can now register with local governments in one location to become eligible for small to medium-sized public works project notifications. Traditionally, a business needed to complete separate, yet identical, applications for each public agency they would like to work with, but now businesses simply complete one, free application in the MRSC Rosters database to register with multiple agencies in Lincoln County or throughout Washington State. The streamlined application process in MRSC Rosters, at...
Big Bend Community College Foundation scholarship applications for 2013-14 are available now in the Financial Aid Office and in local high school counseling offices. The deadline is March 15 for receiving completed applications in the Financial Aid Office. Only completed applications submitted by that date will be considered. The Foundation awards approximately $142,000 in scholarships to 140 students each year, said LeAnne Parton, Executive Director of the BBCC Foundation. “The Foundation has scholarship opportunities for hi...
Flu activity is picking up across our state and the nation. The timing and severity of flu seasons are unpredictable and flu can be severe. Each year in Washington and around the country the flu causes hospitalizations and deaths. “Any death from a preventable illness is upsetting, and it’s especially heartbreaking when a child dies,” says Secretary of Health Mary Selecky. “These deaths are a somber reminder that flu is serious and makes thousands sick in our state each year. With flu season picking up, it's importa...
The Odessa Chamber of Commerce met Tuesday, January 8, at Any Occasion Banquet Hall. January is the time for nominating new officers for the organization, and president Marlon Schafer asked members to seek out anyone who might be interested in serving. Current officers Schafer, president; Larissa Zeiler, treasurer; board members Vickie Iverson, Justin Parr and Dejay Buck, Biergarten chairman, have all agreed to run for another term in 2013. The positions of secretary and vice president, however will be open, as Michelle...
March The Odessa Memorial Healthcare Center and the Odessa Clinic converted their record-keeping to an electronic format. The move to computer-based records was prompted in part by incentives offered by the government programs of Medicaid and Medicare. The main advantages are that orders written by OMHC can be entered directly into the computer and all of the patient’s vital information will be immediately available. Also, diagnostic tests ordered will be made available for v...
The health of Washington’s rural residents is an ongoing concern. To address these concerns, the Washington State Rural Health Association, established in 1981, organized to collaboratively strengthen and improve the health of rural communities. Their work helps to establish policies and activities towards resolving identified issues relating to health and health care services for rural residents. Currently, they are seeking input from rural residents throughout the state of Washington and selected Lincoln County to host a ...
Legumex Walker Inc. has announced that the Pacific Coast Canola (PCC) oilseed processing facility in Warden, Wash. commenced production and completed its first sale and shipment of canola oil and meal during the final week of December 2012. “We are thrilled to have the PCC facility in service producing super-degummed expeller-pressed canola oil and canola meal so quickly, and ahead of schedule,” said Joel Horn, President and Chief Executive Officer, Legumex Walker, Inc. “We were able to move from commissioning of the core pro...
Financial and technical assistance is now available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for producers interested in conserving energy on their property, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced. NRCS and producers develop Agricultural Energy Management Plans (AgEMP) or farm energy audits that assess energy consumption on an operation. AgEMPs are conducted to determine current on-farm energy usage and provide valuable information for on-farm energy improvements. Each audit h...
We had no sooner written our article last week on the uncertain situation at Inland Empire Oilseeds, LLC, and sent our paper off to be printed when we received in the mail that same day notification from the United States Bankruptcy Court in Spokane that IEO had filed for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy on December 27, 2012. Our call to IEO general manager Joel Edmonds has not been returned. We called the Odessa Union Warehouse on Friday, January 4, and asked to speak to Keith Bailey....
A synopsis of the main events of 2012, as reported in The Odessa Record, follows below: January At the beginning of January 2012, police were following up and investigating the third break-in at Odessa Drug within the past several months. Narcotic drugs were the target and were the only items taken. This third break-in came early on December 26, 2011, even after proprietor Ted Bruya had installed surveillance cameras in the store. Unfortunately for law enforcement personnel,...
Union members at four ports in the Pacific Northwest voted overwhelmingly December 24 to reject a contract offer from the Pacific Northwest Grain Handlers Association, paving the way for a potential lockout. The labor dispute affects six grain terminals in Washington and Oregon on the Willamette and Columbia Rivers and Puget Sound. A statement issued in response to the vote by the Pacific Northwest Grain Handlers Association expressed disappointment that the International Longshore and Warehouse Union “has chosen to reject th...
Inland Empire Oilseeds has once again laid off most of its workforce, including its office staff. As appears to be the norm among American companies, the layoffs came right before Christmas, with most employees being told that the plant hoped to rehire them sometime after the first of the year. The Record has thus far been unable to contact any of the management personnel for a statement on their future plans. Given that this is a family time and much is going on over the...
Members of the Odessa Lions Club drove through all of Odessa’s neighborhoods and came up with three homes they felt were tastefully and/or uniquely decorated for the holiday season. Receiving first place and the top prize of $75 was the home of Keith and Becky Kolterman, with decorations that extended from the front of the home and around to their spacious back yard. Second place and $50 went to Greg and Kellie Luiten, whose all-white light scheme was pleasing to the eye. T...
January 18 is the application cut-off date for the Farm and Ranchland Protection Program (FRPP), USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced today. FRPP provides matching funds to help communities preserve farm or ranch land and cultural resources. The program offers a way to keep prime farmland in agriculture use and, at the same time, keep farming and ranching communities thriving by relieving development pressures. Under the program, USDA partners with state, tribal, or local governments and n...
The accounting firm of Leffel, Otis & Warwick, P.S., with CPA offices in several nearby towns throughout the area in addition to Odessa, has provided two articles to help remind readers that actions can be taken now to reduce tax burdens come next April 15. Tax changes and upcoming deadlines With another calendar year-end almost upon us, it is important to review some upcoming deadlines for 2012 and changes for 2013. Payroll: The payroll tax cut for the employee’s share of Social Security taxes is set to expire January 1, 2...
Rep. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, received her 2013 committee assignments this week. She will serve on three House committees: Agriculture and Natural Resources; Capital Budget; and Education. She has and will continue to serve as the ranking Republican on the Capital Budget Committee, which makes her responsible for negotiating with the chair of the committee on a final capital budget. Known as the “bricks and mortar” budget, the capital budget provides funding and bonds for long-term infrastructure needs throughout the sta...
Mark your calendars now to attend the 2013 WSU Oilseed Production and Marketing Conference “Golden Opportunities” scheduled for January 22-23, 2013 at the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick. Plan to attend the only conference in the Pacific Northwest addressing oilseed agronomy, processing, economics, marketing and end use. Several keynote speakers from major canola production regions of North America will highlight the two-day conference, including Gary Hergert, University of Nebraska; Bob Schrock, winter can...
Cones mark a new alternate entrance to the Port of Portland's Terminal 5. The Port and Columbia Grain Inc. added a second gate so replacement workers could use one entrance, in the event of a lockout, and employees of other companies could use another to bypass the union picket line. As Cargill defected, three other owners of Northwest grain terminals rejected a longshore union offer Monday, dismissing it as uncompetitive. Members of longshore union locals will vote Friday and Saturday on an earlier “last, best and f...
The hustle and bustle of holiday shopping has begun. While you are rushing from store to store, remember you aren't the only one looking for a hot deal. Parking lot thieves are on the prowl, preying on inattentive shoppers and hoping to cash in at your expense. If you have optional comprehensive coverage on your auto insurance policy, your vehicle is covered if it’s stolen. However, your auto policy will not cover gifts and most personal possessions stolen from your car. Your homeowners’ or renters’ policy does cover your...
Christmas Fest 2012 was another success for the Junior Livestock 4-H Club and the Odessa Chamber of Commerce, as no fewer than 268 people signed in at the Odessa Community Center last Wednesday, December 5. Many others visited without signing in for prizes. Door prizes donated by the vendors and by various individuals in the community were awarded to 33 people whose names were drawn throughout the day. Donating vendors were Gerald McAllister, Odessa FFA (Poinsettias), New...
More than 40 quilters and quilt appreciators attended the Fronen Steppdecker, Odessa Quilt Club Christmas dinner party held at Any Occasion Banquet Hall the evening of December 3. Helping Hands Catering, by Marla Beth, prepared the meal of green salad and rolls followed by Aussie Chicken, with seasoned potatoes and snow peas and a choice of Mint or Caramel Chocolate Cake for dessert. Several quilting-related games were played throughout the evening, with prizes provided by...
The 2013 Spokane Ag Expo and Pacific Northwest Farm Forum scheduled for February 5-7, 2013 at the Spokane Convention Center Complex is only two months away. The largest farm machinery show in the Inland Northwest will host 250 exhibitors and conduct 36 educational seminars and forums relating to agri-business from large-scale operations to small acreage farms and ranches. Exhibitors will range from large farm equipment manufacturers and service providers to businesses catering to small acreage and part-time farmers who hold...
