Neill Woelk

Well open this week with a nod to the folks in charge of the Farm-City Pro Rodeo.

They know how to do things right. A first-class bunch of people who put on a first-class event and who are very aware of the community and people around who help them make the FCPR an annual success.

Wednesday night, the rodeo held its volunteer appreciation dinner at the rodeo grounds, treating all the behind-the-scenes folks to a good meal and a nice evening.

As Darrel Sallee, a member of the FCPR Board of Directors noted, every volunteer is important and every volunteer plays a key role in the rodeos success.

All told, about 150 people volunteer their services every year. Some have been around just about as long as the rodeo has been in existence (this year will be the 24th FCPR) and some are newcomers.

But all have a common goal: to help the FCPR continue to be known as a top-shelf event.

We couldnt do it without em, Sallee said. Its amazing what all these people do.

Torrie Griggs was honored as the FCPRs Volunteer of the Year at Wednesdays dinner. Griggs plays a big role in helping get horses ready for youngsters involved with the rodeo, as well as adding her considerable expertise in all things rodeo.

But, as Sallee noted, Everybody here could have their name on that plaque.

This years rodeo will be held Aug. 10-13. Tickets, both reserve seating and general admission, are still available. For more information, go to http://www.farmcityprorodeo.com.

Thanks to some legislative assistance from U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, the Umatilla Army Depot is one step closer to where we were a few months ago.

That, of course, is the Depot being closed under the previously agreed upon process, commonly known as BRAC.

When news broke that the Depot might not fall under BRAC status, it opened up a variety of possibilities and also a rather lively debate concerning the Local Reuse Authority, whether there might not be a benefit in losing BRAC status and what might happen if a BRAC closure didnt occur.

The public dialogue that ensued was good to see. Anytime an issue that will affect so many people comes to the forefront, an honest and frank exchange of opinion cant hurt.

But now it appears more than likely that the Depot will close under the BRAC process and the view from this corner is thats probably the best outcome we could have hoped for.

If the U.S. Army does indeed follow the recommendations of the LRA, well at least have a good idea of whats ahead for the land where the Depot currently sits.

Granted, as Irrigon City Manager Jerry Breazeale pointed out in a guest editorial last week, thats a big if. The Army is by no means bound to follow the guidelines established by the LRA. Those are recommendations, not regulations. And, the recent amendment actually states closure may be carried out under BRAC regulations instead of the more definitive shall be closed under those rules.

That leaves a little wiggle room for all involved, with plenty of options still on the table.

Still, if Wyden, Merkley and U.S. Rep. Greg Walden continue to have a say in the matter, odds are the Army will likely adhere to the LRA guidelines in most instances.

Thats not a bad thing if for no other reason than it gives us an idea of where well be going with the Depot as it begins the closure process.

Right now, there are still far more questions than answers. Job loss, economic impact, land dispersal those are just some of the issues that will soon become a reality Hermiston and Umatilla County will have to deal with. The impact could be significant.

But if the Army does decide to follow the LRA recommendations, there will at least be a blueprint with a few answers and right now, a few answers sounds good.

Thumbs up to Hermiston High School administrators who encouraged more than 30 HHS students to attend the Eastern Oregon University Summer Institute in La Grande this summer.

The students earned college credit by taking summer college courses while also receiving at least a taste of what college life will be like. Its an experience that will no doubt serve them well down the road, and a good indication of what HHS folks are doing to help their students prepare for life after high school.

A local attorney (who probably wouldnt want to see his name in attached to this) asked me an interesting question the other day.

If Marion County (home of our state capital) didnt have a district attorney, do you think it would have taken the governor months to appoint a new one? Or do you think he would have gotten it taken care of a little faster?

My money would be on the latter. But then, Marion County isnt flyover country.

Memo to Gov. Kitzhaber: Were waiting …

And finally, we hear through the grapevine that City Hall is actually reaching out to a handful of local business owners and executives to get some input on the citys economic development plans.

Thats good news. Nobody knows better what a city might need in that area then the men and women who are actually invested in the community. They are the people who are putting their livelihoods on the line every day.

Now, heres hoping that the folks at City Hall actually take the time to listen.

Know of something we need to be reporting? A piece of news youd like to see in the Herald? Drop me a note at nwoelk@hermistonherald.com or call me at 541-564-4533.