Consultant to be hired for facilities assessment

When the Wasco County Board of Commissioners signed a letter supporting the sale of the Limmeroth Ranch in the Deschutes River corridor to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife in October, 2013, there was zero opposition. Well, there is now. Leading the group of unhappy nearby landowners at the June 3 meeting was Dean McAllister, who is also the vice president of the Wasco County Farm Bureau. “The government already owns 54 percent of Oregon,” McAllister said. “Why do they need another 10,000 acres? When is it enough for the state?” The purchase of the Limmeroth Ranch would add to the Lower Deschutes Wildlife Area, which was established in 1983 when the Oregon Wildlife Heritage Foundation donated 2,758 acres. In 1986, the foundation gave another 5,158 acres to the department.

Incumbent re-elected to board

The race to represent Zone 2 on the North Wasco County School District 21 school board is down to one. John Fredrick, the incumbent being challenged by Dean McAllister, dropped out of the race May 1.