We’re thankful for all our blessings

Published 11:44 pm Wednesday, November 21, 2007

We’ve a lot for which to be thankful

As people gather around the Thanksgiving table with family and friends today, or in the next few days, it’s a time to reflect on the blessing of the past year.

Thanksgiving in America is a tradition dating to 1621, when the colonists at Plymouth shared an autumn harvest feast with the Wampanoag Indians.

In 1782, the Continental Congress proclaimed Nov. 28 as a day of thanksgiving and President George Washington declared it a holiday in 1789.

In 1939-1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, seeking to lengthen the Christmas shopping season, proclaimed Thanksgiving the third Thursday in November. After some controversy, Congress decreed that Thanksgiving should fall on the fourth Thursday of November, where it remains.

In north central and northeastern Oregon, we have a lot for which to be thankful, and it should start with agriculture, which largely is responsible for the region’s economy.

Take wheat, for example. In late July soft white winter wheat was selling for $6 per bushel and within two months the price had shot up to $10 per bushel. Worldwide forces of supply and demand drove prices to never-heard-of levels that are helping farmers recoup past losses and improve their equipment. The region’s economy is benefiting, and will continue to benefit, from the wheat growers’ good fortune.

Meanwhile, hay prices are up about 14 percent, which is good or bad, depending upon whether you’re selling or buying; potato prices are up about 5 percent, and wholesale milk prices are up about 28 percent from a year ago, based on information from the National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Farmers and ranchers, and the merchants catering to them, aren’t the only ones who have things for which to be thankful this year.

Take a look at the new facades in downtown Pendleton. A lot of people deserve credit for the efforts to update the business district.

The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation celebrated significant improvements this year, including the opening of two new restaurants, an expanded casino and the opening of Cayuse Technologies. A new kidney dialysis center is not far behind.

In Hermiston, Campbell Motors is celebrating 50 years in business and Snack Alliance, a potato chip and cheese snack business is expanding to produce rice-based products.

At the Port of Umatilla, James Farrell & Co. has started construction on a transload facility that promises to increase barge traffic in the coming year and contractors have installed new rail lines to improve safety of carloads between Hinkle and Umatilla.

Business in Boardman exploded in the past year with the expansion of Morrow Cold Storage and Lamb-Weston’s potato processing facilities, the opening of Pacific Ethanol and RDO-Kalbee Foods.

And don’t forget the ground-breaking at the Pacific Northwest Motorsports Park. Developers are saying there will be more for which to be thankful at this time next year.

At Boardman City Hall, City Manager Karen Pettigrew, who initially accepted the position for up to six months, will be on board at least through August.

Pilot Rock has enjoyed outstanding community support this year from the Make-a-Difference-Day in October to the outpouring of help recently in response the fire that burned the Community Presbyterian Church and the Ashcraft home.

In Milton-Freewater, folks have enjoyed new businesses, but need to consider what they’re going to do about their bulging school system.

Irrigon has seen an increase in tourism since completing Phase I of the Don Baxter Skate Park. This weekend, the community is celebrating completion of the new City Hall. A ribbon-cutting ceremony and tours are planned at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Patrons of the Helix School District should be thankful Helix School is among the 157 exceptional schools in Oregon.

Also achieving exceptional ratings this year were Highland Hills Elementary in Hermiston; the Ione Community School, Heppner Elementary and Heppner Junior-Senior High and Pilot Rock High School. For those exceptional schools and the educators throughout the region, we say thanks.

And we at The East Oregonian are thankful to be celebrating Eastern Oregon since 1875.

May you have a blessed Thanksgiving Day.