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Grain Growers name Armstrong 'Legislator of the
Decade'
Wenatchee
lawmaker lauded for work to secure railroad for grain shipment
The Central Washington
Grain Growers Association has chosen
Rep. Mike
Armstrong as its "Legislator of the Decade" for his work in
securing several hundred miles of a railroad line for grain shipping in
Eastern Washington.
Armstrong was a key
negotiator in the state purchase of the CW Branch rail line from Watco
Companies, Inc. The rail line is located between Coulee City and Cheney.
With prices of steel so high, Watco had considered removing the track
and selling it for scrap. However, local grain growers saw rail as an
opportunity to increase grain shipments more economically than trucking.
"Representative Armstrong
was the first legislator we contacted about this issue in December 2005.
He was very instrumental through this process, and he's been the lead
legislator on this whole project all the way to the conclusion," said L.
Kevin Whitehall, general manager of Central Washington Grain Growers,
Inc., in Waterville.
In February 2007,
Armstrong gathered the interested parties in the governor's office where
Gov. Christine Gregoire signed a memorandum of understanding leading to
the state purchase of the CW Branch rail line and several other rail
lines in Eastern Washington.
"With diesel prices now
topping five-dollars-a-gallon, shipping wheat by truck is not as cost
effective as it once was. For every train carload of wheat, it
takes three semi-trucks off our county roads and state highways,
reducing truck congestion and wear and tear on the state's
transportation system," noted Armstrong. "The grain growers are
expecting to ship up to four thousand carloads this year. That's as many
as twelve thousand trucks we're taking off the highways."
Armstrong said the rail
line is also saving shipping costs for farmers -- money they can
reinvest in jobs.
"Re-activating this rail
line is a winning solution for Eastern Washington farmers. I'm glad that
I could be a part of the negotiation process. This award is a great
honor, but I also credit all of those who worked with me in securing
these rail lines for grain shipment in Eastern Washington," said
Armstrong.
Armstrong was recently
presented the award during the association's annual meeting in
Waterville.
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For more information, contact:
John
Sattgast, Public Information Officer: (360) 786-7257
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