Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (June 1, 1978)
BESSIE mSMEttfft 0 or ORE 'vt' NEWSPAPER tI-8 ?:'te.'f EUGENE OR 07403 1 " The Heppner yillc JLL X 'mrij Morrow County's Award-Winning Weekly Newspaper VOL. 96 NO. 22 HEPPNER, OREGON THURSDAY, JUNE 1, 1978 12 PAGES 20c 29 area students recieve Carl Troedson scholarships Carr W. Troedson scholar ships for the coming school year have been awarded to 29 students from Morrow Coun ty. Announcement of the awards to graduating seniors were made during graduation ceremonies at the county's three high schools last week. Heppner High students re ceiving the awards were Kristi Edmundson, Diane Hol land, Cathy Palmer, Joan Warren and Bruce Young, lone recipients were Grace McEUligott, Jan Peterson, Jeanie Piening, and Natalie Tews. Students from River 'Pure and simple love9 makes Irrigon foster home happy , by Elane Blanchet Billy and Sammie Griffin of Irrigon feel that the most important ingredient in being a foster parent is pure and -simple love. The couple has five sons of their own, ranging in age from 9k to 18, but since 1972 have found room in their home and hearts for a total of nine other youngsters, temporarily sep arated from their natural parents for a variety of reasons. . Sammie feels that part of her empathy with her foster children stems from the fact that her mother died when she was eight years old: I was a very lonely child and I think that's why I related to these kids, because they're all suffering from a lack of love and are hungry for love." She mentioned "love" se veral times within the space of a few minutes, with husband Billy sitting nearby in silent agreement. "You may think I overemphasize love, but if these children had a secure home With enough love, they wouldn't be in a situation where they had to be placed in a foster home." The Griffins have been taking care of their present Three shows highlight weekend Junior Rodeo The first of three Morrow County Junior Rodeo performances will get underway Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Fairgrounds in Heppner, wilth over 170 young cowboys and cowgirls competing in the 1978 contest. Saturday and Sunday rodeo action will start at 1 p.m. with awards to be presented by the Junior Rodeo Court after Sunday's performance. The Friday night show begins at 7:30 p.m. No Cowboy Breakfast is planned this year, but snack shacks will be manned by Heppner Lions' Club members during all performances. A dance featuring music by the Jim Ackley Band will be held from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the Fair Pavilion after Saturday's show. This year's contestants will compete in 11 events: bareback riding, saddle bronc, cow riding, goat tieing, pole bending, team roping, bull dogging, girls' calf riding, break-away roping and barrel racing. Awards will be presented in each event, side receiving the; scholar ships were Cally Broadbent, Penny Conboy, Marilee Hell berg and Tammie Rock. These students may apply for renewal of their scholar ship grants, provided that good academic standing is maintained during their first year of college or other post-high school training pro gram. Morrow County students who have previously won the grants and successfully ap plied for renewal include Arlene Cannon, Carl Christ man, Darla Cooper, Linda Cooper, Joan Doherty, Kate foster child, now 2xk years old, for the past year. Andy (fictitious name) calls Sam mie and Billy "Mom" and "Dad", and points with pride to his "brothers" in ball team photographs displayed promi nently on the television set. "He's a Griffin", they said fondly. One of the hardest parts in being foster parents for the Griffins in the past has been the moment of separation, when the children are reunited with their natural parents the end goal of the foster home program. Even though they know that moment will eventually come, Sammie commented, "We don't take kids with the thought that it is temporary. We want them to be part of our family and we treat them just like we do our own boys." Andy presents a slightly different situation for the Griffins, in that he has been thef youngest charge, and they've had him for the longest time. A child abuse case, Andy will be placed up for adoption if a rare termina tion of parental rights proce dure goes through circuit court. If this happens, the Griffins have discussed adopt-I with an all-around trophy given to the best boy and girl performers in both senior and junior divisions. A Jody Ruggs memorial award will be given to the senior girl trophy winner. A special rotating trophy will be presented to the best all-around performer in memory of Harold Erwin, well-known Morrow County cowboy who died in 1976. Bob and Bev Steagall, chairman and secretary respectively, are coordinating this year's rodeo. Directors in charge of different events include: Bob Mahoney, riding; Bob Montgomery, roping; Kite Healy, track; Jerry Dougherty, dance; Dick Sherer, grounds; and Judy Eckman, donations and awards. Joe Nichols of Echo will be announcer for the rodeo shows, with stock provided by Howard Johnson and John Rattray of Condon. Reigning over the action will be the Morrow County Junior Rodeo Court, Queen Cindy Dougherty and Princesses Kathleen Van Schoiack and Jana Steagall. Evans, Linda Jones, Ashley . McCabe, Catherine McElli gott, Theresa McElligott, Dawn Peterson, Chris Rauch, Mark Sargent, Linda Skoubo, Tim Skow and Jerry Zielinski. The scholarship funds come from interest earned on an initial grant from the late Carl W. Troedson, an lone area wheat grower. Selection of recipients is performed by a committee made up of the Morrow County School Super intendent, the pastor of Valby Lutheran Church, and the Morrow County Judge, as stipulated in Mr. Troedson 's will. County foster homes in rare su ing Andy but haven't made any decision. "Billy's nearing retirement age, and we won der if he might not be better off with a younger couple. Emotions really get in the way, but we'd have to decide what would be best for him," Sammie said. In the Griffin's home all decisions about taking any foster chijd is made by the whole family. "We have a unique system everyone in the family votes and there has to be 100 per cent agreement. There have been children we haven't taken because every one didn't agree," Sammie commented. A very Christian oriented home, the family prays for guidance before voting on any particular child. Sammie feels that caring for foster children has been beneficial for her own family : "When my own kids see the need, the loneliness of these ! kids and the communication breakdown in their families, they work harder to be close." While the Griffins said they've never had a real adjustment problem with any of their foster charges, Sam mie points out that every child Cont. on page 2 lone Church of Christ auction and barbecue opens Saturday United Church of Christ's 15th annual Auction and Barbecue will be held June 3 at the Willows Grange Hall in lone. Activities will begin at 10 a.m., with the traditional ringing of the cowbell, which signals the opening of the Country Store with its home made sewing, fancy work, arts and crafts, used but useful household articles and home-cooked foods including bread, rolls, sweet breads, cakes, pies, jam, jelly and pickles. fc J. irk Hi .;.V ra - i t Little 'Andy' is held by his foster mother Sammie Griffin, while his foster dad, Bill, laughs during a tickling session at their home in Irrigon. The Children's Services Division is looking for foster homes in Morrow County to place youngsters who need to be seperated from their natural parents on a temporary basis. Morrow County 4-H'ers get national delegate nomination Two Morrow County 4-H members, Jan Peterson and Erin Evans, have been nomi nated as delegates to the National 4-H Congress ;o be held in Chicago later this year. Both girls have been active in local 4-H home economics projects, with Erin receiving her nomination in the clothing division, and Jan in foods -nd nutrition. Both girl qualified for their nominations during recent :tdiewide competition, based on 4-H project records. The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Herb Peterson of lone, Jan recently completed her senior year at lone High School, where she was an honor student, and served as a home economics assistant teacher. She was the lone graduating senior from across the state to win the $500 Oregon Wheat Commission Scholarship, which will be put to use this Fall when she Areas of special interest to children will include the Fish Pond at 10 cents per cast; the Kiddie Korner, featuring toys, sporting goods, games, puz zles and books at a fraction of their original price; and the Snack Shack, which will be open all day with sno-cones and pop. Auctioneer Don Winks will be calling for the first bid for his 15th consecutive year on a variety of new and used articles, starting at 10:30 a.m. Volunteers will begin serving the pit barbecue dinner at T .',4 "-v. Jl t Tickling session r X " IK Zp Hfp? Erin Evans enters Oregon State Univer- sity. Jan has been involved with 4-H since she was 9 years old. Erin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Vern Evans of Irrigon, 12:30 p.m. in the Grange's dining room. The meal will include barbecued beef, a variety of salads, baked beans and garlic bread. The first two places in line will be autioned off just before the dinner. Antique Alley and the Silent Auction will feature items of interest to the antique collec tor. Silent Auction containers will be opened during the lunch hour, and large items will be auctioned off just prior to, then after, lurch. Included in the sale will be old trunks, a pressed back chair, an oak l inf. , V Jan Peterson just completed her junior year at Riverside High School, where she was an honor student, a cheerleader, an FFA member and active in student government. Her 4-H rocking chair, three drawer dressers, a wicker rocking chair, stained glass and many other items. Inside Babe Ruth team wins See ttory Page Four Campers lost and found See ttory Page Two pply CSD cites need for foster homes The Morrow County branch of the Children's Services Division in Heppner is putting out a call for persons who would like to provide foster homes for youngsters tempo rarily separated from their natural parents. At present, 16 children have been placed through the office in foster homes, but only seven of these are within the county. "We're down to the point where we really need more foster homes in Morrow Coun ty," commented local CSD Caseworker Bill Sheirbon. "It's not fair to ask other counties to provide homes for most of our kids. It cuts into the number of homes avail able for their own." Sheirbon said that three foster families from Heppner recently moved away, reduc ing an already low number of homes in the county open to foster children. "Ideally we should have twice as many homes available as we have kids, to be able to fit the child with the family." He ex plained that some persons are able to care for only a certain kind of child on a short time basis, and that he would feel comfortable with 25-30 foster project areas have included horses and clothing. County 4-H Extension Agent Birdine Tullis noted that the two Morrow County girls were the only local applicants for the nominations. "We know they'll both be there when the final winners will be an nounced" in September, she said. Weather Hi Low Prec. Wednesday, May 24 62 40 .01 Thursday, May 25 66 40 Friday, May 26 66 36 .02 Saturday, May 27 71 45 .11 Sunday, May 28 65 45 Monday, May 29 65 37 .01 Tuesday, May 30 67 35 Special arrangements have been made for self-contained recreation vehicles to be parked overnight on the grounds. homes to make appropriate placement. The Children's Services Di vision licenses foster homes according to guidelines that include enough space for the child or children, adequate sewage and water supply, adequate standards of cleanli ness and other such criteria. Sheirbon said he was look ing for families who have realistic ideas on how to raise children, who know different kinds of discipline techniques, and who function well them selves. "I'm not specifically looking for middle-income homes sometimes children from low-income environ ments have trouble fitting in," he commented. While there is a stipend ranging from $123 to $195 per month, depending on age, paid for caring for foster children, the family is required to be able to meet it's needs without relying on the board payments made on behalf of the foster child. The children themselves fall into two categories: teenagers from juvenile court and de pendency children. Sheirbon said youngsters Cont on poos 2 .. 4ft . 4. '4l!M!3n.4t,4l.4ft 1. 4U4,,44M.,i-4y-.W 'fHHMiH.-yM ?(ft f jflMT. -f -v V- r
