Gazette-Tinte* Heppner. O r.
FOUR
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M rh 15. I W
Parent expresses gratitude for teachers
professionalism miring strike
The Official Newspaper of the
City of Heppner and the
County of Morrow
►««..
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The Heppner
GAZETTE-TIMES
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Morrow County ’» Home-Owned Weekly Newspaprr
U S P S 240-420
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Letters to the Editor
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Auction items needed to continue
celebration
good, but this year with only a cou
To the Editor
Each year the town of Heppner
turns green for the annual St
Patrick’s Day festivities
Many people take pari and enjoy
the celebration, not only as a tribute
to our area's Irish heritage, hut also
as a sign of the coming of spring in
Morrow County
But as with most things, it takes
money to pul on (he St Patrick's
Day Celebration, and one of the big
sources of money is the annual
auction.
Donations from the community
for last year'« aurtirtfl were very
ple of day* left until the celebration
very few items have come in We
need donations of items to auction
Time is running out We will be
printing our auction list Enday mor
ning If you have item* you can
donate to the St Patrick's Day auc
tarn, please call me al 676-9226 We
will make arrangements to pick up
your items, and you will he helping
the celebration Your support is very
much appreciated
(s) Pat Sweeney
Auction Chairman
General obligation bond placed before
the people
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To the Editor:
Today, March 15, is a historic day
for our nation's 27 million veterans
ll marks ihe transition of their agen
cy. the Veterans Administration, to
the Department of Veterans Allairs
ami elevates VA to the President's
Cabinet
In making this change. Congress
ami the President recognized what
we in the VA have long known
military veterans (who with their
families, constitute a third of our
population) deserve representation at
our highest level of government
Their contribution lo our way of life
and their needs influence people ami
events far beyond the hounds of
"veterans affairs ”
Veterans arc served by the na
lion's largest hospital system which
plays vital national roles in medical
education ami research
Veterans buying homes through
the VA guaranteed home loan pro
gram are a major economic force in
the national real estate, home
building and mortgage lending
industries
Veterans continue to he a ma|or
force in (he financing of higher
education through their participation
in popular Gl Bill education
assistanee programs
We at the Department of Veterans
Alfairs welcome today's historic-
change ami are proud to be part of
the nation's newest Cabinet depart
ment Our employees will mark the
day the best way we know -by do
ing our |obs and serving veterans
with renewed pride ami dedication
After all. it’s their special day
i SI Ji-rrs ( I SK k.n-
U S Department of Veterans Affairs
Portland
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COAST TO COAST
Keeps Heppner Green
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pari of the county The idea came out
of Port Commission meeting in Ixx-
ington and was supported by persons
in attendance from the Heppner,
Ixxington and lone area To he
assured that a timely location of in
dustry can he made upon applica
lion, it is necessary for the Port lo
own the land to insure that the pro
perty is zoned industrial It is also
necessary for area citizens to agree
in advance, which site they would
prefer be dcvcl«»pcd and to com
municate that to the Port prior to
purchase of any site
The approximate cost o f 70c per
thousand seems like a bargain for a
chance to generate some industrial
growth in our area (hat would pro
ducc jobs, benefit schools and com
rnumty and also share the tax
burden
We believe the bond issue
deserves a yes vote, March 28
(s) John L. Bristow
Chairman lone Community. Agri
Business Organization
March 15 is historic day for Veterans
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To the Editor
On March 28 a Port of Morrow
general obligation bond for
$750.000 will he placed on the hall,a
for a vote of the people
This bond levy, if approved,
would add approximately 7(K per
th<Nivind dollars of assessed property
evaluation to our current tax hill
The levy would occur over a number
of years to he determined by the op
portunities of (he bond market hut
the period would not exceed 20
years A portion of the levy w ill go
to stabilize the eroding shoreline al
the Pori of Morrow However, the
iiu|<>r share of the Kind levy w ill he
used to stimulate industrial develop
ment in the county
One of the important features of
this bond issue is $50.(XX) dollars f,»r
the acquisition improvement of land
for an industrial site in South Mor
row County This will he the first ef
fort by the Port to acquire property
to develop industry in the southern
S & iu t4 >
teacher can make in a confuted
child's life Knowing | send my
children to school to he in the
capable ami loving arms of Pal Ed-
mumlson and Karen Dubuque each
day has made my life so much
easier
As parents and concerned com
munity members, we must get in
volved and solve this issue A fair
and just settlement has lo come ihxii
before anything like this ever hap
pens again Ixts all put our hurt and
anger aside and work together to
heal our community Our childrens'
future is al stake
(s) Toni Watne
Many roads have been traveled
David and April Sykes, Publishers
♦ /
To the Editor:
With all the pain, confusion and
anger the teachers strike in Morrow
County has caused. I just want to ex
press my gratitude to our teachers in
Heppner for their professionalism
during this difficult tune.
Die pain they are feeling as
dedicated teachers is quite apparent
to all who make the effort to talk to
them They don’t enjoy one minute
of this strike, hut just want a fair set
tlement and to get the respect they
so justly deserve
As a newly single mother of two
elementary children. I can't begin to
express what a difference a loving
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To the Editor
In my life, I have traveled on
many roads Both in the literal and
figurative sense There have been the
Irccways and one-way*, the smooth
roads and rough roads, the paved
roads ami dirt roads These roads
have led me to many places Safe
and secure places, like home, and
(he not so secure, unknown Allow
me to describe the last mad I travel
ed It had m> name al the time, hut
now. I would like to name it the
Road of Nonpartisipation
The Road of Nonparticipation I
traveled by choice I chose to not
participate in my professional
organization* I chose to not he as
involved in cximmunity orgumzaiions
and affairs I chose lo not participate
in furthering my education I chose
to not listen to opposition or get in
volved with politics This was a
smooth, one way road The scenery
was attractive, ami the weather was
always sunny I Icamctl some things
while traveling down this road I had
no interaction with others I had mi
voice I created no change
I am on a mad now Its name I will
Hcprncr
let you decide Dm mad also has its
attractive scenery, hut it's not so
smooth, and the destination is m* so
secure It is a two-way mad ami
there are others traveling it in the ojv
posite dircctHXi Once again. I travel
this ruad in the direction of my
choice I accept responsibility for my
choice ami do not begrudge those
traveling in the ,xher direction their
choice Bui rather. I value their deci
sion to be on the same mad As
travelers on this road, we may he in
opposition, hut wc have a few things
in ciMnmon We have interaction
w ith tXhers and each ixher We have
a voice We are creating change
To those of you who chose to read
my letter. I ask you to lake a look
at the mad you are traveling Is it the
road you want to he on? I an you ac
cept respnsihihty for yixir choice?
lake I have said. I have traveled hixh
roads, and I have made my choice.
In the words of Robert Frost. "And
that has made all the difference "
Respectfully submitted,
(s) Sarah Carlson
Science Teacher.
Heppner Junior High
Step increase does not replace wage
increase
To the Editor
The Morrow County School
Board has been leading people to
believe that a "slep increase" is the
same as a wage increase A step in
crease docs not replace a wage in
crease Teachers become more
valuable to the disrict with every
year of experience A step increase
is designed stale wide as small com-
pensaiion for this, as it docs not
compare with current cost of It* ing
To get a substantial step increase,
however, teachers arc required to in
vest their own money and tunc into
extra schooling In addition, our
most experienced teachers (15 +
years) no longer get slep increases,
yet they still niue invest in additional
schooling There arc 42 teachers in
Morrow County who have already
reached this point Three years ago,
beginning salaries were so low the
District was finding it difficult lo
recruit The District raised the base
salary , hut veteran teacher s salaries
were left below average Al that
time, the District promised the
veteran teachers that they would
"w o rk " on their salaries in three
year* The Board is not keeping that
promise.
The Stale of Oregon says the
Oregon average teadWr's salary is
$28.(XX) ami Morrow County's is
$24.240 Without a wage increase,
veteran teachers will have no incen
tive to stay. and the Districl will have
difficulty attracting am) retaining
quality teachers.
The Morrow County School
Ihstrict has always had a reputation
for having quality education Ob
VKHisly. a fair compromise would be
of benefit to us as teachers, hut it is
also in the best interest of a com
munity that wishes to maintain quali
ty schools
After considering these facts, we
urge you to write to the school
haord A quick ami fair resolution
would be beneficial to all of us
(s) Cindy Sutherland
Boardman
Beth Creaaon
Irrigon
Oregon doesn't have nursing shortage
To the Editor:
I am responding to the recent ar
ticle (Tuesday , Feb 28. The Orego
nian) regarding the nursing shortage
The situation will continue to worsen
as long as Ihe Oregon Board of
Nurses continues to reject the ap^
plication of qualified ami experienc
ed nurses relocating from out of
state.
The Oregon Board of Nurses docs
not recognize professionals who
have not taken a nationally sanction
ed state exam They also do mu
allow Military (rained nurses to
challenge their stale l.PN exams
Till recently, many states gave
their own exams When a nurse
moved to amxher state their license
was either transferred, or they were
allowed to challenge the exam Alter
1984 a nationally sanctioned exam
was made available, making m-
icistate transfer easier Allowing a
nurse to c hallenge an exam is based
on her education and training Most
states accept Military training and
experience as adequate ( hrgon doc*
not Therefore, those qualified to
care for soldiers, government of
ficials including the president, arc
not considered qualified to care for
the residents of Oregon
I conclude that Oregon docs not
have a nursing shortage The ( >rcgon
Board of Nurses is apparently com
fortable with their numbers If this
conclusion is incorrect I expect we ll
sec changes in their policies regar
ding intcrsiatc transfer of Licensed
P ractical N urses as well as
Registered Nurses
Sincerely,
(s) Lori E. Stralcy
California Licensed Vocational
Nurse Certified Surgical
Technologist
Heppner
Chase A Sanborn
Coffee
34.5 o z . reg. *7”
First one
$5 M
Green Beer,
Shamrocks and
Sheep
St Patrick would he proud In Hepp
ner. for one day. even the Swedes arc
Iriih
The Irish tradition runs deep in these
parts and St Patrick's Day is just the
time to celebrate To celebrate in the
Irish tradition A parade and the wxirks
much green beer and many lucky
shamrocks The sheep are gone
Irish immigration to Morrow Coun
Bs Ed Glenn
ty was direct from the old country.
Counties leitrim and Donegal, peak
ing about 1890 The early folks, mxahls William Hughes and (fu ries Cun
ningham. sponsored many young Irishmen to help with the huge sheep
industry of the last century The names of Eeltz Johnson. Jeremiah Brosnan,
Tom. Mike and Patt (JuakJ. Uzz and Lxe French ami dozens of IXihertys,
Pat. B P ami James appeared in this publication in the 9 0 s
Most were shcepheniers. including John Kilkenny and most became men
of wealth, fame and fun. including John Kilkenny
According lo one historian
"T he Irish influence was strong in Morrow County al the turn of the
century ami decade or two afterwards It helped give Heppner the reputa
lion of a w ild western town, which it hardly deserved, although there were
Saturday nights when the sheep were home from the hills ami the cattle
m the feed lots, when it was wild enough to suit the dreams of a movie
producer " Giles French, Homesteads ami Heritages. 1971.
Now. generations later, the legacies of those Irish immigrants continues
The land, wealth, ami surnames survive, the flood, the depressant, two
Worid Wars, a hundred years of tradition to he celebrated on the day when
everyone is Irish ami when Heppner may again suit the dreams of a movie
producer
In more than one instance, it's more than just survival Subsequent
generations of those hearty Irish, have distinguished themselves in their
own right
Now that mere surv ival is no account We know of one county commis
sioner whose campaign platform was that he had inherited everything he
had hut had been able to hang on to it all for more than 50 years Vixcrs
liked that and elected him handily.
But wc also know of a descendant of an Irish sheepherder who has made
an independent mark
We were an aspiring young lawyer a few years hack when Judge William
E Bmwnton retired from the Circuit Court in Union County Tom
Gooding, then a local lawyer, now the Circuit Court Judge on that same
bench, was the master of ceremonies at Judge Brownton's retirement din
ner Judge Gxxxltng, playing the role of Foster Brooks (unintentally we're
sure) introduced the speaker, the Honorable John W Kilkenny. Senior
Judge. 9th U S Circuit Court of Appeals
Judge Kilkenny has had a long and illustrious legal career lawyer. Slate
Circuit Judge. U.S. District Court Judge. U S Circuit Cixirt Judge,
humanitarian, historian and above all. Morrow County Irishman
Well, on that occasion. Judge Kilkenny gave us all a little history lesson.
He explained that the circuit in Union County used to be part of the 6th
Circuit seated in Pendleton And in the early days it was a true circuit
where the Judge, court personnel ami lawyers would travel from county
seat to county seat to hold court.
On one particular occasion, the entourage was travelling from Baker
lo John Day by stage coach when a young lawyer suggested, at the first
way station, that they repair to the road house lo "settle the dust" while
the attendants changed the team
That was so pleasant that it became the order of the day to "settle the
dust" at each stop on the all day trip, and apparently there were several
The group arrived in John Day just in time for a big banquet at which
this same young lawyer was the after dinner speaker Noticing that the
fellow was having some difficulty speaking distinctly, an older lawyer
whispered in the Judge's car. "Your Honor. I believe our brother is
drunk "
With great indignation, ami in a strong Irish brogue, the Judge replied.
How can he be? He's been with us all day."
So for all the Irish on St Pat's Day. just stick with the Judge
AS I
SEE IT
Let's back the Port of Morrow’s bond
issues
To the Editor:
Morrow Count s has a lot of things
going for it
It s true that the Port of Morrow
ha* more than doubled the county’s
value ami tax have This means our
county tax rate is substantially less
than what it otherwise could he
Nearly the lowest in the state
And the future looks good with the
Ports solid waste disposal business
coming On the job now is Gary
Neal, the aggressive new manager
with high marks in marketing and in
dustrial development
C o u rt S treet M a rk e t
CHECK OUR EVERTDJl? LOW PRICES
WHERE TOOR DOLLAR MAKES MORE CEHTS
Kellogg's Sugar
Frosted Flakes
Gold Medal
Flour
10 ib
Navel Oranges
4 *V
Clam Chowder
Cabbage
1 ib bag
10 lb. No. 1
Shenson
Potatoes
Corned Beef
Assorted Cut
Pork Chops
Smelt
P ric e s good M a rc h
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6 LUCKY NUMBERS HERE!
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK • 7 A M. - 6 P.M.
C ou rt S tr e Heppner
e t M ark et
111 N Court
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NUMBERS
HERE!
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Green
Carrots
LUCKY
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Snows
Choice
£***♦*%
We Can H elp You
v
20 oz
Fresh
• Lawn & Garden Fertilizer
•Garden Tools
• Lawn Seed
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Attracting new industry is super
competitive and this is why the Port
is asking taxpayer support for a
general obligation bond issue It will
add less than 1% to our tax bill
This vesting in the Port brings
short and long term returns to our
ccononis. increases emplosment ami
actually will continue to reduce our
taxes as the record shows
To support the Port of Morrow's
hard work to date needs our
favorable *»xc on their Bond Issue
March 28
Sincerely.
(s)Ken Turner
676-9643