Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (March 22, 1989)
. H H H i — » . —. FOUR w i —■ T e a ch e r says goodby The H eppner G A Z E T T E -T IM E S M o rro w C o u n ty ’s H om e-O w ned W eek!) Newspaper U S P S 240-420 r Vtr la y and ra te re d m w c o a d fia — m a ltrr at i K» P a d I MTV » M H tp y w i. O r if M u a d rr i k t A d a f M a rc h J . It? * . S tn a d rtaa» p d a p p a id « Hep p n e r, O rty o e i (M ik e a l 147 W eal V *U k ~ U n d . T e trp h u o r (« M l 47S-S22S » H e i a ra a w M H ika lkM H lo Ihe H e pp ner (.u e C te -T V n e s . P .O H us 337. H epp- a e r, Ocsgaa 97S34. S a h a irtp lh a n t i t la M u rro n , W h e e le r, l.illta m an d ( .r a d C a n a lta t; «23 rin m h e re J e jn Hughes .................................................. (Mike Manager. T J prsrt I in* D iana B a d ........................................................................................................ M a rk U r u lh m .............................. ......................... (¿ ra p h in • . a t P a p ta rn a ........................................................................ (.ra p in e s •a c h y Ir a n * ................................................................................................. News Id a o r D e p a rtm rn l D e p a rtm e n t D k lrth u O o n David and April Sykes, Publishers Evaluate ballot measures G iven the recent state o f affairs in M orrow County, and the fact we have just gone through a gut wrenching teacher’ s strike; is there any way to judge voter reaction to the upcoming elec tion next Tuesday? The strike has left a hitter taste in many people's mouths, and whether that bitterness w ill spill over to the ballot next Tuesday is yet to he seen Strictly speaking the strike and next Tuesday’ s ballot measures have absolutely nothing in common. The Port o f M o rro w is seeking a general obligation bond to finance improvements The county is asking fo r an operating levy w ith a modest 5.5 per cent increase over last year. And the medical fund is looking fo r a levy which is about equal. Do these measures have anything in common w ith the re cent troubles in our school system? The answer, o f course, is yes and no. Yes because people may be fed up w ith govern ment and all that resembles government, causing a backlash o f no votes in next w eek’ s election. And o f course the answer is no, because the three measures having nothing to do w ith the school system. The P ort’s general obligation bond w ill allow for develop ment and u tility reductions on port property that w ill greatly affect the future economic well being o f our county. The county must have money to operate, and provide us w ith the services we all want, but usually don’t want to pay for. And the medical fund w ill pay fo r medical services that are show ing more pro mise and vision than we have witnessed for quite some time What all this has to do w ith the recent troubles in the school system, is absolutely nothing. Separate evaluation o f each ballot measure and a vote based on that evaluation is what is called for now Not a blanket re jection o f all that is placed before us on election day. based solely on the emotional uphcavels o f the past several months David Sykes #r y \ #, ’# * Letters to the Editor •yVI » * * « J .♦ • r " %,% » i * . < • •• * . •. E d ito r t N ote: T here h « j a typographical error in last w eek's p ap er in the l m e n to the Editor c o l umn In a letter from John Bri stow regarding the Port o f M orrow J r *, V % * ■ '- Obligation Bond, the am tm o’ Irsird should h ase hern /0c per thousand dollars o f assessed pntpertx rsxilua- lion, not to ex ceed 20 sears i » ;. : -' V . * f •»r, ï ! v ' ' :ï !■ t ri ,.■ •• • -, « L. #• K'f « 1 *V •* %4 v.-H • *T ¿rf/w ’ Soft 8 ' * t\ ) »•> . ■ ■ out ! » 3 V V • f i •- -.V'V W son s0 t > . . / F ist Ervtmol _ 12.99 9.99 » * / Soil Touch Kltchoo i ñslh f nsm *4 - 1 5 4 9 ;• V > * :• / .A.** ». '• * m m i: • « - •••, t: 7 Z -~ . o < • V SO u w 2 9 .9 9 • « M a il 1 .9 9 « 7 .9 9 Coast to Coast I ' l ' V' 1 L J CHECK OHS EVERYDAY LOW PRICES W ig h t'» V id e o ] A A m ? Rod Delicious Apples 39 * lb. Western Family Pineapple 20 oz. sliced, chunk & crushed 6 0 ea F resh Asparagus Fresh Broccoli « 676 9961 m * . v. m i i i n *■ * i i n i m f 3 9 * 5 9 *, 9 8 * .... J 9 \ 5 5 V • I* * ,, while suppiip* 1 ,ist » 5 * * , Prices Good March 23rd. - 27th Closed Kaster Sunday - O regon Chief, bone-in OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK - 7 A M. - 6 P.M. Ham C ou rt S tr e Heppner e t M a rk e t (w hole) $ | 3 0 H 1* * Tomatoes Fresh Straw berries H.ir-S, extra lean. Ixmeless Ham whole Frozen T u rke y's 12 to 20 ibs Western Family M andarin Oranges 11 oz Pillsbury. all ready Pie C rust iso/ Lindsay, large pitted Olives b oz Easter Lillies id o ■ 147 N Main. Heppner ; ~ 1 a '• j * C o u rt S t r e e t M a r k e t are in : :30 games in stock! ________ — 3 2 . 9 9 Heppner " light industry, possibly value added type, is recruited or indicates an in terest in our county, the site needs to be available Planning ahead keeps a community healthy Based on M orrow C ounty's c u r rent value o f S7M).(XX).000. the measure w ill cost approximately I0 cents per thousand o f valuation, a good investment for Port o f M orrow in d u s tria l d e ve lo pm e nt and improvement I f you have any questions. Chamber urges you to contact the Port Commissioners and to visit the Port to learn what an important asset it is in M orrow County Sincerely, ts) Eorrcst Hurkenbine, Pres Heppner Chamber of Commerce (s) Claudia Hughes. Manager Nintendo's : * *, r ' teachers has been seriously damag ed. and in some cases destroyed I really don't sec where there arc many champions left teaching in lone or any other school in M orrow County The letter about the many roads traveled only confused me more I have lived in Morrow County all my life I have no desire to live anywhere else I believe that our children are luc ky to he able to grow up in this environment I hope they can continue to receive a high grade education here They truly deserve it and arc the reason our schools arc here (s) M ark Pointer Lexington i « i r i n m r u n i i > «» i \ ♦i f; V To the Editor Heppner Chamber o f Commerce encourages a yes sole March 28 on ihe Port o f M orrow G O bond election Passage o f the G O bond w ill enable the Port to continue to invest in the future o f M orrow County This general operating bond w ill be used to retire the port's current debt and to correct the waterfront cro sion. thus permitting earnings from the dock operation to he used for maintenance and improvement o f the dock facilities The Hndlcy Buttes Landfill w ill require the docks to be in good condition An efficient dock means increased use and industrial potential The bond w ill provide S.V).(MX) for the acquisition anti development o f property in south M orrow County. When potential To the Editor The conflict with negotiations has been d iffic u lt and far reaching, creating great suffering in M orrow County Friendship and support tor those who are suffering can be shown in many ways a smile, a phone call, a word o f encourage ment. a hug, a note saying you care Those expressions o f friendship and support have been shown to our family these past several weeks trom numerous people Bv taking the time to let each other know that we care, we can help the healing process that must take place In the days to follow , may God show each one o f us someone to whom we can extend our hand of friendship so that we can b rin g about u n ity w ith in our communities Give, (s) The Brownfields Steve, Nancy. Cam. Amy A Alissa Brownfield Heppner Sott Touch Sort Tbuch L e f t Flot WHI Peint » To the Editor I would like lo take this opportune ty to express my gratitude to the M orrow County School Hoard amt to the thirteen non striking teachers Your courage and determination are to he admired My appreciation also goes to our school hoard for holding firm I feel the settlement arrived al by the N>ard is one the taxpayers o f this ..-ounty can live with I truly wish someone would ex plain to me the reason for a two week strike that was ended hy agree mg to the same basic terms as were offered before the strike The respect and trust we felt towards our 1 4 .9 9 V«» «c ; N. ivw. Enamel • C ourage and determ ination are to be adm ired Show you care Latex Flat M -.' / . , ■»>. V * «. • •* • ' M r Doyle M cCaslin Superintendent M orrow County Public Schools Lexington. Oregon 97839 M r McCaslin. This is a letter o f resignation I hereby resign from the position o f Mathematics instructor al Heppner High School effective immediately upon your receipt o f this letter This resignation is due to the fact that the board refuses to negotiate in good faith with the teas hers o f M or row County I can not work effec tively in a position where I'm not treated with respect or fairness There are job opportunities available to me where the employees are treated with common decency Since (he hoard seems unable lo offer this to me o r any o f the d is tric t employees. I am resigning A copy o f this letter is being delivered lo the school hoard chair nun to he read and acted upon al (he nest board meeting. M r Janies Bier, Mr Chuck Starr. Ihe E O and Ihe Heppner Gazette to insure that I am not misquoted Sincerely, (s) Karen Mane Howe A few weeks ago we posed a few questions about the Port * upcoming bond election that we thought voters would like answered before deciding the issue* Perhaps you w ill recall. No single Com m issioner could answer them all. no public presentalKKi nor all the printed material satisfied our cunosity So we spent an hour at the Port office with a couple o f staffer*, digging through files and records and making calculations, some for the very first time We got the inform ation we sought And then we went to a Chamber o f Commerce meeting There we found that things are as they seem not as they really are The meeting opened w ith much congratulations sighs o f relief, satisfaction o f a job w ell done The teachers strike was over, we could put that little pro blem behind us and go on with business as usual No matter that no one knew the terms o f the settlement, it must he good and wonderful and the absolute end o f a m inor little problem in life A drive lo locate a state prison near Boardrrun was announced Again, an opportunity for an industry was knocking and the knock must be answered The state is looking for a site (five actually, from which to choose) for a 500 inmate medium security prison which would employ about 175 year around, well paid state employees Could be a real economic boost to the community and county we were told Only two days before, we had breakfast w ith the Governor He wholeheartedly endorsed our economic development strategy to add more v alue to our agricultural crops No mention was made in (hat plan to hinge our economic future on government inlrastructure such as a prison And then we heard about the upcoming county budget election Last year's levy was posed as a tax base, which was turned down But. we were told, the defeated tax base was treated as if it passed and this year's proposed levy is a mere 5.5% greater This year's levy w ouldn't even re quire a vote i f last year's tax base had passed, we were told In support o f the inc rease, the great and wonderful economic recovery o f the county was extolled Wheat prices were up a great deal over last year Cattle prices are now higher than anyone can remember, perhaps higher than they have ever been A 5 5% increase must therefore be reasonable We came away with the distinct impression that things arc not always, perhaps not even often, as they really are but rather things are as they seem to be. or can he made to seem to be The profile ms giving rise to the teas hers strike are all still there Educa tion is discredited, teachers as a group are in disrepute, some teachers jr c generally considered incompetent (and they arc still on the payroll) voters are disinclined to support the program with money, the board is fearful o f several years o f "safety n et" budgets and now. what's worse, the teaching staff is worse o ff than before and the district is in a worse position to attract really good new teachers But that's only the way things arc The way they seem to be is ‘ ‘ The strike is over, we can put all that behind us now and get on with business as usual " As 1 sec it. the urgency o f knowing the real truth about the Port bond election is gone It seems fine to the Port Commissioners It seems good enough to )W endorsed hy the Chambers o f Commerce and by various and sundry organizations and individuals. None, I believe, understand ¡he way it is The original purpose was to provide relief to laim b Weston on their sewer and water bill so they could continue present employment The General Obligation Bonds, to be paid tor by the taxpayers, would pay o ff Revenue Bonds which l^amb-Weston is now paying o ff But when you search out the numbers y o u 'll find that the taxpayers w ill puv 574. It!) every year for 20 years so that 1 am b Weston w ill save 548,000 each year for only the next four years That's not Ihe way it seems, but that's the way if is. touch I t i » i SorruO krt» in tm o l ONE COAT t p knowledge, ability and willingness to step into a very stressful situation and do the job I regret that I can not talk with each o f you personally and convey my thanks and thought My letter o f resignation and this letter to the general public w ill have to suffice Thank you again and goodbye Sincerely. (si Karen Marie Howe Things Are As They Seem coat Latex Plat V Paint . - • . To ihe Editor Enclosed >ou w ill find a copy o f the letter o f resignation that I have w ritten lo ihe hoard o f the M orrow County Sctk«>l D im r»ct Super mien deni. Assistant Superintendent. the principal o f Heppner High and the Heppner Gazette You may pnni that letter and this letter together or just this letter to the editor which ever is best for you I would like to lake this space lo thank my colleagues for the support and friendship you have freely given me in my eleven years at Heppner It's been a pleasure w orking with you There are also those parents, students and citizens that have sup ported m yself and teachers in general There is no way that I or anyone can express our thanks to you k»r your continued support csen during this crisis You have been my joy and the reason thai I have con tinued teaching until now m Hepp ner My resienaimn is in no way a wish to disrupt the learning process o f your children The school hoard has already done ihai by refusing to negotiate I f I fell (hat I could he an effective teacher fo r ihe remainder o f the school year I would hasten to do so Unfortunately. I know that under the circumstances, I can not I. therefore, am stepping aside to let someone else have ihe opportunity to educaic the siudcnls o f M orrow C ounly It is my wish that the students treat the person who fills that position al Heppner with high respect tor their C h am ber urges yes vote on Port Bond ff. » r j * \ ’ ' rr..; I ». Gazette-Times- H e p p n rr. O regon Wednesday. M a rch 22, I9KV The O ffic ia l Newspaper o f ihe C ity o f Heppner and the County o f M orrow Vt 1 III Ih N Court 6 7 6 -9 M 3
