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H H H i — » . —.
FOUR
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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
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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
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Letters to the Editor
•yVI
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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
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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
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Coast to Coast
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CHECK OHS EVERYDAY LOW PRICES
W ig h t'» V id e o ]
A
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m
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Rod
Delicious
Apples
39 * lb.
Western Family
Pineapple
20 oz. sliced, chunk
& crushed
6 0
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F resh
Asparagus
Fresh
Broccoli
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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
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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 ;
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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 :
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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 \
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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
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Enamel
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C ourage and determ ination are to be
adm ired
Show you care
Latex
Flat
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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
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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
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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
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