Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 26, 1990)
Swiss exchange student delights American hosts Just about as sweet as the chocolate for which her country is famed, Swiss-born Brigitte Neff is capturing the hearts of Americans with her enthusiasm and engaging disposition. Brigitte, 27 years old on Sept. 26, is an International Foreign Youth Exchange student who has been traveling in California and Oregon as a part of the 4-H IFYE exchange program. With an insatiable appetite for new experiences, Brigitte seems to be having a wonderful time. “ 1 love to travel,” she said. "And I love to speak with the people.” And speak she does, in almost fluent English, despite limited English lessons. Her native language is German and her second language taught in the schools, is French. Brigitte, her three brothers and three sisters grew up on a dairy farm in the village of Buhler in northeast Switzerland. The family has a farm of about 18 acres, some of which her father owns and some of which he leases. They keep around 20 head of Swiss browns, 10 pigs, and 40 chickens. Because of government restrictions her father cannot sell his milk, but instead breeds cows and pigs. “ Our farmland at home is a lit tle like a toy,” said Brigitte, com pared with large American farms. She says that an American farm of 10,000 acres is almost as big as a state in Switzerland. “ My father ‘learned’ us to work,” she added. “ You know you have to work for your money. But after a heavy day we enjoy to play. We have no TV. We have action and VOL 108 NO. 39______ Wednesday, September 26, 1990 Heppner 25‘ 8 Pages don’t have time to look. We are all the time busy.” For ten weeks every year her father stays with their cows at the family’s cabin, which has no electricity. Volunteer Program and a unique Obviously no stranger to work. program, the Morrow County Brigitte has worked with a family as Disaster Relief Fund. In the last two a nurse’s aide; was employed in a years over $2,500 has been hospital as a Red Cross aide; cared distributed to county residents who for her grandmother who was ill; have had catastrophic financial worked as a farmer in an area obligations due to fire, medical ex without electricity and milked cows penses, etc. from this fund. by hand; attended a special farm- Of United Way’s contributions to wife school in which she learned the EMT Morrow County Am sewing, bookkeeping, weaving, pot bulance Fund, Carl Lauritsen, EMT tery, small farm animal husbandry, III says, “ United Way has helped us gardening and cooking up to seven a lot. We’re getting newer and bet course meals; worked with apple ter trauma equipment with the , farmers and spent six years as a monies. It doesn’t just benefit us-it family aide. makes our job easier, but it helps Brigitte says that the farm-wife everyone in the community.” school was very difficult and, at the Local businesses contributing to end of the training, students were Morrow County United Way include judged on the skills they had learn Morrow Co. Grain Growers, U.S. ed. Brigitte says that she aspires to West, Boardman Laundromat, Van be a midwife, for which she is re United Way of Morrow County Marter & Kahl Insurance, Bank of have aided the Heppner Senior quired to complete three more years kicked off its annual campaign drive Eastern Oregon, Morrow County Citizens, Inc., the Boardman Child of training and pass a- test. last week at the Portland General Development, Irrigon Early Learn em ployees. Bank o f America Brigitte says that of her town of Electric Coal Fired Plant near Federal Savings Bank (formerly ing and Heppner Day Care centers, 2,000, only 800 are Swiss. The re Boardman. The campaign runs un Benjamin Franklin Savings & Loan), local Christmas Basket programs, maining 1,200 are foreigners who til November and the board of direc the Columbia River EMT, Irrigon Pioneer Memorial Hospital, First In work in the textile industry making tors is hoping to meet or exceed its Ambulance Service and EMT Mor terstate Bank and Portland General carpets, or make jewelry boxes or $18,000 goal for this year. Electric. “ Many individual citizens row County Ambulance funds, the kitchen cupboards. United Way of Morrow County is also contribute on a one-time or on lone Fire Department, Domestic She says she became involved in an annual basis. Contributions are Violence Services, the Morrow Co. a non-profit organization whose Rural Youth, what we call 4-H. in funds are entirely raised and disburs Neighborhood Council, the Irrigon- tax deductible, and can be designated her canton or state, where she was Boardman Emergency Assistance to a specific fund,” said the spokes a leader. Only 14 out of 6,000 Swiss ed within Morrow County. “ Ninety- six cents of every dollar contributed Center, Stokes Landing Senior person. Contributions may be sent to Center, Oregon Trail Campfire and P.O. Box 501, Boardman, OR goes to the agencies and groups we Blue Mt. Council of Boy Scouts, as 97818. Anyone wanting more infor support," said a spokesperson. mation about Morrow County well as local troops and packs, "Only a very small amount is used Pioneer Memorial Hospital Home United Way is encouraged to contact for campaign and fund-raising pur Health, Morrow Co. residents who a board member: Patti Allstott, poses.” belong to the Retired Senior 676-5216; Judy Eckman, 989-8498; The Tourism Committee is By supporting the local United Lisa Rietmann, 422-7181; Cathy holding a picnic get-together on Way, businesses and individuals Bauska 481-7047 and Dick Foidel Tuesday, Oct. 2, at 6 p.m. at the 922-3130. Morrow County Fairgrounds Those attending are asked to bring a main dish and a dish to share. Drinks will be furnished. The public is invited to attend. The memory of a slain police of After more than 50 phone calls A former lone boy, Dalton Quinn ficer has finally been laid to rest and a run around from the Corpus Tullis, of Rainier, died Sept. 23 almost three years after his death- Christi police, the Oregon State following a dirt bike accident at thanks to the efforts of the Morrow Sheriff s Association agreed to buy Rainier Beach. County Sheriff Roy Drago. the headstone, at Drago's request. Quinn is the son of Tim Tullis of Corpus Christi, Texas, Police But that spurred the Corpus Christi Ranier and Linda Tullis of lone. Charges of disorderly conduct and Sergeant J.D. Bock, who was rais department “ to take care of our Grandparents are Garry and Birdine criminal mischief have been dismiss ed in Boardman. was shot to death own,” and they finally sent the Tullis of lone and Harold and June ed against John Steagall, Ty Zeller. on Sept. 9, 1987. Bock, 40 years headstone which says, “ A Corpus Hamblet of Sweet Idaho. He attend Russell Britt, Bill Hays and four of old. had stopped a speeding car and Christi Police Officer killed in the ed school at lone before he moved five juveniles charged as a result of in the confrontation which followed line of duty.” The stone includes to Rainier four years ago. an April 4, 1990 incident. The inci was shot and killed with his own Bock's name, dates of his birth and dent occurred in Heppner when a gun. death, and a replica of his sergeant’s motorist claimed that students had Bock was buried in the Riverview shield. “ Mark your calendar. Reno night blocked her travel path and damag Cemetery in Boardman, where he'd ‘‘One day I came to the is coming,” said organizer and ed her car. said he wished to be buried. Board- cemetery," said Drago, “ and there According to Morrow County Booster Club mem ber Susan man police officers and sheriff s it was. There was a feeling of great District Attorney Jeff Wallace, fur Johnston. deputies held a memorial service at relief." ther investigation, including con The annual Booster Club fund the grave site in May 1988, in an an sideration of the results of polygraph raiser is planned for Sat., Oct. 13. nual ceremony honoring officers starting at 7 p.m. at the Heppner examinations, led to the dismissals. killed in the line of duty, but no Elks Club. Due to the pending charges against headstone had been placed on Bock's The evening will feature an auc the remaining juvenile, further grave. tion, 21 tables, roulette and other details cannot be disclosed at this In May of the following year, lone High School classes of gaming tables. time. No hearing date has been set. when another memorial was held, 1950-65 will hold their fifth reunion the headstone had still not been on Saturday. October 13. beginning placed. at 6 p.m. at the Thunderbird Inn at Drago then decided to take action, the Quay, Vancouver, Wash. taking responsibility for the Registration is $30 per person Beginning next week the Heppner headstone since at one time Bock had payable to Judy Rea For more in Gazette-Times will cost 35 cents at applied for a job with the Morrow formation call her at 422-7445. the newstand. Subscriptions will also County Sheriff s Dept But, at that Anyone interested in attending and raise to $15 in Morrow. Gilliam and reminiscing with IHS Alums is Wheeler Counties and $9 senior time there was no opening in the welcome to attend. citizens. department. The evening will begin with a 6 Drago then called the Corpus The price increase is necessary p.m. no-host bar. followed by a buf because of increased production Christi Police Department whose of fet at 7:30. Dancing to live music costs at the newspaper, says ficials believed that a headstone had and reminiscing begins at 9 p.m Publisher David Sykes. already been put in place United Way kicks off annual campaign Tourism committee plans picnic Oct. 2 Memory of slain police man laid to rest were selected in the initial screening to come to the U.S. through IFYE. Out of the 14 only four were finally chosen this year, three girls and one boy. “ I was so glad and happy I could come,” she said. Brigitte says that she has spent six days in the “ Big Apple,” four days in Philadelphia, then went to Washington D.C. where she met other IFYE students from Europe and South America. She then travel ed to California, where she worked her way up the state, staying with seven different host families in seven different cities before coming to Buttercreek to stay with John and Nellie Madison. During Brigitte’s stay in Oregon she has seen Cannon Beach and Seaside, A storia, Tillamook. Fort Clatsop. Molino, Heppner and Pendleton, where she attended the Happy Canyon and Round-Up festivities. Brigitte, who is fascinated with native Americans and art, says that the Round-Up has been her most interesting ex perience. “ The Pendleton Round- Up, the Indian arts and crafts and the crazy cowboys—that was just wonderful,” she said. Host families ranged from a nurse, a teacher and a computer specialist to a farmer, an apartment manager and a resort employee. The current hosts the Madisons, had a daughter who traveled to Switzerland as an IFYE. Brigitte arrived in the U.S. on May 28 and in the Heppner area Sept. 7. The six-month exchange program is divided between two states with three months in Califor nia and three months in Oregon. After her stay at Buttercreek, Brigitte will go to Klamath Falls and then to Springfield, before traveling George K offler graduates from banking school management and funds manage ment. The last requirement is to complete an original thesis on a cur rent topic in banking. Koffler attended resident sessions in 1988, 1989 and 1990, graduating with a concentration in general bank management in August of 1990. Koffler has been with the bank since August of 1979. He is current ly manager of the Heppner Branch and a loan officer. He also has a variety of administrative areas of responsibility. Former lone boy dies Charges against students dropped Reno night Oct. 13 IHS almuni plan reunion G-T prices increase to Washington, D C., for a meeting with other IFYEs and then home. Brigitte says, “ Sometimes I miss my family, but I have so many nice families here." During her stay in a B uttercreek a friend from Switzerland, Erica Pahler, has been visiting. Erica has been working as a nanny in Canada. Brigitte says that she enjoys American food. “ I try anything,” she said, adding that her only bad ex perience was in the “ Big Apple,” where an encounter with a ham burger made her wary of the American staple. The Swiss education system is a bit different than the American, with primary school students attending school from 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1:30 to 4 p.m. Monday, Tues day, Thursday and Friday. Wednes day and Saturday students are dismissed at noon. Secondary school students attend from 7 a.m. to noon and 1 to 6 p.m. School children have only five weeks vacation in the sum mer. After the ninth grade, students may attend college or professional school. In professional school students work at their profession and attend professional or home educa tion school one day a week. In her professional school Brigitte stayed with a family, learning to become a farm wife and spent one day a week in school. While here Brigitte represents her country and her canton, speaking with reporters and civic organiza tions about her life in Switzerland. In Heppner she spoke and showed slides at Soroptimist and at the Heppner Chamber of Commerce. Those attending were also treated to a beautiful and haunting yodeling demonstration. Market Report Compliments of the Morrow County Grain Growers \ * ' George Koffler George Koffler. executive vice president of the Bank of Eastern Oregon, recently completed course work and graduated from Pacific Coast Banking School. The school features a three-year resident session at the University of Washington in Seattle In addition, each student is required to complete extension pro blems for the areas of business, finance, marketing, asset/liability Tuesday. September 25 Soft White Sept. ’3.10 Oet. *3.ll/*3.13 Dec. *3.18/*3.20 Jan. *3.21 Barley Sept. *94 Oct. *95/*97 Nov »97 »98 Dec. Jan. ’98 98 % Pik Government Grain ’312
