Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 5, 1990)
BESSIE WETIELl I 0 F ORE jn ■' S P A P E R ■ ENE OR LIB 9 7 4 0 ? VOL 108 NO. 4 9 _________ Wednesday, December 5, 1990 Local students adopt serviceman The burning sands of Saudi Arabia are a little bit closer to home for students in a first grade class at Heppner Elementary School. The students of Mrs. Pat Edmundson have adopted a serviceman station ed in Arabia-Army Sergeant James McConnell. McConnell, 23, the son of Charles and Vivian McConnell of Heppner and brother of Cindy Sumner, who is an aide in Mrs. Edmundson's class, is a military police specialist. He had been stationed at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, when he was deployed to the Middle East as a part of Operation Desert Shield. He was a 1985 graduate of Heppner High School. McConnell and his wife, Shelly, met in Germany where she was also stationed with the Ar my. They have a seven-month-old son, Tyler. He had also been station ed in Panama during the crisis there. In letters written home in mid- November, McConnell said that winter had hit, with temperatures ranging from the 90s to the high 60s, although nights were "really cold.” His mother said that he had written that the soldiers slept with 25 men to a tent and had to wait in long lines for food, showers and latrines. He also said that conditions were very dry and they couldn’t seem to drink enough water. He also commented that they couldn’t find solid ground, but that the Saudis were glad they were there. Letter writing was limited to ‘lights out’ with the help of a flashlight. Cindy Sumner said that she had received labels from the bottled water that the men drink-the only souvenirs Jim was able to send tome. ________ Heppner 35 * 8 Pages teaching members of the Royal Saudi Air Force to work on F-I5s. The Stillmans lived at Khamis Mushayt, which is located in the south near the Red Sea, and about 100 miles from the country of Yemen. The nearest largest city was Abha. Janice Stillman says that the area in which they lived was quite different from where American service men and women are stationed. They liv ed in a more mountainous area, with an altitude of around 8,000 feet, which made it hard to breathe. While it wasn’t in the desert, Janice says it was still quite warm. The Stillmans lived in a compound on a Saudi Air Force base which was populated by around 350 Westerners, mostly Americans and British. The family lived in a Jim Mcconnell Western-style home and the com pound had a pool, sports facilities In the meantime, children back at and other amenities. “ It was home are learning about Arabia and wonderful," commented Janice. waiting for a letter from the The Stillman children, Aaron, six, “ adopted soldier.” Mrs. Edmund son says that the students have to be and Robert 11, attended an American-run school on the base. careful of what they draw and have Students attending the school been cautioned not to draw pictures of baby Jesus or other religious sym represented 18 different na bols, but may send packages of tionalities, including Egyptians, Pakistanis, Australians, British and powdered soft drink mix. Americans. Janice taught English to Mrs. Edmundson’s class has an Saudi women on the base. added bonus and another perspective Janice said that as a woman she of Saudi Arabia in that one of the could do just about anything she students in the class, Aaron Stillman, wished, but was advised to dress lived in Saudi Arabia for a year with very modestly when venturing out in his parents, Janice and Rory Stillman. Rory, who was bom and public to avoid harassment. She said raised in Heppner, spent 15 months she often rode the bus, as do the Saudi women, because they are not employed with the McDonald allowed to drive. There was a con Douglas company working with the venience store on base, but major Saudi military. While there, he was shopping was done on the Saudi involved in aircraft maintenance. economy. In the larger cities she says there are Western stores such as Safeway. * The Stillmans arrived in Heppner from Saudi Arabia a year ago. lone Kindergarten class Burnside-McElligott replaces Wright reaches out to serviceman as county health nurse Laura Burnside-McElligott Laura Burnside-McElligott has been hired as the Morrow County Health Nurse effective Jan. 1 to replace Pat Wright, who resigned Oct. 19 after 16 years as county health nurse. “ We had six excellent candidates, but Laura was an outstanding pro spect,” said Morrow County Judge Louis Carlson. “ She has a tremen dous background of experience. Her experience and education made her an outstanding candidate. She had qualifications for seeking grant fun ding and has shown a desire to ex- pand the services of the health nurse into pre-natal and early intervention health care issues when funds become available.” Burnside-McElligott, 36, attended an intercollegiate nursing education program at W ashington State University at Pullman, with the last two years of her schooling in con junction with Gonzaga University at Spokane, Whitman College at Walla Walla and Eastern Washington State University at Cheny, WA. She graduated in 1981 with a bachelor of science degree in nursing. While at tending school she did health assessments for Head Start children, scoliosis screenings and case management for WIC program (Women, Infants, Children) clients for a county health department. She also worked with the Multiple Sclerosis Society in health teaching as well as direct care. She worked four years at Pioneer Memorial Hospital in Heppner and one and a half years at Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland as a ‘critical care float' in which she traveled to different areas of the hospital including intensive care, cardiac care, neurology and en docrinology units to care for patients in critical condition. She is now employed at Good Hermiston, where she works in the critical care center. As a house supervisor she is responsible for staf fing for all departments, for backup as a resource tool, obtaining medicine from the pharmacy after pharmacy hours and as backup in the emergency room and medical and surgical floors. She also teaches pre natal education classes at Pioneer Memorial Hospital. “ The first thing we need to do is look at what the county needs and what the people need,” said Bum- side McElligott. She said that several newly state-mandated programs will be implemented by the Morrow County Health Department. Those programs include in-home monitor ing of at-risk infants to prevent health and social problems, and pro viding well-child care to low income families. She is currently attending classes on in-home assessment for at- risk infants and plans on spending time with the Umatilla County Health Department. “ At this point,” she said, “ Umatilla County is providing for family planning for Morrow Coun ty. A goal is to get accessible fami ly planning services back into the county.” Burnside-McElligott and her hus band Tom, have five children and live in Heppner. Shepherd Community Hospital in No downtown Christmas music this year Volunteers needed to fix decorations Bill Kuhn displays the newly renovated Christmas lights Heppner’s Christmas decorations are falling apart, and community volunteers are needed to spend an evening refurbishing them. Purchased used 13 years ago from The Dalles, the decorations are at least 25 years old. says local attorney Bill Kuhn, who along with Bob Kahl has been working on the renovation project through the local chamber of commerce. There are 36 decorations in downtown Heppner. and it will cost about $100 apiece to fix them, said Kahl Money for the renovation will come from the Heppner Chamber of Com m erce’s portion o f Cycle Oregon revenue. But it’s help we need now. says Kuhn. “ We need labor to make this project work.” A work night is scheduled for next Monday night. Dec. 10 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Heppner fire hall. Kuhn estimated it will take ap proximately three hours to refurbish the decorations, if 20 to 30 people show up. The decorations will be taken down from the poles by Tom Springer of Tom’s TV and redone in an assembly line type method. The old garlands will be stripped off, wiring and lights checked over and new garlands and lights added, Kahl said. They will be taken out and put back up the same night. The senior citizens have agreed to furnish a meal for the volunteers who help with the renovation project. Anyone who has questions about the work party to fix Heppner’s Christmas decorations may contact either Bill Kuhn or Bob Kahl. The Grinch really did steal Christmas...or at least he stole the Christmas music. And Heppner shoppers won’t enjoy Christmas carols downtown any more. Gardner’s Men’s Wear owner Roe Gardner has been forced to discon nect his speaker system, which usually broadcasts Christmas music throughout the downtown area for the enjoyment of Christmas shoppers and passers-by. Gardner has received two letters from a company called BMI Licen sing threatening him with a lawsuit if he continues to broadcast music in his store-unless he signs an agree ment with them for payment of royalties. According to Gardner, BMI has signed with various composers, so that any time music is played in a commercial setting, such as a store or mall, they will receive royalties. Gardner said that BMI has set up several payment categories, depen ding on business square footage: up to 1,500 feet, $60 a year; up to 2,500 feet, $120 yearly; up to 5,000 feet, $240; and over 5,000 feet $480. Each business level, such as a department store with more than one floor level, is assessed separately, at $60 a floor after the first floor. Gardner said that a restaurant in Hermiston went to court over the music royalty issue and lost big’. Bah Humbug. lone’s Kindergarten class of 10 have been “ busy little elves,” says lone Kindergarten teacher Sue Warren. Following the lead of Cameron Krebs, the class has been fixing a care package to send to former lone resident Kevin Ball, who is station ed in Saudi Arabia. The class has made granola to send when studying letter “ G” last # eek , sacked popcorn, sang Christmas songs on a tape and made Christmas greeting cards. Kevin, the son of Marie and Jim Boor is a 1990 graduate of lone High School. During their study of “ H” this week the class learned that Saudi Arabia was in the eastern hemisphere through use of a world globe and that lone is in the northern hemisphere. The children wish to send the greeting of “ have a happy holiday” to all of the servicemen and women stationed in Operation Desert Shield and “ are thankful for the men and women who are serving our coun try.” Wick hired as PMH administrator Pioneer Memorial Hospital Ad ministrator Ernest Wick has ac cepted a one-year contract with the Morrow County Medical Board ac cording to Jackie Bergstrom, board chairman. Wick will earn $53,000 a year in addition to benefits, as specified by the contract, which will be renegotiated yearly. Effective December 10, Wick will also assume duties for additional pay as X-ray technician to replace pre sent X-ray technician Faith Healy, who has announced her resignation. The board is seking a permanent X- ray technician to replace Healy. Prior to Dec. 1, Wick was an employee of St. Anthony Hospital, which was under contract to manage PMH. St. Anthony, Aug. 20. notified the Morrow County Medical Board of its decision to terminate its contract with PMH on Dec. 1, say ing only that “ St. Anthony is in the process of reorganization and will not be able to provide management services any longer.” “ We still have a very good understanding with St. Anthony,” said Bergstrom. Services formerly provided by St. Anthony will now be purchased individually, she said. Wick has been PMH administrator as an employee of St. Anthony since June 1987. Garden Bugs to sponsor Christmas lighting contest The Lexington Garden Bugs, in cooperation with the city of Lex ington, will again sponsor a Christmas lighting contest. Prizes will be: first place, $50; se cond place, $25; and third place, $10. Judging by unbiased non-club members will take place approx imately five days before Christmas and will be based on appearance from the street. Last year’s winners will not qualify for this year’s prizes but are encouraged to decorate again. Lion-Soroptimist fruit sale Sat. The annual Lions and Soroptimist clubs’ Christmas fruit sale will be this Saturday, Dec. 8 from 8 a m. to noon in Heppner. Club members will sell oranges and grapefruit door to door. Those who wil Inot be home Saturday may order fruit from any Soroptimist or Lions club member. Church sponsors ‘Iraq In Prophecy’ The Lexington Baptist Church will be sponsoring a video entitled “ Iraq In Prophecy” over the next three Sundays, December 9, 16 and 23, from 10-10:45 a m. This will be an in depth study of the current Middle East crisis by renowned bible scholar Dr. Elmer Towns. “ This incredible journey into Bible prophecy is a must f<y Christians,” said a church spokesperson. Turn on your Christmas lights December 16th Heppner’s annual Christmas lighting contest will be held Sunday December 16. The contest is spon sored by the Heppner Chamber of Commerce and will feature cash prizes for the best indoor and out door display of homes in Heppner. The best outdoor lighting awards will be $50, $25 and $15 for first, second and third place respectively. The best indoor displays will receive $20 and $10 for first and second place. A special recognition for festive business lighting of $15 will also be awarded. Kids’ lunch with Santa Sun. Area children can “ do lunch” with Santa this Sunday, Dec. 9 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Heppner Elks Club. During this time, parents can get in a little Christmas shopping around town. Santa will visit from noon to 1 p.m., during which time lunch will be served and photographs of the children with Santa Claus will be taken. Children’s movies will be shown from 1 to 4 p.m. Cost is $2 per child for lunch and the photo with Santa. Christmas Coloring contest pictures available Soroptimist Christmas coloring contest forms for children aged pre school through fourth grade will be available at Murray’s Drugs, the G azette-Tim es and H eppner Elementary School. Pictures should be returned by Dec. 12 to the place they were pick ed up or to the Gazette. Winners of the contest will be in vited to attend the Soroptimist meeting on Dec. 20. Cash prizes of $10. $5 and $3 will be awarded to first, second and third place winners in three age groups, pre-school and kindergarten, first and second and third and fourth. Contest entrants have until Christmas to pick their colored pic tures up at the Gazette. 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