FOI R - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, May 1, 1991
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The Official Newspaper of the
City of Heppner and the
County of Morrow
M O N PA
The Heppner
GAZETTE-TIMES
Morrow County’s Home-Owned Weekly Newspaper
U S P S 240-420
Published ever> \\ ednrsda> and entered as second-class matter at the Post Office
at Heppner. Oregon under the Act of March 3, 1879. Second class postage paid
at Heppner. Oregon. Office at 147 West Willow Street. Telephone (503) 676-9228.
Address communications to the Heppner Gazette-Times, P.O. Bos 337, Hepp
ner. Oregon 9783b. Subscriptions: $15 in Morrow. Wheeler, Gilliam and Grant
Counties: $23 elsewhere.
Joyce H u g h es............................................................Office Manager, Typesetting
April Sykes ........................................................... ...............................Newts Editor
Carol Atherlv ....................................................................... Graphics Department
Becky Evans ......................................................................... Graphics Department
Monique P a r r e l...................................................................................... Distribution
Penni Keersemaker........................................................................................Bindery
Bob S m ith ........................................................................................................Printer
David and April Svkes. Publishers
Letters to the Editor
Urges yes vote for school tax base
To the Editor:
The Morrow County Budget
Committee this year unanimously
passed, by roll call vote, a current,
up to date tax base for Morrow
County Schools in the amount of
$9,086,618. Additionally, the
budget committee unanimously pass
ed, by roll call vote, a next year's
levy in the exact same amount.
This tax base and levy are approx
imately $11.36 per thousand for
Morrow County schools. This base,
together with approximately $2 per
thousand levy of Blue Mountain
Community College, brings the total
assessment for all schools, including
Blue Mountain Community College,
to approximately $13.36 per thou
sand. This is $2 under the ballot
measure 5 maximum for 1991-92.
Many people in the school district,
including the editor of the Columbia
Valley Chronicle and the school ad
ministration, wanted the budget
committee to assess the maximum
allowable rate this year (13 mills for
Morrow County schools) so that we
could take care of a numbr of long
range building maintenance pro
blems and other items. Their con
cern was the very real assumption
that this would be the last opportuni
ty the school district would have to
raise thiskind of money with
measure 5 restrictions in mind.
These concerns are very real.
Heppner Police
Report
The Heppner Police department
reports handling the following
business during the past week:
April 15: 6:17 p.m .-A ssist
Umatilla Tribal Police; 8:39 p.m.-
Motorist Assist; 8:42 p.m.-Assist
Ambulance.
April 16: 4:07 p.m.-Worthless
Document Case; 4:24 p.m.-Civil
Matter.
April 17: 12:37-citation issued for
Violation of the Basic Rule, 41 mph
in a 25 mph zone; 4:03 p.m.-Report
of Theft; 5:33 p.m.-Report of Theft.
April 18: 8:30 a.m.-request of
ficer for Security Check;
12:21-Traffic Accident; 9:22 p.m -
report of Suspicious Vehicles.
April 19: 5:35 p.m.-Suspicious
Smell; 8:41 p.m.-False Alarm.
April 20: 11:40 a.m .-Assist
By the same token, it is a concern
of those on the school budget com
mittee to not attempt to "load up"
on this one year and lose faith with
our taxpayers in an attempt to obtain
these additional funds.
A major and important point in
volved in establishing a realistic tax
base for Morrow County Schools is
that, in the future, replacement funds
from the state will be determined by
the respective tax bases of the en
tities (Morrow County Schools and
Blue Mountain Community College)
that are entitled to funding under the
measure percentage limitation,
which eventually drops to 5 mills.
As thiings presently stand. Blue
Mountain Community College has a
higher approved tax base than Mor
row County schools and would
receive more dollars than Morrow
County schools. In effect more than
half the taxes paid by Morrow Coun
ty taxpayers, designated for educa
tion, would be paid to Blue Moun
tain Community College rather than
be used to support Morrow County
schools.
On behalf of the budget commit
tee and myself, 1 urge everyone to
vote in favor of a modem tax base
for Morrow County schools.
(s) John Prag, chairman by dmc
Budget Committee
Morrow County School District
Oregon State Police: 5:45 p.m.-
citation issued for Excessive Tire
Noise; 11:05 p.m.-request officer
for Security Check.
April 21: 3:15 p.m.-Motorist
Assist.
April 23: 2:17 p.m.-citation issued
for Dog Complaint; 6:54 p.m.-
Motorist Assist.
April 24: 8:11 p.m.-assist Her-
miston Police department.
April 25: 10:27 p.m.-assist Mor
row County Sheriff s department;
10:37 p.m.-assist Morrow County
Sheriffs department.
April 27: 10:16 a m.-assist Mor
row County Sheriffs department;
2.04-report of Vehicle Blocking
Driveway; 11:26 p.m.-report of
Fire.
April 28: 1:03 a.m.-citation issued
for Wrong Way on a One Way; 9:25
a m-Deliver Emergency Message;
8:11 p.m.-Warrant Arrest; 10:19
p.m.-request officer for Security
Check.
CROP INSURANCE
It’s that time of year.
Give us a call and Bob will
come out.
PLOYHAK INSURANCE
127 N. MAIN HEPPNER, OR.
Ph. 676-5818
Sheriff’s Report Chamber Chatter
The Morrow County Sheriffs
department reports dispatching the
following business during the past
week:
April 23: M orrow County
S heriffs office dispatched the
Boardman ambulance to Oregon
Potato. One male was transported to
Good Shepherd Hospital with an
unknown illness;
Morrow County deputy respond
ed to the Irrigon area for a citizen’s
complaint for careless driving;
Morrow County deputy respond
ed to the Boardman area for a
neighborhood problem. Problem
was resolved.
April 24: M orrow County
S heriffs office dispatched the
Boardman ambulance to Lamb
Weston. One male was transported
to Good Shepherd Hospital with
unknown injuries;
Morrow County deputy made con
tact with a Heppner residence regar
ding a neighborhood disturbance.
April 25: Morrow County deputy
responded to Bombing Range Road
in the Boardman area to investigate
a report of a motor vehicle accident
with unknown injuries. Deputy was
unable to locate vehicle;
Morrow County deputy respond
ed to the Irrigon area to take a report
of a dog that had been killing
chickens;
Morrow County deputy respond
ed to the Boardman area for an
animal problem. Deputy was unable
to locate animal problem;
Morrow County Sheriff s office
dispatched the Boardman ambulance
to a residence on Malhuer. One
female was transported to Good
Shepherd Hospital with an unknown
illness.
April 26: M orrow County
Sheriffs office dispatched the Arl
ington ambulance to the Village Inn
Motel. One male was transported to
Good Shepherd Hospital with an
unkown illness:
Morrow County deputy respond
ed to the Irrigon area for a report of
vandalism . Investigations are
continuing.
April 27: M orrow County
S heriffs office dispatched the
Boardman Fire department to a
brush fire on Cottonwood Loop;
Morrow County deputy respond
ed to the Boardman area for a
suspicious car. Problem was
resolved;
Morrow County Sheriffs office
dispatched the Boardman Fire
department to the Union Pacific Rail
Road tracks North of Lamb Weston
for a coal car on fire;
Morrow County deputy respond
ed to a residence in Irrigon to begin
an investigation on a stolen vehicle.
Vehicle was recovered on April 28;
Morrow County Sheriffs deputies
responded to a business in Irrigon to
assist with a medical emergency until
the ambulance arrived.
April 28: M orrow County
S heriffs office dispatched the
Boardman ambulance to a residence
on Columbia for a one-year-old in
fant with an injury. No transport was
made;
Morrow County Sheriffs office
arrested Mark Sherill Garrett, 34,
Fredericksburg, VA, on a Stafford
County Sheriff s office Warrant for
Probation Violation. Garrett was
lodged at Benton Co. Jail.
April 29: Morrow County deputy
checked on a vehicle parked at a
business parking lot in Irrigon since
Friday. Vehicle was secured.
During the week of April 22-29
Morrow County deputies assisted
four disabled motorists.
Morrow County deputy respond
ed to Oregon St. in Irrigon to in
vestigate a report of a male subject
shooting a pellet gun towards
residences. Deputies were unable to
locate subject upon arrival;
Morrow County Sheriff s office
dispatched the Arlington ambulance
to 1-84 westbuond exit 123 to meet
a patient. One three-year-old was
transported to Mid Columbia
Hospital in The Dalles with an
injury.
By Claudia Hugh— , Chamber Manager
What’s your definition of rural? It
never ceases to amaze me that rural
to some means ‘‘an area of 500
homes" close to a city of 100,000.
At least this was the description from
a Californian who wanted to move
to Heppner. Webster defines rural as
"characteristic of the country or
people living in the country. One
definition of country is "regions of
woods and fields as opposed to
towns.” Therein lies our problem.
People who grew up in the city feel
like they are in a rural area if there
are a few clumps of trees, a small
field, anti no sign of skyscrapers. No
wonder many of the decisions that
affect our lives have no correlation
with the real problems we face. They
are made by people who have never
been east o f Hood River.
The most successful way for peo
ple to learn about our differences and
likenesses is to show them. One way
is to invite legislators east of the
Cascades to visit, another is to hold
events that bring people to Morrow
County, another is to spend time
communicating with them in their
end of the state, and yet another is
to continue participating in small
scale education programs such as the
opportunity to host a student from
Centennial Middle School in
Gresham. Sometimes this overflows
to other willing host families. It’s a
rewarding experience...the 5th year
for my family. We’ve had some
great young people in our home, ex
cited to learn about a different way
of life, asking intelligent questions,
and experiencing a week that they
will remember for life. Sharing and
communication, that’s what it’s all
about, at home, in meetings, at
work, in our community.
Next Chamber of Commerce
meeting is May 7. The monthly
business meeting will include
presentation of the school budget:
the Columbia Plateau Stage Race
and other community business. May
14. Vision 2000 will be presented.
Thought for the week: “ Giving up
is not giving in, nor is it failing: it
is no longer needing to be right."
Justice Court
___ Report____
The Justice Court office at the
courthouse annex building in Hepp
ner reports handling the following
business during the past week:
Shawn Allen G ibson, 25.
Heppner-Driving While Suspended,
$110 fine;
Rick Gerald Rea, 31, Heppner-
Hunting Prohibited Method: turkey
with shotgun capable of holding five
shells, $33 fine;
G arth Leroy W indom, 57,
Bingen, Wash.-Open Container
(beer) Driver, 43 fine; Drinking
Alcoholic Liquor Within Four Hours
of Driving, $95 fine;
Danny R. M osteller, 33,
Lexington-No Mud Flaps, $20 fine;
Jimmy B. Matzen, 34. Deer
Island-Violation of Road Closure,
$58 fine; Possession of Less Than
One Ounce of Marijuana, $565 fine;
Jam es Houston Roach, 48,
Lexington-Open Container (beer &
schnapps) Driver, $37 fine;
Robin Don Scott, 28, Heppner-
Drivers License Expired, $9 fine;
William Ralph Mackey, 37,
Heppner-Violation of Road Closure,
$58 fine;
Elmer E. Matzen, 63, Deer
Island-Violation of Vehicle Closure,
ATV, $58 fine;
Ken Maynard Gates, Lexington-
Driving Under the Influence of In
toxicants, Diversion Program. $369
diversion filing fee;
Sherill Mark Garrett-Waiver of
Extradition Proceedings.
Judge Prior
Has Tough Job
Gilliam County Judge Laura Prior is
pressing hard for an Eastern Oregon
Alliance-as she puts it, an alliance of
Eastern Oregon political, economic and
social interests to better make those in
terests heard in Salem.
Judge Prior has her work cut out for
her.
The very principles of democracy are
working against her. In a country
where the majority rules. Eastern
Oregon interests are doomed to run
last. The majority in this state is urban,
not rural, lives in the soggy western
third of the state, not the arid eastern
third, are consumers of everything
from food to housing, not producers of anything, and seem to care for
only themselves, not concerned about their neighbors no matter how close
or distant.
Molding even the minority view among Eastern Oregonians will be dif
ficult. Judge Prior’s own Gilliam County is dependent on garbage, including
out-of-state garbage. Morrow County is equally interested. Forces that real
ly want to bar the importation of out-of-state garbage enacted a surcharge
to protect the state from the adverse image of landfill for the Northwest.
It would have been pretty hard to forge a unified position of Eastern
Oregon opposed to the out-of-state garbage surcharge even though there
are no regional landfills in Western Oregon. While most of Eastern Oregon
voted against Measure #5, it would also be most difficult to claim that
is the unified position of all of Eastern Oregon.
Land use planning as directed by Salem is seen as a severe restriction
on economic growth in most of Eastern Oregon. Yet a unified position
will be hard to forge since there are whole communities that resist economic
growth and substantial numbers of folks who really believe that farm land
should be preserved as farm land (what a really hokey idea.)
But in spite of the difficulties. Judge Prior seems to be on the right track.
An Eastern Oregon Alliance, designed to develop a minority view, has
the potential for some good. A stong, unified minority has a much better
chance of forging some compromise, an exception, maybe even defeat of
a narrowly supported position. More importantly, an Eastern Oregon
Alliance will have a better chance of making an Eastern Oregon presence,
felt on the west side of the mountains.
To make the project a success. Judge Prior is doing more than enlist
the governmental entities in Eastern Oregon. She is looking for the par
ticipation of the agricultural, industrial and business interests too. That
will make the alliance even more effective since those folks have the real
political power.
She needs to get some money into the project though. County and city
governments cannot fully fund a lobby effort like this. Nor should they.
The Eastern Oregon Alliance will lose much of its potential if it becomes
just another layer of government.
Organized as a Political Action Committee (PAC) would give the alliance
the opportunity to raise the funds for an information center, a series of
seminars to develop the Eastern Oregon position, and most importantly,
a lobbyist to push that position with the politicians and bureaucrats in
Salem.
One of the very first issues the alliance should attack is the ‘secondary
lands’ proposal seemingly bogged down somewhere between the legislature
and the Land Conservation and Development Commission. Designation
of secondary as opposed to primary farm and forest lands is of prime con
cern to Eastern Oregonians. Folks in Western Oregon, concerned with
the "Califomication” of Oregon, will so restrict secondary lands designa
tion that the whole idea will be as useless to Eastern Oregon as the lush,
green travel brochures Salem generates.
With some immediate success on secondary lands the alliance could then
turn to Measure #5 and prevent the inevitable flow of school control to
Salem.
It will be a tough job. Judge Prior, but it is worth doing._________
Middle East discussion set
A
discussion
concerning
America’s role in the Middle East
will be held May 5 from 6 to 8 p.m.
at the St. Patrick Senior Center.
For more information call Pastor
Stan Hoobing, 676-9940.
Take Mom out to dinner fo r
M O T H E R ’S D A Y
at All Saints Episcopal Church
Ita lia n N ight D in n er
F r id a y , M ay 10
5 :3 0 and 7 :1 5 p .m .
Spaghetti, lasagna, seafood fettuccini,
bread, spumoni, beverage
Strolling musicians
Call 676-5182,
676-9850, or 676-9970
for reservations
Births
Klint Von Scherrer-a son Klint
Von was bom to Kevin and Trinette
Schemer of Boardman on April 15,
1991 at Good Shepherd Communi
ty Hospital in Hermiston. The baby
weighed 7 lbs. 9 oz.
Candice Rae Grider-a daughter
Candice Rae was bom to Wayne and
Tina Grider of Boardman on April
20. 1991 at Good Shepherd Com
munity Hospital in Hermiston. The
baby weighed 6 lbs. 3V4 oz.
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