Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 2, 1991)
B 5 S l E U OF ORE W E T Z E L City sewer project on hold L N E V; S P A P E R L I S E 'J i " E OR 9 7 4 “ 7 35C azette imes VOL. 110 NO. 40 8 Pages Wednesday, October 2, 1991 Morrow County Heppner. Oregon High School celebrates homecoming The city's plan to build a new sewer treatment facility is once again deadlocked after a decision Monday, Sept. 30 by the Morrow County Planning Commssion. The Morrow County Planning Commission overturned a decision by Morrow County Planner Deane Seeger which would have allowed a resolution to condemn a sufficient expression of ownership. The city of Heppner requested for a decision from Seeger in connection with the proposed site for a new ci ty sewer treatment facility. Owners of the site, Happy and Claude Graham opposed the siting of the facility on their property. The city would have applied for a conditional use permit but county ordinances do not allow applications from parties other than property owners. Since the property is outside the city limits and in county jurisdiction the city in itiated condemnation proceedings and asked Seeger if a resolution to condemn the Graham property Women’s salad supper planned The annual Christian Women’s salad supper will be held Wed. Oct. 9, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the St. Patrick’s Senior Center. This event is sponsored by all the women in the churches in lone, Lexington and Heppner. All women in the area are invited to attend. Speaker for the evening will be Virginia Whitaker, a former Hepp ner resident. Virginia has been actively involv ed with the Christian Women’s clubs (an international organization of Stonecraft Ministries) for 17 years. She is an accredited speaker for the organization, speaking in Oregon, Washington and Idaho and is cur rently the representative for Chris tian Women’s Clubs and Councils in the Grand Coulee area. Virginia holds her Washington state insurance license and helps her husband Hal in their insurance business in Grand Coulee and Oroville, WA She is ‘semi-retired’. would be sufficient ownership. Seeger earlier indicated he thought it would. The planning commssion also turned down an amendment which would allow the county to automatically adopt changes in the Federal Emergency Management Agency flood plain maps Changes in the Hood plain map are sought by the city so that siting of the sewer treatment facility would be allowed City administrator Gary Marks said that the city is taking the issue under advisement with the city’s attorney. Marks said that they had hoped to begin construction of the new sewer facility by next spring. The Depart ment of Environmental Quality had told the city that the city's old treat ment facility is not sufficient and Department of Environmental Quali ty will not allow its use to continue. According to Marks, DEQ has said that there will be substantial penalties if the city continues to use the old treatment facility. Environmental Protection Agency grant monies awarded the city through DEQ to build another treat ment facility are not jeopardized, ac cording to Marks, but Marks said that as “ each successive building season goes by, costs escalate That’s why delays like this are destructive.” The city has been working on the sewer project for the past two years. V oters last year approved a $625,000 bond issue for the $1.2 million sewer project, which would replace deteriorating sewer lines and add storage capacity at the sewer treatment plant. The proposed facility would dispose of treated waste water through a sprinkler irrigation system to be used for crops not for human consumption. Effluent is now dumped into Willow Creek, which the DEQ says must stop. Bank of EO earns five-star rating Bauer Financial Reports, INc., a Coral Gables. Florida research firm, has announced that the Bank of Eastern Oregon has been awarded its five-star rating. The bank, which has branches in Heppner, lone and Arl ington, has been five-stars for 10 consecutive q u arters. This prestigious award identifies this in stitution as one of the safest, most credit worthy commercial banks in the United States. The award is based on a zero to five-star rating assigned by BFR bas ed on its analysis of the March 31, 1991 financial data as filed with federal regulators. A five-star rating, for the safest commercial banks in the country, in dicates that the bank's adjusted tangi ble capital exceeds 9.0% of tangible assets, its risk-based capital ratio ex ceeds 9.25%, delinquencies and repossessed assets are manageable, the institution is soundly invested and that it earned a profit or suffered an insignificant loss for the quarter ended March 31, 1991. Paul A. Bauer, president, said, “ Although the total number of commercial banks nationwide decreased by 92 during the first quarter 1991, the total number of five-star rated in stitutions increased by 487. As ex pected, stronger banks are growing stronger and consequently safer.” “ Our five-star rating,” continued Mr. Bauer, "is primarily concern ed with an institution’s capital (net worth)-not its return on investment. Consequently, it is most often awarded to conservatively run, strongly capitalized, federally in sured, community oriented commer cial banks that concentrate on tradi tional business and consumer needs. “ Out of 12.250 commercial banks reporting for the period ending March 31, 1991,3,559 commercial banks, slightly over one out of four, 29.05%, received our five-star rating.” All the commercial banks that qualified for a five-star rating receiv ed a personalized award certificate in recognition of their achievement to display on their premises. Bauer Financial Reports, Inc. analyzes and compiles data on ail U.S. banks, thrifts and credit unions. Umatilla County Assistant DA announces candidacy for Judge Photo by Joyce Hughes Heppner High School celebrated Homecoming during the week of September 23 - 27 en ding with a victory over the Stanfield Tigers 50-13 on Friday. The 1991 Homecoming queen Heather Eckman was crowned during halftime of the football game. King Jason Britt was crown ed during the dance. Homecoming court with their fathers L-R: Alvin Ashbeck, Jenni Ashbeck, Dave Eckman, Queen Heather, Brock Tucker, Nina Tucker, Paul Sumner, Kim Johnston, Micky Sharp, Donita Sharp. Along with King Jason, were senior prince’s Jim Kindle, Travis Greenup, juniors-T.R. Riehl and Scott Coe. Steven Foge'.son, Umatilla Coun ty assistant district attorney, has an nounced his intent to run for the position of Umatilla and Morrow County District Court Judge. The vacancy is being created by the an nounced retirement of Judge Ralph Currin. Steven Fogelson has been employed with the Umatilla DA’s office since January 1984. His background includes experience as a police officer before attending law school. Fogelson indicated that his reason for seeking election to the bench is motivated by a concern for the right of the public and the victims of crime. The criminal justice system, in particular judicial system, has been motivated by its overwhelming concern for the defendant, he notes, and there is traditionally very little concern for the safety of the public or the rights of the victims. Having worked door to door for the Victim’s Rights Bill and in the Harvest of the Arts gets underway . . ... . , . , . „ Reno Nite adds Mobile home destroyed in fire <country store, Reno Nite organizer Susan Johnston says that this year’s fund raiser will be “ bigger and better” with a new attraction, the country store. In addition to casino type games and a midnight auction, the country store will feature items for sale on display all evening long until midnight. Reno Nite is the main fund raiser for the Heppner Booster Club which funds school activities. Reno Nite is planned for October 12 beginning at 7 p.m. To donate items for the country store or auction call Johnston, 676-5562. A mobile home owned by Elmer Heath was totally destroyed in a fire which broke out at 9:53 a m. Friday, Sept. 27, according to Heppner volunteer fireman Allen Burkenbine. No one was injured in the blaze which was located up Blackhorse Canyon. Burkenbine said that two engines and five people responded to the fire. He said that one of the pumpers was used to haul water back and forth from town. Burkenbine said that the cause of the fire is still under investigation The value of the mobile home has not been disclosed. Juvenile tobacco possession now against the law It is now against the law in Oregon for juveniles to possess tobacco pro ducts. according to Morrow Coun ty District Attorney Jeff Wallace. The new law, which took effect September 29. applies to persons 17 or younger. Previous Oregon law made it unlawful to sell tobacco to minors, but did not specifically pro hibit minors from possessing tobac co products. “ Our policy in Morrow County will be to handle first-time offenders informally through the Juvenile department,” said Wallace. "This would involve mandated communi ty service work. A second-time of fender would then be prosecuted in Juvenile Court Penalties could in clude. among other options, a fine of up to $100 00. “ Since the law is new,” said Wallace, “ we are attempting to get the word out on it, as well as establish a uniform policy that will apply across the board ” Court Tryouts set for Oct. 20 Tryouts for the 1992 Morrow County Fair and Oregon Trail Rodeo Court will be held Oct. 20 at the Morrow County Fairgrounds in Heppner. Tryouts are open to any girl who is 16 to 21 years old by August 1, 1992. For applications or more informa tion call Julie Ashbeck, 989-8202 or the fair office 676-9474. Senior class to hold bottle drive The Heppner High School senior class will hold a bottle drive on Saturday. October 12 beginning at 10:47 a m. The drive will be to raise money for their drug and alcohol free trip to Disneyland and Wild Rivers graduation night. Local artist Pauline Matheny displays her painting of the Wallowas to be on display. The painting won three ribbons at the Morrow County fair and will be available for sale. The Harvest of the Arts program, sponsored by the Morrow County Arts and Crafts Club, will get under way Oct. 12 from 9 a m. to 5 p.m. at the Morrow County Museum. The program is in conjunction with the Morrow-Umatilla Harvest of Arts program and will feature events that include an arts and crafts sale, silver tea and silent auction. A theater pro duction and dessert will begin at 7 p.m. at the Heppner High School The “ mellerdrammer” will be put on by the Heppner Intergenerational Theatre group. earlv 1980’s having gone door to door attempting to place on the ballot an initiative to do away with the parole board which, he says, was responsible for the early release of many dangerous offenders. Fogelson says he has shown a long standing commitment to the public safety. He says he sees the need to continue this commitment as a judge for Umatilla and Morrow counties. Fogelson said he has noted frustra tion with the judicial system in Umatilla County and lists the many problems with judicial administra tion of the criminal justice system as the following: “ Drunk drivers traditionally get the same consequences regardless of how many offenses they commit; Drug dealers serve none or little jail time, pay less in financial obliga tions than first time drunk drivers, and traditionally only 80 of a max imum allowable 500 hours of com munity service; Victims are not considered in trial date settings, restitution orders, and payment schedules; The courts have not been willing to enforce orders protecting victims from threats and harassment by of fenders pre-trial; Indigent defense contractors (the so called public defenders) are receiving more public money for frustrating the goals of criminal justice, victimizing victims, and for attempting to keep criminals on the streets than the police and pro secutors who put them behind bars.” Fogelson says he endorses the idea of citzen court watch. “ People need to examine what goes on in the courts of Umatilla and Morrow Counties and organize to effect changes to better reflect a concern for the public’s safety,” he said. "There needs to be some new and innovative approaches to sentencing to balance the lack of resources and increased crime Judges can. and should, be at the forefront of change in the criminal justice system.” he adds A G R IC U L T U F 1A L L O A N S That’s our business Give us a call £ jJZ a êtem J A fJ K O F Oroqon Arlington • H e p p n e r • lone » "Your Independent H om e Owned Bank F0 ,c
