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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (April 8, 1992)
FOUR - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, April 8, 1992 J o h pa Room tax issue must be addressed The Official Newspaper of the City of Heppner and the County of Morrow The Heppner GAZETTE-TIMES Morrow County's Home-Owned Weekly Newspaper U S P S 240-420 Published every Wednesday 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. Bo* 337, Hepp ner. Oregon 97836. Subscriptions: $15 In Morrow, Wheeler, Gilliam and Grant Counties: $23 elsewhere. Joyce H u g h es............................................................Office Manager. Typesetting April Sykes ........................................................................................... News Editor Mary Van B ibber................................................................. Graphics Department Monique P a r r e l..................................................................................... Distribution Penni keersemaker .......................................................................................Printer David and April Sykes, Publishers Letters to the Editor Support community through room tax /• f • ■ To the Editor: The proposed transient room tax under consideration by the ci ty council has raised some misconceptions in the communi ty about who is being taxed and who would receive the benefits. The proposal calls for a five percent room tax to be collected by the operator and submitted to the city. The operator would keep 10 percent of the tax collected for their expenses in collecting and remitting the tax. This is not a tax on the operator. It is a tax that is paid by the folks that rent rooms when they are visiting the com munity. A high percentage of the room rentals are business travelers or travelers here for events like St. Patrick’s weekend. While these folks are in the com munity they receive the same fire, police and ambulance services as everyone else. The room tax is common in every area of the country. In fact, I don’t remember when we have stayed somewhere and not paid a room tax. The room tax would not af fect a traveler’s decision to stay in Heppner. The proceeds would be devoted to the Chamber of Commerce for their activities in promoting the community. The chamber is an organization whose membership is made up of individuals that are interested in the future of the community. Chamber members include main street business peo ple, agribusiness farmers and ran chers, folks involved with government agencies (schools, hospital, county, forest service, etc.). Membership in the chamber is open to everyone and they openly encourage everyone to be involved. One of the direct benefits of the chamber is the number of visitors we have for such events as St. Patrick’s weekend. These visitors patronize the motel, the Bed and Breakfast, local restaurants and taverns and other downtown mer chants. In addition, many com munity organizations such as the volunteer fire department, chur ches, school groups, etc., have fund raisers that raise several thousand dollars for their needs during St. Patrick’s weekend. It would seem only logical that the funding for these promotion activities would come from the folks that we are drawing into the community. Instead of constant ly going back to the businesses and individuals that support the com munity for additional funding. Looking around the state, you find many agriculture and timber dependent communities that are having a very difficult time because of declines in those in dustries. In comparison, we still have an active, vibrant communi ty and in order to maintain our community, we need to promote ourselves and make an investment in the future. Please join us in encouraging the city council to pass the tran sient room tax. Remember, when you travel, you are paying a room tax to sup port someone else’s community. Let’s do the same thing to pro mote our community. Yours truly, (s) Larry and Betty Mills Supports Courson for judge To the Editor: I support Judge Richard Cour son for re-election to the Umatilla and Morrow County District Court. First my bias. The Honorable is my brother. But do not let my bias deter you from reading fur ther. Dick began his legal career in Portland and, for reasons all of you know better, moved to the “ Other Oregon” where he was elected district attorney for Umatilla County in 1958. Dick served as district attorney for nine and one-half years until 1967 when he became the Umatilla County District Court Judge. He has now served on the bench for 25 years and is currently the presiding judge. Because of a change of law, he is now runn ing for re-election in both Umatilla and Morrow counties. Notwithstanding my previously stated bias, Dick is by all third- party accounts fair, but tough on convicted criminals. Some of you may recall from newspaper ac counts that he has sentenced peo ple convicted of extremely hideous crimes to the maximum prison terms. I also come from the “ Other Oregon” , Baker City (nee Baker) and have had the opportunity to work in Morrow County for the past 20 years and believe that the judge has the judicial tempera ment that would suit Morrow County. (s) Douglas R. Courson Portland To the Editor: We feel that for a better here as well? As for it “ not costing the understanding of the transient room tax issue attorney William business owner any additional ex Kuhns letter to the editor of pense” this statement is just March 18, 1992 needs to be ad wrong. The text of the ordinance dressed because he made some reads: “ the operator is to deposit statements that show a lack of a security twice its estimated understanding and are just wrong. quarterly liability or $5,000.” Many concerned people attend We’re sure that it must be com ed the city, council meeting last mon knowledge that Mr. Kuhn is March 9. After an hour of public retained by the city of Heppner reaction 90 percent voiced their but for those who are not aware of this fact it may help to know opinion against the tax. The result was that the council “ tabled the “ where he’s coming from.” “ This tax will not cost the issue for further study.” It leaves motel any customers” is pure one to ponder the question of uninformed speculation not bas what would have been the results ed on fact as presented by that if the general opinion was in prestigious Purdue University favor of the tax? Would it have study which concluded that for a felt that it had enough input to go motel of our size (17 units) a ahead and pass the tax without a decrease of 4 Vi percent to 5 per vote of the people? Heppner is indeed a wonderful cent in occupancy of a 5 percent room tax. Now I ask you who place to live and enjoys a friend would you believe? “ No one ly reputation. Let’s all work would really drive an extra 45 together to keep it and not impose miles to avoid paying a dollar or an unfriendly room tax on the two room tax.” This statement is folks that come here to do evidence that a point brought out business. You can have a voice by a construction worker who at in this matter. If you have any tended the meeting was complete questions and wish to sign an in ly ignored. The fact is that such itiative petition that would amend workers receive a "per diem” a the city charter so that “ any new set amount for room and meals tax or increase in any existing tax away from home. If the room rate must be approved by a majority is high it means less to eat on so vote of the people.” Let’s keep government of the some would rather drive to the next town for a better rate, and people, by the people, for the more choices of where to eat and people, alive. Please contact the motel. more to do. Besides the company Sincerely yours, pays for the gas. So why should (s) Thomas LaRusso we slap a five percent tax on Dolores Cooper, working people who come here Owners Northwestern Motel to improve the town and eat out St. Pat’s letters To the Editor: We’ve been receiving thank yous at the Heppner Chamber of fice in response to our St. Patricks celebration and would like to share them with the com munity. A donation was given to St. Patricks Day Celebration Committee in memory of Daniel B. McLaughlin who died March 6, 1992. The committee voted to have another large Irish flag made to fly during the celebration. Dear Committee Chairman, After returning from Heppner this past weekend and taking in the St. Patrick’s celebration all those who worked so hard to put on the programs and prepared food need to be congratulated. I do so now. I have a question - how and when are the different families selected and honored for each years celebration? I would like to nominate the Mollahan family descendants of Pat Mollahan who came to Heppner in 1911 from County Leitrim. Pat and Elsie Owens Mollahan made their home in Heppner and raised four children th e re - Robert, Mary, John and Larry. The Mollahans have close ties to the Kenny family since Bea Ken ny was Pat Mollahan’s sister. Thank you for a wonderful weekend and am hoping to be able to come to next years celebration, health permitting. Sincerely, (s) Phyllis Dunlavy Roseburg, OR People like you make the world nicer for people like me. Thank you so much. Thanks for the wonderful day everyone was so nice. (s) Janet Welsh American Tour Pasco, WA. My friends and I were so im pressed by your hospitality and friendliness when we attended your celebration Saturday. The special weather you had ordered, the parade, the museum (one of the best), friendly senior center, sheep dog trials, entertain ment and food made the day one to be remembered. But, best of all was the pageant- so many talented people. We all loved the little lambs. I talked to someone in your of fice and made arrangements to have a copy of your newspaper telling about the weekend events. Maybe there will be pictures? Two dollars is enclosed. Thanks for a day well spent. (s) Stella Richardson Milton-Freewater St. Patrick’s Senior Center Bulletin Board _ Court to visit Cherry Festival This weekend, April 11, the barbecue sponsored by the Morrow County Fair and Oregon Oregon Trail Pro Rodeo commit Trail Pro Rodeo Court will par tee. Many people were on hand ticipate in their first parade on for the barbecue, enjoying the their mounts. They will travel to meal, the sheep dog trials, and the The Dalles for the Northwest music of the community band. On March 29 the court travel Cherry Festival. This is the first ed to Portland where Oregon time that Morrow County Fair Trail Pro Rodeo sponsored a race and Oregon Trail Pro Rodeo has at Portland Meadows Racetrack. been represented at the Cherry Queen Jenni and her princesses Festival. gave a blanket to the winning The rodeo court had a busy St. horse, “ Gravelly Meadow” . A Patrick’s weekend. Queen Jcnni Ashbeck and her princesses, Staci form er H eppnerite, Marcy O’Brien, Angie Partlow and Tanory, also had a horse running Shelly Ashbeck, took part in the in that race. Marcy was last KUMA Coffee Hour at the Hepp year’s “ Trainer of the Year” at ner Elks, participated in the St. Portland Meadows. Patrick’s parade down Main Street, and made their annual visit Ackley to the residents of the Pioneer Carpet Cleaning Memorial Nursing Home where the girls presented a shamrock to Using the Von Schrader the home for their solarium. dry foam system. Serving The girls especially enjoy shar all o f M orrow County. ing their time with the residents Senior Citizen discount. and this visit has come to be a C a ll fo r e s tim a te , most memorable time for the 922-3976 court. On Sunday the Court serv Fully Insured ed as hostesses for the lamb C O N C R E T E « í R O C K S A L E S April 14 through May 24 |P»i l Shells - Turkey Calls Shotguns Camouflage Paint Makeup Camouflage Shirts announce lha opanlng o f two location» MILTON-FREEWATER H ighw ay 11 • »39-5581 and BOARDMAN O ld C o lu m b ia H ighw ay • 441-9246 BOB CALLOW Goast to Coast G anara! M anagar Heppner WE CAS H U P YOl 6 7 6 -M fil C O N C R E T E «i R O C K S A L E S Court Street Market 7 CHEVROLET ____ There were 110 people present for the senior dinner April 1 with five meals taken out. Members of the Lutheran Church served. Rose Moe won the door prize, Louise Wood the meal ticket and Joan Ployhar the guest prize. The meal site committee met after dinner. Hostesses for April are Yvonne Connor and Vem Batty. Menu for April 15 Easter dinner will be baked ham with raisin sauce, mashed potatoes, salad, fresh vegetable tray, bread and pud ding. Members of the Christian Life Center and Mormon churches will serve. Friday, April 3, the Morrow County budget officer met with the Transportation Committee to explain the STF computer print-outs. The RSVP potluck was cancelled. The SCRAM bus picked up a full load of people at the senior center Monday, April 6 for a trip to Elko. The senior bus took a group of seniors to Stokes Landing Senior Center in Irrigon Monday for dinner and a tour of the town, fish hatchery and refuge. They also attended the AAA meeting with the county court. Merri Reamer will meet with the office receptionists Monday, April 13 at 9 a.m. Reamer will provide eggs and dye for coloring Easter eggs. Seniors wishing to help should be at the center at 11 a.m. National Volunteer Week is April 27-May 1. More information will be forthcoming. A bus trip to Hood River and ride on the Mt. Hood train is plann ed for April 23. Seniors wishing to go may call the office 676-9030 for more information. Other dates to remember: Monday-quilting, 1-4 p.m., knitting 7-9 p.m.; Tues & Thurs. exercise 10-10:30 a.m .; Wednesday, senior dinner, noon; Friday Bible study 10:30 a.m. bag more food bargains here . 111 N. Court Heppner 676-9643 GROCERIES - MEATS - PRODUCE O ver the years som e things never change at a quality dealership HONESTY-INTEGRITY-RESPONSIBILITY-SERVICE D oing business for over 45 years in the sam e old fashioned way Frozen Western Family 4 pack Turkey Hind Quarters Bathroom Tissue Oregon Grown Whole Body Fryers pk. Western Family Augratin-Scalloped-Sour Cream & Chives 4 Hoz. to 5 'A oz. *9Y Pork Shoulder Potatoes Roast Cheerios 15oz. • • • .b . Pork Cereal Sausage Choice Boneless - Skinless Oranges 2 for*l*# 15 V Chicken Breast Cucumbers Beef Top Round Steak SHERRELL CHEVROLET H erm iston, O regon Phone 567-6487 * i» * b Carrots Tortilla Chips 10lb. Bag Western Family Assorted 14oz. Potatoes a 9 ' 5 lb. Cello Bag Dorito 15oz. Cookies 2 < 0 , 1 •I*»« 69'ea Prices Good April 8th through 13th
