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
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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