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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (May 13, 1992)
Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, May 13, 1992 - FIVE 4 O IM 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 W ednesday and entered as second-class matter at the Port Office at Heppner, Oregon under the Act of March 3, 1879. Second class portage paid at Heppner. Oregon. Office at 147 Wert WUlow Street. Telephone (503) 676-9228. Address communications to the Heppner GaieMe-Ttmes, P.O. Bos 337, Hepp ner, Oregon 97836. Subscriptions: $15 in Morrow, Wheeler, Gilliam and Grant Counties; $23 elsewhere. Joyce H ughes............................................................Office Manager, Typesetting April Sykes ........................................................................................... News Editor Mary Van B ibber..................................................................Graphics Department Monique P a r r e t......................................................................................Distribution Penni K eersem aker....................................................................................... Printer David and April Sykes, Publishers _________ __ ___________________________________ No Time To Waffle There’s a little flap cooking over the medical waste incinerator proposed for the Port of Morrow near Boardman. It seems most folks in the Boardman and Irrigon communities support the new industry, many do not. Now why would I bring up such a subject on the eve of an election in which I am vitally interested? Stupid, you say? No, this is a demonstration project. One of the issues in the county com missioner race is waffleness. For years, I have taken a position on the impor tant issues around the county. Positions I have been quick to share with you. Now is no time to back off from that practice and begin to waffle like so many politicians do. Back to the medical waste incinerator. Some folks complain that adding an incinerator to the landfill will give Morrow County the undesirable reputation of being the waste capital of the state, “ Oregon’s dumping ground.’’ Others fear the chemical out-fall from the fumes will make them sick, destroy their land, render their homes uninhabitable. Reputation considerations do ring a bell with me, many times repurta- tion is more important than the truth. The truth is, of course, that we are in agricultural county, growing more wheat, cattle and potatoes per capita than any place in the world. Forest product resources add to that agricultural production and much of our economy depends on adding value to wood and crops. But if we are known around the state and nation as a dumping ground ljor other people’s garbage, our reputation could suffer. * Contamination of our air and water are also concerns. Clear air, clean water and wide-open spaces are some of the things we like most about Morrow County. If we wanted to live in Portland, we’d move to Portland. But the incinerator will have to meet strict pollution requirements, more strict than the municipal incinerator in Salem where this medical waste is now being burnt. I’ve seen those requirements and am satisfied that no harm will occur. Finley Buttes landfill is paying Morrow County about $150.000 a year in “ impact" fees, fees that could double in a few years. If we use those fees to mitigate the impact, that is, to build our reputation for what we really are-an agricultural county with clear air, clean water and wide open spaces, then we can avoid the tag of ‘garbage heap’. On the plus side, the incinerator will add $2-3 million to our tax base. That's more than $30,000 in school, county, and other taxes you and I won’t have to pay. There will be six to 10 jobs for our sons and daughters. There will be a little diversity to our economy that won’t follow the ups and downs of agricultural. While I most like new businesses that build on what is already here, like an onion processor, or businesses that prompt further growth oppor tunities, like a co-gen power plant, there is also room for a little unrelated diversity. As with any economic development, there's a little good and a little bad in this deal. On balance, I think the good outweighs the bad and the medical waste incinerator should be welcomed to our growing economic base. Oh yes, I know saying so, will cost a few votes. But to waffle and dodge now would make the choices easier. Flip a coin among politicians. Aren’t you tired of doing that? Local students attend conference By Anne Morter Crystal Minster o f lone and Kimberly Johnston of Heppner recently attended the Women in Science, Math and Technology conference, held Friday, April 10 at the Benson Hotel in Portland. The students were chosen by the science tea c h e r and a d ministrators from their schools to attend the conference. The Umatilla ESD organized the trip. The conference was presented by the Saturday Academy and the Oregon Graduate Institute of Science and Technology. Satur day Academy is a statewide in tensive studies program offering courses to 6 - 12th grade students after school and on Saturdays in the areas of scien ces, m ath em atics, com puting, engineering and communications. Oregon Graduate Institute is a private research and graduate education institution offering specialized curriculum in the physical sciences and fields of engineering. The featured speaker of the evening was Susan J. Helms, a Crystal Minster NASA astronaut. She graduated from Parkrose High School in the Portland area in 1976. She then moved on the U.S. Air Force Academy where she earned her B.S. She received her M.S. in Aeronautics/Astronautics from Stanford University. She became a NASA astronaut in 1991 and is scheduled for her first shuttle flight on the Endeavour in early 1993. S taff changes at G-T Trade specialist to speak Dr. Mike Martin of Corvallis will be the keynote speaker at the “ Friends of OSU Gala” dinner on Wednesday, May 13 at the Heppner Elks Club. Dr. Martin, a professor in the OSU agriculture and resource economics department, has been identified as an outstanding teacher by student review. He is representing OSU in Taiwan this week to observe farm trade policies. D r. M artin is extrem ely knowledgeable about farm trade policies and their impact on local natural-resource-based economics. He will share his observations in the keynote speech for the “ Friends of OSU” dinner. Carol Michael-Bennett, Morrow County interim staff chair says, “ We are extremely fortunate that Harold Kerr could arrange Dr. Martin as keynote speaker. Mike Sumners, OSU director, regrets that recruiting in the Los Angeles area will prevent his participation this year. However, Mike is trying to ar range for another OSU football coach to be present. Harold Kerr, retired extension agent will ‘M C’ the program as he did last year. Betty Brose, E.R. Jackman Foun dation director will share brief remarks, and Geri Grieb OSU Foundation assistant will receive a V olunteer in Partnership Donna Peterson and Vince Alleman Invite our family and friends to share in the joy o f the Beginning o f our new life together. A reception will be held in our yard Saturday, June 6, 1992, at 4 p.m. at 4305 S. W. Lake Drive, Pendleton, Oregon. No Gifts Please. A w ard.” The speakers last year were "outstanding” according to Ken Turner, long time OSU sup porter. " I hope Morrow County citizens will take full advantage of this educational and fun event,” Turner continued. The Jackman Foundation is still accepting reservations for the $14.50 prime rib dinner at the Heppner Elks. No-host social hour begins at 5:30 p.m. and the dinner is at 6:30. The Extension office has reservation forms for both the golf and dinner, call 676-9642 for more information. G rief recovery program slated Jean Ann Turner has joined the G-T staff in the circulation department. She helps address and mail papers each week. Vange John Memorial Hospice is offering a bereavement and grief recovery program to the greater Hermiston area This program will consist of five consecutive sessions held weekly and is designed to give an understanding of the grief process to those individuals who have lost a loved one. There is no charge for the sessions. The first session will be held Tuesday, May 12 from 7 to 9 p.m. Consecutive sessions will be held on Thursdays May 21, 28; June 4 and 11 from 7 to 9 p.m. All sessions will be held at the F irst C h ristian C hurch in Hermiston. Vange John Memorial Hospice is a volunteer organization that provides services free of charge on the basis o f need. The volunteers provide emotional and physical support to individuals with terminal illness and their fam ilies, enabling them to enhance the quality of their re maining time together. All ser vices are provided with respect to individual religious preference. For more information and registration contact the Vange J ohn M em orial H o spice, 567-4369 or Barbara Bennett 567-6764. INSURANCE W e’re Your Agent 0 v Health in Insurance Heppner And S e e Us For | | Come No Pressure Service * A St. Patrick’s Senior Center Bulletin Board The Senior mealsite served 123 people for the M other’s day din ner May 6. Eleven dinners were taken out. Members o f the Baptist church served. Mr. and Mrs. Becket are hosts for May. The free meal ticket was won by Beulah Ogletree, Adine Stone won the door prize and Marguerite Webb and Fran Barnett received the guest prizes. May 20 is Hobo day at the center. Those who wish may dress for the occasion. The men for the dinner will be box car hot dish-macaroni and cheese, rail road-hot dogs, garbage can salad-tossed, wash pan dessert-fruit and cookies and tin can coffee. Members of the Episcopal church will serve. Members of the RSVP should attend the meeting following the dinner. This is important as retaining RSVP insurance dpends on having the training that will be given. Thursday, May 14 Gladys Connor will give a free mini craft class at 10:30 a.m. at the Center. Friday, May 15 the senior bus will take a trip to Shaniko. Monday, May 18 there will be a housing authority meeting at 7 p.m. All tenants of the apartments are asked to be present. Dates to remember: Monday 1-4, quilting; Tues & Thurs. 10:30, exercise. The Friday Bible study class has been cancelled for the summer. Dr. Mike Martin 127 N. Main Bob Ployhar Heppner “Judge Fels has the legal skills and intellect that a judge should have. We need judges o f his quality.’’ Larry Rew Attorney, Rancher KEEP Monique Parret has been promoted to bindry operator at the Gazette-Times. She now works in printing department doing cutting, numbering and other jobs. Peter FELS District Court De p a r t me n t 2 Paid for by Tha Committee to Retain Judge Peter Fela, Jim Houle Treasurer P.O. Bo* 1387. Pendleton. OR 97801 IT IS TIME FOR A CHOICE IT IS TIME FOR A CHANGE ELECT 0 RUDY MURGO DISTRICT COURT JUDGE, DEPT. I Morrow - Umatilla Counties Authorized by the Committee to Elect Rudy Murgo for Judge. Greg Pierce, Chair 1444 S.W. 44th, Pendleton, Oregon 97801
