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