Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 26, 1992)
FOUR - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, August 26. 1992 Letters to the Editor The Official Newspaper of the City of Heppner and the County of Morrow ‘No’ vote will help chamber 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, 187V. Second class postage paid al Heppner. Oregon. Office at 147 West Willow Street. Telephone (503) 676-9228. Address communications to the Heppner Gazette-Times, P.O. Box 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 rre t............................................................................................. Bindery Penni Keersemaker ................................................................................. . . Printer Jean Ann T u rn e r..................................................................................Distribution David and April Sykes. Publishers___ ballot measure 5, the city can no longer provide direct, general fund support for the chamber. Another funding source is need ed. The transient room tax is the means by which the city can maintain financial support for the operation of the H eppner Chamber of Commerce office. The transient room tax should not be repealed. Heppner needs your vote. (s) John Edmundson Judge Carlson a professional Editorial...... Motel tax good fo r Heppner So here they go again. A nother tax measure on the ballot. This one, a tax on motel rooms in Heppner. The motel tax has already been enacted by the city council, but the absentee ow ners o f the N orthwestern Motel gathered enough signatures to put a repeal measure before voters, so ballots should be in the mail soon. But wait, before minds are made up across the city, consider a few facts, and maybe a dose o f reality, to better understand how this tax came to be and why it is a good thing for Hepp ner. First a few facts. As taxes go, you w o n 't find a better one than this. Mainly because, unless you stay in the motel, you w on’t have to pay it. T hat’s pretty easy to swallow. As fairness goes, it scores pretty high too. The motel ow ners will be paid 10 percent for the trouble o f collecting the tax, and the city will get another 10 percent for administering it. The Heppner Chamber o f Com merce will receive the balance o f the money. Now for reality. From a business standpoint, and that means grocery, hardw are, shoe, clothing and other types o f stores, as well as restaurants, tire stores and even newspapers, operating in small town America is no piece o f cake. Besieged on all sides by discount retailers, grocery chains and other big operators, small town businesses often find they can no longer stay open. No one wants to buy them, so many times the ow ners just close up and walk away. In the Heppner, lone and Lexington area 18 businesses have either closed, merged or not reopened after fire in the past 12 years. These businesses represented both services to local people, and a source o f em ployment in the community. The motel tax you will be voting on represents a self-help effort by local businesses and the Cham ber o f Comm erce to stem the flow of business closures and maintain a high quality o f life in our small town. Through aggressive promotion of tourism , community activities such as St. Patrick’s Day and econom ic development, the H eppner Cham ber o f Comm erce seeks to strengthen our tow n’s economy for the benefit o f us all. On this basis we urge you to vote ‘no’ on the transient room tax repeal. (s) David Sykes Norene Veterinary Hospital wishes to announce New Office Hours for the convenience of our clients Mon................ 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tues...g a.m. to 5 p.m. & 7 to 9 p.m. Wed.....................CLOSED Thurs..9 a.m. to 5 p.m. & 7 to 9 p.m. Fri.................9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Open for EM ERGENCIES Saturday & Sunday Office Call Charges now Reduced j A Heppner Elk’s Lodge #358. Says: “ Thank You” to all who supported us during the Morrow County Fair & Rodeo and especially- all the volunteers who made it all possible! This Weekend’s Menu 1. ‘2 fer’ - 2 Filet Mignon Dinners ‘2 fer’ - * 1 5 ® * 2. ‘Surf & Turf - Lobster Tail & Filet “ 8 oz. Filet & Lobster” - * 1 # * * 3. Lobster Tails - 2 Tails M O ” All dinners include Soup, Salad. Bread and Special Dessert Dinners Served Friday & Saturday 6 p.m. till 9 p.m. Lounge Opens at 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday Heppner Elks 142 N. 3581 676-9181 Maj _____ Where Fnends M eet" To the Editor: Vote no on the City of Hepp ner transient room tax ordinance repeal. Why? Heppner’s Chamber of Com merce is a main force in town devoted to maintaining the livability and vigor of our com munity. The chamber provides econom ic and community development activities for the city of Heppner. As a result of the passage of To the Editor: Concerning the proposal made at the Irrigon candidates fair that Morrow County hire a profes sional administrator. I submit that we already have one. who well understands our problems. His name is Judge Carlson. Let’s re-hire him in Noverber. (s) Meg Murray Vote no on repeal of room tax To the editor: The voters of Heppner will soon receive a ballot asking the question, “ should the city ot H eppner repeal ordinance 493-92, the Transient Room Tax Ordinance?” We would en courage everyone to carefully consider the question and vote no This would leave the already enacted room tax in place. Mr. Tom Larusso from Bend, the owner of the Northwestern Motel, has petitioned this onto the ballot because he feels he is be ing unfairly taxed. We need to remember that when we stay out of town, the local room tax is col lected from us to promote that area. The room tax is not paid by the motel owner or local citizens. The proceeds from the room tax will be used by the Chamber of Commerce to benefit the en tire community, not just the downtown businesses. Chamber members include all segments of the community and they work together to support the continued economic well being of our com munity, as well as such communi ty events as St Patrick’s weekend. The community needs your support. Please join us in voting no on the room tax repeal. (s) Larry and Betty Mills Cooley knows farming ranching issues To the Editor: I had the opportunity to meet Wes Cooley. I was impressed by how much he knew about farm ing and ranching issues. He also talked about how the Oregon Legislature impacts our way of life with their decision. Mr Cooley talked a lot about water rights and how few of the legislators really know anything about it when they vote. Mr. Cooley is a member of Water for Life and on the State Conserva- tion Advisory Board. We’re in the sixth year of a drought and our future in agriculture and our children’s future on the land is in the hands of people from the western cities. That's scary to me. I’m going to vote for Wes Cooley because I want someone in the legislature who understands our way of life in Eastern Oregon. Sincerly (s) Eric Menard Baker City Community great in time of need To the Editor: I would like to inform your readers of what a wonderful com munity this is. Two weeks ago I slipped off our deck, and broke and dislocated my right ankle. The care and help came im mediately. Neighbors from all directions came running to my aid and to the aid of my family. The EMT’s arrived with the ambulance very quickly. They were efficient, gentle and suppor tive. Not an easy task consider ing I was crying and screaming in pain. Complicating their job by the fact that 1 am pregnant and due in only a few weeks. The EMT’s managed to lift me into the ambulance without fur ther trauma. The neighbors assisted by caring for our daughter, Kelly, and our dog. They even stayed near me and assisted the EMT’s whenever needed. We arrived at the hospital quickly. No one left my side for a moment. Shanna Paullus and Bob Nairns were close at all times. The hospital staff were just great. They did everything to make me as comfortable as possi ble and took every precaution with my health and the health of our unborn child. The hospital staff worked quickly and Dr. Ed did. everything he could to ensure our health. He did not hesitate to con tact my Obstetrician in Pendleton and transfer me to St. Anthony’s for orthopedic care. Even as all this was happening our friends, neighbors and the hospital staff were rallying to our aid. The hospital staff organized a system of bringing us dinners several times a week. Our friends and neighbors kept an eye on our home and dog. They also assisted with Kelly’s care, doing anything needed. Thanks to them she made it to swim lessons in lone. I do wish to apologize to any neighbors inconvenienced by all the noise and our dog’s barking. We did receive a complaint about it and we hope they are not bothered again. It was unavoidable under the cir cumstances. Jay had to be at the hospital with me quite a lot. The rest of the community con tinues to be terrific. We are in everyone’s debt. Never have we felt so appreciated and cared for. The people of Heppner are uni que and we appreciate your friendship. We hope, if the need arises, we are able to help you too. Heppner friends know what friendship is. We thank you all. Sincerely, (s) Lori E. Straley Justice Court Report____ The Justice Court office at the courthouse annex building in Heppner reports handling the following business during the past week: Michael Scott Jenison, 23, Spray-Failure to Use Seat Belt, $50 bail forfeited. Time wears heavy for this listless old newspaper publisher. This will be two weeks since the last issue of the Chronicle and while there are still thousands of details in the closing up to attend to, work is just not the same without a deadline. Oh, there are some things in the works, but nothing for sure yet, just waiting by the phone for a call hack. Used to be little time for reading the competition. About one daily a week and the weeklies got a once over lightly. Now, I hunger for a paper, and read it cover-to-cover. Not out on the beat. I’ve got to know what I’ve missed. Sure Didn’t miss much. Sittin’ and reading is just what the doctor ordered after last week’s horse back ride. Whoa! It had been 25 years since these old legs were draped over the skirts of a saddle. Didn’t go far, but sat for half an hour before the parade started. 1 was offered a set of spurs but declin ed. That was a mistake since the old pony had never been in a parade before and was a little concerned with the loud speakers. I’m feeling a lot better now, thank you. Tonight’s newspaper has a few curious articles. Looks like Randy Weaver’s family is on the line too. Somehow you just can’t help but root for the outlaw in that scenario. It’ll turn into a real bloodbath before it is over. I remember when they gunned down Billy Estes over in Wallowa County 30 years ago. Billy found his girlfriend in bed with another man, so shot’em both, right there in the bed. He couldn’t hide out either.. Senator Packwood’s visit to Boardman Foods last week got just a little play. It seemed to us that while the Chronicle was alive, happenings in Boardman, Irrigon and Morrow County got renewed attention from the rest of the press around. Now that we’re out of the scene, things are back to normal. Of course, the daily never really did think Mor row County was part of the real world. Duff is bucking for home town hunting rights and Fels is going to chair the youth commission. You’d think it was election year, wouldn’t you? When it comes election time, expect the politicians to do all kinds of goofy things. Like ride a horse down main street, Heppner. At least Jeff didn’t play that hokey accordion this time. I see the environmentalists have shut down another timber sale with yet another appeal. The system does have to allow for all voices to be heard, but sometimes the issue is won just in getting the hearing. A hearing set for next year sometime because government cannot seem to get anything done without a year or more to think about every detail. Bob Smith threatens to go to the secretary if they don’t get on with the salvage, the Northwest Timber Workers Resource Council’s big ad said it was too late and the folks in California are still trying to put out the fire. I added to the problem by burning the paper when 1 finally got it read. Did you ever wonder about the political leanings of the regional daily? Two editorials on that page might give a hint, “ ...mean-spirited, sor did little spectacle in Houston last week...” “ The Bush Administra tion., (has) decided... to destroy the character and reputation of Hillary Clinton...by lying.” This does not sound like a Republican paper to me. What's more of a mystery to me is how the folks in Pendleton have put up with such a wild-eyed bleeding heart bunch of liberals as has controlled their paper for the past 50 years. > Oh, say. The pullets are beginning to lay. Yes, these are feather chickens, but if you get enough of those little tiny pullet eggs you can make up quite a batch of scrambled eggs. They were swell with the Lostine River trout for supper last night. If I don’t get that phone call in a day or two, maybe I’ll take another run up to the ol’ fishin’ hole. Big doin’s in Boardman this weekend: Pioneer Days, Mountain Man Rendezvous, Indian village, black power shoot, parade on Saturday. I won’t be riding a horse. Against room tax repeal To the Editor: I am writing to ask voters to vote no on the motel tax repeal measure. The measure will tax only out of town guests and bring needed Weather Report by City of Heppner August 19 - 25 , 1992 High Low Prec Rain Weds.. 96 58 .0 Thurs. 91 56 .0 Fri. 88 55 .0 Sat. 79 52 .07 Sun. 68 49 .18 Mon. 67 37 .0 Tues. 73 41 .0 Court Street Market 111 N. Court revenue to the Chamber of Com merce to continue the important w ork it does. Please vote no on the motel tax repeal measure. (s) George Koffler Market Report Compliments of the Morrow County Qrtin Growers Tuesday, Aug. 25, 1992 Aug Sept. Oct.-Dec. *4.12 *4.12/*4.07 *4.05 Barley Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. *94 *95/*97 *99/* 1.01 *1.02 *1.03 Prices good August 26th Heppner 676-9643 GROCERIES - MEATS - PRODUCE through September 1st 3 lb. bag G ala A p p les * i% B artlett P ears 39 V Western Family 32 oz. Strawberry B ak er P otatoes 35V Crisco 48 oz. 3 lb. H ills D oggies IM <5 ? The Heppner F«*- I t’s in all the papers O ra n g es **' T ip R oast Starkisl 6 '/, oz. i« 5 5 9 V. T -B o n e S teak Western Family P ap er T o w els Oberti 5.75 oz. 19V W aterm elons •1” , O il O lives Hermiston Tuna Preserves i« 4 59 V P ork B lade R oast Western Family 11 oz. T o a ster P astry 99V P ork S ausage 11 oz. D u n can H in es C ook ies 99 V •l**.b •I**»,
