Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 30, 1992)
Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, December 30, 1992 - THREE the Editor The Official Newspaper of the City of Heppner and the County of Morrow Heppner GAZETTE-TIMES U.S.P.S. 240-420 Morrow County’s Home-Owned Weekly Newspaper Published weekly and entered as second-class matter at the Post Office at Hepp ner, Oregon under the \c\ of March 3, 1879. Second class postage paid at Hepp ner, Oregon. Office at 147 West Willow Street. Telephone (503) 676-9228. Postmaster send address changes to the Heppner Gazette-Times, P.O. Box 337, Heppner. Oregon 97836. Subscriptions: $15 in Morrow, Wheeler, Gilliam and Grant Counties; $23 elsewhere. Joyce Hughes ........................................................... Office Manager, Typesetting April Hilton-Sykes............................................................................... News Editor Mary Van B ibber..................................................................Graphics Department Monique Devin ............................................................................................ Bindery Penni keersem ak er........................................................................................ Printer Jean Ann T u rn er.................................................................................... Distribution David and April Hilton-Svkes, Publishers It Takes Courage Sometimes the simple little things call for a disproportionate amount of courage. Like the other night at a school board meeting. When the vote splits three to three and it’s your turn to vote, it takes a lot of courage either way. The issue was whether the district continue requiring board members to live in any particular part of the coun ty or not. The present system is a sort of hybrid of the two: some board members must live in a particular zone, some are elected from the coun ty at large. It all started 25 or 30 years ago (certainly long enough ago for most of us to have forgotten) when the five common school districts were consolidated into one administrative district. The deal then was for at least one board member to be elected from each of the former districts, and there was one member from each district, except Heppner elected three. Ten years ago, after the 1980 census showed that the population had shifted from south county to north county, two of the directors from Heppner were changed to at-large positions. So today there are direc tors who live in the former Heppner, Lexington, lone, Boardman and Irrigon districts and two at-large (one incumbent lives in north coun ty, the other in south county). Over the years, state law and U.S. Supreme Court interpretation of the 14th Amendment changed the law to require zones of nearly equal population size. Then the 1990 census gave pretty precise information about where they live. The present five zones simply will not meet constitutional muster because some of them are much smaller than others. So at this month’s board meeting, the question arose as to whether the seven school directors should be elected from zones of about equal size or whether they should all be elected from the county at-large. Before you understand the significance of that question, you should know that there are about 7,500 people in Morrow County. That would make a few less than 1,100 per zone. The 1990 census shows about 4,100 folks live in Irrigon and Board- man and surrounding areas. It takes relatively simple math to figure out that four (a majority) of the seven zones, and thus directors, would live in or around Irrigon or Boardman. That could be particularly signifi cant in the immediate future with the growth committee recommen ding 34 new classrooms, a new gymnasium and an auditorium among other facilities, all for north county schools. So when the board split three to three on zoned directors versus all directors at-large, you can see that it must have taken lots of courage to vote with the zoned director side. Especially when you live in the area that will become the minority group. Certainly it is not true that all issues will be decided by a north-south split, the truth is that most decisions are unanimous. The others split on some philosophical difference. But once in a great while, once or twice a year, a decision of the board has provincial overtones. Cer tainly this one did. This month’s action was not the final word. Early in January the board will look at a map showing the boundaries of the proposed seven districts. They may gerrymander boundaries to soften the impact (one of which is that it may turn out that three of the present directors would live in a single zone). Or they may find the map so unsatisfactory that they change their minds and adopt the at-large proposal. Certainly there will be a lot of pressure on the one swing voter to do just that. It took a lot of courage to cast that one swing vote in the first place. It will take even more to continue on that course. As I see it, it’s an even money bet. COAST TO COAST YOUR SOURCE SAVING S Christmas Decorations Quality Overstocked lA to Vi Off Items lA Off Cuts could drastically affect nursing home care To the Editor: One of the areas being im pacted by Ballot Measure 5 are nursing homes. Here are the facts: Governor Roberts budget submitted to the 1993 legislature proposed cuts of over $50 million for nursing home residents, the majority of who rely on state and federal Medicaid funding for care. If adopted, this budget could drastically impact the quali ty of care for the thousands of Oregonians depending on nursing homes for their care. How? By cutting off the provider’s ability to give care. A typical 100-bed nursing home (with 60 percent of the residents depending on Medicaid) could lose $15,000 per month or $180,000 per year to run their facility. Pioneer Memorial Nursing Home in Heppner (with approximately 50 percent of the residents depending on Medicaid) could lose almost $45,000 per year. Such cuts could force reductions in key staf fing and other crucial necessities which would directly impair the quality of care in the facility. The Oregon state legislature has the power to adopt the Gover- Chamber Chatter By Claudia Hughes, chamber manager Happy New Year. Out with the old and in with the new was cer tainly the theme for ‘92 on Main Street, Heppner. Vision 2000 is becoming a reality. Our many businesses are to be commended for the role they are taking in revitalizing our town, as are the many volunteers who have put in long hours at round tables, at the fairgrounds, and on the baseball field. Progress is good and healthy. Remember to give lots of pats on the back as the year rolls to a close. It’s not too late to nominate a person or business for the annual Chamber awards to be presented during Town and Country Day, “ Rural Folks- Working Together” , Wednes day, January 13. Tickets for the prime rib dinner are available at the Bank of Eastern Oregon, Heppner and lone branches, Morrow County Grain Growers, the Extension Service and the Chamber office. Looking ahead to ‘93, we hope to see continued progress on Main Street and hopefully, the long-awaited trees in place. A certainty for ‘93 is the Oregon Trail Sesquicentennial. Not only will the Wagon Train be spending some time in Morrow County, so will Cycle Oregon VI...more about that later. This will be an opportunity to show off our com munities as visitors from all over the world “ take the trail home” . Heppner Chamber will install the ‘93 officers at the Chamber luncheon Wednesday, January 6 at the Elks. The year-end report and annual “ Hats O f f ’ award recipient will be announced for ‘92. Visitors are welcome. The annual goal-setting session for the board of directors and com m ittee chairpersons is scheduled from 1 to 5 p.m. Satur day, January 23. Participants commit their time to setting achievable goals for the coming year that best fulfill the mission statement of being “ a non-profit organization dedicated to creating a positive environment where people and business thrive.” Thought for the week: “ The best angle from which to ap proach any problem is the try-angle” . nor’s proposed budget, or to create an entirely new budget. Their decision can be determin ed by your involvement in the process. O regon’s nursing home residents need your help. The most effective thing you can do is share your concerns with your state senator and state represen tative. Tell your legislator, either by letter or a phone call, how this dramatic measure is going to af fect your friends and loved ones. Together we can make a difference. Listed below are the addresses and phone numbers for our state legislators. State Senator (28th District), Wes Cooley, 27430 Willare Road, Powell Butte, OR 97753, (503) 382-5021. State Representative (59th District), Michael Payne, 1300 Walnut Street, Baker City, OR 97814, (503) 523-4360. Sincerely, (s) Kevin R. Erich Pioneer Memorial Hospital Administrator Births Kristine Elian Griffin-a daughter Kristine Elian was born to Brenda and Patrick Griffin of Irrigon on December 10, 1992 at Good Shepherd Community Hospital in Hermiston. The baby weighed 8 lbs. 15 oz. Taighler Ann Dougherty-a daughter Taighler Ann was born to Dawna and Cliff Dougherty of Heppner on December 12, 1992 at St. Anthony Hospital in Pendleton. The baby weighed 6 lbs. 2 oz. Grandparents are Maureen and Kenneth Howard, Lexington and Pat and Jerry Dougherty, and Oliver and Monique Devin, Heppner. G reat grandparents are Maurice Groves, Heppner and Marie Steagall, Lexington. Mathew Hal Warr-a son Mathew Hal was bom to Annette and Steven Warr of Irrigon on December 12, 1992 at Good Shepherd Community Hospital in Hermiston. The baby weighed 7 lbs. 10lA oz. The Trail News The Oregon Trail Pro Rodeo committee wishes everyone a very happy holiday season. For those looking for something to do on New Year’s Eve, the New Year’s Eve Benefit Rodeo will be held in Walla Walla, WA. Heppner cowboys Mike Mahoney and Steve Currin will be competing at the Columbia River Circuit Finals in Yakima, WA January 8-10. The Wrangler Pro Rodeo will be held in Portland that same weekend. The committee wishes everyone a safe and happy new year. Look for more rodeo news in 1993. s8 4 " after rebate Happy New Year! Goast to Coast Heppner WE C A S H U P Y(H residence in West Glenn Addi tion. One female was transported to Good Shepherd Hospital with an unknown illness; Morrow County deputy responded to assist with an animal problem in Irrigon; Morrow County deputy responded to a report of a distur bance which upon further in vestigation resulted in the arrest of Gary Dayle Hecker, 37, Ir rigon, for Assault II and Criminal M ischief I. H ecker was transported and lodged at Benton County Jail. December 26. Morrow Coun ty deputy responded to investigate a vandalism at a residence on Paul Smith Road in Boardman; Morrow County deputy responded to investigate a traffic problem on 1-84; Morrow County deputy responded to investigate a juvenile problem in Irrigon. December 27: Morrow Coun ty Sheriff s office dispatched the lone EMT’s and the Heppner am bulance to a residence in lone; Morrow County Sheriffs of fice dispatched the Spray Fire Dept to a fire alarm sounding at the Spray High School. Page was cancelled en route. A worker was hanging a drywall; Morrow County deputy began investigation of hay stolen from a ranch below Heppner. December 28: Morrow Coun ty deputy began an investigation of two window panes broken out of the double doors on the east side of Columbia Junior High. It was unknown at press time if en try had occurred; Morrow County deputy began an investigation of vandalism done to the Irrigon Marina bathrooms. The bathrooms had been spray painted. Scratch Pads various sizes 5 0 ' lb. Gazette-Times 147 W . Willow Heppner, Oregon 676-9228 GOOD OLD FASHIONED CRAB CRACK BANQUET (Cracked Crab, salads, baked beans and garlic bread and beef.) Heppner Elk’s Lodge #358 Happy Holidays!! New Year Gala Music and Favors. Courtesy Car Provided. Come meet your friends and bring in the New Year! Heppner Elks 358' ? 676-9181 Where Friends Meet" 142 N. Main* Court Street Market Prices Good 111 N. Court Heppner 676-9643 GROCERIES - MEATS - PRODUCE 10 lb. Bottom Round Roast •I**»,. Potatoes $ l ’ *ea Large Top Round Steak * * « * ib . Green Peppers Beef Rib Roast •a*** Green Cabbage - $*## 4,bSf0r$ l ° O Western Family 2 lb. bag Market Report Quality Water Heater The Morrow County Sheriffs office at the courthouse in Hepp ner reports dispatching the following business during the past week: December 22: Morrow Coun ty deputy began investigation of theft of gasoline from the Port of Morrow in Boardman; Morrow County deputy at tempted to locate a citizen for an emergency medical message; Morrow County Sheriffs of fice dispatched the Arlington Fire Dept to a vehicle on fire on 1-84. mile post 147, west bound. December 23: Morrow Coun ty Sheriff s office dispatched the Fossil ambulance to the clinic for a patient transport to the hospital; Morrow County deputy began investigation of a report of careless driving in the Irrigon area; Morrow County deputy began investigation of a report of the theft of a greeting card from an Irrigon resident; Morrow County deputy cited and released Robert John Brehm, 22, Irrigon for Menacing, Theft III and Assault IV; Morrow County deputy began investigation of suspicious vehicles in lone. Vehicles were driving slowly by a residence, sometimes parking in the driveway and sometimes stopping in the street; Morrow County Sheriffs of fice dispatched the Boardman am bulance to a Boardman residence. One male with an injury was transported to Good Shepherd Community Hospital in Hermiston. December 24: Morrow Coun ty Sheriff s office dispatched the Heppner Fire Dept to a chimney fire on N. Court St.; Morrow County deputy began investigation o f crim inal mischief. A lock was cut at the city of Irrigon pump station; Morrow County deputy assisted the Boardman Police Dept on a noise complaint. December 25: Morrow Coun ty Sheriff s office dispatched the Boardman ambulance to a By Sandi Ford, OTPRC_____ Top Sirloin Steak Compliments of the Morrow County Gram Growers BEST DEAL OF THE DECADE Sheriff’s Report Tuesday, Dec. 29, 1992 Soft White *4.20 Dec. *4.22/*4.24 Jan. *4.26/*4.27 Feb. *4.28 March New Crop *3.75 July Aug. *3.66 Bariev Dec. Jan. Feb. *94 *95/*96 *98/*99 * * * * ib . 89 V . |j La Victoria 22 oz. Frozen hind quarters Turkey Tater Tots 55V. •l**e. |j Salsa Western Family io - 1 oz pkgs. Whole Fryers 78 V. Hot Cocoa Mix 99* : c . j n Western Family 16 oz. Oranges » 18V 1 lb . b ag Mini Carrots Snack Crackers *!■* jj Western Family 2 lb. Brick 99V Med. Cheese 1 lb . b ag Reg. Carrots 19V. Closed New Year's Dav « 76 - 996 / -A . 1 :<
