Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (April 28, 1993)
FOUR - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, April 28, 1993 Landfill monies could benefit pool study Outrageous costs The Official Newspaper of the City of Heppner and the County of Morrow Heppner To the Editor: One of the many steps involv ed in building a public swimm ing pool in the Heppner area is a feasibility study by engineers to see if the proposed sites would be suitable for a pool. This study is estimated to be between $7,000 and $10.000. The city of Heppner is receiv ing. through Morrow County, their share of fees received from Finley Butte Landfill. A commit tee will be meeting later in May to decide how to allocate these GAZETTE-TIMES U S P S. 240-420 Morrow County’s Home-Owned Weekly Newspaper Published weekli and entered as second-class matter at the Post Office at Hepp ner. Oregon under the Act of March 3, 1879. Second class postage paid at Hepp ner, Oregon. Office at 147 West Willow Street. Telephone (503) *76-9228. Postmaster send address changes to the Heppner »¡a/ette-Times, P.O. Bo* 337, Heppner, Oregon 97836. Subscriptions: $15 in M on«», Wheeler, Gilliam and Grant Counties: $23 elsewhere. Joyce Hughes ............................................................. Office Manager, Typesetting April Hilton-Sykes .....................................‘............................................News Editor Mary Van Bibber................................................................. Graphics Department Monique D evin............................................... ,............................................... Bindery Penni Keersemaker........ ............................... ................................................ Printer Jean Ann Turner .......... ........................................................................ Distribution Marks is an asset David and April Hilton-Sykes. Publishers L e tte rs to th e E d ito r Let council know your opinions To the Editor: A letter to the registered voters of the City of Heppner: I take the comments made by Marlene Gray in the April 21, 1993 letters to the editor section of the Heppner Gazette-Times to heart. In fact, if I didn’t know that I have never visited with her on these matters. I’d think she was paraphrasing my own thoughts. When I decided last fall to run for reelection to the council, I made a commitment to the voters of this city. My first responsibili ty is to represent the people who elected me to office. I have tried very hard to do just that. For the most part, the council members are left on our own to try to deter mine what we think is best. But when a controversial issue arises, such as the transient room tax and the city manager’s contract, you let us know what you think. I will tell you that I make a con scious effort not to base my vote on personal opinion, but on what 1 feel is truly best for the entire city. As an example, I voted for the transient room tax because I believe that the chamber manager position, which is funded by that tax, benefits the entire city of Heppner. I also voted against a plan whereby city employees can receive up to a six percent merit pay raise based on an evaluation done by their supervisor. It does not require ratification by the council, except in the case of the city manager. In this case, the council is the supervisor. Placed on top of a 3.5 percent net in crease in employees salaries for 1993/94. it is possible for an employee to realize a 9.5 percent increase in salary. A Gazette- Times article mentioned that such a plan had passed. As a council member, I received no negative comments from you, the citizens. Am I alone in feeling that such a plan is not in the best interests of the citizens of Heppner? All the blame for unpopular decisions cannot be laid on the shoulders of your elected representatives. (However, we’d be more than happy to accept all the credit for popular decisions.) You also have a duty and respon sibility to be informed. Where were you when the public meetings on the budget were be ing held? That is one forum where the nuts and bolts of opera- tions are discussed. Those meeting dates are published in the Gazette-Times. Granted, it is dif ficult to know what is being discussed at council meetings. (Even the council members don’t receive an agenda until the Fri day before Monday night coun cil meetings.) But what does it take to make a phone call to city hall to ask what is on the agen da? A couple minutes of your time. I have a number of issues that I would like to bring before the public. Therefore, in an effort to exchange information and con cerns, I am making myself available on Saturday, May 1, 1993 in the front sitting room of St. Patrick’s Senior Center from 1-3 p.m. My agenda will include: 1) The program for merit in creases in salary; 2) The 1993/94 budget; 3) The level of current ser vices; and 4) Issues brought forth by the public. If you are as concerned about your city government as I am, please make the effort to be heard. If you can't be present per sonally, you may also contact me at home at 676-5417 in the evenings. Remember, if your council members are truly going to repre sent you. you need to let them know your opinions. Thank you, (s) Martha J. Doherty Heppner City Councilmember To the Editor: The Heppner city residents can be thankful to have some rational thinking city council members who use common sense. It appears. Chuck Holt, Mar tha Doherty and Dave Pranger realize you don’t have to give a city employee all kinds of re wards and benefits for doing what he or she was hired for and paid to do. If the mayor and other city council members wish to risk their personal monies to co-sign on a mortgage loan for a city employee, that’s fine, but don't involve the rest of the Heppner city taxpayers. I believe there are people in all levels of government who do not understand what measure 5 is all about. (s) G. Sonstegard Council members use common sense To the Editor: Knowing that many agree with me, I write this to affirm and sup port the work of our city manager. Gary Marks, during the past two years. Coming into a virtually ‘ strap ped” little town, he has found ways to finance projects that seemed impossible. Among other accomplishments, he has prepared the town’s first long- range plan for equipment, staff ing and street repairs, initiated passage of a bond to insure and improve fire protection, engineered the new county-wide, cost effective library project, was active in implementing the “ new look" on Main Street, worked on a deal with DEQ to move forward with the apparently bogged down sewer-improvement project, and has redesigned our spending policies so we now operate on a cost allocation system. Furthermore, through active membership in the Coordinating Council, HEDC, Chamber of Commerce, Willow Swimming Pool Commission. Main Street Task Force, Fire Dept., Ad visory, Housing Authority and others, he is able to facilitate communication among them and coordinate what might be fragmented productivity. He is also giving Heppner a favorable fees to benefit the area. The Willow Creek Park District’s ex ploratory committee on the swim ming pool is applying for these landfill fees to pay for the pool feasibility study. If you would like to have these fees approved towards a public swimming pool feasibility study, please show your support by calling or drop ping by Heppner City Hall or writing Gary Marks, city manager, Heppner, or Skip Mat thews, Heppner. Thank you. (s) Kay Proctor image in outlying areas in the state. It is true that right now we have no swimming pool, but with Gary Marks’ managerial skills and our conscious support, we will have one. The press may have unwitting ly left space for a fallacy of think ing that the proposed contract was an ultimatum issued by Gary Marks. Wrong. That contract was presented by a committee from the council, and his ‘no’ did not mean he was quitting it if wasn’t signed. Actually, we have to be thankful that this young man and his family wanted to come here to live. They are a definite asset. Through his vision and creativi ty, he has tended to wake us up and encouraged us to plan a positive future for this little town. He merits our help to have a de cent home (he's making the payments, not us) and to set his hours, too. With his energy and commitment. I’ll wager he’s already worked many overtime hours and will continue to. Also the city council can do their best work with some positive re-inforcement. They have already done the best thing to happen here in years by hiring Marks as manager. Sincerely, (s) Jane Rawlins Vote yes for county budget To the Editor: The county levy needs careful consideration and support. The levy provides funding for the many county services that we rely on in our day to day lives. We feel that the county court and budget committee have carefully reviewed the county budget to make sure our tax dollars are used wisely. Please join us in voting yes for the Morrow County operating levy. Yours truly, (s) Larry and Betty Mills Vote yes for county levy To the Editor: The Heppner Chamber of Commerce is encouraging Mor row County residents to vote yes on the county operating one year levy outside the tax base. The membership present at the Tues day, April 20 chamber meeting endorsed the levy. Our county needs the services that would have to be cut should the levy be voted down again. Loss of ser vices means loss of potential business and a lower quality of life for all of us. This is the time to be positive and move forward, not backwards. Please mail your yes ballot to the courthouse by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 18. Thank you. Sincerely, (s) Rollie Marshall, President Heppner Chamber of Commerce Why are pets being killed? To the Editor: About three weeks ago our dog got out of the yard. He was gone for two weeks before we put a lost dog ad in the paper. Last week he was found. Someone had shot him and thrown him off the bridge over Balm Fork. I have a couple of questions for whoever is responsible for this. Why was the dog shot? His only crime was that he was out of the yard. For what reasons are the pets in our town being killed and thrown in Willow Creek Lake or up Slaughter House Road? Who or what is next9 (s) Delbert Binschus To the Editor: Recently I saw in the “ East Oregonian’’ a “ That’s Outrageous” letter to the editor about high costs for lab fees at St. Anthony’s. That has compelled me to tell my “ outrageous” tale. In December I was in Pioneer Memorial Hospital for 24 hours. Every day I take three tablets. Premarin, Provera and Syn- throid, total cost is less than 20 cents per day. Not each. Just before I left the hospital a nurse brought a cup of pills. Among them were my three. The thought crossed my mind to refuse them because I could take them at home in a few minutes, but I took them. 1 was charged $12.75 for the Synthroid, $15 for the Provera and $18.63 for the Premarin. A total of 46.38. I spoke to the hospital ad ministrator. He said it did sound exorbitant and that he would in vestigate and be in touch with me. That was several weeks ago. In January 1 was in St. An thony’s hospital. But I got smart. I refused the pills. Sincerly, (sj Mary Jean McCabe To the Editor: For the past 13 years we have been involved in the Centennial Middle School 8th grade ex change either by hosting students in our home, sharing our ran ching business and a meal or helping other livestock growers do the same. The purpose is to give city students a better understanding of the beef in dustry, including year round care of cattle and branding day on the ranch. One of the pluses is con tinued correspondence with ranch visitors over the years and work ing side by side with other ran chers exchange day. We in the livestock industry were a bit sensitive regarding the caption under last week’s photo of the Portland student “ watching with disgust” is not exactly the type of public education the beef industry is striving for. In the photo surgery was being per formed on the bull calf, castra tion; neutering if it were being performed on your cat or dog. animals might be viewed with trepidation or concern, rather than disgust, since it serves a useful purpose. We hope the eighth graders who took home copies of the Gazette will explain to their families what was hap pening. We appreciate the articles made available for the students. The livestock industry is a business and like all other businesses takes pride in its pur pose and appreciates positive press. Possibly we all fall a bit short when it comes to sharing our business with the guy “ next door” to further understanding. Local exchanges might be a possibility. We have enjoyed working with the Heppner Middle School staff and Dave Olcott from Centennial over the years, and are glad to continue upon request. We learn from each other. Sincerely (S) Merlin and Claudia Hughes Hughes Ranch lone Topic Club members will hold their spring money maker, a food sale, at the lone City Hall May 7 at 10 a.m. Money from this sale helps to finance the operation of the library and pay the salary of the librarian, Edith Matthews. Sensitive to photo caption Surgery, whether on humans or lone Topic club meeting May 7 In T h e Heppner Gazette Your A d s A re Read Call 676-9228 to place your ad Crop Hail Insurance *10% cash discount * Reduces rates in most areas PLOYHAR ftl. 676-5218 INSURANCE Give us a try. Heppner Elks #358 Schedule Of Events The Elks Lodge dining room will be closed this Friday and Saturday only to allow employees off due to the state convention. We will have regular meals Fri-Sat the following week. Lounge will remain open this week-end. Heppner Elks 358 676-9181 142 N. Main "Where Friends 7 m Court Street Market CHEVROLET/j Over the years some things never change at a quality dealership HONESTY-INTEGRITY-RESPONSIBILITY-SERVICE Doing business for over 45 years in the same old fashioned way CM 111 N. Court Heppner 676-9643 GROCERIES - MEATS - PRODUCE Western Family Imitation 24 oz. B eef Stew Meat T-Bone Steak Boneless B eef Ribs Ends & Pieces Bacon M acaroni & Cheese Western Family 3 Roll Pack SHERRELL CHEVROLET Hermiston, Oregon Phone 567-6487 M aple Syrup B eef Cube Steak Western Family 7'4 oz. CHEVROLET M eet" Paper Towels Western Family 32 oz. pkg. Sandwich Cookies * * •* « , Western Family 32 oz. Ketchup Potatoes $4a*ib. Red Baker Delicous *l**,b Apples Choice Oranges 69V reg 49c Ruby Red 5 lb. Bag reg. *2.19 reg. *1.49 99V 15V 59V 29V 99V Grapefruit Price Good ^ Ì 4 *pkg April 28th through May 4th reg.*2 09 3„*** reg. *2.69 M ** ea
