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City sewer system bids way over budget
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Elation over a $300,000 grant
from the Oregon Economic
Development Department to help
fund a new sewer system for the
city of Heppner turned into
dismay as council members learn
ed that construction costs were
greatly underestimated.
Allen Rieke, project engineer
with A nderson Perry &
Associates engineering firm, told
the council that his firm had
estim ated project costs at
$1,343,390. But, only three bids
were received, the lowest from
Thom pson, M cDougal at
$1,967,512, which was over
$624 thousand over the estimate.
The other two bids were from
GTE Metal Erectors, Inc., at
$1,988,174 which was nearly
$645 over the estimate; and from
General Contractors Alliance
Corporation at $2,274,742 which
was over $931 thousand over the
estimate.
When council members con
fronted Rieke about the dispari
ty between the estimate and bids,
Rieke told the council, “ You’re
right. We’ve always been behind
in the dollars and we’re always
trying to play catch-up.”
Rieke said that the bids were
“ high and not very competitive,”
and added that many contractors
who would normally bid, were
extremely busy this time of year
and may have been put off by the
project’s strict timeline.
The city however, is under a
deadline. The sewer system must
be completed by Sept. 1994 in
order to be in operation for a year
by Sept. 1995 to retain the
original Environmental Protec
tion Agency grant to fund the pro
ject. After that date, the grant will
expire.
The city has also signed a con
tract with the Willow Creek
Country Club to spray effluent on
the golf course. However, accor
ding to the contract, the irrigation
system must be installed by
March 1 so that the course will
be in operation during the golf
ing season. If the system is not
installed by then, the city must
wait until October, when the golf
ing season is over. City officials
and Rieke said they will attempt
to work things out with WCCC.
“ I’m getting tired of going in
to this project without any
choices,” commented council
member David Allstott.
The project has been fraught
with problems almost since its in
ception. In addition to changes in
the project and rising costs, the
city has had problems siting the
wastewater treatment facility,
which was mandated by the
Department of Environmental
Quality.
Council members voted to
rebid the project in October and
make the time line more flexible,
in hopes that more companies will
bid. In addition, city officials and
Anderson Perry & Associates
will attempt to trim non-essentials
from the project. But, the city
may have to raise sewer rates
around $1 a month per $100 thou
sand in increased project costs.
City administrator Gary Marks
remains optimistic about the pro
ject. “ We’re this close,” he said.
“ We’re going to make it.”
Official wagon trains to stop at Cecil
By Anne Morter
VOL. 112
NO. 32
26 Pages Wednesday, August 11, 1993
Morrow County Heppner, Oregon
Riding way of life for Princess Rondi
Princess
Rondi Robinson
Height: 57"
Eyes: blue
Hair: blond
Parents: Kirk and Delia
Age: 16 yea*’ old junior
Heppner High School
Activities: varsity basketball,
volleyball, sophomore class
representative student coun
cil, FFA judging team.
time has been filled with plenty
of laughter plus time to get ac
quainted with other courts. And
along the way they have been
busy promoting Morrow County
while meeting new people, she
says.
School activities include sports
where Rondi plays on varsity
basketball and volleyball teams.
She was the Sophomore class
representative for student coun
cil. and reporter for the Heppner
FFA chapter. As a member of the
FFA advanced judging team, dur
ing a busy fair week she will par
ticipate in the judging contests
along with showing a steer. She
recently received a certificate
nominating her for the “ Who’s
Who” award based on academic,
athletic and extra-curricular
Princess Rondi Robinson's
sweet 16 year is highlighted by
memorable experiences. As a
court member of the Morrow
County Fair and Oregon Trail
Pro Rodeo. August 18-22, this
year’s royalty will be the first to
make grand entries in the new
permanent Heppner rodeo arena.
And it’s “ Wagons Ho to the
Morrow County Fair” in con
junction with the celebration of
the Oregon Trail migration 150
years ago.
The daughter of Kirk and Delia
Robinson, this attractive blond
princess will be a junior at Hepp
ner High School this year. Also
at home at their Hinton Creek
residence is her younger brother
Royal.
Influenced by Kirk and Robin
son family members, Princess
Rondi remembers riding since
Photo by Joyce Hughes
she was big enough to “ hang Princess Rondi Robinson helps out on the ranch feeding and
on.” Though she has been watering her steer and getting it ready for fair,
“ bounced o f f ' a few times, she
the queen’s white outfit. And the activities.
says she enjoys competing in 4-H
court’s fashionable appearance
During her 4-H years she has
and open horse events. At the re
has been rew arded with been a camp counselor, a junior
cent 4-H horse show she receiv
numerous parade wins, Rondi leader and has held offices.
ed the senior all-around reserve
says.
Babysitting has filled her spare
championship although she ad
Early morning starts have time during this summer and then
resulted in the usual lengthy waits it’s back to school. However the
mits she didn't have much time
in parade line-ups after being court will still be making official
for practice.
Rondi had a set-back earlier assisted by family members and appearances during September in
this summer when she injured her friends. They even arrived an the Pendleton Round-Up and
knee while playing basketball.
hour earlier than necessary for the Walla Walla parades before they
When the court participated in Irrigon Watermelon Festival hang up their spurs.
lone's July Fourth of parade, parade, she says. But waiting
shortly after her knee surgery,
princess Rondi received some
good natured kidding about using
a step ladder to mount her all-
around court mount ‘Bey Adni’.
time Sheriff Roy Drago arrived
Gary Warren. Morrow Coun
And she was teased about mak
on the scene, the baby’s head was
ing a ‘fashion statement’ when ty Sheriff s Deputy, has added a crowning. Warren delivered a
jo b
title
to
his
her Nikes contrasted with her of new
healthy baby girl at 4:01. Drago
resume-midwife.
ficial riding habit while prepar
said that the baby started crying
Warren was called to the Sand
ing for the parade.
immediately after delivery.
The princesses’ official riding piper Apartments in Boardman
The ambulance arrived short
outfits this year are teal ultrasuede around 3:57 p.m. on August. 3. ly thereafter and transported the
with colorfttl inlays accented with When he arrived a 22 year-old mother and baby to Good
fringe. Black hats, blouses and woman. Sandy Twidwell. was Shepherd Community Hospital in
boots make a striking contrast to already in hard labor and by the Hermiston.
It’s all part o f the job
The wagons are coming! Since
leaving the Idaho-Wyoming
border on June 26, the official
Oregon Trail Sesquicentennial
Wagon Train has trudged across
many miles, making their way to
Oregon City for the Labor Day,
End-Of-The Trail celebration.
On August 18 and 19 the train
will be stopped in historic Cecil,
for two days. Cecil is located ap
proximately 15 miles north of
lone or 15 miles south of 1-84 on
state highway 74.
The wagons are due in
Wednesday, August 18, in the
early afternoon, but to get in the
spirit, an old-fashioned box lunch
social is planned prior to their ar
rival at noon. Several prominent
local cooks are busily working to
make sure their lunch baskets
bring top dollar. Anyone and
everyone is invited to bring a pic
nic lunch and join in this event.
The afternoon will feature con
cession and craft booths, bingo,
and several types of entertain
ment, including a local history
presentation and square dancing.
A potluck, which is open to the
public, is planned for 6 p.m. Peo
ple joining in the potluck are ask
ed to bring their own table ser
vice and a main dish, salad or
dessert. Drinks will be availallj
at the Cecil store. People should
also bring lawn chairs.
Thursday, Aug. 19, will again
feature concession and craft
booths and bingo. Also on the
slate are kids’ games, a pie auc
tion, and starting at 5 p.m. a lamb
barbecue dinner. The menu in-
HES principal hired
William A. Karwacki (pro
nounced Karwaski) has been
hired by the Morrow County
School District to replace Bryan
Traylor as principal at Heppner
Elementary School.
Most recently from the Maple
Grove School District at Molalla,
Karwacki, 60, brings 36 years of
education experience to his Hepp
ner assignment. Karwacki was a
teacher for four years, a school
psychologist for seven years and
an administrator for 25 years.
Karwacki taught language arts,
social studies and mathematics at
Quincy Junior High School at
Quincy, WA. He then spent
seven years as a school
psychologist at the Moses Lake
School District at Moses Lake,
WA. He served as principal at
Larson Heights Elementary
School at Moses Lake and at
Aspen Elementary School at
Evanston, Wyoming. He was
superintendent and principal at
Elkton School District and at
Maple Grove School District and
Dickey Prairie School District,
shared a position at Molalla. This
past year Karwacki has been
superintendent, principal and
teacher at the Maple Grove
School District.
Karwacki received a BA and
MS of arts in education at
W estern W ashington State
University. He completed an
educational adminstrational pro
gram at WWSU and Utah State
University.
Karwacki has been a member
of the Lions Club, a volunteer
coach of Pee Wee basketball and
a little league and Babe Ruth
baseball coach. He has been a
volunteer counselor and evaluator
for Juvenile Services and is a past
member of the United Way board
of directors at Moses Lake.
Karwacki and his wife. Pennie,
have two children, a daughter
Sina, who is a senior, and a son.
Miles, an eighth grader.
eludes delicious barbecued lamb,
potato salad, baked beans, bread
and Rocky Trail ice cream, the
official ice cream of the wagon
train. Advance tickets are still
available at the H eppner
Cham ber o f Comm erce or
Wheatland Insurance, lone.
Finishing the evening will be a
street dance in front of the Cecil
store starting at 7:30 p.m. Dona
tions will be accepted at that
event.
Organizers encourage one and
all to experience the Oregon Trail
in Cecil where the Trail crossed
Willow Creek. With the newly
revitalized Cecil store, visible
wagon trail ruts, and plenty of
family activities, the days pro
mise to give an authentic pioneer
feel to the celebration, said
organizers.
Registration times
scheduled for
Heppner schools
The 1993-94 school year for
Morrow County schools will
begin August 30. Registration for
Heppner Elementary and High
School students will be August 24
and 26 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The
offices will be open Monday
through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3
p.m. prior to August 30 for
anyone unable to make the
registration days.
Fees for Heppner Elementary
and Middle School grades six
through eight will be $4 student
body and $2 towel fee. Heppner
High School fees will be $8 stu
dent body, $5 computer lab, $3
towel fee for sports and PE. $20
yearbook (optional) and $3
padlock
Any high school student
wishing to make a schedule
change should contact Mr.
Dickenson at the high school as
soon as possible. Students should
not wait until registration or the
first day of school to request a
change.
New barrel racing events added Special fair and
Three barrel racing events have
been added to the oregon Trail
Pro Rodeo performance on Satur
day, August 21.
A $100 divisional tour barrel
race will be added, in addition to
a $1,500 novice barrel race and
a $500 novice barrel race. The
races will follow the slack after
Saturday’s performance at ap
proximately 6 p.m.
The barrel races are open to
anyone. To enter, contact Mary
Ann Munkers, 989-8488 August
16 from 7 to 9 p.m.
Rodeo tickets on sale now
The Professional Rodeo
Cowboys Association rodeos will
be held on Saturday and Sunday,
August 21 and 22, with perfor
mances getting underway at 1
p.m.
Slack time is 8 a.m. Sunday.
Pre-sale ticket prices are $7.50
for adults and $4.50 for children
8-12. Tickets purchased at the
gate will be $8 for adults and $5
for children 8 to 12. Children 7
and under will be admitted free.
Tickets may be purchased at
the Bank of Eastern Oregon.
Heppner and lone branch. First
Interstate Bank, Country Shears.
At the Top, Green Feed and Seed
and Spicer. Kuhn & Mills, all in
Heppner, and Morrow County
Grain Growers in Lexington, or
phone Mary Ann Munkers. home
989-8488 or work 989-8202. 8
a.m .-noon. Monday through
Friday.
rodeo section in
Gazette-Times
A special 20-page Fair &
Rodeo section is included in this
week’s Heppner Gazette-Times.
The Fair and Rodeo starts next
week, and you can read all about
it in your special Fair & Rodeo
section.
Log Wrapper
contest new at fair
A new contest, sponsored by
Van Arsdale Construction has
been added to this year’s Morrow
County Fair.
The Log Wrapper Throwing
contest, which is open to
everyone, will be held right after
the log bucking contest.
A Montana Silver buckle, cash
and other prizes will be awarded
to the winner. There will be a $10
entry fee.