Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 13, 1993)
Historical Society honors Century Farms and Oregon Trail descendents L-R: Amy Betts, Jess Osmin and Al and Donna Osmin receive century farm certificate from Mr. Brontano (center). By Delpha Jones . VOL. 112 NO. 41 8 Pages Wednesday. October 13, 1993 Morrow County Heppner, Oregon \ Massive street reconstruction project could begin next year with no new taxes Heppner city administrator Gary Marks outlined a plan at the city council meeting Monday night, Oct. 11 that would fund replacement of many of the city’s streets and would not increase taxes. If the plan is approved by the council, construction would begin next year. The project would be funded through a 15-year. $350.(XX) gas tax revenue bond. Gas tax revenues are funds which are returned to cities and earmarked for street maintenance. The city's yearly portion now amounts to around $64,000 a year. Under the gas tax bond plan, the city would, in effect, borrow on future gas tax revenues. Marks says that the time is right for such a project because of the current 5.5 percent interest rate, the lowest in years. In ad dition, the city streets are deteriorating rapidly and con struction costs are rising at such rates, that the city could see $750,000 in street repairs if they continue on the present plan, which is replacing one or two streets a year. Streets targeted for repair in clude all or portions of Union. Jones, C hurch, B altim ore, Center. Quaid, Elder, Stansbury, Aiken, Gilmore, Hill, Cowins, Matlock. Green, Shobe, Barratt, South Court. “ A” and Pioneer Drive. The council voted to have Marks proceed with the plan, which would get underway the summer of 1994 if it receives final approval. Doug Ferguson of Ferguson Surveying and Engineering, Mt. Vernon, provided details on reconstruction of Church Street, which will be the first to undergo repair. Ferguson provided two plans, one which would exclude sidewalks and driveway cutouts at a cost of $43,508; and another which would provide sidewalks and cutouts for an additional $10,882. The plan includes curbs and a planting strip and is design ed to improve the street’s poor drainage. Marks also told the council that the $1.2 million Main Street renovation project has been in cluded in the State Highway budget, and a grant for renova tion of downtown sidewalks has been approved. The sidewalks renovation project, funded by the Intermodel Surface Transporta tion Enhancem ent Act (ISTEA ) which is ad ministered by the Oregon Depart ment of Transportation, will pro vide $108,000 for sidewalks and $20,000 for a turnout at the ci ty’s proposed mini-park. The proposed park is adjacent to Linden Way between the Hinton and Willow Creek bridges. Both of these projects are scheduled for 1997. LoRayne Bowman resigns from council Heppner city council member LoRayne Bowman submitted her resignation at the council meeting Monday night, Oct. 11. Bowman said she has moved out of the Heppner city limits and is no longer eligible to serve. Mayor Bob Jepsen presented Bowman a certificate of apprecia tion for her years of service. Bowman has served on the coun cil since August 1991. The city is now seeking letters of application for the position. In other business the council has scheduled Thursday, Oct. 21 for a dedication ceremony at the city's proposed mini park. Oct. 21 is also the date for the opening of bids for the city wastewater project. The yearly meeting of the Mor row County Historical Society was held on Sunday, Oct. 3 at the Lexington G range Hall. Preceding the business meeting a turkey dinner was served. The president gave a welcome to all present and thanked everyone who helped with the an nual meeting and the projects (about 15) the past year. Many of the projects involved the wagon train. Lorraine and George Grif fith were especially recognized as they had prepared dinner for the members of the last horse-drawn group that stopped at Cecil. Jean Nelson, committee chairman presented certificates to the peo ple present who were descendents of Oregon Trail travelers. The Chronicles committee was thanked and this year’s issues were presented to the schools in the county and to the nursing home. The oldest lady present, Mrs. T.E. Messenger, received a miniature rose. Those traveling the furthest were the Crum sisters, who came from The Dalles and are visiting a brother Ralph. The ladies who gave their reports on early recollections of Morrow County and won the contest at the fair were present and entertained with their essays and talks. Dorris Graves, Hepp ner, Gladys Hobbs and Velma Hams of Irrigon each received a m onetary prize. Barbara Bloodsworth, Betty Carlson and Pat Wright were in charge of the project. Judges were Don Eppen- bach, Irrigon and Jerry Peck, Boardman. Mr. Brontano from the state historical society presented cen tury farm certificates to Charles C. and Delpha Jones and A1 and Donna Osmin. The certificates are presented to the families who have farmed the original farmland continuously for the past 100 years. The Osmin farm was original ly farmed by the Osmin and Bun- dage settlers. It is located south of Heppner on Balm Fork. Delpha and Chas C. Jones receive century farm certificate The Jones' farm the homestead property on Willow Creek highway, three miles north of Lexington, originally settled by E.D. McMillan. Mr. Brentano told more about Century Farms saying that 45 farms were recognized this year. He told another aspect of Oregon settlers and their trip around the Cape Horn comparing it to the overland route. The Good News singers from Irrigon entertained with several numbers followed by a short business m eeting. The nominating committee nominated the following for three year terms: Pat Wright, Don Eppen- bach, Harold Peck and Ruth McCabe. As there were no nominations from the floor the committee report was accepted. Correspondence included let ters and a petition to save the old Irrigon school building which could be used as a community center, library, etc. The building is scheduled to be tom down soon. A letter was read from the Hardman Community Center asking the opinion on removal of- the old storage shed at the Hard man Cemetery. The vote was recommended to remove the building as it is no good in the present state. This is an Odd fellow Cemetery and the group hopes to care for it. At present the cemetery is cared for by the Hardman Community Center group. The tug used years ago is now settled in at the Port of Morrow and work has begun on repairs so it can be used as a tourist attraction. It was announced that the socie ty has a memorial fund and ac cepts donations in memory of departed ones. Cards are sent by the secretary to the bereaved families. SherifPs office plans move A new dress code at Photo by Joyce Hughes Heppner High School? No, it’s just three members of the Mustangs football team show ing how tough and brave they are in full dress, scaring off the Rockets. Joe Lindsay (I), Ryan Munkers (c) and Shaun Hisler are dressed for Homecoming week activities. Tuesday was cowboy and Indian day, Monday-inside out day, Wednesday- beach day, Thursday-army day and Friday-blue and gold day. A parade and pep assembly will be held Friday at 4 p.m. downtown with the game against the Pilot Rock Rockets at 7:30 p.m. During halftime one of the princesses on the Homecoming court will be crowned queen. The Morrow County Sheriff s office plans to move this weekend from its current office in the cour thouse basement to a new facili ty at the former U.S. Forest Ser vice building in Heppner. Undersheriff Verlin Denton said that Oct. 19 all systems are “ go” at the new building. Denton said that the move is largely federally funded through the Chemical Stockpile Emergen cy P reparedness Program (CSEPP) and 911 is funded through the state. CSEPP was developed in case of a chemical agent release at the Umatilla Army Depot during destruction of the chemicals. In addition to the regular duties, the sheriffs office would coor dinate the emergency procedures. Oregon Trail descendents are (back l-r): Kathryn Hoskins. Marlene Barnett, Lindsey Kincaid, Fred Martin and Frances Griffith. Front-Jean Nelson, Dorris Graves, Betty Carlson, Vern Bat ty, Edith Matthews and Jodee Carlson (center front). Boardman man pleads guilty to rape charges Donald Henry Dickenson. 36. Boardman. plead guilty Friday. Oct 8 at the Morrow County Courthouse to first degree rape and first degree kidnapping charges of an eight-year old Boardman girl, according to Morrow County District Attorney Earl R. Woods, Jr. A pre-sentence investigation for Dickenson has been ordered. Since Dickenson had previously been convicted of rape and sodomy, he will be sentenced to prison for a determined time and will not be eligible for parole. said Woods. Dickenson is in custody at Ben ton County Jail aw aiting sentencing.