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.