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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 22, 1993)
FOUR - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, December 22, 1993 The Official Newspaper of the City of Heppner and the County of Morrow Heppner G A Z E T T E -T IM E S U S P S. 240-420 Morrow County’s Home-Owned Weekly Newspaper Published »eekl> 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) 676-9228. Postmaster send address changes to the Heppner Gazette-Times, P.O. Box 337, Heppner. Oregon 97836. Subscriptions: $16 in Morrow, Wheeler, Gilliam and Grant Counties: $23 elsewhere. Joyce Hughes ............................................................ Office Manager, Typesetting April Hilton-Sykes................................................................................ News Editor Monique l»e*in............................................................................................... Bindery Penni Keersemaker ..........................................................................................Printer Jean Ann T u rn e r..................................................................................... Distribution David and April Hilton-Sykes, Publisher Letter to the Editor State mandates onerous To the Editor: The following is a letter sent to the League of Oregon Cities by city manager Gary Marks in response to new regulations under consideration by the Otegon Water Resources Department. Dear Joni: Senior staff associate, thank you for your memo dated December 7, 1993, ' wherein you notified me of the formulation of rules by the Oregon W ater Resources De part ment related to Water Manage ment and Conservation Plans. The following constitutes the Ci ty's comments. I must admit that I am dismayed that the state is pursu ing what appears to be yet another unfunded mandate to local government and the creation of another layer of bureaucracy at a time of governmental cutbacks. As the city manager of a very small city (pop. 1.440) the draft rules represent a very onerous and very expensive mandate. While many larger communities may not find the requirements too much of a burden, 1 suspect I am not alone in my concern related to small cities. As you know, the rules specify the participation of cities with populations as small as 750. Many of these cities do not even have staff support to help comply with the numerous and ongoing reports, requirements, and plans required by the draft rules. Furthermore, based on an “ economy-of-scale” analysis, it seems to me that the rules will, proportionately speaking, create a very expensive undertaking for small cities. The engineering ex penses required for compliance will undoubtedly amount to thousands of dollars, not to men tion the expense of mandated im provements that will follow the initial set of plans. Small cities simply do not have such funding just laying around waiting for the state to seize through regulation and their citizens don’t either. The city of Heppner has realiz ed a 42 percent reduction in its general property tax base due to Measure 5. In the past few years, we have also had to triple our sewer rates to comply with state and federal regulations related to our effluent discharge. As a result, our sewer rates are now at 99 percent of the EPA’s Affor dability Index. As our deferred sewer loans come due in the near future, we will likely step over the line of affordability. Must we now look forward to the same Financial scenario for our water system? If we do, I think the state needs to give some serious thought to the real possibility that their continuous flow of regula tions is making life in many small Oregon cities unaffordable, thus making them unviable places to live. We also feel the draft rules are an infringement of the city’s “ Home Rule” authority to main tain its own water system. If the draft rules appear unstop pable, I would propose that the minimum population for com pliance be raised to 5,000. Also, I would suggest that if the state feels that the issue at hand war rants the high priority the draft rules seem to lend to it, that such an issue should also mandate full funding from the state. These comments represent the city’s sincere concerns related to the draft rules. Thank you. Sincerely, (s) Gary B. Marks City Manager IJJbltiiu jyou a ß right aiulßeauti^ul J4oliday VanMarter & Kahl Insurance Bob, Marianne, Steve & Janet Sheriffs Report The Morrow County Sheriffs office reports dispatching the follow ing business during the past week: December 14: Morrow Coun ty deputy took a report of a possi ble burglary. Deputy was unable to locate report. Turned out to be a civil problem; Morrow County deputy took a report on a missing juvenile. In vestigation is continuing; M orrow County deputy responded to West Glen Addition in the Boardman area to in vestigate a dog problem; Morrow County Sheriff s of fice dispatched the Condon am bulance to a rural residence. There was no transport; M orrow County deputy responded to West Glen to in vestigate an on-going dog problem; M orrow County deputy responded to The Feedlot, Irrigon to take a report of a stolen vehi cle. Investigation continues. December 15: Morrow Coun ty deputy assisted Oregon State Police with a non-injury motor vehicle accident on 1-84, mile post 172.5. Deputies assisted with traffic control and blocking lanes of traffic; M orrow County deputy responded to Desert Springs Estates, Boardman, to do a re quested welfare check; M orrow County deputy reported an incident of telephone harassment. Investigation is continuing; M orrow County deputy responded to The Feedlot in Ir rigon to take a report of theft. An unknown amount of jewelry was reported missing. Value was undetermined at press time. December 16: Morrow Coun ty deputy responded to the West Glen area for a juvenile problem. December 17: Morrow Coun ty Sheriff s office dispatched the Heppner Fire Dept, to an elec trical fire at a Heppner residence; M orrow County deputy responded to a family dispute in Irrigon. Problem was resolved; Morrow County deputy began investigating a case of criminal mischief in lone. December 18: Morrow Coun ty Sheriff s office dispatched the Boardman ambulance to 1-84 at 730 interchange for a semi and trailer that had rolled over. One person was transported to Good Shepherd Community Hospital; Morrow County Sheriffs of fice responded to a reported vehi cle accident involving a cow in Irrigon. December 19: Morrow Coun ty Sheriff s office is investigating the death of a 22 month old in fant in the Irrigon area. December 20: Morrow Coun ty Sheriff s office dispatched the Boardman ambulance to 1-84, mile post 151, for a semi that had flipped over. One male was transported to Good Shepherd C om m unity Hospital with injuries; Morrow County deputy began investigation of a theft of 60-70 cases of beer from a trailer that was at Bat’s Towing in Irrigon; Morrow County Sheriffs of fice dispatched the Condon Fire Dept, to the Condon Air Base for a circuit breaker box on fire; M orrow County deputy responded to the Irrigon area for a neighborhood disturbance; Morrow County deputy took a vandalism complaint from Krissie Rea, lone, regarding Christmas lights torn off her residence; M orrow County deputy responded to Browns Auto in Ir rigon for suspicious circumstances. December 2 1: Morrow Coun ty deputy responded to Hwy 730 near the Feedlot for a report of a prowler. D.A.’s Report The District Attorney’s office at the courthouse in Heppner reports handling the following business during the past week: Roger Hager, formerly of Ir rigon. failed to appear for a hear ing Dec. 16 on charges of Posses sion of a Controlled Substance and Frequenting a Place where Controlled Substances are Found. A bench warrant was issued for his arrest. This incident stems from the same incident where Larry Miller, Irrigon, was ar rested and received 10 years in a federal penitentiary following convictions; Kristine Fields of Irrigon also failed to appear for arraignment on a charge of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. A bench war rant was issued for her arrest; Rusty Rodriguez, lone, was convicted Dec. 16 on charges of being an Ex-Con in Possession of a Weapon. Rodriguez will be sentenced Feb. 10, 1994; Jose L. Erevia, Irrigon, was convicted Dec. 16 of Assault in the Fourth Degree and was sentenced to 180 days in jail. Jail sentence was suspended on the condition he undergo anger management counseling and pay a $250 fine. The assault stemm ed from an incident in which his wife was named as the victim; Robert Morely of Irrigon, was found on Dec. 16, to have violated the conditions of his pro bation on a charge of Unauthoriz ed Use of a Motor Vehicle. This was Morely’s fifth probation revocation proceeding and as a result was sentenced to 180 days in jail; Carman Valencia, Boardman, plead not guilty Dec. 16, to Theft by Extortion and Obtaining Unauthorized Communication. The case is set for trial Feb. 10, 1994. “ This will be an interesting case as Mrs. Valencia is alleged to have tape recorded a girlfriend’s statement and then threatened to release the tape to her girlfriend’s husband if she didn’t pay money,” said district attorney Earl Woods, Jr.; The charges of Rape I/Kidnap involving Benito Gil-Santiago and Martinez-Comasena have been set for trial on January 20, 1994 These two defendants and a juvenile are charged with the rape of a 12 year old girl and the kid nap of that girl and another girl and boy all from the Hermiston area; Zointa Lopez of Boardman, failed to appear for hearing on a Driving While Suspended charge. A bench warrant has been issued; The trial of Darlene Johnson, charged with Burglary, Theft and being an Ex-Con in Possession of a Firearm, is set for Feb. 16. 1994. Births Nicholas Andrew Lacey-a son, Nicholas Andrew, was born to Janel and Andrew Lacy of Heppner, on November 30, 1993 at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Pendleton. The baby weighed 9 lbs. 5 oz. Grandparents are Deraid and LaVonne Lacey, Fossil and Mary Jane Peterson, Lake Summerset. III. County com m issioner Don McElligott and his wife, Eunice recently returned from a two-week visit to Peking, China, where they were the guests of their daughter, K athleen, and her husband. By Earl Woods Kathleen and her spouse are both physicians providing information to the Chinese on dialysis techniques. A1 Hopper, Morrow County’s new Public Works Director, reports that the road department is now grading and re-graveling Sand Hollow road in preparation for paving when weather improves. A1 also reports that the re-fencing along West Wilson Road near Boardman is in progress and that contracts are out for bid for relocating the irrigation ditches along that road. The bids will be opened January 7, 1994. Work on the relocation of the ditches must be completed by March 15, 1994, in order to assure water for the irrigation season. Hopper also indicates that the Fuller Canyon Bridge construction is complete except for a temporary plywood deck and gravel finish, which will be removed in the spring when the bridge is paved He has asked us to invite county citizens to provide input to his office as to any improvements the public might suggest regarding his department or the county road network. Margo Sherer, county treasurer and tax collector, tells us that the county tax receipts for the 1993-94 year stand at 83 percent col lected, which is a very high rate compared to other counties in the state. Gail Gutierrez, the newly elected president of the courthouse local of American Federation of County, Municipal and Public Employees union, reports that a meeting will be held by members of the local on Tuesday, Dec. 28. The purpose of the meeting will be to for mulate a bargaining position for the forthcoming round of negotia tions with Morrow County management. The AFSCME union also represents Pioneer Memorial Hospital employees and Morrow Coun ty Road Department employees. Keep an eye on the co-gen project at Coyote Springs. This is a ,*reat technological addition to the county (as well as a significant value-added asset) and has already generated a potential turf-war between various governmental entities which would like to include it within their borders. Hopefully, in the end, all com munities in the county will share in the benefits of being the host county for the new generation facility. Gentry-Allstott was the low bidder on the proposed 32’x34’ two )ay all steel garage and storage facility to be located at the intersec tion of May and Chase Streets in Heppner. Negotiations are still underway pending an approval of the city planning commission. There is talk circulating through the county concerning a proposal that the Extension Service in Morrow County be funded by the for mation of an extension district. This is an option which would eliminate the need to be included in the county one year operating budget. Around the County V less all the dear children in Thy tender care, And fit us for Heaven to live with Thee there. —from “Away In A Manger” To all the loving families w e’re so proud to call friends, our thanks and best wishes for a wonderful Christmas season. Heppner Gazette-Times David, April, Joyce, Monique, Jean Ann i l [ÜÂ1 Residential Industrial Commercial Remodels JM C O N S T R U C T IO N CO. Over 30 Years Experience Lie. # 7400 P O Box 121 Heppner, OR 97836 JERRY M URRELL Owner (503) 422-7511 Peace & Joy As the holiday unfolds In all its mystery and beauty, may you experience the warmth of the season. Merry Christmas and many thanks. ( Jack, Ruth Shannon, Bev Tom A Jered Court Street Market JOY TO THE WORLD ...and to our many friends! With all the tools at hand, may your holiday season be built upon love, laughter, peace and good will. We re proud to say thank you to all who've been there tor us throughout the year We will close at 5 p.m. Fri., Dec. 24 ^Goast to Goast I lo loyal patrons w e extend our thanks and best wishes for o wonderful, white JwmCJmtm 733 3 4
