TWO - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, February 9, 1994
Area teens hear anti alcohol-drug message ChambercChatter
It
It
took getting k:*
hit by a tM^M
train to
change Kilt Thongdy’s life. But
Thongdy hopes that other young
people won’t have to go through
such a drastic experience to
change theirs.
Thongdy, who lived in Hepp
ner as a child in the late 70s and
early 80s with his parents, Som-
chith and Phou Thongdy, return
ed Feb. 4 to speak with middle
and high school students about the
use of alcohol. “ We’re choosing
the wrong road,” said Thongdy.
“ And that road is with alcohol
n
Und
and druCS.
drugs.” T Thongdy
h o n cd v said
said that in
in
Monday, February 14
[Fresh Tiger Prawns $IO°!
in Beer Batter
Prime Rib
Friday Nights
Cal’s, Restaurant
Heppner
X‘& „
A tiiiu i p m n »INNER
I n
Friday, Feb. 11, 4 - 7 p.m.
M
§
A
u
¥
HHS Home Ec. Room
Spaghetti • Homemade Bread • Dessert • Drink
Cake and coffee will be served
¥
¥
f i
u
■
Adults $400
; ■ Kids Under 8 $200
'
’
a n v t h i n o a k t n t thp arpiHpnt
anything about the accident.
At first the doctors didn’t think
he would make it. Then they
thought he would be brain
damaged. While he did lose both
legs and underwent six surgeries,
Thongdy gained a new outlook on
life.
“ I thought my life was ended
and I was dead,” said Thongdy.
“ Some people look at me and say
I’m disabled. I’m glad I’m disabl
ed, because it made me strong.
I thought I was never going to be
anything. I found so much in me
I never saw before.”
Now, at 21, Thongdy is a
counselor with Confidential
Counseling Services at Walla
Walla. He travels around speak
ing to young people about drugs
and alcohol and teaches both high
school and college classes. He
has traveled to 48 states and four
foreign countries and competes in
wheelchair athletics. Two years
ago he traveled to Paris and com
peted against 700 wheelchair
athletes. He placed 7th and
brought home $4,500. Since his
accident he says he has tried
snowboarding, hang gliding, rock
climbing and water skiing. A year
and a half ago he married his
wife, Angela.
Thongdy seems to be follow
ing in the footsteps of his parents
in demonstrating strength and
determination in the face of
adversity. Phou and Somchith
escaped with their four children
from their homeland in Laos to
tW_ Thailand. During the Vietnam
M ^ ar Ph°u had assisted the
-s Americans and was persecuted
for his actions. The family spent
three years in a refugee camp in
¥ Thailand before coming to the
U.S. in 1979 through sponsorship
f i
from several families at All Saints
¥ Episcopal Church in Heppner
u
Phou died in January of 1993.
Somchith and Kitt’s sister Tippi
(Phonetip) live in Walla Walla.
His brother, Tom (Pradith), has
two
children and lives in Her-
j
m iston. His older sister,
Bouapeth, has six children and
lives in California.
the space of two years, he lost
eight of his friends to alcohol. He
said that while he was drinking
his grades suffered and all he was
looking for was a good time.
Thongdy says that many peo
ple ask him if he was drunk when
he had his accident or if he was
trying to commit suicide. The
answer is no. He says he had been
fishing with his mother and was
walking along the railroad tracks.
He neither saw nor heard the train
coming and doesn’t remember
0
B
i
................................
Proceeds Go Towards HHS New Baseball Field j
Ad Sponsored By Morrow County Grain Growers
Pioneer Memorial Clinic
will be closed Monday,
February 21 to observe
President’s Day
M CG G G ro w e r M e e tin g
DATE: Friday, Feb. 11, 1994
9 9:30 a.m.
Willows Grange, lone
Russ Canon, Monsanto-W eed control in
m inim um till sytems
9:30 - 10 a.m.
Pete Vanourek, CIBA-New Products & Label
Updates
10 - 10:30 a.m.
Barry Duerk, Miles-Proper Tim ing for Cheat
Grass Control
10:45 - 11:30 a.m.
Dennis W ilson, DuPont-Herbicide Resistsance
Management
11:30 - Noon
|im Benson, Cenex Land O'Lakes, New
Products
J
Koffler selected
for Shrine Team
Heppner High School senior
Rick Koffler has been selected as
a quarterback for the 1994 East-
West Shrine Game East Team.
Activities will begin with
player pickup in Oregon City on
August 5. There will be a seven-
day training camp at Eastern
O regon State C ollege at
LaGrande before the game at
Bulldog Stadium at Baker City on
August 13.
Six coaches, representing A,
AA, and AAA schools and each
having a winning team within
their own division, selected a
32-man first team with a 32-man
alternate squad for both the East
and West teams.
Net proceeds from these games
lend to the support of Shrine
Hospitals for Burned and Crippl
ed Children. It is rated as the fifth
highest contributor to the
hospitals.
Other players named to the first
team were: quarterbacks Kris
Jensen. Baker City; Jeff Merrick.
Marist; ends Casey Easterly, On
tario; Richard Milne Junction Ci
ty, Greg Nolan, Cascade; Rob
Brown, Enterprise; Josh Sarratt,
Glendale; Jason Johnson, Lost
River; Steven Goss, Wallowa;
guards Justin Taylor, Bums;
Grant Kudlac, North Valley;
Cody Cory, Bonanza; fullbacks
Eric Olsen, Mac-Hi; Wade
Lockett, Stayton; T revor
Heighes, Elgin; tackles Andy
Severne, Junction City; Colby
1 2 - 1 p.m.
Lunch
1 - 3 p.m.
Denise Race, Sandoz-Small Grains Staging
Clinic.
Lunch will be provided and credit hours will be given
Sponsored by Dobyns Pest Control fc MCGG
There w ill also be a welding clinic at
MCGG Shop in lone starting at 1:30 p.m.
I Inknou/m.
Unknowns are
are not
not pattv
easy ftt to Iivp
live
with. We all deal with them dai
ly in small ways and in big ways
as we make decisions that involve
our livelihood...store owners go
to market and have to out guess
their customers as they put in
seasonal orders; ranchers plan
their operating budget around a
fluctuating product and weather
unknowns; new laws continue to
change our way of life; and now
the big unknown, what is going
to happen at the mill? Kinzua has
been our rock and a positive driv
ing force for our community.
Now it’s difficult for anyone to
focuss until we have answers, but
Heppner can and will meet the
challenges ahead. At this point we
can all ’’observe those moments
of silence’’ as legislators chose to
call them, and “ send it up" as II-
ene Laughlin advised people to do
in difficult times. We can only
hope that, should the sale go
through, the new owners will
recognize the importance of the
families involved and the industry
to Heppner. One step at a time.
In the meantime, it is im
perative that we continue to work
together to create a positive en
vironment where business, com
munity and people thrive. We
need to continue to forge ahead
with improvements and events
that attract visitors who might
have an answer for us. Our Wee
Bit O ’lreland celebration comes
to mind as volunteers are work
ing to put together the best
celebration ever. More music will
be featured, including strolling
street musicians, “ Hoot” , and
the return of “ Wham-a-Diddle-
Dingbats” plus our ever faithful
local musicians. New this year
will be O’Bull Busting, featuring
professional riders, directly
following the St. Pat’s auction. If
you have friends with RVs en
courage them to bring a large
group to Heppner March 18-20
and make sure they stop by the
auction, which keeps the event
ongoing. If you're leaving town
soon, stop by the office to take
along brochures and posters to
promote the event. Let’s shoot for
5,000 this year.
Next week Frank Pearson!
Kinzua C orp, will address
chamber and the membership will
review 1994 goals and action
plan.
Thought for the weeks ahead:
“ Keep sending up those
‘moments of silence’.”
St. Patrick’s
Senior Center
Bulletin Board
There were 100 people present for the senior dinner Feb. 2. in
cluding six guests. Five meals were taken out. Members of the
Methodist Church served. Huston Leslie of Hardman won the meal
ticket, Neval Palmer the door prize and Olek Farrens the guest prize.
Paul and Blanche Jones are host and hostess for the month of
February. The meal site committee met following the meal.
The Senior Board has appointed Ruby Steers as senior represen
tative to the Neighborhood Center board.
The menu for February 16 will be macaroni and cheese, green
beans, relish tray, rolls, fruit and cookies. Members of the Lutheran
church will serve.
Friday, Feb. 4. 12 volunteers folded newsletters for the Exten
sion service at the senior center.
Six people were present for the Sunday night movie.
Important dates to remember are March 18. 19 and 20, the annual
St. Patrick's celebration. The seniors will need lots of volunteers for
their activities. March 19-the breakfast at the fairgrounds, the soup,
roll, pie and coffee luncheon at the Senior Center, and the quilt raf
fle. Workers, pie makers and ticket sellers are needed. Please
volunteer to do your part. The proceeds from these projects help sup
port the Senior Center.
Tickts for the quilt are $1 each and are available at the Senior Center'*
office. The drawing will be March 19 in the sitting room.
A VFW Meeting will be held Feb. 16 at 7:30 p.m. in the Senior j
Center sitting room.
The AARP provides free tax assistance for low or moderate in
come tax payers. Call the Neighborhood Center for an appointment,
676-5024.
Other dates to remember; Monday, Bible study-10:30 a.m.,
quilting-1 -4 p.m.; Tues. and Thurs., exercise-10a.m.; Wed, senior
dinner-noon; Thurs.. knitting-7 p.m.; Friday, cards-2;30 p.m.; Sun
day, movie-6 p.m.
T he
Rick Koffler
Meyer, Silverton; Brandon Het-
tinga, Phoenix; Brian Keller,
Vale; halfbacks Jason Cousins,
North Marion; Cliff Jeans,
Elmira; Corey Maag, Vale; Brian
Pursiful, Umatilla; Chet Mills.
Weston-McEwen; Paul Rubrea,
St. Mary’s; J.J. Mast, Yoncalla;
Marcos Lopez, Dufur; Nate
Macrostie, Culver; Silas Turner,
Powder Valley; centers Sam
Coyle, Illinois Valley; Rod Isaac
son, Crane.
Leonard Brittner. Heppner,
was named an alternate end.
VALENTINE GIFT
THAT’S A S BEAUTIFUL
A S YOUR LOVE.
CARD PARTY—Pinochle
Lexington Grange Hall
Saturday, February 12, 7:30 p.m.
Sponsored by the Grange Women's Association
$5
includes prizes and refreshments
$5 PRIZE for high
Ad sponsored by M orrow County G rain G row ers
M M M N O O O M O O O O N M O O O O M M N IM
By Mtriyn Rottfnaon
W
T ig r i s —
'tr
•
February is the month for hearts and flowers, a holiday to honor
president's birthdays and the beginning of the Lenten season before
Easter. Interestingly it was named after the Festival Februalia and
became the second month of the Roman year. Custom says that
February’s flower is the blue violet and that amethyst, a purple or
violet gem, is this month’s birthstone.
Perhaps calendar makers made February into the shortest month
of the year to ease the sting of winter and to hurry spring along. So
with only six weeks left until the St. Patrick s celebration, it s time
to start thinking about shamrocks and leprechauns as snowflakes tall.
According to Irish folklore this mythical little figure can reveal
a buried crock of gold to anyone who can catch him. However there s
some green cash to be had during this celebration, even if you re
not fleet of foot.
Concocting a winning parade entry does take some forethought-
take a tip from Vonnie Lovgren who already is working on three
float entries for different organizations. But whether it s a sheepless
shepherd or a baggy potato outfit, there are categories for everyone.
More information can be obtained at VanMarter and Kahl s insurance
office.
There’s also time to organize a team of bed racers and get those
bed wheels greased. People for the Pool are organizing this event
and more information can be had trom Kay Proctor She is one of
those pool pushers who have already raised over $11,000 to help
finance a pool, although the what and where’s of this new facility
are still not definite.
For those would-be chefs, whether it’s barbecuing or conventional
dishes, Maureen Krebs is organizing a lamb cook-off. It will be held
in Skaggs Auto Clinic, the former Farley building. It s a chance to
win some great prizes for preparing simplistic but tantalizing dishes.
Entertainment abounds during St. Patrick’s weekend festivities,
thanks to organization by the hard working St. Patrick's committee.
From craft fairs to the coffee hour and dinners, it's a busy schedule.
And Saturday evening will feature a Whammadiddle Dingbats Con
cert at the Heppner Middle School gym.
This year’s sheep dog trials will be held at the Thompson ranch,
three miles northwest of Heppner. in order to have sufficient room.
However, the fairgrounds will still be a beehive of activity for campers
and residents. Breakfasts and a Sunday afternoon barbecued beef rib
and lamb dinner are planned.
Saturday afternoon the Oregon Trail Pro Rodeo committee is also
sponsoring a bull busting event in which professional athletes will
try their skills at riding bulls from the Beard Rodeo Contractors string.
Clowns and bull fighters will be on hand to assist riders and enter-t^
tain the crowd. For the younger set there will be stick horse races.
And don’t forget to dust off stored items or prepare a craft for*
the Saturday afternoon auction. Each organization or individual could
contribute something to help fund this annual funfest. And maybe
you'll be the lucky winner of the drawing for a $100 pot o'gold,
withouth have to catch a leprechaun.
_______
From the moment it's received to every
single moment thereafter, fine jewelry lets;
loved one know exactly how you feel
A
Member
Jewelers of America, ine.
Peterson’s
C T — '— —
Heppner
Jewelers
676-9200