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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 9, 1994)
FOUR - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, February 9, 1994 The Official Newspaper of the City of Heppner and the County of Morrow Heppner GAZETTE-TIMES U S P S. 240-420 Morrow County’s Home-Owned Weekly Newspaper Published «tek!> 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 Will«» 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 (.rant Counties; $23 elsewhere. Joyce H u g h e s.............................................................Office Manager, Typesetting April Hilton-Svkes ................................................................................ News Editor Monique lies i n ................................................................................................Bindery Penni k e e rse m a k e r..........................................................................................Printer Jean Ann T u rn e r......................................................................................Distribution David and April Hilton-Sykes, Publisher Letters to the Editor Get involved with your community To the Editor: Those o f us that sincerely love living in south Morrow County urgently need to re-evaluate our volunteer efforts on behalf of our community. A -need exists for more people to be actively involv ed in the decision-making process of south Morrow County. Recently the county court sent a letter to the cities of Heppner, Lexington and lone, as well as numerous civic organizations, 'asking for help via a task force examining facts concerning the abandonment of the railroad line and attendant possible problems and/or opportunities this will provide. No one from any of the cities involved responded, and too few from anywhere else. When I bluntly said recently that the city should be listening to facts and concerns, and cooperating with the county court, the Heppner ci ty manager was furious with me. I fully realize the hours he spends in meetings but what is so dif ficult about delegating someone else (like any city council member or a staff member) to go? Beats no communication surely. Another person present said that there had already been a meeting concerning Rails to Trails, so why go? I do not know where this person got the impres sion that this was the purpose of the task force. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Willow Creek Dam was built with an additional water for irrigation purposes included in the plans. This potential has never been developed because we presently have no irrigation district. I recently was visiting with our district forest service ranger at a Chamber of Commerce meeting and asked if she thought the bull nose trout was going to be plac ed on the endangered species list. She said yes. I asked what this process was and she replied a year of hearings. It is possible that a restriction on how much water could be used for irrigation from Willow Creek couid be forced upon us shortly thereafter. The Army Corps of Engineers is currently investigating whether the money for the irrigation potential was let go previously, or still available. I suspect that all such findings hinge on communi ty involvement. A generator at the dam is a possibility to help pay for an irrigation project. Many, many vital issues need ex amining and good decisions made. Now. before someone else claims the water. Without cooperation from all quarters, and up-to-date local knowledge of what we are faced with, our community can go down the drain. To illustrate your concern for the future, please pick up the phone, call the coun ty court’s office and add your name to the task force commit tee. Discover what's at stake in your own back yard. Sincerely, (s) Meg Murray — Pettyjohn’s Farm & Builder’s Supply — N ew sto re ho u rs Starting Saturday, Feb. 12 Mon-Fri. 8:30 a.m . - 5 p.m. Sat. 8:30 a.m . - 12 noon Closed Sundays S h e riff’s R ep o rt The Morrow County Sheriff s office in Heppner reports dispat ching the following business dur ing the past week: February 1: Morrow County deputy responded to the Rippee Road area for a report of an un wanted person on private proper ty. Deputy was unable to locate person. February 2: Morrow County deputy responded to Brown’s Truck Stop in Irrigon for a report of Criminal Mischief. A window was reported to be smashed on a ton wagon; Morrow County Sheriff s of fice dispatched the Boardman am bulance to Olson Road for an in jury accident. Patient was transported to Good Shepherd Comm unity Hospital in Hermiston. Morrow County deputy in vestigated the report o f a suspicious item near the Port of Morrow exit. It was a possible flare; Morrow County Sheriff s of fice dispatched the Boardman am bulance to West Glenn Addition for an injury accident. Patient was transported to Good Shepherd Community Hospital; Morrow County deputy took a report o f suspicious c ir cumstances at the Country Garden Estates and the Irrigon Trailer Park in Irrigon; Morrow County Sheriff s of fice dispatched the Condon Fire Dept to a haystack fire. February 3: Morrow County deputy took a report of vandalism from Jack Chivington from the Ir rigation District involving a piece of equipment on Paul Smith Road. Irrigon; M orrow County deputy responded to Rt. 2, Irrigon for a report of a suspicious problem in the neighborhood; M orrow County deputy responded to the Rt. 2 Irrigon area for a report o f a neighborhood disturbance; Morrow County Sheriff s of fice dispatched the Boardman Fire Dept to a reported fire behind the Sandpiper Apartments in the garbage dump area: M orrow County deputy responded to the Country Garden Estates for a neighborhood problem. February 4: Morrow County deputy assisted the Boardman Police Dept with a neighborhood disturbance at the Sandpiper apartments. Morrow County Sheriff s of fice dispatched the Boardman am bulance to Olson Road for a female with an injury. Female was transported to Good Shepherd Community Hospital in Hermiston; Morrow County Sheriffs of fice dispatched the Boardman am bulance to Lamb Weston for a male with an illness. Patient was transported to Good Shepherd Com m unity Hospital in Hermiston; M orrow County deputy responded to Hwy 74 and 207 on W. Main for a three vehicle ac cident. Lulu Stump Rowan. 79, was cited for Failure to Yield Right of Way; Morrow County Sheriffs of fice dispatched the Lexington EMT’s and Fire Dept, to a three vehicle accident on W. Main. Hwy. 74 and Hwy. 206. Hepp ner ambulance was dispatched for transport to Pioneer memorial Hospital; M orrow County deputy responded to Rt. 2, Irrigon. for a report of a pickup driving on posted land; M orrow County deputy responded to Lindsay Canyon on Bombing Range Road for a motor vehicle accident that involved hit ting a deer. A tow was requested: Morrow County Sheriff s of fice dispatched the Boardman am bulance to the Trail Apartments for a feamle in labor. Female was transported to Good Shepherd Community Hospital; M orrow County deputies responded to Boardman Foods, for a disturbance call; Morrow County Sheriff s of fice dispatched the Heppner am bulance and eeputy to a motor vehicle accident on Blackhorse Canyon. One person was transported to Pioneer Memorial Hospital with injuries; Morrow County deputy took a report of a possible theft at the Engineer School in Boardman; M orrow County deputy responded to 1-84, mile post 164 for a traffic problem involving juveniles. February 5: Morrow County deputy transported two juveniles into Boardman from the freeway; M orrow County deputy responded to Oregon Potato Inc., for a report of vandalism done to a vehicle parked in the parking lot. A battery and tools were also taken; M orrow County deputy responded to the area o f Nevada/Division St., Irrigon, for a complaint of loud music; M orrow County deputy assisted the Boardman Police Dept, with a fugitive arrest. Fugitive was transported to Franklin County Jail; Morrow County Sheriffs of fice dispatched the Boardman am bulance to the BP station for an intoxicated male. There was no transport needed; M orrow County deputy responded to Rt. 1, Boardman, for a break-in at the Haas res.; M orrow County deputies responded to Boardman Foods for an attempted assault distur bance. There were no arrests made; M orrow County deputies responded to 5th and Oregon in Irrigon for a report of a traffic problem. A vehicle had backed into a fence; M orrow County deputy responded to the Irrigon Fruit Stand for an intoxicated male. Male was transported to the detox center; M orrow County deputy responded to B & C Repair in lone for a report of theft to a pepsi machine; Morrow County Sheriffs of fice dispatched the Boardman am bulance to Wilson Road for a female with injuries. Female was transported to St. Anthony-’s Hospital in Pendleton; M orrow County deputy responded to the lone area for a restraining order problem. February 6: Morrow County deputies responded to a family disturbance in Boardman. Pro blem was resolved; Morrow County Sheriffs of fice dispatched the Boardman Fire Dept, to a kitchen fire at Mancamp; Morrow County deputy in vestigated a report of a suspicious person at the Irrigon trailer court. February 7: Morrow County deputy responded to a citizen report of a disabled vehicle. Call was unfounded; M orrow County deputy responded to a juvenile problem in Irrigon. Problem was resolved; M orrow County deputy assisted the Irrigon Fire Dept, with a fire in a residence. Some time ago, I spoke about the Boardman annexation and its cost to the county and other cities. The air has cleared a little and what emerges is not good news for the county. If Boardman annexes Coyote Springs, it will bring to Boardman an additional $300,000 of assessed value onto their books. The road tax, which is a tax on gasoline, is distributed to the counties and cities based upon assessed value. The loss of the assessed value ot the Co-gen plant to the county will result in an approximate loss of $145,000 in road tax (which is directed to the county road department), and a cor responding increase to Boardman. This is the bad news. The good news is that the county may well be able to give responsibility for Columbia Blvd. to Boardman as part of an annexation agreement. This would avoid the county pay ing the three million dollar reconstruction cost for scheduled im provements to Columbia Blvd. It seems to me that not only will the co-gen plant be annexed to Boardman, but that in time, many of the food processing plants in the Port will also be interested in annexation. The reason is water. The people that put Boardman together as a city several years ago had the foresight to ask for and receive three ‘rainy water per mits. These permits will provide approximately 60,000 gallons per minute of water to Boardman and are the key to Boardman s future. I want to thank Gene Allen for bringing me up to speed on these issues. Smart guy. Speaking of Gene Allen, on February 7, 1994, Gene filed with the county a prospective petition to create a Boardman area health district. This filing initiates a process which may culminate in November with a vote by the people residing within Boardman precincts 1 and 2 to create a health district for their own area. The critical question appears to be whether the Coal-Fired plant would be within the territory of the proposed district or not. At the Boardman City Council meeting last week, a city council member reported that the Coal-Fired plant was not interested in be ing included within the district because it would result in an addi tional $75,000 worth of property tax to the plant. Ultimately, the question of boundaries for the district will be resolved by the coun ty court, which must apply statutory criteria to determine what ter ritory would benefit by formation of a district, and whether that ter ritory is properly or improperly included within the proposed district boundaries. Since the Coal-Fired plant is isolated from any residential areas, and in light of its resistance to the proposal, I think it likely that the plant will remain outside the proposed district. On a cheerful note, the county will finally receive approximately $1,317,452.61 in tax, together with interest, from AFC Industries^ Inc. as the result of a US Supreme Court decision that was recently handed down. The dispute, which has been going on since 1988, was whether counties were entitled to collect personal property taxes on railroad cars which were located within the county on the an nual designation day. The bad news is that the case has been remand ed to the Ninth Court for entry of judgment, which probably will take four to five months. In addition, there’s always the question of whether all of those taxes will be collectible. Some of them ($471,251.55) have been paid into court under an “ escrow” but the balance of $846,201.06 is still due and some of the companies have since gone out of business. Around the County By Earl Woods, Jr. Correction # Heppner Elks 358 676-9181 142 N. Main "W}„ere Friends M eet“ Feb. 11 - Morrow County Grain Growers dinner Feb. 12 - Moffit -Lankford wedding reception Feb. 19 - 97th Anniversary Celebration. Sherman to hold spaghetti feed A spaghetti feed will be held Feb. 12 at the Sherman High School cafeteria from 2-6 p.m. during the Sherman/Heppner game. Prices are $2.50 for children 12 and under5, $4 for adults and $12 for a family. Proceeds will go toward Lind say Tindall’s trip to the British Isles with the Northwest Basket ball camp tour team. A dessert bar will be sponsored by the Wasco eighth grade class. ty streets will be reconstructed this year” in Heppner. The arti cle should have read “ 23 streets will be reconstructed this year.” An article in the Feb. 2 issue of the Gazette-Times entitled “ HEDC focus on city im provements,” stated that “ two ci- Crab Feed Two bands Heppner Bowl Featuring = 'Our Place Cafe ’ i i Serving Lunch and Dinner Open 11 a.m. until closing Now under new management v ïr r m r v r ï hTTirnTTrTTi^ Court Street Market 111 N. Court Heppner 676-9643 GROCERIES - MEATS - PRODUCE MJB 39 oz. ground H e a d L e ttu c e 2 D a n is h S q u a s h »o r$ l ° ° 19 < ib. Ruby Red C o ffe e C ris c o O il R e g » 4 " $ a * * 48 oz Reg »309 *1 ** Spam 12 oz. 491 G ra p e fru it *>. Red and green seedless L uncheon M eat Reg . 2« Ball Park 16 oz G ra p e s 99€ C h o ic e L e m o n s 6 fo r$ l ° ° >b. B eef F ra n k s • ( * • Fresh Oregon whole body F ry e rs 79 < Western Family 12 oz. frozen O r a n g e J u ic e Reg * i ~ 8 5 C P o r k S h o u ld e r R o a st $ l 1 0 ib P o r k S h o u ld e r S te a k • l 4 # ,b Heinz 26 oz squeeze bottle K e ts u p Reg * i ^ $ l * °
