Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (March 2, 1994)
TWO - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, March 2, 1994 C ounty to m ail inform ation on levy Morrow County will send a circular in the mail this week ex plaining the Morrow County budget and tax levy. According to the circular, residential taxes account for on ly 11 percent of county taxes, with commercial and industry paying 14 percent, farm and forest paying 16 percent and utilities paying 59 percent. “ We’re getting a tremendous amount of serv ices for peanuts,” said Morrow County Judge Louis Carlson. The circular says that only $4,540,435 or 25 percent of the total county budget of $18,235,732 would be funded by local property taxes. Since Morrow County is only one of 23 taxing districts, it will receive only a portion of the pro perty taxes collected, although it is the tax collecting agency for all of the districts. The tax monies collected by the county are distributed to the various districts such as cemetery districts, fire protection districts and the library district. The circular further states that 44 percent of the county’s depart ments have either had no in creases or have decreased their staff in the last 10 years. Nine teen percent have had partial position increases and 38 percent hjjye had an increase of at least one position. Emergency Man agement increased five positions, but all were completely federal ly funded. The Sheriff s Depart ment increased three positions with two of those positions fund ed by 911 revenue. Mental health has increased one and a half posi tions. all funded through state grants. Andrea Denton, executive secretary to the county court, said that county departments have state-m andated staffing re quirements and if the departments have to cut staff because of a levy defeat, they may lose even more funding in state grants. While county officials fear defeat of the levy because of the uncertain situation at Kinzua, they stress that a levy downfall would only compound the situa tion. “ County government has to maintain itself,” said Carlson. “ Otherwise you have anarchy. A community that can’t maintain its services will die. As people fall to these kinds of hardships, they will look more to government to give them assistance.” ” lt (levy defeat) could contribute to a downward spiral for the com munity,” added Denton. Services provided by the county listed in the circular include services to delinquent, neglected and abus ed children, alcohol and drug treatment, marital counseling, group and individual therapy, passports, marriage licenses, document recording, elections, criminal prosecution, crime vic tims’ advocacy, child support en forcement, immunizations, fami ly planning, high risk infant care, small claims and eviction services and access to a local judge, emergency procedures for catas- trophic events such as chemical release, floods and fires, preser vation and display of Morrow County’s historical objects, assessment and tax collection, planning services, maintenance of 1300 miles of county roads, law enforcement protection, ad ministrative services and access to local public officials, veterans services, community activités through fair and rodeo and medical and dental services. Services and programs sub sidized by the county include Ex tension, weed control, predatory animal control. Soil and Water C onservation, w aterm aster, Irrigon-Boardman Emergency Assistance Center, Heppner N eighborhood C enter and GEODC. If the county levy fails, all county services would operate until the next election on the cur rent tax base of $831,986, which was established in 1911. Carlson says that if the levy fails, the tax base “ wouldn’t even fund coun ty operations for a week.” The county plans to put a new tax base before the voters in May. Bank of EO to award scholarship The Bank of Eastern Oregon has announced an agriculture business scholarship for students attending lone and Heppner High Schools. One $500 scholarship will be awarded to each high school to a graduating senior. The student must plan to enroll in college in agriculture or business. Judging will be done on scholarship, leadership and citizenship. The bank reserves the right to select any deserving candidate. Applications may be picked up from a high school counselor. The application deadline is April 15. Solar interference to interrupt TV Heppner TV Inc. subscribers are being informed solar in terference will be interrupting programming again this time of the year. The occurrence will be until March 6 between 1:15 and 1:25 p.m. in the afternoon. Solar interference is an inherent part of satellite operations and oc curs in the spring and fall. This OIL SALE place when the orbital positions of the satellite and the sun are in one line. The earth station then receives signals from both, but the more powerful sun subdues the desired signal, causing a loss of service for a short period of 8 to 10 minutes. Not all stations are affected. St. Pat’s Bed race; participants needed Anyone interested in running a five member team in the St. Patrick’s bed race Saturday, March 19 should call Theo Greenup, 676-9795 or Kay Pro ctor 676-9827. The bed race will be held on Main Street and will begin at 1 p.m. There will also be a Calcutta. The $10 entry fee will be divided up for prizes. lone community band provides inspiration i ' lone Community Band in action during the Heppner games at District Tournament By Anne Morter Members of the lone Com munity Band are this week en trenched in Baker City, providing musical motivation for the lone basketball teams at the State 1A Tournament. The band, composed of local people and a couple of high school students, generally con centrate on entertaining the crowd at home games, but post-season action has put them on the road. Two weekends ago, the largely brass band delighted the crowds at the Big Sky District Tourna ment in Hermiston, where they “ undoubtedly” had something to do with the thrilling wins by both the girls’ and the boys’ teams Last weekend, they shared their rousing music with Heppner, playing at Friday’s session of Cutsforths award scholarship Kraig and Kris Cutsforth have donated a one-year, full-tuition scholarship for Blue Mountain Community College to the Hepp ner Elks scholarship program. Dean Robinson, Elks scholarship chairman has announced. This is the third year that a full- tuition scholarship has been awarded by the Cutsforths. The Cutsforths donated the scholarship in memory o f departed Elks brothers. 4-H clothing project training offered 4-H clothing project training for M orrow , W heeler and Gilliam leaders and junior leaders will be held March 10 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Isobel Edwards Hall in Fossil. The training will provide resources, activities, club enrich ment, consum erism , textile science and more, going beyond sewing by Carol M ichael- Bennett, Morrow County Exten sion agent, and Cindy Osterlund, Gilliam County Extension agent. Assembling a resource book of fabric samples and construction Sale Ends March 12, 1994 $2000 refundable drum deposit A TRIP TO THE HOTTEST COUNTRY ON EARTH. Get The Low-Down at the Counter on Grand Prize Vacation and Additional In- Store Prizes! Morrow County INC HttCO 442 5 7 1 ' I IOO -I 24 -71I 5 music.” Their most popular selections are just “ good old, hard-driving pep band music,” says Swanson. The group tries to practice about once a week, and with a jam-session atmosphere, even the practices are fun. W ith the absence of cheerleaders, the band has been instrumental in keeping the crowd noisily involved in the games. But as both lone coaches will agree, the players get the biggest benefit. “ The girls like it. They say it helps a lot,” says head coach for the girls Dana Heideman. “ The band adds a lot to the pre-game anticipation,” he adds. Head boys coach Del LaRue, says his team’s reaction has also been favorable. “ The kids really en joy it; it’s easier for them to get loose before the game with the music,” he says. “ One of the things the kids asked me the night before district was if the band was going. It really makes a dif ference as far as we’re concern ed,” states LaRue. “ They do such a good job getting the crowd going during the game, they get everyone in v o lv ed ,” says Heideman. “ We can’t leave home without them,” he quips. Playing for Heppner at district was a new experience, but accor ding to many band members, it was a rewarding one. The Hepp ner fans and players were very appreciative. “ The boys’ team came over and thanked us per sonally,” said Judy Rea. No doubt about it, playing in the community band takes a hef ty time commitment. “ It takes an awful lot of time but we have a lot of fun with it,” says Jim Swanson. “ It’s good for the school and the kids,” he adds. And when members see big groups of kids congregating around the band at games, they have to think that their example and obvious enjoyment might en tice more young people to follow in their musical footsteps. In the short run though, they just keep on making music and hopefully the Cards will keep on winning. V AQUAMARINE For March OSU president to visit Heppner 4 D ays/3 Nights for Two, To Branson, Missouri ! MM2; I skill samples will be offered by Elva Madden, Wheeler County Extension agent. All materials will be furnished but those atten ding should bring their sewing machines. The program is geared toward clothing phases 1 through 3, but is open to all clothing leaders and junior leaders. The class will be repeated in Morrow County in November. For registration information, contact the Morrow County Ex tension Service 676-9642 or 1-800-342-3664. their District Tournament. But now, it’s onward to the pinnacle of the Cardinals’ season, the State Tournament. A good many of the band members are alums of lone High School. Some, like Jim Swanson and Richard Ladd, furthered their musical careers at Oregon State University, where they par ticipated in numerous band pro grams. The remaining musicians are transplants to the area, but as they found out, anyone willing to dust off their instrument was more than welcome to join. Judy Rea has been with the band for four years, playing the alto saxophone. She hadn’t played since her school days in lone a few years back. Since that time, the horn she sold 4-H calves to buy, has passed through the generations, being played by a son, niece, nephew and grandson. Despite putting the sax away for many years, she said it all came back to her fairly quickly. “ The first year was a little rough,” she laughed. The rest of the band includes Joel Peterson. Tom Bedortha. Swanson, Rodney Ehrmantraut and Dennis Stefani on trumpet; Gregg Rietmann and Bob Baker play trom bone and Frank Halvorsen and Virgil Morgan handl the baritones. Ladd plays the tuba. Richard Harper the drums, Marvin Padberg the keyboard and Dustin Padberg plays the bass guitar. During the year, Luke Swanson has done drum duty and Kristine Bedortha has played a num ber of instruments. The group selects music by committee. According to Swan son, one b f the g ro u p ’s spokesperons, “ A bunch of us get together and kick around some 1 É 0 IW S 7 7 H K KIHKTM MESON 471)0 70 h i 387 Oregon State University Presi dent John V. Byrne will visit Morrow, Gilliam and Wheeler County Extension offices on Wednesday, March 4. Byrne will share his vision of the new ad ministrative structure for Oregon State at the completion of the cur rent reorganization process. “ In addition, the president would like to meet with and thank petition circulators invovled with the Morrow County 4-H and Ex tension Service District forma tion,” adds Carol Michael- Bennett, Morrow County staff chair. Byrne will meet with Mor row County Extension staff from 8:15 a.m .-9 a.m. and will meet with volunteers from 9 to 9:45 a.m. in the conference room of the Pettyjohn office building. “ V isits from university presidents to the outreach centers east of the Cascade range are rare,” says Michael-Bennett.“ ! realize the time of day may be difficult for some, but hope as many volunteers will be able to take advantage of this opportunity to give President Byrne an Eastern Oregon welcome.” Byrne’s itinerary for the day also includes visiting volunteers at the Condon and Fossil exten sion offices. Afghan raffle to benefit pool An afghan and matching rug crocheted and donated to People for the Pool, by Nella Britt of Heppner is displayed at Heppner TV where chances may be pur- chased for $1 each or $6 for $5. Proceeds from the raffle will go towards a swimming pool in Heppner with around $11.625 raised to date. If you w ere born in March and w anted to go prospect ing for your birthstone, w here should you go? Here in the United States, you might find a few aquam arines in San Diego County or in Riverside County in California; also in M aine, C onnecticut, and N orth Carolina. However, your best bet w ould be the state of M inas G erais in Brazil. Aquamarines from there tend toward the lighter colors. A nother im portant producer of aquam arine has been Sverdlovsk on the east side of the Ural M ountains in R ussia. P ro d u c tio n th e re w as su ffic ie n t to m ake Sverdlovsk a major cutting center. The gem rich island of Madagascar, off the east coast of Africa, produces some of the finest aquam arine in the world. The color of some of the best material is so deep that it could be m istaken for blue sapphire. In fact, some gem dealers call all deep blue aqua stones Madagascar Aquamarines’ as opposed to lighter blue stones called “Brazilian A quam arines’. i M em ber Jewelers ol Amenca, Inc Peterson’s Heppner I
