P F S S I E
U
OF
WET ZELL
ORS
N E Y.' 3 V A P E R
!. t P,
ä 7 r
School board considers 4-day week
3
The Morrow County School
Board will meet Monday, April
18, at 7:30 p.m. at the district of
fice in Lexington.
The board will consider adop
ting a four-day school week for
students in the district as a money
saving
m easure.
D istrict
Superintendent Chuck Starr sub
mitted a proposal to the budget
committee April 11 outlining
budget cuts to cope with funding
reductions caused by Ballot
Measure 5.
Changing to a four-day week is
estimated to pare at least $125
thousand from the annual budget.
Starr said that the number of in
structional hours in a four-day
student week would not be reduc
ed greatly. He also said that the
longer days may be more advan
tageous instructional^, in that it
would allow for block schedul
ing, and integration of subject
matters. He also said that the
four-day week has also been
shown to cut absenteeism in both
students and teachers. The
number of instructional hours lost
because of athletics would also be
decrease.
According to district figures,
$1,272,781 in cuts are recom
mended to balance the 1994-95
general fund and around
$1,400,250 additional cuts are
recommended to balance the
1995-96 general fund.
In addition to the four-day
school week, the following pro-
gram changes have been propos
ed: a pay-to-play sports program
for 1994-95; complete elimina
tion of sports and extra-curricular
activities, elementary music,
elem entary art, elem entary
physical education, home
economics and field trips for
1995-%. In addition to Heppner
Middle School and High School
staff reductions because of a pro
posed seventh through 12th grade
school in Heppner, Starr is
recommending a wage freeze for
teachers and classified employees
for the 1995-% school year. Cur
rently, salaries and benefits ac
count for 76.9 percent of the
1994-95 Morrow County School
District budget expenditures.
Heppner city has good and bad news
The Heppner city council heard
a mixed report from city manager
Gary Marks at the meeting held
Monday, April 11. Marks told
the council that property taxes
dedicated to water system debt
would be lower next year but
water rates would be higher.
The council passed a resolution
increasing city water rates, effec
tive with the July 1994 billing
period. The city’s basic rate will
be increased by $2.75 a month
from $9 to $11.75.
Recognizing that sewer rates
had been increased three years
ago as part of the Wastewater Im
provement Project Marks stress
ed to the council that “ although
people receive a single bill, there
is a difference between water
rates and sewer rates. Water rates
are used to pay for operation of
the water system, while sewer
rates are used in the sewer fund
to pay for the sewer system.”
By Anne Morter
When Thomas Voegeding
returns to his native Germany in
July, pickups and Wranglers will
be just two of the new things he
can tell his friends about. But
after spending the better part of
a year living in lone and attending
lone High School, those two od
dities will be just the tip of the
iceberg.
Thomas, age 16, hails from
Idstein, Germany, a city of about
2O,O0O. Frankftirt, at nearly a
million in population, is only 40
miles away. Thomas is the
youngest of three children. His 26
year old sister is a flight attendant
and his 23 year old brother is stu
dying at a university. His mother,
Anne, (pronounced Anna) who
plans to visit in May, makes and
sells quilts. His" father lives in
Lima, Peru, where he is the
director of South American
operations for a large chemical
company.
Thomas doesn’t remember any
startling revelation that drove him
to be an exchange student but he
says that he heard from friends it
was a great opportunity. In the
fall of 1992, he decided to sign
up for the program but it was the
fall of 1993 before he was assign
ed a host family in the U.S. And
even then, he was practically get
ting on the plane before he learn
ed his destination and some bare
facts about his host family. He
said he knew very little about
Oregon. "1 heard it’s a pretty
landscape and that its between
California and Washington,” he
said. He was braced for a small
town but admitted that he was still
shocked at first (and he must have
been wondering about the pretty
landscape). Says Thomas of his
new surroundings. “ I missed the
big city stuff a little (at first), but
it’s all right.”
Acting as host family for
Thomas is the Jim Swanson fami
ly of lone, Jim, Monica, Luke
and Adrienne. The Swansons
were just getting over lone’s Cy
cle Oregon adventure, of which
Jim was a co-chair, when they
made the final decision to host a
student. Thomas found his hosts
in a semi-exhausted state when he
arrived just four days after Cy
cle Oregon, but the match seems
to be a good one. “ He is so easy
going,” commented host father,
Jim Swanson. “ He has made it
possible for us to go on with our
normal hectic lives,” he adds.
Jim says Thomas and the Swan
son kids hit it off immediately,
making the home life easy. “ He’s
just one of those flexible kids.”
comments Jim. Monica Swanson.
Thomas’ host mother, agrees that
Thomas has been an easy keeper.
She notes that he is willing to try
anything and also has been
Marks said that water rates
were last increased nine years ago
and since that time water system
expenses had increased on
average by a “ modest two per
cent a year” even though infla
tion for water systems nationwide
had averaged five to six percent
a year. “ It would be difficult to
find another public or private
utility that can say they haven’t
increased rates in nine years and
show the kind of slow growth
we’ve shown,” Marks said.
“ However, even with slow
growth, time has a way of even
tually catching up with you.”
Marks also reported that due to
the payoff of the city’s 1974
water bond, the water rate in
creases would be offset for many
residents by lower property tax
bills. “ The owner of a $50,000
home who uses an average
amount of water each month will
see virtually no change in their
overall support of the city v.
system,” Marks said.
A report was also made that the
recent refinancing of the city’s
1982 water bond has resulted in
a long-term savings of $158,000
to city property taxpayers.
Following are Heppner’s new
water rates compared to other
area cities, basic rate and average
monthly use, 7,200 gallons: Con
don, $16, $19.15; Stanfield $13,
$13; Fossil $12.50, $15.10; Echo
$12.50 $15.02; Heppner $11.75,
$13.80.
In other business, Marks
reported that the city sewer pro
ject continues to progress on
schedule. He also reported that
engineers were nearing comple
tion of plans and specifications
for the street repair and resurfac
ing project. Marks said he ex
pects to ask the council to award
a bid for the street project at the
May council meeting.
Chamber to discuss tourism at meeting
A public meeting on tourism
will be held in conjunction with
the regular chamber luncheon on
Tuesday, April 19, from noon to
1 p.m. at the Elks, in Heppner.
The purpose of the program is to
discuss the costs, benefits and
potential of tourism development
in south Morrow County. The
meeting will be facilitated by
Mike Wetter of Michael Wetter
& Associates, an economic
development consulting firm.
The preliminary results of an
assessment of the tourism poten-
Photo by Joyce Hughes
Thomas Voegeding, the number one ranked tennis player in
lone practices his serves.
helpful around the house. “ We
get along well,” she says. The
Swansons are becoming quite ex
perienced in the host family
business. Before Thomas, they
hosted a Japanese boy two sum
mers ago and they have already
signed up to host a French boy
from the Reunion Islands next
year. (In case you’re having trou
ble finding the Reunion Islands,
they are east of the large island
of Madagascar, which is off the
east coast of Africa).
Thomas is a member of lone’s
senior class but when he returns
to Germany, he has three more
years of schooling before he will
be ready to go on to the univer
sity. Attending lone has been a
considerable downsize for him -
his school at home has 1,300
students in grades 7-13. After
completing 13 grades, the boys in
Germany must do a one year stint
in the military. After Thomas
puts his time in there, he plans to
study at the university in the
“ propaganda” field (communica
tions) with the eventual goal of
making commercials.
Thomas says he has enjoyed his
school year so far and he has par
ticipated in many events, in
cluding football, basketball and
tennis. When both basketball
teams made the trip to the state
tournament. Thomas donned the
Cardinal outfit to lead the crowd
in cheering. He asked for the job
because he didn't think the
former Cardinal had been danc
ing nearly enough. The stifling
gym in Baker City made the job
a challenge but Thomas said it
was still enjoyable. “ It was hot,
but it was fun,” he said. He now
looks forward to the senior trip
to the beach and to the prom, an
tial of south Morrow County will
be presented. The assessment
describes the kinds of tourism that
appear to have the most potential
for the area and what the impacts
might be. The project is spon
sored by the Heppner Coor
dinating Council and funded by
the Heppner Chamber of Com
merce and Heppner Economic
D evelopm ent
C orporation
through the Tourism Division of
Oregon Economic Development
Department and Rural Develop
ment Initiatives, INc. (RDI).
There will be opportunities for
comments, questions and input
about whether there is support for
tourism development in south
Morrow County. The input will
assist the sponsoring organiza
tions in determining how they can
best meet the development needs
of this area.
All interested persons are in
vited to attend the luncheon.
Coordinating
Mini-College June 13-16 at OSU Council to meet
event they d o n ’t have in
“ Mini-College is a little bit of
Germany.
heaven,” says Carol Michael
On the culinary front, Thomas
Bennett, Morrow County Exten
has found some new foods to en sion agent. No cooking, just
joy but he is missing the German eating. No cleaning, just
bread. Our type of fluffy balloon
laughing. Learning with no pop
bread is no substitute for heavy quizzes. Enjoying lush lawns you
and hearty Germany bread, he don’t have to mow.
says. And he wouldn’t mind some
Mini-College will be held on
Camembert cheese to go with it.
the Oregon State University cam
But he is not shy about trying new pus in Corvallis June 13-16. The
things and has discovered the theme “ Celebrating Families”
wonders of red licorice and recognizes the 1994 International
microwave popcorn, and he even Year of the Family.
likes oysters. “ Thomas tries
Classes range from stir fry,
everything,” commented Jim.
massage techniques, families in
Thomas has enjoyed a good China, writing within the family
number of activities during the and Oregon wildflowers to sav
year, including trips to Mt.
ings and investments. A class for
Bachelor, Seattle and Corvallis photographers, “ Point to Shoot”
for an OSU football game with will be taught be Michael-
the Swansons and a trip to Bennett. Participants will learn
southern California with a group how to “ take good photos and
of exchange students from around * store them wisely.” There will be
th country. He says that 80 kids
made the trip and 50 were Ger campus walking tours of the
mans. “ I could speak German buildings honoring women and
again. At first it was tough,” he OSU trees.
One of the three general ses
said. The exchange students
sions
will feature Kid Konnec-
visited Sea World, Disneyland,
tion,
a 4-H circus. Another
Universal Studios and other
general
session will feature Mary
points of LA, San Diego and San
Sorber
as pioneer “ Rebecca” .
Francisco.
She
will
recount her family’s ear
Thomas made the trip through
ly
years
in Oregon. Last year,
ASSE, originally founded by the
“
Rebecca”
shared stories of
Swedish government as the
American Scandinavian Student
Exchange to provide student ex
changes between the U.S. and
Scandinavia. ASSE has since ex
panded in size and scope to
cover many other countries.
ASSE is always looking for host
families. Interested people should
contact the regional ASSE office
at 1-800-733-2773 or call local
representative Cathy Halvorsen
422-7107.
Lexington,
traveling the Oregon Trail, her
clothes turning to dirty tatters, her
shoes wearing out and her
pregnancy.
Evening hands-on handicraft
classes, the banquet, sing-a-longs
and a fund raiser silent auction of
gifts round out the mini-college
experience. Look for mini
college brochures in the Morrow
County Extension office or call
676-9642 or 1-800-342-3664 for
a registration brochure.
VA office closed
Veterans Service Officer, Rita
Hedman will be attending a con
ference in Wilsonville April
19-22. The Heppner office will
be closed Thursday, April 21.
Market Report
Compliment» ol Ih» M om » County Gf»«i Grower?
Tuesday, April 12, 1994
Soft White
April
*3.57/*3.59
May
*3.61 /*3.63
June
*3.63/*3.62
July
*3.59/*3.56
Aug.-Sept.
*3.52
Bariev
April-June
*98
July-Sept.
*97
The Heppner Coordinating
Council will hold a special
meeting on Tuesday. April 19 at
7:30 a.m. at the GEODC office.
The purpose of the meeting will
be to continue work on updating
the Heppner Strategic Plan.
The council has agreed on
seven overall goals for the plan:
create opportunities for business
development resulting in full time
living wage jobs; retain existing
em ploym ent; identify and
develop infrastructure necessary
to attract new employment and
residents; increase and improve
housing; increase and improve
lodging
accom m odations;
develop and maintain accurate
community information; enhance
community appearance.
The next step in the plan update
process is the determination of the
strategies and specification plans
designed to implement the com
munity strategic plan.
The next regular meeting of the
Heppner Coordinating Council
will be on April 26 at 7:30 a.m.
in the GEODC office. The agen
da will include discussion of
Heppner city projects, the Hepp
ner Fact Book and the antique
farm implement museum project.
SNAPPER BLACK HAWK
See it now at your local
SNAPPER DEALER
N a rro w C o u n ty G ra in G ro w ers
OR • 989-8221 • 1-800-452-7396