Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (May 11, 1994)
R Voters to decide fate of county tax base I. I Morrow County voters will decide whether to increase the county’s tax base next Tuesday, May 17. Voters have rejected a new county tax base since 1911 and the county must go for a one-year operating levy every year to ap propriate the funds needed for operation of the county govern ment. The recently passed operating levy asked for $3.7 million over the existing tax base o f $831,986, established in 1911. According to Morrow County Judge Louis Carlson, an increase to a $4,540,435, base would create a more realistic tax base.* Carlson said that the increase would provide a basis for "good planning and dependable fun ding" and would build morale for county employees, who may not know from year to year if funds will permit their rehire. “ I think we operate a dam good ship,” said Carlson. “ We’re fiscally responsible and have as good a staff as any in eastern Oregon,” he added. Under the six percent limita tion, the tax base could increase by the allowable six percent every year without a vote of the people. The next year after a $4.5 million base is approved, the county could increase the base by over $270,(XX) without voter approval. However, according to Morrow County accountant Lisanne Cur- rin, the county does not have to levy the maximum amount each year. If the county does levy the maximum amount, however, and then the next three years levies below that amount, the highest levy of the three years becomes the new tax base plus six percent. If a new tax base is approved, the one-year operating levy monies would not be levied. According to Carlson, if the new county tax base is approved May 17 and either or both of the medical district tax bases pass, the county would decrease the county tax base by the amount of money budgeted for medical ser vices for that particular area Voters to go to polls Tuesday, May 17 TTi XT' • 1 1 a* h ormer Kinzua owners make donation The former owners o f Kinzua Corp. are donating $250,000 to the community as a goodwill gesture, Kinzua general manager Frank Pearson announced at the Heppner City Council meeting Monday evening. May 9. Pearson said that he went before the past owners and ask ed for a donation. The owners agreed with Pearson’s request with the stipulation that the pro jects approved would be highly visible and that the donation be tax deductible. Pearson said that the donation gave the previous owners the opportunity to “ put something back into the com munity.” A committee o f George Kof- fler, Bank of Eastern Oregon president and chief executive of ficer, Larry Mills, Morrow County Grain Growers general manager, and C liff Green, businessman, president o f the Heppner Economic Development and former mayor o f Heppner, was appointed. A fourth commit tee member, Dave A11 stott, was appointed by the city council. Requests for monies for wor thwhile projects from the com munity, including Heppner, Lex ington and lone, may be return ed to Heppner City Hall. In ad dition to being visible, the pro jects should benefit the communi ty. No stipulations have been set concerning the amount o f money asked. Applications should in clude the name of the group, the amount of money asked, the pro ject and an explanation o f its benefit to the community and a contact person. “ I think pet pie will come up with good pro jects,” Pearson added. He said that he expects that it may take one to one and a half years to ex pend the money. The city directed city manager Gary Marks and city attorney Bill Kuhn to draft ground rules for ac cepting projects. In related business, the coun cil heard a report from Pearson concerning the mill’s operation. Pearson told the group that part of the crew had started planning Monday and that logs have started rolling back in. He said that the sawmill will probably be started back up in a little over a week. He said that the mill is ex perimenting with “ cutting logs a different w ay,” and added that the new owners are “ aggressively purchasing timber and timberlands.” Pearson said that while the mill doesn’t need hog fuel to run the co-gen plant anymore, they will be bringing in chips for paper. Pearson said that around 125 of the 145 employees are expected to be hired back, with the majori ty former Kinzua Corp. workers. As of Monday evening, not all the positions had been filled, he said. He said that the new owners planned to run one and a half shifts. Pearson told the Heppner Chamber of Commerce Tuesday that about 100 loads of logs per day are being moved off the log yard and sold, but that there are now about 20 loads per day com ing into the mill. The deck will stabilize with about one-and-a- half months supply in the yard. He said the company is current ly buying logs to sustain opera tion of the mill. “ The new owners are out pur chasing new timberland ag gressiv ely to replace the timberland that was sold. I have not seen a short-term approach on the part of the new owners,” Pearson told the chamber. “ It’s like any other business. We will be operating as long as we pro duce profits.” He said the new owners had some capital im provements in mind, but did not specify what they were. Pearson did say the mill was going to operate on a four day, 10 hours per day basis, and see how it worked out. The Heppner City Council awarded the city street improve ment project bid to Blue Moun tain Paving, the only bidder. The bid, at $395,836.66, was over budget, but the city had stipulated that the project could be reduced if necessary. The city will remove four streets from the plan, August Street, between Gilmore and Court; Barratt Boulevard; Aiken and Elder, because they have ad ditional problems in getting equipment over the bridge; and Jones between Water and Church streets. City manager Gary Marks said that because the contract is quan tity based, some of the streets cut from the list may be able to be added back in. A representative from Blue Mountain Paving said that he ex pects that the company can start pre-work within two weeks. He said that the project will be com pleted within a 60-day time period. In other business, the city: -discussed acquiring property that will be abandoned by the Union Pacific Railroad; -heard a report on the wastewater project. Although the project is “ pretty much on schedule, representatives from Anderson Perry reported pro blems with the concrete on the sludge storing tank and cracks in the digester; , -heard a report from Dave Winters concerning problems with the instrumentation for the city wells. The instrumentation failed to indicate problems with a well until the water level was severely depleted. The council approved researching solutions to the well problems. -heard a report concerning a new type of cold mix to patch ci ty streets. -heard that the new city fire truck has been painted and is now curing, with delivery expected by May 25. Morrow County voters will go to the polls Tuesday, May 17, to decide the fate o f national, state, county and local issues. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Polling places will be: Precinct no. 1, North Boardman- Greenfield Grange; Precinct no. 2, South Boardman-Lutheran Church; N o. 3, Hardman- Morrow County Courthouse; No. 4, Ione-Ione City Hall; No. 5 North Irrigon-North Morrow An nex; no. 6, South Irrigon-Irrigon City Hall; no. 7, Lexington- Mormon Church; no. 8 Northeast Heppner-St. Patrick’s Senior Center; no. 9 Northw est Heppner-Pettyjohn Building; no. 10, Southeast Heppner-Morrow County Courthouse; and no. 11, Southwest Heppner-new forestry building. Candidates are as follows: For govemor-Democratic can didates, John Kitzhaber, Paul Da mian Wells; Republican can didates, Craig Berkman, Jack Feder, Donald Goff, John E. Jewkes, Bradford William Nudd, Denny Smith. For United States represen tative in Congress 2nd District- ¿íeihocratic candidates, Pete Heppner High to hold “ Partners in Education” student-parent exchange Heppner High School will hold its first “ Partners in Education” exchange day Wednesday, May 18. Parents and interested com munity members will take the place o f Heppner High Students and experience “ a day in the life” at HHS. Any person living in the Heppner High attendance area who is over 21 is eligible and encouraged to volunteer as a “ partner” to a high school stu dent. “ A number of parents have already committed to attend but there are still many students whose parents cannot,” said HHS teacher Bob Sagely. Parents are encouraged to attend, even if for a half day. The purpose is to acquaint adults with the current school program and to educate them abou the changes schools will ex perience because of Oregon’s 21st Century School Reform Act, House Bill 3565. A “ Partner in Education” will begin the day with an organiza tional meeting at the first bell in the gym. The “ partner” will go through a reguar, though shorten ed, school day for the student they are replacing. Classes will be held as on a typical day with learning activities to enable a ’’real life” look at what is hap pening in schools today. Lunch will be served for $2 in the cafeteria with a cashier available. Student lunch cards will not be used that day. At 3 p.m. Steve Dickenson, HHS principal, will conduct a presentation on the impact of school change that is resulting from the Oregon legislature’s passage of the school reform law. Participants will be able to com pare what they just experienced to the vision o f the Oregon high school created by the passage o f the 21st Century School Reform Act. A question and answer ses sion will follow. Those who can not come all day as a “ partner" are invited to attend the presen tation at the end of the day. Anyone interested in being a “ Partner in Education” , should contact Bob Sagely 676-9139. Your name will be placed on a list for students who need a partner. “ Please make an attempt to be in volved in this effort,” said Sage ly. “ Your community schools need your support and active in volvement now more than ever.” Funds offered for EMT training Grants of $ 1,000 are being of fered to county emergency medical service organizations in 10 northeast Oregon counties. The grants are offered to pro vide volunteer and paid emergen cy medical technicians with local continuing education. The grant seed money is offered as an in centive for each county to develop cooperative education of ferings for all EMTs. Only one award will be given per county, although the program may be of fered in more than one location. The goal o f the incentive pro gram is to make training available and accessible to as many EMTs as possible while encouraging a < ooperative effort among all emergency medical service pro viders. Six counties received EMT training grants in 4993. Grants are available to Mor row, Umatilla. Gilliam. Grant, Baker, Malheur, Union, Sher man, Wallowa and Wheeler counties. A pplication packets are available from the Northeast Oregon Area Helath Education Center in LaGrande. Completed applications must be postmarked by July 1. For more information contact Northeast Oregon AHEC at 962-3801. Hawley, Sue C. Kupillas, Mike (Mac) McLaughlin, David Marc Rogers; Republican candidates, Perry A. Atkinson, Jim Bradley, Peter M. Brockm an, Wes Cooley, Dan Skotte, C.W. Smith and John DeZell. For com m issioner o f the Bureau of Labor and Industries- D, Rena Cusman, Michael Payne, Mary Wendy Roberts, Bob Shiprack; R, Jack Roberts. For precinct 5 committee per son, male-R, John D. Creason, David W. Barber, Carl F. Riley. Superintendent o f public instruction-non partisan, Jerry Cohen, Michael (Mick) Ewers, Elizabeth Hinchman. Norma Paulus. Judge of the Supreme Court, position 6-non partisan, Wallace P. Carson, Jr., incumbent, Mor ton A. (Mort) Winkel. Judge o f the Court o f appeals, position 10-non partisan, Barry L. Adamson, Rex Armstrong. James J. Kolstoe, Jim Nass and Tom Sieg. All other races are unopposed. lone voters will decide whether or not to vote in a $54,950 tax base and a $41,350 one-year operating levy for the lone Rural Fire Protection District. Morrow County voters will decide whether to increase the county’s tax base from $784.892 to $4,540,435. Voters will also accept or re ject a state-wide measure which would amend the constitution to allow new motor vehicle fuel revenues for dedicated purposes. Health Department offers free immunizations for children under 4 The Morrow County Health Department will offer free vac cinations to children ages four and under this Saturday, May 14 in Heppner and Boardman as part of an Immunize Now program. The clinic in Heppner will be held from 10 a.m. to noon at the Health Department office and in Boardman at city hall from 2 to 4 p.m. Parents are asked to bring their children’s immuniza tion records. Those who immunize their pre schoolers or certify that their shots are current will be eligible to win a 1995 Hyundai Sonata to drive for one year from Braley & Graham Hyundai, a family vaca tion including golf and tennis at Salishan Lodge on the Oregon Coast; or a $500 Mrs. Tiggy- Winkles children’s wear gift certificate. Thousands o f infants and tod dlers in the northwest lack ade quate protection against measles. mumps, rubella, diphtheria and other serious childhood diseases. To help solve this problem, Oregon Public Broadcasting is sponsoring Immunize Now, a statewide outreach project to im munize preschool children. The month-long campaign began April 14. Immunize Now is sponsored in partnership with the office o f Medical Assistance Programs, Oregon Health Systems in Col laboration, Oregon Preschool Im munization Consortium and the Summerville Fund of the Oregon Com m unity Foundation. Members o f the Oregon Nurses Association, Rotary, Kiwanis, American Legion Auxiliary and other service organizations are providing volunteer staffing. Over 70 community groups, cor porations and foundations are in volved through volunteer service o f financial support. Job bank program begins Tiffany Munkers (left) and Mandi Gutierrez (right) are two Heppner High School students participating in a new Job Bank pay-to-participate program started recently. Both students are currently working at the Gazette-Times. Businesses or individuals wishing to use the program will pay $5 per hour per student, into a job bank designated for that student. The program was started for students to help them pay for their participation in sports programs during the next school year. To participate in sports next year students must pay $50 per sport, per child, $100 maximum or $200 maximum per family. Anyone wishing to participate in the program should call Dar cy Robinson at the high school 676-9138. Shop here for m Lawn & Garden Supplies Morrow County Crain Crowers Lexington. OR • 989-8221 • 1-800-452-7396
