Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (July 27, 1994)
Local man wants youth sailing club HEPPNER 35C Local kids gather at the dock to test the new sailboating club. A lot of people talk about creating activities to keep our youth challenged and out of trouble, but often, nothing comes out of their good ideas. Joe Wilhelm of Heppner not only has the ideas, but the determination and knowhow to get the ideas off the paper and to work in the communi ty. And it didn't even take a government study. Wilhelm is in the process of getting a youth sailing club started, not only in Heppner, Morrow County Heppner. Oregon but in Boardman, lrrigon and Umatilla. His dream is to eventually rotate regattas bet ween the four communities. Wilhelm says the regattas would not only provide a healthy activity for area youth, but would also provide a little spirited competition between the communities and would boost tourism dollars. When people come with their children to the regatta, they probably won't leave the area without visiting area stores. ,Sailboats on the lake would enhance the eye-appeal for visitors and users of the developing RV park. Sailboats are also compatible with the environment, adds Wilhelm. The sailing club would be open to youth 12 to 18 years old and children eight to 12 years old with parental par ticipation. If there are enough adults interested, classes considering a future role as a could be scheduled to meet grade school teacher. Follow the demand. Wilhelm says ing high school graduation, that he wants to keep the costs for youth participation she is planning to enroll at Western Oregon College in low or non-existent, so the club wouldn't become ex Monmouth. When it comes to communi clusive to a small group. The ty events, Kim pitches in club will be open to every kid, both boys and girls, he says, along with other lone residents. When the town as long they follow the rules. hosted over 2,000 Cycle Besides giving the kids Oregon overnight visitors, something to do, Wilhelm Princess Kim helped prepare says that the program will give them confidence, teach meals and lunches. Fair and rodeo court ex them a skill that requires periences are not new to cooperation and teamwork, is Kim's family. Her older sister, fun and gets them outdoors, Kristine, was a princess on the off the couch and away from 1991 court of Queen Jodee T.V. and video games. Wilhelm, who has already Ashbeck. That same year, taken several prospective Kim served as a permanent sailors out on Willow Creek court pennant bearer. Wee Lake, became interested in morning hours, miles of travel sailing while working at the and waiting in parade line docks at Wilmington, CA. ups are some of the unglamorous parts of being a After Joe had an extremely close call during the Los court member. Kim enjoys her role as a Angeles riots, he and his wife court princess, meeting peo Marina decided to pack up ple and making new friends. their three sons, Stacy, who She says her goals are to be just graduated from Heppner High School, Shawn, 15, and successful and happy while Travis, 14, and move back to striving to be a positive role his home town, where model for younger girls. That ''things weren't so crazy." attitude, shared by other Wilhelm has located members of this year's court, sailboats for the project, at a makes Princess Kim an fraction of the normal cost. A outstanding representative for Boy Scout organization at Morrow County. Long Beach, CA. has agreed imes VOL. 113 NO. 31 Pages Wednesday. July 27. 1994 «M S et fïim 9 i& re a w i Princess Kim accom plished rider Princess Kim Bedortha, lone, of the 1994 Morrow County Fair and Oregon Trail Pro Rodeo, is an accomplish ed rider. This 17-year-old brunette first became ac quainted with horses when she was carried horseback in the arms of her parents Tom and Anne Bedortha, who are former rodeo committee members. Kim's first mount was a pony named "princess." That Shetland mare was her trus ty steed for barrel racing, playday events, moving cattle and trail rides. This year, Princess Kim's court mount is a dark bay 11-year-old quarter horse mare named "M olly." That mare has also proven to be an all-around type of horse, Kim says. Perhaps this mare is also one of the cleanest horses to be found anywhere due to weekly baths before parade appearances. An active 4-H'er, Princess Kim has been involved in horse and sheep projects. An avid sports lover, she also par- Princess Kim Bedortha Height: 5 7 " Eyes: Blue Hair:Brunette Parents: Tom & Anne Age: 17 year old senior Activities: 4-H, volley ball, varsity basketball, track, lifeguard ticipates in volleyball, varsity basketball and track at lone High School, where she will be a senior this year. Sum mertime finds her serving as lifeguard at the lone swimm ing pool. As an instructor for swim ming lessons, Princess Kim has lots of hands-on ex perience when working with youngsters. Presently she is '"WP'9 i m i i Photo by Joyce Hughes Lifeguarding doesn’t mean just watching the kids. Pool maintenance is a big part of Kim’s job. Harvest yields about average This year's wheat crop is "about average” , according to Morrow County Grain Growers manager Larry Mills. Mills said Tuesday that harvest was "pretty well over the half way point" and the average yield was around 40 bushels an acre. He said that last year's average was over 30 bushels per acre. "With the moisture condi tions we had the early part of the summer and the heat, I think everyone's pretty pleas ed ," added Mills. Park District to discuss pool The Willow Creek Park District, at its meeting Aug. 10, will consider placing the issue of a Heppner-area swimming pool before the voters. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at Kate's and is open to the public. 0 * ** Shawn and Travis Wilhelm test sailboat in the waters to sell him four 20-foot sailing boats, valued around $4,500 each, at a cost of $600 each as tax deductible contributions. Wilhelm says that the cost per community would come to around $1,501). In addition to the boats, Wilhelm estimates that additional costs would in clude $500 from each com munity for a trailer, $300 for freight, and another $100 for miscellaneous costs. Motors for the sailboats will be an ad ditional $400, but Wilhelm says a motor is not necessary at Willow Creek Lake. Not one to sit around and wait, Wilhelm is already out beating the bushes for con tributions and has lined up in structors. Mark Miller, a Mor row County Sheriff's deputy, and his wife, Elaine, who have sailed the Pacific, have volunteered their time to help kids learn to sail, the Coast Guard Auxiliary will be able to come to each area to teach boater's safety and classes can be arranged to teach first aid and CPR, says Wilhelm. Wilhelm requires that each participant have parental per mission, supply his own life jacket, complete a Coast Guard boater's safety course and demonstrate the ability to swim with or without a life jacket. One thing of vital con cern to Wilhelm is getting an emergency line at the lake in stalled in the event of an accident. Anyone who has ideas about funding or who would like to contribute to the pro gram or for more information, call Wilhelm at 676-5171. Street project moved up The Oregon Department of Transportation has moved up its schedule to reconstruct Main Street. ODOT had originally sched uled the street repair project for 1997, to coincide with the city of Heppner's plans for a sidewalk renovation project. But, when funds got tight, ODOT rescheduled the pro ject for 1998. The rescheduling would have meant that downtown Heppner's streets and sidewalks would have been torn up two years in a row. City manager Gary Marks, Rollie Marshall and John Ed- mundson traveled to Salem to attend a State Transportation Commission hearing June 15. testified about the problem and asked to have the street renovation project moved back. Marks said that he learned Friday that they granted the citv's request and once again have scheduled the project for 1997 to coincide with the sidewalk renovation. In the street project, Main Street and May Street will be reconstructed from the bridge near the city park to the bridge near Court St. Market and storm drains will bo installed. The sidewalk project, fund ed through the Intermodal Surface Transportation En hancement Act (ISTEA) will consist of reconstruction of Main Street sidewalks. The project will include planter boxes with trees and new lighting. In addition, Marks says that all telephone and power poles will be moved off Main Street. HOURS Lexington Mon.-Fri. 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat. 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Wasco Parts Outlet Mon.-Fr. 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat. 8 a.m.-3 p.m. M orrow C o u n ty C ra in G ro w e rs Lexington 989-8221 1-800-824-7185
