Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 31, 1994)
U OF ORE NEWS PAPE R LIB EUGENE 974 OR Kara Ansotegui selected to Scholars program HEPPNER imes VOL. 113 NO 36 8 Pages Wednesday, August 31, 1994 Morrow County Heppner, Oregon County school enrollment down provided with resources so that, when coupled with other support for which they qualify, 90 percent of the cost of tuition, room, board, fees and books is met. In the case of high school graduates the awards are renewable for four years. Those selected are free to attend any Oregon private or public col lege or university of their choice. In addition to the financial support provided, the founda tion maintains contact with each scholar each term and ear ly next summer a leaderhip in stitute for all Ford scholars will be held at an Oregon resort. Mr. Ford, in speaking at the Kara Ansotegui (I), receives award from Charles Walter, Ken- first gathering of Ford scholars, neith Ford, president of Ford Family Foundation and Carol described his own beginnings McLaughlin. and commented that he was Kara Ansotogui of Heppner group and subsequent classes "sp ro u te d in Enterprise, was among the first class of may number up to 100 Oregon.” He noted that even Ford Scholars who recently met scholars. though leisure had not marked at the Benson Hotel to receive Any Oregon graduating high his life he "in creasin gly their awards from Kenneth W. school senior or any person thought a balance between Ford, president of the Ford completing an associate degree Family Foundation of at an Oregon community col work and play to be quite im Roseburg. There are 43 Orego lege is eligible to apply. portant.” He said he had been nians in the college scholarsip Preliminary screening is done thinking for a long time about group, and they range in age by the Oregon State Scholar a program to help people with from 17 to 50. They come from ship Commission and finalists initiative get a college educa 34 communities throughout the are interviewed by a statewide tion, and said he was happy "it state and will be attending 13 committee of educators and is now underway." He ended public and private Oregon col business leaders. Selection with his hope that "one hun leges and universities this fall. criteria include an ability to do dred percent of the group The Ford Scholars Program is college level work, a leadership would graduate from college” a new project of the Ford Fami record in high school or com and then presented each ly Foundation, and in commen munity college, solid evidence scholar with a signed certificate ting about it, Governor Barbara of reaching out to help other naming him or her Ford Roberts said, "Genersoity and people, and demonstration of scholar. Douglas L. Collins, executive opportunity are a great com personal initiative. The founda Director of the Oregon State bination. Many Oregon tion is particularly interested in Scholarship Commission said, students will have an oppor assisting people who have had "The Ford Scholars Program tunity for a college education to surmount obstacles in order meets a critical need by pro they would not otherwise have to consider college attendance. viding financial access for had, thanks to the generosity of In addition to the scholarship talented students who will be Mr. Kenneth Ford. I applaud application, interested can the future leaders of the his commitment to educa didates are asked to write three tion...and I am confident his essay s dealing with their Oregon community. The com gift will play an important role background and goals and with mission is proud to be a part in the lives of many talented an appraisal of their current ner in this endeavor.” Charles U. Walker, former president of Oregonians.” strengths and limitaions. Linfield College, directs the According to Mr. Ford, the Candidates who succeed in program for the Ford Family 1994 class is viewed as a pilot becoming Ford scholars are Foundation. Jail situation critical for county Photo by Joyce Hughes Burke O’Brien, (I) department head of transportation in South Morrow County, helps new little students find the right bus the first day of school in Heppner. One thousand, nine hundred and fifteen students trooped off to Morrow County schools to start the 1994-95 school year, according to district figures compiled Monday, Aug. 29. The figure is down 113 students compared to last year's records which showed 2,028 students as of Sept. 20, 1993. School officials, however, have previously stressed that some students do not begin school until after Labor Day, so early enrollment figures are typically lower. School started Friday, Aug. 26, with a new four-day student week. Complete 1994 enrollment figures are as follows: Heppner High School-143; Heppner Elem entary and Middle School-320; lone Schools K-12-174; Riverside High School, Boardman-362; Colum bia Junior High, lrrigon-203; Sam Boardman Elementary- 356; A.C. Houghton Elemen tary, Irrigon-357. Last year's figures are as follow s: H eppner High School-154; Heppner Elemen tary and Middle School-343; lone Schools K-12-176; River side High School-397; Colum bia Jr. High-194; Sam Board- man Elementary-381; A.C. Houghton Elementary-383. Representatives from six Oregon counties, Morrow, Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam and Wheeler, met recently concerning the jail situation in their areas. Morrow County Commissioner Ray French, Undersheriff Verlin Denton and Juvenile Services director Carolyn Holt were among a group of commis sioners, district court judges, justice court judges, district at torneys, sheriffs, correction managers and juvenile direc tors who met in a strategy ses sion to discuss problems con- No, it's not a rat you smell. It's a skunk-definitely a skunk. Heppner area residents have had a noseful lately as a record number of the smelly little crit ters seem to be migrating to yards, gardens and streets around town. Bob Krein of the Fish and Wildlife Department says that he has had around 14 com plaints of skunks in the area recently, many more than nor mal. He says that the problem arises when the vegetation in the outlying areas becomes too dry and the skunks come to town looking for greener p astures and the worms underneath the damper soil. Skunks are pretty much om nivorous, says Krein, eating worms, small lizards, snakes and insects in addition to the cat or dog food placed out on the porch. Skunks are not big or scrappy enough to catch and eat cats, as is rumored, unless perhaps, small newborn kit tens, he said. A skunk is around the size of a housecat, but has a thicker body and is slightly heavier, five to six pounds at the most. Krein says that he has around eight live traps. Anyone wishing to have a skunk trap ped may call him to be put on a waiting list to be lent a trap, but right now he says he has had more skunk calls than traps available. Krein says he will pick up the trapped skunks. Krein theorizes that more young ''inexperienced” skunks may be contributing to the skunk odor complaints around town. A young skunk may be more likely to be spooked and thus more likely to let fly with his scent. Tomato juice or a commercial scent remover are both effective in removing the skunk odor. Krein said that rabid skunks are not a problem in the area and added that a rabid skunk would be obvious to spot with the telltale signs of drooling, staggering and disorientation. Heppner High School kick starts the year with an event ful Homecoming week Sept. 6-9. The Heppner Mustangs and Fillies both take on the Riverside Pirates. The Fillies play in volleyball action Thurs day Sept. 8 at 5 p.m. and the Mustangs will meet Friday night at 7:30 p.m. This year's homecoming theme is "Sink the Pirates” . Dressup days include '50's- '60's day on Tuesday; staff look-a-like day on Wednesday; Pirate day on Thursday and Blue and Gold on Friday. Students will vote for the 1994 Hom ecoming Court Thursday, Sept. 1. Results of the voting will be announced Tuesday Sept. 6 in a school assem bly. Stu den ts will decorate the halls from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 2 when there is no school. Hall decorations will be judged Tuesday morning. The Heppner Fillies take on the Riverside Pirates in a volleyball match. The C team begins play at 5 p.m. followed Wheeler counties have relied on whatever space available and have utilized Klickitat County's facility in Golden- dale, WA, whenever possible. French said that the cost of housing a prisoner at the near by Umatilla County Jail is pro hibitive at around $80 a day, almost double the rate at the Benton-County Jail, which is around $48 a day. He said that Morrow County spent around $144,000 last year housing prisoners. Those attending the session estimated that a minimum of 100 spaces are needed. French says that the situation has reached a critical point. "There's no use in serving war through 6th grade. rants, if there's no place to put Students will be screened on the following schedule: Sam them (prisoners),” said French. Boardman Elementary, Sept. If there is no jail space prisoners 21, SBE alternate kindergarden, will be released immediately or Sept. 22; A.C. Houghton released prematurely. "W e Elementary, Oct. 12; SBE want to be assured a space,” he recheck, Oct. 10; A.C.H. said. French said that one possibili recheck, Nov. 2; lone and Heppner Elementarles, Nov. 8, ty considered would be to build a facility at Rufus, which is in rechecks Nov. 21. The hearing screening is the center of the six-county done by the Umatilla-Morrow area, is on the freeway for easy ESD for public school students access if a prisoner has to be of Umatilla and Morrow Coun transported and land is ties. It is cooperatively spon available in that area. The sored by local school districts. group discussed a prefabricated jail facility, which would also Approximately 4000 children will be seen. Children who fail provide the opportunity for ex pansion later if needed, he the initial screening will be re said. screened within a three-week French said that the group period. will discuss funding options, Parents who do not want including government ap their child's hearing to be propriations. The recently- screened should notify the school as soon as possible. passed "Crime Bill” may pro vide new opportunities for jail Anyone with questions regar construction, which is difficult, ding the hearing screening pro if not impossible for small gram, should contact the school counties to afford. principal, or the Speech, A second meeting of the Language and Hearing Depart group is set for Sept. 6 in ment at the Umatilla-Morrow Arlington. ESD, 276-6616, extension 140. Hearing screenings to be held The Umatilla-Morrow Educa tion Service District (ESD) will be providing hearing screening to public elementary school stu den ts including all kindergarten students, students in grades one and three; new students to the county and parent/teacher/principal refer rals of students in kindergarten HHS homecoming Sept. 6-9 Skunks prolific in Heppner cerning transportation of prisoners, jail space and the possibilities of locating a regional justice center. Morrow County has con tracted with Benton-Franklin Justice Center in Kennewick, WA, for jail space but has been notified that the contract will be cancelled January 1, 1995. The other counties are in similar positions. Hood River County has reached maximum capaci ty; Wasco County has a 36-hour holding facility with a maximum capacity of 10 spaces; Sherman, Gilliam and by the JV and Varsity teams. At the conclusion of the games a community pep assembly will be put on by the Heppner High School cheerleaders. A downtown parade will start around 4:15 p.m. Friday. Floats decorated by each class will be paraded through Main Street. The homecoming queen will be crowned at halftime of the football game Friday. A dance will follow the game starting at 10 p.m. at the Elks Lodge with music provided by Dan Burns of Pendleton. The dance will end at 1 a.m. followed by a breakfast downstairs. W e w ill b e Closed Monday Sept. 5, for Labor Day "Haw a great Weekend" M o r r o w C o u n ty G r a in G r o w e r s Lexington 989-8221 1-800-824-7185
