TWO - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, December 14, 1994
Dog's return helps family over the holidays
M ms , mi ,
py wunyn nromton
Leaping reindeer, it's almost time for Santa Claus to make his
infamous run. While hitching up for that trip, Santa's elves aren't
likely to make a mistake in the order of things. However when
it comes to putting the cart before the horse, there seems to be
some misinformation on a local issue.
Contracting of school services including transportation,
janitorial and food service isn't at present being considered by
the school board. According to superintendent Chuck Starr,
research would be needed to determine if such action would by
considered a cost-cutting measure.
With only nine student school days in December, those costs
have already takena holiday-like nosedive. Judging from the
number of high school students who buy school day lunches
downtown, their tastes must fancy a different cuisine. Although
students are often involved in fund-raising causes, it could be
that they never heard of packing a lunch to school. Or perhaps
their at-home cupboards are bare because the Christmas elves
made a raid to give to the more unfortunate.
But the burning question of how to finance schools can dim
Christmas candles, in an effort to tighten up after-holiday belts,
the classified employees have indicated a willingness to cap
salaries at 1995 levels. In contrast, many school boards are ap
proving four to six percent teacher wage hikes along with salary
step increases. This is in addition to a healthy portion of health
insurance costs for teachers and families. In comparison to other
professions, teachers are employed for nine months including
holiday and spring vacations. In line with a day's work for a day's
pay, teacher absentee costs should be borne by that indiviual
teacher.
Meanwhile public employees are crying in their Tom and Jer-
rys about measure eight, that rules PERS benefits will no longer
be paid by employers, who are also the taxpayers. A trade-off
seems likely in the form of another salary increase.
Middle class living standards seem to know no bounds when
it comes to the latest model vehicles, recreational equipment and
home embellishments. It's fortunate that Santa wears the same
suit every year and doesn't attempt to keep up with the latest
trends. But then he probably has to make do with his old suit
since he's considered a part-time employee without full benefits
or a hefty retirement salary, somewhat like agricultural producers
and small business peons.
Stepping on slippery turf, not necessarily caused by the
weather, can cause one to fall on the posterior. Yet an increas
ing snowfall of paperwork for landowners probably clouds my
judgement while hanging up a Christmas sock that has developed
a hole in the toe.
Before saying farewell to that wasted figure representing the
old year, every frog puddle which might sometimes hold a drop
of water, is supposed to be registered withe Oregon Water
Resources Department.
Hear ye, any off-channel ponds up to specified dimensions will
not be assessed a fee for registering, not currently anyway. Yet
the paper chase includes submitting specifications as to water
storage capacity, use, water source and geographical location.
In line with increasing water regulations, Representative Chuck
Norris said that the state hasn't yet determined that toliet tanks
are holding reservoirs in line for assessment, even though those
water closets often hold more water than many ponds during
summer months.
Making merry, the elves in the Water Resource Department
will be singing 'Happy New Year' as checks come rolling in to
obtain water rights for ponds using water from a stream, lake
or in a on-channel course, particularly those that support fish.
Filing for a water right might take years to get more spendy
and expensive well drilling is nothing compared to the agony
of getting permission to pump water from same.
Let the deer roam, but keep cattle out of creeks. I just hope
that overzealous conservationists do their part in resource
management. I remember when bathing and clothes washing was
once a weekly ritual. Nowadays some of our influential policy
makers take decision making baths more frequently.
to be reunited with their dog,
especially 13 year-old John.
"John was very glad," said
Matt. "H e just grabbed him ."
The family also includes 10
year-old Tony, who got the dog
for his eighth birthday. While
Blackie was technically Tony's,
he really belonged to everyone
in the family, said Rhonda.
"They say that cats have nine
lives," commented Rhonda. "I
think this dog is well on his
third. H e's been in two car
wrecks." Rhonda says that
since her husband has been in
the hospital, she feels com
forted by having the dog in the
house. "H e's very protective of
u s," she says.
While the Looney family will
have their dog home for the
holidays, it doesn't look like
their husband and father will
make it home this Christmas.
John Looney is improving,
however, and has been moved
from OHSU H ospital to
Highland Hills Nursing Center.
He has started physical therapy
and, according to Rhonda, has
had his "trach" taken out and
can speak. "But we're still talk
ing a long time," says
She says that John's 50th bir
thday is Dec. 21 and the fami
ly plans to go to Portland for a
birthday surprise. But, after
that they will stay home for
Christmas. "I'm hopeful that
we'll have him home soon, or
at least closer to hom e," add
ed Rhonda.
Meanwhile the holidays will
be hard this year for the Looney
family. "I wasn't going to have
a tree," said Rhonda. "I was
going to be kind of 'bah hum
bug'. But then somebody gave
us a tree and I got more into
it." She said that she is very ap
preciated of the many people
who have donated anony-
He's got the spunkiness of
the dog in "All Dogs Go To
Heaven", the love of three
young boys and is well on his
third "life". Blackie is just a
special dog.
Blackie, a tw o year old
labrador-G erm an shepherd
and possibly border collie mix,
is owned by the John and
Rhonda Looney family of
Heppner. The dog was with
John Looney when Looney was
involved in an automobile ac
cident near the Echo junction
Nov. 7. Looney was critically
injured, sustaining injuries to
his head, ribs, knee and lungs.
He was transported by am
bulance to good Shepherd
Community Hospital in Her-
miston and air-lifted to the
Oregon Health Sciences Uni
versity Hospital in Portland
Follow ing the accident, the dog
ran off and the family didn't
think they w ould ever see him
again.
Finally, almost two weeks
later Rhonda Looney got a
message at work that a friend
had read an ad in a newspaper
that described the Looney's
dog. According to Rhonda, the
friend was positive that this
was the Looney's dog.
Rhonda called the family,
and sure enough, it sounded
like Blackie. The dog had end
ed up at the Harry and Shana
Geer place on Buttercreek the
Friday before Thanksgiving.
"They just took him in," said
Rhonda. "H e w as a little skin
ny and favored his right front
paw, which had been broken,
but he was okay." Because
Rhonda didn't have a car that
was working, the Geers offered
to bring Blackie to Heppner
when they came to town.
Twelve year-old Matt Looney
said that the family was happy
Rhonda, John Matt and Tony Looney with Blackie
mously to the family. They
received two Christmas trees,
one of which Rhonda gave
away. She added that the fami
ly was fortunate in that they
Blazer/Avia scholastic awards announced
OFFICE
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Envelopes $8/r box
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C o m p u te r P aper
Trailblazer/Avia scholastic improvement awards for the first semester of school were announced
at Heppner High School recently.
Recipients of Basic Improvement Phase One awards are pictured: front row l-r: Chris Sykes,
Jon Hanna, Shawn Hisler, Colin Anderson, Rod Zumwalt, Randy VanEtta; second row: Shawn
Wilhelm, Angela Debo, Anji Bergstrom, Bryce Tucker, Chris Holland; third row: Lonnie Rill, Frank
Martin, Jennifer Rankin, Deana Hendricks, Bev Haugen, Stephanie Johnson; back row: Jeremy
Cimmiyotti, Frank Martin, Donald White and Miles Hill. Not pictured are Bill Schlaich and Casey
Betzold.
BANK OF EASTERN O R E G O N
Heppner Branch
Christmas Open House
O
Friday, Dec. 16th
Stop by for cookies & coffee
‘
pen
H
D p a s t e r n
We Deliver
Heppner Gazette
676-9228
On the First Day of
Christmas
My True Love gave to me
ouse
★ Thursday, December 22
★ 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
★ Coffee, Cookies & Punch
★ Door Prize - Sign Up To Win A
$100 Savings Bond
'Join i s For This Day O f Appreciation
For Letting (Js Sen e Your
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C h r is tm a s 0 * L i s t
had applied and were accepted
into the Oregon Health Plan
shortly before the accident. But
still, John Looney is not ex
pected to be able to go back to
work for at least a year.
Open Sunday
12-4 p.m.
Refreshments
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O rea cn
"Your Monc\ Helping )<>ur Neighbors
MEMBER F 01 C
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676 9200