Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 25, 1995)
B E S S I E W E T 2 E L L U C F ORE N E W 3 P A P Z R L I B Artist illustrator visits lone schools Author and illustrator, Chris K. Soentpiet, visited lone schools recently. While there he talked to students about his life and work and autographed his recently published book, "Around Tow n". The 24 year old Soentpiet was born in Seoul, South Korea, the youngest of six children. He was orphaned at the age of seven. His older brothers and sisters tried desperately to keep the family together, but life was very dif ficult for them. At the same time in Hawaii, Harriette Soentpiet Orr was looking for children to adopt into her fami ly. Christmas 1978 Chris and his sister traveled to Hawaii to join their new family. Soon after, this family moved to Portland where Chris entered fifth grade at Alameda School and then Grant High Scool. Chris' artistic talent soon became evident and he entered Katie Hams (I) gets Chris Soentpiet to autograph her copy of ‘‘Around Town” . students about his life and classes at Portland Art desire to publish his own Museum. He won an art books. He demonstrated some scholarship to prestigious Pratt of the techniques he uses in Institute in New York City, painting and en cou raged where he still lives and works. students to pursue the study of His new book is a beautifully il art. Teachers and students lustrated story about a girl and agreed that his life story and art her mother coming to New work are interesting and in York City and enjoying the ac spirational, said a spokesper tive street life of the city. son for the school. Soentpiet talked to lone * Marilyn Garcia manager of First Interstate V0L. 114_______NO. 4_______8 Pages Wednesday, January 25, 1995,_______ Morrow County Heppner, Oregon School board to seek transportation bids The Morrow County School Board, at a special meeting held Monday, Jan. 23, in lone, voted to seek bids for contracting school transportation for the 1995-96 year as a possible cost saving measure. The district faces more cuts in the 1995-96 year as they adjust to the final phase of ballot measure 5 and school equalization. The board's action followed a presentation by represen tatives from Mid-Columbia Bus Company. Mid Columbia own er Doug Flatt said that after a survey of the Morrow County School District's transportation program, he believes contrac ting busing services could be feasible for the district. Mid Columbia suggested numerous transportation options that the board may want to specify in a transportation contract. Sch oo l su p erin ten d en t Chuck Starr recommended that the board au th orize bid specifications to be prepared with several stipulations: -the specifications include the expectation that bidders plan to hire all existing qualified personnel; -that the specifications in clude a "hold harm less" pro vision in areas of wages and salaries (that wages won't be reduced); -that the prospective bidders not be required to maintain cur rent benefit packages; -that specifications include the renting of the school district bus facilities (garages, etc.) to the contractors; -that the contractors purchase the buses outright, with a buy back clause included; -that the bid proposal is for a three-year period; -that the district prefers a committment to buy locally. Starr and the board stressed that they are satisfied with the transportation staff and are seeking bids only to see if a private company can provide the service cheaper. They reiterated that they may decide to reject all bids. When questioned by the Gazette-Times if Mid Columbia could provide cheaper trans portation services, especially with the specifications that employees be hired back at the same wages and that buses be bought outright, Flatt said that he didn't know at this time. The board directed Starr to have the specifications pre pared for the Feb. 13 meeting. In other business, the board adopted a boundary change and memorandum of under standing between the Morrow County School District and the Olex School District that the east portion of the Olex district be merged to the Morrow County District. Students in the annexed area will attend Morrow County Schools and the Morrow County district will receive state school funding for those students and will receive property and any taxing bene fits from the area merged. Other portions of the Olex district will be merged to the A rlington and Condon districts. Marilyn Garcia Marilyn Garcia has been named manager of the Hepp ner branch of First Interstate Bank. Garcia replaces Jackie Allstott, who retired from that positon on Sept. 30 after 25 years with the bank. Garcia, who is also manager of the Condon and Fossil bran ches of First Interstate, started her banking career at the First National Bank in Fossil 29 years ago as a teller and file clerk. Garcia says she encourages young people to look at First In terstate as a career choice, because "you can train and grow " within the bank. She says that the most important part of her career is the people. "A s long as I can deal with my M C G G to display worlds Ballot deadline nears largest tractor at breakfast Nelson, director; Boardman Regular size tractor and two people are small compared to ‘‘Magnum a normal tractor. The world's largest display The monster tractor will be tractor, the Case IH 7250 displayed during the dealer MAGNUM tractor replica, will sh ip 's open hou se and be displayed at the Morrow breakfast from 7 a.m. to noon. County Grain Growers in Lex Morrow County Grain Grow ington during their annual ers invites everyone to view the customer appreciation day set newest farm equipment. The Saturday, Feb. 11. first 25 families will have their "This is no ordinary tractor," said Butch Laughlin, equip photographs taken next to the giant tractor. The 30 foot trac ment salesman at MCGG. tor has been displayed in over " T h is in flatable tractor 20 states and Canada. This will measures 30 feet in height, 45 be the first display in Oregon. feet long and 24 feet w ide." For more information, con The replica serves as a goodwill tact MCGG manager Larry ambassador and is approx Mills, 989-8221. imately three times the size of Thursday, January 26, is the deadline to subm it ballot measures and candidates for the March 28 election. Morrow County Clerk Bar bara Bloodsworth says that there will be a voter's pamphlet for the election. Deadline for submission of the explanation of the measures by the various districts for the pamphlet is also Jan. 26. Deadline for submis sion of an argument for or against a ballot measure is Monday, January 30. There is no cost to submit an explanation, says Bloodsworth, but the cost for submitting an argument for or against is $25. D eadline for candidates wishing to be in the voter's pamphlet is Thursday, Feb. 9. Cost for candidates is $10 for unpaid positions. The paperwork for entries in the pamphlet is available at the clerk's office. Bloodsworth says that the pam phlets will be mailed before the ballots which, "in all likelihood," will go out March 10 . Following are candidates who have filed for office as of noon Tuesday, Jan. 24: Irrigon Park District-Mildred K. Shade, Orville J. Buchanan; lone- Lexington Cemetery District- Don Ball, director; lone Rural Fire D istrict-K en n eth E. Park D istrict-Ju lie A.M . Beemer, Raymond D. Michael, Dçug Pope; Boardman Rural Fire District-Delmer A. Hug, Mike Allison, directors; Mor row County School District- John Rietmann, director Zone 3, Scott A. Johnson, director, Zone 5, Rollie M arshall, Heppner-Lexington Advisory Board no. 5; George Miller, lone-Lexington Advisory board no. 5; Oregon Trail Library District-Barbara Hayes, Shan non Meyers, directors; Port of Morrow-John L. Bristow, posi tion no. 4, four year term, John M. Grace and Deane Seeger position no. 1, two year term, James H. Hankins, position un named at presstime, Jerry M. Mealy, position no. 3, two year term, Larry Lindsay, position no. 5, four year term; Willow C reek Park D istrict-K en Turner, position no. 2, John Ripple, position no. 3. customers," she said. "I would hate to have an inside job where I wouldn't deal with my customers. I like people." Garcia was named manager of the Fossil branch of First In terstate eight years ago and manager of the Condon branch five years ago. Garcia says the Heppner branch is trying to build their agri-business area up. "W e want people to become aware of all the things we offer." Gar cia credits her staff in assisting her in managing three banks in three different towns. " I have a really good support staff, cross trained and real knowled geable of their communities." Garcia says she generally spends two days in Heppner, two in Fossil and one in Con don, but adds that her schedule is flexible and she goes where she is needed. Garcia, 55, was born in Kin- zua. The family moved around and she eventually left the area for a while, but returned to Fossil in 1962. She has a grown daughter who lives in Culver City. People for pool hold meeting The annual meeting of Peo ple for the Pool will be held Monday, Jan. 30, at 7 p.m. at the Columbia Basin Electric Co op conference room. Officers will be elected for the new year and the financial report will be given. People for the Pool is a non profit organization dedicated to raising funds for a pool in south Morrow County. Ideas will be gathered on how to campaign for the up coming pool levy. Plans are for in terested in dividu als to establish a publicity group. "People for the Pool desperate ly needs help from all who are interested in promoting a pool," said a spokesperson for the group. "Please come to this meeting and find out how to help your swimming pool." St. Patrick's auction seeks donations The St. Patrick's Day Auction Committee will be conducting a "Donation Day" in Heppner on Thursday, February 16. Volunteers will be asking local businesses and neighborhoods to contribute items that can be auctioned to support the St. Patrick's Day celebration. The yearly auction provides the main financial support for this community event. "N ow that Christmas is over and we've all acquired new "treasures", it's a good time to sort through your crowded house, make some room, and part with a few of your old treasures for a good cau se," said a St. Patrick's committee spokesperson. In addition to the donation day effort, volunteers will also pick up large items at your home or business. Call Steve Rhea, 676-9113; Mike Mills 676-9141 or John Murray 676-9158 days and 676-9631 evenings to arrange for pick up service. Small items may be left at the Kuhn, Spicer and Mills office on Main Street or at Doris Brosnan's house. Meeting set for 7-12 configuration The second com m unity meeting concerning the Hepp ner Junior High move to the high school has been schedul ed for Thursday, Jan. 26, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the junior high auditorium. Heppner Elementary/Middle School Principal Bill Karwacki and Heppner High School Principal Steve Dickenson will discuss how the transition to a 7-12 configuration will be made. Customer Appreciation Day Friday, Feb. 10 - Chemical Clinic Sat. Feb. 11 - Free breakfast • Trade Show Door prizes • Knife Sharpening Morrow County Grain Growers Lexington 989-8221 1-800-452-7396
