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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 1995)
CAS S I E V/ETZELL U C F ORE N p S P A F T R LI £ - y .. N t Oft 9 7 4 . 3 Bus drivers and school district still at odds By April Hilton-Sykes tiations," said Starr. He said The Oregon School Em the school board approved a ployees Association (OSEA) tentative agreement August 31 Chapter 59 has notified the which was proposed by the bus Morrow County School Board drivers. That proposal, which that OSEA will file a contrac- was turned down by county tural grievance against the OSEA membership, specified a board "if the board makes a 20 percent reduction in salary unilateral decision to contract and health benefits for bus out the district's student drivers only. Under that agree transportation services". ment, bus services would not The board and the union be contracted out. have yet to reach an agreement Starr added that the board in the contract for the bus agreed to meet with OSEA Oct. drivers employed with the 20, but, he said, "They refus school district. ed to bargain with u s." "OSEA has tried to be an A June 30 decision by the equal partner with the board in Employment Relations Board solving problems, but the ruled against the school board, board's refusal to bargain in saying that the board had not good faith, recognize savings bargained in good faith when that have been identified by they decided to contract out bus drivers and work together bus services. The ruling dic for long term solutions to issues tated that the district return to have left the Morrow County a status quo that was in place Classified disappointed and prior to the decisions made upset," said Mary Kay Brant, concerning contracting busing OSEA field representative. services. Morrow County School OSEA says that the district District Superintendent Chuck has not returned to status quo. Starr maintains that the district Starr, however, maintains that has tried to reach an agreement it has. with the union. "W e've made One of the major factors in every effort to complete nego- deciding to contract bus ser- MCGG annual meeting Nov. 6 vices is savings, according to Starr. Chapter 59 represen tatives said that they identified $36,000 in yearly savings to the district and that those changes were implemented. They say that their wages have already been reduced by 20 percent when the district went to a four-day student week. Starr says that the district would save money over and above the $36,000 if they con tracted bus services to the low bidder. "We know we can save at least $75,000. It pencils out to around $96,000" said Starr. "We respect our employees. We know they've done a good job. The issue is that we know we can save money by contract ing out. Starr said that substantial savings would occur in the area of health insurance. He says that the district pays $387 per month per employee for health benefits for the employee and their family year round. Bus drivers typically work four hours a day, four days a week, during the months school is in session. Currin, Steagall win rodeo events VOL. 114 NO. 44 8 Pages Wednesday, November 1, 1995,_______Morrow County Heppner, Oregon D.A. Earl Woods foils escape attempt Morrow County DA Earl R. Woods, Jr. There was some excitement at the Morrow County Court house in Heppner around 9 a.m. last Thursday, Oct. 26, when Nolan Wayne McClat- chy, 28, Hermiston, attempted a daring escape from the circuit courtroom located on the se cond floor of the courthouse. McClatchy had just been con victed of two counts of second degree burglary and three counts of first degree theft and was sentenced to serve 240 days in the county jail. Judge Jeff Wallace had order ed McClatchy to take a seat in the back of the courtroom to wait for the sheriff. Instead McClatchy jumped up and sprinted out the back door of the courtroom, passing by a startled group of approximate ly 30 citizens who were serving as jurors in an unrelated crimi nal case. District Attorney Earl Woods, who had just prosecuted Mc Clatchy, gave chase and pur sued McClatchy down the stairs, out the back door of the courthouse, through the park ing lot, down the driveway and into a residential area across from the courthouse. County Judge Louis Carlson, 66, and Emergency Service director Casey Beard, 46, heard the commotion and also gave chase. A passerby yelled that McClatchy was in Willow Creek approaching the bridge. Carlson and Beard headed for the bridge and Woods went back upstream in case McClat chy doubled back. McClatchy did double back and came up the bank where Woods was waiting for him. Woods, who was alone, but being watched by jurors from the upstairs windows of the courthouse, confronted Mc Clatchy and ordered him to take a face down position on the ground. Instead, McClatchy charged Morrow County Judge Louis Carlson Emergency Management Director Casey Beard Woods, attempting to knock him out of the way. Woods punched McClatchy in the jaw as they met and McClatchy went to the ground. Woods jumped on him and took him into custody. McClatchy was handed over to Heppner Police Chief Doug Rathbun, who escorted Mc Clatchy to the Sheriff's office for transport to jail. Judge Carlson reported that he tore a hole in his pants and leg during the chase and Beard commented that "it's awful hard to run in cowboy boots." Woods , who is nursing a swollen right hand, charged McClatchy with third degree escape. McClatchy, 28, outweighs Woods, 52, by 30 pounds. However, Woods was with the Army Special Forces (Green Berets) in Vietnam, is a former police officer and is currently a lieutenant colonel in the Oregon National Guard. M CGG burglar apprehended Robert Eugene Gregory, Jr., 42, Hermiston, was arrested in Clackamas County in connec tion with a burglary at the Mor row County Grain Growers shop in Lexington Friday, Oct. 20 . According to Morrow Coun ty Sheriff Roy Drago, Gregory was allegedly selling tools off the side of the stolen 1994 flat bed pickup, with Morrow County Grain Growers painted on its side, when he was spot ted by an off-duty Clackamas County Sheriff's deputy. The deputy ran the pickup's plates, discovered that it had been stolen and apprehended the suspect. Tools and a firearm were also recovered. Raffle to benefit local museum The Morrow County Creative Arts and Crafts (MCCAC) will raffle off a painting by Tina Tharp as a fundraiser to benefit the Morrow County Museum. Tickets for the painting, which was donated by Pauline Matheny, will be available at the MCCAC sale, Saturday, Nov. 4, from 10 a.m .-4 p.m. at All Saints Episcopal Church, and from local businesses. The Morrow County Grain Growers annual membership The Columbia River Circuit meeting will be Monday, Nov. Finals Steer Roping Finals, held 6, at the fairgrounds in Hepp recently in Walla Walla, saw a ner, starting with dinner at 6:30 relative newcomer in the event p.m. take home a victory. Ron Cur The program will include rin, 34, of Maupin, formerly of reports from company officers, the Buttercreek area, won the election of directors and average in 57.3 seconds on associate directors and adop three head, earning $1,257. tion of changes in the company Before 1995, only $549 of Cur- by-laws and articles of incor rin's approximate $200,(XX) in poration. Professional Rodeo Cowboys The six nominees for the four Association (PRCA) earnings director positions are Ron came from steer roping. Most Becket, Virginia Grieb, Dana of his earnings came from steer Heideman, John Luciani, Lyle wrestling. But last winter, Cur Peck and Keith Rea. The no rin was invited to participate in minees for associate directors a timed-event competition re Linda Greep are Travis Harrison, Mike quiring him to compete in all Jones, Ken Klinger and Brian Thompson. productions and is hosting and the timed events. "I kind of got interested in Featured speaker this year producing "Kids on Cable", a steer roping after that," he ill be Linda Greep, director of Vancouver television show said. "It's a lot of fun. I really community relations for the featuring youth and teens. enjoy the sport.” Evergreen School District. She Babysitting will be provided Bareback rider Rocky Stea has also played more than 25 for the meeting in the dormi gall, formerly of Irrigon, plac lead roles in musical theater tory building. ed at two rodeos to earn $1,233 and move up to 18th in the Crown Royal world bareback riding standings. Steagall, of Sanger, CA, scored 75, placing rounding area, had approved a third at the Wild Rogue Pro The first two groups of land- $975,000 Willow Creek Park rodeo in Central Point, earning owners petitioning to have District bond issue to build and $663. He finished second at the their property removed from equip a swimming pool in Trinity Valley Exposition PRCA the Willow Creek Park District Heppner and a three-year serial Rodeo, in Liberty, TX, with his have been denied their request, levy at $36,000 a year to operate 77 point ride, earning $760. according to the office of Mor the pool. row County Judge Louis A public hearing has been Carlson. scheduled for a third group of March 28 voters in the petitioners on Wednesday, district, comprised of Heppner, Nov. 22, at 1:30 p.m. at the Lexington and lone and sur- Morrow County Courthouse. Landowners denied park district petition Farm ownership meeting John Bristow resigns from Port board Commissioner John Bristow announced his resignation from the Port of Morrow Board of Directors recently. Bristow sited his recent retirement and health concerns as his reasons for resignation. He joined the Port of Morrow Commission in October 1986 and has served as president of the commission the past IV2 years. According to the Port policy for filling vacancies, the Port will advertise the position and a committee will be selected with representatives from each community in the county to review the applicants. The committee will make recom mendations to the commission which will appoint replace ments. The appointee will serve un til the next Port election in March 1997. If elected at that time, the appointee would serve out the term of the com missioner who vacated the position. Applications for the commis sioner position will be available at the port office. Applicants must be residents of Morrow County. Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m., Friday, Nov. 3. CBEC annual meeting set Nov. 12 The 51st annual meeting of Colum bia Basin Electric Cooperative, Inc., will be held at the Morrow County Fair grounds in Heppner on Thurs day, Nov. 2. Registration will begin at 5 p.m., with dinner at 6 p.m . and the business meeting at 7 p.m. Items on the agenda include election of four three-year directors and other business. The public is invited to attend. scheduled The Morrow County Oregon Wheat Growers League has organized a seminar on farm ownership and transfer of ownership Thursday, Nov. 16, beginning at 9:15 a.m. in the fair annex building in Heppner. The workship will conclude by 3:30 p.m. Alice Mills Morrow, Exten sion family economics specialist from Oregon State University, will present the workshop. Subjects will include how farm businesses are owned, when and how ownership will trans fer to others, and business and family transitions related to the ownership change. A $5 admis sion fee covers the cost of materials. Preregistration is re quired. Contact the Morrow County Extension Office, 676-9642; Judy Rea, 422-7445; or Holly Weimar, 384-4231. SAVE UP TO 10% ON THE HIQUAL CLASSIC WORKING SYSTEM At your Local Participating Co-Op Morrow County Grain Growers I «V in n tn n 989-8221 1-800-452-7396