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