Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 15, 1995)
School board turns down request to hire teacher E F S S 1 E U OF Y/ETZELL ORE N E W s P A P E R L I 8 EUGENE 97 4 OR 3 HEPPNER imes VOL. 114 NO. 46 6 Pages Wednesday, November 15, 1995, Morrow County Heppner, Oregon City of Heppner receives two awards The City of Heppner receiv ed two awards at the League of Oregon Cities Convention recently held in Eugene. The first award was the "1995 Cities Award for Excellence". The se cond was a safety award for recording no on-the-job injuries for the fiscal year. The prestigious "1995 Cities Award for Excellence" was given in recognition of outstan ding community programs that reduce the cost of government, improve the quality of life of the community and increase the quality of municipal ser vices, said city manager Gary Marks. The league presented the award in recognition of the Heppner Coordinating Coun cil's (HCC) "V ision 2000" strategic planning process. Several major accomplish ments have come from the Vi- sion 2000 Strategic Plan, in cluding expansion of the city fire hall, purchase of a new fire truck, a new restroom in the ci ty park, reconstruction of sev eral city streets and four city bridges. HCC also executed a community "g a p " study to analyze business and consumer preferences and developed a Heppner Fact Book. HCC has also provided conrmunity sup port for the city's sewer system improvement project, the Main Street storefront renovation project and Main and May streets reconstruction project scheduled for 1997. "The award is really a tribute to the many individuals in the community who have been working hard to improve Heppner," said Marks. The HCC includes local citi zens representing several com munity organizations, includ ing the Heppner Economic De velopment Corporation, Cham ber of Commerce, City of Heppner, Morrow County, Morrow County Health Dis trict, Library District, Forest Service, Kinzua Mill, Ministeri al Association, Bank of Eastern Oregon and the Port of Mor row. The safety award was pre sented to the city by the Ci- ty/County Insurance Services Trust for recording no on-the- job injuries for the fiscal year ending on June 30. This is the fourth straight year the city has earned the award. "A ccid e n ts can happen quickly and can cost a great deal in pain and suffering, higher insurance rates and lost work time," said Marks. "I am very pleased that our safety program and our employees have again earned this award." Five generations gather for reunio Alda Baker, 91 of Heppner, got a chance to cuddle her great-great-grandson, Justin Howey, one year, of Heppner as several generations gathered recently for a family reunion. The family also includes Bak er's daughter, Delores Wilson, grandson, Donny Wilson, and great-granddaughter, Tami Howey, Justin's mother, of Heppner. Mrs. Baker, who has lived in Morrow County for 50 years, has 12 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren and one great- great-granchild. A ld a B aker with g reat-g reat-g ran d so n Justin H o w ey D& L to collect Toys for Tots D&L Auto Parts and Repair in Heppner has teamed up with the Marine Corps Reserve to collect Toys for Tots this Christmas season. D&L Auto Parts and Repair is one of over 1,000 Parts Plus auto stores in 30 states that will collect toys for needy children from Nov. 1 to Sunday, Dec. 10. Each store will display posters, handbills, easels and a collection box to help make col lections efforts go as smoothly as possible and ensure that the Marines meet their goal of col lecting over eight million toys. Stores will accept cash dona tions, but the program asks that they be made directly to the Toys for Tots Foundation. Monetary donations may be mailed to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, P.O. Box 1947, Quantico, Virginia 22134. Parts Plus is an association of warehouse distributors of auto parts, with the warehouse distributors supplying market ing and merchandise pro grams, as well as merchandise to the locally-owned Parts Plus auto stores. Parts, Incorporat ed, the largest and founding member of the association, began working with the Marines in September. Mar- Loc, Jobber's Warehouse and Motor Mart, three other asso ciation members, soon joined Parts, Inc., in supporting the program. "This may be the largest ex ample of independent auto parts stores joining together behind this worthy cause," said a Parts, Inc. spokesperson. "The possibility of making a child smile excites everyone in these organizations, from CEOs and store owners to de livery truck drivers and count erpeople." The Marine Toys for Tots program is nearly 50 years old and has supplied many a merry Christmas to needy children. For more information, call Chris Sullivan at 1 800 824-7746, ext. 203, Patty Mc Guire, 1 800 824-7746, ext. 439, or contact D&L, 676-5009. punch C ard tim e again It's Punch Card time again. Shoppers can now pick up their punch cards at par ticipating businesses, have their cards punched when they shop, and then enter to win $1,200 in gift certificates to be given away. There will be four lucky *25 gift certificates winners each week until Christmas, and all card entries will be included in the grand prize drawing for $600 in gift certificates to be given away to one extra lucky person on Dec. 26. Pick up your punch cards at these participating area businesses: Central Market, Morrow County Grain Grow ers, Green Feed, The Country Rose, Murray Drugs, Gardners M en's Wear, Peterson's Jewelery, Shoe Box, Coast to Coast, Les Schwab, Pettyjohn's Farm and Building Supply, and Court St. Market. By April Hilton-Sykes Heppner Elementary School parents demanded change for their children's crowded first grade classroom. They got change, all right, but it wasn't what they wished for. The parents, concerned about 33 rambunctious kids in one classroom, asked admini strators and the school board to hire an additional teacher. Monday evening the board turned down the request, citing a lack of funds, and instead voted to direct administration to create mixed grade classes. Only one first grade teacher was hired at HES this fall, because enrollment indicated a class of only 17 students. However, enrollment grew to 33 students, 26 of them boys. An aide was hired to assist first grade teacher, Cherry Webber, but parents say while that move was helpful, it was just not enough. Heppner Elementary Prin cipal Bill Karwacki and school board member Russ Morgan recommended that an addi tional teacher be hired. But, board chair Scott Bauska said that if a teacher were to be hired for Heppner, he also had to consider teachers for Sam Boardman Elementary School kindergarten classes, which also face overcrowding at 28-29 students for each of three classes, and include children who do not speak English. No money was budgeted for additional teachers, so teach ers' salaries would have come from the contingency fund. $75,000 of the $200,000 con tingency has already been spent to hire four aides, three for the SBE kindergarten classes and one for the HES first grade. Hiring three addi tional teachers would cost the district an additional $20,000 per teacher for a total of $135,000 if the classroom aides were dismissed. Besides hiring additional teachers and splitting the classroom, the board also con sidered busing students to lone. First grade parent Sandi Ford Day was initially opposed to mixed-grade classes, but after speaking with Karwacki Tues day morning following the Monday meeting, said that one option may be acceptable. This option would entail moving ap proximately nine students to different classes. With this solu tion, disruption for students and teachers would be held to the minimum, with a core group remaining in the first grade classroom , several students moving to two second grade classrooms and several to two kindergarten classes. At the meeting Karwacki said that a plan to implement multi age grouping was to be started next fall and said that the teachers were not yet ready for such a change. Teacher Joy Krein echoed that sentiment. However, following the school board's decision, Karwacki said that the plan for mixed classes would be implemented as soon as possible. Board member Russ Morgan was the lone dissenting vote against splitting the first grade classroom. According to Day, Karwacki plans to discuss the options with the involved teachers before meeting with the first grade parents Thursday. Also at the Monday evening school board meeting, the board voted 6-0 with Russ Morgan abstaining to proceed with contracting out busing ser vices for Morrow County schools. The board and the bus drivers, represented by Oregon School Employees Association, differ on their interpretation of several issues and negotiations have deadlocked. . -The union earlier filed an unfair labor practice against the district for contracting services before negotiations were completed. -The board was found guilty of unfair labor practices, but ap pealed that decision. -Each side accuses the other of failing to negotiate. -The union maintains that the district is not honoring the con tract they signed with the union. -The board and union differ on their interpretation of the district's earlier proposed con tract with Mid-Columbia Bus Service. The board says that Mid Columbia will pay for the districts' buses in one lump sum. The union says that accor ding to the contract, the pay ments will be in nine monthly payments. -Union members accused the school board of failing to read the contract with Mid-Colum bia. Board Chair Scott Bauska replied, "It's not the board's job to read contracts. It's our job to set policy." -The board and union differ on the amount of money to be saved by contracting out. -The two sides disagree on interim bargaining and Senate Bill 750. The district says that Marvin Padberg appointed to Port Marvin Padberg of lone has been appointed to the Port of Morrow Commission. Padberg replaces John Bristow who re cently resigned from the board, citing his retirement and health concerns in his resignation. Padberg, 51, is a rancher and life-long lone resident. Padberg families has lived on the fami ly ranch since 1870. Padberg and his wife, Tanna, have three grown sons, two of whom work on the ranch. Padberg was recommended for the commission spot by a committee representing the communities of Morrow Coun ty and was appointed by the commission. He will serve on the commission until the next port election in 1997. If elected then, he will serve out the re mainder of Bristow's term. The Port of Morrow is county-wide, with commis sioners elected at large. Current commissioners, besides’ Pad berg, are Dan Creamer and / f l M H M B - • * Deane Seeger, both Irrigon, Jerry Healy, Heppner, and Larry Lindsay, Lexington. Padberg has been a member of the Morrow County Plann ing Commission for over 10 years, serving as chairman for the last two years. He says that his service on the planning commission, experience in engineering and agriculture and interest in county opera tions will aid him in his appointment. Padberg says that "keeping the port viable, attracting businesses and making sure that the taxpayers get their money's worth" are challenges that face him on the port. He adds that not having a direct vested interest in the port, without political or financial in terests, may work to the port's benefit. Bristow had been a member of the port since 1986, serv ing as president for a year and a half. C reative C a re Preschool treats lone businesses C rea tive C a re students present goodies to Barb and Norm Z eller of th e lone M arket. Each fall, the students of Creative Care preschool in lone take healthy snacks around to local businesses. The treats are a "thank you" for the help and support the businesses give the preschool during the year. This year, the preschool's group donned "Wild Thing masks and presented the busi nesses with pumpkin muffins as a part of their Halloween celebration. The older group learned about the East Indian holiday, Dewali, which celebrates the fall harvest. The children celebrated the holiday by mak ing ceramic "lam ps", floor decorations and ended the festivities by’ taking harvest pat tern kabobs to the local busi nesses. Holiday Sale Begins Thursday, Nov. 16th and« Dac. 1at Morrow County Grain Growers _________ Lexington 989-8221 ' * * P after 90 days the district has the right to implement their deci sion to contract out services if no agreement is reached with the union. -The board says that it was their intent that current drivers would be offered employment at salaries equal to or above the salaries they are currently making. -Under the previous pro posal, employees would be eligible for insurance under Mid-Columbia. Their families could be included at additional cost to the employees. With the school district, bus drivers working four or more hours a day receive insurance benefits for them selves and their families paid by the district. -The district says that Mid- Columbia will buy local goods and services, while the union says that local businesses will be harmed by contracting out bus services. The board says that the bus drivers have received notice of the district's intent to imple ment contracting bus services. This means that the drivers' last day of work as school dis trict employees would be Dec. 21. According to Chuck Starr, those who wish to return as bus drivers January 2, after Christmas break, would be working for Mid-Columbia. 1-800-452-7396__________ • * / - 'à i; « ., 1
