Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 17, 1996)
%/ — -m -r ■ Columbia Basin Business o f the Year Jeanne Berretta, Glen Ward and Jannie Allen chosen Heppner citizens of the year HEPPNER 50 < Dr. Jeanne Berretta Glen Ward Jannie Allen imes i ■ VOL. 115_______NO. 3______ 8 Pages Wednesday, January 17, 1996,_______Morrow County Heppner, Oregon Fire destroys one of Heppner's oldest homes Chamber president John Edmundson (I) presents Business of the Year award to Columbia Basin Electric Cooperative board president Jerry Hollomon and CBEC manager Fred Toombs. Dr. Jeanne Berretta was selected the woman of the year and Glen Ward, the man of the year at the annual Heppner Chamber of Commerce Town and Country Day Celebration held Thursday, January 11, at the St. Patrick's Parish Hall in Heppner. Jannie Allen, Heppner Elem entary teacher, was chosen educator of the year and Columbia Basin Electric Co-op, business of the year. Firemen work to douse the flames. What may have been one of H eppner's oldest homes, located on south Chase Street, was destroyed in a fire which broke out around 11:25 a.m. Monday, January 15. According to Heppner Fire Chief Rusty Estes and Fire Cap tain Steve Rhea, the fire is believed to have started in an attic storage area. Rhea said that children living in the home were reported to have heard a loud pop before the fire ignited. Reports indicate that the children tried to put the fire out, but when the smoke alarms in the house went off, they went downstairs to their mother. The mother and children escaped the house safely and reportedly went to a neighbor's home to call 911. The family living in the home, the John Fulton family, were said to have moved from lone only a week or so earlier. Estes said that the home, which is owned by Ron Forrar, Hermiston, formerly of Hepp ner, is totally destroyed. He said that it is not yet certain whether the house will be torn down or burned by the Hepp ner Fire Department. Rhea said that the age and construction of the house hindered firefighters from get V *. '• A. & t •• ■ * _« ■ ting into the attic to put the fire out, because it had tongue-in grove lathe in the ceiling, but also may have helped prevent the ceiling from collapsing. No other homes were damaged, partly, said Rhea, because the roof of the home was higher than other roofs in the area. One house nearby was evacuated mainly because of the smoke, which billowed out of the upstairs windows of the burning house. Rhea and Estes said that lone Fire Chief Jim Boor assisted, as did Columbia Basin Electric. Many citizens helped with salvage, they said. A hot spot in the roof flared up again around 5:30 p.m. that day and firefighters again responded. St. Patrick's auction committee seeking donations for auction tibles and antiques. In addition Now that closets are full of to "treasures” , auction dona new Christmas goodies, the St. tions may also include services Patrick's Day auction commit or opportunities. Escorted hun tee is seeking donations for the ting or riding trips, babysitting St. Patrick's Day Auction. services, garden care or home The auction is the main fund repair work are all examples of source for the St. Patrick's Day auction items. Celebration. Although St. Pat Volunteers are available to rick's Day would not be possi pick up large items at homes or ble without the dedicated ef businesses. Call Steve Rhea, forts of many volunteers, 676-9113 days, Mike Mills, several thousand dollars are re 676-9141 days, Dan Brosnan, quired each year to cover ex 676-5382 days, or the Murrays, penses for publicity, brochures, 676-9158 days or 676-9631 even entertainment and facilities ings, to arrange for pick-up ser rentals. vice. Small items may be left Items donated in prior years at the Kuhn, Spicer and Mills include artwork, appliances, office on Main Street or at Dan computers, furniture, collec and Doris Brosnan's house. Dr. Jeanne Berretta Berretta and her husband, Dr. Ed Berretta, have been physicians in Heppner for the past eight years. Ironically, Berretta was born in Heppner. Her mother and father lived in Condon, where he was the town's dentist. After graduating from high school in Condon, Dr. Jeanne enrolled in a pre-med program at St. Joseph College at West Hartford, Connnecticut. She received a bachelor of science degree in biology there in 1975. She attended medical school at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and receiv ed a bachelor of science degree in medicine in 1977. From there she enrolled at the University of Alabama School of Medicine and received her M.D. there in 1979. She completed her in ternship at Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland and her residency in family medicine at the East Carolina School of Medicine (ECSM) in 1984. In 1985 she earned a fellowship in geriatrics at ECSM in 1985. At ECSM she was an assistant professor in the school of fami ly medicine. The Berrettas moved to Heppner in 1988. In addition to working long hours at Pioneer Memorial Clinic, the Berrettas provide emergency coverage at Pioneer Memorial Hospital evenings, weekends, and many holidays. "S h e is very dedicated and has put in a lot of long hard hours," com mented Kevin Erich, Morrow County Health District ad ministrator. Erich remarked about her concern for her pa tients and the people in the community. The Berrettas have four children, G retchen, a sophomore at Portland State University, Matt, a freshman at Heppner High School, Vin cent, a fourth grader at Hepp ner Elementary, and Nick, a first grader at HES, and one grandchild. An accomplished pianist, Dr. Jeanne plays the piano and organ at Hope Lutheran Church in Heppner, where she is a member and often fills in at other churches. According to the Rev. Stan Hoobing, pastor at Hope Lutheran, Dr. Berret ta even volunteered to play the organ at a church in New York, while she was on vacation. Ap parently the two organists at the church were sick and Dr. Jeanne stepped in to help out at the spur of the moment. Each year at Christmas time Dr. Jeanne has an open house at her home for the residents of Pioneer Memorial Nursing Home. She plays the piano and is often accompanied by local musicians, Ann Murray and Sharia Erich. Dr. Berretta is also a teacher at Friday School each week the program is in session. Friday School is a Christian education program for children, spon sored by Hope Lutheran, United Methodist and All Saints Episcopal Church, which was formed when the Morrow County School District went to a four day student week. Glen Ward Glen Ward was born in Haines, Oregon, attending elementary school in Haines and graduating from high school there. Following high school, he joined the Navy. After the Navy, he went to col - . v 1* » Jannie Allen was born and raised in Fossil, graduating from Wheeler County High School. She attended college at the Oregon College of Educa tion in Bend, now Western Oregon State College, and received a degree in elementary education in 1974. From 1974 to 1978, she and her husband returned to Fossil where both were teachers. Allen taught the fourth grade. ;4 VV'V continued page two Our Winter Sale Circular Ends Saturday, January 20th Morrow County Grain Growers *VVv**Vs Sv ., « ■* ■_ .. j • • ! „ . » • : * * - . » Jannie Allen SHOP NOW AND SAVE Lexington 989-8221 • lege at Oregon State Universi ty and then began working at his passion and life long oc cupation, for the Oregon State Game Commission, now the Department of Fish and Wildlife. He worked for 39 years for the state of Oregon, most of the time in the Hepp ner community. He retired in 1990, and, commented presenter Bill Kuhn, "Everyone misses his professional advice and game slides and talks." Ward and his wife, Joyce, have three children, Ron of Gresham, Sandra and Judy, both of Hermiston, and four grandchildren. Over the years, Ward has given "countless hours" to community and youth ac tivities, including coaching Lit tle League, girls softball, swim team and as a scout master for a Boy Scout Troop. Five young men in his troop became Eagle Scouts. Ward is a mainstay for the local American Legion and has been a member and secretary of the Heppner Elks Club for 39 years. He also spent many years on the city budget committee. Since retirement, Ward still volunteers at the Elks Club dai ly and cuts wood, which he gives away to those who need it or who can no longer cut their own. 1-800-452-7396
