Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, February 28, 1996 - THREE
Letters to the Editor
Vote no on home rule
To the Editor:
I did attend one of the hear­
ings of the committee, ap­
pointed by the Morrow Coun­
ty court, to investigate whether
or not we want home rule as
compared to the elective sys­
tem we have now in our coun­
ty government.
Since the committee's task
was to investigate and propose
the kind of home rule they
thought would be best, the
discussion centered on the
details of what home rule is.
With my understanding of the
structure of our current coun­
ty government, it is very dif­
ficult to agree that we should
throw out our current system
of governing.
It seems to me that we are
best served by elected officers
rather than an appointed man­
ager. Why? You can appeal and
discuss with an elected official
of a department, while you
would have to discuss your
concerns with a board under
home rule. Also a good man­
ager wines and dines his board,
so I believe a manager of a
county that has home rule
would be vastly powerful and
unresponsive to citizens' con­
cerns.
We as citizens of Morrow
County had better become
more involved with the govern­
ment we have now, before we
vote another system in.
Vote no on home rule.
Sincerely,
(s) Don Peterson
lone
Vote no on home rule charter
To the Editor:
I urge voters of Morrow
County to vote no on the home
rule charter because:
First-changes always seen
better. We don't find the pro­
blems until we have them (too
late).
Second-we were the first
county in Oregon (and should
have been the last) to have a
county unified school district,
because of the advice of our
''experts'' (district attorney and
school superintendent) and
look what troubles that has
caused us.
Third-proponents claim a re­
duction in personnel and costs.
Have you ever seen a bureau­
cratic reorganization with less
people or coats? We will have
five com m issioners and a
manager all campaigning to
keep their positions (more
politics).
F o u rth-prop o n en ts claim
freedom from state regulation.
County governments must still
operate according to state rules.
Fifth-no small rural counties
have adopted this yet, even
though several wanted to gain
more freedom to effect range-
land reform.
Sixth-estimates show when
fully implemented, the cost will
be about $17,500 more per year.
Seventh-the phrase "hom e
rule" sounds wonderful, but
our present system has people
as close to their government as
they can be.
(s) Dr. Harold S. Huber
Tooth Acres Ranches
Home rule gives citizens control
To the Editor:
The March 12 mail ballot in­
cludes two Morrow County
issues that require the attention
of local citizens.
First is the Morrow County
levy outside the tax base. The
tax base, together with the levy
totals the same tax asking as
last year. The county budget
committee (which includes the
county court) worked very hard
to hold the line on our proper­
ty taxes. We trimmed $965,000
from the various deparment re­
quests. Within the limitations
of our present form of county
government, we were able to
make some headway in in­
stituting economies of govern­
ment expenditures. I whole­
heartedly urge the taxpayer's
support for this ballot measure.
The second issue is a propos­
ed home rule charter for our
county. While there are some
parts of the charter I would
prefer to be different, one of the
primary advantages of home
rule over the existing system is
that home rule charters can be
amended. If something doesn't
work, it can be changed or
eliminated. It puts the control
of our county government in
the hands of the citizens, in­
stead of operating as a subdivi­
sion of the state. I believe that
home rule will give us the op­
portunity to work on econo­
mies of government expendi­
tures. I strongly support the
home rule ballot measure, and
ask you to do the same.
Sincerely,
(s) John A. Prag
member, Morrow County
Budget Committee and
Home Rule Charter Committee
Bridal show held at lone UCC
The lone United Church of
Christ celebrated another of
their centennial events on Sun­
day afternoon, Feb. 25, with a
bridal show and tea.
Members of the church and
women married in the church
modeled their gowns. Several
high school girls also assisted
in modeling.
Those modeling were Rose-
anne Baker, Kara Miller, Dawn
Sheirbon, Leila G ribscov,
Stephanie Haguewood, Shelby
Krebs, Meghan Proudfoot,
Debbie Morgan, Lea Mathieu,
Loa Henderson, Nova Riet-
mann, Jessica Krebs and Bren-
na Rietmann. Solos were sung
by Katie Garrett and Loa
Henderson. Musical accom­
paniments were played by
Helen Martin, Helen Heide-
man and Yvonne Morter.
Nancy Miller was chairper­
son of the afternoon with
Maureen Krebs as narrator.
Betty Rietmann and Lisa Riet-
piann were in charge of the tea
table. Helen Martin, Lucile
jRietmann and Dot Halvorsen
Served. Jean Jepsen and
Katherine Lindstrom decorated
jhe rooms. Candlelighters were
Kelly Morgan and Jan Garrett.
The next event will be a
youth Sunday in March, when
the young people will do an en­
tire worship service.
Opposes four-day school week
To the Editor:
According to the recent ar­
ticles concerning the Morrow
County School District's four-
day week (4DW), I am in the
minority. It is not a popular
opinion among teachers and
students, but I oppose the
4DW.
I am concerned especially
about the prim ary grades
where attention spans are short
and repetition is critical to lear­
n ing. A th ree-d ay h iatu s
(Thursday to Monday) creates
a gap and "starting over" be­
comes mandatory.
It's my feeling that surveying
children (my son, age 10, did
complete a survey at school) is
not the correct way to decide if
the 4DW works.
There is a difference between
prim ary, middle and high
school students. The high
school students do not have
"study halls" built into their
curriculums and with much of
their learning occurring during
independent study time, the
4DW may be reasonable. For
the younger children, four very
long days with the three-day
gap doesn't make sense.
I have other concerns about
the schools' loss of music and
art programs, loss of drivers'
training program, etc., but first
and foremost is the need to
abandon the 4DW.
If you feel the same or want
more questions answered, such
as how are we doing on nation­
wide tests with the 4DW, I urge
you to contact your school
board members and superin­
tendent Chuck Starr before we
have the 4DW around for ano­
ther year. The issue is to be
voted on at the March 11 school
board meeting.
Sincerely,
(s) Dr. Jeanne S. Berretta
Heppner
Vote for Buchanan
To the Editor:
With all the reporting in
Alaska, Iowa and New Hamp­
shire, it is easy to feel totally
remote from the political pro­
cess to elect the next president
of the United States. It is being
suggeted that we will be was­
ting our vote if we vote for Bob
Buchanan. I was beginning to
be sold on this viewpoint until
the recent political ad from the
Bob Dole campaign. What does
it say about Bob Dole? He
wants to be president of the
U.S. without committing him­
self to anything. At least Bob
Buchanan has something to say
and is willing to stand behind
it. Vote for Bob Buchanan and
send some money to his cam­
paign.
Sincerely,
(s) Don Peterson
lone
Would they refuse to save lives?
To the Editor:
If my three grandchildren
had been trap p ed in the
upstairs of the Kilkenny home
when it was burning, would
the Fire Department's decision
have remained the same, and
still refused to come and same
their lives?
(s) Vesta Kilkenny
Portland
Is this what our society has become?
To the Editor:
I realize we live in a world
that needs rules and regula­
tions. We must set guidelines
and laws in order for our com­
munities to run smoothly. We
have budgets and only so much
tax revenue in which to oper­
ate. I suppose we can't afford
to take every situation on an in­
dividual basis. We don't have
the time and money for that.
Lines must be drawn some­
where I guess.
But how very, very sad that
in a supposedly "close knit and
caring community" we forced
a family to stand and watch
their beautiful home burn
down because they were just a
little over the fire district line.
How depressing. Rules and,
regulations aside, this makes
no sense to me. Is this what our
society has become? Especially
our small community? If so, I'm
ashamed.
Sincerely,
(s) Cheryle (Shelly) Rietmann
Parvo alert
been vaccinated will most like­
ly pick it up and die.
To the Editor:
Please, either get their shots
I just wanted to alert anyone done at the vet or pick up the
who lives on or near Cowins shots, very inexpensively, at
Street (by the dam in Heppner) either Greed Feed & Seed or
or walks their animals on it.
MCGG and do them at home.
I made a grave mistake by be­ It’s awful to watch a family pet
ing a month late for my large that's very much loved suffer
puppy's (Keno) second parvo and die when there's no reason
shot. My error cost him a very for it.
sad death.
Please, don't be neglectful
There is parvo in the ground like me; it's heart-wrenching.
and area around my house
Thank you,
now (510 Cowins) and any dog,
(s) Shanna Paullus
and I believe, cat, who hasn't
Choice is clear-home rule or state rule
restrict our locally elected com­
To the Editor:
missioners from making such
Morrow County's home rule changes.
charter proposal, Ballot Mea­
The charter will also increase
sure 25-19, provides an impor­ citizen representation and
tant opportunity for voters to diversity on the board and
further efficient, locally con­ commissioners by expanding
trolled government.
its membership from the cur­
Currently, the organization rent three commissioners to
of Morrow County is dictated five.
by state statutes that were writ­
1 have heard and read the
ten by the Oregon Legislature concerns of some citizens who
more than 100 years ago. are opposed to particular pro­
"Statutory counties" such as visions in the proposed charter.
Morrow County must comply I believe reasonable people can
with these laws even if they do disagree on such matters. And,
not allow the most efficient herein lies the greatest strength
county organizations or the of a home rule charter; it allows
best use of our county tax us, the citizens of the county,
dollars.
to debate and decide the type
There are not many busi­ of county governm ent we
nesses that could be optimally want, both now and in the
run today using the business future.
structures and processes com­
After the charter is adopted,
monly utilized 100 years ago. voters who believe changes are
Of course, the same is true of needed will be empowered by
government. In 1958, Oregon Oregon's initiative petition pro­
voters recognized the impor­ cess to propose and promote
tance of change in government amendments to the county
when they overwhelmingly ap­ charter through the local ballot
proved an amendment to the box. With this in mind, I en­
state constitution that gave courage all Morrow County
local voters the power to by­ voters, including those who
pass the old state statutes and may be skeptical towards the
determine the structure of their proposed charter, to support its
counties through the adoption adoption with the knowledge
of "hom e rule charters".
tht the charter will provide local
In practice, the proposed empowerment and a process
Morrow County home rule for change in county govern­
charter will allow our elected ment not currently available.
representatives, the county
Thomas Jefferson once ob­
board of commissioners, to served that the government
determine the best and most ef­ closest to the people is the best
ficient organization for the government. I believe that
county. For example, county voter approval of Measure
functions and services may be 25-19 will further Jefferson's vi­
more effectively and efficient­ sion by investing new powers
ly delivered by streamlining the of self-determination with the
operations of several existing people of Morrow County.
state mandated departments
The choice is clear: "home
into a single consolidated rule" or "state rule".
department, thereby saving the
Sincerely,
costs of administrative duplica­
(s) Gary Marks
tion. Currently, state statues
Heppner
M C Museum sponsoring geneology
expert during St. Pat's Celebration
The Morrow County Muse-
im ha»;invited geneological
esearch^xpert Pete Young to
be available Friday and Satur­
day of St. Patrick's weekend to
advise beginners and experi­
enced researchers alike on the
m ethods and resources of
geneological investigation. The
museum will be open 1-5 p.m.
Friday, March 15; 10 a.m.-5
p.m. Saturday, March 16; and
1-5 p.m. Sunday, March 17.
The museum is currently in
the process of organizing all of
the print, film and photo­
graphic elements of its collec­
{
tion to provide a more accessi­
ble resource for history and
geneology researchers.
Family bibles, school an­
nuals, business records, school
district records, microfilms of
county newspapers, books by
and about Morrow County
citizens as well as the Muse­
um 's "family files" and photo
collection, and more general
works of historical interest are
being inventoried and housed
in a centralized location near
the microfilm reader/printer
and staff work area.
Donald J. Carlson, D.P.M.
Medicine and Surgery of the Foot
will be at Heppner Clinic on March 13
to treat all foot problems
676-5504
Pioneer Memorial Clinic
567-8750
Big moments in our lives here in Eastern Oregon:
Buying our first house. But
we probably couldn't have
done it without the help of
Bank of Eastern Oregon.
Our first new car. We were so
proud of it. Bank of Eastern
Oregon made owning it easy
and affordable for us.
The day I opened my new
business. I was able to make
it with the support I got from
Bank of Eastern Oregon.
Bank of Eastern Oregon
“Around the corner, not around the state."
Arlington
Condon
454-2636 384-3501
t£r
B M M G U IM
LENDER
Heppner
lone
676-9125 422-7466
The day our son. Cedrick. got
accepted to military school.
We financed the tuition at
Bank of Eastern Oregon.