Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 1997)
FOUR - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oreflon Wednesday, January 1, 1997 So long 1996... The year 1996 came in and went out like a lion, as Old Man Winter said hello and goodbye to South Morrow County with snow, sleet, ice, wind and other various types o f winter weather. In addition to the weather, what made area news in 1996? Following are a few o f the top local stories appearing in the Gazette-Times during the past year. January 1996: Heppner Ranger District Office still closed because o f legislative wrangling over the federal budget; Class o f 1990-91 wins third straight alumni tournament; Morrow County Health District (MCHD) announces that they may expand Boardman, Irrigon medical facilities; Boardman residents greet MCHD proposal with disdain; Employment Relations Board rules in favor o f Morrow County School District over contracting bus services; Heppner Chamber of Commerce officers installed-John Edmundson, president, Gary Marks, first vice president, Mike McGuire, second vice president; Mike Armato, treasurer, Sharon Harrison, secretary; Chamber Hats Off award presented to Sharon Harrison; Dr. Jeanne Berretta, Glen Ward named Chamber citizens o f the year, Jannie Allen, educator o f the year, Columbia Basin Electric, business o f the year; Fire destroys one o f Heppner's oldest homes, on south Chase Street; AM &FM lodge 69 awards 50 year pins to Bill Cox, Ralph Taylor, Truman Messenger, Clarence Baker and Paul Jones; Lions Club presents special awards to Mike Mills, Bob Kahl and Dave Sykes; Cameron Krebs, Meghan McCabe and Alyssa Rietmann selected as first place Blazer/Avia regional winners; Susan Evans honored at Extension VIP conference; Brenda Holtz elected Morrow County Fair and Oregon Trail Pro Rodeo queen, Dawn Boor, Stormy Howard and Beth Hermanns, court; Chris Sykes named to Shrine team. February 1996: Lindsey Ward, Michael McCabe, Lacey Matteson, Ryan Matteson, Shanna Rietmann and Luke Murray win Elks' Hoop Shoot contest; Heppner High School cheerleaders, Jayme Hansen, Cimmie Hutn, Traci Dickenson, Sherry Sieler, Mandi Gutierrez, Stephanie Johnson win 1A- 2A Oregon State Athletic Association Cheerleading Championship; Fire destroys home at 465 Chase Street in Heppner; Heppner Economic Development Commission Board o f Directors, Cliff Green, Ann Spicer and Pat Hyatt, honored; Huston Lesley celebrates 100th birthday; lone High School Cardinals and Lady Cardinals to go district basketball tournament; Wes Cooley makes Heppner stop; Boardman residents ask to withdraw from Morrow County Health District; Cardinals, Lady Cards to to state tourney; John and Diane Kilkenny's house bums to the ground; Four-day school week favored in Morrow County School District survey; Heppner High School Mustangs and Fillies go to the district tournament; Heppner High School cheerleaders and dance team to perform at district; Home across from Miller's Mini Mart destroyed by fire; Home Rule, county levy to go before voters; 2.9 earthquake hits Lexington area; HHS cheerleaders win district cheerleading competition; Annie Hisler, Lori Moeller make second team all conference basketball team, Ben Hubert named to first team. March 1996: Snow falls in Heppner on March 5; Lady Cardinals bring home 1A state basketball trophy; lone boys lose heartbreaker to Powers, fall to North Clackamas Christian at state competition; Melissa McEUigott, Marie Tworek honored by lone Ecumenical Youth Group; Morrow County Health District votes to extend Boardman physician, Dr. Robert Boss' contract; Cunninghams chosen as St. Patrick's celebration honored family; Bank of Eastern Oregon opens new mortgage office; Joseph Baker named lone fireman o f the year; School district retains four-day week; Annual St. Patrick's celebration underway in Heppner; Donna McCurdy and two others win $100 St. Pat's Pot o f Gold drawing; Tina Kemp, Heppner, wins first place Elks scholarship, Melissa McEUigott and Marie Tworek, both lone, second place, Jessica Sumner, Lexington, Angie Ball, lone, third place; lone Elementary team wins Knowledge Master; Morrow County Clerk's Office certifies new county ballot counting machine; lone Legion and Auxiliary honr 50- year members, Helen Crawford, Eulenna Vaughn, Bob DeSpain, Charles Doherty, Eldon Padberg, Don Peterson; 30- year members, Eunice McEUigott. Lucile Rietmann, Harold Rietmann; 25-year members, Judy Jepsen Julio, Bob Baker. April 1996: lone United Church o f Christ celebrates 100th birthday; Dave Winters named Eastern Oregon Region operator o f the year; Morrow County Court says it has no authority to grant Boardman withdrawal from Morrow County- Health District; Soroptimist International o f Heppner holds annual senior girls' luncheon for Heppner and lone graduating seniors. Lelana Rill qualifies for Oregon state geography bee; Jessica Sumner ana Tina KemD win Soroptimist Youth Citizenship Awards; Heppner Elementary third grade students earn recognition from Governor John Kitznaber; Easter Bunny makes visit to community; Chris Sykes, Jessica Sumner elected HHS prom king and queen, Jossie Evans, Dan Burnside, Bethany Cookston, Shaun Hisler, Renee Devin, Rod Zumwalt, members o f the court; Kristina Grant, Rick Worden, Eric Schonbachler, Phillip Tellechea, Mindy Qualls, Ben Hubert elected to HHS National Honor Society; Boardman residents change their mind about health care lans; Let 'R Grow in Morrow County, 1996 fair theme; renda Holtz, Camie Crum picked for Girls State; Centennial Middle School-Heppner Junior High participate in student exchange for 16th year; Clean Stream Initiative targets ag producers. S May 1996: Rolling Hills Run draws 48 participants; Marie Tworek and Rob Crum selected lone High School prom king and queen, Kaylee Palmateer and Kip Krebs, honorary court; Mike Currin Memorial Rodeo held; lone Topic Club holds senior girls tea; Hearing set on pool site selection; Riders participate in St. Jude Bike-a-thon; Local musicians, Sharia Erich, Laura Burnside McEUigott, Kathryn Unruh to perform in Oregon East Symphony concert; HHS track athletes to compete at district and state; Heppner physicians, Drs. Ed and Jeanne Berretta announce plans to move to Walla Walla; CRP acreage to be released; HHS track team, Jossie Evans, Chris Sykes, Damien Wilhelm, David Michael, and lone track team members, Luke Swanson, Jake McEUigott, Joe Bacon, John Doherty, Melissa McEUigott, Laree Anderson, Stephanie Lemieux, Stephanie Haguewood to go to state; Tina Kemp receives state FFA degree; Heppner and lone high schools hold commencements; HHS honor scholars, Tina Kemp, Ben Ewing, Kristina Grant; IHS valedictorian, Melissa McE ligott, salutatorian, Marie Tworek; Jossie Evans, Brian McE ligott, Brad Lathrop, Zane Wilson win Bank of Eastern Oregon Agriculture/Business scholarship; Eric and Mamie Anderson named 1996 Conservation Fanners; Seven adults arrested in drugfaid; Melissa McEUigott takes three first places in 100 meters, triple jump and long jump and set two new state records in triple jum p and long jump, and second in 400- meter relay team at the state track meeting, Laree Anderson.third in pole vault, sixth in 200 meters, Stephanje Lemieux, first pole vault with new state record, Stephanie Haguewood, member o f relay team, Luke Swanson, second pole vault, fourth 110 meter hurdles, sixth, 100 meters, seventh, high jump; Joe bacon, fifth, triple jump, 1600 meter relay, Jake McEUigott, John Doherty, Jacob Taylor, fifth 1600 meter relay; Jossie Evans places sixth in 200 meters at state track meet; Ned Clark elected Bank o f Eastern Oregon board chairman; Currin family, Ron Currin, Judy Currin, Steve Currin, Mike Currin, Jennifer Currin, Ron Currin Jr., Tony Currin inducted into Pendleton Round-Up Hall of Fame. June 19%: Riverside site chosen for pool; lone teacher Jim Raible named recipient o f $1,000 Grant Rigby award; High School rodeo team. Justin Matteson, Lexi Matteson, Annie Hisler, Angela Munkers, Tiffany Munkers to go National High School Rodeo Finals; Til Tullis, Oregon's youngest Emergency Service Radio operator, receives award; Two arrested in snack shack theft; Group seeks to restore school music program; Tony Currin wins all-around at Spray Rodeo. July 19%: Blue Star Memorial, sponsored by the state and Heppner Garden Clubs, dedicated to veterans; New sign installed at Masonic Cemetery; Heppner City Council proposes to increase curfew hours; First HHS Alumni Golf Tournament raises $3,000, team of Dave and Sandy Hanna, Bam- Munkers, Shane Laughlin, Gary Kemp take first place; Michael Keown hired as MCSD assistant superintendent, Nate Arbogast hired as MCSD computer technician; lone holds Fourth o f July celebration; Soroptimist International elects officers-Andrea Mortimore, Barbara Bloodsworth, Judie Laughlin, Nacy Snider, Marsha Sweek, Margo Sherer, Vi Wilgers; Parents, teens oppose curfew change; Lexington Auto Body moves to new location; Christy Kenny, Kathleen Greenup, Charissa Gates compete in District 5 All Star Little League Girls Softball Tournament; Five teenagers, Brian Knowles, Adam Doherty, Bill Schlaich, Shaun Hisler and Jim Schlaich, injured in rollover; Wheat harvest yields estimated to be between 10 and 20 bushels above normal; Group forms to save Heppner Bowling Allegy; It's 102 at Bank o f Eastern Oregon; Justin Matteson takes fifth nationwide in steer wrestling, Lexi Matteson, 10th in barrels; Willow Creek All- Stars fourth in District 5 Little League Tournament; Joe Lindsay earns BEO returning student scholarship; Gary Oberg, new Morrow County Behavioral Health Services director; Jessica Krebs selected for national 4-H program; Hope and Valby Lutheran, United Methodist, All Saints Episcopal Bible school donates to Neighborhood Center; Tri- County Nationals 14-15 year-old Babe Ruth All Stars, with Jeff Waterland, Derek Gunderson, Tim Dickenson, and manager Rick Johnston, finish third at tournament; Verda and Bob Hager buy Wood on Wood shop; Lacy Matteson top cowgirl at The Dalles Pee Wee Rodeo; Morrow County Fair & OTPR queen and court win first at Chief Joseph Days parade. August 1996: Twins Callie Huddleston and Bertha Street celebrate 90th birthday; Julie Glenn wins champion senior performance horse and 14 and under high point rider at Morrow county Open Horse Show, Jossie Evans, reserve champion, Bobbie Rankin, champion junior performance horse, Michael Bingaman, high point rider, Teresa Bun, 15 and up reserve high point rider, Sibbea Jones, 14 and under high point reserve; Health district gets go-ahead on Irrigon Clinic; HHS Principal Steve Dickenson resigns; World champion rodeo performers to compete at OTPR; Taekwon- Do students, Adam Perez, Matt Browning, Jamie Perez, place at international Taekwon-Do tournament; Wheeler Point fire comes withing three to four miles o f Spray; Storms spark over 40 wildfires; Sybil Krebs, lone, captures grand champion horse showmanship award at the Morrow County 4-H Horse Show, Jossie Evans, horse senior all-around, Sibbea Jones, unior all around, Lacey Davis, beginner all-around, Kevin Jaker, intermediate all-around, high point individual; Angela Munkers wins Morrow County all-around, Jeff Bailey, amateur calf roping saddle, Jerry Gentry, open calf roping event; Cowboy dies en route to OTPR; HHS players, Lions clean creek; Carl McDaniel celebrates 90th birthday; Ron Anthony hired as HHS principal; Bowling alley to open Sept. 15; Beth Slottee hired as south Morrow County music teacher. { September 1996: Jim Tellechea wins South Morrow County Scholarship Trust scholarship; Tiffanie Munkers wins Condon rodeo all-around; Lott's Electric sold to Cam and Kim George and Kit and Shirley George; lone alumni, Mildred Morgan, Milton Morgan, Geneva Palmer, Barton Clark, John Eubanks, Helen Martin, Norman Swanson, Veda Brenner, Ordie Farrens, celebrate 65th year reunion; Dr. Bill Bitsas hired as physician with MCHD; Community comes through to help families of teen accident victims; lone Youth Groups participates in Human Race walk/run; Gordon Smith makes Heppner stop; Plans underway for baseball, softball fields in Heppner; Heppner Garden Club holds flower show, tea; Judge rules in favor of swimming pool district; Heppner Council approves preliminary subdivision plans. October 1996: Mark and Tami Rietmann earn 1996 Oregon Cattlemen's stewardship award; HHS homecoming court crowned, king and queen, Brandi Marshall and Jim Schlaich, court, Lexi Matteson, Stormy Howard, Traci Dickenson, Annie Hisler, Travis Wilhelm, Eric Schonbachler, Brian Koffler, Josh Roy, junior court, Jenna Bowman, Matt McCabe; Local teacher, Beth Slottee killed in car accident; lone Youth Group helps homeless; Lori Moeller, Annie Hisler named to first team Columbia Basin All Stars, Stormy Howard, Traci Dickenson, honorable mention; Dawn Boor selected 1996-97 Morrow county Fair and OTPR queen, Maci Childers, Kara Miller, court; Home o f Alan and Debbie Scott bums; Marijuana seized in drug bust, locals, Janet N. Beamer, Carrie E. Vernon, Douglas C.Preston, Betty Jo Preston, arrested. November 1996: Ad hoc committee recommendsiail in South Morrow County; John Wenholz wins Morrow County Commissioner election, Gayle Gutierrez, Morrow County Treasurer, Duane Disque, Stan Kemp, city o f Lexington Councilpersons, Joel Barnett, Robert Ball, Betty Gray, city of lone Councilpersons; Teny Tallman, city o f Boardman Mayor; Vital signs good at Morrow County Grain Growers; Vietnam veterans remembered; HHS football players, Brent Gunderson, Jeff Watkins. Eric Schonbachler, Josh Coiner named first team CBC All Stars, Brian Koffler, Tim Dickenson, Schonbachler, second team, Derek Gunderson, Jim Schlaich, Chris Jones, Justin Matteson, honorable mention; Locals get jail time in bowling allegy fund raiser; Dot Halvorsen, Ruth McCabe honored bv OSU; HHS alumni Chris Dickenson plays college football; Morrow County war dead honored; IHS football players, Luke Swanson, Joe Bacon, Kelly Morgan, Jack McEUigott, named first team Big Sky All Stars, Morgan, McEUigott, Marc Orem, Randy Scott, Jacob Taylor, second team, Scott, Pete Cantu, honorable mention; Early, winter snowfall causes problems; John Baglien to serve as interim pastor at Hope-Valby Lutheran Parish; Dawna Dougherty named Bank o f Eastern Oregon officer; Molly Rill to be honored by OSU Extension; Heppner Middle School collects food for Neighborhood Center's holiday food baskets; St. Patrick's Church celebrates 25th anniversary; City buys new combination pickup; St. Patrick's Senior Center gets facelift; Morrow County District Attorney Earl R. Woods, Jr., to serve in Bosnia. December 19%: Morrow County Museum Director Marsha Sweek receives invitation from Smithsonian Institution to be panel speaker at museum association conference; Yaw's Restaurant sponsors giving tree; 1997 Morrow County Fair theme selected-"Boots, Jeans and Cowboy Dreams"; Methodist Church plans dedication of stained glass window, given by the Rev. Grace Drake; Log truck crashes into Bank o f Eastern Oregon annex building; Eric and Mamie Anderson named state conservation farmers; Medical district to proceed with Irrigon Clinic; South Morrow Community Choir, Willow Creek Youth Symphony plan Christmas concert; Downtown Heppner bustles with activity as businesses open Sundays, many holiday activities planned; Jessica Gutierrez, Craig Scott, Daniel Jepsen qualify for Geography Bee finals; Love of horses shapes life o f Katherine Dale; Lady Elks busy with upcoming holiday events; Santa lows into lone, Santa Claus opens regional office in [eppner; Annual Soroptimist International Artifactoiy craft fair neld; Libray district hires Gilbert Chavez as director; Local churches celebrate Christmas with programs, services; Santa makes appearance and Heppner Chamber's Lunch with Santa; Boardman city manager Jack Palmer indicted by state attorney general on 18 counts for alleged theft o f supplies, theft o f services, use o f city equipment; Jossie Evans named to Pendleton Round-Up Court; William Hanlon, former Jefferson County DA, named temporary Morrow County DA; Local churches join for Chrisltmas drama; Chuck Holt to retire from Heppner City Council; Annie Hisler named to all state volleyball team; Keelie Keown plays on George Fox basketball team; Chris Dickenson named to Heart o f America college league honorable mention team; Casey Beard writes book on cowboy tools; Shanks win first place outdoor lighting contest, Coils, first place indoor, Morrow County Museum, business award. 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