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.
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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.
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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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