Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 22, 1997)
. . 8 ,, 0: St'"' v:-~z- ' Chamber names citizens of the year .L . ' Kevin Ench wa named man of the year and Merlyn Robinson, woman of the year, at the annual hamber of Commerce Town and Country banquet held Thursday, Jan 16, at the Heppner Elks club. Greg Grant wa selected educator of tne year and the Horseshoe Hereford Ranch, lnc., ed and Kathy Clark and Don and Pat Anderson, business of the year, during the evening's fest1 ities HEPPNER VOL. 116 NO. 4 Pages Wednesday, January 22, 1997, Morrow County Heppner, Oregon Marks new Chamber president Doris Brosnan (L) and Pam Wunderlich with Hats Off A new Heppner Chamber of Commerce Board was installed during the annual Chamber Town and Country Luncheon held Wednesday Jan. l 5, at the Heppner Elks Club. Gary Marks, Heppner City administrator, was installed as "I am chamber president. convinced that most of the old- time families and the more recent newcomers all share a common thread," said Marks. "We are a tenacious people , ho are determined--in an ongoing sense-- to make this community a better place to live." Mike McGuire, Heppner Postmaster, was installed as first vice president. Second vice presidents are Bob Kahl, owner of Van Marter and Kahl Insurance in Heppner, Kevin Erich, Morro, County Health District and Pioneer Memorial Hospital administrator; Steve Yaw, owner of Y aw's Restaurant and Lounge: Cara Osmin, Heppner Elementary School teacher; Delanne Ferguson, Forest Service, Heppner District ranger; and Dan Brosnan. rancher and owner of Twice Upon a Time bookstore in Heppner. Mike Armato, district manager with Alliance Mortgage, was elected treasurer; and Sharon Harrison, Wells Fargo, secretary. Executi\'e directors are Claudia Hughes, chamber manager and owner of Hughes Ranches and Traci Diclcenson and Josie Proctor, student representatives. Outgoing president John Edmundson welcomed the group and Father Gerry Condon gave th mvocation Chamber mstallation was b" Rollie Marshall and Ron Mountain Daniefs, Blue Community Coll ·ge president, gave the kevnote addrc . Edmundson presented a lifetime Gary Marks achievement award to Daniels and Hughes presented the Hats Off award (o Pam Wunderlich and Doris Brosnan. Hughes said that Wunderlich was honored for her "tireless work convincing Oregon to vote no on 38" and Brosnan for her "innovation in a new retail business (Twice Upon a Time bookstore), chairing the St. Patrick's auction amd coming up great off-the-wall with promotional ideas that keep all of us jumping." Kevin Erich As a boy, Kevin Erich lived in Korea where his father was a phvsician at a mission hospital. Korean was his first language and, as a young boy, translated for his parents. He has traveled back and forth between the Far East and the U.S. many times. Erich received a bachelor's degree in business administration from Pacific Union College in California and went on to receive a master's degree in business administration from Andrew's Uni\·crsity in Michigan On August 5, 1984. he not only graduated from Andrew's, but got married that evening. Erich and his family moved to Heppner five years ago. He is employed as the Morrow County Health District and Pioneer Memorial Hospital administrator. "He has dealt with our cow1tv's 'changing of the guard' from· a countv medical board to a Morrow countv Health District. and through it all has kept his cooL" said outgoing Chamber of Commerce President John Edmundson. "He and his family are a real blessing to our commumrv." "Kevin· gives freel of his time for community service," added EdmW1dson. "From large Jobs to small tasks, he is a mlling and capable volw1teer." Erich has served as Chamber of Commerce president. He is a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. has his own pilot's license and enjoys flying, snow skiing, water sports and music. Erich and his wife, Sharla. and their two sons live in Heppner. Floor covering store changes hands Brandi Kro ke M R Floor overing in Heppner has a new operator. Brandi Kroske has lea ed the store from long-time owner Mall Hughes, effective Jan. I. Brandi, 23, from Redmond, has experience working at a floor covering store. Her husband, Mickey~ 26, has been a floor installer for around six years and has established MBK Floor and Tile lnstallation in Heppner. He instalis carpet, vinyl and tile. M&R bas carpet, vinyl, tile and laminate and carpet cleaner available for sale at the store, which is located at 422 Linden Way in Heppner, next to Pettyjohns. Store hours are I 0 a.m. to · p .m., but their answering machine 1s always on at 676-9418. To reach them in the evening call 676-5434 , which is also his work phone. The couple are newcomers to the area. moving here in May, but his sister, Sandi Da , and his grandmother, Betty Green, both live in Heppner and his father Jives in Irrigon. The Kroskes were both born in Redmond and graduated from Redmond High School. The have a one- car-old daughter, Jeannie. Micke has a six- ear-old son, Kayleb, who lives in Redmond. N EWS DEADLINE Monday ... .. ... 5 p .m. 1501 off WINTERWEAR /0 All Insulated ubject to ' to k on hand. a1e end Jan . 25 Morrow County Grain Growers Lexington 989-8221 1-800-452-7396 Merlyn Robin on Merlyn Robinson is the daughter of Merle and Altha Kirk, long time farmers in the Clark's Canyon area of Morrow County She grew up on the farm and learned how to train horses. She was active in school and 4-H. he graduated from Heppner High School and attended Oregon Stale University. In 1948, she married Donald Robinson. Merlyn was Heppner rodeo queen in 194 7 and both her daughter and granddaughter ha, e been on the court. he ha been a 4-H livestock and horse leader since 1970 and is current!\· a co- leader, along with Tricia Coe and Katherine Dale. "Our woman of the year's support and knowledge ha passed to many, many 7oungster of Morrow County,' said award 12_resenlcr Cara Osmin. "Morrow County residents are m her debt for the hours of lune he has willing) donated., not only helping 4-Hers, but also behmd the ccnc helping et up the cour e for the fars and judging events, rlanmng programs, partie and trai ride to keep the kid interested and involved ... and to make it fun" Robinson ha been chairman of the Wrangler ' and Morro\! County Open Cla s Hor c how She holds a 4-H judging card and has judged many fair throughout h Oregon and Washington served on the Morro, Coun F :m Board from 1979 to 1991 . She now serves as co-cha1nnan of the community booths and helps with the floral department Robinson has been honorary chapter farmer of the local FF A Chapter, member of the Livestock Grower's Association and recipient, along with her husband of the Livestock Grower of th~ Y car award and the Century Farm Plaque, member of the Oregon Cattlemen' Association, the Heppner Wranglers Club the CowBelles and Cattle"'o~en's Assoc1at1on, the Oregon Polled Assoc1at1on, the Hereford Columbia Empire Polled Association and the ational merican Hereford Association She also belongs to the Hope Lutheran Church, the Heppner Garden Club and is a past noble grand of the Heppner Rebekahs. Robinson rides almost daily to help with the cattle on the ranch and rides for fun \\ ith a grou,P called the "Over the Hill Gang· which has ridden over much of th~ Blue Mountain range Robinson is a weeklv columnist for the Gazette-Times· newspaper and has \\Titten many articles covering board meetings, bond levies and other polit1cal and human interest stones for the Ga.,;ette, the East Oregonian newspaper and the Agri-Times Journal. She also writes for the Columbia Basin Electric Co-op. In addition, she is an accomplished seamstress and enjoys oil painting. Robinson and her husband Don have three grown children, Kirk and Kyle, both Heppner, and Kr)nn Parham, Fresno. CA, and four grandchildren. cooperation has made it possible to achieve the nparian man~gement goals of the pemutees and the Forest Service " aid Ned Clark. Tami R.ietmw who is the Anderson's daughter'. and her husband, Mark, were elected by the Oregon Cattlemen's Association for the first annual Environmental Stewardship Award. Both the Clark and Anderson ranches are Century Farms, both have had allotments since the incepnon of the Forest Service and both families are descendents of Anson Wnght. Pat Anderson's father was Raymond Wright, and ed Clark's mother, Belli Clark, was the daughter of Walter Wright Raymond and Walter ·ere Anson's sons. Don and Patricia Anderson are the owners of their family ranch, Mark Rietmann 1s the livestock manager and th Andersons' son, Brad. 1s the \\heat farm manager. The Anders ns' daughter Tami and her husband Mark were by the Oregon selected Cattlemen's Association for the first annual Env1romental Stewardship Award. ed and Kathy Clark's sons, Matt and James, are also involved in the operation. Legion, Auxiliary plan . '. .. ) potluck The Heppner America Legion and Auxiliary will start 1997 with a potluck dinner Monday, Jan. 27 at 6:30 p.m. at the Methodist Church basement. . Slate gift shop chairperson Elaine Stevens congratulated the unit on the "lovely" gifts sent to the Veterans Hospital Christmas gift shop. Plans will be discussed for a food sale with proceeds to go to the vet- erans ' home that is being con- structed at The Dalles. All veterans and their families are invited to attend the meeting. Fair board plans . . neanngs Greg Grant Educator of the Year Greg Grant was born in LaGrande and grew up in Eastern Oregon. He graduated 111 Dec of 1984 from Ea tern Oregon State College and then began hi teaching career in Januan of I 98 • 111 Umatilla. He then taught at Alsea from 1985 to 1990 when he carnc to the Morrow Count\' chool District as a teacher and coach at Heppner High School and Junior High Grant has been In\ oh ed m the newlv-created Morrow County Urufied Recreation District, which continued to provide co-curricular activities for all students in Morrow County when funding of those activities was cut from the Morrow Count\' School District budget because of financial shortfalls When pay-to-play was initiated for students invol,·ed m athletics. Grant searched out jobs for the studenl.5 . Grant orgamzed and accompanied students m l)e- picking. rock pickjng and crick- cleaning crews as fund raj crs. This year Grant initiated the schools to career program, which matches students with employers in careers the students may be interested in after graduation. He also started the local Colt Football program for fiflh and sixth graders and generated funds for equipment and unifonns. ln 1992, Grant coached the Heppner High School Mustangs to a state Football championship over Vale. In the summer Grant worh.s for the Forest ervice on the lire crew "His energy and enthu ia m can't help but be contagiou to all who come in contact "ith him," said award pre enter and colleague. Dave Gunder on Grant and his wife, Enka, llve in Heppner. The Morrow County Fair Board invites eYervone to · a series of public hearings on the proposed multi-purpose building to be consLructed on the fairgrounds . The Fair Board has receiYed pennission and funding from the county budget committee to build a I 00'xl40' clearspan, open sided steel building. This would satisfy pha e one of a two-phased project that would lead to a 100':x 220' sided building with a bleacher extension on one side. according to the board. The building committee's first priority for this project is to replace and expand the eXJsting livestock facilities which are badh· in need of repair. said the board. There is much intere t in proYiding a multipurpose building that could be used not only during fair. but through-out the year. The fair board would like to build not onh· to meet the present need. but plan for future needs also, they added. Input from the community is desired by the board. Everyone is invited to participate m the development of the fairgrounds. The hearing date are as folio" s: lone Fire Hall-Tuesday. January 28. at 7 p.m : Heppner.Extension OO'ice- ~ednesday, !anuary 29. ~t 7 p.m . and lmgon Anne:x- Thursday, January 30. at 7 p.m. lone Booster Club plans fund raiser The lone Boo ter Club met Thursday, January 9. Virgil Morgan, club president. reported on several upcoming money- maker . A gourmet food basket. donated bv 8111 Rietmann, was to be railled. Member chose to rame a shopping cart of groceries donated by Shop-n-Kart of Hermiston at the Wheeler home game. Busincs of the year. th The Booster Club will ponsor a Horseshoe Hereford Ran h, lnc., steak feed Friday, Januan· 31 , ed and Kathy Clark and Don and which is the Condon game: The Patricia Anderson were selected dinner will be from 4-7·30 p.m. because of their "cooperation with and Will mclude steak, a baked the rest of the commun1ty", aid potato, salad and a roll. The 11lad award presenter and Morrow and dressing will be prepared and Count Exten 10n agent Bill donated by Betty Gray, owner of Broderick Beecher's Cafe. Cost for the The Clarks and the ndcr on dinner is 6 An ·one available to are involved in 4-H, Chamber of help with the dinner ma contact Commerce, local bank board of Laurel Cannon or Jeri McElligott. directors and upport vouth and Joe McElligott reported the area school . The arc ·1cadcrs in redwood for the state the live tock industr; and were championship sign is in and will very involved in the defeat of be delivered to Harold R.iebnann Mea ure 3 , aid Brod nck. In so he can begin the lettering. cooperation wnh th Fore t The nexl Boo ter Club meeting ervice, the ha, e developed a will be a week earlier than usual "very po itive and progrc 1ve" because of the district tournament. Allotment Management Plan. The The meeting will be Thursday, Clark and ndcrsons hare an February 6, at p.m at Beecher's allotment "Extr mcl · good Cafe. ; _. •,
