Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (April 16, 1997)
4 Odd Fellows contribute $10,000 toward pool HEPPNER Jerry Hollom on (left) and Cliff G reen (right), on behalf of the W illow Odd Fellow Lodge, present a $ 1 0 ,0 0 0 check to Archie Padberg, representing the P eople for the Pool. People for the Pool is a group dedicated to raising funds for the indoor m ulti-use pool to be to be constructed at the H eppn er pool site People for the Pool originally set $ 50 ,0 0 0 as their goal for construction of the multi-use pool, but a change of plans in m aterials necessary to construct the indoor facility pushed the goal up to $ 6 5 ,0 0 0 . Volunteers install water line at fairgrounds imes VOL. 116 NO. 16 8 Pages • A Wednesday, April 16,1997 D r . B lts a s r e s Morrow County Health District and Pioneer Memorial Hospital administrator Kevin Erich has announced that Dr. Bill Bitsas resigned from his position as physician at the hospital and Pioneer Memorial Clinic as of Friday, April 11. Erich said that other providers will care for Bitsas's patient load "to make for a smooth transition". Dr. Bitsas told the Gazette- Times Tuesday that "disagreements have arisen and discussions deteriorated" over such issues as "appropriate Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon • ____Free vaccine i g n s clinic planned scheduling" to allow him adequate time to care for patients and time off. Dr. Bitsas, who began working for the health district Sept. 1, had a three-year agreement with the district. "I'd like to work it out," said Dr. Bitsas. "I would really like to stay here. I would be glad to figure out some agreement to continue to practice here." "I'm not planning on moving," he said, adding that if conflicts cannot be resolved he planned to look at temporary assignments which would allow him to continue to live in Heppner. Free tetanus and diphtheria vaccines will be available for adults as well as children during a free immunization clinic planned by the Morrow County Health Department this month. Clinics will be held in lone on Wednesday, April 23, from 3-6 p.m. and in Heppner on Thursday, April 24, from noon-6 p.m. Clinics are also planned in Imgon on Monday, April 21. from 1-6 p.m. and in Boardman Tuesday, April 22, from noon- 6 p.m. School superintendent undergoes surgery Morrow County School District Superintendent Chuck Starr underwent surgery Monday to remove a cancerous rectal tumor, it was announced at the school board meeting that evening in lone. Administrative secretary Julie Ashbeck told the assembly that after chemotherapy, the tumor was "significantly smaller and movable". She said that Starr was expected to spend seven to 10 days in the hospital and four to six weeks in recovery. She said that Starr's physician said that other than the cancer, he was in "remarkable health" and "doing very well". In other business the board: -approved employment for Ron Neighom for a probationary contract to teach music in Heppner and lone in 1997-98 and for Ralph Werner, to teach music half-time in Heppner in 1997-98. A probationary contract for Heather Hacking, music and Spanish teacher at Heppner Junior and Senior High Schools, was not renewed. -approved resignations for Mark Girod, Riverside High School science teacher; and Angela Preslar, A.C. Houghton and Sam Boardman elementary schools. -accepted donations from the lone Booster Club for $500 toward purchase of a tennis serve machine for the lone tennis team. The team raised the balance of $400; from Harold Teters for $200 work of art supplies to the Riverside High School art program. -approved a field trip request for seventh and eighth grade students to travel to the Oregon Coast May 16-18 to study marine ecosystems. -heard reports on the bond issue projects by Bob Baker, a list of classified and confidential employees for May action, academic excellence reports from district principals. -heard a performance by the lone choir accompanied by teacher Ron Neighom; -approved a second reading of the driver education policy and a resolution accepting A.C. Houghton and Columbia Middle School remodeling and additions, with additional discussion concerning problems with carpeting at A.C. Houghton Elementary School. -accepted March 11 election canvass results as follows: Board of Directors Zone 2- Dwayne Carroll, 979, Lisa Nelson, 813; Zone 6-Bamey Lindsay, 1,506, John Kilkenny, 78; Zone 7-Scott Bauska, 1,422; Boardman-Imgon Advisory Committee Position 1- Dean Mason, 673; Position 3- Kathy Neal, 690; Position 4- Wayne Huwe, 672; Position 6- Patrick McNamee, 671; Ione- Lexington Advisory Committee Position 2-Hank Pointer, 300; Position 3-Jim McElligott, 306; Heppner-Lexington Advisory Committee Position 1-Kelly Merrill, 18; Position 2-Virginia Naims, 695; Position 5-Greg Smith, 602; Position 6-Stephen Hill, 659; and Position 7-Rollie Marshall, six. Patricia Wehrli received 17 votes for Ione- Lexington Advisory Committee Position 4, but does not live in the Lexington attendance area and does not qualify for that position. Mike Armato received 19 votes for Heppner-Lexington Position 4, but does not live in the attendance area. Mark Rietmann, who received five votes, does live in that area and qualifies for that position. -approved low bid on fixed asset inventory from Valuation Resource Management for $6,500; -discussed purchase of two buses which would be used to transport students for evacuation from the North Campus and from Boardman Schools to A.C. Houghton Elementary School, M orrow C ounty Fair Board m em bers (L -R ) Alan Holm es, Joe Yocom and S am Bellam y pause from work on the fairgrounds new w a te r line. The three, along with board m em b er K elw ayne H aguew ood. and Holm es' crew from Mid C olum bia Excavation. Boardm an, spent two days putting in the new lines, including a three-inch line to the pavilion, a new line to the bus shed, and new frost-free valves around the pavilion They said that when the project is com pleted, the w ater lines will not be tied into the pum p. H olm es donated equipm ent and tim e for the project. R oger Britt, H eppner, also contributed to the project Renovation project underway at rodeo grounds A major renovation project is underway at the Morrow County which has been over-pressunzed, if necessary during incineration Fairgrounds in Heppner this year. The renovation is especially at the Umatilla Army Depot. -discussed addition of two new significant since this year the 75th sports activities for 1997-1998- commemorates the Morrow girls' JV softball at HHS for celebration of Heppner and lone students and County Rodeo. A bleacher project will include soccer at Riverside. Cost would be around $8,100 for the softball a 1050 aluminum bench seating program and $7,900 for the capacity, 428 VIP stadium chairs soccer program, but no school of high density polyethylene with district funds would be plastic backs and arm rests, and expended. an eight foot by 16 foot A school district budget announcer/press box with stairs committee meeting has been usable for football field and scheduled for April 21 at 7:30 arena events with sliding glass heat and air p.m. at Riverside and, if widows, necessary, April 28 at the district conditioning. The first row of office and May 5 at Riverside VIP seating will be elevated four The next regular meeting will feet. be held May 12 at 7:30 p.m. at VIP seating sales will begin the district office. May 3. VIP seating will be sold in lots of 10 and will include all three rodeo performances and two slack performances for $360 per section. Contact Nicole Mahoney, 676- 5157 to purchase the VIP seating. The bleacher project will also include a donor wall, with a Four $200 Heppner Booster permanent sign with sections, Club scholarships will be thanking donors of under $500, awarded to Heppner High School $500 and up. $1,000 and up, (HHS) seniors “desiring to further $10,000 and up and $50,000 and their education past high school, up. Die Oregon Trail Pro Rodeo is said a club spokesperson. Booster Club invites all HHS offering to name the stadium seniors to participate. Scholar after a donor who contributes ships are based on school activi $100,000 or more The donor's ties, leadership and academic av name will be permanently erage. Applications can be picked installed in large block letters up at HHS, and are due by Wed across the upper back side of the bleacher structure. nesday. April 30. Booster Club to award scholarships * V 'V w‘* ■» ' *" O - , "N. <‘V \ v • :: M arcia Kem p, representing the H eppner High School Booster Club, and Larry Mills, M orrow C ounty Grain Grow ers m anager, with M aryann M unkers. The Booster Club and M C G G each donated $ 2,50 0 towards the press box and bleacher project at the Morrow County Fairgrounds. Other plans for this year include: -Installation of drainage curbs and pipe in front of new cyclone fencing that was installed last August. The curbs will also act as parking bumper curbs. -Construction of a 16 foot by 24 foot rodeo office on the west end of Shorty's Museum. The office will be accessible from the w est end of the building and will eliminate having to bring in a camp trailer for use as an office. The office, which will have a "western" false front and a landscaped area under the awning on the south side, will also be used for monthly meetings. -Construction of a new access road and bridge and increased Like you'll pick up the leaves ÈS&Â P ÊÊR Anything Less Just Won't Cut It! M0RRGW COUNTY GRAIN GROWERS Lexington 989-8221 1 -8 0 0 -4 5 2 -7 3 9 6 V V ' - * - ■- C. , Pick Up The Savings C om e S ee O ur N e w L in e O f 1997 S napper W alk B e h in d M o w ers! LsSN __________________ contestant parking. OTPR officials say that contestant' parking is now limited and not accessible for most contestants as it is too steep and the comer too sharp for horse trailers. -Landscaping and beautification with trees, shrubs and flower beds to beautify the spectator area Future plans are to build a log cabin concession sand on the east end of the bleachers usable as a beer garden on one side and food and drink concessions on the other side. OTPR also plans to eventually cover the new bleachers. Sue Gibbs, Rodeo Committee media chairman, says that Kinzua has been a main contributor to the project. The St. Patrick's motocross and team roping events also raised funds for the grandstands project, she said. The group is encouraging the city and local organizations to plan activities to make the 75th anniversary of the Morrow County Rodeo a "huge celebration". * /-• , v ;.. v>. : -• jr - •
