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
*
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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
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Pick Up The Savings
C om e S ee O ur
N e w L in e O f
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W alk B e h in d M o w ers!
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__________________
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".
*
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