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TWO - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, September 10,1997 The Official Newspaper o f the City of Heppner and the County of Morrow • Heppner « GAZETTE-TIMES U.S.P.S. 240-420 • Morrow County's Home-Owned Weekly Newspaper Published weekly and entered as periodical matter at the Post Office at Heppner, Oregoo under the Act of March 3, 1879. Periodical postage paid at Heppner, Oregon. Office at 147 West Willow Street. Telephone (541)676-9228. Postmaster send address changes to the Heppner Gazette-Times. P O. Bos 337. Heppner, Oregon 97836. Subscriptions: 118 in Morrow. Wheeler, Cilliam and Grant Coun ties; $25 elsewhere. April Hilton-Sykes ............................ .................................................... News Editor Stephanie Jensen , ............................................................................. Tvpesetttfg Monique D evin..................................................... Advertising Layout & Graphics Bonnie B e n n e tt........................... Distribution Penni Keersemaker .......................................................................................Printer David Sykes* Publisher Letters to the Editor E d ito r’s note: Letters to the editor must be signed. The Gazette-Times will not publish include yo ur address and phone number on all letters fo r use unsigned-letters. Please by the G T office. The G T reserves the rig ht to edit Go figure To the Editor: The people of Morrow County will be delighted to learn that af ter months o f battling with the “Demon Road Dept. Union”, the “Forces o f Enlightened Manage ment” have landed a three-year contract that will only cost county taxpayer $14,438 more than the union was asking for. Plus the proportionately higher benefits, o f course. The math is quite simple. The union asked for a straight 45 cents per hour raise each year for all employees. We even came down to 39 cents the first year, then 45 cents the next two years. This seemed fair to us and we were happy with it. The County Court, however, insisted that some em ployees should get virtually no raise at all while others would see up to a $2.94 per hour raise over the three-year contract period. The court’s plan will cost taxpay ers $73,406 over three years; the union’s rejected proposal would have cost $58,968. How was this brilliant coup accomplished? When exhaustive negotiation failed to force the union to accept the additional $14,438, the court took the em ployee’s comp time policy hostage, telling the union flatly, “accept our wage proposal or we will eliminate comp time from the contract and implement it.” Un der the new rules, management can do that. The union then has two options: agree to implemen tation or strike. The only alternative to allow ing comp time is to pay for over time. The court was apparently willing to bear that extra expense as well, but the Road Dept. Union members didn’t want to lose the flexibility of comp time. Nor did we want to strike. So at last we swallowed defeat and took the money. We are writing this letter be cause we don’t want to be the only ones thinking about that $14,438 when we pay our property taxes in November. We don’t want to be the only ones thinking about it when we remember the way com munity services were crippled in the budgetary hatchet job last winter. We don’t want to be the only ones thinking about what could have been done with that $14,438 if the court hadn’t been so bulldog determined to spend it where it wasn’t wanted. We don’t want to be the only ones thinking about it the next time the court uses lack of money as an excuse for not maintaining the roads or providing other public services. And we don’t want to be the only ones thinking about it the next time we vote for county officials. If this letter should raise some questions in your mind — any question at all — you will have to ask them of the County Court be cause we, quite frankly, are stumped. And they say unions are impossible to deal with. Go fig ure. (s) Tom Bedortha lone (s) David Pedro Echo Sending call out To the Editor: 1 write here to send out a call for someone to take my place as the main driver of the Dollaride service for seniors and disabled in South Morrow County, and for shut-in seniors who need meals delivered from the hospital kitchen 4 days a week. I feel responsible to explain what the Dollaride is, how it has operated, and why 1 shall no longer be its main driver. In 1988 when the Senior Center opened, I recognized a real need for senior transportation here and tried to get the Senior Center Board of Directors to organize and offer this service. They refused. I decided to do it on my own. The plan was to offer rides around town or out-of-town five days a week for seniors having ‘You’re Invited 9* Bank of Eastern Oregon Customer Appreciation Harvest Classic Golf Tournament $10 donation per golfer goes toward High School Scholarship We want to say Thank You 11 T o our customers & community no other means of transportation. five to four to require the shed. Reasons for rides could be It was the "straw that..." I would medical, nutritional, recreational, not submit to their pointless, social, educational, shopping or mindless requirement. other needs - kind of a taxi Then, knowing how impossible service. My car was too small, it has been to find drivers who too hard to get into, so I bought a will commit for even one regular '66 Ford Galaxy 500 in very good day, I begged them to let me condition. I named the service drive until we can find a driver Dollaride (one word blend of so that the service would not be "dollar" and "nde") because it disrupted. They refused that. sounded like "dial-a-nde", The next day when 1 was not at suggested that a dollar would be home they came, took the van a sufficient donation for a nde and locked it in the shed. from home to the requested Since then, I feel I must destination and home again, and continue the meal delivery to jestingly, that it would five an shut-ins in my car. For medical old "doll" (or up to four old dolls needs out of town seniors can at a time) a ride. call 1-800-752-1139. Ask for At first, wanting it to appear to RSVP (Retired Seniors be a senior center service, I Volunteer Program). For other advertised that nders should call needs call Judge Carlson or their office. However, with 10 Commissioner Wenholz. different volunteers each week Our great need is for someone there, things mixed up. to volunteer to be driver(s). Sometimes agencies using tax- Obviously, Dollande had to have provided funds to care for the one phone number and one human needs of seniors and the person scheduling calls. Since disabled don't show much then, it is my home phone. In 1991, the AAA (Area concern for those needs. This Agency on Aging) representative entire incident is a good example Mem Reamer and the ODOT of that. (s)Jane Rawlins (Oregon Dept, of Transportation) eastern Oregon supervisor of the Special Transportation Fund, Births Joni Reid, urged me to apply for a place on their budget for C hloe L ouise S helton-a Dollaride. The STF is given by daughter Chloe Louise was bom the state from cigarette tax to Heather and Russell Shelton of revenues to every county to be San Francisco, CA. on August 6, administered by county officials 1997 at San Francisco, CA. The to provide transportation for the baby weighed 8 lbs. 14 oz. elderly and disabled. Here the Grandparents include Joyce court appointed committee which determines how the fund can best Wilson of Golden Valley, AZ. Emma Kate Brazell-a daugh serve Morrow County senior ter Emma Kate was bom to Diane includes: Comm issioner and Bnan Brazell of Albany on Wenholz, chairman, Joe Wilson and Milt Partridge, Imgon, Don A ugust 25, 1997. The baby Ball lone, Ed Baker, Lexington, weighed 8 lbs. 15 oz. and was Delmer Hug, Boardman, and Bob 20'/z” long. Kahl and Bart Clark, Heppner. Grandparents are A1 and Jean After I applied and was Brazell, Lexington, and Warren accepted, I asked for some and Carol Tripp of Salem. Great- assurance that I could continue grandparents are Helen Martin, with some control over the Hermiston, and Mary Brazell, Dollande operation. Judge Lexington. Carlson gave me a wntten A le ja n d ro Z a v a la -a son "Letter of Understanding", A lejandro was born to Julia granting my request and with the Munoz and Zeferino Zavala of understanding that the vehicle would be stationed at my home. Boardman on August 26, 1997 at In '93 we acquired a mini-van Good Shepherd Community Hos with a ramp wheelchair access pital in Hermiston. The baby which increased the comfort and weighed 7 lbs. 12 oz. scope of nders we could serve. Emily May Howard-a daugh At that time both the judge and I ter Em ily May was born to wanted to add to the service the Rebekah and Eric Howard of Ir- delivery of meals from the rigon on August 27,1997 at Good hospital to shut-ins. I asked the Shepherd Community Hospital in Senior Board for assistance in Hermiston. The baby weighed 6 getting drivers for the four-day lbs. 13 oz. service. They wouldn't.. Dollande did and has ever since. Last month Commissioner Marriage Licenses Wenholz came by my home to The Morrow County Clerk’s tell me the STF Committee had decided (at a meeting of which I office at the courthouse in Hepp had not been notified) that to ner reports issuing the following protect the van from vandalism licenses during the past week: and theft, we had to keep it in the Sept. 4: Veronica Rodriguez senior bus shed at least every Lopez, 22, Boardman; and night. 1 objected, pointing out Joe Llamas Topete, 30, Board- that the extra time, effort and man. possible discomfort required of Sept. 8: Georgia Palmer Evans, the driver, walking in all kinds of 73, Hermiston; and weather sometimes at night, W oodrow E. H ow ard, 82, would add nothing to the quality Umatilla. of Dollande service. I told him Sept. 9: Diana Gayle Bingham, that in nine years stationed here no vehicle damage has occurred, 24, Heppner; and Shawn Lloyd McManus, 26, and that his plan would only add mileage without passengers. I Heppner. told him about the letter of understanding. He was adamant. Their reasoning just didn't make sense. I requested a meeting with the committee. At the heanng, I tned to stress the history and importance of the Dollaride service to seniors and how inconsiderate it was to add at least seven pointless hours a month to the average of 30 already given by the volunteer Computer Paper driver. One member pointed out ■■■■■■■■■■■■■a that the STF van in lone is stationed at the driver's home. I also reminded the judge of the letter promise. He said, "Times have changed." The vote was OFFICE SUPLIES FOX Paper Gazette-Times 676-9228 W e ll buy lunch and supply the p rizes, b ut we m ust lim it it to the firs t 72 players. Reserve your sp o t in th is 4-man scramble by calling Darrell o r Kevin at (541) 676-9125. Bank of Eaatam Oregon. Member F.D.I.C. The Justice Court office at the courthouse annex building in Heppner reports handling the fol lowing business during the past week: Dennis T. Greg, 31, Pendleton- Failure to Wear Seatbelt, $49 fine; Antoinette J. Robinson, 33, Portland-No Angling License, $77 fine; M aureen Lee Sander, 47, Oroville, CA.-No Angling Li cense, $77 fine; David P. R udicel, 50, Creswell-Ulegal Possession of Game Fish: Undersized Trout, $81 fine; Diane Lee Kilkenny, 39, Hepp- ner-Failure to Obey Traffic Con trol Device: stop sign, $122 fine; Jam es Clyde Foster, 26, Springfield-Passenger Obstruc tion of Driver, $126 fine; Antoine Favue III, 56, Port- land-No Throw able Personal Floatation Device, $67 fine; Michael Anthony Jack, 37, Vancouver, WA.-Offensive Lit tering, $67 fine; No Angling Li cense, $75 fine; James Douglas Putman, 30, Castle Rock, W A .-Failure to Wear Seatbelt, $49 fine; Jam es D onald Hams, 46, Heppner-Failure to Obey Traffic Control Device, $122 fine; Davis Michael Alldritt, 44, Lexington-Violation o f Basic Speed Rule, 77 mph in a 55 mph zone, $122 fine; Robert D. Mahoney, 55, Hepp- ner-Group Axle Overload, 77,600 alleged, 68,000 limit, $786 fine; Michael Allen Mills, 40, Hepp- ner-Violation of the Basic Speed Rule, 73 mph in a 55 mph zone, $67 fine; Ryan L. Miller, 25, Heppner- Combination Overload, 99,700 alleged, 80,000 limit, $171 fine; Valerie Bradley, 36, Heppner- Failure to Obey Traffic Control Device: stop sign, $137 fine; Darrel Simmons, 54, Spray- Tandem Overload, 35,600 al leged, 34,000 limit, $49 fine; Arthur C. Warren, 67, Hepp- ner-Passing in a N o-Passing Zone, $122 fine; Charles RlChard McElligott- Violation o f the Basic Speed Rule, 74 mph in a 55 mph zone, $67 fine; K anstantin K uznetsov, 39, Woodbum-Violation of the Basic Speed Rule, 70 mph in a 55 mph zone, $67 fine; Norman L. Branch, 42, Port land-Operating in Balm Fork arm with motor, $101 fine; Luanne Carolyn Flanagan, 28, Irrigon-Violation o f the Basic Speed Rule, 84 mph in a 55 mph zone, $122 fine; Rodney Paul Langlitz, 30, Heppner-Violation of the Basic Speed Rule, 72 mph in a 55 mph zone, $101 fine; Tina Rene Kemp, 19, Lexing ton-Violation of the Basic Speed Rule, 73 mph in a 55 mph zone, $67 fine; Ryan K athleen Furr, 38, Prineville-Failure to Obey Traf fic Control Device: stop sign, $122 fine; Stephen Scott Dougherty, 29, Lexington-Exceeding Maximum Speed, 65 mph in a 45 mph zone, $101 fine; Daniel Alan M athews, 42, Heppner-Driving While License Suspended infraction, $287 fine; D ennis Lee Lund, 35, Pnneville-Dnving While License Suspended infraction, Driving Uninsured, $454 fine; Shawn Robert Olivarez, 18, La Grande-Violation o f the Basic Speed Rule, 75 mph in a 55 mph zone, $126 fine; Jam es Ray Steelm an, 42, Boardman-Dnving Uninsured, $192 fine; M onty T. Bowen, 18, Prineville-Mmor in Possession, $147 fine; Trent Boothe, 18, Prineville- Minor in Possession, $147 fine; Evelyn Setness, 25, Lexington- Maintaining a Dog as a Nuisance, $43 fine; William Schwarzin, 43, Hepp- ner-Fumishing Alcohol to Mi nors, $820 fine, 180 days in jail, $250 and jail sentence suspended with one year probation with no further violation of law; Mickey Kroske, 27, Heppner- Maintaining a Dog as a Nuisance, $43 fine. Health Dept. The Morrow County Health Dept, lists the following monthly schedule for blood pressures and immunizations: Thursday, Sept. 11 -blood pres sures and immunizations, Hepp ner office, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Tuesday, Sept. 16-blood pres sures and immunizations, Board- man office, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.; Thursday, Sept. 18-blood pres sures and immunizations, Hepp ner office, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Tuesday, Sept. 23-blood pres sures and immunizations, Board- man office, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.; Thursday, Sept. 25-blood pres sures and immunizations, Hepp ner office, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Tuesday, Sept. 30-blood pres sures and immunizations. Board- man office, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Obituary Isabel M . Holcomb Mrs. Isabel M. Holcomb, 79, of Heppner, died Tuesday, Sep tember 2, 1997, at her home. Her funeral was Monday, Sep tember 8,1997, in Page, Anzona. Concluding service and burial followed at the Page City Cem etery. She was bom July 19,1918, at Tell, Texas, to W illiam and Miriam Castleberry Smith. She grew up in Tell and attended schools there. On December 20, 1934, she married Clyde L. Holcomb at Tell. They moved to California in 1939 and retired to Page in 1976. Mr. Holcomb died in 1990 and Mrs. Holcomb came to Heppner four years ago. She was a homemaker all of her life and remained active in the Church of the Nazarene. Survivors include son, Bill Holcomb o f Page; daughters, Enola Shepard of Tigh Valley and Jackie Adams of Heppner; sister, Ruth Helms of Riverside, Califor nia; brothers, Tommy Smith of Tell, and Travis Smith o f Fort Pierre, South Dakota; seven grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made to the Church of the Nazarene Memorial Fund, di rectly or through Sweeney Mor tuary, P.O. Box 97, Heppner, OR 97836. BOURDNUN #VCITO R E P H IR 10-1 Front S treet, Boardman © u t HOST FAMILIES NEEDED Come Join Us September 29th 1 0 :0 0 a.m . til 3 :0 0 p.m . W illo w Creek C ountry Club Justice Court Report Jan, I?yrs. 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