Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 17, 1997)
School district plans to reveiw drug/alcohol policy HEPPNER imes VOL. 116 NO. 38 8 Pages Wednesday, September 17,1997 Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon W ork begun on Heppner grade, high schools Construction underway at Heppner Elementary School. Excavation work is underway in preparation for adding classrooms at both Heppner Elementary School and Heppner High School. HHS principal Ron Anthony says that excavation at the high school was begun before school started to prepare for the construction of an art classroom. The lower hall will be lengthened and a 42x30 art room will be added on. The addition will include a clay area, a kiln area and a general classroom to accommodate 20-30 students. Anthony says that other minor projects at the high school will include: bringing bathrooms up to ADA standards and making the building more in line with ADA recommendations; carpeting hallways upstairs and down; installing a new wireless sound system in the gym; making gym backboards electronically retractable; and, if money remains after the projects have been completed, repaving with asphalt. This summer acoustical tiles were removed from the hallway and new lights were installed. Acoustical spray was applied to the ceiling in the gym. Anthony said that the carpeting and acoustical spray will help cut down noise. Construction is expected to be completed by May of 1998. Work will be completed simultaneously at Heppner Elementary, where seven classrooms will be constructed. Heppner Elementary principal Bill Karwacki said that workers have broken out rock, but will not have to excavate as much as they anticipated, and have sawed doorways in the upper and lower halls. Plans are to build an extension of around 120 feet. The school's main office will move down to the other end of the school and the old office will house an office for the school counselor, a small meeting room area and office space for the speech therapist and psych ologist, which are currently housed in the former junior high building. Karwacki said that only cafeteria will remain in that building. Completion is scheduled for May 1998. Remodeling of the former multipurpose room at HES was completed the day before school started. The multipurpose room now houses the school library and two computer labs. Construction on that project began in August. Ramsay-Gerding, with offices in Pendleton and Corvallis, is the construction company. Genealogical Society meeting The Genealogical Society will meet Wednesday, September 24, at 7 p.m. at the Morrow County Museum. Those interested in tracing their family history are invited to join this group. This meeting will include information for basic research and start people climbing their family tree. For more information call the museum at 676-5524. Christian Church plans classes The First Christian Church in Heppner is offering a Josh McDowell series on absolute values. The senes will look at Biblical absolutes and teach parents how to pass them on to their children. The class will be held on Sunday at 9:30 am. at the church, 275 Gale Street. For more information, call 676-9209. A W A N A club to begin year AWANA club year will begin Wednesday, Sept. 24, at the Lexington Baptist Church from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and will continue at the same time on Wednesday evenings until April 29. Children in kindergarten through sixth grade are welcome to attend. Club activities include various games around the AWANA came circle, working in handbooks, and Bible stones. AWANA is a nondenommational Bible-based club sponsored by Lexington Baptist Church. Leaders from the Heppner First Christian Church, Chnstian Life Center, and Episcopal Church are also involved. For more information call Loren Unruh at 676-9873 or Lexington Baptist Church at 989- 8555. A Morrow County School Distnct committee has been formed to review the distnct's alcohol and drug policy. In the organizational stages now, the committee, announced at the district board meeting Sept. 8, will eventually seek public input. Committee members include: A dv isory C om m ittee representatives Kathy Neal, Boardman/Irrigon, George Naims, Heppner/Lexington, and Jim McElligott, Ione/Lexington; school representatives Kevin Fry, Columbia Middle School principal, Ron Anthony, Heppner High School (HHS) principal. Dale Conklin, HHS athletic director, Josh Roy, HHS student body president. Dean Robinson, lone High School (IHS) athletic director, Jake McElligott, IHS student body president, Larry French, Riverside High School (RHS) athletic director, and Rachel Sebastian, RHS student body president, and school board representatives Russ Morgan and Dwayne Carroll. Also at the meeting, the board accepted and appropriated a one time $219,680 classroom needs grant from the Oregon Legislature and a $9,600 drug and alcohol prevention grant. The classroom needs grant may be spent on classroom supplies, textbooks, computers and software and the funds may be spread out over several years. The distnct plans to spend $30,000 of those funds this year for new Spanish and new calculus textbooks. Next year they will use the funds to purchase new social studies books, which could "easily amount to $100,000," said superintendent Chuck Starr. The $9,600 grant will be used to purchase "Here's Looking at You 2000" drug and alcohol intervention kits. In other business, the board: -heard an enrollment report from superintendent Starr. As of Sept. 9, the district has 2,123 students, 22 more than last year on Sept. 8. Enrollment declined at south end schools and increased at north county schools. Enrollment at Heppner Elementary on Sept. 9 was 229, compared to 233 last year; Heppner High School/Middle School enrollment was 223 this year, compared to 231 last year; lone's enrollment was also down, 143 this year, compared to 151 last year. Other enrollment figures are as follows: A.C. Houghton Elementary, Irrigon, 308 this year, compared to 293 last year; Columbia Middle School, Irrigon, 375 in 1997 vs. 360 in 1996; Riverside, 435 in 1997 vs. 430 last year; and Sam Boardman Elementary, 410 this year, compared to 403 last year. Total enrollment was 2123 on Sept. 9 this year, compared to 2101 last year on Sept. 8. Enrollment at district schools on the first day of school was 2160, up 72 students over last year's first day enrollment of 2082. -approved reconsidering the district's fuel bids. The board voted to rescind July's action of accepting the bids. Instead, the district will get three quotes, from Devin Oil, Morrow County Grain Growers and Russell Oil, each time they plan to get a load of fuel and will accept the lowest quote. Starr said that the district gets two to three loads a year at each facility. -approved transfer for Mari Gordanier from part-time educational assistant position at A.C. Houghton to library technician position; -approved temporary teacher contracts for 1997-98 for; Dale Johnson, HHS math, David Connor, HHS science, Lynn Harmonson, HHS vo-ag, Donald Parks, RHS music, Anthony Pupo. CMS P.E. -approved extra duty contracts for Harmonson, HHS FFA advisor; Parks, RHS choir and pep band; Juan Elguezabal, Heppner Junior High (HJH) football coach, HHS assistant baseball coach; A1 Trachsel, HJH assistant football coach; Pedro Torres, RHS head soccer coach; Phil Hibbard, RHS assistant soccer coach; Tone Philippi, RHS assistant volleyball coach; Donna Neighbors, CMS assistant volleyball coach; Pupo, David Peters and Ray Godin, all CMS assistant football coaches; Darin Presto, CMS assistant basketball coach. -approved employment for classified employees: Maria Mendoza, and Elva Rangel, Sam Boardman Elementary (SBE) part-time English as a second language (ESL) assistants; Lon McCombs, ACH part-time ed assistant; Kelly Bond, part-time CMS custodian; Shelly Salisbury, CMS part-time special ed assistant; Maria Rodnguez and Guadelupe Colin, CMS part-time ESL assistants; Merry Brannon, HES part-time special ed assistant; Cynthia Tallman, HES part-time special ed assistant. The next board meeting will be held at Heppner High School library at 7:30 p.m. County earns state fair honors Morrow County was recog nized at the Oregon State Fair this year by special awards in wheat exhibits and county exhibits. The Morrow County booth re ceived a third with Harney and Polk counties first and second. The Morrow County exhibit was prepared by members of the Port of Morrow through the Morrow County Tourism Committee, which is a volunteer group of lo cal people. Wheat exhibit awards were given to Kenneth Smouse in club wheat, spring wheat, awn wheat and awnless wheat. He also re ceived the special award pre sented by Pendleton Grain Grow ers for the most points according to placements. Vem Fredrickson had the best individual wheat exhibit in dark Northern spring. Bill Jepsen re ceived awards for dark Northern spring wheat, soft wheat and bar ley. Larry Palmer received an award for his wheat sheaf. Following are the results for the 1997 agriculture/horticulture dept, of the Oregon State Fair: Country Pride Exhibits: Lot 1 County Pnde-third, Port of Mor row, Boardman; Commercial Grain: Lot 3 Any Other Barley-second, Bill Jepsen, Heppner; Lot 7 Hard Red Spring Wheat- first, Vem Fredrickson, Imgon, second, Bill Jepsen; Lot 9 Soft White Wheat-first, Kenneth Smouse, lone; Lot 10 White Club Wheat-first, Kenneth Smouse; Lot 11 Any Other Wheat-first Kenneth Smouse, second, Bill Jepsen, third, Kenneth Smouse; Sheaves: Lot 5 Awned Wheat- second, Larry Palmer, Heppner; Lot 6 Awnless Wheat-first, Larry Palmer; Sheep Division, Class 401 Montadales: Lot 1 Montadale Yearling Ram-third, Loyal Bums, lone; Lot 1 Senior Ram Lamb- fifth, Loyal Bums; Lot 3 Junior Ram Lamb-second, Loyal Bums; Lot 4 Pair Ram Lambs-third, Loyal Bums; Lot 5 Yearling Ewe- ninth and twelfth, Loyal Bums; Lot 6 Pair Yearling Ewes-second, Loyal Bums; Lot 7 Senior Ewe Lamb-eleventh, Loyal Bums; Lot 8 Junior Ewe Lamb-first and sixth, Loyal Bums; Lot 9 Pair Ewe Lambs-third, Loyal Bums; Lot 10 Young Flock-fourth, Loyal Bums; Lot 11 Get of Sire- third Loyal Bums; Lot 13 Best Pair-third, Loyal Bums; Lot 11A OSF Get of Sire-first, Loyal Bums. Art Council plans activities By Nova Rietmann This fall and winter the Morrow County Arts Council have planned several activities. The board members, Don Eppenbach, Shelly Rietmann, Barb Orwik, Dave Kendnch, and Ann Murray, hope that everyone is excited about what is planned and that people are interested in participating. Tumbling classes will start September 19. For information call Cindy Sumner at 989-8514. Artist Jonna McKay will offer Media Visual Arts classes starting September 19, for ages 4years to third grade and high school. The classes will teach sketching, water color, acrylic and charcoal. Call 422-7191 or 989-8459. Mark and Astrid Bruno are offering art classes in lone. The classes offer stone carving, sculpture, copper sculpture, clay, oil painting and water colors. There is a class for people 13-18 years old. And, if there is interest, there will be a class for adults as well. Call Mark and Astrid at 422-7305. On October 6 and 7 classical guitarist James Russell Hunley will perform in Morrow County. Monday, October 6, he will play at Beecher's restaurant in lone and on Tuesday, October 7, he will be at the Dodge City Inn in Boardman. Performances start at 7 p.m. and the tickets will be $8. For more information call 422-7243 or 422-7191. A fund raiser for the arts council on October 11,8 p.m. at the Heppner Elks. Preston and Morgans' Singing, Dancing, and Comedy will perform. Tickets will be on sale September 15. Call 422-7243 for more details. On October 30 The Saballa Consort, a return "by demand" Jazz Band will perform at 7:30 p.m. in The Heppner Middle School auditorium. The arts council is working with the Oregon East Symphony Rural Outreach Program to schedule concerts in Morrow County. They hope to have concerts in Heppner, Boardman, lone and to have concerts in the schools. They're being assisted by the Morrow County Unified Recreational District. In January the arts council will have another fund raiser—an authentic Mexican fiesta with authentic Mexican food and music. It will be held at the Woolery House in lone. To join or renew membership, payment is $20. Send it to P.O. Box 274, lone OR 97843, or call 422-7191 or 422- 7243. Court try-outs slated for Sept. 21 Girls interested in being on the Morrow County Fair and Oregon Trail Pro Rodeo Court are invited to try-outs Sunday, September 21. starting at 1 p.m. Applications must be returned to the fair office by Friday, September 19, at 3 p.m. Applications are available at area high schools. For more information, call the fair office, 676-9474. Everyone is invited to attend the try-outs and see who will be selected to be Morrow County's ambassadors for the coming year. Order your Danner Boots NOW for hunting season: 20% off of the reg. list price. Ask for availably. Sale good through Oct. 3rd. MORROW COUNTY GRAIN GROWERS Lexington 989-8221 1-800-452-7396____________________
