Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 3, 1997)
Gift certificate winners announced Twenty five dollar gift certificate winners in the second week of the Heppner Christmas Punch are as follows: Geneva Mathews won a $25 gift certificate to Pettyjohn's Builders Supply. Barbara Pike won a gift certificate to Central Market. Bill Schlaick won a certificate to Shoe Box. Jimmy Rodgers won a gift certificate to Green Feed, and Max Harris won a $25 gift certificate to Lott's Electric. The winners can pick up their gift certificates at the businesses. There will be a new set of winners next week, and remember all punch cards go into the final grand prize drawing of $700 in gift certificates to be given away Dec. 29. Anyone can enter, just pick up your punch card whenever you shop at any of the participating businesses, and for every five dollars in purchases at any participating business, get your card punched. HEPPNER e imes VOL. 116 NO 49 City manager disputes rates 8 Pages Wednesday, December 3,1997 Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon MC Museum open late Dec. 4 The Morrow County Museum will be open Thursday, Dec.4, from 1-8 p.m. to accommodate shoppers, history buffs and visitors to this year's enlarged "Santa's Toy Shop" tableau in the Heppner City Park, presented by elves who work, during their off season, in the museum. Everyone is invited to see what's new - and what's old - at the museum. Admission is free and everyone is welcome to attend. An article entitled, "We're number one!" appearing in the November 26, 1997, issue of the Gazette-Times which states that "Heppner taxpayers fork out $28.13 per thousand of assessed valuation" for property taxes, is not entirely correct, according to Heppner city manager Gary Marks. Marks said the $28.13 rate is before Ballot Measure 5 cuts and is obtained using a new definition of assessed valuation which in Heppner is about 20 percent less than actual market value. (After compression, the tax rate on assessed valuation is about 24.13.) (Prior to this year's Ballot Measure 50, a property's assessed value was usually the same as the market value.) Marks said that, in simplified terms, the effective rate of taxation when applied to market value and. after all tax cuts, for this year is approximately $18 to $19 per thousand within the city limits (depending on the type of property being taxed) considerably lower than the $28.13 rate which was reported earlier by "The Oregonian". "It is nearly impossible to use tax rates to accurately assess one's relative tax burden on a statewide basis," said Marks. He said property values for identical properties can vary widely throughout the state depending on where each property is located "As they say in the real estate business, the key to, a property's value is based on three considerations -- location, location, location," said Marks "Heppner's property values are comparatively lower than say property in Portland," said Marks. "As a result, a Portland taxpayer may have a lower tax rate on a property identical to a property in Heppner and still pay a higher tax because the property's value is much higher in Portland." "If 'The Oregonian, were to publish a chart showing how much an average taxpayer actually paid in real dollar terms in each Oregon community, I think Heppner would prove to have a rather moderate actual property tax burden," Marks said. Marks also pointed out that the rate paid by city taxpayers not only provides funds to the city but also provides money to Morrow County, the Morrow County School District, Blue Mountain Community College, the Education Service District, Port of Morrow, Unified Recreation District, Willow Creek Park District, Heppner Cemetery District and the Oregon Trail Library District. BEO donates O TPR buckle Brownfields donate Christmas tree Heppner businesses' open house scheduled for December 4th Don't forget this Thursday, Dec. 4 is Heppner's business open house and at 6p.m. the Parade of Lights. Other activities include Santa Claus at Murray's Drug from 3:30 to 5:30 (photos available), Office no longer releasing marriage info The Morrow County Clerk's Office has notified the Gazette- Times that it will no longer release marriage license information to the press. The action comes following a new law, passed by the Oregon Legislature which places new restrictions on the ability to provide access to the records, according to information supplied to the Morrow County Clerk's Office by Alan H. Davidson, Marion County Clerk. Information will be provided only to the "spouse, child, parent, sibling or legal guardian of the registrant, an authorized representative of the spouse, child, parent, sibling or legal guardian of the registrant..." or after 50 years have elapsed after the date of the marriage. Heppner Christmas tree donated by Steve Brownfield family The Chamber Christmas decoration committee was getting a little bit nervous, said Chamber manager Claudia Hughes, until the Steve Brownfield family came to their rescue with the donation of the community Christmas tree. Columbia Basin Electric cut and set the tree and Tom Rawlins, Heppner T.V., is adding the fights and finishing touches. Citizens of all ages are invited to add an ornament and gather 'round the tree on Thursday, December 4, for cocoa, carols and the luxury vacation accommodation drawing. The give-away accommodation package was donated by the Chamber of Commerce in appreciation of people who shopped locally during the Main Street project. Lighting contest, Saturday, Dec. 20 Everyone is invited to participate in the annual Heppner Chamber lighting contest Saturday, December 20, Chamber of Commerce elves will judge residential and business lighting. All lighted residences and businesses within the Heppner City limits will be eligible. First and second prizes will be awarded for best outdoor display and indoor display as viewed from the street. Special recognition will be given for the most festive business lighting display. MCCCF to hold meeting Dec. 8 The monthly meeting of the Morrow County Commission on Children & Families will be held on December 8 at the Morrow County Family Service Center, 120 South Main, Heppner, from 7-9 p.m. The public is invited to attend and participate in the discussion. For more information call 676- 9675. Rudy Murgo named presiding udge Judge Rudy M. Murgo has been appointed presiding judge of the sixth judicial district, which includes the state courts in both Umatilla and Morrow counties. Judge Murgo was appointed by Oregon Supreme Court, Chief Justice Wallace P. Carson. Judge Murgo's term begins on December 1 and runs through December 31. He replaces retiring Judge Jack F. Olsen as the presiding judge. Business After Hours, Dec. 8 Heppner Chamber of "Business After " will be held Monday/ 8, at 6 p.m. at the western Motel in Heppner. e event will be hosted by and Bonnie Bunch, ¡hments will be served and r nri7<* offered public decoration of the city Christmas Tree at 4:30 p.m. and at 6.30 following the parade a Christmas tree lighting celebration. There will also be snacks available in many of the businesses, and live Christmas music on the street. Hanlon to run for Sherman Co. DA ____ 1998 Morrow County Fair and Oregon Trail Pro Rodeo Queen Maci Childers, second from right, receives a belt buckle from past princesses (from left) Tricia Coe, Shelly Ashbeck and Amy Kollman, all employees of the Bank of Eastern Oregon Heppner Branch. The bank, a buckle sponsor for a number of years, donated the Montana Silver belt buckle to Queen Maci. The 1998 court is selling raffle tickets for a ring to help with travel expenses and extra outfits. They will participate in the Dec. 4 Heppner light parade and will make their first official appearance at the Town and Country Banquet in Heppner on January 15. The OTPR still has VIP seating available for the 1998 rodeo. For tickets or more information, contact Nicole Mahoney, 676-5157. Champion Blue Grass band to perform Bill Hanlon Former Morrow County District Attorney pro-tem William "Bill" Hanlon has filed as a candidate for district attorney for Sherman County up for election at the May 1998 primary election. Hanlon was appointed to the Morrow County position by Governor John Kitzhaber when Morrow County District Attorney Earl R. Woods, Jr., was called into active duty in Bosnia with his National Guard Unit. Woods returned to his position with Morrow County on Oct. 1 after eight months in Bosnia. Since Woods' return, Hanlon has served as Morrow County Counsel. Hanlon was district attorney in Jefferson county from 1988- 1995. He has 21 years experience as an attorney, working exclusively in Eastern Oregon. World Champion Blue Grass band String 'Em Up with Nolan Murray (far left) will perform at the Heppner Elks Club The world champion Bluegrass band, "String 'Em Up", headed up by Nolan Murray, who has ties to the Heppner-Ione- Lexington area, will perform in Heppner at the Elks Club on Saturday, Nov. 13, from 8-10 p.m. Advance tickets will be available at Murray Drugs or the Elks or at the door at $10 per person or 15 for a couple. WCPD meeting date changed The Willow Creek Park District meeting date has been changed to Wednesday, December 10, at 7 p.m. at the Lexington City Hall. SA N TA SAYS SAVE $ $ $ $ DURING MCGG’s BIG HOLIDAY ^ GIFT SALE through Dec. 24 MORROW COUNTY CRAIN GROWERS Lexington 989-8221 1 -800-452-7396
