Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 18, 1998)
« Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Relay Challenge set for June The Official Newspaper of 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, Oregon 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 Box 337, Heppner. Oregon 97836. Subsc riptions: $18 in Morrow , Wheeler, Gilliam and Grant Coun ties; $25 elsewhere. April Hilton-Sykes..............................................................................News Editor Stephanie Jensen .................................................................................Typesetting Monique Devin Advertising layout 6c Graphics Bonnie B en n ett.................... Distribution Penni K eersem aker........................ Printer David Sykes, Publisher Marsha Sweek selected for Smithsonian workshop Marsha Sweek, director of the Morrow County Museum, is one of 18 museum professionals in the nation selected to participate in a five-day workshop in museum management at the Smithsonian Institution's Center for Museum Studies during the last week of February. According to Sweek, the workshop will focus on planning, finances, facility management and development, which will be particularly applicable to the museum's current project to develop the facility for the agricultural collection. Sweek has been director of the Morrow County Museum for almost 10 years and last year addressed the American Association of Museums' annual conference in Atlanta at the invitation of the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibits Service. Heppner man completes laser printer training tenance, Grace anticipates further expansion of services and prod ucts in the future. Grace’s business, Ray Grace and Associates, or RGA, is lo cated at 468 West Street #222, Heppner. His phone is 676-5354, and his fax is 676-5292. The Morrow County 24-hour Relay Challenge has been planned for June 13-14 at Riverside High School in Boardman. The relay will include as many as 30 teams of 10 members each who will run or walk one mile around the RHS track and then pass a baton off to the next team member for 24 hours. While the teams are circling the track, a community picnic has been planned with different types of entertainment, food and camping. A health fair is also being organized to provide information about services available to the community. According to a Relay Challenge news release, Heppner City Police Chief Doug Rathbun has allowed HPD Officer Merle Cowett to participate on the planning team support this drug- free youth activity. Boardman Police Chief Sayles and his wife Marja will serve as contact Holly Rebekah Lodge holds meeting By Delpha Jones The Past Noble Grand Club of the Holly Rebekah Lodge met at the home of Luella Taylor on Monday evening for a belated Christmas party. A dinner was enjoyed, after which an election of officers was held. The same ladies were elected as last year: Anita Padberg, chairman; Joyce Buchanan, vice-chairman; and Kathy Tellechea, secretary. Secret sister names were revealed and names were drawn for the coming year. Those present were: Joyce Buchanan, Dorothy Jackson, Virginia Peck, Kathy Tellechea, Community grant funds available Ray Grace Ray Grace of Heppner recently completed training in mainte nance and repair of laser printers and copiers at Don Thompson Seminars in Chatsworth, CA. According to Grace, the need for training became apparent when he began selling laser car tridges early last year. Demand for local service outweighed need for cartridges in the eyes of most area businesses. Grace said his goal is to provide Morrow and western Umatilla county busi nesses with “big city” service, utilizing an inventory of routinely used parts, along with overnight delivery for less common parts. Having begun last year as a provider of printer cartridges, and this year adding service and main- The Morrow County Commis sion on Children and Families has established a Community Devel opment Fund to be used for com munity needs and to leverage other funds for the children, youth and families of Morrow County. Approximately $1,000 will be available each quarter and the maximum grant would be $500. Examples of reasonable com munity development fund re quests include seasonal program needs; small capital expenditures (except for private property); ser vice program staff training; one time events, and pilot projects. Home day care providers may also apply for funds to enhance the quality and availability of their services, but they must be registered by the state or have reg istration forms submitted to the state for approval at the time of request for funds. Recent proposals approved were $500 for a Boardman com munity recreation expansion project, and $500 for a parenting project for Sam Boardman El ementary School. New proposals will be re viewed on April 14 during the monthly commission meeting but must be received by the commis sion office by March 31 to be con sidered. Applications are avail able at the commission office at 120 South Main in Heppner, or by calling 676-9675. 4-H seeks new leaders 4-H is looking for new 4-H leaders. There are children that would like to be in 4-H, but without leaders they are not able to be placed in clubs. Leaders in all areas of the county and in all program areas, home economics, livestock, horse and small animals, are needed. "The county is growing by leaps and bounds and is expected to continue growing for some time," sa id an E x ten sio n spokesperson."We need activities for the children that are here and for the new families coming to people for the Morrow County Ambulance service who will provide an on-site EMT and first aid services. Sayles and his department will also provide security for the event. According to the release, the Morrow County Court has also given their endorsement. "After an outstanding presentation on the part of student Paula Spicerkuhn to the county school board, we now have their endorsement as well," said the release. Jon and Alisha Blake worked with the school district to secure the RHS site. For more information or to participate, volunteer or sponsor a team, contact: Marilyn Bader- Nesse, 676-9191 or 481-2911; Dar Merrill, 676-9675; or relay director, student Heidi Kurts, 676-9835. A planning meeting has been scheduled for March at 3:30 p.m. at Beecher's Restaurant in lone. Everyone is invited to attend the meeting and a no-host dinner. Morrow County. 4-H is a great way for new families to become acquainted with their communities and the communities with them." All leaders are provided with a "New Leader Training" when they sign up. The Extension stresses that leaders don't have to be an expert at anything; they just need to help give youth a positive hands on experience. Many resources are available and many experienced leaders are glad to help new leaders. Anyone interested may call the Extension office at 676-9642 or 1-800-342-3664. Kathy Clark, hostess Luella Taylor and co-hostess Delpha Jones. Also present were Cecil Jones and Bob Taylor. There was some discussion on a trip to the Oddfellow home in Portland and Dorothy Jackson was appointed to look into this. Janet Balfe returned to her home in Anchorage, Alaska on Friday evening. She was called here by the death of her mother, Leila Palmer. Also present from a distance was Ken Marshall, father of Max Palmer, from Zillah, Washington. Mike and Barbara Palmer, who had been here staying with Leila for several weeks, will remain for a few days. Local girl enrolls in riding program Sybil Krebs of lone recently enrolled in the American Quarter Horse Association Horseback Riding Program. The program provides AQHA members recognition for time spent riding or driving American Quarter Horses. Current AQHA members complete a program application and pay a one-time $25 enrollment fee. Each enrollee receives an official AQHA log sheet to record their hours driving or riding their quarter horse. Participants need not own their own horse, but all official hours must be accrued with a registered American Quarter Horse. The first award, a program recognition patch, is given after 50 hours have been logged and verified. Patches and nine subsequent awards are presented at 100 to 5,000-hour levels and range from merchandise gift certificates to a trophy belt buckle at the highest level. Jim Bret Campbell, AQHA manager of the horseback riding program, said, "The horseback riding program is a unique opportunity to earn rewards outside of traditional competition. In some cases the program rewards people who already spend many hours riding American quarter horses. For others, the horseback riding program is an incentive to get out and ride." Wheat scholarship program offered “Inland Umpire Rank was willing to take a chance on ns—two young fanners in their 20s anil a farm wife who was taking over the reins of a family farm operation . I f you want to do business with a truly people's hank,' there's no place better than Inland Empire." ‘ Ceri, Ken. Pnige, and Virginia Grich Wheat Farmers Bank Customers Since 1986 Established in 1948 INLAND EM PIRE BANK “Committed to People and Community ” Hermiston ♦ Umatilla ♦ Stanfield ♦ Boardman ♦ Pendleton Member FDIC The Oregon Wheat Foundation, Inc., has unveiled a scholarship program for graduating seniors whose families are members of the Oregon Wheat Growers League (OWGL). Students whose family members are employed by OWGL members are also eligible. One $500 award will be made to a qualifying student from each of the participating counties, which include Morrow, Baker, Gilliam, Klamath, Malheur, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa and Wasco. In addition, one award will be made in the north Willamette valley and one in the south Willamette valley. Application forms, which must be returned by March 15, are available through high school counselors' offices in the participating counties. They may also be obtained from OWGL county presidents or from the OWGL office, P.O. Box 400, Pendleton, OR 97801. Wednesday, February 18, 1998 - FIVE Obituaries Doris Hazel Stract Dons Hazel Stract, 72, for merly oflone, died Sunday, Feb ruary 15, 1998 in Portland. Graveside services were held Wednesday, February 18, 1998 at IOOF Cemetery in Estacada Mrs. Stract was bom on Sep tember 28,1925, in lone to Albert and Echo Palmateer. She received her education in lone, graduating from high school there in 1943. She attended nursing school in La Grande and worked at the tu berculosis hospital in The Dalles. She moved to Portland where she worked until her marriage to Leonard John on December 18, 1945, in San Francisco. While liv ing in California, she was em ployed by Aetna Insurance Com pany. She moved back to Oregon in 1969. She worked at Holliday Park Hospital for many years, re tiring in 1977. She enjoyed genealogy re search, needlework and ceramics. She was a m em ber of Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Portland. Survivors include her daugh ter Marilyn and son-in-law Terry Eakin of Grass Valley; daughter- in-law Ruth Stract of Sacramento, California; sister-in-law Rosetta Palmateer of Heppner; and four grandchildren, Jennifer and Michelle Stract of Sacramento and Tara and Trent Eakin of Grass Valley. Estacada Funeral Chapel was in charge of arrangements. Bennie Lee Middleton Tolar Bennie Lee Middleton Tolar, 90, Echo historian and long time resident, died Thursday, February 12, 1998, at Good Shepherd Community Hospital in Hermiston. The funeral was February 16, 1998, at the Echo Community Methodist Church with burial at the Echo Cemetery. The eldest of six children, Bennie Lee Middleton, was bom March 30, 1907, at Ballinger, Texas, to Benjamin Bond and Mattie Elizabeth Sommers Middleton. As the first bom, she was supposed to have been a boy so was named "Bennie," after her father. She told family members she and her younger siblings had "the happiest of childhoods," growing up in Texas. In 1924, she came to Echo with her family and completed her senior year of high school at Echo. She began playing the piano and organ at the Echo Community Methodist Church and continued as church musician for some 72 years. In January 1926, she married Empie Ray Tolar who had come to Eastern Oregon from Fayetteville, N.C. They met while working on the Meyer's ranch out of Echo where sh was cooking and he was "skinning cat." She loved her church and town almost as much as she loved her family. Her children say they could never get her to stay at their homes longer than a day or two because she always wanted to get back to Echo, back home. Coming over the hill north of town and looking on the community she would say, "This must be the most beautiful place in the world." Mrs. Tolar was Echo correspondent for the East Oregonian, Hermiston Herald and the Walla Walla Bulletin for many years. In addition to the weekly news items she reported, she became the unofficial historian of the town. She wrote numerous historical vignettes about Echo and in 1976, she published the series under the title "Echoes from the Past”. In 1977, Mrs. Tolar published "Days Gone By", a collection of stones about her childhood in Texas. She was a member of the National Pen Women, Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, the Echo Methodist Church and numerous other community organizations. Survivors include her children. Vara Louise Blahm of Hermiston, Mary Ruth Colbum o f The Dalles, Joseph Ray Tolar of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, Michael Gray Tolar of Boardman, and Robert Lynn Tolar of Portland; 13 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren; and brothers, Earl Middleton of Reedsport and Keith Middleton of Echo Her husband, Ray, died in 1969 Memorial contributions may be made to the Echo Community Methodist Church, directly or through Bums Mortuary of Hermiston, P.O. Box 289, Hermiston, OR 97838. Dorothy L Snyder Dorothy L. Snyder, 71, Imgon, died Thursday, February 12, 1998, at her home. A memorial gathering for Mrs. Snyder was held at her home on Feb. 15, 1998. Disposition was by cremation. Dorothy L. Hein was bom Dec. 29, 1926, at Napa, Calif., to Charles and Evelyn Hottel Hein. She graduated from high school in Mabton, Wash. Mrs. Snyder had been a resident of Imgon the past 39 years and was an active member of the Lions Auxiliary Club in Imgon. She enjoyed visiting her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Mrs. Snyder took pride in her home and enjoyed entertaining friends. Survivors include a son, Christopher of Junction City; daughters, Ricki Gross of Aurora, 111., Tamara Hamilton of Milton-Freewater, Kelli Snyder of Imgon and Judith Wood of Medford; a brother, Leigh Hein of Napa, Calif.; nine grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Tom E. Snyder, her parents, and a sister, Betty Kunkel. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary's Cancer Clinic in Walla Walla, through Bums Mortuary of Hermiston, P.O. Box 289, Hermiston, OR 97838. James Garnet Barratt James Garnet Barratt, formerly of Heppner, died Sunday, February 1 at Corvallis. A celebration of life service will be held at the Episcopal Church of the Good Samaritan in Corvallis at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 19. Memorial Contributions, for those who wish , may be made to the OSU Foundation/Jim Barratt Scholarship@, 517 Snell Hall, Corvallis, Oregon, or to the Episcopal Church of the Good Samaritan, 35th and Harrison, Corvallis, Oregon 97330. ODFW to discontinue John Day trout stocking Changes to the trout stocking program in the John Day River Basin are being proposed by the Oregon Dept, of Fish and Wild life (ODFW). Public comment is being sought on the proposal, which would eliminate stocking of hatchery rainbow trout in tribu taries of the John Day River in habited by wild trout and steel- head. These releases would be shifted to local lakes and ponds. Currently the only streams stocked with hatchery rainbow trout in the basin are the North Fork John Day River, Camas Creek and Canyon Creek. Under ODFW’s proposal, stocking in these streams would be discontin ued this year. Research has shown signifi cant increases in juvenile wild trout production in areas where hatchery trout were removed or stocking was eliminated, accord ing to an ODFW news release. Eliminating releases of hatchery trout will reduce competition for food and habitat with native ju venile salmon and steelhead, they said. “Anglers are more successful catching hatchery trout in lakes and ponds than they are fishing on area streams," said Mike Gray, ODFW fisheries biologist in John Day. “The low percentage caught by anglers does not justify the cost and the impact these fish cause to w ild fish populations.” The public is urged to com ment on the proposed changes. Comments or concerns should be received by Sunday, March 1 and can be sent to ODFW, P.O, Box 9, John Day, OR 97845, or e-mail to odfwjd@orednet.org. Copy Paper Ream • Carton Gazette-Times 676-9228