Letters to the Editor
Editor's note Letters to the Editor must be signed The Gazette-Times w ill not
publish unsigned letters. Please include your address and phone number on all
letters for use by the G-T office. The G-T reserves the right to edit.
States Forest Service position on camp
To the Editor:
In recent days the Heppner
community has been well
occupied with debate and
discussion regarding the proposal
to site an Oregon Youth
Accountability facility here. I
felt I should write to clarify my
position
as
the
agency
administrator for our local Forest
Service office and to provide
information that will address at
least one concern that has been
brought forward.
To begin, as the administrator
for the Forest Service here, my
role includes being responsive to
the inquiries of our elected
community leaders, such as the
mayor and county court. When
the proposal for the OYA facility
was first brought to my attention
by community leaders, I ex
pressed my feeling that it was
inappropriate for me to express
an opinion one way or another on
something that should be
determined by local citizens and
has no direct tie to us at the
Forest Service as a federal entity.
Our community leaders did ask
if I would provide information as
to my hiring experiences and the
possibility of work experiences
for the "cadets", and this is what
I have done.
Some have extrapolated from
my statement that we may be
able to provide some work
experience, to the conclusion that
this may take employment
opportunities from our local
"good kids".
Let me say that "work
experience" and "employment"
are not the same. Every summer
we hire 30 to 50 temporary
employees
to
assist
the
permanent workforce. These are
not unskilled labor jobs. All of
these employees must be over 18
years old. The age requirement
is there as most of these jobs
require the ability to travel
independently, sometimes use
chain saws, and to be available
for off-site fire fighting duties.
These employees need to be
available for the entire field
season, be extensively trained,
able to travel on short notice,
keep records, use data, and be
disciplined and independently
responsible. Obviously, 14 to 18
year olds that are in a juvenile
correction facility cannot meet
these job requirements.
We continue to be committed to
our YCC program which
provides
an
eight-week
educational/work
experience
opportunity for four younger stu
dents each year. We consider
this an educational program and,
although the students accomplish
much good work, we don't rely
on
it
for
"target"
accomplishment.
The work experience that I
envisioned might be possible for
the OYA cadets would be
sporadic and work that would
otherwise not get done at all.
When you manage over 200,000
acres, there are always weeds to
pull and trucks to wash.
In conclusion, let me reiterate
that as an agency we have no
position on the OYA facility.
Our employees have their
individual opinions, as does
everyone else. I hope the factual
information provided here is
useful to the community in its
deliberations.
(s) Delanne Ferguson
District Ranger
Heppner
Van Arsdale just the man for the job
To the Editor:
I’ve known Guy Van Arsdale
for 2 # years. I haven’t always
agreed with him, but the one thing
that is-certain is that I never have
to $jess what he is thinking or
what he means. He says what he
thinks and he means what he says.
If he disagrees with you, he will
tell you so straight out. He will
listen to you and consider things
from your point of view, but if he
still disagrees, you never have to
worry about him telling you one
thing and then doing something
else.
I ’m not much of a letter writer,
but I’ve been around long enough
to know an honest man when I
find one. We’d all be better off if
we had a lot more people like Guy
in government and I’m going to
cast my vote to put him there.
(s) Mane Key
lone
All will benefit from Lewis' election
To the Editor:
I am writing in support o f
Keith Lewis for Morrow County
Judge. As a resident of Eastern
Oregon, having lived all my life
in either Umatilla or Morrow
county, and as an operator of a
family farming business with lo
cations in Umatilla, Morrow and
Gilliam counties, I believe we
need the sort of honest partner
ship between the public and our
local government that I know
Keith can provide.
Keith has six years experience
as a State Lottery Commissioner
where he was a member of the
budget and audit committee. He
has had a 27 year career with the
Oregon State Police in Eastern
Vote For
Oregon, retiring as the lieutenant
in charge of investigations in the
Baker district. He has built a suc
cessful real estate business. These
are all unique qualifications
which highlight his abilities in
budget and finance, public admin
istration and leadership.
As our rural way of life is be
ing challenged more and more by
urban interests, we need a person
in Eastern Oregon with a proven
“can do” track record. Keith is the
man for the job.
We will all b enefit from
K eith ’s election as M orrow
County Judge.
(s) Bob Hale, Jr.
Hermiston
To the Editor:
May 19 is almost here. Many
have voted absentee, but the polls
will be open, so please vote.
And please, Republicans, mark
your ballot for Tan Hermens
House
of
Representatives,
District #59.
Chances are that the winner of
this primary race will be the
winner in November, so this is
your opportunity to have a
representative at the state
legislature who will work for the
needs of this district.
Tan knows this district, from
the water issues on the John Day
River, to the frontage issues on
the Snake River, from the
difficulty of keeping our small
schools and communities viable,
to the constraints of public
transportation to move our goods
and services, from the lack of
economic diversity to the need to
To the Editor:
I want to take this opportunity
to urge the voters of Morrow
County to cast their vote for
Keith Lewis in the race for
county judge.
I have known Keith for 20 years
and have found him to be honest,
sincere, and trustworthy. He
cares very much for Morrow
County and its citizens. He has
the background in dealing with
youth, government budgets, as
well as overseeing a large
number of employees. He is to
be admired for coming forward
with his views of the Youth
To the Editor:
I would like to voice my
support for Patty Wehrli in her
bid
for
Morrow
County
Commissioner. She is, in my
opinion, a remarkably articulate
and astute young woman who
can bring to the county court a
political sophistication that will
give Morrow County an edge in
Woods responsible,
formidable
To the Editor:
I listened, first with disbelief,
then disgust, then amusement at
the yowling accusation that Earl
Woods is not aggressive enough
in the prosecutor's office. Was it
really so long ago that we were
all laughing and cheering when
Earl chased down an escapee
who bolted out of the courtroom,
caught up with him at the creek
and nailed the guy?
In the courtroom Earl’s
performance is a bit more
civilized but no less forceful. He
has served as D.A. for six years
and I can state without
qualification that he is a
formidable trial attorney. He
also has the good sense to know
the
difference
between
responsible prosecution and a
social crusade, a distinction his
opponent doesn't seem to grasp.
Sound judgment,
reasoned
discretion and a solid command
of professional skills balance in
this man what is otherwise the
heart and soul of a badger.
Anybody who disputes this is
trying to sell you snake oil.
I will be voting for Earl on
May 19 and encourage you to do
the same.
(s) Valerie B. Doherty
Lexington
ingness to put forth an extra ef
fort in whatever he does. Rod
Osgood has his priorities in the
proper perspective and he’s con
cerned about the welfare of Mor
row County and all of us that live
here.
Let’s take this opportunity to
replace our current “stale” justice
system with a “common sense”
form of justice Let’s all vote for
Rod Osgood for Justice of the
Peace on May 19 and enjoy this
“breath of fresh air” in Morrow
County.
(s) Paul R. Lienig
Imgon
Get out the vote
For a man of note.
Guy has the skill / To fill the bill,
Paid for by
And give the county some hope Jim A Cork
Norene
Accountability Camp. It sho
me that he will always be n.
touch with the wants and needs
of the people of Morrow County
and will ask them before he
allows large sums of taxpayer
monies to be allocated to any
project.
Keith is a hard worker and has
all of the qualifications that we
need for our judge. I urge you to
go to the polls on May 19 and
cast your vote for the best person
for the job, Keith Lewis.
(s) Judy Buschke
Heppner
the legislative halls at Salem. In
these times when our lives and
livelihoods are threatened by
long-distance,
higher-level
decisions, our need for that kind
of advantage has never been
greater.
Patty is a person who couples a
young, fresh outlook with old,
traditional values and who got
herself to college on a basketball
scholarship.
If this doesn't
personify Morrow County, I
don't know what dbes.
(s) Valerie B Doherty’
Lexington"I
CITIZENS OF HEPPNER
BEWARE!
Another teenager will be on the
roads as of May 17, 1998!
HAPPY 16 th
Stephanie Ann Clough!
Love you, Mom & Lindsey
$ io o
for in fo rm a tio n le a d in g to th e
a r r e st and c o n v ic tio n o f
a n y o n e v a n d a liz in g th e D ay
P a rk at th e W illow C reek D am .
Call th e M orrow C ou n ty
S h e r iff’s O ffice at 6 7 6 -5 3 1 7 .
The identity of the person giving
information will be kept confidential. - v
Gee, I'm sorry, Lynn!
Dear Lynn,
I guess I owe you an apology. I didn't realize, until you called me a
"horse-fly" in the local papers, what a negative person I am. But there I am
in the Bend Bulletin, the Baker City Herald, the Central Oregonian, yadda,
yadda, yadda ... the Tan Hermens "phony negative campaign" has
accepted help from sinister outsiders ... worse yet, from Portlanders!
I deeply regret asking Don Mclntire to help me with my campaign. I didn't
understand that employing someone who’s worked most of his adult life to
fight the growth of government and reduce our taxes would pose such a
danger to us. I just figured it was okay to hire Don because I heard you
had hired a Portland public relations firm for your campaign.
I didn't know that taking financial support from "motel mogul" Mark
Hemstreet would make me his puppet. I'm really sorry! I didn't think it would
be a problem because he has given hundreds of thousands of dollars to
other Republican candidates, and you have asked for and taken money
from him for your own campaigns.
You and the newspapers warned us that these two fellows were out to
control the district. I'm not too sure how that would work. Does that mean
if Don and Mark were in control, we'd all be forced to pay lower taxes?
Now, that's really scary!
Youth Involvement:
* Little League Coach
* High School Basketball Coach
* Junior & Senior High Youth Group Leader
* Past President Heppner Little League
I hope you accept this apology in the spirit with
which it was intended.
Education:
*
Associate Degree in Accounting
Q o m o w m <**..*.*— «
business decisions A be good stewards o f not
only our county tax dollars, but also the state A
federal money we also receive
I have the background in youth work to under
stand what ou r young people are facing in
today's world It is im portant that we elect some
one who has that kind o f active youth back
ground in order to handle the duties o f county
judge.
To the Editor:
Finally, after 10 years as a resi
dent of Morrow County, we have
an opportunity to see common
sense applied to our justice sys
tem. What a breath of fresh air.
You c a n ’t teach common
sense. Some have it, some don’t,
and some have more than others.
Rod Osgood is gifted with more
than most.
I met and had dealings with
Rod and his wife Wendy, shortly
after they moved to the Irrigon
area. I’ve had the utmost respect
for his integrity, honesty and will
I'm confused, Lynn, but I want to learn. If I shouldn't take money from
outside the district, how come you get to cash checks from New Jersey,
Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.? And, if I take contributions from
certain people, it means they want control. So could you explain what it
means when you take contributions from the teachers
union, the AFL-CIO, trial lawyers, commercial
banks and tobacco companies? I know from
your campaign material what a straight-shooter
you are, so I have no doubt that you'll enlighten
us before May 19.
* 20 years as a professional banker
* Analyzed & prepared hundreds of financial
statements & budgets
* Worked with all levels of county, state & federal
governments, such as SBA, Port of Morrow,
Oregon Dept, of Economic Development
Since Morrow County has a $14 m illion bud -
Osgood has common sense
W ehrli astute, articulate
Work Experience:
ROLLIE MARSHALL
strengthen
value
added
agriculture, and much, much
more.
Recently, Tan was late to a
meeting because she was in the
bam with a mare who had foaled.
She drove an extra five hours to
spend time with her daughter for
the campus Mother’s Day
celebration. Tan, with husband
Stan, work to keep their ranch
successful for their son and
daughter. They work to keep
business opportunities for young
people here, where our kids can
come home and make their
future.
Tan Hermens listens to the
people in her district. She speaks
when she has facts and she is
always learning. I know Tan
Hermens will represent me, I
hope you will vote to let her
represent you on May 19.
(s) Stan McGough
Spray
Lewis best person
ROLLIE MARSHALL
for Morrow County Judge
Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, May 13,1998 - THREE
Hermens listens
* Heppner Coordinating Council
* Heppner Christian Church
* Morrow County Home Rule Committee
* Heppner Chamber of Commerce
* Heppner Advisory Board, Morrow Co. School Board
* City of Heppner Budget Committee
P a * t/ò rb y k o llit H tn km ll P O Box 72*. Hi
-, O k *712*
Sincerely,
P ari tor by M *m srv tor • » H oum • MC82 Bo* 208 K rrio H y 0 « 97848