Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 19, 1998)
• m.r r Queen M ad Childers shines over MC Fair and OTPR The combination of a nch family tradition in rodeo, a positive attitude, a radiant smile, beautiful brown curls and big brown eyes make this year's Morrow County Fair and Oregon Trail Pro Rodeo Queen Maci Childers positively shine. Maci, who graduated from Heppner High School this year, is the daughter of Bobbi and Harvey Childers of lone. Maci also has a 16-year-old brother who is a sophomore at lone High School. Maci’s grandparents are Marilyn Schiller, Vey Ranch, Big Buttercreek, and the late Bob Schiller, and Cleo and Marilyn Childers, lone. Her great-grandmother is Alma Parke, Pendleton. Maci was a fair and rodeo princess last year and a pennant bearer in 1996. Her family is well represented as past court royalty. Her mother's sister, Bonnie Grant, was a 1976 Morrow County Fair and Rodeo princess; her dad's sister, Laurie HEPPNER imes Queen Maci Childers Eyes: Brown Hair: Brown Age: 18 years old, Morrow County Fair and Oregon Trail Pro Rodeo Queen Maci Childers a 1998 graduate of HHS Parents: VOL. 117 NO. 33 10 Pages Wednesday, August 19,1998 Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon Harvey & Bobbi Childers Activities: OTPR to feature record number of contestants Brad Gleason This weekend's Oregon Trail Pro Rodeo features many PRC A World Champions and top-15 cowboys A record 342 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association contestants will be on hand for this weekend's performances of the Oregon Trail Pro Rodeo. Top cowboys will compete in bull riding, saddle bronc, bareback riding, calf roping, team roping and steer wrestling and cowgirls will be featured in the barrel racing. The PRC A rodeo kicks off at 7 p.m. Friday, August 21, with mutton bustin' and grand entry at 7:30 p.m.. Saturday's mutton bustin' begins at 12:45 p.m. with the performance at 1:15 p.m. . The Morrow County Jackpot Rodeo will be at 1:15 p.m. on Sunday, August 23. Morrow County cowboys, cowgirls and school alumni of all ages will compete in rodfco events, including the stick horse race for the youngest contestants. Among the world champions scheduled to compete at the OTPR is Dan Mortensen, Manhattan, MT, reigning World Champion All-Around Cowboy and four time World Champion Saddle Bronc Rider. Mortensen will have plenty of competition in saddle bronc riding as seven of the top 10 world leaders are also entered in the event. This list includes the Etbauer brothers, Robert, Billy and Dan, of Goodwell, OK, two of which are two-time former World Saddle Bronc Champions. Billy holds the world record for winning $190,257, the most money won in one year in one event. Red Lemmel. Mud Butte. SD, ranked fourth. Rod Hay, Wildwood, AL, fifth; Jess Martin, Dillon, MT, sixth; and Rod Warren, Water Valley, AL. eighth, are all entered in the event. Bareback contestants include former world champion Clint Corey of Kennewick, WA, who earned $111,161 in 1997. Former local cowboy Rocky Steagall, currently of Sanger. CA, and ranked third in the world standings, will be competing, along with other top- ranked cowboys. These cowboys will have an added incentive from The Bank ol Eastern Oregon who will donate an additional $250 to the cowboy who draws and rides the bounty horse at each performance. Top 10 standing bull riders Robert Bowers, Duchess AL, and Thad Bothwell. Rapid City. SD, lead the bull riding field. Continued page two Teachers, district still haven't agreed on contract •Although school for Morrow County students will start Monday, August 31. the Morrow County Education Association and the school district have not yet agreed on a teacher contract. Morrow County School District Superintendent Chuck Starr says that the district and the teachers do not agree on the amount of a pay increase for teachers and the language concerning the recently enacted Senate Bill 880. SB 880 eliminated teacher tenure and puts more emphasis on performance evaluations in determining whether teachers remain on contract. "The board has made a generous offer to the teachers to give them a raise in pay which is significantly above cost ot living," said Starr. He also said that the teachers' contract proposal included language which would, "in effect, eliminate SB 880.” "The board does not intend to do that." he said. "They (the teachers) also want more than the board wants to offer." "We recognise that they’re behind teachers of comparable district and the board has offered a contract which would help them gain some ground," Starr said. MCEA spokesperson Dave Fowler said that the board had asked to postpone negotiations until after the summer, but added, "I think the process is moving along." "We've met quite a few times over the spring and tentatively agreed on quite a few items," Fowler said. He said that some language issues were a matter of interpretation. "Hopefully we will come up with language that will meet both concerns," said Fowler. Fowler also said that the salaries of Morrow County teachers were "typically lower" than salaries of teachers in neighboring districts. "We feel we've taken very minimal increases due to financial constraints," he said. "We feel that some improvements have been made. We can't catch up immediately, but we hope to make some progress in that area. I don't think we're too far apart. It's just a matter of fine tuning." The board and the teachers plan to resume negotiations after the Sept. 14 board meeting. Basketball; volleyball; OSSOM; FFA; 4-H horse, sewing, cooking, swine; National Honor Society; HHS prom princess Barrow, was princess in 1978; and her aunt by marriage, Venna French Schiller, was princess in 1967 and queen in 1968. Venna is also Princess Lindsey Ward's aunt The Schiller family's involvement in rodeo dates back to early day rodeos held at the Vey Ranch. The ranch, which first ran sheep, then cattle, and then both sheep and cattle, was also the site of sheep dog trials. Maci has been involved in 4-H cooking, sewing. food preservation, swine and horses. At lone High School, which she attended her freshman, sophomore and junior years, Maci played volleyball, basketball and tennis, was junior class secretary, a member of Letter Club and a member of the National Honor Society. At Heppner High School her senior year, Maci played basketball, helped out the HHS volleyball team, was a member of OSSOM and the National Honor Society. She was selected as a prom princess at HHS and received the 1997-98 HHS citizenship award. She was a four year member of FFA. Maci has raised sheep and also helped out at the Vey Ranch. Maci, who has worked at Pioneer Memorial Hospital in Heppner, plans to attend Blue Mountain Community College and then transfer to Eastern Oregon University at LaGrande in hopes of becoming a nurse. Maci's 14-year old quarter horse. Baby, whose real name is Chuck's Fritz, is very special to her, since he belonged to her grandfather. Bob Schiller, who passed away three years ago. "Baby has done excellent this year," says Maci. "He has been really good at all the parades and rodeos and he loves the arena." Maci says that she has especially enjoyed her princesses this year. "Lindsey (Ward) and Bobbie (Rankin) make everything entertaining," she said. "They are up for anything. I couldn't ask for better princesses. The pennant bearers have also put in a lot of hard work and time this year." "We had a fun time in Imgon and we were really happy that we did so well in the parade," Queen Maci enjoyed playing Heppner Mustang varsity basketball said Queen Maci. "We've done well at all the parades this year." The Morrow County queen and court won the Irrigon Watermelon Festival parade sweepstakes trophy, received a trophy for the being top in their category and also a blue ribbon for the top court. Another highlight of her reign, says Maci, was meeting Miss Rodeo America at Pnneville. Maci, Lindsey and Bobbie signed autographs at the mall in Bend, along with Miss Rodeo Oregon, Miss Rodeo Washington and Miss Rodeo America. "Little kids are very receptive to them," said Maci's mom, Bobbi. "They're always coming up and wanting to visit with the girls." Maci is grateful for the support her parents and Bobbie and Lindsey's parents have given the girls this year. "The parents have been great," she says. "They are so supportive." Maci says the court enjoyed the Morrow County Open Horse Show and the 4-H Horse Show and is looking forward to this weekend's Morrow County Fair and Oregon Trail Rodeo and the Round-Up, "which is always fun." Multi-talented, Queen Maci had a hand in designing the official court outfits this year, which were made by June Jaeger of Pnneville, who had previously owned the Quiltworks in Pendleton. Maci REGULAR HOURS Starting August 17th 7-5 Monday-Friday 7-12 Saturday and her court look especially sharp in their official outfits. Maci's is made up of a red, silky, poly-blend shirt and white Ultrasuede vest and split skirt, accented with red fringe and yellow and red stars. Lindsey and Bobbie's official outfits are red. poly-blend shirts and black Ultrasuede vests and split skirts, also accented with red fringe and red and yellow stars. Their work outfits are silky, black poly-blend shirts and red Rocky jeans. A dress outfit, made by Maci's grandmother. Marilyn Schiller, consists of a an Ultrasuede skirt and vest. W a te rp a rk to extend season The Willow’ Creek Waterpark will extend its season through August 28, according to Willow Creek Park District Board Member Kim Cutsforth Armato. The pool was originally scheduled to close August 24. Season passes will be extended to Aug. 28. but the pool will close at 5 p m. August 24-28. There w ill be no evening hours those days. CLOSED Saturday, Aug. 22 for Fair and Rodeo M o r r o w C o u n t y G r a in G ro w ers Lexington 989-8221 • 1-800-452-7396 For farm equipment, visit our web site i t www.mcgg.ntt V.
