Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 28, 1998)
Voters go to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 3 BFSSIE U N E VQL, 117_______ NO. 43 14 Pages o r o •4 c. WE T 2 E L L n e c. vi O K ì / ì _ 3 Wednesday, October 28,1998 Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon Comedian to speak at MCGG annual meeting the purchase of a minivan," jokes Upton. Upton's corporate clients include BP Oil, Alaska Pipeline Corporation, Microsoft, Exxon Nuclear, Safeway, the Port of Seattle, San Jose Secretaries Association, the Seattle Supersonics, KJR Radio, the city of Kennewick, the Propane Gas Association of Alberta, Hertz, Washoe Medical Center, GTE Northwest and Ackerly Communications. Gary Marks in the news Brad Upton Brad Upton, a comedian originally from the Tri-Cities will be the guest speaker at the Morrow County Grain Growers annual meeting planned for Monday, November 2, at the Morrow County Fairgrounds in Heppner. Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. by the Willows Grange from lone. In addition to dinner and the speaker, the evening will also include officer's reports and the election of directors. Babysitting will be provided in the fairgrounds annex building. Since he first stepped on stage in Seattle in 1984, comedian Brad Upton has had over 2,700 performances without ever missing a show; "a streak that would make Cal Ripken envious." At one time, while headlining comedy clubs across the nation, Upton traveled as much as 35 weeks a year and was logging up to 70,000 miles a year in the air. "It is no wonder that he has turned into Seattle's strongest headliner," said a spokesperson This former fourth grade teacher has appeared on A&E's "An Evening at the Improv" and "Comedy On The Road," MTV’s "Half Hour Comedy Hour," Showtime's "Comedy Club Network," and Comedy Central. He has also opened for such recording stars as Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton and is also popular among corporate clients. An accomplished writer, he has sold stones to clients such as Sports Illustrated. He has also acted professionally and was seen recently in the movie, "Prefontaine." After Upton and his wife, Julie, produced a beautiful young son in April of 1994 he cut back on the road work to spend more time with the family .... which resulted in the birth of a beautiful daughter in December o f 1996....... "which led to a vasectomy in June of 1997 and Former Heppner ciiy manager Gary Marks found himself the topic of a news story in The Oregonian on October 22. According to the story, Marks, who resigned from the Heppner city manager's position to take over as North Bend city administrator in May, fired longtime North Bend Police Chief Gilbert Zaccaro. The Oregonian said that Marks gave the chief two hours to vacate the office. Zaccaro, a 25-year police veteran, had been North bend Police Chief for more than 11 years. The story said that Marks cited a "difference in management styles and philosophies that were really unresolvabte." It also said that Marks spoke with the North Bend City Council before firing Zaccaro, but Zaccaro had no idea of Marks' intent to fire him. Health District sends survey The Morrow County Health District has sent out a community survey polling county residents on the quality of care provided by Pioneer Memorial Hospital, PM Nursing Home, medical and dental clinics, emergency services and home health. The questionnaire, prompted by the MCHD’s financial difficulties, is a part of the district's evaluation process. MCHD and Western Health Services (Adventist Health), which had provided administrative services for MCHD for the past seven years, have agreed to terminate their contract and Susan Brock, a Western Health Services employee, is no longer MCHD CEO. Brock advised closure of Pioneer Memorial Hospital. Sheila Dahlmar. has taken over as interim administrator and Michael Bell Co. out of Wallowa has been hired as a financial consultant. A regular MCHD board meeting has been scheduled for Monday, Nov. 2, at 7 p.m. at the Morrow County School District Office in Lexington. Agenda items include a financial report, a CEO report, sale of the dental facilities in Heppner and Boardman, a preliminary status report by Bell, a tax anticipation note, HPSA (Health Provider Shortage Area) designation and an executive session. Guess the Ghoul Contest Who is this? If you know where this creature, and the rest of the Ghouls in this week's paper work, you could be the winner of a $25 gift certificate. Try your luck at the "Guess the Ghoul" contest and you could be a lucky winner. See inside for details and an entry blank. Methodist Morrow County voters will go to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 3, to decide the outcome of city, county, district and state candidates and measures. Polls will be open on November 3 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Polling places are as follows: Heppner and Hardman-Morrow County Fairgrounds; Lexington- Mormon Church; lone-lone City Hall; Boardman-Greenfield Grange; Imgon-Stokes Landing Senior Center. All polling places are handicap accessible. Candidates and measures are as follows; City of Heppner: mayor-Bob Jepsen, unopposed; council position no. 4-Tim Van Cleave, unopposed; council position no. 4-no candidate filed; council position no. 6-Ronald H. "Skip" Matthews, unopposed. City of lone: three council positions-Mark Bruno, Dennis Thompson, Dennis Stefani, unopposed. Town of Lexington: mayor- Bill Sheirbon, unopposed; two council positions, four-year- term-Pat Baker, Marcia Kemp, unopposed; council position, two year term-no candidate filed; City of Boardman: three council positions-William C. Brown, Kathryn M. Cash, Thomas D. Meyers, unopposed. City of Irrigon: three council positions, eight candidates- William H. Cooley, Ivan W. Dike, Jr., Raymond W. Morin, Jim McCombs, Keith L. Kitcher, Larry Ford, R.C. "Bob" Flournoy, Linda L. Fox. Oregon Trail Library District: proposes to levy seven cents per thousand assessed value for five years to establish bookmobile services in Boardman, Heppner and surrounding communities. It is estimated that the proposed rate would raise $48,111 in 1999-2000, $49,554 in 2000-2001, $51,040 in 2001- 2002, and $52,571 in 2002- 2003. An $88,036 federal grant was awarded the district as start up funds contingent upon passage of a five-year levy. Funds will be used for collection development, programming, equipment, operation and maintenance of the unit and for staff. The Neighborhood Reader Wagon, approximately 35 feet long, will be able to handle a collection of over 4,000 items. Those outside the district may participate by supporting a $25 a year out-of district fee or by petitioning to join the district. Someone with a $50,000 home will pay $3.50 a year; someone with a $100,000 home will pay $7 a year; $500,000 business-$35 a year; $1,000,000 farm-$70 a year. Morrow County Unified Recreation District: advisory vote as to whether the district should continue to levy taxes to fund community recreation programs, including school extracurricular activities such as football, volleyball, basketball, wrestling and track. The tax levy has become permanent, but the board of directors wants to know if the district continues to support the program. Morrow County Judge: John Mollahan, Democrat; Terry K. Tallman, Republican. Morrow County Commissioner Position No. 1: Dan Brosnan, Republican; LeAnn Rea, Democrat. Morrow County Soil and Water Conservation District: Director Zone 1-Joe Taylor, unopposed; Director Zone 4- Chris Rauch, unopposed; Director Zone 5-Judy Barber, unopposed. Blue Mountain Community College District: general obligation bonds not exceeding $15,755,000. The levy will Where do I work? be issued a copy of their original birth certificate upon request. A no vote retains confidentiality of onginal Oregon birth certificate of adoptees unless a court orders disclosure. The measure is estimated to have no effect on state or local government expenditures or revenues. State Ballot Measure No. 59: prohibits using public resources to collect or help collect political funds, includes public employee time, public property or equipment and supplies. It would result in elimination o f candidates' statements and measure arguments in the state voters' pamphlet. The measure would reduce state expenditures for voters' pamphlet publication by $ 1,800,000 in the year 2000 and subsequent even-numbered years. State revenues from filing fees are estimated to decrease by $400,00 in the year 2000 and even-numbered years. It will have no effect on local government expenses or revenues. State Ballot Measure No. 60: requires vote by mail in biennial primary, general elections. County government expenditures are estimated to be reduced each primary and general election year by $3,021,709. State Ballot Measure No. 61: changes minimum sentences for certain crimes. It would provide one to three year increase in sentences for "major crimes", aggravated murder or murder if the person has one to three prior convictions for a major crime within the past 10 years; prior juvenile court adjudications involving major crimes apply to increase sentence. Treats prior conviction for DUII as a major crime if the current conviction is for criminally negligent homicide using a vehicle. Prohibits temporary leave or other reduction in additional prison time imposed under the measure. The measure is estimated to require 4,300 new prison beds by 2006 with direct state expenditures for prison construction and start up of $470 million by 2006. Direct state expenditures for prison operating costs and debt service are estimated at $21 million in 1999-2000 and $40 million in 2000-2001, growing to $125 million in 2005-2006. Community corrections payments from the state to counties for probation and post -prison supervision are estimated to be reduced by $800,00 in 1999-2000, $1.9 million in 2000-2001 and $1.4 million in 2005-2006. State expenditures for court operations are estimated at $100,00 in 1998-1999 and $175,000 in each of the next two years. State expenses for indigent defense are estimated at $350,000 in 1998-99 and $900,000 in each of the next two years. State Ballot Measure 62: amends the constitution to require campaign finance disclosures, regulates signature gathering and guarantees contribution methods. The measure calls for prompter disclosure of contributions of $500 or more; more frequent disclosure of contnbutions/expenditures for referendum/imtiative petitions; requires disclosure of entity authorizing/paying for political advertising. Legislature may regulate or prohibit paying signature gatherers if it finds that the practice has caused fraud or other abuses. It prohibits payments for signing or not signing petitions It is estimated to increase state expenditures by $248,000 continued page 9 Parts and Labor bazaar slated Heppner United Methodist Women will hold their annual holiday bazaar on Saturday, Nov. 7 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the church. The bazaar will feature crafts, homemade articles and food. fund capital improvements including construction of science and technology labs and classrooms; improvements on facilities in Hcrmiston, Milton- Freewater and Morrow County; upgrading and renovating existing facilities and upgrading technology systems to provide courses and services for students at a distance. State Ballot Measure No. 54: amends constitution to permit the state to guarantee general obligation bonded indebtedness of school districts, education service districts and community college districts up to one half of one percent of true cash value of taxable property in the state. The state may issue bonds and borrow from the Common School Fund to satisfy the obligation. The measure will reduce interest and issuance costs on indebtedness by participating school districts, ESDs and community colleges by an estimated $70 million over the next 20 years. There is no financial effect on state government revenues or expenses. State Ballot Measure No. 55: amends constitution to authorize state to guarantee earnings under tuition trust fund program. It allows payment of undergraduate tuition before enrollment at lower than highest prevailing rate at time of enrollment and establishes a trust fund. State can exceed the constitutional debt limit to authorize indebtedness at one half of one percent of true cash value of all property in the state to guarantee minimum benefits on contributions to prepaid tuition trust fund. State may issue bonds and may borrow from the Common School Fund. This measure will require an estimated $1,200,00 in start up costs in state funds over the first four years of operation. State Ballot Measure No. 56: requires governments to mail notice to landowners regarding changes in land use laws. The state government is currently not required to mail notice to landowners. It also requires the state government to reimburse counties and cities for the costs of mailing notices resulting from changes in state statutes or administrative rules; requires metropolitan service districts to do likewise for changes in district land use regulations. State expenditures are estimated to be $2,040,000 annually; metropolitan service district costs, $1,547,000 a year State Ballot Measure No. 57: recriminalizes possession of less than one ounce of marijuana, making possession of less than one ounce of marijuana a Class C misdemeanor. Possession of less than one ounce is now a violation. Possession will be punishable by up to 30 days imprisonment plus $500 to $1,000 fine. Under current law, there is no prison sentence, but a $500 to $1,000 fine. Proposed change would also make failure to complete a diversion agreement grounds for a six-month suspension of driving privileges. State expenditures are estimated at $586,000 for law enforcement, indigent defense, court operation and jury payments, plus a $50,000 cost for DMV computer programming. State fine revenues are estimated to be reduced by $638,000 annually. County expenditures are estimated at $229,000 annually for jail beds. Estimates are for 6,000 arrests with 50 percent of those resulting in an average of one day of county jail time. State Ballot Measure No. 58: requires that adult adoptees 10% OFF starting Nov. 2 Good thru Feb. 28 (all work done in our shop) M orrow C ounty G rain G rowers Lexington 9 8 9 -8 2 2 1 • 1 -8 0 0 -4 5 2 -7 3 9 6 For farm equipment, visit our web site at www.mqf.net
