Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 18, 1998)
« North Bend city council fires Gary Marks From The World newspaper. Coos Bay, Nov.17,1998 By Andy Porter, Staff Writer HEPPNER imes VOL. 117_______NO 46_____ 8 Pages Wednesday, November 18,1998 Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon Beanie Babies raffle to benefit Heppner family Less than a month after he dismissed the town’s police chief. North Bend City Administrator Gary Marks was himself dismissed by the city council Monday. Follow ing a one hour. 40 minute executive session, the council voted 6-1 to terminate its contract with Marks. Marks did not stay through the end of the executive session, but left about 20 minutes before it ended. He was not present when the council voted to terminate his contract. He was not available for comment following Monday's meeting. The single nay vote from council member John Briggs was over severance benefits Marks will receive. Briggs said he thought Marks deserved less than set out in the terms of the agreement. Marks will continue to receive pay for six months or until he finds new employment, whichever is first. The council then voted unanimously to return former interim city administrator Jim Watson to the job until a replacement is hired. The council's action was the latest turn in a string of events that began when Marks abruptly dismissed former Chief Gil Zaccaro on Oct. 19. Zaccaro's dismissal resulted in a storm of controversy marked by raucous crowds packing two subsequent city council meetings, demanding the chiefs reinstatement. Angry residents then started a write-in campaign for the previously uncontested mayor's seat now held by Lee Golder and a recall movement against the three city council members who were not up for election Nov. 3. Watson said after Monday’s meeting that regarding Zaccaro's possible reinstatement. "I think everything is open." "The council has asked me to bring back any and all information either to reinstate or to let it stand," Watson said about Zaccaro's dismissal. In his comments to the council. Watson said he understood the situation, but that he would need time to decide how to proceed "and come up with a fair approach to this whole thing." In a statement he read to the council earlier Monday and later gave to reporters. Marks said that although he still felt his decision to terminate Zaccaro was right. "I also realize that the polarization that has occurred in this communitv must be brought to an end." "After a long discussion with Mayor Golder. we have mutually agreed to sever our employment relationship. This action is necessary to bring about the healing process." Marks said in his statement. In a lengthy statement preceding the vote to sever Marks' contract. Briggs charged that the events surrounding Zaccaro's firing left people confused. These issues alone give the appearance, if not downright suspicion of a cover-up and lead to speculation that the manager was hired with the expectation that if he took such action he would be protected by the council." Briggs said Briggs also said his personal conclusion was that the chief "was unreasonably discharged” although the firing was legal, but also noted that even if the council wanted to, it could not vote to reinstate Zaccaro. Council president Rick Wetherell said "What we've experienced during this past two weeks has been a human tragedy.” However, he also said, "I think we've made a great move in the right direction." In response to Briggs' earlier remarks. Wetherell also said he has never been part of any "conspiracy " regarding Zaccaro's dismissal. "Let me assure you I have never been urged to vote any particular way on any particular item. I've never had any pressure to do anything in that manner in how I cast my vote. I've never put pressure on anybody in this city or its start," Wetherell said. Both Larry Garboden and Dale Bishop said briefly that they only wanted to get the city back on track and that the healing process could now begin. In other comments, council member Clair Jones thanked Watson for once again accepting the interim administrator's job and reiterated that "we all feel like we need a little healing." Under the terms of Monday's vote, Marks will continue to be paid at his present salary for up to six months or until he takes another job. A second motion to only allow him relocation expenses and two months' pay was voted down 4-3, with Briggs and council members Garboden and Howard Graham casting the nay votes. Marks was hired by the council March 3 1 to replace former city administrator Leroy Blodgett. continued page 2 lone Cardinals No.l in state House damaged in fire Six Beanie Babies bears have been donated to the fund to help the Hendricks family of Heppner whose home, located on Water Street in Heppner. suffered extensive damage in a November 10 flue fire. The Beanie Babies will be rartled off Tuesday, Dec. 15, at 4 p.m. at the Bank of Eastern Oregon. The bears are on display at BEO until the raffle. Tickets, $1 each or six for $5, are available at the bank. There will be six different raffle winners. A bank account has also been established to help the family $1,200 in prizes in punch card contest Beanie Babies bears to be raffled Parade of lights offers prizes The second annual parade of lights will be held downtown Heppner on Thursday, Dec. 3. Cash prizes of $200. $150 and $100 will be offered to best decorated vehicles and floats. To enter the contest pick up your rules entry form at Murray Drugs, The Heppner Gazette- Times or Van Matter & Kahl Insurance. Pre-registration is recommended but not required. Because of insurance issues no entrants under the age of 16 will be allowed, however, children are allowed to ride on adult floats. No go carts will be allowed in the parade this year. The parade will start at 6 p.m. and entrants are asked to line up at Green Feed. A $5 entry fee will be charged. Businesses sponsoring the prizes for this year's parade of lights include: MCGG, CBEC, Murray Drugs, Klamath First Federal. Bank of Eastern Oregon and Peterson's Jewelers. Other activities on Thursday. Dec. 3, include: Open House An open house at downtown businesses will be held from 2-7 p.m. Pictures with Santa There will be pictures with Santa from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the St. Patrick's Senior Center. Chili & Baked Potato Feed The feed is sponsored by the Heppner Senior Class and will be held at the St. Patrick's Senior Center from 4-7 p.m. Hot cocoa will also be served from 5-7 p.m. Live Nativity A Live Nativity scene by the Lutheran Church will be on display next to the Shoe Box between 5-6 p.m. Music Heppner band students will be playing music at Les Schwab beginning at 5 p.m. Heppner vocal students at the Downtown Christmas tree beginning at 5:30 p.m. Parade of Lights Heppner's Holiday Parade of Lights begins at 6 p.m. Downtown lighting Light up Heppner as the downtown lights will be lit at 6:30 p.m. Once again its time for the Christmas punch contest, so don't forget to ask for your punch cards at participating businesses and you could be a winner. Twelve businesses are offering the cards this year, and there will be a total of $1,200 in gift certificates given away. The rules are simple and the same as last year: Pick up your punch card at any participating business. Keep it with you and. for any $5 worth of purchases at any participating business, get your card punched. Deposit filled cards at any participating business and you will be eligible for one of four $25 gift certificates to be given away each week through Christmas. All cards will also be automatically entered into the Grand Prize drawing for $600 in gift certificates to be given away on December 28. Pick up your punch cards at these participating businesses: Gardner's Men's Wear. Coast to Coast, Les Schwab Tires, Peterson's Jewelers. Lott's Electric. Shoe Box, Central Red Apple Market. Pettyjohn's Farm and Builders Supply, MCGG. Court Street Market. Murray Drugs/ Country Rose and Corbin's Bowl. Back row - L to R - Assistant Coach Cathy McCabe, Katie Tworek, Erin Crowell, Niki Sullivan, Nikki McElligott, Camie Burright, Brandi Brantley, Coach Charity McElligott. Middle row- L to R - Manager Jessica Krebs, Amellia Peck, Salli McElligott, Shelby Krebs. Molly Barrow, statistician Allison Halvorsen. Front row L to R - Charissa Gates, Jeanette Brantley ________ The lone High School Cardinal volleyball team went to the state IA championships held at Lane Community College at Eugene Nov. 12-14 and took home the first place trophy. The Cardinals beat North Clackamas Christian Friday , 1 I- 15, 15-12 and 15-9. They defeated Jordan Valley Saturday, 11-15, 15-5 and 15- 11. Saturday evening they captured the title by defeating Alsea. 15-6. 8-15. 15-8. Three Cardinal players were named to the tournament all star team Nikki McElligott and Camie Burright were named to the first team and Niki Sullivan to the second team. Photo by Joyce Hughes 9 Nikki McElligott makes the play during state tournament game. Left (22) is Charissa Gates and right is Brand' Brantley. 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