«
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.
We will be closeò
Cbanbsgivtng Day
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Get your Christmas Cash Cards punched here
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Lexington 989-8221 • 1-800-452-7396 for farm tqmpmtnt. mit our wtb site at www mcgg.ntt