Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (April 21, 1999)
City of Heppner proposes water rate increase B E S S I E ' AFT? U OF ORE \ v S P A r f R L i r EVIENE o h 9 7 4 The city of Heppner is proposing to increase water rates to provide for the cost of operating and maintaining the water system. Presently, there are not sufficient funds to adequately maintain and upgrade the old deteriorating system, according to Heppner City manager Jerry Breazeale. The city proposes to raise the charge for usage in excess of 1.000 gallons. The base rate of $11.75 would remain. Currently the city charges 50 cents per 1.000 gallons for the first 2,000 gallons over the first 1,000. The next 5,000 gallons is charged at.25 cents per 1,000 gallons. Any usage above 5,000 gallons is charged at 40 cents per 1,000 gallons. As proposed, water usage above the minimum 1,000 gallons would be billed at a rate of 80 cents per thousand gallons. For a customer with a summer usage o f21,000 gallons, the bill would increase by $8.55. According to Breazeale, the rate increase is needed to cover the costs of operating and repainng the water system. The water system is currently operating at capacity during the summer months and improvements to the system are needed. Raising the rates for excess usage should help to promote water conservation which will help delay the need to increase supply, Breazeale said. The additional funds received will be used to upgrade the quality of the current system. The city has not raised water rates since 1994, despite increased costs due to inflation, he said. A survey of water rates in the area indicates that the average rate for water usage in excess of the base 1,000 gallons, is 82 cents per 1,000 gallons. The city council will consider the rate increase at their May 10 1999 council meeting to be held at 7 p.m. at city hall at 188 NW Willow. Bike-a-thon to raise funds for St. Jude VOL. 118 NO. 16 8 Pages Wednesday, April 21,1999______Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon Wright Chevrolet celebrates 40 years in business This year, on March 25, 1999, Wright ChevTolet celebrated 40 years as a Chevrolet-Oldsmobile dealer in Fossil. Following is a story by owner Herb Charles Wright about his life at Fossil, Kinzua and Heppner and the early days of the Wright Chevrolet dealership.. Bom on a ranch within five miles of Fossil, August 28, 1918, I lived on ranches within six miles of Fossil until 1934, when I got a job in a family-owned saw mill six miles from our ranch. In fact, as kids, our family each year after harvest would go camping for a week at a Boy Scout camp on the exact site where Kinzua Pine Mills lumber mill would be built. The creek was full of fish and beautiful big pine trees everywhere-and these were big trees. Back (left to right): H.C. Wright, Bill Maclnnes, Bill Maclnnes, Jr.; After working three weeks for Front: Pat Maclnnes. the sawmill, they told me I was too young and I had to go home beer in Kinzua. The mill owners Oldsmobile cars and pickups. At and grow older for a year and also built a railroad spur to that time there were two other then come back. This was Condon to haul the finished new car dealers in town plus five because of the new U.S. child product to market. They also service stations-all in Fossil. labor laws. So, I went home for a built 40-50 miles of logging road Misener Motors was owned by a year and then went back and got in the forest to haul the logs into family of five men. At that time my job back at the same sawmill. the sawmill where the logs were the dealership was at least 25 In fact it was the only place in cut into lumber of all sizes. They years old. I can remember the the area where there were any dried the lumber in big steam first new pickup sold-a four- jobs to get. I was then 16 or 17 'driers and in the factory cut the speed with rear bumper, heat, years old. 1 think the job paid 32 dried lumber into all shapes and well equipped, for about $1,100. or 33 cents per hour and you sizes. Also in 1959, there were 12 worked hard and no breaks, After operating the service new car dealers within a radius either. station for two or three years, I of 60 miles around the Fossil I lived in a company-owned talked the owners into selling me area. Now Wright Chevrolet, bunk house. Lots of times after the service station inventory, "The Wright Place to Buy", is the working on the night shift about which they did. The company only one left. In 1958, I sold 1 a.m., I would walk home about office let me send all the charges nearly as many new Fords and two miles, part of the walk of the mill workers at the station the Chevrolet dealer sold in through the woods. for collection at no charge to me. Fossil, so I got the idea of buying After working in the sawmill This really made it nice. I can the Fossil dealership from the factory part of the sawmill until remember one time I sold a Misener family. General Motors 1941,1 had a chance to move to worker a full set of four tires had to be convinced I could Heppner 60 miles from Fossil installed on his car. I sent the operate the dealership because I where I rented a brand new charges through the Kinzua had no previous training in this Richfield service station. I was office for collection. After a few type of business. I did not have newly married and self days, the office called me and enough education (eight years), employed. It was scary. I ran the told me the man was quitting in a not enough car dealer Heppner station for just over one few days and did not have background and hardly enough year. When the Japanese bombed enough money coming to pay for money to assure I could meet all Pearl Harbor, I could not get tires the tires. I got in my car, drove to the wages and bills to continue to and gas because of the shortages. where the fellow worked, found exist. So, in April of 1942, the sawmill his car with the keys in it One young man went to work owners of Kinzua Pine Mills, (nobody took the keys out of for me in March 1959, within a called to know if I wanted to their cars in those days), drove week after I went into business, come back to Kinzua and run the his car to my station and put his and retired two years ago. service station for them. Kinzua old tires back on and took the car Another young man got out of owned many thousands of acres back, he never said a word to me. the U.S. Army and, in 1962, of prime forest land with big Nor did I see him again. came to me for a job. He wanted beautiful trees everywhere. While running the Kinzua to learn how to be a mechanic, so It was a company owned town- station, starting in 1954,1 began I hired him and my lead the houses, general store, post buying new Ford cars and mechanic taught him all about office, a church and the big pickups wholesale from Clarence (it), which, in the 1960s, was recreation hall, which included a Rosewall, the Ford dealer in pretty simple. He has grown up dance hall, restaurant, skating Heppner. I would drive to with all the new electronic phase rink and movie theatre, which I Heppner early in the morning or of cars as well as the new ran for about three or four years. late in the evening and pick up computer era pertaining to the I ran the old projectors. The hall the new Fords. I had to pay Mr. repair of the new and complex also had a busy saloon-bar, Rosewall when I picked up a new automobile. He tells me he plans recreation room and a barber car or pickup. I ran the Kinzua to retire in three years or so. His shop plus the only service station station, working 12 to 14 hours a knowledge will be really missed in town plus an eight-year school day, six days a week, until March Also about 1962, a young man house. The town had a population 25, 1959, when I purchased moved into the Condon Air Base. of 500-600 people. Misener Motors in Fossil. They There was a lot of home-brewed sold new Chevrolet and continued on page 2 The annual St. Jude Bike-a- Thon is scheduled for this Sunday, Apnl 25, with registration to begin at noon near the lone Fire Hall. Two courses are available. A one-mile circuit route within the city limits of lone is designed for younger riders or those wishing to walk or rollerblade. The 22-mile scenic trip between Ruggs and lone is set up for older bikers who are up to a more challenging ride. Participants may register at either site. Transportation to Ruggs will be available for bikes and riders and will leave lone at approximately 12:30 p.m. The ride will start at 1 p.m. at both locations. All riders are reminded that helmets are required gear for this or any other bike ride. Parents and volunteers will monitor and provide support to riders on the Ruggs route. Walkers and bike riders will monitor the group in town. Volunteer helpers are welcome and very much appreciated, said Anne Morter, ride coordinator. All riders will finish at the lone City Park where photographs will be taken and refreshments Old Time Fiddlers plan Irrigon show The 12th annual Blue Moun tain Old-Time Fiddle Show will be held in Irrigon on Saturday, Apnl 24 at Stokes Landing Senior Cen ter, beginning at 6:30 p.m. A variety of old time music will be presented, and refreshments will be available. Everyone is in vited to attend. For more information, call (541) 922-4399. Lions hold rifle raffle served. Hot dogs will be sold at the conclusion of the race with proceeds going to St. Jude Hospital. Collection envelopes may be picked up at the conclusion of the ride. Riders are reminded that those collecting $35 or more in pledges earn a special edition T-shirt. Those collecting $75 or more earn a sports bag and T- shirt or a sweatshirt. The rider collecting the most pledge money over $100 wins a dual cassette jam box. The St. Jude Bike-a-Thon raises funds for the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, TN. St. Jude is the largest childhood cancer research and treatment center in the country in terms of the number of patients treated and treatment success. The hospital was founded in 1962 by Danny Thomas and operates primarily from public support. Treatments is provided at no cost to the family and all findings are shared freely with doctors and hospitals all over the world, according to a news release. Pledge sheets are still available at local businesses. For more information, contact Anne Morter, 422-7429. NAFTA could benefit laid off Kinzua workers The U.S. Department of Labor has certified approximately 165 workers from Kinzua Resources, L.L.C., Heppner mill, as eligible to apply for assistance and benefits under the Trade Act of 1974 and under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) transitional adjustment assistance program (TAA), according to a U.S. Department of Labor news release. The certifications cover the period from January 28, 1998, to April 4, 2001, and could provide extra benefits to approximately 165 workers if they are laid off or reduced to part-time work. One hundred-forty-five workers have been laid off so far. The affected workers manufactured dimension lumber. The Labor Department found the company's customers have increased their reliance on imports of dimension lumber and this has adversely impacted sales, production and employment at Kinzua Resources Heppner mill. According to the Labor Department's certifications, the workers are eligible to apply for TAA and NAFTA-TAA assistance if they are laid oft between January 28, 1998, and April 4, 2001. The transitional adjustment assistance program is authorized by the North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act. The program became effective Jan. 1, 1994, and covers workers laid off or forced to work part-time because of increased imports from Mexico or Canada or shifts in production to those countries. Under the program, a group of three or more employees who believe they are affected by imports from Mexico or Canada can petition the governor of their state for assistance. A union or company official or an authorized community-based organization can also petition on behalf of a firm's workers. Petitions are available from state employment service offices or other officials designated by the governor. Based on the petitions, the Labor Department investigates to confirm whether workers were adversely affected by increased Mexican or Canadian imports or by transfer of production to those countries. After they are certified eligible, workers may apply for benefits at a state employment service office. They may receive a broad range of re-employment and re training services, including career counseling, job placement assistance, job search and relocation allowances, income support during long-term training and support services such as child care and transportation assistance. Benefits are administered by the Employment Department, State of Oregon, with funds provided by the federal government. Heppner High prom Saturday The Heppner High School Junior-Senior prom will be held this Saturday, April 24, from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the Heppner Junior High School gym. The theme is "Enchantment Under the Sea." Public viewing and crowning of the king and queen will be at Jim Wishart holds the Ruger M77R Mark II rifle being raffled off by the Heppner Lions Club. The .300 magnum nfle comes with a 3-9 x 40 mm Leopold scope all with a value of $600. Only 350 tickets will be sold, and the drawing will be held July 6. Anyone wishing to enter can contact Steve Rhea or David Sykes for tickets. Tickets are $5 each or five for $20. 10 p.m. The 1999 prom court includes: Jill Barber, Brooke Boyer, Janelle Healy, Jaci Hughes, Amber Peck, Bobbie Rankin, Brooke Sweeney and Julie Watkins; David Bates, Jared Eckman, Tim Dickenson, Casey Evans, Derek Gunderson. Shane Matheny and Elliott Strouse. Winters makes hole-in-one Travis Winters, a senior at Heppner High School, made a hole in one at the Willow Creek Country Club during a high school golf meet on April 13. According to Luvilla Sonstegard of WCCC, Winters made the hole in one, his first, on hole number 14. Teams participating in the meet, besides Heppner, included Boardman, Blue Mountain Christian Academy and Grant Union. John Day. Advertising Deadline 12 noon Tuesday HI QUAL POLY WATER TROUGHS 15% OFF 5 5 ga llon • lO O ga llon • 155 ga llon • 300 ga llon Sale through April 30th M orrow C ounty G rain G rowers Lexington 989-8221 • 1 -800-452-7396 For farm equipment, visit our web site at www mcgg.net
