Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 1, 1999)
Basale Wetzel 1 U of J Newspaper Library L’ ubane, OR 974J3 School started Monday for Morrow County students Proposed ordinance gives city impound authority certificate indicating that vehicle for "reasonable towing requirements have been met. I ertilicales. however will only lx- issued during regular city hail business hours. A person (such as a towing company) who. at the request of the Heppner Police, impounds a vehicle, shall have a lien on the Drivers within the city ot Heppner had better watch their Ps and Qs or they may find that their car has been impounded, il a proposed ordinance is passed by the Heppner ( ity ( ouncil I he council, at its September 13 meeting, will consider enacting an ordinance which would authorize the city to impound motor vehicles for specific requirements and offenses. Such offenses include driving an uninsured vehicle: driving with a driver's license that has been suspended or revoked: driving under the influence ol intoxicants: driving without a license or driving in violation ol license restrictions. If a vehicle is impounded, the city must notify the owner bv certified mail within 48 hours I he owner of a vehicle which has been impounded will be subject to pay tow ing and storage costs, charges that accrue upon impoundment, daily storage costs of the vehicle and a fee to the city to cover administrative charges. The vehicle and its contents are subject to a lien for payment ot the towing and storage charges and will be sold to cover the charges if the charges are not paid by a specified date. The owner of the vehicle is entitled to a hearing to contest the impounding and the charges accrued, although, if the judge find that the impounding is valid, or the owner does not show up at the hearing, the owner may be liable for the costs of the hearing, including cost of the judge and any witnesses. The owner must request a hearing not more than five days from the mailing of the notice (not including holidays. Saturdays or Sundays) and must state in writing the grounds he believes the impounding was not justified. If the judge decides in favor of the owner of the vehicle, then he is not liable for towing or storage charges resulting from the impound and the city will be ordered to satisfy the towmg and storage charges An impounded vehicle may be released to the owner if tow ing storage and administrative costs have been paid and the owner show s proof of ow nership, proof of insurance: and a release from the Heppner Police Department which indicates a valid vehicle registration. If the vehicle is to be driven, the driver must also present a valid driver's license. The city will then issue a County appoints Lexington bicentennial gets $21,000 committee payment Morrow County Court, under direction by Judge Terry l allman. recently appointed the Morrow County Bicentennial Planning Committee to develop an annual recognition of the Lew is & Clark visit on October 19. 1805. The 1999 October recognition will focus on the Morrow County Columbia River Heritage frail, a recreational path being developed on the banks of the Columbia River, and will take place on Sunday. October 17. A Lewis & Clark Corps of Discovery camp site on Sand Island near present day Irrigon has been selected by the Oregon Historical Society to be marked with an educational kiosk panel depicting a member of the corps entertaining native people with a fiddle. The journal entry for October 19. 1805. is one the few describing interactions with the native people along the Mid- Columbia river. According to scholars. the Corps of Discovery, in the fall of the second year of their exploration, were anxious to follow the great river of the west to the Pacific Ocean as quickly as possible. It is a source of pride for Morrow County residents that the expedition of exploration and diplomacy, commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson, traveled along the river's edge in what is now north Morrow County. The corps camped for the night and noted the visit in their journals. The Morrow County Columbia River Heritage Trail will pass the educational kiosk and island viewpoint as it moves east toward the Umatilla County Line. The Morrow County Columbia River Heritage frail Advisory Committee, organized by Morrow County Planner Tamra Mabbott. has been working with a resource team trom the National Park Service Rivers Trails and Communities Assistance Program for nearly a year to prepare a trail "Concept Plan." The concept plan is a document that demonstrates how the trail can be used for non- mot o r i zed recreatio n : educational purposes, resource conservation, honor the many aspects of pre-European and pioneer heritage as well as increase understanding of the river's significance to agriculture and food production The public is invited to observe on Sunday. October 17. at 2 p.m. at the Irrigon Marina Park For information, contact the Morrow County Planning Department at 541-922-4624 Advertising Deadline 12 noon Tuesday Two-year-old Justin Raver won’t get to go to school this year, but he did get to accompany his dad, Darrell, and brothers, Chance, 5 left, and Colter, 7, on the boys’ first day of school at Heppner Elementary Monday. Assisted living study prompts plan scale down By Doris Brosnan A preliminary study on the proposed Willow Creek Valley Assisted Living Facility indicates that the area population can only support a facility of 12- 14 apartments, according to the Willow Creek Valley Assisted Living Facility Corporation. Preliminary work included a telephone survey and a demographics study of the Willow Creek Valley. The state of Oregon and other potential sources of funding for such an endeavor do not consider an assisted living facility of less than 30 units financially viable, said a spokesperson from WCVAL. Since that "roadblock," the board met with James Rippy of James Rippy and Associates, Spokane, who specializes in helping communities of 700- 1700 populations build 10-14 unit assisted living facilities. According to WCVAL Corporation. Rippy has successfully brought together partnerships between health facilities and assisted living facilities in several small Eastern Washington communities "WCVAL hopes that he can help us be successful, as well." they said. In June. WCVAL, represented by Suzanne Jepsen. president, received unanimous approval from the board of the Morrow County Health District to work with its administrator in exploring the details of such a partnership Partnering with an existing health facility would minimize expenses for administration, purchasing of supplies and food items, accounting, janitorial services, grounds keeping and a dietitian. Another benefit for WCVAL would come from the use of the Pioneer Memorial Hospital shuttle bus. Should the assisted living facility prove feasible, it would be sited in South Heppner on land donated to the corporation by the Port of Morrow It would not be located adjacent to Pioneer Memorial Hospital. The identified property for the facility lies above Highway 207, offering a view of Willow Lake and the city of Heppner Of four possible sites, it is the location recommended by consultants because of comparatively lower building costs, space for expansion and its view Rippy will be in Heppner on September 8 for two "town meetings" at the St. Patrick Senior Center, one at 12 noon and one at 7:30 p.m. His photographs and handouts will offer information about the type of assisted living facility he helps to build. He will discuss his ideas and answer questions. The W CVAL Board has indicated that if it receives enough support at these meetings to continue its efforts, the members will travel to Wilbur and Odessa. Washington, in October to view two ot Rippy’s successful projects. The board reports that it is at a critical point, one from which it will move toward completing a facility it believes the Willow Creek Valley needs, or cease its efforts and dissolve the corporation. The members say that at the meetings they must see solid support for an assisted living facility. Gilliam County rodeo features local high school competition The 1999 edition of the Gilliam County High School Rodeo will take place September 4-5 at I p.m at the Ciilliam County Fairgrounds in Condon The competition is sanctioned by the Oregon High School Rodeo Association and will feature over 160 high school aged youth from throughout the state Local participants will include Ryan Mattcson and Blake Knowles of Heppner. who finished first and second in the OHSRA 1999 year-end steer wrestling standings and competed at the National High School Rodeo Finals in Gillette. WY. this past July. Other area competitors will be Lacey Matteson. Meghan Bailc> and Jerid Penturf of Heppner; Ann Shear. Katie Bacon, Iracie Griffith and Sybil Krebs of lone; Mame Wilkins. Travis ( amine and Amber Johnson ol ( ondon and Travis Yut/ie of Arlington, along with Joe and Chris Irzvk ol Moro and storage charges" and may keep the vehicle until charges are paid I hey may also sell the vehicle at public auction to -.atislv the lien If the appraised value ol the vehicle is $750 or less, the vehicle may be disposed of Fire precaution level increases The Industrial Fire Precaution I cvel (II PI ) dropped to a Level I on both the south and north halves of the Lmatilla National forest (Heppner, North Fork John Day. Pomeroy and Walla Walla ranger districts) on Aug. 31. This allows firewood cutting and other operations to continue on all parts of the forest. Woodcutters are still required to carry a shovel and eight ounce capacity lire extinguisher. Power -,aws must be equipped with an approved spark arrestor. I he II PL is computed daily according to weather factors such as temperature, wind speed, fuel moisture, humidity and precipitation Three consecutive days at a higher IFP1. and a weather forecast for continuing conditions will move the I FPL to a higher level on the fourth day. The I FPL can go down w ithin one day if weather factors and forecasts are favorable. The public can obtain current IFPL information by calling any l Tnatilla National Forest Office or the forest's 24-hour information message phone at (541)276-3405. The city of Lexington will receive S21.000 in insurance pay ments following an audit of the past five years financial records. I he insurance payments are the results of a claim against a former city employee's bond. Ihe bonding agency found "employee negligence" and reimbursed the money lost, said mayor John Renfro. Renfro said there may be more payments coming after final review of the audited figures. "I don't know how much more." he said, "but it w ill be substantial." Several months* ago council member Marsha Kemp noticed a S2.000 shortfall in the city's books. The city was unable to afford a full blown audit by a CPA firm, so townspeople volunteer, and a live year audit of the books was completed. Ihe audit information was sent to the town's insurance agency, and the $21.000 claim w as awarded. In other business at Monday's meeting the council voted to hold an election October 19 to vote on an open council seat, and on a new city charter. I he election will be vote by mail, and ballots are expected to be mailed out Oct. 4. It was also agreed to hold a town meeting Sept. 13 7p.m. at the lirehall. The town meeting will be held to discuss the proposed increase in water rates needed to cover a proposed water system upgrade. I he upgrade is expected to cost the city between $60.000 and 570.000. and is needed, the council says, in order to continue to supply adequate water to the town. The upgrade is a joint project between the Port of Morrow (which has agreed to furnish labor) and the town (which must purchase the materials.) Mayor Renfro also said that the city is going to apply for additional w ater rights now. He said application will be more difficult in the future, so it should be done now to take care of future town water needs. C ost of the application is S625. Ihe council heard that individual homes in Lexington might have to install check valves as mandated by the state health department. I he valves would cost S75 each and would have to be inspected once per year. Ihe council also discussed purchase of a new computer, as the present town computer is not Y2k compatible Cardinal Boosters plan potluck Ihe lone Cardinal Booster Club will sponsor a back-to- school potluck on I hursday. Sept. 9. at 6:30 p.m at the lone school cafeteria. Table service and beverages will be provided. Those attending should bring a potluck food item such as a mam dish. salad or dessert This is an opportunity for parents and the community to meet new staff members and teachers. Site Council elections will also be held, as well as a brief report on upcoming club activities. Everyone is welcome to attend. Little League wrap up planned A Heppner Little League "year wrap up" meeting will be held on Thursday. September 2. at 6:30 p.m. at the Heppner Neighborhood Center All coaches and managers arc encouraged to attend Ml gear must be turned in. including All Star uniforms. Selection of All-Stars will be discussed. Refreshments will be provided f t * W U 1 ■ ■ -» T ^ I * * -W - i f v i Sale ends Sept. 4 th We will be closed Monday, Sept. 6th Have a great Labor Day! M orrow C ounty G rain G rowers Lexington 989-8221 • 1-800-452-7396 f »* farm equipment *1111 out wtb li l f il www TOJI n*t
