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
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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
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