Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 15, 1999)
Nativity displayed at Coast to Coast Eo3nl« C o t s e l l U o f 0 NewapiP"’ ** L i b r a r y Eumeno» OR For many South Morrow County residents, the Christmas Nativity scene in the front display window of Coast to Coast Hardware Store looks familiar. These figurines were displayed outside both the old brick St. Patrick's Catholic Church and the current church building. Father Beard, who now resides in Athena and served St. Patrick's parish from 1959 to 1974. suggested that if the parish provided the figures. VOL. 118 NO. 50 8 Pages Wednesday, December 15,1999 Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon Wendy Haack announces resignation he would build a wooden stable for the creche setting. This was done sometime during the 1960s. Father Beard also set up a tape recorder inside the church playing Christmas music to two outside speakers. Due to aging of the figurines and potential damage to them, they were stored away in the 70s or early 80s and not brought out again until this year. Cliff Green, owner of Coast to Coast, generously agreed to display them in the window. Green, who grew up two doors down from the Catholic Church, remembers an earlier outdoor nativity scene in place there when he was a child that included a hovering angel. The Nativity figures will hopefully be given a facelift before being stored away. Meanwhile, they serve as a quiet reminder of what the year 2000 is marking. IUCC celebrates groundbreaking It significant that both young and the "young at heart" joined together to shovel the first clod of earth at the ground breaking for the new lone United Church of Christ. Brenna Rietmann and Dot Halvorsen were winners of the church's building fund raffle for the symbolic ground breaking and were both on hand for the ceremony. The brief ceremony was held following the morning service, which was attended by a large group from the congregation and the community. The Rev. Paul Clay spoke on the building of the church during the worship service. Diana and Lindsay Kincaid, owners of the property on which the church will be built, did the ribbon cutting. The children's choir sang a song with a very appropriate verse, said the Rev. Paul Clay, "We thank you creator for those who can see with eyes of the faithful, a church serving thee." The adult choir performed "Come to the Church in the Wildwood," rewritten for the church's centennial celebration in 1996 and rewritten again for this occasion. David Allstott of Allstott & Gentry, building contractors for the church was introduced. Those in attendance joined in a prayer of dedication, witnessed the ground-breaking and then closed with "Joy to the World," which was followed by a winter hot dog picnic. Wendy Haack Children in Cara Osmin's and Mary Ann Elguezabal's third grade classes at Heppner Elementary School amassed a small mountain of food for the Neighborhood Center to distribute to the less fortunate and had a bit of competitive fun in the process. The third graders, by challenging each other to bring in the most food items, contributed over 505 pounds of food for the needy. The children are pictured above with their teachers, Neighborhood Center director Jan Skaggs and student and parent helpers. Health District sees upswing McDaniel The Morrow County Health District, while still losing money, saw a dramatic upswing in their end of the month finances for October, according to financial information released at the MCHD regular meeting held Monday, Dec. 6, in Heppner. According to the financial report, the district lost only $5,928 for the month, compared to average monthly losses of around $50,000. The improved financial situation was attributed to high patient numbers because of flu and pneumonia illnesses and cost-cutting measures. Board members disagreed over disclosure of the proposed MCHD contract with Dr. Robert Boss of Boardman to provide medical services to the district.. Board member Sharron Meyers. Boardman, said the board should not disclose the particulars of the contract to the public, while Chairman Larry Mills maintained that the board should make the disclosure. Mills said the board had the duty to do so since public monies were being used. The board, which received two conflicting views on the subject from two different lawyers, agreed to submit the question to the Morrow County District Attorney. Momentum picking up for senior party Momentum is picking up around St. Patrick Senior Center for "Steppm’ Lively Into the 21st", their first New Year's Eve party, and of course, their only millennium one. The fun can include dancing to Benny Goodman and Kay Kaiser bands, games both old and new, story telling, reminiscing and prophesying groups, contests with prizes, singing and live music. Ideas are welcomed. Potluck finger food will be available for snacking and a variety of non-alcoholic drinks will be provided. Everyone over 60 is invited to attend from 10 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Those needing transportation may call 676-9030 or 676- 9435 after Christmas. Heppner businesses open this Sunday Murray Drugs, Gardner's Men's Wear. Peterson's Jewelers, The Shoe Box and Coast to Coast will all be open this Sunday for Christmas shopping. The stores will be open from 12 noon until 4 p.m. sentenced in fatal accident Caleb McDaniel, 19, Heppner, was sentenced by Judge Rudy Murgo to one year in jail in a negotiated plea on Thursday, December 9, following his conviction of two counts of criminally negligent homicide in connection with a fatal automobile accident on June 16. McDaniel was also sentenced to three years of supervised probation, revocation of his driver’s license for five years, drug and alcohol treatment requirements and conditions and ordered to make restitution to the victims' families for funeral expenses and participate as a panel member in Morrow County's victim impact panel and testify truthfully in future proceedings related to the accident. Beth Baker, 16, and John Blake, 21, both Heppner, died as a result of the accident. Baker and Blake were passengers in McDaniel's vehicle when it rolled after failing to negotiate a curve marked at 35 miles an hour. McDaniel's vehicle and another vehicle had been playing leapfrog when they entered a curve marked 35 miles an hour at around 60-65 miles an hour. NEWS DEADLINE 5 p.m. M onday Wendy Haack, nurse practitioner at Pioneer Memorial Clinic and Pioneer Memorial Hospital, has announced that she will not renew her three-year contract which is up at the end of February. Haack said that she hopes to enroll in medical school at OHSU and would like to return to the community as a physician. "I love this community and my patients," said Haack, who added that she anguished over her decision. Haack said that because of her experience she might be able to challenge some of the program's prerequisite courses. Sheridan Tamasky, a physician's assistant now working in the district's Imgon Clinic, will return to the Heppner clinic after Haack's resignation. Tamasky worked in Heppner previously as a nurse. Winners drawn in punch card contest Winners in this week's punch card contest were: Lou Anne Heliker a $25 gift certificate to the Pettyjohn's Farm & Builders; (iavle Arbogast a $25 gift certificate to Court Street Market; Judy Buschke to Gardner's; and Mr. Putman from Lexington a $25 gift certificate to the Lott's Electric. There will be five $25 gift certificate winners drawn next week, so be sure to get your punch cards entered. Cardinal Booster Club approve plaque The Cardinal Booster Club members, at their Dec. 6 meeting, approved buying a state championship volleyball plaque with the lone High School girls volleyball team picture on it. A thank you note from the state champion volleyball team was read. Coach Charity McHlligott returned $64 of the S200 given, which the team didn't use for expenses. It was reported that Harold Rietmann has completed the boards for the state championship signs on the edge of town. Members voted to give Rietmann a Cardinal cap and a basketball season pass to thank him for his work. The need for a new trophy case was discussed. Athletic director Dean Robinson looked into possibilities. If the drinking fountain in the cafeteria hallway was moved closer to the restrooms, space would be available. He will check further into prices for different sized cases. It was announced that the senior class of 2000 donated a cool water drinking fountain for the gym. lone graduate Bryan Basford contacted Robinson about purchasing a plaque for names of past East/West football all star players from lone The roofing material is here for the outdoor storage building. School employees will do the repair work. Club members voted to raffle a DVD player this winter as a money maker. Tickets will be SI each or six for $5. The drawing will be February 11. 1 oa Henderson has made a quilt for the club to use as a money maker. The booster club will be in charge of concessions for both the lone Basketball Bonanza and the South Morrow County Tournament. The volleyball and tennis teams will be selling baked potatoes and toppings as a fund raiser at the Morrow County Tournament. Beecher's Cafe and Wheatland Insurance will sponsor a hospitality room for the coaches and referees during the tournaments. Members agreed to order a dozen more Big Sky Cardinal hats to sell. They also voted to buy detachable team bleacher seat cushions fox the team benches. Coach Dennis Stefani is working with Principal Dick Allen to get ball boys and girls from the fourth and fifth grades to take turns helping at home games. The club will buy shirts for the helpers to wear. Seventeen members were present a the meeting. The next meeting of lone Booster Club will be Monday, January 3, at 7 p.m. W e w ill close on D e c e m b e r aSrd at noon and lie closed D e c e m b e r 2 ^tb and 2 5 th . fro m a // a /: M o r r o w C o u n ty G rain G r o w ers Lexington 9 8 9 -8 2 2 1 • 1 -8 0 0 -4 5 2 -7 3 9 6 for firm eqtiipnwm. mu ounwb w* » www m<gg n«t
