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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 9, 2000)
CSEPP topic of county court meeting C e sa i' U of O K o v i p ' " !T* f' K U ' ; 0 3 ': t O il VOL. 119 NO. 6 B> Doris Brosnan ìie ts e ll 8 Pages 'ili')* Wednesday, February 9, 2000 Morrow County, Heppner Oregon Fire dept, receives water rescue equipment The Heppner fire department recently received a donation of water rescue equipment from the Corps of Engineers. Pictured above with the donated equipment are (left-right) Jerry Balcom of the Corps of Engineers, Heppner Fire Chief Rusty Estes, along with Bob Ford and Mike Knoph both of the Corps The donated equipment includes life rings, helmets and a shepherd's hook used to rescue people from the water. The fire department also received donations from Linda Shaw and the Bruce Young family of Heppner for additional equipment and training in water rescue techniques. "This equipment and training will better equip the fire department to respond to emergencies at Willow Creek Lake and in other water rescue situations," Estes said. Two members of the Young family were recently rescued at Willow Creek Lake following a boating accident, which prompted local awareness of the need for better equipment and increased training for rescue personnel. Tours of St. Patfs housing available Tours o f the St. Patrick's Apartments, beginning on Wednesday, Feb. 9, will showcase the recently renovated apartments that are available for new residents. Manager. Marian Murchison, will welcome everyone to join her after the Wednesday luncheons for a look at the newly-painted and carpeted facilities and a conversation about the plans that include improvements throughout the housing complex. Eager to get the information about the changes out, the Heppner Housing Authority has arranged for the tours and is providing an opportunity for prospective tenants to win a first month’s free rent. During each tour, interested individuals may enter their names in a drawing. Once a month, a name will be drawn and placed on file. If the person whose name is drawn should move into St. Patrick's Apartments in the future, that person will not have to pay the first month's rent. This represents a savings of over $300. Everyone, not just prospective tenants, is invited to tour the apartments and hear about the plans for this historic building. Residents must be fifty-five years of age or older, but the center has become an important site in Heppner for all ages. With the "Wee Bit O'lreland" Celebration just a month away, co-chairpersons Cara Osmin and Claudia Hughes are encouraging all committee chairpersons and interested persons to attend the final meeting prior to the event. The meeting will be held at Kate's, upstairs on Thursday, February 17, at 6:30 p.m. The St. Patrick's Committee includes the above mentioned chairpersons and Dave Sykes, KUMA coffee hour; Dons Brosnan, auction; Bob Kahl. parade; Judie Laughlm. buttons; Hughes and Osmin, entertainment, brochure, publicity, etc; Mary Hamilton. sheepdog trials; Jerry and JoyceKay Hollomon, signs and flags; Janice Skaggs, vendors' square; Shanny Miller, Farley social hour; and the chairpersons o f all additional events. Needed are chairpersons »o organize and activate the leprechauns, someone to drive the Paddy Wagon and a group interested in hosting the Trail Band at the school on Saturday. New on the scene this year will be children's activities by Heppner Day Care in the previous carnival site; an opportunity for young and old to try their skill at step-dancing during the Ceili, fiddlers on Friday night and The Trail Band St. Patrick's Celebration 2000 on March 17, 18. and 19. "Hope to see you at the meeting," said Hughes and Osmin. St. Pat’s meeting planned Feb. 17onSaturdayni g ht Mark your calendars. Blue and Gold Cub Scout Pack 661's annual Blue and Gold Banquet will be held Sunday, February 13, at 5 p.m. at the Heppner Elks lodge. All attendees are asked to bring a main dish and either a salad or a dessert. The annual father-son cake bake auction will be held following the potluck The public is invited to attend. The Morrow County Court toured the renovated Emergency Management offices during a recess in the court's Feb. 2 meeting. After the tour, the court discussed some CSEPP issues with Major Jerry Russell of the Oregon State Police Russell explained that he is to be the "eyes and ears" for the OSP superintendent. Russell said that his job was to find out what is going on in the communities and cooperate with the independent investigation of CSEPP. not to interfere with that independent review. Russell reported that he will not be involved in the review and a news report was incorrect in stating that he would be conducting the review. To collect information, he has met with and will continue to meet with the many agency heads involved. Commissioner Wenholz voiced his belief that some information has not been "making it up the chain of command." Russell said that he will not color anything or cover anything up and has no fear of making a candid and honest review of the situation. The court shared the perspective that a breakdown in management and a breakdown on the technical side pose two basic problems and that decisions made at the beginning have not been followed through with. Commissioner Brosnan noted that he would like to see two results: establishment of a baseline "of where we are and where we need to go" and a change-agreed to by the counties, the state, and FEMA-to a different management model. Russell said that he would add lack of public confidence as another basic problem and is seeking some kind of business plan, baseline operations, and/or benchmarks for this program. Russell said that he agreed with the court that the safety o f the citizens is the primary concern. Emergency Management Director Casey Beard explained to Russell about the CSEPP situation. Russell noted that he needs to create a picture of what is happening with individuals on the front line of this situation. He offered the example of the volunteer fire fighters, who are available for training on evenings and weekends, and the federal regulations that require training to take place between 8 a.m.-5 p.m , Monday to Friday. Discussion continued, focusing on OEM's role in the situation, accountability, budget issues, d ela ys in revenue reimbursement, definitions of "protection," and the difference between "stakeholders" and "players." Russell told the court that his initial report to the superintendent will include lack of trust and teamwork among agencies, lack of free-flowing information and interference with progress by personality conflicts. Sandy Lowry and her son Burt of Option 1 appeared to discuss with the court the status o f the county's computer programming. As to the court's concern over programs that are not working and doubts that some of the programs will ever be adequate, Lowry responded that she would be comfortable providing the county all programming, except that for assessment and taxation if that is what is decided. In response to the observation that several important deadlines have been missed and the request for assurance that other deadlines can be met, Lowry said that offices can be functional in a week or two. Questioned about when the programming will actually be complete, Lowry noted that a new system continues to evolve, that "tweaking" the program may take as long as a year and Burt added that there are always little adjustments to be made. Asking when programming will be complete enough to perform necessary work, the court heard several dates for the several departments. Cost of the work will, Lowry said, be that agreed upon almost three years ago. In other court business. Public Works Director Guy Van Arsdale reported the following: Pine City and Gooseberry bridges have been completed and the Big Buttercreek bridge guardrails arc being worked on. Brush cutting in Imgon nears completion, and the crew is preparing for work on Highway 730. The crusher will move to the Clarks Canyon or Carlson pit from the Hellberg pit. After discussion with Van Arsdale of a property owner's road vacation request, the court set a March 1 public hearing on that request. Van Arsdale informed the court that a yearly inspection of the Lexington Airport lists as one of its deficiencies a four-foot rise in fenced terrain off the departure end of the runway, where there is supposed to be a 150 by 300-foot Workshop set on starting a business Many people have dreams of owning their own businesses. Many people have identified "niches" that they think small businesses could fill in Heppner. Lexington and lone But many of these people have many questions about starting a business. For these entrepreneurial thinkers, the Heppner Economic Development Corporation is sponsoring a free workshop on Tuesday, F eb .15. J he workshop will begin at 10 a.m. in the conference room at the Forest Service Building in Heppner. Helping to provide information will be GEODC (Greater Eastern Oregon Development Corporation) resource personnel from its Small Business Center. Also on hand will be individuals whose areas of expertise can help individuals find answers to questions ranging from identification of markets and creation o f business plans, to location and facility needs, to financing and marketing products, among other topics. The morning session will be devoted to the "how to" of developing a business plan. John Fletcher, the Small Business Development Center director, will cover that material. At 1 p.m. some local entrepreneurs will share their start-up stories. Then participants will received information on financing and end the workshop with individual counseling opportunities with the small business experts and representatives of lending institutions. HEDC's invitation is extended to everyone who has ever wondered about becoming a business owner. Participants will have opportunities in the afternoon to speak individually to the resource people about their ideas and ask questions specific to their hopes. safety area Van Arsdale suggested talking to the landowner about moving the fence and then leveling the area He will prepare an estimate of the cost for the court. The court approved purchase for the GIS/Computer Department o f a second processor for GIS/Application server, which will also serve the Justice Court. The court also approved a software and license agreement between Behavioral Health and Anasazi Software, Inc. The court approved the election o f Corrine Lindsay as chair and Andrea Denton as vice chair of the Commission on Children and Families. The court also reviewed and approved a resolution in support of a bond for Columbia River Processing They discussed the requirement by auditors that the justice courts in Imgon and Heppner reconcile each other's bank accounts and agreed that time must be found for complying. Administrative assistant Andrea Denton spoke to the court about the need to sign the Docken Building in Boardman as the "Morrow County Courthouse Annex" and reported that Extension is trying to create signage for that building in conformance with the courthouse. The court briefly discussed that building's potential. St. Pat’s schedule on the Internet The 2000 St. Patrick's schedule will be available on the Internet at www.heppner.net. Gazette to publish e-mail directory The Heppner Gazette-Times is preparing to publish the Willow Creek Valley e-mail directory soon. The directory will include e- mail address of business and individuals in the Heppner, Lexington and lone area. If you would like to have your business or individual e-mail address included in the directory please stop by the Gazette and fill out a form, or send an e-mail to the Gazette (gt@heppner.net) with directory in the subject line and your e-mail address in the body o f the message, or you can log onto the Heppner web site (www heppner.net) and fill out the on-line form. The directory is for the people o f Heppner, lone and Lexington to better communicate, and will not be published on the Internet or used for any advertising purposes. Deadline for submitting your e-mail address is Feb. 29. MCGG customer appreciation day this Sat. The Morrow County Grain Growers will hold their annual customer appreciation day this Saturday, Feb. 12 at the main offices in Lexington The day starts off with a free pancake breakfast starting at 8a.m. and will last until 12 noon Factory representatives from many companies will be on hand for product displays. There will also be many door The Heppner Post Office will prizes, free knife sharpening, free have a new postmaster, Debbie carnations to the first 300 ladies Rutherford, as of February 14. and a tricycle obstacle course for children eight and under. At the convenience store there Advertising Deadline will be door prizes and free 12 noon T uesday coffee and cookies. Everyone is invited to attend New postmaster for Heppner 15% OFF MCGC Customer Appreciation Day Pancake Breakfast S a le th ro u g h S a t. Feb. 12 Set fo r Saturday, Feb. 12 8 a.m .-noon Season-Ending SALE Insulated Bibs & Coveralls M orrow Lexington 9 8 9 - 8 2 2 1 C o unty G * 1 - 8 0 0 - 4 5 2 -7 3 9 6 r a in G fo r firm tquipmont. row ers *mt our web ute at www.nKU.not
