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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 9, 2000)
TWO - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday. February 9. 2000 ,i The Official Newspaper of the City of Heppner and the County of Morrow Morrow County's Home-Owned Weekly Newspaper Published weekly and eniered as periodical matter at the Post Office at Heppner. Oregon under the Act ol March 3. 1870 Periodical postage paid at Heppner. Oregon Office at 147 W W illow Street telephone(541 >676-9228 ha* <5411676-9211 gt(uheppner net or gi urapidserve net W eb site www heppner net Postmaster send address changes to the Heppner Gazette-Times, P.O B o * 337, Heppner, Oregon 97836 Subscriptions $22 in Morrow County. S I 6 senior rate (in Morrow County only, 62 years or older), $29 else where Das id Sykes ................................................. Publisher A p n l Hilton-Sykes .......................................... Editor On the HEPPNER HEBSITE: www.heppner.net • Start or Change a Subscription • Place a Classified A d • Submit a New s Story • V iew Real Estate for Sale • City Council & Planning Minutes • Local Businesses • County Park • Willow Creek Park Reservations • Free Digital Postcards • Senior Housing • and more! Death Notice Kenneth K. Marshall Clifford E. Yarnell Clifford E. Yarnell, 83, of New port, died Fnday, February 4,2000, at Eugene. Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 12, 2000 at 2 p.m. at Bateman Funeral Home in Newport, with interment at Chelane Abby Columbarium in Newport. Mr. Yarnell was bom July 17, 1916 at Roosevelt. Washington, to Harry and Kathryn Walsh- Yamell. He married Jessie Marie on June 23, 1940 at Newport. Mr. Yarnell was a lifetime member of the Elks Lodge #2017 in Madras and a charter member of Lodge «144 tor 50 years. He was a lifetime member of Theta Alpha Delta at Oregon State Uni versity. He enjoyed oil painting and photography; he also enjoyed mu sic and could play many instru ments. He was an artist and a writer. Survivors include daughters. Robbin Ferguison of lone, Amy Reeve of Corvallis, and Marye Davis of Gresham: one grandchild and two great-grandchildren. His wife, Jessie Mane, preceded him in death in 1992. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart As sociation. Bateman Funeral Home of Newport is in charge of arrange ments. Heppner needs more, not less, ag Good times in Morrow County U S P S 240-420 Ida Belle Jensen, 89, a resident of lmgon since 1991, died Sun day. January 30, 2000, at Good Shepherd Community Hospital in Hermiston. Memorial services for Mrs. Jensen were held Saturday, Feb ruary 5. 2000 at the lmgon Sev enth-day Adventist Church. Pri vate burial was held Wednesday, February 2, 2000. She was bom September 15, 1910, at Gndley, California, to William and Bertha Summers Butterfield. Formerly of California, she came to lmgon nine years ago. Mrs. Jensen was a member of the Seventh-day A dventist Church. She loved to write poems and loved sewing. Her husband. Lester Jensen, died in 1992. Survivors include daughters. Shirley Jensen of Clear Lake, California. Norma Stahl of lmgon, Jeanne Drayton of Reno, Nevada, and Maria Baumgartner of I.aPine: eight grandchildren, several great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made to the lmgon Seventh-day \dventist Community Service Center. Bums Mortuary of Hermiston was in charge of arrangements. — -------- — Editor's note Letters to the Editor must be signed The Gazette-Times will not publish unsigned letters Please include your address and phone number on all letters (or use by the G-T office. The C-T reserves the right to edit The G-7 is not responsible for accuracy of statements m ade in letters GAZETTE-TIMES Ida Belle Jensen ■ Letters to the Editor Heppner Obituaries - Word has been received of the death of Kenneth K. Marshall. 96, of Zillah, Washington, formerly of Lexington. Mr. Marshall died Sunday, February 6. 2000 at Zillah Graveside service will be held Friday. February 11. 2000 at 1 p.m. at the Lexington Cemetery in Lexington. Memorial contributions, for those who wish, may be made to the Pioneer Memorial Hospital Fund, P.O. Box 9, Heppner, Ore gon 97836. Sweeney Mortuary of Heppner is in charge of arrangements. A complete obituary will be in next week's Gazette-Times. Chamber Chatter By Claudia Hughaa, Chambar Managar As the Heppner Chamber of Commerce moves into the 21st Century with President Sharon Harrison at the helm, it is important that our rural community keeps the lines of communication open and works together to build upon the quality of life we have. The Board of Directors spent a day working on the Chamber of Commerce plan of work and a very ambitious one it is. Additional input will be sought from the membership and visitors at the February 15 meeting, noon, at Kate's. The Chamber encourages all people interested in the workings of the community, from agriculture to retail to government, to visit the noon meetings with the option of joining. Membership is not limited to businesses. Individuals and organizations are encouraged to join. Many issues are facing our community. New industry and jobs, agricultural challenges, educational issues for our young people and medical facilities are just a few topics that are so crucial to the well-being of Heppner and the Willow Creek Valley. This year members will be included on the Chamber web page. Those who are members and have their own web page will be linked to the Chamber page and will be given a $10 web page discount by the Heppner Gazette- Times. The Chamber of Commerce continues to be dedicated to making this the place to live, to work, to play and to do business. Grow with us. Let your voice be heard. Last year we were 72 strong and growing. Can we hit 100 for the year 2000? Thought for the week: If you realize you aren't as wise today as you thought you were yesterday, you're wiser today." February 12th - Saturday Valentine's Dinner: Prime Rib, BBQ New York Steaks, Oysters, Prawns and Crab with all the trimmings. Dinner will start at 6 p.m. Members and out- of-town guests only. To the Editor: In 1940, my husband, Erling Thompson, and I resided in lone. Erling was farming in Gooseberry area and driving school bus. I had taught first and second grade and music in lone school before marriage. That year was census time so I went to Pendleton to be trained to take the census. My area was lone City, south to Rhea Creek, west to Weatherford Ranch and north along Willow Creek to Cecil. In these days we went to each home in lone, wrote down the names and ages of the people and asked a few questions for statistics. However on the farms we also recorded the livestock, crop statistics such as yields of grain and hay. At least one farmer refused to tell me the number of cattle he Erlmg drove by the pasture and counted them. I got paid so much per name of the people in the census. I also got a citation for neatness on my census forms. Those were great days for us in Morrow County. The war took us to the valley when tires were not available for the school bus and children boarded in town during the week. I had also driven a four door Plymouth as a school bus. Together we transported children from Valby-Gooseberry area- Bumside, H. Peterson, Baker, Carlson, Huston, McCabe and O. Peterson families. I cherish memories of all these people and hear from some at Christmas time. (s)Kathenne Thompson Hanson McMinnville Elimination of Vo-i g disturbing To the Editor: The following article from the John Day Blue Mountain Eagle is provided for reprinting in the Heppner Gazette-Times. I find it disturbing that Morrow County, the ninth leading producer of agriculture products in Oregon, is proposing to eliminate the vocational agriculture program from its school system. Furthermore, with the addition of the Tillamook cheese factory and related feed and heifer production the county's economic mix, the importance of agriculture in the county is going to increase. I'm fully aware of the facts related to the school district's financial problem, but I think there must be some way to maintain at least a minimum vocational agriculture program offering in our school system. ’ John Edmundsun *----- Heppner j; jZij! From the Blue Mountain Eagle By Garth Meyer, staff writer JOHN DAY- Like farmland bathed in the morning sunlight, Grant Union High School is basking in the dawn of a vocational-agricultural program. Beginning in the 2000-2001 school year. Grant Union High School's metals and mechanics program will be expanded into a vocational/agricultural and FFA program. "With a retirement and a few other things, it just worked out that that was a good time to do it," said Grant Union High School principal Mark Witty. Witty and the school are taking applications until April 7 for a teacher to head the program. "We're advertising it wide and far," Witty said. Vo-Ag has come to mean a lot of things, from soils, engines, livestock production and ag mechanics to agribusiness to natural resource management and public speaking. "It's a great program," said Witty, a former FFA chapter president and recipient of the state farmer degree. "It allows students with the most varied backgrounds apd interests to succeed. The competitions put tljem in real situations,, an<J the kids really1 respond to that." Grant Union High School will compete in various FFA competitions as part of the program. Specific classes to be offered in Grant Union's program are not decided yet. "We'll look at the strengths of who we hire and then decide what courses will be offered, " Witty said. 'Gifting clubs' are same scheme, different name From the East Oregonian enterprise want you to think. It As your district attorney, I takes a lot of people to be lured have watched with concern the by the false promise of easy activities of these "gifting clubs" money in order for these con that have been in the news artists to make their money. recently. Let me add my voice to Sooner or later, the scheme falls that of Pendleton Police Chief Ed through, and all of those people Taber and the Attorney General: who gave their money trustingly these schemes, hardly new or find themselves $2,000 poorer. original, are illegal in Oregon. I urge everyone in Umatilla They continue to be illegal no county to avoid the lure of these matter where the money is so-called "gifting clubs." Not collected, either here in only could there be severe Pendleton or across the pecuniary penalties, but it could Columbia in Washington state. also put a person at risk of Law enforcement officials in •criminal sanctions, including our neighbor to the north, incarceration. including the Benton and Walla Be safe; keep you money safe. Walla County prosecuting Invest in a bank account, not a attorneys, are combining their sham. efforts with Oregon law (s)C.R. Brauer enforcement to put a stop to this District Attorney sharp practice. Umatilla County It sounds like a nice premise- spend $2,000, then receive $16,000 several weeks later. Who wouldn’t jump at the chance to make money like that? That, $1.00 lb. of course, is exactly what the Gazette-Times ■ 676-9228 authors of this criminal SCRATCH PADS — B IN G O O N W EDNESDAYS! N O W STARTING AT 7:30 p .m . program that incorporates science, math, speaking and v technology skills. This program helps to fulfill the state's CIM and CAM requirements of: < public speaking skills, science concepts such as biology, botany, soils and animal husbandry contained in earth and life science courses. I urge the Morrow County School Board to consider keeping the vocational agriculture and FFA programs to enrich the students educational experience and goals at Heppner and Riverside high schools. (s) Tina Rene' Kemp HHS class of 1996 Senior at Eastern Oregon University COPY PAPER Ream or Carton Heppner Gazette-Tirnes 676-9228 j — — — — »— »»—»—»»»»— »»»»»»»»»—»»»»»■ There once was a girl nam ed Sherri... Keeping 13340835 _r L : ,J be pretty scary. Colored Gemstone Jewelry She may still look great in a skirt. B u t let's (ace it, she’s older than dirt. Leah and Bom think her personality is oh so shiny, So we bought her a girdle to help her soon-to-be-saggin’ hmney! She should be glad to have friends like us. W e'll make sure she had enough change to ride the seniors' bus. W e'll stick by her side, we’ll never stray far. HAPPY 30th SHERRI ARBOGAST! Glifi HEPPNER ELKS 358 "Where Friend* M etí" To the Editor: I recognize that the Morrow County School Board has a difficult task of making budget cuts in our schools. One of the proposed cuts is the vocational agriculture/FFA program at Heppner and Riverside high schools. I would like to take this opportunity to tell everyone what this program has done for me and my fellow classmates. 1 was privileged enough to have great agriculture instructors such as Bill Umbarger and Barney Lindsay for my four years at Heppner High School. The subjects we studied included: public speaking, various science contents, math and computer skills and hands-on technology skills. Through classwork, contests and many demonstrations, I gained, leadership skills, good work ethics and improved confidence in my own abilities that have helped me to further my education. Whether you are college bound or are obtaining job skills, vocational agriculture is the only (jive the g ift to fast a fifetime... Up until the day she leaves her dentures on the bar 676-9181 Vo-ag FFA programs enrich education ‘f o r Valentine’s ‘D ay But she'll soon be slowin’ down 'cause her youth just ran out of luck 103rd Annual and Ladies Tea: Registration at 10 a.m. Ladies Tea at 1:30 p.m. Hors d’oeuvres, door prizes, cards and bunco! (Reminder-ladles are not allowed to bring guests.) Lodge starts at 2 p.m. Dinner is at 6 p.m. with whole roasted pork, plus music with two live bands from 9 p.m.-l a.m. ^ status and talents. Besides project training, students learn teamwork, diversity and problem-solving methods. No other high school educational program gives young people more opportunities to learn and attain an economic return. In addition I feel that Heppner High School has always been a leader in the area of vocational agriculture. Heppner High School FFA has brought home many top honors in various competitions and is respected state-wide. In addition, the vocational agriculture program has graduated many jndividuals that are prominent career leaders in various ag-related industries. Some of those individuals were in my high school class and often stated that the only reason they came to school was for the vo-ag program. It is true that everyone suffers when budget short-falls occur, however, it seems that HHS students are being penalized the most. Teachers are asked to dig deeper in their pockets for supplies, yet in a school district the size of Morrow County it is hard to understand why we need three vice principals each drawing a five-figure salary. If the superintendent wants to balance the budget, he shouldn't look any farther than the offices down the hall. Less waste at the top end means better educational opportunities for students. Let's not forget that Heppner is an agriculture-based community and what is needed is more support and training in agriculture, not less. I strongly urge you to attend the next school board meeting on February 14 and give them a realistic viewpoint of what the young people of Heppner High School really need. (s) Krynn (Robinson) Parham Heppner Class of 1978 Fresno, CA She'll dean your house and pamper your nails to earn a buck. February 19th - Saturday à i To the Editor: If you give a man a fish he can eat for one day but if you teach a man to fish he can feed himself for a lifetime. This proverb is just one example of how important education is to becoming a productive, self-reliant individual. I challenge anyone to find an industry that teaches more self- reliance and productiveness than agriculture. Not only is it one of the most important economic industries in the Heppner area, but it is deeply-rooted in decades of historical tradition. That is why is greatly distresses me to learn that the Morrow County School Board has proposed to cut the vocational agriculture program at Heppner High School. As a graduate of this program I am saddened that this has become a political issue based on economic growth of the north end of the county. People of this community should stand behind this program. Vocational agriculture is more than an animal shown at the Morrow County Fair or harvesting a crop. Young people from all different backgrounds are taught the skills and leadership necessary for future employment, whether in ag- related careers or not. It has been my personal experience that employers regard involvement in vocational agriculture activities (FFA) as a highly-touted training ground and is just as important as your grade point average or even if you graduated college. Involvement in vocational agriculture has helped pave the way for many students to follow their dreams. Unlike athletics or the arts, there is a wider variety of projects in vocational agriculture that are suited to individual students' interests, economic Wt lore you Pumpkin - Leah and Pom 142 North .Main 4 r
