TWO - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, April 12, 2000
Letters to the Editor
*
The Official Newspaper
of the City of Heppner and the County of Morrow
Yes on 77
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Heppner
GAZETTE-TIMES
Support school option levy
U S P S. 240-420
M orrow C o u n ty ’s H om e-O w ned W eekly N ew spaper
Published weekly and entered as periodical matter at the Post Office at Heppner, Oregon
under the Act of March 3,1879 Periodical postage paid at Heppner, Oregon Office at 147
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the Heppner Gazette-Times, P.O Box 337, Heppner, Oregon 97836. Subscriptions: $22 in
Morrow County, $16 senior rate (in Morrow County only; 62 years or older), $29 else
where
David Sykes............................................................................................................. Publisher
Apnl Hilton-Sykes......................................................................................................... Editor
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St. Patrick's Senior Center
Bulletin Board _____
One hundred-seven people were present for the senior lunch April
5, the largest number for quite sometime. Members of the Lutheran
Church served. Hearing aid assistance was given and blood
pressures taken before the meal. Manan Murchinson gave a guided
tour of the apartments at 1 p.m. Mabel Heath's name was drawn for
the first month free rent and Evelyn Richards won the floral
arrangement.
The menu for the Wednesday, April 19, Easter dinner will be
roast turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy, dressing, green beans,
cranberry salad, roll and chocolate Easter nest with jelly beans.
The Catholic Church will serve.
The lobby and recreation room (sitting room) have been freshly
painted and look great. Hopefully the carpet will be laid before
very long.
John and Mildred Eubanks are getting settled in the newly
decorated apartment on the third floor. The other tenants welcome
them to the St. Patrick's family.
As usual there were exercises on Tuesday and Thursday at 10
a.m.; cards, Tuesday and Friday at 1 p.m.; and a movie Thursday
at 2 p.m. Bingo was played Tuesday evening from 7- 9 p.m.
Sign-up sheets for the scheduled bus tours are on the desk in the
office. The schedule for April is as follows: Friday, April 14-bus
to lone, 10:30 a.m. for lunch at Beecher's and a ride in the country
with driver Gerald Bergstrom; Friday, Apnl 21-drive to Wildhorse
museum and lunch, departing Heppner at 8 a.m., with John
Church, driver; Tuesday, April-to Monument Senior Center for
lunch, 8:30 a.m., John Church, driver. A minimum of six people
is needed for most trips. Your suggestions are welcome. Call
Barbara Hayes at 676-5667.
e~ £ A e
By Merlyn Robinson
Children definitely should be encouraged to read and write. If as
an adult they become a public figure and commit some major
indiscretion, then a book can be written to "tell all"-though it
becomes difficult to categorize such publications as fact or fiction.
Children are wise enough to know that fairy tales are fantasy-
land. Yet voting age adults find it difficult to extract the truth in
printed statements originating from politicians and then given
another biased slant from newspaper and television reporters.
When reading the comic pages, we know it's supposed to be
laughable, even though sometimes it's difficult to find the humor
there. There's also some light reading in the classified sections,
even if one is not interested in buying, selling or seeking
employment. For instance-"For sale, one gelding, breeding
problems." Really! Seems unlikely that said horse has stallion
capabilities. Or there's the employment ad that reads: "Restaurant
help needed, consider all ages and/or sex." Could this be double
duty, equal opportunity?
Lead stories flaunt political hype plus megamergers or
monopolies. On one hand, the government deregulates industries
such as telephone and electrical providers supposedly to stimulate
competition.
However now there is a determined effort to perpetuate vertical
integration and corporate industrialization of American agriculture.
This stems from an influential source, the United States Federal
Reserve. The proponent is Mark Drabenstott, the right hand man
of the all-powerful Alan Greenspan. He recently testified before
Congress that the family farm and ranch is already dead. He cites
supply chains that are sweeping through agriculture whereby
fanners sign a contract to deliver precisely grown farm products on
a pre-set schedule. Sorta like the present packer control of the
cattle industry where the major packers control the market.
Supply chains often lead to concentrated production in specific
areas. And Drabenstott goes on to say that the struggle for these
commodity-concentrated areas will turn into an economic
revolution for rural America. He claims "that struggle will build an
economic future with fewer farms, fewer banks and fewer
businesses so that relatively few (rural) communities may
ultimately prosper."
Is that scary or what! The full text of Drabenstott's remarks can
be found in a website entitled "Center for Study of Rural
America." But you rarely find any such reporting in anything other
than agricultural publications. If you're part of a rural community
who also cares about food safety, cost and nutritional value or are
an integral part of a business community providing goods and
services for agnculture-not to mention a wholesome lifestyle-then
you should be informed and concerned.
For years eastern capitalists have fought for control over western
American lands, its resources and productive capabilities. By what
authority is the Federal Reserve attempting to influence
agricultural policies and pervade the thinking of the U.S.
populace? What tax dollars are involved in subsidizing a new
Center for the Study of Rural America? Why would such a policy
be advocated that is detrimental to the existence of independent
producers that feed and clothe Americans more efficiently, more
safely and cheaper than any other nation in the world?
It’s more than just fooid for thought-it's the livelihoods of
productive people. Meanwhile I need to catch up on how the White
House dog (the four-legged one) is faring and check out who is
sleeping over in the eight or so bedrooms in Hilary's New York
little cottage-and other such important stuff.
To the Editor:
order to balance next year's
Patrons of Morrow County,
budget. The reductions total
You have elected seven school $992,000 and include the
board
members,
including elimination of 17 teaching
myself, to oversee the business positions. This is too much. We
and educational functions of the want to improve educational
school district. We must do so programs, not eliminate them.
while keeping the educational
In order to decrease the impact
needs of the children in front of of the reductions, we need your
each decision.
help. There is currently only one
Over the past eight years, since avenue to generate additional
the implementation of Ballot funds for operations of schools, it
Measure 5 (property tax is the Local Option Levy
limitation), we on the board have approved in the last legislative
watched the funding base for our session. On the May Ballot,
local schools erode while, at the which you will receive near the
same time, state mandates have end of this month, we are asking
dramatically
increased.
In you to approve a levy that will
addition, the total number of generate $500,000 to return 10
students has increased by more teaching positions to our budget.
than 350 or 18 percent, with The Board has committed to
available resources on a per returning
seven
teaching
student basis only going up three positions to Boardman and
percent in the same eight year Irrigon, two teaching positions to
time period. Three percent Heppner, and one teaching
increase in per student revenue, position to lone, upon approval
18 percent increase in student of the levy.
population, and 23.6 percent
Please get behind this effort, as
increase in inflation all add up to
did Pendleton and Helix, and
less service to children.
support the Local Option Levy.
Because the Oregon Legislature
(s) Gary Frederickson,
has not maintained its promise to
Morrow County
adequately fund education, the
School Board Chairman
school board must reduce staff in
Vote yes on school option levy
To the Editor:
We're angry. At the legislature
for their refusal to adequately
fund the education of our
children. At ourselves for sitting
back and thinking "someone
else" will fix the problem.
In the past our school district
and
citizens
have
found
innovative ways to maintain
school services. These fixes have
ranged from implementation of a
four day school week to
establishment of a recreation
district. Unfortunately Morrow
County schools are once again
faced with a serious budget
shortfall due to inadequate
funding from the state. We're to
the amputation stage now,
reduction in force cuts are being
planned.
The local option levy gives us
the opportunity to patch a small
crack in our broken funding
system. If passed, the funds
received from this five-year
serial levy are specifically
earmarked to fund 10 teaching
positions.
It's not a permanent or complete
solution to our budget woes, it
allows Morrow County citizens
to narrow the gap, to help our
children with a "yes" vote.
The East Oregonian editorial
"Message Sent" on March 15,
2000 highlighted the successful
passage of Pendleton and Helix's
local option levies. We also felt
the editorial issued a challenge to
us personally and to the citizens
of Morrow County as well. Let's
show our neighbors that we have
the same vision and support for
education as they do.
Ballots will be mailed to the
voters starting April 25 and must
be back in the hands of the
Morrow County Clerk by May
16. It's critical that at least 50
percent of the registered voters
return their ballot. We plan to
mark our ballot "yes" and return
it immediately upon receipt.
(s) Gary and Kathy Neal
Boardman
Obituary
Funeral Notice
William Dale Snow
Marjorie L. Wright
Former Heppner resident
William Dale Snow, 74, died
Thursday, March 23, 2000, in
Salem of chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease.
Memorial services were
held at on Saturday, Apnl 8,
2000, at the Heppner Elks Lodge
with a dinner to follow at St.
Patrick's Catholic Church in
Heppner. Private inurnment is at
Willamette National Cemetery at
Portland.
Memorial contributions
may be made to Willamette
Valley Hospice, 2700 Market
Street, N.E. Salem, OR, 97301-
1641, or the American Lung
Association.
Heritage, of Portland, is
in charge of arrangements.
A graveside service for
Maijorie L. Wright will be held
Saturday, April 22, at 2 p.m. at
the Heppner Masonic Cemetery.
Mrs. Wright passed away
on December 9, 1999, in Everett,
Washington.
A reception will follow
the ceremony at St. Patrick's
Parish Hall.
Plant exchange to
be held April 15
The Garden Club Plant
exchange will be held Saturday,
April 15, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
New and experienced gardeners
are welcome to bring plants and
exchange.
Wranglers Riding
Club set playdays
The Wranglers Riding
Club has set the dates for spring
playdays. Play days will be held
Sundays, April 30, May 7, May
14 and May 21.
The playdays start at
noon with a potluck, followed by
the playday at 1 p.m. The first
playday will begin with election
of officers.
New
members
are
welcome to attend. For more
information, call president Judy
Eckman, 989-8498, or treasurer,
Judy Barber, 676-5037.
4-H & FFA Members:
NEW FEED PR O G R A M !
We are introducing a new feed program
this year with CASH AWARDS to Grand
Champion and Reserve Grand Champion
in Market steer, lamb, hog & goat catego
ries. who purchase ail PURINA feed from
Green Feed & Seed. We are stili continu
ing our original program with savings bonds to Grand and Re
serve Champions who feed PANTEC feed. Come by the store or
call for more details There will be a registration form to fill out
for the PURINA program. The first 20 to register will receive a
FREE PURINA SHIRT OR HAT
GREEN FEED SC SEED
Heppner - 676-9422
f
To the Editor:
I am writing to urge a yes vote
on Measure 77. It will appear on
the May ballot. Measure 77
amends the Oregon Constitution
to give certain local taxing
districts authority to adjust
permanent property tax rates.
The measure will correct an
unintentional mistake made by
the legislature in 1997. It impacts
only three taxing districts:
Deschutes County, Linn County
and the City of Sweet Home.
In 1997, Oregonians approved
ballot Measure 50, reducing
property tax rates around the
state.
Unfortunately,
the
legislature erred in drafting
Measure 50 and property taxes
actually rose in Linn and
Deschutes Counties and the city
of Sweet Home. The error in
Measure 50 was that law
enforcement levies in Linn and
Deschutes Counties and the city
of Sweet Home were treated
differently from other levies
throughout state, in essence,
taxing citizens twice for the
replacement portion of the levy.
As the Senator from
Deschutes County, I received
numerous phone calls and letters
from irate citizens who had seen
their property taxes increase. It
took weeks to sort out the
reasons.
After consulting with the
Department of Revenue, the
Legislative Revenue Office and
legislative counsel, I contacted
most of the taxing districts in my
senate cistrict and asked them to
voluntarily lower their permanent
tax rates to compensate for this
double taxation. Most agreed that
this was a mistake. None of the
districts expected the additional
revenue. However, the rates need
to be corrected uniformly and
permanently throughout Linn and
Deschutes counties.
That is why Senator Mae Yih
from Linn County and I have co
sponsored corrective legislation
and constitutional amendment to
be referred to voters for their
approval.
The
legislature
unanimously passed both the
legislation and the referral. Now
we need voters across the state to
support and complete the
correction. It can only be
accomplished by a constitutional
amendment because Measure 50
was a constitutional amendment
establishing the permanent rates.
This is an issue of fairness.
Please join me in voting yes on
Measure 77. It will bring fairness
to the property tax system, equity
in the treatment of local levies
for essential services and help
restore faith and credibility to
local and state governments.
(s) Neil r. Bryant
State Senator, District 27
Filing deadline
extended
This year, taxpayers have until
midnight on Monday, April 17,
to file their 1999 tax returns
because the regular due date,
April 15, falls on a Saturday.
Those who have put off filing
until the final days will find that
the IRS will be working some
overtime to help them meet the
deadline.
Taxpayers can visit IRS walk-
in offices to pick up forms and
get answers to last minute
questions. Those with completed
returns can file them and make
tax payments and the IRS will
date-stamp their forms and
checks or money orders. The
offices will also accept and date-
stamp completed extension
forms.
Oregon taxpayers can call the
IRS at 1-800-829-1040 with their
tax questions seven days a week,
24 hours a day. They also can get
answers to questions and
download forms by visiting the
IRS Web site, www.irs.gov.
Local resident participates in
AQHA riding program
Sybil Krebs of lone recently
earned an award for logging 750
hours in the American Quarter
Horse Association Horseback
Riding Program.
The program provides AQHA
members recognition for time
spent riding or driving American
Quarter Horses.
Current AQHA members must
complete a program application
and pay a one-time $25
enrollment fee. Each enrollee
receives an official AQHA log
sheet to record their hours
driving or riding their American
Quarter Horse. Participants need
not own their horse, but all
official hours must be accrued
with a registered American
Quarter Horse.
The first award, a program
recognition patch, is given after
50 hours have been logged and
verified. Patches and nine
subsequent awards are presented
at 100 to 5,000-hour levels and
range from merchandise gift
certificates from Drysdales
Western Store to a Montana
Silversmith trophy belt buckle at
the highest level.
Other awards provided by
AQHA corporate
sponsors
include a $25 gift certificate
good towards any item from
Drysdales Western Store; at 750
hours a headstall valued at $22
from Cowboy Tack. At both
1,000 hours and 3,000 hours,
award recipients
receive
recognition in "The Quarter
Horse
Journal",
AQHA's
monthly magazine.
Jim Bret Campbell, AQHA
manager of the horseback riding
program, said, "AQHA is so
proud to offer this program
rewarding people who enjoy
riding and driving American
Quarter Horses. Enrollees are
doing such diverse activities that
it's obvious this program literally
fits everyone who likes spending
time with horses."
Births
Iza b e l Leean n Stephens-a
daughter Izabel Leeann was bom
to Vanessa Hill and Freddie
Stephens of Irrigon on March 29,
2000 at Good Shepherd Commu
nity Hospital in Hermiston. The
baby weighed 7 lbs. 2 oz.
WHEN: APRIL 17
5:30, and 7:30 SEA TIN GS
Tickets for all searings are available at
the Bank of Eastern Oregon,
Beecher's Restaurant or at Klamath
First Federal.
W HERE: BEECHER'S RESTAURANT IN IO N E
SERVED BY: CREATIVE CARE PRE-SCHOOL
BOARD MEMBERS AND PARENTS
MENU:
Barbecue Pork Appetizer
Broccoli Pork Stir Fry
Shrimp Mound
Sweet A Sour Ribs
Pork Fried Rice
(meals w /o pork available by advance request, please call lis a
Rietmonn a t 422-7181 to make a request)
CH EF: YUNG NELSON
PRICE: $8.00 Adults, $4.00 Children 10 A
Under
411 proceeds w ill b e n e fit Creative Care Pre-School
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