FOUR - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, April 19, 2000
The Official Newspaper
of the City of Heppner and the County of Morrow
Letters to the Editor
Editor's note Letters to the Editor must be signed The Gazette-Times will not
publish unsigned letters Please include your address and phone num ber on all
letters for use by the G-T office The G-T reserves the right to edit The G-T is not
responsible for accuracy o f statements m ade in letters.
Heppner
GAZETTE-TIMES
U S P S 240-420
County budget decisions
Morrow County’s Home-Owned Weekly Newspaper
painful but necessary
Published weekly and entered as penodical matter at the Post Office at Heppner, Oregon
under the Act o f March 3,1879 Penodical postage paid at Heppner, Oregon Office at 147
W Willow Street Telephone (541) 676-9228 ^ a x (541) 676-9211 . E-mail gt@heppner net
or gt(a-rapidserve net Web site www heppner net Postmaster send address changes to
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
To the Editor:
As members of the Morrow
County Budget Committee, we
just completed four days of
grueling deliberations over the
Morrow County budget for fiscal
year 2000-2001.
The effects of Ballot Measures
5, 47 and 50 are continuing to
take their toll on our county.
Over the last few years, county
administrators have worked hard
to reduce expenditures, increase
revenues and adjust beginning
and ending fund balances in
order to delay the inevitable
effects - loss of services.
However, now with another year
of virtually no-growth in
property tax revenues, the budget
committee was forced to make
some serious cuts in services in
order to balance the budget.
The effects of these property
tax measures are especially harsh
when it comes to taxing utilities.
About 66 percent of the county's
property tax revenues come from
utilities - and the values of these
utilities (like the coal fired plant)
are
depreciating.
As
a
consequence of this and other
factors, such as a limited amount
of new construction, and the
delaying affect of enterprise
zones on the ability to tax certain
types of new construction,
Morrow County's tax revenues
are not enough to sustain local
government services. Add to that
mix the decline in some other
revenues, such as an 84 percent
loss in timber revenues since
1990 (a loss of approximately
$300,000 per year) and the rising
costs of doing business (like a 20
percent increase in asphalt costs,
20 percent increase in gasoline
and diesel and 15 percent
increase in health insurance) and
you begin to see the problem.
As committee members we
have seen this coming. We truly
appreciate the county's efforts to
............................................................................ Editor
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Guest Editorial
Support your local newspaper
By David P. Price, Ph.D.
National polls have indicated that a majority of Americans do not
believe their politicians represent them. But beyond that, most
Americans feel disenfranchised . . . even hostile. A hostility and
frustration that transcends politics. Hard working, traditional
Americans that feel no one is interested in their thoughts, values or
ideals.
Most are concerned about i t . . . some to extremes. The fringes
join militia groups; believing that conspiracies are the root of the
problem. The reality is quite different. The problem is very real,
but it is not a conspiracy. It is an unfortunate coincidence.
The greatest problem facing this country today, is the fact that all
our entertainment is based and broadcast from Southern California;
whereas virtually all our news organizations are based and
broadcast from the East Coast, primarily New York City. ABC,
CBS, NBC, CNBC, API, and UPI are all based in New York. Even
CNN primarily broadcasts from New York and Washington, D.C.
The living rooms and youth of middle America (as well as Canada)
are subjected to 24 hrs./day of Los Angeles morality; while news
reporting is systematically interwoven with the social mores and
political views in vogue with New York and Washington, D.C.,
based editors.
Middle America is left out. Indeed, among the elite who produce
our entertainment and orchestrate our news reporting. . . Middle
America doesn't exist. There is L.A. and maybe San Francisco;
New York, Boston and Washington, D.C. All the rest is known as
"fly-over" country:
With respect to political views, it is easy to see how an
anchorman living in a metropolitan condominium cannot identify
with the views and needs of Middle America; particularly Rural
America. In a city such as New York, government is seen as a
provider. Government provides and regulates transportation, water,
power and gas; even picks up the garbage. Likewise, the reporter's
perspective of government agencies typically stems from
interviews with high level administrators; usually selected for their
political and public relations skills. A perspective quite different
than the small business owner who must deal with the same agency
through low level bureaucrats; who see those they regulate as
subordinant, and otherwise often take an adversarial attitude.
One of the most basic and primal of all issues is self-defense.
The perspective in a city with 30,000 police officers is quite
different than a suburbanite whose 911 call will have a response
time of 15 minutes (or m ore). . . an eternity when confronted with
abject reality. Likewise, to an urbane media executive whose every
need is attended to by others, the self-reliant ethic of Rural
America is seen as arcane . . . even anti-social.
As mentioned previously, this is not a conspiracy; but it is
deliberate. Media personnel genuinely believe it is their moral duty
to select and editorialize news items so as to present the proper
"politically correct" image. For example, gays in the military has
been a divisive issue. The media takes every opportunity to report
discrimination or abuse of gays in the armed services. To Middle
America however, a much more insidious problem is senior gays
making overtures to their young and naive sons and daughters. In
at least two cases, senior enlisted gays have been court-martialed
for forcible/unspeakable homosexual acts on recruits. The New
York based media never reported these incidents; but they did get
reported . . . in small town newspapers.
To go back to the self-defense issue, small town newspapers
routinely report incidents in which citizens have used firearms to
defend themselves against criminals. In New York City culture,
self-defense is considered a form of vigilantism . . . and it is
deemed irresponsible to report on firearms in anything but a
negative manner. One might understand the media's position;
except for the fact that the intense publicity given to school
shootings (including the biographical notoriety given to the
perpetrators), has created "copy-cat" tragedies.
Distorting issues alienates many Americans; but the media has
actually created a feeling of despair. Honest, decent Americans of
traditional values are told they are out of step. To return to the gay
issue; most Americans have a strong sense of justice and do not
want to see anyone abused. But if we don't want our children
taught that homosexuality is a normal, "alternative lifestyle" . . .
according to the media we are "homophobic". Likewise if you go
to church, believe in school prayer and do not want condoms
passed out in school . . . we are part of the "religious right".
If you don't like traditional American values characterized as
extremist or intolerant . . turn it off. News without political slant
is available through your hometown newspaper. Except for the
very largest cities, most newspapers are home-owned and edited.
But beyond that, print journalism is much more professional.
Professional in that a good journalist is supposed to report the
news without injecting his or her views. If the reader wants
opinion, it is available separate and apart; as editorials. This the
time honored and respected tradition of abandoned . .. which has
unfortunately been abandoned by the networks.
(Editor's note: The author is a professional agricultural consultant who
has done work for the U S Grains Council, in cooperation with USDA's
Foreign Agricultural Service; The Agency for International
Development . The Food and Agriculture Organization o f the United
Nations, as well as private work throughout the world Based in New
Mexico, Price has relatives in the Pendleton area )
' t JCT
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put these cuts in service off. But
this year it just couldn't be
delayed any longer. Starting the
week, the budget committee
faced a $1 million dollar shortfall
out of a total budget of $18.1
million. Only $3.7 million comes
from property taxes received by
the county. The balance of the
budget funds are received in the
form of fees and grants. To
balance the budget, staff was cut
for certain services that are not
mandated by law such as the
museum
and
geographic
information systems, as well as
some
cuts
in
essential
departments, like the sheriffs
office and road department. A
total of 7.3 positions were
eliminated in addition to
significant
reductions
in
materials, equipment, etc.
The decisions we had to make
were very painful and difficult.
We are very unhappy about the
loss of staff-and the service that
goes with it -but there simply
aren't enough funds to continue
operating at the same levels the
county residents currently enjoy.
x As the lay members of the
budget committee, we wanted to
communicate to our fellow
citizens that over the last few To the Editor:
On April 25, voters in Morrow
years we have seen the county
exhibit
a
tremendous County will finally have the
commitment to preserving as ability to make a decision at the
local level regarding the
many services (and at the highest
financing of our schools in
level) as possible. They struggled
Morrow County. The mail-in
continually with the very
ballot that will be sent to you that
difficult decisions of how to
date will ask you to approve a
operate within their means
Local Option Levy that will
without cutting services and
allow the district to collect
ultimately with where to make
approximately $500,000 each
the cuts that were necessary but
year in a serial levy to replace
represent the least effect on the
part of the 17 teaching positions
services they are mandated to
that had to be cut because of
provide.
dwindling revenue support from
(s) Vem Frederickson
the state of Oregon to finance our
(s) Leann Rea
local schools.
(s) Larry Mills
Morrow County School
Members, Morrow
District's
funding actually went
County Budget Committee
down over $600,000 in the last
year, while student numbers and
expenses continued to rise.
If passed, this local option levy
will add back 10 of the teaching
positions that were cut in the
district due to funding shortfalls.
technicians and supervisors, not
just assembly-line workers.
The point is that the background
basics for the production of food
and fiber begins with vocational-
agriculture training in high
schools. The skills obtained are
applicable in everyday life as
well as in agri- businesses. Not
only are we selling short the
most productive future citizens,
it's encouraging students to look
further afield at other types of
careers as we continue to loss
future local residents.
Too, this adds to the growing
number of people who lose sight
of the production of food and
fiber upon which they depend.
For instance, the eighth grade
exchange between Heppner and
Gresham student is an eye-
opener to students who hardly
have a clue as to what is involved
in keeping them well-fed and
clothed.
Therefore I believe we should
wrestle with our conscience
when supporting the actions of
the school board or the passage
of the upcoming bond levy that
would delete this important
school program and the two
teachers who teach same. For
again it has been the recreation
district that saw the importance
of helping to finance field trips,
district meets and state-level
career development events.
(s) Merlyn Robinson
Heppner
Voters can make a difference in schools
All of us in Morrow County are
disappointed about the teaching
position cuts as a result of this
funding crisis. Don't let your
frustration over that prove to be
short sighted by not voting for
the Local Option Levy.
Join the residents of the
Pendleton and Helix school
districts who recently passed the
Local Option Levy. Show
support for your schools for
lower class sizes and more
instruction for our students. We
have a quality program in
Morrow County. Let's do
everything we can to keep it that
way.
.., -
Geotge KofflerV
Heppner''
We Print
BUSINESS CARDS
Heppner G asette- Times
676-9228
Vote for Lundquist
To The Editor:
We would like to encourage
your vote for Lynn Lundquist for
Secretary of State.
Lynn has been state
representative for the past several
years and we feel he has
represented our district well. We
have always found him willing to
listen to local problems and be
part of the solution process when
ever possible.
Lynn is a former president of
the
Oregon
Cattlemen's
Association and, as such,
understands the problems with
agriculture and has a good
understanding of the problems of
rural Oregon.
Please join us in voting for
Lynn Lundquist for Secretary of
State.
(s) Lany and Betty Mills
Heppner
Wants info, license plates
“The course of true love...” Abby Kahl and Jeff Currln are among the
cast members who have recently begun rehearsals for A Midsummer
Night’s Dream. Heppner High School will present Shakespeare’s ro
mantic comedy on May 14 at 3 p.m. in the City Park.
Local Angus breeder recognized
Kathryn Healy, Heppner,
Oregon, has been recognized
nationally by the American
Angus Association for having
five registered Angus cows
included in the American Angus
Association's 2000 Pathfinder
Report.
Only 1,933 of the more than
34,000 members of the American
Angus
Association
are
represented in this year's report,
according to Richard Spader,
executive vice president of the
-
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W-
«
” — — s
Fam ily Season Pass: $ 1 2 5 * Individual Season Pass: $ 6 0
Layaw ay P la n A va ila h i.
C a ll 676-5752, lea v e m essage; or call Bobbette at 676-5217
t
To The Editor:
I'm as much an advocate for
quality education as anyone. So I
too think it's unconscionable
what state control and lack of
funding is doing to our schools.
Supposedly the state's economic
climate is healthy, although
agnculture and agnbusinesses
continue to be the floor for the
prospenty that others are
enjoying. Yet again its producers
that are asked to come up with
more funding for schools through
increased property taxes.
The recreation district was a
good move to support sports, art
and music to provide students
with a well-rounded background.
Aside from well-publicized
sporting events, the strength and
interest in music was well
documented by the participation
of three band units in the St.
Patrick's parade.
But the lack of concern over
losing the vo-ag and FFA at
Heppner and Riverside flies in
the face of our agncultural-based
county. Aside from entities such
as county or city governments
and the school district employees
there are mainly two industries,
the coal-fire piant and Finley
Buttes Waste Management, that
are not agriculture related.
In addition to farms and
ranches, most of the Port of
Morrow industries are agri
businesses
that
employ
HHS cast rehearses for
Midsummer Night’s Dream
Willow Creef^W&ter
* Spa Pass: $ 2 5
Cutting Vo-ag, FFA selling short
American Angus Association
with headquarters in St. Joseph,
Missouri.
The Pathfinder Program
identifies superior Angus cows
based
upon
recorded
performance traits that are
economically
important
to
efficient beef production. These
traits include regular calving and
heavy weaning weights, reports
John Crouch, director of
performance programs for the
Amencan Angus Association.
All registered Angus cows that
meet the strict Pathfinder
standards are listed, along with
their owners, in the Pathfinder
Report that is published annually
by
the
American
Angus
Association.
The 2000 Pathfinder Report
lists 7,551 individual cows. It is
published in the Apnl issue of
the Angus Journal and extra
copies are available from the
Amencan Angus Association.
To the Editor:
Dear citizens of Oregon,
I am doing a state report on
your state of Oregon. I wouldn’t
mind any old license plates that
you don't need or want. I will get
a better grade if you send any in.
I also need any information on
early historical facts, like what
kind of Indians you have and
their culture and who and when
explorers came and why. I would
appreciate
any
of
your
information.
(s) Matt Wuestenfeld
10301 Hampton Drive
Anchorage, Alaska 99516
Allergies and Asthma Sufferers:
We are looking for 5 to 10 people
to evaluate a state-of-the-art
home air purification system
at no cost or obligation to you.
To participate, call 1-800-336-9781.
April 80th ~ Thursday
FISHERMEN’S NIGHT: Oysters, catfish
and BBQ beef with all the trimmings.
Prizes Osilore! Drawing for a fishing rod
and reel, color TV and satellite system
and morel Get there early for tickets.
Dinner starts at 6 p.m.
&
April 88nd - Saturday
Annual EASTER EOO HUNT: preschool at
the city park; grades 1-2 at the grade school
lower field; grades 3-4 at Hager Park. Hunt
starts at 10 a.m. SHARP! The Easter Bunny
will be at the city park so have those cam
eras ready!
BINGO ON WEDNESDAYS! NO W STARTING AT 7:00 p .m .
% HEPPNER ELKS 358
676-9181
" W h m F r ittu b M — t "
142 N o r t h
Mala