Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (July 5, 2000)
Local fire fighters help with Hanford blaze B C 3 3 1 3 'ÍOtTSll . i-*. U o f Ü ite .f a p a o o r L i b r a r y Luí an:*, OR 9 / 4 J 3 HEPPNER (left- right) Steve Rhea. Rusty Estes, Andrew Johnson and Tom Wicklund helped battle Hanford fire imes VOL 119 NO 27 8 Pages Wednesday, July 5,2000 Morrow County. Heppner. Oregon Willow Creek Baptist VBS comes to a close Four Heppner Volunteer Firefighters were mobilized to respond to the huge grass fire on the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in the Tri-Cities area last week. The four. Fire Chief Rusty Estes and firefighters Steve Rhea. Tom Wicklund and Andrew Johnson, left Heppner at 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday. June 28 . They traveled first to Hermiston where they met others from their strike team, which consists of the Heppner Fire Department, the Hermiston Fire Department, the Pendleton Fire Department, the East Umatilla County Rural Fire Department and the Boardman Fire Department. The group, w hich is on call from the 15th to the 31st of each month for conflagration, then traveled on to the West Richland area where they were assigned to protect the Hammer Facility, an industrial training center, and the police academy. Estes said that the five area departments were the first team to respond for Oregon. The men worked in 12-hour shifts, mopping up hot spots after the big air tankers dumped water on the blaze. The firefighters worked in extreme heat, with temperatures around 101 degrees with six percent humidity and sustained 30-mile-an-hour winds. "The fire, at one time, was traveling 300 feet a minute," said Wicklund. 49. "Before we got there they told us it blew 20 miles in 90 minutes." "My hat's off to the loeal departments from over there," said Rhea. 45. "They’re the ones who took the brunt of the fire. To only lose 64 structures was amazing for that type of fire behavior. They’re the ones to be commended." All the Heppner fire fighters agreed that the people in the Tri- Cities area gave them a very warm reception. "The people there loved us," said Johnson, 34. "They brought us food, they waved." "We were very well received," added Estes, 42. "It was unbelievable." "The community support was tremendous." added Wicklund. "They donated food, water, produce." Improvements made on Pro Rodeo A new announcer's box, a warm up arena, new bleachers, fencing, lighting and new handicap access is a great deal to improve on in a few short years at the Oregon Trail Pro Rodeo Arena but the improvements are not done, says Sue Gibbs, media chair. A new pole building will be constructed before rodeo time this year at the east end of the arena. The pole building can be used during fair and rodeo w here the old tent has been put up in the past. The pole building will have a roof and w ill be excellent for shade and shelter this year in place of the tent, says Gibbs. The building will be 30 by 40 feet with 10 foot eves. The committee raised enough money for materials through fund raisers and the labor w ill be donated by Eckman Construetion This pole shed will be a multi- Volunteers and children attending the Willow Creek Baptist Church vacation Bible school at the Heppner ( ity Park last week assemble with the food they brought and planned to donate to the Heppner Neighborhood Center. "This week has been really great." said Angie Hanson. VBS organizer. "We saw lots of kids, sang lots of songs and had lots of fun." Hanson also fed the volunteers, many ol w hom came from the Tri-Cities area. "It was awesome." addedRachel Owens. 13, one of the volunteers coming from Kennewick. "I liked it a lot more than I thought, but it's also a lot harder than I thought. I'm having a lot of fun.” Lexington councilmen withdraw resignations Duane Disque and Pat Baker Disque and Baker were allowed changed their minds Thursday back on the council because their night and withdrew their resignations had not been resignations from the Lexington officially accepted. city council less than a month Thursday the remaining after they had declared they were councilmembers accepted the off the town's governing body. resignations of Renfro and Kemp Both of the men had resigned and then appointed Anderson as by letter prior to last month's "moderator" of the council town council meeting, a meeting meeting. at which Mayor John Renfro and The town's attorney Bill Kuhn councilmember Marsha Kemp said he asked Disque and Baker also submitted resignations and to rejoin the council in order to walked out. That action left pass the budget. only councilmember Glenn "You have a huge breakdown Anderson on the council and in the ability to w ork together in raised questions about the the city of Lexington." Kuhn financial future of the town. said. "These people I thought Without a governing body the were the ones who could work town's budget could not be together.” Kuhn said he also approved and. according to spoke to Renfro but did not accessor Greg Sweek. would contact Kemp result in the town not being able Kuhn announced that he had to draw tax money in the coming also spoken with county year assessor Sweek. who indicated if Because of the looming the city did not pass a budget financial crisis Disque and Baker Sweek would be forced to report agreed to come back, and Thursday they and Anderson it to the Oregon Department of approved the city's budget for the Revenue. Municipalities are not supposed to collect taxes coming year. without a budget In other business: It was announced that Richard Kempas was hired as the new maintenance man for the city, and that Jean Brazell would w ork through the summer as city recorder. The council voted to approve the city budget. The coundil heard that Shirley McCarl had resigned from the budget committee The council decided not to release the results of a Oregon Department of Justice investigation into the town's finances that was recently completed. The report may be released to the public at a later date. Horse show The Morrow County Open Horse show w ill be held Saturday. July 22 at the Morrow County Fairgrounds starting at 9 a m En try forms are available at the fair office. 676-9474. or from Ruby Shear. 422-7290. For more infor mation. contact Ruby Shear. purpose building lor other activities as well such as football, biking, 4-H or other equine events. There are also plans for the building in the future. This year it will be a simple pole building, however if more funding is raised, the committee hopes to enclose the building and add plumbing, a kitchen and bathrooms. If these features are added it can also be used for snack shacks, an office area or meeting room, says Gibbs. "Improvements are a great way to enhance our community." she said. "The committee members of the Oregon Trail Pro Rodeo continue to strive for quality facilities at the arena. The facilities can be used for local events safely and comfortably, yet the rodeo arena attracts out of town people into our community to use the arena and equipment because of the outstanding quality and improvements." Echoes of the Past Fair theme 2000 Motorcycle rider dies in crash "Echoes of the Past" w ill be the topic as the Morrow County Fair gets underway August 16 for four days of entertainment, contests, wine-tasting and the Oregon Trail Pro Rodeo. The premium books will be available the week of July 10 at the local post offices, fair office and Extension Service. Contact the fair office for an exhibitor's number and premium sheets. "There is a category for A Canadian man died in a motorcycle accident near Cutsforth Park around 11:4 a.m. June 29. According to the Morrow County Sheriffs office, the operator of the motorcycle. Bryson K Heartwell. 46. Spruce Grove. Alberta. Canada, was pronounced dead at the scene. According to the sheriffs office, the motorcycle was \n informational meeting on northbound on Road 53 with formation of charter schools will several other motorcycles, when it drifted into the southbound be held on Tuesday. July 18 at the lanes w hile rounding a curve and Elks Lodge in Heppner beginning struck the pickup head on. at 7 p.m. The driver of the piekup truck. fhe meeting will be conducted Leonard D Currier of Tigard, b\ JoamcGillis, Oregon Dept of was not injured in the accident. Education, and John Nelson. Or- everyone so see how many exhibits you can enter this year," said fair secretary LaRae Kindle. "How about challenging a friend to see who can bring in the most exhibits'1 It is a proven fact that a person enjoys the fair more if they are an active participant. If you haven't entered an exhibit in previous year stop by the fair office and I will be happy to help you with your forms.” said Kindle. Meeting set on charter schools egon ( harter School Serv ice (’en ter All parents whose children at tend Heppner schools and all other interested persons are invited to attend and find out about the rules governing charter schools. HARVEST HOURS Starting JulyJth: Weekdays, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. • Closed Sundays M orrow C ounty Lexington 989-8221 • 1-800-452-7396 G r a in G row ers foHirmiquipni*m. nut our wtb tut it www megg r*t