TW O - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, July 19, 2000
The Official Newspaper
of the City of Heppner and the County of Morrow
Heppner
GAZETTE-TIMES
U S P S 240-420
M orrow County’s H om e-O w ned W eekly N ewspaper
Rublishcd weekly and entered as periodical matter al the Post Office at Heppner, Oregon
under the Act of March 3,1879 Periodical postage paid at Heppner, Oregon Office at 147
W Willow Street Telephone (541)676-9228 Fax(541)676-9211 E-mail: gt@heppner net
or gt@rapidserve net Web site www heppner net Postmaster send address changes to
the Heppner Garette-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
April Hilton-Sykes..................................................................................................... Edi ditor
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Letters to the Editor
Editor's note: Letters to the Editor must be signed The Cazette-Times w ill not
publish unsigned letters. Please include your address and phone number on all
letters for use by the C-T office. The C-T reserves the right to edit. The C-T is not
responsible for accuracy of statements made in letters.
Murrays provide beautiful garden spot
To the Editor:
Cheers and hats o ff to
Murray’s Drug Company for the
cozy, delightful little rest park area
that they created right on Main
Street for the public to enjoy. The
landscaping is a talent of art. To
combine so many different kinds
of flowers in bloom at the same
time is a real accomplishment and
a joy to all who pass by, a beauti
ful spot to meet friends and have
a miniature picnic or just sit a bit
and be surrounded by all of the
growing plants and trees, even
grapes for the birds this fall.
If you haven’t taken time to
stop and smell the flowers, you’re
missing an exceptionally joyous
experience. A splendid view of
the cross on the hill can be seen
when you sit in this beauty spot.
Credit is due to the Garden
Club for the colorful flower deco
rations on the bare brown walls
and space next to the post office.
Seniors are also enjoying large
pots of flowers on both sides of
their doorway.
(s) Lois Winchester
Heppner
P.S.: The flower man who has
put in so much time and work to
beautify the rock drinking foun
tain out by the rodeo field deserves
much credit too.
Put timber receipts land on tax rolls
To the Editor:
about former homestead land.
I would like to address the
The original idea of the
issue of "payments in lieu of Homestead Act was to get the
taxes",
specifically
timber
land in private ownership so that
receipts that the county roads and
it could be managed and taxes
schools do not receive any more.
paid on it. When homestead
The "payments in lieu of lands were reserved, they should
taxes" is a well-established have been added to the tax rolls
principle. Why don't we simplify at that time.
that procedure by putting the
This move would solve a
land on the tax rolls of the taxing number of other agency problems
districts it is located in. Then the
road maintenance, law
people and agencies could decide enforcement and recreation
to either manage the land to pay maintenance. The agencies
the taxes, or pay out of their always seem to be short of funds
pockets
like every other for this. I think the counties
landowner. I am not talking could manage fine in these
about lands that the U.S. is departments with the added tax
authorized by the constitution to base.
own (i.e., forts, arsenals, and
(s) Chuck Phegley
public buildings). I am talking
Baker City
Hlmter ed class planned
A hunter education course has
been scheduled for the Heppner
area. The course will be held July
25,27 and August 1, 3, 5 and 10.
The sessions, except on August
5, will be from 6-8 p.m. at the
Forest Service office in Heppner.
The session on August 5 will
be a field day from 8 a.m.-l p.m.
As a general rtile, all sessions
must be attended for the student
to pass.
Another class may not be
offered in the area this summer
and young hunters who need the
class should attend this one.
lone Preschool
hires teacher
Kelly Christman, a native of
lone, has been hired as Creative
Care
Preschool's
teacher
beginning with classes this fall.
Christman has extensive
teaching experience in church
settings and with home-schooling
her own children. She is working
toward a degree in elementary
education.
In applying for the lone
position, Christman wrote, "I
prefer a loving, simple and
traditional
approach
to
teaching."
Classes at Creative Care will
begin
September
5.
An
orientation meeting for new and
returning families will be held in
late August.
Parents of children who will
attend for the first time this year
may call Lisa Rietmann, 422-
7181, or Lea Mathieu, 422-7215,
for a pre-registration packet.
In addition to learning safe and
responsible hunting techniques,
students taking this class will
learn proper hunter ethics,
wildlife
management
and
outdoor skills.
New this year will be the
incorporation of a full archery
session during the field day for
students to become familiar with
shooting archery. This is made
possible through a donation of
equipment by the Heppner
Alumni Association.
The course is required for all
hunters younger than 18 (unless
they hunt on their own property)
in Oregon.
Anyone interested or with
questions should call Russ
Morgan at 676-5230. A $5
donation is requested to cover the
cost of ammunition and targets
for the field day.
Town-wide yard
sale a success
The town-wide yard sale in
Lexington was a "big success,"
according to the Lexington Fire
Department Auxiliary, sale
organizers.
Organizers and participants say
they hope to make the event an
annual affair.
Sherron Woodside won the
handmade treasure chest.
Boardman 4th
winners listed
Winning entries and categories
in the 2000 Boardman 4th of July
Parade were lead by "Ticket to
Tomorrow," by Friends of the
Boardman Library, who earned
the Sweepstakes (Most Patriotic)
award
in 1999; "Kids Just
Wanna Have Fun," by the
Boardman Park and Recreation
District, who earned the Mayor's
Choice award; and "Fitness for
Life," by the Boardman Health
Care Center, who received the
Most Patriotic Award.
Best of class winners were as
follows: Arlington Saddle Club
Queen Nicole Marshall, Mounted
Royalty; "Lewis and Clark
Canoeing
the
Columbia,"
Morgan & Parker Snook, Other
Royalty; "I'm a Yankee Two,
Springdale Arabians, Adult
Single Horse; 1937 GMT Fire
Truck, Kegler's Sentry Markets
& American West Properties,
Commercial Business; "Country
Afternoon - 55 Years of
Community Service" Tillicum
Club, Community Service Float;
Amazing A's 4-H Youth
Development Project Club,
Youth Group Award; North
Morrow Vector Control District,
Commercial Vehicles Award;
Blue Mountain "A"s, Antique
Cars - 1900-'38; Emie Ferguson,
'60 Mercedes Benz Convertible,
Classic Car Award; Badoux
Racing, 1977 Toyota Celica,
Modified
Stock
Award;
Frederickson Farms Hay Wagon
& Belgians, Draft Horse Group;
State Representative Bob Jenson,
State Senator David Nelson,
Morrow County Commissioner
John Wenholz and Retain Verlin
Denton, Morrow County Sheriff, .
Political Awards; and "Just
Because" Award* Scoopers, Bob
Boss and Rod Flug.
Parade judges were: Kathy
Cash, Boardman City Council;
Dan Daltoso, Boardman Park &
Recreation District; and Terry
Tallman, Morrow County Judge.
The Yamaha 2000 Waverunner
and trailer was won by Don
Hayworth, Hermiston. Carol
Dalton, Boardman, won the
Tillicum Club quilt raffle. Liz
Morris, Boardman, won the
Lucky Button drawing and the
opportunity to assist pyrotechnist
Jeff Bipes light the first
fireworks shell signaling the
beginning of "Feel the Thunder."
The fireworks show consisted
of 1500 shells, 900 pounds of
explosives for a 30-minute
display of "thunder" over the
Columbia River.
Horseshoe tournament team
winners were: Mike Hensley and
Steve Ulrich; and Charlie Tappo
and Don Archele. Nineteen
teams participated in "Hoop &
Holler" three-on-three basketball
tournament. Winners were: Echo
Goonies, youth division; and
Chocolate City, adult division.
"Fantastic weather, great
community
involvement,
activities for all ages and
spectacular
fireworks
all
combined to create a wonderful
celebration
of
America's
Independence Day on the river in
Boardman," said Carol Michael,
Boardman
Chamber
of
Commerce manager.
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Justice Court
Report
The Justice Court office at the
courthouse annex building in
Heppner reports handling the fol
lowing business:
Brian Lee Atkinson, 26,
Edmonds, WA.-No Operator’s
License, Driving Uninsured, Vio
lation of the Basic Rule, 72 mph
in a 55 mph zone, $465 fine;
Aimee Allison Simmons Arps,
20, Edmonds, WA.-Providing a
Vehicle to an Unlicensed Driver,
$79 fine;
Rick Lee Osmin, 27, Union-
Violation of the Basic Rule, 73
mph in a 55 mph zone, $ 111 fine;
David D. Dyer, 36, Hermiston-
Violation of the Basic Rule, 76
mph in a 55 mph zone;
Craig R. K oeller, 34,
Hermiston-No Operator’s Li
cense, Failure to Register, Driv
ing Uninsured, $413 fine;
Evelyn M. C arroll, 54,
Heppner-Violation of the Basic
Rule, 81 mph in a 55 mph zone,
$132 fine.
Volunteers keep museum open
By Robin Krebs
Since July 1 volunteers have
kept the Morrow County
Museum open. The days and
hours remain the same. Tuesday
through Friday, 1-5 p.m. and
Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Volunteers are all working and
learning together to maintain the
professional standards the former
staff worked so hard to establish.
Each of the volunteers has
something unique to offer, from
computer skills to gun cleaning,
and more volunteers inquire
every day.
The museum hopes to have a
dedicated volunteer group of at
least two dozen people to work
on Morrow County Museum
projects and the Morrow County
Museum Agricultural Collection
just down the street.
The museum board members
have been volunteering on
Saturdays, which gives me a
little time off.
The $3 admission for adults,
and $2 for school age and senior
citizens hasn't deterred visitors at
all.
The genealogy library is free to
researchers, and many people
have come in to research family
members who once lived in
Morrow County.
Everyone is welcome to browse
through the library or their
family file.
Genealogists who have come in
from Texas and British Columbia
are just thrilled with the
collection.
I encourage every family in
Heppner to stop by for a visit.
We still are looking for
volunteers. Call or come by and
get involved. The museum phone
number is 676-5524.
Office Supplies
FAX PAPER
Computer Paper
Gazette-Times
676-9228
Assisted living facility plans move forward
By Doris Brosnan
The reality of an assisted living
facility in the Willow Creek
Valley (WCVAL) has become
more strongly assured this
month.
After what have been frustrating
months for the WCVAL board,
the questions of financing seem
to have been answered and the
answers indicate that the project
can go forward. The board is
pleased to now have something
positive to report to the
communities.
Financing has become the key
issue and a low-cost loan is
essential to the success of the
small, not-for-profit facility.
Several months ago, the board
members were pleased to hear
that they could receive a
$680,000 Rural Development
loan from the United States
Department o f Agriculture
(USDA). The low 5.5 percent
interest rate on this funding
would mean that the month-to-
month operation of such a
facility would be possible. The
remaining $220,000 for building
the facility would come from
conventional local sources.
This news was soon followed,
however, by USDA's change to
an offer of only $580,000
funding.
The
impact
of
borrowing
the
additional
$100,000 at a conventional
interest rate would be strong
enough to make operation of the
facility impossible.
Meetings with representatives
of USDA ensued. Members of
the WCVAL board and local
banks pleaded the case and
convinced USDA to offer its
original
loan amount of
$680,000. Application was made,
and the papers were to be
delivered to the Washington,
D.C., headquarters last week.
The Oregon USDA office has
told the committee to expect 30-
40 days for D.C. to process the
application.
Impatient members of the
WCVAL Board are discovering
that each step of the project
requires weeks and must be
completed, with no shortcuts
available.
As
the
pre
construction time line is laid out,
it includes the bidding process
and selection of a contractor,
acceptance of a design proposal
and a construction review by the
state and lenders.
The WCVAL Board expects
that the "shovel will hit the
ground" next spring, but that
beginning of construction will be
dictated not only by regulations
but also by the elements,
dependent upon the spring
warming of the ground. Hopes
are high and positive for having
the facility ready for tenants by
the fall.
As the need for the assisted
living facility remains high in the
Willow Creek Valley, the board
feels the urgency that has
motivated it since the project's
inception. The members are more
and more eager to see the project
to completion and continue to be
encouraged by the individual
offers of moral and financial
support and the ongoing
purchases of the paving bricks
that will help meet their funding
goals.
W .C.C.C. Golf
WCCC Barbecue
Sunday, July 16
Low gross: Gene Sonstegard
and Jan Paqstian:
, ,
Low net: Bob Montgomery.and
Lorrene Montgomery.
KP #5: Earl N orris and
Lorrene Montgomery.
Long drive #6: Bob McDonald
and Jan Paustian.
Hosted by Lorrene and Bob
Montgomery, Carol and Earl
N orris, and Jan and Bob
McDonald.