Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 20, 2000)
County Court seeks impact aid from Army Basalo f f e t s o ll il o:* i.rvs ar* L u . j a n e , OR 91 • ■ VOL. 119 NO. 38 8 Pages Wednesday, September 20,2000 Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon Hardman Center readies for oyster feed Hardman Com m unity Canter will be getting ready for annual oyster fe< Hardman Community Center members are sprucing up the Community Hall in preparation for the Annual Oyster Feed/Salmon Bake, to be held Saturday, September 30. The menu also includes pineapple glazed baked ham, crisp coleslaw, baked potatoes from Boardman, fresh baked cakes, punch and coffee. Prices this year will remain the same as last year, which is $12 for adults, $4.50 for children under 12 and free for pre-school age children. Proceeds from the Hardman Community Center Oyster feed/salmon bake/ham dinner are to be used for the preservation of the histone Hardman Community Center. This year a donation will be given to the Willow Creek Valley Assisted Living fund. Hardman is a near-ghost town with a colorful past. It is located on Highway 207 south of Heppner. It is anticipated that well over 300 will be served this year The popular dinner coincides with the opening weekend of the 2000 deer hunting season and is enjoyed by hungry local hunters and out-of-town hunting friends. Everyone is welcome. Tickets can be purchased at the door at 4:30 p.m. Historical Society plans dinner, program The annual meeting of the Morrow County Historical Society will be held at the Lexington Grange Hall on Sunday, Oct. 1. Dinner will be served at 1:30 p.m., followed by a program. Guests are asked to bring a salad or a dessert. Connie Maret, president of the Maxwell Siding Railroad Museum in Hermiston, will speak on the museum, which was opened in 1985. Now there are nine rail cars at the museum, including two snow plows, a refrigerated box car, a dining car with a gleaming stainless steel kitchen and a lunch counter with stools, a passenger car crammed with memorabilia, two cabooses and a car that used to support a Health district to meet A regular meeting of the Morrow County Health District will be held on Monday, September 28, at 7 p.m. at the Boardman Ambulance Hall. Agenda items include: a financial report, discussion concerning Dr. Lytle's contract; a service cost analysis; CEO report; and an executive session. 4 crane. Maret hopes to attract more people to then museum which is open every Saturday from 10 a m.-3 p.m. Everyone is asked to bring any railroad memorabilia or pictures of the old railroads in the area to share with others. The program will also include a group of young fiddlers under the direction of Peg Willis of Pendleton. Century Farm plaques will be presented to Bob and Betty McLaughlin and Bob and Sharon Harrison. This brings the number of Century Farms in Morrow County to 21. The 2000 issue of The Chronicles will be made available Everyone is invited to join the society to help preserve the history of our county. Dues are $5 per person annually. AOI endorses Greg Smith Associated Oregon Industries, senate seats. AOI has endorsed the state's largest business 62 legislative candidates, and association, according to an AOI one statewide candidate news release, announced candidate endorsements for the 2000 elections. AOI's endorsement for House The Lexington Fire Department District 59 is Greg Smith. "AOI endorses candidates who levy passed 61-29 Tuesday, Sept. understand the importance of the 19, and satisfied the 50 percent private sector in providing voting requirement. necessary public services," said Richard M. Butnck, president of AOI. "We look for candidates who understand the difficulties and burdens of running a St Patrick’s Senior Center is business in Oregon, and if sponsoring a flea market on Oct. possible, those who have real 13-14 which will be held at the experience running a company center. Tables are $10 apiece. For themselves," he added. more information or to sign up for All 60 seats in the House are up a table, contact Tom Wilson, 676- for grabs, as are nine contested 5813. Lexington levy passes By Doris Brosnan The Morrow County Court, at its September 13 meeting, agreed with the Umatilla County Court, to join the national coalition seeking impact aid from the Army, subject to satisfactory answers to some questions about cost.. The two courts agreed that the counties could not afford to retain lawyers for a separate case. The courts, however, also have agreed to pursue local efforts. Public Works Director Burke O'Brien gave the following report to the court: Work on Washington and Columbia is 90 percent completed: weather and scheduling conflicts delayed fog sealing; a serious port water line rupture occurred on Laurel Lane, washing out some of the road, repair for which will be charged to the port; Rippee Road will be bladed, as will Homestead, possibly; Wilson Road needs cleanup of gravel and bark chips. O'Brien also discussed with the court Road 721, a public access road, which a landowner is requesting the county to maintain. Noting the lack of use of the road, O'Brien suggested denying the request and listed several reasons for the denial. He will send a letter of explanation to landowners along that section of road. Umatilla Commissioner Bill Hansell discussed the issue of County Line Road, voicing concern about the removal of asphalt by Morrow County from part of the road. Commissioner John Wenholz explained that the court would have to take the project suggested by Umatilla County, in which one county would provide materials and the other county would provide the labor, before the road committee. Hansell suggested a preliminary meeting of the two public works directors and a representative from each of the county courts, and he referred to the joint management agreement the counties have for that road Judge Terry Tallman suggested a tentative meeting date. Planning Director Tamra Mabbott and O'Brien brought to the court the changes in the public road policy for the county. Added is a definition for an unimproved roadway and a partially improved roadway. Also added is a clarification in the "new partition or subdivision roads" section. Mabbott reported yet needing a tool that assures roads into subdivisions be maintained in perpetuity. She also discussed limitations to homeowners associations and covenants and noted the grandfathering in of existing partitions. Morrow County Counsel Bill Hanlon offered some examples of how the policy might apply in some different situations. O'Brien observed that the county requires a road into subdivisions be built to county standards but that the county does not then maintain such a road, though some people might expect the county to do that. Commissioner Dan Brosnan suggested that the Planning Department hand out the policy with all partitions and subdivisions applications and send a copy to all realtors. County Clerk Barbara Bloodsworth suggested recording the resolution to make it known to title companies. Weed Enforcement Officer Dave Pranger clarified for the court the citation process. Hanlon noted that the enforcement ordinance does not require Pranger to seek approval from the court before citing someone unless he must spray and incur the costs that would have to be collected through a lien against the property Pranger added that he is certain the Weed Control Board will want him to start also enforcing the weed plans. Commissioner Brosnan said that he believes, as long as a property owner is making progress toward control, Pranger should work with him/her, but if someone is "stonewalling," Pranger should issue a citation. In answer to Commissioner Wenholz's question, Pranger reported that he provides education and help to landowners, which he prefers to enforcement. O'Brien noted that he has seen some landowners try very hard to work with Dave. Morrow County Behavioral Health Director Kelly Sager presented some issues affecting the behavioral health department. The court approved a prevention proposal that addressed the needs of Hispanic families, working with OSU Extension. They also approved exploring the addition of a third line to both the Heppner and Boardman offices. The court approved, also, Sager’s purchase of a laptop computer with that department's funds. They also approved exploring the use of "palm pilots" for staff who are mobile, for use in doing assessments. The court advised Sager of the procedure for purchasing equipment contracted for by Mid Columbia Center for Living. The court approved an agreement with Grant County for management services. Sager said that the vehicle previously purchased for his position is not what he considers practical. Judge Tallman reported having met with the OSU Extension staff to explain the budget situation to them, at which time they offered to send out an informational flyer with their next newsletter mailing. The court discussed dates for informational public meetings on the budget and agreed upon Thursday, September 28, at 7 p.m. in Heppner and Tuesday, October 3, at 7 p.m. in Boardman. Hanlon addressed the court about the need for a performance bond on a small contract, citing a statute requiring it. Discussion continued on the difficulty of getting bids because of the requirement, which adds a cost Hanlon reported a change in the Oregon statute pertaining to "Act of Congress" land The change in the definition of "buildable" maLes the parcels not buildable. Hanlon also reported that Mabbott had written the Army about its promise, unfulfilled, to fund an environmental position Other action taken by the court included the following: -acceptance of Devin Oil's bid for providing heating oil; -agreement that Brosnan will act as first alternate for Wenholz on the CSEPP Board and Judge Tallman will act as second alternate. - approval of a renewed contract with the City of Boardman Police Department that covers several services, including 911, justice court, prosecutions. LEDs services, calls for warrant confirmation, and other related services for the city; - approval of an agreement for an assessment and taxation software program; -approval of a contract with Powerware, to be paid with Oregon Emergency Management funds, for uninterruptable power supply for equipment at the Emergency Operations Center in Heppner; - approval of the roofing bid to Walton C on s tru ct io n, Incorporated. Dog licenses now available at city Heppner City Dog Licenses are now available at Heppner Citv Hall. Cost of the license will depend on whether the dog is spayed or neutered. Spayed or neutered dogs can be licensed for a cost of $7 per animal with proof of surgery. Otherwise, the cost for the license is $15. Proof of current rabies vaccination will be required before a license will be issued. City ordinance requires that all dogs within the city be licensed. Owners are responsible for licensing their dogs and may be cited for failing to license their animal. Dogs running loose within the city may be impounded, and, if they are licensed, city staff will be able to notify the owner that the animal has been impounded, said a city news release. If the dog is not licensed, there is no way to know who the dog belongs to, said the release. Dogs that are not claimed within three days may be destroyed if the owner can not be identified. Dogs that have been impounded may be reclaimed by paying a redemption fee of $15 plus $6 per day fee for boarding. Before the dog may be released, the owner must either show proof of licensing or purchase a license Licenses will be valid for one year and will need to be renew ed before January 1 of each year. Licenses purchased between now and January 1, 2001 will be valid until January 1, 2002. BMCC to hold local drawing class Blue Mountain Community College announces a 10-week Drawing With Mixed Media class, scheduled between Heppner and lone, starting Thursday, Sept. 28. The class will have its initial meeting at the Heppner High School art room at 7 p.m. on that date. Tom Shear and Astrid Bruno have teamed up to teach the class. The class is designed for those wishing to leam the basics of drawing School age students, grades four and up, arc also welcome to join the class. Cost is $40 plus a lab lee to be set for supplies. Students will receive information on fees and supplies on the first night of class. For more information, contact Anne Morter. BMCC coordinator for South Morrow County, at 422-7040. Cub Scouts to hold school night Heppner Cub Scout Pack 661 will hold its School Night for Scouting on Tuesday, Sept. 26 at 6:30 p.m. upstairs at the Heppner Elks Club. Cub Scouts is open to any boy ages 7-10 and/or grades first through fifth. Scouts go camping and have field trips. Every year they participate in events like the Pinewood Derby and day camp, while scouting activities include whittling, making fires, hiking, completing service projects, play ing games, tying knots and telling jokes. The scouts meet in dens with boys their own age several times a year All the dens meet once a month for a pack meeting. Bonnie Wenberg’s basketry topic The creative basketry talents of Bonnie Wenberg will be featured at the next meeting of the Morrow County Arts & Crafts Club Thursday. September 28. Lunch will be at Cal's at 1 p.m with the demonstration and short meeting to follow. Everyone is invited to attend. HUNTERS! LAST CHANCE Senior Center to hold flea market M orrow Fort Lewis S al • Ends Saturday 69110/29110 C ounty G rain G rowers Lexington 989-8221 * 1 -800-452-7396 1 For firm equipment. *mt ourweb wte at WWW m e g net
