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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 20, 2000)
TWO - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, September 20, 2000 The Official Newspaper of the City of Heppner and the County of Morrow Heppner G A Z E T T E -T IM E S U S PS 240-420 Morrow County's Home-Owned Weekly Newspaper Published weekly and entered as penodical matter at 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@hcppner net or gtiuirapidserve net Web site: www heppner net Postmaster send address changes to the Heppner Gazette-Times, P O Box 337, Heppner, Oregon 97836. Subscriptions: S22 in Morrow County, $16 senior rate (in Morrow County only; 62 years or older), $29 else where David Sykes.............................................................................................................. Publisher April llilton-Sykes................................................................................................... Editor On the HEPPNER WEBSITE: www.heppner.net • Start or Change a Subscription • Place a Classified Ad • Submit a News Story • V iew Real Estate for Sale • City Council & Planning Minutes • Local Businesses • County Park • Willow Creek Park Reservations • Free Digital Postcards • Senior Housing • and more! DA's Report Morrow County District Attorney David C. Allen reports the following business: -Richard F. Hinz plead guilty to driving while suspended- misdemeanor and was sentenced to 180 days in jail, suspended on the condition that he not drive, unless validly licensed and insured, with 24 months probation and ordered to pay $434 in fines, fees and assessments; another account of driving while suspended and open container and was sentenced to 180 days in jail, suspended, with 24 months probation, ordered not to drive unless validly licensed and insured and pay $434 in fines, fees and assessments. - John Earl LaGrow plead guilty to possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to 18 months probation, 80 hours of community services, ordered to complete a drug package , had his driving privileges suspended for 90 days and ordered to pay $974 in fines, fees and assessments. -Chad William Wynn plead guilty to assault IV and -was sentenced to 180 days in jail, suspended, 24 months probation, ordered to have no contact with the victim until approved by treatment provider, complete a batterer's intervention program and pay $869 in fines, fees and assessments. -Jeremy Bradford plead guilty to harassment and minor in possession of alcohol and was sentenced to 30 days in jail, suspended, with 18 months probation, ordered to have no contact with the victim, complete an alcohol package and pay $684 in fines, fees and assessments. -Robert Wade Eastep plead guilty to attempting to elude a police officer-C felony, driving under the influence of mtoxicants-A misdemeanor, driving while suspended-A misdemeanor, reckless driving and criminal mischief II and was sentenced to 24 months probation, 80 hours of community service and ordered to write a letter of apology to Columbia Basin Electric Co-op, complete a drug package, DUII package and alcohol package, 180 days in jail, suspended, have driver's license suspended for a year and an additional 90 days and pay $4,985.34 in fines, fees and assessments, which includes restitution to Columbia Basin Electric and the Heppner Volunteer Fire Department. Correction The rum m age sale at the Heppner Neighborhood Center will be held this Friday, Sept. 22, from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Benefit planned for area people A steak feed and auction has been planned for this Saturday, September 23, at 6 p.m. at the Hermiston Community Center to benefit three young adults in the community. w '\ Editor's note Letters to the Editor must be signed The Gazette-Times w ill not publish unsigned letters. Please include your address and phone number on all letters for use by the G-T office. The G -T reserves the right to edit. The C-T is not responsible for accuracy o f statements made in letters. Think positive To the Editor: Was really sorry to read such a negative letter about the Mor row County Fair in the Sept. 2 Gazette-Times. Am wondering if she looked at the 4-H projects to see that all the youth from all the county partici pated. This is a good experience for them. It teaches them leader ship, self-confidence, to complete a project, to be good sports and they cannot be a winner all the time. There were also three clerks from the Boardman and Imgon area, along with many people that helped with the sale and through out the fair that should not be overlooked. When a person enters the dif ferent departments their item tags are folded and fastened so no one knows who or where they are from. The judges are from different counties as much as possible and have taken classes to become qualified. Each judge has differ ent ideas as to what makes a win ner. If anyone wants to become a qualified judge, the County Exten sion office can supply the needed information. Sorry you also overlooked all the volunteers in the 4-H snack sh?ck. Boardman, Irrigon, lone, Lexington and Heppner each have a day when they man and take care of the duties which really keep them busy and support the 4-H projects. In the department I entered, a woman from Imgon won sweep- stakes. It is always fun to see which item wins the big prize. Think positive and enter items in the fair that makes it more fun. The fair board is always look ing for more help and it would be greatly appreciated. The fair of fice phone is 676-9474. D on’t forget the Morrow County Fair is a complete county fair and we sincerely appreciate all the volunteers and everyone that participates and especially the fair board for keeping it running so smoothly. (s) Ginger Keithley Heppner County hard hit with budget problems Angie Currin Williams Ten days after saying her wedding vows, 27-year-old Angie Cumn Williams suffered a severe head injury. Since the accident Angie has had five brain surgeries. Because Angie is in a partial coma, she is being cared for at a private care facility in Walla Walla, WA. Approximately two months ago Audrey Homan was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called Rhabdomyosarcoma. Audrey, who turned 22 years old just last week, is undergoing extensive chemotherapy to reduce the size of the tumors. Her doctor has indicated that the chemotherapy will have to continue for at least another four months with radiation and surgery to follow. Marek Kopacz, a 28-year- old husband and father of three young children, was injured August 13 in an ATV accident. The accident has left Marek paralyzed. He is currently undergoing treatment at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Pasco, WA. Medical bills for all three are piling up and each has limited financial support to help cover their expenses. The Hermiston community is holding the steak feed and auction t help offset some of these financial burdens. The proceeds from this event will be divided equally among all three adults. Everyone is invited to dine at the steak feed to show support for the three young people. The cost of the steak feed will be $15 per person or $25 for a couple. After the feed, a raffle and auction of items donated by local businesses are planned. For more information, call Sami Taylor at 567-7834, Kathy Williams at 481-2627, Monica Byrd at 567-5259 or Chrissy Nichols at 564-8545. We Print BUSINESS CARDS O m ette- Time* CoMee B oa S P E C IA L S ! GRANITA COFFEE ICED buy o ne, RASPBERRY g e i se c o n d sm ell a i <1.30 LATTE se c o n d large a i <1.70 25<T OFF W Letters to the Editor TAo Country Uosa 233 N. Mai i » Heppner* 676-9426 To the Editor: Morrow County was hit hard by the passage of ballot measures 47 and 50 a few years ago. This was partly because of the immediate loss of revenues, partly because the county had already been scaling back its budgets for the preceding six years, and partly because of the long-term effects on property tax revenues. At first, most of the losses were limited to areas the general public wouldn't immediately recognize - things like reducing or eliminating the county's ability to deal with emergency situations through contingency funds, decreasing ending fund balances, and decreasing or eliminating reserve funding that helps to replace expensive but necessary capitol equipment such as computer systems and dump trucks. As time went on, the county continued to make cuts and more of them began to be noticed - like reduced hours in some departments, staff reductions (perhaps causing noticeably slower service), and the elimination of geographic information systems (GIS) services. The County Court, Budget Committee and the department administrators have all worked hard to minimize the effect of budgetary losses on the services available to the public. The problem now is two-fold; 1) The short-term fixes have all been exhausted - things like using more of the Finley Buttes license fees (tippage fees) to "backfill" the general fund, and discontinuing rock crushing for a year. 2) There is no place left to cut without severely diminishing services to the public, many of which the county is mandated by law to provide. The county is facing budget projections for the next fiscal year that leave it $1 million short of being able to maintain current levels of already diminished services. I agree with County Judge Terry Tallman, who has said, "The significance of the proposed levy to county services can hardly be overstated. We are a small local government, and the effect of a $1 million shortfall could only be described as devastating to our ability to provide fundamental county services." Because of the importance of the proposed local option levy to services, the county has set up informational forums at both ends of the county to help answer questions from the public about the levy and the consequences of its passage or failure. The meetings will be held on Thursday, September 28, at 7 p.m. at the U.S. Forest Service conference room in Heppner and on Tuesday, October 3, at 7 p.m. at the Riverfront Center in Boardman. We encourage everyone to attend. Dan Brosnan Morrow County Commissioner Re-elect Denton him as interim sheriff upon his To the Editor: To the Citizens of Morrow (Drago's) retirement. There are few sheriffs offices in County: With the November elections the state of Oregon that run with soon to be rolling around, most such efficiency and coordination of us are wondering what as does the Morrow County initiatives should we vote for and Sheriffs Office. I believe that I which ones are we voting can say this with great against. It all boils down to how confidence since I was Morrow they affect us individually and County Judge for 12 of the 18 years that Sheriff Denton has collectively as a society. The same applies to those been with the Morrow County individuals running for public Sheriffs Department. Sheriff Denton has office. Who, running for office, can best represent our interests. demonstrated the ability to There is one elected position on enforce the law fairly and the November ballot that is of uniformly, and to treat the public utmost importance to you and with dignity and respect. He has me. That position is the Morrow developed a three million dollar County Sheriff position, a very budget and administered it effectively. For these reasons it is high impact position. We have two candidates important that each of you who running for this position. Both vote in November, to carefully consider the qualities of our men are of high integrity and are present sheriff, Verlin Denton — serious about the job. However, He certainly has my vote and I there is only one candidate, hope that he has your vote as Verlin Denton who is truly well. As an afterthought, 27 of qualified for the job in terms of the 36 Oregon sheriffs have administrative ability and in endorsed Verlin Denton as the terms of professional and most qualified candidate for the educational qualities. Verlm has been in law job. I have always said, " Morrow enforcement for more than 23 County may not have the largest years. He has worked up though sheriffs department in Oregon, the ranks of officer, sergeant, undershenff and has been sheriff but it has the best." Finally, as the old saying goes, "If it ain't of Morrow County for the past two years. He worked under the broke, don't fix it." Vote Denton. (s) Louis Carlson respected Sheriff Roy Drago Heppner until Sheriff Drago appointed Fair judging is fair two who work together. To the Editor: This letter is response to the Sometimes the number of entries commentary printed last week is overwhelming and help is from Mary Garrett of Boardman. needed. Plus, if you are the only She stated that judges were from one accepting entries for a Heppner and favored Heppner department, you can't leave residents at the Morrow County during the entry time, the Fair. Nothing could be further judging, then you have to display from the truth. Ms. Garrett everything. TTiat adds up to two apparently does not know how long 8-10 hours or more per day the fair works and how the without leaving the fairgrounds. The volunteers work hard, long entries are judged. Judges for all open class hours and eat a lot of burgers at divisions are not residents of the the snack-shack. I understand that many north county in which they are judging. county residents don’t get a lot of They are certified in their area of ribbons. The odds are against expertise and recognized experts. Many even judge at the state fair them since there are very few level. For example, the clothing, entries from there. Maybe if Ms. quilts and needlework were all Garrett got some of her friends to bring entries down for the fair judged by a lady from Wasco. The tags with the entrants name they would get more ribbons. It and address are two-part tags. At only makes sense. I have family the time of entry the tab is folded in the north end and they don't up and sealed so the judge never want to bring entries down sees the entrant's identity. Those because, "It's too far to drive just tabs are not folded down till all enter stuff in the fair." Well that judging is complete. It is then is how most of the north county that the secrecy tab is tom off by thinks. Well, why do you people the superintendent and the item bother advertising your stupid displayed. The judge is gone by "Music in the Park" programs then and never even sees the down here. We're not (hiving up there just sit in a dirty, bug entrants' name. During judging, the infested park being patrolled by superintendent is the one gang members and listen to bad assisting the judge by "clerking” music. Then drive all the way or bring her the items and writing back down here to home. The down her placement. As an avid sentiment works both ways. Ms. Garrett, I hope you sewer myself, I enter lots of understand a little more about the items. I can never tell or indicate way the fair works and that it is to the judge in any way that an item she is judging is mine. Since not "fixed" in favor of the there are two other Heppner residents. The judges superintendents there at the time, are totally impartial and don't they can attest to that. This is even know any of us. Please especially difficult when her first come to the fair when entries are comment about a garment I've accepted next year and see how made is, "That is the ugliest thing they are logged in the books and I have ever seen." And, yes, that the ID tags shut. That begins at 1 has happened. I just swallow my p.m., Monday of fair week and lasts till 8 p.m. You are also pride and pretend it's not mine. welcome to watch the judging at With regards to Ms. Garrett's 8 a.m. Tuesday morning. We com ment about the superintendents being from the have nothing to hide and you south end of the county, has she may find you like it and want to ever volunteered? All you have volunteer. By the way the fair to do is call the office. We have office number is 676-9474. The been looking for someone to take secretary is LaRae Kindle. I'm over the quilt department for sure she would be happy to get several years. No one has more volunteers. (s) Lori E. Straley volunteered. Before I took over Morrow County Fair the clothing, they didn't have a Superintendent, Open Class superintendent for several years. There may be other departments Clothing and Textiles Heppner needing help. Most of them have Sheriff only surfaces at election time To the Editor: Things you might consider before voting for Sheriff Denton: 1. Is he involved with the community? Others and myself go to coffee almost daily at our local restaurants in lone. I have never seen him just stop by and visit with the local people on how his department is doing and what services they might improve on. If he is not comfortable with this, why has he not held a town hall meeting for a question and answer session? 2. Does the sheriff enforce the law with dignity and fairness? Yes, the sheriff is not always popular enforcing the law, and yes, when the law is enforced with dignity and fairness, I have no problem. What happens when it is not? When a deputy recently resigned, why was it not in the local paper? When anyone else resigns in the community it is fnade public information. What is he trying to hide? When questions of the deputies performance were brought to Sheriff Denton's attention, he became very defensive without first checking the facts. Yes, he should defend his deputies but should arrange to have a face-to- face meeting with the involved parties so that all facts come out. If there are improprieties in this deputy's performance, he needs to get back with the involved parties and explain what actions are taken to prevent this from happening again. Was a review made of other citations for similar improprieties and were they thrown out of court? 3. Does he take an overzealous approach in stopping vehicles without probable cause? Numerous people have talked to me dbout being closely followed at night for a lengthy distance, and then pulled over for a questionable law infraction. Is this a revenue thing? 4. The few times I have called the sheriffs office to find out details about a situation where a deputy has visited in the neighborhood, I left with the impression that it was none of my business. If there is a problem in my neighborhood I want to know about it. I thought that was what the neighborhood watch was all about. We rely on each other. The Portland and Tri- Cities television stations are able to disclose alleged violators, why can't Morrow County? I think they could be a little more forthcoming in supplying us information. Recently Sheriff Denton was in lone personally walking around and handing out campaign literature. I applaud him for this. Why is it the only time we have seen him in lone is at election time? Is this the only time he will be community minded? (s) Terry Mewhinney lone September S la t - Thursday DDGER Nolan Carnahan visitation, Dinner starts at 6 p.m.; Initiation starts at 8 p.m. September 88th - Thursday HTFNTHR8 NIGHT! all-you-can-eat barbecue ribs with all the fixings! Dinner starts at 6 p.m. Win a Win chester model 70 sporter 7mm stw rifle, plus many more prizes I Get there early to purchase your tickets. Mem bers and out-of-town guests only. c B IN G O B A C K O N W E D N E S D A Y S S T A R T IN G A T 7 :0 0 p .m . §1 HEPPNER ELKS 358 Æ 676-9181 "When Friemrb M n f 142 N o rth Main ¥
