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
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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
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676-9181
"When Friemrb M n f
142 N o rth Main
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