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TWO - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, October 4, 2000 Support Denton Irrigon students need a high school To the Editor: As the sheriffs election nears, I have heard several isolated comments criticizing the sheriffs H ep p n e r department and thus. Sheriff (Verlin) Denton. These complaints are actually not new U S P S 240-420 as they were voiced during (retired) Sheriff Drago’s terms as well. Morrow County's Home-Owned Weekly N e w sp a p e r Published weekly and entered as penodical matter at the Post O ffice at Heppner, Oregon The first issue has to do with under the A ct o f M arch 3,1879 Penodical postage paid at Heppner, Oregon O ffice at 147 Morrow County's participation in W W illow Street Telephone ( M l 1676-9228 Fax (541 (676-9211 P-mail gt@heppner net the BENI' drug task force and the or gt(arapidserve net Web site www heppner net Postmaster send address changes to second is a perception that the the Heppner Gazette-Times, P O B ox 337, Heppner, Oregon 97836. Subscriptions $22 in M orrow County, S I6 senior rate (in M orrow County only, 62 years or older), $29 else sheriffs department is unable to where attract quality applicants to fill D avid Sykes ...................................................................................................... Publisher patrol deputy positions. A p n ! H ilton-Sykes .......................................................................................... Editor Shortly after being appointed On the HEPPNER WEBSITE: www.heppner.net Sheriff Denton mailed out • Start or Change a Subscription questionnaires to the citizens of • Place a Classified Ad • Submit a News Story Morrow County requesting input • View Real Estate for Sale on issues involving the operation • City Council & Planning Minutes of the department. One of the • Local Businesses • County Park • Willow Creek Park Reservations questions was whether or not to • Free Digital Postcards • Senior Housing • and more! continue participating in the BENT drug task force. This was the only question which received Letters to the Editor a unanimous affirmative response. The citizens sent a very 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 clear message. Morrow County currently letters for use by the C-T office. The C-T reserves the right to edit. The C-T is not provides one detective to the task responsible for accuracy of statements made in letters. force. To conduct any kind of a drug investigation requires a minimum of two detectives and As sheriff, he is charged with a search warrant service is rarely To the Editor: multitude of responsibilities, which done with less than 10 or more I have known Verlin Denton for he carries out with true dedication officers. If Morrow County were the past decade. As the OSP Criminal Division sergeant for and professionalism. Verlin is one to elect to go it alone, it would the most progressive immediately have to double the most of the decade, I worked with of administrators I know. His efforts closely with Verlin on efforts with present personnel commitment, with regards to drug enforcement, the Blue Mountain Enforcement doubling the cost, and in my Narcotics Team as well as the domestic violence issues, violent opinion immeasurably reducing Morrow County Major Crime crime, rural crime and juvenile the effectiveness of the current Team. As the OSP station issues are second to none. The fact approach. commander in Pendleton during the he took a poll of Morrow County In addition the money used to past year and a half. I worked with residents to ascertain their concerns conduct investigations is Verlin as a fellow law enforcement about law enforcement service presently being drawn from levels shortly after taking office, administrator. seizure funds. These funds are demonstrates his willingness to be Verlin Denton is one of the most monies which were confiscated professional law enforcement innovative and progressive. from drug dealers as the proceeds administrators 1 know. As the Verlin Denton is well respected of illegal drug trafficking which, undersheriff, Verlin virtually ran by his peers and associates after a civil forfeiture process, the department, taking care of the throughout the region and state of are then used to finance future day-to-day operations. As such, Oregon. He is a leader in his drug investigations. In other Verlin has a decade of profession. I encourage the citizens words local drug dealers are administrative experience under his of Morrow County to retain a great, financing the "war on drugs". belt* In this day and age, law asset they currently have in law Were Morrow County to enforcement is a very complicated enforcement, and to reelect Verlin discontinue participating in the job and it takes experience, Denton as sheriff. task force, we (the citizens) (s) Mike McCullough, would have to come up with the maturity and intelligence to run an Former OSP lieutenant funding necessary to conduct organization. Pendleton investigations. This would be cost prohibitive. Most people are probably unaware that the focus of the task force is generally mid to upper level drug dealers. This has been determined to be the best use of To the Editor: Times.) It was nice to see the plight of For our students’ future ability to the limited personnel resources. limited access to equal educational earn a family wage, this has to Our goal is to identify the source opportunity in small rural schools change. However, due to of supply of drugs being highlighted in the East Oregonian. unfortunate political and financial smuggled into the area and to cut But George Murdock of the realities, it will not change unless off that supply. It makes no sense Educational Service District missed or until South Morrow learns to to arrest a user with a quarter a few comparisons when he speak with one concern and gram of methamphetamine and recounted his stories. demands equal educational access. allow a dealer to import pounds He failed to mention the We need to refrain from dividing into the area. Heppner elementary and high up an already too-small funding We all recognize (citizens and law enforcement alike) that there school students who live on Little pie. are users and dealers residing and Buttercreek. Our map shows it is a To offer a curriculum geared to 37-mile trip through this area from the twenty-first century, we need to walking the streets of Morrow Heppner. but these students have consolidated the Heppner and lone County. Many are well known to been riding the bus for years. With high schools into "South Morrow all of us and thus highly visible. You are probably also aware that the longer school day necessitated High." by the four-day school week, this Some lone persons resist losing a many are regularly arrested and sounds like an impossibility for specific lone identity. Certainly our shortly released on bail, or their primary students, yet their Pine schools are an important focus. I own recognizance awaiting City school was consolidated years believe, however, that Heppner’s disposition of their charges. They ago. people get their feelings for their are then placed on probation, or If it is correct that a student living community also from cTvic serve terms in various facilities in Cecil, 30.4 miles (state figures) organizations and their churches. and are then released or paroled, from Heppner, would spend three Two churches now have joint at which time many re-offend hours daily riding a bus, then the services and the fellowship is great. and the process begins again. The students on Little Buttercreek must It remains my hope that old or sheriffs department has little if really be in trouble. perceived differences can be put any influence in the disposition All South Morrow has limited aside for the bettermentof all South of suspects after they have been access to education. Heppner High Morrow students. If we fail to do arrested. Remember that each School currently does not have a this, it probably won’t be the time this occurs our drug dealer credentialed advanced math parents who suffer, but our children becomes more experienced, more teacher. (For South Morrow will. knowledgeable and more familiar curriculum, as well as North, see (s) Meg Murray with the methods of law the September 13 Heppner Gazette lone enforcement. This obviously makes them more difficult to catch. Drugs are an enormous problem; they are a problem in nearly every city, county and state in this, and many other The Official Newspaper of the City of Heppner and the County of Morrow GAZETTE-TIMES Denton well respected Put away preconceived notions about schools BURNING BAN Irrigon long overdue for high school Grant Irrigon a high school S ta p p i/. 19th The Burn Ban for the City of Heppner ‘J iv d h d a if will no longer be in effect beginning Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2000. A 5-day open (out of container) fires and may be purchased for $1.00 at Heppner City Hall, 188 NW Willow Street. -I- ■'-ti ‘I* zfv -1- -I- .T. -I* “I " * * Retain Denton earned the opportunity to be To the Editor: ¿PunceAô * We intend to vote for Verlin retained in office as Morrow Denton for Morrow County Sheriff ^ oun,y Sheriff * in the November election (s) John and Pat Edmundson Heppner * This choice is based on the fact * that Sheriff Denton is a top-notch Cctoêex * law enforcement professional with Jßove, * a solid background of experience .Horn, D ad * and accomplishment. Verlin Denton has worked <£ Camille $1.00 lb. * effectively as a deputy, as undcr- «7. \tZ m ta StZ Ntz .7 . \tz A Jstc mim «I« Gazette-Times ■ 676-9228 V >4’ ’ Js iI*H '*l* sheriff and as sheriff. He has Jßeia! 12th burning permit is required for all Rusty Estes, Fire Chief is not considered a big problem countries. It is unrealistic to To the Editor: To Irrigon parents, either. The return of your believe that Morrow County or students should not be an added any other law enforcement grandparents and friends: Wake up Irrigon - now is the expense. agency can eliminate substance abuse until a solution to the time. Your students need a high Some have voiced concern that the quality of education will national problem is identified. school. We need your help. Call your Morrow County suffer. Not true. Kids will learn The most we can hope for, with Superintendent and as well in Irrigon as in the resources that we can School school board members and make Boardman. The water, air or realistically devote, is to keep the pressure on and prevent it from them aware that it is time your whatever has no major effect on becoming epidemic. In my students have their own high the ability of your student to progress normally. Good teachers opinion this is not possible school. Heppner. lone and Boardman teach - good students learn. The without pooling resources with other jurisdictions in task force all have a high school and your plus here is that you have a students should have the same chance to be more involved with type operations. In regard to the second issue, benefit during their educational your studdnt. Soon we are going to be asked most everyone has heard on the experiences. This is especially news or read that the city of true since Irrigon has a larger to pass a bond to construct two Portland is recruiting in Los population than any of the above elementary schools. One school for Boardman and one for Angeles, the city of Los Angeles mentioned. is recruiting in Seattle, and It is fact that students do better Irrigon. Morrow County School Seattle is recruiting in some other and progress much faster if there large city. In fact this is going on is parent participation connected Superintendent has agreed that all over the United States. My with their learning environment. the construction of these previous employer has been Yet, it is almost impossible for buildings should accommodate K unable to maintain full staffing families to attend all functions through 6 as recommended in levels and I was recently told that that are 13 miles away. Having to order for it to become possible the current average level of drive round trip 26 miles can be for our high school students to be experience for street officers very expensive and many jobs returned. there is less than four years. Not keep parents later than time We should pass this bond if long ago 1 attended an allowed to attend certain this recommendation holds true. international major crimes functions. If not, Irrigon has no obligation conference and learned that this A new building is not needed to allow monies to be spent for is going on all over the world. An to attain this goal. The Columbia things other than in the best investigator from one of the Middle School building is interest of our Irrigon students. largest metropolitan departments designed to adequately house Your students deserve it ....please see that they get it. in this country told me that their grades seven through 12 with (s) Dan and Jean Creamer annual turnover from minor adjustments. Irrigon retirements, etc., is in the According to studies made, cost neighborhood of 800 officers. Recently they tested to fill those positions and received about 800 applications. This was down To the Editor: This letter is written to clarify seriously. With all of these considerably from the past when some questions raised by an recommendations, we do not think they had several thousand, they are also out actively recruiting. editorial in the Sept. 9 issue of the we are being the least bit During all this the sheriffs East Oregonian, entitled "priorities" unreasonable in feeling this is the department has continued to fill and pertaining to the merit of time to have our high school restored. positions with what I consider to adding a high school in Irrigon. Another comment we would take The comment we would be quality people. A little more than a year ago we had two challenge the most strongly is "now issue with is, "it would take deputies attending the Oregon is not the time to consider reviving considerable planning and work to Police Academy. One of the a high school in Irrigon." Had the refit Columbia Middle School and deputies was the recipient of the writer of the article been present Riverside High School and the "Lee M. Brown" scholastic when we made a bid for the return teaching staffs, to handle all achievement award which of our high school six years ago, he secondary students." Six years ago, recognizes the highest scholastic would have seen the staffing when we made a bid for our high achiever of each academy class. analysis report prepared by then school, the board made the This same deputy was also county Superintendent Chuck Starr, concession of adding on to recognized i for expertise in which showed no electives would Columbia Middle School in a firearms training. The second be lost if Irrigon and Boardman design that would be compatible recruit deputy.received an award each went to a 7-12 configuration for a s6ven-12 configuration. It is for his achievements in the area and there would even be a saving in already designed for this purpose. If Irrigon and Boardman each went teaching staff. of defensive tactics training. to a seven-12 configuration, we Our current superintendent, Bruce In almost 4,000 hours of would be in conformity with the Anderson, has gone on record training and 24 years of police experience I have had the publicly as strongly recommending towns in our area—Stanfield, Umatilla, Heppner, lone. This opportunity to work with a high school for Irrigon. The Matrix Group, a consulting system is very beneficial for junior numerous fine law enforcement professionals from all over the firm hired by the Morrow County high students, as the teachers cross United States. I, like most of the School Board to do an in-depth over, and students have the deputies in this department, study of county schools and advantage of specialists in most came to work for Morrow determine what buildings need fields. I agree with the writer in his County because we wanted to upgrading and what new schools live and serve in this community, need to be built, came out in favor assessment of the importance of high schools in small and not-so- not because we couldn't find of a high school in Irrigon. small towns, and his comment that The Nelson Report, compiled employment elsewhere. I took a significant reduction in income after surveying various citizens of they traditionally have been a focal compensation, benefits and Morrow County, came out in favor point for the town. I close this seniority to be here. I am happy of returning students in North article by saying the high school is with my decision and proud to be Morrow County to their own the heart and soul of every town, a member of the Morrow County communities (Boardman’s sixth, large or small, and%we are long seventh and eighth grades would overdue. We sincerely believe that Sheriffs Department. Quality police agencies don't return to Boardman, and Imgon's it is "now or never" for us, and with of the professional happen by accident; they require grades nine-12 would return to all recommendations in our favor, we quality direction by trained, Irrigon). Both of these studies were simply cannot think of one valid experienced, honest and devoted mandated by the Morrow County reason why our high school should leaders. Sheriff Denton has been in law enforcement for over 27 School Board and funded by not be restored. (s) LaVelle Partlow years; he has worked uniform Morrow County taxpayers, and we Irrigon patrol, detectives, including believe they should be taken homicide and narcotics, and has been a police supervisor and administrator. He was the To the Editor: people, it is very important to us, undersheriff of Morrow County Is this what you want for your and to many of our friends. for 13 years during Sheriff kids? Until it happens to you If Irrigon is successful in our Drago's administration, and was personally, you are not prepared bid to have our own high school, appointed sheriff upon the for the toll the long bus trips take travel would be cut drastically. retirement of Sheriff Drago. on your high school students for This would eliminate many, Without reservation I support the various sporting events. Our many long trips, which are retaining Sheriff Denton. daughter Kimber recently dangerous in the wintertime and (s) Mark and Elaine Miller participated in a soccer game in rob our families of time together. Heppner Cascadn (south of Eugene). She Please support your school boarded the bus in Irrigon at 2:30 advisory board and our W E PR IN T a.m., in the morning, rode for community by attending the several hours, played in the school board meeting at LE T T E R H E A D soccer match, and arrived home Riverside High School on Heppner G azette-Tim es at 10:30 in the evening. Monday evening, October 9, at This scheduling is extremely 7:30 p.m. The board plans to vote exhausting for our young people at this meeting on whether or not and leaves very little time for any to grant Irrigon a high school. * family interaction, and while this Barb Huwe * may not be important to some Irrigon * * SCRATCH PADS I
