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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 18, 2000)
Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Letters to the Editor Ask questions about Lexington council Budget committee supports road levy To the Editor: To The Editor: As members of the Morrow County Budget Committee, we are submitting this letter in support of the road levy. The Morrow County Court and the budget committee were faced with a significant shortfall in the county budget this past year. Over the last two years we experienced problems with balancing the budget. However, we were able to balance the budgets by making many small cuts and by reducing ending fund balances. This year we had no option available except to make significant reductions. Some of these reductions included the loss of 13 full and part time positions, shutting down the rock crushing operation for the year, and the elimination of funding for the county museum and the GIS program. The last several years $206,000 have been transferred from the Finley Buttes tippage fees to back fill the general fund budget. This year as additional $250,000 was needed to balance the budget. This fund is now depleted. The following are some of the factors that have caused revenues to not keep pace with ever rising costs; Ballot measures 5, 47 and 50, and the decreasing value of the utility systems due to depreciation. Utility values make Editor's note: Letters to the Editor must be signed The Cazette-Times w ill not I hope the letter to the editor by publish unsigned letters. Please include your address and phone number on all the five citizens of Lexington letters (or use by the C-T office. The C-T reserves the right to edit. The C-T is not does cause the other citizens of responsible for accuracy of statements made in letters. Lexington to start asking questions. And I hope that you will ask each of these five people the next time you see them every strong enough to just “Say No.” one of these questions below; Knowledge is power; let’s em because you need to know the facts from fiction. power our children. Ask them why they keep He also has some new budget singling out Glenn Anderson as ideas that would greatly benefit the one who hired Mr. Cline everyone in our county. . when they were told that it was a Steve is easy to talk to and will majority of the council who did? ing to listen to your ideas. He’s Ask them why they have never always out and about, so next time asked the council why it was you see him on the street, take the considered an emergency? time to stop and chat and listen to Ask them how many water some of his ideas to help our com customers would of been out of munity. service if this was not done? If you really care about our Ask them for how long these community, you’ll listen to what customers would of been without he has to say and he’ll listen to service? you. He cares. Ask them if they were one of I believe this change will do us these customers would they of good because ideas are a dime a consider it an emergency? dozen, but action is priceless. Ask them how many thousands If you would like to contact of dollars the town would of lost Officer Myren and hear more if this was not done? about some of his ideas, feel free Ask them how they proposed to to call him at 481 -2924 or write to make up this loss of money? P.O. Box 1276, Boardman, OR Ask them who had more 97818. He’ll be glad to hear from experience with the town you and know that you care. backhoe, water system and was I care. I’m voting for Steve readily available and willing? Myren. (Please leave name at city hall (s) Darla Wishart for the future.) Heppner Ask them how many times the starting date of this project was changed? Ask them how many days notice the town got ahead of the should not have to be subjected last change? to such checks. This is that defining moment in Ask them how much time the which Smith shows that he has town maintenance man worked either not thought carefully about on this before it became evident what he thinks, or has not that he needed help? planned carefully what he will Then ask how much time was say. Style reflects substance. It's left before loss of money or a matter of simple logic-how is water service? one to know who the law-abiding Ask them how they can say "no citizens are without a background one in town was aware of the situation or hiring of Cline until check? he was seen on the site" since I own guns. I support the right this was done by the majority of to carry firearms. I currently hold a permit to carry a concealed the council? Ask them to name the lawyers weapon in the State of Oregon. they claimed were That said, I was very willing to who contacted? Ask them if council be finger printed so my background could be checked to members have and do represent make sure that I was, in fact, a the tOVWI? (M a y b e they forgot.) Since they claim *tb know about law-abiding citizen. Is Smith telling voters that he the fire department and make has a way of recognizing law- certain claims, ask them how abiding citizens without checking many people it takes to man a the record? I'd like to know how truck? Ask them how many he plans to do it. In the meantime. I'm voting for Linda Harrington. To the Editor: (s) Linda Shaw As the elections approach, Heppner Morrow County voters are presented with several important choices. One of the most important is the choice we will and a budget that keeps make for Morrow County dwindling because of Oregon Sheriff. Measure 50. The Morrow County I first met Sheriff Verlin Sheriffs Department is also Denton more than 15 years ago responsible for dispatching and when we attended Northwestern 911 emergency calls for three University's School of Police other counties. Sheriff Denton Staff and Command. The has the background, knowledge dedication, professionalism, and and experience to do the job he knowledge that he displayed has been doing for the past two impressed me then, and I have years as Morrow County Sheriff continued to be impressed, and assisted retired Sheriff Roy especially since he was elevated Drago with for 15 years. The from Morrow County outgoing Sheriff Roy Drago had Undersheriff to Sheriff upon the enough confidence in retirement of Roy Drago. A sheriff must be not only an Undershenff Denton to able administrator, but he is also recommend to the Morrow the bridge between Morrow County Court that they appoint and other law Verlin Denton as sheriff when County Sheriff Drago retired in 1998. enforcement agencies. Modem In closing, I hope you will join law enforcement, to be effective, me in supporting Sheriff Denton must be a partnership between all for Morrow County Sheriff and jurisdictions - city, county, and putting your (X) in the box to state. Sheriff Denton has been retain Sheriff Denton as Morrow County Sheriff. Please Vote. (s) Larry S. Sample Boardman To the Editor: In the election next month, we will be choosing the next sheriff for Morrow County. We are writing this letter to urge you to Val Doherty has announced her vote for our current sheriff, candidacy as a wnte-in candidate Verlin Denton. Sheriff Denton came to this for mayor of the town of county as a deputy for the Lexington. Morrow County Sheriffs Office. Doherty has been a resident of Lexington since 1963 "except for He was promoted by his couple of educational leaves of predecessor to undersheriff, second-in-command of the absence." Doherty served as deputy sheriffs office He held the district attorney and county undersheriff position for several counsel for Morrow County from years, prior to his appointment as 1987 to 1997 during which time sheriff almost two years ago. Over the years we have she "learned to work with a appreciated Sheriff Denton's law public budget." enforcement expertise in Morrow Currently Doherty maintains an County. He has been active in office in Hermiston where she efforts to curb drug use, prevent practices law in partnership with child abuse and fight crimes so Earl Woods. People have a choice To the Editor: We the people now have a choice. Our current sheriff was appointed the position when Roy Drago left. Now we have a choice on who we want to elect as Mor row County Sheriff. My vote is going to Steve Myren because ability without ambition is useless. I’ve known Steve for almost 10 years and have found him to be honest, fair, hardworking and friendly to everyone. I’ve found his word is as good as gold. If he says it, he means it. Officer Myren would like to see our rural areas and our back streets patrolled more, which I firmly believe would cut down on theft and vandalism. He would like to see our com munity offer more drug and safety education to our children. We need to make our children more aware of their surroundings. I know we all feel safe with our country lifestyle, but anything can happen - even here. Our children need to be taught who and what to avoid and to stand up for them- selves. This will make them Vote for Harrington To the Editor: I am supporting Linda Harrington in the race for State Representative from District 59. I live in Heppner and am acquainted with Greg Smith. At the University of Oregon, I majored in the study of English literature, and learned to analyze characters in a poem, play, story, or novel through close attention to what they said and what they did. I learned that it was essential to look for that one defining moment that would symbolize the essence of character. This is also true in real life. Style reflects substance. 9f entty^iasm for Smith's candidacy ,,had been growing, but I became firmly opposed a few weeks ago when reading an article in local newspapers trumpeting the National Rifle Association's endorsement. In this article, Smith was quoted as being opposed to background checks for gun ownership, saying, in effect, that law-abiding citizens To the Editor: I support Verlin Denton, because he is the best candidate for the position of sheriff of Morrow County. He has the experience, background and knowledge to continue to be your sheriff. I first met Verlin Denton when he came to Prineville in 1987 while he was doing a background check on me after I had applied to work as a deputy for the Morrow County Sheriffs Department. At this time Sheriff Denton was the undersheriff for Morrow County Sheriffs Department. After talking with Undersheriff Denton, I knew he was a person that I could trust and that he was dedicated to the sheriff and the sheriffs department. After accepting a deputy's position to work for Morrow County Sheriffs Department I found that Sheriff Denton was a very honest and trustworthy person. If Denton told me something then I knew I could believe what he said. I have gained a lot of respect and trust for Sheriff Denton in the past 13 1/2 years that I have worked for the Morrow County Sheriffs Department. I know that Sheriff Denton treats all people and employees with respect and that the employees of the Morrow County Sheriffs Department respect him also. Sheriff Denton does not make promises that he can't keep. I know that Sheriff Denton expects his deputies to do an honest day's work and they are not in the coffee shop the first and last hour of their shift. You need to be more than just a good old boy to manage a 24- person department which includes (10) 911 dispatchers, people are in and continuing training through the fire department? Ask them why they did not quote Section 21 of the town charter? "In the absence of the Mayor the Councilors will choose a Moderator amongst themselves for the meeting. Whether acting as mayor or as a C ouncilor, the Council chairman has only one vote on questions before the Council." Ask them if they know the difference between a mayor and a moderator? Ask them what the town lawyer said about this before their letter came out? Since they have finally figured out what a quorum is (I tried to clarify in 8-9-99 but they would not believe.) Ask them why a 2 to 1 vote against Bob Taylor on 7-27-99 was not a no vote to them? Ask them why the minutes record the verbal concurrence of 2 of 3 council members for Glenn but this was not a yes vote? Ask them why when they used the special district voting quorum argument on 8-9-99 it was okay, but when used against them at the September 2000 meeting it was not? Ask them why when Luella hired Mr. Cline through the same process to paint numbers on meters they did not get upset? Ask them what is the greater emergency, painting numbers on meters or saving thousands of dollars and water services for the people of Lexington? Ask them why two council members were willing to come? Then ask them who the problem was? Ask them what truth and integrity is? If they have not been able to answer these questions for you, ask them why they chose to sign their name before they got the facts? If they have been able to answer these questions for you then ask them how they could sign knowing all of this? Ask why are they not willing to allow "our laws to be enforced according to majority rule, as it was intended" as they claim? Yes, please ask questions of them. Please find the facts from the fiction. Maybe their last sentence really gives us their agenda, "People of Lexington, we trust and hope you will choose wisely." (s) Glenn Anderson Lexington Choose Denton Denton has background, experience able to accomplish this, as evidenced by the excellent relationship he has, as sheriff, established with his peers in other agencies. In addition to his other duties, Sheriff Denton serves as chairman of the Executive Board for the Blue Mountain Narcotics Enforcement Team (BENT). The efforts of this group have been recognized widely. In a recent letter of appreciation, Oregon State Police District IV Commander, Captain Dennis Dougherty, congratulated the team on its efforts and said, "Your commitment to stem the How of illegal drugs to our children and communities deserves praise. BENT is perceived as one of the elite task forces in the state and for other task forces to emulate." I encourage your vote for Sheriff Verlin Denton on election day. Let's retain a professional in this important position. (s)Dan Brosnan Heppner Denton has qualities, qualifications Val Doherty runs as mayor Oregon Wednesday, October 18, 2000 - FIVE our county can be a safer place to live. Sheriff Denton has the qualities and qualifications to be our sheriff. He has direct law enforcement experience as a deputy. He has the administrative qualifications in his position as undershenff and sheriff for this county. Sheriff Denton has created a department that we can all be proud of. He has recruited and hired qualified officers. He has built a department with a positive reputation that other police agencies look up to. Sheriff Denton has the endorsement of the majonty of Oregon's sheriffs. That says a great deal about his ability to serve this county. Please vote for Verlin Denton, Morrow County Sheriff. (s) Jack and Kim Camine Boardman up 53 percent of the total county valuation. We feel the county court made a prudent decision in putting the local option levy for roads on the ballot. This levy will enable the road department to maintain its current high level of service. It will not allow for any additional services. The current budget calls for a $485,000 transfer from the general fund to the road fund. The passage of the road levy will eliminate the need for this transfer and will allow general fund operations to continue at their current level, rather than create a need for additional cuts to positions and services. If senate bill 1608, the federal payment in lieu of taxes, passes those funds will be used in the road department for contingency and capitol reserves. In order to balance the budget for the last three years, these funds have been drawn down to a dangerously low level. We feel that passage of the road levy is necessary for the county to continue services at their current level. We recommend a yes vote on this very important issue. (s) Vem Fredenckson Irrigon (s) Leann Rea Boardman (s) Larry Mills Heppner Sheriff corrects misinformation lot of names from the Heppner, To The Editor: Boardman and Irrigon area. Of Re: Steve Myren's Letter the information that has been regarding the Drug Task Force gathered over the years it's clear I think its important that some to the Task Force and me that the misinformation that Mr. Myren overwhelming majority of the had in his letter be corrected. First of all he quoted some drugs coming into Morrow figures from the Oregon Uniform County are coming from the Crime Reports that are correct as Hermiston and Tn-City area. Regarding the comment about far as they go. However it would the Task Force suddenly working be a paperwork nightmare for the six member agencies to try and in Morrow County two weeks separate out these statistics from after he filed for sheriff. I'm Task Force work and enter them flattered that he thinks I have that in each agency's OUCR's. That's kind of power with the other five why the Task Force Executive members of the Executive Board Board agreed at the beginning to that I can change priorities of the have the OUCR information on Task Force that have been in cfrug arrests entered under one place for years. The fact is that it member agencies name. In this is very rare that drug cases can case it is the Oregon State Police. be put together in less than a As an example in the year (1999) month. Cases have to be built. Mr. Myren mentioned, the Task Drug buys have to be made. Force worked over 835 cases and Suspects have to be identified, made over 200 arrests in Morrow information gathered and a and Umatilla counties. This Task search warrant has to be written Force has a reputation of being and submitted to a judge. This one of the finest in the state of doesn't happen overnight and Oregon and for an area with our anyone who has worked drugs population this is outstanding would know that. In reference to the question work. posed by Mr. Myren about In reference to Mr. Myren's whether the seizing of drug remarks about seeing a lot of assets should or should not be the search warrants being done and goal. In my opinion it should be making drug cases in \9i9. one of the primary goals. A drug During that period we had a very dealer can amass a large amount loose group of agencies working of assets in a few years. If he/she together on drug problems. We should get caught then they do a were making a lot of arrests of little time in jail or on probation street level drug users. It looks and come back with their profits great in the newspapers; waiting for them. By targeting however, in time we came to the assets we are taking away the recognize that we were spinning rewards for dealing drugs. That's our wheels and having no effect what it's all about. We are also on the drug flow coming into the making the drug dealer pay for two counties. In 1991 the the law enforcement cost to deal agencies involved came together with them. and formally put together the Finally there are task forces all Blue Mountain Enforcement over the State of Oregon because Narcotics Team (BENT). Certain it has long been recognized that goals and priorities were set for the pooling of resources to the team and one of the primary address a problem is an effective goals was to go after the people way to deal with it. Morrow who were bringing the drugs into County does not have the the two counties. It was resources to go it alone against a recognized that if we don't stop problem of this size. Even with the source of the drugs we will the task force we have to continue to arrest the same street prioritize and attack the problem level users and dealers time and in the most effective ways. We time again and we all know they can not go after every drug user don't spend any time in jail. We and dealer in the two counties. also made it a priority to seize We have to go after the source. assets to take away the incentive The Task Force is meant to be a to sell drugs and to use those cooperative effort. I would not, assets to support the Task Force. The focus has never been on the even if I could, try to influence "larger population areas". It has the Task Force to focus on always been on those people who Morrow County. The focus is on bring the drugs into our getting the sources of the drugs into the county communities. A few years ago coming regardless of which county they the Task Force executed a search are in. warrant in the Umatilla area. In (s) Verlin Denton the process a list of drug buyers Morrow County Sheriff was found. This list included a Heppner Parks committee Correction to meet Jeremy Rietmann A meeting o f the Morrow County Parks Committee will be held Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. at the Public Works office in Lex ington. was misidentified in a picture caption in the October 11 Gazette-Times. Rietmann was pictured ringing the bell at the first service at the newly construction United Church of Christ in lone.
