FOUR - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, October 25, 2000
Chamber opposes Measure 97
Letters to the Editor
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publish unsigned letters Please include your address and phone number on all
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responsible for accuracy of statements made in letters.
Both wrong
To the Editor:
It took me a week or so to
research the information Mr.
Denton had reported in his letter
to the editor dated October 18.
In that letter, he stated that the
Task Force had agreed to utilize
the Oregon State Police as the
agency under which the drug
arrests/offenses
would
be
reported to the Law Enforcement
Data Service (LEDS). I freely
admit that I am human and may
make a mistake, so I made
contact with LEDS again and
asked them about this. I read
them the article. They were
concerned. They felt that it
would be poor record keeping to
have any agency that did not
make the arrest take credit for it.
I then asked them for some more
statistics.
I asked how many drug related
offenses/suspects were claimed
by Oregon State Police in
Morrow County during 1999.
The answer: five offenses, two
suspects. Now there is a chance
that both of those were task force
arrests. This brings us up to three
suspects arrested in Morrow
County in 1999 (refer to the
information in my earlier letter to
the editor).
Intrigued, I then asked how
many were claimed by OSP in
Umatilla County during 1999
(remembering that Mr. Denton
claimed over 200 arrests were
made). The answer. . . 126
offenses, 70 suspects.
Now keep in mind that in
Morrow County the majority of
the drug arrests were made by
patrol officers during routine
patrol operations. Now, I know a
number of the OSP road troops
and can tell you that they are
some of the finest law
enforcement officers I have
worked with. I have no doubt
that
their
routine
patrol
operations account for some of
the Umatilla County totals as
well.
So, I was incorrect. Instead of
one Task Force arrest in Morrow
County during 1999, there may
have been three.
But, unless Mr. Denton's
bookkeeping system is flawed,
there were not over 200 arrests in
Morrow and Umatilla counties;
there were 73 combined arrests
in the two counties. And some of
them were probably made by
patrol officers.
Please remember that I am not
criticizing the Task Farce as a
whole. They are doing excellent
work. I never said that they need
to "Focus on Morrow County." It
is simply my opinion that we
need to see more drug
enforcement in our county.
(s) Steven L. Myren
Boardman
Vote no on gun control measure
To the Editor:
Vote no on Measure 5, the gun
control measure.
. The Preamble of the U.S. Con
stitution starts with three words:
“We the People.” It does not say
“We the Politician” (Burdick or
McCain),’ “We the Bureaucrat,”
“We the Government,” and “We
the Press.”
The Constitution was written to
protect the people from tyranny
o f government!" The Second-
Amendment provides that means.
People say that tyranny cannot
happen here. Just ask the people
at Waco, the abduction of Elian
Gonzales and the botched drug
raids on individual homes.
The last four words of the Sec
ond Amendment reads “shall not
be infringed.” This shows that the
over 20,000 gun control laws are
unconstitutional.
The closing of the gun show
loophole is just a ruse. What this
measure is about is the registra
tion of all guns and this also is a
registration of you. Placing this in
the hands of the Oregon State
Police circumvents federal law
which makes the above illegal.
Why do honest law-abiding citi
zens have to be registered?
The figure of one-third of guns
used in crimes come from gun
shows. This came from the U.S.
Justice Dept, which was refuted
immediately. The correct figure is
less than one-tenth of one percent.
I will leave you with this quote:
“All that is necessary for evil to
succeed is for good men to do
nothing.” -Edmund Burke
(s) Tom Pointer
Lexington
To the Editor:
The Heppner Chamber of
Commerce opposes Measure 97 -
The Trapping Ban. This measure
removes public and landowner
freedoms to exercise good
judgement and common sense as
they make choices for the safety
and health of animals and human
beings.
It would be very costly to the
taxpayers for the government to
take the many steps necessary to
implement the ban, if passed.
It targets emotions rather than
providing accurate information
and would restrict the most
humane traps currently used in
Oregon
Under the measure, individuals
would have to apply for a special
permit from the director of
Oregon Fish and Wildlife. Before
issuing that permit it would have
to be determined in writing that
the nuisance animal could not be
abated by non-lethal control
tools, then use might be
authorized for no longer than 30
days with said trap checked at
least every 24 hours.
Image how overrun your
property could become with
dangerous
and
unhealthy
varmints as you waited for the
backlog of requests to be
processed. Just think about the
cost and the reality of checking
to see if every person were
correctly using their rat, gopher,
etc., traps, not to mention the
devastating impact on farmers,
ranchers, property owners and
taxpayers. The dollars to
implement this measure could be
far better used for education,
paying down the debt, and health
care, don't you think?
Join the Chamber in voting
down a measure that is very
poorly written, is costly to
taxpayers,
targets personal
property rights, and, though well
¡mentioned, doesn't make sense.
(s) Sharon Harrison
Heppner Chamber of Commerce
President
Retain Denton
To the Editor:
In order to continue to have a
quality sheriffs department in
Morrow County, I urge you vote
to retain Verlin Denton as
Morrow County Sheriff.
Although formal training in
law enforcement is necessary, it
is also imperative that the sheriff
have experience in actual
practical application. This is
necessary
both
in
law
enforcement and administrative
ability. Verlin Denton has had
both the training and actual
experience to administer and
maintain a quality sheriffs
department. In fact, Sheriff
Denton has spent his whole
professional
life
in
law
enforcement.
Sheriff Denton has been able
to maintain a quality sheriffs
department in spite of declining
revenues in Morrow County
H E P P N E R E L K S 358
676-9191
" H T ir r t Friends Meet”
r
To the Editor and to Ask Them -
Glenn
In his recent letter of last week,
Glenn Anderson stated that he
thought the people of Lexington
should ask questions about the
city council. Maybe we should
also ask questions of Glenn
Anderson.
Ask him why he approached
the county court regarding the
tippage fees, without the
knowledge and consent of the
city council. Ask him just how
many firemen there are, and ask
him how many attend the
meetings. Ask him why he
consulted the city attorney. Ask
him how much the city was
charged as a result of his actions.
Ask him if he intends to
reimburse the city for the
resultant hundreds of dollars
incurred because he did not
believe what the attorney had
initially ruled.
(s) Robert Taylor
Lexington
To the Editor:
What would voting "yes" on
Measure 94 that would repeal
Measure 11 do for Oregonians?
It would save the state over
$600 million over the next 10
years.
It would decrease repayment
costs for new prison construction
by $153.6 billion between the
years 2000 and 2010.
It would shift Oregon's policy
toward youthful offenders toward
rehabilitation.
It would return to our judges
the discretion to tailor sentences
in each individual case. Heinous
crimes committed by juveniles
Vote no on 9
Elect Jon Kvistad
Is Your Source For
SCOOTERS
Get involved in Lex city council
To the Editor:
After reading Glenn Anderson's
letter to the editor in last week's
paper, I can see there is a
difference of opinion regarding
conduct of business at town
council meetings.
We could hash this over and
over in the paper and still
accomplish nothing, so instead I
am inviting the citizens of
Lexington to come to the council
meetings. Get involved, don't
listen to the gossip, make your
own decisions on who is right,
find out how your tax dollars are
being spent.
(s) Shirley McCarl
Lexington
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Heppner
Smith strong, effective leader
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October 87th - Friday
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turned upside-down by breast
cancer. It takes so little to do so
much in this drive. Just as
important as the money is our
support.
What a statement it would
make if the stamp out-sold the
lottery this week. The statement
it would make is that we care. It
is important that we take a stand
against this disease that kills and
maims so many of our mothers,
sisters and friends.
I urge each of you to request
"Fund the Cure" the next time
you buy stamps.
(s) Molly Rhea
Bush more honest, refreshing
Mailing address not measure
Oregon's Department of Public
Safety, Standards. He has the
training and background that
qualify him for the job.
In addition, Verlin is known
and respected by others in law
enforcement; at least two dozen
other sheriffs in Oregon endorse
his candidacy.
Another reason I am voting for
Verlin is because I believe he is
sensitive to the differences and
needs of all of our communities
in Morrow County.
When asked if I am not voting
for someone who lives in
Boardman, I would have to say, a
mailing address is not a measure
of a person's qualifications. If
you have gotten to Volume Two,
you'll find that Verlin has the
background, the experience and
the training that equips him to be
fiscally responsible, supervise
employees, work with the public
and enforce the law.
(s) Sharon Barrick
Boardman
To the Editor:
As you may be aware, the U.S.
Postal Service recently released a
"Fund the Cure" stamp to help
fund breast cancer research.
Instead of the normal $.33 for a
stamp, this one costs $.40. The
additional $.07 goes to breast
cancer research.
A "normal" card of stamps
costs $6.60. The card of "Fund
the Cure" stamps sell for only
$8.00. If all available stamps are
sold, it will raise an additional
$16,000,000 for this vital
research.
Many of us know women and
their families whose lives are
government.
The
sheriffs
department has had to take their
share of necessary cuts in
funding. He is also quite aware
that funding from grants can be
helpful, but are also quite
nebulous. Grants are usually
given for a specific project to be To the Editor:
defense.
completed in a given amount of
In all these areas Gov. Bush
I am writing in support of Gov.
time and not for ongoing Bush.
would bring about less expensive
enterprises. Even if there is some
A stark contrast between V.P. and intrusive government and at
funding for a continuing project, Gore and Gov. Bush has the same time would deal with
such 'as funding for additional developed in many areas, such as these in a better, honest and
help in the sheriffs department, it the
environment,
taxes, refreshing manner.
can be and usually is education,
Vote Bush-Cheney.
social
security,
discontinued at the whim of the medical programs and national
(s) Don Peterson
funding provider regardless of
lone
local need.
Join me in voting for Verlin
Denton for sheriff so we can
Now is the time to elect Greg
continue to have a sheriffs To the Editor:
for
Oregon
State
As the former director of Smith
department of which Morrow
Citizens
Public Works for Morrow Representative.
County can be proud.
County, I have had the throughout District 59 deserve to
(s) Raymond French
opportunity to work with Greg have strong leadership in the
Heppner
Smith on important projects upcoming legislative session. [
Barb and I both trust Greg
throughout the region. He has
always proven to be a strong, Smith to carry our message to
effective leader. I always know Salem. Won't you join us?
Vote Greg Smith for Oregon
million dollar shortfall if this that I could count on Greg Smith
to complete a project. That same State Representative, Distnct 59. (/
levy is not passed.
,
(s) Guy V anArsdal e , ;
Economic development is message still rings true.
T s ) Barb VanArsdale
Greg Smith will carry my voice
essential to create additional
Heppner
family wage jobs which result in to Salem.
young families coming to the
area, more advantages for our
youth, and above all for business
To the Editor:
generous of heart.
retention in our small towns.
As a minister, teacher and
Schools do not and should
Join the Chamber of
friend,
I
urge
a
"No"
vote
on
not
"promote"
sexuality of any
Commerce membership in voting
Measure
9,
the
latest
anti
sort,
but
they
should
be places
yes to enhance progress and keep
homosexual
initiative
from
Lon
where
all
students
feel
safe and
our county roads in good shape.
respected. A legal mandate for
(s) Sharon Harrison Mabon.
intolerance and hatred headed by
I'll vote "no" as a minister
Heppner Chamber of Commerce because I believe in a God of teachers has no place in a
love; as a teacher because I will
democracy's public education
system - let alone in a so-called
continue to defend students who
Christian society's.
seem "different"; and as a friend
(s) Lea Mathieu
would continue to be handled in because the gay people I know
lone
are loving, hard-working and
the adult system.
It would be better use of
Oregonian dollars to support
early intervention, counseling
issues is important. His campaign >
and rehabilitation programs To the Editor:
has been active all over the state ; f
Support Jon Kvistad for which suggests his investment
aimed at prevention rather than
Oregon
treasurer.
costly incarceration.
strategy would be good for all
Jon
has background in
It agrees with the 76 percent of
segments.
voters surveyed who support agriculture and being on the
Elect Jon Kvistad Oregon
spending money on prevention Metro board in Portland; he has treasurer.
an understanding of urban issues.
for non-violent offenders.
(s) Don Peterson
Since the treasurer is on the
Let's vote yes on 94 and turn the
lone
disastrous results of Measure 11 land board a grasp of resource
around.
(s) Vie Oliver
Heppner Hardware
Heppner
To the Editor
The Heppner Chamber of
Commerce recommends a yes
vote on the County Road Levy. It
is imperative that we have both
maintenance and continued
improvement of our county roads
for our natural resources/ag
community, as well as for future
economic development in the
area. If this levy does not pass,
roads will deteriorate, existing
jobs will be cut and there will be
no possibility for funding
economic development. Morrow
County will be facing a 1.2
To the Editor:
I wonder if anyone else thought
they were getting a telephone
book when their Voter's
Pamphlets arrived? I am writing
on the chance that some Morrow
County citizens may still be
working their way through the
book of measures before turning
to "Volume 2," and mailing in
their packets.
For voters undecided in the
Sheriffs race, I hope this letter in
support of retaining Verlin
Denton will be read, weighed and
given some consideration.
Verlin brings almost three
decades in law enforcement to
the office, many of them in
management. He is familiar with
the duties and responsibilities of
running a department with
employees deployed throughout
the county and is known as
someone who is fair and calm in
the face of crisis.
Verlin holds the highest level
of certification awarded by
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HEPPNER HARDWARE
A
Jhuel/a£u&.
106 May Street • Heppner, OR 97836
Phone: (541) 676-9961 • Fax: (541) 676-5496