TWO - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, November 1, 2000
The Official Newspaper
of the City of Heppner and the County of Morrow
Heppner
GAZETTE-TIMES
U S P S 240-420
M orrow C o u n ty 's H om e-O w ned W eekly N ew spaper
Published weekly and entered as penodical matter at the Post Office at Heppner. Oregon
under the Act of March 3,1879 Penodical postage paid at Heppner, Oregon Office at 147
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where
David Sykes
Publisher
April Hilton-Sykcs......................................................................................................... Editor
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HEDC recommends ’yes* on road levy
To the Editor:
The Willow Creek Valley
Economic Development Group
(HEDC) is recommending a
"Yes" vote on the County Road
Levy. Future job creation and
economic development depends
on continued maintenance and
improvements to our county road
system.
If this levy does not pass, roads
will deteriorate, existing jobs will
be cut, and there will be reduced
possibility
for
recruiting
manufacturing and/or value-
added companies. There have
been, and continue to be,
inquiries by companies into
locating at the South Morrow
Industrial site, some with merit,
some without. Now is not the
time to pull in our homs.
Economic
development
is
essential to create additional
family wage jobs, which result in
young families coming to the
area, more advantages for our
youth, and for business retention
in our small towns.
Join the Willow Creek Valley
Economic Development Group
in voting "Yes" to enhance
economic development and
keeping our county roads in good
shape.
(s) Tom Wolff
President, Willow Creek Valley
Economic Development Group
Myren will make good sheriff
Letter to the Editor:
Steve Myren would make a
good Sheriff for Morrow County.
He is a people-person who
always has a big smile and takes
time to greet you. Steve would be
a manager that would spend part
o f his tipie in the field with his
fellow officers as well as time in
the office.
He has taken management and
leadership schooling. Steve is the
most emergency-prepared person
in Morrow County. His training
and schooling in this field has
been done over the last few
years. He has worked with many
government agencies in this
field. Steve spent a few years as
a county deputy and (was) highly
liked, by the people and fellow
deputies. I feel one of his greatest
assets is one often overlooked by
law enforcement agencies: he
likes young people and they like
him. Doing the DARE program
for years won him great respect
from
our
young
people
population, the ones too young to
vote and have a say in who their
Sheriff should be. Please join me
and let's make Steve Myren our
next Morrow County Sheriff.
(s) Jane Dean
Boardman
EO practices censorship
To the Editor:
Measure 87 woidd amend the
free expression clause of the
Oregon Constitution to allow
local governments, through
zoning authority, to regulate
sexually oriented businesses.
The Oregon Bill of Rights
states "No law shall be passed
restraining the free expression of
opinion, of restraining the right
to speak, write, or print freely on
any subject whatever, but every
person shall be responsible for
the abuse of this right."
The East Oregonian editors,
Heasley and Gruber, oppose this
measure that regulates sexually
oriented businesses because "the
free expression clause of the
Oregon Constitution should be
viewed as sacred ground. This
clause protects all of our rights to
free speech and expression."
(E.O Oct. 15, 2000)
Why would the E.O. editors
stand behind the sacred ground
of free expression of speech to
protect
sexually
explicit
businesses that rob our youth and
society of virtue and moral
values, yet deny any citizen the
free expression of speech by
refusing to print letters to the
editor that challenge their liberal
bias? The E.O. editors need to
look up the definition of
hypocrisy. Perhaps this letter will
force to E.O. to revise their
policy of censorship and print
this response.
The E.O. practices censorship
of Christian conservative writers
in the Open Forum in an attempt
to ensure the liberal values of the
editors are sustained and encoded
into law. Their Oct. 15, 2000
voter's guide promotes a big and
inclusive government of Clinton
liberal values: employee-coerced
politically active unions (no 92,
no 98, yes 99), pro-govemment
control of citizens' rights and
property (no 96, no 7, no 2, no
87), pro-gun control (yes 5) pro
homosexual sanction in our
schools (no 9). I exhort the
opposite vote.
Do not be deceived. Freedom
of the press to the E.O. is only
sacred ground as long as it
promotes the liberal bias of the
E.O.
(s) Stuart Dick
Meacham
Smith will stand up for education
To the Editor:
As a former teacher in our
public schools, I can think of no
issue more important than the
education of our kids. I believe
that it is paramount that we teach
our children the fundamentals, of
a solid education. This includes
reading, writing and basic
arithmetic.
In addition, they must learn
how to succeed in today's
workforce. I know a candidate
that will stand up for education
and for our children, his name is
Greg Smith and he is running for
Oregon State Representative
I admire that Greg has taken
the time to research the issues
facing our children. Greg has
been to over 20 public schools in
District 59 and has seen how
important it is that our children
receive a quality education. I
know that I can count on Greg to
support our schools as local
school districts see fit. He will
work hard to support teachers,
parents and the needs of all
children.
Greg Smith has been endorsed
by the Oregon Education
Association, the Oregon School
Boards Association and the
O regon
A d m in istrato rs
Association. Each of these
organizations work toward a
common goal - putting children
first.
Vote Greg Smith for Oregon
State Representative, District 59.
(s) George Koffler
Heppner
Chamber valuable to community
Letters to the Editor
Editor's note Letters to the Editor must be signed The Gazette-Times will not
publish unsigned letters Please include your address and phone number on all
letters lor use by the G-T office The G-T reserves the right to edit The G-T is not
responsible for accuracy of statements made in letters.
Democrat disturbed by
Democrat leadership
To the Editor:
This is a very confusing year
for a senior citizen who is quite
happy to stay at home in Eastern
Oregon and get his information
from the TV networks or the
Oregonian. Both sources are
insistent that we are in an
unparalleled prosperity and of
course our vice president is
willing to take complete credit
for that. Then I can go to
Heppner, Condon, Fossil or John
Day or any of the smaller towns
and they appear to be dying. In
fact every one of them had a
busier Main Street any week day
during the eighties. And every
farmer knows that if he hadn't
received his government welfare
checks this fall his banker would
not be in any rush to discuss
refinancing. And we are getting a
constant stream of news stories
about corporate downsizing, i.e.,
Freightliner discharging 40
percent of Its workforce, the
increasing imbalance in our
export-import ratio or our trillion
dollar credit card debt. All this is
somewhat reminiscent of the
economic conditions of our
childhood days up in the late
1920s
before
the
great
awakening. Do you suppose that
anyone in the government or
Wall Street stock salesmen
would lie to us about the
economy?
Which brings us up to the
current election. We have a
choice between a rather ordinary
man, not an accomplished orator,
who has done a passable job as
governor of our largest state, and
who seems to be of good moral
character and apparently shares
the religious and citizenship
convictions of three quarters of
our people on the one hand and
on the other a person of at least
doubtful qualifications. We have
had Mr. Gore in office as Vice
President for eight years and his
chief accomplishment seems to
have been his steadfast support
of an immoral, dishonest,
demagogue and the ability to lie
about anything. And of course he
has the excuse of a weak bladder
to avoid incriminating decisions.
How will we be able to trust
anything he says if he were to be
elected? And if you have any
doubts about where he might
lead our country be sure to read
his book and then study the
decisions which he endorsed at
the Koyoto Treaty.
Incidentally, we have a
daughter, a former teacher, who
lives in McAllen, Texas and has
two sons in McAllen public
schools. You have probably
heard or read of Texas school
deficiencies in some partisan
articles. Joan thinks that they are
superior to Medford schools even
though the Anglo kids are a
minority in south Texas. And can
Houston fog really be worse than
Los Angeles?
Please do not think that I’m
saying these things because I'm
an old hardshell Republican. In
fact I've been a registered
Democrat since 1940 and once
during the Nixon administration
was active in an organization on
his "enemy” list. However I am
profoundly disturbed by the
leadership of the Democratic
party
and
their political
philosophies of the last eight
years. We need some voices of
change.
(s) Don McElligott
lone
Harrington considers rural
Oregon's issue
.
To the Editor:
The performance of the state
legislature in the next biennium
is going to be crucial to the
future of rural Oregon. We will
need to elect legislators to serve
us who have a grasp of the
current circumstances of our area
and who have ideas which will
address our needs.
I have read letters of
endorsement for Greg Smith in
which the writers were obviously
misled or mistaken as to the
authority of the state legislature.
The state legislature cannot
provide low-cost prescription
medicines to you. Nor can it
ensure that you will have a free
choice
of your personal
physician. Laudable though these
sentiments may be, it is
misleading to promise their
delivery.
I have neither read nor heard
any specific proposal from Greg
Smith related to the health care
issues facing us all. Also missing
is any specific recommendation
for improving our access to
education in eastern Oregon.
I know one reason why this is
true. Rather than conduct a
dialogue in the district he wishes
to represent (59), he has been in
the
Willamette
Valley
campaigning for a candidate in
an urban district. Does this seem
like the action of someone who is
sincere in his continual promises
to "listen to you?" I don't think
so.
I can contrast this with the
actions of his opponent. Linda
Harrington has been out meeting
the people of District 59. She has
been knocking on our doors and
explaining her positions to us.
The Oregonian contrasted both
candidates in the October 20
edition. In that piece, Linda
Hamngton stated that she
supported
national
teacher
certifications and reduced class
II .. i . • j . i ..
(Me l i l l i O v ' i l
size. She stated her support for
the Frontier Learning Network
which is helping deliver
expanded study opportunities to
students in Condon. She stated
that she supports the allocation of
additional funding resources for
music, art, advanced math,
science and vocational programs
in our rural districts.
In the October 23 edition of the
same paper, Senator Ted Femoli
advocates "...extending the safety
net funding from two to five
years for schools experiencing
rapid changes in enrollment" and
increasing
funding
for
community colleges and skills
centers, among other ideas.
What did Greg Smith say?
Greg Smith said that he will
"...have an obligation to work
with teachers, administrators and
parents to find workable
solutions." What does this mean?
This statement does not even
show an understanding of the
public education challenges
facing rural Oregon.
I am a Republican joining
many others of my party who are
voting for someone who has
proven to us that she has
considered the issues facing rural
Oregon. We are voting for
someone who has specific
proposals to address these issues.
We are voting for a candidate
who supports positive changes
for rural schools. We are voting
for a person who supports our
right to gun ownersftip. We are
voting for someone who
understands the importance of
the Columbia River Dam system
and all that it does for us in
Eastern Oregon.
We need positive changes in
rural Oregon. We cannot vote for
an enigma. We can count on
Linda Hamngton in District 59.
(s) Michael Armato
Heppner
Make Myren next sheriff
To the Editor:
As the former Morrow County
Public Works Director I have
worked with Steve Myren in the
past. I have found him to be
dedicated and sincere and feel he
will be a good sheriff for Morrow
County.
I hope you will join me in
voting for Steve Myren for
Sheriff.
(s) Guy VanArsdale
Heppner
To the Editor:
The Oct. 18 "Candidates Fair"
sponsored by the Heppner
Chamber of Commerce was such
a worthwhile event. I appreciate
the Chamber's work to provide
this opportunity to hear the
candidates and to ask them
questions.
This activity is just one more
example of what the Heppner
Chamber does to enrich the lives
of people in our Willow Creek
Valley. Members of Chamber
know - because they attend the
weekly noontime meetings - that
the organization is far more than
one that merely focuses on
"commerce" but is one that
includes members not only from
commercial enterprises but from
many and varied circumstances.
The Heppner Chamber of
Commerce is an organization
critical to Heppner and I
encourage
individuals
and
business owners who are not
already members to join the
organization. The yearly dues are
reasonable and help this
important group to meet its
purpose and many goals
throughout the year.
The Chamber is a link to so
many
organizations
and
individuals beyond our region. It
is the "funnel," so to speak, to
our persons with the right
answers as a myriad of inquiries
about our town and area come
into its office. The Chamber
sponsors
the
packets
of
information mailed upon request
to so many people in places far
and near.
The Chamber focuses on
communication among local
groups, so important if the right
hand is to know what the left
hand is doing, so important if our
area is to put forth a united effort
on any project. So much of what
the Chamber does happens
"behind the scenes," so to speak
Members of Chamber also
work on the more noticeable
"Town and Country” annual
event, members work with the St.
Patrick's
Day
Weekend
committee and on "Celebrate
Heppner."
The Chamber sponsors the
signs distributed periodically to
the businesses as a welcome to
various groups that come to our
community - hikers and hunters,
bikers and ball players, to name a
few.
Though business owners are a
minority in our community, we
who depend upon and/or
appreciate their businesses are a
majority. Our retailers, our
school and medical districts, the
state, county, and federal
agencies,
our
agricultural
businesses are important to
Heppner's future. And all of us
are important to that future. I
cannot think of an organization
more concerned about all of the
above. I applaud the Chamber as
an outstanding organization and
encourage readers to get involved
with it.
(s) Doris Brosnan
Heppner
Road levy passage crucial
To the Editor:
The Morrow County Road
Department is currently seeking
the passage of a levy to continue
funding at its current level. The
importance of this levy cannot be
overstated.
Currently, the road department
is responsible for approximately
1200 miles of road: 400-plus
paved miles and 800 graveled
miles. This is being done with a
19-person crew, after a cutback
of three people last year. Of these
19 people, there are two
mechanics, one parts and tire
person, one weed department
person and two-three people at
the crusher when it is operating.
This leaves a work force of
only 12-13 people. These people
are responsible for more than just
patching potholes or paving.
They are also the same people
who plow the snow and sand the
roads so the school busses can
travel safely, so the mail is able
to be delivered, so the people
with medical disabilities can get
the services they require, and so
everyone has a safe, well-
maintained road to travel in tht^r
everyday
business.
They
maintain the stop signs, the
guardrails, the cattleguards and
the bridges throughout our
county. If in fact, we are forced
to face a 30-40 percent cutback
in personnel, it becomes quite
apparent the road department
capabilities to perform these
functions will become extremely
limited and services will
inevitably suffer.
The road crew has set a
standard of excellence and they
will continue to give you the
outstanding service they have set
as their standard for the future.
The road department is probably
the best investment your tax
dollars make. Please vote yes for
the Morrow County Road Levy*
(s) Burke O'Brien
Heppner
Unsportsman-like conduct
To the Editor:
Re: sports story "Mustangs Blank
Huskies"
Sports writer Rick Paullus did
a good recap of Friday's football
game between Heppner High
School Mustangs and the
Sherman
County
Huskies.
However, I believe that the
"Unsportsmanlike
Conduct
Penalty" was glossed over. A
player did not commit it; rather
the Mustangs' coach committed
it.
Coaches are well known for
voicing their opinions to the
officials during the course of a
game. Especially in close scoring
games emotions can run high,
and participants may do or say
things that are inappropriate.
Mustangs were ahead 32 to zero
late in the game. Nevertheless,
the unsportsmanlike conduct
penalty was deliberate and
provocative and absolutely
uncalled for.
Ill-mannered, ill-tempered
outbursts are extremely poor
examples of training up our
young people. In this event, two
officials simultaneously threw
flags while the coach walked
away from them, toward his team
in the middle of the field; he
even walked off the extra penalty
yardage
in
the
process.
Deliberate and provocative
aggression like this by someone
who has been entrusted with
leadership of our young people
should not tolerated.
What has happened to teaching
sportsmanship with integrity?
(s) Duane Jones
Heppner
Humane alternative to cruel traps
To the Editor:
I do not think government
trappers are cruel, but the strong,
powerful, bone-crunching, steel
jump traps are.
In the thirties, I had two
government trappers as friends.
They explained to me that jobs
were scarce and they needed the
money (if they didn't take the
work, somebody else would).
Times have changed. Many
states and countries have
outlawed the insidious despicable
traps. Traps are nonselective and
many times catch peoples' pets
and other living creatures useless
to the trapper "Tricky Dick"
deserves credit for one good deed
while in office. He signed the bill
that outlawed 1080, the most
powerful poison known with no
antidote.
My daughter, Ema, reads
meters in this part of the country.
She has let fawns out of traps,
too late for one that was dead.
Close to Arlington, a dog was in
a trap that was so strong Ema
could not release it. She got a
man from town to go out an4
save the dog.
Local people use, with great
success, large guard dogs to
protect their stock. This humane
method is used in many other
states and countries. This system
would save many tax dollars that
have been paying government
trappers for years.
(s) Lois Winchester
v Heppner
P.S. Guard dogs are cheaper for
taxpayers and safer for all living
creatures.