Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 15, 2000)
Veteran's Day commemorated in Heppner Ss!» Daanlo Wot3*U U of 0 Lu ;9Q*t uil I ': t > r : v '*■ ■ > bra ry Father Gerry Condon delivers the invocation while veterans look on. VOL 119______NO. 46_____ 8 Pages Wednesday, November 15,2000 Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon School board hears bond issue cost report The Morrow County School Board, at their Nov. 13 meeting in lone, heard a report from J. Michael Patano, an architect representing the Matrix Group, a firm hired to assist the district in preparing the proposed school bond measure to go before the voters. Patano presented estimated costs of bond issue projects recommended by the district's advisory committees. The district-wide combined list of first and second priority projects totals around $27,000,000 which is "where we were before," said Patano, referring to the cost projects listed in a prior proposal. Current projects recommended by the Boardman/Irrigon Advisory Committee total $13,516,315 without a high school built in Irrigon. Construction of an Irrigon high school would add an additional $2,159,500 for a total of $15,675,815. The north-end proposal includes "intermediate grade" elementary schools in Irrigon and Boardman at $5,823,879 each. If the board decides to have high school in both Irrigon and Boardman, the advisory committee recommends building a shop facility at Columbia Middle School at a cost of $769,500; a gymnasium with locker rooms big enough for secondary use at the new elementary buildings in Irrigon and Boardman at $1 million; an upgrade of the outside sports facilities at CMS at $300,000; and additional parking at CMS beyond the completion of the current parking lot at $90,000. Other north-end recommendations include roofing projects, electrical and heating-air conditioning upgrades, window replacement, classroom remodels, restroom upgrades, carpeting, pavement, tiling seal coating, fencing, bleachers, a soccer field, football lights and asbestos removal. The Ione-Lexington Advisory Committee recommendation includes a new elementary school additjon to the existing lone High School, with modernization of the high school included at a cost of $4,088,052. Their second option consists of upgrades only to the existing high school at a cost of $737,875. Upgrades include correcting health and safety issues, kitchen remodeling, floor covering, energy efficient, addition of a boiler, windows, an electrical update, remodeling showers and locker rooms, replacement of gym ventilation system, new office space and wainscoting The primary list for the Heppner-Lexington Advisory Committee lists replacing the middle school gymnasium/ cafeteria, music room and locker rooms at a cost of $3,404,747. Their priority list also includes new roofs at HHS. HJH and HES, energy efficient windows, replacement of floor tile, siding, removing and replacing gym floor, heating and air conditioning, a new darkroom and repairing shower rooms in both girls' and boys' locker rooms, all at HHS, at a cost of $4,934,542. Their secondary list includes a new practice gym at HHS, power, water and repair at the HHS greenhouse, seal coating existing parking lots at HHS and HES, new intercom/clock system, ceiling tile, storage and bookshelves, sidewalk and step replacements, gym area parking lot pavement, baseball field road pavement and construction of retaining wall at baseball field at HHS at a cost of $1,780,874. Patano also supplied levy rate projections for a new bond issue. According to projections: -a $20 million bond would cost the taxpayer $1.51 per thousand assessed valuation for a 20 year bond; $1.31-$1.23 (declining the first three years) for a 30 year bond. For example, at $1.51 per thousand assessed valuation the owner of a $75,000 home would pay $113.25 a year for the duration of the bond; the owner of a $500,000 business would pay $755 a year. -a $21 million bond, $1.59 per thousand for 20 years; $1.37- 1.29 for 30 years. -a $22 million bond, $1.67 per thousand for 20 years; $ 1.44- $1.36 for 30 years. -a $23 million bond, $1.74 per thousand for 20 years; $1.50- $1.42 for 30 years. In a separate matter, board member Keith Lewis protested the district's proposed policy concerning use of district vehicles, saying he had received complaints about employee use of the vehicles. "Why should the district furnish vehicles for everyone to drive back and forth," said Lewis. He added that he did not believe district superintendent Bruce Anderson had the authority to approve an administrator's use of a district vehicle for commuting to and from work in another town within the district, even considering the administrator's "involuntary" transfer. The policy now states that district vehicles are available at each school for use by employees to attend workshops, take small groups of students on educational trips, transport ill students home and by administrators to attend meetings in an out of district. Employees currently are prohibited from using district vehicles for personal purposes other than commuting or minimal personal use such as stopping to take care of a personal matter on the way to a meeting or between business delivery. Currently district vehicles may be provided for designated employees as a part of their compensation or required for on call personnel. On call personnel are those working in designated district level maintenance and technology positions. The proposed change in the district regulations Would permit on-call personnel to "use qualified non-personal use vans and pickups. Employees who do not use non-personal use vehicles, will be subject to federal and state taxes for the home to work benefit when vehicles are routinely driven home. In this event, the IRS Commuting Rule will apply, which is a rate of $ 1.50 per one way community (that is from home to work or work to home) for each employee who commutes in the vehicle." Lewis agreed to head a committee to research other districts' handling of the issue. In other business, the district: -heard an engineer's report from Froelich Consulting Engineers, Inc., on Heppner Elementary facilities. The engineering firm concluded that the junior high school building was structurally sound, although they expressed concern about the exterior masonry walls in the event of an earthquake. The engineers reported damage to the junior high gym, greatly reducing the building's structural capacity, and recommended replacement of the facility's concrete walls. But, they further questioned the economic feasibility of repair of the building. In other business, the board: -heard a report on 1999-2000 testing data; -heard a report on small schools funding; -heard a report on election results; -accepted resignations for Melissa Metz, lone one-on-one ’ special education assistant; Chris Gardner, AC. Houghton Elementary assistant custodian; Coral Flores, ACH ed assistant -approved employment for: Jane Brosseau. Sam Boardman Elementary English-as-a-second- continued page 2 The Kyle and Darcy Robinson family attends the Veteran's Day Ceremony in Heppner Saturday Kyle's father, Don, spoke during the Nov. 11 event. Amid bright blue skies and crisp fall weather, around 100 veterans, their families and friends gathered for an emotional ceremony commemorating Veteran's Day at the Heppner mini-park on Saturday, November 11, at 11 a.m. The morning event was culminated with a fly-over. Veteran Don Robinson gave an account of his experiences as a member of the Airborne Division in Europe during World War II and veteran Deane Seeger spoke of the Korean War. Rita Hedman read a reflection on the Vietnam memorial wall and master of ceremonies Louis Carlson read the names of Morrow County veterans who lost their lives in service to their country. The American Legion presented the color guard; Father Gerry Condon delivered the invocation; Bob Taylor ot the VFW raised the flag; Sonja McCabe sang the National Anthem; Darren Van Cleave played Taps and Pastor Dick Metz delivered the benediction. A reception was held following the ceremony at Cal's Restaurant. Community Christmas Pageant scheduled Community theater has come again to the Willow Creek Valley. Dates for the play "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" have been set for Friday. Dec. 15. at 7 p.m. in Heppner at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church Parish Hall and Saturday, Dec. 16 at 7 p.nv in lone at the Willow Creek Grange Hall. This production, based on the book by Barbara Robinson, has also been made into a film and a television special. Co-directors are Craig Strobel and Jennifer Waldrep. both of w'hom have theater backgrounds. Members of the cast of 17 children, seven women and three men come from Heppner. Lexington and lone. Rehearsals are being lield at St. Patrick's Parish Hall and the lone Grange Hall. Both humor and pathos come from six children of the Herdraan family, played by Drion Donner. Aubree Just, Bryan Holland, Shannon Clay. Rachel Alford and Kendra Hendricks. They have not heard of the Christmas story and are described by the narrator. Don Robinson tells of his experiences in WWII. played by Sarah Barrow, as "the worst kids in the whole history of the world. They lied and stole and smoked cigars, even the girls, and talked dirty and cussed their teachers and took the name of the Lord in vain and set fire to Fred Shoemaker's old broken down tool house. They went through the Woodrow Wilson School like those South \mencan fish that strip your bones clean. They went around town the same way—stealing things and tearing things up and whamming kids... so it was hard to get away from them " Tickets will be $3 for ages 15 and above and $1.50 for children six to 14 years old. Donations arc being accepted to help to cover the cost of this first production. Arts & Crafts Club to meet The Morrow County Arts and Crafts Club will get together on Thursday, Nov. 16 at 1:30 p.m. at DG's Restaurant (Cal 's) for their monthly meeting Garden Club to hold workshop The Heppner Garden Club will have their Greens Workshop for making Christmas wreaths start ing Monday, Nov. 27. Those w ishing to call in orders may phone Ida Farra at 676-9446. The cutoff date to order is Satur day, Nov. 26. Ihose ordering may pick up wreaths anytime between Nov. 27 and Dec. 2. Free greenery' to make your ow n wreaths will be furnished by the Garden Club on Saturday. Dec. 2 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Ranger District to close Nov. 23-24 The Heppner Ranger District w ill be closed Thursday. Nov. 23. Thanksgiving Day. and Friday. Nov. 24, the day after Thanksgiv - mg. Christmas tree and firewood permits will be available at the Heppner Chevron station 1 0% OFF SH O P W ORK Parts a n d Labor through February 28th M orrow C ounty G r a in G rowers Lexington 989-8221 • 1-800-452-7396 t w m t i * w b »*
