Creative Arts Group to sponsor mural project
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HEPPNER
Proposed mural
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VOL. 119
NO. 49
10 Pages
Wednesday, December 6,2000
Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon
Bringing in the greens
The Morrow County Creative
Arts group is sponsoring a mural
project depicting horse farming
in Morrow County. The mural
will be on the north end of the
old elevator building where the
antique
farm
machinery
collection is located.
Morrow County families have
brought in photos and some
photos from the museum will be
used so that the mural is an
authentic depiction of horse
farming in the county.
Robert Thomas of Kooskia, ID,
will be the artist. Thomas has
been a professional artist for
many years and has done murals
in Toppemsh, WA, and The
Dalles. In addition, he recently
completed some work in
California.
According to the Creative Arts
Group, Thomas' work is "well
received and outstanding."
Thomas has submitted a sketch
using the photos selected. The
mural will be done in sepia tones,
making them look like something
from the past. The eight panels in
the mural will be approximately
Schwab starts
Christmas toy
drive
Margaret Flaherty and Wilbur Jackson carry fresh-cut greens into the fairgrounds' annex building for
wreath making.
By Merlyn Robinson
Heppner's holiday season is
enhanced with Christmas doorway
decorations made by the Heppner
Garden Club during the first week
in December. This year, 140
wreaths, swags and candy canes
were assembled by cutters,
arrangers and bow-maker "elves".
Also assembled were table
arrangements
using
greens,
candles, baskets and other
decorations.
Free evergreens were also
available to about 45 people who
made their own arrangements
during a workshop last Saturday.
The Garden Club provides the
greens, wire rings, bows and other
decorations, in addition to what
participants choose to bring.
This Christmas-time community
service project has been a tradition
since 1971.
Kool Kitchen Kids spread Christmas goodwill
The local Les Schwab tire store
is starting its Christmas toy drive
to benefit local children around
the area.
Anyone who would like to
make Christmas a little happier
for local children is urged to drop
off their new toy at the local Les
Schwab tire store.
"We want everyone to know
that these toys will be distributed
to kids locally," said Schwab
manager Glen Bndgmon.
Santa and
Reindeer to be
here Dec. 17
Santa and his live reindeer will
be back in Heppner this year on
Sunday, Dec. 17.
Pictures with Santa and his
reindeer will be available for
purchase at $5 each. He will be
outside Central Market from 11
a.m. to 5p.m.
Flu shot clinics
cancelled
The flu shot clinics, which
were to be sponsored by the
Morrow County School District,
on Friday, Dec. 8, have been
cancelled.
The clinics were planned at
the district offices in Lexington
and A.C. Houghton Elementary
School in Irrigon
The Kool Kitchen Kids, a local 4-H group, is doing its best to help spread holiday cheer. The group, for
the fourth year in a row, made and decorated cookies to distribute to senior citizens at St. Patrick Senior
Center and others this Christmas season. The members made the cookies at home and then got together
for a fun afternoon of decorating the plates. Members pictured are Linsey Mitchell. Shanna Rietmann.
Blair Keithley, Madison Bailey. Codi Rosecrans. Shelley Rietmann. Kylee Disque. San Juanita
Elguezabal, Claire Anderson and Mahalev Huddleston. Not pictured are Laurie Murray and Leland Rill.
Leader is Tami Rietmann.
10 feet by 20 feet.
To make this a reality, funds
are still needed. Those wishing to
donate a panel will receive an oil
painting done to scale of that
panel for their home of office.
Contact Betty Mills, 676-5546
or Bob or Sharon Harrison, 989-
8496, to see available sketches
and a sample of one of the oil
paintings. Donors can then make
their choice as to which panel
they would like to sponsor.
A plaque will be placed on the
building recognizing the donors
and an information kiosk will
have a description of each panel,
which will also have the donor(s)
name on it.
All donations, regardless of
size, will help the project and
donations are tax-deductible.
Those wishing to be donors may
make donation checks payable to
the Farm Foundation P.O. Box
515, Heppner, OR. 97836.
Court studies options
following levy defeat
By Doris Brosnan
In a special session on
November 29, the Morrow
County Court studied the current
financial position and options m
light of the levy defeat on
November 7.
Included in the discussion were
Finance Director Lisanne Currin
and County Assessor Greg
Sweek.
Currin offered a summary of
the county's present situation.
She reported cash and other
revenues and expenditures at
approximately the level to be
expected at this time of year.
Measure 1608 money remains an
uncertainty, said Cumn. She also
explained
her
four-year
projections, based on Sweek's
most current numbers on
estimates of values and subject to
change.
Further into the future, some
enterpnse-zone industries will be
coming onto the tax rolls in
2003, 2007, and 2008. Judge
Terry Tallman interjected that
the Racing Unlimited project is
looking hopeful and would have
a two-plus years' construction
schedule. Sweek noted that
related figures are included in his
estimates.
In response to Cumn's question
of why the commissioners feel
that the levy was defeated.
Commissioner John Wenholz
said that he thinks the voters
have spoken, and they want less
service. He asked about the
amounts budgeted for non-
mandated services, which Currin
partially listed. She noted that the
court would need to look at the
statutes to determine what other
services are not mandated. She
pointed out that some agencies
supported with slate revenues
could also be facing funding
difficulties.
Commissioner Dan Brosnan
noted his belief that the voters
sent a clear message and to
support another type of taxation
in lieu of the levy would seem to
be circumventing the voters' will
Tallman agreed that the court
needs to follow through with its
message issued before the levy
election, that a "no" vote would
mean the voters wanted cuts in
service. He questioned whether
or not the general public believes
the county situation is as dire as
the court has explained. Currin
agreed that the efforts to make
cuts with the least possible
impact leads people to believe
that additional money was not
needed.
The group discussed some
possible approaches to trimming
the budget and approaches to the
necessary
budget
process.
Brosnan said that, recognizing a
shortfall of $686,000 next year,
the county should look at making
cuts this fiscal year in
preparation for that.
Wenholz and Sweek agreed that
the court should solicit input
from the department heads first.
Currin questioned the possibility
of a hiring freeze, but Tallman
said he would like to talk to
department heads first, wanting
departments to feel a part of the
process.
Sheriff Verlin Denton
contributed that he would be hard
pressed to fill a current vacancy,
knowing that the person would
be cut in July. Tallman noted that
good management dictates that
such a vacancy not be filled, but
he does not support stating a
hiring freeze yet.
Brosnan suggested dealing
with the reality of the fiscal
situation, "the sooner, the better."
The court agreed to meet
individually with department
heads during December, after
having given them some choices
and asking for recommendations.
Upon Currin’s return to work in
January, she will work with the
information to formulate the
results of those meetings.
Stressed at the meeting was the
need to keep lines of
communication open with the
court and departments during this
on Friday, December 8th
R efreshm ents w ill b e serv ed !
^
M orrow C ounty
G r a in G r o w e r s
Lexington 989-8221 • 1-800-452-7396
I