TWO - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, February 14, 2001
Origins of St. Valentine’s Day
Letters to the Editor
Editor s note Letters to the Editor m ust be signed The C azette-Tim es w ill not publish
unsigned letters Please include your address a nd p h on e num ber on all letters for use by
the G-T office. The G -T reserves the right to edit. The G -T is not responsible for accuracy
of statements m ade in letters. I A n y letters expressing thanks will be placed in the classifieds
under 'C a r d o f T h a n k s'a t a cost o f $5.)
Slippery slope to fascism
To the Editor:
At the end o f his term, Pres.
Eisenhower predicted that the
emergence o f an industrial-military
complex, not communism or Russia,
would bring American democracy
down. He did not use the word
fascism, but one may recognize that
our recent presidential election may
have put us on the "slippery slope"
leading to fascism .
Fascism is an ugly word, an
anathema to most Americans. What
exactly does it mean? Dictionary
definitions have three parts:
"Fascism: a philosophy o f
government that (1) advocates or
exercises a dictatorship o f the
extreme nght, (2) typically through
the merging o f state and business
leadership (3) together with an
ideology ofbelligerent nationalism."
Look at part (1 )"advocates or
exercises a dictatorship o f the
extreme nght." The president's party
is definitely on the right, though
he tned to soften that by adopting
the campaign slogan "compassionate
conservative" in an attempt to get
more votes. However, he has chosen
and accepts helpers such as Chaney
with a far right Congress voting
record, Senator Trent Lott, Rep.
Tom Delay, former Senator Ashcroft
and others.
Did George W. exercise a hint
o f dictatorship when, knowing he
had lost the popular vote by over
half a million votes and that 40,000
ballots (o f m ostly African-
Americans, other minorities and
poor people in Florida) had never
been counted, he asserted that he
had won and began behaving as if
he had been given a sweeping
mandate? At the same time, the
Florida Supreme Court decided to
permit a hand-count o f the 40,000
ballots. Although he had signed into
law a’bill making the hand count
the preferred method in Texas, Bush
fought hard against the hand count
in Florida. Why? Because obviously,
he felt that with that count, he would
not win.
Meanwhile, brother Governor
Jeb, under the guise o f recusing
himself, had found an attorney to
appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court
to stop the counting. Furthermore,
undercover, he was encouraging
leaders in the Republican-controlled
Florida legislature to plan to send
an extra set o f electors to the
Electoral C ollege, just in case.
However, the Republican U.S.
Supreme Court overturned the
constitutional provision that
elections belong to the states and
stopped the counting, thus denying
voting rights o f som e minorities
and the poor in some Florida cities.
The frightening result is that we
now have a president's party who
may have usurped the office
(remember Hitler’s Beer Hall Pusch?
The German did not act then when
they could have). Will we ever know
the truth about the 40,000 votes in
Florida?
Even more frightening is the fact
that for the first time in history the
U. S. Supreme Court (by one vote)
has chosen the president and that
all three o f the three branches o f
our federal government, executive,
legislative and judicial, are
controlled by the party on the nght,
one that denied voting rights. Where
is our constitutional provision for
checks and balances? Where is our
government of, by, and for the
people?
...When asked how he expected
Congress to pass his trillion plus
tax cut, W. said, "111 just keep
repeating it until it passes (pause).
It w ould be easier if w e had a
dictatorship (pause), if I were the
dictator." Was that a jest, a slip-of-
the-tongue? M aybe a hint o f
fascism ? Are w e on a "slippery
slope"
toward
Eisenhower's
prediction?
In November, some pundits kept
saying, "The people are taking it
in their stride. There's no blood in
the streets." One prediction is sure:
if we, the people, lose our right to
vote, in order to regain that right,
we will sec blood in the streets of
our counfry that w ill make the
protests in Seattle, Los Angeles
Florida and the parade route on
Inauguration day seem microscopic.
(s) Jane Rawlins
Heppner
Opal butte not open to rock bounders
To the Editor:
There has been a lot o f confusion
the last couple years due to an honest
mistake by the Oregon Department
o f Geology and Mining Industries,
and several other web sites.
Since 19% the Oregon Dept. O f
Geology has advertised the entire
Opal Butte as being open to rock
hounding. This has caused mass
confusion among hounders in
traveling to the Butte to gather opals
just to be run off. In talking with
local hounders this past week, the
majority still believed the Butte to
be open; however, I contacted the
state geologist who himselfbelieved
it was open, until I urged him to
look into it, at which time he
discovered that they had failed to
update their web page.
So unless you can gain
permission from the lease owners,
or property owners, don't include
Opal Butte in your rock hounding
trips this summer, as you may find
yourself facing criminal charges
and possible civil penalties.
There are still many places in
Northeast Oregon to gather opal
eggs. We have found opal egg beds
just outside o f town. Som e lower-
grade opal has been found by several
hounders right here in town. If you're
up to traveling, then Richardson's
Ranch about 75 miles south o f here
offers fee digs that can yield some
outstanding opal, and agate thunder
eggs. You may g et lucky and find
som e amethyst, or crystal points
while on your endeavors.
We are temporarily working on
a small rock shop to display
specimens and rocks for sale. We
will also be looking into doing some
commission work. Due to the large
volume o f calls received from local
hounders, the prospects look good
for starting up "Heppner’s Rock and
Gem Club" where w e w ill teach
different cutting techniques,
cabachon
grinding,
rock
identification and numerous other
activities for all age groups. We
w ill also be looking forward to
several field trips this summer, one
o f which w ill be to Richardson's
Ranch and B iggs Jet. for the
beautiful B iggs jasper.
I never realized how rich our
com m unity is in knowledgeable
rock collectors and will consider
them an asset in joining our club
and sharing their geological wisdom.
Heppner Rock and Gem Club will
be non-profit and no dues will be
required. We ask only that you pay
your way on the field trips;
transportation w ill be provided.
This club is still early on in the
formation stage. At this point we
want to plan on opening the doors
by the end o f March and having
one m eeting per month to all
members and one afternoon once
a week in the rock shop for hands-on
lapidary work.. All age groups are
encouraged to join in on the fun.
Just give me a call and I'll let you
know when the first meeting will
be. We are still open for mail orders
and custom work and if you need
som e equipment for your lapidary
shop, just give me a call and I'll see
what I have.
(s) Dale Rhode
o f Rhode Cabbing and Gems
676-5961
Heppner
To the Editor:
At the lovely Sweethearts
Banquet produced by the youth
group o f First Christian Church last
weekend, the group at our table
began wondering how Valentine's
Day got started, and no one knew.
So 1 went home and did some
research, and here's an answer for
anyone else who wants to know:
According to the History Channel
website, St. Valentine was martyred
in Rome in the third century for
defying Emperor Claudius II by
performing secret marriages and
helping tortured Christians. While
in prison, he supposedly fell in love
with the jailer's daughter and wrote
her a letter signed, "From Your
Valentine."
St. Valentine's feast day is
February 14, which the early Church
The O fficial Newspaper
o f the City o f Heppner and the County o f Morrow
may have chosen to "Christianize"
the pagan Roman fertility festival
o f Lupercalia. In France, that date
is also the beginning o f the mating
season for birds, which adds to the
romance connection.
The first Valentine's Day note
was written in 1415 by the French
Duke o f Orleans to his wife while
he was imprisoned in the Tower
o f London.
In
America,
handmade
Valentine's Day cards were given
to loved ones beginning in the early
1700s. The first commercial cards
were made in 1840 in America, and
now about one billion are purchased
annually.
St. Valentine might be confused
H eppner
G A Z E T T E -T IM E S
U . S P S. 2 4 0 - 4 2 0
Morrow County’s Home-Owned Weekly Newspaper
Published weekly and entered as periodical matter at the Post Office at Heppner, Oregon
under the Act of March 3. 1879 Periodical postage paid at Heppner, Oregon Office at 147
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the Heppner Gazette-Times, P O Box 337, Heppner, Oregon 97836. Subscriptions: $22 in
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where
David Sykes
Publisher
April Hilton-Sykes .......................................................................
Editor
News deadline is Monday at 5 p.m.
For Advertising advertising deadline is Tuesday at noon. Cost for a display ad is $4 50 per
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For Public/legal Notices: public/legal notices deadline is M onday at 5 p.m Dates for publication
by it all, but he'd also be proud o f
all the love shared in his name.
(s)Lea Mathieu
lone
must be specified Affidavits must be required at the time of submission Affidavits require three
weeks to process after last date of publication (a sooner return date must be specified if required)
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Parents vaccinate your children
To the Editor:
As Feb. 21 school exclusion day
looms, two medical care providers
who are experts in their field and
who care about children have an
important m essage to share.
Recent cases o f m easles in
Oregon reemphasize the importance
o f protecting children against
vaccine preventable diseases.
Measles is an extremely contagious
and serious, even life-threatening
infection, that is fully preventable.
The measles case also com es at the
time o f year when parents need to
think about school exclusion day.
On February 21, state law says
every Oregon child must have had
required vaccinations if they are
to stay in school. Soon counties will
send exclusion letters to parents
o f children who have not had all
o f their vaccinations.
This year, many more children
than usual will receive exclusion
letters. That is because students in
the seventh grade must now provide
documentation that they have
received a second dose o f measles
vaccine, have either a history o f
chickenpox disease or received
chickenpox vaccine and must be
up-to-date on their hepatitis B
vaccine series.
Som e o f these diseases, like
m easles, chickenpox and hepatitis
B, are more severe in older children
and adolescents. Requiring vaccines
for school attendance protects the
individual child and helps to prevent
outbreaks o f disease in schools.
W e urge parents to take action
and make sure that your child has
all ofhis/her required vaccinations.
If shots are missing, call your doctor
right away and schedule an
appointment. Vaccinations are also
available through county health
departments and other special
vaccination clinics. For dates, times
and locations o f vaccination clinics,
call your county health department
or Safenet at 1-800SAFENET. In
addition, remember, you must
update your child's records at school
to avoid exclusion.
(s) Ron Stock, M.D.
President, Oregon Academy o f
Family Physicians
(s) Brian Lauer, M.D.
Chief, Dept, o f Pediatrics
Legacy Emanuel Children's
Hospital
Obituary
M C G C News
By Sandi Day
■ It was a cold and windy morning
for the w eekly m eeting at the
Morrow County Gun Club in
Lexington but the warm fire and
hot chili brought the shooters out
for a day o f fun.
Club president Curt Day and
Tony Greenup led the way at the
16-yard line, each shooting a 23,
followed by Bill Greenup and Barry
Munkers with 22 and Rob Ashbeck,
third with a 21.
Curt Day also took first at the
20-yard handicap line with a 23,
Sandi Day and Rob Ashbeck tied
for second with 21 each and Bill
Greenup had 20 for third.
In the junior shoot Chance Day,
Cody Ford and Zane Ford each shot
an "awesome" 12 o f 25.
In league shooting for the week,
the team o f Mark Schlichting and
Sandi Day took the lead from second
place last week and the teams o f
Curt Day and Shelly Ashbeck and
Barry Munkers and Tony Greenup
are currently tied for second.
The MCGC w ill hold a meat
shoot on Saturday, Feb. 17,
beginning at 10 a.m. Prizes o f
hamburger, bacon, sausage and
Terry Marrinan
Terry Mamnan, 54, died Monday
February 5, 2001, at his home on
Blake Ranch, just outside o f
Heppner.
Mr. Marrinan was bom January
16, 1947.
He served with the U.S. Air
Force, and was an avid collector
o f military insignia and relics from
WWI, WWII and Vietnam.
He was an artist by trade and
enjoyed carving birds and painting
murals.
He was loved dearly and will
be greatly m issed by family and
friends.
Sw eeney Mortuary o f Heppner
is in charge o f arrangements.
Correction
The name o f Dr. Lytle's w ife
w as erroneously listed as Karen
in a story about providers at
Pioneer Memorial Clinic in the
Feb. 7 Gazette-Tim es.
Mrs. Lytle's name is Laune.
Matthew Van Liew o f Heppner
has received a 3.76 grade-point
average at Stevens Institute o f
Technology at Hoboken, N.J. Van
Liew also made the dean's list. He
is majoring in civil engineering.
Saturday; February 17th at 10 a.m.
Cutsforth Comers, Lexington
Jaek-n-Jills, Annia Oakleys, Buddy Shoots
Straight Trap, Ladies and Kids Shoots
By Emily Bergstrom, reporter
On January 26 the club had their
meeting with members Brianne
Jones, Krystal Naims, Megan Orr
and Emily Bergstrom. Members
worked on their record books. Robyn
Jones came in and helped members
with them.
Members also talked about old
and new business that they didn't
have done. The club has a new
leader, Rita Bergstrom.
Northwest Livestock 4-H Group
By Emily Rietmann. reporter
The Northwest Livestock 4-H
group had a meeting on Jan. 12,
at the home of their leader, Cathy
Rauch.
Most o f the members are first
or second year 4-H members so they
discussed what they wanted to learn
this year and they talked about
attending other shows close by so
members could get some ideas and
experience before Morrow County
Fair. Members also talked about
their fair steers, meetings in the
future, letters to buyers, field trips,
weigh in and equiprnent they have
or need to get before fair.
Member? elected officers as
follows: President, Shelby Krebs;
Vice President, Mackayla Anderson;
Secretary/Treasurer,
Emily
Rietmann; and Call Person, A.J.
Rauch.
The club's next meeting was Feb.
11 at Cathy Rauch's home.
W e L ittle L am bs
The first 4-H meeting was
held for the year for the We
Little Lambs 4-H group.
Members for 2001 are
Katie and Cody Walton, Jake
Winslow, Lacey and Brandon
Davis, Darren, Matthew and
Nathan Van Cleave and Joey
Whelan. *
Members discussed fund
The Justice Court office at the
courthouse annex building in
Heppner reports handling the
following business:
Wilma Louise Norton, 44, Spray-
Driving Uninsured, Failure to Use
Seatbelt, $147 and $59 fines,
Driving while License Suspended
infraction, $358 fine;
Jay D. Clarke, 48, Vancouver,
WA.-Failure to Validate Deer Tag,
$157 fine;
Gene Darryl Heliker, 52,
Heppner-Violation of the Basic
Rule, $147 fine;
Steven M. Ziemba, 35,
Kennewick, W A.-Careless Driving,
$297 fine;
Stephen R. Meier, 52, Turner-
Failure to Validate Deer Tag, $ 182
fine;
Marla James Anderson, 31,
Lexington-Failure to Use Seatbelt,
$59 fine;
Samuel D. Martin, 31, Hardman-
Driving while License Suspended
infraction. Driving Uninsured, $474
fine;
Joshua Hamilton, 22, Pnneville-
Theft III, $250 fine.
Births
C lint M ichael Stew art-a son
Clint Michael was bom to Jamie
and Troy Stewart of Irrigon on
February 3,2001, at Good Sheplierd
Community Hospital in Hermiston.
The baby weighed 7 lbs. 12 oz.
_ I7th Annual Eastern
Oregon Snortsman Show
, \
*
At the Pendleton Convention Center
Featuring. Hunting. Fishing, and Outdoor Sports
^
■ w vw
February 16th, 17th. & 18th
Sponsored by 1 G 0 0 iA Braybeal Distributing
^
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Organized by the Pendleton City Club
All proceeds go to local youth activities.
Show Hours: Fri 5pm - 9pm. Sal 10 am - 8pm. Sun 10am - 5pm
Admission Adults $4 00 V Students S3 00 ¥ Kids under 12 are FREE
OVER 50 BOOTHS FEATURING
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
r
1 •
la t n t equipm ent and pear «howcated.
Rifle« to M ountain bike«
Boat«. R V Y Lodge«. Trip«
O utdoor equipm ent of every kind including
«now d m « , crow country. A Aching equipment.
Antique hunting and flthing driplay w ith lithograph«
A antique gum «pom ored by S i A ntho ny H o jp iu l
O utdoor art
H orn «coring w ith official
I.C./Pope A Young certified «corer
Award w inning w h itr tail deer mount.
Trophy animal« featuring over 20 exceptional
mount« and penrfng w n N record m triope «pomored by
SEMINARS INCLUDE
• Fly Tying
• Basic Archery H unting
• D uck & G oose C alling
• Salm on Fishing
• Steelhead Fishing
• Elk Bugling
• Basics of Black Powder Weapons
• And more!
CONTESTS WITH QUALITY PRIZES !
• Elk bugling
O utdoor photo fo oted co-«pom ored by £ A S T O R E G O N IA N
Also Sponsoring: <
Prizes will include: turkey, hamburger, bacon A cash
Far mars information, «ali Cert Day at 676-527S
Justice Court
Report
~ utdoorsmen
MORROW COUNTY 6UN CLUB
MEAT SHOOT
Pins and Pots & Patterns and Pans
raisers for the year and elected
officers. Officers elected were:
Katie Walton, president; Lacey
Davis, vice-president; and Joey
Whelan, reporter/secretary.
The group will meet again
in March.
ATTENTION,
turkey will be provided by Central
Red Apple Market. Lunch and
beverages w ill available in the
clubhouse throughout the day.
Local student
named to
dean's list
4-H News
«W
1=3
Q u ic k y L u b e