TW O - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, April 11, 2001
Editor's note: Letters to the Editor must be signed. The Gazette-T imes will not publish
unsigned letters. Please include your address and ph on e num ber o n all letters h r 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. (Any letters expressing thanks will be placed in the classifieds
H eppner
GAZETTE-TIMES
under 'C a r d of Thank s ' at a cost of $5.)
No vote only penalizes our children
U S P S. 240-420
Morrow County’s Home-Owned Weekly Newspaper
Published weekly and entered as periodical matter at the Post Office at Heppner, Oregon
under the Act o f March 3, 1879 Periodical postage paid at Heppner, Oregon Office at 147
W W illow Street Telephone (541)676-9228 Pa* (5 4 1)6 7 6 -9 2 1 1 E-mail gt@heppner net
or gt.u rapidserve net W eb site www heppner net Postmaster send address changes to
the Heppner Gazette-Times, P O B o x 337, Heppner, Oregon 97836. Subscriptions $22 in
Morrow County, $16 senior rate (in Morrow County only; 62 years or older), $29 else
where
David Sykes
...................................................... Publisher
April Hilton-Sykes
Editor
News deadline is Monday at 5 p.m.
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lone students complete
web design project
lone's eighth grade technology
students and the high school students
in the web design class have nearly
finished the community project they
have been working on. The students
in teacher Darlene Manquaidfs classes
have created a web page for the city
o f lone. The initial page was done
by Maiquardt while the students wrote
the rest. They have also made links
to other web pages for businesses,
organizations and individuals in lone.
"This project was done as a
community service project as well
as a learning assignment for the
students," said Marquardt. "The
students do not use software such
as Frontpage or Hotdog to design
their pages, but rather have to team
the html codes and write the pages
from scratch. The students also took
i o the Editor:
The upcoming bond election for
Morrow County Schools will replace
the grade school gym in Heppner,
and the grade school in lone. Both
of these facilities were built over 75
years ago and are not feasible to
renovate.
The levy would provide facilities
in the Boardman and Irrigon area to
accommodate future growth.
One of the most important things
the levy will do is maintenance on
existing buildings.
The levy will replace failing roofs
in needed areas and remove and
replace asbestos floor tiles in all
schools. It will also update heating
and cooling systems and install energy
efficient windows where needed to
reduce energy costs for the district.
These maintenance items have
been delayed in an effort to maintain
classroom programs. If we do not
pass the bond levy these items will
have to be done from operation
funding, which will again cut in to
educational programs at our schools.
We all need to set aside our
differences over board and
administrative decisions that we may
not agree with.
We need to remember that a no
vote on this bond issue does not
penalize the school board or the
administrators. It only penalizes our
most important asset, the children
o f our communities.
Please join us in voting "Yes For
Kids" on the bond levy.
(s) Larry & Betty Mills
Heppner
Land sale detrimental to county
transportation
and manipulated their own digital
pictures."
The City o f lone web page may
be accessed two ways. Either go to
http://ioneoregon.com or go to
http://ihs.morrow.kl2.or.us/virtual-
ione/city.html.
The lone students also help
Marquardt maintain the school's web
page which may be found at
http://ihs.morrow.kl2.or.us. Other
student works may be found at
http://ihs.morrow.k 12.or.us/student-
links.html.
Marquardt says they welcome
readers to let them know about any
lone web pages (businesses,
organizations, or personal) as they
would like to link it to their site. Let
them know by e-mailing Marquardt
at marquad@ morrow.kl2.or.us.
O f f T he W a ll...
R\' AAt i l y u
Think of children first
Letters to the Editor
The Official Newspaper
o f the City o f Heppner and the County o f Morrow
iis o ii
fin áis a ’ take ft ft&Ai those in the k n w ^ 'c b m p o st^ o ffh e following
could be labeled a "believe it or not" column. Your choice probably
depends on which part o f the state you call home.
Portland mayor Vera Katz, "aka Meathead,” proclaims meatless days to
save the environment from an overpopulation o f those messy cows that
dump on the land and pollute the water. Meanwhile, a power failure
knocked out a pump causing four million gallons o f raw Portland sewage
to dump in the Willamette River. That insignificant little blip was barely
mentioned on a back page of The Oregonian, since during winter months
Portland sewage overflows typically run as high as 2.8 million gallons.
Seems strange that Portland received only a $14,000 fine by the EPA
while an Eastern Oregon cattle rancher was fined $50,000 for his cattle
accessing the Wallowa River. Portland sewage must be cleaner or
somehow doesn't affect fish because Willamette Valley people who fish
or stick their fingers in the water were told to "wash their hands" after
coming in contact with that river water.
Sage scientists are debating the amount o f water to be spilled this spring
from dams on the Columbia River to help migrating salmon as the
Northwest faces a drought situation. Barging o f fish is ludicrous they say.
How about this fall when the water situation becomes even more critical,
not only for fish but for hydroelectric power? Never mind that the number
o f returning salmon have greatly increased this year. If we don't run out
o f high-priced, imported fuel perhaps they'll have to barge water upstream
this fall, replacing those spilled gallons, to aid fish or human summer
survivors.
As to a new daylight savings time proposal, supposedly to save
electricity, it's suggested that in May the clocks be again moved forward
one more hour. The "clock watchers" prefer to mess with clocks every
year, as it appears it is impossible to change business hours. Perhaps that
would be too much o f a mental strain if one had to get up at four a.m.
instead of at six in order to be on time for work. However candles could
be an early morning energy saver, cause who needs good lighting for
enhancing the current "messy is better" hairstyles. A commentator
suggested that the best way to achieve that look is to use hair spray when
you first get out o f bed.
People, particularly children, aren't getting enough sunshine or exercise,
it's reported. So a health-minded, energy-saving decision could be turning
o ff TV and forcing youngsters outside to breathe a city's polluted air.
Too, it's claimed that sitting for long periods clogs arteries in the legs.
Like seat belts, perhaps we need a law to protect people from themselves,
requiring sitters to jum p up every hour and run around their building.
There's also the problem with airline passengers sitting too long in
cramped positions. Perhaps, along with serving cocktails, there needs to
be a requirement that passengers rotate seats frequently and kick-box in
the aisles while changing seats.
Too, I worry about prisoners whose rights are being violated by being
locked up in sunless places as they spend several hours a day on
computers trying to figure out sentencing appeals as a way out. They are
also required to sit motionlessly in front o f television sets to improve their
minds as a form o f rehabilitation.
For more noteworthy decisions, it's about time they inducted "Silly
Putty" into the national toy hall o f fame. This World War II accidental
creation has bounced off many a wall. There has never been a more
"conveniently-toted" small toy with so many uses. It not only bounces and
stretches but also can be used to lift images from things like newspaper
comics. Our children even tried using it for facemasks. As a long-time
chauffeur o f children, it's hard to describe that feeling when this cold,
gooey stuff slides down one's neck. It is definitely less messy than play
dough, especially in a vehicle. Too, it was less threatening to an
endangered driver than having a secretly pocketed frog suddenly progress
downward underneath a person's shirt collar.
These are some o f the many sage conclusions affecting our day-to-day
lives. You have to get up early to stay in tune with such note-worthy
proclamations. Or it might be better to stay in bed and catch up on your
sleep-deprived soul, a hazard that is said to be affecting both the body and
the m ind~or perhaps it just affects those making "mindless" decisions.
To the Editor:
I am writing to express my
concerns o f a land transaction
involving R.D. Offitt Co. and the
State o f Oregon. I feel this land sale
which involves a total of93,000 acres,
of which includes a 23,000 acre tract,
that is a long band approximately
20 miles long by two miles wide to
be held by the Nature Conservancy
is cutting Morrow County in half and
is detrimental to long-term Morrow
County transportation. We are asking
for a road easement across a small
section o f this property. Preventing
this easement is the ODFW s listing
o f the Washington ground squirrel
as an endangered species. The land
in question has been bombed, farmed,
gazed, hunted and has had several
private and county roads on it in the
past and present. The squirrels are
still presently flourishing. This is
really a common sense issue.
ODFW must use a reasonable and
common sense approach in the
implementation o f this "hard stand"
they seem to be taking, on an issue
that could involve the closing o f
a community. K -r
that 2 Vi miles o f re a d ju st 18 acres
or (.08 percent) o f 23,000 acres,
across a thin section o f land is going
to affect the squirrel population or
any wildlife in the slightest manner.
Not having a road easement to
link the fast-growing north end job
availability( i.e. Offutt, Tillamook,
PGE, racetrack. Port o f Morrow, etc
...), at a reasonable distance with a
south end work force deters growth
and stability o f economy in south
Morrow County.
There were roads here prior to
WWII before the bombing range was
created; there are roads here now and
there should be a road here in the
future. The time is now for common
sense to take heed and not let rural
Oregon to be held hostage by extreme
environmental groups from the west
side o f the state.
The lone and Heppner communities
have excellent schools, as rated by
the State o f Oregon. Currently
shrinkingenrollments, resulting from
the closing of a mill, poor agriculture
economy and ever increasing farm
size jeopardizes our great school
system. These communities provide
excellent livability. They just need
access to available employment.
We do not want to stop the land
sale. We do not want an "in lieu o f'
proposal. We do not want funding.
We do not want a road built What
we do want is an easement for a 2 Vi
mile road, that does not break up or
harm anything, which would give
access to a possible 1200 future jobs.
community concerned for its schools
and rural way p fjife.
Twenty-two thousand, nine
hundred and eighty-two acres for
squirrels.
Eighteen acres for schools and
community.
Very simple.
(s) Darrin Padberg
lone
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Monday, April 16th, 10 a.m. to 3 p.
include new roofs, asbestos removal,
heating systems and energy-efficient
windows.
If the construction bond doesn't
pass, the board o f directors will be
forced to use operating funds to
perform these maintenance items and
operating funds will continue to be
in short supply.
Public schools are the cornerstone
o f all our communities. Kids are the
P sb lo o d o f our future.
Please vote "yes" on the Morrow
County'school construction bpn*l-
" ’
(s) George Koffler
Heppner
Financial Advisor
The lone Public Library has > Also, the library has recently
received 120 new books, the base received a number o f new books for
library for the book leasing plan. its permanent collection, including
, Many different types o f books are many selections from the Oprah Book
i covered in the core selection from Club.
Regular hours are Mondays and
> popular fiction to nonfiction to self-
Wednesdays,
from 3-5 p.m.
i help.
CJteti’ a How
To the Editor:
Next month, the citizens o f
Morrow County will be voting by
mail on a school district bond for
construction o f schools and
maintenance o f existing buildings.
In the north end of Morrow County,
new buildings are needed to ease
overcrowding to help the educational
process. In the south end o f Morrow
County, we will be replacing two old
buildings that have outlived their
q'seful life
'm ao/\
In additidh, theffe arê à nihtibèr’
o f maimertance items, deferred
maintenance, that will be done. They
Jcmiifcr Currin Gutri&gc
on the second floor o f the building.
Heppner Elementary students must
cross the street for lunch during a
busy traffic time. Improvements to
these schools shows concern for the
safety o f our children.
As our facilities continue to age
and deteriorate, normal maintenance
and repair costs will go up. These
costly repairs to our schools are paid
out o f the district’s operating budget.
The operating budget is limited by
the amount the state provides each
year. As maintenance and repair costs
go up, less money is available for
educational programs. This bond
measure, if approved, will maximize
the funds available for operations
and programs.
Please vote "yes" on May 15. It's
the right thing to do for our
community, our children and our
future.
(s) Sandy Tallman
"Yes" For Kids chairman
Boardman
:v/l
child in that old grade school during
an earthquake?
If you live in North Morrow
County, you should support the bond
issue for the following reasons:
1 ) You have the growth and we
need to stay ahead o f the curve.
2) Not all cuts would come from
the South, the North could also face
program cuts if we have to pay for
all necessary maintenance projects
and additional classroom space out
o f general operating funds.
Please vote "yes" for a balanced
district-wide bond that will help all
o f our communities. Let's vote yes
for all o f our kids and fight about
operating budgets some other day.
Jerry Rietmann
lone
Vote yes on school construction bond
Heppner Little League T-
ball tryouts will be held this
Thursday, April 12, at 4 p.m. at
lone Library receives new books
'
to poor quality instruction. Plus we
all know that temporary classrooms
never really go away and that
deferring needed maintenance usually
results in more costly problems later.
We need to think o f our children
first and pass a bond now. If we pass
the bond measure we will show some
vision and prove we care about our
children. This bond will result in
major maintenance in every portion
o f the district and will free up
operating funds this next year that
can be used for better instruction for
our children.
If you live in South Morrow
County, you should support this
balanced bond issue for the following
reasons:
1) If we don't keep up with the
real growth in North Morrow County,
we will pay with even larger cuts to
instructional programs in the South.
2) In Heppner, every day that your
children cross the street to have lunch,
the chance o f a child being struck
by a car goes up.
3) In lone, would you want your
T-ball tryouts set April 12
Vote yes for our community,
children and our future
To the Editor:
As a taxpayer, parent and
community member, I would like to
thank the Morrow County School
Board for developing the bond
measure to go before the voters on
the May 15 ballot. The board
members have come up with solid,
sensible solutions for our aging,
overcrowded schools and managed
to maximize our taxpayer dollars.
In Boardman and Irrigon, student
enrollment has increased 25 percent
in the last five years and is expected
to increase another 25 percent in the
next five years. The current number
of kindergartners in Irrigon is 82 with
72 in Boardman. A new elementary
school in both Boardman and Irrigon
shows sensible planning for the future
o f our children.
In addition to overcrowded schools,
the school board has addressed the
issue o f safety. Currently, lone
Elementaiy does not have a fire escape
door in the library which is.located
To the Editor:
Recently you published a letter
by Meg Murray that was in opposition
to the Morrow County School District
bond for needed maintenance and
for new grade schools. Mrs. Murray
seems to think that the glass is always
half empty. If Mrs. Murray’s point
o f view were to be taken seriously,
we should, in the interest of providing
the best education possible for our
children, build just one monster high
school in Bend. This would give our
children the most possible curriculum
choices and therefore, if Mrs. Murray
is correct, the best education. Also,
Mrs. Murray seems to not be able
to separate operating funding from
a bond measure for buildings and
maintenance.
The true story is that North
Morrow County is growing rapidly
and the number o f children about to
enter the grade schools both in
Boardman and Irrigon will overwhelm
those schools. As I see it, if this bond
fails, the school district will have two
choices. First, they could load up
buses and ship children around the
county to locations that have the space
and low teacher to student ratios to
handle them. This, from a budget
point o f view, would be the most cost
effective option since the state
reimburses a large portion of
transportation. However, this would
be a truly poor choice for families
and children.
The second option is to purchase
temporary modular classrooms and
put off major maintenance projects.
The associated costs for this would
come out o f general funds and we
all know that the majority o f these
cuts would have to come from South
Morrow County. This would lead
$
1 6 5 ,0 0 0
Contact David Sykes, Agent
H eritage L a n d Co.
www.heppner.net 1-800-326-2152 toll free
(541) 676-9228 days, (541) 676-9939 evenings
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