Heppner gazette-times., April 25, 2001, Page TWO, Image 2

TWO - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, April 25, 2001
The Official Newspaper
of the City o f Heppner and the County o f Morrow
H eppner
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David Sykes
.................................................................................Publisher
April Hilton-Sykes
........................................................................................... Editor
New* deadline it Monday at 5 p.m.
US on course of 'belligerent nationalism'
To the Editor:
A reprieve, since President Bush
has entered the international scene,
to relate the third component of a
philosophy o f a system of
government that (1) advocates or
exercises a dictatorship o f the
extreme right, (2) typically through
For Advertising advertising deadline is Tuesday at noon Cost for a display ad is $4 50 per
the merging of state and business
column inch Cost for classified ad is 40< per word Cost for Card of Thanks is $5 up to 100
leadership, (3) together with an
words Cost for a classified display ad is $5 10 per column inch
ideology of belligerent nationalism.
For Public/Legal Notices public/legal notices deadline is Monday at 5 p.m Dates for publication
must be specified Affidavits must be required at the time of submission Affidavits require three
Let's look at the ideology of
weeks to process after last date of publication (a sooner return date must be specified if required)
belligerent nationalism — the idea
that one nation should have more
On the HEPP.\ER WEBSITE: www.heppner.net
power than any other nation. Since
• S ta rt o r C h a n g e a S u b s c r ip tio n
this always touches international
• P la c e a C l a s s i f i e d A d • S u b m i t a N e w s S t o r y
relations, my reader is asked to put
• V i e w R e a l E s ta te f o r S a le • C it y C o u n c il & P la n n in g M in u te s
himself in the place o f other
• L o c a l B u s in e s s e s • C o u n ty P a rk • W i l l o w C re e k P a rk R e s e rv a tio n s
• F re e D ig it a l P o s tc a rd s • S e n io r H o u s in g • a n d m o re !
countries and to find what they may
be thinking o f the U.S. right now
(one good method of resolving
from page one
conflict).
The numbers are for what they
(the
other countries) know. The
costing them a lot of money," he said.
"response"
is for their comments.
said.
Money for construction o f two
1.
Pres.
Bush
lost the popular
Paying off the bond will new grade schools, one in
vote
but
won
through
an "Electoral
require a tax levy of $1.37 per Boardman and one in Irrigon is
College"
process.
Response:
We
thousand valuation, a good deal included in the bond issue.
thought
that
in
democracies,
the
for tax payers because most of Money is also included to
the property valuation in the convert Columbia Middle School one with the most votes decides (the
county is carried by utilities (the
into a high school, however, five laws, officials etc.) We can't
understand this "electoral college"
coal fired plant at Boardman) at
conditions must be met before
55.7 percent, Anderson says.
the high school will be opened business and wonder if you do.
2. Bush's policy has changed from
Residential valuation is 14
the board said.
the
percent of the county valuation,
1.
The funding levels currently past president. He has promised
agriculture,
14.6
percent,
established are maintained by the to reform the military and has
industrial 11.3 percent and
state of Oregon with a cost of appointed as top officials generals,
defense secretary and others known
commercial 3.1 percent. Twenty
living adjustment.
percent of the valuation of the
2. That instructional programs for their work in the Gulf War. He
district is located in south
at Riverside High School would repeats that his purpose is to "win
county, and 80 percent is located
not be eliminated or reduced as a wars." Response: Is the U.S.
in north county.
result of establishing a new high planning to fight wars? Who will
Total dollar amounts spent at
school. This does not preclude a be the enemies? You’ve been
working the past eight years on
each school for all projects are as minor adjustment program to
bringing
peace between age-old
follows:
accommodate scheduling or
enemies like Ireland, Israel-
lone $3,678,001;
shifting o f resources within
Palestine, Pakistan-India and others
Heppner $4,644,872;
elective offerings.
and
visiting other countries to touch
Boardman $6,270,945;
3. That enrollment between the
their
leaders and people not visited
Imgon: $7,156,182
communities of Boardman and
by
other
presidents. We remember
and $250,000 district wide for
Irrigon continues to increase at
that
unprecedented
nine-minute
high speed internet access.
the 5 percent average as in the
standing ovation we gave the past
The school bond issue is a mail
past five years.
in ballot, and ballots are expected
4. That the district establish a president at the U.N. National
Assembly. Maybe we'd better get
to be mailed out April 27. They
separate fund, during the
together
and produce some more
must be returned by May 15.
transition period, using revenues
weapons
to be able to keep them
from student growth.
(the
U.S.)
from winning these wars
Irrigon high school
5.
That the new high school
Bush is talking about. Anyone of
stipulations
would be phased in over a period
our countries could do it. The genie
of three years beginning in no
is out o f the bottle on that... The
Even if the upcoming school
later than the year following the
U.S. turned it out at Hiroshima.
construction bond levy is
opening o f the new elementary
3. Iraq: Bush soon ordered
approved by voters, it will not
school in Imgon, so space is
bombing
outside the containment
guarantee a new high school in
available for sixth graders.
"no-fly" zone. U.S. Secretary of
Imgon, the school board has
State (the general who did not want
to go on to Baghdad and take Sadam
out at the end of the end of the Gulf
Inland Northwest Musicians and
traditional favorites such as War) now says that Sadam has
Willow Creek Singers, under the
"Amazing Grace," and "Simple plenty of money to help his people
if he would use it for that Response:
direction o f R. Lee Friese, will
Gifts," among others.
The
U.S. has a big surplus. Arc you
present a free concert, "Songs of
Local performers singing in the
using
it house your homeless? Are
the Spirit" on Saturday, April 28,
concert are Shirley Palmer, Jennifer
you
using
it to help the 25 percent
at 7:30 p.m. at Lexington Baptist
Palmer, Ellen Rollis, Loren Unruh,
of
your
children
under age five who
Church. Everyone is invited to
Kathryn Unruh, Emily Unruh and
live in poverty? (For Oregon, see
attend.
Sandra VanLiew.
The combined chorus will
The concert is sponsored by the "Portrait of Poverty in Oregon"
perform songs that range from the
Bank of Eastern Oregon, Morrow published by OSU.) Aren't you
spiritual "I Am Alive," to the
County Grain Growers and leaving those children behind?
4. Russia: Bush sent 50 Russian
reflective "Go Ye Now in Peace.” Columbia
Basin
Electric
diplomats
home afier finding an
Other selections in the program
Cooperative.
American
citizen
guilty of espionage
include "Heavenly Light," a staple
For more information, contact
of Russian Church liturgy and the
Loren Unruh, 676-9873, or the He also asked Russia not to sell
"Last Words of David," as well as
Pendleton office of Inland Northwest weapons to Iran. Response: They
sold the information to us. We are
Musicians at 966-6649.
equally guilty. We are sending 50
of your diplomats home. Also, why
“Don’t let summer sneak
can't we sell to Iran? You did. We
up on you. Join
also know the U.S. is the biggest
arms distributor in the world and
Weight Watchers now.”
you sell where you want to. Why
Now 's th e tim e. A nd new W in n in g P oin ts
can't we?
is th e w ay Eat th e food s y o u love, sta y
5. ABM (it's been called by many
w ith in y o u r d aily P O IN T S ' r a n g e , and
names. Let's use "Star Wars")
N IW
lose! You'll s ta y sa tisfied
worked on by several presidents
fflSSBESBBl an d be read y for y o u r
but was abandoned because it didn't
beat su m m e r ever.
work. Bush broke the ABM treaty
with Russia and will go U.S.
unilaterally. Response: The U.S.
doesn't keep promises and are
Join before May 5th and SAVE $12.00!
obviously flexing their military
muscles. Traditional European allies
Pay only tho registration fee o f *20.00
oppose it, even Tony Blair (UK)
did not nod assent on the meeting
HEPPNER
with W.
Heppner Methodist Church • 175 W. Church
6. North Korea: Secretary Powell
Thursdays, 6:30 p.m.
said that Clinton's unfinished
HERMLSTON
persuasion of that state to give up
Senior Center • 435 W. Orchard • Mondays, 6:30 p.m.
its long-range missile threat had
PENDLETON
left "some promising elements on
United Methodist Church • 352 SE 2nd • Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m.
the table and we do plan to engage
CONDON
with North Korea." Bush, however,
Gilliam County Fairgrounds • 601 1st St., Exh. Hall 1, Mtg. Rm.
after
talking with the president of
Wednesdays (starting April 18), 6 p.m.
South Korea who wants to continue
Join any meeting anytime! For more information
North-South Korea contacts (and
call weekdays 8:30 am to 5:00 pm
won the 2000 Nobel Peace Prize
for his work on it) abruptly rejected
any further diplomatic consultation
(or to« free 1-87 7-297-1021)
with North Korea. Response: Why?
www woightwatchora com
•S u b s e q u e n t W e e k ly fe e s (S 1 2 .0 0 ) a p p ly
Does he need another "rogue state”
to justify his spending more billions
■ l O O H M a W w S w ia w n J s w w '
ITTW*TCW»iian «Si — r t . A l i t ^ u n w r w s
School bond election
Musicians, singers to present concert
FREE FIRST MEETING*!
( 503 ) 297-1021
on his "Star Wars?"
7. Bosnia and Kosovo: the United
Nations have engaged there in a
hot spot, not for oil, but for
preventing brutal murders and ethnic
cleansing. During his campaign
Bush said he wanted to bring home
our military now abroad. Asked how
he would handle Bosnia and Kosovo,
W. answered that he would let the
European countries do their part.
Response: That man is obviously
ignorant of the fact that 80 percent
of the U.N. forces here are European
and other countries. We haven't
settled our age-old rivalries, but
we feel safer when U.N. forces are
here and are afraid that if the U.S.'s
20 percent pulls out, the rest will
too. Most of us want you to stay,
and we are not killing your soldiers.
8. Israel-Palestine: Bush has taken
a hands-off policy, telling the
Palestinians (who have mostly rocks
to throw) to "stop the violence" and
Israel (to whom we provide
sophisticated weapons and lots of
dollars) to "use restraint." Response:
We Arab states in the region held
a summit conference and sent
Mubarak o f Egypt to talk to Bush.
We've heard nothing more about
it. What happened m Washington?
Meanwhile, the Lebanon border
is firing and Syria is standing by.
9. Global warming: Bush refused
to sign the Kyoto Agreement of
countries around the world joining
together to prevent more rapid
thinning of the ozone layer. Bush
says he must refuse because it would
hurt the U.S. economy. Response:
Immediately, Japan, German,
England, France and other countries
objected, wondering if he knows
that with four percent of world
population, you put out 24 percent
of gas emissions. To refuse to help
because of the "U.S. economy" is
blatant lack o f responsibility.
10. China: Pres. W set the
scheduled visit with a Chinese
diplomat back to give the time to
the Japanese one. He then changed
the relationship with China from
"strategic partner " to "strategic
competitor." Then the surveillance
plane incident when the U.S. refused
to apologize and after days said they
are sorry about the loss of the
Chinese pilot, etc. The American
press racheted up conflict by talk
of refusing membership in WTO,
sending the destroyers with IBMs
to Taiwan, refusing the Olympic
Games and others. Response: You
do not realize how deeply personal
losing face in our culture is, often
resulting in suicide. Our languages
are different so translations are
inaccurate. What does "very" mean?
We still wonder if you didn't
intentionally bomb our embassy
in Europe. Don't think you can
threaten us. You have four percent
of the world population; we have
25 percent. You have taught us
technology, sending leading
corporations to take advantage of
cheap labor to bring profit to you.
We are a rising power, long
dormant, but on the move. If you
press us into war now, you will lose.
In summary, all the items above
could well be considered belligerent
U.S. nationalism, or at least
aggressive, causing antagonism
toward us.
(s) Jane Rawlins
Heppner
P S .-How about an ideology of peace
where we take down the "national
fences" and live as God made us
to be, caring for and sharing with
each other the wonderful Earth He
has given us?
Irrigon could have
a high school again
To the Editor:
We support the Morrow County
School Bond. What a thrill! After
42 years Irrigon could have a high
school again.
With the seven-12 configuration
in Irrigon and Boardman, the
students can stay in their own town
to attend school.
The return o f a high school in
Imgon will drastically change the
growth pattern we have been
experiencing in our community.
The tax dollar is small when
spread over the whole school
district.
Ballots will be mailed out 4-27-01
and need to be returned 5-15-01.
Imgon we need your "yes" vote,
(s) Billy and Sarnie Griffin
Imgon
To the Editor:
Voters of Morrow County are
being asked to pass a bond levy of
22 million dollars this May. The
bond will provide funding for new
schools and major improvements
throughout Morrow County.
Specifically included are a new
elementary school in lone, Imgon,
and Boardman. Heppner will receive
a new elementary/middle school
gymnasium.
The bond will take care of many
maintenance issues that need
addressed. Heating and ventilating
systems will be updated, replaced
or installed at lone High School,
Heppner High School, Riverside
High School, Columbia Middle
School and A.C. Houghton
Elementary. As energy costs
continue to escalate, having efficient
systems becomes even more
important.
Our District will contìnue to grow
over the next five years. The
construction scheduled will take
care of the growth and the additional
major maintenance needs that should
be fixed now. By passing this bond,
we will not have to use our operating
funds for maintenance so general
fund dollars can be used to maintain
quality educational programs for
our students.
Interest costs continue to be at
histoncal lows so timing for funding
will never be better. The new
businesses that are locating in the
enterprise zone in Boardman have
agreed to pay their share of property
taxes for school bonds. This makes
everyone's tax rate $1.38 per $ 1,000
of assessed value for the amount
in this bond. I urge everyone in our
district to look at the total benefit
of passing this bond and vote "yes"
on May 15.
(s) Gary Frederickson
Boardman
Schools desperately needed
To the Editor:
We are writing this letter in
support of the Morrow County
School bond for May 15. As you
well know this bond will help update
and build desperately needed new
schools throughout Morrow County.
The fact is that our elementary
schools are extremely overcrowded.
To understand this and get a first
hand view of this overcrowding just
take some time out of your schedule
and go visit A.C. Houghton in
Irrigon, or Sam Boardman in
Boardman. It won't take you long
to realize that these two schools
need help. Those are just two
examples of what our county schools
need. Heppner, lone, Imgon and
Boardman schools are all in need
of repairs, updates and rebuilding.
Right now there are over 80
kindergarten students at A.C.
Houghton alone. There is not enough
classrooms available for these kids
to move from one grade to the next.
They are even holding classes on
the old stage at A.C. Houghton.
We have a great opportunity
available to us right now to help
ease our schools overcrowding. Our
children are our future. They need
the best to become the best, plain
and simple.
Sure it's going to cost us some
money. But if we don't do it now,
it's going to cost us more in the
future. It's got to be done and the
longer we put it off, the more it is
going to cost. Please look over the
pamphlets being mailed to you from
the "Yes For Kids" campaign very
carefully. You will see that each
community is getting what they need
to educate their children for the
future. No one community is getting
all the money. If this bond isn't
passed, more teachers and programs
will be lost because they will be
forced to use operational money
to make repairs. So please join us
in showing our children we care
about their future by voting "yes"
on May 15.
(s) Danny and Meredith Young
Imgon
Bond levy a good deal for taxpayers
To the Editor:
This week Morrow County Voters
will have a choice to approve a 22-
million-dollarbond levy. This levy
will provide much-needed facilities
and improvements throughout
Morrow County Schools. Volunteer
citizen committees from each
community in the county worked
many hours with building
administrators, faculty and staff to
put together each line item included
in the bond levy. Although the
committees would have liked to
include more for their communities,
they each submitted a bare-bones
list for the bond.
We would encourage you to vote
for the approval o f the bond. This
is a vote for new buildings and
capital improvements for aging
facilities throughout the county.
This is not a vote for your approval
of the school board, superintendent,
or any one employed by Morrow
County School District; this is a
vote for the improved education
and well being for all children in
Morrow County Schools for many
years to come.
This is a very good time for a
bond, as interest and building costs
are down. The breakdown of who
pays the taxes if the bond is
approved is as follows; Utilities
55.72 percent. Industrial 11.29
percent. Farm and Forest land 15.21
percent, Residential 14.64 percent,
and Commercial 3.14 percent. As
you can see, this is very good deal
for the taxpayers in the county.
This is a great opportunity to fund
new buildings and capital
improvements with bond monies
rather than monies from the
operating budget. Please join us with
your "yes" vote for the
improvements to school facilities
in each community and to the
education o f Morrow County
students.
(s) Mark and Tami Rietmann
Heppner
Chamber supports bond measure
To the Editor:
The Heppner Chamber of
Commerce encourages Morrow
County voters to vote Yes for Kids
and pass the school construction
bond.
People looking at relocation to
Heppner ask, "What are your schools
like?" Heppner's decrease in
population and Measure 5 have both
brought about a decline in school
funding. We need new families and
new businesses, thus more funding.
The answer we want to give those
looking to move to Heppner is, "We
have both good facilities and good
education."
The cost of maintenance and new
buildings will increase. Now is the
time to upgrade. For Heppner, this
means fixing leaky roofs and
inadequate heating; addressing
safety issues; wiring for long
distance learning and building a
new cafeteria and gymnasium. Each
community in Morrow County will
benefit.
The chamber hopes that passage
of the bond will aid in preserving
existing programs and fulfilling
educational needs. Education funds
should not have to go toward
maintenance. It's hard to know
which comes first, the chicken or
the egg, but one requires the other.
Strong, healthy shells are needed
to grow chickens and strong, healthy
schools are needed to grow students.
"Yes for Morrow County Kids"
(s) Claudia Hughes
Executive Director
Heppner Chamber of Commerce
Let's do it right this time
To the Editor:
Morrow County residents have
been well informed o f the needs
for the schools in their communities.
All that is left to be determined,
in my opinion, is whether or not
Morrow County residents care
enough about the education of the
children in our schools, now and
in the future, to make it possible
for their needs to be provided.
Most people talk to me in terms
of Imgon. It seems that many people
think that Imgon is getting a big
new high school. That is simply
not true. We already have a school
that will accommodate the high
school. We will, however, be getting
a much needed new elementary
school, as will Boardman.
Morrow County has a history
of voting down bond levies. That
means the bond levy will be
resubmitted. This is a very costly
process. I, for one. would rather
spend my dollars providing for the
needs of Morrow County students
than for repeated elections.
Please. Let's do this right this
time. Vote "yes" and mail your
ballot.
(s) Gladys Hobbs
Imgon