Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (July 18, 2001)
Oregon Trail still calls to adventurous E : a 313 'T otas ll U of 0 Uevîapftpar* Libri Eu , a a i! • OU ‘J 7 4 J3 Representative Smith gives report on just concluded legislative session State Representative Greg Smith (center) speaks at the Heppner Chamber of Commerce meeting State representative Greg Smith, just back from Salem and his first session in the legislature, told the Heppner Chamber of Commerce he represented the 59th district well. "I ruffled a few feathers, but I represented District 59 well," Smith told the large lunch crowd. He said at times he even went against his own Republican caucus. Overall Smith said the legislature did well. He said there never seems to be enough money, but, in fact, the budget was up 17 percent over the last legislative session. School funding was increased 8 percent, or $500 million, to $5.3 billion over the last session. Smith said another accomplishment was getting some senior projects put in the budget that were cut by Governor John Kitzhauber. He said he helped small business owners by protecting the SAIF workers compensation system resources, and held off more regulation on small businesses. Smith he helped get more funding for small hospitals like Pioneer Memorial Hospital, voted against increased fees by the Department of Motor Vehicles (the bill passed even with his no vote), and worked to continue funding for county fairs, which had been threatened with cuts. On the kicker, which returns surplus taxes to Oregonians, Smith said he voted no when the state wanted to keep the money. "I vote for you folks and for youi right to keep your hard earned dollars," he said. "The budget was up 17 percent, and I felt that was enough." He also voted against a bill to modify term limits. Even though the bill eventually passed. Smith said he felt it was too self-serving and should only be changed by voters. As a freshman legislator. Smith said he made a decision to avoid much of the politics and just concentrate of serving the 59th district. "If you want to help your district be on Ways and Means (committee) that is where I am concentrating my efforts," he said. Judge halts board member removal Circuit Court Judge Ronald J. Pahl has issued a writ of review and order on behalf of board member Bamey Lindsay staying further proceedings by the Morrow County School Board. The stay will prevent the board from filling Lindsay's position which they declared vacated and will prevent the board from further proceedings concerning the matter. The board had set aside August 20 to interview candidates to fill the two vacated board positions formerly held by Lindsay and Keith Lewis. The board had earlier voted to vacate the positions after a judge hired by the district ruled that Lindsay and Lewis did not live in the district from which they were elected. Lindsay was elected from Zone 6 in the north Lexington area and Lewis from Zone 4 in Heppner. According to Heppner attorney Bill Kuhn, the school board can choose to file a response to challenge the stay, but they must to do by August 2. If they do not challenge the stay, it will remain in effect until the circuit court judge makes a final decision. Kuhn estimated that it could take as long as three to six months before the issue receives a full hearing in circuit court. Adventurous souls are still answering the call of the Oregon Trail. Although the mode of transportation for present-day travelers—the bicycle-is definitely more high- tech than the covered wagon, it rivals the Conestoga in terms of rigorousness. One such group _jof bicyclists passed through Morrow County in the midst o f a heat wave last Friday en route to their final destination 160 miles away at Trails End at Oregon City. That day the cyclists had braved the heat over the mountainous route from Pilot Rock to Heppner The next day they planned another mountainous trek to Fossil. This trip also included being chased by a tornado in Nebraska. The cyclists' ages are as varied as their hometowns. They range in age from the mid-30s to the mid-70s and hail from all over the U.S.-Bend, Oregon, Vancouver, WA, San Francisco, Santa Fe, Lincoln and Fort Calhoun. Nebraska and Grand Haven, Michigan. This group even includes one Brit, David Wrass from Nottingham, England. The group, organized via the Internet by tour guide, Tom Armstrong, Lincoln, Nebraska, started off June 10 at Independence, MO. They traveled through Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming and Idaho before moving into Oregon territory, all-m-all over 2013 miles. They planned to arrive at Trails End on July 16. The oldest in the group. Bob Lupini, 75. a retired elementary teacher from San Francisco is on his fourth Oregon Trail bicycle excursion. Bob, who has taken the role of camp cook during the trip, commented that the experience was "like running away to join the circus." Bob and Tom were both in on the bike tour that celebrated the 150th anniversary o f the Oregon Trail. The pair also stopped in Heppner en route to the Trails End in 1997. "This is a nice area," said Bob. "You're lucky to live here." "It's kind of an * adventure,"commented Pat Jennings, Santa Fe. "You get a chance to break loose and see all those different places you haven't seen before." The youngest member of the group, Scott Howell, a tax preparer from Bend, said that despite the heat and their rigorous schedule, for the most part it has been "Happy Trails" for the diverse group ’"'We know the end is in site." laughed Scott. Besides, after riding 50-60 miles a day we've worked out all our aggression." The bicyclists, who ride touring bikes with 24-plus gears, are accompanied by their scout, a van that forges ahead, checks out the camping sites and carries food, a large butane stove and other gear. The driver of the van also occasionally checks on the cyclists for any problems that may have occurred on the trail. The group starts out early, around 5 a.m. and then breaks during the heat of the day. Each of the cyclists consumes at least a gallon of water every day. By 8:30 p.m. they are all very grateful for their tents and bedrolls. Economic development money awarded Fair edition The Baker-Morrow Regional Partnership has awarded several grants which will benefit economic development in the Willow Creek Valley area The partnership awarded $8,000 to the Willow Creek Valley Economic Development Group for the "Zero Money Marketing" plan to pay for brochures and postage. The Zero Money Marketing plan is a locally-based campaign designed to attact businesses to the South Morrow Industrial park at the former Kinzua Mill site. Willow Creek Valley Assisted Living received a $40,000 grant to provide gap financing for furniture and other items for the proposed assisted living center to be located in Heppner. According to Heppner city manager Gerry Breazeale. the partnership invited representatives from the assisted living group back for additional consideration for grant monies. The Port of Morrow received a $100,000 award to build an "incubator" building at the old Kinzua site. The money would be used to remodel the inside of the old planer building so that it could be occupied by a prospective business. The Port also received $10.000 for a marketing project which would include brochures, folders and descriptions of industrial sites at the port in Boardman and at the South Morrow Industrial Park in Heppner. Another $15,000 was awarded from the partnership's business incentive fund to assist in relocation of businesses from the state of Washington deadline July 27 The deadline for news articles for the Gazette-Times' annual Morrow County Fair and Oregon Trail Pro Rodeo tab edition will be Friday, July 27. News and photos must be in at the G-T office by 5 p.m. that day. The fair tab will be published on Wednesday. August 8 . Bicylists traveling the Oregon Trail stop for the night at the Morrow County Fairgrounds in Heppner (left to right): Bob Lupini. San Francisco, Scott Howell. Bend. Pat Jennings. Santa Fe. New Mexico. Tom Armstrong, Lincoln. Nebraska. Jan Snow and Rick Snow. Vancouver, WA. Not pictured are David Wrass, Nottingham. England. Fritz Brace, Grand Haven. Michigan, and Tim Oelke. Fort Calhoun, Nebraska. M orrow Countv Horse Show this weekend Morrow County Open Horse Show organizer Ruby Shear has planned a "whole new show" to revitalize the event planned this Saturday, July 21. at the Morrow County Fairgrounds in Heppner. Admission is free and concessions will be available, provided by R&W Drive In. The show will feature events in three arenas. The Wilkinson arena will host the English classes and jumpers, getting underway at 10 a.m.: the Morrow County outdoor arena will host the Western classes, also beginning at 10 a.m.; and the grass arena will host the halter classes and kids' horse show, beginning at 9 a.m. Entries close the morning of the show at 8:30 a.m Cost for entry is $5 per class for a horse/nder combination or $25 all day per horse/nder combination. Western classes include: showmanship, equitation, green horse equitation, novice horse equitation, pleasure, green horse pleasure, novice horse pleasure, reining, trail course, pattern class, working cow horse and bridleless class. English classes include showmanship, equitation, green horse equitation, novice horse equitation, pleasure, green horse pleasure, novice horse pleasure, hunt seat over fence, trail course, pattern class, dressage class and jumper class. Halter classes include: mare and foal, weanling and yearling fillies, weanling and yearling colts, geldings two years and olcer. mares two years and older, stallions two years and older, minis and ponies, all other breeds, champion and reserve champion class. The kids' show, which immediately follows the halter classes, includes showmanship, walk-trot equitation, walk-trot pleasure, trail class, put and take stick race: carry water in a cup race: boot race; bubble gum race; gunny sack race; and a bareback dollar bill race. The children may have a helper as needed for safety. There will also be a driving class-horse and driving class-mini-pony. "The kids' horse show is to have fun and play with the horses." said Shear. "We want to have the kids come out and have fun. Every kid gets an award." Shear said that Central Red Apple and Murray’s Drug have sponsored prizes for the kids' show. Prizes provided by sponsors will also be awarded in the Western and English classes. A bridle and reins will be the high point aw'ard for the Western class and a horse sheet will be awarded for high point in English. High point and reserve will be awarded for Western and English for 15 and under and 16 and over. Each o f the first place winners, except in the kids’ classes will receive a $15 gift certificate from Green Feed and Seed or Columbia River Tack. Shear is seeking volunteers to help with the show. "With three different arenas, it’s going to be busy." said Shear "We hope everyone shows up. We're trying to encourage a lot more county participation." For more information or to volunteer to help, call Shear. 422-7290. Hunter’s ed class scheduled A hunter's education class has been scheduled in August. The class will be held August 20. 21. 27 and 28 from 6-9 p.m. with a four-hour field exercise the morning of August 25. Each class period and the field day participation are mandatory to complete the course. Volunteer instructors Tom Wolff and Jim Marquardt will lead the course with guest instructors and a speaker from the Oregon State Police Game Enforcement division. All Oregon hunters under the age of 18 must have successfully completed the hunter education course before hunting. The course is also recommended for non-hunters who may have casual contact with firearms, archery gear. etc. Parents or guardians are encouraged to attend the class with students. The class is allowed a maximum of 25 students, with no exceptions Any adult interested m becoming a volunteer certified instructor is asked to attend or call for more information To register, contact Tom Wolff at 676-5114. Jack and Jill tourney set The Willow Creek Country Club golfers will have a Jack and Jill mini-tournament on Friday . July 20 at 6 p.m. The tournament will involve a nine-hole modified couples-type of play with the format determined by the committee in charge Prizes will be awarded for low scores and special events. Hie charge will be $3 per couple for members and $10 per couple for non-members. Light snacks will be provided by the committee in charge Hosts will be Bob and George Naims. Craig and Debbie Gutierrez and Mike and Cindi Doherty. TAKE ADVANTACE OF OUR HARVEST HOURS! M onday through Friday, 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. Saturday, 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. Morrow County Grain Growers Lexington 989-8221 » 1-800-452-7396 iw u™ mil m i mb un at ww. meg ml