Pathfinders pioneer on the John Day River B 3 3 3 13 ï o t a e l l u o f J Ho v 3 p i -V .V Li brary ¿u j e asi i Oil \i < * j-5 Pathfinder club members Isaac Stillman, Sarah Stillman. Kristen Van Cleave and Minds Wenberg with Dr. Kenneth Wenberg and Heidi Wenberg on the John Day River on the raft they built. The Oregon Trail Pathfinder Club, a Christian scouting group sponsored by the Heppner Seventh-day Adventist Church, built a log raft Friday morning, Oct. 5, then rafted down a five-mile stretch of the John Day Rjver by Spray on Saturday and Council says no new taxes without vote The Heppner city council voted unanimously Monday not to raise taxes for a proposed new library/cityhall project without a vote o f the people. The new library/city hall complex has been under consideration for some time but has received opposition from some in the community. The vote Monday was to assure people that no new tax money would be raised without approval from voters. The city is planning several efforts in order to get out information about the proposed new building, including public meetings and more information in the newspaper. City officials feel that much of the information put out so far about the new city hall/library building has been inaccurate. A petition bearing over 400 signatures against the project had earlier been turned into the city urging that the project be dropped. Some on the council feel that inaccurate information caused much of the opposition and the negative signatures. After information is provided to the public, the city plans to conduct a survey to gage public opinion on weather to move ahead with the project. It has been proposed that much o f the funding for the project could come from grant money, with the rest being provide by either a city revenue or a general obligation bond. A general obligation bond requires by law a vote o f the people. A revenue bond paid back through increased water and sewer fees does not. The vote Monday would assure that voters have a say in any increased taxes to pay for the project. In other action the council also said it did not want Stansburry street by the Heppner grade school vacated and shut down. Todd Turner of Barber, Barrett, Turner Architects Inc. from Bend was on hand to ask about the vacated street proposal. Turner is with the firm hired by the school district to undertake the renovation and construction project soon to get underway. The council indicated that the street is needed for cross town traffic. In other action the council: agreed to draw up a rental agreement to Whistling Wings Taxidermy for the Green Metal Shop located on Riverside Ave. Curtis Christiansen is owner of the business but needs a place to set up shop. News deadline 5 p.m. Monday HES staff donate labor of love Sunday afternoons, Oct. 6-7. The club members were working on one of the requirements for the Pioneenng Honor Patch (similar to merit badges). The Pathfinders camped for the weekend and worked on other camping skills honor requirements. Nels Wenberg was the navigator and photographer. Beryl Stillman gathered the logs needed for the raft. October is open enrollment month for kids ages 10-15. Pathfinders meets on Tuesdays, at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call 676-8282. Booster Club dinner and auction Saturday Heppner Elementary School "elves" (left to right): back row- Karen Holland, Karen Haguewood, Patti Rill, Mary Ann Elguezabal, Molly Rill; center-Sharon Morris, Pam Dowdy, Phvllis Danielson, Karen Clough, Sherry Matteson, Lindsey Harle; front-Karen Smith-Griffith, Janni’e Allen, Cara Osmin, Linda Padberg, Lorna Botefuhr, Cherry Webber. A group of staff members at Heppner Elementary School are helping the children o f fire fighters lost in the Sept. 11 attack on New York sleep a little easier. The group, headed up by teacher Jannie Allen, donated fabric and worked together sewing, ironing and folding brightly colored pillow cases. A paper star saying "Sweet Dreams from Heppner Elementary School" was lovingly pinned to each pillow case. The pillow cases will be sent to the Manhattan United Church of Christ for distribution. Gym/cafeteria proposed at old junior high The Heppner-Lexmgton Advisory Committee is recommending that the new gymnasium/cafeteria/music room facility be located at the former Heppner Junior High (the old high school) site. An earlier idea that the facility be located at the high school has been dropped. The proposal, discussed at the October 3 advisory committee meeting, would entail demolishing the old junior high building, but advisory board members recommended that the new building incorporate some aspects o f the old building into the new facility, such as bricks or a facade. "I like the idea of keeping the footprint o f the (old) building," commented David Allstott, a member o f the audience. "It's a beautiful building, but if you're not going to use lt-lose it." Students do not attend classes in the old building now, but do use the cafeteria in the basement. "Tear the dang thing down, take the bricks and sell them," commented Chris Rauch. "After the other day (September 11 attack on New York) it doesn't matter anymore." Ma r k Ri e t ma nn. chairman o f the committee, commented that he hoped that the people who were against tearing down the old building would rather see the construction "dollars go into square footage rather than improvements." Many people at the meeting agreed that a building at the old high school site would save money, be more compatible with the rest of the campus and would provide easier access for students who would not have to walk by an aging building to get to the cafeteria and gym. The committee recommended retaining the old gymnasium for around 10 years, if possible to provide more practice gyms. The committee also discussed the safety aspect o f the current situation on Stansbury Street in front o f the elementary school, where children on foot, buses and other vehicular traffic vie for the same space before and after school. The committee had discussed recom m ending vacating Stansbury Street in front of the elementary school, but the Heppner City Council decided against vacation at their Monday night council meeting. The city had earlier cited concerns over access for emergency vehicles if Stansbury Street were closed. Other possible solutions suggested at the advisory meeting included building a covered walkway or an elevated overpass so that children could walk across the street more safely or erecting gates that would temporarily close the street before and after school. The advisory committee also discussed suggestions of rerouting the street or enlarging Elder Street to allow for a vehicle turnaround, especially for parents picking up and dropping off. Rerouting, however, would be extremely expensive and would probably take monies away from construction. A sample floor plan (pictured above) was displayed at the meeting which committee members and members of the audience believe could be modified to fit the community's needs. The plan included a music room and kitchen with a cooler, freezer and storage at one end and a cafeteria and gym in the center o f the facility. Bleachers, continued page two Anipro Sandy Matthews displays just some of the items that will be auctioned at the annual Heppner Booster Club Steak Feed and Auction set for this Saturday, October 13. at the Heppner Elks Club. The dinner, which begins at 6 p.m. features a New York steak with homemade bread, salads and desserts. The auction and raffle, which will follow the dinner, include Blazer tickets, bird hunts and fishing trips, dinners, jewelry and many other items. Auction items are listed on the Internet at www.heppner.net. Tickets are available at the Shoe Box and Heppner Hardware. Items may be seen in Heppner IA's store window. Grange plans spaghetti feed The Willows Grange has planned a spaghetti feed and Blue Mountain Old Time Fiddlers concert on Saturday, October 27, at the Willows Grange. The spaghetti feed will begin at 5:30 p.m., with the music to begin at 7 p.m. Cost for the music and meal is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and students and S2.50 for children six to 12 years. Children six and under will be admitted free. Cost for the meal only is $5 for adults 12 and older and $2.50 for children six to 12. Cost for the music only is $4 for adults and $3 for students and seniors. The proceeds will go toward replacing the grange heating system. Open house Barenbrug IJSA and Tidewater Barges will host an open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, October 25, from 5:30- 7:30 p.m. at their new office building at 60 Marine Drive in Boardman. Tours o f the new offices, refreshments and chances to w in door prizes w ill be available. The public is invited to attend. For more information, call 481 -4001. ANIPRO LIQUID CATTLE SUPPLEM ENTS and S W E E T P R O LIC K B L O C K S C on ven ien ce plus Eco n o m ic P erfo rm a n ce: Safe High Quality "By-Pats" Protein • Improved Feed Efficiency • Distillers. Feeds and Solubles Balanced Vitamins and Minerals • Complex Carbohydrate Energy, Not Simole Sugar Chelated Trace Minerals • Convenient Returnable Barrel • Patented Formula and ( ntainer Morrow County Grain Growers Lexington 989-8221 • 1-800-452-7396 i x i m i w m n M « • f t u » at w*m mcQ i*t