FO U R - Heppner Gazette-Tim es, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, October
10, 2001
Letters to the Editor
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Recall not proper, vote no
To the Editor:
members in place to work through
The recall election for school these difficult issues.
board members Gary Fredenckson,
Another negative side effect of
Pat McNamee and John Rietmann the recall effort is the problems it
has some interesting and troubling is bound to create seeking and hiring
a top quality superintendent. We
concerns.
The petitions for recall each are afraid we will find qualified
contain over 400 signatures. The candidates that will be very wary
petition to recall Gary Fredenckson of stepping in to this situation. This
from Boardman contains eight will also extend to school board
signatures from Boardman. Pat candidates. It will be very difficult
McNamee from Im gon has six finding qualified, well rounded
signatures from Im gon on his candidates for the board when we
petition and John Rietmann from are having them face a recall for
lone has 31 signatures from lone making decisions that some folks
on his petition. The balance of the don't agree with.
The issue of dollars spent and
signatures all are from Heppner and
Lexington. We find it interesting time wasted on the recall is also an
that there is such a small number issue. Not only are we spending
of signatures from the home areas dollars out of the district operating
of these board members. We find funds for the recall election (dollars
it even more interesting when one that would be much better spent in
of the proponents of the recall the classrooms) but we are expending
suggests in a letter to the editor that a lot of time and diverting attention
voting for the recall will promote from the education process.
county unity . The logic behind that
The three board members are
being forced into this recall for
is difficult to grasp.
The Morrow County School making what they felt were difficult
district has many large issues before but prudent decisions. They are
it. A new superintendent needs to donating a tremendous amount of
be hired. We have a recently passed time and taking way too much abuse
$22 million dollar building program in an effort to keep our school system
underway, and last and most viable.
important is the issue of educating
Can you imagine how much better
the children o f the county with the we could have made life for some
continuing education funding issues. disadvantaged lads if the proponents
If the recall is approved we could of the recall had devoted their energy
face the possibility of five new board to helping them instead o f the
members. These new members will direction they took?
We do not think the recall is
be faced with the above issues, not
to mention the animosity that will proper and we would urge everyone
carry over from the recall. We feel to vote "no" on the three recall issues
that the district would be far better in the ballot.
(s) Larry and Betty Mills
served leaving the experienced board
Heppner
Change is needed on the school board
To the Editor:
I am writing this letter not as a
radical, rebel or witch hunter who
is waging a battle with the current
school board members or
administration, but as a passionate
concerned person dedicated to
Morrow County education. I believe
our education system has suffered
due to the current leadership. This
comes from my years of experience
and knowledge in volunteering and
dedication serving Morrow County
education.
My devotion to education began
in 1985, serving three years on the
Heppner-Lexington
Advisory
committee, followed by eight years
on the Morrow County School Board
(two of which I served as chairman)
and then four years on the Heppner-
Lexington Advisory committee. Over
the past years several years, I have
not been involved in the education
process but due to concerns over
declining Morrow County education,
I am again serving on the Heppner-
Lexington Advisory committee and
was appointed to the Morrow County
School Board Budget committee.
I feel the current board members
have failed in providing the best
education system and have not
fulfilled their school board positions
as elected.
Here is a few o f the following
reasons:
1. The current school board
advocates they have provided
excellent education for all students
in the district. However, one school
board member feels Morrow County
Schools are not adequate and not
providing a good education, as he
prefers home schooling for his child.
My children are proud graduates
of Morrow County schools and have
graduated from college with high
honors.
2. Morrow County students'
workmanship has taken a decline
in the past several years. I have seen
examples of this first hand. Morrow
County tests scores are still below
an acceptable statewide level.
3. The current school board
members state they have always
1947, was promoted to assistant
foreman in 1951 and transferred to
Condon. The family remained in
Condon for 14 years, when Ralph
Lulu S. Rowan
was promoted to foreman and
increases
in
another,
declining
Lulu
S.
Rowan,
87,
a
former
To the Editor:
resources vs. program expectations, Heppner resident, died Saturday, transferred to Southeastern Oregon.
Dear Morrow County Patrons,
He worked in Crane, Frenchglen
residency
issues with respect to board September 29, 2001 at a nursing
We, the undersigned, are school
and
Juntura until his retirement in
zones,
continued
pressure
on
local
home in Boise, Idaho.
administrators, who work with school
January
o f 1976. At his retirement,
districts
from
state
government
to
M e m o ria l
board members Gary Fredenckson,
he
received
an honorable award for
Pat McNamee and John Rietmann. improve student performance on Funeral Mass
28 years of faithful and loyal service
state
tests,
and
more
state
mandates
was held on
These three individuals have given
in the Oregon State Highway
countless hours from tlieir busy lives that are required but not funded. W e d n e sd a y ,
Division.
Through
all
o
f
this,
these
board
to serve the interests o f school
O cto b er
3,
The Struthers returned to Hereford
children for a total of 19 years and members have not wavered in their 2001, at St.
after
retirement where he did part
deserve the appreciation and support effort to do the very best for children. Mark’s Catho
time work helping with farming,
We
encourage
you
to
vote
"no"
from all who want quality and
lic Church in
painting houses, landscaping, etc.
and return your ballot to the county Boise, Idaho.
equitable education in Morrow
They moved to Heppner in 1985
Lulu
Rowan
clerk
no
later
than
5
p.m.,
Oct.
30,
County.
Inurnment fol- _
to be near their son, Edwin. They
It is our opinion that Gary, Pat 2001
lowed at Cloverdaie.Cemetery, were the first tenants to move into
(s) Ron Anthony
and John have done their very best
also in Boise.
j
the St. Patrick's Senior apartments.
(s) Dick Allen
to make decisions in the interest of
Mrs. Rowan was bom Septem
Wherever he lived, Ralph was
(s) Mike Keown
all the children without prejudice
ber 11, 1914, in Copen, West Vir an active volunteer in community
(s)
Susan
Tolar
to a particular school or community.
(s) Duane Yecha ginia, to Adeline and Roy Stump. : projects. In recent years he served
Many of the issues facing the school
(s) Bruce Anderson She moved to Bisbee, Arizona at on the St Patrick's Senior Center
board have been very difficult such
Mealsite Committee and the Senior
(s) Phyllis Danielson the age of two.
as: declining enrollments in one part
She
married
Joseph
A.
Rowan
Center
Board of Directors. He was
(s) John Sebastian
of the district while at the same time
an avid hunter, fisherman and rock
(s) Mike Stuart on April 5, 1931. They had five
children: twins, Raymond Gene
hound. He enjoyed camping, hiking
(deceased) and Ruth Georgene
and fishing with his grandchildren,
Wurschmidt (George) o f Boise,
great-grandchildren, nieces and
Idaho; Catherine E. Hansen o f nephews.
Mr. Struthers is survived by his
Boise; Charles Thurman (Phyllis)
B y A /\cr!yn R o b in s o n
of Texas; and Mary Frances Gal wife, Barbara Jeanne, at the home;
son and daughter-in-law Ed and
loway (Herman) of Mississippi.
Mane Struthers, Heppner; sister,
They lived in Wallace, Idaho,
Unless you've lived in a one-person tepee without conveniences, perhaps
Aletha
McLaughlin,
Vale;
from 1939-1951. T hey then
you too have experienced many different types of houseguests over the
grandchildren,
Cathy
Towle
of
Selah,
moved to Red Bluff, California.
years. There are some guests that I wouldn't have been sorry to see leave Mrs. Rowan became an LPN in Washington, Bill McKinney,
yesterday and other folks whose visits were all too short.
California in 1954 and worked for Condon, Mike McKinney, Arlington,
Last weekend my houseguest was one of a different sort. The house many years in California, Boise Pat Struthers, Los Banos, California,
remained whisper-quiet, like a cathedral. My guest enjoyed solitary brief and Heppner. She was the last Renee Kenison, Grandview,
Sophia Smith,
outings and silence continued during barebones morning and evening matron at the Old Idaho Peniten Washington,
Pendleton, and Daniel Struthers,
meals. Accompanied by only a few gestures, I interpreted prolonged stares tiary, retiring in 1968. She also
Renton, Washington; 12 great
as disapproval of my calorie intake. Fortunately long naps seemed to be belonged to the Eagles Auxiliary grandchildren and many nieces and
#115.
the order of the day.
nephews.
Mrs. Rowan is survived by four
How different from other times. During summers when our children
He was preceded in death by
were of school age, there were always extra kids underfoot. During the of her children; 16 grandchildren daughter, Evelyn Jeanne McKinney;
school year, sometimes I'd have to go downstairs to count noses before in clu d in g H oby H ansen o f son-in-law, Elmer McKinney; sisters,
preparing an adequate breakfast. A son was prone to bringing a number Heppner; 38 great-grandchildren; Nora Hendrix Lester, Vera Purvis
and six great-great-grandchildren. Rose and Ruth Lyons; and brothers,
of his football-playing buddies to their second home. Boys in sleeping
She was preceded in death by her Clarence, Alvin, Walter and Floyd.
bags were often scattered about on the basement floor as part of our extended
parents, her husband, a brother,
Memorial contributions may be
family.
made to St. Patrick's Senior Center,
her son and a grandson.
There also have been rowdy hunters and noisy fishermen all raring
Memorial contributions may be P.O. Box 266, Heppner, Oregon
to go before daylight, once a sleepy-eyed cook fortified that exuberant made to the Red Cross 911 Di 97836, or the Neighborhood Center
energy. Also there have been city folks hankering to experience ranch saster Relief Fun, 254 S. Cole of South Morrow County, P.O. Box
life. Their noisy children would run in and out banging doors while impatiently Road, Boise, Idaho 83709, or a 895, Heppner, Oregon 97836.
Sweeney Mortuary of Heppner
waiting for horses to be saddled.
charity o f the donor’s choice.
is in charge o f arrangements.
One summer a Portland-area family with three children paid us a Ralph Struthers
week-long visit. A son had magnanimously invited the entire family for
Ralph Struthers, 87, o f Heppner,
an Eastern Oregon vacation after they had hosted our son during the died Sunday, October 7, 2001, at
Centennial/Heppner eighth grade exchange. Five more people plus our Pioneer Memorial Hospital in
five hungry family members and hired help required spending a great Heppner.
Morrow County District
Memorial service will be held
share of my time in the kitchen, which the mother couldn't understand.
Attorney David C. Allen has
Three big meals per day made from scratch was my modus operandi in at 2 p.m. Saturday. October 13,2001, released the following report:
those days. Now I can blithely serve up, without guilt, instant macaroni at the St. Patrick's Senior Center in
-Elton A. Long plead
Heppner. A graveside memorial
and cheese like the best o f short-cut cooks.
guilty
to
Attempted Possession
service will be held at 2 p.m. on
Grandchildren are always welcome guests. They keep things lively Monday, October 15,2001, at the o f a Controlled Substance, a
and can be sent home to their parents when a grandparent becomes exhausted. St. Joseph Cemetery in Condon. Class A misdemeanor, and was
Their ingenuity never ceases to amaze me. Unlike when our own children
Ralph Struthers was bom sentenced to 90 days in jail with
were small, our grandchildren seldom resort to being escape artists. Neighbors November 1, 1913, at Vale, the 40 hours of community services
used to wonder why I kept a horse saddled and handy -- it was a faster seventh o f nine children bom to and 18 months probation, he was
also ordered to complete a drug
means of pursuing and recapturing kids who were prone to scaling a picket Benjamin and Florence Weymouth
treatment package and pay
fence to explore the world once my back was turned. Once, two little Struthers. He attended elementary $1,474 in fines, fees and
pea pickers hid out in a ditch some distance from the house. After searching schools at Brogan, Bully Creek and assessments.
Grove and attended Vale High
bams and corrals and much hair pulling, their hideout was disclosed thanks
-Kent Wendell Cate
School.
to a little black dog that had accompanied them.
He married Barbara Jeanne Reilly plead guilty to Felon in
Yes, we had all kinds of stock dogs, mostly outside dogs, that only on June 10,1939, at Payette, Idaho. Possession o f a Firearm, a Class
sought the comfort of a warm basement on cold winter nights. So, I've They had two children, a daughter, C felony, and was sentenced to
never had much association with little, cuddly ones. My guest this weekend Evelyn, bom at Vale, and son, 13 months incarceration with the
Oregon
Department
of
was my daughter-in-law's lovable white poodle. Though this little creature Edwin, bom at Boise, Idaho.
Corrections
and
24
months
post
Mr.
Struthers
worked
at
many
loves being a lap dog, she didn't bark or respond to my questions as to
the quality of her bed and board. Neither did she add much to my one-sided jobs - farming, railroad, REA and prison supervision.
-Robert
Daryl Cate
as a construction foreman when
conversations -- smart dog! There are too many people, especially the
electric lines were put into the Burnt admitted violation o f probation.
media, sounding off without knowing the whole scenario, which could River Valley. He stayed on at His probation for Burglary I was
jeopardize our country's military or covert operations against terrorists. Hereford after the project was revoked and he was sentenced to
How different than during WWII when military operations were kept finished and worked in a garage that 180 days in jail and 12 months
secret to protect servicemen's lives and to successfully complete missions. winter and, later, on a rock crusher. post-prison supervision.
He began working for the Oregon
Highway Department in the fall of
Administrators support board
members
upheld the laws o f the state of
Oregon. But in fact, they have
violated the open meeting law and
a copy o f the violation is at the
district office.
4. School board members take
an oath of respect, integrity and
honesty. And yet, a school board
member called two other board
members stupid, dishonest and then
told the audience to shut up during
an open public school board meeting.
5. The board members believe
they act with care and thoughtful
deliberations before making
decisions. This is not true, while
in fact, board members come to
meetings not prepared as they open
their packets for the first time, do
not ask questions, in many cases do
not study the issues and motions are
already prepared for them so they
can not speak for themselves. A good
school board member would spend
time with the issues, ask questions
and should be making their own
motions.
For these reasons, and others,
I do not believe these school board
members are honorable, ethical,
trustworthy, and are not fulfilling
their duties as school board members.
They do not have the best interests
o f our children's education.
I know o f many individuals in
every community in Morrow County
that have educated and qualified
citizens who would better serve
Morrow County education. These
are law abiding citizens, who possess
good common sense, are respectful
o f others, and who expect high
education goals for Morrow County
students.
Furthermore, I do not have the
confidence in the current board
members in choosing the next
superintendent.
Morrow County students, teachers
and staff deserve the best
superintendent; they should not
expect less.
A change is needed now on the
school board.
(s)Marcia Kemp
Lexington
O f f The W all.,.
DA 's Report
lone ballot drop off changed
The lone ballot drop off
for the October 30 recall election
will not be lone City Hall.
Ballots may be dropped off at the
Bank of Eastern Oregon until 4
p.m. From 4-8 p.m. voters may
drop their ballots off at the
Public Works Office or at the
Morrow County Clerk's Office in
Heripner.
Ballots will be mailed
this Friday and must be returned
on election day by 8 p.m.
Voters
will
decide
whether school board members
Gary Fredenckson, Boardman,
Pat McNamee, Irrigon, and John
Rietmann, lone, will be recalled.
If the three are recalled,
the Umatilla-Morrow ESD will
appoint replacements to the
board until the regular election a
LAC/LMA, OACD resolutions. year and a half from now because
The meeting is open to the public. the school board would no longer
SWCD, Weed Board to meet
A regular board meeting of the
Morrow SWCD/Weed Advisory
board will be held Monday, Oct.
15, at 6 p.m. at the Pettyjohn Office
Building conference room in
Heppner.
Agenda items and discussion
topics include: manager's report,
weed report, agency reports. Willow
Creek
Watershed
Council,
f o o t T a in ?
We Print BUSINESS CARDS
Dr. Donald J. Carlson, Foot Specialist
will be at the Pioneer Memorial Clinic
on October 17th for the diagnosis
of this and other foot problems.
Call 676-5504 - Heppner
( itis e n e - Tim e» - 6 7 6 - 9 2 2 8
or 567-8750 - Hermiston
4
I
Obituaries
have enough members for a
quorum.
The
recall
election
requires only a simple majority,
rather than the "double majority"
required in taxing elections.
Copies
Gazette-Times
•
676-9228
Dr. Jeanne Berretta
w ill be at the
Pioneer Memorial Clinic
Friday, October 12.
Call 676-5504f o r a ppoin tm en ts.
eiVE US A TRY FOR LUNCH!
LUNCH SPECIALS:
15 ITEMS FOR UNDER
$ 5.00
£ o fin ó O ttie*.
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