Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - SEVEN
Town meeting on library
city hall set for Jan. 3
Local pastor travels
to Gound Zero
Fire fighters and mourners pray at a memorial in New York.
Like
m ost
people
Heppner Christian M issionary
Pastor Lynda Crane o f Heppner
has watched the events o f
Septem ber 11 with sadness and
dismay. But Pastor Crane just
had to see it for herself. So she
and two and two m em bers o f her
church, Alvin Liu and Catherine
Sims, traveled to New York to
visit "Ground Zero" October 30-
31.
"The devastation was
greater than I imagined," said
Pastor Crane. "You ju st wonder
how m any businesses were
destroyed and how m any people
were lost. The feeling is just
heavy."
C rane said that they
encountered
two
different
attitudes o f New Yorkers. "On
the streets there were alm ost two
elements," said Crane. "One was
sorrowful and caring and the
other was 'don't bother me.' But it
was
certainly
a
moving
experience."
One
particular
Jqucjhing incident they captured
bn camera was a fireman with his
arm around a grieving man. She
said that many people signed a
kind o f memorial and one person
had
written
"revenge"
in
Taiwanese
w hich prompted
Alvin, who is from Taiwan, to
write a reply.
C rane said that
the
closer one got to G round Zero,
the more churches were trying to
help and counsel people. She,
Alvin and C atherine visited the
church at Tim es Square. A
famous bock, "The C ross and
The Switchblade," was based on
the
m inister
there,
David
W ilkerson. She said that even
before Sept. 11. a church not
too far from G round Zero had
stopped
all
program s
to
concentrate on prayer, so people
at the church at been praying
round the clock when the
catastrophe occurred.
"The heaviness was
great, but the people were
digging out," she said. "I guess
when hard tim es happen, most
people find out they have the
strength."
Also during their stay in
New York C rane finally m et a
m an who lives in N ew Jersey
who had been com m unicating
with her for around 12 years. The
three stayed with a Chinese
fam ily in New Y ork and saw
Alvin's brother in Syracuse, New
York.
Crane, who first cam e to
H eppner 25 years ago, has lead
the
Christian
M issionary
Fellowship in Heppner for 16
years. She has traveled to 17
countries through her ministry. "I
have taken team s:oversees," said
Crane. "I really believe that what
we have to share with others is
what He has given to us-to share
and enlarge their vision. I have a
call now to go into G hana and
Kenya. W e're already late (in
answering the call), but God's got
a tim etable."
"The m ain thing is the
Bible, getting the Bible to
people," continued Crane. "We're
seeing prophesy fulfilled every
day. I also see in churches a
falling away from the word o f
God. I ju st know we need to
know why we believe and the
only way to find that out is to
study."
Alvin Liu, Pastor Lynda Crane, Catherine Sims in New York.
M ary
Nixon
of
Rural steps will be explained further in
Development Initiatives met with a press release next week.
Nixon explains her role as an
the Heppner City Council on Nov.
26 to discuss how public meetings "objective third party with expertise
and supplemental process might be m meeting facilitation." She will
structured for the proposed joint work to ensure that the purposes of
the m eeting are accom plished,
library/city hall project.
M embers o f the Oregon Trails according to the release. She will
Library Distinct Board were unable also work to see that participants
are provided with the opportunity
to attend.
According to a news release, "City to express their opinions as well as
officials support opportunities for listen to both information and
community members to provide input opinions expressed by others, the
on the Library City Hall Project so release continued.
Funding for services by RDI are
that they can m ake an informed
provided
by the Oregon Economic
decision that reflects the wishes o f
and Com m unity Development
the com m unity. They feel town
Department.
meetings and a survey will provide
Nixon
is a com m unity
ways to listen to and gather that
development coordinator for Rural
input."
Development Initiatives Inc. (RDI).
The first public town m eeting
She lives in Pendleton and serves
is scheduled for Jan. 3 at 7 p.m. at
small rural communities in Morrow,
the St. Patrick's Senior Center. The
Umatilla, Union, Wallowa. Baker,
meeting will be facilitated by Nixon
Malheur, Harney and Grant counties.
and include an overview and history
RDI is a private non-profit
o f the Library/City Hall Project by
organization. Since its incorporation
Larry Mills. Bob Ployhar will speak
10 years ago, RDI has helped over
on b ehalf o f those opposing the
200
communities in Oregon with
project and George Koffler will speak
leadership developm ent, project
on behalf o f those supporting the
assistance, facilitation and mediation,
project. Tim e for questions and
planning and regional initiatives,
comments from community residents
according to the release.
will be available.
N ixon and other RDI staff
The audience at the public town
m em bers "see them selves as
meeting will be asked to recommend
facilitators, teachers, project
names o f individuals to serve on a
managers and most importantly as
working
com m ittee.
The
advocates for the success o f rural
responsibilities o f the working
com m unities," said the release.
committee, its membership and next
Heppner council to seek
water system grant
The H eppner city council
voted Monday to apply for a $5.9
million grant to improve the city's
water system.
The grant takes several years for
approval, but city officials say the
water system is old and in need
o f repairs.
If approved the city would have
to match the grant by the same
amount, which could raise water
rates an average $18 per month.
Council m em bers debated the
issue, but finally adm itted they
have no choice, since the water
systems needs to be replaced.
The basic water system was
installed in 1914, and outside o f
some new tanks and a new main
installed with the downtown
renovation project, has not been
totally upgraded.
"Your options are to fix things
or leave them," said City Manager
Jerry Breazeale. "W e can't do it
for free. Are we going to
upgrade? And we have to pay for
it if we do upgrade."
The average water bill now
including base rate and 5,000
gallons per month usage is $18. If
the project is done that average
could increase to $36 per month.
The new water project would
include a new reservoir, new pipe
line, three new wells and new
water lines throughout the city.
In other business the council
- appointed M erle Cowett to the
position o f police chief. Cowett
has been acting chief since the
retirem ent o f Doug Rathbun.
Cowett will serve until July when
he also retires. "He has done an
excellent job as acting chief,"
Breazeale said
- heard from Heppner TV that
basic cable service will increase
$3.50 per month to $28.50 for
m em bers and $31.50 per month
for tem porary members.
- heard that Heppner's estimated
population was 1,390 on July 1 o f
2001. The population was 1395
on April o f 2000.
Little carolers cheer PMH Nursing
Home residents
The Heppner Daycare four-year-old class, accompanied by day care
director Merry Brannon, sang Christmas carols to the delight of
Pioneer Memorial Nursing Home residents on Tuesday.
Lighting contest judging Dec. 21 Town of
Christmas G-T
deadline
Heppner residents and businesses
are invited to participate in the annual
Christmas lighting contest sponsored
by the Heppner Cham ber o f
Commerce. Judging will be Fnday
evening. Dec. 21.
Thejudges will try to cover the
entire community, but it is suggested
that those wishing to be judged leave
their nam es and addresses at the
Chamber o f Commerce, 676-5536,
prior to Dec. 20 so no one will be
missed.
First and second places will be
The deadline for news
and advertisem ents for the Dec.
26 Gazette-Times will be Friday,
Decem ber 21, at 5 p.m.
The
G-T
will
be
published W ednesday, Dec. 26,
as usual.
Corns
Dr. Donald J.
will be at the
on December
of this and
awarded to outdoor lighting, lighting
from the outside looking in and
business. Special recognition will
be given for "Heppner's Peacock
Lane"; i.e., the street that was "all
decked out".
"Remember to turn on your lights
early Decem ber 21," said Claudia
Hughes,
H eppner Cham ber
executive director, "and enjoy the
season".
Lexington to hold
lighting contest
The town o f Lexington
will hold its lighting contest on
Tuesday, Dec. 18. All exhibits
should be in place by that time.
§ First A nnuai Pioneer Memorial Hospital §
Nursing Home Auxiliary
BAZAAR
ancCCaCCuses?
Carlson, Foot Specialist
Pioneer Memorial Clinic
19th for the diagnosis
other foot problems.
Cal' 676-5504 - Heppner
o r 5 6 7 - 8 7 5 0 * Hermiston
Saturday, December 15th from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
at St. Patrick’s Senior Center, Heppner
Wood and Ceramic Items
Christmas Ornaments
^
Enjoy a Piece of Pie while browsingl
(tpie sold By the piece)
County Court hears wildlife
habitat tax exemption plans
By Doris Brosnan
At the November 28 meeting of
the Morrow County Commissioners,
A ssessor Greg Sweek discussed
HB3564, which provides, under
approved m anagem ent plans, for
w ildlife-habitat
property-tax
exemptions and will change in 2002.
A property owner will qualify for
the program automatically unless
the court were to take action to
disallow the wildlife-habitat
exemption by showing a failure by
the landowner to follow a wildlife
habitat conservation plan.
Sw eek noted that only one
landowner has shown an interest
in the program . After some
discussion. C om m issioner Dan
Brosnan requested more discussion
at a later meeting, voicing concern
about OW EB grants that some
landowners might not have access
to without this program. He planned
to speak to the Oregon Department
o f Fish and W ildlife and the Soil
and W ater Conservation District
staffs.
Also with the court, Sweek
discussed a tax foreclosure deed on
property on which the city o f
Heppner burned down a building
and completed some weed work.
The city would like recovery o f costs
and a share o f proceeds o f a sale.
Sweek noted the savings to the
county from the city's work and
described the value and limitations
for use o f the site. Judge Terry
Tallm an requested that the city
manager talk to the court about the
situation, and the court instructed
Sweek to conduct an appraisal.
Sweek and administrative assistant
Andrea Denton discussed with the
court the future o f the com puter
budget. They offered suggestions
for the ordering o f supplies and for
other line items, and the court agreed
that department heads will need to
be apprised before the budgeting
process. The court agreed to ask ESD
to develop an inventory and
replacem ent system for older
com puters.
Denton also approached the court
about the State Archivist's specific
rules for destroying sensitive
docum ents, by incineration or
shredding Noting the lack o f an
incinerator and the problems with
time and space resulting from
departm ents trying to use small
wastebasket-sized shredders, she
recommended contracting with a
company that would provide bins
and shred deposited docum ents
quarterly. The court approved.
Denton reported to the court that
the first long distance telephone bill
after the switch to the ESD was about
h a lf the previous amount. She
explained that the system requires
the use o f codes by the various
departments so that charges for calls
can be properly sorted. Such
documentation is required for some
departm ents
that
receive
reimbursement from state or federal
funding. The court agreed to the use
o f codes.
The court also discussed with
Denton and Sweek the county web
page, and Sweek suggested a method
o f handling department e-mail
addresses at the site After discussing
the advantages o f having a domain
name or having a provider host the
site, the court agreed that the county
should establish its own dom ain
name.
Judge Terry Tallman reported
on the State's Area Commission on
Transportation funding to Morrow
County for road and bndge projects.
The funds will be used for
preservation o f Franklin Grade and
for the Juniper Canyon project.
Public works director Burke
O'Brien reported the following: work
on the Valby-Road project continues,
as does grading work on Piper
Canyon Road, Turner Lane, Nichols
Road. Buttermilk Canyon, Redding
Road. Baker Lane and Valby. A
grader is at Anson Wright Park for
plowing Sunflower Flat Road, and
brush burning at Cutsforth Park is
underway. O’Brien noted a public
meeting, the purpose o f which is
to discuss the Anson-W nght-Park
grant for ATV trails. County counsel
approved the form o f the grant
program agreement with the state,
and the court approved it.
O’Brien explained a request onto
Fairview Road for the lone Fire
Department. He supported the
project, which would accommodate
the storage of a fire truck at die Clint
Krebs property. The court agreed
to the approach and the necessary
crushed rock.
O'Brien and weed manager Dave
Pranger discussed with the court
the herbicide bidding process, and
the court agreed to go out for bid
on the products. The court also
discussed the plowing and sanding
o f Tower Road
Other actions of the court included
the following:
- approval o f a perm it to
CenturyTel for trenching new cable
from Halvorsen Road to Gus Road;
- approval of the Oregon Hentage
Grant Program agreem ent;
- approval of contracts for services
to developmentally disabled clients
o f Behavioral Health with Ashlie
Cam, Deana Hendricks, Clarissa
Johnson, Karen Woodward, Melanie
Smith and C ynthia Sumner;
- approval o f an additional
holiday, closing the county offices
on Decem ber 24.
Christmas
Worship
Schedule
St. Patrick Church, Heppner
Confessions: Saturday,
Dec. 22-11:30 a m.-noon and 4-
4:30 p.m.; M onday. Dec. 24-
11:30 a m.-noon.
Masses: M onday. Dec.
24-8:30 p.m., Christmas carols, 9
p.m. candlelight procession,
Blessing o f Nativity Scene, Vigil
M ass; Decem ber 25, 11 a m.,
Christmas
Mass,
Christmas
carols;
New Year's Celebration:
M onday, Dec. 31-Vigil mass. 5
p.m.; January 1-New Year Mass,
11 a.m.
St. William's Church, lone
Dec. 25- 8:45 a m .
Blessing o f the N ativity Scene.
Christm as
M ass,
Christmas
carols.
Jan.
1-New
Year's
celebration. M ass at 8:45 a.m.
lone to receive
exceptional
school award
The lone Schools will
receive an "Exceptional School
Award" to be presented by the
state o f O regon on Thursday,
Dec. 20, at 2:30 p.m. at the lone
gym
The
cerem ony
will
include presentation o f the
Exceptional
School
flag;
honoring o f students and staff by
State Representative Greg Smith;
acknow ledgem ents ready from
U.S. Senator G ordon Smith and
U.S.
R epresentative
Greg
W aldon.
lone Schools will be
honored for their "strong test
scores, high attendance rate,
exceptional low drop-out rate,
and exceptionally experienced
teachers."
The public is invited to
attend.
Brenda Sherrell
H ep p n er’s n ew
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