C onservation poster winners
lone
Site
Council
meets
By Debbie Kadie
(Editor's note: the following contest
winners
were
lone School grades eight and 10
photos of Morrow Soil and misidentified in the Dec. 5 issue did the entire state benchmark test
Water Conservation poster o f the G azette-l imes.)
on computer and grades three and
five did a portion of the test.
The benchmark tests are given
to students at the beginning of the
year. They will have an opportunity
to take the test in the spring also.
Anyone passing the test will not
be required to re-take it.
A "Healthy Teens Survey Report"
showed nothing significant,
indicating that lone Schools has no
"major" problems.
The school board approved the
school bond project plans so that
the project can proceed to the next
level. Because of some o f the
concerns, however, the room
designations were left undecided
Heppner Elementary School contest winners (left to right): Kathie
and will be discussed at an advisory-
Moore, Kassey Wilson, Stephanie Kill. Josh Shank, Braden Britt,
Billon Lutcher.
meeting. The structure itself was
approved and ready for the next step.
Room designations have no bearing
on the actual plan or construction
of the structure.
Beginning with second semester,
parents will have access to grades,
attendance, mark history, GPA.
school messages, schedules and other
items via "Schoolmaster" on the
computer. Parents wishing to have
access must come to the school and
request a PIN number and then they
can access the information via the
internet. This will be posted every
two weeks.
Teacher Darlene Marquardt
reported that the school has some
equipment already available for
television broadcasting. She will
obtain information regarding grants
for additional equipment needed.
The school wide planning is part
lone School poster contest winners (left to right): front-Tiana
Camarillo, Lynzee Sjurset, Victoria Heagy; center-Dalton Wellman, of the consolidated district
Cory Peterson. Clay Morter, Matt Coleman; back-Merilee McDowell, improvement plan. The first part
Morrow Soil and Water Conservation District, Kara Clay.
of the plan is to look at the data and
develop a narrative on what is
observed. The next step is to develop
achievement goals. The third step
is to put together an action plan and
the fourth is to monitor the plan as
it is implemented. It is required that
some of the goals be in certain areas
and there must be wide based input.
The lone School plan comes from
the district assessment team which
is involved in with tracking data.
The plan is then reviewed by
administrators and staff.
The time lines are short. The first
reading is in February. The goals
are as follows: Using the Oregon
itqqah m r.-u:
•
state test scores, the students will
Tone School poster contest winners (left to right): front-Justin Archer,
show an increase in scores from 2001
Kaylee Palniateer, Paul Hams; back-Michael Wellman, Alan
to 2003 with a five percent increase
Rietmann, Dalton Campbell, Teonna Vandever, Shannon Clay, Emily
each
year. Teachers, especially in
Rietmann, Kip Krebs.
Heppner Gazette-Times, K roner, Oregon Wednesday, December 26, 2001 - FIVE
kindergarten through third grade,
will be trained in reading mastery
techniques. New teachers will also
be trained in techniques. Teachers
in grades two to five and middle
school teachers in the Accelerated
Reading Program will also be trained
in math techniques will occur. The
summer benchmark academy will
be continued. Reading research and
literacy skills will be targeted also.
Plans also involve sending teams
to state conferences and encouraging
schools to develop leaders in certain
areas. Another goal is to have safe
schools and have drug/alcohol
education and programs for reducing
other high risk behaviors. The
document is available for review-.
The school plans to continue
technology goals.
Visits to sites with best practices
will be one o f the steps in the
process.
The district's mission statement
is: "Morrow County Schools, in
partnership with families and
communities, provide each student
with the opportunity to develop
values, knowledge, skills and self-
confidence to become life-long
learners and responsible citizens."
After discussion from committee
members the site council developed
the following mission statement:
"lone Schools, in partnership with
families and community, will offer
each student the opportunity to
prepare for changing society by
providing safe and healthy and
inviting schools, promoting high
educational standards, and preparing
technologically literate citizens."
The committee selected the
following ideas as goals:
- Research proper placement for
new students- a. Dibbles testing for
primary students, b. MAPS testing
for new students, c. Practice tests
for beginning third graders;
-Discipline K-12 organized
structure-a. Planners with rules
included;
-Keyboarding competencies-
technology;
A flag presentation was held on
Dec. 20 to honor the school for
achieving the state excellence aw ard.
It was reported that Jeff Hunt
of lone earned his Eagle Scout
Award. Natalie McElligott made
the girls all-star team in the
Enterprise tournament. Ashley
Roberts and Brad Bumght won the
boys all-star awards and Bumght
won the most valuable player award.
Karen's Korner
By K a ren N a ssh o ff
Item s o f Health - Tobacco Prevention
lone School poster contest winners (left to right): front-Aimee Emery,
Megan Tollefson; back-Merilee McDowell. SWCD, Amber Patton,
Jason Snow, standing in for Miranda Hunt. Steffanie Holland. Kaylee
LaRue.
Little boy, big sock
11 (¿ « 1 1
XJ r 7.
■t. «
j i . MÊÊ
* mmmM
Tvrel Walker is pretty pleased with the giant Christmas stocking he
won in a drawing held h\ Devin Oil. six-\ear-old Tvrel is the son of
Tina and Tony Fox of Heppner.
WE PRINT
BUSINESS
CARDS
Loti o^ Stylet - Loti «I Colo\t
Heppner Gazette-Times
FAX
PAPER
Heppner Gazette-Times
676-9X28
By Karen Masshoff
Oregon's Smokefree Workplace
Law- comes into effect on Tuesday,
Jan. 1. The law says, with few
exceptions that "an employer shall
provide a place of employment that
is free of tobacco smoke for all
employees." The law describes "a
place of employment" as "every
enclosed area under the control of
a public or private employer that
employees frequent during the course
of employment."
This is the official statement, but
how does this law impact Morrow
County? Before going into the
specifics let us consider the intended
health and economic benefits being
smoke free will have. Almost
immediately those of us with
breathing problems, asthma, or
allergic reactions will be able to enter
most areas with less concern about
a negative response which may
translate into increased patron
spending. Those of us working in
newly smoke free areas will notice
v ery soon an improved sense of well
being, few er sinus problems, colds,
thus spending less of our sick leave.
If we're talking about lunchrooms
and most restaurants, there's a good
chance of an improved taste in our
food.
Are there any of us who are not
concerned over the rising costs of
health care? Where is it that as a
community, we say enough? As
individuals it may take some time
before we see the economic benefits
of this smoke free w orkplace law.
As employers, evidence of such
smoking restrictions ought to be
reflected sooner in reduced cleaning
and maintenance costs: reduced
number of fare incidents and a
corresponding reduction in insurance
costs; reduced absenteeism and lost
productivity; and reduced health care
costs.
One o f the immediate health
benefits of this new law most oi us
will appreciate is that restaurants
are to be smoke free. In restaurant/
bar combinations smoking may be
permitted in areas posted as oftTimits
to minors. Examples of other places
listed where smoking is to be
prohibited are: private offices/
commercial office buildings;
retail/wholesale establishments;
manufacturing plants/mills; movie
theaters/indoor entertainment venues;
child care facilities; and hotels/motels
(exception - smoking rooms as
designated by the owner/manager).
Bars/ taverns, tobacco shops,
bingo halls and bowling centers are
exempted from this workplace law.
However, some establishments may
choose to voluntarily go smoke-free.
There is help in implementing
this law. Throughout the state of
Oregon, Tobacco Education/
Prevention coordinators are a vai lable
to provide information. Karen
Masshoff, Tobacco Education/
Prevention coordinator for Morrow
County will be visiting most
businesses during the coming month
and encourages everyone to become
familiar with this law.
For more information, call the
Morrow County Health Department
at these numbers: 676-5421,481-
2112 or 922-4103 and ask for Karen
Masshoff.
OWGL honors Stonebrink
The Oregon Wheat Growers
I eague has presented its top honor,
the distinguished serv ice aw ard, to
Wallowa County farmer Jim
Stonebrink. T he action took place
at the OW GL's 75th anniversary
convention last week in Portland
Stonebrink is a past president of
the OWGI as well as the National
Association of Wheat Growers. He
uxik the NAWG helm during a trying
time and kept the organization strong.
according to an OWGI. news release.
In other honors at the convention:
-’The Voice of the Industry Award,
presented by the OWGL and the
Agn Business ( ouncil. went to Steve
Burnet. Sherman County wheat
grower and chairman of the board
of Cenex, a cooperative whose
business stretches from the Midwest
to the Pacific. Burnet gave credit
to his wife.
Court
discusses
dairy
permits
Bv Doris Brosnan
At the Dec. 5 meeting of the
Morrow County Commissioners,
planning director Tamra Mabbott.
building inspector Brett Cook and
economic developer Martin Davis
continued the discussion of the north-
end dairy permits. On Dec. 12, the
court - noting the State Building
Codes Division's determination that
it does not have authority over the
appeal of the county's requirement
for a building permit - voted to
inform Threemile Canyon Farms
that its building permit fee would
not be refunded.
Commissioner John Wenholz
asked if an agricultural building not
in an exclusive-farm-use (EFU) zone
can qualify for a farm exemption.
County counsel Bill Hanlon stated
that such a building could qualify
if it is on a farm, that the state statute
is intended to benefit farmers, not
hobbyists. Mabbott read that farm
agricultural buildings are exempt
from the Uniform Building Code
(UBC) if the farm is "land used for
the primary purpose of obtaining
a profit in money by raising,
harvesting and selling crop." w hereas
a non-farm agricultural building is
"a structure that by use or character
of its occupancy is similar to a farm
agricultural building but is not
located on a farm."
In Morrow County, parcels that
are zoned EFU do meet the UBC
definition of "farm." Parcels that
are not zoned EFU but qualify for
special farm deferral tax assessment,
may be considered to meet the
definition of "farm." She offered
Douglas County's agreement as an
example that could clarify future
issues.
At the Dec. 12 meeting. Judge
Terry Tallman reported on a
conversation with a representati ve
o f the Oregon Department of
Administrative Services regarding
the proposed road in the utility
corridor from Tower Road West to
Highway 74 north of Cecil. Public
works director Burke O'Brien
described various road locations that
have been discussed.
Judge Tallman reported on having
received notice from an Imgon
property owner that part of the
Irrigon county shop is on his
property. Tallman is researching the
situation.
Hanlon discussed with the court
the public records regulations,
explaining the costs to the person
requesting copies o f records.
O'Brien offered the following
report for the public works
department: the crew has been snow
plowing on Willow Creek Road to
Cutsforth Park, the North Fork
Willow Creek Road and Sunflower
Flat Road, and has ended the plowing
of Coalmine Hill for the winter. They
repaired a "muddy hill" on Kenny
Road and continue work on the
Valby-Road project, a picture of
which he shared w-ith the
commissioners. The crew has been
blading on Cutsforth. Valby. Lloyd.
Clarks Canyon and Buttermilk roads.
Work continues on road numbering
and naming issues.
On Dec. 12, O'Brien reported
on the public hearing on the ATV
grant, held on Dec. 6. Results of that
meeting, he reported, indicate the
need for more time and planning
and for more involvement of
landowners. He will be researching
for answers to some questions asked
at the meeting. He added that he
appreciated the participation at the
public meeting. Judge Tallman
reported that the Heppner Chamber
o f Commerce has indicated a
w lllingness to draft a resolution of
support for the project.
A landowner appeared to address
the question of installing a public
telephone at Cutsforth Park, citing
the occurrences of travelers needing
a telephone when their vehicles
become disabled on Coalmine Hill
in the w inter. For control o f traffic
on Coalmine Hill, the court and
O'Brien agreed that a snow berm
across the road, leaving enough room
for passage of snow-mobiles, should
help.
Other business o f the court
included the following:
- approval of a road permit for
Roger Britt for a water pipe under
Road 608, a permit for CenturyTel
on Piper Canyon Road;
- approval of the contract w ith
Devin Oil for fuel, antifreeze and
lubricants, contingent upon county
counsel approval;
- approval o f two tax refunds,
and approval o f a cancellation of
personal property taxes for one
citizen;
- approv al of the purchase of a
copier-fax machine for the
Vetcrans/Special Transportation
Office, dependent upon availability
o f funds;
- approval o f changing the
authorized signature on the deterred
compensation plan from the finance
director to the accounting supervisor,
- approval of contracts with
I amara Reid. Krystal Maynard and
l ia Warren tor respite care services
for developmentally disabled clients;
- approval of a Heritage-Trail-
related personal-services contract
with Carol Michael, w ith funding
from the Trail grant;
- approval of a fund-exchange
agreement with the Association ot
Oregon C ounties.
At the Morrow County Court
meeting of Dec. 19, county planning
director Tamra Mabbott presented
the results of her research into the
legislative intent o f the state
agricultural building permit
exemptions and offered some
examples of how farm exemptions
would work. T he court examined
excerpts pertinent to its decision
about farm-exempt permits. Mabbott
also shared the "Farm Agricultural
Building Exemption Certificate"
and "Farm Agricultural Building
Agreement." which make clear that
a violation of an exemption allows
a county to then require permits.
Included in a following discussion
was the issue of future buyers of an
exempted property. Two court
members requested another week
before making a final decision on
the proposed county farm-exempt
permits.
Mabbott also met with the court
to discuss the fiv e applicants for the
three planning commission
vacancies. She reminded the court
that members are to be
geographically dispersed and
representative of differing
occupations. After a discussion of
the geographic locations and
occupations of the applicants, the
court approved reappointment of
Art Kegler and I.eann Rea and
appointment of Anne Morter to the
commission.
County District Attorney David
Allen reported to the court that the
domestic violence grant has been
extended to June 30.2002. enabling
his office to use the balance of the
grant, primarily for the detective's
salary. The renewal grant was denied,
but his office will reapply. Allen
also reported that he has been invited
to sit on a peer-review panel.
A representative of the ESD
updated the court on the status of
the new telephone/data system, in
which two problems remain
outstanding and ESD continues to
work on. She explained the reasons
for the problems, as ESD sees them,
and what ESD is doing to correct
them.
Public works director Burke
O'Brien reported the following: the
crew was blading on Clarks Canyon.
Immigrant Lane, Well Spnng. Ione-
Boardman. Barak Martin. Strawberry
Lane and Juniper Canyon roads.
They had plowed on Ridge.
Porcupine Lane and Buttermilk
roads.
O'Bnen also reported having met
with an electrician to discuss some
concerns w ith wiring in the attic of
the courthouse. The court agreed
to have Roger's Electric address some
immediate needs and ev aluate other
work that may be needed, w ith an
estimate of cost.
O'Brien addressed the need for
electrical power to the county's
storage units for survey records and
courthouse records, necessary for
installation of dehumidifiers. The
court approved the project.
Another issue addressed by
O'Brien was that of some driv ers
traveling over the snow berm onto
a landowner's property at Cutsforth
Park area. Discussion led to the belief
that unless the U.S. Forest Serv ice
were agreeable to a cement bamcade.
the county can do nothing more.
Other court actions:
- approval of a permit for a phone
line conduit oft Second and Nev ada.
- approval of the purchase of
replacement fencing at Cutsforth
Park;
- reappointment of Commissioner
John Wenholz to the Oregon
Consortium Board of Directors and
reappointment of Commissioner Dan
Brosnan to the Greater Eastern
Oregon IX'velopmcnt Commission
Board o f Directors;
- approv al ofan updated Baker-
Morrow Regional Partnership Plan:
- approv al of the annual update
of the cafeteria plan:
- approv al of the juvenile crime
prevention intergovernmental
agreement;
- approval of the behavioral health
agreement with OHSU School of
Nursing for education-field
opportunities in clinical-learning
experiences;
- approval o f recommended
changes to the marketing-plan
investment plan;
- approv al of new computers for
the countv district attomev's office