Survey shows most residents against new city hall
BOS3 lu
Survey results from the
H eppner lib ra ry /c ity hall
q u e stio n n a ire
w ere
overwhelmingly against building a
new library/city hall facility on
Main Street. According to the
H eppner L ib ra ry /C ity Hall
Survey Committee, 360 people
indicated that they were against
the p ro ject at the pro p o sed
location, compared to 72 in favor.
Those su rv ey ed w ere also
o v erw h elm in g ly a g ain st the
project, 324-92, even if the facility
were built at a different location.
A m ajo rity o f those
surveyed were against both city
hall and library construction, with
46 against the city hall portion of
the project, 16 against the library
project and 274 against both.
R esp o n d en ts favored
upgrading the restroom s and
office space at the city hall to
comply with federal regulations,
with 272 in favor and 137 against
the upgrade.
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U o f j .» e a ap a í r L L i . z j
E u g e n e , JR 9 / 4 j 3
R espondents
w ere
strongly against construction o f a
new city hall, 333-84.
Respondents were only
slightly more likely to cite tax
responsibility as a reason for
opposing the project, with 220
indicating that taxes were an issue
and 205 indicating that taxes did
not make a significant difference
in their response.
According to the survey
com m ittee, 847 surveys were
sent out and 439 were returned,
w ith a 52 p ercen t turn o u t.
“ R esponse rates o f over five
percent are considered good for
a mail out survey,” according to
the co m m ittee. “ In sm all
c o m m u n ities, 20 p e rc e n t is
considered a good return rate and
can be sufficient for planning
purposes as well as give you a
good indication of what the public
would like to see.”
The comments received
along with the surveys will be
compiled and mailed to the city
council and library board by
March 8. The comments will be
available for review by the public
at city hall on that date. The
council will deliberate on the
information received at the next
city council meeting on Monday,
March 11.
The Heppner Library/
City Hall Survey Committee was
facilitated by Rural Development
Initiatives at no cost to the city or
the lib rary d istric t. O regon
E conom ic and C om m unity
D evelopm ent
D epartm ent
provided the funding for RDA’s
services. The city council and the
library district paid $718.85 for
supplies, labels and postage
required to mail the survey.
The survey co m m ittee
included Tom Wolff, representing
H eppner C ity C ouncil, Ann
Spicer of the Oregon Trail Library’
District, Bob Ployhar, an opponent
of the project, Grace Drake, a
proponent, and Cyde Estes, citizen
at large.
Committee prepares for 20th annual St. Pat’s Celebration
VOL. 121
NO. 9
8 Pages
Wednesday, February 27,2002
Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon
W yden visits Heppner for town hall m eeting
Spruce up your green
Kari Reown of Heppner (not pictured )and some helpful leprechauns lead a cheer at an assembly at Heppner
Elementary School Tuesday to encourage the students to “spruce up their green" and do their part in keeping
Heppner litter-free.
United States Senator Roy Wyden talks to Anne Murray (right) at a town hall meeting last Wednesday
in Heppner. Wyden was in town to talk with local people about issues concerning rural Eastern Oregon.
Listening in is Merlyn Robinson who earlier had asked questions about issues concerning the cattle industry?
Wyden said he supports country of origin labeling on beef products, but is not in favor o f beef import quotas
which he said could cause retaliation from other countries against US products.
Wyden also said he was in favor of deepening the Columbia River channel if it could be done without
hurting the environment, and that he was in favor of campaign finance reform especially trying to cut down
on the amount o f soft money in the system.
Blood drive set in H eppner
Ginger Keithley, vice-resident
o f the Willow Valley Service Club
and blood drive chair person,
an n o u n c es th at the club-
sponsored American Red Cross
annual blood drive in Heppner will
be held Monday, March 11, from
1-6 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Senior
Center in Heppner.
Persons wanting to donate
blood are requested to call 1 -800-
787-9691 to set an appointment.
Som e h ealth c o n d itio n s and
medicines may preclude blood
donations. Q uestions may be
answ ered at the tim e o f the
appointment call.
Requirements include eating
regular meals before donation;
reading instruction sheet upon
arrival at the center; signing in
and filling out a record; drinking
a cup of liquid immediately before
donation; donating blood; drinking
a glass o f liquid and eating a
cookie; and waiting 10 minutes
before departing.
On March 11, should a donor
need to re-schedule, a form will
be available.
Organizers hope the quota o f
35 pints o f donated blood will be
reached.
Little League signups set
H ep p n er L ittle L eague
baseball and softball signups will
be held on Thursday and Friday,
March 7-8, at the South Morrow
County N eighborhood C enter
from 5-7 p.m.
Cost is $30 per child or $60
per family, except for whiffle ball,
which is $25 per child.
The following items will need
to be provided at registration: a
birth certificate and three pieces
o f residence verification (this can
be a d riv e r’s license, v o te r’s
registration, homeowner property
insurance statement or utility bill).
For q u e stio n s or m ore
in fo rm a tio n , c o n ta c t D ave
P ranger at 6 7 6 -9 7 6 7 or Jan
Huddleston at 676-5358.
Clarification
Morrow County teachers
have an av e ra g e salary
countywide o f $56,000 including
benefits, according to Morrow
County School Board member
Larry Mills. A story in the Feb.
20 Gazette-Times did not specify
that the salary amount included
benefits.
Chili Feed to
Benefit Matheny
Family
T he O regon
State
University Extension Service in
Morrow County, along with help
from offices in the Gilliam-Bisbee
Building, will hold a chili feed on
Friday, March 15. at the Heppner
Elks Lodge from 11:30 a.m. to
1:30p.m.
The menu includes all-
you-can-eat homemade chili, rolls,
tossed green salad, dessert and a
beverage. The cost is $6 and
other donations will be gladly
accepted. Vegetarian chili will
also be available.
All proceeds will go to
the M atheny fam ily.
Any
questions should be directed to
Darcee at 541/676-9642.
Filing deadlines near
Filing deadlines for the
May 21 election for the Morrow
County Commissioner's position
now held by Dan Brosnan and the
M orrow
C ounty
D istrict
Attorney's position held by Dave
Allen are on March 12, according
to the Morrow County Clerk.
T hose
filin g
for
commissioner will file with the
clerk's office. District attorney
candidates must file w ith the
state.
By C laudia Hughes
The Wee Bit O ' Ireland St.
Patrick’s Committee o f eight or
so individuals has been meeting
faithfully to pull off the 20th annual
event. A s the ev en t fast
approaches, the check off lists are
growing instead of getting smaller.
From entertainment finalization to
pad d y w agon rep air; from
publicity to transportation and
accom m odations for honored
guests; from leprechauns to Trail
Band hosts; shuttles, maps, porta-
potties. parking, and the list goes
on. Chairpersons are reminded to
turn in information about “their”
ev en t to the C ham ber o f
Commerce office by this Friday,
March 1.
’Tis sure w e’d better start
checking things off as our “wee”
celebration is but two weeks
away. The 20th celebration will
have a mix o f new and old. The
w eekend w ill kick o ff on
Thursday evening, March 14, with
a play by Father Condon. “Saint
Patrick-Apostle o f Ireland" and
w rap up on Sunday w ith the
W illow Creek Sym phony and
W illow C reek S ingers. In
between, be it sheep dog trials,
Irish music, Friday’s auction. The
T rail B and, one m ore tim e
Farley's Social Hour, motocross,
eating, contests, a first ever ag
show at M iller's Manufacturing,
the great green parade, or just
reunions, there will be something
to keep visitors and locals busy.
How many does it take to put
on the Irish c e le b ra tio n in
Heppner? If all people involved
in some form o f the celebration
could give Claudia Hughes or
Cara Osmin a head count o f all
th o se w ho help m ake that
particular facet of the celebration
A
f
happen, it w ould be g rea tly
appreciated. Any guesses?
All past Irish families and new
Irish fam ilies are in v ited to
participate in the parade with a
family entry. If these ancestors
hadn't arrived in County Morrow,
now ‘tis sure th e r e ’d be no
celebration. Join in the fun and tip
your hats or shake your sheillieghs
along the parade route.
Visit www.heppner.net for a
full schedule of events or pick up
a brochure. Collectors buttons are
now on sale and this year there
will be four $100 pot o ' gold
drawings.
Find the Hidden Shamrock...
m
f
Win a
Gold Coin!
*
The popular St. Patrick's Day Treasure Hunt is back.
Each week until March 13, a clue for the treasure hunt
will be printed in the Gazette-Times. If followed, these clues
will guide treasure hunters to a green shamrock hidden
somewhere in the city limits of Heppner. The first person to
find the hidden shamrock will win a gold coin. The coin,
donated by the Bank of Eastern Oregon, is on display there.
RULES:
1. A new set of clues to guide you to the hidden shamrock w ill
appear in each edition of the Heppner Gazette-Times
2. A total of five clues will be given, up to March 13.
3. The hidden shamrock is not on private property and no digging
or moving of objects, dirt or other material is necessary to find the
shamrock.
4. The first person to find the shamrock should bring it to the
Heppner Gazette-Times office to claim the gold coin.
CLUE NUMBER THREE - FEBRUARY 27
Numbers. Numbers just for you
Add this to the others for your very best clue
5338
What does it all mean?
Check Bell’s little book
The vicinity is here
For Shamrock in a crook
The recent rain made our prize all wet
Bring it in anyway
And it's gold you w ill get
Tw o more clues arc all we're gonna make
So don't bough under pressure
and LEARN for goodness sake
20% O FF A L L
W IN T E R C L O T H IN G
Sale good through March 16
Morrow County Grain Growers
Lexington 989-8221 • 1-800-452-7396
f *
rm equipment. m»t our web site at www megg net