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TW O - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, October 30, 2002 Letters to the Editor The Official Newspaper o f the City o f Heppner and the Counts of Morrow H ep p n e r G A Z E T T E -T IM E S U S P S. 240-420 Morrow County’s Home-Owned Weekly Newspaper Pub lished weekls and entered as periodical matter at the Post O ffic e at Heppner. O regon under the A c t o f M a rc h 3, 1879. Periodical postage paid at Heppner. O re g o n O ffice at I4 7 W . W illo w Street. T e le p h o n e (5 4 l)6 7 6 -9 2 2 8 . F a x (5 4 1 ) 6 7 6 - 9 2 11. E-m ail: gtiu heppner net or gt(ii)rapidscr\ e net W e b site w-ww heppner net Postm aster send address changes to the Heppner Gazette-1 tmes. P.O B o x 337, Heppner. O re g o n 97836. S u b scrip tion s $ 2 4 in M o rro w C ou nts: $ 1 8 senior rate (in M o rro w C o u n ts on ly; 62 se a rs or older): $ 3 0 else where. D a v id S y k e s .............................................................................................Pub lishe r Katie Wall .................................................................................... Editor News deadline Is Monday at 5 p.m. For Advertising advertising deadline is Monday at 5 p m Cost for a display ad is $4 75 per column inch Cost for classified ad is 50< per word Cost for Card of Thanks is $7 up to 100 words Cost for a classified display ad is $5 35 per column inch. For Public/legai Notices public/legal notices deadline is Monday at 5 p.m Dates tor publication must be specified Affidavits must be required at the time of submission Affidavits require three weeks to process after last date of publication (a sooner return date must be specified if required) On the HEPPNER WEBSITE: www.heppner.net • Start or Change a Subscription • Place a Classified Ad • Submit a News Story • View Real Estate for Sale • City Council & Planning Minutes • Local Businesses • County Park • Willow Creek Park Reservations • Free Digital Postcards • Senior Housing • and more! Thoughts on Measure 25-14 To the Editor, I w o u ld lik e to encourage voters to vote “Yes” on the ballot m easure for the M o rro w C o u n ty U n ifie d R e c r e a tio n D is tr ic t. T h e m easure seeks to eliminate the z o n e s to w h ic h th e b o a rd m em bers are elected and have them serve at large. The recent census data will require the board to change the boundaries o f the current five zones. This is an expensive process and by law must be implemented after e a ch cen su s. I b e lie v e th e resources o f the District can be better spent on programs rather than on realigning the zones every 10 years. Balancing the zones by population will require that the boundaries for the lone and Heppner zones be extended into the Irrigon and Boardman areas. This shift effectively eliminates representation by geographic w e*and eliminates the original p u rp o se for h a v in g zo n es. Board m em bers who serve the district at large are required to provide representation to the entire district. Representation, w ith the unified purpose o f providing the best decisions for all the constituents of the district is an asset to each o f us. I hope you will join me in voting “Yes” on this measure. (s) Cyde M arie Estes Heppner I •u H - Former tugboat captain offers support for Smith To the Editor: It is w ith great pride that 1 wTite this letter o f support for O regon State R epresentative Greg Smith. 1 have known Greg for m any years, and he has proven to my family and 1 that he is dedicated to constituents and willing to go that “extra mile" to get things done. D u rin g th e 2001 Legislative Session, 1 visited Greg several times at the Capitol. His office was always open to my ideas, thoughts and comments. A s a fo rm er tu g b o at captain, Greg and 1 strongly agree on issues surrounding our river system . He was there for us when the threat o f rem oving the dams hovered. He was not afraid to stand up with Senator Gordon Smith and C ongressm an Greg W alden to deliver the m essage that our dam's were staying right where they were. Greg has already proven his loyalty to senior citizens. The Oregon Health Care Association and the Oregon State Council o f Senior C itizens have both named him a “Senior Champion". 1 know that he will continue to be our legislative guardian in Salem. House District 57 has a great friend in O regon State Representative Greg Smith. By sending G reg back, w e ’ll be letting Salem know what Eastern O regon stands for, and more im portantly, w hat w e w o n ’t stand for. (s) Dan Creamer Irrigon Editor's note: Letters to the Editor must be signed. The Gazette-Times will not publish unsigned letters. Please include vour address and p h on e num ber on all letters lor use by the G -T office. The C-T reserves the right to edit. The C -T is not responsible for accuracy of statements made in letters (Any letters expressing thanks will be placed in the classifieds under 'C a r d o f Thanks’ at a cost of $7.) Local woman voices disappointment in superintendent To the Editor: Recently it has come to my attention that the current superintendent. Jack Crippen, has made what 1 w ould consider inconsiderate, ignorant decisions regarding the placement of a small child. This child, Jenna Taylor turned five on Sept. 2 o f this year, o n e d a y p a st th e n o rm a l acceptance date required by the state o f O regon. The fam ily requested that the board take into consideration the fact that Jenna has had two years o f preschool, a. statement from Jenna's doctor, which 1 might add Mr. Crippen would not even exam ine and also, Jenna was administered the normal test given at the end o f the year to kindergarten children showing their ability to function at the first grade level. Jenna aced this test. The test and her scoring on this test were also presented to Mr. Crippen, which again he w ould not consider o r even examine. At this point in tim e 1 guess I am wondering what Mr. C rippen's credentials are with re g a rd to th e e d u c a tio n o f children. The Taylors are not trying to put Jenna into first grade... they are only asking that she be given the opportunity to e x p lo r e a n d le a rn at th e kindergarten level. The Taylors have also stated that, if at the end o f the kindergarten year, Jenna did not seem ready for first grade they would have no problem with the repeating o f kindergarten. However, given her test scores this would be highly unlikely. T h e T a y lo rs h a v e e x p lo re d th e p o s s ib ility o f sending her to A rlington. The su p erin ten d en t in A rlin g to n w ould w elcom e Jenna to their kindergarten but here again Mr. Crippen has seen fit to tell the Taylors that M orrow County w ould not rele ase Je n n a to Gilliam County. In lieu o f that fact, the Taylors w ould have to pay approximately $5000 annually for Jenna to attend A rlington. Mr. Crippen also stated that if Jenna did attend Arlington she would not be allowed to enter first grade T here’s a better way to keep life exciting. Klamath First’s Classic 50 Club. If you’re over fifty and have a Klamath First checking 1 loin « at account, you can enjoy gifts, social gatherings and discounted group travel. No m atter how adventurous you are, we’ll keep you from doing the one thing you’ll always regret: Nothing. Hi* Gdfl CLASS I C j - v y CLUB Klamath First in a M orrow County school. What kind o f a statement is that? It definitely sounds like a spoiled child that threatens if not given his ow n way. 1 cannot understand how an educator (and 1 use that term loosely w hen speaking o f Mr. C rippen) could want to deny a little five year old o f learning and exploring her educational world. N o child should be refused the ch a n ce to learn. We are not talking about a child who is a m onth or m ore past the state g u id elin es... only one day. Let m e state that I do not know Mr. Crippen and evidently whoever hired him hopefully must not have know n him e ith e r... but his d e c is io n s and la c k o f understanding are unacceptable behavior especially since he holds such a position o f pow er in the school system. Our children and their chance for an education should definitely be uppermost in Mr. C rippen’s and the M orrow County school system. Has this now becom e a vendetta? There are other children w ho attend lone schools that reside in an adjoining county and that doesn’t seem to be problem. Evidentially the educators in the other county feel it is important for the children to attend w here they feel most c o m fo rtab le. O f course, the m onies allotted these children from the other counties go into the lone school system. Could this be the issue, money, and not really the consideration o f the c h ild ? I f so, I w o u ld ho p e som eone would m ake changes a n d so o n b e fo re a n y o th e r children suffer because o f Mr. Crippen’s reluctance to examine all the facts. Gilliam County seems to have the interest o f the children on th e ir ag en d a... I g u ess I h av en ’t yet figured out w hat a g e n d a M r. C rip p e n is follow ing... or does he even know. (s) Judy Harris lone EOU student a believer in Smith’s commitment to education To the Editor: In the midst o f our state’s budget crisis, I don't think there as many people who w ould deny that funding education should be a p r io r ity . We need a Representative who will support education at all levels. A s a s tu d e n t a t E a s te rn O re g o n U niversity, I have w itnessed firsthand R epresentative G reg S m ith ’s c o m m itm e n t to e d u c a tio n . H e h a s w o rk e d closely with our school to gain fu n d in g fo r s m a ll s c h o o l universities. Smith also played a large part in helping EOU to find the funds for our new science center. R e p re se n ta tiv e G reg Smith is aware o f our needs and he knows how to get things done. So if education is a priority to you, then I urge you to re-elect Representative Greg Sm ith for O regon State Representative, District 57. (s) Sarah Herrmann LaGrande Some believe special interest groups allow our voices to be heard To the Editor: As I read through the endorsem ents given by the East Oregonian on Sunday, I became quite upset by the obvious attack on “special interest” groups. I am a citizen o f Oregon. I am a taxpayer. I am a voter. I am also a member o f the Oregon C attlem en’s A ssociation. My friends, family and neighbors are m e m b e rs o f th e O re g o n Education Association, Oregon F a rm B u r e a u , N a tio n a l F e d e ra tio n o f In d e p e n d e n t Businesses (N.F.I.B.), O regon Wheat League and many political action com m ittees that ensure our voice is being heard in Salem. 1 do not consider m yself a m em ber o f groups that reduce o u r p u b lic o f f ic ia ls to be “ p a r a ly z e d w ith fe a r th a t campaign dollars will be withheld if they vote a certain way.” I am offended at Ms. Scheeler’s and the East O regonian’s comments that we conduct ourselves in such a manner. Part o f w hat m akes America so beautiful is the right to voice our opinions and belong to organizations that help us protect our freedoms. I, along with many other folks, are the “special interest” groups that you so negatively re fe r to. I su g g e st the E ast O regonian (and Ms. Scheeler) find a different way to attack her o p p o n e n t. T h o s e r e p e a te d comments are not welcome, nor are they appreciated. In die meantime, I will be c a s tin g my v o te fo r Representative G reg Smith. He has proven a record o f working side by side w ith all citizens, regardless o f w hich group they associate with. (s)C allie Jo Carr LaGrande Grant Co. resident proud to claim Smith as representative To the Editor: A s a resident o f Grant County I was proud to claim G re g S m ith as m y D istric t R epresentative. G reg was an excellent R epresentative. He took the time to talk to the people in h is D is tr ic t, a n d m o st importantly, he listened to us. G re g u n d e r s ta n d s E a s te rn Oregon, and he has what it takes to m ake things happen, as he proved during the last Legislative Session It w ould be a sham e if Eastern O regon w ere to lose su c h a s tr o n g a d v o c a te . I encourage everyone to vote for Representative G reg Sm ith for District 57. We need someone in Salem who is not afraid to fight on our behalf. (s) Virginia Carr Dayville Thoughts on tax increases and representatives To the Editor: It seem s like every two y e a rs, w h en th e le g isla tu re conveys, you had better grab your wallet. W hether it’s trying to raise the income tax, changing the way property is valued, or the “little” fee increases we face, our h a rd -e a rn e d m o n ey a lw a y s seems to disappear. This November, I will be saying no to increased taxes through a vote for Representative G reg Sm ith. G reg understands th a t a p ro sp e ro u s eco n o m y d o e s n ’t occur th ro u g h governm ent control and more taxes, but by allow ing our free enterprise system to work. Greg has convinced m e that he will continue to work hard to reduce the tax burd en s on w orking c itiz e n s and sm all b u sin ess owners, so that they can once again be profitable. If you feel as I do, the choice is sim ple - vote to re -e le c t G re g S m ith for O regon State R epresentative, House District 57. (s) Ron Herbison LaGrande Support for Scheeler To the Editor: Elizabeth Scheeler has a fresh voice and is well prepared to ta c k le th e b u r e a u c r a tic entanglement in Salem. She has done her hom ew ork. Her voice h a s th e so u n d o f a q u ie tly determ ined m other bear that is ready to defend her cubs. Elizabeth, as a parent and m em ber o f the Pendleton School Board, has been involved in schools for several years and is especially concerned about funding quality education for the children o f Oregon. Elizabeth is mindful that Ballot M easure 5 m ade drastic changes in school funding and that the choice o f the legislature this year was to use one-time pots o f m o n e y a n d a c c o u n tin g m aneuvers for K -12 education. She is fed up w ith politicians running on the education platform only to get to Salem and forget their cam paign prom ises. And, she believes that any new taxes for schools must be accompanied by a reduction in incom e tax rates. H o u s e h o ld s n e e d t o ' budget their m oney for their future needs and em ergencies. _ W hy n o t g o v e rn m e n t? T he O re g o n S c h o o l E m p lo y e e s Association, the Oregon School B o a rd A s s o c ia tio n and th e C o n f e d e r a tio n o f O re g o n A d m in istra to rs can fin d no e v id e n c e th a t E l iz a b e th ’s o p p o n en t, G reg S m ith, ever v o ted for sta b le , lo n g -te rm funding for schools. Elizabeth cares deeply for the welfare and quality o f life for all Oregon children and families. Support Elizabeth Scheeler and the quality o f life and education you want for yourself and your family. Let’s send Elizabeth Scheeler to Salem and let her work for our children and us. Vote for Elizabeth Scheeler. I am. (s) Betty Alexander Milton-Freewater Support for Smith To the Editor: I recently looked at the web site for the O regon Education A ssociation to check on how legislators performed during the 2001 Legislative Session. I also checked to see which candidate they recom m ended for House District 57. I w a s p le a s a n tly surprised to find that the Oregon E d u c a tio n A s s o c ia tio n has endorsed R epresentative Greg Smith for the upcoming election. I have ready m any articles in w hich S m ith ’s opponent has attacked him for not supporting e d u c a tio n . O b v io u s ly , th e Oregon Education A ssociation thinks differently. O f th e to p e ig h t legislative successes listed by the O E A , R e p re s e n ta tiv e G reg Smith was there for our teachers on all eight. Keep in m ind that these are the top eight pieces o f legislation that m em bers o f the O E A fo u n d to be th e ir top victories during the 2001 session. I hope that you will join m e, as w ell as m an y o th e r inform ed voters, in supporting Representative G reg Smith. He has a p ro v en rec o rd o f supporting main street business, lo g g e rs, fa rm e rs, ra n c h e rs, veterans, senior citizens and last, b u t c e rta in ly n o t lea st, our schools. (s) Terri Strang Irrigon Pendleton man offers support for Scheeler To the Editor: I am in complete support o f the candidacy o f Elizabeth Scheeler for the Legislative seat for District 57. W hile Elizabeth S c h e e le r d oes not asp ire to becom e a career politician, she is co m m itted to serving her legislative district and the state at a tim e w hen we face a crisis in funding schools and other vital continued next page
