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Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, October 30, 2002 THREÉ. Letters to the Editor Editor's note: Letters to the Editor must be signed. The Gazette-Times w ill not publish unsigned letters. Please include your address and phone number on all letters (or use by the G-T office. The G-T reserves the right to edit. The G-T is not responsible for accuracy o f statements made in letters. (Any letters expressing thanks w ill be placed in the classifieds under “Card o f Thanks "a t a cost o f $ 7.) education in O regon. A fter an c o n tin u e d fr o m p a g e 2 u n p re c e d e n te d fifth sp ecial session, the Oregon Legislature state services. Elizabeth has been still has no clear plan for long o p e n w ith h e r c o n c e rn fo r term stable funding o f education adequate, stable state funding for other than cut the budget. K -1 2 e d u c a tio n s in c e th e Voters in District 57 have passage o f Ballot M easure 5 in an o p p o r tu n ity to e le c t a 1990. candidate who is also concerned Elizabeth Scheeler will a b o u t th e fu tu re o f p u b lic b rin g th e s a m e le v e l o f education in Oregon. Elizabeth commitment and sincerity to her Scheeler is the clear choice for legislative responsibility that she District 57 State Representative. has exhibited as a school board Her opponent says he supports m e m b e r se rv in g P e n d le to n pu b lic e d u c atio n , but voted School District. Elizabeth will c o n s is te n tly a g a in s t sta b le bring a healthy, fresh perspective funding for Oregon’s schools. His to the Legislature at a time when pro-school voting record during it is drastically needed. Elizabeth th e re g u la r se ssio n w as 67 is an analytical decision m aker percent (source O E A ) and he who is willing to do the research scored a Zero (source O SEA) to m ake a sound decision. She d u rin g the first tw o special w ill give high energy to the sessions. Elizabeth Scheeler has . legislative process and will work a d e m o n s tra te d in te re s t in tirelessly to help Oregon solve the O regon’s schools. She serves as revenue crisis. Elizabeth Scheeler a m em b er o f th e P endleton • has a true vision for our state that S c h o o l B o a rd , a n d sh e includes solutions not excuses. v o lu n te e rs in her c h ild re n ’s Elizabeth Scheeler has classroom s. She has first-hand the right motive for running. Her know ledge o f the disaster that m otives are not personal, but h a s o c c u rr e d in O r e g o n ’s rather to seek what is best for the classrooms. The best thing about citizens and youth o f this state. Elizabeth Scheeler is that sh e’s She has the courage to do what w illing to step up and m ake the is right long-term. Her vote will c a se fo r sta b le fu n d in g for be based on conviction. She has O re g o n ’s schools and better the personal qualities that will government in Oregon. Elizabeth help build a consensus across Scheeler is the clear choice for party lines to bring about long District 57 State Representative, term solutions. Elizabeth is a both (s) Tom Groat bright and sincere and possesses Pendleton a high level o f com m on sense. Elizabeth Scheeler is the right representative for this critical tim e. 1 urge your support for Elizabeth Scheeler. (s) Jim Keene Pendleton Officer’s wife lends support for Smith and Nelson To the Editor: During the 5th Special S e s s io n o f th e O re g o n Legislature, Representative Greg § m ith and S en ate ^Majority L e a d er D avid N e lso n w ere stro n g ad v o cates for public safety. W hile there was m uch More Scheeler support from Pendleton resident To the Editor: I am deeply concerned a b o u t th e fu tu re o f p u b lic p o litical bantering going on surrounding w hich program s should be funded, and which sh o u ld not, Rep. Sm ith and Senator Nelson were committed to m a k in g s u re o u r law enforcement officials received the m oney needed to operate and protect our communities. A s th e w ife o f an O regon State Police officer, 1 appreciate Representative Smith and Senator N elson for their understanding and commitment to the im p o rtan ce o f public safety. (s) Fran Oswald Heppner Lexington resident voices opinion of local councilman To the Editor: There is an old saying that — ’’Beauty is in the eye o f the beholder.” Glenn Anderson must be blind not to see the used car lot and junkyard next to the city hall, right in the middle o f downtown Lexington. People can’t even get to the city hall without parking across the highw ay or out in the middle o f it. Perhaps he m ight also have someone drive him around tow n and point out the six-foot high weeds in the city streets and on so m e p r iv a te p ro p e rty (including Jim Nelson’s). Yes, Jim did help pick up som e o f the pipes and ju n k left over from the water pipe project, but it was all dum ped up at the cemetery well site and will need to all be m oved, before any further work can be done up there. As for cleaning up his private property, G lenn also forgot to m ention that tow n e q u ip m e n t a n d th e to w n maintenance man were also used to do some o f the projects. There is a law against just such actions and in fact the tow n has been reprimanded, quite heavily in the past for them. The town is a mess with w e e d s , ju n k a n d o ld c a rs G Leading reg W alden the Oregon Way CONGRESSMAN Getting Oregon Back to Work...Rebuilding Our Economy: As a small business owner in our district for more than 16 years. Greg knows firsthand the economic problems we face and is working hard to solve them. Dedicated To Our Children’s Future: As the parents of a 12-year-old in an Oregon public school, Greg and his wife understand the importance of providing our children the best education possible. Working Hard for Seniors: Greg has repeatedly voted to create a prescription drug benefit, and to strengthen Medicare and Social Security. He feels strongly that no senior should have to choose between buying food or their prescription drugs. Standing up for Farmers A Ranchers: Having grown up on a cherry orchard in The Dalles. Greg understands the needs of our agriculture community. He is dedicated to opening new markets and ensuring a level playing field for Oregon’s producers. (iretifSS- W alden — « i * » F OR C O N G R E S S — Real .Solutions For Today)* Problems 1 ' '• f '« ' r - N «,P F r-r- • r y pn* Some think Smith has sensible solutions to the problems To the Editor: W e a re w r itin g in su p p o rt o f G reg S m ith for Oregon Legislative District 57. R ep. S m ith h a s th e e n d o rs e m e n t o f v e te r a n legislators Bob Jensen and David Nelson. Rep. Smith knows how the legislative process works and he has demonstrated by his past perform ance that he can get im p o rta n t th in g s d o n e fo r H eppner, th e W illow C reek Valley, M orrow County, and District 57. Rep. Sm ith knows and u n d e r s ta n d s th e is s u e s o f reso u rc e m a n a g e m e n t, agriculture and education. He has sensible solutions to the problems in these areas. Please join us in casting your vote for Greg Smith. _ . .. , .... Rate. He s willing and ready to continue fighting for the things that m atter to seniors. 1 hope that you will join m e, and m any o th e r se n io r citizens, with your vote to re e le c t O re g o n S ta te Representative Greg Smith. (s) Shirley Richards Irrigon October scarecrows bring Fall-time joy To the Editor: W h a t a d e lig h tf u l experience the many scarecrows and assorted creatures gracing Main Street and some yards have a f f o r d e d us th is m o n th ! Wonderful imaginations brought us such a variety o f creations, from serious to frivolous. I think th e y are all m y c h o ic e for “outstanding.” A n d s p e a k in g o f sta n d in g , m y g ran d so n has c o n v e rs e d in h is y e a r- o ld la n g u a g e w ith a c o u p le o f creatures, thought about taking one’s em pty m artini glass, and checked out the bony fingers o f another. I briefly thought I was talking to two individuals I know but decided that they were, in fact, simply look-alikes. (Both of these individuals are tacit types, so the silence o f the pum pkin heads was not an immediate clue in either case.) We are pleased with all o f the individuals w ho have shared their youthful spirit and added to our drives and walks around Heppner in October. Medical District c o n tin u e d fro m p a g e 1 -learned that the district expects to receive $64,000 from M ed icare for the first nine m onths o f the last fiscal year. Nicole Mahoney, M CHD chief financial officer, said that the funds will go on last year’s profit-loss statement. -approved purchase o f a new chemistry processor for the P io n eer M em orial H ospital laboratory to replace a piece o f equipm ent that is failing. Lab director Betty Hickerson told the board that repairing the old machine would cost more than the purchase o f a new machine and added that the new m achine would include additional tests that the lab currently sends out for processing. The board approved a $65,000 three-year flex-lease payment plan for purchase o f the new’ equipment. -learned that the nursing h o m e is n o w d o w n to 14 occupants. -learn ed that W illow Valley Assisted Living now has four occupants. The facility can accommodate 16 residents. -a p p ro v e d a c o u n te r proposal in contract negotiations w ith Dr. R o b e rt B o ss w’ho operates a Boar dm an clinic. The district's current contract with Dr. Boss, w hich subsidizes operation ofhis Boardman clinic, will soon expire. -instructed Vander Does to develop a private pay policy for the nursing home. (s) Doris Brosnan Heppner Madame Strangelove people’s choice (s) John and Pat Edmundson Opinion on grant donation to the Rebekah Lodge J o the Editor: I w ould like to recognize all o f the citizens o f the Town o f Lexington w ho show ed their support in the effort to get the Town Council to donate $7500 o f a $ 1 0 ,0 0 0 g ra n t to th e Rebekah Lodge to update the wiring in the old lodge hall used by so many o f us. T he m a jo rity o f the council did not see fit to follow the w ishes o f the 150 people that signed the survey in support o f using $7500 o f the grant for this p r o je c t. (T h e y d id d o n a te $3,000.) T h ere is an e le c tio n coming up. If you haven't voted yet, please get to know your candidates and what they really stand for. Let’s have a council that will really work for the good o f the people and not just there own selfish agendas. (s) Shirley McCarl Lexington “Madame Strangelove” winner of the 2002 People's Choice Aw ard for Harvest Scarecrows Judges o f the scarecrows roaming around town said “there w ere so many excellent entries that it was both fun and frustrating to try to choose and they could have used more categories.” They also reported that “the memorials o f 9/11 were too special to be put in the scarecrow judging, but were respectfully enjoyed by all.” Results are as follows: Funniest: B ucknum ’s “ M adam e Strangelove” ; Biggest: Heppner Ranger District; Smallest: W heatland Insurance; Most Unique: R&W Drive-In Veggie Scarecrow ; Most Welcoming: O regon Trail Library D istrict “K ids” ; and People's Choice: Bucknum's "Madame Strangelove”. Local senior gives word of support for Smith "Returning home to Oregon even' week fro m our na tio n ’s capital, I see firsthand the problems tie fa ce and u vrk closely with local people to detelop solid solutions. With yo u r support. I tiill continue to work hard to m ake a real difference fo r real people. Together tie will m ake our state and our nation stronger and more secure j • everywhere. The ditches need to J be burned out in case o f a flood. The town property has not been m owed all sum m er; there are rocks everywhere that need to be picked up. N ew ly purchased equipment (a high wheel trimmer and now an expensive law n mower) will be in need o f repair soon, if they are not. Jim w ould not have had to pick up pipes and junk if the city m aintenance man and his com m unity service helper had been doing their jobs, instead o f driving up and down the street, trying to look busy. Every time something is brought up at the council about the condition o f the town and the w ork that needs to be done, G lenn seem s to think it is “no problem ” but then, m aybe, he doesn’t want to address them, as he is too busy w ith his ow n personal agenda and "kicking under the table”. (s) Robert Taylor Lexington )■'■>* • h o o q WVFM, < >n <Vn.H ) To the Editor: 1 am pleased to support the re-election o f O regon State Representative G reg Sm ith. I have know n G reg for m any years, and I'm confident that he is the best choice to represent our interests in Salem. G reg will work hard to keep housing affordable, w hich includes assisted living facilities. T hat's why the Oregon Health Care Association has given him the title o f “Senior Cham pion”. During the last session, he fought hard to m aintain the M edicaid U pper Lim it R eim bursem ent Heppner Ranger District got biggest \ > I
