tW O - Heppner Gazette-Times. Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, November 6, 2002
The Official Newspaper
of the City of Heppner and the County of Morrow
H eppner
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Superintendent responds to letter
To the Editor:
I would like to present a few facts regarding a Letter to the
Editor in the Oct. 30 issue of the Gazette Times. The Board of
Directors has a policy regarding school entrance for kindergarten
students. Policy 5200. It says, “Any student whose fifth birthday falls
on or before Sept. 1, may enter kindergarten at the opening of the
same year."
Although district policy does not have any provision for a
waiver to this policy, the Board did listen to the Taylors’ request for
a waiver at the September meeting of the Board of Directors. They
voted six - zero with one abstention to not grant a waiver. In October
the Superintendent of the Arlington School District, called and asked
me about approving an inter-district agreement for an attendance
variance to allow the child to attend Arlington as a resident student.
After reviewing the policy, I explained that I did not feel that I could
grant such a request to the Taylors if they asked, because to do so
would have the effect of reversing the Board’s September decision.
At that time I also reminded Mr. Keown of Board policy 5210 that
deals with a student’s age for entering first grade, “Any pupil whose
sixth birthday falls on or before Sept. 1, may enter the first grade at
the opening of the same year." This policy also does not have a
provision for requesting a waiver. In both cases the policy does not
allow for waivers because the board does not w'ish to allow them.
They feel very strongly about the issue, for a variety o f reasons. I
reminded Mr. Keown that both policy 5200 and 5210 had a sentence
which states, “When parents or guardians who reside in the Morrow
County School District enroll their underage child in a private or
parochial school for a short period of time in an obvious effort to
avoid this policy concerning age of entrance, the child will not be
permitted to transfer into the Morrow County schools during the
current school year." This also said to me that the Board was serious
in its intent and that they felt strongly about what age a child should
be to enter Kindergarten or first grade.
In all the years I’ve been involved in this issue, the vast
majority of the parents I’ve talked to regret enrolling their child early.
This issue is never about a child’s ability to do academic work. It is
about the social problems that may arise in middle school and high
school when it is too late to hold a child back.
I would also like to include the Morrow County School
District Board Goals for 2002-2003:
1) The goal is to create a budget that each year can be
sustained with the new yearly income equaling or exceeding the yearly
expenses. This is to include a cash carry over of a minimum of
$1,500,000.
-The Board expects to have the “created budget" 50%
implemented for the 2003-2004 school year.
-The Board expects to have the “created budget" fully
implemented for the 2004-2005 school year.
-The Board wants to establish an equity per student with an
eye to where it is created, (weighted students)
-Exceptions to the above to be approved by the Board.
2) The Board supports the States Standards. The Board’s
goal is to raise the total number of students who meet and exceed the
Reading and Literature, Writing, Mathematics and Problem Solving
Standards by 5% over the number who met and exceeded the
standards in 2001 -2002 school year in grades 3 ,5 ,8 and 10.
3) The Board’s goal is to improve communication within the
district in the following manner:
-The Board will host a face-to-face visit with the faculty and
staff at each building once a year.
-The Board will provide written communication to the district
patrons.
-The Board will host a spring meeting/assembly at each
building to celebrate the State Report Cards.
4) The Board’s goal is to review/update/rewrite the Morrow
County School District Policy and Procedural Manual.
-The Board’s goal is to review/update/rewrite the Elected Advisory
Committees policies, 1131 -1131.7 to bring them into compliance
with ORS 330.425-330.435.
(s) Jack H, Crippen, Ph. D.
Superintendent of Schools
Morrow County School District
To the Editor:
Unfortunately I feel that
this letter needs to be printed to
correct some statements printed
in a letter to the editor in your
edition Oct. 30, 2002, with a
signature of Mr. Robert Taylor.
Comments were made as
to the availability of parking at the
Lexington City Hall being taken
over by the adjoining property
owner. For a fact the Lexington
City Hall/Fire Station does have
limited parking; this has existed
since the building was erected.
The door to the fire hall on the
front o f the property makes for a
situation where no one can park
in that area. The rest of the area
in front ofthe building is bordered
clo sely by a ditch w hich
mandates that parking is limited
and patrons must either be the
first to park at the city hall or park
off the city property. I am the
owner/purchaser of the adjoining
property. The previous owner of
the property allowed the parking
in the area adjoining the City Hall
in exchange for a “free” water bill
on this property; this looks like a
small trade since the business on
the location had limited or non
existent use of the restrooms on
the property during the past five
years, since the building was
closed down the majority of that
time. I allow the city patrons to
park on my property and have
even offered to turn on the lights
on the property for when there
are meetings o f the volunteer
firemen and the city meetings.
Comments were made
questioning my donations of
effort and time to the city and
cleanup activities involved related
to the removal of old pipe after
the project of installing some new
pipes within the city. The city
does rely on the volunteers,
elected unpaid volunteers and
citizens to perform and help in
many of its activities due to lack
o f funds and a d esire or
commitment to keep taxes and
commitments for further funding
at a minimum.
The statement was that
if the city worker (and helper) just
did his job no volunteering would
have been needed for the cleanup
after the co n stru ctio n .
U nfortunately the C ity o f
Lexington does not have a dump
truck, semi or other means to haul
larger and longer items than can
be carried in a pickup. Just like
the cost o f the work performed
by the Port of Morrow crews
during construction, I did use my
trailer and my pickup to haul the
items at no cost to the city. The
movement to the location outside
the city proper did serve to put
the items in one place, out of sight
and off the areas in front o f
peoples houses and what few
businesses that we do have in
town. This will allow for easier
transfer, sale or recycle o f
materials at a future later date
when funds and/or equipment
are available.
The accusation of use of
the city equipment on my private
property is in error. 1 did use my
pickup, which has a dump bed,
to assist the city in cleaning up of
the areas around the trenches
beside the roads (left over fill dirt/
rock) after the w ater line
construction project. Some of
this material put in my vehicle,
which was then dumped in at the
back o f my property and the
equipment was used to level this
so that more could be deposited.
Unfortunately ifMr. Taylor would
have asked concerning this
activity more information would
have been available to him, or he
could have provided alternate
sites for disposal of this material.
I have donated to the city in the
past, providing gravel in some of
the alley areas, at my own cost. I
have cleaned up other city
property (clearing weeds, hauling
off this mess to the transfer
station—at my own cost, putting
down dust control in the form of
plastic with a bark dust covering-
at my own cost). In the past I
have raised and donated time,
effort and funds for the benefit of
the city creating a fund to support
the Fire Department. The real
value of the deposited fill may be
a liability since foundations on fill
are more expensive if I ever
develop any area involving the fill
material.
In closing he made poor
remarks about another individual
that has expended great amounts
of his time and effort for the City
of Lexington, the Lexington Fire
D epartm ent, the M orrow
County Ambulance services and
the citizens o f this town. He
accused Mr. Anderson o f some
self-dealing in the matters and
business of the City of Lexington.
Unfortunately these hints at
misdeeds are in error and the “no
problem” comment he tries to
paint on Mr. Anderson does
ignore the limited amounts of
funds available to the city. Some
o f the people of the city did
remove portions o f funding
available to the city, which was
transferred to the benefit o f the
Rebekah Lodge. I was under the
impression that this property that
may not be even available for use
of the citizens of the town, but if
this location was to become
available for community use and
projects, more help could and
should be sought for this project.
Interest and effort of the city
should be used to attain grants
and other funding to preserve and
protect some of our heritage. The
old telephone building is another
building that also needs some
attention and a more suitable
home.
(s)Jim Nelson
Lexington
Former resident
impressed by town
updates
To the Editor:
In September, along with
friend Cathy Ingalls from Salem,
I vacationed in lone for several
days. I grew up in lone,
PUBLIC BINGO PABTY
November 7th - Thursday
LADIES NIGHT. Karen Wolff,
Ginger O’Brien and Crew will
be having a Tailgate Party with
German sausages, hot dogs,
veggie wraps, beans, coleslaw and more. Din
ner starts at 6 p.m. Veteran’s Remembrance
and Lodge starts at 8 p.m.
HEPPNER ELKS 358
"H T ,m Friené, Meet "
Editor's note: Letters to the Editor must be signed The Gazette-Times will not publish
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statements m ade in letters. (Any letters expressing thanks will be placed in the classifieds
under ‘C ard of Thanks ‘ at a cost of $ 7.)
Nelson offers his side of the story
M orrow C ounty’s H om e-O w ned W eekly N ew spaper
Published vveekls and entered as periodical matter at the Post Office at Heppner, Oregon
under the Act of March 3, 1879. Periodical postage paid at Heppner. Oregon. Office at 147
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the Heppner Gazette- Times, P.O Box 337, Heppner, Oregon 97836 Subscriptions: $24 in
Morrow: County; $18 senior rate (in Morrow County only; 62 years or older); $30 else
where.
Dav id S y k e s...............................................................................................................Publisher
Katie W all................................................................................................................... Editor
676-9181
l e t t e r s t o th e E d ito r
142 N o rth Main
graduating from high school there
in 1963 and have alw ays
considered it my hometown, but
rarely have I been able to be there
for more than a few hours in the
past 20 years or so. This time we
were there for several days and
had a fabulous time. We will
always remember Jim, Monica
and A drienne S w an so n ’s
gracious hospitality, Marv
Padberg’s expertise as a tour
guide in and around lone, and
JeanAnn Turner’s “highlights of
Heppner” tour.
While one may assume
things are at a slower pace there,
it was not so for us. There was
so much to see, so many people
to visit with, and lots of activities
such as the Friday night football
game where lone High School
was presented the O regon
School Activities Association
Gold Cup for their outstanding
academ ic
and
ath letic
achievements; and the Back-To-
School celebration at the Legion
Hall where Jeri M cElligott
organized the 02-03 site council
with remarkable finesse, and the
selection o f mouthwatering
desserts along with the freshly
grilled hamburgers were a definite
highlight
The improvements in
lone are impressive, including the
b eau tifu l new W heatland
Building. Sunflower Junction
makes the best ever espresso
drinks (Cathy and I visited
several times a day) and I could
not get enough o f the peach
smoothie-like drink they make
there. The “Virgil Morgan” drink
is also awesome. And I never
thought I’d live to see the day
when one could get a pedicure
in a nail salon in lone. The
enlarged City Park is beautifully
maintained and the amphitheater
stage is a work o f art and a
wonderful asset for the City’s July
Fourth celebration.
H eppner has m any
changes and improvements also
since I last visited and Main
Street is very attractive and
inviting. For the first time I got to-
see the dam and the lake formed
behind it, which is a beautiful
extension o f the city. I enjoyed
shopping at M urray’s where
there is a wide selection of gifts,
and at Gardner’s Men’s Wear
where women’s outerwear can
also be found. Inadvertently,
owing to my forgetting my
suitcase at home, I discovered
that one can not purchase
women’s lingerie anywhere in
Morrow County so I will always
be grateful that Gardner’s carries
boys’ wear.
Probably the m ost
significant business addition to
the lone area is the Tillamook
Dairy operation. It is huge and
state-of-the-art and I hope it will
be an economic asset to the
community and to all of Morrow
County.
(s) Tass Morrison
Sublimity
C h a m b e r C h a tte r
By Claudia Hughes
Chamber Executive Director
Being in the business of
promoting Heppner, brings a
variety of calls to both my home
and o ffice. Today w hen I
answered a gentleman asked; “Is
this the Pink Feather Restaurant?’
O f course, I had him repeat the
question; then we checked the
number - he had tried the 503
prefix previously. This guy from
Portland seemed totally serious,’
either that or 1 am more gullible’
than he! Could it be that someone* •
really thought they were in the
Pink Feather Restaurant in
Heppner during hunting season?
If any one out there has any insight
on this, please share your story!
Heppner Merchants are
offering customers the chance to
shop on Thursday evening, Nov.
7, d u ring the “ C ustom er
Thanksgiving Sale” from 6-8
p.m. Many residents are hard at
work during the day and have to
rush home right after work or the
stores are closed by the time they
get off work. Your retailers and
their employees, as a way of
saying ‘ “thanks for your business' ’,
are holding this special sale for
you to take advantage of the
“turkey specials” and get a jump
on the holidays. Have fun!
While this is not a book
review column, there are often
books that I’d like to share with
others. Books are part o f who
we are and available to anyone
who is able to read, no matter
what their walk in life. Sometime
ago I read “Tuesdays with
M orrie” by Mitch Albom. I
reread it on the way home from
my Oregon Chamber Execs.
Conference because a friend,
who also has Lou G ehrig’s
disease, has been on my mind,
and because it has many valuable
life messages. Let me share one
o f Morrie’s wisdoms from this
humorous and touching book::
about real life:
“So many people walk :
around with a meaningless life. •
They seem half-asleep, even
when they’re busy doing things
they think are important. This is .
because they’re chasing the
wrong things. The way you get
meaning into your life is to devote
yourself to loving others, devote
yourself to your community:;
around you, and devote yourself
to creating something that gives
you purpose and meaning.”
Heppner and the Willow
Creek Valley are so fortunate to :
have so many people who have *
learned the secret that service to 5
others and volunteerism gives’
meaning to life and allows people -
to connect with others. This often -
comes through seeing others go-,
through d ifficu lt tim es or;
experiencing them ourselves or;.
working together to achieve a*
difficult goal. Stop and think
about all the unpaid volunteers
who have touched us throughout
our lives from 4-H leaders, to
neighbors, firemen, hospice
w o rk ers, event w orkers,
organizations, churches, and the
list goes on and on. It is all of you
who have made our small town
a community.
And by the way, it’s time
to think about nominating these
people, who give meaning to
your life and your community, for
Man, Woman, Educator, Youth
and Business of the Year. Those
folks don’t wish to have attention
called to them, but let’s do it
anyway! To be thanked is a good
feeling. Town and Country is
Thursday, Jan. 16,2003.
Thought for the week:
“We make a living by what we
get, we make a life by what we
give.” - Winston Churchill
-t
WE PRINT
BUSINESS
CARDS
Heppner G aze tte -T im e s
676-9228
Lexington IOOF Hall
Saturday, Nov. 9th
AMIPRO LIQUID CATTLE SUPPLEMENTS
(N O TE Date Correction)
«■< SWEETPBO LICK BLOCKS
at 7 :3 0 p.m.
Benefit for new card table and chairs
Pie and Beverage: $2
.2 5 c cents each Card
with Cash Prizes awarded!
Convenience plus Economic Performance
Safe High-Quality "By-Pass” Protein
Improved Feed Efficiency • Distillers, Feeds and Solubles
Balanced Vitamins and Minerals • Chelated Trace Minerals
Complex Carbohydrate Energy; Not Simple Sugar
Patented Formula and Container
Ad sponsored by MCGG, Lexington
-00G Ï00—
A n ip r o "
MOBBOW COUNTY
GRAIN GROWERS
Lexington 989-8221 • 1-800-452-7396