Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 20, 2002)
Students voice support for new skate park Bessie S e tse ll U o f J Ne * 3 ya Library Eugene, uK »*Y4 j 3 Under latest proposal a new skate boarding park would be constructed at old pool site on Main and Cannon. VOL. 121 NO. 47 8Pages Wednesday, November 20,2002 Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon Neighborhood Center to distribute Thanksgiving baskets High School students are overw helm ingly in favor o f construction of a new skate park in Heppner, a recent meeting at the school revealed. City officials held a meeting at th e sch o o l O c to b e r 28 to measure student interest in a skate park proposed to be built at the old sw imming pool site on M ain and C an n o n streets. Students turned in three pages o f signatures on a petition in favor o f the park. The park would provide a cem ented area for young people to skateboard. The city parks and lands commission consisting o f city manager Jerry Breazeale, city council member Skip Matthews, and public works director Craig Canham met with the students to "solicit input on a proposed skate park at the old swimming pool ^ite.” Students presented the three- page petition w ith 169 signatures on it. Some o f the students also said that pictures o f other skate p ark s and c o n stru c tio n su g g estio n s had also been acquired. Another student noted that his cousin lives in a small tow n like Heppner and that they had solicited local donations and built a skate park there. Several students thought that it would be a good idea to have an area specifically for the younger children. Students asked why the skate park could not be constructed near Heppner's new' sw imming pool, particularly since there is a large area near the new pool not in use. City officials pointed out that the county owns the property near the new sw imming pool, not the city. Matthews also pointed out that putting a skate park on the old pool site w ould serve the additional purpose o f completing the clean up o f that site. In response to questions Canham stated that the area w ould be largely fenced, the old pool would be filled in and the whole area would be asphalted. He further stated that it might be appropriate for the school shop class to build the ramps needed for the park. Matthews added that volunteers and donations could shoulder a lot o f the cost. M erry B ran n o n , day care director, said she would like to see the skate park provide an area for the smaller children. She also noted that the young children tend to emulate the older skaters and the older ones need to be aware o f that. In response to a question, Breazeale explained that city council w ould have to address the question o f insurance for a skate park, which would involve a substantial increase in cost for the city. The council discussed the park and the student input at its November 12 counci I meeting. “1 am going to come to you for su p p o rt for a sk ate park, Canham told the council. None on the council voiced opposition to the skate park. Sports Award banquet announced at lone Site Council Faye Seitz, a Neighborhood Center volunteer, works on filling this year's Thanksgiving baskets It is that time o f year again, when the community and the Heppner Neighborhood Center o f South Morrow County get together to create Thanksgiving baskets for local families. On Nov. 21, fifty families, from Heppner, Hardman, Lexington and lone, will be receiving the Thanksgiving baskets. “The baskets are filled with everything needed for a Thanksgiving dinner, and then some,” said Janice Skaggs, Neighborhood Center coordinator. HCC to hold public meeting to discuss Strategic Plan Residents o f Heppner and its surrounding area are e n c o u ra g e d to a tte n d th e Heppner Coordinating Council evening meeting on Monday, Nov. 25, at 6:30 p.m., at St. P atrick’s Senior Center. The C o u n c il is a g a in se e k in g community assistance with the re v is io n o f th e “ H e p p n e r Strategic Plan.” The purpose o f th e m e e tin g is to id e n tify strategies and action plans for the goals established at the previous two public meetings. In June, co m m u n ity members worked together to create and prioritize goals in the c a te g o rie s o f B u sin e ss D e v e lo p m e n t, E d u c a tio n , Infrastructure, and Quality o f Life. Since those meetings, the H CC has been c o m p ilin g supportive information to identity strengths o f and chal lenges to the community and to identity trends that influence and will continue to influence Heppner's existence. The action plans will provide the final ingredient as the Strategic Plan revision is formulated. The HCC meets twice monthly at 7:30 a.m., and the general public is invited to those m eetings. M embers o f HCC believe, however, that the early- morning time slot does not fit some people's schedules, though their interest in the strategic plan might be high. The committee’s hope is that the people who attended the June meetings w ill return to help on Nov. 25 and that many more civic-minded individuals will join the evening conversations. Recognizing that many thoughts next Monday will be turning to Thanksgiving, the HCC has decided to add the draw ing o f an appropriate door prize to the evening’s agenda. At the end o f the meeting, one person in attendance will win a frozen turkey. The refreshments and the turkey are intended as a "Thank Y ou” to e v e ry o n e w ho participates in the work and contributes to a strategic plan that truly reflects w hat the citizens of the area recognize as important to Heppner. L iste d below , by category, are the top goals resulting from the June meetings o f com m unity members. On Monday everyone will work to plan strategies and actions for attaining these goals: Business Development And Employment Opportunities: Development o f a marketing plan and strategy that will promote small business and light industrial, therefore providing jo b s for youths and adults; Retention o f local m edical facilities and services and promotion o f the use o f local sen ices; and Provision o f in fo rm atio n to p ro m o te development o f small business and p ro m o te and en h a n c e to u rism ; E ducation: M aintenance o f all cu rren t curricular program offerings; Expansion o f access to and use continued page two ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE: MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M. At the Nov. 13 lone Site C o u n cil m e e tin g , it w as announced that Tuesday, Nov. 26, lone High School will be having its Fall Sports Awards banquet at 7 p.m. They also noted that Thanksgiving Break would begin at noon on Nov. 27. Other site council news included: -The recognition o f Diana M cElligott and Mike Radie who received bronze m e d als from W en d y ’s International. Each year Wendy’s International recognizes 20 students from each state who they feel are ab le to b alan ce a c a d e m ic s, a th le tic s and community service. McElligott and Radie will continue to the national competition where they co m p ete for gold or silver medals. -The Cardinal football team went to state quarterfinals finishing in the top eight. -The Lady C ardinal volleyball team progressed to state playoffs where they placed third in the State 1A competition. Diana McElligott and Natalie McElligott were named state all stars as well as district all-stars. Caitlin Orem and Megan M. M cCabe received honorable mentions at the district level. -Both the volleyball and the football team placed second this year for the Dairy Farmers Cup. -A ccelerated R eader (Elementary): Updated software has been ordered and the books we need for this program. -SOS Reading Program (Secondary) Our next in-service will be on the Nov. 22. There will be tw o additional in-services. -Site C ouncil By-Laws: We will discuss it at the next meeting. -Plato Demonstration- D a rle n e and D ean gave a computer demonstration o f how the Plato softw are w orks. There was a question / answer time after the demonstration. -T estin g S ch ed u le: Principal Mike Stuart set up a schedule for taking the online TESA as well as make-up days for those students who might happen to be absent. These tests w ill be c o m p le te d b efo re T hanksgiving break. Stuart explained how the test score results work and how teachers may use the scores to see what skill areas students should be working on. There was quite a bit o f discussion o f the testing process and whether students have to re-take the test once they have p assed . T h ere w as discussion also o f the schedule. Morror Co. Fair and Oregon Trail Pro Rodeo announces next year’s court L-R: Morrow County Fair and Oregon Trail Pro Rodeo Court Princesses Megan McCabe and Lexi Kennedy M egan M cC abe o f Lexington and Lexi Kennedy o f Boardman w ere chosen to be the 2002-2003 Morrow County Fair and Oregon Trail Pro Rodeo Court. Last year both girls were pennant bearers for the Court. Megan, the daughter o f Kevin and Lori McCabe, is a junior at lone High School this year. Lexi, the daughter o f Kev in and T rade Kennedy and Tami Kennedy, is a junior at Riverside High School. The Morrow County F air O ffic e is still t aki ng applications for pennant bearers for this year's Fair and Rodeo Court. They w ill be trav eling to parades with the court. For information or an application, call Renee at 676-9474. 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