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lone School Board concerned over MCSD suggestion B e s s i e .Vet z e l l U o f J Ne*spa ;ar Liarai-y Euj e ne , OR 9; 4>3 HEPPNER unes VOL. 122 NO. 38 8 Pages Wednesday, September 17,2003 Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon Luckiest girls in Heppner Jodessa (left) and Kolleen Chapa show off nine four-leaf clovers the two found last Thursday. If anyone is luckier than Jodi and Kolleen C hapa they would be hard to find. The tw o Heppner girls found nine four-leaf clovers while playing on the lawn last Thursday. T h e tw o sa y th e y w e re j u m p i n g on th e tram poline in the yard when th ey started w restlin g and ended up under the trampoline w here K olleen, 10, said she had her face close to the grass and saw the first fo u r-le a f clover. Later she and her sister Jodessa, 11, found eight more. Bank of Eastern Oregon buys seven Klamath First branches B a n k o f E a s te r n O regon is purchasing seven branches o f K lam ath First F e d e r a l in n o r th e a s te r n O regon. The branches being purchased are located in the to w n s o f B u rn s, C o n d o n , Fossil, H eppner, John Day, Prairie C ity and M oro. The sale includes deposit accounts o f approximately $66 million, w hich will double the size o f the Bank o f Eastern O regon’s six b ra n c h e s, an d its $78 million in total assets. The fixed assets and branch locations will also be included in the sale; how ever, loans will not be included. C o m p le tio n o f the transaction is scheduled for Dec. 12,2003. In H e p p n e r a n d C ondon, the branches will m erge and in the five other to w n s, the K la m a th F irst banks will be rebranded as Bank o f Eastern ( )regon. With the purchase o f the Klam ath F irs t b r a n c h e s , B a n k o f Eastern O reg o n ’s base will now operate 11 branches in six counties. Current Klamath First patrons will be able to benefit from the sam e or comparable products once the transaction ta k e s p la c e . P a c k e ts o f inform ation will be sent to K lam ath First patrons 30 to 45 days prior to the Dec. 12 transaction. Current Klamath First employees will also be offered e m p lo y m e n t by B an k o f Eastern Oregon, said George K o ffle r, B ank o f E a ste rn O regon President and C h ie f Executive Officer. “The Bank o f Eastern O regon is pleased to offer custom ers and em ployees o f these branches the opportunity to jo in our great team . We w ere established in 1945 to meet the financial needs o f rural c o m m u n itie s in e a s te r n O reg o n , and these branch purchases will allow us to c o n tin u e th a t tra d itio n in m arkets and w ith custom ers we are very fam iliar w ith,” a d d e d K o f f le r . B a n k o f E astern O re g o n c u rre n tly intends to partially finance the proposed branch acquisition through the issuance o f $2 m illion o f T rust P referred Securities. As p r e v io u s ly announced, K lam ath First is party to a m erger agreem ent pursuant to which Klamath will m erge into Sterling Financial C o r p o r a tio n (N a sd aq : STSA). Sterling was apprised o f and concurred in the sale o f these seven branches. “ W ith th e r e c e n t announcem ent o f our proposed merger with Sterling Financial Corporation, several community banks indicated an interest in m any o f our rural branch locations. K lam ath First determ ined that Bank o f Eastern O regon w as the best c a n d id a te to a c q u ir e its b r a n c h e s s in c e B a n k o f E a s te r n O r e g o n s h a re d K la m a th F irs t F e d e r a l ’s commitment to customers and employees. In addition, a sale at this tim e would ensure that Klamath First custom ers and em ployees at these branches e x p e r ie n c e o n ly one organizational change rather than tw o ,” stated K erm it K. Houser, President and C h ie f Executive Officer o f Klamath First Federal. - a n d a re in g o o d T h e lo n e S c h o o l show s $218,584 in the bank standing in the prior school District, at their regular meeting at Bank o f Eastern O regon M onday night at the lone year to receive lone School a n d $ 2 5 9 ,2 8 8 in th e a p p ro v a l fo r School cafeteria, heard from D is tr ic t government inv estment pool. Board C hair Joe M cElligott admission. -approv ed the budget A c c o r d in g to th e who voiced concern over the as presented. M CSD B oard’s suggestion at policy, ISD reserves the right -h eard reports o f a the M C SD ’s last meeting that to accept or reject students w e ll-a tte n d ed b arbecue in they “revisit” their decision to based upon the availability o f celebration o f the new lone allow all students w ho had space, resources, personnel, School District, sponsored by attended school in the lone appropriate program s and “a the Bank o f Eastern Oregon. attendance area during the positive review o f the student’s -heard a report from 2 0 0 2 -0 3 s c h o o l y e a r to educational records.” The P rin c ip a l D ick A llen that c o n tin u e to a tte n d lo n e p o lic y w a s a m e n d e d to school opened successfully in c lu d e : “ S tu d e n ts w h o Schools. despite the form ation o f the M C S D ’s suggestion attended lone Schools during n e w d is tr ic t a n d n e w w as t r ig g e r e d by a 2002-03 have been released construction. “Trie staffhas just recom m endation by Judge through M CSD Board action done a trem endous jo b ,” said Frank Y raguen that M CSD are autom atically provided Allen. pay ISD over $100,000 in a adm ission to the lone School -approved the hiring settlement over the di v ision into D istrict and shall be offered o f Sarah Carlson as the middle tw o school districts. Judge transportation to and from the school/high school science Yraguen was hired to assist in lone Schools." The board also teacher and Becky Wiggers as resolving the dispute between a d d e d th e p ro v is io n th a t the m iddle school volleyball M C SD a n d ISD o v e r the students who attended school coach. division o f assets and liabilities. outside o f the lone School -approved a revised M CSD estim ates that they D is tric t in 2 0 0 2 -0 3 m ay s c h o o l c a le n d a r w h ic h could lose around $100,000 c o n tin u e to atten d school corresponds to the M C SD a year as a result o f their action outside the ISD boundaries calendar with the exception o f to allow those students to w ithout board approval, but conference days in November. other transfer requests will be attend lone Schools. -heard a report that “ While the settlement s u b je c t to re v ie w a n d the proposed plaza will be in has a very positive impact on approval. p lace th is fall e x c e p t for In other business the lone, we are concerned that it i n s ta lla tio n of th e could create som e long-term board: commemorative bricks which -h eard fro m issues regarding the Lexington/ are to be sold as a fundraiser. P ine C ity s tu d e n ts ,” said S u p e r in te n d e n t G e o rg e It is anticipated that the plaza M c E llig o tt in a w r itte n M urdock that the district is in could incorporate up to 700 statement. “With that in mind, a good financial position, with bricks. The plaza plans include last w eek w e asked Judge their balanced budget based a display for an historic school Y raguen to delay the final on a c o n se rv a tiv e $4.7 8 8 bell. resolution in hopes that we billion state education budget. -granted the principal could visit the issue one final An increase from that amount and superintendent discretion tim e and discuss a good faith has been approved by the about declaring surplus items solution that w ould w ork in s ta te , b ut th a t a d d itio n a l and donating the items to the their best interests. We were amount, along with a possible lone Foundation which could, advised that M C SD did not state transportation grant, a in turn, use those item s as w ish to engage in any further school facility grant and a small ftindraisers for the school. discussion o f the settlement.” schools grant, have not yet -heard a report on free McElligott pointed out been in clu d e d in the ISD and reduced lunch sign up. that stu d en ts living in the budget. The budget can be M urdock told the board that Lexington/Pine City area have am en d ed to include those families are encouraged to sign been provided with the option additional funds at a later date, up for the program. The more o f attending either Heppner or said M urdock. families that qualify would bring P relim inary budget lo n e sc h o o ls and that the additional m onies into the “ h isto ric a g re e m e n t” w as data is as follows: $ 1,542,334 district. upheld by M CSD w hen they in th e g e n e ra l fu n d w ith -h e a rd th a t th re e voted to allow those students $436,727 in revenue received requests for boundary changes to continue attending lone to d a te a n d $ 2 8 ,7 0 2 in have been received-one from Schools. In return, he said, expenditures; $25,470 in the a family living in Lexington and lone w ould honor the wishes textbook fund, with $24,313 two from families in the Liberty o f students choosing to attend received; $49,571 in the food School area. se rv ice fund, w ith $6,678 Heppner Schools. -heard from Murdock “ I am troubled by the received; $40,422 in the pool that future board meetings will p ro sp e c t th at the M orrow fund w ith $17,565 received include a w ork session from C ounty School Board m ay a n d $ 8 ,0 7 2 e x p e n d e d ; 6-7 p.m ., w ith the regular re v is it th is lo n g -sta n d in g $ 106,316 in the extracurricular board meeting beginning at 7 a g re e m e n t in re sp o n se to fund w ith $9,425 received; p.m. Ju d g e Y r a g u e n ’s $70,000 in the student body -le a rn e d the house recommendations," continued fund; $6,081 in the vehicle/ ow ned by the district, which M cElligott. “The purpose o f technology fund with $60,081 fo rm erly housed the lone the final settlem ent was to received; $7,716 in the capital Schools principal, has not permit all o f us living in this end project fund, with $5,009 in been rented, but is available o f th e c o u n ty to p u t o u r expenditures; $ 17,600 in the for rent. d iffe re n c e s a sid e a n d , as housing fund with $14,201 -heard the following Judge Yraguen noted, to focus r e c e iv e d a n d $ 1 0 9 in announcem ents: O SB A fall our energies on our prim ary expenditures; and $618 in the regional m eeting, O ct. 21, mission, that o f educating our Star PSI fund with $617.84 E S D O f f ic e ; OSBA children. Whatever differences r e c e iv e d ; fo r a to ta l o f c o n v e n tio n , N ov. 14-16, and disagreem ents w e may $1,866,128 w ith $515,600 Portland; next board meeting, have as adults, we should not r e c e iv e d an d $ 4 1 ,8 9 3 in M onday, Oct. 20. hold any students hostage nor expenditures. The report also s h o u ld w e d is r u p t th e ir educational process as we seek final resolution.” A lso at the M onday night meeting, the ISD Board adopted a revised policy on It is that time o f year again, when football games are in the inter-district transfer o f full sw ing and schools come out to celebrate Homecoming. resident students. Friday, Sept. 26 m arks H eppner High S chool's A c c o r d in g to th e Homecoming events. The varsity football team will be playing policy, all children who reside in the old Lexington/Pine City against Pilot Rock, w ith the gam e beginning at 7 p.m ., in attendance areas are “eligible Heppner. F rid a y , O c t. 17 m a rk s lo n e H ig h S c h o o l ’s and w e lc o m e to a p p ly to Homecoming events. The varsity football team w ill be playing a tte n d sch o o l in the lone against Echo, w ith the game starting at 7 p.m., in lone. district if they: Homecoming nearing for Heppner and lone schools - m a k e a fo rm a l written request o f release from the M orrow C ounty School District; apply for admission to th e lo n e S c h o o l D is tric t superintendent; HES to hold Open House Heppner Elementary School will be hosting an Open H ouse for the com m unity on Tuesday, Sept 23. The O pen House will be from 6:30-7:30 p.m. 20% O F F In Stock 8 Orders Welcomel Danner Boots L ast C hance! Sale Ends Saturday! M orrow County Grain Growers Lexington 989-8221 • 1-800-452-7396 tor farm equipment. visit our w tb sit* at www.mcgg.iMt
