Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 22, 2003)
Ione School Board Meeting interests o f students and their parents,” he said. Others on the lone board agreed. “We want what is best for your kids,” member John Rietmann said. “That is what our goal is. That is what it is all about.” “lone will uphold the Lexington-Pine City o f over 50 years,” board m em ber Gregg Rietmann said. (See end o f this article for complete letter sent from Joe McElligott to MCSD board member Bill Kuhn concerning oqt o f district students.) In related business the b oard a p p r o v e d th ree r e q u e sts to c h a n g e th e boundary o f the lone school district. Tom and M arlene Pointer were granted inclusion in the lone district o f 1364 acres on Pettys Canyon Lane. The board granted John and M arlinda Flynn o f 67117 Condon Highway to include their property in lone. They also agreed that C ecil and M olly Rill could have their property taken out o f lone and put in the Morrow County School District. The M CSD had earlier also approved th e se b o u n d ary ch a n g e requests. The board heard the following report from principal Dick Allen: 1. Current enrollment is 150 students. 2. The high school boiler that has been down since Sept 1 should be running by Thursday, Oct. 16. The boiler provides heat to the high school, gym , and cafeteria. A p o llo o f K e n n e w ic k is replacing the controller on the burner w ith a m od ern electronic unit. They will also be replacing a faulty water level control unit along with putting in a vent system for steam. They are doing the job on a tim e and material cost basis. The estimated cost o f the project is around $6500. This price does not seem as high now as the colder weather is upon us. 3. The landscaping is about completed. Turf may be dow n by the tim e o f this meeting. 4. Loyal Bum s has c o m p le te d in s ta llin g playground equipment. Tom B ran d on w ill fa x m e information on material to put inside the new playground area that will meet federal and state requirements. 5. The elem en tary gym floor has been sanded, a seal coat put on, and lines painted. A gym finish will be put on shortly. Expected time o f occupancy w ill be around Nov. 3. 6. The lo n e Educational Foundation has continued from page one agreed to take all surplus items from the lone School District, lone School District will only be u s in g s c h o o l o w n e d property to store items that we want to keep and use. 7. T he lin e s have been painted for parking and for the blacktop playground area. 8. The “Principal’s H ouse” has been rented by a y o u n g c o u p le w ith tw o preschool children. They will be moving in the week o f Oct. 20. They realize that they may be asked to leave in June when th e n ew su p e r in te n d e n t/ p r in c ip a l is h ired . Mr. Murdock and I have discussed and agreed to purchase from Lott’s Electric an oven/range and refrigerator for the rental. 9. T h e N atu ral Resource class has returned from a very successful four- day field trip to the Mount St. Helens area. 10. The sw im m ing pool has been drained. The water was so bad that it was a safety hazard. We have on our list to pull the circulating pump/ motor to be gone over along with getting the chlorinator working properly so the water w ill remain clear. The use o f the pool ended about the second w eek o f September because the boiler being down created water that w as too cold to swim in. Aquestion has been raised i f it is a good practice to have the pool drained for wintertime. It was kept drained for winter use for about 40 years. Starting in about 1995 w e kept water in the pool for winter storage. As I recall it w as so that the caulking would not dry out and have to be replaced every couple o f years. Others recall that w e started keeping water in th e p o o l so that th e underground water would not provide upward forces on the bottom o f the pool. We have two brand new sump pumps that run year around to pump out underground water. I will look into this but would like to get the pump and chlorinator working i f water is needed back in the pool for winter storage. 11. L o y a l B u rn s d o n a te d to lo n e S c h o o l District an American Eagle Silver Dollar 2003 that he purchased at an auction that m o n e y w en t to the lo n e Educational Foundation. We w ill plan on using the 2003 dollar for some type o f display o f honoring the newly formed lone School District. 12. School continues to be running smoothly with the staff being able to focus m ore on education and/or their work as the construction com es to an end. 13.1 have been talked into having cheerleading at lo n e H igh S c h o o l. Three students are trying out on Wednesday, Oct. 15. They w ill cheer at hom e varsity basketball gam es only. All costs w ill be paid by the cheerleading squad. Sharon Rietmann has volunteered to be the advisor. In other business the board: -briefly discussed how negotiations would be handled with the certified (teaching) staff in the district. Teacher Duane Neiffer said it was the teachers’ w ishes not to have n eg o tia tio n s drag on and p ossib ly get them over in several days. The lone School D istrict teachers have not organized a district union such as th e M orrow C ou n ty E d ucational A sso c ia tio n , however, som e o f them are paying dues to the statewide teacher’s union, the Oregon Educational Association. -heard a report from acting superintendent George Murdock that superintendent recruitment brochures were being sent out around Oregon and adjoining states, and also posted on the Internet. -approved a request from Spanish teacher Karen H o lla n d that a group o f students be allow ed to travel to M exico in June o f 2004. It was estimated there would be 10 in the group and they would all pay their own way through fundraising. -heard from teacher Dean Robinson that it may be p ossib le to have a school read er m e s s a g e board announcing the school name and a c tiv it ie s p la c e d downtown. It may be similar to one in Helix. Robinson also said he would work with the city to see if there could be a lo n g -te r m a g r e em e n t on shared use o f the city lawn m ower for the school grass care. This w ould save the district from having to buy an expensive riding lawnmower. “ T he c ity h as b een exceptionally easy to deal with,” Robinson said. -announced that the next m eeting w ould be on Nov. 11. There w ould be a 6 p.m . execu tiv e sessio n to discuss contract negotiations before the 7 p.m . regular meeting. -heard a report from board member Debbie Radie w ho said $300 w as raised from s a le o f fo o d at hom ecom in g. It w as also reported that people came from as far away at Texas and California to attend the state championship team reunion held on homecoming night. PHOTOGRAPHIC CONTEST C.B.E.C. wishes to conduct a photographic contest to solicit photographs depicting scenes containing “electrical significance” from within our service territory. The “electrical significance” can be either natural or man-made, infrastructure or subtle, indoor or out. 1. Entries will be received the week of November 10-14, closing on Friday, Nov. 14 at 5 p.m. at both the Heppner and Condon offices. 2. Entries must be photographs, either standard or digital, color or black and white, with some indication or reference to electricity or electrical infrastructure. This required element may be very minor, however. 3. A panel appointed by C.B.E.C. will perform independent judging of entries. Judges decisions will be final. 4. Entry classes will consist of: Entries of people / animals or Entries of landscapes / general interest. The same photo may be entered in both classes if desired, but a copy for each class will be required. Each entry must be titled. 5. There shall be first, second and third place awards for each class, with prizes granted being $50 for each first place, $35 for each second place, and $15 for each third place award. 6. Entrants agree to allow Columbia Basin Electric Co-Op to enlarge, frame, and permanently display winning entries at C.B.E.C.'s discretion, with no compensation or value paid. Appropriate recognition will be noted of the entrant. 7. No single entrant may submit more than four (4) entries in any one class. 8. All entrants must be members / consumers of Columbia Basin Electric Cooperative, Inc. Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - THREE The follow ing is the stu d en ts w ho live in both We are c o n c e rn e d text o f b oard m em ber Joe areas. that continuing to revisit this M cE lligott’s letter to M CSD O ur Board is deeply age-old agreem ent will only b o a rd m em b e r B ill K uhn c o m m itte d to th e id ea o f serve to foster ill feelings and concerning the Lexington-Pine keeping the L exington-Pine prev ent us from dev eloping the City students in lone w ith or k in d o f p o sitiv e w o rk in g City student exchange: Enclosed please find without state funding because relationship that both districts th e lo n e S c h o o l D is tric t we believe that the parents could benefit from. transfer policy, w hich w as and the children involved feel Sincerely, r e c e n tly a d o p te d by o u r that this is w hat they have Joe McElligott Board. As you read through been promised. this policy, I th in k it w ill becom e readily apparent that there are actually two policies under a single heading-the By Molly Rhea, policy, which impacts students Dir. of Pioneer Memorial Home Health and Hospice in the L exington-Pine City a re a a n d th o s e w h o liv e A couple o f w eeks ago I subm itted a general article elsewhere outside o f the lone about the importance o f addressing pain in medical care. This District. week, the abuse o f narcotics seem s to be the big news. This There are very good article is som ew hat o f a response to these events. reasons w hy the Lexington- N ew s stories about Rush L im b a u g h ’s abuse o f Pine City students find a special prescription opioids, nam ely Oxycontin, are focusing on the place in this policy. A s I am illegal and dangerous use o f these m edications. These news sure you are aw are, there has stories perpetuate long-standing m yths and m isconceptions been a historic, good faith about pain management and pain medications, and they have a g r e e m e n t th a t p e r m its the potential to discourage people with pain from receiving Lexington-Pine City students effective treatment. to m ake a choice betw een The current coverage is failing to describe the real news H e p p n e r a n d lo n e b a s e d about these drugs- that prescription opioids can provide upon their individual interests precious relief for people suffering with serious pain. Taking and needs. To the best o f my legal, FD A -approved, opioid m edications as prescribed, is k n o w le d g e , th is is an safe and effective, and only in rare cases leads to addiction. a g re e m e n t th at goes back W hen properly used, pain m edications rarely give a “high”- several generations. they give relief. And, most importantly, they allow many people Throughout the life o f to resume their normal lives. this agreement, students have The m anagem ent o f pain is finally ju st beginning to chosen to go both directions achieve the attention it deserves in healthcare. Every year there in search o f an education. are over 75 million A m ericans- men, wom en, and children- Even within some households, living with chronic pain. Although pain can often be managed, som e children have chosen most people affected by pain are untreated or under-treated. H e p p n e r a n d o th e rs h av e W hy? One reason is an unfounded fear that opioid medications chosen lone depending upon taken for pain are dangerous or addictive. a variety o f factors. There are The diversion and abuse o f prescription opioids is a still families in the Lexington- serious national problem. Doctors and pharmacists need to be Pine City area whose children diligent in taking security measures against unlawful diversion attend both Heppner and lone. o f narcotics. R egulators and law enforcem ent m ust be W hen th e M orrow uncompromising in their battle to combat the illegal diversion C ounty School Board first o f opioids into street traffic, but this regulation should be done d e c id e d to re c o g n iz e th e in a balanced way, that doesn’t discourage the safe and legal integrity o f this promise to the use o f opioid medications for pain care. The m edia m ust balance new s about opioids w ith parents and children who live in the L exington-P ine City inform ation about their value to people with severe chronic a r e a , th e d e c is io n w a s pain. M ost o f all, we m ust be careful not to turn the “ War on applauded because it reflects Drugs” into a “ War on Patients.” policy that is developed to m eet the b e st in te rests o f The M orrow County individual students. The lone Sheriff’s Office is sponsoring a local d rop-off site by Nov. Board rem ains optimistic that the M C SD w ill continue to its firs t a n n u a l C o a t and 21, All contributions will go C hristm as Toy D rive. The tow ards Christm as toys or to honor this agreement. I am aw are that you, drive is being held for all buy c lo th in g or co ats for personally, have long beeri an Morrow County communities. children in M orrow County. This event is to help Money donations can be hand advocate o f exploring every possible avenue o f instruction families who are experiencing d e liv e r e d o r m a ile d to in order to help assure that financial difficulty and cannot M orrow C o u n ty S h e riff’s students in S outh M orrow afford to provide their children Office, 325 W illowview Dr., County have access to quality with a Christmas gift or warm Heppner, OR 97836. Drop-off locations are: opportunities. I am told that coat during the cold w inter M orrow C ou n ty S h e riff’s this would include sharing staff, months. Applications are being on-line learning, and other sent hom e w ith all M orrow Office, Heppner; lone United options, w hich expand the C ounty students in hopes o f Church o f Christ, lone; Justice C ourt A nnex, Irrigon; and capacity o f small high schools. reaching families in need. Boardman Police Department, Also, anyone wishing I w o u ld a n ti c ip a t e th a t Boardman. to contribute a new toy, or a providing students w ith an For more information o p p o r tu n ity to m a k e new or gently used coat, may educational choices would be do so by either sending it to you can contact the M orrow the M orrow County Sheriff’s C ounty S h e riff’s O ffice at a part o f that commitment. T he creation o f the Office, or by dropping it o ff at 676-5317. Another Message from the Pain Management Community MCSO to sponsor Coat and Toy Drive lo n e S c h o o l D is tric t has c re a te d s o m e fric tio n or ten sio n b etw een lone and H eppner. H ow ever, w hat is done is done and it is tim e to m ove on. We need to focus everything w e do on the best interests o f the children who attend our schools. We believe that honoring the long-tim e p ro m is e to th e p e o p le o f Lexington and Pine City is an important part o f that mission. T h e s c h o o ls in H eppner and those in lone have m uch in com m on and m u c h to b e g a in e d from cooperation and collaboration. B y w o rk in g to g e th e r in a positive w ay w e can offer a b e tte r e d u c a tio n fo r th e Cardinal Booster Club news The Cardinal Booster C lub m et M onday, O ct. 6 at th e lo n e S c h o o l L ib ra ry . S ix te e n m e m b e rs w e re present. T he club expects to hear from the IRS regarding the tax-exem pt status. Lynn Dee Ramos will begin working on grant applications. A th le tic D ir e c to r Dean Robinson is getting bids for building the track area fence. Mr. S ch ab er’s class is constructing the new cem ent area outside the East entrance to the school. Morrow County Grain Growers donated paint for the bleachers and c ro w ’s nest. C om m unity m em bers g a th e r e d O c t. 10 to h e lp Attention - Diabetic Customers: Murray s is now accepting Medicare assignment on diabetic test strips. Please ask fo r details. We appreciate your business and look forward to serving you in the future. Thank you. ^ M umuj ü DmU) INC 217 North Main • Heppner • 676-9158 Serving Heppner Lexington & lone prepare the football field and p u t to g e th e r th e n e w bleachers. The club approved the p u rc h a s e o f an a n ti-d ru g banner for the elem entary school at a cost o f $37.50 plus postage. T here will be a JV tournam ent along w ith the varsity tournament during the Basketball Bonanza weekend o f Dec. 5 and 6. It was announced that the th ird and fo u rth g rad classes are going to be selling w indow decals for $5 each or three for $ 12 as a fundraiser f o ra trip to O M S I. The next m eeting o f Cardinal Booster Club will be M onday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m ., at the school library. Trunk or Treat at HHS game “Trunk or Treat” will be featured during half-time at the H eppner H igh School football game versus Stanfield on Friday, O ct. 31. G am e time is 7 p.m. Everyone is asked to bring candy and kids are inv ited to go from car to car trunk or treating.
