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Bessie Wetzel! Newspaper Library
University o f Oregon
Eugene. OR 97403
Future of Heppner St. Patrick’s
celebration concerns local leaders
Community leaders
gathered at Heppner City
Hall April 26 to grapple with
the succession of leadership
for the annual St Patrick’s
weekend festivities The
annual festival, started by
com m unity leader and
Irishman the late Jim Farley
of Heppner, just concluded
its 23rd year
Chamber executive
director Claudia Hughes and
Cara
Osmin
have
spearheaded the event for
many years, but have
indicated that they, along
with other key volunteers,
plan to resign in the near
future from the sometimes
overwhelming task Hughes
has indicated that she also
plans to resign as executive
director for the Chamber, but
has not yet set a definite date
to resign from either
position
Heppner Mayor Ti m
Van Cleave suggested that
the annual festival be
overseen by a board
comprised of Heppner City
Council members and
H eppner Cham ber o f
Commerce members, which
would ensure year to year
continuity for the event It
was also suggested that the
Chamber executive director
remain as festival chair
Nancy Snider, who
was
present
as a community
VO L 124
NO. 18
10 Pages
Wednesday, May 4, 2005
Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon
member and also as a
representative for Wheatland
Insurance, told the group
that that makeup was similar
to what was used in lone for
their annual Fourth of July
celebration She said that a
com m ittee oversees the
celebration but a chairman is
selected to head up the
festival each year
A nother issue o f
concern is that because
Hughes has been such a
hands-on chair, not a lot of
paperwork to pass on to
future celebration leaders
has been formulated
Cham ber
of
Commerce President Nancy
Gochnauer assured those in
attendance that the festival,
which has become a time of
(L-R): Michael Wellman, Eric Skaggs, Stephanie Smith, Rick Martin, Tayler Hodges, RJ Farrens,
family reunions for many in
Jon Cain and instructor Dave Fowler with new sign the technology class built for the industrial
the area, will go on.
par
Local teacher Dave erected at the industrial park
Gochnauer stressed that the
Fowler and his technology last week The signs will the site once suitable current problems are just a
class at H eppner High advertise the availability of businesses are found
“bump in the road,” not the
“ Your work is
School assisted the Willow land for lease
ap p reciated ,” Columbia
Creek Valley Econom ic
The city of Heppner greatly
WCVEDG
President
David
D evelopm ent
G roup recently signed a lease with
Sykes
told
the
students
when Plateau Stage
(W CVEDG) recently by the Port of Morrow, which
constructing two signs to owns the property, for four they erected the sign. “When race coming up
The
annual
advertise the availability of acres west o f the former we find a business to move
here, you will know that you Columbia Plateau Stage race
building sites at the South Kinzua office buildings
is once again coming
Morrow Industrial Park near
WCVEDG has cost helped in that effort.”
W CVEDG
is through Heppner The race
Heppner
estimates and preliminary
The
students approval from DEQ to reimbursing the school for will begin on Friday, May 6
metal the materials used in the with a race from Heppner to
constructed two 4-foot by 8- construct
lone beginning at 1 p m The
foot signs, which they then manufacturing buildings on project
race will continue May 7 and
8 with races up the Rietmann
Grade and from lone to
Fossil The concluding race
on May 8 will be from Fossil
to Heppner
Racers from all over
the country and beyond are
expected to be in the race
The total prize list for the
event is $5000
Registration for the
race has already passed, but
interested persons are
invited to catch a glimpse of
the racers along their trail
For
more
information about the race
you
can
visit
www columbiaplateau org
Students make signs for industrial park
Tree dedication held in Heppner
Chuck Bailey, Heppner Garden Club chairman (left) and Jerry Breazeale, Heppner City
Manager, unveiled a plaque, which explains the existence of a scarlet oak tree at Heppner
City Park. The tree was planted to replace two Dutch elms that had died. The elms had
been planted in commemoration of George Washington.___________________
ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE:
MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M.
Even the familier Heppner Leprecauns will be wait­
ing to hear the outcome of community deliberations
on the future of the St. Patrick’s Day celebration.
end of the celebration The
event,
which
brings
hundreds o f people to
Heppner, also contributes
financially to num erous
businesses, organizations
and clubs
During
the
discussion Hughes, Osmin
and
many
longtim e
volunteers in attendance,
such as Judie Laughlin,
Doris Brosnan, Sharon
Harrison and Dick Sargent,
received an ovation for their
years of dedication
Liability issues have
also become a concern for
the
festival
Snider,
representing W heatland
Insurance, told the group
that
those
entities
participating in the festival
that go through the St
Patrick’s Committee, and
therefore the city o f
Heppner, are covered under
the city’s liability insurance
However, the St. Patrick’s
Committee must appoint the
chairmen of those entities
and money received must be
channeled through the
committee Other entities are
not covered and must
purchase their own liability
insurance One example of
an entity, which purchases its
own liability insurance, is the
motocross event, which is
not actually affiliated with
the St Patrick’s Committee,
but often holds its
m otorcycle races at the
M orrow
County
Fairgrounds during St
Patrick’s weekend
To avoid liability
problems, Snider suggested
that independent entities that
plan to have events in
conjunction with the festival
be required to present
c ertificates o f liability
insurance to the St Patrick’s
Committee
Snider says that the
concern is that if someone
were injured during the
celebration the St Patrick’s
Committee would be open to
lawsuit
More meetings to
discuss the future o f the
celebration, liability and
other issues will be held later
Ballots due by May 17
If you have not yet received a ballot for the
May 17 election and believe you are registered voter
you should contact the Morrow County elections office
before May 17 The office can be reached by calling
676-5604
Ballots for the election need to be returned and
received at the election’s office or at one of the other
ballot drop-off locations by May 17 at 8 p m
Postmarked ballots received after May 17 will not be
counted
Ballot locations include
New Boardman City Hall- 200 City Center
Circle, Boardman The office will be open Monday
through Friday, May 2-May 16, 8 a m to 5 p m , and 8
a m to 8 p m on May 17.
Irrigon Annex- 205 NE 3rd St., Irrigon The
office will be open Monday-Friday, May 2-16, 8 a m
to 5 p m , and 8 a m -8 p m . May 17.
Bank of Eastern Oregon- lone- 280 West
Main St., lone The office will be open Monday-Friday,
May 2-16, 9 a m t o 4 p m , and 9 a m -8 p m , May 17
Morrow County Road Office- 365 West Hwy
74, Lexington The office will be open Monday-Friday,
May 2-16, 8 a m to 5 p m , and 8 a m -8 p m , May 17
Morrow County Courthouse- 100 S Court
St., Room 102, Heppner The office will be open
Monday-Friday, May 2-16, 8 a m to 5 p m , and 7 a m
to 8 p m , May 17
D AN N ER B O O m QN
►/«
Morrow County Grain Growers
Lexington 989-8221
•
1 -800-452-7396
F m farm »qulpm tnt, visit
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