Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 28, 2005)
Holiday Lighting Contest results Bessie Welzell Newspaper Librar University o f Oregon Eugene, OR 97403 The winners of the 2005 H oliday L ig h tin g C o n test sp o n so red by C o lu m b ia B asin R ural Electric Coop have been selected. “Best use of Lighting” in a business is the Bank of Eastern Oregon Mortgage Dept, and the residence of Dave and Sandy Hanna. The “Most Original Setting” in a business was the Artisan V illage d ep ictin g many themes o f Christm as and Gary and Jeri Wight for their resid en ce. The “Ju d g e ’s Favorite” for a business was the lighted deer display at the Cornerstone Gallery and for a residence was Michael and Rosemary Burns for their flagpole Christmas tree. The Artisan Village receives the “Most Original Setting" award for their window displays. VOL. 124 NO. 52 8 Pages Wednesday, December 28, 2005 Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon Soldiers honored on their return From the Condon 1 unes-Joumal “I’ve lived here the last 20 years of my life and I couldn't be more proud to represent everybody in this room and county,” said Sgt. Scott Nation. Army National Guard, who with Army Lt. John Q u alls, has ju st returned home after a year’s deployment in Iraq. Nation and Qualls were honored recently at a ‘W elcome H om e’ dinner reception at the Condon Elks Lodge. Nearly 100 well- wishers attended the event. The National Guardsm en were welcomed home with a presentation by Condon Mayor Dale Thompson, and C ondon C ham ber o f Commerce President Darla Seale presented g each with a $100 packet of ‘Condon Money’ coupons, a gift from the C ondon C ham ber of Commerce. “We're doing a good thing over there,” Nation said in his som etim es- animated comments. “I don’t care if you agree with all this c ra p ,” re fe rrin g to the politics of the war, “but you got to support the troops.” The crow d responded with whoops and applause. In a rare situation, Sgt. Nation served under Platoon Leader Lt. John Qualls, also of Condon. They patrolled together daily in the same hum vee in and around the city of Kirkuk. Iraq, a city of over 167,000 people north of Baghdad. A modest Lt. Qualls said that all of the support he and the American troops are getting “is embarrassing, in a good way.” Soldiers receiv ed care p ack ag es often, he said. Q u alls lead 20 people in his platoon. “I wish you could meet them all," he said proudly. “T h e y ’re putting their lives on the line daily.” “You sort of get used to the c o n stan t th re a t,” Qualls said. “ Scott got the Times-Journal and we kept up with C ondon,” Qualls said. “We appreciate all you did for us throughout our deployment.” The crowd rose in a standing ovation. M arine Col. Terry Williams, Retired, of Salem spoke, saying he was “here to honor two heroes. They don't think they are heroes. They say they were ju st doing their jobs. But they are heroes.” “ S o ld iers like to know th at the nation supports them , that their fam ilies su p p o rt th e m ,” Williams said. Giving the w ives and m others due credit, W illiam s said the “women in their lives are very important to a soldier.” To make that point, Williams cited Chief Cra/y Horse, who said, “Men can’t fight if their women’s hearts aren’t in it.” At a gathering o f N ational G uardsm en in Salem last summer. Williams observed that the troops “looked like good soldiers. They can be on my flank anytime." and he welcomed them home. The so ld ie rs answered a few questions of those in attendance, and told a few stories. John is the son of Roscoe and KayRene Qualls of Heppner. BEO Mortgage Dept, winner of the business “ Best use of Lighting" displays a Christmas village in their window. “Best use of Lighting” awarded to Dave and Sandy Hanna for the lighting display at their home. ***** Gary and Jeri Wight display their Merry Christmas wishes that won the “ Most Original Setting” award. äs Michael and Rosemary Burns win the “Judge’s Favorite" award for their residential display. ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE: MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M. YEAR END FENCING SALE G a te s , Panels, Posts and W ir e HAPPY NEW YEAR 2 0 0 6 ! We will be closed this Saturday , Sunday and Monday Morrow County Grain Growers Lexington 989-8221 * 1-800-452-7396 For farm equipm ent, visit our w eb site at w w w m<gjj net
