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.
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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