Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, October 17, 2007 - THREE
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A view from the hill
Letters to the Editor ~
The Heppner Gazette Times will print all letters to the Editor with the following criteria met: letters submitted to
the newspaper will need to have the name of the sender along with a legible signature. We are also requesting that
you provide your address and a phone number where you can he reached. The address and phone number will only
be used for verification and will not be printed in the newspaper. Letters may not be libelous. The GT reserves the
right to edit. The GT is not responsible for accuracy of statements made in letters. Any letters expressing thanks will
be placed in the classifieds under "Card of Thanks" at a cost of $10.
Quick responses help avoid a terrible collision
Letter to the Editor:
On Friday, October 5,2007,1 was following one o f your buses. No. 295, between
Ontario and Vale. We were about six miles from Vale when the bus’ brake lights came
on the bus pulled to the shoulder o f the highw ay. The shoulder was w ide and I at first
thought the bus was pulling over to let me pass. 1 put on my brakes and was about to
pass when a large semi truck approached in the opposite lane along with a car which
was attempting to pass the truck. Since the bus had moved over enough so that I could
see the situation, 1 had time to react and pull onto the shoulder. At that time there were
three other vehicles abreast on the two lane highway, the truck, the car and the bus. The
bus driver narrowly avoided a head-on collision with the car and, with her warning, had
allowed me to avoid a similar fate. The truck driver apparently was not aware o f the car
until it was along side o f him, so he did not pull over. The car cut in front o f the truck
thereby avoiding me and nearly hitting the truck. The bus driver’s quick responses were
responsible for avoiding what could have been a terrible collision. 1 followed the bus to
its destination in Vale and congratulated the driver, Melanie Smith, from Heppner for
her quick reactions and for saving me from having a collision with the car.
1 am a retired high school teacher and coach and have ridden many miles on school
busses and know what a thankless job bus drivers often have. I also know that the letter
received about bus drivers are often negative and question the driver's skills. 1 want you
to know that Melanie is an outstanding driver who keeps the safety o f her passengers
as her top priority. I would also like the parents to know that their children are in safe
hands when riding on Melanie Smith’s bus. If you have an award for best driver o f the
year 1 would like to submit Melanie Smith’s name as a candidate for that award.
The driving skills o f bus drivers also reflects on the supervisor and trainer o f the
bus company and, so, 1 would like to commend you and your driver trainer for the job
that you have obviously done very well.
Dan Gardner
Vote No on Measure 49
To the Editor:
Measure 49 does not “fix’’ Measure 37. It repeals it and the sponsors know
this.
Measure 37 corrected the missing (and promised) part of the 1970 land-use
legislation by paying eligible landowners for the loss in property value caused by a
land-use regulation.
Measure 37 was passed by over 61% o f Oregon voters who understood this
and was immediately challenged in court. That failed. So the Governor, special interest
activists and the Democrats in the last session o f the legislature crafted Bill 3540 now
on the ballot in an expensive special election as Measure 49.
This is an insult to the thousands o f Oregon citizens w ho worked hard to pass
Measure 37 and to the millions of individuals who own property.
The intent o f Measure 49 (destroying property rights for everyone) is disguised
with clever buzz words about being “fair” and “saving farmland.” Measure 49 will put
property decisions back in the hands o f central committees and special interest groups
with their own selfish political agendas with no intention of compensation for the loss
of the value of your property.
Vote NO on Measure 49.
Deanna Dyksterhuis, Retired Corvalis farmer
Newport
By Doris Brosnan
What a spectacular
view from the hill Mother
Nature is providing right
now! The fall colors are out
standing this year, and the
Willow Creek Terrace otters
a great view of the changing
foliage east and north. As o f
October 4, the Terrace has
been ottering this view for
five years.
A visitor’s view o f
the Terrace this month in
cludes a spook-tacular greet
ers’ group at the front door.
The residents and staff have
dressed the place up for Hal
loween and have entered the
Heppner Chamber’s Scare
crow Contest with entry #8,
“Max” and "Maxine.” This
humorous creation is worth
a visit, and on Halloween,
staff members will be dress
ing like Maxine for a contest
of their ow n. Residents w ill
judge who looks most like
the sharp-witted and sharp-
tongued character featured
on greeting cards.
The H eppner Pre-
School children will visit
the Terrace on October 30
to search the pumpkin patch
for just the right pumpkins
for their jack-o-lantems and
to party with their hosts.
Many of the pumpkins in the
Terrace patch are almost as
big as some o f the children
who will be trying to carry
them away!
Residents look for
ward to seeing many ghosts,
goblins, and assorted other
characters on Halloween
evening. They invite trick-
or-treaters to come between
5:30 and 8 p.m.
R e s id e n ts v ie w
these October activities as
far m ore enjoyable than
another not-routine event:
flue shots this week or next.
But just as a sense of humor
and laughter play important
roles on the Hill, so, too, do
these immunizations as the
flue season arrives.
The Senior Transpor
tation Bus has been arriving
on Tuesdays and Wednesday
for several weeks. On Tues
days, som e residents are
attending the Bingo games
at the St. Patrick’s Senior
Center. On W ednesday s,
some residents travel to the
Center for the weekly meal-
site feast. Both outings are
opportunities to socialize
w ith other Valley residents.
Tom Wilson often
times drives the busload o f
Bingo players, and the resi
dents appreciate him and the
other volunteer drivers very
much. They also appreciate
the donors who continue
to share their fall garden
harvests: Tom and Arlynda
G ates, Lyle and Virginia
Peck, W endy A p p le to n ,
Kathy Meyer, Jack and Jo
Meligan, Pam Wunderlich,
and Dallas Craber. A vari
ety o f other recent dona
tions have come from Terry
Hughes, Tim Davidson, and
Gary Watkins.
The residents also
appreciate their dedicated,
talented staff members, and
one staff member has been
present for all five o f the
Terrace’s anniversaries. Sue
Baker proves time and again
that she is dedicated to the
care o f the residents, always
giving herself to all of them.
Wherever there is a need,
Sue is willing to help. She
is a lead aide, works swing
shift, carries the extra duties
o f ordering and auditing
m edications, and covers
adm inistrative call when
Manager George Naims is
out of town. Residents’ fa
vorite thing about Sue? “She
always has a smile on her
face.” Fellow stafTmembers
appreciate Sue’s organiza
tion skills and her creative
way of thinking.
One can see that on
the hill, many people are
special. Those who live
here, those who come every
week for activities, those
who work here, those who
drop by periodically. This
is surely a place filled with
positive energy and views.
Mustang Musings
Heppner High Stu
d en ts th is T h u rsd ay are
taking initiative and getting
involved with breast cancer
aw areness. The students
have taken it upon them
selves to wear pink to show
th e ir support for all the
victims and their families of
this disease.
It is estimated that
in the year 2007 178,480
female cases o f the disease
were diagnosed, as well as
2,030 male cases. Breast
cancer can be cured though,
and if caught early enough
w ith screenings and check
ups, the death toll o f this
killer could be dropped dra
matically.
Heppner High Stu
dents, as well as the entire
nation, have the opportunity
to take advantage o f Breast
Cancer Awareness Month
and try to spread the word
in order to save lives.
The Mustangs would
like to extend the invitation
o f w earing pink not only
through the school, but out
to the community as well.
So please, jo in the fight
and wear pink on Thursday,
October 18, with the Mus
tangs.
Senior Center
Menu
St. Patrick’s Parish
m em bers will be serving
lunch on Wednesday, O c
tober 24. The menu will
include beef stew, peaches
with cottage cheese, bread
sticks, and apple crisp.
U nited M ethodist
C hurch m em bers will be
serving lunch on Wednes
day, October 31. The menu
will include seafood chow
der, orange jello with carrots
and oranges, bread bowl,
and devil’s food cake.
HHS Homecoming!
-Menu a t J tlu h h a y ! A.
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y
Important notice to CenturyTel customers
HALLOWEEN GRAB BAGS
from $2 to $3 each
and select Halloween items
are 1/2 off!
H U M M U S
P L A T E S P E C IA L :
$ 4.00
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Try our pumpkin lattes and frappes!
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The Oregon Public Utility Commission designated
CenturyTel as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier or ETC
within its service area for universal service purposes. The goal
of universal service is to provide all Oregon citizens access to
essential telecommunications services.
CenturyTel provides single party residential and business
services for rates from $12.48 to $16.55 per month for
residential customers and $20.31 to $27.25 per month for
business customers. This includes access to long distance
carriers. Emergency Services. Operator Services. Directory
Assistance and Toll Blocking. Use of these services may result
in added charges. Specific rates for your areas will be provided
upon request.
Left Photo: S am antha W addell tries her luck at the Tricycle
Race at HHS d u rin g Hom ecom ing week. The team of Maggie
A rm ato and M att H olland won the race.
CenturyTel offers qualified customers Lifeline and Link-Up
Service if you meet certain eligibility requirements established
by the Oregon Public Utility Commission. Lifeline Service
includes a monthly discount up to $ 13.50 for basic phone
charges, as well as toll blocking at no charge and a waiver of the
deposit if toll blocking is selected by qualifying customers
Link-Up Service provides a discount on installation charges and
charges to move service. Individuals living on Tribal Lands who
participate in federal assistance programs may also be entitled to
additional discounts through the Enhanced Tribal
Lifeline/Link-Up programs.
C en ter Photo: The seventh grade was the candy toss w inners.
Pictured are Aidan W right and A laina Wilson.
Right Photo: HHS students sang the school song at end of an
assembly d u rin g Hom ecom ing week activities.
'V Heritage Land Co.
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at 1-800-201-4099 or visit www.cctJturytel.com/lifeline to request
an application for the Lifeline/Link-Up programs
Serving the
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Willow Creek
Valley Heppner
217 North Main • Heppner Lexing,on & ,one
Phone 676-9158 • Floral 676-9426
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C entury T el
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