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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (July 16, 2008)
FOUR - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, July 16,2008 Public open house meeting scheduled July 16 for Heppner Transportation Improvement Project The Oregon Department ^Transportation (ODOT) will host a public open house meeting July 16 regarding the Court Street and Willow Creek Bridge Project to be constructed in Heppner in 2009. The meeting w ill be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Columbia Basin Electric Co-op facility in Heppner. 171 W Linden Way, Heppner. Local commu nity members and other interested parties are encouraged to attend. This is the third public open house for this project. During the meeting local residents, community members and other interested parties will have an opportunity to hear information and ask questions regarding these con struction activities. Lexington Baptist Church invites community to special service The estimated $2 million project, currently in the design phase, w ill improve traffic safety for school chil dren, pedestrians and all motorists. The project will include bridge repair work, highway widening, new sidewalks and school crossing improvements. Additional work will include flattening the curve at the Stansbury intersection, constructing drainage facilities for the roadway and other safety improvements. More information about this project is available by contacting ODOT Public Information Officer Tom Strandberg at 541-963-1330, or ODOT Project Leader Tim Rynearson at 541-963-1364. Junior golf lessons announced Willow Creek Country Club will hold junior golf lessons July 21 -25. Registration will be held Monday, July Lexington Baptist Church invites the community to 21 at 7 p.m. The schedule for the lessons is as follows: an evening serv ice o f “singspiration” on Sunday, July 20, Monday, July 21, 7-8:30 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday, ages 6-8 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.; ages 9-14 from 10 a.m. at 6 p.m. Instrumental and vocal specials are welcome. to 11 a.m. Registration will be taken at the first day o f lessons. Marriages For more information call 676-5257. Morrow County Clerk Bobbi Childers has released the following report o f marriage licenses issued: -July 10: Perry Lee Alleman, 55, Pasco, WA, and report from a caller in Lex DUII (BAC .26). Anne Marie Bedortha, 54, lone. M CSO received a ington that kids were riding -July 14: Andy John Thomas, 28, Irrigon, and Car 4-wheelers in the city limits. report from a caller in Ir rie Jean Holmes, 23, Irrigon. A deputy responded and the rigon o f telephone harass Sheriff's Report The Morrow County Sheriff’s Office reports han dling the following busi ness: M ay 8 continued: MCSO received a report from the Stanfield Police Dept, that Heather Martu- celli, 36, was arrested on an Irrigon Justice Court war rant for Failure to Pay Fine/ Driving while License Sus pended. She was lodged at the Umatilla County Jail. MCSO received a report from a caller in Lex ington who was out for din ner and when she returned, a M other’s Day card was in her residence. No one was supposed to be there. A deputy made contact and determ ined nothing was missing. M CSO deputy ar rested Frank Andrew Mack ey, 22, on a Morrow County Circuit warrant for Failure to Appear/Register as a Sex Offender. He was lodged at the Umatilla County Jail. MCSO deputy ad vised a vehicle on High way 730 eastb o u n d was not m aintaining its lane. Umatilla Police Dept, was advised. B oardm an P olice Dept, officer cited Lomeli Salvador Casillas, 41, for Permitting the Unlaw ful Use of a Motor Vehicle, and cited Arnolfo Lujan, 20, for No Operator’s License. B oardm an P olice Dept, received a request from the Hermiston Police Dept, to locate a vehicle that was involved in a hit and run earlier in the day. B oardm an P o lice Dept, officer arrested Keith Allen Axtell, 39, on a Mor row County Circuit Court warrant for Unlawful Pos V IN Y L session of Methaphetamine, Failure to Maintain Metal Purchase Record, and Pos session of Marijuana within 1000 feet o f a school. B o ardm an a m b u lance received a request for an am bulance for a male subject in Boardman who was hyperventilating. The patient was transported to Good Shepherd Hospital in Hermiston. Irrigon am bulance received a relayed request for an am bulance from a male subject in Irrigon who was having trouble breath ing. May 9: MCSO re ceived a report from a caller in Irrigon that a dog got in his chicken coop and was now trapped in there. A dep uty contact was requested. M CSO deputy re ceived a report that Oregon State Police arrested CJ Wain K estler, 26, on an Irrigon Justice Court war rant for Failure to Pay Fine/ Driving while License Sus pended. M C S O , O re g o n State Police arrested Jason Eugene Holz, 26, on a Mor row County Circuit Court Grand Jury Indictment for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. MCSO received a report from a caller in Hep pner that there was a water leak at his house. The caller requested a City o f Heppner employee contact him and shut off the water. M CSO received a report from a caller in Hep pner that a trailer and pos sibly two fuel tanks were missing. M CSO received a report from a caller in Ir rigon that a Laundrom at em ployee found possible drug paraphernalia; a deputy contact was requested. MCSO received a kids were warned not to ride on city streets anymore. MCSO received a report from a caller in Lex ington that a juvenile was bicycling from Heppner to lone. The juvenile said his house in Heppner was bur glarized and he was scared so he was going to a rela tive’s house. The juvenile was given a ride home and it was determined the home was okay (there was no sign o f entry and nothing was missing). M CSO received a report from a caller in Lex ington that his wife got off work in Heppner but hadn’t arrived home yet. B o ard m an P olice Dept, received a report from a caller in Boardman o f a suspicious subject asleep in his backyard in the weeds. M ay 11: M C SO deputy cited a male juvenile for No O perator’s License (Driving Outside of Provi sions). MCSO received a request for an extra patrol at a business in Boardman; a suspicious vehicle had been seen in the area. MCSO received a report from a caller in Ir rigon who advised a subject had been calling 3-4 times a day for about a week and threatening to kick in doors and beat up the c a lle r’s nephew. The caller advised the nephew bought a com puter but never paid the person. M CSO received a report from a caller in Ir rigon that her sister-in-law will not her take her kids. MCSO, Boardman ambulance received a report from a caller on 1-84 west bound that a driver missed a curve while turning north off 1-84 and lost control of his vehicle. James G. Kenfield, 32, was cited for Careless Driving and lodged at the U m atilla C ounty Jail for ment; a male subject called and they d o n ’t want him calling their house. M CSO received a report from a caller in Irrig on o f shots heard. The caller advised hearing gunshots for the last three nights. B oardm an P o lice Dept, officer cited a male ju venile for Open Container. B oardm an P o lice Dept, received a 911 request from a caller in Boardman for medical assistance. An officer responded and ad vised a male subject had severe chest pain and was ill. B oardm an P olice Dept, received a report o f a $72.00 drive-off from a station in Boardman. B oardm an P olice Dept, officer arrested Ryan Patrick Pedro, 19, on an Ir rigon Justice Court warrant for Failure to Appear/Fur- nishing Alcohol to Person under 21. He was lodged at the Umatilla County Jail. B oardm an P olice Dept, received a hang-up 911 call from a residence in Boardman. On call-back, a juvenile advised the baby was playing with the phone and their mother was sleep ing. The baby co u ld be heard screaming in the back ground wanting the phone. The mother was also heard, she was now awake and all was okay. B oardm an a m b u lance received a request for assistance from the Arling ton am bulance for an 84 year old with an unknown medical situation. Boardman, Irrigon and H eppner Fire depts. received a report from a c aller in B oardm an that there was a 30-bale haystack fire threatening a haystack o f 300 bales. Irrigon Fire Dept, received a report that a fire at the wildlife refuge flared up again. LETT f |j§ Ready-to-apply graphics and letter ing can be applied to a variety off surfaces and offer flexibility while serving a wide range of uses. Vinyl is ready for application. Great for windows, registration numbers, com pany's logo, etc. W e J J ln f Tables Council gives tentative “okay” to locating mental health facility here continued from page one sexual offenders, Estes said. If located here, the facility would be administered by Morrow/Wheeler Behavioral Health which is headed up by Kimberly Lindsay. “I want you to understand,” Estes said, “that here is some risk. It is minimal, but there is risk.” Estes said he would like a clear indication on whether or not to move forward on the Heppner project, “within three months.” In other business at the council meeting, the council heard that the city and the golf course are working to straighten out problems with the course irrigation. In an agreement with the Willow Creek Country Club, the city provides effluent water and irrigating equipment to water the course and the golf course provides the manpower to maintain and operate the system. Apparently there have been some problems and portions o f the golf course are not getting watered and the grass is turning brown. “We are trying to work out the kinks, and as long as people have patience, the golf course will get back to where it needs to be,” Public Works Director Brian Harmon told the council. In other water business, the council heard that the city was on restricted water usage for Sunday until Monday. Harmon said a lightning strike at the city water storage tank had damaged the system that keeps water automatically filling tanks from the city’s wells. The system shut down and water level at the storage tank was low. The system had been fixed but Harmon said there were still problems requiring manual monitoring and operation, which caused the low water. He said everything is ok now. The city manager reported that the city is beginning to collect on part of the over $20,000 in delinquent water bills owned the city. He said the city staff had used deposits to bring down the overdue bills owed to around $19,000. He said the city is continuing to work on the back payments, including finding ways to hold property owners responsible for renters’ unpaid water bills. The council also approved a cost for the city providing “bulk” water sales. The charge will be a $25 flat charge and them $.0125 per gallon. The city does not sell bulk water regularly, but sometimes firefighters or construction crews need to buy drinkable (potable) water. The council also approved an increase in dumping fees at the sewer plant. The fee will be raised from 7 cents to 9 cents with a minimum charge o f $50. Roger Britt Septic Service is the main user o f this service. The council also approved a request from the Heppner Elks Lodge to allow a beer garden in the Elks back park ing lot during fair and rodeo weekend. The permits would allow beer and hard cider to be served to the public, and for a band to play from 7p.m. to 12 midnight Friday and 6p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday, August 16 and 17. In other action the council gave its ok for George Kof- fler to “spearhead” an improvement project for Hager Park adding restrooms and picnic facilities. Koffler will be ap proaching the Ford Family foundation and Wildhorse for grants to pay for the project with the city contributing some in-kind services. The grants would require sponsorship by a government agency, and the council agreed to be the sponsor. The plan is to start construction next spring. Total cost o f the project is expected to be around $100,000. The council heard a report from Harmon about investi gating the possible purchase o f a vacuum truck that could suck large amounts o f water through a large hose. He said an example o f the use would be that the city sewer plant storage tank recently had a large “hair ball” plugging a line. An outside contractor had to be called in at $350 a day to unplug the line. There are other uses for the vac truck also. Harmon said, however, a used vac truck runs between $25,000 and $30,000. The council took no action. Harmon also reported that he thought repairs and im provements to Morgan Street will probably be done in Au gust. The city received a $25,000 ODOT grant to do asphalt work on the street that runs up to the high school. The council also discussed the ATV law that would allow residents to ride ATVs on city streets, if the streets were signed for usage. The law' probably will be rescinded because it costs too much to put signs on each street the ATVs would be allowed. The issue came to a head when a local person received a $212 ticket from the State Police after riding an ATV on the streets, an action he believed was allowed by city ordinance. Scotch Ball Tournament to be held at WCCC The Willow Creek Country Club will hold a Scotch Ball Tournament and Family Barbecue on Sunday, July 20 . Each family is asked to bring their choice o f meat to barbecue plus a salad or dessert. Last names starting with A through K, bring a salad, and names starting with L through K, bring a dessert. Play will begin at 4 p.m. Joe and Kathleen (Greenup) Albitre Wedding a n d Reception - Aug. 2008 Jill Sorey anti Corey Miller Wedding ■ Oct. 18, 2 0 0 8 M umuj ' j thug 217 North Main • Heppner Heppner Gazette-Times 188 West Willow • 676-9228 Phone 676-9158 • Floral 676-9426 \ Serving Heppner. Lexington A lone r Heppner Gazette-Times 676-9228
