Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, October 15, 2008 - FIVt
Support for Matlack for four more
Letter to the editor:
years
I remember years ago when we were struggling to
W hat’s the trend?
make ends meet in our farming operation; 1 would sit down
with our friendly banker Harley Sager for financial advice.
Invariably, his first comment was let’s look at the financial
trend. Are you getting ahead or just meeting expenses or
are things getting worse for you?
As I look at the Morrow County sheriff’s political
race, I have to ask myself that same question. What is the
trend of criminal action in Morrow County today? We all
can recall when there was a great deal of confidence in
the safety of city dwellers but also that of rural Morrow
County. Today, I am afraid that my confidence has been
shaken with the outburst of burglaries in a number of
outlying communities. Shops have been totally stripped
of thousands of dollars of farm tools, welders and weld
ing supplies, not to mention stripping copper wiring from
power lines and super expensive electric motors. Cars
have literally been stolen from storage building. This, not
to mention mail box bashing, shot gunning road signs and
even stealing road signs.
The reality of all this does not provide any degree
of confidence for those single people living by themselves
in their country homes. Unfortunately, these outbursts of
criminal actions shake the people’s confidence in the abil
ity of the sheriff’s department to reverse this trend. We all
realize that this is a huge county with many rural roads to
cover, not to mention patrolling the cities. Maybe it is a
lack of funding for more deputies, I don’t know. Maybe
because of this “dark of night skull dugery,” a realignment
of officer duties would be in order and some changes might
make some sense.
I also remember when the “DARE” program was
a great success here in Morrow County. Most lately, I
hear that it was not the success that I remembered. 1 can
tell you as past juvenile judge that it was truly a success.
It provided a conduit for the DAREE officer to have an
excellent relationship with the students of our schools.
Many times criminal actions against local citizens were
prevented or solved because of the confidence that the
student had with the DARE officer. It’s time to reconsider
the value of this program.
The last thing that I want to mention is the lack
of a skilled Search and Rescue Team in Morrow County.
We need the sheriff of Morrow County to rely upon the
dozens of ranchers and four wheelers and snow mobil-
ers who know the Blue Mountains like the back of their
hands. I frankly do not know what happened to that elite
group but maybe they were not adequately appreciated or
acknowledged. I don’t know.
In short, I must ask myself the question, what is
the trend? Is the safety factor and the criminal activity
within our boundaries heading in the right directions?
Can my neighbor 18 miles from lone, or 24 miles out in
Butter Creek and Ella Roads go to bed at night and be
assured that their property or lives are not going to be in
danger? I ask you readers to ask the same question about
your area. What is the trend? Listen to Larry Sample and
get his answers to these and other questions. I for one will
have to tip my hat to Larry Sample, the guy who has the
experience and the ability to reverse the trend of increased
criminal activity. Vote Sample for sheriff.
Louis Carlson
Heppner
To the editor and people of Morrow County:
I'm writing this open letter in support of Sheriff
Ken this fall.
It has been my pleasure to work and serve with
Sheriff Matlack on various committees and handling school
related issues, both during and before his current term of
office. I also had the opportunity, before the last election,
to attend several of his campaign speeches and presenta
tions. Sheriff Matlack delivered on his campaign promises
in relation to being a working, on the road Sheriff.
I have seen his car in various parts of Morrow
County, as I have had to travel around the school district
for meetings in different communities. This has been es
pecially prevalent in the north end of the county where the
vast majority of the population resides.
Sheriff Matlack has also worked with me in my
role of school principal to resolve important school issues
with families that related to law enforcement. One situation
that comes to mind caused both of us to spend most of a
weekend and one weekday evening establishing the super
vision and residence of a student who had been dropped
off at his grandparents home by a non-responsible parent.
Not spending that time, intensively when we did, would
have been very detrimental to the health and welfare of
the student involved.
In closing, I urge support for Ken Matlack, Morrow
County Sheriff, for four more years.
John Sebastian, AC Houghton Elementary principal
Irrigon
Larry Sample for Morrow County
Sheriff
To the editor:
1 have 23 years of law enforcement experience, 12
of which were with the Morrow County Sheriff's Office,
where I began as a deputy and promoted to patrol Sergeant.
The decision to leave the sheriff's office was made only
after the current administration failed to demonstrate the
best interest for the citizens of Morrow County or the
employees of the sheriff’s office.
An opportunity presented itself to use my experi
ence as a police advisor in Iraq at which I took advantage
of, as I felt my skills here were no longer being utilized to
their full potential. I spent 19 months training and mentor
ing the Iraqi police at every level of a police agency.
Now that I am home 1 am supporting Larry Sample
for sheriff as I know his integrity is of high standard. I
worked with Larry for 10 years of my employment with
the Morrow County Sheriff’s Office and know he has the
values I believe are necessary to be an excellent sheriff. I
am looking forward to working with him again as 1 know
he has the experience and dedication that the citizens of
Morrow County need and deserve.
If the citizens of Morrow County are looking for a
sheriff that has integrity and will be dedicated to all the citi
zens of Morrow County then Larry Sample is that person.
Please join me and vote for Larry Sample for sheriff.
Phil Morris
Heppner
Valby Lutheran Church to dedicate Booster Club Steak Feed and Auc
Memorial
Grove
tion to be held this weekend
On Sunday, October 19, Valby Lutheran Church
Encouragement to support and vote for
Matlack
To the editor:
Since Ken Matlack was elected as the Morrow
County Sheriff, the Gilliam County Sheriff's Office and
Morrow County Sherifif's Office hav e worked hand in hand
combating the criminal element plaguing our citizens along
the border betw een our tw o counties. We have had multiple
thefts and burglaries along the Morrow/Gilliam County
border that have been resolved because of the sherifif's
experience, expertise, and diligent nature to break down
“borders” and work together w ith all those w ho are affected
building strong relationships along the way.
Sheriff Matlack has been instrumental in develop
ing relationships furthering Morrow County's ability and
resources to further serve and protect the citizens he rep
resents. 1 have known Sheriff Matlack for many years and
know he is, without question, the best person to continue
to serve as chief executive officer and conservator of the
peace as Sheriff of Morrow- County.
Prior to Sheriff Matlack taking office, I had never
met the outgoing sheri ft', I met the undersheriff one time,
and only knew three or four of the deputy sheriff’s. Today
1 know- nearly every employee of the Morrow County
Sheriff’s Office w ith the exception of the 911 call takers
working in the dispatch center. We have an open line of
communication that has allowed us to work together and
exchange information on related or similar cases.
Serving as sheriff in a small county requires the
sheriff to work outside the office. 1 know Sheriff Matlack
takes an active role in investigating crime and traffic safety.
I have heard him on the radio and have met him at crime
scenes w ith his sleeves rolled up and getting his hands dirty.
Sheriff Matlack is a man w ho is not afraid to see a job to
its successful end even if he has to do it himself.
I have heard nothing but praise from Sheriff Mat-
lack’s employees. They bless his guidance and leadership,
they respect him, and it should be pointed out they are in
a situation where they can only say they love their job but
can not comment on the election itself for fear of potential
retribution.
I encourage the people of Morrow County to sup
port and vote for Ken Matlack as their sheriff.
Sheriff Gary Bettencourt
Gilliam County Sheriff’s Office
FFA news
Heppner FFA Rituals Team B was well represented by these mem
bers: Sentinel- Garrett Gibbs, Reporter- Willy Gentry, Secretary-
Brandi Hong, Vice President- Jessica Hughes, President- Justin
Yocom and Treasurer- Afton Clark. -Contributed Photo
will be dedicating a new “Memorial Grove” alongside
its cemetery. Trees are being planted in this new grove
to remember infants who have been lost over the years at
any stage of pregnancy or early infancy, and to honor the
grief of parents who may not have had the opportunity to
formally acknowledge and commemorate the loss.
A brief service of dedication and remembrance will
follow regular morning worship, which begins at 9 a.m.
Tree planting will get underway thereafter, followed by a
light meal of soup and bread. The community is welcome
to attend.
For more information call Katy Anderson at 989-
8174.
c%eal
Estate
By DAVID SYKES
The Heppner FFA Chapter officers represented our community
(as did two other rituals teams from Heppner) at the Blue Moun
The annual Heppner Booster Club Steak Feed and Auction will tain District FFA Leadership Camp held October 5 & 6, 2008 at
be held on Saturday, October 18. Dinner will begin at 6 p.m. and Camp FJkanah. Picture are: Secretary- Rellee Jones, President-
the live auction will begin at 8 p.m. There will also be raffle items Lane Wright. Sentinel - Jarreid Miller, Treasurer- Brynna Rust,
and a silent auction. -Photo by Autumn Morgan
Vice President- Brett Harrison, and Reporter- Devin Robinson.
-Contributed Photo
REALTOR
DON’T USE GASOLINE TO CLEAN!
Despite the availability of
relatively safe and efficient
cleaning agents, some people
still use gasoline to clean
clothes, floors, paint brushes,
machine parts - just about
anything.
G asoline is designed to
bum. It vaporizes readily and
the vapors can be exploded.
What does it take to make
gasoline vapor bum? Only air
and a source of ignition.
Because the pilot light of
a furnace or heater is hidden
from view, do-it-yourselfers
frequently forget about it as an
ever-present source of flame
and ignition. An open flame
isn’t the only source of ignition
for gasoline vapor. The electric
arc that occurs when you flick a
light switch or pull an electric
plug out of a wall socket can
ignite vapor. So can the sparks
from an electric drill’s motor.
As you can see, it’s easy to
start a fire with gasoline and
one spark - that’s what it’s
made for. Fortunately, it’s even
easier to follow this advice:
Don't ever use gasoline for
cleaning!
Property listings are available
at www.sykesrealestate.net
188 W. Willow • P.O. Box 337 • Heppner, OR 97836
(541) 676-9228 • Cell (541) 980-6674
Fax (541)676-9211
E-mail: david@sykesrealestate.net
Vote
Larry Sample
Morrow County Sheriff
IN T E G R IT Y
Will protect and serve ALL of Morrow County EQUALLY
not False Promises
not Political Favors
Professionalism
Foundation
Paid for by the Committee to Elect Larry Sample for Sheriff