Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 22, 2008)
Council concerned about juvenile activity By David Sykes II i I ii I ih I i I ii III iiiii II i I iii II Bessie Wetzell Newspaper Library University of Oregon Eugene, OR 97403 VOL. 127 NO. 43 12 Pages Wednesday, October 22, 2008 An increase in ju venile “problems" was dis cussed at the October 13 HeppnerCity Council. Sher iff Sgt. Randy Rayburn told the council he has noticed an increase in incidents of harassment and vehicles being “keyed" at the high school. “There is a lot going on,” Rayburn said. C o u n cilm em b er John Bowles, who is also a sheriff deputy who at times patrols Heppner, says he Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon City and county planning commissions to hold joint meeting on Heppner subdivision The Morrow County Planning Commission and the City of Heppner Plan ning Commission will hold a joint public hearing October 28 on a proposed land par tition above the city along Rock Street (see map). The parcel is 109 acres owned by Merlyn Robinson of Heppner and the applicant for the subdivision is Kyle Robinson of Heppner. The county and city planning commissions are meeting together because part of the property is lo cated inside the city limits and some outside. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at Heppner city hall and the public is invited to attend. There will be time for public comment on the subdivision. stops to talk to juveniles and has noticed an increase of groups of kids roam ing around town. “It’s not against the law to be in groups gathering around town,” he added. C o u n c ilm e m b er JoAnn Burleson, who lives across from Hager Park, said she has called the sheriff department many times, but by the time the deputies get there (at the park) the kids are gone. She said she suspected drug activity was going on. A citizen reported at the Heppner Police Com mission Meeting on Septem ber 25 that there was gang “tagging” or graffiti going on in Heppner. The citizen reportedly painted over the graffiti. Rayburn said at that meeting he was not aware of any gang activity in Hep pner. City Manager Steve Bogart said that vandalism had slowed down since the starting of school. Rayburn encouraged citizens to call the sheriff department over suspicious activity. “If we don’t get the calls, we can’t do anything about it,” he said. The council asked for a clarification on the juvenile curfew law in Hep pner. (See box) “We know there is a problem,” Mayor Les Paus- tian said, “and the whole town has to work on it.” City of Heppner Curfew ordinance Curfew Hours: 1. For minors under the age of fourteen (14) years who have not begun high school, the curfew is between nine fifteen o’clock (9:15) P.M. and six o’clock (6:00) A. M. of the following morning; -except, that on any day immediately preceding a day for which no public school-is scheduled in the City, the curfew is between ten fifteen o’clock (10:15) P.M. and six o’clock (6:00) A.M. of the following morn ing. 2. For children fourteen (14) years of age or older who have begun high school, the curfew is between eleven o’clock (11:00) PM. and six o'clock (6:00) A.M. of the following morning; except, that on any day immediately preceding a day for which no public school is scheduled in the City, the curfew is between twelve o’clock (12:00) midnight and six o’clock (6:00) A.M. of the follow ing morning. Parental Responsibility: No parent, guardian or person hav ing the care and custody of a minor under the age ofeighteen (18) years shall allow such minor to be in or upon any street, park or other public place between the hours specified in subsection B above, except as otherwise provided in that subsection. Violation; Penalty : 1. Minor; Taking into Custody: Any minor who violates this Section may be taken into temporary custody as provided in ORS 419.569 as it exists at the effective date hereof or as it may hereafter be amended and may be sub jected to further proceedings as provided by the Oregon statutes for curfew offenses. 2. Parent, Fine: Violation of subsection C above by a par ent, guardian or person having legal custody of a minor is punishable as a Class C civil infraction pursuant to Section 1-4-1 of this Code. (Ord. 475, 10-3-88; 1995 Code) Age Restrictions; Exception: It is unlawful for any minor under the age of eighteen (18) years to be in or upon any street, park or other public place between the hours specified in this Section unless such minor is accompanied by a parent, guardian or other person twenty one (21) years of age or older and authorized by the parent or by law to have the care and custody of the minor or unless such minor is then engaged in a school activity St. Patrick's remodeling or lawful employment that makes it necessary to be in The or upon such street, park or other public place during the council was told remodeling hours specified in this Section. would begin Monday on the St. Patrick’s Senior Cen ter. The $750,000 project will see all the apartments remodeled two at a time. Residents will be moved to other apartments while work is being done on their apartment. Other business Site of Proposed Land Partition A U flu Head Start students learn fire safety In other business the council agreed to donate a roll top desk used by the Heppner Police Depart ment to the Morrow County Museum. The museum is building a display of county and city law enforcement “as it has been part of the history of the area.” The city agreed with the stipulation if was not used in a display it would be returned to the city. In other action the council approved a short term contract with city man ager Steve Bogart. Bogart has been filling in for regular city manager Dave DeMayo who was been serving with the army in Iraq. The con tract will be from September 1 and will expire December Workmen began the remodeling of St. Patrick's Senior Center in Heppner on Monday. -Photo by David Sykes 1,2008 and will pay Bogart a monthly salary of $5,400 plus one m onth’s salary at the end of employment in lieu of vacation. Bogart will not be covered under the city’s health insurance program. In other business the council appointed the following people to the city planning commission: Dave Fowler, Joyce Kay Hollo- mon, Larry Mills, Nancy Gochnauer and George Kof- fler. The planning commis sion is chaired by JeffBailey and will hold a joint meeting with the county planning commission (see related story) on October 28. Most of the city commission had earlier resigned because of new stringent ethics disclo sure laws. Walden discusses lake level at Heppner campaign swing By David Sykes Heppner Head Start students visited the Heppner Fire Station on Monday, October 13. The students were taught about fire safety and calling 911. They also toured one of the fire trucks. Pictured w ith the Head Start class are Matt Best and Steve Rhea. -Contributed Photo Haunted House scheduled for November 1 Have you been waiting for the Haunted Shop? The creatures are anxiously awaiting you but due to other events happening on Halloween they will greet you on November 1. Watch next week's Heppner Gazette-Times for more information. ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE: MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M. U .S. C o n g re ss man Greg Walden made a swing through Heppner last Wednesday and spent time talking to the public about the level of the water at Willow’ Creek Lake, and also about the recent finan cial bailout passed by the government. The Willow Creek Valley Economic Develop ment Group (WCVED) has been pushing for a feasibility study by the US Army Corps of Engineers which would allow 12 more feet of water to be stored at the lake, and alleviate some o f the nega tive rec reational effects of a recent decision (WCVEDG), along with Kenny Turner, past chair man of the WC Park District and Tim Kuhn project man ager of the US. Army Corps of Engineers w hich operates the dam, was on a panel to brief Walden on the request. Walden's office has agreed by t he to carry the request forward Corps to Congressman to the Corps. sell irriga Greg Walden Sykes said there is consensus in the Willow tion water Creek Valley about the in on a long term basis. creased lake level and. after David Sykes of the giving the history and rea Willow Creek Valley Eco soning behind the request, nomic Dev elopment Group •Continued on Page SEVEN WINTER OVERHAUL! Il)*/, o rr ALL PARTS A LABOR 180 Day, No Payment / No Interest on all qualifying purchases Morrow County Grain Growers Lexington 989-8221 * 1-800-452-7396 For farm equipment visit our web sit* at www mcj* net \ t
