Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 29, 2008)
Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, October 29,2008 - SEVEN ~ 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 >ou provide your address and a phone number where you can be reached. The address and phone number will onl> 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 w ill be placed in the classifieds under “Card o f Thanks” at a cost of $10. Defend our most basic right as Americans To the Editor: I found the front page o f the October 21st edition of the East Oregonian very ironic. One headline reads “Board Silences Pro-Life Event” regarding Pendleton School Board silencing a “Silent Protest” o f high school students against abortion, while another reads, “Tiny Baby fights for Life” with a beautiful picture o f a local baby bom at one pound, 16 ounces. In 1985 our first baby, Brian, was bom at one pound, Vi ounce. Fully formed and beautiful, these tiny babies are only smaller that full term babies. Doesn’t it seem not only ironic, but tragic, that in this country we allow the killing o f babies much larger than this through out all nine months o f pregnancy? Just because a child is “wanted or not wanted” does not make it any less human. An unborn baby is either a baby or it isn’t a baby. It is ei ther alive or it isn’t alive. In the 1800’s the Supreme Court said slavery was legal. Would people polled today say that this made it okay for people to own and treat other people like animals? This decision was overturned. Just because our Supreme Court said in 1973 that abortion was legal throughout all nine months o f pregnancy does not make it right. Our technology since 1973 has supported the vi ability and humanity o f babies bom at much earlier stages. We need to wake up to the fact that since 1973, 50,000,000 (that is million) babies have been killed by abortion. Each year more babies die from abortion than Americans died in the Revolutionary War, Civil War, World War I and II, Korean, Vietnam, G ulf and Iraq Wars combined. The term “Pro-Choice” is a misnomer for “Pro-Death” as the baby doesn’t have a choice. More and more research shows that abortion hurts women and they suffer their whole life from its effects. Research Planned Parenthood and its founder Margaret Sanger. See how her belief in eugenics compares to those of a certain Adolf Hitler. America’s abor tion provider made $ 1 billion in 2006-2007, an increase of 972 million from the previous year, which included $336 million in taxpayer funding. Barack Obama is the most radically pro-death presidential candidate in American history. See National Right to Life’s website to see his record in the Illinois Sen ate and how he voted against the Bom Alive Protection Act for babies “accidentally” surviving abortion. Look up “Gianna Jessen” who 31 years ago survived an abor tion and lived to speak up against the reality o f it. Read Obama’s statement from 7-17-07 when he spoke to Planned Parenthood Action Fund where he stated “The first thing I’d do as president is sign the Freedom o f Choice Act” -th e proposed legislation invalidating any restrictions on abortion. Why are we surprised that in this country we deal with child abuse, neglect and'violence when we allow a mother to kill her own child? We as Americans need to speak up, stand up and use our right to vote. Did not our founding fathers believe in our right to Life, Liberty and the pursuit o f happiness? We must defend our most basic right. Vote Pro-Life. Ann Murray Heppner Response to Kemp's letter Dear Editor: This is in response to Marcia Kemp’s letter regard ing the Lexington Town Council which appeared in last week’s Gazette. 1. The Town Charter does not require a person to be a registered voter as a qualification for office as a council member. We have been down this road before, as Ms. Kemp well knows, and the Secretary o f State closed the door on this “issue”. 2. The Town Charter does prohibit “immediate family” serving on the council at the same time. How ever, the charter does not define “ immediate family”. Previously, the council has encouraged the most narrow definition-a person’s spouse, parent or child living in the same household. The reason is simple: we have enough trouble filling council vacancies without arbitrarily limit ing our potential victims - er..., volunteers. In any event, the final authority on interpreting the charter to determine candidate qualifications is the Town’s Election Officer-Dee Burch. The Secretary o f State was quite clear about this, also. (Do you really think the Secretary o f State sends out an opinion letter to a complaining citizen without sending a copy to the town being complained of? We are assuming, o f course, that Ms. Kemp’s friend shared the information with her.) 3. The town recorder will not be performing audits. We have the opportunity, if the council chooses, to file our financial statements directly with the state next year so long as we spend less than $500,000.00. No vote on that decision has been taken. 4. We have never had a third consecutive positive water sample at any site. When we have had samples that tested positive for total coliform we have complied scru pulously with the state public notification requirements. Please recall (as our notices explain) that coliform is not a health hazard. However, it’s presence indicates that the sys tem is susceptible to brewing up some sort o f bacteria that could be a problem - so we zap it with a little chlorine. Political “puffery” is endemic during election sea sons, and we rely upon the citizen’s good sense to give it to the credit is due. On the other hand, making misrepre sentations about the safety o f the drinking water, or public funds management, demands a response. If anyone has further questions, please call Town Hall and get the cor rect information. Val Doherty Sam Martin Ruth Haskett Billee Owen Charma Marquardt Vote Yes for lone Community School Bond Levy To the Editor: lone Community School has been a wonderful suc cess! Our school has been rated exceptional by the state; our kids are learning and growing in a positive environ ment which is responsive to their needs; where support and individual attention is present. Our community has come together to create a school that teaches and develops the skills o f learning and prepares our students for college and the work world. With the additional support and help o f the lone Education Foundation, our teachers have found ever new and creative ways to expand the learning environment and prov ide students with unique learning experiences. Our community has been maintained and blessed as we have shared in providing for our kids. We have started a good thing! Like any good thing, it w ill take maintenance and our continued support to keep the ball rolling. One o f the gifts o f our small school is small class loads and individual attention to student needs. For the past several years we have had combined grades in every class in the grade school. Our attendance has grown, making these classes grow' too large. Kids learn best and teachers teach best w hen each grade has a space o f its own. Our goal has always been to return to individually graded classrooms. With the foundation’s help, we have been en abled to hire additional teachers to correct this at several levels - but now we have the blessing o f having the need for additional space - two additional classrooms. Every home or business requires continual main tenance o f the building to avoid creating really major repairs. Our school is no exception. Another goal o f our small school is to be efficient and spend our money in ways that truly place most o f the funds in a place that directly impacts the children’s learning. Contracting with the ESD has enabled us to keep secondary costs at a minimum and the majority of our funds kept to pay for materials and teachers; the aspects that are directly for kids learning. We encourage you to vote YES for the lone Com munity School Bond Levy. This vote will let us keep grow ing, and provide funds for building maintenance without taking funds from the learning experience. We have a great thing going! Let’s keep it up! John and Kerry Rietmann lone What is the best decision for the citizens of Morrow County? To the Editor: Last spring, I felt Morrow County was fortunate to have two qualified law enforcement officers running for the position o f county sheriff, both with the educa tion, experience, and character to do a credible job for the county. While I do not believe the sheriff’s office is ‘broke’ and needs ‘fixing’, I do believe competition is a healthy thing. But now, 1 must speak out about campaign tactics and what they tell us. My term as county commissioner split the terms o f Sheriff Denton and Sheriff Matlock, so I worked with and knew both their work. Larry Sample was Under-Sheriff during Denton’s administration, so I am familiar with him as well. These men performed that job differently, but I would never say either lacked personal integrity, or profes sionalism in their performance. During the course o f the current campaign, Mr. Sample’s advertising has continually affected a drumbeat o f innuendo that Sheriff Matlack lacks personal integrity, professionalism, and passes out political favors. As a county commissioner during the first half o f Sheriff Mat- lack’s term I believe these innuendos and insinuations to be baseless. If these charges were based in fact, they should have been brought out into the public record. If not, they say more about the character o f his opponent than about Mr. Matlack. Words have meaning, and they should not be used as convenient weapons without reason. Personally, I would have a hard time voting for a man who is willing to destroy the reputation of an honest and hard-working public servant just to win his job. My question is this, what is the best decision for the citizens o f Morrow County? Ray Grace Heppner Troop 691 complete 20 mile hike Be careful who you vote for Letter to the Editor: The old saying “be careful what you wish for, you may just get it” equates with “be careful who you vote for!” Regardless o f the outcome, a positive change will be no more political campaign advertisements. However it doesn’t seem right that unbalanced media reporting continues to try to influence our choices with a deliberate spin on facts. Vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin has been under attack from day one. Scrutiny includes her dress, use of transportation, executive decisions and family - any thing that can cast an unfavorable light on this women. (Her recent clothing expenditures seem minor when compared to Hilary Clinton’s custom-made $6,000 pant suits). It’s said she is lacking qualifications for vice president, yet her position as Alaska governor has required considerable executive skills such as negotiations o f the oil pipeline. That type o f executive decision is way beyond just voting on measures that come before Congress. Plus, a fresh, non-biased mind is also a step above the “stuck in a rut” thinking o f a member o f the “good old boys” club. A vice president also has the opportunity to learn and grow in that position, unlike the president-elect who should be fully prepared and must possess the necessary knowledge to immediately take on all this country's issues. The difference is that there’s no time for learning on the job as a president, especially if that person lacks military expertise. The media seems to overlook Obama’s association with Rev. Wright or the ACORN organization. To me, past behavior is an indicator of present or future behavior, not unlike “birds o f a feather.” With the economy gone south we all realize that funding for all those campaign promises such as social ized medicine and paid college tuition will be difficult to obtain... Right now most people are trying to economize and move forward while hoping that the future will be a little rosier. Merlyn Robinson Heppner Re-elect Ken Matlack for Morrow County Sheriff To the Editor: On two different occasions, Ken Matlack has per sonally left his home at night to check out prow lers at our farm, which is four miles from our home. The other depu ties on duty were required to be elsewhere in the county. We think Morrow County should be very grateful for all his dedication to duty. Ray and Linda Fox Irrigon Weed notice procedures outlined The Morrow County N oxious Weed A dvisory Board would like to remind all landowners o f their re- sponsibility to control nox- ious weeds. Noxious weeds on Morrow County’s “A” list are required to be controlled (m ow ed, landow ners en- rolled in federal programs such as Conservation Re- serve Program (CRP) and Conservation Reserve En- hancement Program (CREP) may receive payment reduc- tions if it is determined that control m easures are not being met. If “A” list noxious weeds are found, and the landowner fails to control them, steps may be taken by the weed superv isor to notify and if needed request a citation be issued in ac- cordance with Oregon State S tatute and the M orrow County Weed Ordinance. T h e s e s te p s in - clude: -Personally contact landowner via personal vis- it, phone, or mail to make landowner aware o f respon- sibilities. -Give landowner a time schedule to complete control (2-20 days). -If landowner fails to control weeds then the district attorney is notified and a citation issued, -If further steps are needed, the Oregon Depart- ment o f Agriculture can be asked to quarantine the land in effect w hich prohibits the landowner from transport- ing crops or livestock possi- bly affected b y the infested property. Morrow County Or- dinance also requires Weed M anagem ent Plans to be filed with the Weed District in order to protect landown- ers from citations, as long as the plans are being fol- low ed. For more informa- tion on weed control re- quirements or weed identi- fication, contact the weed district office at 541-989- 9502. Heppner Garden Club news The Heppner Garden Club will be meeting at the Senior Center on November 3 at 7 p.m. It will be a work- shop on how to tie bows which will be used on the wreathes that will be made and sold in December. Wreathes, swags and Pictured are: Wade Matthew. Jarod Lemmon. Scout Leader Mark crosses will be made at the Lemmon. Grant Smith, Greg Smith, Ryan Smith, Alex Smith, Greg Smith and Genevieve Smith. Sam and Marie Hornbeck provided fair grounds in December. This is H eppner G arden Club's money-making proj- ect. More information w ill be available in the next few weeks, The Heppner Garden Club is open to the public, H ostesses w ill be Melissa Jo Monaco and Kay Proctor, a luncheon for the scouts. -Contributed Photo Recently, Troop 691 hiked 20 miles to complete their Hiking Merit Badge, a required badge for Eagle Scout. The Scouts began at Heppner High School, up Sand Hollow, across Black Horse Canyon and arrived at Lexington. If you have young man that is interested in joining scouts, contact Dieter Waite at 676-8055. Advertise with the Heppner Gazette-Times Call 6 7 6 - 9 2 2 Ô
