Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, October 29,2008 - SEVEN
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Letters to the Editor ~
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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
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