Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 17, 2008)
Davis begins work as deputy district attorney Bessie Wetzell Newspaper l ibrary University ot Oregon Eugene, OR 97403 By Autumn Morgan There is a new face in the Morrow County District A ttorney’s O ffice. Kelsie Davis began working with District Attorney Elizabeth Ballard as the deputy district attorney on December 2. Before joining the M orrow C ounty D istrict A tto rn e y ’s O ffice Davis worked at a p ro secu to r’s office in Washington. She recently passed the bar exam this summer and this is her first time working as a fully licensed attorney. “ I feel very lucky to be in this posi tion,” said Davis. Born and raised in Portland, Davis is the first in her family to receive a law degree. She received her undergraduate degree at the University of Washington in Seattle and her law degree from Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA. D avis has alw ays w anted to be an attorney. “I was one o f those kids w ho knew w hat they alw ays wanted to do,” said Davis. “I knew I wanted to be an attor ney in the fourth grade.” Davis' parents and sister still l i v e in Portland. "They are proud that I'm doing something w ith my degree to help peo ple,” said Kelsie Davis Davis. "B ein g a D.A. has given me that op portunity.” As the deputy dis trict attorney Davis not only has her ow n case load, but also works as a team w ith D istrict A ttorney Ballard on some cases. Her work begins when she receives an arrest report. Then the decision is made on what charges should be filed and how' to proceed with the case. These procedures can include many court appear ances. Her responsibilities begin from the time some one is arrested to the final outcome o f the case is an nounced. “ I’m excited to be in Morrow C ounty,” said Davis. "Everyone has been extremely welcoming." Robinson not returning after 19 years on Heppner City Council By Autumn Morgan A fte r se rv in g 19 years on the Heppner City C o u n cil, Kay R obinson decided not to run again for the office to which she had devoted so many years to public service. Robinson said she originally decided to run be cause o f the way the council and “the whole thing” was being handled. She and a friend decided they could do ju st as well. So Rob inson ran for the office of VOL. 127 NO. 51 8 Pages Wednesday, December 17, 2008 Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon A winter wonderland Heppner was transformed into a winter wonderland over the weekend with the town’s first snow fall of the season. According to the National Weather Service in Pendleton, Heppner has received approximately eight inches of snow so far. -Photo by Teresa Crawford M u ra l o f fo rm er h o tel d isp la y e d at L es S ch w a b councilor and won. She was elected to the Heppner City Council in 1988 and began service in 1989. “I continued serving because I liked it,” said Rob inson. “ It was interesting and I enjoyed every minute of it” Robinson also served as mayor of Heppner for a period of time. She served from August 13, 1991, to January 10, 1993. "I enjoyed being there, knowing what was going on, and trying to make things better.” said Robinson. The most satisfy ing accomplishment during her career was when she got the fire trucks for the fire department during the time that she was mayor. "I h a v e e n jo y e d w orking with everyone,” said Robinson. Her official last day will be on January 12 at the city council meet ing w here S am arra Van Doom will be sworn in as her replacement. Court Street reconstruction project goes to bid next month By David Sykes Bids on the major Court Street reconstruction project will most likely be let out in January, represen tative o f ODOT (Oregon Department of Transporta tion) told the Heppner City Council recently. Three re p re se n ta tives from ODOT were at the D ecem ber 8 council meeting to give an overview' on the project which will see Court Street completely redone and straig h ten ed from the courthouse to the fairgrounds. B ids on the $2.8 million project will be let out on January 2, 2009, with construction to start in March and the project w rapped up by O ctober, said Tim Rynearson w ith the LaGrande ODOT office. “ The road is ju s t worn out,” Rynearson said. He told the council the new road would be built out of concrete and should have a life o f 40 years. He also said that ODOT would do the best it could to not disrupt the residents along Court Street. He said there would be new sidewalk from the courthouse out to the fair grounds, and that quite a few retaining walls would have to be built. The sharp co rn er near where Stansbury Street joins Court Street will be straightened significantly w ith a 10-foot retaining wall required there. The center line o f the new street will be where the edge o f the cliff is now, Rynearson said. He said there would be nine retaining walls total, rang ing from three feet high to This major curve at Court St. and Stanshury by the grade school will be substantially straightened out upon the completion of the ODOT rehabilitation project in Heppner. -Photo by David Sykes be parking on the west side of Court Street. The bridge near the court house w ill also be rehabilitated as part of the project with the old asphalt removed and replaced. During construction there will be one-way traffic on Court Street and at times residents will not be able to use their driveways. There will also be disruption of water and sewer services. Heppner Mayor Les Paus- tian said arrangements have been made with the grade school to p ro v id e some parking. There also will be no construction during the St. Patrick's Day Cel ebration or Fair & Rodeo. "It’s going to be quite an improvement to our city,” Paustian added. “ It’s going to be a crazy summer, we will be tearing up your city,” said Craig Sipp o f ODOT, but he said they would all do their best to keep the impact on the people o f Heppner to a minimum. “ I urge you to contact us if you have prob lems," Sipp added. “When we get done you are going to very pleased with the finished product,” Sipp told the council, “es pecially with the concrete work. In oth er busin ess at the meeting, the council heard from Dick Sargent Robert Harrison displays the mural he painted of the Palace Hotel. The mural can be seen at l.es Schwab Tire Center. -Contributed Photo A magnificent three ously, even surviving the Palace and decided he want story building, one o f the Flood o f 1903, until it was ed to paint it and preserve 1 0 ft . finest in the Inland Empire, destroyed in the Fire o f July a little piece o f history. He The road w ill be completed the painting and widened by three to five was erected in Heppner at 4, 1918. the comer o f May and Main A mural o f the Pal donated it to the Morrow feet, curbs and gutters would Streets in 1890. Known as ace Hotel is now displayed County Museum. be installed and there would Les Schwab has al the Palace Hotel, it was built at the same location, the to accommodate the increas corner o f May and Main, lowed the sepia-toned mural AT MCGG GREEN ing number o f travelers to where the hotel once stood. to be placed on the outside Heppner that the train was The mural is a gift from the o f their business so all pass- bringing in. artist, Robert Harrison, who ersby can see a little bit of The Palace H otel admired old pictures of the history. served the public continu who said he had read about the city curfew law' pub lished in the paper and that members o f his church were concerned about possible youth problem s in town. “ M aybe we have a need to initiate a public watch program," he told the coun cil. City Council Member John Bowles, who is also a Morrow County Sheriff's Deputy, said the Neighbor hood Watch is separate from law enforcem ent, but he would be glad to meet with people about setting up a watch. "We are concerned and we would be glad to get together," Sargent said. In other business it was announced that the eity received $66,000 in tippage money for various project and equipm ent, from the recently concluded Needs and Issues meeting. Public Works Direc tor Brian Harmon said he has been meeting w ith mem bers o f the Willow Creek G olf Course, and that they are working through their problems with irrigation. "I have met w ith Dale Holland and 1 am looking forward to the next irrigation season," Harmon told the council. Previously there had been some disagreement betw een the golf course and the city about how much and how -Continued on Page EIGHT FEED & SEED IN HEPPNER: ALL Montana Silver 207, Off L W rangler clothing On Sale W ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE: MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M. ¥ , o ft# % Open untlll 4 p.m. Saturday Christmas trees for sale M orrow Count}' Grain G rowers Green F eed A S eed 242 W. Linden Way, Heppner • 6 7 6 -9 4 2 2 • 9 8 9 -8 2 2 1 (MCGG main office)
