27th (Inmud
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■Meppnet, Vxeyon
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L E P R E C H A U N P O T O ’G O L D
Own a collector's b u tto n a n d he
eligible for t h ree chances to win a $100
Library
$100 r O T O ’G O L D DRA W IN G S
d u r in g the celebration. Drawings
for a lucks n u m b e r will he d u rin g
the A m a t e u r Boxing S m o k er exenl
F rid ay Night, the K l M A Coffee
H o u r S atu rd ay m o rn in g , an d at the
l.indy ( i r a s e l l e C o n c ert on S alurdas
es ening. Buttons a r e asailahlc at
sa riu u s business locations p rio r to
the celebration.
C a e d Mile Faille
(“ one h u n d r e d t h o u sa n d welcomes")
Sut
Jftwuday, Ataxch 12. 2CC9
“Homecoming" - 7 p.m., St. Patrick’s Catholic Parish Hall, 560 NW Jones. Original play written
by Father O’Condon, with original music by Joe Lindsay.
&%iday. Match 13. 2CC9
Morrow County Creative Arts & Crafts - 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., show and sale at Les Schwab
Oregon Trail Library District/Heppner branch -o p en 10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Will Hornyak. story teller-
performance at Library - 1-1:50 p.m. (Sponsored by Friends of the Library); "The Never F.nding Story"
will be shown from 2-4 p.m.
Morrow County Heritage and Agricultural Museums - Open 1-5 p.m.
Vendor’s Square - Enjoy crafts, food and other treasures from local and visiting vendors. All day
Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Neighborhood Center on Main Street across trom the Library
Museum/City Park. For information call 541-676-5024.
Friends of the Library - will be selling books to benefit the Heppner Library - City Hall - 9 a.m.-5
p.m.
Mrs. O'Leary’s Stew Feed - 5-7 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Senior Center, 190 N. Main Street, prepared
by the Heppner United Methodist Church members
Lind's Concession - Open at 10 a.m. - Featuring corn dogs, elephant ears, funnel cakes, nachos,
beer battered onion rings, cotton candy, carmeled apples. Located in parking lot of Heppner Family
Foods on Main Street
Rolling Thunder BBQ - Featuring bar-b-que sandwiches (Tri-tip; corned beef; pulled pork, pulled
chicken; BBQ nachos and bratvvurst). Set up next to Heppner Family Foods on Willow Street
Alumni Softball G am e- 4 p.m.. Bob Kilkenny Field, contact Petra Payne 676-9138.
Amateur boxing smoker event - Starts at 8 p.m.; will be held at Heppner High School Gy mnasium;
sponsored by Heppner Chamber of Commerce/UROCK Radio. Gates open at 7 p.m.. Admission - S10
(Adult-12 years o f age); $5 (11-8 years of age) 7-under free. For information call Chamber office at
541-676-5536. ^D raw ing for $100 Pot O ’Gold. Shuttle bus available starting at 7 p.m. Heppner
Family Foods
Saturday. Alaxcfi 14. 2CC9
VOL. 128
NO. 9
10 Pages
Wednesday, March 11,2009
Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon
New St. Patrick’s Celebration buttons for sale
Breakfast - 7-10 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Senior Center, prepared by O ’Senior Center. $6-adult $3-12
& under
St. Paddy's Motorcross - Sign up from 7-8:30 a.m. with races beginning at 9 a.m. Sponsored by the
Oregon Trail Pro Rodeo Committee. $5 admission. Ages 5 and under are free
Donna Schonbachler Tribute Walk - 9:30 a.m. United Methodist Church (8:30-9:30 social hour)
Silent auction - HHS 2009 Graduating class fundraiser for graduation party - Heritage Land Com
pany Office
Oregon Trail Library District/Heppner branch - Open 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Sheep dog trials - Starting at 8:30 a.m. (all day) at Thompson’s Ranch. 3 miles northwest of
Heppner on Bunker Hill Rd. off Hwy. 74, between mileposts 41 & 42
Live mannequin show by HHS Drama Club - 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. at Sweet Productions Ice Cream
Parlour
Children's carnival games - 11 a.m.-3 p.m. - The Stable of Youth
MAMU » , 14,1«
tow
Faith Ann Putter and Megan Healv Putter enjoy (¿wen Healy’s (left) complete collection ofSt. Pat
rick's Celebration buttons including this year's button that Megan designed (right). Entering the
27th year of the celebration, the local Healy family has been volunteers and participants in many
of the Irish activities held throughout its four days. In addition to raising funds to help support
this popular event, purchasers of the buttons are eligible to win $100 during three drawings held
on Friday and Saturday. They can be purchased now for $3 at local merchants including Murray's
Drug, Les Schwab Tires, Sweet Productions, Willow Creek Realty, MCGG Green Feed Store and
Windw ave/Heppner TV. Contributed Photo
School district to offer early retirement,
implements staff/student ratios to cut costs
By April Sykes
The Morrow County
School Board approved
a plan to offer a $10,000
early retirement bonus for
up to seven PERS (Public
Employees Retirement Sys
tem) eligible em ployees.
The plan, as outlined by
Superintendent Mark Bur
rows, would save the district
money because hiring new
teachers costs less than re
taining more experienced
teachers.
Bill Kuhn was the
only board member voting
against the plan.
Burrows said that
because of statewide budget
constraints, he anticipates
around an $800,000 short
fall in the district's budget
next year, according to cur
rent projections. Although
not as bad as the $1 million
shortfall anticipated, the
projected shortfall, “while
better than we'd thought, is
still a severe whack” to the
district’s budget, he said.
Burrows said that approxi
mately 80 percent o f the
district's budget is spent on
staffing and the early retire
ment plan could save the
district around $500,000.
The district is also
floating a three-year serial
levy this May to help make
up for the losses. The levy,
which is expected to gener
ate $560,000 for the district,
would cost the owner o f a
$50,000 home around $40
a year and the owner o f a
$ 100,000 home around $70
per year.
Burrows said that if
more drastic cuts become
necessary, then the district
will then have to look at
cutting offerings, such as
shop, physical education,
ag and art classes. He said
cutting the district’s ending
and subsequently beginning
fund balances is also in the
mix.
Also at the meeting,
held at A.C. Houghton El
ementary School in Irrigon,
Assistant Superintendent
Phyllis Danielson outlined
a staffing formula based on
the district’s 2008-09 stu
dent population, which is
also aimed at cutting costs.
The formula, which resulted
from “at least three weeks
o f administrative work,"
said Burrows, calls for a
teacher/student ratio o f one
to 21. “We think it’s fair,”
he said.
If the formula were
implemented, Heppner El
-Continued on Page EIGHT
ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE:
MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M.
At the MCGG GREEN FEED STORE in Heppner:
EV ER Y TH IN G Wtanqle
r SA LE
JT
BRAN! ?
G e t $ 10 W ran gler rebate witl i every
$ 5 o W ran gler apparel purcl lase!
Pansy b Primrose
Now in stock!
M orrow C ounty Grain G rowers Green F eed & S eed
2 42 W . L in d e n W a y , H e p p n e r • 6 7 6 -9 4 2 2
Rolling Thunder BBQ - Featuring bar-b-que sandwiches (Tri-tip; corned beef; pulled pork, pulled
chicken; BBQ nachos and bratwurst). Set up next to Heppner Family Foods on Willow Street
Lind’s Concession - open at 9 a.m.; Located in parking lot of Heppner Family Foods on Main
Street
Kessler’s Catering O’ BBQ - Chicken & Ribs at the City Park on Main Street
Friends of the Library - will be selling books to benefit the Heppner Library - City Hall 9 a.m.-3
p.m.
Morrow County Heritage and Agricultural Museums - Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Morrow County Creative Arts & Crafts - 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., show and sale at Les Schwab
Vendor’s Square - All Day - Neighborhood Center across the street from Library/Museum/City
Park
KUMA Coffee Hour - 10 a.m. upstairs at the Elks Club. Come hear music, stories and blarney! Enter
the Irish Brogue Ccontest and w in cash prizes, V Drawing for $100 Pot O ’Gold
O’Senior Center - 11:30 a. m.-3:30 p.m.-Have a taste of homemade Irish soup/rolls, cobbler with ice
cream/coffee for $6; 12 & under $3. Catered by Dino’s Delectable Catering Serv ices
The Stable of Youth/Shamrock Lanes - Irish Sweepstakes/Mixed Doubles No-Tap Bow ling Tourna
ment; 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m.
Leprechaun Run - 11:30 a.m., for grades K-6; meet at 11:15 a.m. at the steps of the library/mu-
seum
St. Paddy’s Cruz-ln Parade - noon on Main Street. Antique and Classic Cars
The Great Green Parade - 1 p.m. on Main Street
Face painting - 1-5 p.m. Cornerstone Gallery and Gift Shop on Main Street
Children's Hoop Shoot - for all ages. Immediately following parade - 2:30 p.m. - Location: By The
Stable of Youth. Sponsored by: HHS Boy's BB Team.
O'Kiddie tricycle races - Right after the parade for 2-5 year olds. Event to take place at BFO drive
through. Tricycles will be provided! The event is sponsored by the Heppner Daycare & Preschool.
Ceili - 2-4 p.m., upstairs at the Elks. Irish entertainment featuring John Doherty & the Irish Singers
and more!
Ewe-Do-Bingo - 2:30 p.m. Live sheep activ ity - between BFO/AmeriTitle. Sponsored by the Cheer
leaders
O’Ducky Race - 3 p.m. Starts at the bridge in front of the Morrow County Courthouse. Adopt a duck
to win a prize of $10 to $100. Sponsored by Colt Football Program
St. Pat’s ham dinner & homemade pies 4-7 p.m. at St. Patrick's Catholic Parish Hall, 560 NW
Jones Street. Live musical entertainment on stage, Irish of course!
Buffet dinner - 6-9 p.m. - Com Beef & Cabbage, etc. with music from 9 p.m.-2 a.m.. at the 1 Iks
Teen-disco club night - 8-11 p.m.; Ages 14-19 years. Music, dancing, snack & specialty drink menu
- $2 charge Location: Sweet Productions Ice Cream Parlour & Diner.
Entertainment-old time fiddlers show -Starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Fairgrounds Dance Hall, funded
by the Morrow County Unified Recreation District. No admission charge. Stomp your feet and clap
your hands to some good old fiddle music!
Entertainment- Will Hornyak. story teller and Lindy Gravelle 6:30-9 p.m. at Heppner I lementary
Gymnasium, funded bv the Morrow County Unified Recreation District and Friends of the Library .
No admission charge. W Drawing for $100 Pot O ’Gold
O’Casino Night - 8-11 p.m. - Upstairs Elk Lodge; fundraiser for St. Patrick's fund.
Wee Hours O ’ the Mornin' Breakfast -9 p .m .-3:30 a.m. The Stable of Youth - Sponsored bv HI IS
Boy’s Basketball Team
Sunday, Match 15, 2CC9
Bucknum's After Hours Breakfast- 1-3 a.m. - Bucknum’s Bar & Grill
Lind’s Concession - open at 9 a.m. - Located in parking lot o f Heppner Family Foods on Main
Street
Church - Your choice. Visitor’s welcome
Vendor’s Square - All day at the Neighborhood Center across from Library MuseumCity Park
Sheep Dog Trials - All day at Thompson's Ranch. See Saturday for location
The Stable of Youth/Shamrock Lanes- Irish Sw eepstakes Mixed Doubles No-Tap Bowling Tourna
ment; 1-5 p.m.
Road Bowling - 1:30 p.m. - Get your team of up to four people ready to play No singles. Location
of course w ill be determined, announced and posted.
Schedule subject to change
!RV Saxhuxit
Willow (reek RV Park: 541-676-5576
Northwestern Motel & RV Park: 541-676-9167 and Hermiston Comfort Inn
564-5911
Morrow County Fairgrounds: 541-676-9474
Suites: 541 -
Tor .How Jnfrxm atum
( all 541-676-5536 or visit us at www.heppnerchamber.com (( lick on Events, then Featured
Events)
• 9 8 9 -8 2 2 1 (M C G G main office)
i