Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (April 29, 2009)
Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, April 29,2009 - SEVEN Morrow County Court weekly meeting held The Morrow County Court met on April 15 in Boardman with Judge Tail- man, Commissioner Grieb and Commissioner Rea in attendance. Following is a summary o f those meeting provided by Leann Rea. The court approved the minutes from the April 25, 2008 meeting held just prior to the beginning o f the budget m eeting. The minutes o f the 2008 budget meetings were presented to the court for review. These will be approved or amended at the budget meeting. The court approved m o n th ly a c c o u n ts p a y able, retirement taxes and payroll in the am ount o f $358,906.77. The road department provided the following re port: Road Canyon Bridge - The crew is now in the process of hauling and plac ing the final lift of three inch rock for the approaches. The crew should get that to finished grade by the end of the day. On Thursday the crew started on the finish gravel for the approach. The guardrail pieces have arrived so the crew will also be working on the in stallation of the rails. The crew removed the gravel that was hauled in for the detour and replaced the dirt that had been removed. This will allow the land owner to return the area to pasture. Upper Rhea Creek - This project has been put on hold. Road Grading - The crew continues with spring road grading. They are currently working in the Valby, Blake Ranch and Sunflower Flat areas. Road Sweeping - The road sweeping is continuing. The crew has completed the sweeping in the lone area and is currently in Rhea Creek Road area. From there they will be working their way to the Heppner area. Blowing Sand - The crew continues working towards the removal o f sand drifts in the area o f Homestead Road and Bombing Range Road. Judge Tallman has made arrangements to meet with the B oardm an B om bing Range Chief to discuss the ongoing problems with the blowing sand. The court conducted the following business: Ap proved a refund o f prop erty taxes in the amount o f $572.11 to Krupa Laxmi, Inc.; approved a purchas ing pre-authorization for a HP LaserJet printer for the finance dep artm en t; a p proved a request to place a two drawer file cabinet in the basement storage area for the AFSCME.; reviewed the activity report for the weed control and road paint ing department; the court heard a request from the C om m ission o f C hildren and Fam ilies to relocate their office to office space in the Boardman area. After reviewing all information provided, it was decided to approve this request. The court heard a report from the sheriff’s office regard ing the recently purchased em erg en cy v eh icle. The vehicle if ready and delivery arrangements are pending. Also heard a report that the county vehicles that were not sold through the bid process could be used to pay for “course training” at the Hanford Training Facility. The county will receive the equivalent o f “ Low Book” value in exchange for the training. The training fee is $350 per day. This transac tion will provide several days o f training. The court reviewed and approved the contract for the paving on U pper Rhea C reek Road between mile post 2.2 and 4.5. The West Extension Irrigation District requested that the county transfer the water rights that were ap purtenant to the right o f way the county acquired for the w idening o f Kunze Lane (4.1 acres) be returned to the district. The request was approved, with the condition that the district would be responsible for all fees as sociated with the transfer. The court reviewed and signed the contract ap proving the new fee sched ule from the Finley Buttes Landfill Company. The fee for Large Dead A nim als (over 200#) will be $50 per ton beginning May 1,2009. The fee will go to $65 per ton May 1, 2010 and $75 per ton on May 1, 2011. While this fee increase may seem high, it is much better than the original proposal received from Finley Buttes Landfill Company. The court met with DEQ representatives to ob tain answers regarding the change over process taking place at the Army Depot. This change over is neces sary for the disposition o f the mustard. The c o u rt h eld a public hearing on the “Code Enforcement O rdinance” . There were a few county residents in attendance. The ordinance will again be read by title at the May 6 meet ing in Heppner, time to be determined. The Port o f M or row is seeking some fed eral stimulus handing for the proposed interchange onto Highway 730 and requested a letter o f support from the county. This request was approved. The court received a copy o f the “ Investment M anagement & Portfolio Review Ending March 31, 2 0 0 9 ” from Ju d ith M c Gee and Jen n ifer C urrin G utridge, agents for the McGee Financial Strategies, Inc. They also provided the court with information regarding the status o f the county’s retirement plan and actions the county needs to take to insure the viability of the plan for current and future retirees. lone Topic Club hosts luncheon Retiring a lot easier said than done for Robinson -Continued from Page ONE couple also has two daugh “Teaching at lone has been a privilege,” said Robinson. “It’s a small com munity that, like most com munities, takes pride in their school. It’s the heart o f the community. Kids come first, as they should. The support we get is phenomenal. When you work with the staff that I work with it makes it so much easier because we are jacks o f all trades here. Everyone has a number of duties and assignments and we all try to work together for two things, the kids and the community.” Robinson plans to stay busy during his re tirem e n t from te ach in g , although he does plan to do some substitute teaching. He is planning to take care o f some tim ber acreage, as well as hunt and fish. He also plans to do some horseback riding since he has three horses, though “one is retired like I am.” Robinson also has a love for photography. “My wife and I are both fortunate that we have both sets o f parents and will be spending time with them,” said Robinson. The ters, Jacklyn in Tri-Cities and Natalie in John Day, as well as two grandchildren, Josh and Corey, both also in John Day. A lth o u g h he has m any fond m em ories o f teaching, one o f Robinson’s most memorable times hap pened just recently at lone School. “In trying to make up my m ind about retir ing, I walked into class one morning kind o f in a daze,” said Robinson. “The morn ing announcements, which are on TV, were going and I sat down in my chair and a whoopee cushion went off. A kid then raised his hand and asked if he could have his whoopee cushion back. What can you do but laugh? You’ve got to have fun with the kids.” “My wife keeps ask ing if I will now grow up,” said Robinson. “I will miss the kids the most. I have had the privilege o f seeing them at ail ages and stages. I have never, in 22 years (at lone) regretted being a teacher here. I didn’t think it would be this hard to call it quits.” Strange to retire after 30 years in education -Continuedfrom Page ONE to move back to Minnesota go until all o f her flags were gone. One day, a little fourth grader tried to block her but she was going so fast that she hit him with her feet extended and scooped him up and he went along for the ride. S tra n g e ’s m o th er w as a o n e-ro o m school house teacher and her fa ther was in insurance and banking. Her two brothers are engineers and her sister is psychologist. She plans to stay in H eppner until the spring o fv2010 or until her house sells, whichever comes first. She then plans as her siblings have made a request for her to move home after retirement. “I have loved living here,” said Strange. “Hep pner is a wonderful town. I was happy to work in Ir rigon and Boardman. Work ing with the staff was very pleasant and it was good to know more people w hile working in schools. Strange says she will miss the people in Heppner and has many friends that she will come back to visit. “H eppner is an excellent town.” Ballots to go out Friday, due May 19 -Continuedfrom Page ONE year term s-K athy M oore The Topic Club of lone recently hosted for the IHS seniors girls, exchange students and their mothers for a luncheon. Topic Club Members are (Back Row, L-R) Betty Rietmann, Nancy Anderson, Stacy Shelton, Anne Morter, Gene Crowell, Betty Gray, Kristi Crowell, Nancy Ostheller, Alice Diaz, Eunice McElligott, Willa Coe, Kathy Morther, Margo Shear, Virginia Martinez and Terry Felda. (Seated, L-R) Brenna Rietmann, Gip Garret, Toffey Bruno, Manon Crum, Oil Bittengers, Tori Heagy and Hailey Arbogast. -Contributed Photo Sheriff’s Report The Morrow County Sheriff’s Office reports han dling the following busi ness: Feb. 10 cont. -B oardm an Police Dept, cited Guadalupe Olivarez, Jr., 36, for driving 50 mph in a 35 mph zone. -BPD arrested Dar rell Wayne Dixon, 47, for Possession o f Methamphet- am ine 1000 feet from a school. He was lodged at UCJ with $12,500 bail and his vehicle was impound ed. -H e p p n e r A m b u lance responded to a report o f a 91-year-old male who fell in the bathroom and hit his head. The man, who was bleeding from the head, was transported to Pioneer Memorial Hospital. -Irrigon Ambulance received report from the daughter o f a 40-year-old man that he was the floor in the bathroom. There was no transport. F e b . 11: MCSO re ceived report from an Irri gon woman that there were footprints leading up to her window in the alley. A dep uty responded and advised extra patrol in the area. -M C S O re c e iv e d report from a subject that two horses were m issing from her parents’ place out o f lone. -MCSO received re port from on lone subject on Hwy. 74 that he had heard a strong explosion that almost blew the windows out o f his house. -MCSO received re port o f a horse that cut its leg and is in distress. -MCSO received re port from an Irrigon woman that her husband is filing for divorce and he is threat ening to kick her and her disabled mother out o f the residence. -MCSO received re port from Jefferson County that they arrested a female subject on a Morrow Coun ty w arrant for Failure to Pay Fine/Theft III and on a Jefferson County warrant and local probable cause charges. -M C S O re c e iv e d rep o rt th at A dam Jonah Waldrop, 30, was arrested by Multnomah County on an Irrigon Justice Court war rant for Failure to Pay Fine/ Driving While Suspended. Kinzua Lunch Group to meet May 15 A very talkative Kinzua Lungh Group met at Ser vice Creek Lodge for lunch on April 24th. Those attending were Ada and Ernie Schell, Janet and Jr. Nelson, Peggy and Bob Nelson, Lavonne and bob Slinkard, Midge and John Geer, Jean Ann and OL Adams, MaryLee and Bob Britt, Cenone and Yap Benson, Ellis McRoberts, Bill Pot ter, Bonnie Campbell, Rollene Allen, Annabelle Gubser and Marilyn Garcia. Everything was so nice at Service Creek that the group decided to have lunch there on May 15 at 11:30 a.m. Holly Rebekah Lodge to hold monthly card party Holly Re"bekah Lodge will be hosting the monthly card party at the Odd Fellow Hall in Lexington on Saturday, May 2. Play will start at 7 p.m. and is open to the public. For $5 participants can enjoy an evening o f cards, fun, snacks and visiting with friends. Due to Heppner High School's graduation on June 6, the May card party will be the last one held until September. DA’s Report Morrow County District Attorney Elizabeth Bal lard has released the following report: -Michael Anthony Mullikkin, 25, was convicted o f Assault in the First Degree, a Class A misdemeanor, was sentenced to 180 days incarceration with 150 days suspended, two years bench probation, complete 40 hours o f community service, and other numerous conditions. Mullikkin was also convicted o f Contempt o f Court, an unclassified misdemeanor, and was sentenced to two years bench probation and other numerous conditions. Total fines, fees and assessments were $1,225. lo n e L e x in g to n C em etery District: Direc tor at large, four-year term and two-year term-Cecilia “ M a u re e n ” M c E llig o tt, lone; Edward Baker, Lex ington. B o ard m an C em e tery District: two Directors at large, four-year terms-Le- land “Blair” Purcell, David Pedro, both Boardman. Irrig o n C em etery M aintenance District: Di rector at large, four-year term-no candidates filed. I r rig o n C o m m u nity P a rk & R ecreatio n District: Position 1-Burrel Cooley; Position 5-Barbara Phillips; Position 4-Melodee A. Tovey, all Irrigon, all four-year terms. B oardm an P ark & R ecreation D istrict: two Directors at large, both four- and Karen Pettigrew, both Boardman. Heppner Commu nity Education Commit tee: Positions 1, 2, 4, all four-year terms; Positions 3, 5, 6, all two-year terms-no candidates filed. Irrigon Com m u nity Education Commit tee: Positions 1, 5, 6, all four-year terms; Positions 2, 3, 4, all two-year terms-no candidates filed. Boardman Com munity Education Com mittee: Positions 1, 3, 6, all four-year terms; Positions 2, 4, 5, all two-year terms-no candidates filed H ep p n er W ater Control District: two Di rectors at large, both four- year terms-Robert “Butch Laughlin,” Donald Bennett, both Heppner. Heppner Garden Club hosts Blue Mountain district meeting On A pril 18, the Heppner Garden Club host ed the Blue Mountain dis trict meeting. Special guest was president o f Oregon State Federation o f Garden Clubs, Sherry Cossey. Guest speakers were Terry and Cheryl Tallman. The d istric t p resen ted a state life membership to Jan Reed for job well done as director. The H eppner G ar den Club presented Joanne Burleson, president with a state life membership for her six years o f service. T he new d is tric t officers installed to serve were: C'ece Delfs as director; Marge Timmons as assistant director, and Eve Ironhawk as secretary treasurer. Five Blue Mountain Garden Clubs attended. »
