City enacts new gambling ordinance
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Bessie W et zeli Newspaper Libran
Unis crsitN of Oregon
Eugene. OR 9740.>
By David Sykes
The Heppner City
Council Monday approved
a social gaming ordinance
regulating card games and
gambling within the city.
The six-page or
dinance covers everything
from what type of games
can be played, the process
to become licensed to hold
social games, to how the
licenses can be revoked.
The city came up
with ordinance after Buck-
num’s Tavern owner Nancy
Gochnauer approached the
council several months ago
and asked w hat games could
be played in her tavern.
A fter som e re
search the council discov
ered that no games could be
held in any establishment
unless the city adopted a
gambling ordinance. The
city has worked the past
several months crafting the
new ordinance.
T he o rd in a n c e
states that no person shall
conduct or allow the play
ing of “'social games” in a
private business, private
club or place of public ac
commodation unless the
person first obtains a social
gaming license.
The permit requires
a description of the premis
es where the games w ill be
played, and the fingerprints
of the owners, officers, prin
cipal managing employees,
and all employees who are
involved in conducting the
game activities or operat
ing the game premises. The
council said it would leave
the cost of the permit up to
the city manager.
In other business
the council voted to only
offer fringe benefits to full
time employees, 35 or more
hours per week). The city
is in the process of hiring a
part time billing clerk, and
to save money wanted that
position exempt from the
city’s medical and pharma
ceutical health plan.
Sunny days at Willow
Creek Water Park
VOL. 128
NO. 28
8 Pages
Wednesday, July 15,2009
Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon
WCVEDG conducting rental survey
Willow Creek Val
ley Economic Development
Group (WCVEDG) recently
hosted a meeting to discuss
housing opportunities for
the Willow Creek Valley
with local contractors and
real estate companies.
Following discus
sion, it was decided that
a rental survey would be
conducted o f the current
local properties to help
address what is currently
available.
It has been brought
to W CVEDG’s attention
that there is a need by visi
tors interested in relocating
to the Willow Creek Valley
to have more family hous
ing (three bedrooms, two
baths). Current landlords
that receive a rent survey
are asked to take the time
to fill it out and return it
to the chamber office so
we can better address the
housing opportunities and
needs of our community. If
you don’t receive a survey,
but are a current landlord,
contact the chamber office
at 676-5536 so a copy can
be mailed to you.
Once the survey
has been completed, it will
give WCVEDG a better
idea of what the next steps
will be to improve the hous
ing opportunities for the
Willow Creek Valley. More
information will be com
municated at a later date.
Swimmers enjoy a warm, sunny day at Willow Creek Water Park. The water park is open
Monday through Saturday from 1-8 p.m. and Sundays 1-5 p.m. Swim lessons and deep water
aerobics classes are also available. -Photo bvAutumn Morgan
Entry forms available for fair and rodeo parade
The Morrow Coun-
ty Fair and Oregon Trail Pro
Rodeo will be held August
5-9. This year, the parade
will be held on Saturday,
August 8, beginning at 10
a.m. Entry forms can be
picked up at the chamber
office or give the chamber
office a call and one can
be mailed or emailed to
you. All entries must be re-
ceived by Friday, July 31.
For more informa-
tion contact the chamber at
676-5536.
Irrigon man arrested on drug charges
Strategic planning meetings set for Heppner
On July 10 the
Umatilla/Morrow County
Parole and Probation, Mor
row County Sheriff’s Office
and the Blue Mountain En
forcement Narcotics Team
arrested Joel Rodriguez, 23,
of Irrigon. Rodriguez was
arrested on a detention war
rant from Umatilla/Morrow
The next strategic planning meetings for Heppner are scheduled for Tuesday,
July 28, at 6 p.m. and Wednesday, August 12, at 6 p.m. Both meetings will be held at
City Hall and are open to the public.
For more information or to get a copy of the current plan, contact the Chamber
at 676-5536.
County Parole and Proba
tion for unlawful posses
sion of methamphetamine.
According to the Morrow
County S heriff’s Office,
R odriguez may also be
facing additional charges of
child endangerment, child
neglect, and endangering
the welfare of a minor.
The a rre s t w as
made after Umatilla/Mor
row County Parole and
Probation and the Blue
M ountain E nforcem ent
Narcotics Team received
information that Rodriguez
had violated his parole and
was currently involved in
illegal narcotics use.
M.C. Cultural Coalition revises
application guidelines
The Morrow Coun
ty Cultural Coalition has
made revisions to their
application guidelines to
match the coalition fiscal
year and give funded pro
posals more time to com
plete their projects.
M orrow C ounty
literary, historical preserva
tion, visual and performing
arts, humanities and cultural
organizations are invited to
submit proposals to Mor
row County Cultural Coali
tion by August 1,2009. Or
ganizations do not need to
have IRS tax-exempt status
to apply. Project proposals
must meet criteria noted
on the Morrow County ap
plication.
Funding awarded
will vary in amount, ac
cording to needs of the pro
posed project, and county
Jones wins rifle raffle
Frank J o n « wav the w inner of Lion'* Club rifle ruffle. Pic
tured i* .lone* with hi* new .500 Winchevter *hort mag. the
“first thing ever won.” Photo by Autumn Morgan
award from Oregon Cul
tural Trust.
To receive a Fund
ing Proposal Request Form,
contact Mary Lou Daltoso,
Morrow County C ultur
al Coalition, P.O. Box 3,
Boardm an, OR 97818.
Completed request
forms must be re
turned by August 1, 2009.
Proposed projects must
be completed by June 1,
2010 .
Proposals funded
in 2009 included: $ 1,850 to
North Morrow Community
Foundation to match total
project expense of $3,600
for a Missoula Children's
Theater residency to benefit
50 Irrigon and Boardman
youth; $1,200 tow ard a
$2,400 request to purchase
Lavaliere m icrophones,
stage lights and rent cos
tumes for “ Dinner at the
C em etery” players; and
$ 1,000 tow ard an $ 11,040
project to start a string
music program at the lone
Com m unity Elementary
School.
Funding for Mor
row County proposals orig
inates from contributions
and donations to the Oregon
Cultural Trust.
To le a rn m o re
about supporting culture
in Oregon, or individual
and business tax credits for
donations to the Trust, visit
www.culturaltrust.org.
ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE:
MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M.
Articles wanted for annual fair edition
The annual Morrow County Fair is fast approaching. Once again this year the
Heppner Gazette-Times w ill be putting together a special fair edition. Any one interested
in writing any fair related articles are asked to turn in those articles by Friday, July
17. Articles can be dropped of at the Heppner Gazette-Times or emailed to editor@
rapidserve.net.
Mortimore chosen district
leader of Elks USA
As members of the
Benevolent and Protective
Order o f the Elks from
across the nation gathered
in Portland from July 5-9
for the Order’s 145lh Grand
Lodge Convention, Roger
Mortimore of Heppner Elks
Lodge No. 358, was in
stalled as the new leader of
the Northeast District of the
Oregon State Elks Associa
tion. Members also voted
on key issues facing the
Order and elected its new
national leaders.
In addition to help
ing set the course of Elks-
USA in the coming year.
District Deputy Mortimore
also learned of the Order's
many national accomplish
ments. Last year the nearly
one million members of
the Elks made charitable
contributions totaling more
than $200 million (cash
and in-kind), which went
to support scholarships and
educational grants; drug
awareness and education
programs; 3rd grade dic
tionaries; aid to the nation's
veterans; youth athletics;
and the Elks state associa
tions' major projects; which
provide funding for every
thing from cancer treatment
and research to shelters for
the victim s o f domestic
violence.
As the Elks na
tional representative for
the area, Mortimore will
now be responsible for
working with local Elks
Lodges to fulfill the Order's
longstanding commitment
to promote charity and pa
triotism in their communi
ties. In the position of Dis
trict Deputy Grand Exalted
Ruler, Mortimore will play
a vital role in the workings
of Elks-USA, with duties
including the advising of
lodges on important inter
nal and business matters,
review ing how national
policy is implemented by
the lodges in the district,
and assisting in the coor
dination and supervision
of Elks’ activities on many
levels. Roger Mortimore's
appointment to this key
position in the Order signals
the high confidence that the
national officers of the BPO
Elks places in his abilities.
HHS class of 1979 to hold reunion
The Heppner High School class of 1979 w ill hold their reunion on Saturday,
August 15, at the Heppner Elks Lodge.
The evening will begin w ith a social from 5:30-7 p.m. A prime rib dinner will
be held from 7-8 p.m. and a DJ w ill be there until closing.
The cost is $30 per classmate and $20 per spouse.
GREEN FEED & SEED IN HEPPNER:
DOG FOOD SALE!
C a llfo T ^ a
3 Q lb bag
Taste of the
M ? ^ l e ONLY Q Wild
$ 41.95
$33.95
_______
M orrow County Grain Growers Green Feed & S eed
242 W. Linden Way, Heppner • 676-9422 • 989-8221 (MCGG mein office)