Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 9, 2009)
‘Town-hallers’ to Merkley: No government run health care 11 1 1 1 1 111 ■ 11 1 > ■ 11 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 11 1111 1 I Bessie Wet/ell Newspaper I ibrarv University of Oregon Eugene. OR 97403 By David Sykes With nationwide public support for the gov ernment take over of health care falling, and general dissatisfaction w ith govern ment spending on the rise. HEPPNER imes Heppner 10th graders second in state for math scores VOL. 128 NO. 36 8 Pages The Oregon Depart ment of Education recently announced the Oregon As sessment of Knowledge and Skills (OAKS) test scores for the 2008-2009 school year. Tenth graders at Hep pner High School ranked second in the state for their math scores w ith 89% pass ing. Riverdale High School in Portland ranked first. “1 am absolutely delighted to hear the news,” said Morrow County School District Superintendent Mark Burrows. “The teach ers and kids have taken the standards seriously and were prepared. Troy Mor gan has done an outstanding job as a math instructor.” Math scores for all Morrow County high schools are listed to the right. County scores for Reading and Lit., Writing, and Science can be found on Page FIVE. Wednesday, September 9, 2009 Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon M orrow County High School Math Scores 10th G rade School School % D istrict % H eppner H.S. 88.90% 58.20% Riverside H.S. 71.40% 58.20% lone H.S. 57.10% 57.10% Irrigon H.S. 36.20% 58.20% State % 53.60% 53.60% 53.60% 53.60% 8th G rade School School % D istrict % H eppner H.S. 75.70% 61.10% Irrigon H.S. 60.30% 61.10% Riverside H.S. 54.10% 61.10% lone H.S. >95% >95% State % 70.60% 70.60% 70.60% 70.60% 7th G rade School School % District % H eppner H.S. 92.90% 72.70% Irrigon H.S. 76.30% 72.70% lone H.S. 88.90% 88.90% Riverside H.S. 68.80% 72.70% State % 77.80% 77.80% 76.50% 77.80% Gutierrez takes 6x6 elk an overflow crowd echoed comments. plan should start with tort A good portion of reform. “There are heart these same concerns to Or egon Senator JetY Merkley the discussion was about surgeons paying out 100 at a town hall meeting last health care, but many in the grand a year in liability in audience also asked surance. It's ridiculous. We Merkley about the have to get the attorneys off premise that the the backs of our doctors,” government has the he said. right not only to take Merkley responded over health care, that he has seen studies but also take over that show that in states private businesses which have limits on dam such as the automo age awards, it makes no bile companies and difference in the cost of Wall Street banks health care. and brokerages, "We also need to which were bailed stop regulating these insur Sen. Jeff Merkley: “Health out by Washington ance companies to the point eare costs doubling every six earlier this year. we can’t have competi to seven years. ” One young man tion throughout the United asked Merkley where it States," Smith said. “The was in the Constitution more people we have in week in Boardman. that gave the federal A recent Gallup government these poll shows only 37 percent rights. “You mean of Americans support the you w ant me to site pending health care legisla a specific clause?" tion. This was pretty much Merkley respond the mood reflected by the ed. “Yes,” the man capacity crowd of about said. Merkley end 220 people jammed into ed up only saying Port of Morrow Meeting the government did hall last Thursday to let have the right. their senator know what’s Kerry Riet on their minds. The crowd mann oflone asked Mark O Weill: “I am paying was civil, but adamant in its Merkley to answer two for someone else to hay a views, often clapping and questions. “It is not the _______ car. ” cheering in agreement w ith American way for the speakers. government to take over these pools, the easier it Mark O'Neill, the health care. Free enterprise is for them to absorb pre first man to speak, summed will take care of this. Do existing conditions.” up the mood of the crowd, you believe in the free en P olls are now terprise system? And if show ing support for Obama so how do you justify and his health care agenda these takeovers?” she dropping among moderates asked. She also asked and independents and many if Congress, the Senate law makers from sw ing dis and their families were tricts in the suburbs and going to live under rural regions find constitu the same health care ents fearful of increased plan they pass for the government involvement American people. in the private economy. Merkley re That view extends from sponded that the the potential government health care plan (actu option in health care to the Kerry Rietmann: “Will congress live under the same ally there is not just health care plan?" one plan, but as he himself admit ted, at least four telling Merkley he was not plans) would cause a Nazi, member of a mob, increased competi or a racist, as town hall go tion. He also said that ers across the country have health care costs are been labeled by Democrat doubling every six leadership this summer, years and the system but just a retired person, a is “unsustainable”. veteran and a person with “ You haven’t answered an opinion. “Spending, spend my questions,” Ri ing, spending,” O’Neill etmann said. “Yes I Clyde Smith: “He have to said. “Nine trillion dollars, have,” Merkley re get the attorneys off the and that worries me.” He sponded. hacks of our doctors. ” went on to say that the Merkley stated government should not be several times he is in bailing out companies that favor of the public option, bailout of the financial sec should be allowed to fail, which Republicans and tor, the takeover of Detroit’s and he was tired of paying moderate Democrats have carmakers and the $787 for people to buy cars. He said will eventually lead to billion stimulus plan. From was referring to the “cash for a takeover of the country's crowd reaction and those clunkers program” where health care system, which who spoke, this seems to the government was giving amounts to about one sixth be the view of the majority people who qualify up to of the economy, by the fed of people who attended the $4,500 to buy new cars. “I eral government. town hall meeting. Only am paying for someone else Clyde Smith, a one woman spoke directly to buy a car,” he said. The veteran from lone, told in favor of government run crowd responded with loud Merkley that the health health care. applause and cheers to his Chip seal work begins on OR Highway 207 Oregon D epart ment of Transportation maintenance crews began chip sealing a 12-mile sec tion of Oregon Highway 207 between the Morrow/ Umatilla County line at mile point 19.6 and In terstate 84 at Exit 182 on September 8. Depending on weather conditions, the project is expected to be completed by the morning 11. Justin Gutierrez got this 6 * 6 bull elk with his bow on Sunday. August 30. -Contributed of September The work will re Photo sult in loose rock on the and pilot cars will direct traffic through the construc tion zone. Motorists are reminded to slow dow n, be mindfid of loose gravel on the highway and drive w ith extra caution. “On b eh a lf of the highway maintenance crews working on the proj ect, we would really appre ciate everyone's patience and support as they drive through this highway work zone," said ODOT Public Information Officer Tom the area." The chip seal ap plication will help preserve and extend the useful life of the existing pavement surface. This project is one of over 45 highway construction work zones throughout eastern Oregon this summer. For updated highway conditions and travel information visit www.TripCheck.com or. call 511 or (8(H)) 977-6368. If calling from outside of
