Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, September 9,2009
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BEO distributes school supplies
Letters to the Editor ~
The Heppner Gazette Times Mill print all letters to the Editor with the following criteria met: letters submitted to the newspaper will need to have the name
of the sender along with a legible signature. We are also requesting that >ou provide your address and a phone number where you can be reached. The
address and phone number will only be used for verification and will not be printed in the newspaper. Letters may not be libelous. TheGT reserves the right
to edit. The GT is not responsible for accuracy of statements made in letters. Any letters expressing thanks w ill be placed in the classifieds under “Card of
Thanks" at a cost of $ 10.
Exercising rights whenever necessary
To the Editor and to the residents of Lexington:
By all means, let’s clear up some of the inaccura
cies that 1 have been accused of by the Lexington council
plus some of theirs that were mentioned in their recent
letter to the newspaper.
The protocol that was published in my original
letter was taken word for word from the minutes of August
11 and noted as being read into record by the mayor. Now
the council is disavowing its existence. The September
newsletter, which came with the water billings, included
a so-called First Draft of a Proposed Protocol that would
restrict the rights of community residents to speak at, and
voice, their concerns at council meetings.
When was the meeting held to discuss these
revisions and when was it written? Definitely not at a
special, regular, advertised or scheduled public meeting.
The residents of the community were not notified that
any meeting was to be held. No meeting was held at city
hall. Said meeting was probably held in secret session at
the home of one of the council members. Isn’t it strange,
that someone’s vehicles are a dead giveaway as to what
is going on at a place of residence?
At the April 14th meeting (also in the minutes) it
was noted that there was a delinquency in a water account
and that arrangements were in place for payment. Did
these arrangements just automatically fall into place or
were they made by the recorder and council? Someone
must have been responsible for making payment arrange
ments. Since April there have been other delinquencies
reported. I wonder who made arrangements to have these
accounts “put in place for payments” if it wasn’t the re
corder or the council. Maybe the recorder and the council
need to go back to school and take a course in English
Composition 101 if they do not understand the difference
between making arrangements and putting arrangements
in place or the similarity.
Per the council’s last letter, -I have not requested a
copy of the financial statement in the past two years. That
is not true. Three months ago, I asked for a copy of the
financial statement and was told by the mayor that she did
not have the current figures, but that she would see that 1
received one. I am still waiting for it. However, another
community member has a recent copy, which has been
readily available. Anybody with even half a brain would
have no trouble determining that the town is in trouble
and operating beyond its means.
There seems to be the mistaken opinion, by the
council, that others in the community do not know how a
municipality operates. Most of the community members,
who do attend the meetings, have had years of practice
and experience, not just a few months like the current
council.
Also, I did not state that all of the town money
came from water revenues, but that it was the primary
source of revenue w ith a few other incidentals. Again, the
council and the recorder have twisted the facts. It would
seem that they could at least be truthful in the way they
present their arguments.
As for the yelling and fighting at council meet
ings, nothing could equal or surpass the “Academy Award
Performance,” presented by the male member of the
council at a recent council meeting. Even as two-year-old
toddler’s temper-tantrum would have been appalled and
ashamed to witness or be part of such an action.
As a note, I am an ex-U.S. Marine, who spent two
years in the South Pacific, WWI1 fighting for Americas
Rights (among them Freedom of Speech) and I intend to
exercise those rights whenever necessary.
Bob Taylor
Lexington
Just to set the record straight...
To the editor:
Being open and honest should be the goal of every
city council. Last week there was a letter to the editor
regarding a previous letter to the editor. The city council
of Lexington is claiming that the information in the first
letter was not the first draft of the new public comment
protocol revisions. Just to set the record straight, this was
the exact copy of the draft that was read to the public at
the council meeting on August 11.1 went to city hall the
next morning and asked for a copy of what was read to
us the night before by the Mayor. This is the protocol
revision that was published in the paper. I have copies
of this information at my home if anyone is interested in
seeing it. I have no idea when they revised the first draft
since there have been no advertised meetings held by the
council (either public meetings or executive sessions).
I also purchase a copy of the meeting minutes and the
bills to be paid each month. I also purchase a copy of the
financial statement periodically and share this information
to other interested community members so any informa
tion printed in the community members previous letter
came from town hall.
All I am asking of the council is to be open and
honest and to follow the charter, election law and state
laws.
Shirley McCarl
Top Photo: Trivia Rollins,
Lexington
U.S. citizens deserve respect
To the Editor:
Ordinary people in our area go about their daily
lives striving to do the best for their families and their
community. We elect congressional representatives who
hopefully have the best interests of our entire country at
heart. Instead congress has approved an out-of-control
spending spree and now the democrats are pushing to
add another trillion dollar deficit with an all-inclusive
government controlled health care plan.
To help pay for the cost of a one-payer health
care system an 8 percent payroll tax aimed at employers
to help pay for this proposal would be disastrous for small
businesses already struggling with overhead costs. And
robbing $500 billion from the Medicare budget would
limit some of the services that are necessary for retirees
A way to reduce health care costs would be to
allow insurance companies to compete nationwide, not
in each individual state, creating more competition. Tort
reform is needed to lower doctors’ malpractice insurance
costs. Drug companies could produce more generic drugs
at lower prices. Health care policies with a high deductible
to provide coverage only for major medical issues would
lower premium costs.
If the US government were fiscally responsible
we wouldn’t be trillions of dollars in debt to countries
like China. There are some 33 un-vetted czars advising
the President and leading the charge. The economy of
our country is at stake! It’s time that Americans with
common sense took charge. Although many can’t join in
the cross-country Tea Party tour or the rallies planned for
September 12, at least phone or e-mail your representa
tives. There has got to be a better way than socialized
medicine and more government control. The U.S. is home
to the best people in the world who deserve respect, not
the name calling by the people who are supposed to
represent them.
Merlyn Robinson
Heppner
Chamber lunch meeting to be held
EMT classes to be held
The guest speaker for the chamber lunch meeting
on Thursday, September 10, will be Michael Strong, Uma
tilla’s site project manager for the Chemical Materials
Agency’s Umatilla Chemical Demilitarization Program,
assisted by Steve Meyers, public affairs team member
from the Umatilla Chemical Depot. The lunch meeting
will be held at City Hall and lunch will begin at noon.
Willow Creek Diner will be catering the lunch and will
be serving Swedish meatballs, potatoes, braised carrots
and dessert. The cost for lunch is $9.
Upcoming speakers, activities and inform a
tion: September 17 - Oregon State Attorney General
John Kroger; September 24 - State Representative Greg
Smith.
Emergency medi
cal technician (EMT) class
es will be taught in Hep
pner through Blue Moun
tain Community College
beginning September 28.
Deadline for enrollment is
September 15.
Classes will be held
/
\f
^ Heritage Land Co.
^
278 N. Main, Heppner
We sell Residences. Benches, and Recreation
(541) 676-5049, (541) 980-3465
www.heritageland.net,www.farmseller.com
www.eastoregonrealestate.com
SoHth Morrow County's Numbor One Real Estate Company
HEPPNER ELKS 358
676-9181
" H here f riends Meet"
M2 North Main
Monthly German Specials!
'Beginning on September lotir and"
served every 3rd Saturday through
out the faff ancf w inter
(Beet Roll & Sweet/Sour Cabbage) (Dumpling Soup)
Mashed Potatoes and Salad Bar
on Monday and Wednesday
evenings from 6:30-9 p.m.
and some Saturdays.
Classes could be
paid for if students are will
ing to volunteer.
For more informa
tion call 676-2922.
Private investment opportunity for
housing development in Heppner
Are you interested
in possibly becoming an in
vestor in helping to develop
more family housing in
the Heppner area? Willow
Creek Economic Develop
ment Group (WC’VEDG)
has scheduled a meeting
to talk about the opportu
nity to build 3-5 duplexes
to accommodate the local
housing needs. The meet
ing has been scheduled for
Wednesday, September 23,
Full m enu
served on
Septem ber 4th,
5th a n d J 1th
Golfers only on
the 12th a n d
Full m enu on
the 18th
Come join other
Elbs for Claudia's
first special!
starting at 7 p.m. at City
Hall.
Those planning to
attend are asked to RSVP
to the Chamber Office at
676-5536.
Heppner’s Branch Manager
at Bank of Eastern Oregon,
dropped by HES to deliver a
bucket of school supplies and
new backpacks to Mary Ann
Elguezabal. The hank donated
the backpacks and a portion of the supplies and set up a col
lection site for employees and customers to make donations.
All branches of BEO are having similar drawings, giving
away one to five backpacks and/or donating the supplies they
purchased and collected. Bank of Eastern Oregon plans on
making this an annual event. Two names were drawn at the
Heppner branch and each student w on a backpack stuffed w ith
supplies. The lucky students were Cheyenne Shaw and Gavin
Hanna. Contributed Photo
2009 Morrow County Historical
Society tour planned Sept. 26
The Morrow Coun
ty Historical Society Ice
Age G eology bust tour
will be held on Saturday,
September 26. The bus will
leave Heppner at 8:30 a.m.
and Boardman at 9 a.m.
for a full day of Columbia
River geological wonders,
w ine tasting and a box
lunch.
Ice Age Floods In
stitute, Lake Lewis Chapter
member Don Harkness will
be the tour guide. The cost
of the tour is $20, payable
to the Morrow County His
torical Society. Tour fees
should be paid in advance
to reserve seating.
For more informa
tion or seating availability
contact Louis Carlson at
louis-bcarlson@centurytel.
net, 541-676-5302; Carol
Michael at cnrmichael@
gmail.com, 541-481-9457;
or Don Eppenbach at dep-
penba@msn.com, 541-622-
3197.
Film highlight of M. C. Historical
Society to be held at annual meeting
A film fe stiv a l
highlight of Morrow Coun
ty Historical Society w ill be
held at the annual meeting
in Heppner on Sunday, Oc
tober 4. A potluck meal will
begin at 1:30 pm., at the St.
Patrick’s Senior Center.
G uests with last
name A-F are asked to bring
a favorite side dish; G-N
bring salad; O-Z bring des
sert, or, guests can simply
show up.
The business meet
ing and program will begin
at 2:30 p.m. The film fes
tival program will feature
two short documentaries.
The first will be "Ameri
can Cowboys,” a true story
o f tw o legendary cow
boys, Jackson Sundown
and George Fletcher, who
broke the color barrier at
the Pendleton Roundup.
The second will be “The
Logger’s Daughter,” the
story of Maxville, a town
built in Eastern Oregon in
1923 by a Missouri lumber
company. The meeting will
conclude at 4 p.m.
Both meeting and
program are free. Copies of
the 2009 Morrow County
Chronicles will be avail
able for sale for $5. Annual
membership dues are due
and can be paid at the meet
ing. Dues are $5.
Co ntact Louis
Carlson. louis-bcarlson@
centurytel.net, 541-676-
5302; or Don Eppenbach
deppenba@msn.com, 541-
922-3197 for annual meet
ing information.
M.C. Veteran's Service Office to
open first Thursday of each month
The Morrow County Veteran's Service Office at
the Gilliam Bisbee Building in Heppner w ill be open the
first Thursday of each month from 9 a.m. to noon and 1
to 4 p.m.
V o lu n te e rs are
Those w ishing to see the veteran's ser\ ice officer
needed to help with the are asked to call for 541-922-6420 for an appointment.
American Red Cross Blood
D rive w hich has been
scheduled for Friday, Sep
tember 18, from 1-6 p.m.
at the Senior Center dining
room. Contact the Chamber
Tiller's Folly w ill be in Heppner to perform at a
at 676-5536 for more infor community concert on Thursday. October 8, at the Hep
mation and to find out how pner High School gy mnasium starting at 7 p.m. Donations
you can help.
at the door will be taken to support the local St. Patrick's
“Wee Bit O ’ Ireland" event.
Blood drive
volunteers needed
Community concert to
feature Tiller’s Folly
Fair Board
meeting to be held Willow Creek Park and
Recreation District to meet
A Fair Board meet
ing will be held on Satur
Willow Creek Park and Recreation District will
day, September 19, at 5
meet
on
Thursday. September 10. at 5 p.m. at Heppner
p.m. at the Port of Morrow
City Hall.
in Boardman.