Morrow County Court
weekly meeting held
SIX - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon
Wednesday, January 13,2010
and approved.
Contact Information
for Elected Officials:
The Morrow Coun
ty Court met on January 6
in Heppner w ith Judge Tail-
man, Commissioner Grieb,
and Commissioner Rea in
attendance. Following is
a summary of the meeting
provided by Leann Rea.
The court rev iewed
and approved the minutes
of December 30.
The court reviewed
and approved accounts
payable and payroll in the
amount of $74,939.35.
Sheriffs Department
Morrow County
Sheriff Ken Matlack high
lighted some of the events
for the month of December
and they are as follows: The
City of Heppner’s request
for a 4 X 4 vehicle was
discussed. Heppner, lone,
and Lexington areas: Roll
over of motor home pulling
pick-up, black rabbit loose
at the Heppner Elementary
School, and an assault on
Meadowbrook Road. Ir-
rigon area: Recovered a
stolen vehicle, theft of fuel
from local farm, possession
of methamphetamine and
agency assistance regard
ing hunters on the refuge.
Boardman area: Agency
assist w ith a foot pursuit, an
individual out of his vehicle
and running into traffic on
I 84, trespass on railroad
tracks, car fire on 1 84 and
a sheriff's vehicle was dam
aged due to icy road condi
tions. Between December
28 and 30 responded to
numerous rollovers due to
the icy roadway.
Road Department
Bombing Range
Road: All banks that needed
to be sloped back on the
detour routes have been
completed. All of the road
signs were replaced and
some new ones were added.
with chevron signs placed
on all of the sharp corners.
An ODOT crew of two and
a flatbed truck w ith a reflec
tor driver assisted with the
installation of the reflectors
along Juniper Road. There
will also be reflectors in
stalled along Grieb Lane
and the part of Baseline
Lane that will be used for
the detour. On Tuesday the
crew attempted to close
the south end of Bombing
Range Road, but due to
a lot of rain and the frost
coming out of the ground,
the detour routes were too
soft for all of the traffic.
Once the roads dry out and
firm up Bombing Range
Road will be closed and
the traffic diverted through
the detours. Currently, the
crew is installing one large
culvert on the south side
of Highway 207. Snow
Plowing: On December
27, 28, and 29 snow was
plowed with all trucks.
Then on December 30, 31
and January 1, the county
had five trucks plowing
snow. There were three
trucks in the Boardman and
Irrigon areas, one truck on
Bombing Range Road and
another truck taking care
of Willow Creek Road and
the Blake Ranch Road.
Miscellaneous: There was
a thunder storm with hail
and rain that went through
the Heppner area on New
Years day. This storm
caused some washouts on
Spur Loop, Baseline Lane
and Cutsforth Road. The
crew started working on
the shoulders and ditches
along the Lexington Grange
Road. A permit for a fiber
optic over hear line near
the Willow Creek Terrace
Assisted Living for Inland
Development was reviewed
The Oregon East
Symphony Chorale invites
all local singer to join them
for the April 17 Spring Fi
nale Concert.
This spring the
chorale will be present
ing “Magnificat” by Ralph
Vaughan Williams for wom
en’s chorus and “Frostiana”
by Randall Thompson for
men and women’s chorus.
The concert will
be conducted by Justin
Raffa of the Mid-Colum
bia Mastersingers and the
Mastersingers have been
invited to join in for the
performance.
All singers are wel
come to participate.
Rehearsals began
Monday, January 11, at 7
p.m. at the Pendleton High
School choir room (in the
theatre building) and will
continue each Monday until
the concert.
For more informa
tion contact Lisa-Marie Pat Jeremy Coleman, Robbi Johnston, Makenna Ramos. Shannon
terson at (541 ) 276-0320. Metcalfe, Mason Haguewood, Zac Orem, Adam Collin, Steven
Sheriffs Report
Fire Department, Heppner
Ambulance received report
of a motor vehicle accident
on Hwy. 74, Heppner. One
female was reported to be
in the vehicle which was
on its top. The subject com
plained of shoulder pain.
She was still in the vehicle,
which was non-blocking.
-MCSO received
report of city property
tagged with graffiti in Ir
rigon. A mail box was also
reported to be tagged.
-MCSO received
report of a vehicle that
had been parked at a loca
tion in Heppner for several
months. A deputy respond
ed and contacted a subject
at an auto repair shop who
said they had possession of
the vehicle until payment
for work is made. The shop
will move the vehicle to
their parking lot.
-MCSO received
report that a female stole a
case of Keystone beer from
an Irrigon store. Kathryn
Sarah Wegwerth, 19, was
cited for Theft III and MIP-
violation.
Planning Depart
ment
A public hearing
for an amendment to the
Morrow County Zoning
Ordinance, Article 6 Condi
tional Uses, was held. The
decision of the planning
commission was upheld by
the court. The changes were
necessary to update the
ordinance in regards to the
approval of wind projects.
On the recommendation of
the planning director, Carla
McLane, the following
individuals were appointed
to the planning commis
sion: reappointment of Po
sition one, Pamela Docken,
Boardman; Position four,
Mifflin Devin, lone; and a
new appointment of Rod
Taylor for Position nine.
Each term will begin Janu
ary 2010 and expire De
cember o f2013.
The court conduct
ed the following business:
A request from the City
of Irrigon regarding their
interest in the property
currently occupied by the
Army Depot was heard and
reviewed. No action taken
at this time; agreed that
Greg Sweek, county asses
sor, would be appointed to
the two year term on the
Columbia River Enterprise
Zone and that Commis
sioner Rea would fill the
one year term position;
the weed control and paint
report from the road depart
ment was reviewed; a gift
ing of $40,000 to the Mor
row County School District
for the years 2010, 2011,
2012, 2013 and 2014 was
discussed and approved.
There were no other deci
sions made regarding long
range planning.
Oregon East Symphony Chorale invites
singers to join for spring concert rehearsals
The Morrow County
Sheriff’s Office reports han
dling the following business:
September 21:
MCSO cited John Andrew
Mahon for Possession of
Less Than One Ounce of
Marijuana.
-MCSO received
report of a “beefalo” out on
Hwy. 74, Heppner. The re
porter requested the owner
be contacted.
-MCSO, Heppner
W in t e r r e c r e a t io n f a c il it ie s a v a il a b l e ,
S l e d d in g , c e l e b r a t e a h o l id a y , s n o w m o b il in g o r
J U S T T A K E A B R E A K F R O M Y O U R W IN T E R B L U E S A N D
S P E N D IT IN T H E B L U E S A T O N E O F O U R H E A T E D
C a b i n s . W e o f f e r a v a r ie t y o f a c c o m m o d a t io n s
I
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden: Sac Annex Building, 105 Fir St., No. 201, La Grande,
OR 97850; (541) 962-7691, e-mail, kathleen_cathey@ wyden.senate.gov;
(Kathleen Cathey, community representative); 717 Hart Building, Washington,
D.C. 20510, (202) 224-5244; Fax: (202) 228-2717. To contact Senator Wyden,
go to www.wyden.senate.gov, and click on "e-mail Ron".
U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (2nd District): 843 E. Main St., Suite 400, Medford,
OR 97504, (541) 776-4646, (800) 533-3303; 1404 Longworth Office Building,
Washington, D.C. 20515, (202) 225-6730; Fax: (202) 225-5774. To e-mail
Representative Walden, log on to his website at www.walden.house.gov and
click on the "contact me" link.
State:
Gov. Ted Kulongoski, 160 State Capitol, Salem OR 97310, (503) 378-31 11;
Fax: (503) 378-6827. E-mail: http://www.oregon.gov/Gov/contact_us.shtml
Sen. David Nelson, R-Umatiila Co., District 29, 900 Court St. N.E., S-206,
Salem, OR 97301, (503) 986-1729; 1407 N.W. Horn, Pendleton, OR 97801,
(541) 278-1396. E-mail: sen.davidnelson@state.or.us.
Rep. Bob Jenson, R-Pendleton; District 58, 900 Court St. N.E., H-480, Salem,
OR 97301, (503) 986-1458; 2126 N.W. 21st St., Pendleton, OR 97801, (541)
276-2707. E-mail: rep.bobjen-son@state.or.us.
Rep. Greg Smith, R-Morrow, District 57, 900 Court St. N.E., H-280, Salem,
OR 97301, (503) 986-1457; Fax: (503) 986-1669; P.O. Box 215, Heppner, OR
97836, (541) 676-5154. E-mail: smith.g.rep@state.or.us.
Sen. Ted Ferrioli, R-John Day; District 30, 900 Court St. N.E., S-223 Salem, OR
97301, (503) 986-1950; 750 W. Main, John Day, OR 97845, (541) 575-2321.
E-mail: ferrioN.sen@state.or.us.
Rep. John E. Huffman, R-The Dalles, District 59, 900 Court St. N.E., H-476
Salem, OR 97301 (503) 986-1459; P.O. Box 104, The Dalles, OR 97058, (541)
298-5959; E-mail: rep.johnhuffman@state.or.us.
lone horticulture class
works on greenhouse
Ecumenical
Ladies meeting
planned
A meeting is being
planned for the upcom
ing Ecumenical Ladies’
Luncheon. The meeting is
planned for Sunday, Janu
ary 17, at 4 p.m. at the
Catholic parish hall.
The United Meth
odist Church will be host
ing the Ecumenical Ladies
Luncheon on April 5. Jane
Kirkpatrick will be the
speaker.
For more informa
tion contact Janet Greenup
Erin Heideman's horticulture class at lone Community School at 541-676-5822 or Peggy
recently worked on their greenhouse. Pictured left to right are Connor at 541-676-9408.
Holland, Darla Vandever, Mary McElligott, Jordan Peterson
and Micah Stillman. -Contributed Photo
A T T E N T IO N
plea se c all
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley: 310 SE Second Street, Suite 105 Pendleton, OR, 97801;
(541) 278-1129; Washington D.C. Office -107 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C., 20510; (202) 224-3753, Fax: (202) 228-3997. To contact
Senator Merkley, go to http://merkley.senate.gov/, and click on "Contact
Jeff."
541 - 989 - 8214 .
-MCSO deputy re
ported he was at the Hep
pner Preschool for a pre
sentation.
-MCSO received
report from an Irrigon
woman that her sister’s
ex-boyfriend had been
trespassed from property
and was there. A deputy
responded and determined
that a subject had not been
trespassed. The subject was
advised that he was now
trespassed off the property
until further notice. MCSO
cited Thomas William Bax
ter, 18, for Possession of
Less Than One Ounce of
Marijuana.
-MCSO received
report of a blue trash can in
the fast lane on 1-84, Board-
man. A deputy responded
and removed it.
-MCSO received
report of a disabled vehicle
in Irrigon. The subject was
trying to get it to the dealer
ship to get it repaired.
-MCSO received
report of someone staying
behind the Heppner Library
near the creek. A sleeping
bad, blanket and trash were
discovered.
-MCSO received
report of a subject drill
ing in the middle of the
road near the grain bins on
Baseline Rd., Lexington,
just over the hill. The re
porter said she almost hit
the subject due to the hills.
MCSO was unable to locate
the subject.
-MCSO received
I
report of a large gray dog
with black spots that keeps
crossing the road in front
of the Irrigon Shell station.
A deputy captured the dog
and transported it to Pet
Rescue.
-MCSO received
report of a small silver SUV
that pulled into the report
er’s lane of traffic and then
pulled onto the shoulder at
Willow Creek Rd./Balm
Fork Rd., Heppner. The re
porter said she had to move
into the westbound lane to
avoid hitting him.
-MCSO received
several hang-up/abandoned
911 calls in Boardman. It
turned out to be kids play
ing with the phone.
-MCSO received
report from an Irrigon sub
ject that had had received
around five calls in the
past half hour and believed
it was his ex-girlfriend’s
friend. His ex-girlfriend had
a restraining order against
him. A deputy responded
and the reporter was go
ing to put a block on his
phone.
-MCSO, Irrigon
Ambulance, Boardman re
ceived report of a subject
in Irrigon who recently
had hip-replacement sur
gery and slipped on a dog
toy. The caller complained
about hip pain. Irrigon Am
bulance transport was can
celled. He was transported
by Boardman Ambulance to
Good Shepherd Hospital in
Hermiston.
-MCSO received
report from an Irrigon sub
ject who said her grand
daughter stayed late at her
friend’s house and was
walking home. The caller
wanted MCSO to pick her
up and bring her home.
-MCSO, Irrigon
Ambulance received report
of a 56-year-old subject
having difficulty breathing
at an adult foster home in
Irrigon. MCSO assisted.
Transport was cancelled.
-Boardman Ambu
lance received report from
a dairy at Boardman that
a male subject had passed
out w ith a possible asthma
attack and was then stepped
on by a cow and was bleed
ing from the head. He was
transported to Good Shep
herd Hospital.
September 22:
Morrow County Sheriff’s
Office received report that
Hermiston Police Depart
ment arrested Mike L.
Walsh, 28, on an Irrigon
Justice Court warrant for
Failure to Appear/Driving
While Suspended. He was
cited and released.
-MCSO received
report that Springfield Po
lice Department arrested
Joseph John Pelkey, 37,
on a warrant for Failure
to Appear/Driving While
Suspended. He was lodged
at Lane County Jail with
$6,000 bail.
-See SHERIFF S REPORT/
Page SEVEN
!