SIX - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, May 12,2010
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Letters to the Editor ~
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at a cost o f $10.
Smith a consistent, conservative
Setting the record straight
Spicer to bring tough, fair, common
voice
sense approach as Justice of the Peace To the Editor:
Politics is rough. 1 was a Union County Commis To the Editor,
To the Editor:
This is just one report of many good reports about
Ann Spicer, my candidate of choice for Morrow County
Justice of the Peace.
I first became acquainted with Ann when a
group of Morrow County citizens decided to build an
assisted living facility to serve the needs of our elderly
and disabled.
At the beginning of our four years journey of
planning and building this facility 1 went to Ann to seek
legal advice for our board. She remained our lawyer
throughout those four years and she never sent us a bill.
Ann did all of our legal work pro bono.
Ann Spicer has a long history of volunteer service
in Morrow County. She has been a tireless volunteer for
our library district and is at present the chairman of the
Oregon Trail Library District. She has served as a member
of the Heppner Economic Development Commission, the
Heppner Chamber of Commerce, St. Patrick’s Commit
tee and auction co-chairman and the Domestic Violence
Board of Directors. She also has served as a 4-H Club
leader.
I know Ann Spicer will do an outstanding job
for us as Justice of the Peace. She will bring a tough,
fair, common sense approach to the position of Justice
of the Peace.
Suzanne Jepsen
Heppner
Go Greg!
Letter to the Editor:
In the coming weeks, we urge each citizen to
cast their vote for Rep. Greg Smith. Greg has been a
vital participant in many projects in our area; he gets
things don.
With all of the important concerns facing District
57, Rep. Smith has never been too busy to speak with us
or go over issues of concern. We appreciate the fact that
when we need to speak to our state representative, he’s
there.
Rep. Greg Smith has been endorsed by members
of important organizations like Oregon Right to Life,
the National Rifle Association, the Oregon Health Care
Association, and Oregon State Council for Retired Citi
zens, Oregon State Firefighters Council, Oregon Nurses
Association and the Oregon Education Association. This
broad range of support is testimony that Greg Smith is
not afraid to roll up his sleeves and get the job done for
the betterment of Eastern Oregon.
Vote Greg Smith, the only choice for rural Or
egon.
John and Betty Sprenger
La Grande
sioner for 12 years. I expect that.
When people start accusing ME -with my vocal
record- of not fighting federal land ownership, its time to
question the laundry list letter sent out and the radio ads
accusing me of any number of non-conservative stands;
in particular ads designed to mislead people about my
rating with the NRA.
I’m disappointed in Representative Smith and
his supporters for sending out vague, last minute letters,
running ads accusing my non-support of conservative is
sues, and deceptively claiming I doubled county budgets
- indicating an ability to raise taxes. Commissioners don’t
raise taxes- however, state representatives do.
Now a Smith radio ad infers that gun rights are in
danger if I am elected. That is dishonest and irresponsible.
I received a 100% A rating, the highest rating available
to me from the NRA. Smith received the same score but
garnered an A+. They only give a plus to incumbents.
Again, voters deserve information, not insinuation.
Despite other vague letter accusations, I am defi
nitely pro-life and a conservative fighter to the core.
Smith calls my supporters “special interest
groups.” Curiously, those maligned ‘groups’ were once
his welcomed, former supporters; the people tasked by
our Eastern Oregon neighbors with minding our rural
issues in the legislature. He has previously run ads thank
ing their ‘special’ support. They are most certainly not
the enemy.
When I bring Smith’s record up to voters, such
as his vote to increase personal income taxes (Measure
66), his vote to allow violent felons to be released early
to save money (Senate Bill 2001), or his vote to drasti
cally increase gas taxes and car registration fees (House
BiU 2001), I am happy to provide clear references and
citations to the bills and measures.
Colleen MacLeod
La Grande
Primary ballots will be coming soon, and most
have the voter’s pamphlets in hand. 1 write to share some
information and may be helpful in deciding for whom to
vote in the House District 57 race.
In early February Colleen MacLeod came to Wal
lowa County to present her candidacy to a small group,
in a closed meeting. She explained that during the last
legislative session a group of special interest persons met
with Rep. Smith pressuring him for a no vote on a tax
measure. Not getting the outcome they wanted, they told
him that they would have his job. The group, according
to Macleod, then recruited her. As I recall, I was the only
person to ask questions of Ms. MacLeod. I asked whether
anyone in the state Republican Party had recruited her,
she answered, they had not. I also asked for her stand on
life. Her answer revealed that she is on both sides of the
debate.
At issue here, for me, is a person’s integrity. I
wasn’t in favor of the vote Rep. Smith made. However, I
do understand that on a bill that was going to pass with
out his vote, he obtained a tangible good for people in
Eastern Oregon.
I also understand that he is a man who will stand
up to special interests and to his best ability, represent
the folks in his district. For me, it’s a matter of looking
at the big picture, not staring a small piece. Smith has
voted on literally thousands of bills and while we may
not always agree with each vote, he has been a consistent,
conservative voice.
When big lobbyist pressured Rep. Smith he stood
up to them. When they came calling Ms. MacLeod, she
said count me in.
I will be voting for Greg Smith.
Annette Lathrop
Joseph
Return Greg to Salem to continue the “good fight” on our behalf
Letter to the Editor:
As owners of a family business celebrating 51
years serving Eastern Oregon in Morrow, Gilliam, and
Wheeler Counties, we write this letter in support of
Representative Greg Smith. We have known Greg for
many years and he has always been there for our small
business when it has required legislation to be created,
changed or even stopped. It is evident that he cares for
the people in his district. We have personally witnessed
this time and time again.
Greg is a solid voice for citizens and businesses.
Organization ranging from the Oregon Health Care As
sociation, National Rifle Association and Oregon Right
to Life support he re-election to the Oregon House of
Representatives. To view these associations, you can log
on to his website at www.repgregsmith.com. You can
also view all of the residents of his district that support
sending a trustworthy voice back to Salem!
Lastly, please do not be fooled by the political
rhetoric coming out of the Salem/Portland area. We sin
cerely believe they are upset with Representative Greg
Smith for one reason: he has no qualms about supporting
the needs of his constituents over special interest groups
in Salem. He is our voice, with our values.
We need to return Greg to Salem to continue the
“good fight” on our behalf.
John and Arth Murray
"
Heppner
■
Morrow County Court weekly meeting held
The Morrow Coun
ty Court met on May 5
in Boardman with Judge
Tallman and Commissioner
Grieb in attendance. Fol
lowing is a summary of the
meeting provided by Leann
Rea.
The court reviewed
and approved the minutes
from the September 30,
2009 meeting.
■
The court reviewed
and approved account pay
ables and SUTA taxes in
the net total am ount o f
$161,674(21.
Road Report
L exington C em
etery Road: The crew has
finished the shoulder work
on this road and the only
thing left to complete the
project will be to paint
stripe the road this summer.
South End Transfer Station:
The crew finished paving
at the south end transfer
station. Lexington yard:
Once the transfer station
was paved the crew paved a
few places in the Lexington
yard. A new approach into
the yard, the area around
the fuel pumps, and around
the culvert storage area was
paved. Laurel Lane Road:
The crew has been work
ing on the shoulders along
Laurel Lane to widen the
pavement to 28 feet. The
crew finished the shoulder
work and moved the pav
ing equipment to the site
Tuesday. The crew started
paving the road this mom-
CITY COUNCIL
-Continued from Page
ONE
mentary School sidewalk
renovation including repair
and replacement of existing
retaining wall artd replace
ment of the sidewalk and
replacing 300 ft. of safety
rail ($119,220).
5. Install sidewalks
to and from Heppner High
School starting at the junc
tion o f Gale and Water
Streets up Water Street
to Willow View Drive at
the High School and then
to the Junction o f Spruce
and Morgan Streets, about
3,300 feet, and then on to
the intersection of Morgan
Street and Riverside, anoth
er 1,100 feet ($477,760).
6 . N ew s i d e
walks-on Hager, Cowins
and Gilmore streets, ap
proxim ately 4,000 feet.
( $ 100 , 000 ).
7. Stabilize an al
leyway hill slope failure on
Hill Street ($100,000).
However, none of
these projects can move for-
ward until the city finds out
first if the repeal measure
will be on fhe ballot, and
second if it is will voters
approve it.
In other business
at the monthly meeting,
council members were told
to expect a shortfall in the
PERS (Public Employees
Retirement System) fund
ing and that the city is go
ing to have to make up the
difference and pay more
into the system next fiscal
year. City Manager Dave
DeMayo did not know how
much the city was going to
have to come up with, but
said “we (the cities) will
be required to pick up the
slack.”
In other business it
was announced that as the
result of a special council
meeting April 29 to discuss
city employee pay scales
and compensation rates,
next y e a r’s budget will
see the possibility o f an
increase in merit pay and
vacation days award from
\
ing. If all goes well the
project should be finish in
two days, which will be
Thursday the 6th. The Port
of Morrow is assisting with
this project. Road Grading:
The crew is continuing with
grading the gravel roads.
This week one grader is in
the Shaw Grade area, one
in the Stock Drive area
near Heppner, and one in
the Spring Hallow - Upper
Rhea Creek area. They are
getting some roads graded
that were too wet earlier or
just needed touched up.
Sheriff's Report
Kenneth Matlack,
Morrow County Sheriff,
provide the court with a
report on the progress and
issues surrounding taking
over the Parole and Proba
tion Program. The Sheriff
reported that last year his
department received about
$50,000.00 in grant funds
and that he will again be
applying for this grant. Fol
lowing is a brief incident
report: Heppner, lone, and
Lexington area: Search and
rescue o f a party o f four
stuck in the snow and an as
sault incident at Lakeview
Heights. Irrigon area: Ma
rine Call regarding a boat
with three males, unable to
make it back to the Marina
due to high winds and a
report of pit bulls fighting
in a backyard. Boardman
area: Responded to a single
vehicle roll-over with two
adults and three children
involved, a roll-over of a
pick-up pulling a trailer of
hay on I 84 and an accident
involving a car that ran off
Bombing Range Road into
a pond with about three feet
of water.
Planning Department
The second read
ing of the Ordinance for a
zone change for the Love’s
Travel Stop and C oun
try Store was provided
by the planning director,
Cirla McLane. The court
reviewed and signed the
ordinance.
The court conduct
ed the following business:
Contracts regard Forest Ser-
vice Roads were reviewed
and signed. A new Intergov
ernmental Agreement for
the Umatilla Water Basin
Commission was reviewed
and signed. Discussed and
decided to change the date
of the Wednesday, June 16
meeting to Thursday the
17th as some o f the com
missioners will be attending
the Association of Oregon
Counties Spring Confer
ence in Bend. M iscella
neous correspondences and
upcoming meeting notices
were reviewed.
If you would like
to be placed on the list to
receive county minutes,
please contact Karen Wolff
at (541)676-5620.
between one and three per
cent to two to four percent
increase in merit pay and
vacation days awards.
The council also
heard a report from the
sheri fTs department about
activity in Heppner during
April:
Traffic Enforce
ment- There were two traf
fic citations issued and
eleven traffic warnings.
C ode E n fo rce
ment- A citizen was bitten
by a dog. Two owners were
given citations as a result.
One of the dogs was sur
rendered by the owner.
Theft Complaints-
A Deputy investigated a
report of an unknown caller
requesting $ 100,000 or their
son would be arrested.
A citizen reported a
lock on her shed had been
stolen. It was determined
the caller gave permission
for a neighbor to remove
the lock.
MCSO received
a report of stolen flowers/
flower boxes.
All Other- A Dep
uty contacted a citizen re
garding fishing in Willow
Creek during closed fishing
season.
A person was ar
rested for H arassm ent,
Domestic Violence, and
transported to the Umatilla
County Jail.
A citizen reported a
neighbor had been harass
ing her about her dog. A
Deputy made contact with
the citizen. The citizen did
not want any further action
taken.
Deputies investi
gated seven juvenile com
plaints. A juvenile was rid
ing a bicycle in an unsafe
manner in the roadway;
juveniles were retrieving
a ball from Willow Creek,
report of juveniles harass
ing livestock, and a curfew
violation. A grade school
student was cited for pos
sessing tobacco and brass
knuckles. A high school stu
dent possessed tobacco. A
juvenile was warned about
riding a scooter without a
helmet.
MCSO (M orrow
County Sheriff Office) re
ceived three parking com-
plaints. The owners/drivers
were contacted.
Two adults were
issued citations for possess
ing less than one ounce of
marijuana.
MCSO responded
to the Shell Station regard
ing found m arijuana. A
resident reported finding a
shotgun.
A female requested
a welfare check three dif
ferent times for her infant
child, which was in the
custody of the father.
, MCSO received
a report of a gunshot. A
deputy responded and dis
covered it was kids playing
basketball.
MCSO received a
report o f juveniles fight
ing at the fairgrounds. A
deputy was unable to locate
anyone.
MCSO received
a report of an intoxicated
male sitting on the foot
bridge. A deputy was un
able to locate the male.
Two prisoner trans
ports were completed for
court regarding a Heppner
case.
In other action the
council learned that follow
ing a survey done in Kirk
Alley it was determined that
a new property owner in
the area actually owned the
property on which the city
had been using as an alley
way. The new owner had
said last month he would
“work with the city” to
resolve the issue and allow
access through the alley, but
as of this month nothing had
been worked out. Council
was told about 30 sq ft
piece of ground would have
to come into city ownership
in order to re open the al
ley way. DeMayo said he
would approach the prop
erty owner about resolving
the issue.
Also Public Works
D irector Brian Harmon
gave a report and said there
had been an overflow April
18 on the sewer line on
Bruce Kelly Way by the
cemetery. The overflow was
fixed and the crew is check
ing the grease traps at the
SRTF and Assisted Living
Center to make sure they
are working properly.