EIGHT - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, February 23,2011
Morrow County Court weekly meetings held
»one Pep Band cheers on teams
The Morrow Coun
ty Court met on February
9 in Irrigon with Judge
Tallman and Commission
ers Grieb and Rea in at
tendance. Following is a
summary of the meetings
provided by Leann Rea.
The court reviewed
and approved the minutes
of February 2.
The court reviewed
and approved the account
payables and payroll pay
ables in the net total amount
of $185,212.48.
Road Report
Ice and Snow: A
few roads were plowed and
sanded, mainly from Hep
pner area south towards the
mountains. Ditch Cleaning:
The crew has been working
on cleaning borrow pits
and ditches along Wilson
Lane in Boardman. They
have also been burning the
ditches and then digging
them out and removing the
material as needed. Culvert
Cleaning: The crew contin
ued with culvert cleaning to
open the inlets and outlets
in the area just south of
Lexington. Some of the
roads done were Clarks
Canyon Road, Fuller Can
yon Road and Nolan Road.
They are currently working
in the Blackhorse Canyon
Road area. Road Grading:
Road grading has been done
on Strawberry Lane, Dave
Rietmann Road, Lindstrom
Lane, Homestead Lane,
Lindsay West Road, and
Hanna Arbuckle Road.
Continued hauling gravel
to Balm Fork Road with a
couple of belly dumps and
should finish this in a few
days, weather permitting.
Patching: The crew has
been patching pot holes on
Bombing Range Road and
Baseline Lane. Permits:
On the recommendation
of Burke O ’Brien, Road
Master the court approved
Permit #OHZ between the
County and Umatilla Elec
tric Coop to move a junc
tion box on Downey Lane.
Planning
C arla M cLane,
planning director updated
the count regarding the oral
arguments that were given
before the Court of Appeals
on Friday, February 4, re
garding the Love’s Travel
Stops and Country' Stores.
The Court of Appeals has
until May 6 to make their
decision. McLane then pro
vided a report on the tour of
the Umatilla Basin Water
Commission water project
area. She stated that the tour
was well attended and was
very informative with lots
of good ideas being shared.
McLane reported that the
property owners of the land
along Emigrant Lane have
suggest the name of Lone
Butte, the court agreed to
withdraw their suggestion
of Emigrant Butte and stat
ing that they will support
the property owners sug
gestion. McLane reported
the department had only
received approximately
$4,900 from building permit
fees for the past quarter.
McCabe Lane
The court signed
the “Order” approving the
name change to McCabe
Lane.
Ordinance
The court heard
the first reading by title of
“An Ordinance Amend
ing the Comprehensive
Plan Recreation Element;
Amending the Zoning Or
dinance Article 3, Section
3.150 Parkland Overlay
Zone, Applying the Park
land Overlay Zone to the
Morrow County OHV Park
and Amending the Morrow
County Zoning Ordinance
Map showing the Parkland
Overlay Zone to the OHV
Park.”
Commission on Children
& Families
The court reviewed
and approved an amend
ment to the lease with North
Morrow Investment, LLC,
stated that the CC&F will
be using Suite 7 instead of
Suite 10 for storage space.
Justice of the Peace
J.P., Ann Spicer
presented the court with
inform ation regarding
HB2712 which w ould
greatly reduce the amount
of fines that would go to the
local governments, as well
as take away the flexibility
of fine assessment amounts.
Spicer encouraged the court
to contact legislators and
strongly suggest a no vote
on this bill.
Veterans Department
Morrow County
Veteran’s Office, Linda
Skendzel provided the court
with a report on the ac
tivities of her office. She
requested that money that
had been budgeted to attend
an out-of- state conference
be used to hold some open
houses in our local areas.
The court approved this
request, and encouraged
Skendzel to provide as
many services to local Vet
erans as funds will allow.
The report indicated that for
the 2nd quarter, (Oct., Nov.
and Dec.) 40 Veterans were
served with a recovery of
$27,370. Skendzel provided
the court with a copy of a
“Certificate of Recogni
tion” that had been received
from the City of Heppner
Beautification/Parks and
Land Commission.
Budget Update
Financial Director,
Fred Carlson provided the
court with more informa
tion and possible areas
for cuts for the 2011-2012
budget year.
The court conduct
ed the following business:
Signed a Resolution regard
ing the Matter of Declar
ing a State of Disaster in
Morrow County for the
potential loss of production
of grains due to the aphid
infestation. Learned that
the property that the county
took for back taxes, located
at 74609 Cain Lane, Irrigon
has now been cleaned and
will be put up for a sheriff’s
sale sometime later this
spring.
Various correspon
dences and upcoming meet
ing notices were reviewed
and discussed.
If you would like
to be placed on the list to
receive county minutes,
contact Keren Wolff at
(541)676-5620.
The Morrow Coun
ty Court met on February
16 in Boardman with Judge
Tallman and Commission
ers Grieb and Rea in at
tendance. Following is a
summary of the meetings
provided by Leann Rea.
The court reviewed
and approved the minutes
of February 9.
The court reviewed
and approved the account
payables in the net total
amount of $75,589.47.
Road Report
Ice and Snow: On
February 15 there were
four graders and one plow
truck working on the high
er elevation roads. This
included working on the
Sunflower Flat, Hardman
Ridge, Willow Creek and
Upper Little Butter Creek
areas. There was anywhere
from two to five inches
of snow on these roads.
Ditch Cleaning: The crew
continues cleaning bor
row pits and ditches along
Wilson Lane in Board-
man. Currently they are
working at replacing four
18” culverts on the west
end of Wilson Lane with
new 24” culverts. Culvert
Cleaning: The crew con
tinued with culvert clean
ing to open the inlets and
outlets in the Blackhorse
Canyon Road area. Road
Grading: Road grading
continues on Baker Lane,
Lindstrom Lane, Morgan
Road, Barak-Martin Road
and Lindsay Road. Permits:
On the recommendation of
Burke O’Brien, Road Mas
ter the court approved the
following permits between
the county and Windwave
Communications: Permit
#OHV to bury a fiber optic
line across South Main St.
then from Wilson Lane to
Kunze Lane. Permit #OH W
to bury a fiber optic line
from Homestead Lane to
Poleline Road and then
east to County Line Road.
Permit #OIA to bury a fiber
optic line in the Summit
Lane/Parkside Drive/Kunze
Lane area.
Planning
C arla M cLane,
planning director provided
the court with the second
reading by title of “An
Ordinance Amending the
Comprehensive Plan Rec
reation Element; Amending
the Zoning Ordinance Ar
ticle 3, Section 3.150 Park
land Overlay Zone, Apply
ing the Parkland Overlay
Zone to the Morrow County
OHV Park and Amending
the Morrow County Zon
ing Ordinance Map show
ing the Parkland Overlay
Zone to the OHV Park.”
The court then signed the
“Order” for the adoption of
the ordinance.
The court con
ducted the following busi
ness: The court appointed
Jerry Healy to a three year
term on the Compensation
Committee. Approved the
contract betweeri tfife
and Dean Robinson as a
Fire Protection Consultant
at the rate of $15 per hour
with the contract beginning
on February 9, 2011 and
going through December
30, 2011 or when the parks
close, whichever is earlier.
The court signed an IGA
between the county and
the State of Oregon in the
amount of $92,000 pertain
ing to the Spring Hollow
Ridge project. The court
signed a contract between
the county and the State of
Oregon in the amount of
$128,000 for intersection
improvement projects at
five intersections within the
county. The court heard a
request from the Michael
Wilson with Westby Asso
ciates regarding the county
providing some funding
for the Columbia River
Community Health Ser
vice’s new building project.
While the commissioners
fully support the project
and would like to assist
with the funding, with the
tight upcoming budget, they
suggested that a member
of their Board of Director
might want to attend the
upcoming budget meetings.
Wilson stated that the board
would be very willing to
work with the county on a
Smaller multi-year pledge.
Dave Hughes, director of
the Agape House made
a presentation regarding
the building of a family
shelter facility located in
Hermiston that would serve
Morrow County and West
Umatilla County. Hughes
provided the court with
information regarding the
floor plans, architectural
concept and information on
how the occupants would
be selected. This facility
would be a short term solu
tion to homeless families.
While in the facility oc
cupants would be required
to participate in classes,
such as GED, cooking, well
baby, and money manage
ment training.
Various correspon Heppner Cub Scout pack #661 held a bowling party and Blue
dences and upcoming meet and Gold banquet on President's Day. -Contributed Photo
ing notices were reviewed
and discussed.
If you would like
to be placed on the list to
The Morrow County Sheriff’s Office reports
receive county minutes, handling the following business:
please contact Karen Wolff
D e c e m b e r 3: torized Vehicle. Fisler was
at (541 >676-5620.
-MCSO was notified that also arrested on a UCSO
Matthew Anthony Lianas, warrant.
-MCSO received a
33, was arrested by Umatil
la PD on an Irrigon Justice report of the driver of a red
Court warrant for Failure Prius going west bound in
to Pay Fine/Failure to Ap the east bound lane.
-MCSO arrested
To make a donation visit pear.
-BPD
issued
a
cita
Ayla
Fuimaono,
19, on
w w w .dow nundersports.
tion
to
Margarita
Villegas
a
Heppner
Justice
Court
com or you can send it
Salazar,
36,
for
Violating
warrant
for
Failure
to
Pay
to Russell Brannon, ATT:
the
Speed
Limit
by
driving
Fine/Maintaining
a
Dog
as
Drew Brannon, PO Box
38
mph
in
a
25
mph
zone.
a
Public
Nuisance.
1192, Heppner, OR 97836.
-Boardman Ambu
December 5: -BPD
For more information call
issued
a
citation to Tra
lance
received
a
call
regard
541-676-5399.
vis
Wayne
Scherrer, 29, for
ing
a
10
month
old
baby
girl
The first Down
who
was
sick
and
having
a
Failure
to
Use
a Turn Signil
Under Bowl was in 1989
Within
100
Feet
of a Turn
hard
time
breathing.
when four states produced
-Boardman
Ambu
and
No
License
Plate.
a handful of teams, to 2010
- BPD a r r e s t e d
when ISSI sent athletes lance received a request for
an
ambulance
for
a
37
year
Chester
Brent Paradiso,
from almost all 50 states to
old
male
who
was
dizzy.
39,
on
a
Morrow County
compete in the Down Un
Boardman
Ambulance
and
Circuit
Court
warrant for
der Bowl, Hoopfc Classics
BPD
responded.
Failure
to
Appear/Theft
II.
and International Games.
-Irrigon
Fire
De
-Irrigon
Ambu
Down Under Sports hosts
the Down Under Sports partment and MCSO re lance received a call re
Tournaments which provide ceived call regarding a garding a female who was
a forum for athletes from natural gas leak at a resi vomiting blood. The patient
was transported.
other countries to compete dence in Irrigon.
D e c e m b e r 6:
D
e
c
e
m
b
e
r
4:
head to head in the sport
-MCSO
arrested
Richard
-MCSO
arrested
John Louis
they love.
Keith Fisler, 30, for an Munkers, 28, on a warrant
-Continued on Page TEN
Unauthorized Use of a Mo
Brannon invited to compete on Oregon Football Team
Seeks donations for summer trip
International Sports
Specialists, Inc. (ISSI) has
invited Drew Brannon, a 17
year old junior at Heppner
High School, to compete on
the Oregon Football Team
as part of the West Central
Conference traveling to
Australia this summer.
Brannon is looking
for sponsors to make dona
tions towards the cost of
traveling to and competing
in Australia. A major source
of funds comes through
voluntary contributions of
family, friends, and business
sponsors. Donations will
help him and his team fulfill
this once-in-a-lifetime op
portunity and w ill go to help
cover the essential costs of
the program (airfare, hotel,
meals, uniform, tournament
fees, transportation, insur
ance, etc.).
Brannon is the son
of Russell and Dana Bran
non and Shawn and Merry
Chandler, all of Heppner.
He has a sister Brandi and
a brother Caige Jack. “This
is a great opportunity for
Drew,” says his mom. Mer
ry. “I know he can make this
happen. An experience like
this will always be with him
and is beneficial in so many
ways. His entire family is
very excited for him.”
Brannon started
working part-time at Les
Schwab Tires in Heppner
and is presently working
with A1 and Donna Osmin
since 2009 for the summers.
In school he has been active
in football, wrestling, track,
baseball, yearbook, and
civics/debate club. The last
two years he has entered
in Cow Riding at the Mor
row County Rodeo. He is
involved in the local All
St. Episcopal Youth Group,
is currently enrolled in the
Ford Leadership Founda
tion, and the Future Busi
ness Leaders of America.
Brannon has volunteered
at the Morrow County Fair
and Rodeo, the Heppner
DayCare, Inc., and the Wil
low Creek Water Park. His
hobbies are hunting, sports,
hanging out with his girl
friend Tayllor and babysit
ting his baby brother.
If a donation is
made ISSI will give you a
ticket into a drawing to win
a trip for two to Australia
and Hawaii this summer.
lone Pep Band members: (Back row L-R) Joel & Oskar
Peterson, Jeff Eynetick, Duane Neiffer, Band leader-Jordan
Bemrose, Donna Thompson, and Judy Rea. Photo by Paula
Emmel
Willow Creek Tea Party Patriots
meet with Hermiston group
On February 21 the
Willow Creek Tea Party
Patriots hosted an organi
zational meeting in Herm
iston. The effort was to
promote the interest and in
volvement of a local group
of citizens of the Hermiston
greater area. The meeting
was attended by 49 locals.
Nine members of
the Willow Creek Tea Party
Patriots from south Morrow
County traveled to Hermis
ton to encourage and inspire
the folks to take hold of
the Tea Party concept of
conservative constitutional
beliefs. Those attending
from the Willow Creek Tea
Party Patriots were: Billy
Adams, Marsha Kemp,
Norman and Wanda Lee,
Jack Meligan, Cory Miller,
Shirley Rugg, and Dick and
Lynnea Sargent.
A number of peo
ple spoke in giving their
resounding support for
.SH R M C te
the concept of a conserva
tive political group. Tom
Broderick took the lead .
in speaking to his fellow
community members with
Frank Vincent volunteering
to begin the administrative
tasks.
The group over-
whelmingly voted to sup-
port and be a part of this
new group with their first
meeting set for Monday,
March 7, time and place to
be announced when set. The
meeting concluded follow
ing a spirited exchange of
ideas and encouragement
by those who were in at
tendance to set the new Tea
Party group in motion.
Each member of
the Willow Creek Tea Party
Patriots told of their own
role in a conservative con
stitutional group. They of
fered words of encourage
ment and information from
their own experiences in the
Tea Party; how their being
involved in the current po
litical environment and pro
cess has brought them back
in to the concept of “We
The People...”; that their
own role of being an active
citizen voter and having a
voice that does matter.
A member of the
Hermiston group spqke
about how they tried to
start a group in Hermiston
of the Tea Party a year ago
but failed to follow up on it
and let “the ball drop." Thus
they lost that year, but now
with the response they will
go forward.
Cub Scout bowling party held
Sheriff's Report