SIX - Heppner Gazette-Times,
Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, April 25,2012
COMMISSIONER CANDIDATES
~
L etters to the E ditor
-Continuedfrom PAGE ONE
Leann Rea (C'ont.)
row County Health District
Board for several years.
Why do you fe e l you are
better qualified than your
opponent to represent the
people o f Morrow County
as com m issioner ? I feel
that I am better qualified
because I have strong con
nections with all five of the
communities in the county,
having lived or worked
in each of them. I am ap
proachable and enjoy learn
ing new facts about a wide
variety o f topics. I have
the ability to disagree with
an individual on one item,
but can continue working
with them on other issues
without any animosity or
hard feelings. Finally, 1
have had the honor to ful
fill the duties of the county
commissioner for the last
three-plus years.
What is the biggest prob
lem facing Morrow County
government in the future?
In my opinion, the eco
nomic uncertainty with ris
ing costs of employees and
their benefits will continue
to be a strain for the county.
There are many unknowns
surrounding health care
benefits, and these things
may have a negative impact
on employee costs. The
county also has several
county buildings that are in
need of major repairs.
What will be your first pri
ority' i f you are elected as
commissioner? My main
priority will be to see that
the Road Dept, receives
adequate funding to keep
the county’s roads safe and
to continue working to get
more of the workers at the
Port of Morrow complex to
reside in Morrow County.
Do you fe e l the current
court adequately represents
Morrow County residents,
bt/jff north and south? Yes,
I iVel .the current court ad
equately represents all of
Morrow County. Person
ally, 1 was raised and lived
in South County for the first
23 years of my life, then 1
resided at the Finley Butte
farm (half-way between
Boardman and Lexington)
for about 15 years, and then
in the Boardman area for
26 years. I worked as the
m anager/bookkeeper o f
West Extension Irrigation
District in Irrigon for about
six years, thus developing
relationships with many of
the water users and business
people in that community. I
now live in Heppner. Judge
Tallman resides in Board-
man and Com m issioner
Grieb lives in the Lexing
ton area, which rounds out
the court fairly equitably
and makes a commissioner
available to all county resi
dents.
Do you think the present
distribution o f tippage fees
is equitable, or should the
county change the way tip-
page money is distributed?
I think the way the tippage
fees have been distributed
has been as fair as the coun
ty budget would allow. Tip-
page monies support Exten
sion, South Neighborhood
Center, Irrigon/Boardman
Assistance Center, Water-
master, Wildlife Services
as well as county services,
to name a few. I anticipate
there may be changes in the
use of tippage fees in our
next budget.
Do you think the county
should change its char
ter and/or the number o f
elected commissioners? 1
have mixed feelings on this
issue. There are times that
it would be nice to have a
conversation with jone of
my fellow commissioners
without that conversation
being considered a quorum.
However, with the county’s
current budget issues, 1 do
not see any way to justify
the additional costs that
would be necessary to sup
port more commissioners.
Also, until the population
of Morrow County is con
siderable higher than it is
now, I think the county can
be adequately represented
by three totally engaged
commissioners.
That’s dedication!
Kandy Boyd (Cont.)
Morrow County residents,
opponent to represent the both north and south? Yes.
people o f Morrow County Some of the services and
as commissioner? 1 know needs of residents in both
I can bring a fresh perspec ends of the county are dif
tive on the issues facing our ferent and I believe the
county. I believe 1 can listen current court recognizes
to concerns and make fully- that; however, they have
informed, wise decisions. 1 not always been proactive
know how to spend within in informing citizens of the
my means and pay atten changes happening to the
tion to needs versus wants. county or why those needed
I will not try to bring more changes are being done.
taxation to our citizens Do you think the present
by adding fees in order to distribution o f tippage fees
balance the budget. I am a is equitable, or should the
person who would like to county change the way tip-
give back to my county by page money is distributed?
being a public official who The expenditures that 1 have
represents the citizens. I seen from the tippage fees
hear many concerns now look equitable. I believe
from people who visit our the budget should always
office, and it has made be a consideration for all
me want to change how expenditures. We have to
Morrow County treats its live within our means in
citizens. To me, this is about order to stay afloat. I am
whether Morrow County sure that this is a fund that
wants to see a change for can be looked at every year
the better.
to see what can and cannot
What is the biggest problem be distributed based on the
facing Morrow County gov budgetary limitations.
ernment in the future? 1 b e-' Do you think the county
lieve it is the lack of stable should change its char
and sustainable economic ter and/or the number o f
growth. We have got to find elected com m issioners?
ways to bring in growth to We do not currently have a
our county that is viable. charter. It seems to me that
Rising costs in all aspects we do not have a budget
of daily living add up, and that would allow for two
that is what we will always additional commissioners
be facing.
with salaried positions at
What will be your first pri this time. We have approxi
ority if you are elected as mately 12,000 residents
commissioner? Learning and 4,900 electors. The
the budget inside and out counties that have more
so 1 know exactly where than three com m ission
we stand; asking depart ers are largely-populated
ments to spend only if it is counties. If we added those
a need. There may be spots positions, the increase to
where the budget may be our budget would be huge,
tightened up a bit. As a cur based on the salaries of the
rent employee, we hear lots current commissioners. As
of different things regarding a taxpayer, I don’t want to
the budget. Understanding see us go down a bad path
exactly where we stand with dollars. We would ap
will help,to make wiser parently need to have a big
decisions regarding issues overhaul to adjust for that.
that face the county. I will In the future, it may be a
keep office hours to meet need to visit if the budget
the needs of the citizens and allows and the needs are
be accessible to them.
there. 1 would want to see
Do you fe e l the current the whole picture and how it
court adequately represents would impact the county.
Three amigos
r
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The lone Minors Baseball team, sponsored by IRT, kicked off
its season last Tuesday in a game against Heppner. Teammates
(L-R) Hunter Padberg, Matt Orem and Jake Heideman led
the two teams in the Little League pledge before the game.
IRT plays in South Wasco on April 26 and in Arlington April
27. The team is coached by Eric Orem and assisted by Deacon
Heideman and Jeff Eynetich. -Photo by Erin Heideman
ODFW public meeting
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
(ODFW) invites all interested people to a public meeting
on Wednesday, May 3, from 6-8 p.m. at the ODFW office
in Heppner. The ODFW office is located in the old Kinzua
mill office at 54173 Hwy. 74 in Heppner.
Agenda items for the meeting include proposed
tag numbers for the 2012 big game seasons and proposed
season structure changes, including a change to the Co
lumbia Basin archery closure for the 2013 season.
Delivery not available_______________________
Wedding Tabh f e s
&
B renda G leason
Shower: April 27, 2 0 1 2
Wedding: June l(), 2 0 1 2
M umuj ' j Dfllf
217 North Mam St, Heppner • Phone 676-9158 • Floral 676-9426
Serving Morrow, Wheeler & Gilliam counties Since 1959
;
Oregon seems to mirror our federal government
in so many ways, especially in following a failing policy
that has plagued all of us for the past 11 years and maybe
longer...tax and spend.
That wagon train has just about run us all into
the poor house and needs to be changed. The money
fountain that used to have no end, the billions in special
interests and many more billions being doled out in tax
breaks by both Oregon State and the federal government
under misleading premises is running out of steam. Too
many political heads have misused their power and often
become career politicians, feathering their own nests,
while this nation falls deeper and deeper in debt to foreign
countries.
Do you really believe that more back scratching
in Salem is going to solve this state’s financial woes? Is it
really important that our state leaders be part of the “good
ole boys club” to be a good leader in Salem?
It is time for a ‘proven and successful business
leader’ to step into a senatorial position, backed with the
skills and knowledge to face small business’ many issues
throughout the state. The core of small business today
deals with all the people issues this state wants to solve...
jobs, benefits, medical care, taxes and labor relations, as
well as the whole bucket of those environmental issues.
We need less government, less control, less time spent
writing new laws, less squabbling about nothing and more
“paying attention to business.” Business leaders know
what I am saying, and that is why I believe Maryl Gray-
beal Featherstone is the right vote and the right person to
represent the 29th district in Salem.
I urge you to give her your support also.
Norm Kralman
Milton Freewater, OR
Searching for
family, history
I have just been sent an article from 1980 about
a pioneer picnic at the Morrow County Fairgrounds. The
event was hosted by Darrel and Sue Vinson. Is this annual
picnic still taking place?
My mother was a Vinson and I have been trying
to research my great-grandfather. Thomas Henry Vinson.
I am curious about the possibility that he may be related
to Darrel and Sue.
Thomas Henry first turned up in Pierce Co., WA
in 1870. He married Lucinda Warfield. Lucinda appar
ently died in the mid 1870s, as Thomas Vinson married
my great-grandmother, Josephine Teeters, in 1877.
My mother’s side of the family doesn’t seem to
know very much about him. I traced him from Pierce Co.
to Sprague River in Lake Co. (now in Klamath Co.), OR
in 1880. From there he went to Shasta Co., CA. in 1886,
1892 and 1896. Josephine is recorded as a widow in the
1900 census and she was living in Siskiyou Co., Ca. with
a family by the name of Turpin.
Any information that might help me with my
research or family connections would be helpful.
Thank you.
Rod Hanley
Molalla, OR
The seventh annual youth fishing derby will be
held at Cutsforth Park on May 5 from 8:30 a.m. to 11
a.m.
This a free event sponsored by the Oregon De
partment of Fish and Wildlife and Morrow County Parks
for children 14 years old and younger.
Cutsforth Park is located at 58430 Willow Creek
Rd., Heppner, OR. For more information, contact Betty
Gray at the Morrow County Public Works Office, 541 -
989-8214.
SWCD to meet
The Mor r ow
SWCD will hold a regular
meeting on Tuesday, May 1,
at 6:30 p.m. at the Ag Ser
vice Center, 430 W Linden
Way in Heppner.
Congratulations to
Brandon Wedding,
DRINK C aramel T offee L atte $3.25
SPECIALS W atermelon S pritzer $2.25
Kyle C arlson
Experience in
politics vs. business
Youth fishing derby
planned
lone Community School teachers Diana McElligott, Jordan
Bemrose and Tone Dowdy (pictured) braved the wind and rain
to watch students play in the baseball opener and cheer IRT to
its first victory last week. -Photo by Erin Heideman
Nay 6th is Nurses Day!
rhe Heppner Gazette Times will 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 you
provide your address and a phone number where you can be reached, rhe
address and phone number will only be used for verification and will not be
printed in the newspaper. Letters may not be libelous. The GT reserves the
right to edit. The GT is not responsible for accuracy of statements made in
letters. Any letters expressing thanks will be placed in the classifieds under
"C ardofThanks"atacostof$10. *
• U f r r r C m li
tr a in C r ta tr u .
We are proud to have Brandon as
an employee at MCGG. He has
been with MCGG since June of
2009 where he has worked in the
propane department.
Brandon demonstrates an
incredible way of communicating
with customers and fellow
employees. Brandon goes above
and beyond what is expected of
any employee.
Good Job BrandonJJ
L e x in g t o n 9 8 9 -8 2 2 1 • 1 -8 0 0 -4 5 2 -7 3 9 6
i
Agenda items in
clude approval of previous
minutes, treasurer’s report.
Morrow County Budget
Committee update, OWEB
grant applications submit
ted, habitat projects update,
office building improve
ment discussion and partner
reports.
Meetings o f Mor
row SWCD are open to the
public. For special atten
dance requirements, contact
Janet Greenup at 541-676-
5452.
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