Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 10, 2012)
Il,I,.I.,.1,1,.III.. II.I m .II Bessie Wetzell Newspaper Library University of Oregon Eugene. OR 97403 VOL. 131 NO. 40 10 Pages Wednesday, October 10, 2012 Morrow County man sentenced to 56 years for child sex abuse District Attorney Jus tin Nelson announced last week that Scott William Foster, 48, received a prison sentence o f a little more than 56 years after being Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon convicted of sexually as saulting a child. The Morrow County man was sentenced last Thursday, Oct. 4, by Cir cuit Court Judge Eva J. Temple to 56 years and three months in prison for the repeated sexual abuse of a minor child. After hearing testimo ny over a three-day pe riod, a Morrow County jury on Sept. 28 found the defendant guilty of Rape in the First Degree, Un lawful Sexual Penetration, two counts of Sodomy in the First Degree, and four counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree. Due to the ages of the victim in this case, several of the charges are subject to Jessica’s Law. Jessica’s law was enacted in Oregon in 2006, and provides for a 25 year mandatory mini mum sentence for adults convicted of raping, sodom izing or sexually penetrat ing a child under 12 years o f age. U nder Jessica’s Law, the defendant faced a mandatory 25 years in prison each on the Rape, Hunters use $35 Booster Club worth of water auction Sat. Homecoming royalty crowned Donation box collects $50 By David Sykes Deer hunters using the city’s water hose at Heri tage Park used $35 worth of free water during the last month, the Heppner City Council was told Monday night. The city put a meter on the water faucet after a citizen came to the council in September com plain ing about hunters coming through town getting free water, which citizens have to pay for. Public works director Chad Doherty said that, fol lowing last month’s meet ing and at the direction of the council, he put a meter on the faucet located at Heritage Park. Doherty said the hunters used 2,870 gallons of water, which, if the same amount were used by a citizen, would cost that household $35. The water station is made available to hunters as a way to show they are welcome in town. Hunters are an econom ic stimulus because they spend money at local busi nesses for food, fuel and other items. While figures on how much individual hunters spend in Heppner are not readily available, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife estimates that deer hunting alone in just Eastern Oregon gener ates $22 million per year in economic activity. Unlawful Sexual Penetra will never be made whole. tion, and Sodomy in the first The case was investi degree counts. Under Ballot gated by the Morrow Coun Measure 11. the minimum ty S heriff’s Office with mandatory sentence the assistance of on each charge of the Guardian Care Sex Abuse in the Center in Pendle First Degree is 75 ton. months. “Child sexual The defendant abuse crim es are was represented by am ong the most defense attorney devastating crimes Robert Klahn o f Scott William that can occur in a Foster Pendleton. Defense community. Crimes counsel argued that like these inflict se the court should sentence vere physical, emotional all counts concurrently, for and psychological trauma a total sentence of 25 years on their victims. As Morrow in prison. The state argued County District Attorney, 1 that most of the sentences am proud of the successful should be run consecu prosecution o f this case tively, for a total sentence that lead to the convic of 62.5 years in prison. tion,” said Nelson. “Deputy Judge Temple imposed District Attorney Richard a sentence of 56 years and Tovey did a impressive job 3 months in prison, finding prosecuting this case and that the defendant had com representing the interests of mitted multiple instances of Morrow County residents. criminal sex acts against the 1 also appreciate the hard child victim. At sentencing, work o f Morrow County Judge Temple stated that Detective Karen Dike, who because of the sexual abuse handled this case. Only by caused by the defendant, the working together as a team victim will have damage the are we able to prosecute rest of her life, and that she these cases.” Heppner’s Homecoming week culminated in the Homecoming game and dance last Friday, Oct. 5. The king and queen of tbe Homecoming court were crowned during the evening football game. Back (L-R): Fathers Will Lemmon, Jim Kindle, John Gould, Jess Osmin and Mike Bennett. Middle (L-R): Junior Princesses Samm Lemmon and Kayla Kindle, Senior Queen Tessa Gould, and Senior Princesses Emma Osmin and Baily Proceeds from the event Bennett. Front (L-R): Irelvnn Kollman, Junior Princes JC will go toward support- Putman and Jeff Dowdy, Senior King Bryce Fowler, Senior ing athletic and academic Princes Aidan Wright and Stephen Thompson, and Landon programs at the school, in Mitch el. -Photo by Sandy Matthews A few of the many items donated for the Booster Club’s auc tion are on display in the window of Holloman’s in Heppner. Items up for auction this year range from pet food to getaway packages to jewelry...truly something for everyone who turns out to support the event. - Photo by April Sykes The H ep p n er H igh School Booster Club has planned its annual steak -See CITY COUNCIUPAGE dinner and auction for this SIX Saturday, Oct. 13, at the Heppner Elks Club. A din ner of steak, potato, salad and dessert will be served starting at 6 p.m.; cost of dinner is $12. The auc tion will get underway at 8 p.m. Trophy Corner addition to funding four scholarships to graduating seniors each year. Auction items this year include a Black Hills Gold heart-shaped ring donated -See BOOSTER CLUB/PAGE FOUR General ballots go out next week lone Seniors Tyrell B arnett and Lacey Thompson were crowned king and queen of a dazzling Cardinal Homecoming court last Friday night during the game against Sherman. (L-R) Freshman Prince Gorge Aguillar and Princess Jenna Taylor: Sophomore Prince Zac Irons and Princess Amanda Taylor; Seniors Queen Lacey Thompson and King Tyrell Barnett, and Prince Justin Estabrook and Princess Shadow Kendrick; Junior Princess Larissa Jones and Prince Bailey Haguewood. parking lot (24 hours) or -Photo by Paula Emmel Voter registration deadline next Tuesday Top: Mike Gorman of Heppner took this 5 x 6, 29 1/2” buck Friday, Oct. S, in the mountains above Heppner. He shot the buck “right in the boiler room” (a high shoulder shot where the heart and lungs are located). It is the largest buck Mike has ever taken. Bottom: Bryce Wilson (right), 9, and his brother, TVevor, 11, both of Hermiston, bagged their three-point bucks on Saturday, Oct. 6. This was Bryce's first buck, and Trevor's second year scoring a trophy. The boys were successful while hunting with their dad, Stacy Wilson of Hermiston, and Grandpa, Larry Runyon of Heppner. The boys were hunting under the Oregon mentored youth hunting program. -Con tributed photos Ballots have already been mailed to long-term absent and ou t-o f-state voters for the November general election. All other ballots will go out Oct. 19- 23. Remember, ballots are not forwarded. For those who haven’t yet registered, the voter registration deadline for Oregon is Oct. 16; registra tion must be postmarked Oct. 16 if sent through U.S. Mail, or received by 11:59 p.m. that night if registering online. Those who don’t receive ballots but believe they should have should contact the Morrow County Clerk’s office at 541-676- 5604. Nov. 1 is the last day replacement ballots will be mailed. As a reminder, Elec tion Day is Tuesday, Nov. 6. All ballots are due by 8 p.m. that day. Ballots must be received, not simply postmarked, on that day. For voter convenience, 24- hour drop boxes are located throughout the county. Lo cations are as follows: Heppner: Courthouse the Morrow County Clerk's Office, Room 102 inside the courthouse. Open 8 a.m. to noon and 1-5 p.m., M-F and Election Day (Nov. 6) from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. Lexington: 365 West Hwy 74 (Public Works Parking lot). Turn off Hwy. 74 onto Tom Street and left into the public works park ing lot. Open 24 hours. lone: Spring St. (in front o f the turn to 3rd Street). Open 24 hours. Boardman: NWBoard- man Ave. (24 hours). Irrigon: 205 NE 3rd St. (Irrigon Annex). Open 24 hours. Election results will be certified by Dec. 6, 2012. PERS problem conflict of interest, expert says By David Sykes An expert on the Or egon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) says he has no problem with people receiving retirement benefits; it’s just that every one involved with regulat ing PERS.is a member. PERS expert Daniel Re was a featured speaker at a recent town hall meeting in Heppner, where he laid out BEAT the huge financial liability facing the government, how the system got this way, and what he proposes as a solution. To illustrate the impact the liability will have on the public, Re says the PERS Board recently voted to increase PERS employer contributions by $900 mil- -PROBLEM WITH PERS/ PAGE FIVE WI Pipe Heating Cable "Don't freeze gour pipes!!! Window Insulation Kit Save on Heating!!! .M o r r o w C o u n t y G r a in G r o w e r s ^•tdngton<989^822^^U800-452!j7396^or2tra«2iijpoi2BMt«^urw«brtt^t wwm Z!L,
