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
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