Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, January 9,2013 - THREE
AMERICAN SNIPER MOVIE Heppner chamber holds
annual luncheon
-Continuedfrom PAGE ONE
information in the story.
“I really don’t know the
panoply of where it needs
to go for Warner Brothers,”
McEwen says. “1 do know
one of the things they want
to do is make it as close as
possible to the actual events
and things as they were de
scribed in the book.”
Though DeFelice had
to bow out of involvement
in the m ovie, M cEwen
says the book’s main man,
Kyle, will obviously also
be closely involved in the
making of the film.
McEwen says they had
many interested parties
when it came to film rights,
with negations taking place
with studios of all sizes.
“ We had earlier had
some offers with another
major studio to do an epi
sodic TV series. Chris and
I turned that down. There
was a lot of interest from a
lot of different parties but
Bradley Cooper showed he
really wanted to do this and
really wanted to produce
this from Warner Brothers,”
he says.
In fact, it turned out
Cooper was the determining
factor...not for his famous
face, but for his commit
ment to Kyle’s story.
“He was serious about
wanting to do this role and
about his vision of depict
ing what really took place.
That was what Chris and I
were most impressed by,”
says McEwen.
M cEw en adds th at
Cooper, who was the driv
ing force behind Warner
Brothers’ acquisition, is an
“educated individual” and
not your typical Hollywood
pretty face.
“He has a degree from
an Ivy League college.
He analyzes his projects
and takes them on based
on an in-depth analysis of
what he wants to do with
them,” McEwen explains.
“I’ve been very impressed
with his professionalism
and how he approaches his
projects.”
M cEw en says that,
w hile there is obvious
glamour involved with Hol
lywood, he was struck by
the business savvy o f the
players involved.
“I was struck by how
conscious they are of the
market, their recognition
that they d o n ’t take on
projects unless they're go
ing to sell. I was impressed
by their professionalism.
There’s the glitz, but there’s
a business that’s very pro
fessionally analyzed,” he
says.
While many may feel
that Hollywood is slightly
out o f touch with reality,
McEwen says he feels the
people involved with the
American Sniper movie—
Cooper, Russell and Hall,
among others—understand
the message of the book and
want to communicate that
on the screen.
“I feel as if the people
who are involved have the
same vision we did when
we started the project. For
that reason, I’m confident
they’re going to come up
with a good product, a
good movie,” says McE
wen. “The script writer is
really excellent; Jason Hall
is an A-list writer in Hol
lywood.”
McEwen says he nev
er would have expected
to come this far when he
started working with Kyle
to get the SEAL’s story
published.
“No one could envision
that,” he says. “ I always
thought the story was ex
tremely compelling but I
never thought it would take
off like it did. It was in the
top 15 books, rated 11th of
all nonfiction books sold
in the U.S. last year. That’s
pretty good company.”
McEwen estimates that,
barring major glitches— if
the project gets greenlit,
production starts in the next
few months, everything
goes smoothly and the plan
ets align— fans can expect
to see the American Sniper
story on the big screen early
in 2014.
For himself, he’s happy
to see a Hollywood ending
for an American hero.
“I’m just happy that it
worked out well and that
C hris and his w ife and
children are doing well.
So far I’m very happy with
what it has done for Chris,
and for recognition of other
warriors.. .the positive, pro-
U.S. type of film. That’s
what I wanted,” McEwen
says.
“I’m happy that every
body’s OK. I like a happy
ending.”
§
2013.
Father C ondon was
recognized for his involve
ment in the community,
and Lisanne Currin was
recognized for her years of
serving as the treasurer for
the chamber board.
Updates to the by-laws
were ratified and Tricia
Rollins installed the new
board.
The Stable o f Youth
catered.
Town & Country awards this
Thursday
M atthews o f Windwave
Communications.
A no-host bar will be
provided by Bucknum ’s
Tavern. Dinner will be ca
tered by A lvin Liu and
Cornerstone Gallery, and
will feature barbecue bris
ket, barbecue baby back
ribs, barbecue beans with
bacon, Al’s favorite corn-
bread muffins, oven-roasted
garlic and herb potatoes,
and vanilla ice cream with
chocolate-mint topping.
Along with some ac
com panying festivities,
the awards ceremony will
honor those chosen as Busi
ness of the Year, Woman of
the Year, Man of the Year,
Citizen-Educator o f the
Year and a Youth Recogni
tion award.
The chamber asks that
those planning on attending
purchase tickets as soon
as possible if they haven’t
already done so. Tickets are
$20 each and can be pur
chased at Bank of Eastern
Oregon, Heppner Chamber
of Commerce, Community
Bank and Murray’s Drug.
DA’s Report
Smith retains chair in
Democrat-controlled
legislature
Rep. Greg Smith (R-
Heppner) is one of three
Republicans in the Oregon
House retaining a chair
man position. He is also
the senior house member
on the Joint Ways & Means
Committee.
“ I am very pleased
with my appointments and
particularly welcome the
opportunity to serve as
co-chair of the Joint Ways
& Means Subcommittee
on General Government.
These committees signifi
cantly impact legislation af
fecting House District 57.
“Having served on these
committees during previous
legislative sessions, I have a
thorough understanding of
the policy areas and know
what it takes to be a produc
tive committee member,”
said Smith.
Representative Greg
Smith's appointments are
The Heppner Chamber
of Commerce held its an
nual luncheon on Thursday,
Jan. 3. During the luncheon,
cham ber m em bers said
goodbye to chamber presi
dent Les Paustian and hello
to Jeff Bailey, president for
The Heppner Chamber
o f C om m erce’s Annual
Town and Country Com
munity Awards will take
place this Thursday eve
ning, Jan. 10, starting with
no-host social hour at 6
p.m. at the Morrow County
Fairgrounds.
This y ear’s theme is
“Our Community Volun
teers, Our Country Gold.”
Attendees will be treated to
a slide show, “Your Com
munity on the Big Screen,”
prepared by Dale Bates of
CenturyLink
and Sandy
Propheter, $350; and third, Elks Legacy Scholarships
Garret t
and Buchanan Memorial
Robinson,
S c h o la r
$ 200 .
ships.”
W om
D ic k
Morrow County Dis
en: F irst,
enson add
trict Attorney Justin Nelson
Maggie
ed that both
has released the following
Collins,
F o w l e r ’s
report:
and C o l
$700; sec
-Antonio Pete Espino,
Garrett
ond, Juli- Robinson
l i n s ’ a p Julianne
23, was convicted of felon
plications Carlson
anne Carl
possess firearm, a Class
son, $350;
went on to
C felony, and sentenced
and third, Stacee Halvorsen, the district
to three years supervised
contest to compete against probation, subject to 180
$ 200 .
“Many
the top finishers at nine sanction units and 90 jail
o u ts ta n d
other Elks lodges in the units. Probation conditions
ing young
district.
include five custody units
m en an d
Fowler placed second to be converted to 80 hours
women
in the dis
community service and 30
com peted
trict co n
custody units converted to
for awards Maggie
test, earn
30 days jail time with credit
this year. Collins
ing an extra
for time served. Total fines,
U n f o r tu
$1,600.
fees and assessments were
nately, we cannot award
F o r
$60.
scholarships to all of them,” m o re in
-A ngelique L. Ket-
said scholarship chairman form ation Stacee
tlewell, 19, was convicted
Tim Dickenson. “The com about Elks Halvorsen
of theft in the first degree,
mittee would like to thank s c h o l a r
a Class C felony, and sen
all the applicants for their ships, contact Dickenson tenced to two years super
impressive brochures and at 541 -676-8990 or dicken- vised probation; conditions
want to encourage you to sonchiro@centurytel.net.
of probation include a writ
apply for the upcoming
ten apology to the victim
and custody units converted
to 120 hours community
service. Total fines, fees and
assessments were $200.
-Juan Escalante Her
nandez, 25, was convicted
of harassment constituting
domestic violence, a Class
B misdemeanor. Sentence
as follows: Joint Ways & represent. Smith said, “It is of 90 days jail time was sus
Means Committee, Senior an honor to retain these po pended and the defendant
House Member; Joint Ways sitions, and I am fortunate given 20 days jail time and
& Means Subcommittee to have a very experienced
on General Government, and efficient staff. We work
Co-Chair; Joint Ways & as a team and effectively
Means Subcommittee on balance all of the respon Heppner
Capital Construction; and sibilities.
Thursday. Jan. 10: Hep
Consum er Protection &
“The opportunity to pner C ham ber’s Annual
G overnm ent Efficiency serve on these committees Town and Country Com
Committee.
is a privilege. We expect munity Awards will be held
When asked about the to work hard to serve the at the Morrow County Fair
increased workload these people o f House District grounds and will begin at 6
committee appointments 57.”
p.m. with a no-host social
hour. Cornerstone Gallery
will be catering the meal
and will be serving the
“Ultimate Barbecue Feast,”
consisting o f barbecued
brisket, barbecued baby
back ribs, barbecued beans
with bacon, Al’s favorite
com bread muffins, oven-
A ribbon cutting will be held Friday, Jan. 11, at 10 roasted garlic and herb
a.m. for Scott Coe, Farmers Insurance agent, at 133 N. potatoes, vanilla ice cream
Main Street in Heppner.
with mint chocolate sauce
Coe will be renting space from Willow Creek Re and country straw berry
alty.
lemonade. The tickets will
Elks awards valuable student
scholarships
The Heppner Elks Lodge
#358 recently announced
the winners o f the Elks
Most Valu
ab le S tu
dent Schol-
a r s h i p
c o n te s t.
The schol
arships are
a w a rd e d
each year Bryce Fowler
to qualified
seniors based on scholar
ship, leadership, commu
nity service, extracurricular
activities, financial need
and an essay.
Local
ly, the Hep
pner lodge
a w a rd e d
three male
and three
female
s c h o la r
ships total Earl
ing $2,500. Propheter
The re
cipients are:
M en: F irs t, B ryce
Fowler, $700; second, Earl
Pictured are the 2013 chamber board members (L-K): John Gould (second VP), Matt Combe,
Michael Blauer, Kay Fowler, Kim Cutsfoth, Ann Murray, Nancy Snider (first VP) Taw ny Miles
(treasurer) and Jeff Bailey (president). -Contributedphoto
24 months bench probation.
Total fines, fees and assess
ments were $440.
-Suzanne Bergo, 28,
was convicted of Assault in
the Fourth Degree-Consti
tuting Domestic Violence,
a Class A misdemeanor;
sentence of 180 days jail
time was partly suspended
and the defendant given
five days jail time and 24
months bench probation.
Bergo was further con
victed of Criminal Trespass
in the First Degree, a Class
A misdemeanor. Sentence
of 180 days jail time was
partly suspended and the
defendant given five days
jail time and 24 months
bench probation. Total
fines, fees and assessments
were $ 1,606.
-Cheri Ann Sink, 41,
was convicted o f Failure
to Appear in the First De
gree, a Class C felony, and
sentenced to 24 months su
pervised probation, subject
to 120 sanction units with
60 jail units. Total fines,
fees and assessments were
$678.
-Wallace Gary Smith,
42, was convicted of Crimi
nal .Driving While Sus
pended or Revoked, a Class
A misdemeanor; sentence
of 180 days jail time was
suspended and the defen
dant given 36 months bench
probation. Smith was fur
ther convicted of Fleeing
or Attempting to Elude a
Police Officer, a Class A
misdemeanor; sentence of
180 days jail time was sus
pended and the defendant
given 36 months bench
probation. Fines, fees and
assessments totaled $600.
-M ichael Paul W il
liams, 32, was convicted
of three counts of Sexual
Abuse in the First Degree,
a Class B felony, and sen
tenced to 75 months prison
time on each count, two
counts to run consecutive
and the third count to run
concurrent, with credit for
time served and no consid
eration for early release.
Defendant was also given
10 years post-prison super
vision on each count, minus
time actually served. Wil
liams was further convicted
of one count of Coercion
and sentenced to 36 months
prison time with credit for
time served, to run con
current with other counts,
and three years post-prison
supervision. Fines, fees
and assessm ents totaled
$3,326.
Chamber Chatter
Farmers agent
opens Main Street
Heppner office
»
be $20 per person and will
be available for purchase.
The theme for this year is
“Our Community Volun
teers; Our Country Gold,”
and the sponsors are Ambre
Energy’s Morrow Pacific
Project and Portland Gen
eral Electric. Peterson’s
Jewelers will be donating
jewelry, with the winner to
be drawn sometime during
the evening.
Chamber lunch costs:
Effective Jan. 3, the weekly
lunch expense will be $10.
Mexican dinner
fundraiser planned
The Mustang softball
team will be having a din
ner to raise money for the
program during the home
basketball games versus
Pilot Rock on Friday, Jan.
18. Dinner will include a
tostada (a tradition^) Mexi-
I
can fried tortilla with top
pings), homemade salsa,
rice, beans, dessert and a
drink. The cost is $5 per
person. Proceeds will help
the Mustang softball team
purchase equipment and
gear for the 2013 season.