Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (June 26, 2013)
SIX - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, June 26,2013 Housing Rehabilitation Program helps Heppner couple lone proudly presents Music in the Park, featuring Frank Carlson, on Wednes day, July 3, at 7 p.m., im mediately following the talent show, which begins at 6 p.m. “Frank croons like Si natra and rocks like Elvis,” says one fan. “His rendition of "Pretty Woman'will have you out of your seats and dancing." He sings the songs ev eryone knows the words to, and does requests if he has the music with him. To date, Carlson has released four More funds available for county homeowners site because of later addi By Andrea Di Salvo Area homeow ners w ho tions, Shannon said, but need help making repairs the couple is try ing to keep and upgrades to their hous every thing as close to the es may get a helping hand original as possible. thanks to a speeial grant. That’s something that Morrow County has David VanDerlip, execu been awarded a $400,000 tive director Oregon Rural Community Development Housing Services, appreci Block Grant from Oregon ates. VanDerlip oversees Business Development De the loan program locally, partment for housing reha and says repair specifica bilitation projects through tions for loan recipients out the county. The program in older houses need to is providing no-interest, be approved by the State deferred-payment loans to Historic Preservation Of qualified low- and mod fice, a branch of Parks and erate-income households Recreation. for housing rehabilitation “ T hose houses are works o f art and they can’t activities. These activities include be replicated,” VanDerlip work to correct health, says. While the Shannons' safety and structural defi ciencies; conserve energy; home may be a work of art, and install accessibility age and wear had made it upgrades such as ramps and an uncomfortable place to railing. live. At the same time, the “ M orrow County is Shannons had used their pleased to be able to pro meager savings to pay off vide this opportunity to the house, which left them our residents,” says Mor with only Social Security row County Commissioner for income and little left LeAnn Rea. “We brought over to make repairs. Don this program to the county looked into a reverse mort in 2004 and have seen hous gage, but found that the ing stock improve in our interest rate would have communities.” left them too far in debt, One Heppner couple, with little or no equity left Don and Jo Ann Shannon, in the house. knows firsthand the changes That’s when they got a that can be flyer in the made with mail, one of one o f the two mailings loans. The V anD erlip S hannons said w ent bought their out inform house on the in g lo c a l c o rn e r o f re s id e n ts Water and ab o u t th e Jones when grant. Don and Jo Ann Shannon. they moved to Heppner tu r n e d it in August of 2006, w hen back in that same day," Don “retired" from the min says Shannon. istry as a Southern Baptist The Shannons ended up preacher. receiving a loan for $26,000 The house was built worth of improvements and 1898; 77-year-old Don repairs. They don’t have to Shannon says it still con pay interest on the loan, tains a washbasin from they said, and, though they 1916 and a bath with claw are not allowed to use the legs from 1928. loan on a rental property, “There’s still some old they don’t have to pay it stuff hanging 'round be oft' until they move or sell sides me,” he jokes. the house. When the Kinzua mill The list of repairs is in Heppner was in opera lengthy. The Shannons first tion, the building served as got a new roof. Broken a rental, with three apart pipes meant no water at the ments in the house and a back of the house, and they fourth in a cottage to the were able to fix that dam side. The building can’t be aged plumbing. They got a registered as a historical new hot water heater, rain Carlson to croon at lone A new roof lakes shape on the Shannon's home on the corner of Jones and Water in Heppner. The Shannons were able to replace their roof, among other things, with the loan money they received from the block grant. Contributed photo gutters and leaf guards, and money for paint, though they had to do the painting themselves. Though that list is im pressive, one of the things that made the greatest dif ference in their lives was the installation of a heat pump. The house previously had no central heating system; they blocked off the back of the house and lived in the front, using shop heaters to warm their living space. Even with limited use, the heaters were expensive. “ It has already cut down on electric,” Shan non says. “ First w inter w e'v e been comfortable since we lived here,” Jo Ann, 74, adds. The couple says they are grateful for the hand up to make their situation more livable. “Made it a lot easier if you need repairs done and don't have the money," says Shannon. David VanDerlip, exec utive director Oregon Rural Housing Services, says he hasn’t gotten as many appli cations as he hoped, though there have been some takers in the county. At last count, almost a quarter of the grant money, about $75,000, was yet to be handed out, he said. Greater Eastern Oregon Development Corporation (GEODC), a non-profit econom ic developm ent organization serving seven counties in Eastern Oregon, has been assisting Mor row County with project requirements. Karen Kendall, project coordinator for GEODC, says, “ W e're pleased to work with Morrow Coun ty, Oregon Rural Housing Services, Inc. and Oregon Business Development De partment to provide the housing rehabilitation pro gram this year in Morrow County.” Kendall says that, in Morrow and Umatilla coun ties, they have provided rehabilitation services to more than 190 homes. In addition to county and city sponsors, other agencies who have participated in the program include Oregon Business Development De partment, Community Ac tion Program Eastern Coun ties of Oregon (CAPECO), USDA Rural Development and Oregon Housing & Community Services. “These partnerships help leverage grant funds and assist residents with their housing needs,” Ken dall says. “It’s exciting to see this opportunity once again available to residents in Morrow County.” The deadline to com plete work on these projects is Dec. 31 o f this year; however, it takes some time to get homeow ners through the application process and set them up with a contrac tor, so interested parties should start the process as soon as possible. Anyone interested in finding out more informa tion on the program or obtaining an application, contact VanDerlip at 541- 259-6840. VanDerlip is available to meet with hom eowners and work through the application process. CDs, which those who en joy his music can purchase for $I5 each. Notably, Carlson was the first runner-up in the first-ever American Co-op Idol contest held in New Orleans, LA in 2008. His real job is an engineering aid at OTECC in Baker City, OR. “Don’t miss out on this free, super entertainment,” says one event coordina tor. “Bring your lawn chairs and dancing shoes and come out for a good time.” Are ewe ready for fair? lone Community Livestock 4-H Member Ivy Sand ford poses with her market lamb, Michael Jordan. Ivy is the daughter of Rick and Sylvia Sandl'ord of lone, and will show and sell her lamb at the I00,h Morrow County Fair in August. Photo by Erin Heideman Farmer’s market sees rainy start A View from the Hill Above: Vendors and shoppers alike braved the rain and cold on the first day of the 2013 Willow Creek Valley farmer's market By Doris Brosnan walk brought back memo dents will be considering Craber's wonderful recipe. at the city park. Below: Members of the Tyce Triumph Club Yes, the view of Willow ries of that history-making their five (or six?) senses Concern about calories is stopped at the HcppncrCity Park on Friday, June 21, on their Creek Terrace has become day, as well as a growing list during discussions, and not an option. way to Baker City from Seattle. Twelve cars made the stop to more colorful because May of changes witnessed since the adventurous ones will Ice cream on the warm, peruse the local farmer's market. Photos by April Svkes showers did bring a variety of blossoms to the flow erbeds, with the promise of more to come. And the garden shows promise, too, to anyone who ventures out for a look between June showers. Truly an unusual spring and beginning o f summer in Heppner, Or egon. However, residents of the Terrace do not lack for activities w hile waiting for warmer, dry er weather. Thanks to their loyal vol unteers, every day of the week offers an opportunity that brightens the day for participants: Bingo; piano music; a trip for socializing and dining at the senior meal site; reading and dis cussing the Gazette-Times; seasonal crafts; games; Sat urday matinees; and library book exchange. The daily exercise and discussion is both physical ly and mentally stimulating, too. When the group learned that June 3 is designated as “Cancer Survivor Day,” they discovered through sharing that several resi dents are cancer survivors, some from more than one fight against the disease. The discussion on the an niversary of the first space then. That June 3 discussion also focused on the 80lh anniversary of the drive-in movie, w hich brought more than a few giggles and red faces. (Readers may want to explain the drive-in movie to grandchildren.) On Flag Day, a dis cussion of respect for the American Flag was fol lowed with a discussion of family histories because June 14 is also designated “Family History Day." Liz Bueller found this topic of special interest, as she was involved with genealogy and a history publication for many years. The 65th anniversary of The Ed Sullivan Show on June 20 reminded the group that they watched that long-running show on their first TV sets, leading, of course, to discussion of that changing industry. The official “First Day of Summer" brought some laughs and com plaints, since it was a rainy, cool day, but June 21 was also the “ U gliest Dog Day," so many residents remem bered especially ugly dogs they had had and loved. This week is on the calendar as “Celebration of the Senses" week, so resi- be blindfolded and asked to identify some items by using all but their sense of sight. And on “Handshake Day,” June 27, the group will contemplate the mean ing and importance o f a handshake. Through the month of June and coming in July, the mantra visitors might have heard and will continue to hear is the familiar “You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice cream!” July will continue the pattern begun this month with “Chocolate Ice Cream Day," “Banana Split Festi val," and "Ice Cream Soda Day.” These special days are opportunities to build your own concoctions and make ice cream using Gordon I t ' s dry days of summer will be refreshing, and so will be the Music-in-the-Parks concerts that residents will be traveling to in July and August. This year, Heppner is added to the list of sites for these free concerts. Since all apartments are now rented at the Terrace, the group who travels may be a full busload. Sometime soon, the residents who enjoy occa sionally cooking or baking in the kitchen will be able to do so on new countertops and find ingredients in new cupboards. The new floor will be a nice update, too, for staff and residents. The The Boardman Cham Community on the Hill ber of Commerce is spon views their home as impor soring a horseshoe tourna tant, and all improvements ment during the Boardman welcome. Thunder Fourth of July Cel ebration at the Boardman Marina Park on Thursday, July 4 at 1 p.m. H e p p n e r G a z e tte - The entry fee is $5 per T im e s will b e pub lishing person, with the first- and the s p e c ia l fair editio n second-place winners re A u g u s t 7. To sub m it ceiving ribbons and a 50 a rticle s or to p la c e an ad call o r e m a il m e g a n percent pay-back. The more Boardman to hold horseshoe tournament almost fair time ! at T h e H e p p n e r G a z e tte -T im e s 5 4 1 - 6 7 6 - 9 2 2 8 or m e g a n @ ra p id s e r v e net D e a d lin e to b e in c lu d e d in the S p e c ia l F a ir E d ition - July 31 L entries, the more money there will be to be won. This event has been goin^: on for many years, and chamber representa tives say'they are looking forward to a great turn-out again this year. Registration will begin just prior to the tournament. For more information, call the Boardman chamber at 541-481-3014. ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE: MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M. J I I
