Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (May 14, 2014)
I I Bessie Wetzell Newspaper Library University of Oregon Eugene. OK 9'403 VOL. 133 NO. 19 10 Pages Fire department planning for new hall Wednesday, May 14, 2014 Morrow County, Heppner, School board approves teacher raises Morrow County ratifies three percent increase in contract re-opener ‘ By April Sykes The Morrow County School B oard, at th eir regular meeting at A.C. H oughton E lem en tary School in Irrigon Monday night, ratified a three- percent increase in teachers’ salaries in a contract “re opener.” The raise increases teachers’ salaries to $33,690 at the lowest step, for a ’ teacher with a bachelor’s degree and no additional college credits, to $60,517 at the highest, for a teacher with a master’s degree and 45 college credit hours. According to information released by the district, the school work year will not exceed 190 days with no more than 179 student contact days, three Heppner to crack down on ‘nuisance9dogs Af t er mul t i pl e com plaints about dogs running free, barking and owners failing to clean up animal waste, the City of Heppner soon will begin to focus on enforcing the dog ordinances. The city reminds dog owners that dogs are not permitted at any time to run at large anyw here out-of-doors in the city, including all public places and all private property except a yard that has a fence that will prevent the dog from leaving the yard. A dog running at large is considered a nuisance. Any unlicensed dog caught while running at large will be taken to Pet Rescue. It is also unlawful to allow an animal to disturb people in the v ic in ity though continued noise and loud barking. Both of these offences incur a $100 fine. The city o f Heppner also reminds pet owners that it is illegal for an owner or keeper to allow a dog to deposit solid waste on any property other than that o f the person controlling the animal. No fines will be issued if the person c o n tro llin g the anim al promptly removes the solid waste, but the penalty for failure to clean up after an animal is $50. C itizen s concerned about nuisance animals in their neighborhoods are encouraged to contact the Morrow County SherrifTs Office. “The City of Heppner fully supports pet owners,” says Heppner City Manager Kim Cutsforth. “We just ask that you control your pet to help us maintain a healthy town for all of the citizens’ enjoyment.” Finally, all dogs over six months old are required to be licensed by March 31 annually. Getting to know your exchange students Vicky Gluderer my first (host) family, I saw Age 17, Junior, lone the Oregon coast. With the W here are y o u f r o m ? Rietmanns, I went skiing Quickborn, and to California.” Germany; a town of “ You w o u ld about 20,000 people th in k G e rm a n y about 20 minutes and h ere w ould from H am b u rg , be the same, but Germany. they’re not. They Host Parents: Jerry (the peoplej look and Lisa Rietmann Vicky the same, listen to (sin ce leavin g a Gluderer the sam e m usic, B o a rd m a n h o s t and eat kind of the family in February) same food, but.... School What do you think o f lone/ is really different. The Morrow County? laws, what is allowed and “lone is pretty small w hat’s not, th at’s really c o m p ared to w h ere I different. I’d be like, ‘Wait, live but I like it because that’s allowed here?’ and everyone knows everyone. they’d be like, ‘Wait, that’s The town I’m from is small allowed there?”’ for Germany. I really like it What was the most difficult (here).” thing about this experience? How has the experience “ Leaving family and been for you? friends at home and not “Amazing! I saw so being able to talk to them many things. W ith my a lot because of the time organization. I was five days d iffe re n c e . W hen I ’m -See EXCHANGE STU- in New York, Washington DENT/PAGE THREE D.C., Philadelphia. With G-T closed Memorial Day The Heppner Gazette-Times office will be closed Memorial Day, May 26, for the holiday. All news and ad deadlines will be Friday, May 23, by 5 p.m. The newspaper office will reopen on Tuesday, May 27. ! I . t in-service days, four work days and four holidays, in c lu d in g L ab o r Day, Veterans Day, Memorial Day and Presidents Day. However, from 1998- 99 on, becau se o f the institution o f the four-day student week in Morrow County, under Article 15, the school calendar specifies that there w ill be only 150 student contact days, six employee in-service days, four employee work days, four paid holidays, six additional four-hour Fridays and 18 hours total for conferences to be added by the building principal. The board approved changes in snow days with the district now setting aside a makeup day within the school calendar. Now, for each full snow day, the staff is expected to work half of that time. For one snow day, the staff will work four hours on the set- aside day; for two snow days, the staff is to work eight hours on the set-aside day, for example. The yearly steps, which were also increased by three percent, start at $199 for the first step, for first-year teachers with no additional credits, to $358 for step 16 for teachers with a master’s and 45 credit hours. From the 10,h to the 14lh year step increases will amount to $250; 15th-19th year-$400; 20,h-24,t' year- $550; 25th-29th year-$700; 30th year on-$850. I n s u r a n c e b e n e fit costs were not included in the salary amounts. The district will also provide up to $1,200 per month in in su ra n c e b e n e fits for licensed em ployees (teachers) from October 1, 2014, to September 30, 2015. T he b o a rd a ls o approved an increase in substitute teacher pay to $171.52 per day. Also at the meeting, th e d is tr i c t r e le a s e d information on coaches’ sa la ry s c h e d u le s. For 3-A schools, the athletic director earns $3,592 a year at the first step, step 0, to $4,354 at step four; head coaches-$3,375 to $4,245; JV coaches-$2,612-$3,048; head golf and tennis-$2,775-$3,375; third assistant or C-team golf and tennis-$ 1,741-$2,177. For 2-A schools, the athletic director earns $2,775 at step 0 to $3,375 for step four; head coaches and cheerleading coach-$2,722-$3,886; JV coaches, head golf, tennis and w restling-$2,177-$2,880; t hi r d a s s is ta n t or C -team co ach es (g o lf, tennis )-$ 1,274-$ 1,695. Junior high coaches start at $1,190 for the head -See SCHOOL DISTRICT TALKS SALARIES/PAGE EIGHT The Heppner fire department looks to build a new facility on this vacant lot next to the present fire hall on Willow Street. - Photo by David Sykes By David Sykes The Heppner Rural Fire Department has begun the process o f planning for a new fire hall, the city council was told at its monthly meeting Monday night. C o u n c il m em b er C orey Sweeney said a three-member committee co m p rised o f him self, Dean R obinson, Steve Rhea and Jay Keithley has been appointed to begin the planning and find funding for the new building. The three-bay facility is to be located on property owned by the city next to the current fire hall. Sweeney said they currently have $20,000 and have contacted an architect and will soon be writing grants to cover the cost of the facility. Fire Chief Rusty Estes said since the building is located close to the back side o f M urray’s Drug b u ild in g , it w ill need brick walls on those sides, causing a higher price. In other business the council heard a report from Judy Buschke o f the St. Patrick’ s senior housing center, who said they still have three vacancies at the apartment complex located in downtown Heppner. She also said Les Paustian had been appointed to the housing board o f directors. C ity M anager Kim Cutsforth gave a report to the council and said the Sperry St. Bridge was successfully removed by the Oregon Department of Transportation last week. She also said paving on some city streets was supposed to start this week but a problem with the paver’s certification caused the work to be delayed until next week. C u tsfo rth said she is still w orking on the Riverside basketball court and is seeking donations at this time. She said local rancher Brian Thompson donated the tilling to break up the tu rf and make it easier for excavation. S he s a id s e v e r a l contractors are bidding on the work and that the Willow Creek Park District will take over the project and begin the construction phase. Cutsforth reported that she had finished the city’s Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan and it was well received and that it was good enough to be recommended as an example for other cities. In other business the city approved a cost o f living increase for city employees of 2.5 percent, and voted to keep Barnett & Moro, PC as the city’s auditors for the coming year. Sheriff’s Report for April Traffic- There were 13 traffic stops, resu ltin g in one citation. There was one driving complaint. A deputy investigated a motor vehicle crash. MCSO received one parking complaint. Code Enforcement- Ten animal calls were rep o rted . One cat was transported to Pet Rescue. Deputies worked on seven city code violations c o n c e rn in g tra s h and abandoned vehicles. Theft Complaints- A person reported an online scam w here the complainant lost money. The gas station reported a drive-off. A deputy is in v e s tig a tin g . M CSO investigated a burglary of a residence. All Other- A resident contacted M CSO re g a rd in g a t r e s p a s s in g / p r o p e r ty line dispute. A deputy conducted a welfare check on a person. Everything was fine. There were six suspicious persons/vehicle calls. All were unfounded. M C SO D e p u tie s a s s is te d C o m m u n ity Counseling Solutions with a suicidal juvenile. A resident called MCSO and spoke with a deputy regarding a custody issue. MCSO deputies warned a group of juveniles about curfew. A p erso n rep o rte d juveniles riding bicycles in front of vehicles. A deputy was unable to locate the juveniles. MCSO responded to four domestic dispute calls. A juvenile was arrested by MCSO for Attempted Arson 1 and Harassment. MCSO is investigating a resid en tial burglary. An adult was arrested by MCSO for Assault 4. A person reported an assault. A deputy responded and located the suspect. The victim declined to pursue charges. M CSO d e p u tie s assisted with a funeral escort. Deputies responded to a false alarm call. Primary ballots due Tuesday Morrow County voters should have received their ballots for the prim ary election. All ballots are due by 8 p.m. Election Day, Tuesday, May 20. Ballots must be received, not simply postmarked, on that day. For voter convenience, 24-hour drop boxes are located throughout the county. Locations are as follows: Heppner: Courthouse parking lot (24 hours) or 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 (May 20) 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 parking lot. Open 24 hours. lone: Spring St. (in front o f the turn to 3rd Street). Open 24 hours. B o a r d m a n : NW Boardman Ave. (24 hours). Irrigon: 205 NE 3rd St. (Irrigon Annex). Open 24 hours. G-T offers chance to say good luck to grads The G azette-T im es will feature a senior page for both H eppner and lone graduates with their senior pictures included on Wednesday, May 28, with signatures of people and businesses wishing them well. All graduates will be included; the deadline to be included among well- w ishers is Friday, May 23. Please call 541-676- 9228 or email megan@ rapidserve.net to have your name or business included. Cost is $10. W E E K S R O SE S OX S A L E Morrow County Grain Growers Green Feed A Seed 242 W. Llndan Way, Happnar • 676-9422 • 989-8221 (MCGO main offlea)
