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)