HEPPNER
G T
50¢
azette
imes
VOL. 134
NO. 20
8 Pages
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Irrigon teen drowns in
Columbia River
Despite efforts of lo-
cal law enforcement and
civilians, an Irrigon teen
drowned while swimming
in the Columbia River Sun-
day.
Sunday around 3:30
p.m., Morrow County Sher-
iff’s Office reports that a
marine deputy was loading
the department’s patrol boat
at the Irrigon Marina when
the deputy was notified
there was a swimmer in
distress in the area.
The deputy checked the
swim area but was unable
to locate 18-year-old Dylan
Jones of Irrigon.
Additional MCSO dep-
uties responded to assist in
the search for Jones.
MCSO also reported
that they launched a patrol
boat and, aided by sev-
eral fishermen in the area,
checked the area several
times.
Less than an hour later,
after their search turned up
no sign of Jones, Columbia
Dive Rescue arrived on the
scene and put a diver in the
water at 4:16 p.m.
At that point, officials
say, Jones was quickly re-
covered and CPR immedi-
ately started.
Jones was then trans-
ported to Good Shepherd
medical Center, where he
was pronounced deceased.
“Morrow County Ma-
rine Patrol would like to
remind everyone enjoying
the Columbia River during
this hot weather to use ex-
treme caution,” and MCSO
release stated, adding that
“the water temperature is
still in the low 60s on the
surface.”
Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon
Free at last...
It was with a sense of exhilaration that Heppner and Ione Class of 2015 graduates flipped tassles and tossed caps during their respective graduation ceremonies over the weekend. Ione
Community School celebrated its graduation Friday, June 5, while Heppner High School seniors received their dipolmas the following day. -Contributed photos
Heppner DMV to switch to
Thursday hours in July
After June 30, the Hep-
pner DMV (Driver and Mo-
tor Vehicles) office will be
open on Thursdays rather
than Tuesdays.
June 30 will be the
last Tuesday of operation
at the Heppner office, says
DMV representative David
House. The office will be
closed the following week
and will reopen July 9 to
begin the new Thursday
schedule.
Hours of operation will
remain the same, 9:30 a.m.
to 3:30 p.m. with closure
for lunch from 11:30 a.m.
to 12:30 p.m.
House says the change
is similar to changes DMV
has made in other offices
with a one-day-a-week
schedule, and is intended
to increase convenience
for customers. He says
other offices that have made
the change have experi-
enced noticeably shorter
wait times when moved to
Thursday hours of opera-
tion.
When asked about ru-
mors that the Heppner of-
fice will no longer offer the
drive test, House says DMV
Out with the old, in
with the new…
had considered cutting the
test from Heppner’s offer-
ings but decided against it.
For now, the Heppner DMV
will still offer drive tests by
appointment for Class C
driver’s licenses.
Heppner DMV is lo-
cated at 54173 Hwy 74,
Heppner (the old Kinzua
Mill office). Phone number
is 541-676-5165.
Ione gets ready to sizzle this Fourth of July
The Fourth of July is
less than a month away, and
the City of Ione is in high
gear with a full schedule of
events for the weekend.
First, the fireworks be-
gin with the 2015 Red,
White and Blues Texas
Hold’em Poker and Crib-
bage tournament on Sat-
urday, June 20, at the Ione
Legion Hall.
The event begins with
a barbecue chicken meal by
donation at 5 p.m., drinks
available from Route 74.
Tournament sign-up
begin at 6 p.m. with play
at 6:30. Poker buy-ins are
$40, with a $20 cribbage
buy-in. No late buy-ins al-
lowed. Cash prizes will be
awarded.
For more poker infor-
mation, contact Arlynda
Gates at 541-422-7534 or American Legion members proudly bear the colors during
2014 Fourth of July parade. Ione is gearing up for an-
gatesarlynda@hotmail. the
other celebration next month. -File photo by Megan Futter
com. For more on the crib-
Celebrate Heppner Event Schedule
June 12, 2015
9am–4pm: Merchant Sidewalk Sale – make sure to check inside for special sales.
Murray’s: 9am-4pm
Artisan Village: 9am-3pm
Peterson’s Jewelers: 9am-4pm
10am–2pm: Farmer’s Market – Heppner City Park
11am-3pm: Mini Carnival for kids and a prize wheel for adults – Community
Bank
11:30am–1pm: Community barbecue sponsored by Bank of Eastern Oregon –
area between Heppner Branch and Administrative Offices
Vendors: Community Flea Market/Craft Fair/Fundraisers:
8:30am–2pm: Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) will be having a
baked goods fundraiser in front of Hair I Am.
ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE:
MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M.
bage tournament, call Betty
Gray at 541-422-7335.
Next, kick off the
Fourth of July celebration
on July 3 at Willow Creek
Country Club in Heppner
with the annual golf tour-
nament.
Play begins at 9 a.m.
Cost is $50 per player,
which includes lunch, bev-
erages, snacks while play-
ing, and prizes.
Sign up by contact-
ing Russ Seewald at Bank
of Eastern Oregon Ione
Branch, 541-422-7466, or
Craig Holland at 509-330-
0297.
Players may sign up
individually or as a team.
All of the proceeds go to
scholarships for seniors at
Ione Community School.
Watch the Gazette for
more information on Ione
Fourth of July celebration.
Morrow County’s Lexington Airport has been the successful
recipient of Dept. of Transportation ConnectOregon V funds.
ConnectOregon was created in 2005 by the Oregon Legislature
to invest the proceeds of lottery-backed bonds in grants and
loans to non-highway transportation projects that promote
economic development in Oregon. With this fifth infusion,
ConnectOregon V, the legislature has provided a total of $382
million in ConnectOregon funding that has paid to construct
dozens of projects across the state. Lexington Airport has
received the funds to help purchase and install a new 35-foot
tipdown pole and beacon light. –Contributed photo
Boardman adopts 2015-2016
city, URA budgets
During their June 2
meetings, the Boardman
City Council adopted the
2015-2016 city budget of
$16,330,515 and the Urban
City property taxes will
Renewal Agency adopted be levied at a rate of $4.2114
its 2015-2016 budget of
-See BOARDMAN BUD-
$2,732,100.
GETS/PAGE EIGHT
SUMMER IS HERE SALE!
ALL ANNUALS,
30 %
BEDDING
PLANTS AND
GARDEN SEEDS OFF
Morrow County Grain Growers Green Feed & Seed
242 W. Linden Way, Heppner • 676-9422 • 989-8221 (MCGG main office)