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FOUR - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, July 1, 2015 APARTMENT FIRE Charred ruins are all that remain of apartments some local residents called home. –Photo by David Sykes -Continued from PAGE ONE have only lived in Hep- I didn’t know they were burned yet.” Silvia’s burns turned out to be severe enough to keep him off his feet for a while; he now rolls around in a wheelchair at his tem- porary home at Northwest- ern Motel in Heppner. His grandmother was worse off, having to be flown by air ambulance to a burn center later than night. Last he heard, she was conscious and talking. Of her condi- tion, he says, “She alive. Not alive and well, not alive and good, but alive.” Silvia and his grand- mother were the only re- ported injuries in the fire. Others were away from home when the fire started. Joe and Marti Koerner said they had gone to a friend’s house for dinner. They had seen no sign of fire when they left their apartment, Joe Korner said, but no more than 10 minutes had passed when their friend said, “There’s smoke com- ing from the top of the hill. You’d better go save your dogs.” The Koerners, who pner eight months, did save their dogs. They also count themselves as among the lucky ones, since their apartment was among the least damaged. By the time the last firefighters cleared the scene around 11 p.m. Saturday night, two apart- ments had been completely destroyed and two had re- ceived heavy damage from smoke and water. Two oth- ers received minor damage and two appear to have been undamaged, MCSO reports. Joe Koerner said he was amazed how quickly the blaze spread. “If the firefighters hadn’t kept water on it, the whole building would have gone,” he said. “The fire- fighters did their best. It’s amazing they could save as much as they did.” Tuesday morning, the building inspector declared three of the apartments to be livable, which means those tenants will be able to move back in. However, the remaining five, which suffered the heaviest dam- age, will take much longer to restore. That leaves many of the apartment residents displaced for now. Some, like the Koerners, expect to be able to move back in and pick up the pieces with comparatively little trouble now that their apartments have been given the all- clear. Others lost everything in the fire. All suffered tem- porarily in limbo, relying on the kindness of others to provide daily needs. Fortunately, that kind- ness was quick in com- ing. While some who were displaced by the fire had relatives and friends to turn to, others had nowhere to go. Many of them found a haven at the Northwestern Motel in Heppner, where employee Melba Folck- omer says the local refu- gees have six rooms, many residents having to double up. Folckomer also said someone donated the use of an RV, while the motel donated the RV spot across the street. “It’s good to see people come together like this,” says Folckomer. The American Red Cross stepped forward and paid for the hotel rooms for three nights, but Neigh- borhood Center Execu- tive Director Lisa Patton says it may be up to the community to pick up the slack once that aid runs out. The Neighborhood Cen- ter has already started the process, opening its doors on Sunday so those who lost possessions in the fire could come and get clothing and food. That assistance will continue, she said, as well as help furnishing apartments once they’re repaired. Monetary donations have also been coming in; Patton says the Neighbor- hood Center board will meet Wednesday to decide how best to use those funds to help people find places to live until they can move back into their apartments. “Everyone’s in agree- ment about helping,” adds Patton, “the only question is how much and where it should go.” Patton said some sug- gestions for those who would like to help include not only cash donations toward housing but also gift cards from the grocery store. The Neighborhood Center, she says, would be happy to receive donations and distribute them as need- ed. “The Neighborhood Center will do everything in our capacity to help them,” she says. The residents, some of whom still appear in shock, say they appreciate the kindness of their neighbors. “It’s a wonderful feel- ing to know people care,” says Joe Koerner. Oregon State Fire Mar- shal’s office, the Heppner Fire Department, and the Morrow County Sheriff’s Office are still looking into the cause of the fire. While the cause of the fire hasn’t been conclusively deter- mined, Heppner Fire Chief Rusty Estes says investiga- tion so far indicates the fire may have been caused by an improperly discarded cigarette. As of press time, the investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is encouraged to call the Mor- row County Sheriff’s Office at 541-676-5317. Red Cross seeks local volunteers The American Red Cross is seeking community members to be trained as disaster services volunteers. Available volunteer opportunities include disaster action team member, preparedness presenter/outreach worker, fire prevention team smoke alarm installer, fire prevention team educator, Disaster mental health vol- unteer, government liaison volunteer, sheltering team member, disaster health services volunteer, and more. Please contact Lisa Stroup, Executive Director, for more information at lisa.stroup@redcross.org, or go on- line to register at www.redcross.org/cascades. The Red Cross is seeking disaster services volunteers to help their communities in times of need. -Contributed photo Over the Tee Cup It was a hot day for the 17 ladies who showed up for the ladies play day at Willow Creek Country Club on June 30. Despite the heat, Virginia Grant took low gross of the field, Tiffani Clements had low net, and Betty Burns had least putts. Fir Flight A, Eva Kilkenny walked away with low gross, while Karen Thompson had low net. On Flight B, Lorrene Montgomery had low gross, Sarah Rucker low net and Shirley Martin least putts. For Flight C, low gross went to Judy Harris, low net to Jackie Allstott and least putts to Kris Lindner. Chips-ins were Judy Harris #18, Kris Lindner #16, and Karen Thompson two times on #10. Chamber lunch meeting The next lunch meeting of the Heppner Chamber of Commerce will be an all entities report this Thursday, July 2, at noon in Heppner City Hall conference room. Cost of lunch is $10. Chamber lunch attendees are asked to RSVP at 541- 676-5536 no later than the Wednesday before to guarantee a lunch. Heppner FFA to HHS announces semester honor roll 11 Grade—Jessica Logan Grieb 4.0, Taylor Eighth Grade—Madi- Heppner Jr/Sr. High attend national School has announced stu- K e m p k e n 4 . 0 , S k y l e r Hamby 4.0, Kevin Murray son Combe 4.0, Jacee Cur- dents named to the 2015-16 Palmer 4.0, Kai Arbogast, 4.0, Demitra Schmidt 4.0, rin 4.0, Jaiden Mahoney 2 Honor Roll. Patrick Collins, Weston Kane Sweeney, Caden Hed- 4.0, Hunter Nichols 4.0, convention in Kentucky Semester Students are listed by grade Putman, Rylee Wagoner, man, Jacob Lindsay, Clyde Olivia Schmidt 4.0, Leo th A group of young men and women from Heppner High School FFA will be attending the FFA National Convention in Louisville, KY in October. The at- tendees are Rylee Kollman, Caitlynn Bailey, Alex Lind- say, Katlyn Harper, Tim Gould, Taylor Nelson and Nichole Shaw. To help pay for trip ex- penses, this group of young adults will be doing several fundraising events over the next few months. To kick off these events, Thursday, July 9, FFA will host a dinner at the Heppner Elk’s Lodge. Dinner will be at 6 p.m. and they will be serving pork loin, cheesy potatoes, rolls and a desert for $15 a plate. Bent on Blues July 6 at Music in the Parks Bent on Blues July 6 at the Irrigon Marina Park, Bent On Blues will honor our veterans dur- ing Music in the Parks. The group says it’s dedicated to playing and performing originals and classics tastefully inter- preted and presented in ways guaranteed to “Git yer mojo workin” and “yer hips a-shakin, baby.” All performances will be on Monday evenings. All performances are free, with funding provided by Morrow County Unified Recreation District and Portland General Electric. Performances in both parks will be in the Picnic areas. To get to Irrigon Ma- rina Park from Highway 730, turn north toward the river on 10 th St. For in- formation, contact Renee, 541-922-1560. Community lunch menu Lunch on Wednesday, July 1, at St. Patrick’s Senior Center will include cheeseburgers, potato chips, coleslaw, broccoli salad, and a red, white and blue dessert. Lunch on Wednesday, July 8, at St. Patrick’s Senior Center will include fish and chips, a seven-layer salad, bread sticks, and strawberry shortcake. Milk is served at each meal. Suggested donation is $3.50 per meal. Menu is subject to change. as follows: 1 2 th G r a d e — P a i g e Grieb 4.0, Maddie Lindsay 4.0, Jenny Marick 4.0, Jo- seph Schmidt 4.0, Ella Mc- Cormick, Makenzi Hughes, Erica Nelson. Rylee Kollman, Tommy Bredfield, Sydney Maben, William Lutcher, Kaelyn Lindsay. 10th Grade—Kolby Currin 4.0, Kellie Eadler 4.0, Bryan Fowler 4.0, Britt, Emily Cecil, Riane Dompier. Ninth Grade—Cara Arbogast 4.0, Sophie Grant 4.0, Reiah Waite 4.0, Mor- gan Correa, Alex Lindsay. Waite 4.0, Carson Bros- nan, Keegan Gibbs, Claire Grieb. Seventh Grade—Kel- len Grant 4.0, Nicole Propheter 4.0, Jason Rea. FSA county committee nomination period in Morrow County now open Heppner—Morrow County USDA Farm Ser- vice Agency (FSA) Execu- tive Director Kyle Carnine, announced that the nomina- tion period for local FSA county committees began on June 15. Nomination forms must be postmarked or received in the Morrow County FSA Office by close of business on Aug. 3. “County Committees are unique to FSA and allow producers to have a voice on federal farm program implementation at the local level,” said Carnine. To be eligible to serve on the FSA county com- mittee, a person must par- ticipate or cooperate in an agency administered program, be eligible to vote in a county committee elec- tion and reside in the Local Administrative Area (LAA) where they are nominated. This year, nominations and elections will be held in LAA 1, which includes the northern portion of Mor- row County and the Butter Creek area. Producers may nomi- nate themselves or others as candidates. Organiza- tions representing minority and women farmers and ranchers may also nomi- nate candidates. To be- come a nominee, eligible individuals must sign form FSA-669A. The form and more information about county committee elections is available online at www. fsa.usda.gov/elections. Elected county com- mittee members serve a three-year term and are responsible for making decisions on FSA disaster, conservation, commodity and price support programs, as well as other important federal farm program is- sues. County committees consist of three to 11 mem- bers. “It is important that county committees are comprised of members who fairly represent the diverse demographics of produc- tion agriculture for their community,” said Carnine. “All producers, including women, minority and be- ginning farmers and ranch- ers are encouraged to par- ticipate in the nomination and election process.” FSA will mail election ballots to eligible voters beginning Nov. 9. Ballots are due back in the Morrow County office by mail or in person no later than Dec. 7. All newly-elected county committee members and alternates will take office January 1, 2016. “Nominating potential county committee mem- bers, voting for candidates and serving on the com- mittees are truly services to your community and the agriculture industry,” said Carnine. “County Com- mittee members make im- portant decisions on how federal farm programs are administered locally to best serve local needs and inter- ests.” For more information about county committees, contact the Morrow County FSA office at 541-676-9011 or visit www.fsa.usda.gov/ elections. Murray's Bridal Registry Trevor Rhea & Mollie Henderson Wedding - July 11 Laurie Murray & Sean Wood September 5, 2015 WE ALSO HAVE A BABY REGISTRY To set up a bridal table or baby registry contact Lori Snyder 541-676-9158 Murray's Drug, 217 N. Main, Heppner • Phone 676-9158 Have a news story or photo for the Gazette? e-mail editor@rapidserve.net call 541-676-9228 or stop by the office on Willow St., Heppner Today