Summer days and country ways...
HEPPNER
G T
50¢
azette
imes
VOL. 134
NO. 30
8 Pages
Bikeway
ride set
for Sept.
19-20
The fourth annual Blue
Mountain Century Ride is
set for Sept 19-20 this year.
The ride is hosted by
local bikeway leaders and
starts Sept. 19 with a shuttle
from Heppner to Ukiah,
where the ride begins. The
first day ends back in Hep-
pner with a barbecue dinner.
The morning of Sept. 20 the
riders head back to Ukiah.
At the end of the day, a
shuttle will take cyclists
and bikes back to Heppner.
The ride route allows riders
to stay in the same hotel
or campsite for Friday and
Saturday nights.
The Oregon Parks and
Recreation Dept. refers to
the Blue Mountain Century
Scenic Bikeway as one of
the best-of-the-best road
bike routes in Oregon. The
bikeway offers some of the
most remote and extreme
road riding in Oregon, so
riders will be especially
glad for the lunch and water
supplied and carried by the
ride organizers. Also part of
the fully-supported bicycle
tour are sag wagons, food
and mechanic support.
The cost, including ride
support and barbecue din-
ner, one lunch and sag sup-
port is $75. More informa-
tion and registration details
are available at http://www.
heppnerchamber.com/rec-
reation-cycling.
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon
Barry Munkers puts together new bleachers in preparation for the Morrow County Fair next
week, Aug. 19-23. A special 28-page Fair and Rodeo section is included in this week’s Heppner
Gazette-Times. The section contains articles, interviews, photos and other information about
the upcoming Morrow County Fair and Rodeo. -Photo by David Sykes
Local youth get experience of a
lifetime as Ambassadors of Music
By Andrea Di Salvo
A group of local youth
recently had the experience
of a lifetime when they
spent several weeks tour-
ing and performing music
in Europe.
The students went with
a group called the Oregon
Ambassadors of Music.
Three Ione students, Austin
Morter, Oskar Peterson and
Miranda Taylor, partici-
pated in the band segment
of the trip. Skyler Hawks
of Heppner, participating in
choir, rounded out the local
contingent.
While the Gazette-
Times wasn’t able to con-
nect with Hawks, we did
get the change to sit down
with the Ione students and
talk about their trip.
Before heading out to
Europe, the four South
Morrow students went to
Portland on June 29 to par-
ticipate in orientation and
group practice with the oth-
er Oregon youth set to em-
bark on the trip. The Ione
students said they didn’t
see much of Hawks, who
practiced and performed
with the choir. Each band
student also practiced in
his or her own sectional—
Morter, 16, played bass,
while Peterson, 18, and
Taylor, who turned 18 after
coming home, were in the
brass sections, on trumpet
and alto sax, respectively.
Morter and Taylor
said they didn’t experi-
ence nerves over the per-
formances, but Peterson
admitted that he did get a
little nervous.
(L-R) Oskar Peterson, Miranda Taylor and Austin Morter of
Ione stand with Switzerland’s Matterhorn in the background
and an iconic St. Bernard at their feet during their trip to
Europe with the Oregon Ambassadors of Music. The three,
as well as Heppner student Skyler Hawks (not pictured) made
the trip in July. –Contributed photo
“It was different,” he
said. “It was completely
new people, and this was
their impression of you.”
Taylor admitted that,
while the performances
didn’t give her the jitters,
she was anxious about the
journey itself.
“I was pretty nervous
because I didn’t know any-
one but these two (Morter
and Peterson), but eventu-
ally I made friends,” she
said. In fact, the students
said they were surprised by
how well they connected
with the other students on
the trip once they got to
know them.
“It’s amazing how close
you get with these people.
We didn’t even know each
other, and now we’re best
friends,” said Taylor.
On July 3, the 327 new
friends from Oregon flew
out of Portland Internation-
al Airport, knowing they
wouldn’t return to familiar
ground until July 18.
From the U.S. they flew
into London, where they
performed before heading
on to Paris. All three Ione
students agreed that they
met their first challenge in
London, in the form of jet
lag from the eight-hour time
difference.
“Jet lag just kills you,
both there and back,” said
Morter.
The students said they
went into the experience
open-minded— “I figured
I’d see what I’d see,” said
Morter—but Peterson said
it was more fast-paced than
he’d expected. Traveling
in seven color-coded buses
that held around 50 people
each, the students said they
averaged three days in each
stop.
“When it came to sight-
seeing, it was more of a
sampler trip,” said Peter-
son. “There wasn’t enough
time in each place to really
see things or get to know
them.”
“Many of my precon-
ceptions of places were
wrong, especially Switzer-
land. (It was challenging)
trying to play the music
the best we can—and the
general lack of sleep,” he
added.
Taylor said she found
time to make up for lost
sleep while on the bus, but
Morter and Peterson admit-
ted they didn’t use the travel
time in quite that way.
“I played a lot of cards
on that trip,” said Morter.
Paris was a sightseeing
stop with no performance,
-See MUSIC AMBASSA-
DORS/PAGE EIGHT
Paving to
begin on County school district names new
Gilmore
Morrow County will
undertake street improve-
ments related to the con-
struction of the new ad-
ministrative building in
Heppner next week, Aug.
17 through Aug. 20.
The county will be pav-
ing Gilmore St., which runs
behind the courthouse, from
Morrow St. to Hager St., as
well as August and Cannon
streets. No local traffic or
street parking will be al-
lowed in the area between
6 a.m. and 6 p.m. during
construction.
The completed project
will not impact residents’
current access or parking.
For additional information,
contact the City of Heppner,
541-676-9618.
administrators, board members
at Irrigon Junior/Senior Boardman, who was vice- chair.
By April Sykes
Morrow County School High School; Rose Palmer, principal at Riverside High
New teacher orienta-
School, Boardman, tion is planned for Wednes-
Superintendent Dirk Dirk- vice-principal at
last year, replacing day, Aug. 19, with staff
sen said, at the board’s IJSHS; and Sarah
Joel Chavez, who in-service week set for
regular meeting Monday Kimmell, principal
retired earlier; and Monday, Aug. 24-Thurs-
night at A.C. Houghton at Sam Boardman
Craig Benson, Mor- day, Aug. 27. Students be-
Elementary in Irrigon, that Elementary.
Other admin-
row Education Cen- gin the new school year on
the district has five new
ter principal.
administrators to begin istrators not new
Monday, Aug. 31, with the
The board also Labor Day holiday Mon-
the school year. Heppner to the district, but Becky Kindle
learned that IJSHS day, Sept. 7.
alumnus David Norton assigned to differ-
ent positions, are former vice principal,
has been named the
Also at the meeting,
Heppner Junior/ Tina Joyce, also a Hep- the board adopted 2015-16
Riverside Junior/
Senior High biol- pner alumnus, has
Senior High School
board goals.
ogy/science teacher taken a job with the
Vi c e P r i n c i p a l .
In other busi-
Dieter Waite, who Hermiston School
Other new admin-
ness, the board ac-
is now Heppner District, along with
istrators are Tracy
cepted the follow-
schools vice-princi- her husband, IJSHS
Johnson, principal
ing:
at A.C. Houghton David Norton pal; Brandon Ham- seventh/eighth so-
-Resignations/
mond, principal at cial studies teacher Brian
Elementary School;
non-renewals: Tyler
Ryan Keefauver, principal Windy River Elementary, Phil Joyce.
Barrie, Riverside
Kollman
At the meeting,
Junior/Senior High
Becky Kindle, Heppner, School math teacher, assis-
was elected board chair- tant boys’ soccer coach and
man, replacing Thad Kill- junior high assistant boys’
ingbeck. Brian Kollman,
-See SCHOOL DISTRICT/
PAGE THREE
Heppner, was elected vice-
Deadline to apply for Community and
Public Enhancement Grant is Aug. 14
The deadline to apply
for the Community and
Public Enhancement Grant
offered by Willow Creek
Valley Economic Develop-
ment Group (WCVEDG) is
Friday, Aug. 14. No grant
requests will be accepted
for consideration after the
deadline.
As a reminder, appli-
cant organizations must
be a local organization,
club, special district or a
governmental entity that re-
sides in the South Morrow
County Service Area. The
requestor must have at least
50 percent of funding (may
include in-kind and cash
contributions) for the total
project budget committed
before application. Excep-
tions may be granted at the
discretion of the board.
To receive a grant ap-
plication form, contact
Sheryll Bates at 541-676-
5536 or heppnerchamber@
centurytel.net. All complet-
ed grant applications must
be received by the chamber
office no later than Friday,
Aug. 14, to be eligible for
consideration of award se-
lection.
Voters to
decide fire
hall bonds
in Nov.
election
$975,000 in
general obligation
bonds to be on
ballot
The City of Heppner
will be asking voters to ap-
prove a $585,000 bond, and
the Heppner Rural Fire Pro-
tection District a $390,000
bond, to finance construc-
tion of a new fire hall just
outside the city limits of
Heppner. Both requests will
be before voters in the Nov.
3 election. Both bonds will
need to pass in order for the
new fire hall to be built.
If approved the money
would be used to build a
new $930,000 fire hall to be
located at the intersection of
Riverside, Fuller Canyon
and Hwy. 74 just outside
the city limits of Heppner.
The proposed hall is a 60-
40 percent joint ownership
with the Heppner Rural
Fire Protection District.
The land was donated to the
city by the Morrow County
Grain Growers.
The present fire hall is
located on Willow Street
in downtown Heppner. Be-
cause of congestion and
limited space, the area is not
considered a good location
for the new, larger facility.
If approved voters will
pay on the bonds for 21
years at an estimated cost
of .88 cents per $1,000 of
property valuation for the
city portion of the bond,
and .41 cents for the Fire
District. The payment is
estimated to be $132 per
year for a homeowner with
a $150,000 home in the
city taxing district, and $62
per year for those with a
$150,000 home in the Fire
Protection District.
Local
students
gear up for
school
It’s time for area stu-
dents to wrap up back-to-
school shopping and polish
up those apples for teacher.
School will begin in
both Heppner and Ione
schools on Monday, Aug.
31. Heppner High School
has posted a start time of
7:50 a.m. that Monday,
while Ione’s start time 8
a.m.
See you at the
UMATILLA County FAIR & RODEO
Stop by our display at the
Umatilla County Fair
and say "HI"
Morrow County Grain Growers
Lexington 989-8221 • 1-800-452-7396
For farm equipment, visit our web site at www.mcgg.net