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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 14, 2016)
FOUR - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, December 14, 2016 REA RETIRES Special desk helps horned cattle, vaccinated In 1969 they moved cattle…Jack of all trades, student rise to back to the Lexington master of none.” and broke some farm She returned to school classroom challenges area ground where the Finley in 1986, attending two years -Continued from PAGE ONE Liam Heideman at his new stand-up desk. -Contributed photo by Jessa Bigsby Contributed by Jessa Bigsby, Ione fourth-grade teacher. When Liam Heideman entered my fourth-grade classroom this fall, he was full of energy. I had con- ferenced with his parents, Deacon and Erin Heide- man, about his diagnosed ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) prior to school starting, and we had discussed strategies of communication with them and expectations for him in the classroom. It soon became apparent to me that this kid needed to be standing up while doing his work. This prompted me to dig into some research and talk to former col- leagues about a stand-up desk. Research shows that kids, especially those with ADHD, are fidgety and have an extremely diffi- cult time staying focused. Stand-up desks help reg- ulate that and facilitate learning. They can also help improve test scores and classroom attention for students who just need to move. With the help of my supervisor, I wrote a grant request to the ICABO (Ione Community Agri-Business Organization) in Ione, and we now have a desk. Right now, Liam has two desks. One he can sit at and the other the stand-up. I draw names at the begin- ning of each day and allow other students the opportu- nity to use the stand-up desk if Liam isn’t using it. It’s been a hit in my classroom. “As a parent, I’ve been very impressed and appre- ciative of the work Jessa has facilitated with Liam,” said Erin Heideman. “He is having an exceptional year in school and that is a credit to her professionalism and competence as a teacher.” Guide dog meet-and- greet next Monday The meet-and-greet session with Pastor Tony Long- Drew and his guide dog, Earl, originally planned for this past Monday, was cancelled due to a weather-created schedule conflict. The public is now invited to meet Earl on Monday, Dec. 19, at 7 p.m. at Sweet Productions in Heppner. WE HAVE CHRISTMAS WISH LISTS ON FILE! STOP BY AND CHECK OUT OUR REGISTRY OR GET YOURS FILLED OUT TODAY! - Donate a winter coat to receive $1 off your drink at murrays -Those in need are encouraged Coat to stop by to choose a coat from e now thru Christmas iv r D ESPRESSO GIFT CARDS MAKE GREAT STOCKING STUFFERS! We have them in the following amounts $3.50 $10, $15, and $25. General Gift cards avail in any amount. LAST MINUTE SHOPPERS... OPEN THIS SUNDAY DECEMBER 18 12-4 pm (Pharmacy and floral depts. closed) Buttes Landfill now sits. “We broke ground, levelled it, drilled a well, started farming,” she says. “As a farmer’s wife, I was the bookkeeper; I drove tractor, swather, baler… spent many hours out in the field, farming.” She said they grew a variety of crops, including alfalfa, strawberries, beans, mint and, of course, grain. They stayed with that until 1984, when Gerald went to work from the Port of Morrow and they moved to Board- man. The family bought a small, 80-acre farm near Boardman and raised cattle. “I’ve pretty much lived everywhere in the county,” Rea says. At that time, she says she was “just a housewife” with “one chick left at home,” but “just a house- wife” may not be the whole story. “I’ve done my share of catching calves and elasti- cating them and ear-tagging them,” says Rea. “I’ve de- at Blue Mountain Commu- nity College and passing the state exam to become a licensed tax preparer. Rea also served on the West Extension Irrigation District from 1989-95, first as a bookkeeper and later as bookkeeper and manager. After her time at the irriga- tion district, she worked as a paralegal for a water rights attorney. She also kept herself busy doing volunteer tax preparation for low- to moderate-income clients through an AARP program for 17 years, as well as serv- ing on various boards, in- cluding the Umatilla Mor- row County Farm Bureau, Umatilla Basin Watershed Council, and being involved in the startup of Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwa- ter Management Area. She also spent 13 years on the Morrow County Planning Commission. It was while living in Boardman, in 2008, that Rea was first elected as a -Continued from PAGE ONE happy about that, it’s just business?” he emphasized. tion workers being in and the CREZ board, argued that her city should be con- sidered for more funding since Boardman receives the brunt of the “impact,” such as increased municipal services, from the new busi- nesses locating in the zone. Over the past three years the CREZ has given money to the Boardman Community Development Association, Irrigon Hous- ing Group and Willow Creek Valley Economic Development Group for use in a housing grant pro- gram to try and alleviate a shortage of housing in those communities. The board has also funded the Morrow Education Foundation for education, the Boardman Rural Fire District, Board- man Police Department, Morrow County Sheriff and the Morrow County Health District. Money has also been given to each area of the county, with the funds then re-distributed as community enhancement grants for small projects in each city. A discussion was held that perhaps the CREZ should focus its funding more on just giving to tax- ing districts that can di- rectly show impacts, such as increased fire department or police protection needs, arising from the new CREZ business. Currently there are a number of Amazon data centers with new facili- ties located in the enterprise zone, and a large expansion of the ConAgra vegetable processing plant, as just two of the examples of new businesses. “Boardman has been the most impacted from this,” Pettigrew told the board. “We are not un- we are showing the biggest impact.” Board member and Port of Morrow manager Gary Neal said it is important that if certain taxing districts such as the city of Board- man are being impacted, those services need to be definable, and the board needs to look at it (for pos- sible funding). Morrow County Asses- sor Mike Gorman said that he felt all areas of the coun- ty are impacted if a business goes into the enterprise zone, because then those exempt tax monies do not go into the county general fund for even distribution to all county taxing districts, but instead end up only in the CREZ fund. The CREZ has wide discretion on how to distribute its funds and, in fact, although much is written in the Oregon laws about how the CREZ will collect money, not much can be found guiding en- terprise zones on how to spend the money. The local enterprise zone stated when it was formed that one of its objectives would be to reimburse taxing districts impacted by the creation of new businesses in the zone. Neal has said many times that not only does the Port of Morrow need the tax-exempt zone so it can compete state-wide for businesses, but also many of the businesses would not even be in the county pay- ing any portion of taxes, if it were not for the CREZ. “Additional services, not lost revenue, should be considered,” Neal told the board. “You can’t look at lost revenue as an impact. What additional costs are you having because of this The North end and South end Transfer Stations will be closed f or the Holidays! Dec 24th & 25th and So the attendants can spend time with their families 217 North Main St., Heppner • Phone 676-9158 • Floral 676-9426 around the city. SIP funds are paid directly through the county budget process, but county officials have wide latitude how to spend the funds. CREZ board member Don Russell said the county has spent a lot of money on Tower road where the Carty plant is located. “Tower Road is the most expensive road in the county to maintain. We have spent a lot of money to make sure those 600 to 800 workers can get to and from work safely,” he said. Neal pointed out how Morrow County is one of the top counties in the state for economic development. “What is on the tax rolls and will continue on the rolls is very good. This is working,” he said. “If we didn’t have this enterprise zone, we would not have all this development. This has been a good thing,” he reminded the board. Gorman pointed out that Morrow County has one half the valuation of neighboring Umatilla coun- ty, with one eighth the pop- ulation. Morrow County was also recently named the third highest county in the state for average income. After a lengthy discus- sion, the board agreed that the housing fund estab- lished by the three differ- ent areas of the county has been successful, and agreed to fund each group with $100,000 immediately, but warned that future funding may not be available. The board also agreed to re- evaluate its expenditures for the remaining $1.3 mil- lion it has to disburse this coming fiscal year, with an eye towards looking espe- cially at those areas of the county most “impacted.” PROUDLY SERVING OUR COMMUNITY SINCE 1983 ◆PERSONAL ◆FARM ◆BUSINESS HEPPNER (541) 676-9113 294 MAIN ST. P.O. BOX 755 IONE 245 NW MAIN ST. P.O. BOX 26 (541) 422-7410 1-800-504-9113 • wheatlandins.com Saturday, December 24th closing 5 pm - Christmas Eve Sunday, December 25th Closed ... Merry Christmas! Monday December 26th we will open at 9 am. Serving Morrow, Wheeler & Gilliam counties Since 1959 Irrigon City Manag- er Aaron Palmquist said sometimes the impact is not as evident as others. He pointed out that because of the large number of work- ers who live in Hermiston and surrounding area and work in Boardman, he is seeing up to 100,000 addi- tional trips through Irrigon for workers getting to the CREZ businesses. He said that has an impact on his city. Morrow County Health District Administrator Bob Houser, who turned in a request for $206,250 from the CREZ to help pay for a proposed clinic expansion in Irrigon, said the expan- sion was needed because of the increased population in North Morrow County. “The addition to the clinic is needed due to the large growth of patient volumes since 2014,” he said in his request. Houser said the clinic has seen a 40 percent increase of pa- tients since 2014 and the expansion would add 1,500 square feet of space for more exam rooms, lab area and waiting rooms. He said Boardman has a “beautiful” clinic and the district was not trying to compete with them, but just add services not available there. Neal also pointed out that other construction proj- ects in the county, such as the new Carty Gas Plant, have impacted the Board- man area disproportion- ately. The gas plant will be receiving a property tax reduction under a different incentive plan, called SIP agreements, and Boardman has not received money from that program to help with offsetting the impact of up to 800 construc- Dec 31st and Jan 1st CHRISTMAS HOURS: Floral dept. closed) ture, she also seemed slight- ly at a loss about that. “I don’t know. I think I’m gonna try retirement,” she says. “I wouldn’t mind working, but I’d want it on my time schedule, and it’s difficult to find a job like that. “I wouldn’t mind get- ting on Heppner city plan- ning,” she adds. “I was on county planning for 13 years. If I could be of as- sistance, I’d be willing to do that.” When asked about plans for fun, Rea says she may make time for four-wheeling and travel- ing throughout the west, but “This is fun,” she says. “Morrow County’s been good to me, and I’m happy that I had the chance to give back to the county.” A farewell reception is planned for Rea and Tall- man this Friday, Dec. 16, from 2-4 p.m. in the Upper Conference Room at the Bartholomew Building in Heppner. Refreshments will be provided, and the public is invited to attend and visit with the outgoing commissioners. CREZ TALKS FUNDING Order Holiday floral arrangements soon! Our centerpieces make fantastic Hostess Gifts. (Pharmacy will be 1/2 day 2-6 pm- clinics are closed. Morrow County Commis- sioner. A few short years after that, Gerald’s health started declining. “I couldn’t run the ir- rigation and be there to take care of everything and work,” she says. The couple returned to Heppner in 2011, where Rea still lives. Now that she’s handing the political reins to newly- elected commissioner Jim Doherty, she says she’s not sure what her next step will be. “I have mixed feel- ings. I totally enjoy doing this job, totally,” says Rea, “but I am kind of looking forward to slowing down a little bit.” Rea expressed some concern over the future of the county court—not because of the incoming commissioners, whom she describes as “good, solid people,” but because of the relative lack of experience on the new commission. “I’ve told them I’m not going anywhere, and if they need advice, I can offer it and they can take it or they can leave it,” she says. As far as her own fu- North end Transfer, 69900 Frontage Lane, Board- man, Oregon 97818 South end Transfer, 57185 Hwy 74, Lexington, Oregon 97839 Questions or concerns please contact Sandi Putman at 541-989-9500 or sputman@co.morrow.or.us ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE: MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M.
