Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, December 14, 2016
Boardman adopts chronic nuisance
property ordinance
Last week the Board-
man City Council adopted
an ordinance aimed at curb-
ing chronic nuisance prop-
erties in Boardman.
The ordinance defines
a chronic nuisance property
as property on which three
or more nuisance activi-
ties exist or have occurred
during any 90-day period.
Nuisance activities include
a range of criminal conduct.
Under the new ordinance,
violations could ultimately
result in abatement of the
offenders, and the nuisance
property could be secured
against unauthorized ac-
cess for a varied period of
time. The new ordinance
becomes effective on Ja.
6, 2017.
In other city business,
the council approved a reso-
lution adopting the Morrow
County Natural Hazard
Mitigation Plan. This is an
update to the original plan
adopted in 2006. Also, the
council discussed waiving
the city’s System Develop-
ment Charges for another
year. This program was
started in 2010 as an incen-
tive to build more homes
in Boardman. The council
will further this discussion
at January’s meeting.
The next meeting of
the Boardman City Council
will be Tuesday, Dec. 13,
at 6:30 p.m. at Boardman
City Hall.
-Continued from PAGE ONE from, but the council agreed plans required by Federal disaster in Heppner. The
and voted to move forward.
In other business, the
council heard from the
city manager that a city
Christmas tree had been or-
dered, arrived and rejected
because it was “not accept-
able.” Another tree is on its
way to be placed next to the
Post Office on Main Street.
The council heard from
Morrow County Planner
Carla McLane, who gave
a report on the completed
Natural Hazard Mitigation
Plan. All cities in the county
are updating their 2006
Emergency Management.
“This plan covers all
major hazards; of course,
Heppner would be most
concerned with flooding,”
McLane told the council.
The purpose of the plan is to
recognize potential hazards
and what can be done to
mitigate them, she said. “In
other words, it’s cheaper to
replace the culvert in the
road rather than replace the
road.”
She also said it would
allow the city to apply for
federal grants if there is a
council voted to approve
the plan.
In other reports Hep-
pner Fire Chief Rusty Estes
reported that November
was one of the slowest
months he can recall. Estes
said there was only one fire,
a cooking fire, last month.
He also said there were 130
people at the fire hall open
house.
The council also re-
ceived the annual audit
report with only minor is-
sues and suggestions from
the auditors.
VA national cemeteries now offering
pre-need eligibility determinations
WASHINGTON—The
Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) last week an-
nounced it now provides
eligibility determinations
for interment in a VA na-
tional cemetery prior to the
time of need. Through the
Pre-Need Determination of
Eligibility Program, upon
request, individuals can
learn if they are eligible for
burial or memorialization
in a VA national cemetery.
VA will review applica-
tions and provide written
notice of its determination
of eligibility. VA will save
determinations and sup-
porting documentation in
an electronic information
system to expedite burial
arrangements at the time
of need.
VA operates 135 na-
tional cemeteries and 33
soldiers’ lots in 40 states
and Puerto Rico. VA also
provides funding to estab-
lish, expand and maintain
105 veterans’ cemeteries
in 47 states and territories.
For Veterans buried in pri-
vate or other cemeteries,
VA provides headstones,
markers or medallions to
commemorate their service.
Eligible individu-
als are entitled to burial
in any open VA national
cemetery, opening/clos-
ing of the grave, a grave
liner, perpetual care of the
gravesite, and a govern-
ment-furnished headstone
or marker or niche cover,
all at no cost to the family.
Veterans are also eligible
for a burial flag and may be
eligible for a Presidential
Memorial Certificate.
See your local veterans
services representative for
assistance.
taled $250.
-Ruben Macias, 47,
was convicted of Coercion,
a County C Felony, and was
sentenced to 36 months
supervised probation. Pro-
bation conditions include
substance abuse evaluation,
mental health evaluation,
risk and needs assessment,
no form of contact with the
victim, and 120 hours of
community service. The
defendant is also subject to
180 sanction units with 90
jail units. Fines, fees and
assessments totaled $500.
DA’s Report
Morrow County Dis-
trict Attorney Justin Nelson
has released the following
report:
-Mario Morales Jr., 33,
was convicted of Posses-
sion of Methamphetamine,
a Class C Felony, and was
sentenced to 18 months
supervised probation. Pro-
bation conditions include
mental health evaluation,
risk and needs assessment,
80 hours of community
service, and six months of
license suspension reserved
for later sanctioning. Fines,
fees and assessments to-
Sheriff’s Report
August 18 -Morrow
County Sheriff ’s Office
received a report of a mo-
tor vehicle accident near
Basey Canyon Rd./Hwy.
207, Heppner.
-Heppner ambulance
responded to a report of a
53-year-old female with a
possible seizure, conscious
and breathing, on Hwy. 74,
Heppner. Female was trans-
ported to Pioneer Memorial
Hospital.
August 19: -A male in
Heppner advised his boy-
friend wouldn’t leave and
he wanted him to.
-A male in Heppner
reported that some time
overnight his pickup was
broken into at his office.
NOW
HIRING
DRIVERS
ROAD COMMITTEE
Lexington, OR 97839.
-Continued from PAGE ONE
keep projects listed and in
working order.
Anyone who is interest-
ed in joining the committee
is asked to send a written
request to sit on the panel of
the Morrow County Road
Committee, Attn: Burke
O’Brien to P.O. Box 428,
The public works de-
partment says it recognizes
the work of committee
members and those who
attend road committee
meetings, saying it is those
volunteers who “make a
difference on our 959-mile
county road system.”
CUTSFORTH
RESIGNS
-Continued from PAGE ONE so I could take a larger part
CITY COUNCIL
Last month it was an-
nounced that the city had
received a $25,000 grant
from the Beth and Howard
Bryant Foundation for the
projects. Cutsforth said the
bid came in “higher than
we expected,” but she asked
the council to move forward
anyway, saying she would
talk to the contractor to see
if there could be alterations
to the bring the cost down,
or if she would be able to
find additional funds. She
did not say where the ad-
ditional funds might come
- FIVE
He advised his stereo was
ripped out and left in the
parking lot and his dash-
board was ripped off in his
pickup.
-MCSO received re-
port of someone trespass-
ing down by the creek on
Chase Street in Heppner.
He advised the subjects
were throwing rocks at his
vehicle.
August 21: -Morrow
County Sheriff’s Office was
advised that a male subject
was back at a Heppner
residence; he was high on
meth, banging on the door,
and almost broke the glass
door. The caller wanted him
removed. MCSO responded
and trespassed the subject
from the location.
-MCSO received re-
port that there was a fight
going on at a wedding in
Irrigon, mostly verbal but
possibly going to get physi-
cal. MCSO responded and
advised that most every-
one had gone. The parties
said to be involved were
contacted and were going
to bed.
-An Oregon State Po-
lice trooper advised he was
contacted by an individual
driving a Chevy Impala,
who stated his partner was
in the vehicle that he was
following and he wanted
it contacted. The trooper
advised he contacted the ve-
hicle at the Shell station in
Heppner and that the driver
was known to the trooper
the regular council meeting
to discuss “personal mat-
ters.” Executive sessions
are closed to the public.
Following the executive
session the council took no
formal action, and no an-
nouncement was made of
the resignation by either the
mayor or councilmembers.
In her letter of resigna-
tion Cutsforth said she takes
pride in the work the city
crew, volunteers and the
public have accomplished
the past four and one half
years she has been manager.
“I moved back to Hep-
pner over 20 years ago…. I
then became city manager
in bolstering growth, beau-
tifying parks and streets,
and helping to plan for our
community’s future. I look
back on the past four and a
half years with pride at what
the City of Heppner and the
community have been able
to accomplish,” she wrote.
The nonprofit she plans
on running is apparently
the Beth and Howard Bry-
ant trust fund, which was
granted a lease by the coun-
cil Monday night to occupy
the former Heppner Cham-
ber of Commerce office
adjacent to city hall. (See
related city council story).
Chamber annual
meeting Jan. 5
Due to the Celebrate
Heppner Christmas event
this Thursday, Dec. 15,
there will be no chamber
lunch meeting that day.
The next meeting of the
Heppner Chamber of Com-
merce will be the chamber’s
annual meeting on Thurs-
day, Jan. 5, at noon in the
St. Patrick’s Senior Center
dining room.
Along with the annual
meeting, the chamber will
also see a presentation by
three Heppner High seniors
who have been working
with a local business and
want to share about their
project.
Cost of lunch is $10;
JoAnn Lear with Pud-
ding on the Ritz will cater.
Chamber lunch attendees
are asked to RSVP at 541-
676-5536 no later than
Jan. 2.
Community lunch
menu
St. Patrick’s Catholic Parish volunteers will serve
lunch on Wednesday, Dec. 21, at St. Patrick’s Senior
Center. Lunch will include roast beef, mashed potatoes
and gravy, green beans, sliced tomatoes, hot rolls, and
hummingbird cake.
Milk is served at each meal. Suggested donation is
$3.50 per meal. Menu is subject to change.
Justice Court Report
Morrow County Justice
of the Peace Ann Spicer
has released the following
Justice Court report:
-Gerald L. Starr, 54, of
Heppner was found guilty
of Violating the Basic Rule
(VBR) 101/55 mph. His
license was suspended for
90 days and he was fined
$1,150.
-Melanie Starr Eldrige,
23, of Heppner was found
guilty of VBR 72/55 mph
and was fined $160.
-John Lovis Boyer, 60,
of Lexington was found
guilty of VBR 74/55 and
was fined $160.
and was the sole occupant.
-A male in Heppner
reported that a male subject
was trespassed from the
residence the night before
and had returned. No weap-
ons were visible but he ap-
peared to be on something,
possibly meth. A female
called back to report that the
subject had made it into the
residence through the back
door. They then told him
to leave and he did. The
subject then returned but
did not make it into the resi-
dence. MCSO responded
and arrested Jason Leon
Bowles, 41, for criminal
trespass I.
Send out your Christmas wishes to your
customers and the community!
THE GAZETTE WILL PUBLISH ITS SPECIAL
CHRISTMAS EDITION DECEMBER 21ST.
THE CHRISTMAS SECTION WILL BE PRINTED IN FULL COLOR AND IS
A GREAT WAY TO THANK YOUR CUSTOMERS FOR THEIR SUPPORT
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
For more information, or to be included in the
Christmas edition, call 541-676-9228 or
email megan@rapidserve.net by Monday, Dec. 19th, at 5 p.m.