HEPPNER G T 50¢ azette imes VOL. 136 NO. 12 8 Pages Wednesday, March 22, 2017 Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon Kenny Family float takes first in Great Green Parade The Kenny Family, the 2017 St. Patrick’s Day Celebration grand marshals, took first place in the great green parade The Kenny Family, grand marshals for the 2017 St. Patrick’s festival in Heppner, took first place in the Great Green Parade held Saturday on Main St. in Heppner. The Desert Shrine Club was second. The Heppner Methodist Church was first in the Irish Floats – Business category. Al Kader took second In the Antique & Custom Vehicles category, Morrow County Museum took first with their 1930 Model “A” Ford Truck. Elgin Nagel was second with a ‘37 Chevy. First in the Merchant category was Heppner ODOT with Community Bank taking second. County approves sheriff’s dept. restructuring By David Sykes The Morrow Coun- ty Court last week approved a restructuring of the Sheriff Department, meant to im- prove efficiency and lower overtime costs. Under the new or- ganization plan both the chief civil deputy and the detective positions will be moved from an hourly union represented position eligible for overtime, up to management and not union represented or eligible for overtime. ”The organiza- tion restructure is designed to create an efficient means to accomplish our mission, being efficient and produc- tive while being fiscally responsible,” Undersheriff John Bowles wrote in the reorganization plan pre- sented to the court. “Our number one objective is public safety and providing the best possible service to the public,” he added. Out of a total year- ly $2.8 million budget for labor, the sheriff ‘s depart- ment currently budgets $80,000 for overtime, and department officials think they may be able, with these changes, to bring that number down, possibly to $60,000 per year. “Do you feel you are going to de- crease overtime?” County Commission Chair Me- lissa Lindsay asked Bowles. “Definitely,” he said. He added that the local union is okay about moving salaried positions to management, and thus out of the bar- gaining unit, but “Portland may have a problem.” The sheriff’s department is rep- resented by the Teamsters Union with headquarters in Portland. “People would be exempt from overtime by this restructuring,” said Sheriff Ken Matlack who was also in attendance at the meeting. “This rank of people will not be getting overtime anymore.” In addition to the changes in hourly to sala- ried positions, the reorga- nization will also make for a smoother running and efficient department, both Bowles and Matlack told the court. “This breaks management down into smaller units with better management and better results,” Bowles said. “I see a much better product with this structure.” Commissioner Don Russell said he appreciated the work the sheriff put into the restructuring plan and said he would monitor its effects on the department’s future budget needs. “The sheriff is elected to run his department and he should be able to shuffle the deck,” Russell said. “But it’s our responsibility to look after the finances.” In other discus- sions about budgets and finances, Matlack talked about the increased patrol- ling by the sheriff’s depart- ment on Interstate Highway 84, which has lead to a dramatic increase in fines coming into the county. Matlack said the Oregon State Police no longer cov- ers the freeway as much as it once did. The county has assigned a deputy to patrol the approximately 28 miles of freeway cutting across north Morrow County, and that one deputy has brought in around $280,000 in fines during a one-year period. Matlack said it was speed- ing tickets, with people going “80, 85, 95 miles per hour and truck tickets,” that were the majority of offenses. The sheriff also pointed out that the one deputy has almost paid for two positions, and a large amount coming into the county general fund, with none of the funds going to the sheriff’s budget. “There is no quota going on here,” said Bowles, but we are talking public safety. More tickets doesn’t reflect any- where in our budget,” he told the court. The county court voted unanimously to adopt the new sheriff’s depart- ment structuring. In other business, the court heard from Rex Baker, the new loan officer for the Greater Eastern Or- egon Development Corpo- ration, GEODC, who gave an update on the county’s equity fund. The equity fund was originally estab- lished in 2003 with fund- ing of $500,000 from the Oregon Legislature when Three-mile Canyon Farms was created. The fund is used to loan money for eco- nomic development such as real estate or equipment purchases in the county, and at this point has $160,000. Baker said some money is starting to be repaid to the fund and he also needs to appoint several persons to fill the loan board. He said loan applications and infor- mation about the fund are available on the GEODC website. In further busi- ness, the court heard from Morrow County Planner Carla McLane, who re- ported that FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) had approved the Morrow County Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan. With the plan now in place -continued ON PAGE FIVE President Donald Trump and Irish Prime Minister send message to Heppner on St. Pats Day Rep Walden brings greetings By David Sykes Representative Greg Walden made his annual trip to Heppner to help emcee the Coffee Hour Saturday during the St. Patrick’s Day Celebration, and he brought with him greetings from Washington, DC, including from the Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny, Vice President Mike Pence, Rep. Nancy Pe- losi, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and from the President himself, Donald Trump. In presenting the signatures to St. Patrick’s Day Chairman Sheryll Bates, Walden said he was attending the annual Speak- ers of Friends of Ireland Luncheon March 16 in Washington DC with the president and others before he departed, and he asked them to sign the menu. “To the people of Heppner best wishes,” the Prime Minister wrote. “Happy St. Patrick’s Day Heppner!” said VP Pence. “Happy Saint Pat- Signed menu wishing Heppner a happy St. Pats Day rick’s Day to the people of Heppner,” said Pelosi, and “To the great people of Heppner, Love,” wrote President Trump. Ryan signed his name. Right: Congressman Greg Walden (center, pointing) presented a signed greeting he brought from the Presi- dent of The United States and several others to the Heppner St. Patrick’s Day Celebration Saturday. Friends Helping Friends announces St. Paddy’s Festival door prize winners Friends Helping Friends has announced the door prizes, their sponsors and winners for the Friends Helping Friends Remem- brance Event held during the 2017 Heppner St. Pat- rick’s Festival. The winners were cho- sen from random drawings from those who pre-regis- tered and those that paid the morning of the event, said organizers. -Bucknums: (four gift certificates): Kathy & Phil Carlson, Jim Crow, Latosha Hedman and Janelle Ellis. -Eric and Traci Dicken- son McCready: John Deere Products-Neon John Deere Wall Clock-Dick & Nancy Snider; John Deere Dom- inos-Shanna Sallee; John Deere Outdoor blanket/ Pad-Kevin and Petra Payne. -Peggy Fishburn: Blue- berry Breakfast Basket- Keeley Nairns. -Wildhorse Casino Pack- age ($220 value) motel, movie, and dinners: Judy Buschke first registered participant. -Devin Oil gas cards: Don and Judy Barber and Kelly Boyer. -Jaci Huges Drigen, Nike gift card and em- ployee store pass: Adidas -Gordon and Judy Smith Knight, Tumalo Lavender gift basket- Judie Laughlin. -Adam McCabe, kid’s toy tractor- Jennifer Ash- beck. Judie Laughlin with her Tumalo Lavender gift basket employee store pass card, 50 percent off purchase- Toni Roach; Nike $50 gift card, plus Nike employee store pass 50 percent off purchase-Healy Hisler. -Gary and Barb Watkins, $50 Shell gas card-Rex and Janice Anderson. -Hattenhauer Distrib- uting (The Dalles) $100 gift cards: Hattenhauer (Sinclair) gift card- Ash- ley Lindsay; Hattenhauer (Sinclair) gift card-Shelly VanArsdale; Hattenhauer (Sinclair) gift card: Cam Wishart -Hamley’s Steak House, $75 gift certificate: Matt and Darlene Clark. -Evan and Annie Wey- gandt, ECCO gift card, up to $250-Joy Krein. WE ARE READY FOR SPRING! NOW IN STOCK PANSIES & PRIMROSE, POTTING SOIL, AMENDMENTS, GARDEN SEEDS + MORE ARRIVING DAILY!! Morrow County Grain Growers Green Feed & Seed 242 W. Linden Way, Heppner • 676-9422 • 989-8221 (MCGG main office)