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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (June 14, 2017)
County school district sees largest graduating class to date HEPPNER G T 50¢ azette imes VOL. 136 NO. 22 10 Pages Wednesday, June 14, 2017 Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon By April Sykes The Morrow County School Board learned from Superintendent Dirk Dirk- sen, Monday night at their regular meeting at Riverside High School in Boardman, that he believes this year’s graduating class is the larg- est in MCSD history, with 22 students graduating from Heppner High School, 64 from Irrigon High School and 74 from Riverside in Boardman. He said that Morrow County students earned 1,623 college credits this year, 465 for Heppner stu- dents, 529 for Irrigon stu- dents and 629 for Riverside students. He added that the district has come a long way, as 10 years ago MCSD students were able to earn only 100 college credits. He attributed the increases to “a lot of work,” not only by the students, but by the district, Blue Mountain Community College, East- ern Oregon University and the ESD. “That’s pretty cool,” he said, adding that one MCSD student, Bi- anca Gutierrez, this year received an Associate of Arts degree while still a high school student. Dirksen further said City settles pay dispute City seeks input on plans for with former manager mini park Cutsforth claimed $1,882 in unpaid vacation pay By David Sykes The City of Heppner and former city manager Kim Cutsforth have come to agreement in a dispute over unpaid vacation pay. Cutsforth had filed a claim with the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) saying the city owed her $1,882 in unpaid vacation benefits for the period of Sept. 1, 2013 to Feb. 28, 2017, during the period of her employment. Cutsforth resigned the city manager job to be Execu- tive Director of the Howard & Beth Bryant Foundation in Heppner. “The issue has been resolved,” Heppner Mayor Cody High said in a one-line statement to the Heppner Gazette-Times Tuesday. He said, speaking for the city, that was all he would say at this time. High did not say how much the settle- ment was for; however, Cutsforth later agreed that the issue was settled, and confirmed that the amount was $1,882, her original claim. Details of the claim were obtained earlier by the Gazette-Times off the BOLI website under the public documents section. At the beginning of the dispute city attorney Bill Kuhn said in an April 17 letter to BOLI that he had “spent considerable time reviewing and charting the City of Heppner’s person- nel records” regarding the claim, and he wrote “My research does not support Ms. Cutsforth’s claim.” Kuhn had requested ad- ditional time from BOLI to meet with Cutsforth and try and resolve the issue. On April 25 BOLI had informed Cutsforth in a letter that they attempted to collect on the wage claim, but were unsuccessful. They advised her at the time she would have to seek the help of a private attorney or small claims court. BOLI also told Cutsforth that un- der Oregon law she could take action against the city for wages plus civil penal- ties, court costs and attor- ney’s fees. “Civil Penalties apply to any employer who willfully withholds any portion of an employee’s A live tree had health issues and was damaging the sidewalk before removal from this mini park in Heppner. The city now seeks ideas on space use. -Photo by David Sykes By David Sykes The City of Heppner is seeking input on what to do with the mini park on Main Street next to the post office. A tree that had been planted there 12 years ago was having health issues, and its roots were damag- ing the brick patio, and it had to be removed. Monday the council asked for the public’s input on what to do now with the space. Some of the ideas floated were to build a -See PAY DISPUTE/ pavilion-type setting with PAGE TEN tables, chairs and possibly an awning. There has been a Mexican food vendor who sets up a food truck behind Local youth earn chance to compete at world’s largest rodeo Several local teens have stood out from the competition at the Oregon High School Rodeo As- sociation (OHSRA) Finals in Prineville last week for the chance to compete in the 69 th annual National High School Finals Rodeo (NHSFR). Five youth from South Morrow have earned a shot at fame, scholar- ships and more when they represent the Oregon team in Gillette, WY July 16-22. Heading up the list are brother and sister Kolby and Jacee Currin, both of Plant new tree, awning, pavilion or other? whom received all-around honors at the state event. Kolby Currin, who graduated this year from Heppner High, won Boys All-Around after taking the championship in steer wrestling and finishing first in rifle shooting, second in boys’ cutting, and fifth in both tie-down roping and team roping (heeler). He will compete at nationals in steer wrestling and light rifle shooting. HHS tenth-grader the park several days a week, and the area has become popular as a lunch area. It was also suggested that perhaps a permanent- type information stand or booth be installed. During fair and rodeo and St. Pat- rick’s Day, an information booth is generally set up in that location. The annual Christmas tree lighting has been held at the park in the past as the large tree was decorated for Christmas. It was suggested that a new tree be planted there, or possibly move the lighting to another location. “A lot of people think a tree is going back in there,” said councilmember John Bowles. Mayor Cody High said the city was having trouble finding the “right” tree for that spot. “But it was tear- ing up the sidewalk,” he pointed out. The council and city administration then asked for the public input on the park, and said the sugges- tions may be made at city hall or by contacting the mayor or a councilperson. In other action the council voted to approve seven animal permits, in- cluding five for pig and -See CITY COUNCIL/ PAGE TEN Critical injury accident on Hwy 207 overpass -See OHSRA FINALS/ PAGE FOUR G-T Trophy Corner A 13-year-old was Life Flighted to Kadlec after a collision on the Hwy. 207 overpass Mon- day. -Photo courtesy of Oregon State Police that MCSD students earned over a million dollars in scholarships, with Heppner students receiving $195,850 in scholarships, Riverside students, $346,952, and Irrigon students, $647,710. Also at the meeting, the board adopted a $37 million budget for 2017-18. The budget includes $16,121,480 for instruction (salaries) out of the general fund, $10,193,757 for sup- port services, $177,000 for debt service, $840,000 in transfers and no money for contingencies for a total of $27,332,237. The special revenue fund shows $2,844,259, also for instruction, $1,001,373 for support ser- vices, $1,214,427 for “en- terprise and community,” $200,000 for transfers and $920,925 for contingency for a total of $6,180,984. The debt service fund equals $2,833,425 and the capital projects fund shows $300,000 for support ser- vices and $440,000 for facilities acquisition for $740,000. All combined equal $37,086,646 in appropria- tions and another $224,842 in unappropriated and re- serve amounts, for the total adopted budget of $37,311,488. The resolution also im- posed a tax of $4.0342 per $1,000 of assessed value for the permanent tax rate and $1,900,00 for debt ser- vice on general obligation bonds. MCSD Superintendent Dirk Dirksen said that be- cause the Oregon Legisla- ture has indicated that it will allot around $8.2 billion for schools, the district will be able to “meet and final- ize” its contract with the Morrow County Education Association and the Oregon School Employees Asso- ciation. They have a special board meeting scheduled for June 26 at 7 p.m. at Hep- pner Elementary. Also at the meeting, the board viewed presenta- tions by Cade Burnette on Umatilla-Morrow Head Start-early learning. He re- ported significant increases in learning in preschool students from the beginning of the program to the end. Dirksen said the district will expand the preschool pro- gram to full time next year. Dirksen said that the preschool children will be more prepared for kin- dergarten and thus, more prepared to be able to read by grade three, a signifi- cant marker for academic success. The board also heard a presentation by RJSHS students on the “National Kidwind Challenge,” con- cerning a wind turbine stu- dent competition, and from RJSHS counselor Elizabeth Rosen on academic coun- seling. The district also an- nounced that it is enhancing the district’s online and at- home learning for the 2017- 18 school year. “The School at Home learning program vehicle operated by Glen Two people, one a juve- traveling northbound. The Pontiac sideswiped Sharp, 53, of Umatilla, nile, were injured in a crash that shut down Hwy. 207 at the truck and spun, striking -See HWY 207 CRASH/ -See MCSD/PAGE FIVE PAGE FOUR the I-84 overpass Monday another commercial motor morning. The incident occurred about 10:30 a.m. Oregon State Police stated that a silver Pontiac, operated by Markus Smith, 20, and a 13-year-old male pas- senger, both of Boardman, was stopped at the stop sign at the top of exit 182 from Interstate 84 eastbound. MORROW COUNTY The Pontiac pulled onto GRAIN GROWERS Hwy. 207 into the path of a 2887500 350 MAIN STREET 350 MAIN STREET commercial motor vehicle, LEXINGTON, OR LEXINGTON OR operated by Kevin Helzer, Faith Futter, 11, of Heppner caught this 24-inch trout at Weaver 56, of Hermiston, who was Pond in Wallowa recently. -Contributed photo ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE: MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M. Restrictions: Offers vary by model. Valid on select 2013-2017 new and unregistered models purchased between 6/1/17- 6/30/17. See your authorized dealer for complete details. Rates as low as 2.99% APR for 36 months. Examples of monthly payments required over a 36-month term at a 2.99% APR rate: $29.08 per $1,000 financed; and at an 6.99%APR rate: $30.87 per $1,000 financed. An example of a monthly payment with $0 down, no rebate, an APR of 2.99% APR for 36 months at a MSRP of $9,999.00 is $290.74; total cost of borrowing of $467.60 with a total obligation of $10,466.60. Down payment may be required. 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