Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, July 26, 2017
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‘The straight of the story’
To the Editor:
I often use the phrase “rumor control” when, having
heard something about town, I try to go to the person(s)
supposedly involved to ask for the straight of the story.
For several days I have been trying to formulate a letter to
our community that I consider an attempt at rumor control.
I hear that Heppner has a considerable number of
residents not gainfully employed or looking for work,
although they appear to be young enough and healthy
enough to be working and, thereby, contributing to our
local economy instead of being a drain on taxpaying
individuals. I hear that drugs are contributing to ongoing
problems created by idle individuals, including lack of
parental involvement and control of their children. I hear
that some young people are vandalizing properties and
creating problems for the business community.
Of course, I don’t know how much truth is found
in these rumors that sadden and frighten me for several
different reasons, and I am not sure who to go to for
“the straight of the stories.” But I can share counterpoint
observations I know to be facts and reasons to hope that
Heppner can be a healthy environment for young and old,
a community that shares many moral values, a great place
to raise a family and to age in place.
Not rumors: Some young people who grew up in
Heppner chose to remain as adults, getting jobs and some
beginning families. Some young people who were raised
here have returned. They have come back to take jobs with
governmental agencies and private and family businesses.
They have come back to start their own companies and
provide badly needed services. They have come back to
raise their families and to buy homes that they are spruc-
ing up and caring for. These individuals have joined new
faces who have come for gainful employment and have
discovered the benefits that Heppner offers them and
their families.
I am so thankful for these many young people. They
bring me hope for Heppner’s economy, schools and val-
ues. They can help keep Heppner alive and well. They
surely have ideas and energy to share with our leaders
and organizations that contribute to a better community.
I now start a rumor, but one based on what I believe
is true: These young adults and young families—not
people who do not care or participate—ensure the future
of Heppner as a strong, positive place to live. I hope that
they can and will influence other people to rethink their
negativity and replace it with family and civic pride.
(s) Doris Brosnan, Heppner
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- THREE
The Buttercreek Boys perform July 31 at
Irrigon Marina Park
The Buttercreek Boys
will perform for the Music
in the Parks outdoor sum-
mer concert series at 7 p.m.
on July 31 at the Irrigon
Marina Park, located off
Highway 730 in Irrigon.
The Buttercreek Boys fea-
ture Lou Reeves, guitar;
Wynn Weston, guitar; Curt
Clauton, stand-up bass;
Tom Watkins, violin-fiddle;
Rusty Roe, saxophone; and
Jim Simpson, banjo and
harmonica. In addition,
several of the musicians
share in the vocals. They
also invite the crowd to sing
along if the music moves
them. The Buttercreek Boys
can be seen performing
regularly in the Hermiston
community.
The Music in the Parks
concert series is held each
summer alternating be-
tween Boardman and Irri-
gon marina parks. Visitors
are encouraged to bring
chairs and blankets. Con-
cessions will be available
for purchase at the event,
courtesy of Judy’s Chuck
Wagon.
Additional dates and
performers during the sea-
son include guitar duo Blue
Mountain Spanish Sound in
Boardman on Aug. 7 and
the band Cruise Control in
The Buttercreek Boys
Irrigon on Aug. 14. In the
event of inclement weather,
Boardman performances
will be held at the SAGE
Center and Irrigon perfor-
mances will be held at the
Irrigon Senior Center.
For more information
about the Music in the Parks
concert series, contact Tami
at 541-571-0844.
EXTENSION TAX DISTRICT
-Continued from PAGE ONE at all times the financial
kicks in $321,000.
In other taxing con-
cerns, compression was
discussed. Certain cities in
Morrow County, such as
Heppner, are currently un-
der what is called compres-
sion, or a cap on how high
property tax rates can go.
If another district is formed
that encompasses Heppner,
that will lower the money
all other taxing districts
receive that are included
in the City of Heppner tax
base. Tax assessor Mike
Gorman was at the com-
mission meeting and said
because there are so many
changing factors yearly, he
is unable to calculate what
would be the net effect of a
new district on those cities
under compression.
After discussion, the
commission agreed to con-
sider a resolution in support
of the district at a future
meeting.
In other business at the
July 19 meeting, the com-
mission voted to fill the
position of county auditor,
which was created in 1982
but has been vacant since
the 1990s.
According to a job de-
scription from when the
position was created, the
auditor will receive all
bills and payment demands
made to the county and then
present these to the county
treasurer for payment. The
job also entails the auditor
“maintain record showing
status of the county.” The
auditor will also be required
to make monthly reports
to the county commission
showing the state of the fi-
nances of the county and the
payments submitted during
the month. There will also
be an annual report to the
commission.
The commission asked
county finance director
Katherine Knop if, in addi-
tion to her other duties, she
would be able to take on the
auditor job. She said yes
and the commission voted
to appoint her as auditor
and receive a report from
county staff what the finan-
cial impact will be.
In other business, the
commission heard a report
from Loop Coordinator
Anita Pranger. The Loop is
the county operated trans-
portation system. Pranger
said ridership is up overall
across the county, and that
she could always use more
volunteer drivers; if anyone
is interested they should
contact her. She also said
there had been vandalism
to one of the buses. Appar-
ently, someone broke out a
window on a bus.
The commission also
heard a report from un-
dersheriff John Bowles,
who said the sheriff’s de-
partment is now using a
new phone app that allows
deputies to determine by
GPS who owns a particular
piece of property. He said
this was very useful when
they are out working and
want to know who owns
what property.
Bowles also said the
department is looking at
more drone usage in the fu-
ture. He described a recent
search and rescue confer-
ence he attended where a
young person happened
to get lost near where the
conference was being held
and drones were used to
help find her. He said he had
purchased a drone recently
himself and “they are pretty
amazing.” Bowles said
he could see drones being
very useful in finding lost
hunters or other search and
rescue jobs.
The commission also
voted to renew a rock quar-
ry agreement between the
county and Turner Ranches.
This original agreement was
done “long before Melissa
Lindsay was elected com-
missioner,” public works
director Burke O’Brien
said when recommending
approval. Lindsay, who is
currently chair of the coun-
ty commission, recused
herself from the vote, which
was passed by the other two
commissioners.
In other business the
commission discussed the
federal government reim-
bursement for work the
sheriff does on federal land,
such as search and rescue in
the National Forest. Sheriff
Matlack said he wanted to
make sure the county was
receiving all the funds it
is owned from the federal
government. He said the
sheriff generally receives
six to 10 calls per year
and they generally involve
overtime.
Lindsay said she has
had a conversation with
the Forest Service about
reimbursement, because
“we shouldn’t be leaving
any money on the table,”
she said.
Commissioner Jim
Doherty agreed. “We need
to look at that. We don’t
want to be subsidizing the
federal government,” he
said.
Heppner football plans 25 th
annual Mustang football camp
The annual Heppner
Mustang youth/middle/high
school football camp will
be held Monday, July 31,
through Thursday, Aug. 3.
Registration for grades
five through eight will be
from 2-3:30 p.m. Monday,
July 31, at the Heppner
High School gymnasium.
Camp will run from 3:30-
5:30 p.m. Monday through
Thursday.
High school registra- contact Greg Grant, 541-
tion will be from 4-5 p.m. 676-9138 or grantg@mor-
on Monday, July 31. Camp row.k12.or.us.
will run from 5 p.m. to
8 p.m. Monday through
Thursday.
Registration forms are
on the HHS website, https://
hhs.morrow.k12.or.us/sites/
hhs.morrow.k12.or.us/files/
File/athletics/17jun-foot-
ball-camp.pdf
For more information
Water
control
board to
meet
The Heppner Water
Control District board of di-
rectors will meet Thursday,
July 27, at 430 W. Linden
Way (Ag Service Center),
beginning at 7 p.m. The
purpose of the meeting is
to discuss the State Acres
For Wildlife Enhancement
(SAFE) program in the
Heppner watershed. Meet-
ings of the HWCD are open
to the public.
Kinzua
Lunch
Group
The Kinzua Lunch
Group met July 21 at The
Landing Lodge for lunch.
Those attending were Mari-
lyn and father-in-law Bill
Ledford from Prineville;
James Craig, Stanfield;
Bonnie Campbell, Hep-
pner; Bruce and Dixie Hol-
lomon, Hermiston; and
Linda Dunn, Pat Hyatt and
Marilyn Garcia from Fos-
sil. Mike and Terry Todd
stopped by to say hello
while enjoying a Todd fam-
ily reunion at the Lodge.
The next lunch will
be Sept. 22 at 11 a.m.,
once again at The Landing
Lodge.