Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, February 14, 2018
TOWN AND
COUNTRY
ZIP CODE
-Continued from PAGE
ONE
leadership positions. With
all of this, she finds time to
job shadow at Pioneer Me-
morial Physical Therapy,
works part time at Breaking
Grounds Coffee and is a tri-
sport athlete.
The winner of this
year’s Business of the Year,
Dick Temple, DVM and
Karen Temple, have been
serving Morrow County for
over 30 years, offering ser-
vices to the extended fam-
ily members, treating them
as if they were their own.
Within the community,
they are considered hidden
treasures, people who go to
work each day never seek-
ing recognition, working
long hours and giving of
their complete selves.
Along with being con-
sidered a great couple with
big hearts, the Temples are
described as being two of
the hardest working and
dedicated individuals in the
area. They are very active
in the community and “are
not in it for the money or
recognition.”
The recipient of this
year’s Lifetime Achieve-
ment award, Bill Gentry,
was born in Missouri in
1929 and moved to Oregon
the first time when he was
eight years old. His family
made six more trips back
and forth during the depres-
sion before finally settling
in Oregon.
Gentry is known for
telling lots of stories,
never with any bitterness.
He always said “grudges
don’t do anyone any good.
What’s the point?” He is
considered funny, witty and
an all-around great guy.
Columbia Basin bene-
fited from his hard work for
44 years, with him retiring
at the age of 62, and he was
very proud of his 30-year
record of no accidents. He is
known for volunteering for
local rodeos, leveling and
straightening headstones
at the Heppner cemetery,
judging boxing matches
and helping with setup or
volunteering the use of his
flatbed trailer during the
St. Patrick’s Day event. He
supports local sports and
attends baseball, basketball
and softball games, at home
and away. He is known for
his words of wisdom, just
to get a smile out of some-
one. His family says, “He
always has a smile on his
face and is said to be a joy
to be around.”
Death Notice
Maynard “Jack” Struthers, died Friday, Feb. 2 in
LaGrande. Additional information will be available at a
later date..
Valby Lutheran Church
Valby Road
Ione Oregon. 97843
Church Services 1st
& 3rd Sundays
Available for:
Weddings ♦ Funerals
Family Events
Old
Country
Church
All are
Welcome
- FIVE
-Continued from PAGE ONE
The commission consists
of Don Russell and Jim
Doherty, both of Boardman,
and Melissa Lindsay, who
lives on Sand Hollow Rd,
is listed in the phone book
as a Heppner address, and
usually considered “south
county.”
Commissioner Jim
Doherty started off the de-
bate by making a motion to
appoint John Qualls of Hep-
pner. He later voted along
with Don Russell against
his own motion but before
that called himself an “out-
lier” on the commission
because he does not have a
problem where people live
in making appointments.
“I ran on a united Morrow
County,” Doherty told the
commission and the public.
“I heard there was a North
– South county split but
if we continue to buy into
that, we continue to have
a house divided. Doherty
said he had 12 people at a
recent Boardman awards
event approach him saying
there needed to be regional
representation (on the bud-
get committee). “I would
look for more of a regional
approach,” he added.
Commissioner Don
Russell agreed that there
should be regional repre-
sentation. He said it was im-
portant to also have some-
one from Irrigon on the
budget committee. Russell
also said he received input
from constituents. “Lots
of people have lobbied me
for regional representation.
All people (applicants) are
qualified, I am glad we saw
lots of interest,” he said. He
also said this is one reason
they don’t have lifetime
appointments as it is im-
portant to replace people on
various county committees.
Commissioner Lindsay
disagreed with the regional
approach. “My constitu-
ents have said it should be
about qualifications,” she
said. Lindsay also brought
up that other commission-
ers had voted to appoint a
Hermiston resident to head
up the county compensation
board, which overseas rec-
ommendations to the com-
mission on pay scale and
raises for county employ-
ees. Earlier commissioner
Russell had nominated,
and it was approved, to ap-
point the finance director of
Lamb Weston in Boardman,
Kevin Ince, to that head po-
sition, even though he does
not live in Morrow County.
“I was told we should put a
Hermiston resident as the
compensation committee
chairman. Now I am told
regional is more important.
People say we need to get
away from north-south,
then we go regional,” Lind-
say said. “I hope we don’t
get to the point where we
appoint our buddies. I don’t
think this is about qualifica-
tions.” Doherty later said he
agreed with Lindsay about
the compensation board
appointment, but later said
he would probably accept
what comes out of their
decisions. At a January 17
meeting the commission
had voted unanimously
to appoint Ince, however
Lindsay did express reser-
vations appointing some-
one who did not live in the
county. Russell had said at
the time their goal remains
to appoint members to the
Compensation Board “who
have the necessary knowl-
edge, and as the finance
director for the largest em-
ployer in Morrow county
has the wage knowledge
and would be a good fit for
the board.”
The six who applied
for the vacant budget com-
mittee position were: Kim
Cutsforth, John Kilkenny,
Greg Sweek, and John
Qualls, all of Heppner,
Jeanine Dilley of Boardman
and Jeff Wenholz of Irrigon.
Members of the pub-
lic in attendance at the
court meeting also joined
in the discussion. “I am
confused,” said Heppner
Mayor Cody High. “Why
you are throwing out two
names that are qualified just
because of their zip code?”
he asked the commission-
ers. Russell responded that
“We need wide input from
citizens that give us input
from different regions (of
the county). Greg Sweek
(former county assessor)
is probably the most quali-
fied, but there is more than
just financial knowledge
needed,” he said of the posi-
tion. “People from different
geographic areas have dif-
ferent opinions on what is
important in our county.”
High asked Doherty:
“Why did you nominate
someone (Qualls) to serve
and then say you would
not support him?” “I have
no intention of answering
that,” Doherty responded.
The commission later went
on to vote 2-1 to not appoint
Qualls, with Doherty and
Russell voting no and Lind-
say yes. The commission
eventually voted to appoint
Wenholz on a 3-1 vote with
Doherty and Russell voting
in favor.
Former commissioner
LeAnne Rea said quali-
fications are much more
important than geographic.
Current budget member
Mills seemed to think Dil-
ley from Boardman would
be good because of her wide
range of knowledge about
the whole county. “I think
she would be able to look
at the whole county. She
has had lots of connections
around the county.”
After the vote Russell
said he wanted to thank all
those who had applied for
the position. “I think all
are qualified and I encour-
age people to come to our
meetings. We want input.”
The strong debate and
discussion over the bud-
get committee position
may have been promoted
because the county is set
to have a larger influx of
money coming in this bud-
get year, which will leave,
unlike previous years, quite
a bit of decision making
where these funds will be
spent. At an early morn-
ing business meeting be-
tween the commission and
the county administrator,
Doherty said for various
reasons the county will
have an “historic” amount
of money coming in during
the coming fiscal year, and
he suggested the commis-
sion “prioritize their needs”
prior to commencement of
budget committee meet-
ings. He also expressed
concern that the budget
committee may try and “set
policy” through its budget
decisions. And whether the
commission can change the
decisions made by the bud-
get committee. He was told
that the county commission
makes the final decisions on
the budget.
The Lady Mustang JV
team concluded its strong
season on a great note beat-
ing Pilot Rock 44-17 in the
team’s final game of the sea-
son. The Mustang defense
proved to be more than
the Rockets could handle
as they only managed four
points in the entire first half.
Leading 16-4 at the half, the
Mustangs stayed strong and
posted a 44-17 win against
the overmatched Rockets.
This brings the team record
to 19-4 on the season and a
perfect 8-0 in district play.
Top performers for
the girls were Sage Fer-
guson with 10 points, Ni-
cole Propheter with eight
points, Susie Teeman and
Alison Cecil each with six
points. In total, 10 differ-
ent Mustangs scored in
the game. Dakota Durfey,
Caitlyn Scrivner and Kayla
McAninch added much
needed rebounding. Ken-
nisyn Wilkins and Aimee
Turrell provided superior
defense and ball handling
skills to keep the team un-
der control. The future is
looking bright for Lady
Mustang basketball.
JV girls’ basketball finishes strong
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BACK ROW -H ead C oaCH N atHaN H eidemaN , a NNabelle m C d aNiel , m orgaN o rem , K atHryN b urNs , b arbara g arCia ,
s araH K Nop , a sst . C oaCH K emmery b urrigHt , MIDDLE ROW -m aggie F lyNN , l arysa b urrigHt , e va m artiN , m aCKeN -
zie H eidemaN , e mily t aylor FRONT ROW - J essiCa m ediNa , r eNee p etersoN , o la r ietmaNN
t Hese b usiNess & i Ndividuals W isH t He C ardiNals g ood l uCK
Sand Hollow Ag
IRT, LLC
Devin Oil Company
Mid Columbia Producers
Allstott Construction
Columbia Basin Electric
Silver Creek Contracting
Morrow County Health District
Dances With Mules
Blown Away Ranch
Crum Farming
Northwest Farm Credit
Wright Chevrolet
Peterson’s Jewelry
Murray’s Drug
Wheatland Insurance
Family Dentistry
Slim’s Place
Morrow County Grain Growers
Dickenson Chiropractic
Bank of Eastern Oregon
Gar Aviation
O So Kleen
Lexington Pump
Boardman Foods
Les Schwab Tires
Rietmann Family Homestead
Neiffer Ranch
Heppner Family Foods
Dave’s Photography
Community Bank
Jay Keithley Constructions
BPOE #358 Elks Lodge
Tacos Hometown
Sherrell Chevrolet
Morrow County Fair
Wheatland Insurance
Ione Market & Deli
Pettyjohns Farm & Builders
Supply
Jerry & Anna McElligott
and Family
Dick & Jannie Allen
Allen & Nancy Anderson
Bob & Bonni Ball
John & Linda Bristow
Mike & Keisha Covey
June Crowell
Jarrod & Alison Ogden and Family
Arthur & Stacie Ekstrom and Family Eric & Brandi Orem and Family
Deacon & Erin Heideman and
Joe & Anita Orem
Family
Marvin & Tanna Padberg
Loren & Della Heideman
Darrin & Camie Padberg and Family
Dale & Karen Holland
Joel Peterson &
Bob Hubbard
Lea Mathieu and Family
JL Kincaid Ranch
Dana Heideman
Buzz & Jeanette Logan
Ione FFA
Kathy Martin
Keith & Judy Rea
Joe & Jeri McElligott
Betty Rietmann
Mark & Cydney
Joe & Donna Rietmann
McElligott and Family
Dean & Florene Robinson
Perry & Kathy Morter
Brian & Lorie Sullivan
Dianne Mullins
Jim & Monica Swanson
Sherron Woodside
Brent & Jill Martin and Family
Bill Rietmann
Brian & Peggy
Doherty and Family
Jeff & Dawn Eynetich and Family
Tom & Arlynda Gates
John & Barb Collins
Betty Gray
Wayne Hams
Betty Rietmann
Linda LaRue
Donald Rigby
Frank & Cathy Halvorsen