Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, February 13, 2019 -- TWO
The Official Newspaper
of the City of Heppner and the County of Morrow
Heppner
GAZETTE-TIMES
Slick roads claim
snow plow
U.S.P.S. 240-420
Morrow County’s Home-Owned Weekly Newspaper
SEARCH OLD COPIES OF THE HEPPNER GAZETTE-TIMES ON-LINE:
http://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/
Published weekly by Sykes Publishing, LLC and entered as periodical matter at the
Post Office at Heppner, Oregon under the Act of March 3, 1879. Periodical postage
paid at Heppner, Oregon. Office at 188 W. Willow Street. Telephone (541) 676-
9228. Fax (541) 676-9211. E-mail: editor@rapidserve.net or david@rapidserve.
net. Web site: www.heppner.net. Postmaster send address changes to the Heppner
Gazette-Times, P.O. Box 337, Heppner, Oregon 97836. Subscriptions: $31 in Morrow
County; $25 senior rate (in Morrow County only; 65 years or older); $37 elsewhere;
$31 student subscriptions.
David Sykes ..............................................................................................Publisher
Bobbi Gordon................................................................................................ Editor
All News and Advertising Deadline is Monday at 5 p.m.
For Advertising: advertising deadline is Monday at 5 p.m. Cost for a display ad is $5.25 per
column inch. Cost for classified ad is 50¢ per word. Cost for Card of Thanks is $10 up to
100 words. Cost for a classified display ad is $6.05 per column inch.
For Public/Legal Notices: public/legal notices deadline is Monday at 5 p.m. Dates for pub-
lication must be specified. Affidavits must be required at the time of submission. Affidavits
require three weeks to process after last date of publication (a sooner return date must be
specified if required).
For Obituaries: Obituaries are published in the Heppner GT at no charge and are edited to
meet news guidelines. Families wishing to include information not included in the guidelines
or who wish to have the obituary written in a certain way must purchase advertising space
for the obituary.
For Letters to the Editor: Letters to the Editor MUST be signed by the author. The Heppner
GT will not publish unsigned letters. All letters MUST include the author’s address and phone
number for use by the GT office. The GT reserves the right to edit letters. The GT is not
responsible for accuracy of statements made in letters. Any letters expressing thanks will
be placed in the classifieds under “Card of Thanks” at a cost of $10.
~ Letters to the Editor ~
The Heppner Gazette Times will print all letters to the Editor with the following
criteria met: letters submitted to the newspaper will need to have the name
of the sender along with a legible signature. We are also requesting that you
provide your address and a phone number where you can be reached. The
address and phone number will only be used for verification and will not be
printed in the newspaper. Letters may not be libelous. The GT reserves the
right to edit. The GT is not responsible for accuracy of statements made in
letters. Any letters expressing thanks will be placed in the classifieds under
“Card of Thanks” at a cost of $10.
Project could close roads
To the Editor:
The Heppner Ranger District and the North Fork
John Day Ranger District are trying to put together a
plan that could drastically affect the Umatilla National
Forest southeast of Heppner and west of Ukiah. It’s called
the Ellis Project and covers more than 170 square miles
(110,000 acres). It generally stretches from Little Butter
Creek to Rhea Creek and south to the North Fork of the
John Day River. It includes Ditch Creek, Mallory, Little
Potamus, Potamus, Ellis, 5 Mile, Taylor, Camas and other
creeks. They could close up to a hundred miles of roads.
Due to the federal shutdown, they have extended
the comments deadline to Feb. 19. You won’t be eligible
to file an objection (in the future) if you don’t submit a
written comment by Feb. 19.
I’m not real pleased about how the public was in-
formed about this project. The handout placed in Hep-
pner’s businesses didn’t appear to show clearly on a map
the areas they were talking about. The summary didn’t
have a very good description of how big and where this
area is. Were they trying to slip this past us? They haven’t
changed the deadline on their website either. This appears
to be an enormous gigantic timber sale. I am against it.
I just want what’s best for our mountains. When it’s
made perfectly clear what and how they’re going to do
things, we can decide if we want to accept, object or
change things.
There is no question that the old-growth, ripe timber
needs to be selectively harvested and removed along
with much of the ladder fuel and firewood. The reason
that timber is still there is because that privilege has been
so drastically abused in the past. Taking it all at once for
many of these areas would wipe out the forest completely.
I think it should be removed in cycles over the course of
6 to 8 years or so. Commercial logging for profit causes
too many shortcuts to be taken and not enough timber
left behind.
Controlled burns shouldn’t just be alongside of exist-
ing roads. I think they need to go out into the forest late
in the year, when it’s wet, and burn hot spots that won’t
harm large stands of timber.
Brandon Houck, Heppner Forest Ranger, told me that
the turnout for three public meetings held in Heppner
and Ukiah to discuss these issues attracted less than 40
citizens all together. The comments on their website show
less than 20 entries.
Please go to this website, submit a comment and see
what you think about the plans that will affect our forests
and streams: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?proj-
ect=42350
Thank you,
Kevin Dick, Gresham, OR
Community lunch menu
Christian Life/Firelight volunteers will serve lunch
on Wednesday, February 20 at St. Patrick’s Senior Center.
Lunch will be chicken divan, rice pilaf, sunshine carrots,
Waldorf salad, hot rolls and cookies for dessert.
Milk is served at each meal. Suggested donation is
$3.50 per meal. Menu is subject to change.
Valby Lutheran Church
Valby Road Ione
Potluck After Church Feb. 17
Everyone welcome!
Church Services 1st
& 3rd Sundays
Available for:
Weddings ♦ Funerals
Family Events
Old
Country
Church
All are
Welcome
A state highway snow plow flipped and went into the ditch on
the top of Jones Hill on Hwy 74 outside Heppner at 3:14 a.m.
Monday. -Contributed photo
WCVEDG to host
annual luncheon
The Willow Creek Val-
ley Economic Development
Group (WCVEDG) will
host its annual luncheon
on Thursday, Feb. 28 from
noon to 1 p.m. in the dining
room at the senior center.
The annual luncheon will
include an update on the
projects that WCVEDG
has been working on, along
with plans for the future.
The luncheon is free
with Alvin Liu with Gate-
way Café serving home-
made barbecue ribs, baked
beans, potato salad and
dessert. RSVPs are required
to accommodate food and
seating by contacting the
Heppner chamber office at
heppnerchamber@century-
tel.net or 541-676-5536 no
later than Monday, Feb. 25.
Group skis near
Coal Mine hill
Community Bank
reaches milestone
Community Bank, the
locally owned and operated
full-service commercial
bank, finished 2018 with to-
tal assets of $422,824,000.
This was the first time in
its history that the bank
completed an operating
year with assets greater than
$400MM. Organic deposit
growth of $24.5MM was a
direct result of deepening
relationships with existing
customers, as well as gain-
ing market share through-
out the local communities
serviced by the bank. Core
deposit growth is typically
the most widely accepted
measure of franchise value
for a commercial bank.
From the broader eco-
nomic perspective, 2018
also represents the ten-year
mark since the start of the
financial crisis. Since the
beginning of 2009, Com-
munity Bank has grown
by over 30 percent, repre-
sented by over $100MM in
asset growth. At the same
time, the bank has further
strengthened its balance
sheet into one of the stron-
gest in the Pacific north-
west.
Bauer Financial, a bank
rating agency, has assigned
Community Bank its high-
est star safety rating of five
(Superior). The bank is
currently the only financial
institution headquartered
in eastern Oregon recom-
mended by Bauer Financial,
which requires a rating of at
least four stars.
Regarding the bank’s
recent performance, Com-
munity Bank CEO Tom
Moran stated, “With total
assets north of $420MM,
Community Bank was the
largest financial institution
headquartered in eastern
Oregon at year end. We
can directly attribute this
success to the dedication
of our bankers, and the
continued support of our
customers, who understand
the importance of banking
with a local financial insti-
tution. The funds deposited
in Community Bank are
redeployed directly into our
local markets in the form of
loans, investments, spon-
sorships and donations.
Looking ahead, we see little
reason to make changes to
our business model. Af-
ter all, it’s worked for 64
years.”
Ione FFA members
take first place
Pictured (L-R): Dan and Sandra Van Liew, Luanne Brownfield
and Tripp and Jacob Finch. Not pictured, Steve Brownfield.
Six skiers enjoyed the snow Feb. 9 near Coal Mine
hill for the Arbuckle Nordic club’s Saturday outing. The
group parked at the top of Coal Mine hill, skied through
the snow across Herron Meadow and up the FS 750 Road Grace Ogden (left) took first place in Beginning Public Speak-
to the headwaters of Ditch Creek.
ing and Madison Orem was awarded first in Creed Speaking.
After lunch around a warming fire, the group skied
FFA members Madison Orem and Grace Ogden of
back to the 53 Road and back to their vehicles.
Ione Community School took first place wins at the Blue
Mountain District FFA competition recently. The district
includes Hermiston, Pendleton, Heppner, Athena, Board-
man, Milton-Freewater, Echo, Pilot Rock and Irrigon.
The girls will compete at the sectional competition
in La Grande on Feb. 20.
It is the time of year current rabies inoculation.
to license your dogs in The licensing fee varies
Heppner. All dog licenses by breed and other circum-
expire on Dec. 31 each year. stances.
The city requires all dogs
According to a spokes-
over the age of six months person for the city, licensing We are currently leasing property locally
to be licensed and to have your pet has many benefits. from the same ranchers for 40+ years, and
Number one, the pet is re- currently want to add 10,000+ more acres of
turned to you if it is found leased big game hunting areas.
after escaping or getting
We are a fully insured, non-profit family hunt-
lost. Unlicensed pets are
taken to pet rescue in Herm- ing club established in 1976, with 50 mem-
iston and licensed pets are bers. We promote family style hunting by
providing a safe hunting environment for the
kenneled locally.
Licensing can be done whole family including children. We adhere
at the Heppner city hall to strict ethical and regulatory standards.
Morrow County Justice from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mon- Using club volunteers we hold annual work
of the Peace, Ann Spicer, day through Friday. There
parties on leased properties working on pro-
has released the following is a fine for dogs at large as
jects directed by the property owner (fence
Justice Court report:
well as a penalty for allow- and gate repair, road improvement, vegeta-
-Christina Barboza, 32, ing your animal to deposit
Hillsboro was convicted solid waste on property oth- tion removal etc.) We do projects to improve
of violation of basic rule, er than your own. Both ac- hunting such as no trespassing signage and
campsite improvements.
75/55, fine $165.
tions are Class D violations
-Megan Z Anderson, and can carry a penalty of Club members patrol leased properties dur-
37, Battleground, WA was $110 per fine.
ing hunting seasons, and take an active role
convicted of violation of
Plans for a dog park in deterring and prosecuting trespassers and
basic rule, 74/55 mph, fine where animals can run in poachers. References available upon request.
$165.
a safe area is in the works, If you have land to lease please contact:
-Deborah L Evans, 55, with part of the project to
Heppner was convicted of be funded by licensing fees.
driving while suspended,
fine $440.
-Linda J Workman, 62,
Heppner was convicted of
careless driving with acci-
dent, fine $440.
-Dawna A Dougherty,
54, Heppner was convicted
of violation of basic rule,
76/55, fine $265.
Dogs in Heppner
must be licensed
Family Hunting Club
Looking for big game land
Justice
Court
Report
Jason Slangan 503-927-5643
Elks Lodge Members & Guests
DEADLINE:
MONDAYS
AT 5PM
Come join Thursday,
February 14th
us at our
LIVE MUSIC
Valentine's
(WEATHER PERMITTING) by
Frank Carlson
Day Dinner!
5- 9pm