EIGHT - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, April 10, 2019
School board gives Dirkson excellent
review
Morrow County School Dis-
trict Superintendent Dirk
Dirksen.
The Morrow County
School Board gave Su-
perintendent Dirk Dirksen
an excellent review in all
standards at the board’s
monthly meeting at Hep-
pner Jr./Sr. High School
Monday night.
“I have observed many
examples of Mr. Dirksen’s
leadership within the school
district. I appreciate his
commitment to the stu-
dents, the staff and the
community and I think this
shows in the culture that he
has fostered in each school.
I particularly like how he
allows each school to main-
tain their independence,
while at the same time pro-
viding consistent guidance
within the district,” said a
board statement.
“Alongside all the oth-
er responsibilities that he
has, Mr. Dirksen excels
at staying up to date with
changes to instructional
techniques and curricu-
lum adaptions. He has also
done a good job at keeping
MCSD a leader in the early
adoption of programs such
as the online program and
Eastern Promises. I feel that
he correctly places student
education ahead of all of
the other important things
that he is responsible for,
which I think can be seen in
student improvement since
his time as superintendent,”
continued the statement.
“I do not believe we
could ask for a better person
when it comes to ethics and
values! A super good person
that cares,” they added.
Dirksen had been a
teacher and coach for the
district, then a principal
before accepting the super-
intendent’s position.
Also at the meeting,
the board learned that the
2019 immunization rates
in Morrow County Schools
average around 97 percent
for all schools combined.
Two schools, Irrigon
Elementary and Morrow
Education Center in Irrigon,
had 100 percent compli-
ance. At Irrigon Elementa-
ry, 214 of 215 students had
all vaccinations required,
with one non-medical ex-
emption. At MEC all 65
students had all vaccines up
to date with no non-medical
exemptions.
Riverside Jr./Sr. High
School came up next with
99 percent compliance;
400 out of 406 students had
received all their vaccines,
with one non-medical ex-
emption. At Windy River
Elementary, 244 out of 250
students had all vaccina-
tions required, for a rate
of 98 percent, with two
non-medical exemptions.
Sam Boardman Ele-
mentary had the lowest
percentage, with 94 per-
cent of students having all
vaccinations, with three
non-medical exemptions.
The adjusted enrollment
at SBE was 356 with 335
students having all vacci-
nations and three having
non-medical exemptions.
Heppner Jr./Sr. High
and A.C. Houghton Ele-
mentary students had the
next lowest percentage at
96 percent. At HJSHS, with
an adjusted enrollment of
172, 165 students had all
vaccinations required and
six students had non-med-
ical exemptions. At ACH
in Irrigon, with an adjusted
enrollment of 284, 272 stu-
dents had all vaccinations
and one had a non-medical
exemption.
At Heppner Elementa-
ry and Irrigon Jr./Sr. High
School, 97 percent of stu-
dents had all vaccinations
required. HES, with 167
students, had 162 students
with all vaccinations and
one with a non-medical
exemption. At IJSHS, with
356 students, 346 had all
vaccines, with two having
non-medical exemptions.
The board also learned
that the district’s auditors
noted a material weakness
during the financial state-
ment audit concerning pre-
paid expenses that were not
reported as prepaid expens-
es. To remedy the situation,
the auditors recommended
paying insurance, such as
liability, property and work-
ers’ compensation in July of
each year, instead of June
or record it as a prepaid
expense if it is paid prior to
the fiscal year of coverage.
Concerning school start
days this fall, the board
learned that almost 54 per-
cent of district employees
(112) with 208 voting, fa-
vored a pre-Labor Day
start for school this fall,
with school beginning on
August 26 and ending on
June 4. Around 46 percent
(96) favored the post-Labor
Day start with school begin-
ning on September 3. The
board generally adheres to
the employee preference in
determining the start day.
Dirksen commented that
the percentages between
those preferring the earlier
and later start date were
becoming closer. Usually,
he said, the ratio is around
75/25 preferring the early
start date.
In other business, the
board:
-congratulated the Hep-
pner Jr./Sr. High School
girls’ basketball team, some
of whom were able to be
present, and their coach
Rob Wilson for their state
title win.
-approved a request
from IJSHS students to
name the IJSHS ball field
after much-admired coach
Randall Heinrichs, who
contributed not only coach-
ing, but support, work and
financial contributions to-
ward constructing and up-
dating the field.
-heard a presentation
from HHS ag teacher and
FFA advisor Beth Dicken-
son on the 2018-19 FFA
Backpack Project which
provides take-home back-
packs of food for kids in
need for the weekends,
when school food is not
available. Dickenson said
that the project has sent
out 937 full weekend meal
backpacks as of March 22,
feeding an average of 40
children every weekend
and plans to send out 1,249
full meal backpacks by the
end of the school year. The
project also included two
food workshops to show
“kids how to make a proper
nutritional meal for them-
selves and possibly their
families.”
The project support-
ers include Willow Creek
Economic Development,
which donated over $5,000,
DPR Construction, Na-
tional FFA, The Carlson
Family, Breaking Bread,
Va n S c h o i a c k R a n c h ,
the Dickensons, Triangle
Ranches, Heppner FFA
Chapter, Morrow County
Grain Growers and Land
O’Lakes.
Beth Dickenson, HHS ag
teacher and FFA advisor.
-also heard presenta-
tions from HJSHS teacher
Jeanne Collins, Heppner
FBLA advisor; travel re-
quests from Dickenson for
an FFA trip; RJSHS teach-
er Rhonda Fox-Brennan,
for a Kidwind Challenge
trip; RJSHS teacher Crystal
Kirk, for the Presidential
Academy for American
History and Civics Summer
Institute trip, and IJSHS
teacher Lenn Greer, for an
FFA trip.
-received the follow-
ing enrollment report for
April: A.C. Houghton Ele-
mentary, Irrigon-264; Sam
Boardman Elementary,
Boardman-338; Heppner
Elementary-166; Irrigon
Elementary-215, Windy
River Elementary, Board-
man-289; Heppner Jr./Sr.
High-167; Irrigon Jr./Sr.
High-367; Riverside Jr./
Sr. High, Boardman-428;
Morrow Education Center,
Irrigon-55; Total-2,289.
-approved the follow-
ing employment action:
resignations/non-renew-
als-Loren Dieter, RSJSH
assistant high school foot-
ball coach; employment/
promotions/transfers-Cole
Ashby, RJSHS weight train-
ing/PE teacher 2019-20;
Elizabeth Campos, ABC
room behavior technician;
Viviana Colin-Torres, WRE
fifth grade teacher 2019-20,
Charlene Cooley, payroll
specialist, Clair Costello,
RJSHS PE teacher 2019-
20, Alexandra Hobbs, IES
sixth grade teacher 2019-
20, Patricia King, RJSHS
special ed teacher 2019-20,
Makayla Mangione, RJSHS
language arts teacher 2019-
20, Laura Rowe, WRE Title
I teacher 2019-20, Mike
Royer, IJSHS counselor
2019-20, G’Ann Thom-
as, RJSHS language arts
teacher 2019-20; extra duty
contracts-Michelle Hagen,
IJSHS junior high track
coach 2018-19, Stepha-
nie Simpson, RJSHS high
school assistant volleyball
coach, 2019-20.
-approved the follow-
ing classified/confidential/
district office personnel
recommended for rehire
(Heppner area only listed):
Heppner Elementary-Lorna
Botefuhr, Missy Cutsforth,
Rebecca Evans, Darcee
Mitchell, Janet Wilson, all
ed assistants; Jackie Al-
leman, head cook, Debra
Campbell, ed assistant, li-
brary tech, Kathy Cutsforth,
assistant custodian, Kelly
Fox, lead maintenance/
facilities coordinator, HES
& HJSHS, Tami Lien, as-
sistant custodian, Darcy
Robinson, head secretary,
Stefanie Sweeney, behavior
technician; Heppner Jr./Sr.
High School-Ken Grieb,
Jennifer Jaca, Stephannie
McAninch, ed assistants,
Ginger Bowman, library
tech, Tiffanie Greenup,
head secretary, Lori Mc-
Cabe, head cook, Teresa
Parret, assistant custodian,
Robert Wilson, head cus-
todian; confidential/district
office personnel-Cheryl
Costello, executive sec-
retary/human resources
assistant, Heidi Garcia,
Connie Lobato, student ser-
vices technicians, Autumn
Morgan, fiscal services
specialist/accounts payable,
Brandi Sweeney, mainte-
nance coordinator, Renee
Zielinski, food service co-
ordinator.
-adopted a resolution
accepting and appropriating
$25,000 for Heppner Jr./Sr.
High School from Bob and
Kelly Hale.
-adopted policy on fed-
eral procurement.
-heard the following
announcements: make-
up snow days, April 12
and May 3 for all schools;
teacher appreciation week,
May 6-10; budget com-
mittee meeting, Monday,
May 13, IES; next board
meeting, Monday, May 13,
Irrigon Elementary.
Obituaries
Marsha L. White
Marsha L. White, 66, of
Hermiston, died Saturday,
April 6, at Richland, WA.
A private family graveside
service will be held at a
later date at High View
Cemetery in Ione, OR.
She was born October
10, 1952, at Heppner, OR,
the daughter of Donald and
Lorraine (Sherman) Ball.
She was raised in Ione
where she graduated from
high school in 1970. Mar-
sha then attended Western
Business College, gradu-
ating in 1971. She became
disabled in 1989 due to an
automobile accident.
Marsha is survived by
a sister, Melani Harshman
of Baker City; brothers
Donald (Jay) and his wife
(Connie) Ball of Pendle-
ton, Robert (Bonni) Ball of
Ione, Ed Sherman (Cathy)
of Pendleton and Fred Sher-
man of Ione.
Memorial contributions
may be made to the Ione
Community Pool, P.O. Box
167, Ione, OR 97843.
Sweeney Mortuary of
Heppner is in care of ar-
rangements.
Sheriff’s Report
The Morrow County Sheriff’s Office has released the following information:
January 26: Morrow
County Sheriff ’s Office
received a report at SE Utah
Ave, Irrigon that there were
two hunters in a red Ford
extended cab that didn’t
yield right of way to him.
-MCSO received a re-
port on W Main St, Lexing-
ton that a male subject that
was living with her family
and is moving owes another
subject money. That other
subject is threatening to
burn her house down.
-MCSO received a re-
port at MW Water St/NW
Minor St, Heppner that
there are two kids playing
with a puppy on Water
Street without a leash. RP
advised the kids are in the
road and not paying atten-
tion to traffic. Unable to
locate.
-MCSO received a re-
port at Morrow County
Fairgrounds on Hwy 74
Lena, Heppner that a brown
Chevy is parked behind
the fairgrounds. Unable to
locate.
-MCSO received a re-
port at Castle Rock Apart-
ments on Tatone St, Board-
man that dad and brother
are fighting. No weapons.
-MCSO received a re-
port on Tower Rd, Board-
man that there is a brown
pickup off the road, looks
like it may have slid off the
road this morning.
-MCSO received a re-
port at Sub Zero Motel
on S First St, Irrigon that
Umatilla County is working
on a missing person – ATL.
MCSO checked, unable to
locate.
-MCSO received a re-
port that Michael Brian Ol-
iver was arrested by UCSO
on MCSO warrant. Subject
lodged at UCJ with a bail of
$250,000.
-MCSO received a re-
port at Willow Creek Rd/
Hwy 207, Heppner that at
the second bridge towards
Willow Creek there is a fe-
male standing in the middle
of the highway, possibly
high or intoxicated. Gena
Marie Tortolani was arrest-
ed by MCSO for assault-
ing an officer x3. Subject
lodged at UCJ with bail of
$15,000.
January 27: Morrow
County Sheriff’s Office re-
ceived a report at Boardman
rest area eastbound on I 84,
Boardman of a possible
overdose at the rest area.
RP advised the subject was
doing drugs and is now
slumped over and the vehi-
cle is running.
-MCSO received a re-
port on W Fourth Rd, Irri-
gon that RP has about 25
cows.
-MCSO received a re-
port at Hwy 74 Lena, Hep-
pner that there is a vehicle
that has been parked off
the side of the road. Looks
like they drove the vehicle
off the road and just parked
it there.
-MCSO received a re-
port of an alarm at Hep-
pner Grade School on NE
Stansbury St, Heppner.
Made contact with teacher
from the school that advised
there is youth practice to-
day. Alarm false.
-MCSO received a re-
port that Douglas Duane
Jones was arrested by Spo-
kane PD on MCCC warrant.
Lodged at Spokane County
jail with bail of $20,000.
-MCSO received a re-
port at Willow Creek Res-
ervoir on Willow Creek Rd,
Heppner that he passed a
vehicle going 35 mph, door
propped open with male
leaning out.
-MCSO received a re-
port at Boardman Recre-
ation Center on Olson Rd
NE, Boardman that there is
a young lifeguard cussing
and getting in the RP’s face.
BPD made contact.
-MCSO received a re-
port on NE Main Ave, Irri-
gon that he had a couple of
screens popped out of his
windows.
January 28: Morrow
County Sheriff ’s Office
received a report at Buck-
num’s on N Main St, Hep-
pner that there is a white
SUV behind the post office
with a group of 3-4 indi-
viduals around it that have
been out there for several
hours.
-MCSO received a re-
port at Riverview Motel on
Front St, NE, Boardman
that there is a male walk-
ing by and making threats
against him.
-MCSO received a re-
port on SE Utah Ave, Irri-
gon that a three-axle trailer
with a small backhoe is
headed towards Boardman
with no lights on it. Unable
to locate.
-MCSO received a
report at Pole Line Rd/
Frontage Ln, Boardman
that there is a green pickup
pulling a travel trailer right
on the edge of the road with
yellow flashing light, not a
hazard.
-MCSO received a re-
port on SE Park Pl, Irrigon
of 59-year-old female not
feeling well. Transported.
-MCSO received a re-
port at Bella Vista Estates
on Paul Smith Rd, Board-
man that teen daughter
called advising she was
thinking about suicide.
-MCSO received a
report that Jessica Ann
Withrow was arrested by
MCSO on CC warrant.
Subject lodged at Yakima
County jail with a total
bail of $320,000. No local
charges.
-MCSO received a re-
port at Main ST N/Front
St NE, Boardman of MVA,
two vehicles red Chevy and
minivan.
-MCSO received a re-
port on SE Utah Ave, Irri-
gon that two dogs are on the
street. RP advised he will be
taking the dog to pet rescue.
-MCSO received a re-
port of a white goat on Hwy
74, Heppner.
-MCSO received a re-
port on I 84 E, Boardman
that vehicle rear-ended RP,
Dodge pickup and Chevy
pickup. Non-injury.
-MCSO received a re-
port on NE Ninth St, Irrigon
that her Siamese has been
missing for the last couple
days.
-MCSO received a re-
port of a white Chevy Tahoe
on fire on I 84 E, Boardman.
Fire was put out.
-MCSO received a re-
port at Frontage Ln/Pole
Line Rd, Hermiston that at
approx. 0430 this morning
he came across a vehicle
with its blinkers on. On his
way home from work it is
still there with blinkers on.
-MCSO received a re-
port that RP came across a
male and female with four
kids who advised they got
their Dodge pickup stuck
and cannot get out. Western
Route Rd towards Ukiah
turn right on 21 Rd towards
Penland Lake, then turn off
onto 2103 Rd. RP advised
there is about 3-4 feet of
snow. MCSO responded
and was able to get individ-
uals to a motel in Heppner.
-MCSO received a
report at Heppner Grade
School on NE Stansbury
St, Heppner that her car
was keyed while at the bas-
ketball game. MCSO made
contact.
-MCSO received a re-
port on SE Utah Ave, Irri-
gon that a maroon Buick
with black trim flew down
towards Tenth. Unable to
locate.
January 29: Morrow
County Sheriff ’s Office
received a report on Willow
Creek Rd, Heppner that RP
has hit a deer, just before the
gravel turnout.
-MCSO received a re-
port at US Post Office on
NE Main Ave, Irrigon that
maroon sedan approached
her acting suspicious. Un-
able to locate.
-MCSO received a re-
port at SE Utah Ave/SE
Tenth St, Irrigon that two
dogs got out of the yard and
charged. Unable to locate.
-MCSO received a re-
port at AJ Martin, Lexing-
ton that he takes his dogs
for walks and today as he
was passing one of the dogs
crawled under the fence
and started attacking his
dogs. RP confronted the
owner who was outside and
the owner of the building
threatened him.
-MCSO received a re-
port at Green Acres on Pat-
erson Ferry Rd, Irrigon that
he was at his friend’s house
showing him his coin col-
lections and a subject that
was there stole two of his
coins. Coins value around
$100-150.
-MCSO received a re-
port that Joseph Arthur
Manning was lodged at
Multnomah County jail by
US Marshalls on parole vi-
olation. Will be transported
to UCJ on 1/30/19.