Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, May 22, 2019 -- THREE
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Lexington minutes approved
without vote
To the editor,
I attended last week’s
Lexington town council
meeting with great interest
after reading in the Gazette
about the goings on there.
The meeting started well
and was conducted profes-
sionally at first until a coun-
cilmember questioned the
previous month’s meeting
minutes. There was a quick
addendum added and as
two of the councilmembers
were still looking over the
minutes the other coun-
cilmember motioned to
accept the minutes. Then
without a second to the mo-
tion, nor a vote by the coun-
cil, Mayor Marcia Kemp
simply banged her gavel
and alone approved the
minutes without a council
vote. A clear violation of the
law, bylaws, character and
ethics of a sitting mayor.
Mrs. Kemp then quick-
ly moved on and shortly
thereafter the vacant coun-
cilmember subject came up.
Kemp then began to act like
a child having her favorite
toy threatened, yelling over
the other councilmembers
and refusing to let the mat-
ter be resolved. Mrs. Kemp
insisted that she, as mayor,
vote on the matter. It clearly
states in the town charter
section 26 “the mayor shall
have a vote when necessary
to break a tie.” Mrs. Kemp
insists that in this case, and
this particular case only, she
can and will vote. The only
reason Mrs. Kemp wants to
unethically and wrongfully
interject her invalid vote
is to create a tie. This goes
against any reasonable log-
ic in interpreting the town
charter.
I asked Kemp in the
meeting (on record) if it
was her intention to create
a deadlock and accomplish
no progress. Mrs. Kemp
and councilmember Marcia
Sticka both joyfully smiled
and said, “Yes.” Is this how
a town council is supposed
to function? Is this the ac-
tion of reasonable adults?
Is this in the best interest
of Lexington. No it is not!
It was obvious by the
end of the meeting Mrs.
Kemp only wants complete
control. Is that democracy?
I agree with a previous
letter to the editor from
last month’s meeting that
Kemp doesn’t seem to be
fit to be the mayor of any
community.
Will Lemmon
Lexington, OR
Caution against climate strike
To the editor:
If Winston Churchill
was alive today, he would
caution the youth of Mor-
row County planning a
climate strike, “The farther
backward you look, the
farther forward you see.”
In 1975 the national press
and media were issuing dire
warnings that fossil fuels
and capitalism were caus-
ing catastrophic damage
to the environment. News-
week proposed a solution in
the April 28, 1975 edition
that included outlawing
fossil fuel engines to save
the planet from the coming
ice age.
Fast forward 25 years
to the dawn of the 21 st
century and Al Gore’s “An
inconvenient truth” pro-
vided graphic images of
apocalyptic consequences
if fossil fuels were allowed
to continue warming the
planet. The national press
and media and school cur-
riculum deluged our youth
with pictures of ‘global
warming’ – melting gla-
ciers, dying polar bears,
coastal cities inundated
by massive floods, cities
wiped out by hurricanes and
tornadoes and food supplies
exterminated by drought.
“Global cooling” and
“global warming” have
lost their luster so the new
mantra of “climate change”
has frightened the present
generation of our youth
to take action against the
catastrophic consequences
of carbon dioxide emis-
sions and fossil fuels. The
New Green Deal proposed
by Rep. Alexandria Oca-
sio-Cortez would replace
fossil fuels with ‘renewable
energy’ to save America
from the approaching cli-
mate catastrophe. The cost
of this Socialist Marxist
social engineering proposal
to save America from fossil
fuels and CO2 emissions:
$66 to 100 trillion over
ten years, or $350,000 to
$650,000 per family. Print
more money, raise higher
taxes, get rid of the Con-
stitution and everything
else that restricts the fed-
OWC to hold
meeting
The Oregon Wheat
Commission (OWC) will
hold its annual budget hear-
ing and regular meeting to
discuss commission busi-
ness on May 29 beginning
at 10 a.m. The meeting will
be held at the Fort Dalles
Readiness Center, 402 East
Scenic Drive, The Dalles,
OR and lunch will be pro-
vided.
Commission meetings
are open to the public and
anyone wishing to attend
is encouraged and welcome
to do so. Dress is business
casual. The meeting loca-
tion is accessible to persons
with disabilities. The ADA
prohibits discrimination
against persons with dis-
abilities
For additional infor-
mation, contact the Oregon
Wheat Commission office
at 503-467-2161.
eral government from con-
trolling Americans from
birth to the grave under the
guise of saving the planet.
Here are the facts
young citizens of Morrow
County preparing to “fight
for our future” May 24.
The USA could cut carbon
dioxide emissions by 100
percent and it would have
no impact on ‘global cool-
ing,’ ‘global warming,’ or
‘global climate change.’
What will impact your lives
is the 20 plus trillion-dollar
USA debt plus the accruing
interest your generation
will be required to pay. This
debt could well devastate
your future and end your
hope for the lifestyle you
now enjoy. I exhort the
youth of Morrow County
to study history; do not
be manipulated by Demo-
crat Socialist scare tactics
and indoctrination that will
bankrupt America, destroy
your future and have zero
impact on saving the planet.
Stuart Dick, Morrow
County
No veg-
etarian
cooking
class for
May
There will be no veg-
etarian cooking class this
month. For additional in-
formation contact Cynthia
Wenberg at 541-561-9132
or via email to heppners-
da@gmail.com.
E PRINT!
W
COMMUNITY CLEAN UP
Organized by the City of Heppner
FREE DUMPSTER for garbage collection available
at the City yard on Riverside Ave.
Thursday May 16th through Monday May 27th.
There will also be a spot to leave yard debris and
burnable material.
The City will not accept tires, hazardous waste or
household chemicals.
City of Heppner residents only
Please contact the City of Heppner for more
information 541-676-9618.
SINESS CAR
BU TERHE DS
AD
LET
BROCHURES
FLYERS
AND MORE!
The Heppner
Gazette-Times
188 W. Willow
Call Dave Today
(541) 676-9228
Teachers’ contract ratified
The Morrow County
School Board, at its May
13 meeting at Irrigon El-
ementary School, ratified
the Morrow County Edu-
cation Association licensed
(teachers’) contract which
will expire June 30, 2022.
The teachers’ contract
calls for 150 teacher-stu-
dent contact days, six eight-
hour employee in-service
days, seven eight-hour em-
ployee work days, four
paid holidays-Labor Day,
Veteran’s Day, Memori-
al Day, President’s Day;
two four-hour Friday work
days, two four-hour Friday
in-service days, two days
or 16-hours for conferences
and two hours for open
house (to be added by the
building principal), total of
171 contract days, a $1,525
insurance cap, 80 hours sick
leave and a three-percent
salary increase.
The board approved
the teachers’ salary sched-
ule as follows: bachelor of
arts or science degree plus
zero to 15 college cred-
its ranging from $40,143
pay starting, to $47,708;
teachers with a BA/BS
degree plus 30 college cred-
its-$41,100-$51,740; BA/
BS plus 45 credits-$42,128
to $59,506; STD plus zero
credits, master of arts or
science plus zero, BA
plus 60 credits-$43,182
to $68,633; STD, MA/
MS plus 30, BA plus 95
credits-$44,259-$70,348
and STD, MA/MS plus 45
credits-$45,365-$72,107.
The board approved
teachers’ step increases
ranging from $235 for
teachers with a BA/BS with
no additional credits to 15
credits to STD, MA/MS de-
grees plus 45 credits-$422.
They also approved
extra duty salary schedules
ranging from $1,453 to
$4,615 depending on steps
and categories.
And the board approved
coaches’ salary schedules
ranging from $1,040 for an
assistant junior high coach
at step zero to $5,045 for a
high school athletic director
at step four.
At the meeting MCSD
Superintendent Dirk Dirk-
sen commented that state
school funding is “kind
of flat,” but added that the
Morrow County Unified
Recreation District will
increase funding to schools
by $100,000. “It’s a win-
win there,” he said. He
also said that the budget
for next year will include
a special education teacher
at Heppner High School, a
math teacher and PE teach-
er at Riverside High School
and the district is looking
at hiring an instructional
coach for fourth-sixth grade
students at Boardman and
Irrigon schools.
He said a work study
program will now pay stu-
dents for their work.
Dirksen said the district
is supporting a “meals on
wheels” summer lunch pro-
gram for students in Board-
man, Heppner and Irrigon
and added that he’d like to
continue that program on
Fridays through the school
year and during Christmas
and spring breaks.
In recognizing teacher
appreciation week, Dirksen
commented, “I wouldn’t be
here without the support of
teachers.”
In other business, the
board:
-received the follow-
ing May enrollment re-
port: A.C. Houghton Ele-
mentary, Irrigon-268; Sam
Boardman Elementary,
Boardman-336; Heppner
Elementary-167; Irrigon
Elementary-218; Windy
River Elementary, Board-
man-295; Heppner Jr./Sr.
High School-167; Irrigon
Jr./Sr. High School-363;
Riverside Jr./Sr. High
School, Boardman-429;
Morrow Education Center,
Irrigon-57; total-2,300. Su-
perintendent Dirksen said
that the enrollment is up 22
students from last year.
-approved the follow-
ing employment action:
Resignations/non-renew-
als-Robert Barker, RJSHS
head girls’ wrestling coach,
Susan Booher, RJSHS
Spanish teacher, end of
2018-19 school year, Da-
vid Boor, RJSHS junior
high head wrestling coach;
Jessica Flower, ACH ed
assistant, end of 2018-19
school year,, Nikki Go-
forth, IJSHS assistant high
school track coach, end of
season, Adam Lemmon,
ACH/IJSHS PE teacher,
end of 2018-19 school year,
Tiffany Locey, IJSHS assis-
tant high school volleyball
coach, Jeny Mendoza, SBE
ed assistant, Kyla Tonfa,
WRE sixth-grade teacher,
end of 2018-19 school year.
-approved employ-
ment/promotions/trans-
fers-2019-20: Rhon-
da Boor, RJSHS junior
high math teacher, Laura
Browne-Winters, SBE ELD
teacher, Shanna Evans,
WRE fourth-grade teach-
er, Jessica Flower, WRE
sixth-grade teacher, Ian
Hampton, District Office
special education coor-
dinator, Crystal Hussey,
IJSHS head cook, Dawn
Kennison-Kerrigan, IES/
WRE instructional coach,
MeKayla Kindle, SBE kin-
dergarten teacher; Sariena
Garrett, HES temporary ed
assistant, Belinda Lomas,
SBE ed assistant.
-approved an extra duty
contract for Leah Gadsden,
IJSHS assistant high school
volleyball coach, 2019-20.
-approved the 2018-19
fall and winter coaching
staff, recommended for re-
hire for 2019-20 (Heppner
schools listed only)-Hep-
pner High School: Greg
Grant, athletic director,
head football coach, Virgin-
ia Grant, half-time cheer-
leading coach, Les Payne,
Robert Wilson, assistant
football coaches, Mindy
Wilson, head volleyball
coach, Kelly Wilson, assis-
tant volleyball coach, Russ
Nichols, head cross country
coach, Antonia Nichols, as-
sistant cross country coach,
Jeremy Rosenbalm, head
boys’ basketball coach, Ken
Grieb, assistant boys’ bas-
ketball coach, Robert Wil-
son, head girls’ basketball
coach, Russ Nichols, assis-
tant girls’ basketball coach,
Mark Lemmon, head boys’
wrestling coach, Alaina
Lemmon, head girls’ wres-
tling coach; Heppner Junior
High: Chad Doherty, head
football coach, Joe Armato,
assistant football coach,
Terri Gentry, head volley-
ball coach, Danielle Eber-
hardt, assistant volleyball
coach, Rocky Turner, head
boys’ basketball coach,
Doug Boor, head girls’
basketball coach, Rick
Worden, assistant girls’
basketball coach, Ken Bai-
ley, head wrestling coach.
-approved the 2018-19
extra duty non-coaching
positions recommended for
rehire for 2019-20 (Hep-
pner listed only): Hep-
pner Elementary-Madison
Rosenbalm, Talented and
Gifted coordinator, Sarah
Matheny and Melissa Coin-
er, half-time DART, Mary
Ann Elguezabal, English
Language Learner site co-
ordinator; Heppner Jr./Sr.
High-Jeremy Rosenbalm,
annual, Rick Drake, band,
Alaina Lemmon, drama
advisor, fall/winter and
spring, John Flaherty and
Petra Payne, half-time Tal-
ented and Gifted coordina-
tor, John Flaherty, DART
coordinator.
-approved the first read-
ing of rescinded, new or re-
vised policies on Individual
Board Member’s Authority
and Responsibilities, Un-
manned Aircraft Systems
(drones), Mother Friend-
ly Workplace, rescinded
and new policy, Staff-HIV/
AIDS and HBV (Hepatitis
B Virus), Staff-Student-Par-
ent Relations, Hazing, Ha-
rassment, Intimidation,
Bullying, Menacing or Cy-
ber Bullying, Domestic Vi-
olence, Harassment, Sexual
Assault or Stalking Leave,
Interscholastic Activities,
Graduation Requirements,
Staff-Student-Parent Re-
lations, Admission of
Non-Resident Students,
Interdistrict Transfer of
Resident Students, Haz-
ing-Harassment-Intimida-
tion-Bullying-Menacing,
Cyber Bullying-Teen Dat-
ing Violence or Domestic
Violence-Student.
-adopted a resolution
accepting and appropriating
$4,850 in unanticipated rev-
enues from InterMountain
ESD, Chronic Absenteeism
Region H.
-reviewed the follow-
ing board calendar: July
12-no meeting, August
12-District Office, HES,
September 9-RJSHS, Oc-
tober 14-SBE, November
12 (Tuesday)-ACH, De-
cember 9-WRE, January
13 (work session)-IES,
February 10-IJSHS, March
9-HJSHS, April 13-IES,
May 11-HES, June 15-
MEC.
-heard a presentation
on Irrigon Elementary after
school programs.
-heard the following
announcements: Seniors’
last day-Thursday, May
23; Memorial Day Hol-
iday, Monday, May 27;
graduations-Saturday, June
1, with Riverside High
School graduation at 10
a.m. with board members
Marcy Rodelo and Mary
Killion in attendance; Ir-
rigon High School gradu-
ation at noon with board
member Richard Cole in at-
tendance and Heppner High
School graduation at 2 p.m.
with board Chair Becky
Kindle in attendance; stu-
dents’ last day-Wednes-
day, June 5; next board
meeting-Monday, June 10,
Morrow Education Center,
Irrigon; summer school
schedule-June 11-26, ACH,
IES, HJSHS (credit recov-
ery only), IJSHS, RJSHS
(credit recovery only); sum-
mer school schedule-July
30-August 13, HES, ACH
(kinder jump start only)
SBE/WRE, RJSHS.
Boardman increases
garbage rate
The Boardman City
Council, at the May 7 meet-
ing, passed a resolution in-
creasing the city’s garbage
rate beginning July 1, 2019.
The increase is in response
to a rate increase by the
city’s garbage contractor,
Sanitary Disposal, Inc. of
Hermiston. Mike Jewett
of Sanitary Disposal said
it was necessary to raise
the fee to the city due to
an increase in operating
expenses for Boardman, at
about 8 percent overall.
This is the first increase
in garbage rates in Board-
man since 2016. The cost
of a 90-gallon residential
cart will go from $12.10
per month to $13.22 per
month. For more infor-
mation please contact the
Boardman City Hall.