TWO - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, September 4, 2019
The Official Newspaper
of the City of Heppner and the County of Morrow
Heppner
GAZETTE-TIMES
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.
Slottee scholarship
available
The South Morrow
County Scholarship Com-
mittee will be accepting
scholarship applications for
the Beth Slottee Memorial
Scholarship. It is avail-
able to students entering
their junior or senior year
or graduate school at an
accredited college. The
student must be majoring
or minoring in music, but if
no applicants are available,
it may be awarded to a stu-
dent majoring or minoring
in education.
The scholarship appli-
cation can be found on the
Heppner Jr Sr High School
website under the infor-
mation category; college
and career then select the
common local scholarship
application. The applica-
tions may be turned into
Mrs. Bowman at HJSHS
no later than September 18.
For additional information
contact Brandi Sweeney at
541-256-0358.
The Heppner Gazette-Times wants to see pic-
tures of your trophy animals from this hunting
season. Stop by to have your picture taken,
drop off photos, mail them to PO Box 337 in
Heppner, email them to editor@rapidserve.
net or text cell phone photos to 541-980-6674.
Griffith wins Yard of the Month
By Kay Proctor
Keeping up a yard in
Eastern Oregon during
the month of August can
be challenging but Donita
Griffith has earned Yard of
the Month for doing just
that.
When Donita began
renting the duplex at 140
Church Street four years
ago, landlords Melissa and
Todd Lindsay, and Wayne
and Lori Seitz only said,
“to keep it green and nice.”
Donita took that request up
several notches. She nur-
tured what was there to be-
gin with including the green
smoke tree in the front
yard, purchased numerous
plants out of pocket, re-did
the lawn edging and keeps
everything well-watered
and healthy. She also waters
the neighboring yard of the
duplex for Faye Seitz who
greatly appreciates Donita’s
work.
There are always weeds
to pull in the beds and
mowing of the rich green
lawn. Because of a steep
slope, one side of the yard is
mowed while Donita walks
along on the sidewalk.
There is yard art dis-
played throughout includ-
ing a miniature wishing
well, two antique iron bed
frames along a fence, a
rustic wheelbarrow full
of flowers and a little red
wagon used for plants that
her four sons, Rian, Casey,
Dustan and Jay, played
with growing up. A color-
ful directional sign made
by sister-in-law, Karen
Smith-Griffith of Heppner,
stands on a corner of the
duplex showing various
places that Donita’s boys
have lived. Her family also
includes six grandchildren,
four boys and two girls.
A surprise is the en-
closed and private back
Donita Griffith wins August Yard of the Month. -Photos by
Kay Proctor.
patio that Donita has turned
into a sanctuary with to-
matoes, an extra vigorous,
fragrant rose bush and lots
of pots and hanging baskets
of flowers. With clear lights
strung on the fence and an
inviting table with chairs,
Donita can use it almost
year-round. The nice shade
and quiet surroundings
make this her favorite part
of her yard.
Originally from Spray,
Donita has also lived in
Prineville and Prairie City.
Beginning at the Bank of
Eastern Oregon in 2005 as
a teller, she moved to Hep-
pner over four years ago to
work in the administrative
department here. In Prairie
City, Donita lived in two
different homes and was
awarded Yard of the Month
for each place. Her Grand-
ma E, known to most as Eva
Griffith, lived in Heppner
and was also a dedicated
gardener.
When asked if she has a
favorite plant, Donita can’t
narrow that down. “I like
so many that I don’t really
have a favorite,” she said.
About working in her yard,
she states, “I love it. It’s
relaxing and enjoyable, not
a chore to me at all.”
Heppner ’s Yard of
the Month recognition is
sponsored by the Heppner
Volunteers, MCGG-Green
Feed and Seed and the City
of Heppner.
Local soldier promoted in the
US Army
Jimmy Wimer
Radiology Department Manager
Since 2016
“It’s not just what I do,
it’s who I choose to be.”
Dedicated, Reassuring, Respectful
A Healthier Morrow County is Within Me.
Working in our radiology department, I spend most
my time with patients, many who feel anxious. I want
patients to feel comfortable. My approach is simple.
Treat each patient with the same respect I do my
family; and, always work to be my best from their first
visit and every time after.
Read About How We are Working
Together to be a Healthier Community
Today and
HealthyMC.org
Where healthier is happening...
Boardman | Heppner | Ione | Irrigon | Lexington
541-676-9133
Kyle E. Brown was
promoted in the U.S. Army
to the rank of Sergeant
First Class (E-7) in a unit
ceremony at Ft. Benning,
GA on August 9. Attending
and participating in this
ceremony were his parents
COL(R) Chris and Kathy
Brown of Heppner.
SFC Brown is currently
assigned as a combat arms
instructor with the Military
Advisor Training Academy
(MATA) at Ft. Benning.
He graduated from
Pendleton High School in
2005, attended Blue Moun-
tain Community College
and then enlisted in the U.S.
Kyle E. Brown
Army as a Combat Cavalry
Scout in March 2007. SFC
Brown has completed two
combat tours in Afghani-
stan as a Cavalry Scout, in
2009 with the 4 th Brigade
25 th Infantry Division (Air-
borne) and in 2011 with
the 3d Brigade, 2d Infantry
Division.
Among his awards as
decorations are the Army
Commendation Medal,
Combat Action Badge and
U.S. Army Airborne wings.
He is married to the
former Chelse Bermel of
Pendleton and they have
two children, Emily and
Patton. Chelse’s parents,
Rick and Theresa Bermel
currently reside in Pend-
leton.