Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, September 18, 2019 -- THREE
~ Letters to the Editor ~
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Recall not handled
properly
To the editor:
First let me introduce
myself. I am Lexington
councilmember, Bill Beard.
I’ve been on the Lexington
town council off and on for
a number of years. Recently
I’ve had a city employee of
whom I was a supervisor
bring a recall against me on
charges that I single hand-
edly brought on the city clo-
sure in July. I didn’t know I
had that much power. It was
actually brought on by the
current mayor disregarding
all previous protocol.
He is also claiming,
and I quote, “He has caused
a hostile workplace if he
argues with him or doesn’t
do what he wants, legal or
otherwise.” Let me translate
this. If I threaten to write
him up for blatantly lying to
me or not doing his job this
is a hostile work environ-
ment. I’m sorry. I thought
this was a supervisor’s job
to make sure things are
done properly. Also legal or
otherwise means something
he doesn’t want to do. I
would like an explanation
of anything illegal I have
asked him to do. The cur-
rent mayor has informed
him and the council that he
shouldn’t need a supervi-
sor. So he obviously wants
anyone who can give orders
out of the way. He also
told a town citizen not to
over his head to the coun-
cil members because they
can’t do anything. Really?
Last time I checked they are
legally still his boss. Has all
that changed? Looks like a
serious case of ego here.
I believe in my heart
that the town of Lexington
has more good people who
can see through the temper
tantrum of a disgruntled
city employee who has a
vendetta over doing his job
and wants anyone out of the
way who may give him or-
ders or hurt his fragile ego.
Secondly, we have the
handling of the recall paper-
work and the way they went
about informing me. The
rules are that you have five
days to respond to a recall
from the date of the letter
in order to have your re-
sponse on the ballot. I have
to give them credit when
it comes to corrupt, it was
handled in true Kate Brown
form. The letter was dated
Thursday, August 28, day
#1; postmarked Friday, 29,
day #2. You can’t get mail
Saturday, Sunday or Mon-
day (Labor Day), day #5.
So when I picked up the let-
ter Tuesday at somewhere
around 4 p.m., my time
for a response had expired.
Very well played, kudos to
the team for hamstringing
me. Not only this but the
charges to respond to were
not included with the letter.
It was just a letter stating
I had a recall against me
and five days to respond.
It wasn’t even signed by
anyone (weird).
As to what I was sup-
posed to respond to I didn’t
know, so Wednesday morn-
ing I asked what the charges
were. It took them another
day after that to respond
with only a partial cover
of what was going on. This
has been a valuable lesson
on working the system and
corruption.
I would like very much
to point out the problems all
started with the new mayor
and her Kate Brown speech
on having a transparent city
government (transparent as
mud at this time). This may-
or has caused more division
and fighting among every-
one involved and refuses to
work with the town council
and firmly believes that all
the power sits with the may-
or and the council is merely
a thorn in her side and only
there to agree with her.
So I ask the citizens
of Lexington, as a coun-
cilmember and a neighbor,
when you vote please think
about honesty and the cor-
rupt tactics used in this
recall. I am very concerned
for the future of Lexington
and its good citizens.
Sincerely,
Bill Beard
Lexington coun -
cilmember
A View from the Green
Golfers hold cross
country event
Willow Creek Country
Club Men’s Play hosted 25
golfers at their playday on
Sept. 15 for a cross country
event.
Dallas Harsin finished
first in net with a score of
69 and Charlie Ferguson
was second with 73. A tie
for third was between Jeff
Cutsforth and Gary Proph-
eter with 75.
Greg Grant took first in
gross with 75, Matt Berg-
strom second with 79 and
John McCabe was third
with 89. A fourth-place tie
with a score of 90 went to
Josh Coiner and Kelly Fox.
Dave Gunderson got
KP on number one, Greg
Grant on number eight and
another on number 17.
This event was the last
for the 2019 season. The
award for participation and
performance, the Buck Cup,
was awarded to Charlie Fer-
guson. David Creswick was
second and Gene Orwick
was third.
Over the Tee Cup
Eighteen Willow Creek
Country Club ladies played
in their weekly playday on
September 10 under cloudy
and wet skies.
Low gross of the field
went to Nancy Propheter.
Low net winners were Kar-
en Haguewood and Bunnie
Lindsay. Least putts of the
field went to Betty Burns.
Flight A low gross was
Karen Thompson. Eva
Kilkenny had least putts
and Karen Thompson had
the long drive.
Flight B low gross win-
ner was Pat Edmundson
and Tiffany Clement got
low net. Pat Dougherty got
the least putts and Karen
Haguewood got long drive.
Sharon Harrison and
Bev Steagall took low gross
on flight C. Low net went
to Betty Carter and Kris
Lindner. Least putts went to
Lorrene Montgomery and
Sharon Harrison made the
longest drive.
Longest putt winner
was Kris Lindner.
Pathfinder Club
registration open
Pathfinders are a world-
wide club of young peo-
ple sponsored by the Sev-
enth-day Adventist Church,
though young people of
any religious persuasion,
or none at all, are welcome
and encouraged to join the
club. The local club is the
Oregon Trail Pathfinders
and is sponsored by the
Heppner SDA Church for
children who are 10 years
and older.
Pathfinders offer a wide
range of activities includ-
ing, but not limited to:
-Camping and camp-
ing/survival skills.
-Grade appropriate
leadership training.
-Activities promoting
community pride and in-
volvement through out-
reach activities such as
helping in downtown soup
kitchens, collecting food for
the disadvantaged, cleaning
and maintaining city and
county parks, visiting and
encouraging the elderly and
many more.
-Interactive training in
a variety of recreational, ar-
tistic, nature, conservation,
vocational and outreach
areas, with awards (honors)
given for successful com-
pletion of the interactive
training modules.
-Personal care and en-
couragement by a caring
staff member.
Those who are inter-
ested and would like to see
what it is like or have any
questions are invited to
come to the club registra-
tion nights, Monday, Sept.
16 and Sept. 23 at 6 p.m. at
the Heppner SDA Church,
560 Minor Street, Heppner.
For additional information
call Cynthia at 541-561-
9132.
T h e H e p p n e r G a z e t t e - Ti m e s w a n t s
pictures of your trophy animals from this
hunting season for our Trophy Corner. 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.
Heppner youth experience Umatilla
National Forest through employment
As part of a long-stand-
ing tradition, the Communi-
ty Action Program of East
Central Oregon (CAPE-
CO), in partnership with the
Heppner Ranger District of
the Umatilla National For-
est, employed five Morrow
County youth to complete
important project work on
the National Forest this
summer.
This program is possi-
ble through a grant from the
Oregon Youth Conservation
Corp (OYCC). This grant
allows CAPECO to hire
a small group of young
adults (ages 16-21) during
the summer months to assist
with a variety of tasks on
the Heppner Ranger Dis-
trict over a six-week period.
This summer four young
adults and one crew lead
were hired for the group.
OYCC is a program
designed to emulate the Ci-
vilian Conservation Corps
(CCC) of the 1930s, which
was started by President
Franklin D. Roosevelt as
part of his New Deal in
1933. The CCC hired un-
married men, ages 18-25
that had difficulty finding
jobs during the Great De-
pression into conservation
and development jobs on
the nation’s public lands.
OYCC shares a similar mis-
sion in empowering youth
by providing outdoor work
and stewardship experienc-
es throughout Oregon.
OYCC crew members
spend their summer learn-
ing about career develop-
ment, natural resources,
multiple uses on the Forest,
and real job opportunities
within the Forest Service.
As part of CAPECO’s mis-
sion the program is de-
signed to also provide youth
the skills needed to succeed
in their communities and
as part of the workforce in
the future. The crew lead
assesses the youth on 10
transferable soft skills, such
as problem solving and
attendance.
“These are skills that
are crucial for youth to
have as they move into the
current work force. We feel careers in the future. Sev-
it is important that youth eral former OYCC crew
learn these skills as part of members are now Umatilla
this program,” said Susie National Forest employ-
Stuvland, CAPECO pro- ees who started out on the
gram lead.
Heppner Ranger District. In
In addition to learning fact, the OYYC crew leader
valuable career skills the from this summer was able
crew accomplished a great to transfer her job skills and
deal of work by partnering experience into a temporary
with a variety of program Forest Service position with
areas within the Forest the Umatilla National For-
Service including; range- est on the Heppner Ranger
land management, timber District.”
and recreation. Some of
“The partnership be-
the OYCC crew’s accom- tween the Heppner Ranger
plishments this summer District and CAPECO is
consisted of campground integral to the success of the
maintenance, tree marking program, they commented.
for a timber sale, fence re- Forest Service and CAPE-
pair and construction, and CO staff communicate reg-
other tasks. This exposure ularly in order to respond to
to different jobs expand- crew and program needs.
ed OYCC crew members’ The long-standing collab-
knowledge of how the For- oration between the two
est Service operates.
groups has built a great
“It is great to get working relationship that
this important work done has resulted in a successful
around the forest but con- program.”
necting with our youth and
Houck commented that
community is what is really the value added to the com-
special about this program,” munity would not be pos-
said Brandon Houck, Hep- sible without CAPECO for
pner District Ranger.
partnering in this program.
“The interconnected-
The OYCC program
ness of rural communities, is an annual opportunity
mat of meeting with each
For additional information contact Heppner High such as Heppner, and the open to youth ages 16-21
Forest Service is undeni- on the Heppner Ranger
parent at the beginning of School.
able. Not only do programs District. For those seeking
their high school journey
such as this provide youth more information please
has proven to be very ef-
employment opportunities, contact Becky Weseman at
fective. We strive to have
but these programs also 541-676-9187 or rebecca.
great working relationships
can provide an avenue to weseman@usda.gov.
with all parties to create the
best possible outcomes for
A safety committee
The monthly meeting
our students to succeed,”
of the Ione Library Dis- meeting will be held after
stated Matt Combe, HHS
trict’s Board of Directors the regular board meeting.
Principal.
will be held Monday, Sep- Everyone is welcome and
"WHERE FRIENDS MEET"
tember 23 at 6 p.m. at the encouraged to attend both
541-676-9181 142 N MAIN ST
Ione Public Library, 385 W. meetings.
Second Street.
Freshman conferences scheduled
Heppner High School
will be conducting freshman
conferences on Wednesday,
September 25. The con-
ferences will focus on the
partnership between HHS
staff, parents and students.
Conferences will begin at 6
p.m., with parents attending
with their child.
“This conference for-
Ione Library board
to meet
HEPPNER ELKS 358
Reversing
Diabetes
Seminar
HUNTER'S
NIGHT
Thursday,
September 26th
6 Week Workshop
October 2 - November 6
Wednesday Evenings 6:00 pm
Heppner SDA Church
Workbooks are $45 per person/$60 couple
Call to register (541) 561-9132
1/2 OFF
WORKBOOKS WITH
THIS COUPON
THE BURNING BAN
HAS BEEN LIFTED
FOR THE CITY OF
HEPPNER
Burn Permits purchased before September
16th 2019 are no longer valid
Beef Ribs
Cole Slaw
Garlic Bread
Drawings for prizes
Dinner at 6:30pm
Members Only