SIX - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Bellamy withdraws Lexington Forest seeks public input on
RV park request
HK Fire salvage project
Sam Bellamy has
withdrawn his request to
build an RV park on the old
school property in Lexing-
ton. Bellamy stated in the
town council meeting on
November 12, “I thought
putting in an RV park would
be a slam-dunk.” He also
told the council and resi-
dents at the meeting that
new businesses need to
come to Lexington or the
town will dry up and die.
Juli Kennedy, a close
neighbor to the proposed
park and head of the RV
park committee, presented
the concerns and recom-
mendations the committee
came up with in the meet-
ings they held. The main
concerns were noise, traffic
in and out on East Street,
visibility for close neigh-
bors and the safety issue
when pulling out onto the
highway. Kennedy pointed
out the concern with the
speed of the traffic coming
down the hill on Hwy 207,
even though it is posted at
25 miles per hour. Another
concern was the possibil-
ity of the park becoming
“trashy” after the construc-
tion workers were gone.
Kennedy also reported
some possible recommen-
dations from the committee.
One recommendation was
for a minimum of an eight-
foot fence on two sides of
the park, East Street and
Hwy 74. She also suggest-
ed quiet times, pet policies
and a non-transferable con-
ditional use permit to be
renewed annually by the
town council.
After listening to the
committee report, Bellamy
responded to many of the
concerns, although regard-
ing the handout, he noted,
“This is the first time I have
seen this.” He pointed out
he could limit the RVs to
certain years, possibly no
older than 15 years, to keep
the park looking nice. He
said he would also imple-
ment and enforce rules and
regulations.
After thinking more
about building the park,
Bellamy told council mem-
ber Bobbi Gordon after the
meeting that he had decided
to just withdraw his request.
Sam and Mary Kay Bella-
my told the Gazette, “I just
want to thank the Lexington
city council and the Lexing-
ton residents for support-
ing me in my endeavor to
build an RV park. A large
share of my decision to
pull my request was based
on space. It was going to
Tips and information on
buying your home
Tip #2
Shopping for your home!
The process of buying a house can be
complicated and sometimes
frustrating. Finding a good Realtor who
can help you through the process will
make the home buying process much
easier.
Following are some common steps and
tips on finding and buying your new
home.
Shopping for your new home!
Tip #1 talked about getting a pre approv-
al letter from the bank so you know the
loan you qualify for. You can read all the
real estate tips on my facebook page.
So now it’s time: Let’s Go Shopping!
There are several places you can look
for homes: newspaper, internet, drive
around and look for signs in the yard.
The most popular is probably the website
Zillow.com
Zillow is easy to use and will show you all
the homes listed for sale in your area.
Once you’re on Zillow you can do a
search for all the features you are looking
for (bedroom, bath, etc). But in a small
town like ours I think it’s more fun to just
type in the zip code and look at ALL the
homes for sale. After all, you are
shopping, right?
Now I’m not going to give a tutorial on
how to use Zillow since it’s straightfor-
ward and easy to use. Although be for-
warned it’s sometimes not up to date,
and there may be homes that have been
sold, or are otherwise off the market.
Don’t worry, contact your local real es-
tate agent and he will know for sure.
Now - if you don’t have access to a com-
puter, no worries. Drop by your agent’s
office or call them on the phone. They
will go over all the homes on the market
and give you flyers on the ones you like.
Once you’ve looked over the
selection, make a list of the homes you
want to see, and contact your agent.
He’ll take it from there and make all the
appointments for your showings. Your
agent can also answer any questions you
may have ahead of time about the prop-
erties. Be aware that some homes are
occupied by renters or owners and those
usually require a 24 hour notice. Now
we’re ready to go
Next time:
What to look for, and questions to
ask when visiting a home.
Don’t forget to like us on Facebook
where you will find all my real
estate tips. David Sykes
David Sykes Real Estate
David Sykes
Principal Broker
541-980-6674
188 W. Willow
Heppner, OR 97836
david@rapidserve.net
be very crowded to get the
new septic system in and
the sites in the right place.
Maybe there is a better spot
in Lexington somewhere. I
hope Lexington keeps try-
ing to move forward with
business opportunities. It’s
a good location for south
Morrow County.”
Two letters of interest
in the mayor position were
read to the council members
and citizens in attendance
by acting mayor Bobbi
Gordon. After much discus-
sion, it was decided to table
the letters until the next
meeting to give the council
more time to decide. Also
at the meeting, the council
referred to the section of the
town charter regarding ab-
sences of a council member.
Marcia Sticka, the council
member elected by a write-
in vote in last November’s
election, has missed all
meetings from July through
November. According to
the charter, councilors who
are absent from meetings
for a 90-day period are to be
removed from the position.
Due to those absences, the
council voted unanimously
to terminate Sticka.
In other business, coun-
cil member Bill Beard re-
ported on his research for
a chlorination system the
town is required to install.
Councilor Curtis Thompson
told the group the latest
water sample had also come
back showing coliform.
He explained coliform is
caused from residue in the
system and is not harmful
to humans or pets. The
chlorination system could
possibly fix the problem.
He said flushing the entire
system more often would
also help.
The town has been ad-
vertising for a new town
recorder since the previous
recorder, Dawn Greisen,
resigned with no notice in
September. Denis Lien of
Heppner has been hired to
fill that position. Beginning
Wednesday, November 20,
the town hall hours of op-
eration will be Monday
through Friday from 9 a.m.
to 2 p.m.
A discussion was held
regarding hiring a new
maintenance person after
Eddie Dickenson resigned
without notice in October.
The council decided the
position does not warrant
being full-time during the
winter, so will be advertis-
ing for a part-time person
for now.
The next meeting of
the Lexington town coun-
cil will be held Tuesday,
December 10 at 6:30 p.m.
The Heppner Ranger
District of the Umatilla
National Forest is seeking
public comment on the HK
Fire Salvage Categorical
Exclusion (CE) project,
located approximately 40
miles south of Heppner
in Morrow County. The
Forest Service will be ac-
cepting comments on the
proposal until Dec. 9, 2019.
The HK Fire Salvage
project was developed
to address tree mortality
following the 2019 HK
Complex fires. The project
proposes commercially
harvesting dead and dying
trees on up to 250 acres. In
addition, danger trees will
be removed along roadsides
within the fire area. Re-
planting will occur where
needed to regenerate forest
stands in high-mortality
areas.
The Forest Service is
seeking scoping comments
to help refine the proposed
action and identify ways
to improve project design.
The comment period is an
opportunity for the public
to be involved in the pro-
cess and offer thoughts on
alternative ways the Forest
Service can accomplish the
project purpose and need.
For more information
about the HK Fire Salvage
Project please contact proj-
ect lead Katelynn Bowen
at Katelynn.bowen@usda.
gov or 541-676-2105. Ad-
ditional information about
the project, including how
to comment on proposed
activities, is available at:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/
project/?project=57054.
Chamber Chatter
Heppner Future Busi- must be turned into the to 12 p.m., First Friday
ness Leaders of America Heppner Chamber or Kuhn Friends of Jesus at All Saints
(FBLA) will be making Law Offices no later than Parish Hall. This program is
and selling frozen, home- Friday, January 10, 2020 to for children from the ages
made pies for Thanksgiv- be considered for the 2019 of 4-12 and includes Bible
ing. Choices will be lemon Community Awards Event. stories, crafts and a free
ice box, pumpkin, pecan,
Monday, November 18 lunch. Contact the church
apple, cherry, mixed berry, through Thursday, Decem- office at 541-676-9970 for
peach and Oreo. All pies ber 12, Rewards Cards in more information.
will be $20, except for denominations of $10, $20
T h u r s d a y, D e c e m -
the Oreo, which will be and $50 will be given out ber 12 at 6 p.m., Heppner
$15. All pies will be de- for the amount of purchase Chamber ’s Community
livered November 25 and when shopping at partici- Christmas Event. The Re-
26. To purchase a pie or for pating merchants in prepa- wards card program will be
more information, contact ration of Heppner Cham- in effect from November 18
a FBLA member or Jeanne ber’s Celebrate Christmas to December 12. Rewards
Collins at 541-676-9138.
Event. Collect and bring cards for the amount of
November through De- them to the event Thursday, purchase will be earned at
cember, annual food drive December 12 for a chance participating merchants.
organized by Wheatland to win prizes.
The event will be held in
Insurance. Wheatland In-
Wednesday, November the Gilliam and Bisbee
surance will be accepting 20, 3 p.m., public input Building and will include
donations of non-perishable meeting for Port of Morrow pictures with Santa and
food items at the Wheatland Fixed Route, organized by Mrs. Claus, complimentary
offices in Heppner and the Loop Morrow County cookies and beverage, pen-
Ione. All donations will be Transportation. This is an ny board and raffle items,
donated to the Neighbor- open meeting to gather along with drawings for
hood Center and distributed input on the upcoming Port the winners of the Rewards
throughout south Morrow of Morrow fixed route. The cards prizes.
County. Wheatland offices meeting will be held in the
Friday, December 13
are open from 8 a.m. to 5 Wells Spring Conference from 4-8 p.m., Holiday
p.m. Mon.-Fri.
Room at the Port of Mor- Night Market at Gilliam
Morrow County Foster row.
Bisbee Building, organized
Children Gift Drive Giving
Thursday, November by Heppner Day Care. It
Tree set up at Les Schwab. 21 at 12 p.m., Heppner will include vendors, chil-
Stop by and take a tag from Flood Evacuation Warning dren’s activities and live
the giving tree, return un- Siren Test. The U.S. Army entertainment.
wrapped gift by December Corps of Engineers and
Friday, December 13
9 with the tag attached. Morrow County Emergen- from 6-8:30 p.m., Hep-
You don’t have to purchase cy Management will con- pner’s Winter Fest in down-
everything on the list, give duct a live siren test of the town Heppner, organized
what you can. If you take Heppner flood evacuation by the Heppner Outreach
a tag, please buy the gift. warning system. Sirens are Committee. Schedule: 6
If you change your mind, located at the Columbia p.m. light parade and dis-
bring the tag back and put Basin Electric Coop and play; 6:45-7:30 p.m., pho-
it on the tree for someone at the U.S. Forest Service tos with Holiday Friends at
else to take.
compound. Residents lo- Sage Clothing Gathering
Friday, November 15 cated near these locations Area; 7:30 p.m., Storytime
through Friday, January should take precautions with Mrs. Claus at the City
10, 2020, Nominations for (hearing protection) as the Hall Conference Room and
Heppner Chamber’s Town siren will be very loud and 8 p.m., snowball drop at the
and Country Community will sound for approximate- shamrock on Main Street
Awards Event will be ac- ly 10 seconds.
Sunday, December 15
cepted. Nomination forms
Monday, November 25 at 4 p.m., Christmas Mu-
will be available for com- through Friday, December sic Fest at Hope Lutheran
munity members to submit 13, Neighborhood Center Church. All community
nominations for Woman of Giving Tree at Heppner members are invited and
the Year, Man of the Year, Market Fresh. Stop by and if you would like to share
Business of the Year, Cit- pick a name from the tree your musical talents, con-
izen-Educator of the Year, and purchase a gift for a lo- tact the Hopeful Saints
Lifetime Achievement and cal family member in Hep- office at 541-676-9970.
Youth Award. Nomination pner. Contact the Neighbor-
Sunday, December 22
forms will be available at hood Center if you have any from 4-6 p.m., Christmas
the Bank of Eastern Ore- questions at 541-676-5024. Caroling event. Hopeful
gon, Chamber Office, Com-
Thursday, November Saints will be meeting at
munity Bank, Heppner City 28 at 1 p.m., Free Commu- the All Saints Episcopal
Hall and Kuhn Law Office. nity Thanksgiving Dinner Church and will be caroling
You can also obtain a form at Gateway Café for those at the hospital, the Senior
by contacting the Chamber who do not have plans Center and Willow Creek
office at 541-676-5536 or for Thanksgiving. To con- Terrace. Anyone is wel-
by email at heppnercham- tribute to the meal contact come to join then. Arrive by
The monthly meeting ber@centurytel.net. The MelbaJo at 541-945-9471. 4 p.m. to participate.
of the Ione Library Dis- completed nominations
December 6, 8:30 a.m.
trict’s board of directors
will be held Monday, No-
vember 25 at 6 p.m. at the
Ione Public Library, 385 W
Morrow County District Attorney Justin Nelson has released the following report:
Second Street.
-Gena Marie Tortolani, 20, was convicted of unlawful possession of methamphet-
Everyone is welcome amine, Misdemeanor Class A, committed on or about October 15, 2019. Conviction
and encouraged to attend. was based upon a guilty plea on November 7, 2019.
Defendant was sentenced to the custody of county jail for a period of 180 days,
however the execution of 150 days of this incarceration was suspended and defendant
was sentenced to 18 months of supervised probation with multiple special conditions.
A second count for criminal trespass in the second degree was dismissed. A monetary
amount of $1,500 was suspended.
Nazarene/Christian
volunteers will serve lunch
on Wednesday, November
27 at St. Patrick’s Senior
Center. Lunch will be meat-
loaf, roasted red potatoes,
corn, Key West veggies,
sautéed zucchini and man-
darin oranges.
Milk, coffee and tea is
served at each meal. Sug-
gested donation is $3.50
per meal. Menu is subject
to change.
Library
board to
meet
District Attorney’s Report
Community
lunch menu
BANNERS! BANNERS!
BANNERS!
CUSTOM FULL COLOR/ GRAPHIC BANNERS
ON TOUGH VINYL
Heppner Gazette-Times - 541-676-9228 188 W. Willow,
Heppner OR 97836 - Fax 541-676-9211