Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, December 18, 2019 -- THREE
Guest Editorial
Why create an
employee handbook?
By Greg Smith
Employers of any size
will benefit from a straight-
forward, well written em-
ployee handbook. This
document clearly spells
out company policies and
expectations as well as
provides employees with
a tool of reference should
questions arise.
When drafting an em-
ployee handbook, it is es-
sential that all federal and
state employment laws are
adhered to and be written
in simple language, rather
than legalese. It should al-
ways contain an employee
and manager signature line
and date documenting the
handbook has been care-
fully reviewed by the em-
ployee and any questions
answered by a supervisor.
While it will take time
to create the handbook
(and keep it updated), there
are many benefits to both
employer and employee.
Examples include:
-By creating uniform
expectations, it can less-
en workplace strife and
streamline the hiring pro-
cess.
-The handbook docu-
ments company procedures
and specific rules regarding
dress code, any permitted
use of personal electron-
ic devices, non-discrim-
ination, harassment (and
how to file a complaint),
compensation and benefits,
company holidays, sick
leave information, sched-
uling, etc.
-Discusses conse -
quences, including termi-
nation, for violating these
expectations.
-It may also offer a lev-
el of employer protection in
the event of an employee
lawsuit.
Helpful content to in-
clude in an employee hand-
book may include:
Greg Smith
-Welcome to Our Team
-About Us
-Explanation of “at-
will” employment
-Office conduct
-Probationary period
-Specific cell phone
and social media usage
rules
-Safety policies
-Payroll schedule/time-
card completion
-Performance reviews
-Company benefits and
enrollment
-Exit interviews in the
event of resignation or ter-
mination
Employers should re-
view the handbook on a reg-
ular basis and make chang-
es as needed. Additions or
revisions may be necessary,
and it is also important to
remove any policies that are
not enforced.
While it is tempting
not to have an employee
handbook in place when
there is a small team, it is
well worth the time to avoid
aggravation and ensure
standards for the business
are being met.
Greg Smith is the direc-
tor of the Eastern Oregon
University Small Business
Development Center locat-
ed at 1607 Gekeler Lane
#148 in La Grande, Oregon.
You may schedule a free,
confidential business advis-
ing appointment by calling
541-962-1532 or emailing
eousbdc@gmail.com.
STOP SMOKING SEMINAR
Obituaries
Frances (Arminta)
Cox Griffin
Frances (Arminta)
Cox Griffin died at home
on December 9 at the age
of 97. She was
born February
15, 1922 to Percy
Claude Cox and
Jessie Mable Cox
(Mead) in Hep-
pner.
She married Frances
Roland “Ronnie” Griffin
Koff on October
29, 1938 and they later
divorced. She then married
Norman Beryl Griffin, an
ex-POW of WWII, on De-
cember 9, 1945, remaining
married until his death on
November 24, 2005.
Frances worked as a
telephone operator in Hep-
pner for Pacific Telephone
and Telegraph. Later she
worked for Sears and Roe-
buck in Portland in both
the toy department and sign
shop, setting type by hand
and soon becoming the
department head. Over the
years there were other retail
jobs, but her greatest job
was caring for her family
and friends.
A family member said,
“She told wonderful stories
of her life growing up in
and around Heppner. She
told stories of living in
the mountain cabin during
the summer, of her adored
daddy and her most beloved
grandfather, Franklin Dee
Cox, and of leaving her sis-
ter one day to wash dinner
dishes by jumping bareback
onto her horse, Dixie, and
quickly riding away.”
She had a great passion
for genealogy before it
became popular, and spent
many years researching
family history, including
month-long summer trips
across the US, visiting dusty
courthouses and out-of-the
way gravesites, stopping to
ask questions of a farmer at
work in his field and learn-
ing that person was actually
related. She got invited to
dinner and had dozens of
new relatives show up to
meet her. She had distant
relatives that she kept in
touch with for all their lives.
It happened all across the
Jim West
JANUARY 1ST - 7PM
Heppner SDA Church
Tom & Jerry Party
December 20th
5-7 pm
Steak Dinner
by Lodge Officers
6:30 pm
musical entertainment by
Frank Carlson
6-10 pm
(weather permitting)
Elks Members and Guests only
HEPPNER ELKS 358
"WHERE FRIENDS MEET"
541-676-9181 142 N MAIN ST
Jim West passed away
peacefully at his home in
Jerome, ID Tuesday, De-
cember 10 at the age of
88. He is an Arlington, OR
native and he attended OSU
for two years before joining
the army in 1952.
He lived in Heppner
on the family ranch on
Rhea Creek with his wife
of 62 years where he and his
family raised cattle, sheep
and horses. For the past 12
years he had been living on
the family ranch in Nevada
and most recently retired in
Jerome.
Larry Groves passed passed away in 2005 after a
a w a y p e a c e f u l l y o n long illness. His partner and
Wednesday, December 4, caretaker at his passing was
while receiving care at the Janice Walters.
Hospice House through
He enjoyed golfing,
Partners in Care in Bend, drinking beer and spend-
OR.
ing time with family and
Larry was born in Sa- friends and often wintered
lem, OR on September 1, in Arizona. He loved to give
1937. His parents were nicknames to people and he
Maurice and Betty
laughed a lot. He also
Groves. He moved
loved to cheer on the
to eastern Oregon
Oregon State Beavers
where he attended
in all sports.
school in Lexing-
He was prede-
ton, graduating in
ceased by his par-
1955 from Lexing- Larry Earl
ents, Maurice and
ton High School. Groves
Betty Groves; foster
Larry attended
parents, Archie and
Lewis and Clark College Dimples Munkers; daugh-
in Portland, graduating in ter, Laura Mason McCord;
1960 with a BS in business. grandson, Robert (Bobby)
He was the first person in Mason; and wife Gloria
his family to graduate from Malloy.
college. While at Lewis and
Survivors include his
Clark, he participated in former wife, Lindell John-
football and track, attaining son (Albany, OR); daugh-
captain status of the football ters, Leslie Groves (Falls
team in his senior year.
Church, VA), Linda Fer-
He married Lindell rell (Molalla, OR); sisters,
Griffith during college, Maureen Howard (Heppner,
divorcing much later. He OR), Anita Dick (Welches,
had three children from this OR); half-brother, John
marriage; Laura Ann, Leslie Groves (CA); granddaugh-
Louise and Linda Sue.
ter, Kelley Adams (Hous-
Larry worked in high- ton, TX); five great-grand-
way construction as a su- children; and step-brothers/
perintendent all over the sisters, Dave Rands (Crook-
northwest and west coast ed River, OR), Marshall
with Fred H. State Co (Port- Rands, Barbara Rands and
land), Slate and Hall (Port- Marsha Rands.
land) and Bracelin and
A service will not be
Yeager (Coos Bay).
held at this time. A cele-
His second marriage bration of life will be held
was to Gloria Malloy who in spring 2020.
country. “How open and
welcoming people were in
those years.” She wrote a
number of books on the
various families that
made up family history
and gave them out to
family members.
She loved her iris
and roses and had photo
albums full of pictures
from every year. When
someone showed up
and flowers were in bloom,
they were escorted to look
at each one and hear its tale.
Frances is survived
by her daughters, Virgin-
ia Lee Martinez of Ione,
OR, Nina Louise Sikel of
Portland, OR, Sheryl Lynn
Derting of Salem, OR and
Talia Lee Griffin (adopted
great-granddaughter) of
Salem, OR; son, Norman
Phillip Griffin (wife Jean-
nine) of Silverton, OR; her
sister, Marlene Grey (hus-
band Mike) of Ione, OR;
numerous nieces and neph-
ews; many grandchildren,
great grandchildren and
great-great grandchildren;
her honorary grandson,
Shaun Best, who lovingly
cared for her these many
last years; non-relatives
who considered her Grand-
ma; and her special lifelong
friend, (they shared a baby
pram as infants) Norma
McMahon.
She is preceded in
death by her husband (just
two months shy of 60 years)
Norman; her mother and
father; brother, Stanley
Cox; sister, Nina Harsh-
man; granddaughter, Dawn
The snowmobile club snow permitting. For addi-
Dailey and great grand- will hold a playday at Kelly tional information contact
daughter, Jade Allen.
Prairie on Sunday, Decem- Mike Gorman at 541-980-
Frances will be buried ber 29 starting at 11 a.m., 3396.
with Norman at Willamette
National Cemetery in Port-
land, OR on December 18.
Her funeral will be at 10
a.m. on that same day at
Virgil T. Golden Funeral
Service in Salem, OR.
Her family said, “It’s
fitting that she passed on
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exclusive NFL SUNDAY TICKET.
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her and Dad’s anniversary.
855-502-2578
They shared it together in
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Heaven this year.”
Snowmobile playday
scheduled
Out-of-market games only.
Select int’l games excluded.
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property of their respective owners
He enjoyed traveling
with his wife, breeding
and training
horses and
watching
his children
and grand-
children
rodeo. Jim Jim West
is survived
by wife, Carleen West;
children, Clay and Wade;
grandchildren Katy, Bet-
sy, James and Jamie; and
brothers, Bill and Jack.
A celebration of life
was held at his home on
December 15.
Community lunch menu
Due to Christmas and
New Year ’s falling on
Wednesday this year, meals
will be served the following
Fridays, December 27 and
January 3.
St. Patrick’s Parish vol-
unteers will serve lunch on
Friday, December 27 at St.
Patrick’s Senior Center.
Lunch will be taco soup,
Larry Earl Groves
cornbread, Waldorf sal-
ad, Malibu vegies and ice
cream.
Milk, coffee and tea is
served at each meal. Sug-
gested donation is $3.50
per meal. Menu is subject
to change.
Student
makes
BMCC
list
Ashley Medina of Ione
has been named to the Pres-
ident’s List at Blue Moun-
tain Community College for
fall term 2019. Additional
Morrow County students,
seven from Boardman and
13 from Irrigon, were also
named to the list.
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