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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (March 18, 2020)
Theresa Crawford seeks Justice of the Peace position HEPPNER G T 50¢ azette imes VOL. 139 NO. 12 6 Pages Wednesday, March 18, 2020 Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon Congressional candidate Bentz endorses conservative agenda during Boardman visit Theresa Crawford has filed for the Morrow Coun- ty Justice of the Peace po- sition, which will be on the primary ballot in May. Theresa has lived in Mor- row County for almost 30 years and has worked in the Morrow County Clerk’s of- fice as Chief Deputy Clerk for the last 16 years. She is also a certified recording and elections administrator. Crawford returned to school and obtained her associates of applied sci- ence degree in criminal justice. While attending school, she made the dean’s list and president’s list, all while working full-time in the clerk’s office. She also has a legal secretary diplo- ma and worked as a legal assistant prior to working for the county. Theresa told the Ga- zette she is running for Justice of the Peace because she has been interested in the law most of her life. Theresa Crawford When she decided to go back to school to get her de- gree, she knew she wanted to do something worthwhile and important. “Continuing to work with the residents of Morrow County is very important to me,” she said. She feels her knowl- edge of the day to day operations and established relationships are crucial to the JP position. She said she will strive for a com- mon sense, case by case, approach and is committed to protecting the common good while balancing the fact that everyone is differ- ent. She said she will make sure that everyone is heard. At the core, she believes that justice is equal for everyone. Her mission statement states, “I am excited and consider it an honor to continue to serve Morrow County residents. I am in- vested and committed to our community and prom- ise to treat everyone as an individual with respect, dignity and consistency.” Crawford raised her three children in Morrow County, coached baseball for 15 years and volun- teered in the schools. She was a powerlifter and won a world, national and state record in the deadlift. She now enjoys spending time with her family (especially her granddaughters), run- ning, hiking, fishing, shed hunting and quilting. Locals suffer consequences of Coronavirus scare Cliff Bentz (right), candidate for Congress, visits with Kip Krebs (center) and Morrow County Sheriff Ken Matlack, at a ‘meet and greet’ Sunday in Boardman. -Photo by David Sykes By David Sykes US Congressional can- didate Republican Cliff Bentz, in a visit to Board- man Sunday, made it clear if elected he would sup- port a conservative agenda of lower taxes, land and water rights and second amendment protections. He is running to fill the seat of long-time congress- man Greg Walden who announced earlier he will not seek reelection. At a “meet and greet,” organized by local farmer Clint Carlson and held at the Boardman Sage Center, Bentz told a gathered crowd he has many endorsements, including Morrow County Sheriff Ken Matlack, 16 other Oregon sheriffs, 60 county commissioners from across the state, as well as local Oregon Senator Bill Hansell who was in attendance at the event. “I don’t normally endorse in the primary,” Hansell said, “but Cliff is the best person for this job.” Currently a senator in the Oregon legislature, Bentz led a walk out in the most recent legislative ses- sion in protest of a cap and trade bill very unpopular in rural Oregon. “Bentz stood up to the Portland liberals, helping lead the ‘Oregon Eleven’s’ walk-out, killing gun control and a multi-bil- lion-dollar cap and trade tax,” his web site says. Bentz related a story of how he and fellow senator Han- sel went to Idaho and stayed in a motel out of state to avoid detection and keep the walk-out going. “The ‘We know what’s best for you’ elitist attitude of the Democrat supermajority in Salem has grown even more prevalent since the 2019 session when I helped lead the senate walkout over Cap and Trade,” he says on his web site. Bentz says, although not an early supporter of President Trump, he com- pletely supports the presi- dent’s agenda of stopping illegal immigration, reduc- ing regulations and lower- ing taxes, and, if elected to congress, would support the president in those efforts. Bentz related how re- cently on a trip he was reading the preamble to the Constitution which begins with “We the people of the United States in order to form a more perfect union.” He said he believes each of us has a duty to make this a better country, and in running for Congress and going to Washington that is what he wants to do. “I want to make this a better country, a more perfect union,” he said. Lexington may take look at animal zoning regulations Complaint prompts possible review By David Sykes The Lexington Town Council is considering a re- view of its zoning ordinanc- es for possible tightening of animal regulations, the council said last week. The review was prompted by a citizen’s complaint over nine goats in a neighbor’s yard. Kevin and Lori Mc- Cabe of 170 E. Main St. came to the council last Tuesday and said their neighbor, Ashley Zimmer- man, has nine goats in a yard abutting their property and the smell is making en- joyment of their backyard impossible. Zimmerman, also in attendance at the council meeting, disagreed saying her goats do not smell. After reviewing city zoning ordinances, most ev- eryone agreed on one thing, there wasn’t much in the town ordinances governing animals. “I don’t see any- thing,” said councilmember Will Lemmon. McCabe said the nine goats are kept in a 500 square foot space and he’d done research asking var- ious agencies the recom- mended space for goats. He said the Extension office told him they recommend 250 square feet per goat while the NRCS said two goats per acre is the rec- ommended space. McCabe said the county told him six goats per acre. Zimmer- man disagreed and said the sheriff deputy who came to her property recently told her everything is okay. “The sheriff’s deputy told me there is nothing wrong with the way I keep or my feed my goats,” she told the council. She also said there was nothing in the town ordinances restricting animals. Arising from the dis- pute, however, is that even if the town wanted to reg- ulate animals, there appar- ently aren’t any ordinances covering it. “We have to be mindful of the ordinances and see if it can be cleaned up,” said Mayor Juli Ken- nedy. “As a council, we need to look at what we have. I’m not committing to anything,” she told McCabe and Zimmerman, “I’m just saying, we, as a council, need to sit down and look at what we have.” The oth- er councilmembers agreed and discussed setting aside time to go through the city ordinances for possible changes. “We have to come together and talk about it,” said Kennedy. The council also dis- cussed the enforcement of ordinances if they do make changes. The town does not have a police force and because of budget con- straints does not contract with the sheriff’s office like Heppner to provide code enforcement in town. “We have to be thoughtful on how we will enforce this (city codes),” Kennedy said, adding it would cost the city over $100,000 to contract with the county for one deputy, which is -See ZONING/PAGE TWO The Two Old Hags Pizza parking lot is empty, but they are encouraging customers to call for takeout orders. -Contributed photo. By Bobbi Gordon Many businesses are suffering losses of busi- ness due to the shutdowns caused by the Coronavirus pandemic. Along with the loss of business, employees of the businesses required to shut down are suffering as well. No work means no income for many. Dawn Brosnan, owner of Two Old Hags Pizza, told the Gazette they are taking the epidemic very serious- ly. They have closed their dining room and are asking customers to call ahead with their orders to limit face-to-face contact with staff and other customers. Brosnan said, “I am scared to death of what the future holds, not only for me but every small business owner, all our hard-working employees and the future of this country.” She con- tinued, “I don’t know what the future holds for us all. I just want everyone to come together, we are not alone in this. This is what Heppner does.” According to Gary Propheter at the Bank of Eastern Oregon, they are doing all of the prudent things recommended like limiting the number of peo- ple together in one place, sanitizing, disinfecting and encouraging everyone to use their online services if possible. He said they hav- en’t noticed fewer custom- ers as many people already use their online services. He told the Gazette, “We always encourage everyone to shop locally.” The driver of the local Schwan’s delivery truck stated that his business has increased. As more and more items are unavailable on the store shelves and more people are search- ing for delivery options, Schwan’s is available to fill that void. The local Les Schwab Tire Center has eliminated the coffee, water and pop- corn for customers as well as removing magazines and newspapers from tables in the waiting area. Dale Thompson, Chief Market- ing Officer for the company, stated they are following all of the recommended guide- lines, wiping surfaces and disinfecting everything. He also said since their busi- ness falls under essential services and they realize people still need to travel and use their vehicles, they will remain open. The Gazette received a call from the Neighborhood Center stating they would remain open but would not be accepting donations between now and May 31. They will continue to fill food boxes and keep the store open as long as sup- plies last. When a Murray’s Drug employee was asked if they had noticed any drop in business, they said many people are still coming in to pick up prescriptions from the pharmacy, but due to the cancellation of funeral ser- vices in the area the flower orders have been cancelled as well. Breaking Grounds Cof- fee, located inside Murray’s Drug, announced on their Facebook page that they are still open for takeout orders. Customers are encouraged to call ahead to order all of their favorites to keep con- tact time low. “We are so thankful to own a business in Heppner. The community support is unlike any other,” they said on Facebook. While nothing can be done locally to change what has been happening to busi- nesses, customers appear to be trying to stay upbeat and continue to shop locally. 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