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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (March 18, 2020)
SIX - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, March 18, 2020 All OTLD libraries Church services closed until further available online notice Effective immediately, all branches of Oregon Trail Library District are closed until further notice. Currently, public health best practices to reduce the spread of COVID-19 include limiting access to public spaces. Additionally, due to staffing concerns, we have made the decision to follow public health guid- ance and close to the public. As a public institution, this decision was not made lightly. OTLD recognizes closure means some of the people who need them the most will not have access to library buildings. They will be working with their partners on ways to work together to support the com- munity. During the building closures, staff will continue to work and be paid. They will be available to help via email or phone. To protect employee health, workplace guidelines from county health officials are being followed. While the physical spaces are closed, a library card gives the holder ac- cess to a world of digital content and other services, including downloadable magazines, eBooks and audiobooks; educational resources; and language tutorials. Visit oregontrail. ploud.net to access digital content. For assistance, please call the local branch. A staff person will be avail- able to help. Things people should also know: -Holds and due dates will be extended. Materi- als that are due during this closure can be kept until libraries reopen or returned to the book drops. -Library events and meeting room reservations are cancelled through Mon- day, April 13. Staff will continue to monitor how long these spaces and pro- grams will remain unavail- able. -Visit the website at oregontrail.ploud.net for COVID-19 information and resources. Information will also be posted on the Face- book and Twitter accounts. The public’s health and safety, as well as that of the staff, volunteers, and Friends of the Library is the top concern. Your patience is appreciated as staff con- tinues to modify operations during this unprecedented time. Candidates’ forum scheduled The Heppner Cham- ber of Commerce will be holding a candidates’ fo- rum for Morrow County Commissioner, Position 1, Morrow County Treasurer and Morrow County Jus- tice of the Peace. The fo- rum will be held Thursday, April 2 from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. during the regularly scheduled lunch meeting at the Heppner City Hall conference room. Candidates for Morrow County Commissioner Po- sition 1 are Joseph Arma- to, Jim Doherty, Michael Sweek and Joel Peterson. Morrow County Treasur- er candidates are Sabrina Bailey Cave, Cody High, Jaylene Papineau and Erik Patton. Theresa Craw- ford, Glen Diehl and Kelly Doherty are the candidates running for Morrow County Justice of the Peace. The candidate’s forum will be moderated by Bill Kuhn, with questions to be written and submitted to the moderator. He will ask the same question of all candi- dates for specific positions with the same time limit allowed to answer each question. Lunch will be available at 11:45 a.m. for $10 and will be catered by Buck- num’s. The candidate’s forum will begin at 12 noon and an RSVP is required to allow for enough lunches and seating. This forum is open to the public. Please RSVP by calling 541-676-5536 and indicate whether you want lunch or just to attend the forum. Through the end of March, or until further no- tice, Sunday worship ser- vices at Hopeful Saints Ministry are being held at 10 a.m. through Face- book Live. Services can be viewed at that time or later at the All Saints Episcopal & Hope Lutheran Facebook page. Everyone is encour- aged to stay connected to the faith community of their choice, and to be persistent in prayer for the health and safety of this nation and all of creation. Catholics suspend services In accordance with Governor Brown’s order of March 16, Bishop Liam Cary of the Diocese of Baker has announced the following directives to Catholics of the Diocese, beginning immediately. -All Sunday and week- day Masses are suspended. -All religious education and sacramental prepa- ration programs are sus- pended. -All public devotions, such as “The Stations of the Cross” and communal Penance services are sus- pended. -Funeral Masses will be celebrated with only the immediate family present and with no reception fol- lowing. -All breakfasts, coffee hours, fish fry dinners are suspended. -Accommodations will be made for people to come to church for private devo- tions. -Pastor visits to hospi- tals, nursing homes, assist- ed living facilities and the homebound are suspended. The only exception to this is when a priest must enter to administer the sacraments to the dying. The Diocese of Baker encompasses all of Eastern Oregon from the Cascade Mountains to the Idaho border. (s)Richard O. Fischer Very Rev. Richard O. Fischer Vicar General Local scholarships available The South Morrow County Scholarship Com- mittee will accept scholar- ship applications until April 2 at 4 p.m. In Heppner, they can be turned into Mrs. Gin- ger Bowman and in Ione, Mrs. Stephanie McElligott. South Morrow Coun- ty Scholarship Criteria The Committee will award scholarships to a college-bound Heppner High School or Ione High School Senior based on academic achievement, community involvement and financial need. Students must be continuing their education at a community college, trade school, or four-year college or uni- versity. Applications will be accepted and awarded by the South Morrow County Scholarship Inc Board of Directors using their Com- mon Local Scholarship Ap- plication and must include a transcript and principal/ counselor evaluation form. The South Morrow County Scholarship Trust Committee, on behalf of the LaRue Family, will accept scholarship applications until April 2 at 4 p.m. Com- pleted applications may be No COVID-19 cases reported in Morrow County According to a press release received from Morrow County Emer- gency Management dated March 17, Morrow County does not have any positive COVID-19 cases currently. Medical personnel continue to monitor and screen as appropriate, working with health care providers and Oregon Health Authority. Per CDC guidelines all medical personnel are uti- lizing universal precautions with Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE). Following the an - nouncement by Gover- nor Brown that all Oregon K-12 public schools are to be closed until April 1, Morrow County Emergen- cy Management, Public Health, Morrow County and Ione School Districts all came together to make sure they have a united message: -Parents are asked to check your school’s website and Facebook page for par- ticulars and updates. --Check back often; several times daily, this sit- uation is rapidly changing. --There will also be Robo calls, from the schools, with updated in- formation. --All public K-12 schools in Morrow County will be providing meals next week. Everyone is asked to please practice “Social Dis- tancing.” This is something that Public Health Officials use to stop or slow down the spread of a highly con- tagious disease or virus. Social Distancing means to limit unnecessary contact. Limit trips in public and try to avoid close proximity to others. In addition to school closures, Governor Brown announced that all restau- rants will no longer provide dine-in service. All service is to be take-out or deliv- ery. All events with greater than 25 persons have been cancelled and people are asked to avoid groups of 10 or more. Healthcare facilities, workplaces and other es- sential businesses such as grocery, pharmacy and re- tail locations are exempt from the closures according to the press release. People are still being encouraged to wash their hands often and follow social distancing guidelines. Many do not realize that a healthy appearing person can be a carrier, with no symptoms, and un- wittingly pass the virus on to someone at higher risk. Morrow County Medical Professionals are continu- ing to actively screen and assess individuals at risk for the COVID-19 virus. turned into Mrs. Stephanie McElligott. Coach Del LaRue Scholarship Criteria The Coach Del LaRue Scholarship was developed in memory of Del LaRue, a long-time teacher and coach at Ione High School. Del had a passion for coach- ing basketball and track and loved seeing students set and achieve their goals. After retiring from teach- ing, Del continued to coach track for twelve additional years. During this time he helped many student athletes achieve their goals and was honored as national Track Coach of the Year. This fund awards one $1,000 scholarship to a college-bound Ione High School Senior based on demonstrated academic achievement and commu- nity involvement, with pref- erence given to students who have participated in the Ione High School Track Program. Students must be con- tinuing their education at a community college, trade school, or four-year college or university. Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 accumulated GPA, attend- ed Ione High School all four years of high school and shown involvement in community activities. Applications will be accepted and awarded by the South Morrow County Scholarship Inc Board of Directors using their Com- mon Local Scholarship Ap- plication and must include a transcript. Tax-Aide sites all closed Due to the spread of the Coronavirus, all AARP Tax-Aide tax preparation sites have suspended ser- vices for the 2019 tax year. Tax sites in Lexington, Hermiston, Boardman and Pendleton all were closed effective Monday, March 16. Tax-Aide looks forward to seeing everyone next year. Spring break food boxes to be distributed Road Bowling buttons available The annual spring break food boxes will be distributed Sunday, March 22, beginning at 2 p.m. and continuing while supplies last at All Saints Episcopal church. This is a free gift to members of the community, no questions asked, spon- sored by Hopeful Saints Ministry. One box per household may be picked up at the back entrance of All Saints Episcopal Church. Home delivery is available for those who are home-bound. To arrange for home deliv- ery, please call the church office at 541-676-9970, leaving your name, phone The 38 th annual Road Bowling buttons are still avail- number and address and a able for purchase for $3 until March 24. Buttons may box will be delivered on be purchased at the city of Heppner office, the Heppner Sunday afternoon. Chamber and Murray’s Drug. Drawings for four lucky winners of $50 each will be held Wednesday, March 25. Agricultural, Construction, Commercial and Home Loans. We’ve got you covered. HEPPNER IONE 279 N. Main Street 280 Main Street MORTGAGE 269 N. Main Street, Heppner Plus Friendly Branches where you can bank! AMBER SCHLAICH Loan Officer NEW LISTING $154,000 Four bedroom 2 bath home on the hill overlooking Heppner. Walking distance to the high school. Nice living room up stairs and a big family room down. Large laundry room. One car garage will also make nice attached shop space. Garden area and trees. Quiet neighborhood. 75 Y ears SINCE 1945 210 SUMMIT DRIVE, HEPPNER RAYMOND SEASTONE Mortgage Loan Officer NMLS#937744 Rates & terms may vary. All loans subject to credit approval. 188 W. Willow P.O. Box 337 Heppner, OR 97836 david@sykesrealestate.net Owner/Broker David Sykes 541-980-6674 NMLS# 414459 / MEMBER FDIC Have a news story or photo for the Gazette? e-mail editor@rapidserve.net call 541-676-9228 or stop by the office on Willow St., Heppner Today
