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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (March 25, 2020)
Joel Peterson runs for commissioner HEPPNER G T 50¢ azette imes VOL. 139 NO. 13 6 Pages Wednesday, March 25, 2020 Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon Lexington resident sews, donates Covid-19 masks Sandi Pointer of Lex- ington, a busy mom of three grown kids and a doting grandmother, not to mention an employee of the Morrow County Public Works Department, was looking for an opportunity to help during these times of crises. So, when the Stanfield quilt shop put out a request to all sewers and quilters for their help in supplying masks in the fight against COVID 19, Pointer leapt for it. After Googling a cou- ple patterns, Pointer sewed 56 masks and distributed them to Pioneer Memorial Hospital, a special transpor- tation office in Kelso and Woodland, Washington, a nursing home in Longview, Washington, and staff at her Public Works office. Sandi says she was able to do around 10 in a half hour, with her two sons testing and helping with the fit. She says she made masks until she ran out of elastic. Sandi said she had tak- en the elastic out of two queen fitted sheets to use the fabric for something else but hung on to the elastic. “I had several (fab- ric) scraps too big to throw away, but not big enough for anything much else,” said Pointer. She had ma- terial left over from mak- ing granddaughter Jude’s dresses, quilts, Valentine bags and Easter baskets, “So, I felt I could do it.” Sandi Pointer Masks Pointer made, preparing to ship off. “It looked easy enough, so gave it a try and, after get- ting an assembly line type production and my two sons testing and helping with fit, I had some masks going Local businesses adapt to shutdown By Bobbi Gordon Area businesses have adjusted hours, changed to take-out only and imple- mented new sanitizing and cleaning processes due to the shutdown caused by the Coronavirus. Some have set up delivery options and are focusing on keeping their business open and their employees working. The Heppner Ga- zette-Times, as media, is considered an essential business so will remain open and the newspaper will continue to be pub- lished. All news and adver- tising must be received by 5 p.m. on Mondays. Bucknum’s is open for curbside service only from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m., Monday through Sat- urday. Call 541-676-5274 to place orders as people are not allowed to wait inside. Check Facebook for the menu. Breaking Grounds Cof- fee will remain open but asks customers to call in all coffee and food orders to limit the amount of contact time. They will continue to practice all safety guide- lines required for restau- rants. Granddaughter Jude, the re- cipient of many outfits made by grandma, the source of scraps made into masks. As of March 21, Two Old Hags Pizza decided to close down completely to protect themselves, family, employees and their cus- tomers. They will reopen as soon as it is considered safe. Murray’s Drug will remain open to serve their customers. They have a new handicap system in the main entrance and ask that it is pushed by using your elbow. If you are sick, they ask that you please stay home and they will deliver your medications to you. Heppner Market Fresh will remain open regular hours. There will be no can or bottle returns accepted at this time. The Neighborhood Center in Heppner is cur- rently closed except by ap- pointment for food boxes. Donations of household and clothing are not being accepted at this time but donations of food, toiletries and diapers are needed. For additional information check their Facebook page. All Oregon Trail Li- braries are closed. Virtu- al services are available and Heppner staff may be -See BUSINESS SHUT- DOWNS/PAGE TWO pretty good.” (Editor’s note: Not all facilities accept homemade masks, so it is best to check with those facilities prior to sewing and shipping.) Joel Peterson is running for Morrow County Com- missioner, Position One in the upcoming primary election to be held in May. In doing so, he is continuing a family tradition of public service begun by his grand- father, Oscar Peterson, a Morrow County judge and founding member of the Port of Morrow. Throughout the years, he has served multiple or- ganizations in the county including Morrow Coun- ty Planning Commission, Bank of Eastern Oregon, Valby Lutheran Church, Morrow County Wheat Growers League, Jordan Elevator Corporation, Ione Community Agri-Business Organization, Ione School Board and Ione Education Foundation. He served as chairman of all of those organizations at least once and has also served on bud- get committees for the Port of Morrow and Ione Fire Department. Peterson stated, “My service on the planning Joel Peterson commission in particular gave me experience with issues facing all of Morrow County. I found the public hearing process to be very helpful when faced with difficult choices. Many times we made better de- cisions because we could understand the perspectives of those being affected. As commissioner, I promise to keep listening.” Peterson was born in Heppner and attended Ione schools, graduating in 1975. After earning a degree from Pacific Lutheran University in engineering physics and a minor in computer science, he returned to Ione to farm. He has been married to Lea Mathieu, an educator and minister, for 26 years. Lea has taught in Ione, Heppner and Boardman. Their three children attended school in Ione. Joel grew up with cattle and now raises wheat, so says he knows ranching and farming firsthand. He is involved with pasture ground south of Hardman, farmland south of Ione and irrigation ground near Boardman, giving him a personal perspective on Morrow County’s agricul- tural needs. “I believe that a leader is someone who puts others in the best position to suc- ceed,” continued Peterson. “As commissioner, I would do that by hiring excellent people and letting them use their expertise to the fullest. I will do my best to en- sure that Morrow County’s growing economy remains strong for all of us.” County declares emergency, closes facilities to public No cases in Morrow County - four test negative By David Sykes In an effort to slow the spread of the Coronavirus, the Morrow County Com- mission last week declared a state of emergency and shut down all public access to its buildings across the county. Only the Sheriff’s Office and the Circuit Court will remain open. County employees will be working to help the public; however, citizens will need to make contact by phone or email. As of Tuesday morn- ing, there have been no deaths or cases of the vi- rus detected in the county. Four people have tested negative. In neighboring counties Umatilla has two cases, Grant has one and Gilliam and Wheeler both have zero. At a meeting last week the county also announced it was discontinuing the practice of rotating meet- ings around the county and will hold all meetings until further notice at the Bartholomew Building in Heppner. Also at the meet- ing the county turned down a request to have the Sher- iff’s Department conduct background checks for a newly formed volunteer group called People Help- ing People (see related story). The group had asked the Sheriff’s Office to do checks on volunteers who would be making trips to people’s homes during the governor’s recently enacted stay at home order deliv- ering food, supplies and needed items. The sheriff’s office was going to make sure the volunteers did not have any background issues since the people will be going to elderly people’s homes. The commissioners heard the request but denied the help saying they did not want the county’s name at- tached to the group’s efforts because of possible liability issues and that granting help would also open the door to other groups ask- ing for county help. Com- missioners said they did not want the sheriff to do the background checks in case something happened, then the county would be blamed. Organizer of the new volunteer help group is Cody High of Heppner, who has so far signed up 50 local people to do the volunteer work. The commission also held an emergency Coro- navirus meeting on Thurs- day, March 19 and mostly discussed county personnel issues and measures to keep county employees safe and healthy. It was also decided at that time to hold a weekly meeting of a newly formed committee to monitor the county’s response to the virus. Other county officials also meet on a regular basis to discuss the “fluid” situa- tion with the virus. Volunteers band together to help others By Bobbi Gordon Cody High and The- resa Crawford of Heppner have formed a group of volunteers to help anyone in Morrow County who may need assistance due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The group, Morrow Coun- ty- People Helping People, began on Facebook and is already up to over 50 vol- unteers. High stated on the Facebook page, “We are in the midst of an unprec- edented global pandemic. Each day we are facing new challenges and hurdles. Theresa Crawford and I came up with the idea for this group with the concern that the very rural way of living that we all love here in Morrow County could provide added difficulties if we started down the same pathways other nations have gone down.” He continued, “The very space that we love and hopefully will keep us all safe and healthy will add hardships for some mem- bers of our community to get some of the basic needs we all sometimes have taken for granted. Together we can make a difference for all of Morrow County. If we stop thinking about others as from here or there and just think of them as our neighbor.” The group has recruited a volunteer leader in each of the Morrow County cities. In Heppner, Theresa Craw- ford is the leader and can be reached at 541-561-0629. Lexington’s volunteer lead- er is Tonja Lemmon Mori- sette, 541-561-8953. Also in Lexington, Will Lemmon and Ralph Klock of Mor- row County Grain Growers have agreed to man the drop-off site at MCGG, 350 Main Street. Jeff Clabaugh of Ione is the volunteer leader there and can be reached at 971- 517-0548. Jim Doherty, whose number is 541-571- 0584, has volunteered in Boardman. In Irrigon, con- tact the Columbia View Community Church. Clau- dia Guerra has volunteered to be the translator so all of the messages distributed by the group are also available in Spanish. The goal of the group is to help if someone is hungry or unable to get something they need. Everyone is asked to donate if they are able or reach out if they need something. At this time, financial resources are not available. “We have put names out of individuals in each com- munity who have stepped forward to help. If someone is hungry or lacking some- thing, we all should reach out to help regardless of our current hometown. If you have a need, reach out. If you can help, reach out. Our choices will determine if this is a major disaster or a defining moment of unity,” Cody noted. MORROW COUNTY GRAIN GROWERS 350 MAIN STREET, LEXINGTON, OR 97839 CONTACT: JUSTIN BAILEY 541-256-0229, 541-989-8221 EXT 204 *Offers vary by model. Rebate and financing offers valid on select 2016-2020 new and unregistered Polaris ® RZR ® , RANGER ® , Sportsman ® , GENERAL ® , and ACE ® models purchased between 1/1/20-2/29/20. **Rates as low as 3.99% APR for 36 months. Examples of monthly payments required over a 36-month term at a 3.99% APR rate: $29.52 per $1,000 financed; and with a 60-month term at a 6.99% APR rate: $19.80 per $1,000 financed. An example of a monthly payment with $0 down, no rebate, an APR of 3.99% APR for 36 months at an MSRP of $12,699 is $374.87/mo. total cost of borrowing of $796.27 with a total obligation of $13,495.27. Down payment may be required. Other financing offers may be available. See your local dealer for details. Minimum Amount Financed $1,500; Maximum Amount Financed $50,000. Other qualifications and restrictions may apply. Financing promotions void where prohibited. Tax, title, license, and registration are separate and may not be financed. Promotion may be modified or discontinued without notice at any time in Polaris' sole discretion. WARNING: Polaris ® off-road vehicles can be hazardous to operate and are not intended for on-road use. Driver must be at least 16 years old with a valid driver's license to operate. Passengers, if permitted, must be at least 12 years old. All riders should always wear helmets, eye protection, and protective clothing. Always use seat belts and cab nets or doors (as equipped). Never engage in stunt driving, and avoid excessive speeds and sharp turns. Riding and alcohol/drugs don't mix. All riders should take a safety training course. Call 800-342-3764 for additional information. Check local laws before riding on trails. © 2020 Inc. 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