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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (April 22, 2020)
Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, April 22, 2020 -- SEVEN ~ Letters to the Editor ~ The Heppner Gazette Times will print all letters to the Editor with the following criteria met: letters submitted to the newspaper will need to have the name of the sender along with a legible signature. We are also requesting that you provide your address and a phone number where you can be reached. The address and phone number will only be used for verification and will not be printed in the newspaper. Letters may not be libelous. The GT reserves the right to edit. The GT is not responsible for accuracy of statements made in letters. Any letters expressing thanks will be placed in the classifieds under “Card of Thanks” at a cost of $10. Support Joel Peterson for Morrow County Commission To the editor: I have known Joel Pe- terson for over 30 years. Joel was born and raised in Morrow County. He op- erates a dryland farm near Ione, has irrigated land in the county and has raised cattle as well. His farming and ranching activities give him firsthand knowledge relating to the ag economy of our region. Joel’s leadership has served many organizations well. The long list includes community and ag industry boards and committees along with 16 years serv- ing on the Morrow County Planning Commission. Joel is a valued board mem- ber for a community bank which originated in and remains, a Morrow County fixture. Public service comes naturally to Joel. His grand- father, Oscar Peterson, was a Morrow County Judge and founding member of the Port of Morrow. Joel is a thoughtful, objective, fair and honest person who cares about the citizens of Morrow County. He will be an excellent county com- missioner who understands the needs and diversity of all of Morrow County. When you get your ballot in the mail at the end of April, mark it in favor of Joel Peterson. You will be glad you did. Gary Neal Retired Port Manager Positives and negatives as public servant To the editor: There is both a posi- tive and clearly a negative as a public servant. The negative, that regardless of the valiant work and com- mitment one pours in daily as a commissioner, those that seek to defame you, know no shame. They band together and misconstrue your record. One positive is that there is a record. I had not intended to craft a response to the dis- tasteful diatribe penned by the henchman of my detractors; however, when my eldest brother called the other night and he said he didn’t recognize the person they described, I felt com- pelled to defend my honor and my record. So for the record, the closest I have ever come to voting in opposition of development in the “north end,” was when I proudly took a stand against con- verting forty acres of farm ground in the center of 8,500 of the same, into un- supported industrial proper- ty. There has never been, to my knowledge a discussion on the agenda about Rural Residential Zoning, much less a vote. In regard to the Justice of the Peace position, I was given some credible infor- mation by a constituent. I passed my concerns to the clerk, who gave me some advice that I subsequently followed. I made no attempt to forward that knowledge into the public sphere. In fact, were it not for the letter to the editor it would have remained with the proper authorities. Next were allegations that I have taken trips to Alaska, DC, Las Vegas and Nashville on the coun- ty’s dime. As president of the Association of Oregon Counties these trips to DC and Alaska were covered by the state association. My additional journeys includ- ed a trip by Amtrak, saving the county nearly $800 on airfare. My trips to Las Vegas and Nashville, were on a greyhound out of Stan- field and saved the county a fortune and doubtless cost me years of my life. Please Google Commissioner rides bus to NACo. The notion that I stopped on main street Hep- pner to unleash a tirade of profanities at Mr. Sweek and Mr. Healy is repulsive. I am happy to have you visit with Greg Sweek to get a measured version of reality. Please bear in mind that Mr. Healy is a primary donor of my opponent. So, the “grain of salt” thing. I am not likely to con- tinually refute the mali- ciousness of my opponents. However, I feel it necessary to give folks a reference, as they seek to besmirch my reputation, much the same as they did the Honorable Ken Grieb in past elections. A more upstanding citizen, you will not find in Mor- row County. I told my dear friend George Murdock that the only thing they got right was my name. He responded, “Still hurts and keep your chin up.” I shall. Jim Doherty, Board- man Just stay home To the editor, I wish I was bored at home. I wish I didn’t have to go to work again today. I wish I didn’t have to see coworkers on ventilators and hear of others’ deaths. I wish I didn’t know that my mother’s good friend had just come down with his deadly virus. I wish people would just stay home. I have heard the screams of families who have just heard that their loved one didn’t make it. I have seen 40-year-old men begging for their life, begging for breath. I have helped drag a body up a makeshift ramp to a refrigerated trailer in the back of our hospital and lay that body on a heap of other bodies. I wish people would just stay home. You don’t need to play golf with your buddies. You don’t need to go visit your BFF. You don’t need to hang with your crew on a street corner. What you need is to stay home. If you knew who you were exposing when you went out, would it make a difference? If you know a child would be orphaned because you went out, would it make a difference? Please just stay home. Lori Niedswiecki Her- man. St. Joseph’s Wayne Hospital Wayne, NJ (Lori is a cousin of April Sykes) People are living in fear Vote Joe Armato for To the editor: same governor and press Morrow County This letter is written supported and encouraged from Pittsburgh, Pennsyl- their mayhem as their con- Commissioner vania where you cannot buy stitutional protected right. or sell without a mask over your face. Many of the peo- ple are living in fear, afraid of people that could be a carrier, afraid of a flu virus that the press, media and a Democratic Governor have turned into mass paranoia. Many epidemiologists caution all individuals will eventually be exposed to the Covid-19 virus and social distancing only pro- longs the process and actu- ally makes the virus more deadly. Quarantining sick, elderly and immune com- promised has been a wise medical precaution, exhort- ed from biblical days. Quarantining healthy productive individuals and denying them opportunity to work, to support their families, denying them constitutional liberty to worship, to go to the beach or park or fishing on the river is tyranny. Many Oregonians will soon be exercising their constitu- tional liberty to protest this government overreach and oppression. I exhort my fel- low Oregonians to support them. Expect the Oregon Governor and press and media to brand these Ore- gonians as right-wing zeal- ots that threaten the health and safety of their fellow citizens. When Antifa and Black Lives Matter violent- ly shut down Portland, the This Covid-19 pan- ic is media and left-wing liberal government manip- ulation to “fundamentally change America” and take down a conservative pres- ident. The essential work- ers (bless their hearts) at Walmart, Safeway, Home Depot, gas stations, etc., etc., are not coming down with this virus more than anybody else. 98.5 percent of those that contract the virus will recover, some will not even know they had it, and they will build up an immune protection. The chance of dying of the virus is .0000069 percent in America. 80,000 died of the flu last year in America and not one person was quar- antined or lost their job. 22 million Americans are now out of work, and the shutdown will kill more Americans than the virus. The truth is the Covid-19 deaths are inflated to make the crisis more effective. Hospitals receive $13,000 for C19 deaths and an extra $39,000 if on a ventilator. No wonder the rising C19 deaths continue to plaster the headlines, while all other causes of death are miraculously plummeting. Time to stand up against this tyranny and go back to work fellow Oregonians. Stuart Dick, Irrigon Support Glen Diehl for Justice of the Peace To the editor: I have known Glen Die- hl for more than 30 years. During that time, Glen and I have worked in neighbor- ing jurisdictions. I watched Glen as his career grew from patrol deputy and progressed through various assignments and culminat- ed in his being promoted to LT with Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office. I know Glen has had first-hand experience in patrol, in- vestigations, narcotics task force, parole and probation, corrections and ultimately administration with the Sheriff’s Office. Glen has always demonstrated an excellent grasp of the Criminal Jus- tice System. Not just en- forcing laws but providing law enforcement services with compassion and com- mon sense. This is what experience brings you when examining a candidate for Justice of the Peace. The ability to meld law with compassion when appro- priate and exercise judicial prudence and the latitude that comes with the position when the law allows. Glen retired from UCSO seven years ago and bought the old family property south of Heppner. As his wife still works for Umatilla County and has not yet retired, Glen has maintained two households. His permanent residence in south Morrow County and the home in Pendle- ton where his wife resides during the work week. Three years ago, Glen took the full-time position as Morrow County Parole and Probation Work Crew Supervisor where he again broadened his knowledge base and experience in the practical application of the criminal justice system. ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE: MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M. This past year when Justice of the Peace Ann Spicer announced her im- pending retirement, I sug- gested the position to Glen because I felt he would be perfect for that spot. I talked to JP Spicer and she agreed. Glen and others applied for the position, all the candidates were examined, background checks were performed, qualifications were confirmed and ulti- mately Glen was appointed by the State of Oregon to complete the remainder of JP Spicer’s term. When your ballots ar- rive in the mail in the next couple weeks, I strongly encourage you to support Glen Diehl for Justice of the Peace. He is the right candi- date at the right time. He has demonstrated his first-hand broad-spectrum knowledge and background. I still be- lieve he is the perfect per- son for the job. Respectfully, Steven L Myren, re- tired Undersheriff, Morrow County Sheriff’s Office Boardman, OR To the editor: Joe is very aware of the needs of Morrow County, both at the north end and the south. Joe is aware that the north end of the county is experiencing development of businesses and contin- uous growth opportuni- ties that brings along large problems with housing and maintenance issues. He also knows the challenges of south Morrow County with lack of jobs and businesses struggling, while it is home to many young families that want to stay and raise their children in the south part of the county. Joe is active in the com- munities. He volunteers at the local schools as a chess instructor and assis- tant coach of the football teams. He is a member of the Howard and Beth Bryant Foundation and the Heppner Community Foundation. I believe that Joe will make good decisions for our county. He is interested in all aspects of the north and south county. He has taken the time to educate himself on the issues at hand and where Morrow County is headed in the future. There is so much happening in Morrow County that many people are unaware of. Take a look around from the north to the south, things are happening. I believe that Joe will be interested in educating himself about the facts surrounding the issues at hand before making deci- sions that affect everyone. Skip and Sandy Mat- thews, Heppner Joel will represent all citizens To the editor: I am writing in support of Joel Peterson for Morrow County Commissioner. I believe Joel will repre- sent all citizens of Morrow County by viewing the north end of the county as one of, if not the largest employment center of our county. It is necessary to continue to encourage new employers while sustaining those currently in place. The Port of Morrow has done a remarkable job in attracting businesses which has benefited the county as a whole in creating well paid jobs. Over the years, chang- es have occurred in south Morrow County leaving fewer job opportunities which led the three cities to become more like bedroom communities as employees travel to jobs. The need for additional housing in these three cities is very apparent and will continue to be stud- ied closely by both city and county government. Joel has served sev- eral years on the Bank of Eastern Oregon board of directors. During his tenure he has witnessed economic ups and downs, which have given him knowledge of the good as well as difficult times and how to best man- age through those issues. Joel continues to be a successful farmer and rancher making him a strong resource when deal- ing with the needs and issues of Morrow County. In my opinion, Joel’s most important trait is that he a good listener. He will research to assure a good understanding of current and future Morrow County issues and needs, both in the courthouse and county- wide. Linda LaRue, Ione Support Joseph Armato To the editor: I support Joseph Arma- to for Morrow County Com- missioner. I have known Joseph for many years. He is currently a member of the Heppner High School football coaching staff in his seventh year of service. Joseph is well known for his community service. He has volunteered in the schools, 4-H, church and he serves on several boards. Joseph understands the im- portance of supporting our communities. Joseph is thorough and will take the time to learn about the issues that im- pact our county and its residents. He has the ability to be a team player and he understands the importance of working together. That alignment and collaboration is the best way to success- fully get things done. Please join me in sup- porting Joseph Armato for Morrow County Commis- sioner. Greg Grant, Heppner Due to the State guidelines regarding the Coronavirus outbreak, All Wheatland Insurance Offices will be closed to the public. Employees will be working in a secure location in order to continue taking care of business. Please call 541-422-7410 to talk with an agent regarding any of your insurance questions. You will be able to make premium payments during this time by calling 541-422-7410. Payments can be made by credit card or debit card. For cash payment options, please call the 541-422-7410 number to make arrangements. We all are praying this situation will be over very soon. Please be safe.
