Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, April 29, 2020 -- THREE
Heppner to hold MS Walk
Left to right: Debby Sumner, Barb Orwick, Henry Burnside (Merilee McDowell’s grandson)
and Merilee McDowell .
The Heppner Walk MS
will be held this Saturday,
May 2, beginning at 10 a.m.
at Hager Park, continuing
to the Heppner City Park
near the library, then to the
Fit Park and then back to
Hager Park.
Organizers of the walk,
Barb Orwick, Merilee Mc-
Dowell and Debby Sumner,
who all live in Heppner
and have MS, say they
will be following all the
Oregon guidelines due to
COVID-19, riding their
scooters six feet apart and
only in groups of 10 or less.
This will be the 20 th
year that Heppner has host-
ed the walk.
Orwick and McDowell
encourage people to walk
along with them, as per
instructions, six feet apart
and in groups of less than
10 people. They say that
people can join the walk
anywhere along the route
and masks will be available.
People are also invited to
drive by, honk and wave,
they said.
“We are raising aware-
ness and funds to continue
the fight to “Stop MS in its
Tracks,” said McDowell
and Orwick. “You may
have noticed our posts
on Facebook requesting
donations. There is still
time to donate. Contact
Orwick, 541-256-0455, or
McDowell, 541-571-5853,
or donate on Facebook.
The money you donate
will drive groundbreaking
research and services to
ensure people affected by
MS have the resources
they need to live their best
lives.”
“When Walk MS began
in 1988, there were no dis-
ease-modifying therapies,
medications that help man-
age symptoms and slow the
progression of the disease,”
they said. “Today there
are 16 disease-modifying
therapies. Because of you,
Walk MS has raised more
than $1 billion to make
incredible breakthroughs
like this a reality. Donate
today to help us get one
step closer to a world free
of MS,” they said.
“Another reason we are
doing this is to show our
Erik Patton hopes to be next
Morrow County Treasurer
Erik Patton is seeking
election as treasurer of
Morrow County. Patton and
his wife of eight years, Lisa,
reside in Heppner and share
their home with their two
adopted dogs and cat. He is
currently the Civil-Records
Deputy for the Morrow
County Sheriff ’s Office
and for the last six months
has also worked part-time
at Heppner Market Fresh.
Patton is proud to be
a fourth-generation Mor-
row County resident. His
grandparents, Jay Dee and
Jo Hudson, were both born
in Heppner. He graduated
from Heppner High School
and attended Blue Moun-
tain Community College.
Patton has worked for
the Morrow County Sher-
iff ’s Office for over 16
years, first as a Commu-
nications Deputy (9-1-1
dispatcher) and then for
the last four years as the
Civil-Records Deputy. He
was the secretary, vice-
chair and then chair of the
Oregon State Sheriff’s As-
sociation Concealed Hand-
gun License subcommittee
between the years of 2017-
2019.
As the Civil-Record
Deputy, Patton has im-
proved the Concealed
Handgun License unit and
at the start of the year began
using a free online sched-
appreciation to all those
in this community and the
outlying communities in
Oregon who have helped
us every year,” they contin-
ued. “You have really made
a difference. So, as you
see us scooting by, please
cheer us on, come out of
Morrow County Peo-
your homes and businesses,
ple
Helping
People will be
drive by and wave or hand
giving
away
hamburger
and
off a check.” Checks may
potatoes
on
Saturday,
May
be made out to NMSS.
Erik Patton
uling service for appoint-
ments. This has been well
received by the public and
has saved taxpayer dollars
in the process. Also in 2018,
he was given the task of
locating a new computer
program for the Civil Unit.
After testifying in front of
the board of commissioners
in early 2019, the new sys-
tem went live on October 31
and brought the unit in the
21 st century. According to
Patton, it helped automate
several of the processes that
were done by hand at the
Sheriff’s Office.
Patton has been a vol-
unteer firefighter for the
Heppner Volunteer Fire
Department and ambu-
lance driver for the Morrow
County Health District for
the last 18 years. In addi-
tion, he volunteers when
needed at the Neighbor-
hood Center of South Mor-
row County where his wife
works. During his free time
he enjoys hunting, spending
time in the mountains and
being an amateur radio
(HAM) operator.
When asked why he
wants to be treasurer, he
stated, “I’m running for
the office of treasurer to
help bring back a working
relationship with the board
of commissioners and all
of the other departments
and offices in the county.
Recent events that occurred
between the treasurer’s
office and the board of
commissioners have shown
there is an increased need
for communication between
the two parties. The county
treasurer position needs to
be filled by a candidate who
is professional, honest, eth-
ical and trustworthy. That is
why I believe I would be the
best candidate for treasurer.
I believe everyone needs
to work together for the
benefit of the county and
its citizens.”
“For the last 23 years
our current county trea-
surer has provided a great
service to the citizens of
Morrow County. I would
work hard to continue to
provide the same quality of
service if elected as the next
treasurer.”
People continue helping people
2 to people in need. The Gale St, from noon to 2 p.m.
giveaway will be held at
The 500 pounds of
the All Saints Episcopal and ground beef was donated
Lutheran Church, 460 N by Brian and Susie Thomp-
son of the Thompson Ranch
and Mark and Pam Wun-
derlich of the Wilkinson
Ranch. Bud Rich donated
500 pounds of potatoes
and Eastern Oregon Mo-
bile Slaughter donated the
slaughter, cut and wrap of
the hamburger.
Those in need who are
unable to get out can call
Theresa Crawford at 541-
561-0629 and set up a time
for delivery.
DEADLINE:
MONDAYS
AT 5PM
Susie Thompson (right) passes a package of the donated
hamburger to Theresa Crawford.
Joel Peterson
MORROW COUNTY COMMISSIONER 1
Experience & Integrity
OR UNTIL FULL!