Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, October 14, 2020 -- SEVEN
District loses students due to COVID
Morrow County School
Superintendent Dirk Dirk-
sen told the school board at
Monday night’s meeting at
Irrigon Elementary School
that the district has lost 97
students this year main-
ly due to the COVID-19
crisis. Board Chair Becky
Kindle and board members
Mary Killion and Marcie
Rodelo attended the meet-
ing in person, with mem-
bers Barney Lindsay, Brian
Kollman, Richard Cole and
Andy Fletcher attending via
Zoom.
Dirksen said Boardman
schools are down 74 stu-
dents from 1,095 in 2019
to 1,021 in October of this
year; Heppner schools are
down 21 students, from
320 in 2019 to 299 in 2020;
Irrigon schools are down 86
from 828 in 2019 to 742 in
2020. The Morrow Edu-
cation Center (alternative
school located in Irrigon),
however is up 84 students,
from 60 in 2019 to 144 in
in 2020. District totals are
down from 2,303 in Oc-
tober of 2019 to 2,206 in
October 2020.
School enrollment as
of October is as follows:
A.C. Houghton Elementa-
ry, Irrigon, (kindergarten
through grade three)-197;
Sam Boardman Elementary,
K- grade three-319; Hep-
pner Elementary, K-grade
six-161; Irrigon Elemen-
tary, grades four-six-180;
Windy River Elementary,
Boardman, grades four-
six-247; Heppner Junior/
Senior High School, grades
seven-12-138; Irrigon Jr./
Sr. High School, grades
seven-12-365; Riverside
Jr./Sr. High School, Board-
man-455; Morrow Educa-
tion Center, Irrigon, grades
k-12-144; total-2,206.
Dirksen said that
MCSD has been mandated
by the state to limit the time
students are in school to
two hours a week, because
of the number of COVID
cases, especially in the
north end of the district,
but MCSD and other school
districts are trying to get the
time extended to four hours.
“It’s going to be a while,”
he added.
In more positive news,
students in all three high
schools in the district,
Heppner, Boardman and
Irrigon, will be able to
attend an upcoming FFA/
AG field trip hosted out of
Pendleton.
Dirksen said some
limited sports on school
grounds may be acceptable,
however students must stay
six feet apart and wear
masks. If the activities are
not on school grounds,
however, the limitations are
not enforced.
He also said the goal of
MCSD is to get electron-
ic devices in all students’
homes to facilitate contin-
ued learning, but he noted
some spots in Heppner have
had difficulty with connec-
tions. If you don’t have
internet and cell service, it
won’t work, he added. The
district has 550 hot spots,
having dispersed 337, with
173 remaining to disperse.
Dirksen also noted
that breakfast and lunch
are still served via “grab
and go” four days a week.
He thanked administrators
and MidCo Bus for “their
hard work coordinating bus
routes” (there are around
35 bus routes) and also
thanked “CARE, CCS,
school counselors, county
nurses and school resource
officers” which are “all
critical to the services we
supply our students.”
In other business, the
board:
-received the follow-
ing statement of antici-
pated revenues for 2020-
21: revenues-$29,543,383;
2021 estimated expen-
ditures-$29,540,432;
beginning fund bal-
ance-$3,367,853; pro-
jected ending fund bal-
ance-$3,370,804.
-approved the follow-
ing employment action:
resignations/non-renew-
als-Jennifer Henderer,
IJSHS ed assistant, Toni
Stanger, ACH assistant cus-
todian; retirements-Richard
Bruhn, RJSHS facilities
coordinator; employment/
promotions/transfers-Beth
Harrington, SBE assistant
custodian, Jessica Ponce
Marquez, RJSHS assistant
custodian, Melissa Scott,
IJSHS temporary junior
high language arts teacher;
extra duty contracts-Eliz-
abeth McCarty, IJSHS as-
sistant high school girls’
basketball coach, Tyler
Volpi, RJSHS junior high
head football coach.
-approved a resolution
for receiving the follow-
ing unanticipated reve-
nue: $500 from Umatilla
Electric to Morrow Virtual
Academy; $25,000 from
Amazon Web Services to
MCSD for COVID-related
expenses.
-learned the Oregon
School Board Association
annual convention will be
held virtually on Novem-
ber 14.
-learned the end of the
first quarter is October 29.
-heard the next board
meeting will be held Mon-
day, November 9, at Hep-
pner Elementary, via Zoom.
Sheriff’s Report
The Morrow County Sheriff’s Office has released the following information:
August 6: Morrow
County Sheriff ’s Office
received a report on Depot
Ln, Irrigon that people are
parked outside the resi-
dence inside a vehicle that
does not have a tire.
-MCSO received a re-
port at SE Idaho Ave/SE
Tenth St, Irrigon that a
maroon GMC SUV ran
the stop sign then turned
around and ran another
stop sign.
-MCSO received a re-
port on S Main St, Heppner
of a missing person. He
last spoke to her via phone
Sunday or Monday. Female
was located and safe.
-MCSO received a re-
port at Morrow County
OHV Park on Forest Ser-
vice 21 Rd, Heppner of
cows out near the OHV
park. Cows were put back
in the pasture.
-MCSO received a re-
port on Second St, Heppner
that there are a half dozen
cows in his yard tearing
it up. RP called back and
advised the owner was there
rounding up the cattle.
-MCSO received a re-
port at I 84 W, Boardman of
a camp right off the water.
MCSO found the location,
no one around.
-MCSO received a re-
port of a disabled vehicle
at Hwy 74, Ione. Deputy
provided subject with cour-
tesy ride.
-MCSO received a re-
port on SE Utah Ave, Irri-
gon that there is a vehicle
playing loud music. Unable
to locate.
-MCSO received a re-
port that CCS needs trans-
port of subject from UCJ
to GSH for mental health
hold. Transported male to
GSH.
-MCSO received a re-
port that Jason Michael
Francisco Garza was arrest-
ed by HPD on MCPP de-
tainer. Subject was lodged
at UCJ, no bail.
-MCSO received a re-
port on Hwy 74, Heppner
of a vehicle with a broken
windshield, one headlight
that has been swerving all
over the road. Unable to
locate.
-MCSO received a re-
port on SE Utah Ave, Ir-
rigon that a silver Dodge
Durango stopped at the stop
sign on Seventh and blasted
its music, spun its tires and
then sped off. There were
two vehicles behind him
doing the same thing.
-MCSO received a re-
port on I 84 E, Boardman
that a navy-blue Honda
Civic attempted to run RP
off the road and passed the
RP at over 120 mph. Re-
ferred to other agency.
-MCSO received a re-
port on SE Utah Ave, Irri-
gon that a Ford F150 pickup
cranked up his music going
down Utah.
-MCSO received a re-
port at Oregon Trail Library
on N Main St, Heppner
of kids in the park using
vulgarity and harassing
passersby.
-MCSO received a re-
port on I 84 W, Boardman
of a semi with brakes on
fire.
August 7: Morrow
County Sheriff ’s Office
received a report at N Main
St/Center St, Heppner that
RP heard a female scream
and a subject ran towards
the gas station. Unable to
locate.
-MCSO received a re-
port on Cain Ln, Irrigon that
she has dogs chasing her
horses. MCSO responded.
Two dogs returned to own-
er, one taken to pet rescue.
-MCSO received a re-
port at Willow Creek Rd/
Hwy 207, Heppner that
there was a male sitting
down near the turn off onto
Willow Creek Rd.
-MCSO received a re-
port on NW Gale St, Hep-
pner that there is a white
dog in her yard. RP called
back advised they located
the owners.
-MCSO received a re-
port on SE Utah Ave, Irri-
gon that a blue Honda Civic
sped by towards Tenth.
Unable to locate.
-MCSO received a re-
port at Irrigon Skate Park,
NE Main Ave, Irrigon that
Ross Carlisle Vanetta was
arrested by MCSO for fail-
ure to register as a sex of-
fender. Subject also arrested
on UCCC warrant.
-MCSO received a re-
port at Heppner Shell Sta-
tion on N Main St, Heppner
that a 53 yo female is highly
intoxicated and sustained
injuries to her legs. Patient
transported to PMH.
-MCSO received a re-
port at Hwy 74/Dee Cox Rd
that a little white dog is out.
Returned to owner.
-MCSO received a re-
port on Meadowlark Rd,
Heppner that a calf was
attacked by a cougar, bitten
twice. RP saw large cougar
in the area.
-MCSO received a re-
port at Wilson Ln/Paul
Smith Rd, Boardman that a
cow is out in the middle of
the road.
-MCSO received a re-
port at Pioneer Memorial
Hospital on NE Pioneer Dr,
Heppner that intoxicated
patient is trying to leave.
-MCSO received a re-
port on NW Third St, Ir-
rigon that a vehicle came
in their driveway at a high
rate of speed, turned off
their lights. MCSO made
contact with the parties in
the vehicle. Licensed driver
retrieved the subjects and
the vehicle.
-MCSO received a re-
port on Kunze Ln, Board-
man that there was someone
playing loud music on their
car stereo. MCSO checked
the area. Unfounded.
-MCSO received a re-
port at Kunze Ln/Toms
Camp Rd, Boardman of a
dead fox on the side of the
road.
August 8: Morrow
County Sheriff ’s Office
received a report on I 84 E,
Boardman of a black Toy-
ota car that can’t maintain
lane and is almost hitting
vehicles. Referred to other
agency.
-MCSO received a re-
port at Kunze Ln/Toms
Camp Rd, Boardman that a
female with a white Cadil-
lac Escalade is on the side
of the road with a dead fox.
Unable to locate.
-MCSO received a
report on NW Gale St,
Heppner of a male subject
on his porch smoking. Un-
founded.
-MCSO received a re-
port on W Eighth Rd, Irri-
gon that they have a dog on
her property. RP believes it
might have killed/injured
her chickens. Dog was
transported to pet rescue.
-MCSO received a re-
port on NE Oregon Ave,
Irrigon of a domestic distur-
bance. MCSO responded;
all parties talked to. No
crime committed.
-MCSO received a re-
port at Lakeview Heights
on Willow Creek Rd, Hep-
A View from the Hill
By Doris Brosnan
Leaves are falling but
the spirits among the resi-
dents at Willow Creek Ter-
race don’t seem to be. They
are taking the Covid-19
mandates in stride, and they
continue to enjoy activities
aimed at keeping spirits
lifted. One such occasion
started the new month off
just right: Marjorie Gorham
celebrated her birthday
on Saturday the 3 rd , and
some neighbors were still
bragging on her birthday
lunch choices two days later
which consisted of ribs, po-
tatoes, cottage cheese and
fruit and chocolate cake.
And daughter, Karen, was
able to come to her window
that day and enjoy a piece
of birthday cake with her.
Another early-month
notable celebration was
on the 4 th , the eighteenth
anniversary of the official
opening of Willow Creek
Terrace. It has served so
many area residents, and
expectations are that it will
continue to serve as long
as needed. As sometimes
happens, though, they had
to say goodbye recently to
Norma French, who relo-
cated to the Pioneer Memo-
rial Hospital facility.
A major focus this
month is Halloween, and
many residents have been
busy working on spooky
spirits. They have painted
hall decorations and recent-
ly completed their scare-
crow, which can be seen on
the Facebook page and is
guaranteed not to scare the
littlest ghosts and goblins
that will be trick or treat-
ing on Halloween. Though
those guests will not be able
to go inside the Terrace,
they will certainly be able
to help themselves to treats
at the front door, and they
are invited to show off
their costumes by parading
on the sidewalk that passes
the windows. Please, call
ahead 541-676-0004 so the
staff can give the residents
a heads up and time to get
by their windows.
A yearly October tradi-
tion at the Terrace is Fran-
kenstein Friday, which will
fall on the 30 th . That is the
day that “hidden treasures”
and “scary things” will ap-
pear on the tables for lunch
for residents brave enough
to give them a try. On any
other day, residents enjoy
unscary foods. They have
been fortunate to include
produce from their garden
this summer, beans, peas,
carrots and tomatoes, and
are so grateful to the many
area gardeners who have
brought bounties from their
yards. One surprise was the
celery, a new gift this year.
Residents appreciate
knowing that they are safe
and secure in the Terrace,
and since safety from fire
contributes to that knowl-
edge, surely, they will not
grumble next week when
they practice the evacuation
drill. This is Fire Prevention
Week, when all sprinklers
and alarms are tested and
the fire marshal will com-
plete an inspection of the
Terrace.
Besides the weekly ac-
tivities offered this month,
the residents can choose
to participate in the morn-
ing exercises and discus-
sions, always stimulating,
physically and mentally.
Among this month’s topics
are ketchup, pet peeves,
farmers and farming, silly
sayings, the Navy’s 244 th
birthday, “I Love Lucy”
(ran for six seasons), boss-
es, the Cadillac’s 118 th
birthday, gaudy clothes,
making a difference, moth-
ers-in-law, cranky co-work-
ers and knock-knock jokes.
Such a variety of serious
and not-so-much-so.
With Halloween still
over two weeks away,
seems unbelievable but is
a fact that the residents will
be invited on the 20 th to start
working on Thanksgiving
decorations. Included will
be a “thankful wreath” for
the dining room, and when
one considers how quickly
the calendar days seem
to be passing, starting in
October makes sense. This
writer expects that more
than one resident will in-
clude on that wreath his or
her view of life on the hill as
one reason to be thankful.
pner of 34 yo male possible
seizure. Patient refusal.
-MCSO received a re-
port on I 84 E, Boardman of
silver vehicle going faster
than 100 and swerving
around vehicles. Unable to
locate.
-MCSO received a re-
port at Irrigon Shell Station
on Hwy 730, Irrigon that RP
just saw subject driving a
gold Honda with a spoiler
headed south on Division.
Unable to locate.
-MCSO received a re-
port at SE Division St/SE
Idaho Ave, Irrigon that there
is a dark green GMC Envoy
that speeds and has music
up really loud. RP advised it
is an ongoing issue with this
vehicle. Unable to locate.
-MCSO received a re-
port on I 84 W, Boardman
of a single vehicle crash.
Vehicle ran off the road,
rollover, vehicle is on its
side. Bystanders advise
someone is inside coughing
and having trouble breath-
ing. Patient refusal.
August 9: Morrow
County Sheriff ’s Office
received a report at Board-
man Marina on Marine Dr
W, Boardman that a female
is yelling and screaming,
acting intoxicated.
-MCSO received a re-
port on Marshall Loop,
Boardman that sister-in-law
had assaulted her. No weap-
ons, female is intoxicated.
Parties were separated.
-MCSO received a re-
port on SE Utah Ave, Ir-
rigon that RP called and
phone was cutting out, un-
able to hear what he was
saying. Advised RP of that
and call was disconnected.
RP called back again and
was yelling that he now
had to yell for the whole
neighborhood to hear him
because we don’t like him.
RP was advised that his
phone was cutting out so
we only got part of what he
said. RP then advised that
the neighbor’s son has been
driving his vehicle around
everywhere. He does it be-
cause we are all morons and
don’t do any patrol.
DEADLINE:
MONDAYS
Continued on page eight...
AT 5PM
Lexington Burn Ban Lifted
The Fire Chief of the Town of Lexington
is announcing the burn ban
will be lifted
Thursday, October 15, 2020.
Please use screens
on burn barrels.
Please call the Morrow County Sheriff
Office prior to large burns.