Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, January 27, 2021 -- THREE
Good News Only
~ Letters to the Editor ~
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at a cost of $10. Email to editor@rapidserve.net or upload to Heppner.net.
People need good news Neighborhood Watch
To the editor:
to be ‘good news’ coming
A doctor friend of mine forth from Lexington with seeks new members
cautioned me to share more
encouraging columns. I
agreed, however, I asked
him if he would want his
doctor to share the truth
about an ominous health
diagnoses or cover things
in a manner to soften the
blow. He responded people
are scared and they need
hope. He is right. What is
happening in America and
the world is confusing, dis-
couraging, and portentous.
People need some good
news.
Doris Brosnan has been
a breath of fresh air since
she and Dan returned to
Morrow County decades
ago. Her column “Good
News Only” is exactly what
eastern Oregon needs. Fr.
Thankachan Joseph has
been ministering to all faiths
and peoples of eastern Or-
egon and beyond with the
“Good News” of Jesus
Christ honestly, passion-
ately and true to scripture
for months. Father Joseph’s
ministry provides hope for
all with ears to hear. This
encouragement would not
be possible without a Hep-
pner Gazette-Times owner
with integrity and firm un-
derstanding of the need for
a free press for our republic
to survive.
Perhaps the most en-
couraging for discouraged
citizens that value the sanc-
tity of all life is the opening
of Birthright in Heppner
which hosted an open house
Sunday, Jan. 24 at 128
West Willow Street. Those
who are willing to fight
the Lord’s battles through
volunteering, prayer and
finances for Birthright will
bring a great blessing upon
their community. What an
opportunity to share the
‘good news’ through ways
and means to save precious
babies lives.
Another piece of good
news is the wolf committee
volunteers that meet month-
ly at the courthouse. This
committee is at the fore-
front of the battle to rid our
land and heritage of hybrid
wolves that our forefathers
had the sense to eliminate.
Finally, there continues
volunteers willing to make
their city great again.
Doc, you need to buy
a subscription to the Hep-
pner Gazette to lift your
spirit. Nevertheless, the
good news must be tem-
pered with truth or it has no
lasting virtue, especially at
an hour in America where
truth is controlled by those
that own the press, media
and the internet and all
other ‘news’ is censored.
Our forefathers would
call this tyranny. James
Madison, the father of the
Constitution warned, “The
accumulation of all pow-
er, legislative, executive
and judiciary, in the same
hands, whether of one, or
few or many, and whether
hereditary, self-appointed
or elective, may justly be
pronounced the very defini-
tion of tyranny.” (Federalist
47, 1788)
Things are happening
in America that need to be
exposed, because if they are
not confronted and opposed
our wonderful tidings of
good news will be censored
forever. The only power
left in America today that
protects our way of life
and liberty is the Second
Amendment, the right to
keep and bear arms in order
to safeguard our Constitu-
tion, our liberty, our way of
life and our property. The
ominous news that must not
be covered over is the Sec-
ond Amendment is under
an unprecedented fiercely
satanic attack by the global
Socialist/Communist gov-
ernment tyranny that now
rules our Republic.
The good news is our
God will bless those who
will not yield to this tyranny
and are willing to fight the
Lord’s battles. The good
news Heppner and eastern
Oregon, as documented in
this letter, is rising up and
will not be silenced. In clos-
ing, Sir Winston Churchill
in his greatest speech ever
after winning the Second
World War spoke only three
words and sat down, “Nev-
er Give Up.”
Stuart Dick, Irrigon
To the editor:
With the uptick of
criminal activity in our
sleepy community, I feel
a need to make everyone
aware of the Neighborhood
Watch Program in our town
and encourage citizens to
join. As of today, we have
15 active members, but that
isn’t near enough to cover
the need. People who live
in areas that don’t have a
member are encouraged
to join.
Anyone living with-
in eyesight of any of the
parks, including the pool,
the hill streets such as
Willow View, Rock South
Main and Chase are really
needed. If you can’t see a
Neighborhood Watch sign
on or next to your street
please join us. I am also en-
couraging anyone who has
a security camera to please
call the Sheriff’s Office or
me so we can have a list to
go to if something happens.
The non-emergency phone
number for the Sheriff’s
Office is 541-676-5317 and
you can also call me at 541-
676-9810.
We are looking for-
ward to welcoming new
members. You may not be
aware of how easy it is to
be a member. All we ask is
for everyone to keep an eye
on your neighborhood and
call the Sheriff’s Office if
you see something that just
isn’t normal. They don’t
mind taking your calls and
encourage you to do so,
but remind you to call the
non-emergency number.
Thanks to all of you
and please consider joining.
Glo Lesperance
Dollar General will
have negative impact
on Heppner
To the editor:
As you may have heard
there are plans to have a
Dollar General to replace
the Cornerstone and RV
Park. This has been con-
firmed by the owner of the
property and our Heppner
City Manager.
I am expressing my
concerns to all of the Hep-
pner residents because I
believe there will only be
negative impacts on our al-
ready established business-
es and the small community
we all love so much.
The predatory practice
that Dollar General estab-
lishes is to target failing
communities and Heppner
is not a failing community.
My concerns are as
such: 1) That Dollar Gen-
eral will take away jobs
from already established
Heppner businesses. Local
merchandise stores and
markets to Heppner em-
ployee around 14-15 em-
ployees while Dollar Gen-
eral hires 6-8 employees per
location. 2) Dollar General
is a corporation that will not
be providing any products
to Heppner that are not
already provided. 3) Dollar
General will not support the
local economy of Heppner,
such as donations to our
schools and community
events like our already es-
tablished businesses do. 4)
Heppner is our home with
a small-town charm. Dollar
General will take away our
small-town pride and char-
acter on Main Street.
If you share these con-
cerns that I have please
share this post and attend
the next city council meet-
ing February 8 at 7 p.m. so
all of our elected Heppner
officials can be made aware
of what the Dollar General
will take away from Hep-
pner. Help support me, as
well as these businesses,
that stand behind these
concerns: Murray’s Drug-
store, Sage Clothing, Two
Old Hags Pizza, Heppner
Auto Parts, Brannon’s Auto
Repair, Peterson’s Jewelry,
Breaking Grounds Coffee
and Breaking Bread Dis-
tribution.
Drew Brannon
Heppner
Town and Country COVID-19 vaccine
banquet postponed given in Heppner Fri.
Heppner Chamber of
Commerce Executive Di-
rector Lori Roach has an-
nounced that the annual
Town and Country Banquet
will be postponed indefi-
nitely, due to the COVID-19
pandemic.
The Chamber, how-
ever, is still taking nomi-
nations for man, woman,
business, teacher, student
and lifetime achievement
of the year.
Roach says that nom-
inations may sent to the
Chamber at P.O. Box 1232,
Heppner, OR 97836 or
emailed to heppnercham-
ber@gmail.com.
ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE:
MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M.
All groups in phase 1A, school
staff, 65 and up
All people in groups
phase 1A, school staff and
people 65 years and over
can get the COVID-19
vaccine this Friday at the
fairgrounds in Heppner
from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The shots will be given
on a drive through basis and
those coming should wear a
Hi! I’m Linda, your Morrow County Veterans Services representative, aka VSO-
Veterans Service Officer. As your local VA Advocate, accredited under Oregon
Department of Veterans Affairs, I’m here to assist you and your family access
benefits that you may be entitled to.
As an accredited advocate, I help veterans and their families understand their
benefits available through the VA and state. This
can include applying for VA Health Care, other
information related to veterans health care, vet-
erans disability income benefits, burial benefits
surviving spouse benefits and much more!
There is no charge for this service. VSOs have
your best interest in mind and will help you get
the benefits you deserve.
VSOs assist veterans and their families in many
ways, including:
•
Answering questions, advising, and
educating individuals and groups on
what benefits are available from
federal, state, county, and local
resources
•
Assisting eligible persons in filing the
necessary claims
•
Representing individuals and
presenting claims in VA hearings
•
Referrals to additional services
We’re here for you! Call today 541-922-6420
mask and stay in their car.
Times for age groups
are: 9-10:30 a.m., age 80
and up; 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.,
age 75 up; 12-2 p.m., age
70 up; 2-4 p.m., age 65 up.
Extended wait times could
occur. Paperwork can be
picked up in the offices in
advance.
The health department
tells people not to come if
they have a cough, fever,
shortness of breath, or loss
of taste or smell or any oth-
er illness, are in quarantine
for a COVID-19 exposure
or have had any other vac-
cination in the past 14 days.
By Doris Brosnan
This “Good News
Only” column will print
some good news from our
area for GT readers - as long
as individuals are willing
to share - because we all
appreciate opportunities
to smile over someone’s
“good news.” Anyone who
doesn’t get contacted by me
but has something to share
is encouraged to email it
to dbrosnan123@gmail.
com. A phone call will also
get the job accomplished:
676-5382.
The newly opened
Birthright volunteers were
pleased with the turnout for
their open house last week-
end. More people becoming
aware of their services,
including free pregnancy
tests, is good news. And
good news for some new
mothers are the free baby
clothes available on Mon-
days, 10-3 p.m.; Thursdays,
5-7 p.m. and Saturdays, 1-3
p.m.
Karen Temple reports
that the Heppner Christian
Church (541-676-9209)
also has babies in mind as
volunteers prepare baby
baskets for anyone in need.
“Another day is always
good news, and it is so
good to see people helping
people.”
Good news that “Aun-
tie Shari” (Ober) has shared
is that Braden and Amber
Britt are expecting their first
baby. Braden is the son of
Rick and Sally.
And Jon and Janelle
Ellis will be welcoming
their second child in March.
Baby Ellis will be joining
brother Cole, who will sure-
ly consider this good news.
Helping with the Ione
Booster Club’s funding of
the school’s various needs
is a long-standing com-
munity effort, and anyone
can contribute by adding
returnable bottles and cans
to a downtown receptacle.
Good news for the students,
having such strong support.
After using her garage for
storage of the bottles and
cans for thirteen years,
Betty Gray was willing to
hand that responsibility off
to other members and get
her garage back.
Some Heppner High
students think the recent
change in the approach to
in-class instruction is good
news, a small indication
of steps toward eventual
“normalcy.” For now, some
actual face-to-face instruc-
tion will slowly, gradually
be added to the more re-
strictive virtual instruction.
Good news for some
HJSHS students is be-
ing recognized by staff as
high-achieving scholars
during these challenging
times of virtual school-
ing. Their names and pic-
tures are featured online
at https://hhs.morrow.k12.
or.us/o/hhs/page/head-of-
the-herd-copy2
Of course, the recent
snowfalls are good news,
say several locals, including
George Nairns. “The snow
is important moisture, pret-
ty and a reason to appreciate
being warm inside while
enjoying its beauty.” And
Tyler at Les Schwab didn’t
complain when he had to
drive to work early in his
RZR on Monday because
of a treacherous street. Kay
Fowler reports that 10 mem-
bers of the cross-country ski
club thought the snow and
sunshine for their weekend
outing beyond Bull Prairie
were good news, too.
The weather doesn’t
affect pinochle-playing
for the Ione ladies whose
once-monthly play was
already going strong when
Lorene Montgomery moved
to Ione in 1969. She reports
as good news that even the
pandemic has not totally
curtailed the long-lived
group who are mask-wear-
ing, disinfectant washers of
hands, tables, chairs, chips
and cards. (Or usually new
decks are used.) They have
had to work around the
changing restrictions but
are determined to keep the
group going.
If good news tidbits
continue to come my way,
the column will continue to
appear. Reminder: dbros-
nan123@gmail.com. 541-
676-5382.
Hoping all eyes reading
this will have some good
news to share next time.
Top semester grades
announced
The Heppner Junior/
Senior High School has
released the names of the
students receiving the top
grades for the first semester
of the 2020-2021 school
year. To be on the list, stu-
dents must attain at least a
3.5 GPA.
Students with a 4.0
GPA: Seniors: Madison
Ashbeck, Roy Collins,
Alexis Cutsforth, Kimber
Kelton, Marlee Mitchell,
Madelyn Nichols, Han-
nah Palmer, Aimee Tur-
rell, Kennisyn Wilkins,
Jayden Wilson and Blake
Wolters. Juniors: Harley
Anderson, Hannah Finch,
Cody Fletcher, Serena
Humphreys, Lillian Imes
Raymond “Ray” Wil- and Blane Mahoney. Soph-
liam O’Neal – Raymond
“Ray” William O’Neal, 84,
of Heppner passed away p.m. Pastor Tim Van Cleave
Sunday, December 13, 2020 of the Assembly of God
in Prineville surrounded by Church will officiate.
To light a candle for
his family.
There will be celebra- Ray or to leave an online
tion of life held Saturday, condolence for the family,
January 30, 2021 at the Gil- please go to www.whisper-
liam-Bisbee Building (106 ingpinesfuneralhome.com.
E May Street-Heppner) at 1
Funerals
Walker McCoy Haak, son of
Amy Haak, enjoyed the snow
by building a snowman on
Main St.
omores: Tyler Boor, Samuel
Finch, Paul Lindsay, Trevor
Nichols, Madison Palm-
er and Daralynn Teeman.
Freshmen: Morgan Cuts-
forth, Caden George, Hunt-
er Houck, Irelynn Kollman
and Cameron Proudfoot.
Eighth grade: John Lindsay
and Katie Spivey. Seventh
grade: Elizabeth Finch,
Lilyanna Nichols, Rylee
Palmer and Loren Trujillo.
Students with at least a
3.5 GPA: Seniors: Jackson
Lehman, Mikel Jaca and
Sydney Wilson. Juniors:
Conor Brosnan, Julianna
Teeman, Blake Carter, Julie
Dyer, Brock Hisler, Kylie
Boor and Aubriana Rodri-
guez. Sophomores: Brook-
lynn Wilson, Dusty Rob-
inson, Camryn Scrivner,
Adan Guerra and Hailey
Wenberg. Freshmen: Piper
Kelton and Hadlie Nation.
Eighth grade: Sierra Gree-
nup, Cristal Manning and
Jackson Coiner. Seventh
grade: Sophie Rodriquez,
Sarah Munkers, Journey
Cavan-Harris, Owen Guer-
ra and Zaleta Masterson.