Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, March 10, 2021 -- SEVEN
Good News Only
By Doris Brosnan
Thank you, everyone
who has contributed to this
week’s column..
Jim and Monica Swan-
son are thrilled to report
that their grandson, Anson
Fairchild of Pendleton, son
of Matt and Adrienne, is
free of cancer after three
and a half years of che-
mo treatments. When only
two-years-old, Anson was
diagnosed with a form of
leukemia and began years
of monthly, sometimes
more often, treatments. So,
this recent diagnosis for this
positive young man with a
winning smile was a cause
for his family and friends to
celebrate and “ring the bell”
to announce his news.
Ray Grace reports
that he is “healing up very
well,” and his “rehab is
going well.”
After surgery in Pend-
leton and a weekend in
the hospital, Ann Murray
is home for recovery, al-
though convincing her not
to try to go to work on
Monday was a challenge.
Maybe it doesn’t get
much “gooder” than this.
Finally, able to relax, Jo-
Anne Burleson did sell her
house. Seems to support
two old adages – “Third
time’s a charm.” “Better
late than never.”
A Golden Anniversary
congratulations go to Loyal
and Betty Burns, who cele-
brated their 50 years togeth-
er on March 6, surrounded
by their families.
HHS 2018 graduate
Wyatt Steagall has reached
another step in his ca-
reer-path goal. As Wyatt
is working to complete his
journeyman electrician ap-
prenticeship in the BMCC
program, he has begun
work for Berg Electric in
Hanford, WA. Wyatt is
also serving in the Nation-
al Guard with a Redmond
unit, as a cavalry scout, not
on a horse, his grandmother
Bev reports.
2017 HHS graduate
Kane Sweeney will play
the part of Jamie in Or-
egon State University’s
theatre program’s film en-
titled “Ten Minutes at the
Townsend” The scenes
were written by current
OSU students and include
six 10-minute scenes. In
Kane’s scene, he meets his
brother in the Townsend
diner in 1987. The event
will be streamed on Friday,
March 19, at 7:30 p.m., on
KBVR YouTube channel
and is free to view.
Hunter Nichols’s expe-
riences at the NAIA Nation-
al Indoor Track and Field
Championships became
better and better each day.
Hunter placed 14 th in the
Thursday prelims for the
1000-meter race; he placed
8 th in the semis on Fri-
day, when he earned “All
American” status; and on
Saturday he placed 5 th in the
final race.
Last week, Mustangs
and Cardinals welcomed
busy starts to the newly
allowed season for football,
volleyball, and cross-coun-
try.
The numerous benefits
of physical exercise are
free to anyone who uses
the outdoor-fitness park
on Riverside by the pick-
leball courts. The equip-
ment offers fourteen types
of exercises, so a person
can choose any that will
target specific goals. And
since the stations are widely
spaced in the fresh air, use
can even be a social outing
with friends. (Run this by
the scientists, as I am only
assuming.)
Molly Rhea shares
that the Oregon Lions
Foundation performed a
vision screening at HES
last Wednesday, screening
“almost 165 kids, K-6 th
grade in about two hours.”
She reports that the proce-
dure “was different with
the C-19 rules but went
smoothly. The school gets
the results, and if a child
needs follow-up, the school
notifies the parent/guard-
ian.” And a Care Team is
available for follow-up with
a parent, if necessary. Such
a helpful yearly commit-
ment by the Lions.
Tomorrow, March 11,
Friends Helping Friends
will be placing memory
shamrocks on a wall in Two
Old Hags Pizza, on the ten-
nis-court fence, and on the
fence behind the stands at
the football field. Although
no organized walk/run will
be held this year, anyone
choosing to walk that route
will be able to see many
of the 600+ shamrocks,
offered since 2010, honor-
ing loved ones who have
died. Peggy Fishburne,
Patty Matheny, Janelle El-
lis, Susan Hisler, and Sandy
Matthews continue to serve
on the “Friends” committee
and recently have been
joined by Kathy Dickenson,
Kirsten Harrison, Mary
Haguewood and Shelley
McCabe. This year’s do-
nations by the group have
gone to Pioneer Memorial
Physical Therapy and Wil-
low Creek Terrace Assisted
Living.
Although we must wait
another year for a “Wee Bit
O’ Ireland” celebration in
Heppner, we can enjoy a
reminder of the area’s Irish
roots thanks to the return
of the lighted shamrocks.
Yes, some leprechauns have
made sure of that. Tate Gen-
try and Shaun Hisler, repre-
senting CBEC, mounted a
shamrock on the windmill
in Heritage Park; and Tony
Doherty, Greg Sweek, Su-
san Hisler, The Tarnaskys,
and Martha Doherty added
one to the Tarnaskys’ deck
and one at the front of the
courthouse.
The city’s street proj-
ects are beginning. Patience
Spiritually Speaking
will be rewarded when
drivers and pedestrians
experience pothole-free use
on Gale, Church, Center,
Chase, Willow and Jones
Streets. Projects will in-
clude paving, sidewalks,
and curbs. Also, on Main
Street, ODOT is planning
to revamp the ADA ramps.
Lisa Patton, of the
Neighborhood Center, has
announced that their ser-
vices have expanded, so
individuals in need of some
assistance can ask what is
available. Also available
at the center are volunteer
opportunities.
The Lexington town
council shared some good
news. They would like to
welcome back Janette El-
drige as the town recorder.
Janette previously filled
that position a couple years
ago and agreed to come
back.
Recently heard about
some job opportunities for
qualified individuals. Wil-
low Creek Terrace; Neigh-
borhood Center; School
bus drivers (even a sign-up
bonus). Contact those enti-
ties for information.
I promise to try not to
harass anyone for tidbits
for this column, except
for Kraig Cutsforth at City
Hall, so take a few min-
utes, if you wish, to jot
down your good news as
an email or call it in. (Just
a few ideas: new babies,
marriages, anniversaries,
new jobs, new businesses,
visitors, travels, vacations,
adventures, promotions and
successes, great pets, chil-
dren’s’ accomplishments.)
Anyone who has a tidbit
is invited to email it to
dbrosnan123@gmail.com
or to call 541-223-1490
(note that this is correct; last
week’s listing contained a
typo).
Hoping some good
news comes to everyone
reading this.
Dirksen optimistic about extended hours
Morrow County School
Superintendent Dirk Dirk-
sen was cautiously op-
timistic concerning ex-
panding school hours and
sports programs after spring
break while still adhering to
COVID-19 restrictions.
During the district’s
monthly meeting Monday
night via Zoom he said
that they were hoping to
move secondary education
(grades seven-12) to four
periods a day. He said that
82 kids are now at home
which is “now a manage-
able number.”
He said that the athlet-
ics programs were up and
running with all COVID-19
regulations in place and the
number of fans allowed
at the events may double
as the district moves from
yellow to green (categories
laid out by the state). He
noted the previous week
the district had only three
COVID-19 cases and the
week before, 19. Dirksen
added the district is pre-
pared for COVID-19 test-
ing at the schools.
“We’re looking to
increase volunteers,” he
said, however, “We’re not
looking to have volunteers
inside the buildings. We’re
really limited as to volun-
teers.”
The district has been
providing and delivering
sack lunches throughout the
pandemic, but after spring
break it will not be deliv-
ering lunches. However,
lunches will be available for
pickup at the schools.
In other business:
-the staff voted, as usu-
al, to commence school
next fall before Labor Day,
which is Monday, Septem-
ber 6. Nearly 70 percent
of district employees fa-
vored the pre-Labor Day
start, with school begin-
ning August 30 and ending
June 9. Over 30 percent
favored the post-Labor Day
start, with school beginning
September 7 and ending
June 16. Winter break for
both options is December
17-January 2; spring break
for either option is March
21-25.
-Dirksen reported bond
meetings will reconvene
starting in April with the
intent to put funding for
district construction and
remodels to the voters in
May of 2022.
-the board received
information from Beth
O’Hanlon from InterMoun-
tain ESD concerning the
district’s pension obligation
bonds and subsequently
passed a resolution con-
cerning the bonds.
-adopted new or re-
vised Administrative Rules
on enforcing attendance,
compulsory attendance no-
tices and citations, and
rescinded previous atten-
dance notices.
-received the following
revenue report: $29,090,427
in revenues; 2021 esti-
mated expenditures of
$29,116,576 for $26,149
in revenues under expen-
ditures; for a $3,397,953
beginning fund balance
and a $3,371,804 projected
ending fund balance.
-received the follow-
ing enrollment report for
March: A.C. Houghton El-
ementary, Irrigon-207; Sam
Boardman Elementary-336;
Heppner Elementary-171;
Irrigon Elementary-192;
Windy River Elementary,
Boardman-256; Heppner
Jr./Sr. High-145; Irrigon Jr./
Sr. High-365; Riverside Jr./
Sr. High School-466; Mor-
row Education Center, Irri-
gon-123; total-2,261. Most
of the schools lost students
over last year, however the
Morrow Education Center
gained 60.
Enrollment by com-
munity for March is as fol-
lows: Boardman, less 19 for
1,058, compared to 1,077
last year; Heppner, a loss
of 11, from 327 last year to
316 this year; Irrigon, a loss
of 38, from 802 last year to
764 this year; Morrow Ed-
ucation Center, a gain of 60
students from 63 in 2020 to
123 this year; district totals,
a loss of eight from 2,269
last year to 2,261 this year.
-approved the follow-
ing employment action:
resignations/non-renew-
als-Lindsey Hodges, HES
head cook; employment/
promotions/transfers-Justin
Fennern, HES head cook;
extra duty contracts-Cole
Ashby, RJSHS junior high
assistant boys’ basketball
coach, Viviana Colin-Tor-
res, RJSHS temporary as-
sistant girls’ soccer coach;
Alaina Lemmon, HJSHS
half-time assistant high
school track coach; Yvonne
Torres, RJSHS interim head
girls’ soccer coach; and
Hilaree Vanderpas, RJSHS
junior high assistant girls’
basketball coach.
-approved licensed
employment 2020/21 pro-
bationary teachers recom-
mended for extension for
2021/22 (Heppner listed
only): Tara Proudfoot, HES
fifth grade teacher, Mayme
Jill Miller, HJSHS/HES
counselor, Katelyn Adams,
HJSHS special education
teacher, Chelsea Matheny,
HES K-first grade teacher.
-heard the following
announcements: end of
third quarter-March 18;
spring break-March 22-26;
next board meeting, Mon-
day, April 12 at 7 p.m. at
Windy River Elementary,
Boardman.
From darkness to light
By Fr. Thankachan Joseph SDB, St. Patrick Church
We began the Lenten observances with the theme
“turn away from sin and turn towards God.” During the
second week, we reflected mostly on listening to the
Lord, to be transformed. On the third Sunday, we were
told that Lenten observances are a time to get rid of our
bodily passions, worldly pleasures, attachments etc. - we
reflected on “destroy and rebuild in Christ as a new be-
ing.” This fourth Sunday of Lent is always known as the
Laetare Sunday, a time for rejoicing. Rejoice in the Lord!
We rejoice because we have made it halfway through
Lent! John says that when the light of Christ came into
the world, some did not welcome it because their deeds
were evil, and they were afraid the light would expose
them. How do we respond to the light of Christ?
The second book of Chronicles, (36:14-16, 19-23),
reflects on the compassion and patience of the Lord
God. Because of their sins, God allowed His people to
be exiled to Babylon. The last chapter of 2 nd Chronicles
ends with a note of hope. The kingdom of Judah’s last
days, which follow the exile to Babylon, and the return
to Jerusalem are depicted in the reading. The reason for
the exile was that all the princes of Judah, the priests,
and the people added infidelity to infidelity, practicing
all sorts of abominations and polluting the Lord’s temple.
The Israelites did not obey the prophets, and everything
was destroyed. God sent them all into exile in Babylon
as servants to the king of the Chaldeans and their sons.
God never abandoned them but rather disciplined them
for a while to show them their powerlessness without His
hand in their lives. If we turn away from the Lord, He
will not abandon us. The people of Israel were redeemed
by the Persian King Cyrus; similarly, the Lord will never
abandon us. At the same time, He will let us go our own
way and use that opportunity to discipline us so that we
may come to the realization that we, too, are helpless
without His Divine Providence. The first reading of the
day invites all every believer to realize one’s own mistakes
and return to the Lord..
In St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians (2:4-10), God
discloses His immense love and gives us life. He is rich
in mercy in spite of our transgressions. When we are dead
through our sins by walking in the darkness of worldly
ways, He gives us life through Christ. Through His grace,
those who believe have been saved. St Paul stresses here
that salvation is totally God’s gift to us. God loves us
very much, and the season of lent is an examination of
ourselves to find out how much we love Him in return.
These days, science gives meaning and answers to many
burning issues and mysteries of the world, but to inherit
God and His love, we need the gift of the grace of God
and faith in Jesus Christ.
The Gospel of the day from St. John (3: 14-21) has
two parts. The first is with a prediction: “Just as Moses
lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of
Man be lifted up” (3:14). Jesus speaks of how salvation
comes through crucifixion; similarly, our fasting and
Lenten practices lead us to a new creation in Christ. In
the part of the conversation with Nicodemus in today’s
Gospel, Jesus refers to an incident reported in the Old
Testament: When the Israelites grumbled against the Lord
during their sojourn in the desert, God sent venomous
serpents to punish them for their complaints. The Israelites
repented and asked Moses to pray for them. The Lord
heard Moses’ prayer and instructed him to make a bronze
serpent and mount it on a pole. All who had been bitten
by a serpent and then looked upon the bronze serpent
were cured. By recalling this story, Jesus alludes to the
salvation that would be accomplished through his death
and Resurrection.
The second part of today’s Gospel is a theological
reflection, for which the Gospel of John is known, on
Jesus’s words to Nicodemus. John elaborates on a number
of themes that are found in his Gospel: light and darkness,
belief and unbelief, good and evil, salvation and condem-
nation. In John’s reflection, we find an observation about
human sinfulness. Jesus is the light that has come into the
world, but people prefer the darkness. We wish to keep
our sins hidden, even from God. The Gospel reflections
conclude with these words: “people have preferred dark-
ness to light because their deeds were evil. And indeed,
everyone who does wrong hates the light and avoids it.”
This pauses us for a short reflection: whose side are we
taking? Do we prefer light or darkness? During this fourth
week, the Lord is inviting every one of us to get rid of the
works of darkness and live as children of the day. I am
reminded of the words of St. Paul’s letter to the Romans:
“Let us conduct ourselves properly, as people who live in
the light of day – no orgies, or drunkenness, no immorality
or indecency, no fighting or jealousy” (Rom 13:13).
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