TWO - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, May 5, 2021
The Official Newspaper
of the City of Heppner and the County of Morrow
Nichols resigns from health district
Heppner
GAZETTE-TIMES
U.S.P.S. 240-420
Morrow County’s Home-Owned Weekly Newspaper
SEARCH OLD COPIES OF THE HEPPNER GAZETTE-TIMES ON-LINE:
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Published weekly by Sykes Publishing and entered as periodical matter at the Post
Office at Heppner, Oregon under the Act of March 3, 1879. Periodical postage paid
at Heppner, Oregon. Office at 188 W. Willow Street. Telephone (541) 676-9228. Fax
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subscriptions.
David Sykes ..............................................................................................Publisher
Bobbi Gordon................................................................................................ Editor
Giselle Moses.........................................................................................Advertising
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Morrow County Health
District Board member
Carri Grieb told the Ga-
zette-Times Tuesday morn-
ing that long-time physi-
cian Dr. Russ Nichols has
resigned from the district.
“It is with regret that
we inform you Dr. Russ
Nichols has decided to de-
part Morrow County Health
District to pursue other op-
portunities. Dr. Nichols has
been serving patients of the
district for 10 years. We all
wish him well in his future
endeavors,” said John Mur-
ray, MCHD Board chair, via
Emily Reynolds Roberts,
M.Ed., certified compliance
and ethics manager for the
district.
The board had also re-
cently placed newly-hired
administrator Ryan Fowler
on administrative leave.
The district has not dis-
closed the reason. Previous
administrator, Bob Houser,
as colonoscopies. He also
served as chief of staff.
He and his wife, Toni,
had four children in the
Morrow County School
District, and both have
coached track for several
years. Toni Nichols is also
employed with the health
district as Pioneer Memo-
rial Clinic director.
The district recently
signed a contract with Dr.
Emily (Thompson) Jack,
who is from Heppner, but
she will not be on board
Dr. Russ Nichols
with the district until Sep-
retired in December after tember of 2022. Subse-
extending his contract un- quent to Jack’s employment
til a replacement could be agreement with the district,
hired. Fowler came to Hep-
pner from Reedsport where
he also served as hospital
administrator.
In addition to maintain-
ing regular office hours, Dr.
Nichols has provided hospi-
tal coverage and additional
services for MCHD such
the board also increased
the salaries of Nichols and
current physician, Dr. Dan
Hambleton.
In addition to Dr. Nich-
ols and Dr. Hambleton, the
district also employs Dr.
Betsy Anderson in Hep-
pner, physician’s assistants,
Danielle Mateleska, David
Collins, Katie Mencos,
Amanda Fabian and Jon
Watson, and nurse practi-
tioner Eileen McElligott in
three clinics, Pioneer Me-
morial Clinic in Heppner,
Irrigon Medical Clinic and
Ione Community Clinic, in
addition to Pioneer Memo-
rial Hospital, Heppner.
HHS drama club to
present Matilda
New 10-acre residential lot size
ordinance approved
Looks to address acute county-wide housing shortage
By David Sykes
In an effort to relieve a
county-wide housing short-
age and also provide resi-
dents with desirable smaller
building parcels, Morrow
County has approved a new
zoning ordinance allow-
ing for creation of smaller
10-acre parcels for sale as
residential properties. The
new ordinance is the result
of months of work by the
planning commission and
staff to come up with a way
that homeowners can have
access to smaller parcels on
which to build homes.
Restrictive state land
use laws generally prohibit
creation of these smaller
parcels in rural areas, so
the new county ordinance
is being watched closely
not only by state agen-
cies, but by land use watch
dog groups like the 1,000
friends of Oregon. Because
of this scrutiny, even with
the new ordinance County
Planner Tamra Mabbott
says it probably won’t be
easy for larger landowners
to break off pieces of their
property to create the new
smaller parcels.
Under the new ordi-
nance, which was passed
to “provide lands for ru-
ral living in a rural resi-
dential atmosphere,” one
single-family dwelling,
including mobile homes,
will be allowed for each
lot. Livestock such as cows,
horses, goats, sheep, hogs
and poultry will be allowed
but subject to certain densi-
ty rules. For instance, there
would be a limit of 10 cows,
horses or mules, 30 sheep or
goats, and four pigs per 10
acres. The ordinance states
that the main purpose of the
parcels shall be residential
and the raising of animals
“incidental” to its use.
Adoption of the new
ordinance was praised by
local organizations such
as the Ione Community
Agr-Business Organization,
who in a letter of support
for the new 10-acre lots,
said the need for housing
continues to be a major is-
sue. “For years, local busi-
nesses have lost valuable
employees and applicants
because there is no suitable
housing available. No hous-
ing means no growth and
we are unable to sustain not
only the way of life many
are accustomed to but the
services we are afforded
by having a stable econo-
my,” ICABO President Ed
Rollins said in a letter of
support for passage of the
new ordinance. Rollins also
pointed out the new small-
acre lots would provide
opportunity for youth to
participate in FFA and 4-H
animal projects and “teach
Re-Elect
them how to take care of
the land and to overall aid
those youth to become well
rounded individuals.”
The city of Heppner
also wrote a letter in support
of the new 10-acre parcels.
“I personally cannot count
the times that I have heard
individuals want this as a
choice when moving to this
area,” said City Manager
Kraig Cutsforth. “Allowing
this action will let more
marginal land become pro-
ductive and increase the
need for services and busi-
nesses in and around this
community.”
Marriage Licenses
The Morrow County
Clerk’s office has released
the following report of
marriage licenses:
April 1, 2021: - Jose
Mauricio Aguillon Mar-
tinez, 37, Boardman, and
Elbia Maria De La Lima
Claustro, 35, Boardman.
April 8, 2021: - Ruth
Marlene Estrada, 31,
Boardman, and Manuel
Antonio Aguillon Martinez,
39, Boardman.
April 15, 2021: - Maria
Guadalupe Navarrete, 33,
Irrigon, and Jorge Madrigal,
36, Irrigon.
- Erika Tlapanco Es-
trella, 26, Boardman, and
$ $ $ $ $ $ $
Jerry
$ $ $ $ $
HEALY
Port of Morrow Commissioner Position #3
$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
C ommunity S upporterS for the r e -e leCtion of J erry h ealy for
p ort of m orrow C ommiSSioner p oSition #3
Barb and Wayne Huwe
Cecil Rock
John Wenholz
Josh Coiner
Dave and Tricia Gunderson
Bill and Merilee McDowell
Angie and Keith Hanson
Doris Brosnan
Pat and John Edmundson
Kelwayne Haguewood
Butch Knowles
Steve Rhea
Greg and Sherrie Smith
Kim Cutsforth
Jon and Janelle Ellis
Steve Currin
Petra and Kevin Payne
Given the resistance
from the Oregon State Land
Conservation and Develop-
ment Commission, LCDC,
as well as 1,000 Friends of
Oregon, to the new ordi-
nance, Mabbott says while
the process to create 10-
acre parcels will not be
impossible, it will be “ro-
bust.” Application will be
made through the Morrow
County Planning Depart-
ment, and she recommend-
ed anyone considering it to
think about hiring a land use
professional to guide them
through the process.
Barb Orwick
Darcee and Slater Mitchell
Jason Hanna
Rick Johnston
Dean Kegler
Jill and Corey Miller
Randy Hughes
Sarah Matheny
John Bristow
Kevin Haguewood
Rob Crum
Duane and Linda Neiffer
Dick and Jannie Allen
Karen and Dustin Padberg
Jerry and Lisa Rietmann
Joel Peterson
Luis Felipe Lopez, 27,
Boardman.
April 20, 2021: - An-
drew Phillip Shoemaker,
58, Kennewick, WA, and
Donnetta Lynn James, 58,
Kennewick, WA.
April 27, 2021: - Israel
Villa Lopez, 46, Boardman,
and Maria Elena Landeros
Navarro, 46, Boardman.
April 29, 2021: - Mayra
Patricia Ruelas, 44, Board-
man, and Gerardo Mendieta
Lopez, 46, Boardman.
DEADLINE:
MONDAYS
AT 5PM
The cast of Matilda.
The Heppner High
School drama club will
present Matilda on May
19 and 20 at 7 p.m. in the
high school cafetorium.
Admission will be $3 per
person and masks are re-
quired. Seating is limited so
those interested in attending
should call or text 541-701-
7400 to reserve a seat.
Students participat-
ing in the production are
Hannah Palmer, Made-
lyn Nichols, Serena Hum-
phreys, Roen Waite, Madi-
son Palmer, Hannah Finch,
Piper Kelton, Rylee Palmer,
Jacob Finch, Nathan Ells-
worth, Daemon Worden,
Kelsi Workman, Sarah
Munkers, Teegan Kelton,
Harley Anderson and Ed
Ellsworth.
Madelyn Nichols as Miss
Honey.
Hannah Palmer as Matilda.
DA’s Report
Morrow County District Attorney Justin Nelson has
released the following report:
-Tyler Joe Stone was convicted of failure to appear
in the first degree- felony and sentenced to eight months
jail, two years’ post-prison supervision and a $400 fine
and fees assessment.
-Jason Leon Bowles was convicted of contempt of
court- violation of restraining order and sentenced to 45
days jail.
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