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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (May 26, 2021)
Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, May 26, 2021 -- THREE Good News Only ~ Letters to the Editor ~ The Heppner Gazette Times will print all letters to the Editor with the following criteria met: letters submitted to the newspaper will need to have the name of the sender along with a legible signature. We are also requesting that you provide your address and a phone number where you can be reached. The address and phone number will only be used for verification and will not be printed in the newspaper. Letters may not be libelous. The GT reserves the right to edit. The GT is not responsible for accuracy of statements made in letters. Any letters expressing thanks will be placed in the classifieds under “Card of Thanks” at a cost of $10. Email to editor@rapidserve.net or upload to Heppner.net. Put up or shut up Why does Mike Simp- son expect others to present alternatives to his $33 bil- lion plan to gut the econ- omy of the Pacific North- west? He claims, “We need to have honest conversa- tions?” So, let’s be honest. The science has already been proven and recorded as fact, fish and dams can successfully co-exist. As a matter of fact, the highest numbers of both salmon and steelhead ever record- ed returning to our rivers came during a ten-year pe- riod that began twenty-five years after the last dam was completed. From 1938 – 1947, approximately 1.9 million anadromous fish returned over Bonneville Dam, the only dam in the river system at that time. From 2000 – 2009, approximately 6.8 million salmon and steel- head returned to our river system, an increase of 358 percent. The last dam was completed on the Snake River in 1975. Proof posi- tive that fish and dams can, and do, co-exist. Simpson and his min- ions need to prove their scheme to breach our dams and destroy our economy, at such a great cost, will result in the return of even one more fish to our rivers. The burden of proof is on them alone, nobody else. If they cannot prove their case, they need to shut up and go home. Dick Sherwin Lewiston, ID Representing: Citizens for the Preservation of Fish and Dams Time to resume litter pickup in Heppner To the editor, As we move towards returning to normal as we move past the Covid virus, it is time to tidy up town in respect to the ODOT Adopt a Highway Litter Pick Up Program. Our residents and busi- nesses alongside the high- ways have been removing any litter from their high- way frontages. Our citizens are picking up our state highways through town as they go for healthy walks. Our cooperating organiza- tions: The Bank of Eastern Oregon, the Heppner Lions, and the Morrow County employees are doing the entries to town. These efforts make our community nice for our residents and our visitors. Thanks are extended to all. John Edmundson, Heppner A View from the Green Over the Tee Cup Karen Haguewood had Clement. Fairway shots low gross of the field at the for flight B went to Karen playday held May 18 at Haguewood. Kris Lindner took low the Willow Creek Country Club in Heppner. Judy Har- gross for flight C. Jean ris had low net of the field Creswick had low net and and least putts was split Lorene Montgomery had between Pat Edmundson the least putts. Sharon Har- rison had fairway shots for and Sharon Harrison. For flight B the low flight C. in tax revenue, $28,183 in other operating revenue for gross winner was Tiffany $1,255,633 in total operat- ing revenue; $1,346,069 in total operating expenses, $43,307 in a non-oper- ating gain, for a loss of $47,128 for the month and an average monthly gain of $176,766. Heppner student Jessi- -received the following Pioneer Memorial Hos- ca Kempken, 23, has been pital report for April: six accepted into the pharmacy inpatient admissions, four program at Oregon State swing bed admissions, eight University. Kemken has admissions for observation, lived in Heppner since she 621 total out-patients with was in the fourth grade and ER, 68 emergency room has worked at Murray’s encounters, 1,668 lab tests, Drug as a certified phar- 42 CT scans, two lower macy technician during the endoscopy procedures, one summers and holidays for upper endoscopy proce- the past three years. Jessica graduated at the dure, 31 respiratory therapy top of her class from Hep- procedures. -received the follow- pner High School in 2016, ing clinic reports: Pioneer receiving academic honors Memorial Clinic in Hep- and numerous scholarships. pner-391 patient visits, with She was a tri-sport athlete Jessica Kempken five new patients, 33 seen and served as team cap- by a nurse, 20 no-shows and tain in volleyball, basket- College of Pharmacy and 44 cancellations; Irrigon ball and softball. She also will be graduating in June Medical Clinic-422 patient held leadership positions with a bachelor’s of bio visits, 87 seen by a nurse in student government, health science degree. She and 29 no-shows; Ione National Honor Society will start the pharmacy Community Clinic-38 pa- and FBLA, before attending program this fall. Kemken intends to re- tient visits, one new patient, Blue Mountain Community College for two years. turn to Heppner after she 34 seen by a nurse. In 2018 Jessica was completes her doctorate. -received the following ambulance report: total accepted into the early ad- She is the daughter of Don- page-outs-22 Heppner, 39, mission program at OSU na Sherman. for $27,401 in revenue; Boardman, 37, for $30,004 in revenue; Irrigon, for $33,930 in revenue; Ione, with seven life flights. The Highview (Ione Cemetery) is having irrigation -received the following Home Health report: 157 issues and the cemetery is currently pretty dry looking. patient visits; received the Staff would like to apologize for its appearance and plans following Hospice report: to have the irrigation working again soon. The meeting scheduled for June 2 has been resched- no new admissions, one death; received the follow- uled to June 21. ing Pharmacy report: 3,170 drug doses for $110,249 in drug revenue. HEALTH DISTRICT -Continued from PAGE ONE City Council, suggested the district make an effort to get the news out to staff before it appears in the pa- per. No action was taken on the suggestion to move the meeting date. Also at the meeting, the board appointed Diane Kilkenny, nurse and former director for the Morrow County Health Department, to the board. In other business, the board: -directed staff to per- form a feasibility study for increased service in the northwest area of the coun- ty, not to exceed $30,000. -held executive ses- sions concerning three is- sues: trade negotiations, submission of confidential information to the board and to consider the employ- ment of a public officer, employee, staff member or individual agent.” -received a report from Chief Nursing Officer Kath- leen Greenup, who noted they were “currently fully staffed.” -approved a contract extension for Amanda Fa- bian, PA-C. -passed resolutions to authorize the county trea- surer to invest funds and to authorize individuals to sign checks and vouchers. -approved the “Cus- tom Learning Program” for rural hospitals, not to exceed $76,000. “This is a really good plan,” noted VanderDoes. -approved three items for surplus. -received the following financial report for April: the district had $1,193,166 in revenue, $151,176 in rev- enue deductions, $185,460 Kempken accepted into pharmacy program Cemetery having irrigation problems Lexington Burn Ban The Fire Chief of the Town of Lexington is imposing a closed season for open burning effective Monday, June 1, 2021 until further notice. The burning ban is for the Town of Lexington and includes all burn barrels and open burning. Effective June 1, 2021, the Fire Chief of the City of Heppner is imposing a BURN BAN. This also includes Burn Barrels. Residents can request Natural Vegetation and Debris Piles be burned by the Fire Department during this period. Sign up list for Fire Department burning assistance is at Heppner City Hall or call Fire Chief Steve Rhea @ 541-980-4232 or Assistant Fire Chief Eric Chick @ 541-701-4910 By Doris Brosnan The rains have cer- tainly been good news, hopefully in time to make a positive difference for the various crops. A thank you and con- gratulations to the indi- viduals elected last week to the various boards in the county. Now come the responsibilities entrusted to them. The voters in Ione continued support of their school by passing the gen- eral obligation bond. Congratulations to Ione’s two Crystal Apple Award recipients acknowl- edged on the 10 th . JoAnna Lamb and Mary Rosenberg were chosen for the extra efforts they make in their services to the school’s stu- dents. The award is spon- sored by the Intermountain Education Service District. Congratulations to the HHS drama students and Alaina Lemmon, director, who delighted their audi- ences with an entertaining production of Matilda on the May 19 and 20. Ione School’s eleven seniors enjoyed a luncheon on the 19 th , welcomed by their Topic Club hosts. On the 15 th , several high school students en- joyed another sign that social life is getting back to normal, thanks to par- ents eager to help this hap- pen. The Heppner students danced away the evening at the prom held in the trans- formed Elks lodge. Ione students enjoyed a prom with a spectacular touch where they danced away the evening under the stars, in the park, which featured a decorated dance floor on the stage. The new season of high school and junior high sports began last week as the previous season wrapped up. Heppner/Ione’s spec- tacular high school baseball season ended in a win in the consolation round of state playoffs last weekend. This as HHS’s track-team members who had placed for 2A state competition ran and threw in Union, and the Ione School team members who had placed for 1A state competition did the same in La Grande on Saturday. This happened on the day after the first basket- ball games on Friday (both towns’ girls and boys were successful). Now every- one, including junior-high athletes, have moved on to a short season of what has traditionally been winter sports. Hunter Nichols, who runs track at EOU, left on Sunday with teammates who were heading for Gulf Shores, Alabama, for the National Outdoor Track competitions. Hunter will be running the 800-meter tomorrow. (He attended the national indoor competition last winter.) Good luck, Hunter. Some other signs of some returning normality are the events now planned for the near future: Hep- pner’s Farmers’ Market return, June 17; the Town and Country Banquet and Awards event return on June 17 (tickets available at the Heppner Chamber office, Murray’s, BEO); Music in the Park return- ing once a month in July, August and September; and expectations of a fair and rodeo return in August. Watch for coming details. Another Red Cross blood drive was scheduled by the HHS Honor Society for today at the St. Patrick Church parish hall, so if you are reading this early enough, you might have time to go donate. Yes, Meredith Thom- son Walters returned to Heppner almost a year ago, after having spent some time in California with a son’s family, and says she is happy to be back in the house that was always home. She suspects that one reason many people have not realized she had returned was because they had not recognized her when she waved. Hard to realize who is behind that face mask. Meredith’s son Aaron has been experienc- ing Heppner, too, since he has been able to do his work remotely while staying with her, and he has been busy beautifying the yard and helping her make some changes inside before he returns to his home. Betty Gray’s youngest son, Les Mathews, came from Phoenix to celebrate his 53 rd birthday, which was on the 17 th , and to stay for a four-day visit. Les joined Betty and his two siblings, who came to share the mo- ment, the first time in many months being able to get together. Lorene Montgomery reports that her son-in-law Mike Prater (married to her daughter Cathy) will be inducted into the Idaho Rodeo Hall of Fame on Lo- rene’s birthday, October 15. Mike, retired from his oil business in Nampa, was a well-known bull rider who rodeoed when Paul Hisler did, Lorene says. Ever wonder if what you think is true of our ar- ea’s population numbers is truly true? I did. According to or.gov, the 2020 Census lists Heppner residents at 1295, Ione with 330, and Lexington with 265. This means all communities have gained new residents since the 2010 numbers listed: Heppner 1291, Ione 329, and Lexington 238. (Look at you, Lexington.) Ione’s city-wide clean- up was noted before. Hep- pner residents are getting a cleanup assist and encour- agement from the welcome mat at the city’s site on Riverside that will be open through June 1 for yard debris and for discards that can go into the large dump- ster-trailer on site. Good news is always welcomed news, so please share your tidbits by send- ing them to dbrosnan123@ gmail.com, or calling 541- 676-5382 or 541-223-1490 or stopping me on the street. Here’s hoping that some good news comes to everyone reading this. IONE RURAL FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT BURN BAN EFFECTIVE JUNE 1, 2021 UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
