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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (June 16, 2021)
Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, June 16, 2021 -- THREE ~ 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. Managers or leaders? To the editor, I am writing in re- sponse to the article, Health District problems aired in front of packed board meet- ing, dated Wednesday, May 26, 2021. After reading the article, I have to wonder, as I am sure many have already, if the MCHD is guided more by managers rather than leaders. So let me start by dis- tinguishing between the two. Managers are primar- ily concerned with con- trolling a group to accom- plish goals. In an article from Forbes Magazine enti- tled, Management vs Lead- ership: Five Ways They Are Different, writer Liz Ryan correctly asserts, “…Man- agement is task-based and mechanical… Management veterans were taught how to assign work to subordi- nates, how to evaluate their teammates’ work,.. and how to hire and fire staff mem- bers…” The writers of The Leadership Challenge, Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner say this about leadership. “[It is] the art of mobilizing others to want to struggle for shared aspirations.” Leaders influence, moti- vate and enable others to contribute toward organi- zational success. -First, transformative and servant leaders model the way people are treated and the way goals are ac- complished. -Second, leaders in- spire a shared vision of the future and create an ideal and unique image of what the organization can become. -Third, leaders chal- lenge the process and seek innovative ways to not only improve the organizations but set goals so that people can achieve small wins as they work toward larger objectives. -Fourth, leaders enable and involve others with the goal of making each person feel capable and powerful. -Finally, leaders rec- ognize the contributions of others, celebrate accom- plishments and keep hope and determination alive. There is an enormous dif- ference between managers and leaders. The community needs to decide what future they desire from the Health Dis- trict. There are many good people employed there but based on the article and the history of fear that prevails over the organization, and the heavy hand of disci- pline, the people of the community need to decide, first, do we have managers or leaders. Both are clearly needed. Second, if change is needed, then you as a resident and stakeholder in this community need to speak up. Finally, if change is needed, then demand change. The MCHD can hire a consultant to help with leadership issues so that there is accountability from them to you. Demand it. Overall, you want to trust those who are in ‘lead- ership’ positions. There is a great deal at stake and if change is needed, perhaps trust from the community can be won back. Dr. Carmelo A. Di Salvo Don’t forget Dad! Father’s Day is Sunday, June 20 We have Hallmark Cards, Gifts, Wine & Spirits to help you remind Dad how great he is! We are open Sunday 9-2 217 North Main St., Heppner, OR Phone 676-9158 Floral 676-9426 murraysdrug.com Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-6pm Sat 8am-6pm • Sun 9am-2pm Pharmacy- Mon-Fri 9am-6pm BEWARE June 16th! Happy Birthday Seth! LEXINGTON RESOLUTION -Continued from PAGE ONE of the new flooring planned for the town hall. The town received a Willow Creek Valley Economic Devel- opment grant to carpet and paint the town hall. Lamb also suggested that maybe the town should look at pur- chasing a second well pump to have on hand in case the pump goes out and would get the town in water. He also asked for volunteers to check on the well when he is gone on vacation. He said the town has about two days of water in the tank. Councilmembers Bill Beard and Will Lemmon said they would be willing to volun- teer to check on the well. Resolution declar- ing an economic, mental health, crisis due to the current COVID-related state emergency declara- tion and relating OSHA mandates and guidance. WHEREAS, the Or- egon Governor’s Execu- tive Order 20-03: Declara- tion of Emergency due to COVID-19, and all subse- quent and related OSHA guidance, and present and future executive order ex- tensions of such are ar- bitrary, ineffective, and draconian; and WHEREAS, we as a municipality have no legal ability to summarily flout these mandates, guidelines and enforcement by OSHA, and therefore cannot protect any local business from State-directed targeting, repercussions and penal- ties if such local business personally chooses to; and WHEREAS, we also recognize that neither city, county nor state govern- ment has the legal right to flout the Oregon State Constitution or the United States Constitution; and WHEREAS, we do be- lieve our citizens are fully capable of making their private, individual health- care and lifestyle decisions themselves; and WHEREAS, we rec- ognize that COVID-19 is indeed a contagious virus and contagious viruses do exist in the world; and WHEREAS, science has shown over the last year that COVID-19 is over- whelmingly survivable, and lockdowns do not stop its spread; and WHEREAS, all models and projections used to jus- tify initial state emergency mandates have been proven inaccurate over the past year; and WHEREAS, our local hospital and health care sys- tem are not overwhelmed with COVID cases, and never have been; and WHEREAS, Town of Lexington is obligated to adopt regulations designed to promote the public safety and general welfare of its citizenry; and WHEREAS, a major- ity of our local businesses directly attribute state lock- downs and OSHA guide- lines as solely responsible for their inability to earn a living or pursue other rights as outlined in our State and U.S. Constitutions, and therefore we believe their property is being unconsti- tutionally seized by govern- ment without due compen- sation under the auspices of inappropriately weaponized State agencies; and WHEREAS, too many businesses in the Town of Lexington are on the brink of permanent closure, creat- ing a fiscal emergency and a devastated local economy; and WHEREAS, too many businesses in the Town of Lexington have already closed their doors perma- nently as a result of the Governor’s emergency dec- laration; and WHEREAS, the Gov- ernor ’s lockdown and masking mandates are ac- tively creating division and unrest with the increased potential of physical vio- lence within our communi- ty as those of one opinion are encouraged by it to im- pose their opinions over the free will of those of another in a physical way, and we are obligated to address and prevent crime; and WHEREAS, the Gov- ernor’s mandates result in pitting local law enforce- ment against law-abiding citizens rather than crim- inals, which damages our community’s strong rela- tionship with our valued local law enforcement, and which is a dynamic no com- munity should tolerate; and WHEREAS, deliberate isolation of the ill in hos- pitals or the elderly left to die alone of that isolation is the cruelest of abuses and is not to be accepted in any civilized society; and WHEREAS, it is a violation of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution for a government to limit how our churches and citizens choose to practice their religious freedoms, which are crucial to mental health; and WHEREAS, social dis- tancing and prolonged iso- lation are proven to create a number of mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, sometimes pushing individuals over the edge toward suicide as a last resort; and WHEREAS, that same social distancing and pro- longed isolation, combined with unemployment and other stressors, are increas- ing cases of domestic abuse and violence; and WHEREAS, we be- lieve in the kindness, com- passion, and common sense of our citizens and busi- nesses to help protect the most fragile and susceptible in our community; and WHEREAS, fear is a tool of untruth, manipula- tion, and control - charac- teristics all of which do not reflect the values of our citizenry; and finally WHEREAS, we are mindful of the sentiments of our founding fathers such as Patrick Henry who said, “Give me liberty or give me death;” and Samuel Adams who said, “Our un- alterable resolution should be to be free;” and Thomas Jefferson who said, “The spirit of resistance to gov- ernment is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it to be always kept alive,” and, “What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance?”; and finally, John Adams, “But a consti- tution of government once changed from freedom can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever.” NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that we declare an economic, mental health, and crime crisis due to the current COVID-related State Emer- gency Declaration and re- lated OSHA mandates and guidance, as a means of loudly and symbolically supporting our citizenry; and BE IT RESOLVED, the Town will communicate in writing with the Governor’s Office to encourage the full opening of our Town and county, recategorization to low-population status, or suggesting other means necessary to give our citi- zens relief from these man- dates; and BE IT RESOLVED, the Town will support upcom- ing legislation, dependent upon its straightforward and unharmful wording, which provides reparations to business owners who have had their businesses and income taken without compensation; and BE IT RESOLVED, the Town will support future statewide ballot initiatives that limit the duration and extent of Governor’s emer- gency powers, which may create similar lockdown scenarios during future emergencies, natural disas- ters, and pandemics; and BE IT RESOLVED, the Town will share this reso- lution with other Oregon cities, counties, and media outlets in the hope those en- tities will also speak more loudly; and BE IT RESOLVED the Town recognizes the citizenry of the Town of Lexington are free, sover- eign individuals within a Constitutional, Representa- tive Republic, not subjects or slaves, and will be recog- nized as such as we firmly stand to represent them. BE IT RESOLVED the Town recognizes the citizenry of the Town of Lexington are free, sover- eign individuals within a Constitutional, Representa- tive Republic, not subjects or slaves, and will be recog- nized as such as we firmly stand to represent them. Signed by four coun- cilmembers and the mayor of Lexington. Do You Have Something to Share? Our newly updated website makes it easy to: •Submit news •Submit birth, engagement and wedding announcements •Send us photos •Submit letters to the editor •Place ads •Start a new subscription www.heppner.net Weekly deadline for all news and advertising is Monday at 5pm. 188 W Willow, Heppner • 541-676-9228 Vacation Bible School Ione Community Church June 21st-24th 12:00pm to 3:30pm ages 5-12 Pre-register by contacting Gus Peterson at (509)438-5795 or augustofarmer@gmail.com YARD SALES! Walk and Shop West Center Street Several homes, wide variety Indoor & Outdoor treasures and useful items! Come Saturday, June 26 from 9 to 5 and bring a friend back on Sunday! The Perfect Lot First. You’ve found the Perfect Lot for your Future Home. INQUIRE AT YOUR LOCAL BRANCH OR CALL 541- 676-9884 HEPPNER IONE 541- 676-9125 541- 422-7466 Our Experienced, Local Team can help you purchase your Perfect Lot. Later, ask us about a Construction Loan! NMLS #414459 RATES & TERMS MAY VARY. ALL LOANS SUBJECT TO CREDIT APPROVAL. Member FDIC
