TWO - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, June 23, 2021
The Official Newspaper
of the City of Heppner and the County of Morrow
Heppner
GAZETTE-TIMES
Heppner boys chosen to play in
Oregon’s East-West Shrine game
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
(541) 676-9211. E-mail: editor@rapidserve.net or david@rapidserve.net. Web site:
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subscriptions.
David Sykes ..............................................................................................Publisher
Bobbi Gordon................................................................................................ Editor
Giselle Moses.........................................................................................Advertising
Jayden Wilson
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ETHICS
Jackson Lehman
-Continued from PAGE ONE
warehousing,” Stokoe said
as the reason for the vio-
lations.
However, according
to the Ethics Commission
report on one of those
occasions, investigators
found Port members had
discussed a topic not al-
lowed at all in any execu-
tive session. Quoting from
the report: “In the March
26 th executive session, the
Board also discussed the
Port of Morrow’s newly
adopted sick leave payout
policy. This matter was not
authorized for discussion in
an executive session, and
such a discussion should
have taken place in the
public session portion of
the meeting,” it concluded.
Speaking for all the
port commissioners, Stokoe
told the Gazette, “Each Port
Commissioner has taken
the violation seriously and
has already taken steps to
guarantee topics discussed
during executive sessions
are properly communi-
cated for public meetings
under ORS public meetings
law.” However, he did not
respond when asked to
identify those corrective
steps. Stokoe also did not
reply when asked if the Port
would do an internal review
of other executive sessions
not covered by this state au-
dit, for possible additional
instances of unauthorized
discussions.
It appears from dates on
the ethics report, investiga-
tor Susan Myers had com-
pleted her probe by March
23, 2021, and submitted her
final report to Executive
Director Ronald Bersin for
approval that same day.
Bersin signed off and sent
it on to Assistant Attorney
General Joshua Nasbe, who
reviewed and also signed
off on the report March 23,
2021. Stokoe and commis-
sioner Marv Padberg signed
their final stipulation docu-
ments detailing the results
of the investigation on May
20, Joe Taylor on May 24,
Jerry Healy May 13 and
John Murray on May 22.
Propheter retires
from Bank of
Eastern Oregon
Bank of Eastern Ore-
gon EVP, Gary Propheter,
recently retired from Bank
of Eastern Oregon, after
a nearly 50-year career in
banking. Propheter joined
the bank in September
2006, as EVP and Chief
Operations Office, accord-
ing to Jeff Bailey, president,
and CEO of Bank of East-
ern Oregon.
“Gary has been instru-
mental in the growth of our
bank from 11 branches and
one loan production office,
in 2006, to our current
structure of 20 branches and
five loan offices in three dif-
ferent states. Gary has made
sure that we have remained
up to date on technological
resources, not only for our
customers, but also for our
employees,” said Bailey.
“It has been particular-
ly rewarding to spend the
final chapter of my banking
career with a truly com-
munity-based bank. The
culture that our employees
Jackson Lehman (left), #15, and Jayden Wilson (center), #13, helped lead the Mustangs to the
win as they defeated the Stanfield Tigers 46-0 in the second game of the season. -File Photo.
Gary Propheter
have created and their sup-
port of the local communi-
ties where we do business
has been a highlight of my
career. I have truly enjoyed
my time with the bank and
look forward to watching its
continued success for years
to come,” said Propheter.
“The employees and
directors of the bank thank
Gary for his years of ser-
vice and wish him health
and happiness in his retire-
ment,” concluded Bailey.
Jayden Wilson and
Jackson Lehman, Heppner,
have been selected to play
on the East team in the 2021
East-West Shrine game.
Oregon’s 69 th annual game
will be played August 7 in
Baker City. Pre-game pag-
eantry will begin at 6 p.m.
with the game kicking off at
7 p.m. They were the only
two local players invited to
play in the game this year.
The East and West teams
each have 22 players and
there were no alternates
chosen.
Lehman, wide receiv-
Good News Only
By Doris Brosnan
The return of the Town
and Country evening was
welcomed last Thursday,
partly as a sign that our
community’s social life is
returning and partly as the
long-overdue honoring of
outstanding citizens who
go beyond expectations in
their work to keep our com-
munity such a great place to
live. Congratulations and
thanks to the recognized
citizens.
Even further easing
of pandemic restrictions
in Oregon seem to be just
around the corner, if only
about three-plus percent
more people get vaccinated
to provide herd immunity to
Covid. That will result in
the lifting of all remaining
restrictions.
We can keep visualiz-
ing the wonderful streets
and sidewalks that will
beautify Heppner and end
the restricted accesses we
are now coping with. No
more potholes, cracks, and
uneven surfaces will be
great for drivers and walk-
ers on Gale Street and parts
of Church, Center, Willow
and Jones Streets and Wil-
low View Drive (up Water
Street). Patience will be
rewarded.
The weather was
toasty, so shade and air
conditioning or drives to
the mountains were key
ingredients for family cele-
brations of fathers on Sun-
day. (Where would we be
without them?.) That day
also marked the longest
day of the year and the of-
ficial beginning of summer.
(Now daylight hours will
shorten.)
The weather on the
coast was cool but “okay”
for Greg and Janet Greenup
last week. Another major
difference between there
and here was a pleasant
surprise; the winds were far
calmer there..
Outstanding athletes
are receiving recognition
as high school sports draw
to conclusions. HHS bas-
ketball teams continued
in competitions on Mon-
day…..; Hayden Hyatt and
Jackson Lehman, who are
on the Oregon All-Star
baseball team, played on
Tuesday, just the day after
Jackson played with his
basketball team; Jayden
Wilson and Jackson Leh-
man will play in the Shrine
football game; Jace Coe
and Brian Collins will be
competing at the state level
in wrestling this weekend.
Congratulations all.
Skyler and Seth Palmer
recently shared exciting
news with parents, Larry
and Tina Palmer: Both be-
came engaged on the same
weekend, Seth on Friday
and Skyler on Saturday,
May 21 and May 22. Skyler
will be marrying Aloura Ty-
ler on August 10 in Manti,
UT. Seth plans to marry
Hallie Waite on October 16
in Star Valley, WY.
In time to replace her
heat wave in Vernal, UT,
with ours, Janet Keithley
Kloeppel, is visiting family
and friends through the end
of June. Janet is a sister
to Vern Keithley, Sharon
Harrison and Trish Swee-
ney – the sibling everyone
forgets, jokingly says her
daughter Tina Palmer.
Remember: The
Farmers’ Market is back
on Thursdays in the Main
Street Park.
Thanks to individu-
als who don’t just read
about others’ good news
but also share theirs. If you
take time to submit yours,
you will be adding to all
our readers’ pleasure. So,
please, send your tidbits to
dbrosnan123@gmail.com,
or call 541-676-5382 or
541-223-1490 or stop me
on the street.
Here’s hoping that
some good news comes to
everyone reading this.
er/outside linebacker and
Wilson, quarterback/defen-
sive back for the Mustangs
helped take the team to
a 5-0 record during the
COVID season. Wilson
will play college football
at Linfield University and
Lehman will play at Eastern
Oregon University.
Though the West won
the last game 43-10 in 2019,
the East leads the series
33-31-3.
According to Shriners
International, the game is
the largest fundraiser in
Oregon for the Shriners
Hospital and is considered
the second-largest athletic
moneymaker for Shriners
Hospitals in North America.
Boardman solar
farm seeks
extension of
building permit
By David Sykes
Developers of a new so-
lar energy facility planned
on 798 acres west of Board-
man along interstate 84
adjacent to the Gilliam
County line, are asking
for more time to build the
facility, the state energy
licensing department has
announced.
Under its original per-
mit from the Oregon De-
partment of Energy, Board-
man Solar Energy LLC, a
subsidiary of Invenergy,
was supposed to start con-
struction on the new 30
module, 75 megawatt farm
by Feb. 23, 2021, and have
it completed by Feb. 23,
2024.
The developer is now
asking for a three-year ex-
tension on its construction
permit, making Feb. 23,
2024, as the date it must
start building, with a com-
pletion date no later than
2027.
The solar panels are all
to be located in Morrow
County with a new trans-
mission line to take the
power to the grid located
within Gilliam County.
To understand the size
of the new 75-megawatt
facility, according to the
Solar Energy Industries As-
soc., it could supply 12,300
homes with power. The
Association calculates that
on average one megawatt
of solar power generates
enough electricity to meet
the needs of 164 homes.
Heppner American
Legion closes down
The Heppner American
Legion Post 87, of Heppner
has announced that has
closed down due to lack of
participation. “Due to the
increased age of members
and the lack of younger vet-
erans joining, the post was
closed June 1, 2021,” Mike
Sweek told the Gazette.
According to Sweek,
all memberships were
transferred to the Ione
American Legion Post 95
effective June 1. Members
may choose to join the
Ione post or another post if
they prefer. All correspon-
dence will now be with Ione
American Legion Post 95,
PO Box 304, Ione, OR.
Justice Court Report
Morrow County Justice of the Peace, Glen Diehl, has
released the following Justice Court report:
-Michael D Lynch, 61, Heppner, was convicted of
driving while suspended, fine $440; driving uninsured,
fine $265; and fail to renew registration, fine $115.
-Michael M Hams, 55, Heppner, was convicted of
passing in a no passing zone, fine $265.
“To know the rose
is to know God.
To know the faded rose
will bud again
is to know eternity.”
- BW Douglas
Corleen Elda Overby Coe
1918-2021
Thankful for 102 years...
Daughters: Claudia (Merlin) Hughes & Kathleen (Gary) Bell
Grandchildren, Great-Grandchildren & Great-Great-Grandson
-Service-
11:30, July 2, 2021 at Milton-Freewater Cemetery