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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (July 7, 2021)
FOUR - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, July 7, 2021 Spiritually Speaking We are called to walk with Him By Fr. Thankachan Joseph The readings this week invite us to reflect on the following: how God chooses people for particular missions within the Church and how God chooses all of us who believe to give witness to Fr. Thankachan Him. Far too often we have no sense of Joseph being called or a sense that God might be asking something of us. But God calls each one of us and invites us to follow Him and to proclaim His message to others. Are we able to recognize the invitation of the Lord to be with Him and learn from Him? Do we see and acknowledge the prophets of our own time? Today’s readings call us to open our hearts and our minds to the presence of God in others. From the prophet Amos (7:12-15) we understand that he was a poor shepherd. Amos is a prophet of social jus- tice who was called from his farm by God and sent to do a prophet’s job. He knew that he was not a professional, yet God chose him. And what was his work? What did he preach? Amos preached to the people in the Northern Kingdom of Israel in the 8 th century BC. Though a rich and prosperous nation under Jeroboam II (783-743 BC), Israel’s social inequality was rampant, especially where the rich freely exploited the poor. Moreover, in those days, religion was a liturgical show business. Armed with God’s command, Amos condemned all sorts of corruption, including greed, corrupt city life, social injustice, and false religious displays. Now we understand why Amaziah, the professional priest of Bethel, who was only interested in amassing wealth, wanted to chase Amos away to the southern kingdom, Judah. Though eventually expelled from Israel, Amos did not stop speaking in the name of God against injustice. He remained faithful to his call and mission. Most of us have no sense of being called. We are very much like Amos, going about our own business and doing what we have to do to earn our living and get along in life. But by our baptisms, each of us is called to take up this threefold role as priest, king, and prophet. We are called to be priests because we are called to intercede for others. We are called to be kings because we are called to serve others. We are called to be prophets because the word of God must be proclaimed by us. St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians (1:3-14), originally a liturgical hymn, highlights God’s plan of uniting all things in Himself. He has made known to us the mystery of His will in accord with His favor that He set forth in Christ as “a plan for the fullness of time, to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth” (Ephesians 1: 8-9). God invites everyone to participate in it. St. Paul encourages us to live up to that expectation. In other words, our lives and actions should move in the direction of God’s intention because “we are sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, which is the first installment of our inheritance towards redemption as God’s possession” (Ephesians 1: 14). In the Gospel of Mark, 6:7-13, the disciples are called, they are the chosen ones. Jesus sends out the twelve on a long and difficult mission. But He tells them they are to take no bag. Now, what sense does that make? Well, it would make a lot of sense if the disciples were traveling today by airplane. Checked luggage can quickly add a sizeable amount to an airline ticket. But Jesus has a different kind of luggage in mind: a spiritual baggage that can weigh us down. This baggage comes in a number of different designs, but today I want to offer three of them for your consideration. Jesus is asking us to leave behind the bags of our hurts, our fears, and our dreams. Clearly, Jesus sends us out on a mission of love and service. But He wants us to travel light. What kind of use- less burden do you insist on bringing with you? What kind of heavy luggage are you determined to check for your flight? Jesus reminds us that such luggage is unnecessary. He asks us to leave the bags of our hurts, our fears, and our false dreams at home and fly free. Marriage Licenses The Morrow County Clerk’s office has released the following report of marriage licenses: June 3, 2021: - Tanner Lewis Collier, 23, Board- man, and Adriana Armenta, 24, Irrigon. - Jason Ray Whitbeck, 49, Irrigon, and Lori Ann Moss, 51, Irrigon. June 9, 2021: - Jose Good News Only By Doris Brosnan Hot weather or cold weather, always good to know that Columbia Basin Electric continues to make its free audits of our homes available. A good idea to find out how energy-effi- cient our home is, or to hear suggestions of how to make it more so. As George Nairns re- tires from her adminis- trator’s position at Wil- low Creek Terrace, the opportunity for another qualified individual opens up. Presently, Samarra Van- Doorn is acting as interim administrator, with eleven years work experience at the Terrace. And Kelly Fritz has been selected as the assis- tant director at the Neigh- borhood Center. This is a new position, meant to have a positive impact on the op- erations and on the duties of director Lisa Patton. Merlin and Claudia Hughes recently returned from a five-day stay in Anchorage, where they were joined by daughter Kimberly, grandson, Austin and his wife, Angela, for visiting with granddaugh- ter, Destinee and for lots of spectacular sight-seeing, dining out and touring. This was the first opportunity in two years for all to be to- gether. Midnight sun, 4 a.m. sunrise, a cool 67 degrees. Then, back to 112 degrees. Bob and Judy Stevens were thrilled to become great grandparents a sec- ond time, and they realized that they wanted to share the news. Son, Harold and his wife, Tara, welcomed Weston James to the fam- ily in Tillamook on June 1. Weston joined sister, Addilyn. June Rollis, a fine ex- ample for us all? June, at age 64, has upped her phys- ical fitness regimen. She walks from her home near Heppner Elementary to the cemetery, where she walks four laps of the grounds, back down Chase St., to the steps up to the courthouse and back down to Court St., where she takes on the steps across from the tennis courts, up past the Tarnaskys, and back down to her home. Then she gets on her bike for a ride out around the fairgrounds or laps in the school parking lot, before she goes inside for her floor workout. And she still has energy and Juan Landa, 22, Hermiston, and Mallory Annafay Mul- care, 22, Hermiston. June 18, 2021: - Cole Hunter Evans, 24, Hooper, WA, and Makenzi Kae Hughes, 24, Hooper, WA. Music in the Park returns to Heppner This Sunday, July 11, at the City Park on Main Street 5:30 to 7:30 pm Presenting "Neymark and Sons" Joel Neymark on fiddle, mandolin, recorder, and guitar His sons Gabe on bass and guitar and Elijah on ukulele and bass All three on vocals Pulled pork sandwiches, coleslaw, cookie and drink available for purchase by donation to Hopeful Saints Ministry's Mission and Outreach fund. Music series made possible by a grant from the Morrow County Unified Recreation District Next month: The Wasteland Kings on August 8 time for watering, mowing and doing in-house chores? Whew. On Saturday, Gil Bel- lamy, of Salem, called to bring to our attention bits of a great serendipitous story. Mary Kay Hughes Bellamy’s mother, Majo, attended school in Lexing- ton in the school building still standing. Mary Kay attended grade school in that building, and she later worked for twenty years in the Morrow County School District Offices that the building had been con- verted to. And now, Mary Kay and husband, Sam, are owners of that same build- ing, where the Bellamy clan held a reunion over the July 4 th weekend. The July 4 th parade in Ione featured a profusion of bicycles – some tiny, skate- boards, and scooters fes- tooned – as were their riders – in red, white, and blue ribbons, flags and clothing. And leading the young were the motorcycle riders who carried the American and Oregon flags, followed by grand marshals Loyal and Betty Burns in their red ‘02 Thunderbird. Betty’s day was made even more spe- cial by the visit from life- long friend Alice Mallory and her husband Darryl, of Ashland. Alice attended school with Betty in Bell, CA, the two married in the same year,50 years ago, and they have maintained their relationship over these years of separation. Allison (Sykes) Hayes and family - husband, Matt, and sons, August and Se- bastian - are here visiting David and April Sykes for the week. While here, they celebrated August’s seventh birthday with his uncle Andrew Sykes and aunt Camille Sykes and her son, Oscar, along with friends Bill and Merilee McDowell and their grandson, Henry Burnside. They also went to Heppner’s First Friday and the Ione 4 th of July celebra- tion. Later they will leave for Seaside for a Sykes Family reunion, after which they will fly to their new home in Cary, North Car- olina, where this fall Matt will start his new job with the Asian Studies Library at Duke University. Allison is a 2001 graduate of Heppner High School. Good news that anoth- er Airbnb option for our visitors is now available. “Farra’s Place,” once the residence of Ida Farra, is Justin and Andrea Nelson’s recent addition to rentals in our area and is listed online. Good news comes in small and large events, common and uncommon, and readers find pleasure in reading about them: travel away, visitors here, moving, new homes, new jobs, new family members, years of married life, competitive, enjoyable activities, …on and on. Please, share your tidbits by sending them by Monday afternoon to dbros- nan123@gmail.com, or call 541-223-1490. Here’s hoping that some good news comes to everyone reading this. A View from the Hill By Doris Brosnan The Willow Creek Ter- race’s “Rocking Away the Longest Day” event was viewed as a huge success last month. The rocking chairs were out on Friday the 18 th (because of sched- uling necessities) and they were almost in constant use. Administrator Nairns re- ports that it was a “wonder- ful, mellow, low-key day” because the Covid restric- tions precluded the usual extensive preparations, but the number of rockers was truly a gift. Thirty visitors supported this fundraiser for Alzheimer’s research by responding to the call on the Terrace’s Facebook page or to the encouragement of their loved ones at the Terrace. And one supporter went “virtual” by rocking at home. Administrator Nairns will finish her seven- teen-year tenure at the Terrace today. As she re- tires from this position and moves into another, Samarra VanDoorn takes up the reins of interim admin- istrator until the board fills the position permanently. VanDoorn has been at the Terrace for eleven years, having started in a part-time position that developed into full-time and for several years now has included pre- scription manager. Nairns reports, “Samarra will do a fantastic job, I am sure, and she has the support of the rest of the staff.” Two new staff mem- bers are now assisting the residents: Matt Crystal has joined the kitchen staff; and Madelyn Nichols is work- ing through the summer, with plans to work when home for extended breaks from Eastern Oregon Uni- versity this coming year. Two apartments remain available at the Terrace, information about which is accessed by calling 541- 676-0004. Residents and staff look forward to wel- coming new neighbors, wishing they could have moved in before today be- cause tomorrow will be Donna Bergstrom’s birth- day celebration, and the more the merrier is the belief. Unfortunately, visiting restrictions remain in place at the Terrace, so fewer visitors can join the resi- dents for special events like Donna’s birthday. Mealtime visitors are one of their greatest losses because of Covid restrictions, reports Nairns. Although the state has been reopened, some restrictions continue for as- sisted-living facilities, still following some core princi- ples of infection prevention. Nairns understands the con- fusion of some would-be visitors to whom she must say “I wish,” when the rules prohibit some situa- tions. Basically, yes, up to two visitors can come to a resident’s room to visit, up to four can come to visit a resident in the sunroom. Outside visiting numbers are not limited, however, anyone who wishes to visit at the Terrace should still, please, schedule the visit before coming. Doing so will assure everyone that not too many visitors are trying to visit the same per- son at the same time or want to visit in an already-full sunroom, which would mean someone would have to wait. And yes, masks are still mandated as visitors enter, and as Nairns points out, every staff member has to don a mask when entering the Terrace and not remove it until leaving. She reminds everyone that not all residents are vacci- nated against the virus, and still the occasional report of a new case in Heppner has been appearing on the Sheriff’s Department Emer- gency Management site. Fortunately, residents are not restricted to remain- ing at the Terrace, and some will certainly be attending this Sunday’s Music-in-the- Park concert. This month’s in-house interests have be- gun with their fireworks show and ice cream on their front lawn on Sunday and will include, as usual, morning discussions on a variety of topics, several that will stimulate mem- ory-sharing. On the 12 th , “Different Colored Eyes Day,” participants in the a.m. will be able to find out whether they fit the person- ality-profiles that one’s eye color is supposed to reflect. On the 23 rd , the Terrace’s Facebook page will feature some pix of “Gorgeous Grandmas” who live at the Terrace, since it will be “Gorgeous Grandma Day.” And throughout the month – George Nairns favorite because she likes ice cream – the commu- nity on the hill will enjoy some ice cream treats and the All-American hot dog. Starting up soon, the Sat- urday matinees will kick off with a “drive-in movie” (bring on those walkers), with popcorn, drink and even an intermission. Nos- talgia, stimulating con- versations, fun topics, fun foods…. All are viewed as valuable at the Terrace. Morrow County Dis- trict Attorney Justin Nelson has released the following report: - Edgar Rodriguez was convicted of Unlawful Pos- session of Methamphet- amine and sentenced to 180 days jail, fine of $1,600, 24 months bench proba- tion, drug use evaluation and comply with any rec- ommended treatment, not associate with any person known to use, sell, manu- facture, deliver or possess unlawful controlled sub- stances or narcotics includ- ing marijuana and 80 hours of CSW. DA’s Report ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE: MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M.
