Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, August 25, 2021 -- THREE
Good News Only
By Doris Brosnan
On Tuesday, August 10,
Mike and Cindi Doherty
and Jerry and Ione Mar-
tin, Cindy’s parents from
Hermiston, went to Lin-
coln City to meet Larry
and Linda Martin from
Waterloo, Iowa. Larry is
Jerry’s brother, and Lar-
ry’s wife Linda had never
been to Oregon. They were
spending Tuesday, Wednes-
day and Thursday together.
Larry even rented a van so
they could tour together.
They drove along the coast
on Thursday, south from
Lincoln City, where they
were staying. When they
returned from Newport, the
hotel called to announce
that they had to leave. The
call came at about 3 p.m.,
and everyone had to be out
by 6. The facility closed the
casino, the restaurants and
the hotel. Because it was
summer and there were no
rooms available, Larry and
Linda went back to Portland
to visit her son, and the rest
returned to eastern Oregon
that evening. (Good news
was sharing that time to-
gether, a first for Linda and
a memory made.)
Evelyn Sweek will cel-
ebrate her 90 th birthday,
again, on the 30 th . Why
again? Because of schedule
demands, a small gathering
of some friends and family
toasted Evelyn last Satur-
day. HBD, Evelyn.
Last week, Jason and
Michelle Carson’s family
welcomed, a wee bit earlier
than planned, baby Olivia,
who weighed in at 5 lbs., 8
oz. Olivia joins parents and
siblings Mason, Ryan and
Isabelle.
Tanner Rietmann, son
of Greg and Shelley, and
Madison Carlyn plan to
wed on December 18. Tan-
ner works with his father,
and Madison will be the
third-grade teacher at Ione
this fall.
Bingo has started up
again at St. Patrick’s Senior
Center. As of yesterday,
players are welcome at 1
p.m. on Tuesdays. The only
restriction is that players
must wear masks unless
they are actively eating
during the potluck period.
Outer doors are unlocked
during the day for easy
access..
Betty Gray can attest
to the large variety of good
produce that is available
from the gentleman from
Lebanon who includes Ar-
lington, Ione, and Lexing-
ton in his circuit. He is in
Ione on Tuesdays from 11
to 1, before moving on to
Lexington. She reports that
the tomatoes and peach-
es have been especially
outstanding, and he has
informed her that he plans
to continue this service into
mid-September, when his
supplier no longer supplies.
Last weekend, many
family groups of multi-
ple generations filled the
bleachers and/or performed
in the rodeo. Such good
news for families when off-
spring (and their offspring,
often) gather for this August
event that affords time to
connect to those ties that
bind.
While touring the fair
entries, the concern about
a seeming drop in entries
was replaced with the
knowledge that anyone who
didn’t enter even one thing
may have contributed to
the drop but also the more
cheerful knowledge that we
have almost a year to create
even one entry. That is good
news.
Mentally calculated
several times, the number
is repeatedly “eight” times
a pedestrian can cross Wil-
low Creek when walking
from one end of Heppner
to the other. Starting at the
dam, ending on Morgan
Street? (Yes, please check
my calculations.) Pausing at
each bridge offers repeated
moments of pleasure in the
(reassuring? happy? uplift-
ing?) sound and sight of the
clear water. (Good news,
too, is the cleanup of the
banks – only a few careless
people have left Styrofoam,
plastic and metal containers
behind in a few places.)
Good news can be the
passing of a test of one part
of a senior citizen’s brain:
Encountered on Main Street
last weekend someone who
moved from Heppner many,
many years ago. She rec-
ognized me. I thought I
recognized her. She asked
my name. I answered as I
searched my memory banks
for the answer to my ques-
tion. Bingo. Theo Greenup.
Congrats to us both. (Theo
lives in Mississippi.)
Oh, yes, the rooster
reigns. Not only has he
returned at 5 a.m.; some
mornings he seems to be ac-
companied by background
singers - quail, doves and
occasional overhead Cana-
dian geese who add their
cacophonous echoes.
But little Houdini Dog
has not attempted to visit
for a couple of weeks now,
apparently no longer feel-
ing amorous over Katie the
collie.
Too busy to write a
tidbit to add to this column?
A quick phone call with
your information can also
guarantee some smiles for
readers. Please, share your
good-news tidbits by send-
ing them before Monday
afternoon 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.
A View from the Green
Congressman Bentz
WCCC men’s play
hosts town halls
Congressman Cliff District.”
Bentz recently host-
Each forum
ed town halls in 11
gave constituents
of the 20 counties
the opportunity
in Oregon’s Second
to ask questions
Congressional Dis-
and voice their
trict. During the town
opinions on feder-
halls, Congressman C o n g re s s m a n al legislation and
Bentz gave an up- Cliff Bentz
other issues im-
date on his work in
pacting Oregon.
Washington, D.C., includ- Many spoke of their con-
ing his efforts to secure aid cerns regarding federal land
for communities struck by management policies that
drought, promote water contribute to catastrophic
infrastructure projects, raise wildfires, dam removal
the profile of wildfire issues proposals that would harm
in the west, stop out-of- Oregon agriculture, pan-
control deficit spending and demic measures that have
address the immigration impacted the economy and
and border crisis.
efforts to undermine local
“I am so thankful to decision making in commu-
those who took the time to nities and schools.
participate in our town halls
The counties visited by
this past week,” said Bentz. Congressman Bentz includ-
“In groups big and small, ed Umatilla, Morrow, Gil-
we talked about serious liam, Sherman, Lake, Har-
issues impacting Oregon ney, Grant, Wheeler, Crook,
families and communities. I Jefferson and Deschutes.
am committed to continuing Bentz said he is currently
to listen to my constituents planning to visit the remain-
as I return to Washington, ing nine counties during the
D.C. for debate on the up- month of September. He
coming budget bill and as I hopes to announce those
look to visit the remaining county town halls as soon
nine counties in Oregon’s as possible.
vast Second Congressional
Hopeful Saints to
hold outdoor
worship
Praise in the Park will
be the theme of Hopeful
Saints Ministry’s annual
outdoor worship service
at Hager Park on Sunday,
August 29. The singing
will begin at 10 a.m., with
worship to follow (in per-
son and on Facebook Live).
All are encouraged, but not
required, to bring an object
from nature to add to the
altar table and a lawn chair.
A potluck barbecue and
games will follow the wor-
ship. Bring meat to grill and
a salad or dessert to share.
Dinnerware and drinks will
be provided. Everyone is
welcome to come and join
this opportunity to gather
and sing together outside
in what is forecasted to be
a beautiful day.
Additional information
about this event and other
church activities is avail-
able by calling the church
office at 541-676-9970.
Mormon crickets,
topic of meeting
Eight golfers participat-
ed in men’s play on Sunday,
August 22 at Willow Creek
Country Club. Taking first
in gross was Jerry Gentry
with 68. Dave Pranger was
second with 70 and Dale
Boyd came in third with 75.
First in net went to
Gene Orwick with 60. The
second-place winner was
Mike Doherty and third was
Roger Ehrmantraut.
Derek Gunderson and
David Gunderson will host
the next men’s play on Au-
gust 29.
Over the Tee Cup
Virginia Grant took
low gross of the field at
the Willow Creek Country
Club ladies play day on
August 17, a cool day. Low
net of the field winner was
Pat Edmundson and Karen
Haguewood had the least
putts. Grant also got a birdie
on #10.
For flight A, Karen
Thompson had low gross
and Shelly had low net.
Corol Mitchell had the least
putts and Virginia Grant got
the long drive and KP.
Pat Dougherty won low
gross for flight B and Pat
Edmundson got the long
drive and KP.
Flight C winners were
Lorene Montgomery for
low gross and Kris Linder,
low net. Jean Creswick had
the least putts and Betty
Carter got the long drive
and KP.
In other events, Virgin-
ia Grant, Karen Haguewood
and Betty Carter got the
long putts for flights A, B
and C.
The Eddi Skow/WCCC
ladies club championship
will be held August 31 and
September 1. Ladies must
sign up in advance to play.
Free haircuts at
Neighborhood
Center
Joseph Kindle will
be providing free back to
school haircuts for ele-
mentary age boys at the
Neighborhood Center on
Thursday, August 26 from
10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and
1:30 to 4:30 pm. No ap-
pointment is necessary.
Joseph Kindle is currently
a student at Paul Mitchell
The School in Richland,
WA and is set to graduate
in November.
The Neighborhood
Center will hold a $15 bag
sale on Wednesday, Sep-
tember 1 from 9:30 a.m. to
5:30 p.m. (closed 12:30-
1:30 p.m. for lunch). Shop
for the entire family and
fill up a bag with clothing,
shoes, books, games, music
and movies. Second bag
purchased will be at a dis-
count rate of $5. Household
items are 50 percent off that
day as well.
Proceeds from the sale
help purchase food for
the pantry. Donations can
be dropped off Monday
through Friday at 441 N
Main Street, Heppner. For
any questions about emer-
gency services contact Lisa
Patton at 541-676-5024.
Chamber meeting
The Heppner Cham-
ber of Commerce monthly
meeting is scheduled for
September 2 at 12 noon
at the Gilliam and Bisbee
building. Lunch of a taco,
side dish and dessert will
be catered by Tacos Home-
town for $10 per person.
RSVPs for attendance
and choice of beef or chick-
en taco must be received by
Monday, August 30. Call
541-676-5536 or email
heppnerchamber@gmail.
com to RSVP.
A meeting to discuss
the Mormon Cricket situa-
tion in Morrow County will
be held Thursday, August
26 at 7 p.m. at the city park
in Ione. The discussion will
be asking what can be done Mormon crickets are moving
Morrow County Justice of the Peace, Glen Diehl, has
about them as they move into Morrow County.
released
the following Justice Court report:
into the county.
-Donald Martin, Jr., 51, Heppner, was convicted of
DWS, fine $440.
-Travis A. Palmer, 30, Heppner, was convicted of
DWS,
fine $440.
Jerald Paul Ellenberger – Jerald Paul Ellenberger
-Colton
L. Todd, 26, Seattle, WA, was convicted of
of Milton-Freewater passed away August 19, 2021, at his
violation
of
basic
rule, fine $165 and failure to carry proof
home at the age of 77 years. He was born October 9, 1943.
of
insurance,
fine
$265.
Munselle-Rhodes Funeral Home of Milton-Freewater is
in care of arrangements.
Justice Court Report
Death Notices
DEADLINE:
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Spiritually Speaking
Be active listeners of the word of God
By Fr. Thankachan Joseph
As we read this week, we are re-
minded to be active listeners, not passive
listeners, of the Word of God, letting
His word transform us into good deeds.
Through the readings of the day, the Lord
asks us to reflect on our lives, to check
whether we are really honoring Him with Fr. Thankachan
our hearts or only with our lips. What Joseph
has been the effect of the Lord’s word
in our lives? Have we really been doers of the word, or
merely hearers?
While going through the reading from St. James (1:
17-18m 21-22,27), I was reminded of one of the anec-
dotes I read somewhere about uprightness and integrity:
A man and a lady enter a takeaway restaurant. The man
orders two fried-chicken dinners. The girl at the counter
mistakenly gives him a bag of money, the entire day’s
proceeds. The man and woman drive to their picnic site
and sit down to enjoy their chicken dinners. To their
surprise, they discover that it is a bag of money, totaling
almost $10,000. They put the money back in the bag,
drive back to the restaurant, and return the money bag to
the restaurant manager. The manager is overwhelmed.
He declares the man a hero and a saint. He goes to call
the local press to put the story and the man’s picture into
the local newspaper. “You’re the most honest man in the
whole world,” says the manager. But the man will not let
him call the press. Instead, he leans closer and whispers
in the manager’s ear, “You see, the woman I’m with is
not my wife...she’s, uh, somebody else’s wife.”
The man might well be a hero, but he’s no saint. As
James tells us, true Christian holiness has as much to do
with doing good to others as it has with keeping ourselves
pure. “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the
Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their
distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world”
(James 1:27). The man scores high on honesty but very
low on integrity.
A majority of Christians in our churches belong to one
of two camps. Either, like the man in the story, scoring
high marks in their commitment to practical justice and
fairness but low in self-discipline and integrity, or they
are people who score high in self-discipline but low in
practical commitment to fairness and upright living.
James, the apostle of practical Christianity, teaches us
that a Christian must score high marks in concern for the
welfare of others and in self-mastery to be truly holy and
acceptable before God. St. James leads us to understand
the importance of practical Christianity, that faith without
good works is dead (James 2:17).
James makes two important points in today’s read-
ing: the importance of faith in action, and he defines for
us what true devotion is. True devotion is not a matter
of hearing good preaching and celebrating inspirational
liturgies, which are both wonderful. The litmus test of true
devotion remains in how we live out the word of God.
“But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who
deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and
not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in
a mirror; for they look at themselves and, ongoing away,
immediately forget what they were like.” (James 1:22-24)
James uses the analogy of a man who looks in the
mirror and sees his dirty face and untidy hair and goes
away without doing anything about it. The word of God,
like the mirror, shows us how dirty our faces are and how
unkempt our hair is. A wise man would immediately take
steps to wash his face and shave his beard to improve his
looks. That is the purpose of the mirror. Hearing the word
of God alone does not make us holy. It is when we take
steps to put into action what the word of God teaches us
that we make progress in the journey of faith.
James also says, “If any think they are religious, and
do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their
religion is worthless” (1: 26). This would be a good place
to start. We could resolve from now on to listen more and
speak less. As Zeno said, “We have two ears but only one
mouth, that we may hear more and speak less.”