TWO - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, September 22, 2021
The Official Newspaper
of the City of Heppner and the County of Morrow
Heppner
GAZETTE-TIMES
U.S.P.S. 240-420
Morrow County’s Home-Owned Weekly Newspaper
SEARCH OLD COPIES OF THE HEPPNER GAZETTE-TIMES ON-LINE:
http://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/
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:
www.heppner.net. Postmaster send address changes to the Heppner Gazette-Times,
P.O. Box 337, Heppner, Oregon 97836. Subscriptions: $31 in Morrow County; $25
senior rate (in Morrow County only; 65 years or older); $37 elsewhere; $31 student
subscriptions.
David Sykes ..............................................................................................Publisher
Bobbi Gordon................................................................................................ Editor
Giselle Moses.........................................................................................Advertising
All News and Advertising Deadline is Monday at 5 p.m.
For Advertising: advertising deadline is Monday at 5 p.m. Cost for a display ad is $5.25 per
column inch. Cost for classified ad is 50¢ per word. Cost for Card of Thanks is $10 up to
100 words. Cost for a classified display ad is $6.05 per column inch.
For Public/Legal Notices: public/legal notices deadline is Monday at 5 p.m. Dates for publi-
cation must be specified. Affidavits must be requested at the time of submission. Affidavits
require three weeks to process after last date of publication (a sooner return date must be
specified if required).
For Obituaries: Obituaries are published in the Heppner GT at no charge and are edited to
meet news guidelines. Families wishing to include information not included in the guidelines
or who wish to have the obituary written in a certain way must purchase advertising space
for the obituary.
For Letters to the Editor: Letters to the Editor MUST be signed by the author. The Heppner
GT will not publish unsigned letters. All letters MUST include the author’s address and phone
number for use by the GT office. The GT reserves the right to edit letters. 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.
Good News Only
By Doris Brosnan
Surely no one in the
small, scattered group
gathered for the music-in-
the-park on the 12 th could
have enjoyed the concert as
much as wee Ethan Wood,
son of Sean and Laurie,
who stopped enroute with
mom and sister to the play-
ground equipment. The tiny
towhead cutie was drawn to
the music, marched directly
toward the musicians, stood
for a long time in front of
the bandstand seemingly
mesmerized, showing no
interest in moving on. And
he continued to be totally
focused as Laurie sat with
him on her lap for anoth-
er long time. A delight to
watch this little guy, who
eventually did enjoy the
playground, probably still
listening to the music. Mu-
sic in the park will return
next summer, along with
the added entertainment al-
ways provided by children.
Get the word out: Story
Time has returned to the
Heppner Library. Everyone
is welcome at 11 a.m. on
Fridays.
Kudos to Blake Carter,
who wrote like a seasoned
reporter in his GT sports
article last week. And kudos
to the GT for recognizing
the contribution Blake will
make to the publication as
an intern. And kudos to the
HHS enthusiastic, synchro-
nized cheerleaders and pep
band who were “tuned in”
to what was happening on
the field Friday evening.
Good sounds coming from
both. “Always Ready, Al-
ways There” is the National
Guard motto, and it has four
recruits from HHS and IHS
to help fulfill its pledge.
The Hermiston Guards are
fortunate to include HHS
seniors Kason Cimmiyotti,
Kegan Steagall and Brian
Lindsay and IHS student
Aubry Blakely on their
rosters.
Wow. The sidewalk
work seems to be pro-
gressing quickly on Gale,
Church, Chase and Wil-
low Streets. And JoAnna
Lamb, chamber director,
reports hearing that the new
sidewalks are “the best for
skateboarding on.” They
are especially enjoyed by
Katie Dog, so much more
comfortable than gravel
under her paws. And speak-
ing of doggy paws: city hall
reports that the paw prints
in the cement in Thomson
Square are there to stay.
Many community
members have come to
the city park to support
the Juarez family and Ta-
cos Hometown while they
were temporarily displaced
by the work at Thomson
Square.
How many construc-
tion jobs are simultaneously
happening in our fortunate
community? Five? JoAnna
comments, “Construction
everywhere but that just
means everyone is working
hard on making Heppner
awesome for the future.”
Improvements, attractive
new looks, good news.
Reported on Tuesday:
During the middle of the
construction at Thomson
Square, a construction
worker jumped into action
and left his job to assist an
elderly lady with her walker
navigate the road crossing
and got her safely to the
sidewalk and on her way to
the post office.
Good news for the un-
employed: A long list of
employment opportuni-
ties in our south Morrow
County area can be found at
heppnerchamber.com.
Who hasn’t noticed
that the BEO clock reports
accurate temperatures but
time that is also accurate
except for displaying an
hour earlier than every-
one else’s clock? As the
employees report to every
inquiry every day, a big
power outage “fried” part of
the mechanism. The deci-
sion remains: repair, replace
or just wait until “fall back”
time returns next month?.
Busy times, rewarding
times for John and Karen
Griffith last month: “On
August 19, our new grand-
son, Byron Lane Griffith
(6 months old), flew (like
a veteran flyer.) for the
first time to the Pacific
Northwest, accompanied by
parents, Aaron and Kirsti,
from Van Horn, TX. Byron
got to meet his great grand-
parents, Don and Joann
Griffith (Spray, OR) and Jo
Smith (Hood River, OR).
Fourth-generation pictures
were taken. He also got to
meet great aunts Donita
Griffith and Kim Beam
(Karen’s sister). A small
luncheon was held, and
Byron was the center of
attention for all.” Then,
on August 28, John and
Karen had a Griffith fam-
ily reunion at their home.
About 45 people attended.
The oldest was 89-year-old
Bev Denney, the youngest
was nine-month-old Brook,
and the farthest traveled
was Mark Griffith, who
resides in North Dakota.
Lots of stories, good eats
and barbeque on a beautiful
Saturday.
If you enjoy reading
these bits of good news,
please share yours. Send
your “good-news tidbits”
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.
Obituaries
Kathleen Ruth
Chinen (Herold)
Kathleen Ruth Chin- footsteps of her pioneering
en (Herold) passed away mother and grandmother.
peacefully on September 9, She worked tirelessly help-
2021, in Spokane, WA at the ing her students. “As she
age of 84. She is survived taught between elementary,
middle, and high
by her six children, Rob-
school, she be-
in Monter, Randy Nagy,
came a beloved
Lori Wilber, Lisa Van
figure within the
Allen, Terry Chinen, and
Morrow County
Tina Holtz. She also has
School District
14 grandchildren and 11
and communi-
great-grandchildren.
Kathleen
Kay was born in Hel- Ruth Chinen ty of Heppner,”
noted a family
ena, MT on March 8, (Herold)
member.
1937, to Fred and Ruth
Upon retire-
Herold.
During WW2, her fa- ment, Kay moved back to
ther enlisted as an aircraft Spokane, where she cared
mechanic at Geiger Field for and comforted her par-
and the family moved to ents until their time of pass-
Spokane, WA. Kay grew ing. In the last few years,
up in the era of Frank Sina- she lived with her sister-
tra and James Dean. She in-law, Penny. She loved
attended Marycliff all-girls to visit with her friends
Catholic High School and and children and especial-
ly enjoyed spoiling her
graduated in 1955.
Soon after, she married grand-babies.
A celebration of life/
and raised four children,
Robin, Randy, Lisa and funeral service is scheduled
Lori. In 1979, she chased for 12:30 p.m. on Friday,
her passion for teaching to October 1, 2021, at Heri-
Heppner, where she raised tage Funeral and Crema-
two more children, Terry tion. Graveside services
will be held directly after at
and Tina.
In Heppner, she found Fairmount Memorial Park.
All are welcome to at-
her true calling as a special
education teacher, follow- tend and celebrate Kay’s
ing in the schoolteacher life.
Linda Ruth Tefft
Linda Ruth Tefft, age
68, died Friday, September
3, 2021, at her home in
Heppner. She was born in
Pendleton July 28, 1953, to
Archie Dale Tefft and Irene
Ruth Perkins. She was the
oldest of three children.
Linda is survived by
her son, Michael Black of
Maplewood, Minnesota and
her daughter, Diana Sharp
of Heppner, 10 grandchil-
dren and 15 great-grand-
children.
Forest Public Use
Restrictions reduced
to Phase A
Umatilla and Wal-
lowa-Whitman National
Forest officials will reduce
Public Use Restrictions
(PURS) to Phase A on Fri-
day, September 17, 2021.
Phase A is the first level
of restrictions, generally
implemented when the fire
danger is moderate to high.
PURS are phased in collec-
tively, as conditions war-
rant, and may differ from
forest to forest. Restrictions
under Phase A include:
-Chainsaws may be
operated only between the
hours of 8 p.m. and 1 p.m.
local time. A one-hour fire
watch is required after saw
operations cease. Saw op-
erators are required to have
an axe (minimum 2 lb.
head, 26” length), shovel
(8” wide, 26” length), and
fire extinguisher (minimum
ABC 8 oz.) in their posses-
sion.
-Smoking is allowed
only in enclosed vehicles,
buildings or cleared areas.
-No off-road/off-trail
vehicle travel or travel on
roads not cleared of stand-
ing grass or other flamma-
ble material; no vehicle
travel on those Forest Ser-
vice roads where access has
been impeded or blocked by
earthen berm, logs, boul-
ders, barrier, barricade or
gate, or as otherwise iden-
tified in the Fire Order.
The public is also en-
couraged to practice safe
campfire principles when
recreating in dispersed and
Linda was preceded in
death by her father, Archie
Dale Tefft; her mother,
Irene Ruth Cain; her broth-
ers, Bill Tefft and Frank Tef-
ft and one great-grandchild,
Jasper Duree McKenzie.
She was loved by many
and loved spending time
in the mountains, working
in her garden, reading and
spending time with her fam-
ily. A private celebration of
In partnership with
life will be held to honor her Lead for America and Til-
memory.
lamook Creamery Asso-
ciation, Morrow County
is hosting Aaron Moss,
to help bridge the digital
Vonna L. Shutter – of Heppner is in care of divide in the communi-
ty. He will work to assist
Vonna L. Shutter, 86, of arrangements.
Lexington, died January 5,
Colleen Ployhar – the county’s efforts in im-
2021, at Hermiston, and her Colleen Ployhar, 88, for- proving internet speeds,
husband, Francis P. Shutter, mer Heppner resident, broadband availability, plan
82, of Lexington, died, July died January 23, 2020, at affordability and growing
5, 2021, at Heppner. They Hermiston. She was born digital skills among citi-
are the parents of Alita January 4, 1932, at Hep- zens. While the internet’s
Nelson of Heppner. A cele- pner. A graveside memorial impact on the world is not
bration of life will be held service, following state perfect, the county believes
Saturday, September 25, covid 19 guidelines, will that high speed broadband
2021, at 1 p.m. at the Mor- be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, is an important tool for
row County fairgrounds in September 25, 2021, at the education, work, medicine
Heppner, following state Heppner Masonic Ceme- and leisure.
There will be multi-
covid 19 guidelines. A meal tery. Sweeney Mortuary
ple
opportunities for the
will follow the celebra- of Heppner is in care of
community
to engage in
tion. Sweeney Mortuary arrangements.
this process, and to kick
that participation off Mor-
row County residents are
Morrow County Justice of the Peace, Glen Diehl, has being asked to perform an
internet speed test, both
released the following Justice Court report:
-Anthony D. Looney, 32, Heppner, was convicted at their work and at home.
of driving while suspended, fine, $440; failure to carry No personally identifying
proof of insurance, fine, $265; and failure to obey traffic information is collected
during the test. Everyone’s
control device, fine, $265.
Funeral Notices
Justice Court Report
developed campsites. For-
est officials recommend the
following campfire safety
precautions:
-Campfires should be in
fire pits surrounded by dirt,
rock or commercial rings
and in areas not conducive
to rapid fire spread. All
flammable material shall be
cleared within a three-foot
radius from the edge of the
pit and free of overhanging
material. Use existing pits
wherever possible.
-Campfires must be
attended at all times, and
completely extinguished
prior to leaving.
-Persons with camp-
fires should carry a tool that
can serve as a shovel and
one gallon of water in their
possession. The intent of
this recommendation is to
ensure individuals with a
campfire to have the tools
necessary to completely
extinguish their campfire.
The public’s awareness
of the fire danger and coop-
eration is essential to a safe
fire season. Recreationists,
firewood cutters, hunters
and other forest users can
all help by closely adhering
to restrictions, operating
safely and cautiously and
keeping up to date on the
latest orders and regula-
tions.
Please remember that it
is everyone’s responsibility
to know what restrictions
are in place when visiting
public lands.
Residents asked to
test internet speed
participation in the speed
tests will help identify gaps
in service, areas that need
improvement in connectiv-
ity and establish standards
for internet speeds moving
forward.
County residents’ help
in these tests is an important
way to focus the work that
will be needed. It takes ap-
proximately three minutes
to perform the test with the
following instructions:
-Go to https://speedupa-
merica.com
-Click on the icon
above Take the Test.
-Select Use My Brows-
er’s Location, then Get My
Location and Let’s Begin
-Choose Work or Res-
idential
-Enter as much addi-
tional information as you
would like, including how
are you connected, price
per month and advertised
download speed.
-Click Take Test and
wait for test to complete.
For questions about
this test or the county’s
work on broadband, feel
free to reach out to Aar-
on Moss through email at
amoss@co.morrow.or.us or
by phone at 541-676-5664.
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