TWO - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, December 29, 2021
The Official Newspaper
of the City of Heppner and the County of Morrow
~ Letters to the Editor ~
Heppner
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GAZETTE-TIMES
U.S.P.S. 240-420
Morrow County’s Home-Owned Weekly Newspaper
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Published weekly by Sykes Publishing and entered as periodical matter at the Post
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at Heppner, Oregon. Office at 188 W. Willow Street. Telephone (541) 676-9228. Fax
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subscriptions.
David Sykes ..............................................................................................Publisher
Bobbi Gordon................................................................................................ Editor
Giselle Moses.........................................................................................Advertising
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Good News Only
By Doris Brosnan
The lack of contribu-
tions this week probably
disappoints anyone who
might have looked for-
ward to “Good News” tid-
bits from our friends and
neighbors. Certainly, be-
ing busy with Christmas
gatherings could preclude
even thinking of sharing
those moments that made
you smile. But maybe next
week’s quieter time will
help turn thoughts to con-
tributing something for the
pleasure of our readers. We
would love to learn who
“motored” up to see whom.
The weather – won-
derful for snow play in
the mountains – created
many worries, especially
for grandmothers who take
their job of worrying for
family travelers very seri-
ously. The good news for
them was the safe arrival
and return of their loved
ones.
The highlight for our
column this week is know-
ing that two such travelers
were Aimee Turell and
Trevor Antonucci, who
were excited to share a big
Christmas announcement
with Aimee’s family: They
are engaged to be married,
though they have not yet
set a date. Aimee attends
Portland State University
while also holding down
a parttime job, and Trevor
works for a HVAC compa-
ny. Congrats.
Readers are eager for
some good-news tidbits so
just a few minutes of your
time can bring smiles to
many faces. Contributions
can come this way before
Monday afternoon by writ-
ing to dbrosnan123@gmail.
com or calling 541-676-
5382 or 541-223-1490.
A Christmas greeting
to everyone. And here’s
hoping that some good
news comes to everyone
reading this.
Will we ever be back in World needs good news
the vaccine passports to
To the editor:
a “normal” world?
The Gospel, the teach- centralize the information
To the editor:
I have sat with many
people on many occasions
and have been asked this
question. What is normal?
The world we live in seems
surreal and after almost two
years of this pandemic we
have all forgotten what life
was prior to this. Holidays,
birthdays, graduations, all
gatherings are still not per-
mitted. We are still not
supposed to breath freely,
shake hands, hug anyone or
see a doctor with our faces
being seen.
You are not immune
after one - two shots and
a booster, how many more
shots are they wanting to
give of an unknown med-
ication? What ever hap-
pened to two weeks to slow
the curve, what happened to
the Governor’s own words
of 70 percent and life will
be “normal” again. Yet here
we are in another extension
of the state of emergency.
Really? Three cases of the
newest variant Omicron
and we are keeping our state
(one of very few states that
are not open) under con-
trol, so she can continue to
receive federal money for
the new surge of the “less
deadly” variant.
How many boosters are
we going to have to receive
before we have “normal
life back?” Government
has never taken your rights
away and willingly given
them back to you. They
have gained power over the
people, and this is what they
want for our world, division
of society. And they are
succeeding. I hate watching
families/friends divide over
a shot. For what? Who is
this all benefiting?
Our borders are wide
open, with absolutely no
County weighs options for more
office space
Commissioners look at minor renovations up to new
building in Heppner
A small, cramped jury deliberation room is one problem with current courthouse spaces
By David Sykes
What to do about
cramped and outdated of-
fices and other spaces at
the 118-year-old historic
courthouse in Heppner has
been an on-going topic at
county commissioner meet-
ings for some time, and the
commission recently took
possession of an extensive
120-page report detailing
what to do about it.
The main problem is
the circuit court facilities
at the courthouse have been
deemed outdated and too
small for court business and
proceedings, and after com-
plaints and talks with circuit
court officials, the county
hired nation-wide design
company DLR Group to do
an extensive study on the
current facilities, and what
can be done to alleviate the
problems.
The study came up
with four options to fix the
overcrowding and outdated
facilities.
Option 1 calls for minor
courthouse renovation of
the existing courthouse to
address some circulation,
security, and occupant ame-
nities. It results in a more ef-
ficient use of space but does
not accommodate future
growth or address all of the
current space deficiencies.
Option 2 is a more sub-
stantial interior renovation
of the existing courthouse
to organize its operations
primarily around circuit
court functions. This op-
tion would require county
departments to relocate to
another undetermined lo-
cation or facility.
Option 3 provides a
substantial renovation and
addition to the existing
courthouse to fully accom-
modate court and county
space needs on the existing
courthouse site.
Option 4 provides a
substantial renovation of
the existing courthouse
to organize its operations
primarily around county
functions and builds a new
circuit court facility on a
different site, the location
of which is undetermined.
Cost estimates range
from $7.86 million for ren-
ovation of the courthouse to
$18 million for renovation
plus an addition, and $12.8
million for a replacement
courthouse. The study also
said a seismic upgrade of
the existing courthouse was
necessary at a cost of about
$4.4 million.
Since the circuit court
is a state court system ac-
tivity, commissioners have
learned there is money
available to help with up-
grading and improving the
court portion of any proj-
ing of Jesus Christ in the it has on its citizens.” (Op.
New Testament is com- Cit. Palmer, p. 11) England,
monly known as “Good Australia, New Zealand,
News.” Reminds us of the Canada and the rest of the
encouragement of Doris world are following Eu-
Brosnan’s column, “Good rope to establish radical
News Only.” Never be- authoritarian dictatorships
fore since the victorious under the guise of the Covid
end of the Second World pandemic.
Ok. Where is the good
War has America and the
world more sorely needed news? It is being censored,
“Good News.” Neverthe- rewritten, banned and/or
less, despite every effort, condemned. Our Godly
every vaccine, every new forefathers, the same ones
and more oppressive strat- berated by pro vaccine
egy, the world grows more zealots, blessed America
contentious, more locked with our Constitution, Bill
down, more fearful, more of Rights, Second Amend-
ment and love of the “Good
ominous.
Sports teams across News” of the Gospel of Je-
the western world are ex- sus Christ. No other nation
periencing new Covid out- on earth has the foundation
breaks even though 97 per- of the “Good News” of
cent of these athletes are Jesus Christ to provide a
vaccinated. There is never strong defense against the
a word of explanation in authoritarian tyranny taking
the news, CDC, Dr. Fauci, over the world. Jesus came
Pfizer etc. why these vacci- into the world to save man-
nated athletes are not only kind, not condemn man-
catching but spreading the kind. The Gospel of Jesus
pandemic at a far greater Christ is the “Good News”
rate than the general public. that defeats the coming
Sporting events, theater tyranny of the rising ‘beast’
productions, numerous ven- government of worldwide
ues of compulsory vacci- vaccine mandates.
Trusting the “Good
nated employees have been
postponed or cancelled News” of Jesus Christ can-
because of positive Covid cels and eliminates fear and
infestation, yet the call for doubt. Trusting the Gospel
vaccine passports to protect of Christ establishes hope
the public grows by the day. and faith in the midst of
Some countries in Eu- confusion and anxiety. A
rope “have even banned un- commitment to the “Good
vaccinated from gathering News” of salvation through
in private homes.” (Phila- Jesus Christ establishes
delphia Trumpet, “Lurch power and authority in the
toward Tyranny,” Richard heart and soul of the believ-
Palmer, p. 11, Jan. 22) In er. Trusting in the power of
Austria “The unvaccinated the “Gospel” provides all
can only leave home to buy the armor (Eph. 6:10-17)
essentials, to work, or get required to stand against the
the jab…Police now patrol vaccine mandates and wiles
the streets, demanding to of the devil. The “Good
see the individuals’ vac- News” of Jesus Christ pro-
cination status.” (Op. Cit. claims, “greater is he that is
Palmer, p. 11) In Oct 21 “It- in you than he that is in the
aly became the first coun- world.” (I John 4:4)
The “Good News”
try in the world to require
vaccine passports for its message of Jesus Christ is
entire workforce.” (Op. Cit. our hope and confidence
Palmer, p. 11) “The German against every Covid out-
state of Hesse passed a law break, vaccination mandate
allowing all businesses, and authoritarian power
including supermarkets, to grab. Let us seize the ban-
bar the unvaccinated from ner of liberty and freedom
their premises.” (Op. Cit. promised in the “Good
ect. Commissioner Melissa Palmer, p. 11) “The Euro- News” of the Gospel.
Lindsay recently attended pean Union is also using
Stuart Dick, Irrigon
a meeting with the Oregon
Judicial Department in Sa-
lem where she presented
the county’s new feasibility
study to that group.
Lindsay reported the
information was “well re-
ceived” by the state and the
county should expect some
money to help with con-
struction costs, whichever
option the county chooses.
However, the most the state
will contribute is $1.2 mil-
lion to the renovation. She
said the county has until
January 24 to decide and
then ask the state to partic-
ipate with funding.
Commissioner Don
Russell said there have
been problems with the
circuit court facilities in
Heppner for quite a while
and it will probably take
new construction to fix it.
“It’s hard to remodel an ex-
isting building and get more Friday December 31st
space, and it (circuit court)
needs more space,” Russell
said. “The jury deliberation
room is not big enough. It
wasn’t big enough 25 years
ago,” he emphasized. Rus-
sell urged the commission
to think about the county
facility needs for the next
25 years when making a
decision on what to do.
control over who is coming
in or what they may have
(covid) yet we as free Amer-
ican citizens are supposed
to follow the orders for the
greater good of humanity,
how does that work? Who
in the world gave our gov-
ernment this much control
over our bodies? Why are
they willing to let people
quit their jobs, be forced
from them? Our military
members are starting to be
threatened with discharge if
they don’t receive this shot.
Fifteen percent of our mili-
tary members are willing to
walk away from their career
over this; 210,000 members
(2018-member count) are
willing to leaving their live-
lihood, future benefits over
this. And our government is
sitting there without a care
what that would mean for
your and my safety without
a strong military.
These are scary times,
unknown times, uncertain
times. This is why I started
Freedom of Choice meet-
ings. With all the uncertain-
ties of this world and wait-
ing for “normal” again, we
need to have people around
us, supporting each other as
we navigate this world on a
daily basis, to see a smiling
face and knowing there are
people out there that still
believe in choice. It can
feel very lonely (especially
with division of family and
friends). You are not alone.
And together we can show
support. Join us January 2
at 3 p.m. at Two Old Hags
Pizza. We are all in this to-
gether and we stand united
together. We are here for
everyone.
Staying Loud and
Standing Proud for you
and next to you.
Dawn Brosnan
New Year’s Eve
Steak dinner
potatoes
salad and vegetable
Dinner starts at 6:00 pm.
Elks members and guests only
HEPPNER ELKS 358
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