TWO - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, January 26, 2022
The Official Newspaper
of the City of Heppner and the County of Morrow
Heppner
GAZETTE-TIMES
Obituaries
Marvin Dean Way
M arv in Dean Way Lexington; a daughter, Lou
passed away peacefully at Ann and two sons, Bruce
Morrow County’s Home-Owned Weekly Newspaper
his home in Stanfield, Or- and Mark.
SEARCH OLD COPIES OF THE HEPPNER GAZETTE-TIMES ON-LINE: egon on January 20, 2022,
He worked at the
http://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/
at the age of 92. He was Kinzua Corporation lum-
born November 30, 1929, ber mill in Heppner and
Published weekly by Sykes Publishing and entered as periodical matter at the Post
in Heppner, OR. He was the for ODOT until his retire-
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
ment. Marvin was a
ninth of ten children
(541) 676-9211. E-mail: editor@rapidserve.net or david@rapidserve.net. Web site:
member of the Odd-
born
to
Daniel
and
www.heppner.net. Postmaster send address changes to the Heppner Gazette-Times,
fellows IOOF lodge
Iva Vinson Way of
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
and the VFW.
Lexington.
subscriptions.
Marvin en-
Marvin
enlisted
David Sykes ..............................................................................................Publisher
joyed the outdoors
in the Army after
Bobbi Gordon................................................................................................ Editor
Giselle Moses.........................................................................................Advertising
throughout his life
high school and was
Marvin Dean
All News and Advertising Deadline is Monday at 5 p.m.
and many a family
an
MP
in
the
Korean
For Advertising: advertising deadline is Monday at 5 p.m. Cost for a display ad is $5.25 per
Way
member has a wood-
Conflict.
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.
en clock that he skill-
Marvin took
For Public/Legal Notices: public/legal notices deadline is Monday at 5 p.m. Dates for publi-
over the Way family farm fully crafted just for them.
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
in Lexington after returning He was an avid fan of youth
specified if required).
from active duty where he sports and could, more
For Obituaries: Obituaries are published in the Heppner GT at no charge and are edited to
grew hay and raised cattle. often than not, be found at-
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
He married Norma Ann tending a local high school
for the obituary.
Robinson on September sporting event. He excit-
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
1, 1961, and their family edly looked forward to the
number for use by the GT office. The GT reserves the right to edit letters. The GT is not
grew. They raised their yearly Vinson/Way family
responsible for accuracy of statements made in letters. Any letters expressing thanks will
three children on the farm in reunion, where one could
be placed in the classifieds under “Card of Thanks” at a cost of $10.
hear his boisterous laugh
and many a reminiscent tale
about some member of the
family’s exploits. He never
met a stranger he didn’t
already know.
Marvin was preceded
in death by his parents; his
By David Sykes
power line scheduled to 100 feet on either side of the wife and his brothers and
Leonard Van Buren begin construction next power lines that can cause sisters, June, Stanley, Max-
owns property in the But- year. (See related story, problems for property own- ine, Zelma, Joseph, Claude,
tercreek area of Morrow pg.1) Idaho Power, along ers. “The power companies Bertin, Kenneth and Asa.
He is survived by his
County, and he is adamant with two partners, is behind will tell you they have a dis-
about not wanting high the new power line, which charge ground to take care daughter, Lou Ann Way of
voltage power lines from the company says is needed of the problem, but they Vancouver, WA, and her
the Boardman to Hemming- not only to service its cus- don’t put them in,” he says. son, James; and his two
way project (B2H) being tomer base but also collect
Van Buren says another sons, Bruce and his wife
placed over his property. He and distribute renewable problem with power lines Charlene of Boise, ID and
has negative experiences energy being generated in over the property is when their daughters, McKenzie
living under similar power the western states.
crews come out to check and Morgan; and Mark and
lines in Washington to back
Van Buren, who has or work on the lines, they his wife Robin of Stanfield,
up that opinion.
ranch land outside Pasco drive ATVs that bring in OR.
As per Marvin’s wishes
Van Buren lives on land under similar power lines is noxious weeds. “People
outside Pasco, Washington, against the route in Morrow are bringing in yellow star no funeral services will be
that already has similar County that would see sim- thistle on their 4x4s, and we held and any gathering in
high-voltage power lines, ilar power lines built over didn’t have that before,” he his memory will be with-
held until Covid restrictions
and he says they are noth- his property. He says when relates.
ing but trouble. “When the working on his Washing-
Another knock against are relaxed. Because of his
wind starts blowing those ton cattle ranch the fences the proposed B2H power love of the outdoors his
lines will arc,” he says. below the lines become line location, Van Buren family suggests that you
“And when they arc they so charged with electricity says, is yes, landowners plant a tree in his memory.
Please share memories
start fires a couple of times he can’t touch them with- will be paid a one-time
a year” on his property out getting shocked. “I easement fee, but if a wind of Marvin with his family
under the lines. “The wind sometimes have to stand company wants to locate at burnsmortuaryhermis-
doesn’t have to blow much in plastic buckets to keep on your property they can’t ton.com. Burns Mortuary
to cause the arcing,” he from getting bit,” he says. because the lines will be in of Hermiston is in care of
adds. He also says once the A lot of his fencing was put the way. He says there is arrangements.
volunteer fire department in before the power lines currently a MET tower on
gets on the scene to fight went up.
his property and maybe a
the fires, they have to stay
Around his place, any- potential windmill site he
a certain distance away to thing that is metal can get could miss out on if the
keep the firemen from get- “hot” and produce a shock, power line is located there.
ting electrocuted.
including irrigation pipe, Wind measuring towers,
Currently leasing out which he says will act as sometimes called meteoro-
On Thursday, January
his Morrow County farm a lightning rod, and farm logical evaluation towers 20, the Oregon Department
ground, last week Van Bu- equipment. If equipment (MET) are used to verify of Education released grad-
ren attended a meeting of is too close to the lines, the wind characteristics at uation rates for the 2020-21
the Morrow County Com- he says they will drain the a potential site for a wind graduating class.
missioners called to discuss batteries in the vehicles. farm.
Over the past 11 years
the 290-mile long B2H Van Buren says it’s around
MCSD has seen a 20 per-
cent increase in graduation
rates going from 76 percent
in 2011-12 to 96.32 percent
for 2020-21. The most re-
cent rate is more than 15
percentage points higher
than the 20-21 Oregon state
rate, which is 80.63 percent.
Superintendent Dirk Dirk-
sen attributes the continued
improvement in graduation
rates to a shift in culture
and a commitment by the
adults in Morrow County
to support students in in-
novative ways. This can
be seen with commitment
Advantage Dental
Mid Columbia Bus
East Oregon Workforce
from families, wraparound
Sykes Publishing
Affordable Family Eyewear
Mid Columbia Title Co.
Board
Sykes Real Estate
program support, STEAM
Allstott Construction
Miller & Sons Excavating
Ellsworth Real Estate Fund
Tacos Hometown
Amazon
Morrow County School District
Finley Buttes Landfill
programs, internships, and
The Cell Fix
AmeriTitle
Morrow County
Flood Town Books
The Hen House Airbnb
Frank & Cara Osmin
Apex Outdoors
Morrow County Fair & Rodeo
early college programs.
The Lube Shop
Gar Aviation
B.P.O.E.
Morrow County Grain Growers
The Swanson Insurance Group
For the graduating class
Gateway Cafe
Bailey Heavy Equipment Repair
Morrow County Health Dist.
The Woolery Project
Gentry Homes
Balm Fork Lodge
Morrow County Museum
Thomas F. Wolff CPA
of 2021 in particular it is
Gorge Networks
Bank of Eastern Oregon
Morrow County Parks
Tom Denchel Ford
important to highlight that
Training & Employment Consort.
Green Feed and Seed
BMCC
Morrow County Sheriff Dept.
TREO Ranches
Grieb Farms
Blue Mountain Investment
Morrow County Veterans
MCSD was able to main-
Triangle Ranch
Haigh Heating & Cooling
Brannon's Auto Repair
Morrow Development Corp
Turner
Ranch
tain either limited in-per-
Hair Expressions
Breaking Grounds Coffee
Morrow Livestock Growers.
Upper Place Concessions
Heppner Auto Parts
Browne House Coffee
Morrow SWCD
son
or in-person learning
USFS- Heppner
Heppner Christian Church
Bucknum's
Murray's Drugstore
Wheatland Insurance
in
their
high schools for
Heppner Community
Buckshot
Neighborhood Center
Wheatridge Wind
Foundation
Butter Creek Cattle Company
Northwest Farm Credit Services
Wildhorse
the
majority
of the school
Heppner Daycare
CB's Portable Restrooms
Northwestern Motel
Wilkinson Ranch
year
last
year.
In-person
Heppner Gazette Times
Cell Fix
O So Kleen
Willow Creek Assisted Living
U.S.P.S. 240-420
Washington man relates
problems with living under
high voltage power lines
Norma Rae French
Norma Rae French was Heppner and she enjoyed
born May 29, 1926, to Net- learning and playing golf,
tie (Crawford) and Edgar attending the morning cof-
Denton at home in Promise fee sessions downtown,
(Wallowa County), Oregon; and becoming involved in
the tenth of eleven children. community activities.
Norma had a beautiful
She died on January 13,
2022, at Pioneer Memorial soprano voice and loved
Nursing Home in Heppner, to sing, which led her to
become a member of the
OR.
Norma spent her early Condon High School Glee
club, St. Patrick’s
childhood attending the
church choir and
country school in Prom-
a singing group in
ise. Her family moved to
Heppner known
Milton-Freewater, then
as the Sentimen-
to Condon, OR where
talists. She was
she attended high school
also a member
graduating in 1946. She
was a cheerleader in Norma Rae of St. Patrick’s
altar society and
Condon, met a football French
taught youth reli-
player named Raymond
from Heppner and they gious instruction for many
began dating. Raymond years.
Norma dedicated time
graduated, enlisted in the
US Navy; and their ro- to serving the livestock
mance continued while he industry, becoming presi-
was serving his country. dent of the Morrow County
Raymond was discharged Cowbelles and a district
from the service, returned vice president in the Or-
home and they were mar- egon State Cowbelles, an
ried October 26, 1946. They organization later known as
were preparing to celebrate Oregon Cattlewomen.
Norma enjoyed social
their 75 th wedding anniver-
sary when Raymond passed gatherings and loved visit-
away. They did however re- ing with relatives, friends
ceive a Papal Blessing from and neighbors earning her
the Pope and a certificate the honor of a Proclamation
from the Vatican acknowl- on her seventieth birthday
edging their dedication and declaring May 29, 1996,
as “Norma French Day”
devotion to each other.
Norma and Raymond in Heppner. She, along
spent their first year of with Raymond, received a
marriage at Vinson, OR second honor being named
before moving to his child- grand marshals of the annu-
hood home on Big Butter al St. Patrick’s Day parade
Creek for the next 33 years in 2020.
Norma is survived by
building a cattle ranch and
raising their three daugh- her three daughters, Karen
ters. During this time on Wood (Joe) of Tigard, OR;
the ranch, Norma became Verina Schiller (Tony) of
famous for her homemade Round Rock, TX and Susan
yeast rolls and pies fresh French (Matthew Gree-
from the oven. Many men nup) of Heppner; sisters-in
crossing her table at brand- law, Dorothy O’Rourke of
ing time were privileged Pendleton, OR and Fran-
to enjoy her cooking and cine Evans of Irrigon, OR;
hospitality. She became a nine grandchildren; thir-
self-taught, experienced teen great-grandchildren
seamstress, making every- and numerous nieces and
thing from curtains to prom nephews. She is preceded
dresses for her daughters. in death by her husband,
They eventually retired Raymond; parents, Nettie
from ranching, moved to and Edgar; four brothers;
six sisters and brother-in-
law, Joe French.
A joint funeral service
for Norma and Raymond is
planned for later this spring.
Condolence messages may
learning provided students be sent to the Norma French
continued opportunities to family, c/o Susan French,
connect with teachers and 84176 French Lane, Hep-
move forward with their pner, OR 97836.
Memorial contribu-
graduation requirements.
Graduation rates bro- tions may be made to Pi-
ken down by individual oneer Memorial Nursing
MCSD high schools in- Home, PO Box 9, Heppner,
cluded Irrigon Jr/Sr High, OR 97836 or St. Patrick’s
98.21 four-year rate and Church, PO Box 633, Hep-
100 four-year completer pner, OR 97836.
rate; Heppner Jr/Sr High,
100 for both four-year rate
and four-year completer
rate; Morrow Education
YOUR AD
Center, 87.5 four-year rate
COULD
and 93.75 four-year com-
pleter rate; Riverside, 100
BE
for both’ and district, 96.32
four-year rate and 97.55
HERE!
four-year completer rate.
Superintendent Dirk
Dirksen said that gradua-
Call
tion is always the goal for
each student in Morrow
541-676-9228
County School District. “I
know that the staff in all
Or Email
the buildings have put in
a lot of effort over the last
graphics@rapidserve.net
three years in particular,
working with students and
families on an individual
We also offer
level to help them succeed
while dealing with the chal-
design and
lenges we are facing with
COVID,” Dirksen said.
printing services
MCSD celebrates
graduation growth
Heppner Market Fresh
Christian Life Center
Heppner Seventh Day
Circle K-Devin oil
Adventist
City of Heppner
Heppner United Methodist
CMG Financial
Hermiston Luxury Bus
Columbia Basin Electric
Columbia Basin Heating/Cooling Hopeful Saints Ministry
Columbia Development Auth. Horseshoe Hereford Ranch
Hughes Ranch
Community Counseling Solution
Intermountain ESD
Connected Professionals CPA
JAG Journey
Craig Miles Farm
Jay Coil Fabricating
Creekside Ranch
John & Pat Edmundson
Dale & Sheryll Bates
Kilkenny Ranch
Daniel Van Schoiack CPA
Kuhn Law Offices
Dennis Wiser Technology
Les Schwab
Dickenson Chiropractic
Lexington Pump
Domestic Violence Services
Life Defined by Light
Doris brosnan
Lindsay Ranch
East Oregonian
M Technology Solutions
East Oregon Business Source
Oregon Trail Library
Oregon Trail Pro Rodeo
OSU Extension
Perk & Brews
Petersons Jewelers
Pettyjohn's Supply
Pioneer Memorial Therapy
Port of Morrow
Portland General Electric
SAGE Center
Sharon Harrison
Silvercreek Contracting
Slim's Place Airbnb
St. Patrick's Catholic Church
Statewide Publishing
Steve's Guide Service
Studio 6 Designworks
SweenEy Mortuary
Willow Creek Country Club
Willow Creek Energy/ Invenergy
Willow Creek Park District
Willow Creek Economic Development Group
Windwave Communications
Print & Mailing Services
*Design *Print
Chamber of Commerce Board 2022
Andy Fletcher-President
Kim Cutsforth- First Vice President
Matt Combe-Second Vice President
Tawny Miles -Treasurer
Jeff Bailey-Director
Kraig Cutsforth-Director
John Gould -Director
Amy Wolters-Director
Sykes Publishing
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Heppner Gazette-Times
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