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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (April 20, 2022)
Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, April 20, 2022 -- THREE ~ Letters to the Editor ~ The Heppner Gazette Times will print all letters to the Editor with the following criteria met: letters submitted to the newspaper will need to have the name of the sender along with a legible signature. We are also requesting that you provide your address and a phone number where you can be reached. The address and phone number will only be used for verification and will not be printed in the newspaper. Letters may not be libelous. The GT reserves the right to edit. 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. Email to editor@rapidserve.net or upload to Heppner.net. Proud to support Morrow County Schools To the editor; Morrow County School District has completed its 5-year long-term facilities planning process, and as a result, has placed Bond Measure 25-87 on the ballot for your consideration this spring. This bond mea- sure will be a long-term investment, create modern learning environments for our students, help to reduce maintenance and energy costs to the district, as well as provide much needed se- curity and safety upgrades. Even though many of the buildings look good on the outside the reality is that we have several over 60 years old, and they simply weren’t built for today’s educational and security needs. An important piece of this, is that as Morrow County continues to grow its tax base, the cost of the bond will decrease for each taxpayer. We saw this with the last bond, which decreased from about $3 per $1,000 of assessed value when the bond was passed to about .85 cents per $1,000 in the last years it was being paid off. Based on the current activity in the county it seems more likely than not that this will hold true once again for this bond measure. I encourage you to do the research yourself to learn exactly how this bond will impact our schools in each of our communities. To learn more please visit the school website at www. morrow.k12.or.us or watch a video at www.yesformor- rowcountyschools.org. The schools have al- ways been a source of pride for our communities, let’s continue that. Please join us in voting yes on Morrow County School Bond Mea- sure 25-87. Steve and Lisanne Currin, Heppner Elect Lindsay for position two To the editor: I support Melissa Lind- say for Morrow County Commissioner, Position #2. She has served exemplary on the county commission for the past six years, and I believe has made decisions and developed policy al- ways in the best interests of all Morrow County cit- izens. She independently researches topics and issues and comes to her own opin- ions as to their merits. No one person or entity directs her in how to vote or what direction to take. She is a fourth gener- ation Morrow County ag family, who, along with her husband, operates a successful combined irri- gated and dryland farming operation. She holds a true passion for Morrow County and exhibits a genuine in- terest in the continued eco- nomic and social success of all Morrow County. Her grandfather, Gar Swanson, was a founding member of the Port of Mor- row. Melissa has served several decades on school and county boards and com- missions, including terms on the Morrow County Planning Commission. Melissa’s experience, integrity, and energy bene- fit all residents of Morrow County. Please join with me in supporting and re-elect- ing Melissa Lindsay as Morrow County Commis- sioner, Position 2. Thomas Wolff, Certified Public Accountant, Heppner More conservative? To the editor; Did you know ... “People say to me ‘don’t you think you’ve gotten more conservative?’ No, I haven’t. The left has gotten goofier, so I seem more conservative, may- be, but it’s not me who changed,” said Bill Maher, ‘before listing progressive talking points he disagrees with, including abolishing the police, excessive gov- ernment spending, the idea that men can be pregnant and that people should free- ly loot stores with minimal punishment,’ according to news journalist Nikolas Lanum. Critical Race Theory is not about getting rid of racism, and judging people by their character and not the color of their skin. It’s about dividing people and telling them white people are inherently racist and op- pressive, and black people are inherently victims and have little or no chance to succeed. The ‘Don’t say Gay’ bill in Florida doesn’t even have the word “gay” in it. It’s also called the ‘Parent’s Rights’ bill in that it blocks sex education from being taught in the schools to children K-3, especially as it relates to gender identifi- cation and homosexuality. Heterosexuality, too. Disney has gone woke. Journalist Christopher F. Rufo obtained a video from Disney’s all-hands meeting where executive producer Latoya Raveneau admits “adding queerness ... wher- ever I could” to children’s programming. “If you see anything queer in the show, no one would stop me,” she said, “and no one was trying to stop me.” Disney has also dropped all mentions of gender in theme parks-no “ladies and gentlemen” or “boys and girls.” Sandra Johnson Heppner Lindsay prioritizes county’s interests To the editor; I am writing this letter in support of the reelection of Melissa Lindsay for Morrow County Commis- sioner. Melissa has shown that she prioritizes the inter- ests of all of Morrow Coun- ty and the people who live here. She understands the importance of business and job growth in the county, whether it be agricultural, data centers, and renewable energy, while understand- ing the responsibility the county has in ensuring that these new businesses pay their fair share of prop- erty tax. It is too easy for some business’s monetary interests to be the prima- ry factor in granting tax breaks to new businesses, to ensure they locate inside the county. Melissa will always try to represent the needs of long standing business sectors in the county in- cluding timber, medical, agriculture, main street, and tourism, and how important it is that we make it possi- ble for them to remain and prosper here. Melissa also under- stands all of the benefits that Morrow County has to offer and will work hard to recruit new businesses to locate here. Being a lifelong resident of the county, she understands the advantages about the area that com- mits people to live here for generations. She is a very sharp business person and is a tough negotiator. I have always found her to be open minded and willing to listen to opposing ideas. Melissa does not show favoritism to one part of the county over another, she tries to do what is best for the entire county. Residents of Morrow County deserve to have commissioners who represent the concerns of the taxpayers who live here, and not a rubber stamp for providing advantages and benefits to only certain businesses in the county. That is why I will be voting for Melissa and encourage you to do the same. John Kilkenny Heppner Being caught in between To the editor: County commissioner at best can still be a chal- lenge and at worst, like being caught between two equally unpleasant courses of action. A good example would be choosing to take the Governors money on the table or accepting the political and financial con- sequences of standing up to a tyrant. I share this analogy because I have been vocal in encouraging our county commissioners to stand up to the dictates of the Gov- ernor that undermine our liberty and our ability to make decisions regarding our personal health and the wellbeing our family and loved ones. In particular my passion on this subject has caused me to challenge Commissioner Melissa Lindsay in this newspaper. I was not looking forward to my next meeting with her. Magnanimity. The defi- nition of magnanimity is “generous or forgiving, especially toward a rival or less powerful person.” A magnanimous person is able to be criticized or offended and neverthe- less retain a generosity of heart. Few people in this world have developed the character to exhibit a mag- nanimous spirit in the face of criticism or opposition. There is no better rea- son to vote for Melissa Lindsay than her magnan- imous spirit. Stuart Dick, Irrigon Reelect Lindsay for Morrow County Commissioner To the editor; Please join us in voting to reelect Melissa Lind- say for Morrow County Commissioner. Melissa has worked tirelessly for the last five and a half years as a Morrow County Commis- sioner; she has been present and committed to the job, spending countless hours representing and working on behalf of the county. Growing up on the fam- ily farm and spending the majority of her adult life here, she understands Mor- row County’s uniqueness, its strengths, weaknesses and its complexities. She is honest, trust- worthy, not afraid to put the work in, and is always striv- ing to do what’s in the best interest for Morrow County and its citizens. She listens, is intelligent, wants to learn about issues, and more importantly. she is willing to ask tough questions in order to find a solution that works. Melissa lives and breathes her commitment which we think makes her an excellent choice for the job of Morrow County Commissioner. Steve and Lisanne Currin, Heppner Support Lindsay for commissioner To the editor: We wholeheartedly support Melissa Lindsay for Commissioner of Morrow County, and here are just a few reasons why. Melissa has already put in six years of very accomplished service to all residents of Morrow County as a commissioner. Her energy and dedication to information gathering is top notch. She attends many local meetings and travels frequently out of the coun- ty to involve herself with issues that can improve Morrow County. She just doesn’t attend meetings; she is often the guiding force in making things hap- pen. She is interested in all parts of the county. If you have listened to her speak at any meeting, you will agree that she is informed, listens and gets things done. Melissa is a leader with the Morrow County Emer- gency Response Govern- ment Command Team and worked tirelessly during the pandemic to keep Morrow County businesses open, wrote testing and vaccine plans, brought OHA and FEMA resources across Morrow County to get and keep in-person learning in our schools. She actively brought testing and vac- cination drive-throughs to clinics in Boardman and Irrigon. As a member of the Regional Solutions Team, Melissa brought a working group together to look at solutions for the Ione waste water system. As a member of the Community Counseling Solutions Advisory Board, Melissa was an active part in bringing a mental health court to Morrow County for those suffering mental health issues that cross over into the judicial system. As a chair, and current- ly vice chair to the county wide Local Public Safety Coordinating Council, Me- lissa solidified funding to help our county be one of the most active in the state dealing with mental health court, housing issues, pub- lic safety issues, a juvenile diversion program, etc. Melissa has worked with Umatilla County to deal with many issues and opportunities where a dual county approach is best. She is a member of the Lower Umatilla Basin Ground- water Management Area Committee that is working to assist the groundwater nitrate issues plaguing parts of our county plus individ- ual wells. Melissa has chaired and is a member of the Military Economic Agri- culture Committee where she works with the Navy, a large landowner in Morrow County. Melissa is working cur- rently with Willow Creek Valley Economic Devel- opment Board and the Port of Morrow to change the Heppner mill site FEMA flood map. Melissa convened and chairs the Morrow County Broadband Team to gain equitable access and educa- tion for high speed internet. Melissa has been elect- ed by state commissioners to serve as treasurer for the Assoc of Oregon Counties. She is admired and respect- ed around the state as a positive force for Morrow County. Join us in electing Me- lissa Lindsay. Thank you for your time. Jim and Monica Swanson, Ione WWW.HEPPNER.NET Submit News, Advertising & Announcements Letters To The Editor Send Us Photos Start A New Subscription ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE: MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M.
