TWO - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, May 18, 2022
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.
A View from the Green
Over the Tee Cup
The Willow Creek
Country Club ladies held
their weekly playday on
May 10, a cool and breezy
day. Virginia Grant took
low gross of the field and
Corol Mitchell took low
net. Pat Edmundson and
Sharon Harrison tied for
least putts.
Tiffany Clement took
low gross for flight A, Pat
Dougherty for flight B and
Kris Linder for flight C.
Jean Creswick took low net
for flight C as well as KP.
Corol Mitchell also had
KP for flight A and Sharon
Harrison for flight B.
Heppner cracks
down on dogs at
large
After multiple com-
plaints about dogs running
free, barking and owners
failing to clean up animal
waste, the city of Heppner
will begin to focus on en-
forcing the dog ordinances.
Dogs are not permitted
at any time to run at large
anywhere out of doors in
the city. This regulation
applies to all public places
and to all private property.
A dog may be left unat-
tended out of doors in a
yard if there is a fence that
will prevent the dog from
leaving the yard. A dog run-
ning at large is considered
a nuisance. Any unlicensed
dog caught while running
at large will be taken to Pet
Rescue. It is also unlawful
to allow an animal to dis-
turb people who are in the
vicinity through continued
noise and loud barking.
Either of these offenses can
incur a $265 fine.
It is unlawful for an
owner or keeper to allow a
dog to deposit solid waste
on any property other than
that of the person con-
trolling the animal. If the
person controlling the ani-
mal promptly removes the
solid waste the offense is
not finable.
Citizens concerned
about nuisance animals in
their neighborhoods are
encouraged to contact the
Morrow County Sheriff’s
Office.
“The City of Heppner
fully supports pet owners.
We just ask that you control
your pet to help us maintain
a healthy town for all of the
citizens’ enjoyment,” Hep-
pner’s city manager Kraig
Cutsforth told the Gazette.
The city also reminds
residents that all dogs over
the age of six months old
are required to be licensed
by March 31 annually.
Justice Court Report
Morrow County Justice of the Peace, Glen Diehl, has
released the following Justice Court report:
-Tina R. Wierman, 25, Richland, WA, was convicted
of violation of basic rule, fine $100.
-Kannon M. Wilkins, 20, Heppner, was convicted
of violation of basic rule, fine $265 and failure to carry
proof of insurance, fine $265.
WWW.HEPPNER.NET
Submit News, Advertising & Announcements
Letters To The Editor
Send Us Photos
Start A New Subscription
Good News Only
By Doris Brosnan
Rumor control.. Yes,
the Sykes are selling their
building, which holds the
Gazette Times office and
two other spaces on Wil-
low Street. No, they are
not selling the business.
Their paper office is going
to relocate, in Heppner.
Straight from the mouth of
Dave Sykes.
When I adopted “Katie,
the melancholy collie,” she
seemed new to the concept
of taking walks but quickly
caught on, now paces if she
thinks the time is right and I
am not ready to go. On the
10 th , we walked for about
an hour, beginning at 8 a.m.
At about 10, I drove to Les
Schwab to get winter tires
removed/replaced. I re-
turned home, began moving
tires from my SUV in the
garage to the storage shed in
the back yard, with garage
door open to the driveway.
Katie loitered. I spotted her
at the front of the house
after tire one. Checked for
her after tire two. No Ka-
tie. Soon I was calling and
looking down the nearby
alley, at the house above
us. No Katie. Mindy called
from City Hall, “Katie is
at Les Schwab and Trina
has gone after her.” As I
headed out the door, son
Damon called to report
that Katie was spotted at
Les Schwab. I walked, with
leash, to city hall. Katie
had not cooperated. (She
is shy.) She was pacing in
Les Schwab lobby while the
kind-hearted staff were say-
ing sweet things to her as
they noted that she seemed
to be afraid. (She is not
only shy but also terrified of
hard floors.) Soon after our
return home, my grandson
Conor called to report that
someone had seen Katie
at Les Schwab…. I real-
ly appreciate everyone’s
kindness and help in getting
us together again. Lessons
learned.
Jan Huddleston shares
that Heppner had a special
visitor last Wednesday.
Jim Ackley was a favorite
teacher, mentor and friend
to many students in the 70s
and 80s. He started his ca-
reer in Heppner as the band
teacher in the fall of 1973,
after his band, “Thirteenth
Story,” had been hired the
previous spring by the ju-
nior class to play at the
prom. He interviewed for
the job the same day he
played for the prom. “I’m
sure his music helped land
the job.” While living in
Heppner, he started the
“Jim Ackley Band” with
hometown locals. “We had
some great dances with
this group.” There was a
fun gathering Wednesday
at Bucknum’s with former
students, band members
and fellow teachers. It had
been forty years since he
moved from Morrow Coun-
ty and over ten years since
his last visit. He resides in
Molalla, where he grew up,
but he has always consid-
ered Heppner his second
hometown.
Another familiar face
from when she had a busi-
ness on Main Street and her
husband, Don, was super-
intendent of the Morrow
County Schools. Carolyn
Cole was here for a visit on
Monday. Carolyn took Bev
Sherman to lunch at Buck-
num’s before they enjoyed
a leisurely stroll through
downtown.
Last Friday three cou-
ples met for a joy filled eve-
ning of dinner and visiting
in the Heppner Elks din-
ing room. Earl and Peggy
Fishburn, Ralph and Sally
Walker and John and Pat
Edmundson met for a cele-
bration of Earl and Peggy’s
58 th wedding anniversary
and Sally’s birthday. (Sal-
ly’s birth year is confiden-
tial information..)
Just returning from a
week-long, 2480-mile road
trip, Martha and Maureen
Doherty (the M&Ms) report
that they had a high time in
Colorado. First to Fraser,
a skiing area now touting
the vistas and hiking day
trips they enjoyed. Then
on to Denver, to visit and
lunch with brother Roger
and his wife, Eileen, and,
from Golden, Cousin Jim
Doherty and his wife, Pam,
and their two daughters.
Martha especially enjoyed
giving Jim a boxful of mil-
itary memorabilia and doc-
uments that belonged to his
father, Paul.
Last Friday was prom
night in Heppner and Ione.
Hopefully, the young at-
tendees had a fun evening.
Rare opportunity to don
some suits and tuxedoes
and some gorgeous evening
gowns, as well as patience
with photo ops, practice of
social graces, and remem-
bering to thank the sponsors
of the event and the chap-
erones. (Yes, these last two
come from my “grandma”
vault.)
Kudos to the recently
announced winners of the
Morrow County schools
math contest: Charles Mul-
lins (son of Shaun and Ja-
mie) and Jasper Hanna (son
of Jason and Linsey) won
the fourth-grade level, and
Elizabeth Finch (daughter
of Tripp and Julia) won the
eighth-grade competition.
School spring sporting
events are winding down.
And congratulations go
out to the many students
who give their all to their
teams as they go up against
some tough competitors.
The HHS boys’ golf team
was competing at the state
competition in Banks when
this column had to be sub-
mitted. Going to state track
competition in Eugene this
weekend will be 11 HHS
competitors.
The Town and Country
banquet will be this Thurs-
day at Gilliam and Bisbee’s
with tickets available at the
chamber office and at Mur-
ray’s. Opportunity for an
“Evenings with the Stars,”
prime-rib dinner by Alvin,
and witnessing the intro-
ductions of the individuals
recognized this year for
their contributions to the
institutions and systems
so important to Heppner’s
vitality.
Remember, this Friday
will be opening day of the
city’s ten-day access to its
Riverside Street yard for
debris. A great opportunity
to spring-clean our yards
and easily dispose of the
burnable rubbish. We can
also take unwanted items
there, to a huge container
trailer, with some restric-
tions.
The public works crew
has three recently hired
members helping with the
challenge of keeping Hep-
pner looking good and run-
ning smoothly: Dave Ginn,
Annabelle McDaniel and
Darren Dyer. Chad Doherty
and Caleb McDaniel com-
plete the crew. We can help
a wee bit with their efforts,
of course, by not littering
and by disposing of some-
one else’s litter when we
see it.
Cori Jo Lindsay
(daughter of Joe and Le-
anne) becomes Cinderella
next week, as she stars
in the ballet production
at the Vert Auditorium in
Pendleton. Also appearing
on stage will be Sophie
Qualls (daughter of John
and Doashea). Tickets will
be available at the box
office for the 7 p.m. perfor-
mances on the 26 th and 27 th
and the 2 p.m. performance
on the 28 th .
Thanks to our contrib-
utors. Reading positive,
sometimes amusing, tid-
bits can brighten a day, so
everyone is urged to send
or call in a brightener for
next week: dbrosnan123@
gmail.com or 541-223-
1490. Here’s hoping that
some good news comes to
everyone reading this.
County hires own lawyer for enterprise zone
- Amazon negotiations
By David Sykes
government law attorney
Morrow County has Alan Rappleyea of Hills-
decided to hire its own boro with commissioner
attorney for representa- Don Russell voting against,
tion during upcoming tax saying they should rely
abatement negotiations be- on the CREZ attorney for
tween Amazon Inc and the advice during negotiations.
Columbia River Enterprise Doherty said he did not
Zone (CREZ), county com- think it unusual for the
missioners decided last county to have its own
week.
lawyer, stating he would
Amazon has presented “be surprised” if the Port
plans to locate five new of Morrow and the City of
data centers near
Boardman, which
Boardman, causing
are also part of the
the CREZ board, of
CREZ board, had
which the county is
not had their attor-
a member, to begin
neys already look-
negotiating with
ing at the enterprise
the company on tax
zone “stuff.” At a
abatement deals. The
recently held first
CREZ has its own
negotiation session
Atty Alan
attorney, however, Rappleyea
between CREZ and
at least two com-
Amazon the compa-
missioners want the county ny presented its tax abate-
to have its own separate ment proposal to the CREZ
representation in the nego- board, however, it was done
tiations.
in executive session and so
Commissioners Jim far, that proposal has not
Doherty and Melissa Lind- been made public.
say voted in favor of hiring
In arguing to hire the
county’s own representa-
tion, Doherty said in past
negotiations the CREZ II
lawyer and county counsel
Justin Nelson have had
legal disagreements. “The
enterprise zone attorney
had one opinion and county
council had a completely
different one,” Doherty re-
called. He said if the county
had followed the CREZ
attorney’s advice it would
“not have been good.” “I’m
not looking to undermine
anything they are doing,”
he said of the CREZ. “But
I would be surprised if
the city (Boardman) and
port attorneys haven’t been
looking at it.” Lindsay said
she didn’t see this as an
argument but rather a com-
pliment to negotiations.
“The more eyes the better.”
However, it may end
up with the CREZ and the
county presenting compet-
ing tax abatement deals to
Amazon for consideration.
The county has its own
tax abatement program
called the Strategic Invest-
ment Program (SIP) of
which all the large energy
companies in the county
such as the wind, solar and
gas-powered generating
plants currently use. Those
SIP agreements were all
negotiated by the county
and the money from those
deals flows directly into
county coffers and not to
the CREZ.
Doherty said he has
already “reached out” to
Amazon about possibly us-
ing a SIP agreement for tax
abatement instead of uti-
lizing the enterprise zone,
as they have for all their
previous data farms. “They
are ambivalent. They just
want abatement,” he told
the other commissioners.
Under the approved
agreement the county
will pay Rappleyea up to
$10,000 to represent them
between now and January
1, 2023, at the rate of $250
per hour with $50 per hour
travel time. On his web site
Rappleyea says he has been
an “Oregon government
lawyer for 30 years work-
ing for counties and cities.
County counsel for Wash-
ington County and Crook
Counties and city attorney
for the city of Beaverton. I
was a certified planner and
planning director for Crook
County and experienced in
all aspects of land use from
applications to appeals,
with years of experience
in all areas of government
law,” the website says.