Heppner gazette-times., July 20, 2022, Page 6, Image 6

SIX - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, July 20, 2022
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Doherty responds to recall petition
Shame on commissioners
To the editor;
I have been implored
of recent, to address the po-
tential recall petition, I have
heretofore resisted for fear
of lending it any credence
for, “That which can be
asserted without evidence,
can be dismissed without
evidence.” ~ Hitchens. It
is something though, of
serious institutional conse-
quence, to be reserved for
only unthinkable malfea-
sance. I would never sup-
port such action against any
civil servant in this county.
And make no mistake, it
is less about me and more
about you-or who will fight
for those, who for so long
have had their voices and
very spirit suppressed.
I will not be chastened
on your behalf nor silenced
by those who would have
us continue forward under
a paternalistic oligarchy
of power brokers in this
county. This isn’t about
some petty grievance; this
is dastardly punishment
for standing up for the con-
stituency who duly elected
me. And standing up for
our marginalized public
health staff. This is about
the folks in the county for
once having a conduit to
governance through Com-
missioner Lindsay and I,
and for those who seek
to suppress the people’s
desires.
I will continue to fight
for the sons and daughters
of Irish immigrants qui-
etly tending their cattle in
the brushy draws of Little
Butter Creek, all while
unjustly being inundated
with the massive intrusion
of the B2H infrastructure.
This they are told is in the
name of, “progress” while
receiving a pittance of rec-
ompense for their sacrifice.
Éirinn go Brách
To the editor;
Shame, shame, shame
on the Morrow County
Commissioners who voted
to terminate Darrell Green.
I’ve rarely met a man of
such integrity, intelligence
and gentle temperament.
Darrell successfully headed
a program at Blue Mountain
Community College prior
to his employment as Mor-
row County Administrator
and was influential in help-
ing many, many low-in-
come residents in Morrow
I will vehemently de-
fend the rights and pursuit
of a healthful life, of our
more recent immigrants
from around the world, who
seek not only an elevat-
ed existence in this literal
land of, “milk and honey,”
but are the currency of our
successes. They, and the
longstanding residents of
the county, should nev-
er fear for their health as
they seek sustenance from
our springs. I continue to
grieve with the multitude
of mothers anguishing over
their unborn, folks blessed
with abundance and those
scarcely surviving-that
have lost kidneys and suf-
fered unknowingly over the
years to the toxic consump-
tion of local waters.
When I pressed might-
ily for the recognition that
we must declare an emer-
gency to begin the healing
and for the first time in
thirty years focus on the
community-the compassion
of those with means hung
in the balance. Some were
less kind, preferring to look
away or find fault with their
own inaction, conveyed
only as spite to those of us
leaning in. In short order
though the local titans of
industry, such as Tillamook,
Three Mile Canyon Farms,
and others, along with my
friends Wes Killian (Beef
Northwest) and Jeff Wend-
ler (Three Mile Dairy) fast
recognized that it is not
feasible nor conscionable
to move forward without a
healthy workforce. I bless
them for this introspection
and assistance.
As a measure of my
votes at the county I do so
in an effort that allows me,
in a room full of detractors,
staff and history; to follow a
path, to move forward with
honor and look folks in the
Heppner Market
Fresh apologizes
To the editor;
I would like to address
the situation that occurred
at Heppner Market Fresh on
Saturday, July 17, 2022. It
was brought to my attention
that a petition was being
passed around that caused a
lot of hardship and distress.
First, I want to express
my heartfelt apology, and
that the store had no polit-
ical ties or opinions about
the subject at hand. A long-
time customer approached
me and asked if they could
set up a table. I allowed
it with the understanding
that neither I, nor the store,
would be affiliated with the
subject and that it would not
be disruptive to customers.
My decision to allow
this petition on the store
property was wrong. Hep-
pner Market Fresh has al-
ways intended to keep the
best interest of all our cus-
tomers and we value each
one. After this experience,
we have made the choice to
no longer allow situations
like this to occur again.
I have addressed all
parties and expressed how
sorry I am and there was no
ill will intended.
Amy Patterson
Justice Court Report
Morrow County Justice
of the Peace, Glen Diehl,
has released the following
Justice Court report:
-Frank R. Martineau,
34, Heppner was convicted
of driving uninsured, fine
$265.
-Keith M. Hess, 32,
Heppner, was convicted of
violation of basic rule, fine
$265.
-Jose A. Zamudio, 43,
Hermiston, was convicted
of violation of basic rule,
fine $165.
DEADLINE:
MONDAYS
AT 5PM
-Juvenile, 17, Heppner,
was convicted of violation
of basic rule, fine $165.
-Anthony J. Cook, 26,
Heppner, was convicted of
Trk speed, fine $115.
eye. Of recent consequence
is the culmination of a quest
by our ethnic minority staff,
and others of protected
class, toiling for the coun-
ty-who only ask that they
be treated with respect and
given equal treatment in
fulfillment of their duties.
My dereliction in not act-
ing promptly to rectify
their suffering, drove one
from our midst and weighs
heavy on my conscience. I
sincerely apologize for their
discrimination that went
too far under my watch. In
addition, I will see to it that
those remaining will be cer-
tified and no longer exploit-
ed. I beg your forgiveness.
Le pido perdón
Abraham Lincoln fa-
mously said, “Neither let us
be slandered from our duty
by false accusations against
us, nor frightened from it
by menaces of destruction
to the Government, nor of
dungeons to ourselves. Let
us, to the end, dare to do our
duty as we understand it.”
Will this petition come
to fruition, will I withstand
the effort, I cannot know?
Would I change my votes
knowing that it might, not
on your literal life. What the
formerly powerful fail to
understand, is that the genie
is out of the bottle. Every-
thing, as we move into our
unwritten future, will for-
ever have to go through the
scrutiny of the community,
as it should. Remember, in
the end Braveheart led one
to many charges and died
for the cause but the move-
ment grew, as it will here
too. I will continue to stand
in front of you, beside you
or behind you, rest assured
I stand with you.
Sí se puede
Jim Doherty
Morrow County
Commissioner
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vendetta. For shame.
Doherty and Lindsay
should both be recalled
from office as soon as pos-
sible so they can join Mr.
Green in looking for a new
job, which will now be
more difficult for your ac-
tions. If I were Mr. Green,
I’d hire a good lawyer and
fight this to the end.
Thank you, citizens of
Heppner. As Tammy Wyn-
ette said, “Stand by your
man.”
Matt Henry, Pendleton
Lindsay responds to recall effort
To the editor and voters
of Morrow County;
Corol Mitchell has
chosen to file a recall pe-
tition against me. She was
not able to respond to the
citizens she invited to a
meeting last week to solely
“discuss the details of a
recall,” offer details nor an-
swer the questions. People
are unaware of the amount
of money a special election,
their actions, will cost you
just to take a few weeks
from my service. No spe-
cifics were made available.
Chief Mike Hughes, in
his uniform, acting as if he
was in his official capacity
gave a misleading speech.
I wish to address his com-
ments separately. Actual
facts will come forward
ultimately.
The petition states there
is “County wide disapprov-
al with other government
and charitable organiza-
tions.” I wish to address
here the claims about the
charitable organizations.
When asked what agencies
were being referenced in
the recall petitions Ann
Spicer Kuhn, who led the
meeting and appeared to
speak for both petitions,
stated there were “just a few
Country allows us
freedom
To the editor;
Morrow County citi-
zens, we are so fortunate to
live in a country that allows
us such freedom.
Recently residents of
Morrow County exercised
the freedom to challenge
the actions of two of our
county commissioners, by
way of a recall petition. As
one man said, “The firing of
Administrator Green, was
the last straw.”
Recently I was allowed
to collect signatures out-
side a local business. I was
approached and asked if I
had been given permission
to do so, to which I said
yes. Then I was informed
that that they were going
into the business and have
and Umatilla Counties get
a basic education leading
to employment.
So, commissioners,
what are you really hiding
from the public? You won’t
release the tapes? Why?
Afraid of a Heppner-Gate
revelation of the truth? He
wasn’t approached at the
time of the perceived issue,
whatever it may be? Why?
What corruption on your
end are you trying to cover
up? This situation reeks of
spinelessness and personal
them make me leave. They
did so and proceeded to
cause trouble for the store
with repeated phone calls
and friends sent to intimi-
date me and then proceed
into that store threatening
to take negative actions
against the store if they
didn’t make me leave. I was
not allowed to come back
with my signature sheets.
A similar situation hap-
pened to a circulator of our
petitions in Boardman, by
one phone call. Is this be-
havior what the people of
Morrow County want rep-
resenting us in the future?
To take such disruptive
actions seems to indicate
that they don’t trust the
voters to make a decision
of their liking.
My hope is that they
will honor the right of the
people to be heard and al-
low the democratic process
to go on without disruption.
Corol Mitchell
agencies” we have talked
to, “several-not a lot” than
listed only; “The Neigh-
borhood Center, Boardman
Food Bank, Irrigon” cen-
ter. She further stated as a
recallable offense that we
did not assist with “getting
volunteers” to work and
“did not respond.”
First I say thank you
to these organizations and
apologize that your work
is part of these conversa-
tions. These organizations
are extremely important in
Morrow County. I am very
proud and thankful for the
volunteer work that they
do, tirelessly for our com-
munities. I commend their
efforts. The South Mor-
row Neighborhood Center,
Boardman Food Bank and
Irrigon Emergency Services
boards and volunteers are
a crucial resource to our
communities.
I am consistently ad-
vocated to seek money;
food delivery and services
to support these organiza-
tions. To name just a few
of my efforts; I am serving
on the CAPECO (Com-
munity Action Program of
Eastern Central Oregon)
Board, I have chaired the
Local Public Safety Coor-
dinating Council for several
years and participate on the
state level Association of
Counties Public Safety and
Human Resources steering
committees. In these roles
I am able to actively advo-
cate for resources. I have
actively brought needed
money at crucial times.
Commissioner Doherty
responded to the Board-
man Food Bank needs by
bringing forth to the board
of commissioners a request
for $100,000 toward pur-
chasing a necessary build-
ing to house their work. I
was pleased to support this
with a yes vote. We further
advocated together, under
his lead, at the state level,
AOC and at CAPECO for
assistance as this was the
first food bank in Board-
man. Proud work.
If people could inves-
tigate these claims, they
would find that the only
question to my service was
my inability to attend all
board meetings and not
assisting with locating vol-
unteers. When time allows
I do attend these meetings
of the board of directors as
courtesy. Prior to COVID,
my time was much freer.
These are well run organi-
zations with active boards,
they don’t need a commis-
sioner’s oversight. They
need money and resources.
I review their financials and
minutes after every meeting
and take away items that
could lead to my being an
asset in advocacy. I am not
duty bound as a commis-
sioner to locate volunteers
for any organization which
makes this completely as-
tounding to me to be stated
in a recall meeting as reason
to try and shame my work.
I have located, advo-
cated and delivered thou-
sands of dollars to these
organizations in my tenure
as commissioner, above
and beyond budget asks.
This is where I believe my
work is best served. Voters
should decide if this is a fair
reason for the additional
expense and efforts for a
recall, and if it is how they
want the time resources of
their county commissioners
allocated. Knowing the
demands of the job and
the range of commitment
an active commissioner
can make, as I have been, I
would not change the focus
and the work I have done
supporting these organiza-
tions. I am hopeful that my
local volunteerism speaks
for itself, and before you
sign the petition, please ask
more questions.
Melissa Lindsay
Quick response saved
husband
To the Editor:
On the evening of July
6 (2021) my husband was
on our roof trimming a
branch off our tree. While
doing so, he lost his balance
and fell off our roof. Thank
god I was home and found
him right away, unrespon-
sive. I immediately dialed
911 and shortly after our
local Boardman fire fight-
ers, police officers and am-
bulance arrived. Due to the
fall Josh broke all his left
ribs, punctured his left lung,
was bleeding internally,
hurt his neck, back, broke
the bone under both eyes
and his brain was bleeding
on both sides and (he) had
major wounds on his head
and ear. Immediately the
EMTs and fire department
worked together to stabilize
Josh, keep him breathing
and transported him to the
nearby soccer field to be life
flighted. If it wasn’t for all
of them being present and
working together to save
my husband’s life, he would
no longer be here.
Their quick response,
knowledge and teamwork
has a lot to do with Josh
still being alive. If the fire
department wasn’t present
on that day to help and
assist and help transfer my
husband in the ambulance,
I don’t think he would be
alive. Boardman needs the
fire department to be able to
assist and be present when
there is an EMS call. I am
concerned that if that is no
longer an option, we are
going to lose many lives
when there is an emergency
like the one I had on July 6.
I can’t even put into
words how grateful and
thankful I am for our local
fire department, police de-
partment and EMTs being
present on that horrific day.
Thanks to them I still have
husband and my children
still have their father.
(s) Rocio Macias
(s) Josh Koertje