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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 17, 2022)
Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, August 17, 2022 -- THREE Spiritually Speaking Enter through the narrow gate By Fr. Thankachan Joseph Christ warned His contemporaries not to pin their hopes of salvation on the mere fact that they were members of God’s Chosen People. He urged them to make their way in “by the narrow gate.” Fr. Thankachan Joseph He meant they should deny themselves and strive, by the grace of God, to live good lives, live by the values of the Kingdom. We should rely on God’s gratuitous love for us, and our whole aim should be to return that love. This Sunday, the church reminds us that the Lord will gather not only Jews and Christians unto himself at the feast of His Kingdom. He will also gather people from all nations, all those who are willing to submit to His loving care. The readings of this Sunday bear a very strong mes- sage of hope, of the reunion and restoration of the people of God. The prophet Isaiah (66:18-21) is about the return of God’s people to Jerusalem. It assures us that God will be ready to fulfil His promises to us. The prophet makes three prominent points to reflect and meditate upon: God will soon fulfil His promise of restoring us to Himself, to show His saving power; God’s purpose for this gathering and for every work He does is for the glory of His name; and God will also make us His ambassadors to other na- tions. He promises thus: “I will give them a sign and send some of their survivors to the nations…that have never heard of me or seen my glory.” This also underscores the missionary dimension of our baptismal call. God initiates it and then uses us to accomplish it. “Go out to the whole world and proclaim the good news.” This good news is that God will restore our lost glory, for the sake of His own glory. The reading from Hebrews 12:5-7,11-13 reminds us that obedience and discipline will help us respond and effectively return to the Lord. The path to this return will definitely not be an easy one. We shall encounter thorns and pains. As a loving father, God will also rebuke and discipline us. However, this is to correct and guide us through the right path. I was reminded of William Shake- speare’s Hamlet, wherein he writes, “Sometimes, I must be cruel, in order to be kind.” As a loving father, this is the way God also handles us at times. He is the potter, and we are the clay. He crushes, treats us hard, and finally molds us into a beautiful shape (Jer 18: 1-17). So, we must learn to endure as Christ did through His suffering and death on the cross (Phil 2, 4). This is important if we are to witness the glory of God. Success is achieved through hard work and hard work through discipline and obedience. Luke 13:22-30 begins with the question-answer format in which Jesus answers a very difficult question: “Sir, will there be only a few saved?” His response is very simple and intelligent: “Try your best to enter by the nar- row door… Rather than occupy oneself with arguments about the number of those to be saved, it is better to work hard in order to be saved.” Through this, Christ reminds us that the invitation to His feast is open to all. However, each person must struggle to be there. We must play well the roles entrusted to us. This is the only way we can be guaranteed a place in the feast of the Kingdom of God. Today’s Gospel invites every one of us: If you want to be saved, enter by the narrow door. The gate is open. Free entry. No formalities, no restrictions, no bribes, taxes, watchmen, guards. But the gate of His cross is narrow. He came to open the gates of heaven. Whether we want to enter depends on us. He gives us the freedom to accept or reject this invitation. Not by judging salvation by someone’s bank account, external appearance, position of importance, etc., God goes by the size of your heart, your love, your generosity, the quality of your character. God says that in heaven we take no body by color, size or shape. God wants all people to be saved, to be happy with Him forever. People of every place and time have repeated the question: How can I be saved and reach heaven? The answer is found in the words of Christ: “Seek first the kingdom of God and all the rest will follow.” Electric Co-Op seeks director nominations Columbia Basin Elec- tric Cooperative has opened nominations for three direc- tor’s positions in zones two, five and six. All are for three year terms. Zone No. 2: That terri- tory served or to be served by the Cooperative within the incorporated city limits of Heppner, Oregon. Zone No. 5: That terri- tory served or to be served by the Cooperative lying South of the Township line dividing Township 2 South and 3 South and East of the Morrow-Gilliam County line and in Wheeler County that area East of the range line between Range 24 East and 25 East. Zone No. 6: That terri- tory served or to be served by the Cooperative within the incorporated city limits of Condon, Oregon. The members of the nominating committee are Jeff Bailey, Heppner (541- 676-5969) for Zone 2; Ros- coe Qualls, Heppner (541- 676-9705) for Zone 5 and Frank Bettencourt, Condon (541-384-2420) for Zone 6. The nominating com- mittee will accept nomina- tions up to and including the last day of August 2022. Nominees must be mem- bers of Columbia Basin Electric Cooperative, Inc. and they must reside in, and receive electrical service in, the zone in which they will be running. Safety, schools primary focus As communities are getting ready for the up- coming school year, safety remains a primary focus for school leaders and law en- forcement across Morrow County. On August 8, Morrow County agencies partici- pated in a regional School Security Summit hosted by the Intermountain ESD in Pendleton. School admin- istrators from Morrow and Ione school districts, along with representatives from Boardman Police Depart- ment, Boardman Fire and Morrow County Sheriff’s Office all participated in a review of the regionally adopted school safety pro- tocols from the “I Love u Guys” Foundation. “The safety of our stu- dents and staff are always our first priority and we are fortunate in Morrow Coun- ty to have an outstanding wraparound program that includes school counselors, Community Counseling Solutions school based cli- nicians, school resource officers (SROs), school nurses and CARE coordi- nators,” said Matt Combe, Morrow County School District Superintendent. Combe reiterated that school safety isn’t a one and done training. Mor- row County schools will continue their training on school safety and reuni- fication processes later in September supported by presenters from the “I Love u Guys” foundation and the community SROs. “The Ione School Dis- trict looks forward to the continued working relation- ship with MCSD and all of the supporting agencies in the county. ISD will con- tinue to focus on safety, and we look forward to working with MCSD in September to ensure that all services in Morrow County are work- ing collaboratively to keep our staff, students and com- munity safe,” stated Keven Dinning, Ione School Dis- trict Superintendent. Print & Mailing Services *Design *Print Sykes Publishing *Mail 541-676-9228 155 S Chase St.Heppner 441 N Main Street Heppner, OR 97836 (541) 676-5024 facebook.com/nhcenter97836 Saturday August 20 th 8:00 am – 12:00 pm The Morrow County Sheriff’s Office has released the following information: August 5: MCSO re- Umatilla County Jail with ceived report of a theft of $20,000 bail. fuel from MCGG/Paterson -MCSO received report Ferry Rd., Irrigon. They of four huskies running requested extra patrols. around the Wilson Lane/ -MCSO received re- Olson Rd. in Boardman. quest for extra patrol for MCSO was unable to locate the Ione area due to harvest the dogs. traffic and trucks speeding -MCSO received report through. MCSO responded from a subject on S.W. and reported that every- Second St. in Irrigon that thing was clear. neighbors were letting their -MCSO received re- dogs bark continuously. quest for extra patrol with MCSO Deputy stationed vehicles speeding through in the area was unable to N.E. Oregon Ave. and locate any dogs or any dogs North First St. in Irrigon barking. twice daily. -MCSO received report -MCSO received report from a subject on N.W. from a subject on Columbia Gale St. in Heppner of a Ave. N.W. with the caller deceased deer in his back advising her daughter’s dad yard. He advised that it was causing a disturbance. would be okay for ODFW Boardman Police Depart- to go onto his property and ment responded, and the remove it. parties were separated. -MCSO received re- -MCSO received report quest for extra patrol behind of a semi knocking down the Oregon Trail Library in a gate at the Irrigon city Heppner for vandalism and reservoir. MCSO responded people sleeping in the park. and took a report. -MCSO received report -MCSO received re- of a smaller silver car with quest from a subject on Oregon plates tailgating Butter Creek for a wellness and almost hitting the call- check on her children. er’s vehicle while passing. -MCSO received report MCSO was unable to locate of drivers going the wrong the vehicle. way up Morgan St. in Hep- -MCSO received re- pner and a request for extra quest for extra patrol on patrol. Olson Rd. in Boardman -MCSO received report because of theft. The caller of a number of things stolen advised to be on the lookout from outside their house on for a motorcycle or hatch- Olson Rd. in Boardman and back. a lot of tracks around their -MCSO received report property. MCSO responded of harassment on Faler Rd. and placed the incident un- in Boardman. The caller ad- der investigation. vised that his neighbor tried -MCSO received report to hit him with his vehicle of four or five vehicles and also tried to get his dogs parked in front of houses to attack him. He said that the caller doesn’t live at. it was an ongoing issue and The caller requested contact requested phone contact. with a deputy. The incident -MCSO received re- was unfounded. port from a female at the -MCSO received report Glen Haven Apartments from a subject on Court St. on N.E. Pioneer Drive in in Heppner who said the Heppner who said another Oregon Department of Fish person was sitting behind and Wildlife had a skunk in her back porch and staring one of their traps, but she at her. The caller requested hasn’t been able to get a contact. hold of them. ODFW was -MCSO received report advised. of suspicious activity on -MCSO received re- Highway 730 in Irrigon. quest for extra patrol on The caller reported a black Olson Rd. in Boardman due bag out on the street next to theft. They were advised to a mailbox and a lady to be on the lookout for a walking on the highway. motorcycle or hatchback. The caller didn’t know if -MCSO received re- the two were related. The port from a subject on S.E. caller believes someone Utah Ave. in Irrigon that a was stealing from inside silver Dodge Caravan and the antique store next door. a black Yukon went past his house at a high rate of speed toward 10th. MCSO was unable to locate the vehicles. -MCSO received report of a theft of a gun on Little Butter Creek in Echo. -MCSO received re- quest for extra patrol at N.E. Ave. and North First St. in Irrigon for speeding vehicles twice a day. -MCSO received report that Joe Don Garza was arrested by the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office on a Morrow County warrant for Failure to Appear/Crim- inal Mischief K, Criminal Mischief II and Criminal Trespass. He was lodged at Umatilla County Jail with a bail of $20,000, and on a Morrow County Circuit Court warrant for Failure to Appear II to be lodged at ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE: Neighborhood Center of South Morrow County Neighborhood Center Sheriff’s Report Tons of possibility with this 3 bed 2 bath home fea- turing open floor plan, spacious living area, and up- stairs bonus room perfect for home office or gather- ing area. Tons of storage can be found through out. Finished basement ideal for workshop/crafting area or potential 4th bedroom. Bring your ideas home!! $227,000 MLS# 22393385 Destiny George 541-980-1148 Destined Realty Group Keller Williams Realty Portland Central 503-548-4848 MONDAYS 5:00 P.M. Valby Lutheran Church Valby Road Ione Oregon. 97843 First Bag is $15.00 Second Bag is $5.00 Come in and fill a bag with clothing, shoes, movies, CDs and books for the whole family! Household items are 50% off this day only. Proceeds from this bag sale support our food pantry. Bucknum's Tavern 146 N Main Street Heppner 541-676-5274 Church Services 1st & 3rd Sundays 10:00 AM Available for: Weddings • Funerals Family Events 541-422-7300 Old Country Church All Are Welcome