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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 26, 2022)
Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, October 26 , 2022 -- THREE ~ Letters to the Editor ~ Spiritually Speaking 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. Property tax, or ‘wealth tax’? of Independent Business) showed that she voted 50 percent of the time against the needs of independent business. She served on the Board of Directors of Planned Parenthood Columbia Wil- lamette from 1987 to 1993. OPB interviewed her on July 14, 2022 on her current stand on abortion. Question: Why did you serve on PP board. “It is a fundamental right, I don’t need to be asked why, I left the Republican party over it.” Do you support any restrictions on abortion-in- cluding late term abortions? “No.” Would you support a constitutional amendment enshrining the right to ac- cess abortion in Oregon’s constitution? “Yes.” She claims to be against violence, yet late term abor- tions are precisely that. (Anyone wanting to see pictures of our one-pound baby boy, Brian, born in 1985 at 26 weeks and alive for five months—they are saving those babies at that size now—please send me an email and I will send). I cannot support any- one who doesn’t support our basic right to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness as stated in the Declaration of Indepen- dence as unalienable rights given to us by our creator. The tide is changing. Biden is campaigning for Kate Brown’s replace- ment, Tina Kotek. Nike co-founder Phil Knight just switched his support from Betsy Johnson to Christine Drazan (10-10- 22), donating $1 million to her campaign. (ABC news and Oregon Live). Be part of the change. Create a new direction for Oregon. Vote Christine Drazan for Governor. Sincerely, (s) Ann Lindsay Mur- ray Heppner, OR I am writing to you today to express some con- cerns I have about the le- gitimacy of my property tax assessment in Heppner, where I currently reside. Recently I had the unpleas- ant experience of opening my property tax assessment statement issued by the assessor’s department in Morrow County for 2022. Fortunately for me I was sit- ting down and did not have any sharp objects nearby. A 23.5 percent increase in one year in property taxes due on my Heppner residence that I thought I owned—three times the official consumer price inflation rate. That is what prompted a telephone call to Mike Gorman last week, wherein he explained that property prices in Hep- pner have increased this year, supposedly justifying this egregious increase in property taxes. I expressed to him that this may be an interesting point to some, but I didn’t sell my property in Heppner, in which case this becomes an unrealized capital gains tax, not a prop- erty tax—for which I did not receive a corresponding increase in income in order to pay this unsupportable tax increase, if you follow my drift. Did the services pro- vided by the county sudden- ly increase by said amount this year? Is the county facing bankruptcy? I have not improved the property recently. I’m confused. If the answer to these ques- tions is no, then this be- comes a permanent form of “wealth tax” levied against property owners for the privilege of living in Mor- row County. Or is it that a group of political elites in Morrow County have decided to take advantage of the current boom in real estate prices to expropriate money from property own- ers because they can do so without consequences? I remain unconvinced that this move by the county is justified. Dear editor, Yours truly, We are writing in sup- (s) Paul Marbry port of Jo Rae Perkins for Heppner, OR U.S. Senator. Oregon, and our nation, are in desperate need of a change in leader- ship. Voting Jo Rae Perkins for U.S. Senate is a step in the direction of positive change. Senator Ron Wyden is the incumbent in the race. To the Editor, He currently lives in New Vote Christine Drazan. York. He came to Oregon to Oregonians have a real pursue a law degree, and has chance to create a positive been in Washington, D.C., change for Oregon. Christine Drazan is the since 1981. He has been clear choice to lead that one of Oregon’s Senators since 1996. At that time, change. Democrat Tina Kotek, he was selected to fill a par- and former Democrat (until tial-term U.S. Senate seat last year) Betsy Johnson, by the then-governor John have very similar voting Kitzhaber. Senator Wyden records. They both support- has recently supported ev- ed Kate Brown’s agenda. ery piece of legislation the Both voted for the CAT Biden Administration has (corporate activity tax) that requested. Much of this taxes businesses on their legislation and spending gross sales instead of net has put the United States profit. This includes farms into a position of complete and ranches. Oregon has collapse. The only way to been anti-business since it stop this unnecessary de- has been controlled by the cline is to vote out of office democratic party. Pro-busi- those who are supporting ness policies create jobs and the policies that are leading provide access to the goods to failure. Forty-one years and services we need. Why of agreement with poor are so many businesses policy is enough. It is time leaving for states like Idaho for Ron Wyden to be retired at the ballot box. and Texas? The Republican nomi- Please study Betsy nee in the U.S. Senate race Johnson’s voting record is Jo Rae Perkins. For those before voting for her in this who do not know Jo Rae tight three-way race. NFIB Perkins, she is an Orego- (Independent Federation Vote Perkins for U.S. Senate Unite to create a new direction for Oregon nian who lives in Albany, OR. She was educated in Oregon, and holds several degrees in political science and business form Oregon universities. Jo Rae believes in the U.S. Constitution and all of its amendments, lib- erty and life, law and order, fiscal responsibility, wise management of natural resources, educational free- dom and choice, election integrity and transparency, support of the U.S. military and veterans, and secure national borders. This November’s ballot provides Oregon voters a new choice for our repre- sentation and leadership in Washington, D.C. Oregon and our nation need a Sen- ator who values responsi- ble, Constitutionally-based principles. Jo Rae Perkins is an Oregonian committed to representing all Orego- nians. A vote for Jo Rae Perkins is a vote for new possibilities and direction. Vote Jo Rae Perkins for U.S. Senate. (s) Clint and Sarah Carlson Ione, OR Good News Only by Doris Brosnan Pierce’s dream came true when he got to ride on a real garbage truck with “Garbage Granny” Melanie Wilson. -Contributed photo By Doris Brosnan At times, finding the “good news” might seem a chal- lenge, but, fortunately it does surround us, sometimes in wee events, sometimes in what appear to be “wee events” but are quite huge for some people: Recently, when Pierce came to visit his “YaYa” (grandmother), Molly Rhea, he didn’t know that she had arranged for a dream of his to come true: He rode in the garbage truck with “Garbage Granny” (Melanie Wilson). Pierce’s mom, Macy, explained to Melanie in a thank-you note that Pierce’s number one current dream for when he grows up is to drive a garbage truck. (His number two dream is to play guitar at rodeos at night—having heard what he thought was live music at the rodeo.) Macy re- ported that after returning home, when asked about his trip, the first thing Pierce always answered was that riding in a real-life garbage truck was the best part of his visit. Elaine Laird McGann, HHS graduate in 1961, was delighted to learn that she could join classmates for the reunion in Heppner, thanks to Allegiant Air. Elaine had not been aware since moving from Woodburn to Las Vegas several months ago that the airline flies a direct flight from Las Vegas to the Tri-Cities. Once informed, she made plans that also included a visit with her brother, Tom, and his wife, in Pendleton, whom she hadn’t seen since before the pandemic restrictions. The creative Halloween displays in some local yards have been entertaining. Some are extremely elaborate. And viewing these decorations has reminded me that when we moved back to Heppner 28 years ago, I was astounded on our first Halloween after returning. Unfor- tunately, at that time in Salem, vandalism of yard dec- orations was not an uncommon frustration and expense for homeowners. I was impressed, consequently, when I realized that in Heppner the decorations seemed to re- main unscathed, even though left outside overnight. This respect for others’ property seems to continue, generally. So, a thank-you to everyone except the few who ignore this common decency. And thank-you to everyone who got into the spirit of a fun-filled Halloween. Rain! Need more be said? And speaking of rain, admitting that, yes, “It’s silly,” but it is worth a smile, Shirley George reports: Their garage was about to flood when that recent downpour was coming so heavily. She could tell when she stepped out into a puddle of water. Shirley grabbed what turned out to be “multi-purpose” Sears plastic bags and, using a screwdriver, shoved them tightly under the garage door. It worked, a problem averted. Pat yourself on the back, Shirley. When you experience moments that bring smiles, please share by sending to dbrosnan123@gmail.com or calling 541-223-1490. Here’s hoping that some good news comes to every- one reading this! Please Consider Karen Pettigrew Boardman City Council Paid for by Karen Pettigrew Father Thankachan Joseph St. Patrick Catholic Church Heppner Acceptance of Christ brings salvation to every house The book of Wisdom (11:22-12:2) reminds us that God’s almighty power includes His strength to be mer- ciful. God mercifully waits for sinners to repent. He “rebukes the offenders little by little,” “warns them of their sins,” and reminds them to “abandon their wick- edness.” God continues to love us even when we do not love God in return. And the Gospel reading from Luke explains the benign mercy of God towards sinners and the repentance, conversion and renewal of life expected from every one of us. When the question arises, “Why doesn’t God do away with evil men?” the answer is that, unlike men, God is benevolent toward all His creatures. God, in His strength, can deal mercifully with all men. The Book of Wisdom makes clear that we could not even exist if we were not loved by God. Through His gifts of faith and love, God graciously calls each and every one of us. Through Divine Mercy, we see the fulfillment of the promise, “For I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more” (Jer. 31:34; Heb. 8:12). The Book of Wisdom consoles us, saying, “You overlook people’s sins so that they may repent” (11:23). Luke 19:1-10 presents the story of the tax-collector Zacchaeus’s conversion, led by God’s grace. Jesus exactly recognized Zacchaeus, a lost sinner in need of a Savior, and God’s grace led him from idle curiosity to repentance, conversion and restitution. It is good to know the background of tax collectors of Jesus’s time: Jericho was a wealthy commercial town in the Jordan valley, famous for date palms and balsam groves. One of two major highways went through Jeri- cho. Hence, Jericho was one of the great tax centers of Palestine, and its tax collectors were rich and notorious. Zacchaeus, as chief tax-collector, was probably a man of much wealth and few friends. From the time of Julius Caesar, collection of Rome’s taxes was auctioned off to the highest bidder in each county. The winning bidder would have to pay to Rome in advance all the taxes due in his locale. Then, he would hire agents to help collect the taxes. The tax collectors extorted sizable amounts of interest in addition to the taxes fixed by Rome, to recoup their initial investment, pay their agents, and make gen- erous profits as well. They were despised by their own townspeople. Since Zacchaeus had reached the top of his profession, he was the most hated man in the district, considered a traitor, a thief and an outcast. How would we respond to Jesus’s demand, “I must stay at your house today”? Would we be ready to welcome Jesus into our home? Indeed, Jesus has visited the homes of each and every one of us who receives the indwelling compassion and mercy of Christ through Reconciliation. Through the Holy Eucharist, we receive the Divine Pres- ence of the Lord. Besides, if we love one another, God lives in us, and His love is perfected in us (1 Jn. 4:13). For those of us who have not yet received the Lord into our homes and lives, it is never too late to repent and welcome Him. Our Lord is a God of love, grace and mercy. He does not wish to see anyone lost. If we allow Jesus to enter our lives, our lives will change, as happened for Zaccheaus. First and foremost, we need to accept the divine invitation for repentance. To refuse to admit that we are sinners is a fundamental impediment to mercy and grace of God in our hearts. A more common impediment is to refuse to listen to the call to repentance, which God so frequently sends us. We are all sinners to a greater or lesser degree. Jesus is inviting each one of us to total conversion. Let us remember that God loves us in spite of our sinfulness. Secondly, we need to love others as Jesus loves us. Jesus loved Zacchaeus—the greatest of sinners—and by that love Zacchaeus was transformed. Sometimes we are tempted to withhold love from people we consider sin- ners. For example, when our children make disappointing choices, and we become frustrated by the consequences of their poor choices, we may withhold our love from them. Our boss may be unlovable and autocratic, or we may hate our neighbor because of his incessantly barking dog. But just as Jesus loved Zacchaeus even though he was the worst of sinners, so we must love others in spite of their sins. OTLD to meet Oregon Trail Library District will hold a board meeting Wednesday, Oct. 26, at 6:30 p.m. at the OTLD Irrigon Branch, 490 NE Main St, Irrigon. The meeting will be in person with a Zoom option for virtual attendees.
