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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 -- SEVEN Pregnancy center celebrates start of third year They also hope to find Dinner planned Nov. 13 a bilingual director will- Birthright Board members Janet Greenup and Marge Rolen in the Heppner Birthright’s counseling room, a place for expectant mothers to find help, information and compassion. -Photo by Andrea Di Salvo By Andrea Di Salvo One Heppner organi- zation will be celebrat- ing a special birthday next month. Birthright of Mor- row County, which opened its doors Nov. 3, 2020, will celebrate its second anniversary with a special dinner Sunday, Nov. 13, at 4:30 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church parish hall. Birthright of Morrow County started as an idea more than two years ago. The idea was to have a place in south Morrow County where women fac- ing unplanned pregnancies could go for help and sup- port. “There is a definite need in this area because, with our culture, pregnancy is not popular with younger people,” says Birthright board member Janet Gree- nup. “The terminology has changed.” Birthright isn’t a med- ical facility, and there are no paid salaries. Rather, the “friend-volunteers,” as they refer to themselves, are trained to offer confidential information, free pregnancy testing and ongoing assis- tance as requested by cli- ents. For the last two years, they have managed this with four two-hour shifts staffed by eight friend-vol- unteers every week, as well as a three-person board. “We are here as friend- ships in the community to represent people who care,” says Rolen. Volunteers have helped administer several preg- nancy tests and shared in- formation with communi- ty members who wanted information about giving help to persons they knew who were experiencing unplanned pregnancies. Though the organi- zation is openly pro-life, board member Marge Rolen says they aren’t there to push anyone into a deci- sion. “It’s non-judgmental,” Rolen says. “We don’t push anything. We don’t tell them what to do. It’s the mother’s decision,” she adds, saying that their goal is to take a lot of the stress and pressure away from the situation. “People need information. There’s just a lot of confusion.” When asked if she every thought Birthright would make it two years, Rolen at first hesitated. “Maybe? Yes,” she added. “Yes, because we had so many good people.” Original volunteers and substitutes were Jean Cres- wick, Julia Finch, Tayllor Brannon, Marge Rolen, Maryann Elguezabal, Anna McElligott, Sandra Johnson and Laurie Wood. Over Heppner FFA holds apple sale T h e H e p p n e r F FA chapter is again selling apples and pears by the box. The fruit is fresh from Thomas Orchards in Kim- berly and is available in 20- and 40-pound boxes of all varieties, though the supply of Jonagold apples is limited. Box prices are $30 and $55. The fall fruit sale is one of the Heppner FFA chapter’s main fundraisers for the year. Funds raised are used for everything from chapter fun events like hockey games in the Tri-Cities to helping cover the registration cost for members to go to the state FFA convention in March. With questions or to place an order, email advi- sor Beth Dickenson at dick- ene@morrow.k12.or.us or reach out to any ag student. Neighborhood Center bag sale planned Canned food drive Nov. 7 The Neighborhood Center is having its month- ly bag sale on Wednesday, Nov. 2, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at 441 N Main Street, Heppner. Cost of the first bag is $15, with the second bag at a discounted price of $5, for any clothing, shoes, books, games, music and movies that will fit in the bag. All other household merchan- dise is 50 percent off this day only. Proceeds from the sale help fund the food pantry and other emergency assistance programs. The Neighborhood Center canned food drive will be on Monday, Nov. 7, at 5:30 p.m. Heppner and Lexington residents are asked to have their donation of canned goods left on their porches with the porch light on to alert the Heppner High School students to stop by and pick up the donation. Finally, need a little extra help from Santa this year? The Neighborhood Center Giving Tree program helps families in financial crisis provide Christmas for their children. If anyone has children who would benefit from winter clothing items or would otherwise go without a present this holiday season, they are invited to sign them up for the Christmas Giving Tree. Participation is limited to families who live in South Morrow County and receive food boxes from the center. Community members select a tag from the tree and bring the unwrapped presents to the center to be given to the parents. Stop by the Neighbor- hood Center to pick up an application. Deadline to apply for the program is Wednesday, Nov. 16. The Giving Tree will go on display at Heppner Market Fresh on Tuesday, Nov. 22. time, the pregnancy care center has lost and gained volunteers, but has contin- ued to reach out through community celebrations, parades, Morrow County Fair, and other gatherings and open houses at its office at 128 West Willow Street in Heppner. In an effort to further reach out to the commu- nity, Birthright of Mor- row County will introduce the Mom Connection next month. The program will offer newly pregnant girls and women and new moms a time to share and learn from one another. The first meeting will be Thursday, Nov. 17, followed by a second meeting on Dec. 15. The meetings will take place from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Birthright location, 128 West Willow Street. They say they hope to con- tinue the Mom Connection throughout 2023. The organization will also have a diaper donation drive and giveaway during December in anticipation of the needs of families for Christmas. Those who wish to donate may bring dona- tions to the Birthright office or ask a volunteer to bring them. Families needing baby supplies are asked to pick up diapers in Decem- ber during Birthright office hours: Mondays 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursdays 5-7 p.m. or Saturdays 1-3 p.m. Burn ban lifted for the City of Heppner The City of Heppner Fire Chief has lifted the city-wide burn ban effec- tive last Saturday, Oct. 22. Residents are reminded to purchase a burn permit from Heppner City Hall and remember to call the sheriff’s office at 541-676- 5317 before burning. Burn permits are $5 and are good through the winter and spring fire months up until the next fire season. Residents can also re- quest the fire department to burn natural vegetation and debris piles. A signup list is available at Heppner City Hall or by calling Heppner Fire Chief Steve Rhea at 541-980-4232 or assistant fire chief Eric Chick at 541-701-4910. It is illegal to burn petroleum products at any time. ing to operate an office in Boardman. Volunteers say the din- ner on Nov. 13 will be both a celebration of the past two years and a fundraiser to help keep Birthright’s doors open. Jerry Conklin, Mor- row County Health District Hospice Chaplain, will be the main speaker. Stuart Dick will be moderator for the evening. Tickets are $20 per person or $35 per cou- ple. Tickets are available at the Birthright office, at the Heppner Gazette-Times, or at Murray’s Drug, or by calling 541-676-0530. Aside from financial support, Birthright also asks that people consider volunteering, even if only a few hours a week. “Families are really struggling,” Rolen says. “Information is needed to support them.” “We are here, and we are ready to help with any questions, any informa- tion,” Greenup adds. “All of the recent things that have been happening lately just make you realize how precious life is.” Do you graze your livestock? Crop insurance can help Protect your Pasture, Rangeland, Forage (PRF). PRF is an area-based plan that covers for lack of normal rainfall. Sales closing is just around the corner, December 1st. For questions or quotes, contact Stacie at Wheatland Insurance, 541.422.7410. FREE HALLOWEEN EVENT Heppner Trunk-or-Treat outside & Halloween Activities inside Where: Corner of Church & Gale Street – Hopeful Saints Ministry When: Halloween Night from 5:30 to 7:30pm Serving: Hot Dogs w/ Chili,Warm Cocoa, Cider and Hot Coff ee. All are welcome to join us for a free Spooktacular evening! Funded by MCURD. COLUMBIA BASIN ELECTRIC ANNUAL MEETING and LUNCHEON FREE PICKUP Bagged clean leaves NO WALNUT Leave message at (541) 989-8117 with phone number & address Will pick up at curb ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE: Thursday, November 3, 2022 American Legion Hall – Ione, OR Registration 11:15 a.m. Lunch 12:00 p.m. Meeting to Follow - Door Prizes Free to all members in our service territory MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M.
