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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 16, 2022)
SIX - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, November 16 , 2022 Ione students present turkeys in disguise ~ Letters to the Editor ~ -Continued from PAGE THREE Have a conversation, not a recall To the Editor, We are respectfully asking the voters of Mor- row County to vote no in the recall election of com- missioners Melissa Lindsay and Jim Doherty. We have both served on various boards over the years and know it’s not easy. You can never make everyone happy. If you don’t take a certain stand, people call you a “fence rider.” If you speak your mind and vote to do what you believe is right, there will always be those who disagree and call you something else. It’s already difficult to get people to serve on public boards and commissions in our small towns and county. If people have to worry about being recalled if someone isn’t happy when tough deci- sions have to be made, who will want to serve? If we question an elect- ed official’s actions, we should contact them, ask our questions and hear what they have to say. Have a conversation. No, they cannot speak to legally confidential matters—this is nothing new, and to in- sist they should do so or be recalled raises a new list of questions. Please read the com- missioners’ justification statements on the ballots and join us in voting against this recall. David & Patti Allstott Heppner, OR Serving Self-Serving and Recalls I just received my ballot in the mail for the recall ef- fort against Morrow County commissioners Melissa Lindsay and Jim Doherty. In reflecting on the events that have been reported on in Morrow County politics this fall, I have drawn some conclusions. In early September, I read a series of articles written about the Port of Morrow by Mike Rogoway of the Oregonian. In these articles, Mr. Rogoway shed light on the inner workings of the Port and some of its board members as well as the former Director of the Port and a current Morrow County Commissioner (the commissioner not being recalled ironically enough). In this article we learned of the ownership of the company that provides fiber optic communications to the Amazon Data Centers located in Morrow and Umatilla counties (Wind- wave), how Windwave was acquired from a non-profit and how the very people that profit from this rela- tionship approved 85 per- cent tax abatements for siting these data centers on port ground and how they profit from providing fiber to those centers. In an article dated Aug. 25 in the East Oregonian, it is reported that the newly elected Morrow County Commissioner is the sub- ject of an Oregon Govern- ment Ethics Commission investigation looking into possible violations resulting from his paid board mem- ber position at Umatilla Electric Cooperative and his role as Morrow Coun- ty Planning Commission Board Chair. UEC provides electrical service to the Am- azon Data Centers. In an East Oregonian article dated Nov. 4, we learn of our state represen- tative’s involvement with various agencies within his district, where he charges six figure fees to public agencies in exchange for “project management and contract procurement.” As reported in this articles, large contracts were award- ed improperly. There are many more examples where our local elected officials are prof- iting from relationships related to the very positions that we have elected them to. I am not inferring that any of the formerly men- tioned officials have broken any laws, but the conflicts of interest are glaring and self-serving. The point of bringing this to light is that I cannot think of a single instance where Melissa Lindsay or Jim Doherty is conflicted. They have actively nego- tiated for a better deal in regard to tax abatements, fought for clean drinking water and advocated for all of Morrow Counties citizens. We need to be re-electing them, not recall- ing. Recalls votes should be reserved to remove a public official for egregious behavior, not because you don’t agree with decisions. That is what elections are for. I believe that Melissa and Jim became commis- sioners to serve the county and strongly urge a no vote on the recall. Brian Thompson Heppner, OR Let’s show our gratitude In the short time I have lived in Morrow County, I have had the opportunity to work with Commissioner Lindsay on several projects. She is consistent, reliable and incredibly hardwork- ing. Melissa played a vital role in the restoration of the Gilliam and Bisbee building we all now enjoy, and she worked to secure over $100,000 in dona- tions from Amazon for both the Heppner Daycare and the Heppner Community Foundation. I have seen her volunteering her time at countless funerals, benefit dinners, boards, committees and community events of all sorts. Let’s not forget, Melissa worked tirelessly during the pandemic to keep businesses open and was a key force in the co- ordination efforts during that challenging time. She is never not on the move— diligently working to keep the community she was raised in a wonderful place to live. No public servant can please every constituent with every decision they make. Commissioner Lind- say works hard to do what’s right, and what’s best for all. Let’s thank her for her years of dedication and show our gratitude for her service. Vote no on recall. Katie Siri-Murray Heppner, OR Living in a culture of death Editor: Morrow County Home Health and Hospice Chap- lain Jerry Conklin gave a stirring and sobering mes- sage Sunday evening at the second annual Birthright dinner in Heppner. Pastor Conklin documented how America has gone from the “Shining City on a Hill” and the “Beacon of Hope” to the world to fostering and promoting a “culture of death.” Abortion by choice and infanticide (abortion af- ter birth) is the largest cause of death in America and it is not close. The culture of death has infected America. Abortion industry baby parts are in great demand. The culture of death has infected our schools and in concert with violent video games America is creating youth mass murderers. This culture of death is fostered in our schools, mass media, politics, government and the very heart and soul of present hour culture and way of life. There is no integrity, truth, virtue, honor, justice in the culture of death. Any- thing and everything is now morally acceptable. There is no God, no absolute stan- dard of right and wrong. If you are born a male but can be convinced you are really a female, there is nothing legally your parents can do to protect you from coun- selors and doctors that will change your sex. The culture of death has changed America. In 1969 America put an astronaut on the moon, yet a half century later America cannot con- duct an election without endless ballot controver- sies and issues of veracity. Presently multiple House of Representative races have not been resolved. The longer the delay, the greater the certainty the Democrat candidate will win. Why? The culture of death requires government control which mandates ballot harvesting, dishonest mail-in ballot counters, and bureaucratic corruption. In Oregon, mail-in vot- ing means a Republican governor will never be elected and has not been since it began in 1998. Oregon is presently gov- erned by bi-sexual governor edicts which will soon be edicts from a lesbian gover- nor. This is the definition of a culture of death according to God’s word. The culture of death requires the Con- stitution to be undermined and re-written as evidenced by measure 114, which vi- olates the 2 nd Amendment. “The right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” Our forefathers under- stood the greatest threat to our liberty, freedom and way of life would be our own government. We have a choice that all Americans must make. God’s word puts it this way. “Choose this day whom ye shall serve” (Joshua 24:15). The culture of death will destroy America unless America repents and returns to the God of our father’s. A pho- ny mail-in unverified ballot measure 114, passed by only a few counties, does not Trump our Constitution. We have yielded to this culture of death instead of the only God of our fathers. Stand for God and Country. No more compromise. Stuart Dick Irrigon, OR WWW.HEPPNER.NET Submit News, Advertising & Announcements Letters To The Editor Send Us Photos Start A New Subscription Mrs. Wainwright’s first- and second-grade class at Ione School has been working on turkeys in disguise as we near Thanksgiving. “We look forward to seeing the rest of them come in this week,” said Ione School principal Kevin Dinning. “I am always impressed with the creativity and thoughtfulness our students put into their work.” -Contributed photo Chamber luncheon Dec. 8 Heppner Chamber of Commerce will hold an all-entities luncheon Thurs- day, Dec. 8, from noon to 1 p.m. at the Gilliam and Bisbee Event Center. Lunch will be provided by Upper Place Concessions and will be a loaded baked potato with chili. Cost is $12 per person. Please RSVP to hep- pnerchamber@gmail.com by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec 6. Pre Order your Thanksgiving Casserole We will have 3 types available to order PB&J French Toast Hashbrown & Sausage Biscuits & Gravy 5x3 $6 5x3 $10 5x3 $7 8x8 $15 8x8 $20 8x8 $16 8x13 $30 8x13 $40 8x13 $32 Made from scratch!! They are pre-cooked and then frozen. Orders MUST be placed NO LATER than Saturday the 19th by 5pm Open Thanksgiving morning 7am-10am If you would like donuts for Thanksgiving please pre-order as soon as possible! Valby Lutheran Church Valby Road Ione Oregon. 97843 Church Services 1st & 3rd Sundays 10:00 AM Available for: Weddings • Funerals Family Events 541-422-7300 Old Country Church All Are Welcome Heppner Les Schwab wishes the Mustangs Good Luck against Oakland on Saturday!! 124 N MAIN ST HEPPNER, OR (541) 676-9481
