Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 7, 2022)
Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, December 7 , 2022 -- THREE ~ Letters to the Editor ~ 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. Recall aftermath Editor: In case you may be questioning what happened, or more importantly, what is about to happen in Morrow County with the recall of two commissioners: Here is the why, the how and the what comes next. WHY. 1) Morrow County Commissioners Lindsay and Doherty were requiring changes for CREZ III. CREZ III is currently negotiating tax abatement for six new Amazon com- plexes. A) Lindsay and Doherty refused to ratify CREZ III without all cities of Morrow County includ- ed, not just Boardman. B) Lindsay and Doherty would not expand Bombing Range Road Amazon project for tax-free abatement because Amazon began construction without a S.I. P. (Strate- gic Investment Program) approval. This means this Amazon complex must pay full tax instead of current 15 percent. C) Lindsay and Doherty as county commis- sioners had to ratify CREZ III before it could be ap- proved. D) Commissioner Lindsay was appointed lead county negotiator with Am- azon for CREZ III. Lindsay was requiring Bonding and 50 percent tax abatement for the five new Amazon complexes. Once Lindsay was subject to a recall vote, the Port of Morrow refused to have her at the negotiat- ing table. Now you know why Lindsay had to be re- called even though she lost the election. 2) Morrow County Commissioners Lindsay and Doherty would not sign a letter for Ambulance Transport for the Boardman Fire Department because the BFD never filed an ap- plication. The BFD wanted Lindsay and Doherty to circumvent the county’s Emergency Medical Ser- vices Board and a letter of Documented Need required by the Oregon Health Au- thority. The Boardman Fire Department Chief Hughes led the recall effort to re- move Lindsay and Doherty to gain county Ambulance Transport License approval instead of submitting to the regulatory process. 3) Lindsay and Doherty were holding the Port of Morrow account- able to build the anaerobic nitrogen digesters required from their 2017 DEQ li- cense permit to curtail the nitrate contamination in local public wells and farm land. Instead, the Port spent over 20 million dollars to build multiple six-foot wa- ter lines transporting Mor- row County water to farms in Umatilla County. With Lindsay, and especially Doherty, gone that pressure has been recalled. 4) Columbia De- velopment Authority chair Don Russell was removed and replaced by Commis- sioner Doherty after he subverted the regulatory process in an attempt to have the Port of Morrow and Umatilla control the property of the Umatilla Chemical Site. Doherty required equal management from both counties. Now that Doherty has been re- called, Rep. Greg Smith can establish an agenda fa- vorable to his employer, the Port of Morrow (i.e. more CREZ tax abatement mon- ey from more Amazons). So, the next question to be answered is HOW did this happen? Money buys elections. Money buys in- fluence. Money buys power and position. The CREZ monopoly has $10,000,000 to distribute how it pleases. Ten million dollars buys a lot of votes and persua- sion and intimidation. I watched in Irrigon how the Port and CREZ used their money, their influence, their position to persuade, de- ceive and bully people into supporting their campaign to destroy two honorable public servants they knew nothing about. “Yes on the recall” signs were plastered everywhere. One prominent main street house had four. When I asked why, he ad- mitted it does not mean he would vote that way. The Port of Morrow millionaire Windwave owners could easily spend a thousand for every dollar Doherty and Lindsay had to raise out of their own pocket. This recall was fixed from the get-go. No public servant, with a sound mind, will vol- unteer to serve our county in the future. The most important question to be answered is: what will be the result of this recall? 1) No public hearted, honorable, citizen of in- tegrity in Morrow County will volunteer to run for commissioner as long as CREZ, the Port of Mor- row, Windwave, Rep. Greg Smith and prominent citi- zens in every city control our elections and abuse the recall process. 2) Will the new coun- ty commissioners require Amazon to pay bonding for our roads, schools and health care? Will the new commissioners require Am- azon to pay a more fair share of tax abatement? Commissioner Lindsay was recalled largely because she was requiring 50 percent instead of 15 percent. 3) Will the new com- missioners make sure all the cities of Morrow County re- ceive a fair share of wealth distribution from Amazon through CREZ III? 4) Will the new com- missioners allow the Board- man Fire District to receive an Ambulance Transport License without going through the regulatory pro- cess? Will the new com- missioners strip MCHD of funding for their county ambulance and medical ser- vices? Will medical emer- gency services be shattered for Morrow County under new commissioners? 5) Will the new com- missioners require the Am- azon Bombing Range road, already under construction with Windwave fiber optics, to pay full county taxes as required under current Stra- tegic Investment Program law or will they cave to the Port and Windwave and allot a puny 15 percent tax abatement for CREZ III. 6) Will the new com- missioners support equal county management for the Columbia Development Authority, or will they serve the Port of Morrow and their interests? Morrow County citizens and busi- ness have a huge stake in this decision. 7) Will the new com- missioners allow Morrow County water, already at a critical level, to be pumped into Umatilla County, es- pecially for more Amazon complexes? Will the new commissioners address the stress Amazon is putting on Morrow County water and power? 8) Will the new com- missioners require the Port of Morrow to build the An- aerobic nitrogen digesters required by the DEQ permit to end or at least limit ni- trate poisoning? Or will the feel-good band-aid of home filters and trucked water continue to bribe those families with poisoned well water? 9) Will the new com- missioners allow special interests (Don Russell, Windwave, Jeff Wenholz, Umatilla Electric) to de- termine their position on decisions that impact all Morrow County citizens? Either citizens of Mor- row County hold those responsible for this recall travesty accountable or find another county or state to move to. I say draw a line in the sand because there is no place left. Stuart Dick Irrigon, OR New Rules Sometimes it’s hard to figure right from wrong. Everybody has an opin- ion and no matter what you do, there’s always someone ready to let you know that you missed the mark. It seems to me that it’s gotten even more difficult over the course of my lifetime. When I was young, rules were clear. Don’t lie, cheat, steal, kill, talk back to your mom or smack your sibling. Cussing would get you a free bar of Dial soap, administered orally, and a trip to the woodshed. Spitting in public was also frowned upon. Yes, clear and concise…as were the consequences. But times have certain- ly changed and the morals that Once Were have been hijacked. Though the orig- ination of the new moral code is a little sketchy, I think it would behoove us all to at least try to get a handle on this new set of rules. So, in the spirit of in- clusion, I would like to give the reader my best attempt at defining them. Current Moral Code: 1. When describing someone, always point out their skin color. If you miss this one, you are a racist. 2. Recycle, drive elec- tric and look to 15-year- olds for advice on how to save the planet. 3. Never assume that old pronouns still work. 4. Always apologize for your ancestor’s actions, no matter how long ago. Understand that this apol- ogy will never actually be accepted. This is called reparation. 5. Do not consume dairy products. Cows should not have to lose their lives just so you can drink milk. 6. Do not own a gun of any kind because this caus- es school shootings. 7. Never call someone entering the country illegal- ly an “illegal.” And remem- ber…walls are bad, and fentanyl is not a problem. 8. Never question vac- cines, elections, taxes, in- flation or the mental state of the president. This will make you a Conspiracy Theorist. 9. There are no “curse words.” Freedom of speech is imperative. 10. Never use offensive terms like “Christian,” “Je- sus,” and “Hell.” 11. Trust the science, except biology. 12. Always fight for the rights of women, except for the ones in the womb. You’re welcome, Susie Crosby Heppner, OR Heppner FFA begins Greens workshop, adopts local families for Christmas It’s that time of year again for the Heppner High School Ag students to have their Greens workshop. Anyone needing holiday décor to add to their door can order an evergreen cen- terpiece or wreath, candy cane or cross. Costs range from $15 to $30. Contact any Ag student with an order or reach out to FFA Advisor Beth Dickenson at 541-676-9138 or Elizabeth. Dickenson@morrow.k12. or.us. Orders need to be in by Thursday, Dec. 8, and decorations will be avail- able for pickup between 1-4 p.m. Dec. 6-Dec. 8. Heppner FFA is also continuing a long-standing tradition called Adopt a Family, in which the chap- ter will adopt a few families in the local community who could use a little as- sistance this Christmas. The funds raised from the Greensburg shop go toward shopping for those families. Students will do their shopping this Saturday, Dec. 10, and then the FFA chapter members will fin- ish wrapping them and get them delivered before the holidays. This is the Heppner FFA chapter’s 15 th year adopting local families. 217 North Main St., Heppner, OR Phone 676-9158 Floral 676-9426 murraysdrug.com Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-6pm • Sat 8am-6pm • Sun 9am-2pm Murraysdrug.com Pharmacy- Mon-Fri 9am-6pm Agricultural / Commercial, and Home Loans. We’ve got You Covered! HEPPNER AMBER SCHLAICH Ag and Commercial Loan Officer 279 N. Main Street / 541-676-9125 IONE 280 Main Street / 541-422-7466 MORTGAGE 269 N. Main Street, Heppner / 541-676-9884 RAYMOND SEASTONE Mortgage Loan Officer NMLS# 937744 Rates & terms may vary. All loans subject to credit approval. NMLS #414459 MEMBER FDIC The Heppner Gazette-Times wants to share the holiday spirit! Please send us photos of Christmas lights and decorations. We want to share the wondrous beauty of the season with our readers and spread some Christmas cheer. Please send your photos to editor@rapidserve.net Include the city where the photo was taken.
