TWO - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, January 4 , 2023 The Official Newspaper of the City of Heppner and the County of Morrow Heppner GAZETTE-TIMES U.S.P.S. 240-420 Morrow County’s Home-Owned Weekly Newspaper SEARCH OLD COPIES OF THE HEPPNER GAZETTE-TIMES ON-LINE: http://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/ Published weekly by Sykes Publishing and entered as periodical matter at the Post Office at Heppner, Oregon under the Act of March 3, 1879. Periodical postage paid at Heppner, Oregon. Office at 188 W. Willow Street. Telephone (541) 676-9228. Fax (541) 676-9211. E-mail: editor@rapidserve.net or david@rapidserve.net. Web site: www.heppner.net. Postmaster send address changes to the Heppner Gazette-Times, P.O. Box 337, Heppner, Oregon 97836. Subscriptions: $31 in Morrow County; $25 senior rate (in Morrow County only; 65 years or older); $37 elsewhere; $31 student subscriptions. Chris Sykes ...............................................................................................Publisher Andrea Di Salvo ............................................................................................ Editor ..................................................................................................................Advertising All News and Advertising Deadline is Monday at 5 p.m. For Advertising: advertising deadline is Monday at 5 p.m. Cost for a display ad is $5.25 per column inch. Cost for classified ad is 50¢ per word. Cost for Card of Thanks is $10 up to 100 words. Cost for a classified display ad is $6.05 per column inch. For Public/Legal Notices: public/legal notices deadline is Monday at 5 p.m. Dates for publi- cation must be specified. Affidavits must be requested at the time of submission. Affidavits require three weeks to process after last date of publication (a sooner return date must be specified if required). For Obituaries: Obituaries are published in the Heppner GT at no charge and are edited to meet news guidelines. Families wishing to include information not included in the guidelines or who wish to have the obituary written in a certain way must purchase advertising space for the obituary. For Letters to the Editor: Letters to the Editor MUST be signed by the author. The Heppner GT will not publish unsigned letters. All letters MUST include the author’s address and phone number for use by the GT office. The GT reserves the right to edit letters. 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. Obituaries Rena Henry Rena Henry, 78, of Heppner died Dec. 26, 2022, in Hep- p n e r. A celebra- tion of life will be held at a later date. She was born in New Mexico on February 2, 1944, but she was raised in Oregon, where she met her husband, Roger Henry. She was a ranch wife and a homemaker. Together they raised one child, Roger Jr. Cards or donations maybe sent to Roger Hen- ry, P.O. Box 1046, Heppner, OR 97836. Donation account set up for Henry family Donations are being accepted to help pay for the medical and final expenses of Heppner woman Rena Henry. Rena, 78, passed away Monday, Dec. 26. The Bank of Eastern Oregon will take all do- nations it receives and put them in Roger Henry’s account. Bank of EO ac- count holders can call the Heppner branch at 541- 676-8125 and have funds transferred to directly to Henry’s account. Donations and cards may also be sent directly to Roger Henry at PO Box 1046, Heppner, OR 97836. Barrel race proceeds to help families of crash victims A barrel race and silent auction are being planned for Jan. 22 in Heppner, with proceeds to go to the fami- lies affected by the fatal car crash that killed three local people outside Lexington last Friday. Organizer Tiffanie Greenup said the idea start- ed as she was wondering what to do to help the fam- ilies out. “The Nelson and Gould families are families that would do anything for any- one without ever being asked; this has been proven time and time again,” she said. “So a friend of mine, Gilla Lieuallen from Pend- leton, and I were talking, and we decided to do a barrel race.” The event will be at the Wilkinson Indoor Are- na at the Morrow County Fairgrounds. The barrel racing will begin at 1 p.m., but there will be time only from 10 a.m. to noon. Par- ticipants are asked to be early, as noon will be a sharp cutoff. Open riding will take place from noon until 12:45 p.m. Entry fee is $20, which will be jackpotted back. Pay in and payout will be cash. The race will be a 4D half-second split. The office fee is $10 each, and time only runs are $5 each or three for $10. Riders will receive tickets when they pay their fees. All time only money and office fees will go to the families. Daniel Hansen has do- nated $1,000 added for the barrel race. A donation jar will also be available, as well as the silent auction. Julie Baker is in charge of the silent auction and hopes to have a list of donated items soon. Jeannie Collins is plan- ning a meal, most likely soup and rolls, which will be by donation back to the families. Greenup says the re- sponse has been tremen- dous, but more help and donations are always wel- come. “People are donating from everywhere,” she says. “Some don’t know the families but may have grown up in South Morrow County, some are part of the barrel racing/rodeo com- munity, and others are just giving for the cause. “This is why we live in a small community and raise our kids here,” she added. “When someone is going through hard times, everyone steps in without ever being asked and makes a difference.” More information will come out as available. Con- tact Tiffanie Greenup with questions about the barrel race or Julie Baker about the silent auction. Heppner Housing Authority to meet The next meeting of the Heppner Housing Author- ity for the Heppner senior center will be Tuesday, Jan. 10, at 4 p.m. in the St. Patrick’s Senior Center dining room. For more information, contact KayRene Qualls at 541-980-2836. County commission in flux during last meeting of 2022 By Andrea Di Salvo Outgoing Morrow County Commission- er Don Russell met with commissioners-elect Jeff Wenholz and David Sykes Dec. 28 in Heppner in what he referred to as an “infor- mational” meeting. While Morrow County Clerk Bob- bi Childers swore in both Sykes and Wenholz before the meeting, their terms did not officially begin until January 2, making Russell the solitary commissioner at the meeting. With only one commis- sioner present at the meet- ing, the Morrow County Board of Commissioners did not have a quorum, which meant no action could be taken during the meeting. The three men used the time mostly to dis- cuss items that would need to be high on the agenda for the incoming county commissioners. Before diving into county business, however, the board and other present heard Jeff Bailey present a letter of request on behalf of assisted living facility Wil- low Creek Terrace. Bailey, who is the secretary/trea- surer for the WCT Board of Directors told the audience that the last few years have Jeff Wenholz, Bobbi Childers, David Sykes at swearing in ceremony He presented a letter that forward, and then majority rected Grogan, Nelson and outlined the problems and rule. So, if two representa- Morrow County Finance proposed steps the facility tives from one entity, such Director Kevin Ince to re- is taking and that requested as the county, don’t agree view the contract before the any available funding from with the rest of the group, next commission meeting, Morrow County. it doesn’t happen. Russell but also wanted to stress “As you know, we can’t said that had happened in that he wasn’t trying to take any action,” said Rus- the past, when he and for- cross any legal lines by sell, “but I think it’s good mer commissioner Leann taking action. that the two commission- Rea had disagreed with the County counsel Nelson er-elects can hear the issue a rest of the CREZ board. agreed. little bit, at least get primed He also told them “At this meeting, ac- on it a little bit, before next CREZ III has three voting tionable decisions can’t be year starts.” members from the Port made. Any statements can Russell added that it and three from the county. be made saying, ‘Well, we was something the board of In the past, all three com- want this to happen.’ That commissioners would need missioners have been on doesn’t mean it’s happening to discuss with the finance the board. Since there are until a vote occurs in a gen- department and see if there only two commissioners at eral meeting with a quorum were funds available, and the moment, Russell sug- present. That won’t be until that it would then be up gested that they each serve the fourth,” Nelson said. to the two commission- and have Gorman also be a Nelson also addressed ers-elect to decide if it is voting member until a third concerns some showed commissioner is appointed. about the legality of the Russell also asked meeting, saying it was his Wenholz and Sykes their interpretation that a single thoughts on a county ad- commissioner, especially ministrator. Sykes said they when the sole commis- want to move forward with sioner, could call a public hiring a county adminis- meeting for discussion and trator and appoint one in input. the interim. He said he had “It’s still a public meet- talked with Greg Sweek ing. The public is aware of and could not think of any- what’s happening. That’s one better for the position. what I think is the current Sweek was county assessor here. But no official action for 35 years. is taking place,” he said. Morrow County Clerk Bobbi Childers swears in An earlier comment commissioner-elect Jeff Wenholz from an anonymous Zoom been difficult for the facility something the county can participant going by the in terms of supplies, staffing do. name “Citizen” had stated and finances. Wenholz asked if WCT that the meeting was illegal “It’s no surprise to any- had a specific ask, of if under open meeting laws. one that COVID is taking it was just whatever was “I think it’s also im- a big toll on anything re- available. Bailey replied portant for everyone to lated to health care. You that they could have a spe- know that Morrow County guys have been neck deep cific number if that was has strived reasonably to be or higher in that process something the commission- prepared for this situation throughout the last two ers needed, but “It really where there’s one com- years. It’s really taken a comes down to whatever missioner,” Nelson added. toll on the assisted living we can get.” “We’ve been in contact facility,” he said. “We keep thinking Greg Sweek with the governor’s office, He said the cost of things are going to stabilize “I don’t think there’s working on trying to say, supplies and supply chain and normalize, but that just anybody who knows more ‘Is there an appointment? issues were a problem, but doesn’t seem to be happen- about Morrow County Can we get that done ahead that staffing has also been a ing,” he added. government, to be honest of time?’” huge issue. In county business, with you,” said Sykes. “He He added that the need “I think most people Russell brought up the knows everybody. People for a quorum wasn’t only are aware of what the labor need to review the status return his phone calls. He for regular meetings, but market’s done in the area, in of Morrow County repre- knows how things work also in case of the need for the state, in the nation as far sentatives to the Colum- around the courthouse. an emergency meeting in as finding replacement peo- bia River Enterprise Zone We’re going to be needing the county. ple when people move on.” (CREZ) II board. Russell that. We have two new com- “We wish we had a However, underpinning was the current chair, but missioners moving in with quorum. We wish there was the other problems was the his term ended Jan. 3. In the no administrator.” an appointment done,” he issue of income. During past, commissioners have Sykes said he hopes to said. “But we’re still con- COVID restrictions, Bai- acted as the county’s CREZ take action and sign a con- tinuing on with the govern- ley said, WCT wasn’t able representatives, but Russell tract with Sweek at the first ment, still doing what we to recruit new residents if said that doesn’t have to be a unit became vacant for the case. some reason. CREZ II voting mem- “That was sort of a bers are made up of two double whammy of the representatives of the coun- whole situation. Not only ty, two from the City of were expenses up, but we Boardman and two from weren’t able to generate the the Port of Morrow. Russell kind of income that we need said his recommendation to really make the facility after the two commission- operate.” ers took office would be to Bailey said that going appoint themselves to the back three or four years, two positions and appoint the facility had pretty much Mike Gorman an alternate. broken even financially, He said the only thing he and that they viewed it as a thought the CREZ II had Morrow County Clerk Bobbi Childers swears in service to the community, to do in the near future commissioner-elect David Sykes can, with the understanding allowing people to stay was disperse roughly $13 meeting of 2023. “I think it would be best still that there’s not a quo- closer to home when they million throughout Morrow get to the point of needing County. Last year there for the county and best for rum, so no official action assistance. That trend start- was about $10 million, and the functioning of the gov- can be taken.” Nelson also pointed out ed to change in 2020, when he said CREZ II Manager ernment,” he said. The contract proposed that other elected officials, the assisted living facility Greg Sweek could get them lost about $29,000. In 2021, the information on how that is one used before when department heads and em- Kim Cutsforth was the in- ployees were still attending WCT lost $93,000. was disbursed. “Through the third “It’s a terrible problem terim county administrator. to their jobs every day. “Even with there being quarter of 2022, we’re down to have. Revenue’s up 30 Russell said he supported $111,000 on the year,” said percent over last year,” he that but recommended run- one commissioner, the gov- ning the proposed contract ernment still functions.” Bailey. “We’re trying to do quipped. “I appreciate that,” about anything we can to He also informed the by Morrow County Human bridge that gap.” incoming commissioners Resources Director Lindsay agreed Russell. “I see a Bailey told the board that it takes a minimum of Grogan and Morrow Coun- lot of senior leadership of that WCT had tapped into one positive vote from each ty Counsel Justin Nelson. Morrow County in this their operating reserves. entity to pass something Commissioner Russell di- -Continued to PAGE SIX