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