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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 11, 2023)
Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, January 11, 2023 -- THREE Spiritually Speaking Good News Only by Doris Brosnan Father Thankachan Joseph St. Patrick Catholic Church Heppner Good News that some readers might not yet be aware of since the pandemic interruptions is that the library in Heppner is open daily from 10 to 6, except on Sundays and Mondays, and it has so much to offer! One example is its “Crafty Nights,” and tonight’s adult craft From this Sunday’s Scripture readings, we get the mes- is “mixed-media-canvas” at 6 p.m. A visit to the library sage that Jesus was sent by God to this world with a purpose will impress the visitor with its vast shelves of books, of building a bridge between heaven and earth, for God educational resources, tutorials for students, the internet wants all to be saved. access, the young-readers room, audio books, movies, and The Prophet Isaiah (49:3, 5-6), tells us about the Servant if something is not in this library, a search of the Sage of Israel: He is a servant who will glorify God through his Library system of several libraries will surely find it and work. The Lord, in turn, will glorify His servant as no person have it here pronto! on earth has ever been glorified. The servant’s effort is to Looking for a Tuesday-afternoon activity? Good bring back to the Lord not only the people of Israel but all News for Bingo players: Play begins at 1 p.m. in the din- people. Who is this servant? When Isaiah wrote about the ing room of the St. Pat’s Senior Center, and it is a pretty servant of God, he was speaking about himself, chosen by inexpensive entertainment and social outing. God while in his mother’s womb (Isaiah 49:1). He readily The weather calmed down and became comfortable agreed to be God’s messenger: “Here I am, send me!” (Isaiah for the 4-Corners Snowmobile Club’s recent annual Play 6:8). He announced, contrary to what the Jews thought, that Day at Kelly Prairie. Tom Wolff’s reports of 52 snowmo- God’s plan was to save everybody, not only the Jews. Isaiah biles and 13 tracked side-by-sides included his observa- saw himself as a powerful light casting its rays to the ends of tion that an increasing number of tracked (and heated) the world. side-by-side units seems to reflect that some members The Gospel reading is from the first chapter of John, are “growing more mature.” Members made the most of wherein we see John the Baptist witnessing Christ to the the spectacular day with time for a fundraising effort, a world. He came to witness Christ and he does it so well great dogs-and-chili meal, a trail ride and a poker run. through his life. John describes Christ as “Behold the Lamb John Edmundson reports that Pat and he were re- of God who takes away the sin of the world” (1:30). Ac- minded this past weekend of the benefit of having a cording to John the Baptist, sin is the great stumbling block person endowed with “above-average tallness” present to God’s plans of salvation. We know how Adam and Eve and available to help us short people with things we can’t blocked God’s plan of salvation through their disobedience. reach: On Friday the electrician Adam Wight, with his Their sin was the first link of a long chain, and we add our 6’ 10” assistant, Justin McAnisch, checked out a ceiling share to that sin with our sins. That is why Paul insistently light fixture, without a ladder. And on Sunday, our son, says that “Everyone has sinned” (Rom. 5:12). And we need Jeff, at 6’ 3”, repositioned a smoke detector and helped to admit our transgressions. That is the reason John tells us with putting Christmas decorations away on high shelves, that “If we say we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves” also without a ladder. (1 John 1:8). Shirley Connor is proud to report the latest good John the Baptist is trying to describe sin. Sin is not only news about grandchildren from Asotin, WA: Greg and breaking a rule given by God but also our refusal of God’s Jodi Connor’s two students at Lewis and Clark College love and going against His efforts to save us. For example: in Lewiston, ID, are on the honor rolls. Jake, a senior ma- Imagine a person about to fall into a gorge, biting the hand joring in computer science, is on the Dean’s List. Kenlie, of his rescuer trying to pull him up at the risk of his own a sophomore majoring in radiology, is on the President’s life. This would be a picture of what sin is. In order to fully List. Their older sister, Nicole, graduated two years ago understand sin, we should first understand the immensity of from Lewis and Clark and is now a radiologist in Clark- God’s love in saving us, the tenderness of the love we reject. ston. Shirley adds that the three students’ educations were The role of John the Baptist was to introduce Him to the and are being paid for by themselves with hard-earned fallen world. John the Baptist reminds us of someone who and saved money from years of various jobs. was a facilitator, who set the pace. His job was to prepare the From Oregon State University comes the list of way for someone else, someone greater than he. That some- Heppner graduates on the university’s fall honor roll, one was Christ. When Christ appeared, John slipped into requiring a 3.5 grade-point or higher: Carson Brosnan, the shadows. He knew exactly what his role was: only the a senior; Kason Cimmiyotti, a freshman; Tatum Clark, messenger who announced the King. He lived for it, seeking a senior; Keegan Gibson, a junior; Gibson McCurry, a nothing for himself. In today’s Gospel we have the plain, yet senior; and Cami VanArsdale, a junior. And on the honor powerful message of John the Baptist, wherein he preached roll of nearby Linn Benton, Conor Brosnan is another about the Messiah and His existence. The Messiah was more HHS graduate listed. Impressive, All! (The Good News worthy and more powerful than he. He was not even worthy column welcomes such good news about area young to undo the strap of His sandals. He proclaimed, “I baptize students from all institutions.) you with water, but He with the Holy Spirit.” John also com- Yes, as one reader has pointed out, the support that pares Jesus to a lamb, keeping in mind the existing Jewish members of the community offer when someone faces a custom: Every morning and afternoon, a lamb was sacrificed tragedy is definitely a positive. at the Temple of Jerusalem for the sins of the people of Israel When something brings a smile to your face, how (Exodus 29:38-42). about taking a few minutes to send details to dbros- That is why Jesus chose to die on the feast of the nan123@gmail.com or call 541-223-1490? Passover, giving a clear sign that from then onwards, men Here’s hoping that some good news comes to ev- should turn to Christ and not to animals to have their sins eryone reading this! Manifest the Lamb of God forgiven. Jesus made pardon available to all by shedding His blood on the cross. That is why Peter tells the Christians (1 Pt. 1:18-19): “Remember the ransom that was paid to free you… it was not paid in silver or gold, but in the precious blood of a lamb without spot or stain, namely, Jesus Christ.” Jesus continues His work of destroying sin through Baptism. Jesus destroys sin the very moment man repents. Thus, He continues to be at all times the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Angels and saints praise Him under this glorious title in heaven. Rev. 5:12 says: “The Lamb that was sacrificed is worthy to be given power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and blessing.” Pranger retires -Continued from PAGE TWO weeds aren’t eliminated plant designated by the government as harmful to public health, agriculture, recreation, wildlife or property. They’re typical- ly invasive species that reproduce quickly and outcompete native plants. It was those biological invaders that Pranger was out to conquer, often with creative techniques. “I was heavily invest- ed in biological control,” he said. “I had some pretty good successes in different areas.” He said the state works with around 70 different bio-controls, and each has to go through rig- orous testing and approval to make sure they target the problem plants and only the problem plants. “Because they don’t want them hopping over to grandma’s roses or grand- ma’s tomatoes,” he said. One of his successes was with the reduction, if not total eradication, of knapweed. “It was a running joke when I started that knapweed was the Mor- row County flower,” said Pranger. He tried a new method of bio-control, the knap- weed seedhead weevil. The weevils, which were imported directly from Turkey and Greece, lay eggs on the plant’s seed- heads. The eggs then hatch, and the larvae eat the seeds. It was a highly individualized approach, and it worked. “You know you’re do- ing something right when you get ranchers asking for more,” Pranger said, “because they’re seeing results.” Pranger said he also had good success with similar bio-controls for yellow star-thistle, dalma- tian toadflax and purple loosestrife. He knows the but said that kind of suc- cess was what made his job worth it. “That was probably the most rewarding thing about the job—working with those things that will continue on after I leave,” he said. “The bugs will still be here.” During his time in weed control, Pranger was also involved in several work-related associa- tions—he was president, vice president and board member of the Oregon Vegetation Management Association, spent four years in the Oregon County Weed Control Association, where he was also president, and served four years on the state’s Oregon Invasive Species Council. As fulfilling as he found his work, howev- er, he said it was time to retire. “I was ready. It was time for new blood,” said Pranger said of handing the weed control reins to Corey Sweeney in No- vember. In addition, his wife, Anita, had retired after 30 years with Morrow Coun- ty. Pranger looks forward to their retirement togeth- er, and to spending more time with the grandkids. The Prangers have three grandchildren, two in Silverton, OR and one in Medford, OR. “It’ll give us time to do some things while we’re young,” he said. He said he will miss the people he worked with at the road depart- ment, calling them “a great bunch of people,” but it sounds like he has no shortage of plans for a relaxed retirement. “Probably lots of golf and hunting,” he said. “Maybe a little traveling.” Boardman officers involved in shooting No one injured, shooting under investigation Oregon State Police report an ongoing inves- tigation following an offi- cer-involved shooting in Boardman last week. On Wednesday, Jan. 4, two Boardman Police Of- ficers attempted to contact Matthew Louis Spargo, 39, following a complaint that he had violated a restraining order. The officers located Spargo in a vehicle and conducted a traffic stop, which resulted in an officer involved shooting. Neither Spargo nor the officers were injured in the incident, and Spargo was taken into custody without further incident. Oregon State Police did not provide any other details about the shooting other than to say that a collaborative investigation pursuant to Senate Bill 111 is being conducted. The OSP is leading the investi- gation with the assistance of the Morrow County Sheriff’s Office, Pendleton Police Department and the Morrow County District Attorney’s office. Qualifying families who reside within our fiber footprint can sign up for special pricing. 100 Mbps x 100 Mbps fiber internet for $45 a month. Households that receive the full $30 ACP benefit will only pay $15 a month. Price includes a WiFi router. Go to ACPBenefit.org to submit an application or print out a mail-in application. Contact us to select a plan and have the discount applied to your bill. High Speed Fiber Internet to the home Visit gorge.net or call 541-436-0223
