Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, February 8, 2023 -- THREE
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Scary Balloons
Balloons have always
been a little scary to me.
Seems like they always
pop at some inopportune
moment, wreaking havoc
on the unsuspecting holder.
Clowns run a close second
on my birthday could-do-
without list. So, given my
aversion to both balloons
and clowns…the last cou-
ple days have been a perfect
storm of creepiness.
Learning that our
American Air Space just
had a couple “Weather Bal-
loons” straight from Com-
munist China is a little un-
nerving. Am I worried that
they have collected some
valuable, sensitive infor-
mation during their flight?
Not especially. Pretty sure
they’ve already visited a
certain garage for that info.
Even the theory that they
will use big, white balloons
to release the next pan-
demic doesn’t fly with me.
There are easier and more
effective ways to spread
disease and death if so
desired. Fentanyl has been
pretty effective, and the
transport method couldn’t
be easier. Thanks, Brandon.
But still, isn’t our air
space sort of sacred as in…
somebody should be keep-
ing track of what comes and
goes there? Yes, I know it
finally got shot down but se-
riously, folks. Say you hired
a security guard who had
a habit of letting burglars
come in, wander around,
take what they want, and
maybe pilfer through your
fridge before he booted
them out. How long would
it take to fire that clown?
Next time, maybe hire the
guy with the big guns.
I’m fairly convinced
that China has access to
all they need or want from
us…including millions of
acres of farmland, and a po-
lice force. Those engraved
invitations have already
been sent by their Biden
buddies. So why the need
for big white balloons?
Maybe a little test, or a little
fun just to see the reaction.
Sort of like poking the bear.
Too bad our bear has lost
his teeth.
I miss those days when
our enemies were afraid
of us. Give me an Orange
Scary Man any day over a
Stumbling Dementia Pa-
tient. Trump had our ene-
mies where they needed to
be…shaking in their boots
at the thought of ruffling
his feathers. They knew he
was strong enough, smart
enough and, yes, arrogant
enough to push any button
necessary to win. Walk
softly (or not), and carry a
big stick, wave it around a
little and make sure your
enemies see it.
Klaus Schwab, Bill
Gates, John Kerry and the
WEF may have some ne-
farious intentions for our
country. Reducing the pop-
ulation, altering our brains
with AI, One World Gov-
ernment and “You will own
nothing and be happy about
it.” But when it comes to
bringing our country down,
China may beat them to it,
especially with the help of
our own Useful Idiots who
are more worried about gas
stoves and ‘68 Chevys ru-
ining the planet. Or maybe
all they need to do is keep
selling us all their cheap
China garbage and that’s
why we will “own noth-
ing” …because China stuff
never lasts.
Come to think of it,
maybe we didn’t shoot it
down. Maybe it just blew.
After all, it was made in
China.
Susie Crosby
Heppner, OR
Good News Only by Doris Brosnan
Apologies for an oversight last week: For omitting
the fact that Ali Ball is fortunate to include more grand-
parents in her fan base, Les and Kathy Payne of Umatilla
and Phyllis Armitage of Wenatchee, WA.
Congratulations to Linsey Mitchell and Hunter
Nichols for earning their inclusion on the Eastern Oregon
University’s honor roll for GPAs of 3.5 and better. And
congratulations to Jaycee Currin for making the Presi-
dent’s List at Montana State University with her 4.0 GPA.
“They sound great!” observed several spectators at
the HHS basketball games last Friday, referring to the
band. Led by Brooke Baker, the 20 students sounded
exceptional from the “Star Spangled Banner” to the final
HHS fight song after the boys’ team won its game with
Enterprise. So much energy echoed from their brief bursts
of melodies during the time-outs, surely stimulating the
cheering section.
The three Bennett sisters—Judy Barber, Sandy Mat-
thews, and Debbie Sumner—had a surprising adventure
on Jan. 24. First, the three met Debbie’s two daughters
and husbands—Kim and Todd Wright and Jodi and Mike
Hand—in Walla Walla for lunch, a mini-celebration of
Debbie’s birthday. Then, they decided to stay at Wildhorse
for the night, and after checking in, Judy and Sandy as-
signed Debbie to the nearby section of chairs while they
ran their belongings to the room. When, minutes later, they
returned, they were stunned to see Debbie headed into
a hug with a younger, unfamiliar man! Debbie said she
hadn’t recognized the face seated near her, but she did the
voice, a voice from her past, the voice of Bud Marshall.
This was Bud and Ramona’s grandson Paul, son of their
daughter Mona Lisa, who had been Debbie’s absolute best
friend throughout their school years and beyond. The three
Heppner women enjoyed catch-up visiting with Paul for
five and a half hours, lasting late enough that they had
to settle for grilled cheese sandwiches for their dinner.
Paul lives on the coast and was staying with his boss at
Wildhorse while they worked on a nearby project.
Our local library is extending another invitation:
Come and join them for “Crafty Night Wednesday,” this
evening at 6 p.m. This month’s craft will be Perler Bead
Valentine’s Day Cards. This program is for adult crafters
only and registration is required. Go to the website now
to reserve your spot. (And for an advanced look at future
classes.)
In your list of “things to do” this week, try to include
sharing with the “Good News.” Easy to send to dbros-
nan123@gmail.com or call 541-223-1490.
Here’s hoping that some good news comes to every-
one reading this!
Heppner High announces fall honor
roll
Heppner Jr./Sr. High
School has announced the
honor roll for fall semester
2022.
Making the honor roll
with a 4.0 GPA were seniors
Tyler Boor, Samuel Jacob
Finch, Paul Lindsay, Trevor
Nichols, Madison Palm-
er, Hailey Wenberg and
Katherine Wilson. Making
the list with a 3.5 or better
GPA were seniors Kylie
Holden, Camryn Scrivner,
Trinity Bunce, Dusty Rob-
inson, Daralynn Teeman,
Daemon Worden, Jacob
Lentz, Brooklynn Wilson
and Jacob Haugen.
Juniors with a 4.0 GPA
were Morgan Cutsforth,
Caden George, Irelynn
Kollman and Cameron
Proudfoot. Juniors on the
honor roll with 3.5 or better
GPA were Cade Cunning-
ham, Thomas Bales and
Piper Kelton.
Sophomores on the
honor roll with a 4.0 GPA
were Jackson Coiner, Hal-
lee Hisler, John Lindsay
and Katie Spivey. On the
honor roll with 3.5 or higher
was Mason Orem.
On the honor roll with
a 4.0 GPA were freshmen
Elizabeth Finch, Lilyanna
Nichols, Rylee Palmer and
Delilah Sauceda. With 3.5
or better were freshmen Lo-
ren Trujillo, Caleb George
and Teagan Kelton.
Eighth graders on the
honor roll were: (4.0) Lin-
coln Ellsworth, Rebecca
Ellsworth, Claire Lindsay,
McKenzie Maben, Hai-
ley McDaniel and Maya
Payne, and (3.5 or higher)
Brooklyn Hendricks, Healy
Hisler, KayeleeJean Davis,
Jules Archer, Avree Lath-
rop, Lita Nelson, Natalie
Piper, Caylan Proudfoot
and Logan Turner.
On the roll with 4.0
GPA were seventh-graders
Mary Ashbeck, Elizabeth
Ginn, Samantha Lamb and
Dallie Wilcox. With 3.5 or
better were Isabel Payne,
Addison Coe, Darby Spivey
and Kathryn Anderson.
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Ione FFA recognizes first
levels of membership
Discovery and Greenhand degrees were presented to Ione
FFA members recently. Pictured L-R are Novalee Campbell,
Isabelle Ogden, Phegley Padberg, Oliva Ogden, Miley Stre-
zlewicz, CiCi Stefani, Caydance Kreitzer, Gage Heideman,
William McElligott, Blake Vandever and Hunter Scoggin.
-Contributed photo
Isabelle and Olivia Ogden will represent Ione FFA Chapter
at the district contest Feb. 7 at BMCC. The pair is pictured
here with District FFA President Elizabeth Doherty from
Hermiston. -Contributed photo
I o n e F FA C h a p t e r
awarded five discovery de-
grees and eight greenhand
degrees at the Greenhand
FFA Dessert held on Jan. 25
in the Ione school cafeteria.
These are the first and sec-
ond levels of membership
in the organization.
The discovery degree
was awarded to Caydance
Kreitzer, Hunter Scoggin,
Adrian Mendoza, Gage
Heideman and Blake Van-
dever. This is the first de-
gree a member can be eligi-
ble for, and it is intended for
seventh and eighth grade
members who participate
in FFA activities.
The greenhand degree
was awarded to Novalee
Campbell, Khira Kreit-
zer, Olivia Ogden, Isabelle
Ogden, Phegley Padberg,
William McElligott, CiCi
Stefani and Miley Strzele-
wicz. This degree is award-
ed to ninth grade or older
members, or members who
have their discovery degree,
who learn about the FFA
history, mission, creed and
emblem and make plans for
a supervised agricultural
experience program (SAE).
Also during the event,
the chapter hosted their
chapter Creed Speaking
contest. The Creed is the
first public speaking event
students can participate in
for FFA. Contestants were
Delaney Stefani, Elizabeth
Doherty, Olivia Ogden,
Novalee Campbell and Is-
abelle Ogden.
“We had five members
choose to compete in this
speaking contest and they
were incredible,” said FFA
advisor Erin Heideman.
“Public speaking is a hard
thing to do, especially vol-
untarily, and these eighth
and ninth graders did it. I
am exceptionally proud of
them.”
Oliva and Isabelle Og-
den will represent the chap-
ter at the district contest
at BMCC Tuesday, Feb.
7. The district includes
all of the FFA chapters in
both Umatilla and Morrow
counties.
The judges for the creed
contest were Emily Taylor
(American Degree recipi-
ent 2018), Jake Heideman
(American Degree recip-
ient 2021) and Elizabeth
Doherty, District FFA Pres-
ident from Hermiston.
FFA, once known as
Future Farmers of Amer-
ica, is the largest youth
leadership organization
in the United States. Go
to www.oregonffa.com to
learn more about this orga-
nization.