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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 15, 2023)
Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, February 15, 2023 -- 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. State of Delusion Speeches have got to be pretty good to keep my attention; might be a direct result of ADD. The president’s speech the other night captured me for all of 60 seconds. To be honest, I have a tough time see- ing him without thinking of Walter, Jeff Dunham’s puppet, which can actually be pretty entertaining. But all puppets aside, it’s the content of his speeches that is tough to hear. A few words in and I’m rolling my eyes or pick- ing up something to throw at the TV. Just tell the truth. We aren’t stupid. You can’t tell us how great the econ- omy is when we’ve just walked out the store with one small bag of groceries and sixty bucks less in our pockets….and no meat. And we see the price at the pump and remember what it was before you “built back better.” Honesty matters. In fact, it’s probably the most important character trait there is in my book. With- out it, you have as much integrity as a cheap, wet paper towel. When you find someone has lied to you, it not only hurts like heck… it makes you question ev- erything they’ve ever said or done. It takes away the validity of anything they say or do in the future. I’ve heard, “Ooh, I wouldn’t lie about that.” Really? Then could you please publish a list of all the circumstanc- es in which you would lie…just so I don’t have to guess? I recently heard a young person say, “Just don’t do it and say you did.” Broke my heart. To them, lying was an acceptable op- tion, and not even a difficult one to choose. I think we’re missing something in the education and direction of kids today. Society speaks loudly…most often more loudly than parents. So, how much is trustworthiness worth? Do we mind not knowing what to believe when our pres- ident speaks? Should we have to research every- thing that comes out of his mouth? Sometimes I think we’re so used to being lied to, we give it no more than a shoulder shrug. Where’s the accountability? I’d love to see a president raise his hand and swear to tell the truth before he makes a speech. Just wondering… how many years does one get for committing perjury? I miss the days when truth mattered, when there were consequences and when we feared a God that pays attention. I miss integrity. When my kids were lit- tle, they knew there was one thing that would bring about a swift and severe reaction. Lie to me, child, and you’ll be lucky to expe- rience your next birthday. It didn’t take long before they got the hint. Thankfully, all seven have experienced several birthdays since. Susie Crosby Heppner, OR Good News Only by Doris Brosnan (No Heppner, Lexington or Ione individuals shared tidbits this week, but HHS activities offer good-news bits for local students.) For school-sports enthusiasts who would like a real- ly, really up-close look at the action in the arenas while being paid, opportunity awaits: One can be in the thick of it as an official! Individuals 18 years old or older can receive necessary training that can lead to this occasional work and alleviate the OSAA’s challenge to find enough officials to cover the many sports. One web site with info seems to be highschoolsportsofficials.com. Congratulations to the HHS wrestlers who will be going to state competition in Portland on the 23 rd and 24 th : Zach Brown, Jaime Cavin, Cade Cunningham and Saul Lopez. Good luck! Congratulations to the HHS boys (ranked ninth in the state) and girls basketball teams. They will be headed for the first playoff rounds in Pendleton this weekend. Good luck! Congratulations to all of the HHS FBLA members who successfully competed in business-related challenges at the Blue Mountain Region Leadership Conference in La Grande. They are now qualified to compete in the state competitions in April: Jackson Coiner, Morgan Cutsforth, Owen Cunningham, Caden George, Caleb George, Ire- lynn Kollman, Paul Lindsay, Saul Lopez, Trevor Nichols, Mason Orem, Cameron Proudfoot, Katie Spivey, Karver Wilkins and Brooklynn Wilson. Good luck, all! Pizza is back! What a tribute to Drew Brannon’s grandfather, Bob DeSpain: “DeSpain Pizza” opened on Feb. 8, Bob’s birthdate. Good luck, Brannons! Did you mark your calendar? This Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Heppner Elementary all-purpose building, the Inland Northwest Orchestra will present a free concert. Good news? Just in time for St. Pat’s weekend in Heppner, ODOT seems to have created a hot pink and white conglomeration of lines, letters, and numbers on the highway-Main Street in preparation for a future bit of work planned for this summer. So, our one-of-a-kind shamrock intersection will be sharing space on Main Street. Too bad the additions couldn’t at least be in green and white. Spread your happy moments farther by contributing to “Good News Only.” An email to dbrosnan123@gmail. com or call to 541-223-1490 will do it. Here’s hoping that some good news comes to every- one reading this! State surveyors make their mark on local towns Police state doesn’t seem far-fetched children due to fears of When I was young, some my age decided not to have children due to fears of a nuclear holocaust. I was more afraid of a police state. Wanting children very much, I finally decided our country didn’t appear to be headed for a police state—any time soon, any- way. Now, some young people are deciding not to have climate change making the earth uninhabitable. I am still more afraid of a police state. And now I have grandchildren, and a police state here doesn’t seem so far-fetched, or far away. It’s up to us, the mercy of God, and the lead- ers God sends us, to keep that from happening. Sandra Johnson Heppner, OR Wheatridge wind facility -Continued from PAGE ONE Goal 5 aggregate resource meet in other north or south county locations. The new schedule will take effect March 1. The previous schedule had been set in place by ordinance in 1981. The commissioners also approved the find- ings of the Morrow Coun- ty Planning Commission regarding a proposed new rock quarry out of Ione during a land use hearing on Feb. 8. Morrow County Public Works applied to permit a new rock quarry to be lo- cated on property owned by JJMC, LLC off of Ella Road out of Ione. The application included an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan inventory, rezoning the 20- acre site to add a significant resource overlay zone and a conditional use permit. On Dec. 6, the planning com- mission voted unanimously to recommend the board of commissioners approve the amendments and permit application. “We’ve lost a few pits around the county,” said Morrow County Public Works Director Eric Imes. “We’re trucking rock a long ways, which costs a lot of money. I’m looking for- ward to getting this open,” he added. This was the first land use hearing on the applica- tion. A second will be held Feb. 22. Senior bake sale big success Trevor Nichols shows off some goodies for the senior class cake auction held during the weekend’s bas- ketball games. Along with a 50/50 raffle, this helped to raise more than $5,000 for the class. Seniors and their families say they’re grateful for the community support. -Photo by Tylynn Cimmiyotti Barbershop to sponsor chili cookoff Faded Joe’s Barber- shop will hold a “Wee Bit o’ Chili” chili cookoff on Saturday, March 18, during the Wee Bit O’ Ireland cel- ebration in Heppner. All proceeds will go to Tupper Outdoor School. Cooking will begin at 10 a.m. with judging from 12-1 p.m. Limited entries are available for teams of three. Contact Faded Joe’s Barbershop for entry forms. Morrow County Republicans to meet this week The Morrow Coun- ty Republicans (MCRP) will meet at 6 p.m. this Thursday, Feb. 23, at the Morrow County Govern- ment Building in Irrigon. Precinct committeepersons (PCPs) and anyone interest- ed in the county Republican Party are encouraged to come and join the discus- sions. MCRP will begin drafting a budget for 2023 and continue planning the 2023 fundraising event, as well as discussing presence at spring/summer commu- nity events. PCP positions are open in Heppner, Lexington, Boardman and Irrigon. Individuals interested in one of these positions are encouraged to attend this meeting to learn about the positions. PCP appoint- ments can be made during MCRP meetings. The Republican Party is open to individuals interested in conservative ideals and values. The Re- publican Party platform can be found at https://oregon. gop/. For more information on the Morrow County Republican Party, contact Shrove Tuesday pancake supper planned Surveyors work on Main Street in Heppner as part of a larg- er ODOT project that includes altering sidewalk wheelchair ramps. -Photo by Andrea Di Salvo Survey crews were working in Heppner last week in preparation for a planned re-do of sidewalk wheelchair ramps. Hep- pner City Manager Kraig Cutsforth said it’s not a city project, but rather part of a statewide Oregon Dept. of Transportation (ODOT) plan, so all of Morrow County’s towns can expect surveyors and work crews if they haven’t had them already. The work doesn’t affect any of the city’s current or future projects in a big way. Cutsforth did say the city had altered some of its past plans, such as the work on Chase and May streets, to accommodate the state’s new plans. Others have been put on a back burner to make sure time and many spent won’t be wasted by being wiped out by changes the state chooses to make later. Most of the changes will be slight, affecting only the grade on the ramps. Some will be major recon- structions, such as altering the intersection at Quaid and Main to provide better visibility and safer sidewalk travel. Cutsforth said he’s been told more crews will be back in town in the near future—though hopefully not the week of Wee Bit O’ Ireland. According to the ODOT website, the Umatilla/Mor- row County portion of the project is estimated to cost nearly $12.5 million, with $444,062 spent to date and an estimated completion date of November 2023. The Gazette reached out to ODOT but has not received word on when actual work might begin in South Mor- row. On Tuesday, Feb. 22, Hopeful Saints Ministry will hold its annual Shrove Tuesday pancake supper from 5-8 p.m. at Hopeful Saints Parish Hall on the corner of Gale and Church Streets in Heppner. Gluten free pancake options will be available. Besides pancakes, there will be ham, fruit, coffee, tea, juice and milk—all you can eat for $15 for families, $5 for adults and $4 for children. All proceeds will go to mission and outreach needs in local communities. Please note: Murray’s special hours Monday Feb 20th Pharmacy Dept 2-6 pm only Main store and Breaking Grounds 9-6 217 North Main St., Heppner, OR Phone 676-9158 Floral 676-9426 murraysdrug.com Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-6pm • Sat 8am-6pm • Sun 9am-2pm Pharmacy- Mon-Fri 9am-6pm DELIGHTFULLY YUMMY VEGETARIAN & PLANT BASED COOKING CLASS 7PM - Tuesday, February 28th This month showcase is Soups Free - All Welcome Recipes & Samples at Class This event will be shared live on Facebook @ Delightfully Yummy Located & Hosted by Heppner SDA Church 560 Minor Street, Heppner Questions (541)561-9132
