Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, March 29, 2023 -- THREE
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Worse than
diverse
Many people are
talking about how divided
our country is and how we
all need to unite. So, I’ve
come up with a great plan,
and I think it will work.
Let’s make a huge deal
out of a particular trait,
like someone’s skin color,
expect special treatment,
call people names that don’t
agree with us and create
politically correct terms
like Inclusion, Diversity
and Equity. Be sure to say
them often enough that peo-
ple will stop questioning
their validity. I’m sure that
won’t cause any division or
hatred. And just think of the
opportunities for creating
victims…a definite win/win
for Social Justice.
I can just see the suc-
cess.
“Team, we have a new
player today. This is Mike
and as you can see, he has
red hair. There will be a few
changes I’d like you all to
remember. Mike will be in
our starting lineup. He is
fairly new to the game, so I
will expect you to help him
as much as possible. Now,
if Mike is injured during
practice, we will take this
as a serious and deliberate
offense due to his red hair,
and the whole team will be
punished.
“Also, Jeremy, we’ve
just learned that, before you
were born, your grandpa
punched his grandpa in
the nose, so you will need
to give Mike your new
football. Mike is also the
leader of the Red Power
club and I need to remind
you that this is a red-head-
only club. Also, please
make Mike feel welcome
by encouraging him to join
any club of which you’re a
member. Coach Woke is out
recruiting more redheads
right now because we need
more redheads on our team.
Remember, anyone using
the term ‘Ginger’ will be
benched immediately…
unless, of course, you are a
redhead.”
Seriously, I thought
we were supposed to be
kind to everyone, including
redheads. Black, white, red,
short, tall…it’s what’s in-
side that counts. Didn’t we
learn this in kindergarten?
And if you hate me because
I’m short, does that make
it OK to hate you because
you’re tall? How silly is
that. Pretty sure I’m sup-
posed to forgive you, even
though I may be a tad bit
jealous of your ability to
reach the top shelves.
Now there is something
called “stereotyping” that
needs to be addressed here.
This is an entirely different
matter and sometimes very
necessary. For example, if a
tall blond smacks you in the
face every time she walks
by, especially if you’ve
never known any other tall
blonds, it would make sense
that you duck when any tall
blond walks by. It’s called
using your brain for safety’s
sake. And if someone dress-
es like a gangster and tats
up his face, he shouldn’t
be surprised when people
don’t invite him to their
tea party. Most folks dress
to make a statement. Wear
Tony Lama’s and a Stetson
and you’re saying you’re
a cowboy (or wanna be).
Wear Speedos and a bike
helmet and you’re saying
you love cycling (and pain).
Sport a beard, a tutu and
logger boots and you’re
saying you need profession-
al help.
“And be kind to one
another, tenderhearted, for-
giving one another, even as
God in Christ forgave you”
(Ephesians 4:32).
Susie Crosby,
Heppner, OR
Morrow County
organizations
benefit from Good
Shepherd grants
Several Morrow Coun-
ty organizations are among
those receiving grants from
the Good Shepherd Com-
munity Health Foundation
(GSCHF), the foundation
announced this week.
Willow Creek Park
District is receiving fund-
ing to repair the pool and
building, Irrigon Jr./Sr.
High School is receiving
funds to turn the old gravel
track into two grass prac-
tice fields, Riverside Jr./Sr.
High School Track & Field
will use the grant to replace
outdated and unsafe track
equipment at Riverside
and Boardman Fire Rescue
District is getting funding to
purchase an airway training
mannequin to provide nec-
essary hands-on training.
GSCHF distributed
spring grants in the amount
of $99,065 to organizations
in West Umatilla and Mor-
row Counties. Funding in
West Umatilla County will
be used to update and repair
the restrooms at Funland
Soccer Fields, purchase
new bases and installa-
tion hardware for Umatilla
High School Softball, and
build a sportsplex at Eastern
Oregon Trade and Event
Center, among others.
Grant funding is made
possible by planned giving
and community support
according to Liz Marvin,
GSCHF Executive Direc-
tor.
“Because we live in an
area where the culture is to
make our communities bet-
ter, residents consistently
give to the health founda-
tion,” said Marvin. “The
next grant cycle will close
on July 31, and we encour-
age nonprofit organizations
to apply for funding.”
To apply for a grant by
July 31, submit a form at
https://www.gshealth.org/
awards. With questions
about grants, email Liz
Marvin, GSCHF Execu-
tive Director, at lmarvin@
gshealth.org or contact her
by phone at 541-667-3419.
For more information about
GSCHF, visit https://www.
gshealth.org/foundation.
Morrow SWCD to meet
Morrow SWCD will
meet Tuesday, April 4, be-
ginning at 6 p.m. at the Ag
Service Center in Heppner.
To join via Zoom or con-
ference call, please contact
the SWCD beforehand at
541-676-5452. Meetings
of the Morrow SWCD are
open to the public.
Good News Only by Doris Brosnan
What an honor, Julie Proctor Baker! Julie has been
recognized and honored by the Rural Community
Builders of Oregon for her strong involvement with our
community: “Julie is a bright light in her small town and
to all who know her. She’s always taking time to recog-
nize others.” Julie is never too busy with her work at the
OSU Extension and her Jack Rabbit Candle Company
to include volunteerism and time for friends in her busy
days. Congrats, Julie!
With a Heppner connection and living just about 50
miles north, Dalton Massey recently added to his year’s
earnings as a professional steer wrestler by winning the
competition at Rodeo Houston, which ended on March
20. Dalton’s mother, Shawn, attended school in Heppner,
the daughter of Sid Britt. Dalton has improved his world
standings consistently since first placing in 2018, and last
year he totaled wins in the Columbia River Circuit Finals,
Red Bluff Roundup, Wild Rogue Pro Rodeo, Redding
Rodeo, and Crooked River Roundup. Definitely a name
to watch for.
Spring break = local students free from the classroom,
college students home to visit family and friends, busier
times on the Oregon coast (and distant party locations),
and, of course, cooler, wetter weather…
And how much madness has there been in “March
Madness”?!
Patrons of the Heppner Library will miss Cori Jo
Lindsay’s friendly, helpful assist after next week. Cori
Jo will be leaving the library and heading for the BMCC
campus. She has been working on an associate’s degree
via long-distance classes and now enters a new phase of
her pursuit, attending classes in Pendleton. Next year,
she expects to continue work toward a four-year degree
at one of two possible universities. Best of luck, Cori Jo!
Story Time at the Heppner Library continues on Tues-
days. All young people and their adults are welcome to
join the 11 a.m. gathering each week for an entertaining
story.
Congratulations, John and Jana VanderBrink of Ione
for being awarded the Oregon State FFA Service Award!
Being nominated for this prestigious award by all four
Morrow County FFA organizations is indicative of the
VanderBrinks’ strong support of their programs, including
at the Morrow County Fair animal auction and the back-
pack program that the organizations sponsor each fall.
The Holly Rebekahs continue to sponsor their Bingo
games on the last Sunday of each month. This fundraiser
always includes a tasty meal offering, some tasty prizes,
and some pretty inexpensive hours of entertainment.
Next month, Lexington, last Sunday, 3 p.m. for food,
3:30 for play.
This writer and many readers can never get enough
good news! So, we hope everyone who has had something
to smile about recently will share it. An email to dbros-
nan123@gmail.com or call to 541-223-1490 will do it.
Here’s hoping that some good news comes to ev-
eryone reading this!
Neighborhood Center
bag sale April 5
The Neighborhood
Center is having a bag sale
on Wednesday, April 5,
from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30
p.m. at 441 N Main Street,
Heppner.
The first bag purchased
is $15, while a second bag
is a discounted price of
$5. Bags can be filled with
items for the entire fami-
ly—clothing, shoes, books,
games, music and movies.
All other household mer-
chandise is 50 percent off
that day only.
Proceeds from the sale
help fund the food pantry
and other emergency assis-
tance programs.
Zinter receives fire
department promotion
Spiritually Speaking
Father Thankachan Joseph
St. Patrick Catholic Church Heppner
“Hosanna to the son of David”
With the blessing of the palms, we enter Holy Week
celebrations. Palm Sunday reminds us of the solemn entry
of Lord Jesus into Jerusalem, the place of peace, to estab-
lish peace and harmony. “The crowd who went in front
of him and those who followed him were all shouting,
‘Hosanna to the son of David!’ Come and save us from
our pathetic and pitiful conditions (Mt 21:9).
This Hebrew word, hoshi’a na, is translated as (h)
osanna in Greek; in English, it is known as hosanna. The
original biblical dictionaries of the scripture describe it
as “Save!” It is viewed as a plea for help. I am sure we
have all gone through a tough time when faced with the
COVID epidemic. Like the crowd who followed the Lord
shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” or like the
disciples in the boat who cried out, “Master, don’t you
care that we are about to die?” (Mk. 4:38), when we face
a troubled sea and storm, do we shout out like the people
of His time shouted out? Let us say this little soothing
and comforting prayer: “Hosanna to the son of David,
Lord come to our rescue.” Like Psalmists, together say,
“Please, Lord, please save us. Please, Lord, please give
us success” (Psalm 118:25).
The Gospel of Matthew chapter 21 begins with Jesus
entering a village called Bethphage, which means “house
of unripe fruits.” We can clearly see from the name that
the souls in this town were suffering from deficiency:
they are unripe. Jesus with compassion came not only to
undo the power of that tree and replace it with the tree
of redemption—namely, the Cross of Calvary—but also
to raise the donkey (our soul) from being unripe to being
ripe and fit for the harvest.
When Jesus and His disciples near Bethphage, Jesus
sends two of His disciples to untie a tethered ass and a
colt and bring them to Him. The untied donkey represents
humanity untied from sin. The donkey tied to the tree
represents humanity tied to the Life of Jesus. We, the
young and the old, are to tie to the tree of Calvary, the
cross, for our salvation.
Why did Jesus choose to travel on a donkey (and
its colt) someone may ask? Palm Sunday reminds us of
an important thing: unlike the other kings of the world,
Jesus is coming on a mule. This king is different from the
worldly kings. He shows us the example of humility. We
cannot even think of any king who marches on a donkey.
The donkey stands for humility, simplicity, ignorance,
diffidence, docility. This Holy Week invites us to answer
this question of the Lord: Can you be a donkey for me this
Palm Sunday? Can you take me to the cities and towns
shouting and yelling Hosanna to the son of David? It asks
each one of us to humble ourselves from our own style
of living to his style of life.
Matthew 21:1-11 starts on a triumphant note, the
celebration of a victory parade. Parades and processions
have always been part of worship in Jewish and Chris-
tian tradition, and they were a normal way for people to
acclaim the victories and triumphs of their heroes and
heroines. When the parade is over, the heroes fade away
and are forgotten. Jesus, whom we acclaim in today’s
victory procession, will momentarily fade into His passion
and death, but then He will rise again and live on. What
is worth noting is the attitude of Jesus as He is about to
enter into the final phase of His life: He enters the city
boldly and fearlessly, though He knows that He will meet
His end there. He meets His opponents openly as He
triumphantly enters Jerusalem.
This Holy Week invites all of us to answer this ques-
tion of the Lord: “Can you be a donkey for Me this Palm
Sunday? Can you take Me to the cities and towns shouting
and yelling ‘Hosanna to the son of David’?”
To be a donkey for the Lord, what are all the things
I need to leave aside? Lenten observances and practices
invited every one of us to introspection and getting rid of
those things that make us boastful, arrogant and non-car-
ing. Scripture says, “The greater you are, the more hum-
bly you should behave, and then you find favor with the
Lord.” (Sir. 3:18). Then Hosanna will be accomplished
in our lives, too.
annual easter egg hunt
Saturday, April 8 th
Morrow County Fairgrounds
9:15 a.m. Pictures with Easter Bunny
10:00 a.m Easter Egg Hunt Starts
Heppner Fire Chief Steve Rhea presents Katilyn Zinter of
Heppner with her new badge and helmet Monday evening.
Zinter was promoted this week from firefighter to training
officer/lieutenant of the Heppner volunteer fire department.
-Contributed photo
Katilyn Zinter of Heppner
received a well-deserved pro-
motion this week, according to
the Heppner Fire Department.
Zinter was promoted from
firefighter to Training Offi-
cer/Lieutenant. Heppner Fire
Chief Steve Rhea presented
Zinter with her new badge and
helmet Monday evening.
Over the last two years,
Zinter has dedicated many
hours volunteering at the fire
hall. In 2021, she undertook
the task of writing and im-
plementing the department’s
standard operating procedures.
In November of 2022,
Zinter organized the volunteer
fire department’s first-ever in-
house Firefighter 1 Academy
for new recruits. She has also
been the primary teacher of
the academy. The Firefight-
er 1 academy provides new
firefighters the practical and
cognitive training needed to
operate safely and effectively
on the fireground. The training
includes classes on most Mon-
day nights and one Sunday a
month.
“As a valued member of
the Heppner Fire Department,
the whole team appreciates
Katilyn’s hard work in making
us a volunteer fire department
Heppner can be proud of,”
said a statement on the depart-
ment’s Facebook page.
Age groups:
0 thru 3, 4 thru 6,
7 thru 9, and 10+
Each group will be spaced
5 minutes apart