Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, April 5, 2023 -- THREE
Good News Only by Doris Brosnan
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Normal
Sometimes I just wish
things were normal. As
time goes by, I wonder how
many folks remember what
normal really is. It’s starting
to fade just a bit. Maybe
things weren’t exactly May-
berry quality, but they were
a heck of a lot closer than
they are today. Remember
when people used to know
what good was? Mom and
Dad, big families, babies,
prayer, law and order, hon-
esty, respect, trust, mod-
esty. We knew there was
an appropriate age for the
Birds ‘n Bees talk, and that
men dressed like women to
make us laugh. We all be-
lieved in God and the devil
and knew the difference,
and we all knew freedom
was worth fighting for and
Communism was worth
avoiding at all costs.
It seems to me that
someone messed with the
plumb line. Today, “nor-
mal” has been moved from
the direct middle to the
far right. I, for one, do not
remember moving. As we
“normal” folks have been
relocated to the extreme
right, the left has taken our
place in the middle, and
they’re hoping nobody will
notice. Not fair. It’s kinda
like messing with the En-
glish language. Pronouns
matter.
I’m not saying every
single thing we considered
normal in the past was
good. There were things
that needed to change, and
many have. Pretty glad the
use of leeches is a thing of
the past.
Normal has worked
pretty well for a long time.
And while change motivat-
ed by what works and what
doesn’t is a good thing,
today, we have a loud and
rather obnoxious group of
people that expect us all to
bow to what works for them
and their “truth.” We are to
forget God, forget common
sense, give up our guns, and
embrace their new morality
and their delusions. And by
all means, do not hurt their
feelings.
Better Days
I miss the days when
things weren’t so weird.
When bad wasn’t good
and good was revered.
Friends were your
friends without Facebook
or Twitter.
No one liked a snitch, a
liar or quitter.
Soldiers were loved and
lawmen respected.
Babies were precious,
child innocence protected.
Schools were for read-
ing, writing and prayer.
Gunracks were com-
mon and shootings were
rare.
Ta t t o o s j u s t s a i d
“MOM,” piercings were
few.
Jeans weren’t so skinny,
hair wasn’t blue.
Drugs were for colds
and needles for sewing.
Underwear was under
there, grass was for grow-
ing.
Guys were content with
just being guys.
Women were ladies
who act civilized.
Privates were private
and we knew what that
meant.
Bathrooms were clear-
ly marked “Ladies” and
“Gents.”
Cussing was handled
with soap and disgust.
Jesus was someone we
knew we could trust.
Crooks stayed behind
bars once they were caught.
Evil was hated. The
Bible was not.
Knees were bent for
repentance and prayer.
When old folks were
standing, you’d give up
your chair.
Hard work was reward-
ed, slackers were fired.
Flags were flown high,
saluted, admired.
We knew the enemy, we
knew the cost
To keep the freedom
others had lost.
But we closed our eyes,
and pretended to keep
The country we lost
while we were asleep.
Susie Crosby
Heppner, OR
St. Pat’s parade
winners announced
The Heppner Branch
of the Oregon Trail Library
District will hold a “Crafty
Night” on Wednesday, April
12, at 6 p.m. This month’s
craft will be a highland cow
painting.
This program is for
adult crafters only and has
limited space, so registra-
tion is required. Visit the
website at www.otld.org to
reserve a spot.
WWW.HEPPNER.NET
WWW.HEPPNER.NET
The wedding party of Kevin and Kelly Murray displayed the
Murrays’ Scottish pride with kilts and plaid. -Contributed photo
Some people love the challenge of pulling a good
April Fools’ Day prank and some people just act on a spur-
of-the-moment idea that presents itself. Surely, the day
held much laughter and many groans. Shirley George’s
thought that morning was to theatrically announce to
Kit that a cougar was in the back yard, until she decided
that this would be more suspect than believable. Later,
though, a second thought popped into her head: “Kit,
there’s a raccoon in the back yard!” Uh-huh, it worked,
day complete.
It was no joke when Butch Knowles, who was in-
ducted into the St. Paul Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2019
and the Pendleton Round-Up and Happy Canyon Hall of
Fame in 2021, was told that he will be inducted into the
Pro-Rodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs on July 15.
Butch’s love of rodeo apparently began at a junior rodeo
in Redmond and never waned. He qualified as a saddle
bronc rider for the National Finals Rodeo in ’81, ’83, and
’86-‘87 and has now been a TV commentator at rodeos for
three decades. He is being honored for his contributions
to rodeo, including helping to initiate the pro rodeo in
Hermiston. Congratulations, Butch!
Also on April 1, Kevin Murray and Kelly Jencen said
“I do” in the nuptial mass that began their life together.
Kevin and his nine groomsmen paid tribute to his Scottish
heritage by wearing kilts, they in black and Kevin in the
Murray plaid. As Kelly entered after her seven attendants
in their champagne-colored gowns, she matched Kevin’s
kilt with a shawl made in the Murray plaid. A celebration
of the young couple continued at the Gilliam and Bisbee
Event Center, and they were then able to pause for one day
before having to head back to Corvallis, where Kevin is
attending dental college and Kelly is a medical assistant.
It was in Corvallis that the couple met three years ago,
he from Heppner and she from the small city of Sierra
Madre in southern California. Best wishes to the Murrays!
Congrats again to Heppner Mustang hoopsters who
were named in the line-up of the Blue Mountain Confer-
ence: First Team—Landon Mitchell, Tucker Ashbeck;
Second Teams—David Cribbs, Hallee Hisler; Honorable
Mentions—Trevor Nichols, Hadlee Nation.
When grandchildren grow up and move away, sharing
in-person time with them occurs less often, of course.
This is why having Carson Brosnan (senior at OSU) in
Heppner for two days last week was such a treat for his
me-ma. Hearing the confidence of a 21-year-old in our
conversations drew me back almost 60 years. Hugging
at his chest instead of his shoulder was a reminder of
the passage of time for this growing young man and the
compression of discs for this aging woman. Watching him
satisfy what seemed a huge appetite was a wonder in this
house of time-outs for grabbing a little something once
in a while. And the added bonuses of his visit came when
he set up a new printer, managed the huge dining-table
leaf that had to be added and later removed, and attached
a new gate latch. What a bounty of gifts received in two
days’ time!
Three pieces of Good News come to us from our
library: 1) Notary service is now available on Tuesdays
and Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Not all staff are li-
censed notaries public, so contact the library before your
visit to ensure a notary is present.) Bring your photo ID.
All signers must be present. Do not sign the document
before it is notarized. 2) Crafty Night on Wednesday, April
12, at 6 p.m. will feature a “Highland Cow” painting.
This program for adult crafters only has limited space,
so registration is required. Go to www.otld.org. now to
reserve your spot. 3) And Oregon Trail Library District
offers Brainfuse JobNow—a versatile online service
designed to support every step of the job search process.
JobNow features live online coaches who, among other
things, assist in resume/cover-letter preparation and help
patrons prepare for job interviews. JobNow is available
to all library patrons from the computers at the library or
from any computer with an internet connection. To access
JobNow, visit the library’s website.
Please share the moments that brought a smile to
your face or laughter to your lips. Send your tidbits to
dbrosnan123@gmail.com or call 541-223-1490.
Here’s hoping that some good news comes to every-
one reading this!
Heppner Bookworms parade float. -Contributed photo
The Heppner St. Pat-
rick’s Committee has an-
nounced the winners of the
2023 Great Green Parade.
Winners are as follows:
Irish Themed Business
Float: Morrow County Soil
& Water District.
Library plans crafty night
Irish Themed
Non-Business Float: Hep-
pner Bookworms.
Antique & Custom Ve-
hicles: Charles Anderson.
Individual: Michael
Desjardin.
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Prom is right
around the
corner...
Order your
flowers now!
Murray’s Country Rose
Corsages
Boutonnieres
Handhelds
Look your best with the floral
accessory to complete the night
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
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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
annual easter egg hunt
Saturday, April 8 th
Morrow County Fairgrounds
9:30 a.m. Pictures with Easter Bunny
10:00 a.m Easter Egg Hunt Starts
Age groups:
0 thru 3, 4 thru 6,
7 thru 9, and 10+
Each group will be spaced
5 minutes apart
House for Sale!
New Listing $449,950
Excellent location.
62886 Highway 74,
Outside Ione city limits.
2134 Square ft, 2080 Sq ft
unfinished basement, 13.2 acres,
out buildings and fencing
Contact Gary Walls, 541-571-1777
Equipment Purchases • Operating Lines
Let’s Prepare for a
New Season!
See Amber for
Equipment Purchases
and
Operating Lines
of Credit.
AMBER SCHLAICH
270 N. Main Street / Heppner
(541) 676-9125
Ag/Commercial Loan Officer
Hosted by Starvation Farms & PNDSA
73117 Strawberry Ln. Lexington, Or
7:30 Coffee and light snacks Noon lunch provided.
Shop presentations start at 8 AM with field demonstrations
at 1 PM Social at the conclusion.
SPECIALIZING IN AGRICULTURAL & COMMERCIAL LOANS
MEMBER FDIC