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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (April 12, 2023)
Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, April 12, 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. Manly Men Do you know what I miss? I miss men. No… it’s not like it sounds. I’m not crying in my Cheerios, wishing I was surrounded by men. It’s just that I’m so tired of the whole “men are evil” mantra. I feel sorry for little boys. It’s not easy be- ing raised in today’s world. It seems there’s a voice on every corner and, lately, it’s gone from a whisper to a scream. “Hey boys…you can be anything you wanna be, as long as it’s not a man- ly man. That testosterone stuff isn’t for you…That’s only for girls.” And don’t ask what a girl is…they’re still working on that. So, here are the new rules, boys. First of all, avoid Toxic Masculinity at all costs. You know… the desire to hunt, fish, drive fast cars, shoot guns, fix things and protect the ones you love? Not cool. Instead, get some leggings and exchange your logger boots for stilettos. Work on getting your feelings hurt and, whatever you do, don’t let anyone know you like girls. Girls are bad, unless they’re girls who like girls. Actually, boys are bad too, unless they are boys who act like girls. Just ignore that confusion you’re feel- ing, kids…and trust your teachers (not your parents). God wasn’t confused when he made Adam. And He didn’t just accidentally leave the St off of Eve when He named her. He made them very different, and He did it for a reason. You can’t put a puzzle together when all the pieces are shaped alike. Besides, how boring would that be? As a woman of the old-fashioned Webster defi- nition, am I offended by the term “weaker sex”? Nope. Why? Because I’m confident in the fact that I have some valuable skills as a woman and those skills don’t need to include lifting a small car. Recognizing the strength of the opposite sex doesn’t make me weak or less valuable. It makes me appreciative. It’s ok to recognize the value in each other and our differences. Maybe we’re supposed to complete each other. Maybe that was the plan. If you can’t see the differences, then you aren’t looking. We’re built dif- ferently, we have different hormones, and we think differently. I’ve heard it said that if you ask a man what he’s thinking, you will get “Nothing.” It’s not neces- sarily because his mind is nearing empty. It’s just that he doesn’t feel the need to share his current thoughts. Ask a woman the same question…get comfortable, you may be there a while. Then ask a man to describe his living room and you will get “Blue.” Ask a wom- an the same question and you’ll get a very detailed description complete with drapery style and her desire for a new couch. And that’s ok. There’s room for both of us on this planet, and hope- fully, a new couch. So men, raise that hairy arm and let that baritone voice be heard. Don’t let them make you meek. And when you get a minute… please, come unload my hay. “He created them male and female and blessed them. And he named them ‘Mankind’ when they were created” (Genesis 5:2). Susie Crosby Heppner, OR Depression and anxiety recovery class coming soon The Nedley Depression and Anxiety Recovery Pro- gram is coming to Heppner. Classes are sponsored by the Heppner Seventh-day Adventist Church and will be held in the conference room of the Gilliam and Bisbee building, dates and times to be announced soon. Classes include dis- cussions regarding causes and simple solutions for depression and anxiety. According to a statement from the church, more than 90 percent of participants have reported improvement in eight weeks in both de- pression and anxiety, as well as mental acuity. Sessions are two hours one night a week for eight weeks. The sessions are free but there will be a charge for materials. For more information, please email depressionre- coveryclinic@gmail.com. Ione announces honor roll Ione Community School has announced hon- or roll awards from the third nine-week grading period. On the honor roll with a 4.0 GPA are Caydance Kreitzer, Janielle Bartee, Isabelle Ogden, Miley Strzelewicz, Zamara Dot- son, Henry Giefing, Khira Kreitzer, Noelia Ramirez, Brionna Serrano, Brayden McNeil, Mika Limberg, Leelynn Vandever, Sunem Calvillo, Carson Eynetich, Madison Orem, Kalvin Ri- etmann and Bryce Rollins. Receiving honor roll recognition with a 3.5- 3.99 GPA for the nine-week grading period are Ari- el Gray, Gage Heideman, Ciciley Stefani, Rosa Agu- ilar, Novalee Campbell, Olivia Ogden, Phegley Padberg, Koby Baker, Vic- toria De La Torre, Michael McElligott, Kyle McGill and Martin Medina. The following students earned honorable mention recognition for the third nine-week grading period: Adrian Mendoza-Tapia, Addison Bennett, Leonardo Cabrera, William McElli- gott, Zion Ramos-Lopez, Keltie Rietmann, Hunter Scoggin, Fernando Serrano, Gift Cross, Lizzie Doherty, Carter Eynetich, Delaney Stefani, Liam Heideman, Arionna Looney, Corey Rice, Kelly Doherty, John McElligott, Jolene Serrano and Marcus Radcliffe. Good News Only by Doris Brosnan Good news: No rain during the Easter egg hunts! Probably many smiles and even some laughter accom- panied the hunts sponsored by the Elks, Heppner Family Foods, and the several private hunts at homes around the community. When the three Bennett girls were young, the Easter egg hunt happened in the house, engineered by their par- ents, Don and Jean. Now, for the first time after 100 years (the family has lived on this Hinton Creek place for over 100 years) and a pandemic, someone had a brainstorm of an idea: an egg hunt outside! For the great-grandkids, Don and Jean’s grandkids hid about “500 eggs” in the perfect place, the bluff behind the house. From below, the bluff looks intimidating, even dangerous, but it is wide enough for trails that run for about one-eighth of a mile on which the girls often rode their horses. Fun for all and exciting for the little ones who explored and found treasures on the bluff that has always been there! Recently, Chaise Meyer, grandson of Bruce and Diane McCurdy Moyer, and his girlfriend, Bella Honzel, decid- ed to take a trip to Oregon from their home in Montana. One of the destinations was Heppner to visit old family memories and enjoy sights of the St. Patrick’s Day Cele- bration. During their visit to the Heppner Museum, they found a 1962 Heppner High School yearbook containing pictures of activities that Bruce and Diane participated in during their school years in Heppner. Next was the Farm Museum to look for an elk mount that Chaise’s great-great-grandfather Harlan McCurdy Sr. shot in 1936. They drove by homes that Bruce and Diane were raised in before embarking on a walk around town to look for sham- rock displays of relatives. They enjoyed viewing Diane’s sister Karen McCurdy Dubuque’s shamrock and looking for Harlan and Donna McCurdy’s display (submitted by Chaise’s aunt, Randi Moyer, for 2023). They visited and took pictures of Chaise’s great-great-grandparents William and Katie Cunningham’s (Bruce’s grandparents) flag commemorating being the 1996 St. Patrick’s Day Honored Family. Then on to the Heppner Cemetery to find graves of departed relatives, including Cunningham, Moyer and McCurdy. Following visits to other Heppner sights was a visit with a longtime family friend, Diana Ball. Chaise and Bella very much enjoyed Heppner and hope to return to attend the 2024 St. Patrick Day Cele- bration, along with other family members. So far, published in the EO has been the honor roll list for OSU, and congratulations go out to several local students: Carson Brosnan, senior; Kason Cimmiyotti, freshman; Tatum Clark, senior; Keegan Gibbs, senior; Jessica Medina, sophomore; and Gibson McCurry, senior. Great list of 3.5 GPAs, or better! Further congratulations go out to Gibson McCurry, who has successfully passed the Engineering Fundamen- tals test, so can now practice as a civil engineer. Gibson had recently received his associate’s degree from Blue Mountain Community College, and he will soon graduate Oregon State College (in June) with a degree in Civil Engineering. He will then start his job with the Natural Resources Conservation Service. And plaudits, also, to Mackenzie Heideman, who recently graduated from Mt. Hood Community College with a two-year degree in business. These two have lots to celebrate! Soon after all of the above, wedding bells are in their future plans, and an entirely new adventure awaits them both. Parents have much to be proud of and are excited for both of them. And congratulations, as well, to Kaden Combe, now employed by Union Pacific Railroad! Kaden completed six weeks of required training and now continues on-the- job training as a conductor on runs between LaGrande and Hinkle. With this “one foot in the door,” if Kaden chooses to stay with UPR, the next step in the hierarchy of the business will be that of engineer. He spends his at-home time in Pendleton and Heppner. Previous Heppnerites Dennis and Peggy O’Donnell email humorous tidbits this way often, always a great start to a day. A couple this week: “They say that 40 is the new 30 and 50 is the new 40, but all I know is that the older I get, the more 9 p.m. is the new midnight.” And for women readers: “Be grateful that no matter how much chocolate you eat, your earrings still fit.” Smiling and laughing feel so good and have medical benefits, so let’s help keep the readers healthy by sharing good news! 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! Spiritually Speaking Father Thankachan Joseph St. Patrick Catholic Church Heppner Misery – Mercy & Mystery This Sunday, the universal Catholic Church will be celebrating the “Feast of Divine Mercy,” which reminds us about God’s divine love, care, affection and concern for each of us. The Gospel reading of the day, John 20:19, reminded me of the psycho-social impact the disciples experienced during the first Easter morning: “It was late that Sunday evening, and the disciples were gathered together behind the locked doors, because they were afraid of the Jewish authorities.” We have gone through a tough time of this sort, the previous two years when the pandemic hit and shut down our economy, our freedom of movement and coming together - everything was in a stand-still condition. Many of us remained behind closed doors during the years of the pandemic like the apostles in the Gospel. We are also going through emotional wretchedness because of our shame, guilt of the past, brokenness, dis- appointments, failing to reach ambitious goals. We need to look into ourselves, into how we can find ways and means of overcoming unhealthy feelings of depression, anxiety, hurt, loss of self-worth and hatred. In these mis- erable conditions God comes with His Mercy. The time of pandemic reminded us that there are no differences or boundaries among those who suffer. The vi- rus showed no discrimination. The second reading brings us an understanding of the early Christian community described in the Acts of the Apostles, 2:44-45: “All who believed were together and had all things in common; and they sold their possessions and goods and distribut- ed them to all, as any had need.” I hail from India, and I watched during the pandemic and witnessed that many people in different parts of the world reached out to the poor and the marginalized in their own locality, went out in public risking their lives, empowering, consoling and strengthening the weak and the lonely. I think the Divine Master invites every one of us to continue the same acts of kindness and benevolence to the people around us even to this present time. The Divine Lord is inviting each one of us to stretch our helping hand and reach out to someone who is in need of service. Saint Faustina, after meeting Jesus, wrote: “In a soul that is suffering we should see Jesus on the cross, not a parasite and a burden... [Lord] you give us the chance to practice deeds of mercy, and we practice making judgements” (Diary, 6 September 1937). Yet she herself complained one day to Jesus that in being merciful, one is thought to be naive. She said, “Lord, they often abuse my goodness.” And Jesus replied, “Never mind, don’t let it bother you, just be merciful to everyone always” (24 December 1937). To everyone: let us not think only of our interests. The Gospel of John (20:19-31) narrates an experience we had gone through a few years ago, the lockdown/ shutdown experience similar to that which the apostles immediately experienced in their lives after the death of the Lord. Very fresh in our minds and hearts, the shutdown was actually in the plan of God. In Genesis 7:16 we read: “A male and female of each kind of living being went into the boat with Noah, as God had commanded. Then the Lord shut the door behind Noah.” Similarly, we read in the Gospel passage: “The first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’” (20:20). When we are faced with such situations the Lord will be there on our side to whisper to each of us the same words of consolation, “Peace be with you.” The Lord invites each one of us to face the misery that we are experiencing right now with hope and courage, for there is a solution. The Lord is always faithful to His promise: “I will be with you always, to the end of the age” (Mathew 28:20). When we face the tough sea ahead of us or troubles and problems crop up, keep in mind that in these miserable situations of ours the Lord always comes in and supports us with His peace, mercy, compassion and tranquility. He does it through various ways. Those of us who experience this mercy of the Lord by reaching out to others with mercy and compassion take part in the mystery of Christ. Walk MS returns April 29 Heppner’s annual Walk MS will take place Satur- day, April 29, beginning at 10:30 a.m. Weather permit- ting, the walk will go from Hager Park to Heppner City Park. The is no registration fee, but donations are en- couraged. The event will conclude with a no-host meal at Bucknum’s Tavern in Heppner. ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE: MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M. PROPERTY WANTED I have buyers looking for homes, land and building lots in the Heppner, Lexington and Ione area. Good time to sell! Call, text or email me. Chris Sykes 541-215-2274 - cell 541-676-9228 - office Print & Mailing Services 177 N Main St. Heppner,OR *Design *Print *Mail chris@sykesrealestate.net Sykes Publishing 541-676-9228