Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, May 3, 2023 -- THREE
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Vote for
independent
port
commissioners
The Port of Morrow has
a strong history for recruit-
ing and developing industry
and jobs in the county. This
has in many ways been pos-
itive for the tax base in the
county, leading to growth
and diversification of the
economy. The development
of the industries at the Port
has very much helped im-
prove Morrow County’s
future. But the Port and
commissioners have many
obligations, aside from re-
cruiting and development
of business.
First obligation is, once
industry is located here, it is
the Port who is responsible
for developing a wastewa-
ter plan/system and then
abiding by the terms of
their DEQ permit to dispose
of the wastewater created
by Port industry. The Port
has had close to 20 years
to plan, build and improve
infrastructure to assure that
the wastes can be safely
disposed of. Now because
of this lack of planning and
action, Marv Padberg dis-
closed at the Heppner can-
didate forum the Port is now
required to spend between
$500 and $600 million to
build the infrastructure that
they chose not to begin 15
years ago. According to
the DEQ report, the Port
of Morrow intentionally
and negligently ignored the
terms of their permit. We
know had the commission-
ers been proactive, the cost
of new infrastructure would
have been a fraction of what
it will be going forward.
Due to over 1,000 DEQ
wastewater violations in
just three years, this leads
to the role of the Port in
contributing to the nitrate
issue in private wells and
the groundwater. The Port
also talks very little about
their role in contributing
to the nitrate issues and
possible serious health is-
sues in regard to people
and animals drinking the
contaminated water. The
Port points their finger and
says the responsibility lies
instead with other entities
in the county, even though
they are the only one with
the DEQ permit. This lack
of foresight not only has
serious, negative health
consequences for people
living here, but the cost of
the improvements will be
placed onto Port-located
industries doing business
now and in the future at
the Port.
A second obligation of
the Port is to increase the
tax revenue to the county
by new business locating
here. I am and have been
in favor of the location of
data centers in the county.
The taxes they pay and jobs
they create have helped
diversify the economy in
the Ag-dependent region.
A significant troubling is-
sue has been the numerous
conflicts of interest sur-
rounding the recruiting and
location of the data centers.
While I have been extreme-
ly disappointed by what
appears to be the insider
purchase of Windwave by
past and acting Port com-
missioners and employees,
my biggest concern has
been those commissioners’
unwillingness to remove
themselves in the past and
present from any Port busi-
ness dealings with granting
tax abatements, easements
and land sales involving
the data centers. I strongly
believe that once these port
commissioners purchased
Windwave, the proper and
ethical thing to do would
have been to resign or not
run for reelection. The in-
come to Windwave that
results from the location of
the data centers is frankly
too much of a temptation
for the commissioners to
be a part of the discussion
to entice location of data
centers to Morrow Coun-
ty. Over 60 percent of the
recent decisions of the Port
for new companies involve
data centers, and yet the
Windwave owners who are
also Port commissioners
continue to be a part of
those negotiations.
A third obligation of a
Port commissioner is to be
an independent thinker and
voice. Another issue that
highly concerns me is the
current culture at the Port
commission that all deci-
sions need to be unanimous.
Marv Padburg said during
the Boardman candidate
forum that he was extreme-
ly disappointed by a recent
vote by John Murray about
the change of the CREZ 3
because John voted against
the remainder of the Port
commissioners. Marv said
it was the first vote in his
28 years as a commissioner
that was not unanimous. If
differing opinions are not
welcome on the Port, what
is the point of electing com-
missioners? When I vote
for someone, it is because
I want them to be inde-
pendent thinkers. I want
them to use their foresight,
individual perspectives, and
have the ability to listen to
other points of view. I want
them to recuse themselves
from voting when they have
a conflict of interest.
Port commissioners
are supposed to represent
Morrow County citizens’
interests. This is why I
strongly support both John
Murray and Kelly Doherty
for Port commissioners. I
know John and Kelly will
be independent voices and
do what is best for all of
Morrow County. The port
has grown so large that it
is essential that we have
smart, independent, ethical
thinkers without financial
agendas to lead the Port to
a better future. The tax base
and the health of our county
residents require these at-
tributes in Port leadership.
I hope you will join me in
voting for John Murray and
Kelly Doherty.
John Kilkenny,
Heppner, OR
Support
Marvin
Padberg for
Port
commissioner
As a former county
commissioner, I had the op-
portunity to work with and
observe Marvin Padberg in
his role as port commission-
er. During Marvin’s time
on the Port commission,
there has been tremendous
growth in both jobs and tax
base in Morrow County.
Some of the businesses
that have come here during
Marvin’s time on the Port
include Tillamook cheese
and whey plants, Ama-
zon, Lamb Weston, Pacific
Ethanol, Calbee Foods,
WindWave, Hanley Energy,
Tread-it, NW Container, a
couple of cold storage facil-
ities and many more. These
companies represent thou-
sands of jobs and billions of
dollars in investment. The
Port of Morrow has been
able to do this by being
a collaborative partner in
our regional economy. The
Port of Morrow has become
the second largest port in
Oregon. The average wage
in Morrow County has
continually increased be-
cause of these efforts. This
translates into a healthy
retail business opportunity
in our county.
Marvin’s opponent
has a track record of an-
tigrowth. She filed an ap-
peal with LUBA to stop
the proposed speedway.
It was thrown out by the
state, and the racetrack
never came, but trying to
deny them the opportunity
was just wrong. She has
also shown up at county
commission meetings to
stop employer-sponsored
housing, and often shows
up at the Boardman council
and planning commission
meetings as a disrupter.
Join me in voting for
Marvin Padberg, commis-
sioner, Port of Morrow.
John Wenholz
Support David
Boor for Port
of Morrow
In a crowded field Da-
vid Boor rises above the rest
and deserves our vote for
commissioner, Port of Mor-
row. David is an educator
and coach and has taught in
Boardman for 23 years. He
has relatives in South Mor-
row County. His dad lives
in Heppner, his sister lives
in Ione and his brother lives
on Rhea Creek. David will
represent the whole county.
One of his opponents
is Johnathon Tallman. I
worked closely with his
father, Judge Terry Tall-
man, for eight years. Hard
for me to believe they are
even related. John Murray
tried his hardest to try and
stop the Dollar General and
their multi-million-dollar
investment from coming to
Heppner. That’s not who I
want in charge of economic
development.
David will listen when
spoken to and do his own
research and homework to
make the most informed
decisions. I like his philos-
ophy on how to treat people
with respect, and not tear
them down just because
your opinion differs. Join
me in voting for David J
Boor.
John Wenholz
Irrigon, OR
Silence isn’t
golden
Have you ever just
looked at something and
thought… how the heck did
that happen? Like when you
find a pair of jeans from a
few years back and try them
on…and it’s like trying
to fit a whole ham into a
sandwich bag. How did I
not notice this happening?
That’s pretty much how
I feel about the current
state of our country. The
other day I saw a video of
a drag show where a little
girl around age seven was
dancing seductively and
adults were smiling and
giving her dollar bills. Re-
ally? It’s come to this? Are
these adults nuts or just
plain stupid? And where are
the “women’s libbers” who
repeatedly made it clear
back in the day that they
were not going to be looked
at as “sex objects”? I guess
it’s ok for their daughters.
I wouldn’t be surprised if
the next after-school activ-
Good News Only by Doris Brosnan
ity being offered to second
graders was Beginning Pole
Dancing.
So what happened?
Well, Satan isn’t stupid.
He knows that our desire
to be liked is a powerful
thing. Turns out most peo-
ple will do anything to be
accepted in one group or
another, even if it means
sacrificing their kids on the
altar of perversion. So, he
uses the highly effective
name-calling technique to
silence us would-be Tattle
Tailers. If we dare to point
out evil, we’re made to feel
that we’re the bad ones.
It started with “Goodie
Two Shoes,” “Holier Than
Thou” and “Hypocrite”
and has moved to “Right
Wing,” “Homophobe,”
“Transphobe,” “Racist,”
and the latest… “Christian
Nationalist.” Oh yes…and
you’re most likely on the
“Terrorist” list. Then there’s
the “If you don’t agree with
me, you hate me” mantra.
That’s been working well.
We’ve had a long spell
of good men doing nothing
and saying nothing. The
results have been devas-
tating and the speed of
progression has been stag-
gering. We’ve gone from a
society that feared God and
knew right from wrong to
a society that mocks God
and glorifies sin. And it’s
happened under our noses.
Here’s a suggestion.
Let’s throw caution to the
wind and say, “Watch your
mouth. There are ladies
present,” and, “Pull up your
pants. You look ridiculous,”
or maybe even, “You are
not wearing that to school
young lady! Now go put on
something decent.” A few
episodes of Andy Griffith
wouldn’t hurt either. He
had more wisdom in a brief
monolog than we’ve been
able to muster in the last
two decades.
And the next time
someone points a finger at
you for defending what’s
right and accuses you of
being judgmental… re-
member this. Jesus said to
get the board out of our own
eye so we can see to get the
splinter out of another’s
eye. He didn’t tell us to
ignore either one.
So, speak up when you
see evil being promoted.
Keeping my mouth closed
in front of Snickers bars
might have made those old
jeans fit, but keeping your
mouth closed in front of
evil won’t do a thing toward
keeping our society fit.
“Brothers and sisters, if
someone is caught in a sin,
you who live by the Spirit
should restore that person
gently. But watch your-
selves, or you also may be
tempted” (Galatians 6:1).
Susie Crosby
Heppner, OR
One reader last Sunday reported that her good news
was, “The sun is shining, the sun is shining! And it’s
warm!” Well… hang in there and look forward to that
same bit of good news’s return soon, right?
Mary Kay Bellamy was so pleased that she was able
to spend April 11-25 in Venice, FL, for her first visit
there with her son Travis, his wife Hannah, and her two
grandchildren, Kate Liza and Paul. Kate is six years
old, and Paul is only two. Readers might recall that Paul
nearly drowned on Thanksgiving Day last year and was
hospitalized and in therapy for two months.
Have you noticed the lines on the side streets? Gale
Street, for instance, now has crosswalks at every inter-
section and yellow dividing lines from end to end! These
additions will help us to know how far from the end of a
block we are jaywalking and will be strong reminders to
stay on our side of the street when driving.
Another “Crafty Night” for adults is coming to the
Heppner Library on May 10 at 6 p.m. This craft will be
the making of giant paper roses, an example of which
is featured on the library’s website, otld.org, which is
where one needs to go to register in advance for this class.
Looking around the site is also an eye opener to the vast
variety of services and “things” available at the library!
What has seemed like long inhospitable months for
outdoor yard work, delayed Derek Swanson’s work at the
Willow Creek Terrace, so kudos to Jim and Steve Lank-
ford, kind souls who came to the Terrace last weekend
to help Derek take control of the run-away landscape
surrounding the Terrace. Many hands, muscle, and know-
how made quick work of the catch-up job.
Of course, the weather has not delayed the return of
dandelions, as well as healthy-looking weeds. One of
our young readers has pointed out that dandelions are an
important source of pollen and nectar for bees, especially
until late May, when more flowering plants provide these.
A walk about town reveals that some lawns are far friend-
lier to bees than are some others, providing a plethora of
pollen and nectar!
Walking Melancholy Collie and Perky Puppy recently
brought to mind the image of “newspaper rocks” seen in
various places on travel through the southwest. Indige-
nous people camping and traveling through particular
places apparently left messages carved into the rocks for
other travelers who would follow. Well, these walks are
truly just strolls, as the two canines seem to find many
“bits of news to sniff out” along the way. And if one stops
to “read a message” that the other one missed, quickly
they return to share a read! Some stops take much longer
than others, apparently more is imparted. And once in a
while a sudden yank on a leash results if a message was
at first missed but does catch one’s attention late. Yes,
that world of the canines is one filled with messages that
“So-and-So was here” and who knows what else!
In time for good-weather planting, this weekend is
the HHS plant sale. And on the 10 th , the school spring
concert will fill the air with great sounds!
Thanks again to everyone who contributes to this
column that is intended to bring smiles to faces. Only
because people share, this column continues. To in-
crease contributions, a suggestion based on three facts:
1) Explaining one’s tidbit of good news takes time and
thought. 2) Many people post such tidbits on Facebook.
3) Not all Gazette-Times readers also read Facebook, and
not all Facebook readers have access to the same posts.
Would this work to share one’s good news with a wider
reading audience: Copy the Facebook post and paste it to
the “Good News Only” column at dbrosnan123@gmail.
com. As always, calling 541-223-1490 is another source
for contributing your good news.
Here’s hoping that some good news comes to every-
one reading this!