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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (May 10, 2023)
Health district moves forward with legal action against county, Boardman Fire 50¢ VOL. 143 NO. 19 12 Pages Wednesday, May 10, 2023 Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon Town and Country celebrates locals In every communi- ty, a few special people stand out. People from the Heppner area gathered last week to celebrate of few of them at the Heppner Chamber of Commerce’s Town and County Awards at the Gilliam and Bisbee Event Center. Student of the Year Award went to Madison Palmer. Educator of the Year was Brook Baker. Pennie Miller was Woman of the Year, and Jeff Bai- ley was Man of the Year. Business of the Year went to Murray’s Drug, owned by John and Ann Murray. Receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award was Judy Buschke. Dinner was catered by Alvin Liu, with no-host bar by Bucknum’s, coffee service by Browne House and dinner service by Hep- pner FFA and TSA students. Ken Grieb was emcee, Dale Bates sound and DJ, and Joe Lindsay provided enter- tainment. Award gifts were designed by Serendipity Designs, and photographs were taken by D2 Photog- raphy. “She is tireless—or appears to be,” one per- son said of 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award win- ner Judy Buschke. Those who nominated Buschke describe her as “a pillar of the community” and having a “diligent spirit.” “We have never heard Man of the Year Jeff Bailey -Photo D2 Photography Woman of the Year Pennie Miller -Photo D2 Photography Murray’s Drug owners John and Ann Murray -Photo D2 Photography By Andrea Di Salvo The City of Boardman is moving forward with the hiring of a new city man- ager after the city council voted May 2 to extend a conditional offer of em- ployment to Brandon R. Hammond of Medford, OR. Hammond accepted the conditional offer, and now the city will begin the process of conducting a background check. The city had previous- ly held panel interviews for two candidates for the open position, which was left vacant when former city manager Karen Petti- grew resigned in January. The council also invited the public to a meet and greet to meet both finalists, and asked attendees to fill Boardman Fire Rescue District in default and sign a final order against the fire district. The final order was sent to BRFD’s attorney on May 3. The final order is spe- cifically in response to claims that Boardman Fire illegally responded to EMS calls and that BFRD failed to participate in hearings regarding the allegations. The $169,000 fine, which is stipulated to be used for EMS services, was calculat- ed at 338 violations at $500 per violation, plus adminis- -Continued to PAGE ELEVEN Ballots due next week for special district election Lifetime Achievement Award Student of the Year Madison winner Judy Buschke -Photo Palmer -Photo D2 Photog- D2 Photography raphy Educator of the Year Brook Baker -Photo D2 Photography this lady say ‘No, I can’t.’ She is always there to step up and take care of whatev- er needs to be done!” said one nomination letter. Her volunteer activities are numerous but, to name a few, she has served on the Heppner City Council, on the Heppner Housing Authority for St. Patrick’s Senior Center and as a Lady Elk, serving in numerous events, fundraisers and funeral dinners that sup- port the entire community. And, while doing all those things and more, “her beau- ty shines.” “Judy is definitely a pillar of our community that has given a lifetime of service,” said a nomination letter from Beverly Sher- man, Jan Huddleston and Barbara Watkins. “We are not exaggerating when we say how proud we are of her Murray’s Drug caught the error. “The surgeon wanted the patient to know that Murrays were the ones who saved her from great dam- age,” the letter said. “Owning their business goes well beyond a Monday through Friday, 9-5 job,” said one nomination, while another said, “The atmo- sphere at Murray’s is in- viting and positive. It’s not only a place to shop, pick up your meds, and order some flowers…it’s a place where strangers leave as friends.” Speaking of friends, 2023 Woman of the Year Pennie Miller is described as a friend, a leader and a caretaker. Susie Thompson called her the “backbone of our hospital,” where she worked for more than 30 years, wearing many hats. She was in charge and how much she inspires us and our community ev- ery single day.” Murray’s Drug, owned by John and Ann Murray, has long been a mainstay of Heppner life, and that was recognized this year by several nominations for 2023 Business of the Year. Staff praised them for their compassion, kindness and consideration. Customers expressed the value of the store atmosphere and the gifts, the coffee bar, the flower shop and, perhaps most of all, the pharmacy. One person shared how Ann offered to drive to Ione with a prescription. “They go above and beyond to keep us healthy,” she said. Another mentioned that their surgeon called and told them the surgeon had accidentally prescribed the wrong medication, but that -Continued to PAGE TWELVE Boardman extends offer for new city manager Brandon Hammond By Andrea Di Salvo The Morrow County Health District is moving forward with legal action again Boardman Fire Res- cue District and Morrow County, the health district board decided at a special meeting May 2. The health district will seek an injunc- tion and declaratory relief against both the county and the fire district, as well as issuing a final order with $169,000 in fines to BFRD. After executive session May 2, the board entered open session and unan- imously agreed to find out comment cards for the council’s consideration. The council reviewed the comment cards and dis- cussed feedback during an executive session just prior to the May 2 council meeting. In a press release, the Boardman City Council stated that it is committed to a community-informed hiring process and will pro- vide updates to the commu- nity during open sessions of the city council in the coming months. “The council would like to thank everyone in- volved in the hiring process and commend the commu- nity for participating in the process,” the release stated. Also at the meeting, the council considered a request from the owner of America’s Best Value Inn in Boardman to waive penalties and interest from delinquent taxes. Shivam Patel purchased the hotel in September 2020. Board- man Finance Director Mar- ta Barajas told the council the motel is inside the city limits and thus subject to transient room tax. Since purchasing the hotel, Patel had not sub- mitted any of the quarterly tax forms or payments. Total delinquent taxes were $14,697, with another $6,140 in fees and interest. Barajas said Patel did final- ly bring his tax bill current the week before but was asking for a 100 percent waiver on the $6,140 in penalties and interest. Patel did not appear in person but issued his request via letter. After hearing a detailed report of Barajas’s extensive actions in contacting Patel, the council seemed disinclined to issue a waiver. “My feeling is that it’s not like it was just a few months. This was what, two and a half years? Three and a half years, almost?” said Boardman Councilor Richard Rockwell. Boardman Mayor Paul Keefer questioned whether it would be beneficial to work with Patel by extend- ing the payment deadline. “Marta has put in a decent amount of time in being patient and under- standing, and I feel like it would be disrespecting her time if there was not a hard line at some point drawn,” said Boardman Councilor Isaac Williams. “I’m just thinking, we’ve all been in hard times. Whether it’s legit or not, should there be a little bit of grace—or not?” said Keefer. “It doesn’t sound like at any point he requested an extension,” replied Board- man Councilor Cristina Cuevas. “The other thing you should consider is that he collected money. He used our money, that he should have turned in to us,” said Boardman Councilor Karen Pettigrew. “He used that for a year or two. That’s why the penalty is in place.” She added that the city doesn’t normally have de- linquent accounts because businesses realize the tax isn’t their money to use. “They are strictly a pass- through,” she said. The council voted unanimously not to waive the hotel owner’s fees and interest. Du rin g th e p u blic comment portion of the meeting, Lisa and Cadance Ferguson asked the council to consider allowing chick- ens within the city limits, especially in light of egg shortages and food costs. Mother Lisa Ferguson said they are a family of seven, and Walmart is limiting egg purchases, but a dozen eggs isn’t enough for their family. “My main goal is to feed my family,” she said. She said she had been talking to a lot of people who live in city limits, and she realized there would need to be boundaries in place for city chickens. However, she noted that chickens not only pro- vide eggs and make good pets, but also eat bugs and can reduce waste by eating scraps. She also said chick- ens would provide some food security for families Ballots may be dropped off or postmarked by May 16 for this year’s special district election. Drop boxes are locat- ed throughout the county for voter convenience. -Contrib- uted photo Morrow County vot- ers should already have received their ballots for the May 16 special dis- trict election. The special election includes board positions for county entities such as cemetery, fire and recreation districts, and most candidates are running unopposed. The Port of Morrow is one notable ex- ception, with both Marvin Padberg and John Murray running against at least one opponent each. Padberg holds Com- missioner Position 4. Also filing for that position is Kelly Doherty of Board- man. Murray holds Com- missioner Position 5. He faces not one but three opponents—Wes Killion, David Boor and Jonathan Tallman, all of Boardman. Also contested is one Morrow County Health District position, board position number five. Run- ning for that position are Ana Pin ͂ eyro of Boardman and Stephen Munkers of Irrigon. Remember, ballots are not forwarded. Those who haven’t received ballots but believe they should have should contact the Morrow County Clerk’s office as soon as possible at 541- 676-5604. All ballots are due by 8 p.m. Election Day, Tuesday, May 16. Ballots must be postmarked no later than May 16 to be counted. For voter convenience, 24- hour drop boxes are locat- ed throughout the county. Drop boxes close at 8 p.m. on Election Day. Locations are as follows: Heppner: In the park- ing lot behind the Bar- tholomew Building (24 hours) or the Morrow Coun- ty Clerk’s Office, Room 102 inside the courthouse. Open 8 a.m. to noon and 1-5 p.m., M-F and Election Day (May 16) from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. Lexington: 365 West Hwy 74 (Public Works Parking lot). Open 24 hours. Ione: Spring St. (in front of the turn to 3 rd Street). Open 24 hours. Boardman: NW Boardman Ave. (24 hours). Irrigon: 205 NE 3 rd St. (Irrigon Annex). Open 24 hours. May 23 is the last day the county clerk’s office will receive valid post- marked ballots, with certi- fied results published by 5 p.m. on June 12, 2023. Mustangs top district going into playoffs The Mustang baseball team is number one in the district heading into the 2A/1A Special District 7 playoffs. Number-three team Grant Union faced off against fifth-ranked Irrigon Tuesday in John Day. As the number-one seed in the dis- trict, the Mustangs will host the winner of that game this Friday, May 12, at 4 p.m. -Continued to PAGE TEN If the Mustangs win that game, they will host the championship game in Heppner on Tuesday, May 16. The first round of state playoffs begins May 22. The Mustangs are cur- rently ninth in 2A/1A state rankings. Their only league losses were to Stanfield/ Echo and Irrigon. The boys have a 13-2 league record for the season with an 18-4 overall record. CALL 541-989-8221 ext 204 for more information
