Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, May 24, 2023 -- THREE
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Fire the fox
I’ve been saying this
for a while. We have the
fox guarding the hen house.
Now it appears a few of
the hens are finally talking.
Unfortunately, how long
they’ll keep their necks
intact is anybody’s guess.
Our FBI has proven to
be corrupt. Why does this
matter? Because they have
the power to wreck your
life. All these little guys
don’t. The firing of a crook-
ed Twitter employee does
nothing to affect you. But
when the very entity that’s
supposed to find the bad
guys and bring them to jus-
tice have become “The Bad
Guys,” you have a problem.
When they work for a po-
litical party that hates their
own country and is doing its
best to destroy it, you have
a bigger problem.
Not only has the FBI
been controlling what you
are allowed to hear, see and
say...they have the power
to “punish” you (harass,
surveil, take your posses-
sions, arrest you and throw
you in jail) as they see fit.
And remember; bad guys
lie. These guys are good at
it. Just voicing the wrong
opinion can make you a ter-
rorist (and by the way, Mr.
FBI, here’s another letter
for your file).
So, you thought as long
as you were an honest,
law-abiding citizen, you’d
be fine? Not so. And all
this is happening under the
watchful eye of our justice
system...and the bad guys
are still unscathed. I doubt
Hillary will be sporting an
orange jumpsuit any time
soon. And remember The
List of Epstein’s Buddies?
Things come and go so
quickly these days.
You may be thinking
“I am so sick of politics.
Nothing ever changes. I just
wanna live my life and stay
out of this mess.” That’s a
tempting endeavor...but it’s
like walking around in a
snake pit and counting on
not getting bit. Eventually,
you’ll wish you had paid
more attention.
But, If you don’t mind
the status quo…paying
through the nose for gro-
ceries and gas, giving half
our paychecks to the gov-
ernment so they can “man-
age” it for us, watching our
inept president stumble
and mumble, our enemies
threaten us, illegals and fen-
tanyl flood the border, our
kids’ innocence disappear,
all while knowing we are
under the watchful eye of a
crooked administration…
just stay home and let the
illegals choose your next
president. I’m sure it’ll be
fine.
If we continue to em-
ploy the fox, eventually
the hen house will be emp-
ty. So, are we willing to
fire the fox? We have an
opportunity coming up in
2024, providing they get
the “kinks” ironed out of
our voting system. Just be
sure to guard your ballot…
like a hen guards her eggs.
No fox allowed.
“When the godly are
in authority, the people re-
joice. But when the wicked
are in power, they groan”
(Proverbs 29:2).
Susie Crosby
Heppner, OR
Heppner TSA participates
in state middle school
competition
Heppner junior high TSA participants. Pictured back: William
Lehn, Joseph Ling, Kooper Miller, Jace Wilson, Alakae Rodri-
guez, Darby Spivey, Gunner Lawrence, Olson Anderson, Zach
Christian, Mason Haugen and Kayden Hudson. Front: Eva
Worden, McKenzie Maben, Kenzie Hudson, Kayelee Espinola
and Ashli Paullus. -Contributed photo
The Heppner Middle
School Chapter of the Tech-
nology Student Association
participated in the Oregon
TSA State Competition for
Middle Schools. Heppner
students competed in Dig-
ital Photography, Commu-
nity Service Video, Junior
Solar Sprint and Problem
Solving.
Digital photography
involves taking, editing and
presenting photographs.
Community Service Video
includes documenting a ser-
vice project with pictures
and video then presenting
to an audience. Junior Solar
Sprint requires building,
testing and racing a so-
lar-powered car. Problem
Solving uses limited sup-
plies to build a structure
supporting two balls as high
as possible and as far apart
as possible.
New Baby in Your Family?
Engagement?
Wedding?
We want to share your life events!
Stop in the Heppner Gazette office or email us
with details and photos.
All birth, engagement and wedding
announcements are always free!
177 N. Main Street
Heppner, OR
editor@rapidserve.net
Good News Only by Doris Brosnan
Maureen McElligott has coached tennis for 50 years,
30 in Boardman and 20 in Ione. Ione citizens agree that
such dedication and know-how deserve recognition,
which is why Maureen will be guest of honor at a gath-
ering on June 1 at 6 p.m.
Congratulations, Dave Fowler! Dave has been named
a Crystal Apple winner this year for his above-and-beyond
work with students at HHS.
Kudos to Jennifer Thompson Campbell, Ione grad-
uate, who now works for Community Counseling Solu-
tions. Last week, Jennifer traveled to New Hampshire for
the graduation ceremony at New Hampshire University,
to receive her Master of Science Degree in Psychology.
Jennifer reports that when daughter Madelyn was five
years old, Jennifer declared this as a goal, and now, six
years later, she has reached that goal, one class at a time,
a goal that should serve her well in her chosen profession.
A fairly new face at Community Counseling Solutions
is Ann Jones, who works in the front office. Ann’s work
for the Morrow County Fair Board has now been assumed
by Sue Gibbs, who will be switching hats as she retires
from teaching at Heppner Elementary and takes on the
part-time fair work.
Chirela Wallace was in Cedar Park, TX, a suburb of
Austin, from May 11 to 18. This was not Chirela’s first
visit with son Ken’s family, but on this trip she was able
to join him and his wife Josephine for granddaughter
Alexis’s performance in a production of Aladdin, in which
Alexis starred as Aladdin, and for a three-game basketball
tournament in which granddaughter Gabby was a major
player. Alexis is now in sixth grade but has experienced
acting, piano and voice lessons since starting-school age.
Gabby has been into gymnastics and basketball since very
young, a third-grader who plays “club ball.”
Kit and Shirley George returned on the 15 th from
their 10-day trip that started in Pasco and had just one
wee hitch—a 45-minute delay of their Saturday flight
from Denver to destination Chicago. Joining daughter,
Kimberly, and her husband, Mark, in Wilmet, the Georges
had most of that week for leisure, which began with the
first of two Cubs games, the day after arrival—a 15-in-
ning game! On Thursday, the foursome headed out in two
cars on the seven-hour drive to Columbia, MO, for some
time with granddaughter Melina before her graduation
from the University of Missouri on Sunday morning. She
earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Strategic
Communications. Then, Kimberly and Melina headed
back to Wilmet, and Mark drove the Georges to nearby
St. Louis, where they lingered overnight, refreshed and
ready to fly home on Monday.
Paul and Susan Hisler have been busy supportive
track grandparents this past week, and this week will
see them traveling for more track yet. Four of Hislers’
granddaughters will be competing at state junior high or
high school level, so supportive grandparents want to be
there to cheer them on: Healy, eighth grader in Heppner,
will be in Corvallis today, competing in the long jump.
Payton, seventh grader in a 6A Oregon City school, placed
seventh of 22 in her steep district competition in long jump
last Tuesday (and sang in a talent show last Thursday eve-
ning). Her sister, Reece, a freshman in Oregon City, will
be running with teammates in the 4x100 relay prelims in
Eugene on Thursday, in prep for the finals on Friday. She
is apt to run into her cousin Hallee, freshman in Heppner,
who qualified in six events and will be facing prelims for
2A schools at the same time and place. Good luck, Girls,
and good luck, Grandparents, with keeping these straight!
Congrats to the area tracksters who will be perform-
ing this week! And kudos to Hunter Nichols, who is an
Academic All-Conference athlete, and is also an Athlete
of the Year nominee at EOU! And congratulations to
Madelyn Nichols, a sophomore at EOU has also received
the Academic All-Conference recognition!
Joanna Lamb reports that the HHS production of
Enchanted was so well received, the talented cast per-
formed an encore performance yesterday evening. Bravo,
thespians!
Fourteen women from Ione and Heppner traveled to
Sno Road Winery in Echo last Thursday for the monthly
Birthday Luncheon they usually celebrate locally. An
example of mere mention of doing something a bit differ-
ent blossoming into an executed plan, this trip included
Sno Road wines and sparkling cider and lunches from
HP Café. This month’s celebrants were Sharon Harrison
and Doris Brosnan, who will become octogenarians one
day apart, tomorrow and Friday. (They are aware of eight
’61-graduates-of-HHS-now-80-year-olds who live in the
area.)
Five quite Odd Fellows joined up last Sunday to mow
and trim the Historic Hardman Cemetery—graves dating
from 1883. Frank Osmin, Al Osmin, Melvin McDaniel,
Corey Sweeney and Tommy Wolff brought their mowers
and string trimmers to complete this annual chore. Snacks
and cold beverages were provided by our local IOOF
Willow Lodge #66, which maintains the facility. The
IOOF Fraternal Lodge was created over two centuries ago,
before any government social programs were established.
Its motto has always been “…to bury the dead, feed the
widow, and educate the orphan….” The Heppner Willow
Lodge has seen new energy in recent years, with a score
of new, younger members joining the fraternity.
“Thank you for doing the right thing,” said the voice
from inside a window of the Baltimore Apartments.
Apparently, what seems to merely be a responsible act—
removing a dog’s poo from the lawn—is not commonly
practiced by dog owners. That might explain, in part, the
poor condition of the lawn? Good news is that bags for
this removal are readily available in strategic places in
town, so “doing the right thing” can become “doing the
common thing.”
Yes, learning of upbeat moments people are experi-
encing feels good. So, you can add to our readers’ “feel
good” moments by sharing. Please, 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!
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Spiritually Speaking
Father Thankachan Joseph
St. Patrick Catholic Church Heppner
Come Holy Spirit: Renew the
Face of the Earth
Originally, Pentecost was a Jewish feast celebrated on
the 50 th day after the Passover feast. Christians celebrate it
on the seventh Sunday after Easter, celebrating the descent
of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples and Mary while they
were together praying in the upper hall.
Pentecost ranks among the greatest feasts of Chris-
tianity. It is considered the birthday of the Catholic
Church. The Jewish Pentecost was actually a post-harvest
thanksgiving celebration in Jerusalem to thank God for
a wonderful harvest. Scripture describes that on the day
of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles
and Mary as fiery tongues, transforming them into fiery
preachers. All those who listened to the apostles that day
experienced a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit through
the preaching of Peter.
The Acts of the Apostles and the last chapters of the
Gospels describe the apostles in their locked-down expe-
riences. “On the evening of that day, the first day of the
week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for
fear of the Jews” (John 20:19). Though clearly mentioned
as timid or fearful, the disciples were transformed into
powerful orators: “Peter stood up with the other eleven
apostles and in a loud voice began to speak to the crowd”
(Acts 2:14). What we notice is that timidity was trans-
formed into boldness, indecisions were transformed into
persuasions. Now when we take part in the Pentecost, we
need to pray to the Spirit of the Lord to come down upon
our world and also transform us.
In Paul’s letter to the Galatians, he urges Christians to
be always under the Spirit of the Lord. When we live by
the Spirit of God, the qualities of that Spirit will be visible
in us. The fruits of the Holy Spirit are “love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness,
and self-control. There is no law against such things. And
those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh
with its passions and desires” (5:22-24). Possession of
the gifts of the Holy Spirit automatically changes us into
new beings, helping us move from fear to freedom, from
timidity to power, from victim to victor, from silence to
proclamation, from being individuals to being community,
from division to reconciliation.
Recently we witnessed the outpouring of the Spirit
when Bishop Liam Cary came to St. Patrick Church to
administer the sacrament of Confirmation. He spoke of
the Holy Spirit and His role in renewing the universe.
When the Holy Spirit takes possession of us, we possess
the gifts that actually help us renew the world around us.
In the first letter to the Corinthians, Paul speaks about
these seven gifts of the Holy Spirit:
1) Wisdom: Wisdom helps us not to get upset over
little problems or put too much stock in passing events.
We need the gift of wisdom to remember that people are
more important than things and that God’s love is more
than everything else.
2) Understanding: A person who is understanding
accepts others as they are and cares for people no one else
notices. Those who understand us know our faults and
imperfections, as well as our strengths and good qualities.
Such people are always ready to encourage and challenge
us, always ready to forgive us and give us a second chance.
3) Knowledge: Developing the gift of knowledge is
what education is all about. It is important to remember,
also, that human knowledge can be used for bad ends as
well as good.
4) Right Judgment: Our greatest gift as human beings
is the gift of freedom, to decide what we will make of our
lives, the ability to make good decisions. Right judgment
also helps us learn from our mistakes and correct the
problems caused by our bad decisions.
5) Courage: Courage is the strength to do the right
thing in spite of obstacles that make it difficult. The gift
of courage gives us the strength and stamina needed to
keep trying, day after day, to be the kind of Christians
we want to be.
6) Reverence: The gift of reverence is a deep respect
for God, others, and all of creation. Reverence helps us to
see the true value of every person and of all created things.
7) Wonder And Awe in God’s Presence: This is the
gift by which we are given a sense of who God really is
and who we are as creatures of God. This same God lives
in my heart, listens to my daily prayers, cares about my
tiny worries, and loves me in all my specialness and in
all my weakness.
We need to have persons with these seven gifts of the
Holy Spirit to change the world.
Please join us as we come
together to celebrate the
life of Rena Henry
11:00 am, June 10, 2023
Hughes Ranch 11:00 am
60458 Little Butter Creek Road
Please join us for lunch as we visit
and share memories of Reena.
Willow Creek Water Park
Is looking for:
Lifeguards:
• Must be at least 15 years old.
• Training is now available here in Heppner!
• Training fee is the responsibility of all new lifeguards, but
can be paid over the course of the summer. About $250.
Training takes a few days, but lasts a lifetime!
• Lifeguard certification is good for 2 years. If you return for a
third year the training is free and much shorter in time.
• Beginning wage this year: $14.00 per hour. The wage will
increase each summer you return to WCWP!
Swim Lessons Instructor:
• Must be at least 18 years old with experience working
with children.
• Part time; Hourly wage DOE
• Training available!
For more information and applications, please contact
Bridget Waite at bridget.waite@gmail.com