Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, June 7, 2023 -- THREE
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Everyone has
the right to
their opinion
To the Editor of the
Heppner Gazette-Times:
First—I am a native of
Morrow County, born and
raised. I attended school in
Morrow County and grad-
uated from HHS in 1960.
I later married a Morrow
County girl from Board-
man.
The family’s dry-land
wheat farm is still in the
hands of the Davidson fam-
ily and has long been a
century farm. The ranch
is located north and west
of Ione.
Ms. Crosby talked
about men in uniform. It
is not widely known, but
my Grandmother, Mabel
Davidson, was widowed in
1926, left with seven sons
and one daughter to raise
and run the ranch. With
Memorial Day just past,
it should be noted, with a
great deal of pride, that she
sent five of her boys into the
military during World War
II, including my father, who
was seriously injured in the
Pacific theater. One of my
uncles was shot down over
Belgium, as an engineer on
a B-29 bomber, and shot
by the Germans after their
plane crashed. Very few
families can match their
service to our country.
Second—during the
time spent in Morrow
County, there were mostly
open-minded people who
respected other people’s
opinions. It was never a
situation of “my way or the
highway” that I read every
week in Ms. Crosby’s let-
ters. No one has the right to
be telling other people how
they should be living or
thinking. It is simply none
of their business. Everyone
has a right to their opinion,
whether they choose to
broadcast it or not.
This is not 1954, or
even 1984. It is now almost
2024.
Third—I taught school
at various schools around
the state of Oregon for 40
years. I know Ms. Cros-
by enjoyed the discipline
she received from one of
her teachers. Too bad that
teacher tried to squash her
individualism and creativ-
ity. That would be some-
thing I tried never to do.
I taught young people to
express themselves and
remember they are indi-
viduals with a right to their
own opinions. At no time
did they ever (in my 40
years) receive an assign-
ment to “read the chapter
and answer the questions
at the end.” That assign-
ment always guaranteed
most youngsters to get As
without learning anything.
And one of the most bor-
ing assignments ever made
to a student, at any time,
anywhere.
I won’t enter into a
contest concerning Mr.
Trump. But, there is lit-
tle doubt that he is totally
lacking any moral fiber that
would make him a man. He
cheated on all three wives,
never attends church, and
lacks any part of his perso-
na that would guarantee a
Christian could deep-down
support him. And I won’t
even mention his last trial.
But, here again, everyone
has the right to their opinion
and should feel free to ex-
press it. They should not be
putting anyone down who
does not agree with them.
I have been surprised
that no one has responded
to her rather lengthy letters,
expressing little but her
own opinions.
Thank you,
Robert H. Davidson
Milwaukie, OR
Words Matter
The other day I was ear-
ly for an appointment (rare
these days), so I decided to
find a place to snooze while
waiting in my car. As I re-
clined the seat and cracked
my window, I promptly
noticed a young family
with two small children
unloading what looked to
be the makings of a picnic.
Awwwww…. how sweet,
I thought. It wasn’t long
before I also noticed how
loud a small family can be.
Next thing I heard made me
wanna grab a bar of soap.
The mom was instructing
her child to “go ride your
F***ing bike,” which was
followed by a few more
choice words paired with a
generally bad attitude. So
much for “a good time was
had by all.” My mind went
directly to the thought of
this little girl turning 13.
The picture wasn’t pretty.
Why? Just Why? Has
this really become the
norm? So yes, I’ll admit
I’ve become known as the
F Word Police and, yes, I
really dislike that word. I
remember when it was to be
reserved for the worst of the
worst…kind of a thermostat
as to the degree of decline
of an already reprobate
mind. But there’s more to
it than that. The very act it
represents is supposed to
be an expression of love,
a beautiful thing created
by God, not a filthy act
portrayed by a filthy mouth.
I understand the slip of
the tongue after a traumatic
event involving a hammer
and thumb. Nobody’s per-
fect. But wouldn’t it be nice
if we had enough respect for
those around us to watch
our mouths in our everyday
conversations? I do miss the
“there are ladies present”
and “little ears!” admoni-
tions. Jesus said, “Out of
the abundance of the heart,
the mouth speaks.” I don’t
want it in my heart, or my
brain. Then maybe it won’t
be the first thing out of my
mouth when hammer meets
thumb.
If you claim to be a
follower of Jesus, then non-
chalantly spout the f-word
or any other cuss words
known to man, something’s
wrong…and you’re making
us all look bad. I love you,
but just stop. We are to be
different, and the rest of
the world should be able to
tell the difference between
us and them. Make it easy
for them. Not to imply that
a clean mouth will get us
into heaven. Only Jesus
does that. But the ability to
“bridle our tongue” speaks
volumes about the condi-
tion of our character (pun
intended).
I’ll admit, some non-
swear words just bug me
for no particular reason.
When did the word “give”
become not cool? I’m pretty
sure Mrs. Sundquist never
allowed her class to “gift”
a gift…because a gift is a
noun, not a verb. She was
a stickler for pronouns,
too. Speaking of which,
my preferred pronouns are
young, tall, blond, beauti-
ful, oh…and rich…in case
you wondered.
“A good man brings
good things out of the good
stored up in his heart, and
an evil man brings evil
things out of the evil stored
up in his heart. For the
mouth speaks what the
heart is full of.” Luke 6:24
Susie Crosby
Heppner, OR
Good News Only by Doris Brosnan
Whether walking or driving on Main Street/High-
way, deciding which way to go at the detour signs can
sometimes be brain teasers! Hang in there, and take the
back streets?!
Some sidewalks offer walkers a treat: Colorful chalk
art—dinosaurs, birds, animals, loving messages, hop-
scotch. Can be quite uplifting and inviting to passersby
who want to add their artistic talents.
Jan Stroeber and Dennis O’Donnell have responded
to the question about Groshens Spring: Dennis contributes
that in the ’65 era, he worked for the Vic Groshens who
was in charge of city maintenance, and “was always tin-
kering with the faucet at the spring.” But Dennis doesn’t
remember if it was working then. Jan reports a lengthy
history of the spring since she became interested in pre-
serving the site and beautifying it in a show of respect for
its historical value and as a memorial to French immigrant
Vic Groshens. Pauline and Orville Matheny helped as the
work began. Vi Wilgers joined Jan’s work, and Howard
and Beth Bryant, as well as the County Historical Society,
were also interested in the effort. Columbia Basin Electric
Co-op took out trees. Volunteers planted period plants,
aspens, shrubs, grasses. With the passage of time and
aging of workers, the site has developed some issues with
the drip system, terracing, and signage, but Jan continues
to hope that someone will call her to volunteer so the
caretaking can continue. Though ownership of the spring
might be in question, the city turns on the water, which
goes to the fountain and to the plants, and Jan reports that
that hasn’t happened yet this year.
On May 24, Dennis Peck made a hole-in-one on
number 7 at Willow Creek Country Club! This happened
in a Wednesday-evening Men’s Club Team Match Play
Competition; consequently, he was obligated to provide
celebratory beverages for all present. “There were a lot
of witnesses!” John Edmundson reports.
On May 25, Mrs. Rosenbalm’s and Mrs. Matheny’s
classes made their annual walk-about that included a hike
to the Masonic Cemetery. Susan Hisler also visited the
cemetery that day and reports being extremely impressed
with the third and first graders she encountered. With the
help of the parents and grandparents who accompanied
the classes, the youngsters were diligently searching out
the resting places of military veterans and placing small
American flags at their headstones. And Susan appre-
ciated the offer from the children who helped her carry
several things to the site she was visiting. These children’s
showing of respect is to be nurtured, acknowledged, and
applauded.
On May 27, Dianna Hoeft hosted a gathering of about
200 family and friends to celebrate the 150 th anniversary
of the Wright family ranch on Rhea Creek. Albert and
Julia Wright left Indiana in 1852 and landed in Oregon
City in 1853. Albert came to Oregon in ’71, built a small
log cabin across from now-Anson Wright Park, and built
their home in ’72. The deed to the property was filed in
1873, was registered as a century farm 50 years ago, and
Diana has now started the complicated process of getting
it registered as a 150-year-old ranch.
On May 31, Conor Brosnan texted this grandmother
to report having become “a certified welder in stick and
flux core all positions.” Of course, abundant congratula-
tions ensued, as well as a request for an explanation of
the several unfamiliar terms! In a week and a half, Conor
expects to begin his summer job as a welder with Union
Pacific Railroad, with plans to return to Linn Benton
Community College in the fall for his associate’s degree
in the welding program.
The annual request for cookies went out via the com-
munity churches for the Baccalaureate service on May
31, and once again, the response by Heppner bakers was
overwhelming! The fabulous variety that the attending
HHS graduates and their families had to choose from
was appreciated by all after the service in the St. Patrick’s
church.
Another “Crafty Night” at the library on June 14 at 6
p.m.! This month’s craft will be a “paint-stick American
flag.” This adults-only program has limited space, so
interested people need to go to the website to register:
www.otld.org.
Hats off to conscientious dog walkers who are picking
up after their dogs. On the routes that Melancholy Collie
and the Perky Puppy walk, far fewer piles of poo seem
to be left than were some weeks ago.
Surely, we can never read enough positive tidbits.
Please send your upbeat items 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
“I am the Bread of Life”
On the second Sunday after Pentecost, the Catholic
Church celebrates “Corpus Christi Sunday,” the feast of
Body and Blood of Christ.
We have souvenirs for memorable events. Last week
I attended one of the graduation celebrations in our parish
hall. I noticed a beautiful, printed souvenir on the tables
of the graduates. We have this souvenir culture, but Jesus
thought of it two thousand years ago. We can see it in the
Gospel of John, chapter 13:1: “Jesus, knowing that his
hour had come to pass from this world to the Father….”
He called His disciples together to celebrate the memorial
together. “While they were eating, he took bread, said the
blessing, broke it, gave it to them, and said, ‘Take it; this
is my body.’ Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave
it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them,
‘This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for
many.’” (Mk 14: 22). The Holy Eucharist is the parting
gift of Jesus to us before His departure to the Father. Thus,
Jesus becomes “the Bread of Life” (Jn 6:48).
Food is a main factor in human lives. Everyone works
to satisfy their stomach and the stomachs of others with
whom they live. We know that Jesus was born in David’s
town called Bethlehem. Bethlehem literally would mean
the place of bread, place of meat, and Jesus has become
bread for everyone to satisfy their spiritual and physical
hungers. Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist as the memo-
rial of His presence with us and His unconditional love
towards us. The Eucharist is spiritual nourishment to satis-
fy hunger for spiritual realities. Before He left this world,
He instituted the sacrament of Holy Eucharist, as well
as the Sacrament of Priesthood, and asked His disciples
to partake in the sacrament in His memory for eternity.
Jesus satisfies the physical hunger of human beings
before the spiritual one. The Gospel of John, chapter 6,
begins with the miracle of loaves. He fulfills the natural
hunger of everyone before He begins the spiritual dis-
course. The temptation of the Lord in the desert begins
with the tempter asking Jesus to change the stones into
bread, since the Lord was hungry. In the last judgment
scene, too, we read that, to the people on the right, he says,
“Come you that are blessed by my Father! I was hungry
and you fed me, thirsty and you gave me drink” (Mathew
25:34-35). From these examples we need to assume that
Jesus addresses the basic needs of human life first. The
Lord is always and every time present with us with His
real presence. He is always available to satiate the hunger
and thirst of human beings.
We need more than food to live. In the Gospel of John,
when he speaks about the vine and branches, and in the
Eucharistic discourse, too, Jesus reminds us that without
Him, we cannot live.
“I tell you solemnly, if you do not eat of the flesh of
the Son of Man and drink his blood you will not have life
in you. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives
in me and I in him. Anyone who eats this bread will live
forever” (John 6:53-54).
On the feast of Corpus Christi, Jesus offers different
kinds of “bread” to the faithful to gratify their many
hungers. To people who followed Him into the desert and
who were starving, He offered ordinary bread, satisfying
their physical hunger. To the leper whose body was falling
apart, He offered the only bread that mattered—the bread
of physical healing. To the lonely woman at Jacob’s well,
He offered the bread of human kindness and acceptance.
To sinners He offered the bread of forgiveness. To the
rejects and outcasts, He offered the bread of empathy and
companionship. To the widow of Nain and Martha and
Mary, who had lost a loved one, He offered the bread of
compassion. To the thief who died by His side, He offered
the bread of repentance and reconciliation with God.
As Jesus has become bread and gratified human
deprivation, it is our time to satisfy human needs of
people around us. Is there anyone hungry around me?
How do I approach such situations and become the bread
to someone who is in need? What bread are we looking
for? Only Jesus can offer us that bread, because “He is
the Bread of life.”
ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE:
MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M.
HUNTER EDUCATION
CLASSES OFFERED
Classes start Tuesday, June 13th, & Thursday June
15th, 6-9 pm Field Day the 17th 8am to noon. Classes
Tuesday the 20th and 22nd 6-9 pm. at the Lexington
Gun Club. To sign up go to myodfw.com Must sign
up on line. https://myodfw.com/articles/hunter-educa-
tion-classes-field-days.
Contact Instructor, Jim Marquardt at 541 969-4845.
if questions.
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Please join us at Cutsforth park Sunday June 18th at 1PM
for the annual Elks Father's Day picnic.
Some of the events scheduled are;
Corn hole - Kids treasure hunt, egg toss & water Balloons
The Annual Kenny Turner Memorial Horseshoe Tournament
Beverages, Hamburgers and hotdogs will be provided.
Side dishes are welcomed.
Open to all Elks members and their families.
HEPPNER ELKS 358
"WHERE FRIENDS MEET"
541-676-9181 142 N MAIN ST