Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, June 21, 2023 -- THREE
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Susie Crosby
expresses my
thoughts
I agree with Robert
Davidson (Letter to the
Editor, June 7, 2023, p. 3)
when he says, “Everyone
has a right to their opin-
ion, whether they choose
to broadcast it or not.” But
I don’t see how Susie Cos-
by is “telling other people
how they should be living
or thinking.” And if she is,
how is that different than
Mr. Davidson’s comments
about Mr. Trump?
Maybe how something
comes across is related
to how one feels about
what is said. I may never
write another letter to the
editor again—Ms. Crosby
expresses my thoughts and
values, and more, so much
better than I ever could.
I’m glad she writes so
regularly—I always look
forward to her comments.
Sandra Johnson
Winthrop, IA
#Moo Too
For years I’ve heard
people say that the best
way to maintain a peaceful
environment is to never
discuss either of two par-
ticular subjects. Apparently,
it’s commonly thought that
religion and politics tend to
bring out the fight in folks.
Well, those happen to be the
two things I think about the
most…in that order. While
I’m not a fighter, I do tend
to voice my opinion now
and then (sometimes with
fervor) and I do enjoy a
good discussion.
For the most part, farm
animals are not good con-
versationalists. Some are
downright evasive when
it comes to engaging me
in any type of discussion.
Horses mumble, and usu-
ally only when they want
something. Chickens are
so busy talking to each
other you can’t get a word
in edgewise. I figure goats
must be a little hard of
hearing since their only
response is usually, “Wha?
Wha? Wha?” The Border
Collie is deaf. I do most
of the talking during our
conversations. It’s kinda
like talking to a teenager,
of which I have much ex-
perience. House pets are
not much better. The par-
akeets clam up when you
want them to show off their
verbiage for company…
then won’t shut up when
they know you’re trying to
sleep. The fish are usually
pretty quiet.
I’ve always felt that
Rosie and I have a fairly
open relationship, and she
is normally a pretty good
listener. Or maybe it just
appears that way, since her
nose is usually in the feed
trough. To her credit, she’s
not one to talk with her
mouth full.
The other day she sur-
prised me by opening the
morning conversation with
what could be considered
a taboo subject. And al-
though I suspected she
might be a little “left lean-
ing” after one particular
milking incident (loosened
the kick bar…straightened
her right up) this was a little
different.
Rosie: “I’m joining the
Me-Too movement.”
Farm Lady: “That’s
ridiculous. You’re a cow.”
Rosie: “That was rude.”
Farm Lady: “I meant
your species, not your size.”
Rosie: “I’ve been fon-
dled.”
Farm Lady: “You’ve
been milked. There’s a dif-
ference.”
Rosie: “I never con-
sented.”
Farm Lady: “I provide
hay. You provide milk. We
help each other. It’s called
a symbiotic relationship.”
Rosie: “Quid Pro Quo.
I’m still joining.”
Farm Lady: “OK, I’ll
tell you what Rosie. You can
walk right out that pasture
gate and into the big world
out there and find your own
alfalfa and grain…and good
luck applying your own fly
spray, by the way…or you
can stay right here and be
a cow, let your milk down
and eat your hay. What do
you say to that?”
Rosie: “MOO.”
Farm Lady: “Good
choice.”
Susie Crosby
Heppner, OR
Heppner fire department
welcomes new firefighters
Good News Only by Doris Brosnan
This is it! The longest day of the year! This writer
is going to try to just enjoy it without thinking about
what now happens. (After all, Dec. 21 is six months and
gradual changes away.)
Last weekend saw many local parents and grandpar-
ents on the road to attend college graduations of some of
our future leaders. Area students, some of whom spent
some of their college experience under pandemic restric-
tions, have now received degrees and embarked on new
phases of their life-journeys. (The University of Oregon,
for one, did not hold commencement until yesterday, so
this column will gladly acknowledge next week more
area students in later commencements.)
The following list of last weekend’s graduates results
from several phone calls and messages in an attempt to
be thorough, but an attempt to check Southern Oregon
University and Lane CC graduates failed (Please, contact
me if you have additions):
Blue Mountain CC (incomplete)—Kassidee Cim-
myotti, Associate Degree in Early Childhood Educa-
tion; Matthew Orem, Associate Degree in Agricultural
Production.
Eastern Oregon University—Kaden Clark, BS in
Business Administration; Linsey Hanna, BS in Psychol-
ogy; Hunter Nichols, BS in Biology, Magna Cum Laude.
Montana State University—Jacee Currin, BS in
Nursing, Summa Cum Laude.
Oregon State University—Carson Brosnan, Marine
2 nd Lieutenant Commission, BS in Business, Cum Laude;
Gibson McCurry, BS in Engineering, Cum Laude.
Linn-Benton Community College—Maggie Flynn,
Associate Degree in Nursing; Alyse Wentz, Associate
Degree in General Studies and in Dental Assisting.
Welcome to this world, Maeve Morrel Murray! This
darling (truly) wee one with the ancient Irish name joined
her eager parents, Ian and Katie Murray, at St. Anthony
Hospital on May 24. Proud grandparents are John and
Ann Murray, Colleen Baker, and Dan and Melanie Siri.
Shannon Kelly lived in Heppner as a child, the
daughter of Bob, a professor at Blue Mountain CC, and
Mary Lou, the high school secretary. Shannon returned
for a visit last Friday, specifically to visit with Kit and
Shirley George and have a look at the remodel of their
home, the home in which she lived and for which her
father laid the plans. While in the area from McMinnville,
Shannon continued to Hermiston to visit ex-Heppnerite
and relative Len Ray Schwarz and his wife, Ann.
Claudia Hughes is so pleased to have “all our family
within a couple hours drive in the Pacific Northwest” now
that daughter, Kimberly’s, two children have moved clos-
er, joining son, Kevin’s, two children, who also are within
that radius. A week and a half ago, Claudia joined her
sister, Kathy, and Kimberly and granddaughter Destinee,
for a trip to Cannon Beach, perfectly timed for marveling
at some artwork in the Sand-Castle competition.
Alan and Nancy Anderson travelled to Elgin last
weekend for the 60-year reunion of the Class of ’63.
Nancy reports that she attended school through her
freshman year with these friends who insist on including
her in their reunions.
Last weekend, Cara Osmin enjoyed a visit with her
son, Ryan, and granddaughter, Mae Pence, who is 13
years old, in Portland. While there, Cara was able to
watch Mae try out for a local ice hockey team. The “really
skilled” player played last year with the Lady Admirals
of the Seattle area but now waits with hope that she made
the team much closer to home!
Visiting from Phoenix, Karen Haguewood found
her stay with Betty Gray in Ione from June 13 to the 19 th
totally relaxing, Betty reports. The week was an opportu-
nity to enjoy visiting area friends, play some Loo, read,
watch baseball championship games, and look forward
to a continued Oregon stay, when she travelled on to
Hermiston and La Grande before returning to Arizona.
As Karen said her “goodbyes,” arriving at Betty’s
was her son Mark and his wife, Ima, from Helix. Over just
for the day, the two planned to replace Betty’s front steps.
Ione will again hold its Fourth-of-July celebration
soon, so we can check the G-T for details. The golf
tournament on the third is a fundraiser for the Ione
scholarship fund; to sign up, individuals need to contact
Stacy Ekstrom at 422-7410. The many activities on the
Fourth will include the 1 p.m. parade; for information,
individuals need to contact Betty Gray at 422-7335.
Now open, in time for that celebration, is the Cardinal
Café in Ione, which is in the location of the previous Perk
and Brews. Jeff and Dawn Eynetich have posted hours for
Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Calling 541-223-1490, emailing dbrosnan123@
gmail.com, or pasting that FB post into an email to
dbrosnan123@gmail.com will get your tidbits shared
with the vast number of G-T readers.
Here’s hoping that some good news comes to ev-
eryone reading this!
Happy 70th Anniversary
Spiritually Speaking
Father Thankachan Joseph
St. Patrick Catholic Church Heppner
Do not be afraid
This Sunday, the Lord reminds us of threats around us
when we preach the word of God. The first reading, from
the prophet Jeremiah (20:10-13), initially expresses his
despair and anguish. But later, when he speaks of how he
is being persecuted with terrors all around, instantaneous-
ly, he also makes a confident statement of his trust in the
Lord to deliver him. Perhaps many people can identify
with Jeremiah’s situation, especially when we are faced
with similar life-threatening situations. The prophet is a
clear example for all of us—put our trust in the Lord. In
his despondency, misery and anxiety, he is overwhelmed
by those seeking to destroy him, yet he also trusts in God
as his caring deliverer. Jeremiah refused to be intimidated
by attacks upon his character and plots against his life, and
so he was unafraid to speak out in the name of the Lord.
He is trusting in the words of the Psalmist: “He will keep
you safe from hidden dangers and from deadly diseases…
you will be safe in his care; his faithfulness will protect
and defend you” (Ps 91:3-4).
In the second reading, Paul, writing to the Romans
(5:12-15), contrasts the consequences of sin, “Therefore,
just as sin entered the world through one man, and death
through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because
all sinned,” and salvation merited by Jesus Christ. By the
word “sin,” Paul tries to explain the personification of evil
unleashed on the world. Individual sins have contributed
to the power of evil. Paul in his letter to the Romans just
recaps that if the first man’s sin brought death and suf-
fering into the world, Christ’s obedience merited for us
freedom from sin. Paul insisted that the free gift of grace
far outweighs the effects of sin. We need to be like Christ
and be a good example of our faith to the next generation.
In the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 10 speaks about,
if you are a member of the Kingdom of God, how to
recruit people to God’s Kingdom and its pros and cons.
Jesus exhorts His disciples to be fearless witnesses of the
Gospel. When Jesus sends His disciples out into the world
to be His emissaries, He knows they will be fearful, for
good reason, knowing the hardships and persecution it
would involve. Therefore, we see three times Jesus stating
to them, “Do not be afraid.” It is normal and natural that
boldness will sometimes fail us and that we will be afraid.
All those who have accomplished great things have gone
through fear, and it has not defeated them. In the Gospels
we read about Jesus’s fear in the garden of Gethsemane. It
is not experiencing fear that matters but how we respond
to fear that matters. In the concluding passage of today’s
Gospel, Jesus says: “If anyone declares himself for me in
the presence of men, I will declare myself for him in the
presence of my Father in heaven. But if anyone disowns
me in the presence of men, I will disown in the presence
of my father in heaven.” Jesus calls us to be witnesses,
unafraid in the midst of a hostile and skeptical world.
I conclude this week’s reflections with the example
of Archbishop Oscar Romero, who was canonized on
October 14, 2018 by Pope Francis for his courageous and
fearless witnessing of Christ among the subalterns of El
Salvador. When he was made Archbishop of El Salvador
in 1977, he was a conservative. But he soon became an
outstanding witness to Christ’s caring love when he saw
what was happening. Every Sunday he preached at the
Cathedral. His homilies so electrified the country, the
nation came to a standstill to hear him. He made public
the unspeakable crimes being committed. He was under
constant threat of death. Some of his best friends were
murdered. But he never ceased, nor would he go into
hiding or exile. “At the first sight of danger the shepherd
cannot run and leave the sheep to defend themselves. I will
stay with my people,” he said. He was shot on March 24,
1980, while celebrating the Holy Eucharist. Even though
we may not aspire to such heights of heroism, people
like Archbishop Oscar Romero are an inspiration to us.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus instructs the twelve how to deal
with injustice, false accusations and calumny. He assures
us that our faith in God will be justified.
$425,000
The Heppner Fire Department welcomed three new Firefighter
1 volunteers recently. L-R: Charles Cason, Hailey Wenberg
and Zachary Stutzman. -Photo by Tylynn Cimmiyotti
Currin graduates
from MSU
Jacee Currin of Hep-
pner graduated from Mon-
tana State University May
12 at the Brick Breeden
Fieldhouse in Bozeman,
MT. She graduated with
a Bachelor of Science in
Nursing.
Currin was among the
students who graduated
with the highest honors,
having earned a minimum
cumulative GPA of 3.7
to graduate Summa Cum
Laude.
NEW LISTING!
Mom
and
Dad
“A true love that has
lasted the test of time”
Love Barbara, Cyde and David
Find peace and privacy on this forty-acre parcel complete with
functional 2 bedroom 1 bath cabin. Take in the Mt. views from
the reverse living upper level 640 sq ft foot great room. Ride the
property’s ATV trails in the summer or snowmobile/sled in the
winter with access to thousands of acres of National Forest Land
at the property corner. LOP tags available or just enjoy watching
the elk, deer, bear and turkey that frequent the property. Private
well with back-up valve filled cistern, two springs and electricity,
as well as internet access. MLSCO #220154062
Timothy Coe
Fay Ranches
541-980-2252
scoe@fayranches.com