Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, September 6, 2023 -- THREE
~ Letters to the Editor ~
Good News Only by Doris Brosnan
Father Thankachan Joseph
St. Mary’s Catholic Church Wasco
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Forgive and Forget: For the
Sake of the Community
Problem solved
I have a great idea. I
don’t know why this hasn’t
been thought of before.
It’s a simple solution to
an ongoing and very dis-
turbing issue. Illegals are
pouring into our country
at an alarming rate, putting
our own citizens at risk and
threatening to destroy the
very fabric of this country.
And since securing our
southern border doesn’t
seem to be something this
current administration can
accomplish, we need to
consider other options. So,
I’m proposing something
that is certainly attainable
and easily accomplished.
Let’s call Mexico our
own. Yes, let’s move that
southern border south.
Let’s replace their crooked
government with our own
crooked government, take
out the drug cartels by
threatening them with our
own highly effective justice
system and initiating severe
penalties (six months in jail
and offering them free re-
hab). No more China sneak-
ing drugs across the border,
since dealing with Hunter
directly would be much
easier. We could virtually
eliminate sex trafficking by
renaming it “Minor Attract-
ed People Exchange.” No
more bussing “immigrants”
to our northern cities. In
fact, we could start bussing
some folks south…like Lib-
erals, for instance.
Then there’s the beau-
tiful, rich, fertile Mexican
earth. Avocados, tomatillos,
jalapenos, bananas and
other wonderful produce
would be at our fingertips
for just pennies, thanks
to the beneficial effects
of Bidenomics. And just
imagine all the farmland we
could sell to China.
We could also claim
the tourist industry as our
own. Mexico has some of
the most beautiful beaches
in the world and, with the
exception of a few kidnap-
pings and shootings, the
tourist industry is booming.
And the best part? Biden
could spend the rest of his
presidential days in Los
Cabos, with his toes in the
sand, sipping margaritas
and sniffing senoritas. Be-
sides, money laundering
might be easier right there
on the beach. Yes, there
may be a bit of a language
barrier. But that’s really ir-
relevant since you can’t un-
derstand what he’s saying
most of the time anyway.
With a little effort on
the part of the Biden ad-
ministration, this proposal
could become a reality.
And though I know they’re
momentarily busy with the
important task of putting in-
nocent political opponents
in prison, I believe they
should find the time to make
this happen.
If you like this idea,
please show your support
for my “Crosby for Presi-
dent” campaign. I apologize
for not participating in the
recent Republican debate. I
had a cow to milk, and I’d
rather do my manure sling-
ing in the barn. Besides, I’m
voting for Trump.
Susie Crosby
Prineville, OR
Minor takes OTPR
all-around
Jordan Crossley Minor from Ellensburg, WA was the Oregon
Trail Pro Rodeo All Around Winner last month. She won the
saddle sponsored by Bank of Eastern Oregon, presented by
OTPR President Tanner Britt and OTPR Vice President Terri
Gentry. -Photo Credit: Eagle Eye Photography, Sam Cambell
Abigail Wenberg, Sherry Ewing, JoAnne Burleson, Jan
Huddleston, Doris Brosnan, Diana Ball, Nancy Propheter.
-Contributed photo
When the weather cooperates, at least some of the
above women can be found on the tennis courts—some-
times playing doubles, sometimes singles, sometimes
even rotating single-doubles sides. Over the past 13 (at
least) years, one had to quit because of injury, another has
become busier with another sport so cannot play often,
but the core group continues play as often as weather and
schedules allow.
However, JoAnne Burleson recently announced that
she is retiring her racket, reluctantly, at the age of 92.
(She taught tennis for years, has offered the others advice,
and still might continue that from the sidelines.) Recent-
ly joining the group aged in the 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s,
Abigail Wenberg, at the age of 17, brought a new energy
that has the others needing to step up their games! They
all dream of courts in good shape but enjoy the sport so
much, they contend with the cracks and weeds, and they
all wish other persons would join them! They have several
extra rackets, they say.
Cynthia Wenberg is sharing with the G-T readers the
post she published on Facebook: “No, we are not mov-
ing…. Yes, I am hanging up my full-time design apron….
I feel God is leading me…to relook at my college degree
and finish it. I set it aside 27 years ago to be a mom…. Erik
and I always agreed that sometime I would finish. I am
going to do the EMT course first and then do the classes
in Lifestyle Medicine…. I will be at our local community
college to start and, hopefully, doing a lot online…. I am
not exactly sure what I will do at the end of this journey.
I pray I do God’s will ultimately…. You might see me
back at Murray’s filling in and helping but right now not
full-time. Thank you for letting me create arrangements
that have been sent with love and joy over these years. I
have loved it! And love each of you…a new chapter…a
college student at the age of 47!”
Last Thursday evening, three HHS alums came to
Heppner to visit friends until heading back through the
mountains on Sunday afternoon. Ethan Holmgren lives
in Longview, WA. Carson Brosnan and Alyse Wentz live
in Corvallis.
Last Sunday evening Scott Healy (of Hillsboro),
David Backen (of Roseburg), and their families hosted
a gathering for a barbecue at the Backens’ Thorn Creek
Ranch. This was an opportunity for locals Kit and Shir-
ley George and Doris Brosnan to meet Scott and Gina’s
twins, James and Jillian, who are eight years old, and to
share the evening with the Gundersons, Lynne and Sage
Calvert, and several relatives of the Backens.
On the 13 th , the library will hold another Adult Craft
Night, beginning at 6 p.m. The participants will create
Wood-Block “Bee” Décor. Sign-up is at otld.org. While
at that site, exploring the many offerings of the library
could be worthwhile. One that comes to mind because
school has just started is the tutoring service available
through the library!
Good news for someone who wants a small apartment
that comes with a staff of individuals who will help you
with daily living activities that have become too chal-
lenging for you on your own: one apartment is available
at Willow Creek Terrace, 541-676-0004.
A note to dbrosnan123@gmail.com or a call to 541-
223-1490 is all it takes to add your good news!
Hope good news comes to everyone reading this
column!
CREZ III board approves
Lamb Weston agreement
By Andrea Di Salvo
The Columbia River
Enterprise Zone (CREZ)
III approved an agreement
with Lamb Weston regard-
ing additional investment at
one of the food processor’s
Boardman plants. The ap-
proval came at a special
CREZ III board meeting
Aug. 31 in Boardman.
The agreement is for a
15-year Long Term Rural
tax abatement for Lamb
Weston to expand and
modernize its 50-year-old
Boardman facility on Co-
lumbia Ave. The company
said in its application that
the $230 million investment
would include a 25,700
square foot expansion of the
existing facility, as well as
upgrades and additions to
machinery and equipment
within the plant.
The $160 million in
machinery and equipment
is supposed to allow the
plant to automate and to
add different product lines
at the facility.
Lamb Weston staff said
they expect to create an
additional 50 full-time jobs
at the plant. The plant cur-
rently employs around 500
people, while all of Lamb
Weston’s Morrow County
enterprise zone properties
employee 1,222 people.
Under the agreement,
Lamb Weston will make
a $1.2 million annual fee
payment each year of the
15-year agreement.
Of that, $200,000 may
be used as a discretionary
payment reduction. That is,
the company can use that
money to benefit local char-
itable organizations direct-
ly, and that amount will be
deducted from the overall
payment. If Lamb Weston
uses the entire $200,000,
its remaining payment to
the county would be one
million dollars per year.
Also included in the
agreement is payment of
100 percent of bonded debt
for any new bonds passed
by voters in an affected
taxing district beginning
July 1, 2025.
Even though the CREZ
III board has approved the
agreement, zone sponsor
Morrow County will need
Spiritually Speaking
to adopt a resolution to
authorize the agreement
before it can take effect, as
will the City of Boardman,
since the property falls
within the city’s Area of
Influence.
The Port of Morrow is
the other zone sponsor but
does not require an offi-
cial resolution to move the
agreement forward.
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This Sunday reminds us of the problems in the
kingdom of God arising due to undue expectations of
ambitions, pride, craze for power, etc. We reflect today
on the problem of faithful believers going astray when
such things happen and the corresponding obligation the
co-members have to get them back into the community.
The reading from Ezekiel (chapter 33:7-9) is all about
personal, individual responsibility of the city guardian.
The watchman stood on the Palestinian hills and blew his
trumpet to warn of invaders. The prophet speaks about
the pros and cons of taking watch of the city. Any failure
on the part of the watchman would often result in death,
either death for many or all the members of his city, or
his own death because if he failed to do his job he would
be executed, considered liable for the lives of the people.
Prophets like Ezekiel saw themselves as watchmen
over the spiritual dangers that threatened God’s people.
The prime qualities expected of a watchman were mean-
ingful presence to others, alertness to possible dangers and
personal responsibility to sound a warning, irrespective
of whether people heeded it or not. If a sentry fails to
warn, he bears grave responsibility for other people. In
our role as lookouts, regardless of how well or ill others
receive our message, we, like Ezekiel, keep our integrity
by speaking out.
The Gospel of Matthew has predominantly five basic
teachings about God’s kingdom. The Gospel reading of
this Sunday deals with the relationship of members in the
kingdom of God. In Matthew 18:15-20, Jesus addresses a
common incidence among the community of believers—
this is even prevalent in present-day situations in most of
the Christian communities—how to handle a dispute be-
tween two members of the Church. Jesus outlines practical
tips for settling such issues impartially. The victim or the
primarily accused should privately address the offender
with an attempt to resolve the disagreement without
outside involvement. If that fails, then the victim should
bring two or three witnesses and confront the offender
again. If the dispute is still unresolved, the matter should
be brought to the attention of the entire community. If the
offender refuses to obey the recompenses prescribed by
the community of believers, then Jesus suggests that the
delinquent may be excluded from the Church.
The key point in this passage we need to notice is
that Jesus does not discourage disagreement within the
community of believers of the Church. He acknowledges
the reality of conflict and error and offers His disciples a
means for addressing such matters. It is in the conclusion
to this teaching that the message of hope is found: If de-
cisions are taken in prayer, then the community can be
assured of God’s assistance, not through one’s influence
or muscle power.
Two aspects of Jesus’ teaching here are outstanding:
He has standards and He uses a wise procedure. The first
step of the measure is to go to the offender and speak di-
rectly to the person rather than to anyone else, not behind
him. “If your brother does something wrong, go and have
it out with him alone, between your two selves.” (18:15).
So often, everyone gets to hear about the problem except
the person concerned. Gossip can destroy relationships
and a person’s good name. Christians are called to deal
with one another honestly and personally—no anonymous
complaints to authorities, no whisper campaigns. The
Gospel says that the offended party, not the offending
one, should first seek compromise.
If the first step does not work, the second step is to
bring one or two others along with you, not for the pur-
pose of proving the other person wrong, but to help in the
process of settlement. Only if that does not work do you
proceed to the third step, which is to refer it to the local
community of faith, the Church. The whole process should
be inspired by a spirit of forgiveness, not to attest who
is right and who is wrong. When all these systems fail,
there is always something that we can do individually and
in common—a short prayer for each other. United prayer
is more powerful, sensible and effective than resentment
towards one another.
“I tell you solemnly, if two of you on earth agree to
ask anything at all, it will be granted to you by my Father
in heaven. For where two or three meet in my name, I
shall be there with them.”
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