Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, September 13, 2023 -- THREE
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Empathizers?
Another humorous let-
ter from Ms. Crosby - but
she forgot to mention a
couple of the biggest em-
pathizers of all time.
The first is with the per-
son who says, “my prayers
are with you.” Until they
later admit they don’t pray
and don’t even know the
words to one prayer.
The second missing
empathizer of all time is
the one who threw rolls of
paper towels to flood/storm
victims, which was credited
to a human empathizer, in
response to those people in
trouble.
And then, wow, she
outdid herself the follow-
ing week. It was so funny
and enjoyable to read. She
threw in so many humorous
remarks that it is not possi-
ble to mention them all.
Yes, maybe she should
enter her name as a Repub-
lican running for president.
It isn’t like we have that
many good choices. Too
bad about the debate, she
would have fit right in.
(I am glad she got to
milk that cow as they can
get cross if not milked at
the right time.)
Robert H. Davidson
Milwaukie, Oregon
Lack of
transparency
on proposed
courthouse
I was unable to com-
ment during the Morrow
County
Commissioners
meeting September 6,
2023, as I was experienc-
ing technical difficulties.
I wanted to clarify some
points that my husband,
Tim Collins, had made re-
garding the location of the
new proposed courthouse
in Heppner. Tim went
through our neighborhood
the night before the meet-
ing and visited with our
neighbors. He stated that
the overwhelming major-
ity were NOT in favor of
the proposed site for the
new courthouse and they
were concerned with the
lack of transparency that
seemed evident since a few
of them never even knew
there was a courthouse
being proposed in their
neighborhood. Tim men-
tioned that the majority of
our neighbors had signed
the petition but not all of
them. The neighbors who
didn’t sign it, was not be-
cause they didn’t want to;
it was because they were
not home.
I feel there was a mis-
understanding between the
commissioners and my
husband, Tim. The com-
missioners have assured
Tim and I that there will
be transparency and that
this project is just starting.
However, that is not the
transparency that I am re-
ferring to. The lack of trans-
parency that our neighbors
and ourselves are feeling
is due to not having a say
or even knowing anything
about the proposed site of
the courthouse which is
dangerously close to our
elementary school. We
were not given any warn-
ing that this site was being
proposed or even looked
at until it was a “Done
Deal”. We are told that
nothing we say or do will
change the location. This
is the lack of transparency
that Tim mentioned at the
meeting. There has been
no public comment or
open meetings where we,
as Morrow County voters
and Heppner residents, can
voice our concerns.
When Tim and I at-
tended the Heppner City
Council meeting in July
we were told that the city
came up with nine differ-
ent sites for the commis-
sioners to choose from
with the property near the
fairgrounds being as a last
resort and only because the
county owned the proper-
ty. The City Council told
us after providing the loca-
tions to the County Com-
missioners that the City
Council had no more say in
the matter. When my son
and I attended the County
Commissioners meeting
in July, we were told that
it was the City Council
members who had decided
the location of the court-
house in Heppner, and not
the county commissioners.
I have that statement re-
corded on video.
So whom do I trust?
Tim and I asked for the
feasibility study done on
the proposed sites in and
around Heppner which the
county was authorized to
spend up to $10,000 for;
however, no one can seem
to find it or know where it
is. Some of the city coun-
cil members did not even
know there was a feasibili-
ty study done at all. School
board members asked in
July for a record of the
County
Commissioner
meeting minutes where the
courthouse locations were
being discussed and they
are still waiting for those
minutes since those min-
utes are not on the website
and not easily accessed.
No one seems to want to
take the initiative and be
upfront with the ques-
tions and suggestions that
TIm and I have proposed
and have just seemingly
“passed the buck”. I would
like the commissioners to
halt all progress and go
back to the beginning and
open the proposed court
house sites to the public
for comment. This Is after
all a County Court House.
I know that we, as mem-
bers of Morrow County,
can come up with a better
solution that will not need-
lessly expose our children
to felons and traffic, nor
endanger the cancellation
of the century-old Morrow
County Rodeo.
This is where the
transparency needs to hap-
pen. NOW. Not after the
major decisions have been
made as to the location of
the courthouse in Heppner
and then the public is asked
what color to paint the
courthouse trim because
the commissioners want
to be “transparent”. Let’s
have real, honest, heartfelt
discussions and dialogue
open to the public and to-
gether come up with a bet-
ter solution than putting
our children in danger and
discontinuing a 101-year-
old rodeo that has been the
backbone of our fine com-
munity. Thank you for
your time.
Sincerely,
Jeannie Collins
Heppner, OR
A Criminal’s
Dream
Well, it looks like
New Mexico is out to be-
come the safest state in
the USA…. for criminals,
that is. Can you imagine?
Thanks to Governor Grish-
am, they now have a 30-day
reprieve from the threat of
their victims turning a gun
on them. Thirty days of no
concealed or open carry
for the law-abiding citi-
zens. Yep, no more good
guy with a gun…which
leaves lots of room for the
bad guy with a gun, but
that’s okay with the gover-
nor. She’s all about safety
and eliminating blood-
shed. I’m sure that will end
New Mexico’s gun vio-
lence, especially since all
those murderers, rapists,
and thieves will be lining
up at her door with their
weapons. They’ll probably
throw in their knives too.
Funny how you hear
about “gun violence” and
never hear about “knife
violence”, “baseball bat vi-
olence” or “boot violence”
or even “car violence”.
Know why? Because it’s a
narrative with a purpose...
and I believe those who
use it are more concerned
with eliminating your right
to protect yourself than the
violence they claim to ab-
hor. And honestly, if end-
ing violence was the mo-
tivating factor, they would
be concerned about all vio-
lence against all people....
including the unborn.
Why the big push
to eliminate the Second
Amendment? It doesn’t
take a rocket scientist to
know that defenseless peo-
ple are easy to control….
especially since COVID
Round One didn’t have
100% efficacy. Have we re-
ally not learned from histo-
ry? The result of a corrupt
government with power
over a defenseless people
can be seen throughout
world history, and it’s not
a pretty picture…just ask
the Native Americans and
the Jews.
But it seems to me that
most people just fall in line
with the current mantra of
their party. Instead of fol-
lowing their own common
sense, they follow their
peers.... repeating what-
ever it takes to fit in. The
need for acceptance is a
powerful motivating fac-
tor. It blinding and it’s dan-
gerous.
Truth is, you can
blame guns, racism, men-
tal health, bullying, or low
self-esteem...and then try
to fix it. Ban guns, ban ma-
cho white guys, build more
mental facilities, and be
sure to give students good
grades, safe places, and
hand out stuffies. You still
haven’t addressed the real
enemy.
Because the real ene-
my isn’t a tool or the ac-
cess to one. The real ene-
my is a heart that’s gone
bad.... that no longer cares
about doing what’s right,
but cares about satisfying
hatred, anger, and revenge.
It’s a heart that’s given
over to evil. There isn’t a
man-made law on earth
that can fix that.
The answer to vio-
lence isn’t a changed cir-
cumstance. It’s a changed
heart, one that knows there
is a just God that judges
and requires payment for
evil. It’s also a heart that
knows that there is forgive-
ness after repentance. True
belief and hope in Jesus is
more than a deterrent. It’s
the only fix that works.
“I will give you a new
heart and put a new spirit
in you; I will remove from
you your heart of stone and
give you a heart of flesh.”
Ezekiel 36:26
Susie Crosby
WWW.HEPPNER.NET
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Good News Only by Doris Brosnan
“At least five years,” Rick Drake says when asked for how many years hasn’t the
Methodist Church bell been sounded on Sundays. Rick remembers being allowed to
pull the rope to ring the bell many years ago, and he expects to be the person pulling
that rope again now that the decision to renew its function has been made. For years,
the Methodist, Episcopalian, First Christian, and Catholic churches all began their
Sunday services at 11 o’clock, and someone would ring the bell early enough to re-
mind listeners to put on their Sunday best and head for their churches of choice. “To-
day,” Rick explains, “the Episcopalians begin at 10, the Methodists begin at 10:30,
the Christian Church at 10:45, and the Catholics still begin at 11, so the bell will ring
at three minutes before 10.”
Every Pendleton Round-Up season brings Bob Fetsch and his wife, Pat, to that
city. An HHS alum, Bob’s family has been involved with the Round-Up for gener-
ations, and he and his sister, Marlene Currin, continue to support the week events.
While in Pendleton, Fetsches stay with Marlene and her husband, Tom Currin, both
also HHS alums who now live in Pendleton. The Fetsches call Great Falls, Montana,
and Yuma, AZ, home, six months at a time. Last Thursday, Diana Ball and Doris
Brosnan were fortunate to catch the Fetsches free and to catch up on their news over
lunch at the Great Pacific restaurant in Pendleton.
Many Ione residents join Betty Rietmann in her praise of Chris Cave for his
maintenance of succulent plantings in front of the Ione post office. “He has planted a
wide variety of succulents, many of which bloom all summer. This, plus large pump-
kin leaves vining around the building add a cheery note to Main Street. In winter, the
area has a Wild-West look with branding irons and other embellishments.”
Last Saturday evening on the grassy shore of the serene Columbia River in
Boardman, 250 guests gathered at 5:30 to witness Kyle Harrison and Makayla Brock’s
becoming man and wife. Kyle, son of Travis and Kirsten Harrison of Lexington, and
Makayla were applauded as they playfully returned down the aisle after the meaning-
ful ceremony officiated by Kyle’s uncle Trent Harrison and then the guests joined the
couple for an evening filled with a buffet dinner followed by traditional toasts, dances,
and cake-cutting. The patio of the Port of Morrow Center became filled with dancers
– including Kyle’s great grandparents Bob and Sharon Harrison – until the midnight
hour. Home for Mr. and Mrs. Kyle Harrison is Pendleton.
David and April Sykes celebrated their anniversary last week by traveling to
Ashland for the annual Shakespearean Festival, where they honeymooned forty-sev-
en years ago. While there, they saw three plays, Twelfth Night, The Three Muske-
teers, and Romeo and Juliet. While on their honeymoon there is 1976, the newlyweds
saw King Lear, Much Ado About Nothing, and Henry VI, Part II. They also spent
time enjoying the sights and sounds of Ashland by visiting Lithia Park, where they
had a drink of the famous Lithia Water, tried out some of the numerous great restau-
rants, and April did some browsing in the many small shops located in the downtown
area. After three days, they headed home and along the way stopped first at Crater
Lake for some sightseeing and then the Peter Skene Ogden Viewpoint, where bungee
jumpers were diving off the 300-foot Crooked River Bridge. Owners of the company
providing the jumps said the cost was $149 per jump, with subsequent dives only $49.
Neither David nor April found the urge to participate in that activity!
Last Thursday, Charlie and Marcia Anderson headed for the Walla Walla car
show in their 1969 AMX (produced by AMC), which, Marcia reports, moves right
along but does not have air conditioning…. As usual, their AMX was one of a kind in
this show that drew its largest number of vehicles ever – over 700. The Walla Walla
show is one of the latest in the season and one to which many Heppner area aficio-
nados travel. While in the area until Sunday, the Andersons enjoyed some touring,
wine-tasting, and shopping, and adding to their perfect weekend was their 50th anni-
versary-dinner at TMACS that their daughter, Claire, planned for them and friends.
Claire not only planned a delicious dinner but also arranged for two of Marcia’s dear-
est friends, Judy Gentry Towner and Marie VanMarter Land, to surprise her at dinner.
Many, many thanks to everyone who contributed stories this week. 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.
Parks committee plans lucheon meeting
A regularly scheduled
meeting for the Morrow
County Parks Committee
will be held Tuesday, Sept.
19, at the Morrow/Grant
County OHV Park
This meeting will pro-
vide an opportunity for
committee members and
attendees to have lunch at
The Landing located at the
OHV Park, which is op-
erated by Off-Road Trails
and Treats, with a tour of
the OHV Park facility and
trail system.
Lunch will be at
members’ and attendees’
expense with meal options
as follows: bacon cheese-
burger, club sandwich or
chicken strips with a side
for $14.95. Soda and juice
are extra.
The tour will be
held after lunch and there
is a limited number of ma-
chines for those who may
not have their own ma-
chine to ride. Committee
members will have priority
should there be more need
for machines than what is
available.
The public is wel-
comed and encouraged to
attend. “We would love to
hear your input about parks
and take a tour of one of
the facilities. If you have
an ATV, motorcycle or
side-by-side to bring along
and join in on the tour.”
Those who would
like to join are asked to
RSVP no later than Thurs-
day, September 14, by 12
p.m. and let them know if
you would like to join for
them for the lunch, the tour
or both. Those joining for
the tour are asked to let
them know if you do not
have a ATV, motorcycle or
side-by-side so that they
“can do our best to accom-
modate all those that wish
to attend and partake in the
tour.”
Applications for the
2024 Morrow County
Cultural Coalition grant
are now being accepted
through October 1. Proj-
ects supported in the past
have included quilting, art
displays, historical library
books, cultural entertain-
ment and events, kids’
activities in the parks and
schools and drama and
musical workshops.
For complete guide-
lines and application forms
contact Jaylene Papineau,
541-676-5630, or jpapin-
eau@co.morrow.or.us or
complete the online appli-
cation by visiting the Face-
book page, Morrow Coun-
ty Cultural Coalition.
Anyone interested in
making a donation to the
Oregon Cultural trust or
participating in the com-
mittee, may contact Andrea
Nelson, 541-720-4399, or
Papineau, 541-676-5630.
The local coalition is ac-
tively seeking volunteers
for the committee.
Cultural Coalition grants open