Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 13, 2023)
7:2+HSSQHU*D]HWWH7LPHV+HSSQHU2UHJRQWednesday, December 13, 2023 7KH2൶FLDO1HZVSDSHU of the City of Heppner and the County of Morrow Heppner *$=(77(7,0(6 U.S.P.S. 240-420 Morrow County’s Home-Owned Weekly Newspaper 6($5&+2/'&23,(62)7+(+(331(5*$=(77(7,0(621/,1( KWWSRUHJRQQHZVXRUHJRQHGX Published weekly by Sykes Publishing and entered as periodical matter at the Post 2൶FHDW+HSSQHU2UHJRQXQGHUWKH$FWRI0DUFK3HULRGLFDOSRVWDJHSDLG DW+HSSQHU2UHJRQ2൶FHDW10DLQ6W7HOHSKRQH )D[ 676-9211. E-mail: editor@rapidserve.net or sykeschris@hotmail.com Web site: www.heppner.net. Postmaster send address changes to the Heppner Gazette-Times, P.O. Box 337, Heppner, Oregon 97836. Subscriptions: In Morrow County $35/year. 2XWVLGH0RUURZ&RXQW\\HDU,Q&RXQW\6HQLRU5DWH \HDUVRUROGHU year. 9 month Student student subscriptions $35/year. Chris Sykes ...............................................................................................Publisher Annalynn Black ............................................................................................ Editor Cindi Doherty.........................................................................................Advertising All News and Advertising Deadline is Monday at 5 p.m. For Advertising: advertising deadline is Monday at 5 p.m. Cost for a display ad is $5.50 per FROXPQLQFK&RVWIRUFODVVL¿HGDGLVSHUZRUG&RVWIRU&DUGRI7KDQNVLVXSWR ZRUGV&RVWIRUDFODVVL¿HGGLVSOD\DGLVSHUFROXPQLQFK For Public/Legal Notices: public/legal notices deadline is Monday at 5 p.m. Dates for publi- FDWLRQPXVWEHVSHFL¿HG$I¿GDYLWVPXVWEHUHTXHVWHGDWWKHWLPHRIVXEPLVVLRQ$I¿GDYLWV UHTXLUHWKUHHZHHNVWRSURFHVVDIWHUODVWGDWHRISXEOLFDWLRQ DVRRQHUUHWXUQGDWHPXVWEH VSHFL¿HGLIUHTXLUHG )RU2ELWXDULHV2ELWXDULHVDUHSXEOLVKHGLQWKH+HSSQHU*7DWQRFKDUJHDQGDUHHGLWHGWR meet news guidelines. Families wishing to include information not included in the guidelines or who wish to have the obituary written in a certain way must purchase advertising space for the obituary. )RU/HWWHUVWRWKH(GLWRU/HWWHUVWRWKH(GLWRU0867EHVLJQHGE\WKHDXWKRU7KH+HSSQHU *7ZLOOQRWSXEOLVKXQVLJQHGOHWWHUV$OOOHWWHUV0867LQFOXGHWKHDXWKRU¶VDGGUHVVDQGSKRQH QXPEHUIRUXVHE\WKH*7RI¿FH7KH*7UHVHUYHVWKHULJKWWRHGLWOHWWHUV7KH*7LVQRW UHVSRQVLEOHIRUDFFXUDF\RIVWDWHPHQWVPDGHLQOHWWHUV$Q\OHWWHUVH[SUHVVLQJWKDQNVZLOOEH SODFHGLQWKHFODVVL¿HGVXQGHU³&DUGRI7KDQNV´DWDFRVWRI Spiritually Speaking Father Thankachan Joseph St. Mary’s Catholic Church Wasco 5(-2,&($/:$<6 35$<81&($6,1*/< /DVW6XQGD\ZHKHDUGDQGUHÀHFWHGRQWKHLQYLWDWLRQ of John the Baptist calling everyone to prepare the way for the Messiah and to repent and produce the fruits of our conversion. Usually, the third Sunday of Advent is known as the Gaudete Sunday. In Latin, Gaudete would mean “Rejoice” because our salvation is very close at hand. In every Eucharistic celebration we will encounter the same empathetic Christ. Let us not be afraid to show Him the various handicaps, disabilities, and wounds WKDW ZH VX൵HU 0D\ WKH %DEH RI %HWKOHKHP KHDO WKHVH disabilities from all. 7KH¿UVWUHDGLQJIURP3URSKHW,VDLDK D FRQWDLQVWKHWKULOOLQJPHVVDJHRIKRSHIRUDOOWKRVH who may be feeling down. Isaiah says, ‘Cheer up! Do not be afraid. God himself is coming to save you.” The prophet tries to bring back the hope and expectations of the people of Israel. The words of the prophet that give courage and assurance are these: “He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the pris- oners, to announce a year of favour from the Lord and DGD\RIYLQGLFDWLRQE\RXU*RG´ Y 7KLVJLYHVWKHP assurance of divine intervention on behalf of those who ZHUHVX൵HULQJIURPYDULRXVVRFLDOLQMXVWLFHVUHMHFWLRQ separation from society, and also from all sorts of physical disabilities and deformities.The second reading, from the )LUVWOHWWHURI3DXOWRWKH7KHVVDORQLDQV VHWVWKH tone of the week: “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing.” Actually this is what we are expected to do as we wait for the coming of the Lord. Paul urges the community to rejoice and admonishes them to pray without ceasing, give thanks to God in all circumstances, retain what is good, refrain from every kind of evil thing. In this way, we become models for everyone who is eagerly waiting to see the Lord. -RKQ¶V *RVSHO IRU WKH WKLUG 6XQGD\ describes the character and personality of the herald of &KULVW-RKQWKH%DSWLVW/DVWZHHNZHUHÀHFWHGRQKLV call to conversion as an essential step to encountering the Messiah. This week, John the Baptist stands for us as a facilitator who sets the pace. John worked hard and always knew what his job was. It was to prepare the way for someone else, someone greater than he. That someone was Christ. When Christ appeared, John slipped into the shadows. John believed he had been called by God to do something great – to prepare the way for the coming of the long-awaited Messiah. He knew exactly what his role was. He was only the messenger who announced the .LQJ%XWKHZDVKDSS\WRIXO¿OWKLVUROHDQGIXO¿OLWKH did to the very best of his ability. He lived for it, seeking QRWKLQJIRUKLPVHOI±QHLWKHUDQHDV\OLIHWKHÀDWWHU\RI the people, nor the Favor of the powers that were. This week we read and mediate on the role of John the Baptist whose role is over once he presents Christ to the world. He is not prideful; he humbles himself and moves out of the picture. He invites every one of us as we get ready to receive Baby Jesus to our personal lives to make our hearts clean, cut down the mountains of jealousy, envy, hatred, and separation we have created to avoid our brothers and sisters of the community. Pre- pare the Way was the theme of last week; each one of us needs to use the privileges of Reconciliation, Eucharist, and reading of the Holy Scriptures as means to make a highway to welcome Christ into our personal mangers that we are preparing to receive Baby Jesus. Like John who heralded the Messiah, we are all called to witness Christ to the present world in which we live through our lives of humility and simplicity as John showed to the people of his time. This Sunday, John the Baptist invites us to take life seriously - as a preparation for this season of Advent. And Paul tells us to not take seriously the disappointments of life. Instead, to “rejoice always.” And maybe even join those happy souls who wake up and say, “Maranatha, Come O Lord Jesus do not delay!” Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I say it, rejoice! WWW.HEPPNER.NET Sɲɟɪɦɱ1ɢɴɰ$ɡɳɢɯɱɦɰɦɫɤ $ɫɫɬɲɫɠɢɪɢɫɱɰ /ɢɱɱɢɯɰ7ɬ7ɥɢ(ɡɦɱɬɯ 6ɢɫɡ8ɰ3ɥɬɱɬɰ 6ɱɞɯɱ$1ɢɴ6ɲɟɰɠɯɦɭɱɦɬɫ The Great Conspiracy BOC meeting -Continued from PAGE ONE R൵HU D UHZDUG IRU D total of $1,000, for infor- mation leading to arrest and conviction, should it turn out to be a criminal act. “I do feel for this guy,” responded Morrow County Commissioner Jeff Wen- holz, but added that he would hesitate because of the lack of evidence that it was a crime. “How do we determine whose vehicle is worthy of a $500 reward if it catches RQ¿UH"´:HQKRO]DVNHG “I think the pressure came from the call that there wasn’t enough of an investigation done,” replied Drago. Sykes, meanwhile, said he also was concerned about the precedent it would set. He said he would prefer to get an update from MCSO and wait to see if Umatilla County moves forward with a reward. “Do we start fielding other requests from peo- SOH"´ 6\NHV DVNHG ³,¶P still wrestling with the fact that if you do it here, how do you apply that to other WKLQJVWKDWKDSSHQ"´ The board of commis- sioners also heard an update on the agricultural mitiga- tion plan being formed by Pine Gate Renewables as part of its site application for its proposed 400-acre Sunstone Solar project near Hwy. 207. Much of the proposed land is currently in dry land wheat production. Pine Gate included an eco- nomic analysis in its pre- liminary application to the Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council for a state VLWHFHUWL¿FDWH The company also held a work session with the county board of commis- sioners regarding possi- ble mitigation projects. The mitigation plan will, in part, help demonstrate compliance with Statewide Planning Goal 3 exception standards. Goal 3 protects farm- land for continued produc- tion and places restrictions on development unrelated to agriculture. Pine Gate representa- tive Logan Stephens said the company is holding fol- low-up meetings with three main stakeholder groups, including Morrow County Grain Growers and Morrow Soil and Water Conserva- WLRQ 'LVWULFW WR GH¿QH WKH VFRSHFRVWDQGEHQH¿WVRI preferred projects. Stephens said his “ask” at the commissioners’ meet- LQJZDVWKDWFRXQW\VWD൵EH allowed to continue to work with Pine Gate to craft an agricultural mitigation plan WKDW WKH FRPSDQ\ FDQ ¿OH with the Oregon Dept. of Energy as part of its appli- cation. Included with that would be a mitigation fund that would receive and dis- tribute the mitigation funds. Sykes referred to a let- ter the board received from Morrow County Extension Agent Larry Lutcher and asked if Pine Gate would take more requests for the mitigation projects. “Is that possible, or do you want to say, ‘No more,’” Sykes asked. Stephens replied that the company is trying to move forward with the preferred projects on the OLVWZKLOHPDLQWDLQLQJÀH[- ibility. “We’re trying to walk that line where we pro- vide enough detail and math behind the programs, we’re proposing so the state can make a determination on whether it adequately mitigates the impacts, but also preserve that ability to consider other things in the future,” Stephens said. Pine Gate Senior Man- ager of Stakeholder Rela- tions Nikki Olofson added that, when it comes to sup- porting county organiza- tions, the ag mitigation plan is a separate program WRR൵VHWWKHGLUHFWLPSDFWV of the project. “We do also have a separate project budget for local community organiza- tions,” Olofson said, adding that the company has al- ready supported the county 4-H program this year. “I think we’re pretty well rounded in being able to support…some other organizations locally in the community,” she said. “The ag mitigation, I think of it as a bigger plan to directly KHOSR൵VHWVRPHRIWKRVHGL- rect impacts to the farming community.” Olofson also said Pine Gate is developing a new program for grants. “So, it kind of depends what the ask is,” she said. “I’m not saying we have a fountain of money, but we do want to support the youth in the area. We want to make sure we’re a com- munity partner and a good neighbor.” The board of commis- sioners agreed by consen- sus to have county staff continue to work with Pine Gate on the mitigation plan. In other business, the board of commissioners: -Approved the pur- chase of a 2023 CAT 150 Grader for the road de- partment. The CAT will replace the county’s 2009 CAT 140M. The value of the grader is $438,868.62, minus trade-in value of $92,000, and is included in the current budget. -Adopted a comment letter on the Wheatridge Renewable Energy Facility East Request for Amend- ment 1. The amendment will enlarge Wheatridge’s project area in Morrow County. -Appointed Brian Evo- la as the Finley Buttes rep- resentative on the Solid Waste Advisory Committee for a term expiring Nov. 15, 2026. -Appointed Brian Thompson to replace Paul Hisler as a livestock grow- er representative on the Wolf Depredation Adviso- ry Committee. Sykes also mentioned that he planned to attend a wolf livestock depredation investigation training on Jan. 23 in Pend- leton. -Awarded a year-long contract for snow and ice removal services to Corey Miller Farming. Pointer said the contract is a back- up plan in case the county road department gets over- whelmed by a snow and ice event. “It’ll be just in the event there’s a snowstorm and all our resources are be- ing used,” she said, adding that it would come into play mostly if emergency ser- vices needed to get through. 021'$<6$730 7KHSDJHVRIKXPDQKLVWRU\DUH¿OOHGZLWKFRQVSLUD- FLHV7KHWHUPFRQVSLUDF\LVGH¿QHGDV³DVHFUHWSODQE\ a group to do something unlawful or harmful.” An early example is one that unfolded in 63 BC in the city of Rome. A senator by the name of Catiline sought to mount an uprising against The Republic. He recruited a rebel army and planned to attack the city, murder its nobles, and claim power for himself. The problem was that his suspicious political opponents caught wind of his conspir- DF\:KDWEHFDPHRI&DWLOLQH¶VSODQ",WZDVIRXQGRXW that his army was routed, and he and many of his fellow conspirators were killed. Now, we could travel throughout all of antiquity and explore many more examples, but for the sake of time, I’d rather just skip to the greatest of them all. Are you IDPLOLDU ZLWK WKH PRVW YLFLRXV FRQVSLUDF\ RI DOO WLPH" $QGGR\RXNQRZKRZLWHQGHG"8QOHVV\RXDUHZHOO acquainted with the pages of Scripture, then you are not well acquainted with the pages of history. Shortly after God created the heavens, the earth, and all that is in them; he declared all His work, “very good” *HQ %XWVRRQDIWHUWKLVGHFODUDWLRQWKHYLOHVWRI all conspirators entered the scene and turned that which was, “very good,” into that which is very miserable. The prophet Ezekiel records God’s historical account of that incident. God speaks of an exalted angel, “[the] anointed cherub [angel] … You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created until unrighteousness ZDVIRXQGLQ\RX´ (] *RGVD\VRIWKDWDQ- JHO 6DWDQ ³<RXUKHDUWZDVORIW\´ Y 7KHSURSKHW Isaiah expands this, “But you [Satan] said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God … I will make myself like the Most High” ,V The greatest conspiracy of all time was that of Sa- tan’s attack upon God’s rule. Satan recruited an army to march unlawfully into God’s domain and take the throne IRUKLPVHOI'LGWKHFRQVSLUDF\VXFFHHG"-HVXVUHFRUGV an eye-witness account, “I was watching Satan fall from KHDYHQOLNHOLJKWQLQJ´ /N 6DWDQ¶VSODQVZHUH foiled. He and his army of angels were cast out of heav- en. But unfortunately, the conspiracy did not die. Matter of fact, it grew. Satan simply expanded his recruitment SURJUDP WR LQFOXGH WKH KXPDQ UDFH WR ZKLFK WKH ¿UVW couple he convinces to join his mutinous military force was Adam and Eve. This conspiracy is the greatest, most unlawful, and most harmful conspiracy of all time. It is the conspiracy that gives fuel to every other conspiracy that can be found on the timeline of human history. It LVWKDWZKLFKKDVEURXJKWDOOWKHVX൵HULQJPLVHU\DQG death into the world. %XWZKDWZLOOEHLWVHQG"7KDWUHDOO\LVWKHTXHVWLRQ that is most important when discussing conspiracies, is it QRW":LOOWKHXQODZIXOSODQVXFFHHG":LOO6DWDQUHFUXLW HQRXJKRIDQDUP\WRWDNH*RG¶VWKURQH":LOOWKLQJVMXVW JHWZRUVHDQGZRUVH" We do not have to travel far in God’s word for the answer. At the very moment in time when Satan recruits KLV¿UVWWUDLQHHVDQGVLQHQWHUVWKHZRUOG*RGGH¿QLWLYHO\ declares what will come of his conspiracy. Yahweh says to Satan, “And I will put enmity between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall EUXLVHKLPRQWKHKHHO´ *HQ 7UDQVODWLRQ³7KHUHLV one coming that will crush you. Out of the very populace you seek to recruit from, will come one mightier than you. <RXUGHIHDWLVGH¿QLWH´ That promise made by God in Gen. 3:15 has been IXO¿OOHG7ZRWKRXVDQG\HDUVDJRWKDW³VHHG´FDPHLQ the person of Jesus Christ. He was birthed through the power of the Holy Spirit through a young virgin mother named Mary. Being both truly God and truly man, He went on to crush Satan’s conspiracy through His vicarious death on the cross. He rose on the third day, defeating sin, death, and Satan. He has ascended to the righthand throne of God and holds all authority in heaven and earth. He is currently putting all His enemies under His feet and will continue to do so until every conspiracy is routed. +HUH WKHQ LV WKH TXHVWLRQ ³'R \RX EHOLHYH WKDW"´ 2UGR\RXFKDONLWXSDVDFRQVSLUDF\WKHRU\"6HQDWRU Catiline gives mankind a shining example of what will come to all those who do not repent of their rebellious and lawless living. To those who choose to follow in the footsteps of Satan, and war against God, will one day ¿QGWKHPVHOYHVXQGHUWKHIHHWRIWKH.LQJRINLQJV-HVXV &KULVW7XUQIURPVLQDQGWUXVWLQWKH¿QLVKHGZRUNRI Christ. Scripture is clear, the greatest of all conspiracies has failed. The outcome is sealed. Do not be deceived into thinking that your lesser rebellion has any chance of success. Pastor Eric Schonbachler Lexington Reformed Baptist Church www.lexrefbc.org 3ULQW 0DLOLQJ6HUYLFHV *Design *Print Sykes Publishing *Mail 541-676-9228 0RUURZ&RXQW\&RPSHQVDWLRQ%RDUG Morrow County has three vacancies to start on January 1, 2024 %RDUG·V3XUSRVH The Compensation Board annually reviews the compensation RI&RXQW\(OHFWHG2൶FLDOVDQGE\PDMRULW\YRWHUHFRPPHQGV a compensation schedule to the Board of Commissioners. The Board shall consist of members who are knowledgeable in personnel and compensation management. Members are appointed to four-year terms. If you are interested in serving, please visit https://www. co.morrow.or.us/bc-cb and send application to HR at lgrogan@co.morrow.or.us
