+HSSQHU*D]HWWH7LPHV+HSSQHU2UHJRQ Wednesday, February 14, 2024 7+5((
~ Letters to the Editor ~
Spiritually Speaking
Father Thankachan Joseph
The Heppner Gazette Times will print all letters to the Editor with the
following criteria met: letters submitted to the newspaper will need to
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requesting that you provide your address and a phone number where you
can be reached. The address and phone number will only be used for
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be libelous. The GT reserves the right to edit. The GT is not responsible the theme of how we can be victorious in the struggle
for accuracy of statements made in letters. Any letters expressing thanks
against evil. In the Gospel we see Christ in the desert
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struggling with the tempter. Through prayer, fasting,
Email to editor@rapidserve.net or upload to Heppner.net.
/(17$7,0(725(3(17
& RETURN TO GOD
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Memories are funny
things. Sometimes, they
show up when you’d rather
they take a hike. Embarrass-
ing moments and hurtful
words seem to always be
readily available for recall.
But when you’ve assured
yourself that you’ll remem-
ber turning on the hose to
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your memory takes an un-
timely vacation….until you
look out the window and
wonder why there’s a pond
in your pasture. Oh yeah….
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ries can be cruel.
My dad had an incred-
ible memory. There wasn’t
much he couldn’t remem-
ber. From reciting his lines
from a college play back in
1943, to the name of your
2 nd cousin twice removed.
He was a Jeopardy Extraor-
dinaire….even well into his
eighties.
I’d love to have that
kind of memory. Unfortu-
nately, this apple not only
fell far from the tree, it
rolled down hill and into
another county. I probably
have the current record
for the number of times a
burrito has been reheated in
the microwave….and found
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no wonder I’m so hungry.
Although we are all
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of memory proficiency,
there’s a line that even us
Bad Memory folks never
want to cross. In all seri-
ousness, it’s heartbreaking
when Grandma or Grand-
pa’s memory starts declin-
ing to the point that they
can’t remember family.
My heart goes out to those
folks. Age takes its toll and
it’s not easy to watch.
Unfortunately, lately
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has crossed the line from
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All of us need to face temptations in our day-to-day life.
Lent provides us with a great opportunity to intensify our
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to give up for Lent?” Some will answer, “I will give up
smoking,” or “I will give up alcoholic drinks,” or “I will
give up watching the movies and TV.” Others may say,
“I will go for daily Mass,” or “I will read one chapter of
the Gospels every day.” But for you who neither smoke
nor drink nor watch movies and TV, for you who go for
daily Mass and read Gospels every day, for you, what is
there to give up? The real question of lent is not so much,
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to become as a result of lent?”
Lent is a time to investigate oneself and to realize that
if we have walked away from Him, we need to return to
Him, with a sense of repentance and with a heavy heart
for all our sinfulness. Sin is the breaking of relationships
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us to conversion and waits for us to return to Him like
the father in the parable of the prodigal son. Or he runs
after us like the hound of heaven in the poem of Francis
Thompson. Lent invites each of us to make a self-exam-
ination and evaluate how we have walked away from God.
D 5HIXVDOWRKHOSWKRVHLQQHHG This beautiful time
of lent is a time to acknowledge moments we have not
even reached out, even to our family members, when
we are needed most in their lives. The Lord has placed
before us opportunities to do corporal works of mercy.
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and pretend to live a happy and contented life. The story
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41-46; Lk. 16: 19f.
E :DVWH RI 7DOHQWV The season of lent invites
everyone to see the numerous blessings we have wasted
in our lives, to identify our talents. The Lord has blessed
everyone according to his or her talents. Instead of thank-
ing and being grateful to God for the numerous blessings
we receive each day, like the man who got one talent, we
look at someone else’s gifts and blessings and waste our
lives, we forget to live our lives to the fullest. The one
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F 8QZLOOLQJQHVVWR)RUJLYH: The Lord asks each one
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the case of the one who received forgiveness from the
king but was not able to grant pardon to the man who
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with my shortcomings and frailties, why can’t I forgive?
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pharisaic behavior in our lives, treating others as did
the pharisees, pinpointing mistakes of someone else and
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of the tax collector and the publican. Lent is a time for
all of us to acquire the habit of humility, not condemning
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Refusal to accept: Jesus explains this through the
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returns home, the father is ready to forgive him, rejoice,
and makes a feast. Many are like the older son, waiting for
opportunities to ditch others and keep on pecking on their
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of lent to examine ourselves. God does not keep track
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Carmelita Morrison, Educa- contrition are more important than whispering sins to
tion, Elementary Education WKHSULHVW 5HDGLQHVVIRUDSHUVRQDOWUDQVIRUPDWLRQLVD
Lesliy Rivera, Arts, Hu- QHFHVVDU\FRQGLWLRQ =DFFKDHXV/N
manities & Soc Science,
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st
LilyAnn Rock-
Grief share is a net- support group that dis-
well, Business, Busi-
n e s s A d m i n i s t r a t i o n work of 15,000+ church- cusses the weekly video
F r o m H e p p n e r, Tr e v - es worldwide equipped content. And a workbook
or Nichols, STM and WR R൵HU JULHI DQG VXSSRUW for journaling and personal
Health Science, Biology groups, the program is a study exercises that rein-
From Lexington, Paul Lind- non-denominational and force the weekly session
say, STM and Health Sci- features biblical concepts topics. If interested the
ence, General Studies-Ex- for healing from your grief. ¿UVWPHHWLQJRIWKLUWHHQLV
Grief share is a support :HGQHVGD\)HEUXDU\ st ,
ploratory
group that meets weekly. 2024, 2-3pm at St Patrick’s
Three key parts to your Bldg. Parlor 190 N Main
grief share experience, a St, Heppner, OR. For more
video seminar with encour- information contact Jerry
aging, information-packed Conklin, PMH Chaplain
videos featuring leading
crises the State of Oregon grief recovery experts. A
is facing.
normal forgetfulness to
a state of dementia. And
although his supporters
have failed to admit it,
the worsening decline has
been obvious since he’s
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see it. They see our lack
of intelligent leadership.
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laughingstock to the rest of
the world and a prime target
for some sinister schemes.
Although it’s left lots of
material for those one-lin-
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serious subject due to the
catastrophic consequences
we all are facing because
of it. The fact that there are
those who would consider
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is a major jaw-drop mo-
ment. Insanity at its worst.
Even more insane….a
man that could and should
face trial for illegal behav-
ior has been declared too
feeble-minded to endure
the process. Seriously?
Somebody please explain
to me how a man that is
not mentally capable of
standing trial can remain in
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our country? Not that I can
think of one single thing
this president has done to
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ing that he can’t remember
when he was Vice President
is downright scary. Does
anyone else feel a little
vulnerable here? One good
thing…. maybe we’ll get
lucky and he won’t remem-
ber the nuclear code.
“Moreover, look for
able men from all the peo-
ple, men who fear God, who
are trustworthy and hate a
bribe, and place such men
over the people as chiefs of
thousands, of hundreds, of
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18:21
By Susie Crosby from
Prineville, OR.
EOU 2023 Fall Term
'HDQ¶V/LVW
Eastern Oregon Uni-
versity named 591 students
to the dean’s list for the
2023 fall term. Qualifying
students achieve and main-
tain a grade point average of
3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale
while completing a mini-
mum of 12 hours of graded
coursework for the term.
The following are students
from Morrow County.
From Boardman, Ariel
Lissman, Education, Ear-
ly Childhood Education
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pep-band members were a stellar feature at the basketball
game with Irrigon: Outstanding music and a fantastic
chanting section! How could it get any more impressive?!
Last week, for the senior-night basketball game with
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shaking as the elementary-school band members added
their instruments and their loud cheers to the stands up-
stairs! Fantastic talent and energy! These musicians and
instructor Brooke Baker are Good News for the music
programs at our schools.
Maybe indicative of Ione’s tight-knit community was
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The Good News is that nearly all of those victims are now
testing negative and able to reengage in the social fabric of
their community! They and other Ione citizens have just
received an online update from the high-school building
committee that indicates that the plan is on track, all is
well. Those committee members understand the need for
communication with their public.
Terry and Karen Thompson recently returned from
a two-week stay on Kona. The weather was perfect for
them as they relaxed and enjoyed their sightseeing, the
highlight of which was South Point, the southernmost
point in the USA. Two weeks later, Thompsons returned
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VNL൵RIVQRZODVW6DWXUGD\ ³DOZD\VIHHOVJRRGWRJHW
home,” Karen reports, “And we were happy we missed
the earthquake that happened right after we left!” Good
News, indeed!
Returning last Sunday early enough to catch the Su-
per Bowl on TV while she rested from her three-day trip
north and east: Diana Ball travelled to the TriCities on
Friday AM, running an errand, and then meeting up with
grandson Jake for continued travel to Spokane. There they
joined Jake’s parents, Duane, and Stephanie Ball, enjoyed
dinner together and with the star of the weekend’s visit,
Jake’s sister, Alison. On Saturday, all eyes were on Alison
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track meet held in their “Podium” facility. Time then
remained for a little shopping and dinner. On Sunday, as
Diana started home, she stopped at a Richland store and
was pleasantly surprised to encounter Tresslyn McCurry,
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the store. A nice surprise, a thoroughly pleasant time with
family, certainly Good News for Diana.
The City Maintenance Crew were quick to brush
away the gravel that had been put on the street corners
and inclined streets for safety during the more hazardous
weather! Kudos again for your care of our community.
The removal is good news for windshields!
“It’s a blessing, really,” says District Attorney Justin
Nelson when asked about his new assistant. Justin was
fortunate to have an assistant for ten years before that per-
son left and Justin had to face the challenge of replacing
him for our rural setting. The wait has not been as long as
feared, however, and Justin now has Greg Goebel in the
position. Greg comes from Grant County most recently
and brings several years of experience in a variety of law
practice.
Some young couples might want to mark April 6 on
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couples: An evening out, at the St. Patrick Parish Hall,
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information will become available.
Remember: just a few minutes can inform and en-
tertain in a positive setting! A note to dbrosnan123@
gmail.com or a call to 541-223-1490 can make a positive
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Here’s hoping that good news comes to everyone
reading this!
WWW.HEPPNER.NET
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First grief share meeting
)HE
Smith to hold session
)HE th
Boardman, Ore. – On Sat-
urday, February 17 th at
the Port of Morrow›s
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Marine Drive Boardman,
2UHJRQ Represen-
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90-minute listening ses-
sion on Measure 110, start-
ing at 10:00. Last week,
Rep. Smith was appoint-
ed to serve on the Joint
Committee on Addiction
and Community Safety Re-
sponse. This committee will
have the task of reviewing
Measure 110 and propos-
ing solutions to the public
safety and behavioral health
Good News Only by Doris Brosnan
“I want to hear from
my constituents regarding
their thoughts on Measure
110 and how the legisla-
ture should go about solv-
ing the public safety and
behavioral health crises the
State of Oregon is facing,”
said Representative Smith,
“this meeting in not for
me to deliver a speech or
lecture, but rather to listen
and ask questions to con-
stituents, law enforcement
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