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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 21, 2024)
+HSSQHU*D]HWWH7LPHV+HSSQHU2UHJRQ Wednesday, February 21, 2024 7+5(( ~ Letters to the Editor ~ The Heppner Gazette Times will print all letters to the Editor with the following criteria met: letters submitted to the newspaper will need to KDYHWKHQDPHRIWKHVHQGHUDORQJZLWKDOHJLEOHVLJQDWXUH:HDUHDOVR 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 YHUL¿FDWLRQDQGZLOOQRWEHSULQWHGLQWKHQHZVSDSHU/HWWHUVPD\QRW be libelous. The GT reserves the right to edit. The GT is not responsible for accuracy of statements made in letters. Any letters expressing thanks ZLOOEHSODFHGLQWKHFODVVL¿HGVXQGHU³&DUGRI7KDQNV´DWDFRVWRI Email to editor@rapidserve.net or upload to Heppner.net. Keeping the streets clean True confession: I goofed again recently when I failed to make sure I had “Dogi Pot” bags in my pocket when dogs and I went for our walk! (Tissues for my nose just don’t work well.) This episode led me to think ahead, and in a way, our having three+ weeks to prepare for the St. Patrick’s Day Celebration in Hep- pner is “Good News.” For various reasons, SUHVHQWLQJRXU¿QHVWPRVW welcoming “face” to visi- tors during that celebration will be important to many of us, and we can, with a OLWWOHELWRIH൵RUWHQKDQFH the impression we will make: Only a few steps to a garbage can will get out of sight the debris we might be tempted to just toss instead. (And we can even pick up and dispose of someone else’s debris, following Dale Adlard’s example?) And instead of leaving our dogs’ messes when we’re on the sidewalks and other public and private proper- ties, just a few seconds can get those messes into bags and tossed into containers. (Right now, many side- walks require some careful footwork to miss messes; and I doubt that more rain or snow can eliminate those EHIRUH$:HH%LW2¶,UHODQG Maybe some conscientious persons will remove them?) :HKDYH3XEOLF:RUNV employees who work at keeping our “home” look- ing good, but that does not eliminate our responsibility to clean up after ourselves. :KHQ RXU YLVLWRUV DQG ZH are out and about – for instance: picnicking in our parks (weather permitting), just strolling Main Street, going to our museums, on the 5K walk, on the Memo- U\:DONJRLQJWRWKHKLVWRU- ic courthouse, touring the “talking rocks,” following the walkabout with the side- walk shamrocks, playing on the outdoor courts, etc. – doing so in Heppner’s lit- ter-free environment could be a pleasant experience for all of us and our visitors. “Common courtesy” is what a friend recently called doing little but im- portant things because we know they are the right thing to do. (Yes, I have been re- miss in my dog-owner re- sponsibility a few times but am determined to always be well-supplied with doggie bags when we go for our walks!) Doris Brosnan from Heppner THE POEM I recently posted one of my poems on social media. Oh, my goodness…. a number 10 sized can of worms opened up. I’m an intoler- ant bigoted white suprem- acist ignorant hater…and a bad poet too (that one kinda hurt). I don’t know why I didn’t see that coming. Am I devastated? Nope. But I am scratching my head trying over the re- sponse. This poem was called “Better Days”. It was a reminiscent look at the good ol’ days I grew up in…sort of an “I Miss Mayberry” Theme. But one would think I was mourning the loss of Attila the Hun. I guess you had to be there. Maybe we have a genera- tion that doesn’t know what “normal” is. They figure America was a disaster…. until they arrived on scene. Probably a result of the new history class rhetoric. Now they’re here to set us all straight with a whole new moral code. Love is tolerance, skin color is key, criminals are victims, LGBTQ are heroes, Chris- tians (and Trump lovers) are evil, there is no such thing as evil, God, or truth…and that’s the truth. This new morality is a badge of honor you are to display proudly while demanding others sa- OXWH\RX:HOOKHUH¶VZKDW I have to say about that…. 1) Love does not equal tolerance. It points out de- structive behavior. It’s not loving to watch someone head over a cliff and not warn them. 2) Our skin col- or doesn’t make us special. God does…we’re special because He loves us and made us unique. Stop di- viding people by things that don’t matter. 3) Criminals create victims. Excusing the crimes they commit doesn’t help anyone, in- cluding them. Punishment works better. 4) Demand- ing I celebrate your sexual behavior is ridiculous… especially when God calls it sin. Stop bullying people. 5) Christians are human… sinners just like you. The difference between them and you is repentance. Jesus saves…. when you ask. 6) I fear we will all see the reality of evil, the power of God, and the real truth very soon. :HDUHSOD\LQJLQWR6DWDQ¶V hands. The new batch or moral laws are only causing his agenda to prosper. To be fair, it’s not just the younger generation that’s the prob- lem. After all, it’s what the older generation is teaching WKHP:H¶UHDOOUHVSRQVLEOH for letting this stuff seep in. Is there hope for this generation? For America? If you study the Bible, you know what’s coming and you’re watching prophecy unfold. Though I’m tempt- ed to hole up somewhere on a mountain and watch it all happen…that’s not what God has called Christians to do. No matter what…we are to stand for righteous- QHVV:DWFKSUD\DQGWHOO people about Jesus…even when they bash our poems and leave us inappropriate laughing emojis. “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, un- forgiving, slanderous, with- out self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treach- erous, rash, conceited, lov- ers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but deny- ing its power. Have nothing to do with such people.” 2 Timothy 3:1-5 By Susie Crosby from Prineville Print & Mailing Services *Design *Print Sykes Publishing *Mail 541-676-9228 Spiritually Speaking MCHD Press Release Father Thankachan Joseph -Continued from PAGE ONE out in Boardman, the ambu- LISTEN & BE TRANSFORMED The season of lent is an invitation for all of us to move from our old nature to a new way of living – to have that wonderful experience like the disciples. This Sunday’s scripture readings take us to the mountains to have com- munion with the Father. Abraham, the father of faith, is tested on Mount Moriah and proves his unconditional love IRUKLVKHDYHQO\IDWKHU6LPLODUO\LQWKHWUDQV¿JXUDWLRQ scene on Mount Tabor, the Heavenly Father reveals the Son Jesus as His beloved. In Genesis (22: 1-2. 9-18, 26), Abraham was tested and remained faithful to God. Abraham was willing to observe God’s plan in his life, even when God asked for VRPHWKLQJYHU\GHDUWRKLPKLVRQO\VRQWREHVDFUL¿FHG RQ0RXQW0RULDK*RG¶VWHOOLQJ$EUDKDPWRR൵HUKLVRQO\ VRQSUH¿JXUHVKRZ*RGZRXOGODWHUR൵HU+LVRZQVRQ for our salvation. Abraham was ready and willing to give everything for God, even his only son. Is it true with you and me? Are we willing to give up anything for the Lord? 7KHVDFUL¿FHRI$EUDKDPWHDFKHVXVWKDWKHZDVDWWHQWLYH to the word of God and obeyed God’s command and that KHWUXVWHG*RG7KHUHLVQRSODFHIRUVHO¿VKQHVVLQRQH¶V life with God. This must help us to pause and to ask God: “Please Lord, what must I do to make You happy?” The DQVZHULVVLPSOH:HPXVWEHUHDG\WROLVWHQWR*RGDQG to do what He asks us to do, as Abraham did. Our second reading is very encouraging because it is full of hope, especially during this season of Lent. 3DXOLQKLVOHWWHUWRWKH5RPDQ R൵HUVXVWKUHH DVVXUDQFHV:KHQ*RGLVZLWKXVZKRFDQEHDJDLQVWXV when God is on our side there is no opposition; there is no condemnation and no separation.” Through the second reading, Paul urges us to die to our sins through our Lenten REVHUYDQFHVDQGSUDFWLFHVRIPRUWL¿FDWLRQDOPVJLYLQJ prayer, fasting, etc. The Gospel for this second Sunday of Lent is one RIWKHDFFRXQWVRIWKH7UDQV¿JXUDWLRQRIWKH/RUG 0N 7KH WUDQV¿JXUDWLRQ VFHQH EHJLQV ZLWK -HVXV climbing the mountain with Peter, James, and John, and He is being transformed in front of them: His clothes become white and His face radiant. Christ is revealed WKURXJK+LVWUDQV¿JXUDWLRQDVWKH6RQRI*RG7KHRQO\ thing that God demands from us is to “Listen to him!” If we listen to Christ, we shall be successful in our journey with Him this season. For us Oregonians it is very easy to imagine the WUDQV¿JXUDWLRQVFHQHRIWKH/RUGDIWHUHDFKKHDY\VQRZ- fall. The recent snow \falls of January and February EURXJKWWRP\PLQGWKHVFHQHRIWUDQV¿JXUDWLRQ-HVXV with his three apostles who had the wonderful experi- ence on Mount Tabor. It is surely good for us to have this mountain experience, to draw close to one another and to Christ. Once we spend that time in communion with the Heavenly Father, when we listen to Christ and experience Him there up on the mountain, it will be like that of Peter, who forgets himself and thinks of others only. Though Peter tells the Lord it is nice to be there up on the mountain, Christ brings them down the mountain to live a life of heavenly call, like Abraham. 2QFH ZKHQ ZH OLVWHQ WR +LP WKH 7UDQV¿JXUDWLRQ should give us inspiration and hope. In our daily life we HQFRXQWHUSUREOHPVGL൶FXOWLHVWULEXODWLRQVDQGWULDOV But in the midst of all these, we are reminded that the Lord we are following is a victorious Lord, the beloved Son of the Father. All our troubles in this world are mo- PHQWDU\2XU¿QDOGHVWLQ\LVJORU\YLFWRU\DQGHWHUQDO happiness. It is like reading a novel in which the happy HQGLQJLVDOUHDG\NQRZQWRXV1RPDWWHUKRZGL൶FXOWWKH problems that the main characters in the novel encoun- ter, we are not discouraged because we know the story ZLOOKDYHDKDSS\HQGLQJ:HNQRZWKDWZLWK-HVXVRXU KDSS\HQGLQJLVFHUWDLQ6R3DXOVDLG³7KHVX൵HULQJVRI the present time are as nothing compared with the glory WREHUHYHDOHGLQXV´ 5RP 6X൵HULQJVDUHSDUWRI RXUOLYHVHVSHFLDOO\DVZHFORVHO\IROORZWKH&UXFL¿HG Lord. The zeal with which we have begun all our Lenten observances will take us forward to achieve our victory. required to safely provide ambulance service. MCHD cannot agree to a brief ex- tension period because this does not provide stability WRWKHFRPPXQLW\RUVWD൵ Our EMS personnel have been dealing with un- certainty in their jobs since the 2021 ASA Plan was repealed in April of 2023. Our crews are exceptionally dedicated, but they are also real people that have bills, families, and obligations they need to consider. Many have sought employment elsewhere due to the con- siderable uncertainty and looming end date. An ex- tension of 90 more days is not enough to ask these em- ployees to put their plans on KROGRUWRUHFUXLWQHZVWD൵ Is there a way for MCHD and Morrow County to immediately resolve the situation? Yes. MCHD has proposed a draft ambulance service contract. At any time, Morrow County could engage in negotiations with MCHD and could immedi- ately execute this contract. This does not require a lengthy process of any kind because both entities are public entities and ORS CH190 allows us to exe- cute an intergovernmental DJUHHPHQW IRU WKH EHQH¿W of the public. Attached is a legal explanation of this SURFHVV :K\ GRHV 0RU- row County Health District want to be the ambulance service provider for the entire county? MCHD pro- vides ambulance services to all of Morrow County in a coordinated manner. There are two ambu- lances in Boardman and two in Irrigon. These loca- tions cross cover, meaning that if an ambulance goes lance in Irrigon is prepared to respond and vice versa. Both stations can mobilize a second crew as needed. There are some circum- stances, such as extreme weather, when all four am- bulances are in service and Quick Response Teams are mobilized as backup. This works seamlessly because the crews use an app called Active 9-1-1, which allows instant communication with all EMS personnel. To serve Heppner, Lexington, and Ione, there are two ambu- lances in Heppner and one in Ione. Quick Response Teams are formally estab- lished in Ione, Lexington, and remote parts of Hep- pner. Using Active 9-1-1, a total of three ambulanc- es can be mobilized and Quick Response Teams can be mobilized as back- up. The number of trans- ports in Boardman, Irrigon, and Heppner are typical- ly about the same: in FY 2023, Boardman had 336 transports, Irrigon had 323 transports, and Heppner had 293 transports. M C H D ’s r e s p o n s e times are better than the National ]averages and are VLJQL¿FDQWO\EHWWHUWKDQWKH response times required by the local Ambulance 6HUYLFH$UHD3ODQ:HDUH concerned that splitting up the ambulance service area will result in less coordinat- ed services and increased response times, particu- larly if a service provider LV UHVSRQVLEOH IRU VWD൶QJ both ambulance and fire simultaneously. Morrow County Health District is always happy to respond to public inquiries, which can be directed to community@mocohd.org Lunch & Dinner Menu Specials 2/22 - 2/28 Thursday - Chipotle Beef Taco with chips Friday - Popcorn Chicken Mashed Potato bowl Saturday - Seafood Platter with cup of clam chowder Monday - Beef Nachos covered in nacho cheese Tuesday - Grilled ham & cheese witch broccoli cheddar soup Tuesday Night - 2-9pm $2 hard shell tacos Wednesday - Chicken plus with Mac n cheese Congratulations Heppner District Champion Wrestlers! Good Luck at the State Tournament February 22 and 23 at Portland Memorial Coliseum Zach Brown Jaime Cavan 124 N. MAIN STREET HEPPNER OR (541) 676-9481 Landon McMahon
