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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 28, 2024)
+HSSQHU*D]HWWH7LPHV+HSSQHU2UHJRQ Wednesday, February 28, 2024 7+5(( How Seniors Matter started By Jerry Conklin 2QDQ\JLYHQ7XHVGD\ LI\RXYLVLWWKHGLQLQJURRP at the St. Patrick’s Apart- PHQWV \RX¶OO ¿QG D URRP full of about seventy older DGXOWVKHDUWLO\HQJDJHGLQ FRQYHUVDWLRQDQGHQMR\LQJ a delicious lunch. You will also notice plenty of volun- WHHUVZRUNLQJKDUGLQKHOS- LQJ$QG\RX¶OOKHDUIURPD VSHDNHUVKDULQJVRPHWKLQJ of relevance to the older adults who have come. How did all of this FRPH DERXW" ,W LV D VWRU\ ZRUWKWHOOLQJDVLWEHDUVDQ HQFRXUDJLQJ PHVVDJH RI how our community came WRJHWKHU WR EHWWHU VXSSRUW our seniors. My co-worker, Jackie Alleman (the Volunteer Coordinator for Pioneer Home Health and Hospice), and I (the Hospice Chap- lain) visit hospice families. Sometimes we’d deliver a senior meal to a hospice family and sometimes we ZRXOG JR ZLWK WKHP WR D senior meal site. It was the IDOORI1RWLFLQJWKDW nearby communities had senior meal sites, but not Heppner, we discussed how we could rectify the matter. 7RJHWKHUZHGHFLGHGWKDWD JUHDWVHQLRUPHDOVLWHPXVW involve “more than a meal.” We even came up with a name, “South Morrow County Seniors Matter,” because our seniors do. Neither of us knew how WR JHW D PHDO VLWH VWDUWHG but we found others who could help. The board PDQDJLQJWKH6W3DWULFN¶V $SDUWPHQWV DJUHHG WR UHQW their room and kitchen to us. It soon became apparent that we would need to form DQRQSUR¿WFRUSRUDWLRQWR VHFXUHIXQGLQJ6RZHSDLG the fees and completed all WKH 6WDWH RI 2UHJRQ DQG IRS paperwork. Molly Rhea, Dennis Wiser, She- ryll Bates, and Linda Kenny joined Jackie and me to form a board of directors. <RXFRXOGQ¶WDVNIRUD¿QHU JURXS RI IRONV WR OHDG LQ WKHH൵RUW7KHJLVWRIRXU DJUHHGWR YLVLRQ VWDWHPHQW was to connect older adults to one another around a meal and work to connect them to helpful resources. We approached Kim Cutsforth about our plan. She immediately worked to VHFXUHIXQGLQJIRUXVIURP a Willow Creek Valley Eco- QRPLF'HYHORSPHQWJUDQW Kevin Ince, the County )LQDQFH 'LUHFWRU ZRUNHG hard to help us access some COVID relief funds from the county. With funds secured, we needed to hire a cook. Jodi 6HJUDYHVDQVZHUHGWKDWFDOO DQGKDVGRQHDQRXWVWDQGLQJ MRE HYHU VLQFH SXUFKDVLQJ IRRG SUHSDULQJ PHDOV VX- SHUYLVLQJ WKH NLWFKHQ DQG PDQDJLQJ RXU YROXQWHHUV Her brother, Todd, has done an excellent job as her as- sistant. 6SHDNLQJRIYROXQWHHUV We knew we needed them and went to the churches WR¿QGWKHP,GRQ¶WWKLQN DQ\RQH ZRXOG KDYH LPDJ- ined the response. Every church in Heppner (nine in WRWDO WDNHV WXUQV VHQGLQJ volunteers—always more WKDQHQRXJK:HDOVRKDYH National Honor Society stu- GHQWV IURP +HSSQHU +LJK School who come to assist once a month. Besides all that, we have two volun- teers, Penni Waite and Rick Reed, who help every week. You hear these days about how hard it is to recruit volunteers, but that is not the case in Heppner! 6RPHWKLQJ WKDW LV GLI- ferent about our meal site, as opposed to many, is that ZHUHJXODUO\LQYLWHVSHDNHUV WR VKDUH 2XU ¿UVW VHQLRU meal was on July 11, 2023. Since then, we’ve hosted RYHU WZR GR]HQ VSHDNHUV IURP PDQ\ DJHQFLHV DQG occupations who’ve spoken on a host of instructive and helpful topics. We’ve had QR GL൶FXOW\ LQ UHFUXLWLQJ them, as they’ve all been JODGWROHQGWKHLUVXSSRUW It would be impossi- ble to thank every person who has had a hand in this project, as there have been too many to recall. But here are some who have SOD\HGDQLQVWUXPHQWDOUROH 6DEULQD:DJHQDDU RI *LO- liam County Senior and )DPLO\ 6HUYLFHV SURYLGHG us with much advice and help. Emily Roberts, Chief ([HFXWLYH 2൶FHU RI 0RU- row County Health District, has been wonderfully sup- SRUWLYHRIRXUH൵RUWV5RELQ Canaday, Morrow County Public Health Director, has provided much support, DQGZRUNHGDORQJZLWKKHU VWD൵DQG0XUUD\¶V'UXJWR IDFLOLWDWH D ÀX YDFFLQDWLRQ clinic. The board of the +HSSQHU+RXVLQJ$XWKRULW\ KDVHQFRXUDJHGHDFKVWHSRI WKHZD\$QGUHD)OHWFKHU Community Improvement Partnership Director, has EHHQ D ELJ DOO\ 0DGL- son Rosenbalm (Heppner Chamber of Commerce) and Katie Murray (Willow Creek Valley Economic Development Group) have been an immense help in FRQQHFWLQJ XV WR JUDQWV and other helpful resourc- es. Rebeckah Berry, Grant 3URJUDP 'LUHFWRU RI WKH 5RXQGKRXVH )RXQGDWLRQ JHQHURXVO\ SURYLGHG XV ZLWKDVWUDWHJLFJUDQW-X- lia Brown of AGE+ has lent much advice and has EHHQ D ELJ FKHHUOHDGHU RI RXU HIIRUWV )RONV IURP /DPE:HVWRQDQG$PD]RQ and AGE+ also provided VRPH JUDQWV 0DQ\ +HS- pner businesses helped to SURYLGHJLIWVIRURXUVHQLRUV at Christmas. , UHJXODUO\ FRQYHUVH ZLWK RXWVLGH DJHQFLHV about our senior meal site. They’ve applauded the ef- forts of our community in this project. Next month, ,¶OOEHVKDULQJZLWKOHDGHUV of senior meal sites from DURXQG RXU UHJLRQ DERXW ³HQJDJLQJ WKH FRPPXQLW\ in a meal site.” One key WRZDUGVWKDWHQGLVKDYLQJ a community like ours! Here’s my take aways from what has transpired YLDRXUSURJUDPRYHUWKHVH SDVWHLJKWPRQWKV7RWKH question, “Do the seniors of South Morrow County mat- WHU"´ RXU FRPPXQLW\ KDV responded with a resound- LQJ ³<HV´ $QG SURYHQ DJDLQ LV WKH IDFW WKDW LW LV QRW GL൶FXOW WR UDOO\ IRONV in this community around a worthwhile cause. We are so very thank- ful to all our seniors and our cook and assistant and all our volunteers and our speakers and all the many IRONVZKRKDYHHQFRXUDJHG and helped each step of the way. When we all work WRJHWKHUWRZDUGVDFRPPRQ JRDOLWLVDPD]LQJZKDWFDQ be accomplished! Good MRE+HSSQHULQVXSSRUWLQJ your older adults in this project! It’s proven to be a WUHPHQGRXVHQFRXUDJHPHQW WRPDQ\9LVLWRQDQ\JLYHQ 7XHVGD\ DW DP DQG you’ll see what I mean. Lunch is free for those 60 and over and $5 for others. Jerry Conklin, Chair- man, South Morrow Coun- ty Seniors Matter ~ Letters to the Editor ~ Father Thankachan Joseph 7KH+HSSQHU*D]HWWH7LPHVZLOOSULQWDOOOHWWHUVWRWKH(GLWRUZLWKWKH IROORZLQJFULWHULDPHWOHWWHUVVXEPLWWHGWRWKHQHZVSDSHUZLOOQHHGWR KDYHWKHQDPHRIWKHVHQGHUDORQJZLWKDOHJLEOHVLJQDWXUH:HDUHDOVR UHTXHVWLQJWKDW\RXSURYLGH\RXUDGGUHVVDQGDSKRQHQXPEHUZKHUH\RX can be reached. The address and phone number will only be used for YHUL¿FDWLRQDQGZLOOQRWEHSULQWHGLQWKHQHZVSDSHU/HWWHUVPD\QRW $OOWKUHHVFULSWXUHSDVVDJHVWKLV6XQGD\UHÀHFWWKH EHOLEHORXV7KH*7UHVHUYHVWKHULJKWWRHGLW7KH*7LVQRWUHVSRQVLEOH 7ULQLWDULDQ$VSHFWRI*RG7KH¿UVWUHDGLQJIURP([RGXV IRUDFFXUDF\RIVWDWHPHQWVPDGHLQOHWWHUV$Q\OHWWHUVH[SUHVVLQJWKDQNV VWDWHV³*RGVSRNHDOOWKHVHZRUGV´DQGZHKHDUWKH ZLOOEHSODFHGLQWKHFODVVL¿HGVXQGHU³&DUGRI7KDQNV´DWDFRVWRI :RUGVRI*RGWKH)DWKHU,QWKH6HFRQG5HDGLQJIURPWKH (PDLOWRHGLWRU#UDSLGVHUYHQHWRUXSORDGWR+HSSQHUQHW YOU ARE THE TEMPLES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT My Brush with Death One never knows how close they may have come WREUHDWKLQJWKHLUODVWXQWLO they have a scare like I had WKH RWKHU PRUQLQJ , ZDV LQQRFHQWO\HDWLQJWKHWRDVW, KDGPDGHIURPP\JUDLQ bread, when I looked at the ODEHO RQ WKH SDFNDJH DQG read “MAY CONTAIN GLUTEN”. Oh my GOSH!! I quickly ran to the sink and washed out my mouth. 7KHQ,VFUXEEHGP\WRQJXH with my Tom’s All-Natu- UDO *OXWHQ'DLU\6R\ )UHH toothpaste. , FRQVLGHUHG FDOOLQJ 911, but I know how much IXHO WKRVH ELJ JDVJX]]OHU ambulances use, and I just couldn’t contribute to Cat- DVWURSKLF &OLPDWH &KDQJH that way....so I stayed home. $ IULHQG VXJJHVWHG , take Benadryl but there’s QRZD\,¶PJRLQJWRVXSSRUW WKRVH ELJ SKDUPDFHXWLFDO companies and I certainly DP 127 JRLQJ WR GHILOH my body with a bunch of FKHPLFDOV6R,¿QLVKHGP\ YHJDQNDOHVKDNHDQGIHOWD little better. I made it to my clinic DSSRLQWPHQW WR JHW P\ th booster, then I decided to JRWRWKHVWRUHWREX\VRPH non-GMO local wine, and DV,ZDVWHOOLQJWKHODG\DW the store about it (I can’t believe this) she offered to “pray” for me. Can you LPDJLQH" :K\ GR SHRSOH feel the need to push their UHOLJLRQRQ\RX",¶PMXVWVR sick of the hatred. So, I walk out the door and I see this little kid VWRPSLQJRQDFULFNHWJXWV everywhere...the violence ZDVKRUULEOH6R,JUDEEHG that kid, shook him, and yelled ....“That cricket is just as important as you are and deserves a place on this earth to!!” Didn’t this little brat’s parents ever teach him that KILLING IS :521*"",PHDQZKHUH LVWKHORYH" Anyway, I decided to drop off my donation to Planned Parenthood, make it back home in time for WKH )UHH 3DOHVWLQH ]RRP PHHWLQJ DQG KRSH IRU WKH best. Thankfully, after some JOXWHQIUHHZHHGDQGVRPH time in my Safe Place, I’m IHHOLQJ PRUH FHQWHUHG DQG have found my Zen. The whole experience KDV EHHQ KDUURZLQJ EXW hopefully I can still make P\ IOLJKW WR 1HZ <RUN tomorrow to attend the LGBTQ Biden for Senate rally. I am so excited! Taylor Swift is supposed to make DQDSSHDUDQFHDQGVLQJWZR of her hits….“Blank Space” and “Should of Said No”, which I heard she is dedi- FDWLQJ WR RXU FDQGLGDWH , just hope my welfare check JHWVKHUHEHIRUHWKHQ So, remem- ber folks...be careful and READ THE LABELS!! By Susie Crosby Prineville, OR Heppner Daycare WRNLFNR൵6W3DW¶V with Trivia Night The Heppner Daycare will host their annual Trivia 1LJKW)XQGUDLVHURQ7KXUV- day, March 14th at the Gil- liam Bisbee Event Center. 7KLV IXQ DQG HQWHUWDLQLQJ HYHQWVWDUWVDWSPZLWK a $5 Baked Potato Bar ZLWK JHQHURXV GRQDWLRQV from Tillamook, Taste of WKH 6RXWK 0DUNHW )UHVK Dollar General, and Lamb Weston. Trivia hosts, Two Dads Tipsy Trivia from Hermiston will have a local +HSSQHUFDWHJRU\DQGVRPH St. Pat’s related questions for participants. Addition- ally, Heppner Daycare will EH UD൷LQJ VRPH JUHDW JLIW EDVNHWV¿OOHGZLWKDOONLQGV RIJRRGLHVIURPORFDOVSRQ- sors. There will be a full no-host bar by Bucknum’s Bar & Grill. Entry forms are avail- able at Heppner Daycare DQG RQOLQH 7KRXJK WHDPV PD\ HQWHU RQ WKH HYHQLQJ of the show, early entries DUHVWURQJO\HQFRXUDJHG$ table will be reserved with the team’s name for every early entry. The entry fee for each team is $150 with a maximum of 6 members. 7KRXJK LQGLYLGXDO WHDP members often pay their own entry fees, another VXJJHVWLRQ LV WR UHFUXLW D sponsor. The members of the WZRWRSVFRULQJWHDPVZLOO UHFHLYHFDVKSUL]HVDVZHOO DVEUDJJLQJULJKWV )LUVW/HWWHURI3DXOWRWKH&RULQWKLDQV ZH ZLOOKHDUWKH:RUGVRIWKH+RO\6SLULWVSHDNLQJWKURXJK 3DXO$QGWKH*RVSHOUHDGLQJIURP-RKQ UHODWHV WKHPDUYHORXVDQGLQVSLULQJZRUGVRI&KULVWZKRWRRN WKHLQFDUQDWLRQDQGOLYHGDPRQJXVDQGVKRZHGWKHZD\ WRWKH+HDYHQO\)DWKHU 7KHWKHPHWKDWUXQVWKURXJKWKHWKLUGZHHNRI/HQWLV “destroy and rebuild,” an invitation to destroy the worldly DQGERGLO\SDVVLRQVWKURXJK/HQWHQSUDFWLFHVRIPRUWL- ¿FDWLRQVDFUL¿FHVSUD\HUDQGIDVWLQJWRUHEXLOGRQHVHOI as the model of Christ, who overcame the Passion and death and was resurrected. The scripture asks us, “Do you QRWUHDOL]HWKDW\RXDUHDWHPSOHRI*RGZLWKWKH6SLULWRI *RGOLYLQJLQ\RX"´$JDLQLWVD\V³'R\RXQRWUHDOL]H that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in \RXDQGZKRP\RXUHFHLYHGIURP*RG"´ &RU 7KH/HQWHQREVHUYDQFHVVKRXOGKHOSXVDOOWRJHW rid of our bodily passions and be reborn in Christ as a new FUHDWLRQ3DXOWHDFKHVXV³<RXKDYHVWULSSHGR൵\RXU old behavior with your old self, and you have put on a QHZVHOIZKLFKZLOOSURJUHVVWRZDUGVWUXHNQRZOHGJHWKH PRUHLWLVUHQHZHGLQWKHLPDJHRILWVFUHDWRU´ &RU 7KURXJKWKHWKUHHUHDGLQJVRIWKHGD\WKHFKXUFKLQYLWHV XVDOOWRUHGHGLFDWHRXUVHOYHVWR&KULVWWKHIXO¿OPHQWRI *RG¶V&RPPDQGPHQWDQGE\IROORZLQJ+LVWHDFKLQJV we will be able to relive in Him. ,QWKHERRNRI([RGXV *RGJLYHVWKH7HQ Commandments to Moses for the people of Israel to help WKHPEHFRPHZLVHUDQGKROLHU7KH/DZZDVDOVRJLYHQ WR WKHP LQ RUGHU WR VWUHQJWKHQ WKHLU UHODWLRQVKLS ZLWK *RGDQGWRKHOSWKHPRUJDQL]HWKHLUVRFLDODQGUHOLJLRXV lives. Hence, the Commandments of God are meant to form us into a sacred community. The Ten Command- PHQWVSRUWUD\WKHUHODWLRQVKLSZLWK*RGDQGDPRQJRQH DQRWKHU7KH¿UVWWKUHHGHDOZLWKWKHVXSUHPH*RGDQG KRZ+HVKRXOGEHKRQRUHGVHYHQGHDOZLWKWKHQHHGIRU MXVWLFHDQGSHDFHDPRQJIHOORZEHLQJV:KLOHWKHROG/DZ ZDVJLYHQWKURXJK0RVHVWKHQHZ/DZ &RYHQDQW JLYHQ WKURXJKDQGLQ&KULVWIXO¿OOVLW+HQFHDVWKHIXOOQHVV RI*RG¶V&RPPDQGPHQWV&KULVWLVWKHFKDQQHOWKURXJK which God receives and loves us. 7KH *RVSHO IURP -RKQ QDUUDWHV -HVXV¶V HQFRXQWHUZLWKWKRVHSURIDQLQJ*RG¶V6DQFWXDU\-HVXV JHWVXSVHWZLWKWKHSHRSOHZKRPDGHWKHVDQFWXDU\RI*RG a den of businesspeople and a marketplace. He makes a whip out of cords and drives them away from the temple. %HIRUHWKH/RUGWDNHVDZKLSDJDLQVWHDFKRQHRIXVIRURXU atrocities, covetousness, avarice, lust, fornication, sexual vices, etc., this is a time to destroy all our bodily passions with their inclinations and decide to relive in Christ. What do we learn from the episode mentioned in WRGD\¶V*RVSHO")LUVWZHDUHQRWVXSSRVHGWRNHHSTXLHW RUUHPDLQLQGL൵HUHQWZKLOHWKLQJVJRZURQJLQWKHKRXVH RI*RGRXUKRPHVR൶FHVRUDQ\SODFHDWDOO$OVRZH must not destroy the sanctity of the house of God, family, state, or country. Also, it reminds us that our bodies and the body of Christ are the Temple of God, so we must not GH¿OHWKHPLQDQ\ZD\ Christ prophesied about his own death and resurrec- WLRQ³'HVWUR\WKLVWHPSOHDQG,ZLOOUDLVHLWXSLQWKUHH GD\V´7KLVSURSKHF\ZLOOEHIXO¿OOHGGXULQJWKHSDVFKDO mystery. Therefore, today’s Gospel reminds us of where ZH DUH KHDGLQJ WKLV VHDVRQ WKH GHDWK DQG UHVXUUHFWLRQ of Jesus Christ. God promised to rebuild what had been destroyed and to replant what had been plucked up. He SURYHG+LPVHOIWREHULJKWHRXVSRZHUIXODQGMXVW$QG He promised to prove Himself to be an equally patient, compassionate, and merciful rebuilder. So, as we march forward this season, let us continue to abide by the Com- PDQGPHQWVRI*RGIXO¿OOHGLQ-HVXV&KULVWWKH3HUIHFW :LVGRP/HWXVIROORZWKH/HQWHQSUDFWLFHVRIIDVWLQJ VDFUL¿FHV DQG PRUWL¿FDWLRQV WR GLH WR RXU ERGLO\ SDV- sions and relive as a new creation with help of the Spirit of the Lord. Print & Mailing Services *Design *Print Sykes Publishing *Mail 541-676-9228 It’s time to face facts!!! YOUR AD COULD BE HERE! Call 541-676-9228 Or Email No group, including the MCHD, BOC, and BRFD, is going to get exactly what they want. Boardman gets the city of Boardman and one-half of the distance to Irrigon, Heppner, Lexington, and Ione. NO ADDITIONAL AREA!! graphics@rapidserve.net We also offer design and printing services WWW.HEPPNER.NET Sɲɟɪɦɱ1ɢɴɰ$ɡɳɢɯɱɦɰɦɫɤ $ɫɫɬɲɫɠɢɪɢɫɱɰ /ɢɱɱɢɯɰ7ɬ7ɥɢ(ɡɦɱɬɯ 6ɢɫɡ8ɰ3ɥɬɱɬɰ 6ɱɞɯɱ$1ɢɴ6ɲɟɰɠɯɦɭɱɦɬɫ Spiritually Speaking Heppner Gazette-Times Sykes Printing $OOSDUWLHVPXVWVLJQD\HDUUHQHZDEOH FRQWUDFWZLWKWKH%2&FRQIRUPLQJWRWKHQHZ ASA which all parties have already seen. MCHD DOES NOT NEED to end ambulance service at all and there is no reason or need to have interim service. Paid for by Katherine Melby Turner
