+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