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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (March 13, 2024)
Wee Bit O’ Ireland this weekend 50¢ VOL. 144 NO. 11 10 Pages Wednesday, March 13, 2024 Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon See PAGE SIX for a full Celebrating Irish Heritage: Currins named Grand Marshal of Heppner St. Patrick’s Parade schedule of events. By Chris Sykes The history of the Cur- rin family is a testament to the spirit of perseverance and community that shaped the American West. The Currins, hailing from Ire- land, ventured to America in the late 1700s following the Irish Revolution. Led by Major George Currin, a vet- eran of the War of 1812 and a prominent figure in Vir- ginia’s political landscape, the family needed a fresh start in the vast expanse of the American West. In 1845, after endur- ing a grueling five-month, 2,000-mile journey along the perilous Oregon Trail from Missouri, the Cur- rins finally found their sanctuary in Oregon. The Currins, along with Hugh and William Fields, neph- ews of George and Hugh, founded Currinsville near Estacada, Oregon. This early settlement marked the Currin’s commitment to the land and community, as they worked to build a thriving community amidst the rugged frontier. Their pioneering spirit was not just about conquering the land but about fostering a sense of belonging and mutual support among the early settlers. The narrative of the Currin family took a signif- icant turn in 1876: George J. Currin, Major Currin’s grandson, moved to Mor- row County and acquired the Little Butter Creek ranch. The Currins initially raised sheep but switched to cattle after World War 2 due to labor shortages. This decision marked a new era of ranching success and growth for the Currin family, establishing their legacy as leaders in the region. George J. Currin’s vision and determination transformed the ranch. Education played a cru- 1960s on the Currin Ranch (L-R) George, Helen, Ron Sr, Steve, Tom, Ronnie (Ron Jr), Tony, and Mike. - Photo contributed by Steve Currin cial role in the Currin fam- ily’s ethos, with George J. Currin being one of the ear- ly students at Oregon State University. This commit- ment to education under- scored the family’s belief in progress and excellence, traits that would permeate through generations. As the ranch flourished under the stewardship of George J. Currin’s sons, Ed and Hugh, the Currin name became synonymous with dedication, hard work, and commitment to the land. Their efforts ensured the ranch’s success for years to come, solidifying the Currin legacy in the realm of ranching. However, the Currin family’s legacy is perhaps most enduringly defined by their commitment to community service and philanthropy. Their ac- tive participation in local organizations, serving as leaders, volunteers, and benefactors, has touched countless lives and left an indelible mark on Heppner and Morrow County. As the calendar turned from the vibrant, tumultu- ous years of the early and mid-20th century, the Cur- rin family’s saga unfolded with the same resilience and pioneering spirit that had defined their ancestors. Situated in the heart of Morrow County, the Currin family not only thrived in their traditional roles as ranchers and farmers but also expanded their influ- ence and legacy into new realm of rodeo prominence and community service, demonstrating a commit- ment to their heritage and the broader community. The Currins’ influence extended beyond the con- fines of their ranch. Both Ron and Tom actively par- ticipated in the Pendleton Round-Up and Morrow County Fair and Rodeo events. Ron Sr. won the wild horse racing com- petition at the Pendleton Round-Up in 1959 and 1960, and he frequently took part in other rodeo events. In 1960, he won the Morrow County Amateur Calf Roping saddle at the rodeo, and that year claimed the Morrow County all- around title. Tom has been a volunteer at the Pendleton Round-Up for 55 years and was inducted into the Round-Up Hall of Fame in 2010. In the 1960s, the Currin family experienced signif- icant growth and change. Led by Ron Sr. and his wife, Judy Lazinka Currin, who had been crowned queen of the Round-Up in 1958, the family’s ranch operations expanded further. They embodied the values of hard work, commitment, and community spirit, which had become synonymous with the Currin name. Ron Sr. was not only a respect- ed figure within the com- munity but also a notable presence within the rodeo world. During these years, the Currin children—Ron Jr., Tony, Mike, Steve, and Jennifer—grew up fully immersed in their family’s rich ranching traditions and the thrilling world of rodeo. Each sibling followed their own unique path within this legacy, contributing to the family’s history in various ways. Ron Jr., closely follow- ing in his father’s footsteps, found his success in rodeo. He went on to capture the Pendleton Round-Up All- Around Championship in 1993 and the Steer Wres- tling title in 1995. Ron Jr. later ventured into the cattle trading business, leaving a lasting impact on the indus- try. However, his untimely death from bladder cancer in 2021 was a heartbreaking loss for the Currin family and the rodeo community at large. Ron and his wife Rayanne had a son Riley, and a daughter Rayna. Tony Currin, a resident of Dayton, Washington, currently runs his own suc- cessful cattle operation. Tony graduated from Hep- pner High School in 1981 and went on to attend Blue Mountain College and Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. In 1987 and 1989, he won -Continued to PAGE FIVE Circuit court building site may change after all Interim ambulance service takes effect this week By Andrea Di Salvo The controversial pro- posed site for the planned new Morrow County Cir- cuit Court building may be out the window following last week’s county board of commissioners meeting. At its regular meeting in Heppner last week, the Morrow County Board of Commissioners learned that the location for the new circuit may be more flexible than originally thought. That may, in turn, open the field to sites that were orig- inally discarded, such as the Heppner mill site owned by the Port of Morrow. “This was a surprise,” said Morrow County Ad- ministrator Matthew Jen- sen at the meeting. “That changes things.” Since taking over the process early last year, commissioners had inter- preted the Oregon statute governing courts to mean that the courthouse must be located within the Heppner city limits. A March 1 letter from Sixth Judicial District Presiding Justice Daniel Hill has overturned that as- sumption, saying the court does not have a position on the building’s location. The discussion was sparked by concerned resi- dents directly reaching out to Hill, not from a request by the BOC to move the courthouse out of Heppner. Given the pushback against the current site, the commissioners seemed happy to accept alterna- tives. About 40 residents attended a board of com- missioners listening ses- sion on the topic on Feb. 27 in Heppner, and many expressed concerns over the impact on the fair and rodeo. Many citizens have also expressed concern over the proximity to Heppner Elementary School. The timing is good, too, since the county’s attempts to secure additional fair and rodeo parking recently fell through. Jensen said he wants to go back and review all the initial suggestions again but says the site of the old Kinzua Mill outside of Heppner is at the top of the list. The land is owned by the Port of Morrow. Jensen said the site out- side the Heppner city limits is attractive because it will have less negative impact on Heppner residents. At the same time, he said it would have challenges of its own, mostly because it falls outside the city’s in- frastructure, such as sewer and water. “However, it would be a nice place to hopefully invite some development,” Jensen said. If the site is selected, Jensen said the building would most likely be placed north of the highway near the OSU Extension build- ing, since the area below the highway is still con- sidered in the flood plain. The floodplain has been a barrier to construction in that area for many years. As for the sudden change of direction, the crux of Hill’s letter is that Oregon statute does not specify the courthouse has to be in the county seat. At the same time, the current Chief Justice Order (CJO), dating back to 1998, does designate the county seat as the principal location. However, in a letter to Hill, also on March 1, Or- egon Chief Justice Meagan Flynn said that wasn’t the intention behind the order and that she would be work- ing on a new CJO to “reflect the various ways in which our courts conduct -Continued to PAGE FIVE March 14 - 17th, 2024 Heppner’s Wee Bit O’ Ireland cele- bration returns this weekend. – Contributed Photo Murray announces retirement from MCHD board tors for an impressive 23 years, John Murray has announced his retirement. Murray shared this news with his friends, family, and well-wishers through a Facebook post made by the MCHD. There will be a retirement party March 19th, from 5pm-7pm at the Gilliam & Bisbee Building John Murray After serving on the to celebrate John Murray Morrow County Health for his years of service on District Board of Direc- our Board of Directors. Irish Coffee Hour and CEILI, programs planned for Saturday, March 16th at Elks The Irish Coffee Hour is scheduled from 10-11:30 a.m. which will include great music from “Whiskey for Breakfast, an intro- duction of 2024’s Grand Marshals which will be the Currin families, and Joe Lindsay with his rendition of the Grand Marshal song. Don’t be surprised if Joe Lindsay sings a song or two and you might see a few of our local Leprechauns drop by to help kick off our great St. Patrick’s celebration and even possibly dance at some of the music during their visit! The Irish Brogue Con- test will give you, the au- dience, a chance to tell the best “Blarney” stories for a chance to win some gold coins! So be thinking of something “appropriate” to share! The audience will vote on the three winners. The CEILI is sched- uled from 2-4 p.m. and we know that “Whiskey for Breakfast” and Joe Lind- say (and any friends and family he brings with him) will provide some great entertainment with plenty of music and laughter! We will have local talent, Mi- kalie and Hadlie Duncan sing a few Irish songs for our enjoyment and our main entertainment for the week- end, “Tiller’s Folly” will be stopping in around 3 p.m. to sing a few of their songs to get us all warmed up for their great concert starting at 7:30 p.m. in the Gilliam and Bisbee Building! Come enjoy the eve- ning and enter your name to win some green! All the performers will be filling our ears and hearts with lots of Irish songs and of course, they will want you to join in! We are sure you will want to clap your hands, stomp your feet, have a few laughs, and even dance if you want as we en- joy some great Irish music and entertainment. Come and enjoy the Irish Coffee Hour and CEILI upstairs and the Elks Lodge! We are looking forward to seeing you there! CALL 541-989-8221 ext 204 for more information
