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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (March 13, 2024)
Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, March 13, 2024 -- THREE ~ 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 have the name of the sender along with a legible signature. We are also 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 verification and will not be printed in the newspaper. Letters may not 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 will be placed in the classifieds under “Card of Thanks” at a cost of $15 Email to editor@rapidserve.net or upload to Heppner.net. NO DEBATE Well, it looks like we’re finally narrowing our presidential nominee candidates down to the last two choices. It was touch and go there for a while, but Trump was finally able to squeak by Nikki Haley. Meanwhile, Biden heroically conquered his illustrious opponent, “Any Other Candidate”. In the wake of all the Primary commotion, there’s talk of possible upcoming de- bates. Though Trump has invited Biden to a debate “anytime, anywhere, any- place”, there has been no response coming from the White House as of yet. I’m thinking Front Street, Dodge City, Kansas would be the perfect place. But I have a great idea. Since debates are of- ten just a rehashing of old news and views, and this isn’t their first rodeo…. how about we scratch the whole debate thing….and just have a contest. With all the important decisions a sitting president needs to make, we need to make sure our next president is smarter than a fifth grad- er…especially when he has a pen, paper, and executive orders to write. So, here’s my proposal. There will be ten different categories and the winner will have to perform well in every one. PRESIDENTIAL PROFICIENCY CON- TEST 1. Spelling: These will be actual words and not words made up during a speech 2. Math: Read both numbers…. $113,620,829,453.00 (amount spent on Ukraine) and $34,490,733,165,731.00 (current US National Debt) out loud…twice. 3. Reading: Correctly read two lines on the tele- prompter. 4. Geography: What two countries border the Unit- ed States? 5. History: What year was Biden (falsely) elected president? 6. Science: What is a woman? 7. PE-Strength: Presiden- tial Stair Climb. Candidate must both ascend and descend a 10-step flight of stairs without falling. (Landing will be padded to avoid any injuries). 8. PE-Agility: Jacket Challenge: Candidate must correctly put on his own coat, with correct arm/sleeve placement, correct orientation (not upside down) and com- plete task WITHOUT ASSISTANCE, in less than 5 minutes. 9. PE-Balance: Bike Rid- ing Race. Candidate must ride a bicycle 20 yards, keeping the bike upright for the entire length of the ride. This must be done WITHOUT TRAINING WHEELS. 10. Just for Fun Dance Contest: …including Swing State Swing, the Cha China Cha Cha, and The Biden Shuffle. Tie Breaker: In case of a tie, this bonus question will asked; What is a bor- der? There will be EMTs on scene with at least one de- fibrillator…just in case. If both candidates happen to go down at the same time, priority will be given to the one with the highest score so far. The winner of the contest will receive both a MAGA T-shirt and MAGA hat…and, best of all….a pair of the new MAGA tennis shoes. They will also have bragging rights for the rest of the cam- paign season. May the best man win! By Susie Crosby from Prineville Heppner High School Volleyball and FBLA Raise Funds The Volleyball team and FBLA kids posing together with High School Teacher Jeanie Collins, Ja Allmen, and Miller and Sons owner Ryan Miller. It is in the small com- munities where one fre- quently sees the goodness and integrity in people. Today was no exception. When faced with adversity communities rally around each other and work to- gether to support those who are in need. However, these amazing people are not necessarily always adults. This time it was the Hep- pner High School FBLA and Volleyball team, who worked tirelessly to show their support and compas- sion to a family who is near and dear to the hearts of Heppner. This past fall the Heppner Community lost a very dear “family” member, Sharon Miller, to cancer. Wanting to some- how show their support and help the family the Heppner FBLA members along with the Volleyball Team began raising money to donate in Sharon’s name. FBLA members designed and pressed shirts that were sold at football games while the volleyball girls held a very successful dessert auction. Overall, the stu- dents raised an amazing $5,307.75 which went to the Morrow County Hos- pice in the memory of Sha- ron Miller. The Heppner CMD will hold meeting March 19 th The Heppner Cemetery Maintenance District will hold their monthly meeting on Tuesday, March 19 th , 2024. The regular meeting will be held at 5:15 p.m. Agenda items include min- utes of previous meeting, financial report & Cemetery Operations. The meeting will be held at the Ag Ser- vice Building conference room at 430 W Linden Way. Meetings of the Heppner Cemetery Maintenance District are open to the public according to ORS 192.640(1). For questions, contact Janet Greenup at 541-561-6768. Spiritually Speaking Father Thankachan Joseph RE-ROUTE AND COME BACK I am sure most of you drive unfamiliar places us- ing a GPS. When we take a wrong route, the GPS keeps on reminding us to re-route, take a U-turn, etc. Thus far, Lenten themes we have explored have been the following: “Turn away from sin and turn towards God,” “Listen to the Lord and be trans- formed,” “Destroy and re- build in Christ as a new being,” and “Darkness to light.” As we move to- wards the fifth Sunday of Lent, the readings invite us to enter into a relationship with the Lord and, thereby, encounter the Lord. So, the themes during Lent are requesting us to re-route and come back, take a U- turn. The prophet Jeremiah (31:31-35) assures us of God’s constant manifesta- tions with us. It also re- minds us of the new thing that God is about to do in our midst: “I will make a new covenant and never call their sin to mind… then, I will be their God and they will be my peo- ple.” God is ready to rebuild the relationship that was destroyed by infidelity. He wishes to restore our broken relationship. On our part, we must be ready to accept this new covenant with God. Unlike the previous covenants He has made with humankind, it is not written or carved in books or on stones; instead, it is engraved in the heart of man. This new covenant offers us salvation and life. So, as we continue our journey this Lenten season, let us know that God is willing to fulfill His promises, and nothing can stop Him. All He demands from us is to be ready to accept this new covenant made in Christ Jesus. Are we ready to be part of this new covenant? The Gospel Reading of the day, John 12: 20-33, is an example of the straight talk of Jesus. The Gospel of John is actually called a Gospel of signs. There are seven signs explained in his Gospel. From Chapters 1 through 13, Jesus speaks of six signs in a language that is quite difficult for common persons to under- stand. The seventh sign is His death and resurrection. The Gospel of John comes right after Je- sus’s solemn entry into Jerusalem, which we now celebrate on Palm Sun- day. He and His disciples have come to Jerusalem for the Passover festival; Jesus has mounted a don- key and rides in proces- sion through the city gates like a king coming into his capital. His disciples are waving palm branches, and the crowd is cheering and shouting, “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord – Hosan- na to the King of Israel!” (John 12:13). It must have been an impressive sight. The second part of the Gospel is speaking about how the grain of wheat dies and produces much fruit. We are called to be like the grain of wheat. We need to die dai- ly to our bodily, as well as worldly, passions. It may be a bit difficult to begin; but once you begin, surely the sprout of the seed that you have planted will take root in you. We started the Lenten practices and ob- servances with an inten- tion of meeting the Lord in our lives. I am sure all these various themes have been guiding us. The Gos- pel begins with the Greeks to Philip: “Sir we would like to see Jesus.” The Lenten practices of fast- ing and almsgiving that we have taken upon our- selves should lead us to see the Lord in our sur- roundings. The Readings wind up with the message that we need to encounter the pain and difficulties of our daily sufferings. But the cross is not our final destination. It is only a phase of our jour- ney, not only through Lent, but at other times of the year. We have to remain at the cross before we expe- rience the joy of the resur- rection. To reach the final destination of our journey, the Lord exhorts us to re- route and come back, take a U- turn, etc. Maybe these re- routes could lead us clos- er to Jesus. Perhaps these re-routes have come in the form of a life situation, or a change within our fami- lies and circles of friends. Maybe they have come by learning new truths about ourselves and about oth- ers. Regardless of what caused the re-routes, we should consider how we can re-route ourselves in ways that still bring us to our spiritual destination. May God help us in our spiritual GPS as we jour- ney towards Him. CRUZ-IN Cars coming to ‘show’ off The Cruz-In cars will be once again lining up on Willow Street (between Heppner Market Fresh and St. Patrick’s Senior Center) and will be on dis- play from 10 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. for everyone to stop by and check them out! Judging will take place at 10 a.m. and the winners will be announced during the Great Green Parade that begins at 1 p.m. For those of you who are in- terested in participating in the Cruz-In event, enter on Chase Street. Wil- low Street will be closed for parking the cars and check in will start at 8:30 a.m. Enter in the side door of the St. Patrick’s Senior Center on Willow Street. We are looking forward to another great turn out so take the time to stop by and appreciate the great show of cars. Annual 3-on 3 Basketball tournament March 15 th The annual St. Patrick›s Day 3 on 3 basketball tournament will be held in the Heppner High School Gymnasium on Friday, March 15 th . This is open for any male or female in the 2nd Grade and above, in- cluding adults. Games will start at 5:00 PM with the younger age division play- ing first. The cost to play is $10 per player. Each team may consist of 3 or 4 play- ers. Admission is free for anyone to come and watch. This event is put on by the HHS Boys Basketball Team and is sponsored by the Heppner Chamber of Com- merce. You may sign up at the event or stop by the Heppner Chamber office to pick up a registration form. If you have any questions, please reach out to jeremy. rosenbalm@morrowsd.org A View from the Hill by Doris Brosnan The view from the Hill is the same as for the com- munities-at-large: sunshine -clouds-WIND-sunshine- snow-rain-sunshine. The Residents and Staff do know, however, that Spring is truly just around the corner, with clear skies and comfortable temperatures forecasted for this St. Pat’s weekend. While waiting for opportunities to get out into the warm, fresh air, a few indoor events are keeping minds and bodies occupied. And soon, the planting of seeds will be a project some Residents will want to join, so they can watch for the sprouting of their plants that will later be transplanted into their flowerbeds. Though Herb Peterson was a resident relatively briefly, Residents regretted his having to move to the hospital and were later sad to hear of his passing. Handshakes and greetings were abundant last Mon- day when Ed Baker moved into the Terrace. Ed, a well- known neighbor from Lexington, was welcomed by many. Welcomed as a weekend night cook, Aaron But- ler is quickly meeting Residents and learning likes and dislikes. And assuming the position of Resident-Care Associates Team Director is Angelina Hammons, who has been with the Terrace for three years now. A new feature introduced last Sunday at the Terrace is the practice of “Sunday dinner,” with everyone gathered around one large linen-covered table space that enables easier visiting with one and all. And soon to come from the kitchen will be home-baked goods offered as Bingo prizes. Seems that “things” are not especially needed as prizes at the Terrace. Another change in activities recently has been the Trivia games held on Thursdays. Administrator Lank- ford and Staff have been creating the games with trivia questions about the Terrace, about Heppner, and about Morrow County. January and February featured what the Staff assumed would be an attractive new feature tied to participation in activities: “Fun Money” was awarded to individuals each time they participated in a Terrace-wide activity. The accumulated “Fun Money” could then be spent at an in-house “store” that featured a variety of items, such as room decorations, personal products, bird seed…. Apparently, the money was more “fun” to save than to spend, so interest in the store dwindled to zero. This week will find some of the Terrace Residents downtown on Saturday for the Big Green Irish Parade and the corned-beef lunch. Some families will also ask their Resident to join them for some of the other weekend activities. March holds no birthdays on the Hill, but the last birthday celebration will not soon be forgotten, as Rita Bowman added nineteen family members to her birthday luncheon with her Terrace neighbors! The month will end with a couple of fun-filled activities, the coloring of Easter eggs and then the egg hunt on the 31 st . That Sunday will find several Residents attending church services with families and then enjoying their traditional Easter Dinner together. Residents and Staff view these special events with pleasure. The MC Republican Party March Meeting March 21 st The Morrow Coun- ty Republicans will meet at 6:30 pm, Thursday, March 21st at the Lex- ington School, Lexington, Oregon. PCPs and anyone interested in the county Republican Party are en- couraged to come and join the discussions. Chairman, Clint Carlson, will report on the Oregon Republican Party meeting and election result for National Commit- tee Man and National Com- mittee Woman positions. The MCRP Central Committee will be planning for the Candidates Forum to be held on May 4th at the Lexington School as part of the Lexington May Day celebration activities. In addition, there will be discussions about the up- coming community events and Summer FUNd Raiser. Precinct Committee Person, PCP, positions are open for Heppner, Board- man, and Irrigon. Individu- als interested in one of these positions are encouraged to attend this meeting to learn about the positions. PCP appointments can be made during MCRP meetings. The Republican Par- ty is open to individuals interested in conservative ideals and values. The Re- publican Party platform can be found at https:// oregon.gop/. For more in- formation on the Morrow County Republican Party, contact mocoreps@gmail. com. Heppner’s new Street Sweeper Heppner recently acquired a new street sweeper, the 2014 Elgin Eagle Sweeper. It was received on February 1, 2024, from Owen Equipment located in Portland. Although the sweeper parts have been rebuilt, the machine itself is brand new. -Photo by Annalynn Black Lunch & Dinner Menu Specials 3/14 - 3/20 Thursday - Pulled pork sandwich w/ mango habanero bites Friday - Hot roast beef sandwich & fries Saturday - Corn Chowder & cold ham & swiss sandwich Monday - 1/4 bacon cheeseburger & jojos Tuesday - Chicken plus with chicken tortilla soup Tuesday night - 6-9pm $2 hard shell tacos Wednesday - Tuna melt & side salad
