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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (April 3, 2024)
+HSSQHU*D]HWWH7LPHV+HSSQHU2UHJRQ Wednesday, April 3, 2024 7+5(( ~ Letters to the Editor ~ 7KH+HSSQHU*D]HWWH7LPHVZLOOSULQWDOOOHWWHUVWRWKH(GLWRUZLWKWKH 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 YHUL¿FDWLRQDQGZLOOQRWEHSULQWHGLQWKHQHZVSDSHU/HWWHUVPD\QRW be libelous. The GT reserves the right to edit. The GT is not responsible IRUDFFXUDF\RIVWDWHPHQWVPDGHLQOHWWHUV$Q\OHWWHUVH[SUHVVLQJWKDQNV ZLOOEHSODFHGLQWKHFODVVL¿HGVXQGHU³&DUGRI7KDQNV´DWDFRVWRI Email to editor@rapidserve.net or upload to Heppner.net. Worldly Wisdom Seems to me there are folks out there that have way too much faith in their fellow man. Deadly virus- es? No problem…. just trust the science…and the sci- entist. Drive-by shootings? Just take the guns away. Too many hurricanes? Just take the cows away. No problem too big for the brightest and best of us to solve. All we need is a little more research (and more money) and there’s nothing man- NLQGFDQ¶W¿[:HOOPD\EH they could start by making D KRVH QR]]OH WKDW GRHVQ¶W leak…. just a suggestion. So, if man is so smart, why is that things just keep getting worse? We’ve had a few thousand years to get it right. Have we learned from our mistakes? Nope. We just keep making bigger ones. A rather important issue is the fact that we’ve decided that either there is no God or He is an old guy who’s lost touch. The whole “male/female” thing was just a bad idea, and the Ten Commandments are pretty much passe’. Besides, the best way to make sure nobody breaks the rules is to have no rules…unless you’re the government. Then you just make them up as you go along and use them against your political opponents. Every time we chuck God’s ideas and trade them for our own…. I wonder if He laughs and says “Go ahead. Make my day?” And I wonder if He ever gets tired of us acting like He’s an idiot. I guess creating a functional universe was just DÀXNHDQGGRHVQ¶WGHVHUYH much credit. Besides, now we have AI that will help XV¿QHWXQHRXUZRUOGDQG make it easier to manage. /RWV RI SRVVLELOLWLHV WKHUH Got a question? Just ask the Big Guy (not to be confused with the other Big Guys…. Biden and God). The Big AI Guy will have all the answers. If not, he’ll just make something up. But we have a problem, Houston. It’s called evil. $QG GHQ\LQJ LWV H[LVWHQFH won’t make it go away. /LHV KDWUHG PXUGHU DQG all that comes with is a re- ality. You can call it “mental health” or blame it on Bible thumping Christians for pointing it out…. but that doesn’t change the result. :HDOOIHHOWKHH൵HFWVDQG all the technology in the ZRUOGZRQ¶W¿[LW7KDQN- fully, we do have a Creator with a plan for dealing with evil. In fact, we just cele- brated that plan last Easter Sunday. <HDK LW¶V ELJ VWX൵ WR be able to reduce the “car- bon footprint”. But I have a feeling there’s a bigger footprint we need to be concerned about. The day will come when two very important feet land on this earth. No amount of human intervention will change it. I pray we’re ready. Come, /RUG-HVXVFRPH³)RUWKH wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, ‘He traps the wise in the snare of their own cleverness.” 1 Corinthians 3:19. It is writ- ten: “’As surely as I live,’ VD\VWKH/RUGµHYHU\NQHH will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’” Roman’s 14:11 By Susie Crosby from Prineville Dave Drotzmann a superlative leader For over 47 years I have practiced law in Hermiston, ZKHUH'U'DYLG'URW]PDQQ has been mayor for almost 8 years. Dave is wicked smart, financially astute, and has that wonderful gift of respectfully listening to constituents and fellow councilors and working with them to do the right thing. His leadership is one of the best I have seen polit- ically. I know. I served with him on the Hermiston City Council and have known him for over 20 years. Mayor Dave has also been instrumental in many civic projects—almost all with fund-raised money and no bonded debt: build- ing a state-of-the-art high VFKRRO VSRUWV FRPSOH[ moving the Umatilla Coun- ty Fair out of the middle of town; and building an eight million dollar city hall. Major Dave is an uncom- mon leader. He has ac- complished great things for Hermiston. He would do the same for everyone and every public entity in our senatorial district. George Anderson, Hermiston, Oregon. Spiritually Speaking Father Thankachan Joseph MISERY – MERCY & MYSTERY /HWPHWDNHWKLVRSSRUWXQLW\WRZLVK\RXDOODYHU\ +DSS\)HDVWRI(DVWHU0D\WKH5LVHQ&KULVW¿OO\RXDQG your families with the gift of peace. On this coming Sun- day, the universal Catholic Church will be celebrating the feast of Divine Mercy, which reminds us of the di- vine love, care, and concern for each of us. The Gospel UHDGLQJUHPLQGVPHRIWKHSV\FKRVRFLDOH[SHULHQFHRI WKHGLVFLSOHVGXULQJWKH¿UVW(DVWHUPRUQLQJ,QWKH*RV- pel of John 20:19, we read: “It was late that Sunday eve- ning, and the disciples were gathered together behind the locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish authorities.” This particular passage made an impact on me. We went through a tough time of this sort during the previous two years when the pandemic hit the world and shut down our economy, our freedom of movement , and coming together - everything in a stand-still condi- tion. 'XULQJWKH*RRG)ULGD\UHÀHFWLRQV,ZDVYHU\PXFK touched by a character we met when we meditate on the Stations of the Cross, the character and personality of a woman called Veronica. She comes forward to the aid of -HVXVZKRZDVJRLQJWKURXJKWUHPHQGRXVDQGH[FUXFL- ating pain on His way to Golgotha, the place where He QHHGVWREHFUXFL¿HG9HURQLFDREVHUYHVWKHPLVHULHVWKH /RUGZDVJRLQJWKURXJKVKHFRPHVIRUZDUGWRDLG+LP without concern for how the male-dominated Jewish FRPPXQLW\PD\UHDFWWRKHU/RYHDQGIULHQGVKLSPDNH her act promptly to wipe His bloody face and console +LPZLWKKHUKDQGNHUFKLHI6KHLVHPSDWK\SHUVRQL¿HG In similar situations, as when we meet our family members or members of our community, what are our ¿UVWUHDFWLRQV"/LNHWKHDSRVWOHVZHPD\DOVREHJRLQJ through emotional wretchedness because of our shame, guilt of the past, brokenness, disappointments, failing to reach ambitious goals. We need to look into ourselves, LQWR KRZ ZH FDQ ¿QG ZD\V DQG PHDQV RI RYHUFRPLQJ XQKHDOWK\ IHHOLQJV RI GHSUHVVLRQ DQ[LHW\ KXUW ORVV RI self-worth, and hatred. In miserable conditions, like Ve- ronica, we need to reach out to others without bothering with the opinions of others. We need to become God’s mercy in similar conditions. 9HURQLFD UHPLQGV XV WKDW WKHUH DUH QR GL൵HUHQFHV DPRQJWKRVHZKRVX൵HU 7KHYLUXVVKRZHGQRGLVFULP- ination.) An understanding of the early Christian community is described in the Acts of the Apostles. It received mer- cy and lived with mercy: “All who believed were to- gether and had all things in common; and they sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to all, as any had need.” (Acts 2:44-45). I think the Divine Master is inviting every one of us to continue the same acts of kindness and benevolence to people around us even to this present time, become like Veronica. The Divine /RUG LV LQYLWLQJ HDFK RQH RI XV WR VWUHWFK RXU KHOSLQJ hand and reach out to someone who is in need of our services. 7KH*RVSHORI-RKQ QDUUDWHVWKHH[SHUL- ence of the apostles immediately after the death of the /RUGLQORFNGRZQVKXWGRZQVRPHWKLQJVLPLODUWRRXU HSLGHPLFH[SHULHQFHZKLFKLVYHU\IUHVKLQRXUPLQGV and hearts. The shutdown is actually in the plan of God. In Genesis 7:16 we read: “A male and female of each kind of living being went into the boat with Noah, as *RGKDGFRPPDQGHG7KHQWKH/RUGVKXWWKHGRRUEH- hind Noah.” Similarly, we read in the Gospel passage, ³7KH¿UVWGD\RIWKHZHHNWKHGRRUVEHLQJORFNHGZKHUH the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’” (20:20). When we are faced with such situations, WKH/RUGZLOOEHWKHUHRQRXUVLGHWRZKLVSHUWKHVDPH words of consolation, “Peace be with you.” 7KH/RUGLQYLWHVHDFKRQHRIXVWRIDFHWKHPLVHU\ WKDWZHPD\EHH[SHULHQFLQJULJKWQRZZLWKKRSHDQG FRXUDJHIRUWKHUHLVDVROXWLRQ7KH/RUGLVDOZD\VIDLWK- ful to His promise: “I will be with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). When we face the tough sea, or troubles and problems crop up, keep in mind WKDWWKH/RUGDOZD\VFRPHVLQDQGVXSSRUWVXVZLWK+LV peace, mercy, compassion, and tranquility. He does it WKURXJKYDULRXVZD\V7KRVHRIXVZKRH[SHULHQFHWKLV PHUF\RIWKH/RUGE\UHDFKLQJRXWWRRWKHUVZLWKPHUF\ and compassion, take part in the mystery of Christ. Good News Only by Doris Brosnan The “Seniors Matter” have added another program WRWKHLUR൵HULQJVIRUVHQLRUFLWL]HQV6WDUWLQJWKLVZHHN WKHVHQLRUFHQWHUZLOOEHRSHQRQ7KXUVGD\VIRU³<2/2´ <RX2QO\/LYH2QFH DFWLYLWLHV)URPVXUYH\VFRPSOHW- ed by some attendees at the Tuesday lunches, several ac- tivities have been scheduled for Thursday already, with more to be developed. Sounds like a good place to spend DGD\VRFLDOL]HDQGVWLPXODWHPLQGDQGERG\ 2Q $SULO WKH ORFDO OLEUDU\ ZLOO R൵HU DQRWKHU “Crafty Night,” this one for creating a Floral Hoop. $GXOWV FDQ UHJLVWHU IRU WKH HYHQLQJ DW 27/'25* (Maybe just go into the library or call?) Shirley Connor says “Hello!” to friends in Heppner and reports that she would enjoy contact/news from KRPHZKLOHVKHLVDWKHUGDXJKWHU¶VKRPHLQ/D*UDQGH mending from surgeries: She had a shoulder reversal in Boise, was recovering nicely, contracted a virus that set her back several days, fell and broke the “surgered” right arm in two places, had repair surgery, has cabin fever! Good news: her daughter’s nursing care is superb! But nerve damage apparently means that healing will re- quire her to be a house guest for another month. She is right-handed, which precludes her from responding WRPDLOEXWVKHFDQUHDG -XSLWHU:D\/D*UDQGH 97850) and can visit (541-371-6419). Other pedestrians might agree with the ped who reports that walking on the clean sidewalks has been a welcome change from having to walk around dog messes. This ped thanks the city employee who used a blower on the sidewalks before St. Pat’s and thanks the dog owners who continue to be conscientious. “Hello, Spring!” Readers seem eager to get the paper each week and look for the positive happenings shared in this column. As long as contributions come this way it will continue. Contributing is as easy at writing to dbrosnan123@ gmail.com or calling 541-223-1490. Here’s hoping that good news comes to everyone reading this! County audit shows concerns over cybersecurity By Andrea Di Salvo The county has a few EXJVWR¿[LQLWVDFFRXQWLQJ and internet technology systems, according to the audit report for the last ¿VFDO\HDU6DOHP¿UP6LQ- JHU/HZDN SUHVHQWHG WKH highlights of the 125-page report at the Morrow Coun- ty Board of Commissioners meeting in Irrigon March 20. This was the county’s ¿UVW\HDUZLWKDQHZDXGLW firm after 20-plus years ZLWK +HUPLVWRQ ¿UP %DU- nett and Moro. The audit IRUWKHODVW¿VFDO\HDUZDV RULJLQDOO\SODQQHGWREH¿Q- ished in December of 2023. However, delays in the audit led to a March report. Morrow County Fi- nance Director Kevin Ince said the transition to a QHZDXGLW¿UPZDVDOLWWOH bumpy. ³'L൵HUHQW DSSURDFKHV and transitioning to a new DXGLW¿UPFDQFHUWDLQO\EH a big lift,” said Ince. 6LQJHU/HZDN &3$V Brad Bingenheimer and Kathy Wilson were present via Zoom to give the report and answer questions from the commissioners. While there were no major alarms in the county’s accounting system, Bingenheimer said they noticed some “nitty gritty” details in the bud- getary process that were not followed correctly. Morrow County Com- PLVVLRQHU -HII :HQKRO] DVNHG IRU FODUL¿FDWLRQ RQ whether the errors were QHZRUKDGH[LVWHGLQSULRU \HDUVDQG³ÀRZHGWKURXJK´ to the current year. Bingen- heimer said the latter was the case for several of the items in the report. “As new auditors come in, we do have a tendency to really dig into nitty gritty things,” he said. “We ask a million one annoying questions, we ask for a mil- lion different documents, because we want to gain a good understanding of everything.” “Sometimes it’s a mat- ter of having fresh eyes on things and looking at it with a deeper dive,” added Wilson. Among the issues no- ticed by the auditors were RYHUH[SHQGLWXUHV LQ DS- propriations for the year, COVID fund classifica- -Continued to PAGE FIVE ,57+5,*+7 Birthright of Morrow County is seeking monthly donors to support our work here in +HSSQHU:HDUHDQRQSURÀWWKDWRIIHUV FRQÀGHQWLDOVXSSRUWWRDQ\RQHZKRLV pregnant or thinks she may be pregnant. If you are ableto donate $10, $20, or more per month, please let us know! We also accept one time donations as well. For more info, call 541-676-0530. Thank you! Be a part of the movement for Change, Healing and Hope $35,/O 30 HEPPNER SDA CHURCH Register for this FREE Event (541) 922-8697 or on our Facebook Event Page !"#$%&'()*+*,-.&/-(0*+*1%'.-)$(2*3$('4 Visit Your Local Ag Lenders !"#$%&'()*!+() !"#$%&$'()*$+,-..,$ ')!,$&*!-+,.! !/#$'()*$+,-.., Heppner Ione !"#$%&'(')*$+" !"#$%&#++)(#'' Ag/Commercial Loan Officer Ag/Commercial Loan Officer !"#$%&'%(%)*+%)+&*,%$-'.-,&'+/+$011#,$%&'+'0&)! a FREE four-part series that exposes the roots of mental illness and stigma, and explores how modern medicine and biblical faith offers real hope to those who are struggling. Heppner Seventh-Day Adventist Church 560 Minor Street, Heppner MEMBER FDIC
