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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (May 1, 2024)
+HSSQHU*D]HWWH7LPHV+HSSQHU2UHJRQ Wednesday, May 1, 2024 7+5(( ~ 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 UHTXHVWLQJWKDW\RXSURYLGH\RXUDGGUHVVDQGDSKRQHQXPEHUZKHUH\RXFDQEHUHDFKHG7KHDGGUHVVDQGSKRQHQXPEHUZLOORQO\EHXVHGIRUYHUL¿FDWLRQDQGZLOOQRWEHSULQWHGLQWKHQHZVSDSHU/HWWHUVPD\QRWEH OLEHORXV7KH*7UHVHUYHVWKHULJKWWRHGLW7KH*7LVQRWUHVSRQVLEOHIRUDFFXUDF\RIVWDWHPHQWVPDGHLQOHWWHUV$Q\OHWWHUVH[SUHVVLQJWKDQNVZLOOEHSODFHGLQWKHFODVVL¿HGVXQGHU³&DUGRI7KDQNV´DWDFRVWRI Email to editor@rapidserve.net or upload to Heppner.net. $SSUHFLDWLQJ60& Several years ago, the Court St. Market was con- verted into a pizza café by Ron and Bev Howe. It was called “Howes About Pizza?” The Howes were well-liked, and the business was successful. Eventually, Ron passed away and a funeral was held at the Assembly of God &KXUFKR൶FLDWHGE\5HY David Jenkins. In an aging community, such as Heppner, funerals are a pretty regular event. A powerful message was delivered by Rev. David Jenkins which was, in fact, a call to action for those attending the service. Rev. Jenkins shared the following: Before you die, there are three things you need to do. First, get yourself a will. Second, reconcile with anyone with whom you have a disagree- ment. Thirdly, get involved with a support group. In our case, we have the first two items well covered. It is the third item on this list that has now become apparent to us and has been well-covered since moving to South Morrow County in the summer of 1972. We h a v e r e c e n t l y moved to Hermiston and have come to realize that our support group for over ¿IW\ \HDUV ZDV WKH HQWLUH South Morrow County community including its businesses, its public of- ¿FHV DQG LWV FKXUFKHV \HW most of all, its people. This letter is for the purpose of expressing our appreciation to the South Morrow County commu- nity for being the support group for us and our family. It has truly been a wonder- ful experience living with such extraordinary people and we are most grateful. In closing, please know that we value each and ev- ery one of you and perhaps if you are in the Hermiston area, you might have time WRVWRSE\IRUDFXSRIFR൵HH and a chat. John and Pat Edmund- son. Hermiston, OR. 7RGG1DVKIRU 6HQDWH A Champion of Work Ethic and Agricultural Val- ues I am writing to express my enthusiastic support for Todd Nash as the ideal can- didate for Oregon Senate District 29. In a political landscape often clouded by rhetoric and divisiveness, Todd Nash stands out as a beacon of integrity, driven by a profound work ethic and unwavering commit- ment to the agricultural val- ues that form the backbone of our community. Todd Nash’s work ethic is not merely a campaign slogan but a defining character- istic that has been evident throughout his career. As a rancher and small business owner, Todd understands the value of hard work, per- severance, and dedication to achieving meaningful results. His hands-on ap- proach to problem-solving and his willingness to roll up his sleeves and get the job done exemplify the kind of leadership we need in the Oregon Senate. Beyond his exemplary work ethic, Todd Nash is a staunch advocate for the agricultural communi- ty. Having grown up on a family ranch and dedicat- ed his life to farming and ranching, Todd intimately understands the challeng- es and opportunities fac- ing Oregon’s agricultural sector. He recognizes the importance of supporting our farmers and ranchers, promoting sustainable prac- tices, and preserving our rural way of life for future generations. In a time of un- certainty and rapid change, 7RGG 1DVK R൵HUV D VWHDG\ hand and a clear vision for the future of Oregon Senate District 29. His leadership is grounded in the values of hard work, integrity, and a deep respect for the land. Whether it’s advocating for rural economic develop- ment, protecting our natural resources, or championing policies that support our agricultural community, Todd Nash has proven time and again that he is the right choice to represent us in the Oregon Senate. As voters, we have the opportunity to elect a leader who embodies the best of who we are as a community. Todd Nash is that leader. I urge my fellow residents of Oregon Senate District 29 to join me in supporting Todd Nash for the Oregon Senate. Erin Hansell-Heideman Ione, OR 1DVKIRU6HQDWH We hope you will join us in voting for Todd Nash, whose dedication to conser- vative values and unwaver- ing commitment to protect- ing our rights make him the right choice to serve and represent Senate District 29 and all our communities. Todd is a voice we can trust. It’s crucial to have lead- ers who prioritize the pres- ervation of our fundamen- tal freedoms and uphold traditional values. Todd Nash embodies these prin- ciples with his advocacy for conservative ideals. His track record demonstrates a deep understanding of the importance of limited gov- ernment, individual liberty, DQG¿VFDOUHVSRQVLELOLW\ Todd’s character speaks volumes about his suitabil- ity for the role he seeks. He is a person of integrity and honesty and uses his elected power to do good for us and our communities. His commitment to serving with transparency and ac- countability sets him apart, he’s looking out for us and our livelihoods. :H DUH FRQ¿GHQW WKDW Todd Nash will diligently work to represent our in- terests and safeguard our rights. His unwavering dedication to conservative principles ensures that our voices will be heard and our values upheld. In Todd Nash, we have a candidate who not only shares our beliefs but also possesses the integrity and character necessary to ef- fectively lead, guided by those beliefs and values. We urge our fellow citizens to join us in voting for Todd Nash who will better our communities and protect our conservative values. June and Robert Jones Wallowa OR 97805 %2&QRWKRQRULQJ WKHLUFRPPLWPHQWV “BOC certifies (and adopts) new ASA plan.” (Gazette Times, 4/24/24). BOC Chairman David Sykes pledged in a Morrow County Fact sheet (1/25/24) at five public meetings in Morrow County this year: “Future meetings will be held in each City once OHA has completed in legal review. Only after those meetings will the Board of Commission vote to adopt and certify the ASA plan.” (Morrow County stamped fact sheet Jan. 25, 2024). This letter documents the current BOC ASA of- ¿FLDO ZULWWHQ FRPPLWPHQW to the citizens of Morrow County that has not been honored. The current BOC has been in office for 16 months, yet Morrow Coun- ty still does not have one) a site for the new Circuit Courthouse or 2) an ad- opted ASA that has yet to WDNHH൵HFWRU DQDGKRF committee to administer the plan or 4) even a date for proposals (RFP) for the new ASA ambulance plan. The new Circuit Court- house is a trainwreck. The previous BOC had already established a committee to review potential Court- house sites. The current BOC established a new Committee over a year ago. A year and four months VLQFHWKH\WRRNR൶FHWKH\ still do not have a site. After broken promise after broken pledge, a Boardman site is on the table. An extensive technical evaluation of the Heppner Historical Courthouse by the previous BOC in 2021 UHYHDOHG VLJQL¿FDQW VWUXF- tural restoration was needed immediately. Not only is the current BOC considering moving the new Circuit Courthouse to Boardman they are also neglecting their responsibility to re- store and repair Morrow County’s greatest historic landmark. Obviously, mon- ey is not an issue with all the millions of S.I.P. money flowing into the county FR൵HUVIURPZLQGPLOOVDQG Amazons. The current BOC and their administrator have not honored their commitments to the citizens of Morrow County and their present agenda is hidden, confus- ing, and ominous. Stuart Dick Irrigon 1DVKFDUHVDERXW our community Having known Todd for many years, we are compelled to voice our sup- port for him to be elected as our senator for Senate Dis- trict 29. Unlike many pol- iticians, Todd isn’t in this for the show; he genuinely cares about our community and its well-being. One of Todd’s greatest strengths is his deep under- standing of who we are as a community. He recognizes that the farming and ag- ricultural industries drive our economy and knows the importance of preserving our culture and traditions. Todd doesn’t just speak empty words about these values; he embodies them in his actions and advocacy. Todd is an authentic leader proven by his long history of advocacy and is intimately familiar with these issues because they impact him in his daily life too as a rancher. He listens to our concerns and works tirelessly to address them, without seeking the spotlight or making empty promises. We trust Todd to repre- VHQWRXULQWHUHVWVH൵HFWLYHO\ and honestly. He under- stands the unique chal- lenges we face and has the knowledge, experience, and relationships to navigate the complexities of government on our behalf in Salem. Todd’s commitment to our community goes beyond mere words; it’s evident in his actions and dedication to making a WDQJLEOH GL൵HUHQFH LQ WKH lives of those he serves. We wholeheartedly support Todd, and we urge our fel- low community members to do the same and vote for Todd Nash in the May election to represent Senate District 29. Phil & Kathy Caldwell 6WDQ¿HOG25 3OHDVHMRLQPH LQVXSSRUWLQJ 7RGG1DVKIRU 6HQDWRU Todd has served as Wallowa County Commis- sioner for over seven years demonstrating his strong work ethic and commitment to improving our economy, our communities, and our infrastructure in Eastern Oregon. He has been instru- mental in providing ongo- ing support and knowledge in seeking funding oppor- tunities for the wastewater project at the Union County Fairgrounds. Todd Nash is profes- sional, approachable, and committed in his desire to support and improve East- ern Oregon. This passion will continue as he advo- cates in Salem as a Senator for the interests of Senate District 29. Vote Todd Nash for Senator. Matt Scarfo Union County Com- missioner, La Grande, OR. :+$" One beautiful sunny morning, while survey- ing my menagerie of farm critters, I noticed Big Bil- ly Goat was unmercifully hassling Little Billy Goat. Now I know they spar now and then, but this was con- siderably more intense than normal, and I could tell the usually sedate Big Billy had every intention of taking out his counterpart. A little more observa- tion and the reason for the FRQÀLFWEHFDPHTXLWHFOHDU It was a battle over the heart of one apparently very hot beauty queen. I watched as Big Bil- ly wandered around the pen, closely following Miss Beauty while spouting what he must have considered his best pickup line. “Wha wha wha …. wha wha wha wha”, stopping only to make sure Little Billy wasn’t planning any interference. When Miss Beauty was less than inviting, he tried again. “Wha wha wha…. wha wha wha wha”. Pretty sure she wished she had a door to slam in his face. But he was relentless. By this time, I’m thinking Dude…what are you do- ing? She didn’t ask you a question. She doesn’t even like you. Not to be easily dis- couraged, he then added a sort of spit/gag/sneeze thing to his mating call. She wasn’t impressed. Since Big Billy wasn’t making any headway, Little Billy decided it was a good time to make his move. Bad idea. Big Billy sent him packing with a sideways headbutt. The ¿JKW ZDV RQ DQG LW GLGQ¶W take long for the younger suiter to decide Beauty ZDVQ¶WZRUWKWKHH൵RUW+H retreated to the goat house. %LJ%LOO\JRWLQDIHZ¿QDO licks, and I decided the two of them needed to be sepa- rated or Little Billy might never see the light of day again. Before I knew it, I was down on all fours, trying to coax Little Billy out of his safe zone/goat house. By my calculations, I had about 6.5 seconds before Big Bil- ly discovered my protrud- ing posterior that happened to be between him and the enemy. This might not end well, I thought, as I yanked Little Billy’s horns toward me. My adrenalin must have kicked in and I got him out with at least 1 second to spare, dragged him to his new home and quickly shut the gate. My attention then turned to Beauty. She was obviously not smitten with Big Billy and was desper- ately trying to avoid his advances. Being the ten- der-hearted Farm Lady that I am and having to discour- age a few suitors of my own back in my day, I decided the best thing for her was to remove her pursuer from the premises. So, a few turns around WKHSHQDQG,JRWD¿UPJULS on Big Billy via his rather large set of horns. Maybe he thought I was taking him to a new love interest, since the last romance didn’t work out, but whatever the reason, he surprisingly came along with little re- sistance. It was only after arriv- ing at our destination that I remembered that I had recently turned the two small pens into one large pen. Dang. Now I had the task of making it back into two pens…. meanwhile playing referee to two ex- cited and fairly confrontive Billy goats. After a little sweat, a lot of prayer, a wooden pallet, and a few bungee cords, I successfully separated the pens and the goats without any major trauma. Feeling rather accomplished and proud that I had most cer- tainly saved Beauty from a life of despair, I fed and watered all three goats. Perfect. Not. Now Big Bil- ly is ramming the pallet repeatedly and Little Billy is attacking the bungee cords….and losing. It got me to thinking. I ZRQGHU ZKLFK FDPH ¿UVW the stupidity or the brain damage. Or is this behavior something that’s just unique to the male species in gener- DO«QRR൵HQVH«RIFRXUVH By Susie Crosby from Prineville, OR. 0\KRQRUWRVWDQG EHKLQG7RGG1DVK As a retired veteran who proudly served my country, it’s my honor to stand behind Todd Nash for Senate. Todd’s unwavering commitment to serving our veterans, combined with his dedication to upholding conservative values and de- fending our constitutional rights, distinguishes him as the undeniable choice to represent us in the state senate. As a father of two sons who have served, Todd un- GHUVWDQGV¿UVWKDQGWKHVDF- UL¿FHVPDGHE\RXUVHUYLFH men and women, and their families. He will ensure veterans receive the support they deserve, advocating for increased access to jobs housing, and mental health resources to address the unique challenges they face during their transition back to civilian life. Todd has 15+ years of experience testifying, ad- vocating, and working with the legislature on behalf of our issues, and has built relationships on both sides of the aisle. He prioritizes local decision-making and smaller government. He UHFRJQL]HV WKH PRVW H൵HF- tive solutions often origi- nate from those intimately familiar with the issues at hand, and he empowers our local leaders. Todd will protect, de- fend, and advocate for our constitutional rights and freedoms in Salem, includ- ing the Second Amend- ment, which is important to me and many others in our community. He already has a proven track record in- cluding testifying numerous times before the legislature, whereas his opponents do not. I urge my fellow citi- zens to join me in support- ing Todd Nash. With Todd as our Senator, our voices will be heard, our values protected, and our veterans honored as they deserve. Chuck Wilcox Hermiston, OR 7RGG1DVKKDV P\VXSSRUW Todd Nash has my en- thusiastic support in the upcoming Senate District 29 election. Todd is honest, trustworthy, and firm on his principles, making him the best candidate to be our voice and protect our values. Todd leads with integ- rity, and his dedication to upholding ethical standards is clear to anyone who has the opportunity to meet him and get to know him. I am particularly im- pressed by Todd’s endorse- ment by Pro-life advocates, as he is the only candidate to receive an endorsement from the Oregon Right to Life PAC. This speaks vol- umes about his values and his dedication to defending the sanctity of life. Todd’s children serving LQ RXU PLOLWDU\ UHÀHFW WKH strength of character and -Continued to PAGE SIX ($562) (;3(5,(1&( 5HDG\WRKHOSZLWK\RXU KHDULQJKHDOWKFDUHQHHGV 1:WK6WUHHW 6XLWH( +HUPLVWRQ25 36$VNXVDERXWRXUILQDQFLQJ RSWLRQV &DOO9HUQD 2൵HULQJFRPSOLPHQWDU\KHDULQJ HYDOXDWLRQDQGRUWRKDYH\RXUFXUUHQW KHDULQJDLGVFOHDQHG FKHFNHG VFKHGXOHWRGD\
