Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current, May 01, 2024, Page 3, Image 3

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    +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
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Email to editor@rapidserve.net or upload to Heppner.net.
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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
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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
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South Morrow County
community including its
businesses, its public of-
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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,
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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.
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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
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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-
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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
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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-
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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
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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
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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
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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
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take long for the younger
suiter to decide Beauty
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retreated to the goat house.
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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
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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
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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.
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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-
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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
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strength of character and
-Continued to PAGE SIX
($562)
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