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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (May 1, 2024)
+HSSQHU*D]HWWH7LPHV+HSSQHU2UHJRQWednesday, May 1, 2024 -- NINE 0RUURZ&RXQW\FDQGLGDWHVJDWKHUIRU-XGLFLDODQG&RPPLVVLRQHU)RUXP0RQGD\QLJKW -Continued from PAGE ONE this favorable treatment has DOLWWOHPRUHGL൶FXOWLQWKLV working families and fos- community showcases a location for the Circuit Cout DQHOHFWHGR൶FLDO&RQVHQ- sus once again prevailed, as they advocated for re- maining steadfast to the law and not succumbing to concerns about reelection, as it may lead to corruption. However, Judge Collins diverged from this view, D൶UPLQJWKDWWKHTXHVWLRQ implied that being an inde- pendent judge was inher- ently positive. He pointed out that judges had limited opportunities to be truly in- dependent and were bound by the law and facts. Col- lins remarked, “We have to make the decision that is required by law given WKH IDFWV DV ZH ¿QG WKHP and we can’t worry about anything outside of that in coming to that decision and therefore, we’re kind of a slave to the law, we’re not independent would be my answer.” The panel concluded with a question from the audience, inquiring wheth- er any candidate could not IXO¿OO WKH \HDU WHUP DQG what event, as stated in the Oregon constitution, would trigger the process for replacing them. Only Judge Collins provided an answer, revealing that he would turn 75 years old in 2026 and would be required to retire. Collins mentioned that an election would subsequently take place in 2026 to appoint his replacement. He expressed FRQ¿GHQFH LQ VHUYLQJ WZR more years, amounting to a total of eight years, believ- ing that the county would EHQH¿WIURPKLVH[SHULHQFH and investment in the state of Oregon. The County Commis- sioner position #1 forum NLFNHG R൵ ZLWK WKH LQWUR- duction of the candidates - August Peterson, sitting Commissioner Roy Drago, Kelly Doherty, and Richard Drake. As the candidates took the stage, each of them was given the opportunity to address the crowd and present their ideas on the top three priorities for Mor- row County. Drake, hailing from Heppner, wasted no time in making his presence felt. Drake declared, “I am in a prime position to make in- telligent informed decisions for you, for our county, for our individuals.” He swiftly delved into the nitrate issue plaguing the county for decades. Sharing his per- sonal experience of being IRUFHG R൵ KLV SULYDWH ZHOO in 1985, Drake expressed his disappointment at the lack of action and seeming- ly fruitless investigations despite the money that has been poured into the issue. Turning his attention to what he dubbed the “Ama- ]RQ H൵HFW RQ WKH FRXQW\´ Drake raised concerns about corporations receiving tax abatements. He argued that had a negative impact on the community, necessitating a reevaluation of the current system. The abandonment of the existing ASA plan was another pressing con- cern for Drake, as he em- phasized the disruption it has caused. Commending WKH KLVWRULFDO VLJQL¿FDQFH of the circuit court building, he lamented the idea of re- locating it, stating, “I read in an old book somewhere that says do not move the ancient monuments, they’re put there for a reason. This one has been here for over 120 years.” Up next was sitting Commissioner Drago ad- dressed the multitude of is- sues that have been weigh- ing on the current admin- istration. Drago acknowl- edged that upon entering R൶FHWKH\ZHUHIDFHGZLWK a substantial workload. However, he emphasized that the commission has been diligently focused on tackling these challenges head-on. Aware that not every- one may agree with their decisions, Drago assured the public that their primary objective is to resolve these LVVXHVDVH൶FLHQWO\DVSRV- sible. He emphasized the urgency and commitment by stating, “Nobody wants these issues behind us any more than we do. Nobody in this county wants a ni- trate problem, nobody. No- body in this county wants to have no ambulance. We’re not here to be the enemy; we’re here trying to do what we can do.” Drago highlighted his long-term residency in the county since 1980 and his involvement with the Port of Morrow docks, showcas- ing his experience and dedi- cation to the community. He addressed the contentious placement of the Circuit Court building, acknowl- edging that not everyone will be pleased with the de- FLVLRQEXWD൶UPHGWKDWKH aims to keep it on the south end of the county. Drago emphasized the importance of this location, stating, ³,W¶VEHWWHUR൵GRZQKHUH, think Heppner needs it. As far as the courthouse itself is concerned, it’s never gon- na leave; it will always be here. We’re talking about a circuit court, not the County courthouse that’s up on the hill.” Furthermore, Drago outlined housing and child- care as the second and third critical concerns on their agenda. He admitted that housing development is more challenging in this area due to limited available land but assured the public that they are exploring in- novative solutions. “We’re working pretty hard on both of those right now. There are some good projects going on for housing. It’s end of the county because you don’t have as much land to put more housing on. It’s kind of difficult, but we’ll think outside the box.” Drago also mentioned H൵RUWVWRLPSURYHFKLOGFDUH services, indicating that they are actively working on expanding options for families. 3HWHUVRQD¿IWKJHQHU- ation farmer, stated that he possesses degrees in both Agriculture science and Political science. His goal is to utilize his education to enhance his community. Peterson firmly believes that education has equipped him with the necessary perspective to tackle the myriad challenges faced by their county. He asserts, “My approach is rooted in collaboration, community engagement, and practical solutions.” Peterson identifies a host of issues plaguing the county, ranging from groundwater contamina- tion due to nitrates to an alarming ASA crisis. Ad- ditionally, he acknowl- edges the rapidly evolving local economy as another pressing concern. However, Peterson views all of these challenges as stemming from a larger communica- tion problem. Kelly Doherty, a small business owner and mem- ber of the board of Port of Morrow has an academic background that includes an associate degree in general agriculture and general ed- ucation, as well as a bache- lor’s degree in business and philosophy. She asserted that the region is in desperate need of leadership that genu- inely cares about Morrow County and recognizes its diversity. Doherty’s belives her understanding of the GL൵HUHQFHVEHWZHHQ%RDUG- man, Heppner, and Irrigon positions her as a voice for the people. Doherty advocated for a “grassroots approach” to governance, asserting that decisions should be made by the people rather than imposed from the top down. Doherty expressed her be- lief that elected officials should not merely listen and make their own decisions but should prioritize the wishes and needs of the community. Another pressing issue that Doherty highlighted was the rapid depletion of rural land resources. She expresses concern that these precious lands are being “gobbled up,” calling attention to the urgent need for sustainable land man- agement and conservation practices. L a s t l y, c h i l d c a r e emerges as a significant concern for Doherty. Rec- ognizing the indispensable role it plays in supporting tering economic growth, she advocated for com- prehensive and accessible childcare solutions within Morrow County. Next was the issue of transparency and ethical concerns. Candidates were asked about the importance of these areas and how they would prioritize them. Doherty expressed her belief that transparency and ethics are crucial to effective leadership. She acknowledged the concerns raised in various meet- ings, stating, “I think that’s something that has been a concern... the transparency WKDWZH¶UH¿QGLQJIURPRXU boards and our leadership.” Doherty further emphasized the significance of being held accountable and the need to educate oneself, re- marking, “We’re watching that play out now, decisions that were made that were not transparent, and now we’re dealing with them.” Peterson echoed Doherty’s sentiment, em- phasizing the paramount importance of establishing trust in those who hold leadership positions. Com- munication, according to Peterson, is key to address- ing ethical issues. “It does not matter how right you are in this realm,” he noted. “If we cannot communicate why we are right to others as a leader, and as a leader, that falls upon you to make sure that you are getting out there and that you can present your message in a way that people can under- stand.” Furthermore, Peter- son expressed concern that there is currently a lack of H൵RUWLQKHOSLQJLQGLYLGXDOV understand the reasoning behind key decisions. He believes it is the duty of leaders to bridge this gap of understanding and ensure that the public is fully in- formed about the rationales behind their actions. Drago, emphasized the VLJQL¿FDQFH RI HWKLFV DQG transparency in public af- fairs. While acknowledging that there are certain details that cannot be disclosed due to protocol, but, Drago firmly asserts that public hearings are indeed trans- parent. He further argued in favor of creating more “public type forums,” al- though he acknowledges WKH LQKHUHQW GL൶FXOWLHV LQ doing so. 'UDJRVSRNHFRQ¿GHQW- ly about their commitment WR ¿QGLQJ WKH EHVW UHVROX- tions possible. He states, “We do the best we can with the information we have. Our sole purpose is to serve the county and ensure its progress.” While recognizing the limitations in complete transparency, Drago’s in- sistence on public hearings as a means of engaging the commitment to providing a platform for the concerns and ideas of the county’s residents. Drake shed light on the importance of ethics in his previous line of work as a general contractor. Drake emphasized that trust and integrity are essential qualities that one should possess. “Ethics is utmost, if you don’t have a word that people can trust, that’s DSUREOHP´KHD൶UPHG Drake went on to ex- press his desire for addition- al commissioners, seeking a level of “separation” within the team. “Rubbing shoul- ders” with his colleagues was not only important to him, but he also believed it was crucial for the success of their work. “We have one chance to get it right, and if we don’t, it may never come back around again,” Drake warned. Furthermore, Drake VWUHVVHGWKHVLJQL¿FDQFHRI open dialogues between the public and the commission- ers. He acknowledged that the public’s voice was par- amount in decision-making processes, and the commis- sioners needed to actively engage with their constit- uents. All participants were in agreement about the paramount importance of ensuring the safety of the county. Among the key points discussed were the VLJQL¿FDQFH RI LQIUDVWUXF- ture, the ASA plan, and the regulation of nitrates. Drago, voiced his thoughts on the ASA plan, stating, “The county did what they had to do un- der the circumstances. We didn’t stop the ambulance service; it was the ambu- lance services themselves that ceased operations. In response, we stepped in to provide interim service. Contrary to popular belief, we did not force anyone to quit operating an am- bulance service. In fact, we even went as far as to offer a five-year contract extension with a potential reimbursement of up to $1 million, but unfortunately, WKLVR൵HUZDVGHQLHG´ Drake expressed his dismay over what he thought was a lack of sup- port shown by the commis- sioners towards the local health district, he stated, “From my perspective as a citizen, the health district went to the commissioners for $600,000 and they said no. That didn’t seem like a lot of support, especially af- ter just a few months before passing by about 70% of the county to support the ambu- lance service as well as the hospital and clinics around. So, I’m not sure about your perception of that. Safety for Morrow County is just paramount.” They then spoke on the building. Drago, taking the floor first, expressed his disappointment in not yet KDYLQJD¿QDOL]HGVLWH+H cited the restrictive regula- tions as the reason behind the slim pickings. However, it was Drake who posed a question, wondering why the mill site had not been developed for this purpose. His desire was clear as he added, “I want the court- house here.” It became clear that all of them are in agreement when it comes to the future location of the Courthouse in Heppner. Peterson stat- HG ³:H FDQ ¿QG FUHDWLYH solutions to keep it in Hep- pner.” This sentiment was echoed by another candi- date, Doherty, who revealed that the POM board has offered the mill site as a potential location. Doherty emphasized the importance RI¿QGLQJDVROXWLRQRXWVLGH RI WKH ÀRRG SODLQ VWDWLQJ “Every week we ask [the BOC], let’s get that out of WKHÀRRGSODLQOHW¶VJHWWKDW work done.” She further expressed her belief that progress is being made in that regard, saying, “And it’s coming to fruition and I think we see that. Getting sewer and septic, I think that the port would be glad to have that done.” 'XULQJ WKH ¿QDO TXHV- tion of the evening, the spotlight fell on concerns surrounding the new ASA plan. When asked about his thoughts on the plan, Peter- son said, “I have not read it in full detail,” he confessed. But rather than providing a detailed analysis, he talked about a broader perspective. Peterson seized the opportunity to propose a grand vision for the county. “Since we’ve blown this up since we’ve reached this point,” he began, “let’s take this as an opportunity to make sure that we move forward with a plan that provides the entire county with the best coverage and the best service that we can.” Both Doherty and Drake expressed their ap- prehensions about dividing the plan. Drake questioned whether the residents of the north end would be willing to shirk their tax obliga- tions. He emphasized that it was our joint responsibility to ensure the welfare of the north-end community. The forum concluded with a brief presentation by Peterson. To illustrate the impact of individual political votes, he utilized a visual aid in the form of rocks. Peterson displayed small, medium, and large rocks, symbolizing the significance of our local political participation. By displaying a large rock, he H൵HFWLYHO\HPSKDVL]HGWKH power attributed to a single vote. 6XFFHVVIXO06)RFXV:DONLQ+HSSQHU :UDQJOHUV$SULO WK SOD\GD\UHVXOWV 06:DONSDUWLFLSDQWVJDWKLQJDW/HV6FKZDEIRUSKRWR- Contributed Photo April 20 was a perfect day to take a walk to help raise money and show support for Multiple Sclerosis Warriors. They are warriors because they ¿JKW WKLV GLVHDVH GDLO\ KRXUO\ LQ PDQ\ GL൵HUHQW ways. There was no rain, no wind, and a pleasant temperature. There were upwards of 50 supporters for the MS Walk. There were dogs and strollers, runners, and scooters. Everyone had a good time as they walked and talked to others showing their support for those with this awful disease. Black was the team color of the day for some walkers, starting with the team led by the MS Warrior, Heather Smith, and her Support 6WD൵*UHJ6PLWKZDONHG with his wife Sherri and their canine. Greg even wore a picture of his warrior Mother so she could walk with everyone else vicariously. Supporters joined the parade into town; some joined along the way; some just took the short route to Bucknam’s Tavern for brunch. Photo-ops were taken at Les Schwab’s, Murray’s, and along the way. So far, MS Walk collected over $5000. Online contribution totals are unknown at this time. Those of you who donated online, contact Barb Orwick to ensure that your donation counts for us. If you would like to contribute, please get in touch with Barb Orwick, at 541-256-0455. She will forward your contributions or talk you through the online process. If you contributed hundreds of dollars or just a few or showed up, thank you for your support for MS Focus. Let’s help these warriors maintain their health, safety, self- VX൶FLHQF\ DQG SHUVRQDO well-being. Stick-Horse Race: 3 and under- 1 st ) Sawyer Ham. 2 nd ) Sheldon Milli- gan. 3 rd ) Maverick Rhea. 4 th ) Klancy Fennern. 4 & 5 yr. olds- 1 st ) Oakley Berg- strom. 2 nd ) Rune Arm- strong. 3 rd ) Blaney Jo Milli- gan. 4 th ) Iris Armstong. 6 & 7 yr. olds- 1 st ) Rhett Miller. 2 nd ) Lotus Armstrong. Barrels: Lead- Line 1 st ) Maverick Rhea 37.04. 2 nd ) Rhett Miller 38.7. 3 rd ) Lotus Armstrong 39.5. 4 th ) Trell Knowles. Peewee Wranglers 7 & Under: 1 st ) Price Hines 30.2. Lil Wran- glers 8-11 yr. olds- 1 st ) Karter Jo Hines 22.5. 2 nd ) Lydia Knowles 26.6. 3 rd ) EllieGene Fennern 28.5. 4 th ) Morgan Milligan 30.7. Junior Wranglers 12-15 yr. olds- 1 st ) KC Anderson 19.2. 2 nd ) Ashlee Knuts 22.6. 3 rd ) Brooklyn Hen- dricks 23.3. 4 th ) Cathrine Lindsay 23.6. Senior Wran- glers 16 and up – 1 st ) Olivia Humphreys 20.7. 2 nd ) Saige Jensen 24.1. Poles: Lead-line – 1 st ) Rhett Miller 55.1. 2 nd ) Lo- tus Armstrong 55.2. 3 rd ) Trell Knowles 55.5. 4 th ) Rune Armstrong 57.4. Pee- wee Wranglers- 1 St ) Pierce Miller 62.5. Lil Wranglers- 1 st ) Karter Jo Hines 26.07. 2 nd ) Lydia Knowles 28.1. 3 rd ) EllieGene Fennern 30.09. 4 th ) Piper Miller 30.2. Junior Wranglers- 1 st ) KC Anderson 23.2. 2 nd ) Catherine Lindsay 27.6. 3 rd ) Brooklyn Hendricks 28.3. 4 th ) Molly McMurray 28.3. Senior Wranglers- 1 st ) Olivia Humphreys 28.3. Steak Race: Lead-Line- 1 st ) Rune Armstrong 12.7. 2 nd ) Maverick Rhea 13.8. 3 rd ) Lotus Armstrong 14.4. 4 th ) Rhett Miller 14.6. Pee- wee Wranglers 7 and under- 1 st ) Price Hines 8.1. 2 nd ) Pierce Miller 17.5. Put-N-Take: Lil Wran- glers 8-11 yr. olds- 1 st ) Pearl Miller 24.1. 2 nd ) Morgan Milligan 26.9. 3 rd ) Lennon Albrite 35.6. 4 th ) Piper Mill- er 40.8. Junior Wranglers 12-15 yr. old- 1 st ) Molly McMurray 20.0. 2 nd ) Ashlee Knuts 21.2. 3 rd ) KC Ander- son 23.8. 4 th ) Mary Ashbeck 25.8. Senior Wranglers- 1 st ) Olivia Humphreys 27.1. 2 nd ) Saige Jensen 71.3. 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