+HSSQHU*D]HWWH7LPHV+HSSQHU2UHJRQWednesday, May 1, 2024 -- NINE
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-Continued from PAGE ONE this favorable treatment has DOLWWOHPRUHGL൶FXOWLQWKLV working families and fos- community showcases a location for the Circuit Cout
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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
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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
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more years, amounting to a
total of eight years, believ-
ing that the county would
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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-
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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
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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
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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
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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-
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aims to keep it on the south
end of the county. Drago
emphasized the importance
of this location, stating,
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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
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services, indicating that
they are actively working
on expanding options for
families.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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doing so.
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ly about their commitment
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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
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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
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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,
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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
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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
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RI WKH ÀRRG SODLQ VWDWLQJ
“Every week we ask [the
BOC], let’s get that out of
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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
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power attributed to a single
vote.
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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
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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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