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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (June 12, 2024)
50¢ VOL. 144 NO. 23 8 Pages Wednesday, June 12, 2024 Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon 0LVVLQJER\IRXQGE\/DQNIRUG Recall signatures have EHHQYHUL¿HG -H൵:HQKRO] 6HEDVWLDQ%HUQWVHQWKHER\ ZKRZDVPLVVLQJLQWKH+HS- SQHU+LOOVPhoto by David Berntsen. -LP/DQNIRUG+HSSQHUUHV- LGHQWZKRIRXQG6HEDVWLDQ %HUQWVHQ - Photo by Cindi Doherty 7KH+HOLFRSWHUWKDWZDVGRLQJDQDLULDOVHDUFKRIWKHKLOOV -Photo Contributed 2QWKHHYHQLQJRI-XQH WK D GLVWUHVVLQJ FDOO ZDV PDGHWRWKH0RUURZ&RXQ- W\6KHUL൵¶V2൶FHUHSRUWLQJ D PLVVLQJ ò\HDUROG 6HEDVWLDQ %HUQWVHQ 7KH child was last seen in the KLOOVDERYHWKH5RFN6WUHHW area of Heppner at around SP:LWKXUJHQF\WKH 6HDUFK 5HVFXHWHDPZDV LPPHGLDWHO\DFWLYDWHGDQG D MRLQW H൵RUW EHWZHHQ WKH 0RUURZ &RXQW\ 6KHUL൵¶V Office, Morrow County (PHUJHQF\ 0DQDJHPHQW DQG+HSSQHU)LUHZDVLQLWL- DWHG7KHFRPPDQGFHQWHU was established at Pioneer 0HPRULDO +RVSLWDO ZKHUH VHDUFK SODQV ZHUH PHWLFX- ORXVO\RUJDQL]HG ,QDUHPDUNDEOHGLVSOD\ RIFRPPXQLW\VXSSRUWWKH call for volunteers was answered by a wave of en- WKXVLDVWLFLQGLYLGXDOV)LUVW 5HVSRQGHUVDQGDURXQG dedicated volunteers were briefed on the situation and WKHQ GHSOR\HG WR VSHFL¿F VHDUFKJULGVWKURXJKRXWWKH 6RPHRIWKHYROXQWHHUVDQGVHDUFKDQGUHVFXHWHDPORFDWHG DWWKH3LRQHHU0HPRULDO+RVSLWDO -Photo contributed QLJKW7KHIROORZLQJPRUQ- LQJ ZHOFRPHG HYHQ PRUH kind-hearted volunteers to MRLQWKHFDXVHUHVXOWLQJLQ DSSUR[LPDWHO\ SHRSOH R൵HULQJ WKHLU WLPH DQG HI- IRUWV ,Q DGGLWLRQ WR WKRVH RQWKHJURXQGVHYHUDORWKHU UHVRXUFHVZHUHHPSOR\HGWR assist in the search. Ground searchers utilized various PHWKRGV LQFOXGLQJ IRRW patrols, four-wheelers, and VLGHE\VLGHV /LIH )OLJKW equipped with powerful OLJKWV VFRXUHG WKH DUHD IURPWKHDLUGXULQJWKHGDUN hours, while Two Bears Air, D KHOLFRSWHU IURP 0RQ- WDQD EURXJKW ZLWK LW LQ- IUDUHG FDPHUDV WR DLG LQ WKH VHDUFK HIIRUW 'URQHV IURP %RDUGPDQ )LUH DQG 8PDWLOOD6HDUFK 5HVFXH were also deployed, and a JURXS RI KRUVHEDFN ULGHUV UHPDLQHG RQ VWDQGE\ LI QHHGHG,WZDVDKHDUWHQLQJ VLJKWWRZLWQHVVWKHFRPLQJ WRJHWKHU RI IULHQGV QHLJK- ERUVDQGGL൵HUHQWDJHQFLHV WRVXSSRUWDIDPLO\LQQHHG 'XULQJWKHVHDUFKRSHU- ation, additional assistance FDPH IURP DQ XQH[SHFWHG VRXUFH 7KH /LIH )OLJKW KHOLFRSWHUGLVSDWFKHGIURP /D*UDQGHFLUFOHGWKHDUHD ZLWKVSRWOLJKWV7KLVZDVLQ response to reports that a couple of individuals pos- VHVVHGQLJKWYLVLRQWKHUPDO units that could aid in the search. One of the individu- als who joined the crew was &DP6ZHHQH\DORFDOIURP +HSSQHU 6ZHHQH\ SOD\HG DVLJQL¿FDQWUROHLQWKHRS- eration and was equipped ZLWKDWKHUPDORSWLFVXQLW He was invited to board WKH /LIHIOLJKW +HOLFRSWHU IURP ZKHUH KH IOHZ RYHU Cross Hill in search of heat VLJQDWXUHV 7KH PDLQ DUHD RI LQWHUHVW IRU WKHLU H൵RUWV was centered around the lake and the face of the +HSSQHUGDPDVH[SODLQHG E\6ZHHQH\ After twelve anxious hours, it was Heppner res- LGHQW -LP /DQNIRUG ZKR XOWLPDWHO\IRXQG6HEDVWLDQ 7KH\RXQJER\VHHPLQJO\ XQID]HG E\ WKH WHUULI\LQJ 5R\'UDJR-U 'DYLG6\NHV WDNHVH൵HFWRQWKHGD\LWLV R൵HUHG,IWKHSXEOLFR൶FHU GRHV QRW UHVLJQ ZLWKLQ GD\V 6(/ 6WDWHPHQW RI-XVWL¿FDWLRQRU1RW WKH HOHFWLRQPVWEHKHOGQRODWHU than the 35th day after the ODVWGD\IRUWKHSXEOLFR൶- FHUWRUHVLJQ&KLOGHUVVDLG the special recall election ZLOOEHKHOG-XO\ nd . $FFRUGLQJ WR D )DFH- ERRN SRVW E\ 6WXDUW 'LFN on the Morrow County citizens for liberty and jus- WLFHSDJH0RUURZ&RXQW\ Clerk, Bobbi Childers, has R൶FLDOO\YHUL¿HGWKHVLJQD- tures on the recall petition IRU HDFK &RPPLVVLRQHU 6WXDUW IXUWKHU PHQWLRQHG that they had collected H[WUD VLJQDWXUHV IRU HDFK &RPPLVVLRQHUZLWK6\NHV KDYLQJ :HQKRO] ZLWK DQG 'UDJR ZLWK +HDOVRH[SUHVVHGJUDWLWXGH towards Bobbi Childers and KHUGLOLJHQWLQWHJULW\GULY- HQVWD൵IRUWKHLUXQZDYHULQJ FRPPLWPHQWWRWKHFDXVH The Gazette reached RXW WR WKH FRPPLVVLRQHUV DQG UHFHLYHG D FRPPHQW IURP WZR FRPPLVVLRQHU 'DYLG 6\NHV VDLG ³$V D 0RUURZ &RXQW\ &RP- PLVVLRQHU JUDSSOLQJ ZLWK WRXJK GHFLVLRQV DQG FRP- The County Clerk, Bobbi Childers, has veri- ¿HG WKH VLJQDWXUHV RQ WKH UHFDOO SHWLWLRQ FRQ¿UPLQJ WKDW LW KDV TXDOL¿HG WR EH included in the ballot. Ac- FRUGLQJWRWKHUHJXODWLRQV DIWHU WKH VLJQDWXUH KDYH EHHQYDUL¿HGWKHGHDGOLQH for the public officer to UHVLJQ RU VXEPLW D 6WDWH- PHQWRI-XVWL¿FDWLRQ 6(/ 6WDWHPHQWRI-XVWL¿FD- tion, 200 words or less) is: -XQHZKLFKLVQR later than the 5th day after WKHSHWLWLRQTXDOL¿HVWRWKH EDOORW WKHWKGD\IDOOVRQ 6DWXUGD\ -XQH ZKLFK 256 LQGLFDWHV the deadline will be the IROORZLQJ EXVLQHVV GD\ LI WKH SXEOLF R൶FHU UHVLJQV -Continued to PAGE EIGHT WKHUHVLJQDWLRQLVDFFHSWHG E\ WKH HOHFWLRQ R൶FLDO LW -Continued to PAGE THREE 7KHQHZFLUFXLWFRXUWEXLOGLQJZLOOEHEXLOWLQWKHVRXWK FODVVUHXQLRQ HQG %RDUGPDQRৼWKHWDEOH %\$QQDO\QQ%ODFN The Morrow County %RDUG RI &RPPLVVLRQHUV KHOG WKHLU ODWHVW PHHWLQJ -XQH th ZLWK VHYHUDO LP- SRUWDQWWRSLFVRQWKHDJHQGD LQFOXGLQJ ZKHUH WKH QHZ FLUFXLW FRXUW EXLOGLQJ ZLOO EHEXLOW7KHPHHWLQJVWDUW- HGR൵ZLWKDQXSGDWHIURP &RXQW\$GPLQLVWUDWRU0DWW -HQVHQDERXWWKHDPEXODQFH SODQ$FFRUGLQJWR-HQVHQ the county has received ap- SOLFDWLRQVIURPWZRDPEX- ODQFHSURYLGHUVDQGDLPVWR KDYHWKHSODQLPSOHPHQWHG E\-XO\WK:KLOHWKHWLPH IUDPHLVVWLOOEHLQJZRUNHG RXWWKHFRPPLVVLRQLVGH- WHUPLQHGWRPHHWWKLVWDUJHW $QRWKHUSUHVVLQJLVVXH discussed was the nitrate SUREOHP -HQVHQ LQIRUPHG WKHFRPPLVVLRQWKDWH൵RUWV are underway to facilitate discussions between state, federal, and local partners to address this issue. He re- FHQWO\DWWHQGHGD%RDUGPDQ FRXQFLOPHHWLQJWRGLVFXVV WKH FRXQW\¶V LQYROYHPHQW DQGDVVXUHWKHPWKDW0RU- URZ &RXQW\ LV WDNLQJ D leadership role in find- LQJ VROXWLRQV 7KH FRXQW\ LV H[SORULQJ RSWLRQV WKDW could potentially be funded WKURXJK VWDWH DQG IHGHUDO SURJUDPVDVZHOODVGRQD- tions and partnerships. Matt DOVR PHQWLRQHG UHDFKLQJ RXWWRUHSUHVHQWDWLYHVIURP WKH:HVW *OHQ FRPPXQLW\ WR JDWKHU WKHLU LQSXW DQG VHH ZKDW WKH\ DUH ZLOOLQJ to contribute towards the UHVROXWLRQ -HQVHQ WU\LQJ WREULGJHWKHGLYLGHVD\LQJ ³>ZH¶UH@ WU\LQJ WR EXLOG VRPHWUXVWDQGEULGJHVWKDW KDYH FRPH GRZQ RYHU WKH last few years just because of the contentiousness of WKH LVVXH´ ,Q D SRVLWLYH GHYHORSPHQW %RDUGPDQ has shown openness to pro- YLGLQJZDWHUDQGSRWHQWLDOO\ VHZHUVHUYLFHVIRUWKH:HVW Glen area. 'XULQJ WKH PHHWLQJ &RPPLVVLRQHU6\NHVUDLVHG WKHLPSRUWDQWSRLQWWKDWWKH Port of Morrow should also be involved in these dis- cussions, particularly with UHJDUG WR WKH SURYLVLRQ RI water and sewer services. 7 K H P H H W L Q J W K H Q PRYHG RQ WR GLVFXVV WKH need for a search and res- cue vehicle for the Morrow &RXQW\ 6KHULII ¶V 2IILFH 0&62 7KHFRPPLVVLRQ XQDQLPRXVO\DSSURYHGWKH PRWLRQWRDOORFDWH IURP7LWOHIXQGVIRUWKLV purpose. 1H[W DWWHQWLRQ VKLIWHG to the Circuit Court build- LQJ -HQVHQ LQIRUPHG WKH FRPPLVVLRQ WKDW HIIRUWV ZHUHEHLQJPDGHWRVHFXUH ZULWWHQFRPPLWPHQWVIURP the Port of Morrow and the City of Heppner. He presented positive news, VWDWLQJWKDWWKH&LW\RI+HS- SQHUKDGDOUHDG\FRPPLWWHG WRZDUGV LQIUD- structure for the Kinzua Mill site. Additionally, the Port of Morrow expressed LWV ZLOOLQJQHVV WR GRQDWH 7KH 3RUW¶V SUH- ferred option for the proj- ect is to connect to the city water supply while HVWDEOLVKLQJDVHSDUDWHVHZ- HU V\VWHP +RZHYHU WKLV ZRXOG FRPH DW DQ DQQX- DO RSHUDWLRQV DQG PDLQWH- QDQFHFRVWRIDSSUR[LPDWH- O\IRUOLIWVWDWLRQV RUSUHVVXUL]HGV\VWHPV7KH HVWLPDWHGFRVWIRUZDWHUDQG sewer infrastructure at the 6RXWKHDVWVLWHLV ZKLOH WKH 1RUWKZHVW ORFD- tion would incur a cost of (QYLURQPHQWDO DQG JHRORJLFDO FRQVLGHU- DWLRQV KDYH GHOD\HG SURJ- UHVVDQGWKHHVWLPDWHGFRVWV IRUWKHVHIDFWRUVDWWKHPLOO VLWHDQG%RDUGPDQVLWHDUH DSSUR[LPDWHO\ DQG IRU WKH IDLU- JURXQGVVLWH %RWK &RPPLVVLRQHUV 'UDJRDQG6\NHVH[SUHVVHG WKDW WKH %RDUGPDQ VLWH LV not in their top two options, EXWZKHQ6\NHVDVNHG:HQ- KORW]LIKHDJUHHVKHVDLG³, ZRXOGQ¶WEXWLW¶VDGHPRFUD- F\KHUHDQGPDMRULW\UXOHV´ :KLOH WKH FRPPLV- sion narrowed down the options to two sites, the .LQ]XD0LOO6RXWKHDVWDQG WKH )DLUJURXQGV VLWH WKH\ IHOW WKDW PRUH LQIRUPDWLRQ ZDVQHHGHGEHIRUHPDNLQJ D¿QDOGHFLVLRQ ,Q D SRVLWLYH GHYHORS- PHQW WKH FRPPLVVLRQ UH- FHLYHGYHUEDOFRQ¿UPDWLRQ that they were allowed to VHQGD*HRWHFKWHDPWRWKH PLOO VLWH IRU VXUYH\V DQG DVVHVVPHQWV&RPPLVVLRQ- HU 6\NHV DVVXUHV WKDW LW¶V LPSRUWDQW WR QRWH WKDW WKLV GRHVQRWVLJQLI\WKHFRXQW\ WDNLQJ RZQHUVKLS RI WKH site, but rather a necessary VWHSWRJDWKHUUHOHYDQWGDWD 7KH FRPPLVVLRQ DS- SURYHG D PRWLRQ WR FRQ- GXFW*HRWHFKWHVWLQJDWWKH 6RXWKHDVW0LOOVLWH To be continued in next weeks edition. ZDVDOODERXWWKH¶V +HSSQHU+LJKJUDGXDWHVIURPSRVLQJIRUDSLFWXUH DWWKH(ONV/RGJH- Contributed Photo 7KHFODVV UHXQLRQWRRNSODFHRQ6DW- XUGD\ DW +DJDU 3DUN IRO- lowed by a dinner at the +HSSQHU (ONV /RGJH ODW- HU WKDW QLJKW 7KH FODVVHV JDWKHUHG DW +DJDU 3DUN ZLWK WKHLU IDPLOLHV IRU D IHZ KRXUV RI JDPHV DQG conversation, before head- LQJWRWKH(ONVDWSPIRU GLQQHU ¶V PXVLF SOD\HG WKURXJKRXW WKH QLJKW ZLWK -XOLH :DWNLQV DQG$XGUD %XQFK WDNLQJ WXUQV RQ WKH PLFIRUVRPHNDUDRNH7KH DWPRVSKHUHZDVOLYHO\ZLWK FODVVPDWHV PRYLQJ IURP JURXS WR JURXS VKDULQJ ODXJKWHUDQGVWRULHV CALL 541-989-8221 ext 204 for more information
