Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, July 10, 2024 -- THREE
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Vote no on
the recall
As lifelong residents,
we have lived in North
and South Morrow Coun-
ty and have been active
participants. It has been
gratifying these past 50
years to see our county
become unified, working
together to make this the
best place in Oregon to live.
It has been heartbreaking
to see the current discord
brought on by a few. The
county governed by Oregon
Statues and those ruling
must be followed. Anyone
interested in our county
government should become
familiar with their content.
Jeff Wenholz, David Sykes,
and Roy Drago Jr., our
present Morrow County
Board of Commissioners
are attempting to follow
those rules and do the job
they were elected to. The
current recall is an insult to
our county and to everyone
that worked hard to unify
Morrow County. Please
vote NO as soon as you
receive your ballot. Your
vote must be no later than
July 22 nd .
Vern & Francine Ev-
ans, Irrigon, Or.
Does Morrow
County need
another recall
I am a Morrow County
citizen whose family has
resided in the Heppner
area for three generations.
I honestly feel that local
politics are for others to
argue about or maybe agree
on, therefore over the years
I personally have tried to
avoid public sessions or
stated opinion pieces on
local issues. However, this
recall election effort of our
current County Commis-
sioners, I do find somewhat
troubling which has com-
pelled me to now offer my
own thoughts. I will also
be the first to admit, I have
not attended all the public
meetings and only know
what I have read and heard
on the 3-4 primary issues
cited as the background ra-
tionale for this recall. While
it seems 2 sides do disagree
here, I usually find that
common sense still plays
a part in thinking about
any workable solution or
compromise. Common
sense suggests to me a few
things on the recall—is it
possible these issues may
have been carried over from
the previous County Com-
missioners agenda and now
have become more “politi-
cal or personality” driven
(instead of one directed at
finding real outcomes and
solutions)? As a follow-on,
are the expectations that
our new Commissioners
who began their terms in
January 2024 supposed
to arrive at agreements
for Morrow County citi-
zens on these difficult and
longstanding agenda items
within their first 6 months
in office? Maybe a little
patience, some trust and
a steady leadership hand
with open conversation
still works in public ser-
vice positions too like it
should? If asked, I also se-
riously doubt most citizens
of this County would be
excited to have the Gov-
ernor appoint new County
leadership to govern our
internal affairs and direct
our local decision-making
abilities? One other thing
that I haven’t read or heard
about, but I can tell you it
is real. I sit on a State Re-
gional Advisory Council,
and am an elected Board
member who regularly in-
teracts with local leadership
and citizens alike in other
Counties (Umatilla, Baker,
Wallowa, Union) and in
the last few months at nu-
merous meetings there has
not been one session where
someone I knew hasn’t
asked me—“what’s wrong
with Morrow County”? My
point is--you see what we
are doing with this recall
ballot election really goes
beyond our own County
line and others are watching
and wondering too where
this all goes. Remember a
recall hasn’t happened but
once since the late 1800’s
in Morrow County gover-
nance until last year, and is
it really necessary now to
do it again?
Finally, after 28 years
of active military service,
I have learned you have
to trust your instincts and
mine say something feels
amiss here. Thus, I pose
this question—if you favor
this recall with your vote, I
hope you will consider all
of the background factors
and then the real impact
both internally and exter-
nally to Morrow County?
Perhaps too, you can apply
your own common-sense
denominators to reach what
feels right? I guess your
vote and then the final tally
will decide where we end
up being represented as
citizens of Morrow County.
Chris
Brown
Heppner, OR.
SURPRISE
So, here’s a question
for you. If you were getting
ready to board a plane and
someone pointed out the
pilot, whom you watched
slowly shuffle to the stairs,
stumble up the steps, turn
and speak with someone
who wasn’t there, while
looking very confused and
mumbling to himself….
would you get on the plane?
Not me. I’d be thumbing a
ride back to the nearest bus
station.
Yet here we are, on
this plane called AMERI-
CA……with the possibil-
ity of chalking up another
four years of travel miles
with this obtunded pilot.
Seriously, with Biden in
the cockpit, we’ll be lucky
to make it off the runway.
But then we have our trusty
VP as the Co Pilot. Seems
to me we’d be better off in
her big yellow bus she loves
so much.
Surprised by the de-
bate debacle? After a few
minutes of pain and panic
(remembering this man
actually has access to the
nuclear code) it was ap-
parent…. someone’s meds
weren’t working so well.
Did I expect much more?
Nope, not without a tele-
prompter.
Here’s the biggest
surprise….that the Biden
Admin actually expect us
to believe that THEY are
surprised by all this. Zero
credibility there. They
knew exactly what was
happening. And while ly-
ing through their teeth that
the President has been “on
top of his game” the whole
time, they have been watch-
ing the decline from close
up. The only game he was
on top of was the Throne
of Denial. Yet we’re still
hearing his number one
cheerleader and Denier in
Chief, Dr. Jill, tell us how
great he did and how he
“answered every question”.
By the way…. does it count
if you got them all wrong?
Just curious.
Everyone talks about
Biden’s age. While he’s no
spring chicken, I believe
age is not the problem. We
all know age brings some
decline. But, that said, I
know a man well into his
90’s that could mentally
run circles around Biden.
It’s my opinion that this is
something more. And it’s
something his administra-
tion has been trying to hide
for a long time. NY Times
has recently learned that a
Parkinson’s expert visited
with the presidential Doc.
Now, I’m no neurologist but
I recognized the familiar
shuffle a long time ago. And
I highly doubt I’m the only
one that noticed. In fact,
Conservatives have been
talking about his decline for
about a year now.
Have the Dems been
so busy sorting out pro-
nouns that they missed the
memo? Maybe a few…. but
my guess is that the Deep
State planned a replace-
ment puppet a year ago.
But the options look pretty
slim from here. Kamala?
That’s scary. Newsome?
That’s even scarier. He’s so
left-leaning, he even scares
the Left. Then there’s Mi-
chelle…. which might be
a better option. Being so
close to the current puppe-
teer will make the switch
much easier.
While I’m not so
cold-hearted that I don’t
have sympathy for our Pres-
ident with his mental and
physical decline, I don’t
believe it excuses his disas-
trous presidency, including
his anti-American ideol-
ogies. He wasn’t a good
choice 4 years ago. Yet
removing him from office
might not be as easy as
planned…. especially while
He identifies as the “First
Black woman to serve with
a Black President.” Be-
sides, Jill still wants to
continue being President.
“The LORD detests
lying lips, but he delights
in people who are trust-
worthy.” Proverbs 12:22
By Susie Crosby,
Prineville, OR.
Vote yes on
the recall
This letter is a chal-
lenge to the BOC mislead-
ing and false campaign to
exhort vote No on Recall.
I ask those that have not
voted or are undecided to
give the BOC an oppor-
tunity to respond to this
challenge in the Gazette
Times next week. Citizens
for Liberty and Justice is a
grass roots organization and
does not have the resources
to take on both Morrow
County newspapers, Am-
azon and Windwave mon-
ey, or expensive mailings.
“Keep local Control VOTE
NO.” I challenge the BOC
to document or illustrate
where Morrow County cit-
izens have local control. (a)
Morrow County citizens
were given NO control of
the Emergency ambulance
ASA. Morrow County
citizens voted over 70%
for the MCHD ASA and
were promised five public
meetings in every county
city which never happened.
Even the new ASA advisory
committee had no control
over the final ASA. (b)
Morrow County citizens
had no control of the site for
the new Circuit Courthouse.
After 18 months the citizens
still do not know where
the new courthouse will be
located or any evidence of
local control. (c) Morrow
County citizens had no
control over the BOC giv-
ing away of their priceless
industrial land at the CDA.
Morrow County taxpayers
have no control over our
cost for lawyers for the law
suit the BOC caused at the
CDA. (d) Morrow County
citizens have no control of
the Amazon tax abatements
that go to special interest’s
groups forcing taxpayers
to subsidize BOC deals.
“Keep local control” means
keep the BOC in control.
“Don’t let Salem Dictate
Morrow Counties Future…
Governor Tina Kotek will
choose our next Coun-
ty Commissioners.” That
campaign statement is mis-
information, no more than
fear tactics to save our
current BOC. Here are the
facts this misinformation
leaves out. If one Com-
missioners is recalled no
new Commissioners will
be chosen by the Governor.
If two Commissioners are
recalled the Governor will
be required to choose one
new Commissioner. That
Commissioner could serve
6 months or two and a half
years. If all three Com-
missioners are recalled the
Governor will be required
to choose two new Com-
missioners. That process
would not have “Salem
politicians deciding our
future” as Commission-
er Sykes contends. The
Governor’s choice would
have to be Morrow Coun-
ty citizens that Morrow
County citizens would have
a far greater control over
than they presently have.
In conclusion Jan and
Ken Evans asked this ques-
tion if you vote yes for
recall: “You should be
qualified and willing to
do a better job for Mor-
row County. Do you have
the experience, skills, and
vision to lead our county
through these challenging
times? Do you have a plan
to improve our economy,
health, and environment?”
Here is my answer. Has
the present BOC made
Morrow County a better
place to live? Has the pres-
ent BOC upheld liberty and
justice for our citizens? Has
the present BOC made the
lives of our citizens safer
(Ambulance ASA) and less
stressful? Has the pres-
ent BOC done anything to
make the citizens with con-
taminated nitrate well water
safe and healthy? Does the
present BOC have a vision
for our citizens or a vision
to enrich special interest
groups that support them?
Does Morrow County have
citizens that can answer the
Evans challenge? If you
believe the answer is yes
and the present BOC has
failed their opportunity,
then vote yes on the recall.
I challenge the BOC to
respond, not with a sign or
expensive mailer, but like
a government of the people
for the people.
Stuart Dick, Irrigon,
OR.
WCCC
Sunday
Men’s Play
Sixteen participated in
men’s play on Sunday
July 7 th at Willow Creek
Country Club. The results
are as follows: KP #4-
13 John Bowles 4’8”.
Net 1 st Rick Britt 54, 2 nd
Jerry Gentry 57, 3 rd John
Bowles-Curt Day 60.
Gross 1 st Duane Disque
63, 2 nd Dennis Peck 64,
3 rd David Allstott 68.
The next event will be
on July 14 th , with Donald
Mathews and Joe Armotto
hosting.
Deadline:
Monday 5pm
Seniors enjoy outing to
the Wildhorse Casino
The Seniors on the buss that took them to the Wildhorse
Casino with the chapperones. -Photo by Jackie Alleman
South Morrow Seniors
Matter (SMCSM), our local
community organization
dedicated to enhancing
the lives of senior citizens,
organized a thrilling out-
ing to Wildhorse Casino
on Friday. The event saw
enthusiastic participation
from over a dozen seniors,
all eager to try their luck
and enjoy a day of enter-
tainment.
The outing began with
a comfortable bus ride to
the casino, provided by
the Loop, where the se-
niors were greeted with a
warm welcome. Partici-
pants indulged in various
casino games, including
slot machines, poker, and
blackjack. For many, it
was a chance to relive fond
memories of past visits,
while for others, it was an
exciting new experience.
The atmosphere was filled
with laughter, cheers, and
the occasional celebratory
shout of a big win. Con-
versations flowed easily as
attendees shared stories,
discussed strategies, and
reveled in the day’s events.
South Morrow County
Seniors Matter coordinator,
Deb Green, expressed her
delight at the success of
the outing. “Our goal is to
provide enriching and en-
joyable experiences for our
seniors, and today’s trip to
the casino has been a fantas-
tic success. It’s wonderful
to see everyone having such
a great time,” she said.
The day began with a
group photo to capture the
memories of this special
outing. And at the con-
clusion of this outing, the
seniors boarded the bus
back home and there were
already talks of planning
another casino trip in the
near future.
SMC Seniors Matter
continues to strive toward
creating engaging oppor-
tunities for senior citizens,
fostering a sense of commu-
nity and adventure among
its members. For more
information on upcoming
activities, please contact
Deb Green. Look for us on
Facebook too.
Lunch
& Dinner
Menu
Specials 7-11 7/ 24
Thursday - Buffalo popcorn chicken wrap
with macaroni salad
Friday - 2 ham,egg, cheese English muffins
with fruit
Saturday - chicken breast, mashed potatoes,
and green beans
Monday - pulled pork nachos
Tuesday - 2 pancakes, hashbrowns, sausage
Tuesday night 6-9pm $2 hard shell tacos
Wednesday - tuna melt and pasta salad
HARDMAN POTLUCK
REUNION
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July 20th, 2024
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