SIX - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, July 10, 2024
Maryan L. McElligott Memorial Scholarship
program announces 2024-25 recipients
Five exceptional Ione
High School alumni have
been honored as the recipi-
ents of the 2023-24 Maryan
L. McElligott Memori-
al Scholarship. Annabella
McDaniel, a psychology
student at Eastern Ore-
gon University, and Grace
Ogden, studying agricul-
ture communications and
journalism at Oklahoma
State University, have each
been awarded a $2,500
scholarship. Eva Martin,
an Agriculture Business
student at Eastern Oregon
University, and Madison
Orem, currently pursuing
Animal Sciences and Ag-
ricultural Business at the
University of Idaho, have
been granted $2,000 schol-
arships. Kelly Doherty,
an Elementary Education
student at Eastern Oregon
University, has received
a $1,000 scholarship. The
Maryan L. McElligott Me-
morial Scholarship Fund,
a beacon of hope for Ione
High School alumni, has
been granting scholarships
annually since 1997. This
scholarship, open to all col-
lege undergraduates with
a preference for students
in their sophomore year
and above, was established
in memory of Maryan L.
McElligott, a beloved com-
munity member who lost
her battle with cancer. The
scholarship continues to
make a significant differ-
ence in the lives of these
students, enabling them to
pursue their dreams and
make a positive impact in
their chosen fields. As a
community pillar, Maryan
McElligott was an enthusi-
astic community volunteer
and was honored as the
Morrow County Woman
of the Year in 1992. She
highly valued community
involvement and dedicated
her time to volunteering
at the American Legion
Auxiliary Ione Post 95
schools and as a 4-H lead-
er for 20 years. Known
for her exceptional bak-
ing skills, she was famous
for her cakes and taught
cake decorating classes at
Blue Mountain Commu-
nity College. Education
held great importance for
her. Maryan and her late
husband, L.J. McElligott,
who passed away in March
2020, raised eight chil-
dren, all of whom graduated
from Ione High School and
college, with five earning
graduate degrees. Her leg-
acy of community service,
dedication to education, and
love for her family contin-
ues to inspire the Maryan
L. McElligott Memori-
al Scholarship program.
“Preference is given to
students in their sopho-
more through senior years
of college. However, we
encourage students to apply
every year of their college
experience,” said Vince
McElligott, the commit-
tee chair. The scholarship
committee comprises Ione
residents Monica Swanson,
Linda LaRue, Anne Morter,
and Matthew McElligott
of North Powder, Oregon,
along with Vince McEl-
ligott of Houston, Texas,
one of Maryan’s sons.”
Scholarships are award-
ed to students who share
and demonstrate Maryan’s
values but may lack the fi-
Former County Commissioner
Jim Doherty settles Ethics case
Doherty failed to disclose conflict of interest in
Covid funds to his own business
The Oregon Govern-
ment Ethics Commission
has announced the reso-
lution of an ethics case
against former Morrow
County Commissioner Jim
Doherty. The case involved
violations of conflict-of-in-
terest laws that occurred
while Doherty was a com-
missioner in 2020 dis-
bursing Covid-19 funds.
The charges revolve
around Doherty’s involve-
ment in the county’s award-
ing of Covid-19 relief funds
to two businesses owned
by himself and his son. As
a Morrow County Com-
missioner, Doherty was
part of the grant applica-
tion committee to establish
guidelines for distributing
these funds. The conflict of
interest involved Doherty
and his son, Bryce Doherty,
who both applied for and re-
ceived Covid grant funds for
their respective businesses,
O’Doherty Cattle Company
and O’Doherty Outfitters.
Doherty’s cattle company
ultimately received $9,896
in Covid relief funds and
his son’s outfitting business
got $14,493 in grant money.
Details of the Case:
In 2020, Doherty par-
ticipated in several Board
of Commissioner meetings
discussing the distribution
of Covid-19 relief funds
the Ethics Commission
said. On December 9 and
December 16, Doherty was
involved in discussions
regarding the grant applica-
tion process but did not dis-
close his conflict of interest
in that both he and his son
owned businesses applying
for the funds. On December
23, Doherty abstained from
voting after participating
in discussions but did not
adequately announce his
conflict of interest. The Eth-
Former County Commis-
sioner Jim Doherty. -Photo
contributed
ics Commission said that
on December 30, Doherty
made a complete conflict
of interest announcement
and abstained from discus-
sions related to the CARES
grant application process.
According to Oregon
law public officials must
announce conflicts of in-
terest and abstain from
related discussions and
votes if the conflict is ac-
tual. Doherty’s actions at
the December 9 and 16
meetings, as well as his
insufficient disclosure on
December 23, constituted
a violation of these statutes.
Outcome and Settlement:
In settling the complaint
Doherty acknowledged
his failure to properly dis-
close conflicts of interest
at three of the four BOC
meetings. Although no ev-
idence suggested Doherty
used his position to se-
cure financial benefits un-
lawfully, the Commission
found his actions violated
Oregon law. The resolu-
tion involved the following
key points: Doherty re-
ceived a Letter of Education
in lieu of a civil penalty.
The Ethics Commission
agreed to release, settle,
and compromise any claims
against Doherty within the
scope of the proceedings.
Furthermore, Doherty
agreed not to initiate any
Construction Traffic Notice
Starting the week of
22 July, wind turbine com-
ponents will commence
delivery to the Wheatridge
East Wind Project. The haul
route will include transiting
South on HWY 207 to Sand
Hollow Rd, turning East on
to Baseline Ln and being
delivered to the project’s
laydown area on Myers
Ln. If you have any ques-
tions, concerns, or need to
deconflict other traffic in
the area, please reach out
to Ryan Hill, ryan.hill@
NextEraEnergy.com.
Print & Mailing Services
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Sykes Publishing
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claims or litigation against
the Commission as a re-
sult of these proceedings.
The agreement was made
without completing the
investigative phase, demon-
strating Doherty’s willing-
ness to resolve the matter.
Final Stipulated Order:
The stipulated final
order, signed by all parties
includes acknowledgment
by Doherty of the viola-
tions, agreement to waive
the right to a contested
case hearing and judicial
review, and binding ef-
fect upon approval by the
Commission. “This case
underscores the impor-
tance of transparency and
adherence to ethical guide-
lines by public officials in
their official capacities,” the
Ethics Commission said.
“The resolution serves as
a reminder of the respon-
sibilities and standards ex-
pected of elected officials in
managing public resources
and funds” The agreement
between Doherty and the
Ethics Commission was
accepted on June 28, 2024.
Doherty was a Morrow
County Commissioner a
total of six years but was
recalled by voters’ mid-way
through his second term in
2022. Since then, he has
run for election to the Or-
egon State Senate but was
defeated in that effort.
nancial resources to pursue
their college education.
The following criteria are
used to select scholarship
recipients: high academic
achievement; demonstrat-
ed character; community,
family, and school involve-
ment. The L.J. McElligott
family initially set up the
endowment fund in 1994,
and the Oregon Community
Foundation administers it.
The Maryan L. McElligott
Memorial Scholarship fund
makes annual awards to
graduates of Ione High
School enrolled or will be
enrolled in a full-time un-
dergraduate course at any
accredited post-secondary
institution, including out-
of-state institutions. Appli-
cants, including McElligott
scholarship recipients, may
reapply yearly if they meet
the eligibility requirements.
All Ione Community Char-
ter School graduates are
encouraged to apply. Ap-
plications are available
through the Oregon Stu-
dent Access Commission
at https://www.oregonstu-
dentaid.gov/.
BEO among
top Ag Lenders
of 2024
Heppner,
Oregon,
(July 9, 2024) Bank of
Eastern Oregon (BEO)
has been named one of the
country’s top agricultural
lenders in 2024 by the
Independent Community
Bankers
Association
(ICBA). BEO ranks 18 th
on the list of community
banks with $300 million to
$1 billion in assets and is
the only Pacific Northwest
Bank based agricultural
lender on this list. The
article in Independent
Banker magazine includes
photos of BEO personnel
visiting Painted Hills
Natural Beef in Fossil,
Oregon; a customer who
has been with BEO for over
15 years. “Community
institutions like the Bank
of Eastern Oregon are in
the agricultural space for
the long haul,” said Jeff
Bailey, President and Chief
Executive Officer of BEO.
“Agricultural lending isn’t
just a sideline opportunity
that we’re going to get in
and out of. In fact, the
community bank takes its
responsibility to support
rural
communities-of
which agriculture is a large
part very seriously. It’s not
just a line of business; it
is our business,” Bailey
added.
For further information
on the Company or to
access internet banking,
please visit our website at
https://www.beobank.com.
Morrow County Republican
Party July Meeting
The Morrow County
Republicans will meet at
6:30 pm, Thursday, July
18th at the Bellamy House
(Lexington School), Lex-
ington, Oregon. The group
will be planning for up-
coming community events
in Irrigon and Heppner
and activities leading up
to the general election on
November 5, 2024. Ranked
Choice Voting is on the bal-
lot in November. The ORP
encourages all counties to
submit opposition state-
ments to the Oregon Voter’s
Pamphlet. The MCRP will
be working on its opposi-
tion statement. PCPs and
anyone interested in the
county Republican Party
are encouraged to come and
join the discussions.
Precinct Committee
Person, PCP, positions are
open for Lexington, Hep-
pner, Boardman, and Irri-
gon. Individuals interested
in one of these positions
are encouraged to attend
this meeting to learn about
the positions. PCP appoint-
ments can be made during
MCRP meetings.
The Republican Par-
ty is open to individuals
interested in conservative
ideals and values. The Re-
publican Party platform
can be found at https://
oregon.gop/. For more in-
formation on the Morrow
County Republican Party,
contact mocoreps@gmail.
com.
Ruckus and the Boonies
comes to Heppner July
26th and 27th
Ruckus in the Boonies
is coming back to Heppner,
OR July 26 th and 27 th . Ruck-
us in the Boonies is a music
festival that was put on
between the years of 2014
and 2018. The small music
festival is back to celebrate
it’s 10-year anniversary.
The festival took a break
after it’s 2018 festival, in
an attempt to rebuild and
rebrand, and that is exactly
what it has done. Aiming
its musical sound more to-
wards Americana and Out-
law Country, some acts for
this years festival include:
The Pine Box Boys, Ugly
Valley Boys, The Cheating’
Hearts, Johnny Bourbon,
and James Hunnicutt. In
addition, they have set the
start time to 5pm on both
Friday and Saturday to try
to beat the heat. In past
Deadline:
Monday 5pm
years the festival would
kick off as early as noon.
This year’s festival will
take place in the parking lot
behind Bunkum’s Tavern
with Camping at Willow
Creek Campground and RV
Park. The festival is free
on Friday with donations
being excepted at the gate,
and tickets are $25 on Sat-
urday. This years sponsors
are Liquid Death, Varietal
Beer CO, Sykes Brothers
Printing, Browne House
Coffee, Broken Spoke,
Rough Grind Forge, Martin
A-1 Towing, Corey Miller
Farming/Miller Wheat, One
Eyed Bank Photography,
Dan and Diana Sharp, and
Savage Bear. Tickets can
be purchased day of at the
gate, in advance at Buck-
num’s Tavern, and online
at www.twowolvesmedia-
group.com.
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Heppner, OR 97836
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