TWO - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, July 17, 2024
The Official Newspaper
of the City of Heppner and the County of Morrow
Heppner
GAZETTE-TIMES
U.S.P.S. 240-420
Morrow County’s Home-Owned Weekly Newspaper
SEARCH OLD COPIES OF THE HEPPNER GAZETTE-TIMES ON-LINE:
http://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/
Published weekly by Sykes Publishing and entered as periodical matter at the Post
Office at Heppner, Oregon under the Act of March 3, 1879. Periodical postage paid
at Heppner, Oregon. Office at 177 N Main St. Telephone (541) 676-9228. Fax (541)
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P.O. Box 337, Heppner, Oregon 97836. Subscriptions: In Morrow County $35/year.
Outside Morrow County $40/year. In County Senior Rate (65 years or older) $30/
year. 9 month Student student subscriptions $35/year.
Chris Sykes ...............................................................................................Publisher
Annalynn Black ............................................................................................ Editor
Cindi Doherty.........................................................................................Advertising
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column inch. Cost for classified ad is 50¢ per word. Cost for Card of Thanks is $15 up to 100
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For Public/Legal Notices: public/legal notices deadline is Monday at 5 p.m. Dates for publi-
cation must be specified. Affidavits must be requested at the time of submission. Affidavits
require three weeks to process after last date of publication (a sooner return date must be
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For Obituaries: Obituaries are published in the Heppner GT at no charge and are edited to
meet news guidelines. Families wishing to include information not included in the guidelines
or who wish to have the obituary written in a certain way must purchase advertising space
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placed in the classifieds under “Card of Thanks” at a cost of $15
Obituaries
Mary Kathleen
Neher
Mary Kathleen Neher,
81, died June 30 th at her
home in Eugene, Oregon,
after a long illness. Both of
her children were with her.
Mary was a faithful servant
of her Lord and Savior Je-
sus Christ and her family
is grateful that she is once
again healthy and whole in
heaven.
Born the fifth of six
children to Lawrence Elmer
Slocum and Frieda Loreta
Slocum (nee McMillan)
in Heppner on March 12,
1943, Mary enjoyed an
idyllic Morrow County
upbringing: attending Hep-
pner schools; helping to
care for her family’s farm
animals; riding horses; fish-
ing; playing sports and,
generally, being as much of
a tomboy as she could get
away with.
She graduated from
Heppner High School in
1961 and then attended
Eastern Oregon College in
La Grande. From there she
moved to Salem where she
lived with her sister, Nancy.
Mary met Ronald Neher in
1964 while the pair were
both working at the Oregon
Highway Department. The
couple eloped and wed on
January 2, 1965, in Coeur
d’Alene, Idaho, and then
lived in Salem and Cor-
vallis until Ron accepted a
teaching job in tiny Powers,
Oregon, in 1969.
Mary and Ron started
their family soon after.
A son, Jeremy, arrived in
the fall of 1970. A daugh-
ter, Tonya, followed in
the summer of 1972. In
1974, the family moved to
Pleasant Hill, Oregon, and,
on Christmas Eve, Mary
moved with her family
onto the property where
she would live for the rest
of her life.
She attended Lane
Community College and
worked part-time in the
school’s math department
in the early 1980s before
going to work as a secre-
tary in the Pleasant Hill
school district. Her first
assignment was in the high
school’s counseling office.
Mary then moved into roles
in the high school music
department, district office,
and elementary school of-
fice before finishing her 20-
year career with the district
in 2004.
Her retirement got off
to a rocky start. Her home
was seriously damaged in a
fire in April 2005 and had
to be completely rebuilt.
But she flourished in the
new house and, despite her
intermittent and eventually
persistent health troubles,
thoroughly enjoyed her
remaining years while gar-
dening, staying immersed
in the lives of her children
and grandchildren, travel-
ing, visiting and hosting
family and friends, attend-
ing traveling Broadway
shows with her lifelong
friend Ferne Healy, and
caring for her dog, Katie,
now 15 years old.
Though her marriage
to Ron ended in 1993, the
couple would eventually
reestablish a friendship and
remain close for the rest of
Mary’s life.
Mary is also survived
by her children: Jeremy
Neher of Eugene and Tonya
(Mike) Kingery of Boi-
se; grandchildren Desirae,
Toby, and Eli Kingery of
Boise; and siblings Peter
Slocum of Coeur d’Alene,
Idaho, Nancy Nelsen of
Vancouver, Wash., and Car-
olyn Cutsforth of Heppner.
Mary was preceded in
death by her parents as well
as siblings Barbara Clough
and Frances Dion.
A graveside service will
be held at Heppner Masonic
Cemetery on Saturday at 2
p.m., to be followed by a
reception at the Gilliam &
Bisbee Building.
HNC updates hours
The Heppner Neighbor-
hood Center has changed its
hours, they will now be
open Monday and Thursday
1 pm-6 pm, Tuesdays and
Wednesdays 10 am-3 pm,
closed Fridays-Sunday.
They also ask that donation
drops be made during busi-
ness hours only.
Good News Only by Doris Brosnan
Regrets that last week’s column was mostly a reprint
of the previous week. Unclear technical problem is un-
detected until after the fact! And an apology to Shannon
Wicklund, whose last name was misprinted!
One way to surprise someone with a party is to
schedule it when the honored guest(s) has no reason to
expect one: Merlin and Claudia Hughes’s families threw
a celebration of the Hugheses’ 80 th birthdays a week ago,
over a month after Claudia’s and three months before
Merlin’s! The couple expected a “cousins’ campout” at
their home in Ukiah, something that hadn’t occurred for
several years, but they were taken by surprise when many
friends also began arriving at the backyard gathering –
with cards, “happy birthday” greetings, some gifts. A
wonderful way to welcome a new decade! Great way for
new generations of cousins to meet, other generations to
get reacquainted, and friends to meet some cousins and
learn a bit more about Merlin and Claudia!
The July 4 celebration in Ione was another hit, judging
by the number of people in the park. A large turnout for
the Cruz-In – 44 entries – and for the afternoon Bingo;
tasty food at the five options, face-painting, games….
And fireworks topped the day’s events!
Finally, schedules could be coordinated, and Shirley
George and Doris Brosnan were able to travel to Redmond
last weekend to visit Doris’s sister Florence Nolan. Shirley
has been a family friend since time began, so Florence
was extremely pleased to have her join the two-hour visit
with Doris and brother Kip Morris, and wife, Theresa,
who live in Madras. Shirley then doubled her pleasure
by going for a first stay with her brother Jim Van Winkle
and wife Georgia, formerly of Heppner.
Impossible that any other dog could be as slow on a
walk as the Melancholy Collie? Well, granddog “Mag-
gie,” the visiting chihuahua/pom cross, most definitely
was! Same age as Katie (10+), walks a brisker pace, but
takes much longer to sniff a scent and finds more scents
to sniff and more questionable tidbits to try to eat! Such a
long time to walk a half mile! (Maggie was handed off to
her Salem owner at a meeting at The Dalles a week ago.)
Occasionally, Ed Groshens – a 1958 HHS graduate
who now lives in Florence – comes through his hometown
and stays a while. While in town during the first week of
July, Ed and his traveling friend, Diane, included a visit
to the Masonic Cemetery, and Ed later reported that he
was extremely impressed by the well-cared-for condition
of the cemetery. Kudos to Dana Wilson and John Healy,
the cemetery board members, and the local taxpayers!
The Brass Fire band returned to Heppner last Sunday
to kick off the Music-in-the-Park series of entertainment.
The band’s showmanship and great bold sound were again
remarkable. Again, some family attractions preceded the
show, and some Hopeful Saints served a hot dog meal this
time. On August 11, the Wasteland Kings will bring their
sound to Music in the Park!
They’re back! The goats have returned to the feed at
the dam site. Watching them at work on the steep face
of the dam can be an entertaining interlude in one’s day.
Time out for a laugh with Dennis O’Donnell: “A
cranky old woman was arrested for shoplifting at a su-
permarket. She gave the arresting officer a hard time, and
she complained and criticized everything and everyone
throughout the process. When she appeared before the
judge, he asked her for what. She defiantly replied that
she had stolen from the store, just a stupid can of peach-
es. The judge then asked why she had done it, and she
replied that she was hungry and forgot to bring any cash
to the store. The judge asked how many peaches were in
the can. She replied in a nasty tone, ‘Nine, but why do
you care about that?’ The judge answered patiently, ‘Well
because I am going to give you nine days in jail, one day
for each peach.’ As the judge was about to drop his gavel,
the lady’s husband raised his hand slowly and asked if he
might speak, and the judge said to go ahead. The husband
said, “Your Honor, she also stole a can of peas.’”
Give readers a few moments of pleasure: Send your
tidbit to dbrosnan123@gmail.com or call 541-223-1490.
Here’s hoping that good news comes to everyone
reading this!
Spiritually Speaking
Father Thankachan Joseph
DO YOU CARE FOR OTHERS
One of the symptoms of life today is that we are
busy people constantly crying out for a break. A full
life equates with a busy life. Yet, we all need a break,
not merely to recharge our energies but to ponder the
deeper question: “What is my life all about?” While a
believer needs a break, paradoxically, there is no break
from loving and living! Through the readings of the day,
we reflect on the care and concern of Christ. In today’s
Gospel we see how Christ cared about people as a good
shepherd cares for his sheep. How do we know?
In today’s first reading from Prophet Jeremiah (23:1-
6), he reprimands the leaders of Israel for neglecting
their duties towards the people. The rulers of Jeremiah’s
time were not good leaders, being either weak or cruel.
They had to shoulder the blame for the misfortune that
had befallen their people. But God will not let His peo-
ple languish. He is a God who cares, and He will show
His care by giving them a new leader, a new prophet, a
new shepherd. In fact, He Himself will be their leader,
their shepherd. This prophecy of Isaiah would be ful-
filled in Jesus the Good Shepherd.
This Sunday’s Gospel reading from Mark (6:30-34)
denotes that the disciples report to Jesus the outcome of
their first apostolic mission. Jesus listens to their reports
and notices that they are tired and weary and suggests
that they need a break. “You must come away to some
lonely place all by yourselves and rest a while.” To re-
treat is to pull back, to withdraw from what one is doing.
All human effort in the world is of no use to the aposto-
late unless it is powered from within by the divine ener-
gy of grace. Seeking out a lonely place is not an escape
from reality. Those who are busy with the work of the
Lord must return to the center within and be alone with
the Lord of the work. In the alone place, we encounter
the Great Alone. Having come apart to be alone with
God, the Lord’s invitation is to rest a while and restore
our energy. Yet there is no holiday or break from love,
from living our faith at all times and in every circum-
stance. While Jesus sends His disciples to rest awhile,
He does not seek rest but is moved with compassion and
so He attends to the multitude.
The Gospel narrates the care and concern of Christ
for His disciples. As soon as they return from their apos-
tolic mission, Christ spends His time with His disciples
and listens to them. Christ becomes a beautiful example
for all the parents of today who are weary and tired due
to their tireless hard work and have no time for their
children and other family members. Such time together
with family members and children could include some
time in prayer with them, to thank and appreciate all the
blessings received through Christ. As Christ became a
model and example, lets try to spend time together with
our family, with our kids.
We are really involved in active lives; some people
have no time to breathe, they are so busy with their daily
routine. Two questions arise from this lifestyle: How can
we shoulder life’s burdens if we have no contact with
Him who is the Lord of all good life? Second, there is
the danger of too much withdrawal. Prayer that does not
issue in work is not real prayer. We must never seek the
fellowship of God to avoid the fellowship of men but to
better fit ourselves for it. The rhythm of the Christian life
is the alternative meeting with God in the secret place
and serving men in the marketplace. Christ becomes a
real hero by way of empathy towards His disciples when
they return from their mission as sheep without a shep-
herd. He went out of His way to reach out to them and
cared for them. The three readings of the day remind
us of the fact that every Christian ought to be a person
who cares about others. We sometimes tell people that
we care about them, yet we fail to prove it by our good
deeds like Christ Himself.
Heppner’s ‘Mini Bakers’ Irrigon man arrested after
-Continued from PAGE ONE selves, the kids determine
their way.
The children have
learned to bake pastries,
and make fillings, and are
currently delving into the
art of canning. Donna is
even delighted that some
of the local teenagers have
expressed interest in learn-
ing the skill of canning
food. Baking has always
been a passion for Donna,
and she has strived to pass
on this skill to the children
she babysits. It comes as no
surprise that the kids have
developed a keen interest
in learning new skills and
creating baked goods from
scratch.
Remarkably, Heppner’s
Mini Bakers do not charge
for their delicious creations.
However, they graciously
accept donations. Donna
proudly reveals that the
children have complete
autonomy in deciding what
they want to bake, and the
parents often provide the
necessary ingredients.
Donna discloses that
even when the kids might
have disagreements or ar-
guments, the prospect of
baking brings them back
together. As she puts it,
“They could be fighting
like cats and dogs, and I’ll
say, ‘Are you gonna bake
or not?’ and they’re best
friends again, at least until
the baking is done.”
Setting a goal for them-
how much they want to
make and will not stop
until they have achieved it,
Donna says. There are no
fixed dates for their bak-
ing ventures; rather, they
bake and set up in town
whenever they feel like it.
Donna also mentions that
the kids are now learning
about different food al-
lergies and incorporating
alternatives to make their
goodies accessible to all.
Furthermore, they are also
learning fractions, sharpen-
ing their math skills while
creating delectable treats.
The Mini Bakers have
accomplished an astound-
ing number of donations so
far. With over $700 donated
to St. Jude’s Children’s
Hospital and $600 to Shri-
ners Children’s Hospital.
In addition to these con-
tributions, they have also
donated to Doernbecher
Children’s Hospital, the lo-
cal summer lunch lady, and
the Oregon 4-H program.
Heppner’s Mini Bak-
ers are not just young kids
learning to bake; they are a
testament to the power of
kindness, generosity, and
community. Under Donna’s
guidance, these children are
not only discovering their
passion for baking but also
spreading joy and making
a difference in the lives of
others, one delicious treat
at a time.
allegedly stealing from
place of employment
Northeast Oregon
Now- An Irrigon man was
arrested and jailed Wednes-
day, July 10 for allegedly
stealing from his place of
employment and then filing
a false report to police.
Just after 9 a.m., the
Hermiston Police Depart-
ment responded to a panic
alarm at a Hermiston busi-
ness. Upon arrival officers
found an employee who
reported the business was
robbed by several individ-
uals who tied him to a chair
before leaving. Following
an investigation by HPD
patrol units and the investi-
gations team, the employee,
Nicholas J. Lepinski of
Irrigon, admitted to stealing
money from the business
and then filing a false report
to cover his actions.
Lepinski was arrested
at about 1 p.m., processed,
transported and lodged at
the Umatilla County Jail
on charges including theft
and filing a false report.
The HPD said no one was in
danger during the incident.