Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, July 17, 2024 -- THREE
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Wired
Wire is a big part of
Farm Life. It keeps critters
in and out of places…or is
supposed to. Just one thing;
We forgot to clue the crit-
ters in on this little expec-
tation. I don’t think there is
one type of wire I haven’t
been acquainted with on
my little farm. And I don’t
think there’s one type of
wire I don’t hate. Barbed
wire is at the top of my
Hate List….and with good
reason. It’s supposed to be
the Bad Boy of wire. I beg
to differ. Oh, don’t get me
wrong…. it is….if you’re a
Farm Lady. I have the scars
to prove it. But to the crea-
tures, it brags about keeping
confined? Child’s play. I
can hear the cow conversa-
tions now. “Oh look. Isn’t
that cute? She’s putting up
more barbed wire. Does
she really think that will
keep us in?” (Insert hys-
terical laughter here) Next
thing you know, they’re all
singing “Lean on Me” and
taking turns reaching their
necks over the top rung.
Cows can be cruel.
Next up is the
oh-so-popular Chicken
Wire. Yes…. let’s make
a wire that looks like the
perfect solution to way-
ward chickens (we’ll even
name it after them) yet is
as effective as Saran Wrap
trying to stick to a bowl.
“Just staple it” they say.
Ummm hmmm. How’s
your aim? My stapler aim is
not so great. Neither is my
stapler. 500 Staples later, I
might have secured a 2-foot
section. At this rate, I might
have my secure fortress of a
chicken yard completed by
the time the hens are ready
for retirement.
Then there are the dogs,
who love to taunt incarcer-
ated poultry. They do this
by repeatedly ramming
the chicken wire with their
noses and then grabbing it
with their teeth. Fortunate-
ly, these particular dogs
have no interest in actually
getting into the pen. They
just like to make dents,
which become holes, which
become portals of entrance
for more sinister varmints.
They also become exits,
but only for the brightest
and best in the yard. I’ve
noticed it’s usually the same
6 or so hens that utilize
these escape routes. These
aren’t your normal hens
that spend their morning
pecking around, looking
for something to eat. These
ladies get up, shake their
feathers, then start look-
ing for new holes….and
they find them. You would
think the thought of missing
breakfast might be a deter-
rent but no….out they go.
Only to run right past the
3-foot doorway/entrance to
a bounty of chicken feed.
So fine. Let them forage
for their own food. Good
luck with that because I’m
shutting the garden gate.
Horse Wire is that
beautiful wire that almost
stands up by itself. I had
great hopes for that. Looked
awesome for the first week
or so…. until the horses
noticed the 4 blades of
grass on the other side of
the fence. Now it looks
like I’ve strung crepe pa-
per between every T-post.
All I need now are those
big round ribbons for the
T-posts….Perfect for July
4 th .
Hog wire is a very
sturdy fencing prospect that
comes in huge rectangular
chunks. Great idea if you
can figure out how to get
them home. Fitting them
into the back of a pickup
takes some real skill. If
you’re lucky enough to
have a handy young man
helping you load them,
you might wanna see if he
comes with the fencing. Be-
cause getting in and OUT
of the truck (without major
injuries) takes even more
skill than getting it in.
There was a time when
I thought I’d found the
Cadillac of wire. It’s called
Hot Wire aka electric fence.
Simple to install and keeps
both horses and cattle in
their appropriate places. All
you have to do is keep the
tumbleweeds from touching
it…and make sure your
milk cow doesn’t know
how to do the Limbo. Too
late. Turns out Rosie was at
the top of her dance class.
And I’m pretty sure I heard
her singing “How low can
you go?”
B y S u s i e C r o s b y,
Prineville, OR.
Kennedy
resigns
To the council, staff,
and community members;
I am writing this letter
to formally give you my
resignation from the posi-
tion of Mayor to the Town
of Lexington. This letter is
effective immediately and
the July 9 th council meeting
was my last.
I have truly been hon-
ored to serve in this ca-
pacity and want you to
know that the reason I am
stepping down is in no way
a reflection of anyone. As
you are aware my family
experienced a tragedy in
April of this year, and I
lost my youngest daughter.
Because of that loss, my
husband and I are raising
her two small children. This
has become my priority
and I feel that I am unable
to give the community and
town business attention it
deserves.
The council as well
as staff, have been and
will continue to be a great
team. They truly exhibit
forward-thinking, team-
work, and respect for each
other. Their level of com-
mitment has been an asset
to the town of Lexington.
We have witnessed great
strides here and I am look-
ing forward to what the
future will bring.
The water and sewer
projects are in process and
though nothing will happen
quickly, we are so much
closer to this being reality
than ever before. Pass-
ing budgets with no issue,
developing our own eco-
nomic development group
to assist members of our
communities maybe fulfill
their dreams or at least a
small piece of one. There
is so much more, and many
times people don’t know all
the great things or the little
things that contribute to
greatness, but they are there
if one only looks and asks
questions.
We have experienced
four wonderful years since
the beginning of our May
Day Celebration, and we
watch it grow more every
year. I have witnessed this
group look to the future,
wanting to put our town on
the map and make it an even
better place to call home.
Community events like
May Day are a big piece
of that.
I am thankful to all the
local businesses (Heppner,
Lexington, and Ione) for all
your support. Each answer-
ing the call when donations
are needed or participation
in our events is requested.
This is difficult for me
to do because I have loved
my time in this position
and yes, I will even miss
the occasional heated coun-
cil meeting. I will still be
around, attending meetings
when I can and helping on
committees when times
allow. I am invested in our
community as I know you
are as well, and I can’t wait
to see what you have in
store for our future.
Most sincerely, Juli A.
Kennedy, Lexington, OR.
WCCC Ladies play
day results
There were 6 players in
the ladies’ gameplay at
the Willow Creek Coun-
try Club on July 17 th .
The weather was hot and
smokey. The results are
as follows; Low Gross
of the field was Tiffany
Clement. The low Net
field was Betty Carter.
The least putts of the field
were Karen Smith-Grif-
fith. Flights- Low gross
was (B) Kris Linder, and
Low net was (B) Sharron
Harrison. Least putts were
Jannie Allen. Chips-ins
were Sharon Harrison,
Jannie Allen, and Karen
Smith-Griffith. Special
events include Kris Linder
with 3 putts in holes 4 and
8.
GT Correction
Deadline:
Monday 5pm
A correction to last
week’s edition; Sheriff John
Bowls swore in the new
Patrol Deputy Donney, not
David Bowles.
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Don’t Let Salem Dictate Morrow County’s Future!
VOTE NO on Recall!
If Recall is successful
Governor Tina Kotek
will choose our next County Commissioners
Do the citizens of Morrow County want Salem politicians deciding our future? If this recall is
successful, Oregon Law says Governor Tina Kotek will choose our next board of commissioners.
And Tina’s hand-picked people will serve two-and-a-half years!
Keep Local Control
VOTE NO
on Recall
Is this what Morrow County wants?
Don’t leave Morrow County’s governance in the hands of valley
politicians. Keep local control and Vote Down this misguided and
unwarranted recall/power grab!
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