Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 18, 2024)
50¢ VOL. 144 NO. 37 8 Pages Wednesday, September 18, 2024 Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon Heppner Community Foundation turns history into housing with Dr. Tibbles home project Heppner City Council express frustration with BOCs circuit court decision Invites BOC to public workshop By Annalynn Black At the September 9th Heppner City Council meeting, council members vented their frustration over the Morrow County Board of Commissioners’ decision to place the new circuit court building in Board- man instead of Heppner. According to John Doherty, the new facility is set to be located at the corner of Olsen and Columbia Streets Tibbles grandchildren and their spouses at Dr. Tibbles home Inside Dr. Tibbles’ home, which was restored to be as close to in Boardman. in Heppner. (L-R) Darell Tibbles, Kathryn Gonnerman, its original condition as possible. - Photo by Kim Cutsforth Council member Dale Thad Tibbles, April Tibbles and Barbra Chabot (Tibbles). Bates expressed his disbe- lief, stating, “We had three By Chris Sykes commissioners who were in In late 2023, the Hep- support of it being in Hep- pner Community Foun- pner, and I know at least dation (HCF) undertook a two of them didn’t [vote to significant project to restore keep it in Heppner]. I just the former home of Dr. don’t understand how they L.D. Tibbles, a beloved can do that and not address local physician who dedi- the people here in Heppner. cated over 40 years to the I think they need to come Heppner community. The here to Heppner and ad- house, which holds a deep dress the people of Heppner connection to the town’s in a meeting.” history, was gifted to the Mayor Corey Swee- foundation with the un- derstanding that it would be renovated and used as a rental property for doctors and nurses coming to Hep- Dr. Tibbles and his wife at Barbra Chabot (née Tibbles) and Thad Tibbles driving the pner for employment at the his retirement party in 1975, Ford Bronco, gifted to their grandfather by the community at his 1975 retirement party, in the 2024 Morrow County local hospital. This project held at the Heppner High Fair and Rodeo parade. – Photo by Chris Sykes was not only a way to honor School Cafetorium. - Photo from the Heppner Gazette- Dr. Tibbles’ legacy but also Times archives a solution to a pressing need: providing tempo- terior were repainted, and up around the property to of Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. Tibbles quickly es- rary housing for healthcare all the old furniture moved make it ready for rental. For the Heppner Com- tablished himself as a pil- professionals in the rural out and back in to make way for the improvements. munity Foundation, the lar of the community. His community. Cutsforth spoke about restoration of Dr. Tibbles’ medical practice, located The renovation was led by the HCF Board, the scale of the project, house was more than just a in the First National Bank consisting of Kim Cuts- noting that the HCF board renovation project—it was Building, was well known forth, Melissa Lindsay, Joe members alone contributed about honoring the town’s throughout the town, with Armato, Sandy Matthews over 100 hours of volunteer history while addressing frequent advertisements in and Patti Allstott who were labor. “It was a community a current need. Cutsforth the Heppner Gazette-Times Katie Spivey #20, jumping instrumental in getting the effort,” she said, emphasiz- reflected, “It was a fun proj- highlighting his services for an attack with Hallee project off the ground. With ing the importance of pre- ect and a rewarding way to as a local physician and Hisler #11, and Keeley #24. -Photo by Susan a generous grant of $10,000 serving the house’s original give back to the communi- surgeon. Over the years, he Nairns Hisler from the Willow Creek Val- charm while modernizing ty.” One of the core goals became much more than Coach Wilson and her ley Economic Development it for its new purpose. The of HCF is to enhance the just a doctor to the people Heppner Volleyball team Group, the foundation was renovation team worked to quality of life in Heppner by of Heppner—he was a civic defeated Weston-McEwen able to completely revamp ensure that the home stayed preserving its heritage, and leader, serving as city coun- the house for approximately as close to its original state this project was a perfect cilman, mayor, president of $58,000. The renovations as possible, capturing the example of that mission in the Chamber of Commerce, and even a volunteer fire- were extensive, including essence of the time when action. The story of Dr. Tib- man for two decades. He refinishing the wood floor- the Tibbles family lived ing throughout the home, a there. The local FFA chap- bles and his connection to also helped organize Hep- fully remodeled bathroom, ter also played a key role in Heppner is one of dedica- pner Little League baseball updated appliances, and the the project, spending many tion and service. Arriving in the area and volunteered installation of a new water hours working on yard in 1934 after graduating -Continued to PAGE SIX heater. The interior and ex- maintenance and cleaning from Kirksville College ney shared that the city had made efforts to gather letters of support but faced a setback when the Oregon Trail Pro Rodeo withdrew their letter, leaving the city without the crucial backing it needed. Councilmember Cody High raised concerns about the future of the current Heppner courthouse and its operational status. City Manager John Doherty clarified that there are no available funds to remodel the courthouse. Howev- er, he specified that the courthouse will still host hearings for Heppner cas- es, stating that “that’s their way around naming this [Boardman site] a satellite, or annex, but it would not be jury cases. It would be basically south end civil cases only.” Doherty also revisited discussions from the Sep- -Continued to PAGE SIX Mustang girls win 4 out of 6 games on Thursday September 12 th . The Scores were 25- 19, 18-25, 18-25, 25-15, 15- 5, at WM. On September 13 th and 14 th, the girls fell to Crosshill Christian at the Powder Valley Tournament, No. 1 ranked team for 2A in the state, 23-25, 21-25. Then Heppner lost to Im- bler 1-2 sets 23-25 25-15, 10-15 Heppner vs Union -- Heppner went 2-0 for the win, 25-22 25-17 Heppner vs Adrian, Heppner won 2-0 25-5 25-18 Heppner vs Joseph Heppner won 2-0 25-16 25-16. Sage Garden Preschool delivers letters to friends Mustangs defeat Knappa Loggers 42-14 The Heppner Mustang football team welcomed the always tough Knappa Log- gers to Les Payne Field and made short work of them as they defeated the Loggers by the score of 42-14. Hep- pner scored early and often as they had touchdowns on their first six possessions. Heppner got the ball first and had an eleven-play drive that saw the Mustang offensive line take control of the game as the team ran the ball and gained yardage in bunches. Hayden Mc- Mahon, Tripp Stewart and Alakae Rodriguez all had big runs during the drive that lasted for over five minutes. The first Mustang score came as the result of a 1-yard plunge over the goal line by Rodriguez to give the team a 6-0 lead. The Heppner defense stopped the Loggers and gave the team good the ball to Caleb George for the 2-pt. conversion to make the score 28-0. The quick strike Hep- pner offense scored again when Hayden McMahon Preschool teachers Darcie Chick (L) and Kaylee Thompson carried the ball in from 10 (R) on an outing to the Heppner Post Office to deliver letters yard out for the touchdown to thier friends. -Photo by Cindi Doherty -Continued to PAGE THREE Heppner vs. Knappa game. -Photo by Sheena Shank- Wenburg field position. A two- play drive ended in another score when quarterback Mason Orem handed the ball off to Zach Brown and he sprinted 44 yards to give the Mustangs the ball at the Knappa 13-yard line. On the next play Stewart blasted into the endzone for the Mustang score. Stewart then ran the ball in for the 2-pt. conversion to make the score 14-0. The Mus- tangs started their next pos- session near midfield and after runs by Orem for 10 yards and Rodriguez for 25, Hayden McMahon scored a touchdown on a run from 14 yards out giving the Mustangs a 20-0 lead as the second quarter started. The powerful Heppner defense forced another Logger punt which gave the Mustangs the ball at the Knappa 40-yard line. It only took two plays for Heppner to score again as Stewart had an 18-yard run and the touchdown came as Nick Wenberg scored from 22 yards out. Orem passed CALL 541-989-8221 ext 204 for more information
