TWO - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, September 18, 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
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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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year. 9 month Student student subscriptions $35/year.
Chris Sykes ...............................................................................................Publisher
Annalynn Black ............................................................................................ Editor
Cindi Doherty.........................................................................................Advertising
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Heppner class of ’74 reunion
Heppners class of 1974. -Photo by Sandy Mathews.
Fifty years ago, HHS
student efforts created a
’74 beneath the H on the
hillside. On this past Sep-
tember 7, once again a ’74
graced the hill, thanks to the
efforts of many, a welcome
to the HHS classmates who
gathered for a 50 th reunion.
Ken Grieb, announcing at
the football game on the
evening of the 6 th , was the
first to welcome the early
arrivals and let the commu-
nity know of the reunion.
On Saturday morning at 9,
the activities began with a
round of golf.
Gary and Becky
Hunt, assisted by Mark
Shlichting, organized the
five teams for the two-man
scramble, which included
their 1974 golf coach, Tom
Shear. Four teams tied for
first – Dana Sweek, Mike
Bergstrom, John Boyer,
and Barry Munkers. Their
reward was having each of
their faces (graduation pho-
tos) on their very own box
of “Wheaties Box of Cham-
pions.” (The highlight for
Dana Sweek was on hole
number five, where his shot
came within two feet of the
pin. His “lifetime shot.”)
After a day of
freedom to roam and ex-
plore, the 60 classmates and
spouses and five teachers –
Jim Ackley, Dale Conklin,
Steve Brownfield, Duane
Neiffer, Tom Shear – and
spouses regrouped at 5
PM for dinner and an eve-
ning at the Elks. They were
greeted by Sandy Matthews
(from the class of ’75), who
took a group picture for the
newspaper. And then they
were greeted with tables
festooned with bouquets of
sunflowers, blue and gold
linens, balloons, memora-
bilia, and decorative touch-
es throughout the dining
room. Chef Heath Colvin
prepared a delicious prime
rib/chicken meal.
Toni Roach, MC,
welcomed everyone, in-
cluding classmates who
had attended with everyone
for years but had moved
before senior-year gradua-
tion. Each teacher was rec-
ognized during the evening
and offered a short speech.
Jim Ackley was also given
a t-shirt embossed with
“Ackley/Greenup,” a trib-
ute to his having played
music for the junior-senior
prom, and to his and Matt
Greenup’s playing in a band
through the 80’s.
Susan Hisler pre-
sented the class’s 1974
State Champion 4x100
boys relay team with gold
batons inscribed with the
names of those on the gold
medal team – Matt Gree-
nup, Mike Bergstrom, Karl
Harrison, and John Boyer.
Susie French added to their
special acknowledgement
a 4x100 relay t-shirt in-
scribed with the school
record they have held for
over 50 years. (“Something
unheard of today!” reports
a spokesperson.)
Dale Bates had put
together a slide show of
elementary, middle school
and high school photos
and a short video of the
class’s ten-year reunion,
which created bittersweet
emotions because of class-
mates now deceased. Kathy
Hedman had made a special
memorial display for the
fourteen classmates “gone
before their time.” Another
token of remembrance for
the missing classmates and
friends are the metal-stake
flowers placed on their
graves by Patricia Hughes,
Mark Schlichting, and Su-
san Hisler.
As the evening
progressed, attendees wel-
comed some local visitors,
and DJ Jared Hedman pro-
vided music for the evening
that “went by too quick-
ly.” As individuals left the
gathering each was given
Patricia Hughes’s gift of a
tin can filled with Mustang
M&Ms.
Organizers of the
reunion – Toni Toll Roach,
Kathy Arrington Hed-
man, Gary Hunt, Patricia
Hughes, Susan Healy His-
ler – who started planning
months ago, appreciated
additional help from Norine
Cecil Lathrop and Candi
Mansfield Randall and con-
sidered the reunion a suc-
cessful completion of their
vision of a simple, one-day
special time to celebrate
and reminisce their class’s
years shared in the Heppner
school system. Fifty-four
students started together, 45
graduated together.
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Spiritually Speaking
Father Thankachan Joseph
Do you want to be the greatest
in the Kingdom of God?
The scripture readings of this week invite us to be-
come great in the sight of God by doing God’s will, as
Jesus did, surrendering our lives in the service of others.
The passage from the Book of Wisdom sounds like a
messianic prophecy similar to the “Suffering Servant”
prophecy in Isaiah. It refers to Christ’s passion and urges
us to choose the path of righteousness in spite of painful
consequences, as he did.
In the Letter of James (3:16; 4:3), he is em-
phatic about the contrast between spiritual wisdom and
earthly wisdom. The author of the second reading states
the main cause of conflicts and disputes that happen in
our country, communities, churches, and families come
from our inordinate desires, jealousy, worldly cravings,
selfish ambitions, etc. According to James, most of our
personal conflicts, sins such as slander, stealing and
adultery, stem from our desire to possess what we do not
have. Such a dispute existed among the apostles. James
contrasts jealousy and selfishness with the wisdom from
above that produces a harvest of righteousness. The
second reading concludes by noting that many of our
prayers are not granted or heard by God because we ask
with thoughts of our personal inclinations instead of for
the good of others; and he warns us to avoid jealousy
and selfish ambition and look for the common good of
all. James says that wherever sin is present, there is dis-
order and every foul practice. The challenge for all of us
is to continue to fight our sinfulness.
According to the evangelist Mark, the Christian
criterion of greatness, Jesus says that people who serve
humbly are the greatest. He uses a play on an Aramaic
word that can mean either servant or child. Presenting
a child before them, Jesus explains that one who wish-
es to be the first among them must be a servant to all.
True greatness consists in serving one’s fellow men and
is never self-centered. It lies in the ability to see and re-
spond to the needs of others, and it presupposes empathy
and kindness. The two conditions of true greatness are
humility and service. This vocation to service belongs
to the Church as a whole and to every member of the
Church. In other words, the Christian vocation is an
apostolate of bearing witness to Christ through service.
Christian history teaches us that whenever the members
of Christ’s Church have forgotten or ignored this call to
service, the Church has suffered and became stagnant
too.
The absurdity of the first becoming the last: Jesus
explains a great person in the words of diakonos - a
deacon - a servant - a person who spends his/her day
taking care of other people. What does it mean when
Jesus states that those who want to be the first must be
the last? We must become great through humble, self-
giving service. Greatness, in Jesus› view, is found in our
willingness to accept, welcome, and serve those who are
considered unacceptable and undeserving by reason of
class, color, religion, wealth or culture. We must wel-
come people the way a child welcomes them before he
learns discrimination. If we are to be truly great, we
must be ready to accept four challenges: (1) to put our-
selves last, (2) to be the servant of all, (3) to receive the
most insignificant human beings with love, and (4) to
expect nothing in return. By setting a child before them,
Jesus asked his disciples to be like the child, suggest-
ing the importance of innocence and humility. A child
represents the most powerless member of any society, a
person who has no influence, a person who can be con-
trolled, abused, neglected, or spoiled. Jesus also shows
us that, when serving others, we must be careful to serve
the least important. This means that the Christian must
show hospitality to those who have no social status:
the outcast, the sinner, the sick and the feeble, etc. The
Christian must serve all of God’s children, regardless of
whether they are friends or foes. Why? Because such
people represent Jesus in our midst and hence, they must
be welcomed, respected, and helped. In this passage,
Jesus also tells us that we must care for the unwanted,
neglected, abused, and ignored because then we really
serve Jesus and His heavenly Father.
HRL host breakfast &
auction Sept. 21 st
On conjunction with
the Harvest Fest in Lexing-
ton, Holly Rebekah Lodge
will be having a pancake
breakfast from 8-11am on
September 21 st at the Lodge
Hall. For only $5 one will
receive pancakes, link sau-
sages, scrambled eggs and
a drink. Also available for
sale will be cinnamon rolls
for $3.
In the downstairs of
the Lodge Hall from 10-
3pm a silent auction will
be held with all proceeds
from this going to Challis
Buck. Some of the items al-
ready donated are a Christ-
mas wreath from Heppner
FFA, a Jack Rabbit candle
basket from Julie Baker,
a basket of hair supplies
from Hair I Am, homemade
cribbage board from Nancy
Anderson, a picture of Mor-
row County Courthouse
taken by Janelle Ellis, Scott
Madison has donated 10
bales (4x4x8) of alfalfa
hay weighing 1500 pounds,
Katilyn Zinter a pampered
chef gift basket, Merry
Chandler an assortment
of her craft items, Mary
Mutt both a crocheted baby
blanket and a regular size
blanket, and Scentsy Basket
from Petra Payne. More
items are coming in daily.
So be sure and stop by
the Rebekah Lodge Hall on
Saturday and have a yum-
my breakfast then go down-
stairs and check out all the
items and place your bid on
all the items you want.
DEADLINE:
MONDAYS
AT 5PM
Good News Only by Doris Brosnan
‘Tis the season for class reunions in Heppner?
Members of the HHS class of ’74 welcomed sixty guests
to their gathering on September 7, a full day of activities
and visiting. And soon, the HHS classes of ’60, ’61, and
’62 will converge on Heppner for three days, making the
most of a long weekend for updating, sharing childhood
memories, remembering some favorite Heppner haunts
and exploring some newer community features. On Fri-
day, October 4, everyone may opt to enjoy casual social-
izing for an evening at the Elks lodge. On Saturday, the
museums and the high school will be available for touring
and will be served at the Elks after a bit of socializing.
Before saying their “goodbyes” on Sunday, everyone may
enjoy a catered breakfast at the fairgrounds. Members of
these classes who have not yet responded to the invitation
are encouraged to do so ASAP, and area citizens will be
welcomed with open arms at either of the evening gath-
erings. So many people to see and so little time!
Staying in touch beyond the years shared in school
is an every-Tuesday happening for some of the area’s
graduates from ’64, ’65, ’66. The group that gathers for
an early dinner at Wildhorse varies in size, depending
on individuals’ schedules. The conversations vary from
reminiscence to current affairs. The smiles and laughter
are constants. Three Tuesdays ago, saw seven at the ta-
ble, until curiosity brought ’64 Diana Ball, who dragged
along the oldster ’61 Doris Brosnan to join the Dubuques,
Browns, Evanses, and a Niestadt. Enjoyable two hours.
Paige Grieb, daughter of Ken and Carri, and Ryan
Boggess, son of Mark and Jodie of Yakima, were married
in an outdoor ceremony at Sunriver Oregon last Saturday,
September 14 th . Over 200 friends and family witnessed
their exchange of vows, which they had written to each
other. The day was beautiful, and wildfire smoke had
cleared, allowing Mt. Bachelor to create a fantastic back-
drop for the ceremony. Following the ceremony, everyone
enjoyed a cocktail hour on the patio before moving into
the Great Hall for a reception filled with great food and
lots of dancing. Ryan and Paige Grieb-Boggess make their
home in Selah, Washington, where Paige teaches fourth
grade in nearby Yakima and Ryan works as a licensed
mental-health counselor.
Looking for some natural beauty? Visit Heritage
Park, where the early falling leaves are creating an array
of pastel pinks to crimson! Thanks to all who shared by
sending tidbits to dbrosnan123@gmail.com or by calling
541-223-1490. Here’s hoping that good news comes to
everyone reading this.
IMESD to meet Sept. 18 th
Notice is hereby given
that the board of directors
of the Intermountain Edu-
cation Service District will
meet for a regular board
meeting at 5:00 pm on
Wednesday, September
18 th , 2024, at the IMESD,
2001 SW Nya Ave, Pend-
leton, or. 97801. Please go
to the intermountain esd
website for the agenda and
virtual link information:
https://www.imesd.k12.
or.us.
WWW.HEPPNER.NET
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Lunch
& Dinner
Menu
Specials 9/19 - 9/25
Thursday - Popcorn chicken bowl
Friday - Fish sandwich with fries
Saturday BBQ chicken wrap with potato salad
Sunday - open 11-9pm. 1/4lb rodeo burger with
jojos
Monday - orange chicken, egg roll, and fried
rice
Tuesday - Reuben and cottage cheese
Tuesday night 6-9pm $2 hard shell tacos
Wednesday - Grilled cheese and tomato soup
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