Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, October 2, 2024 -- THREE
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Peace
Seems I’ve spent much
of my life trying not to tick
someone off. It’s exhausting
...…especially when it’s
someone close. Is “peace at
any price” worth it? Nope,
hardly ever. There comes a
point when you realize the
one you’re trying to ap-
pease will always be mad. If
not about one thing…. then
another. Sometimes, they’re
just mad because you exist.
I wish I had known that
years ago. Things might
have ended differently.
Israel has had people
mad at them forever. Why?
Because they have the au-
dacity to exist. Apparently,
that really bothers their
neighbors. So, there’s Iran,
who has been good at get-
ting others to do their fight-
ing for them. Then there’s
all their proxies that said
“Cool, put me in coach”.
I think they might have a
few regrets as of late. Also
makes me look a little sus-
piciously at the pagers and
radios we pack around at
work.
Why is peace so dang
hard? Why can’t we just
live and let live? Because
we’re humans with a pro-
pensity to sin. We want
what we want and we want
it now, whether it’s power
or pizza. Even if it’s not
our battle, we’re quick to
pick a side. Sometimes,
fighting is necessary and
right, depending on who
and what you defend. But
it would behoove us to
know exactly what we’re
fighting for. Finding the
truth on a subject isn’t easy
these days.
There are powers in-
volved that we don’t see
working against us. The
Bible says, “We are not
fighting against flesh-and-
blood enemies, but against
evil rulers and authorities
of the unseen world, against
mighty powers in this dark
world, and against evil
spirits in the heavenly plac-
es.” Ephesians 6:12. The
evidence is overwhelming.
Just watch the news for
minutes. Crime is up, de-
cency is rare, lies are the
norm, and Jew bashing is a
favorite pastime. Not good.
Does God have a side?
Yes, He does. We would do
well to stand on His side.
Seems like Christians have
had a hard time figuring this
out lately. Satan is wreak-
ing havoc, meanwhile….
we’re busy dressing for
church and singing hymns.
Battles are uncomfortable
and messy, and they hurt.
But we are to stand up for
what’s right, protect the
innocent and SPEAK UP!
God says He won’t abandon
us. He will be with us in our
battles, when we ask.
So why is everyone
mad at Israel? Ignore the
propaganda. They DO have
a right to defend them-
selves? It’s kinda strange
when you think about it.
How can a country the size
of New Jersey cause such
a stir? Aren’t there bigger
countries to pick on? Being
God’s chosen people tends
to make you a target. But
God’s not about to let some-
one annihilate His people.
Many have tried, without
success. Next, look for Iran,
Russia, and Turkey to join
up and try to destroy them.
Will they succeed? Nope.
Don’t mess with God’s
people.
So where can we find
real peace? Put simply,
follow Jesus and trust Him
with the results. And re-
member who wins.
“Peace I leave with
you; my peace I give you.
I do not give to you as the
world gives. Do not let your
hearts be troubled and do
not be afraid.” John 14:27
B y S u s i e C r o s b y,
Prineville, Or.
MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M.
Community Bond Advisory
Committee continues
district pre-bond work
deciding on potential bond
projects at our schools is on
track,” said Matt Combe,
Superintendent.
In the next few weeks,
several CBAC members
will be profiled on the dis-
trict website and Facebook
page.
The Morrow County
School District Board of
Directors has adopted the
following goals as part of
the pre-bond process:
1. Ensure all build-
ings are structurally safe.
2. Extend the life of
our buildings for future
generations of students.
3. Be the Eastern Or-
egon leader for CTE and
STEAM programs.
4. Create inspiring
educational environments
that are unique to Morrow
County.
For more information
about the district bond,
please visit the Bond Up-
dates page at this link:
www.morrow.k12.or.us/
page/community-bond-ad-
visory-committee.
If you have questions
about the process or would
like further information,
please contact the school
district at 541-676-5705.
(Morrow County) –
With the new school year in
full swing, Morrow County
School District (MCSD)
teachers, staff, and stu-
dents are back at work.
The district’s Community
Bond Advisory Committee
(CBAC) is also working on
next steps in the pre-bond
process.
In January 2024,
MCSD and its Board of Di-
rectors formed the CBAC.
Composed of 21 commu-
nity members from Board-
man, Heppner, Irrigon, and
Lexington, the committee’s
purpose is to consider var-
ious options for submitting
a potential capital construc-
tion bond to voters in May
2025. The committee meets
monthly and started their
work by reviewing facility
needs identified in MCSD’s
facilities assessment.
In October, the CBAC
will create draft recommen-
dations for proposed bond
projects. Those recommen-
dations will be presented
to the MCSD Board of
Directors, followed by a
two-month period for com-
munity feedback.
“The important work
of the CBAC in reviewing
district facility needs and
“Our health district is
not so dissimilar to thou-
sands in similar situations,”
she said. “There is not just
the health district dealing
with this issue.”
Claudia Hughes fin-
ished up the public com-
ment period with a call to
everyone to lay aside their
egos.
“We can’t keep fighting
over every little thing in this
community. We need our
hospital and businesses,”
said Hughes. “Meet in the
middle. Stop fighting!”
Each speaker was giv-
en three minutes, and the
board stopped the comment
period after the maximum
public comment period of
half an hour, saying anyone
who didn’t get a chance to
speak could submit their
questions or comments in
writing.
-Continued from PAGE ONE
three of those years.
“Emily Roberts is the
best CEO I’ve ever worked
for,” she said in response
to criticism leveled against
Roberts. Rhea said she
has worked for eight to 10
health district CEOs and
that she has learned to trust
Roberts’s decisions.
“I have found her to be
completely trustworthy,”
she said.
Andrea Fletcher said
she understood the frustra-
tion expressed in the room.
“We want to support lo-
cal healthcare services and
have them be exceptional,”
she said, but added that it is
the public’s responsibility
to inform itself.
Fletcher said she has
spent a quarter of a cen-
tury working for rural and
underserved communities.
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177 N Main St.
Heppner, Or 97836
O: 541-676-9228
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cozy, down-home feel, boasting quartz countertops
and updated appliances with gas range. Enjoy
outdoor living with a BBQ on the back deck or relax
on the inviting front porch on a quiet street.The two-
car garage doubles as a shop for all your projects,
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177 N Main St.
Heppner, Or 97836
O: 541-676-9228
E:sykeschris@hotmail.com
541-676-
Or Email
that want to explore a new
business idea. The day in-
cludes in-person sessions
on how to finance a small
business idea, a lunch and
learn about marketing your
business, and how to create
a successful business plan.
More information on these
workshops and how to reg-
ister can be found at: https://
heppnerchamber.com/our-
events/resource/.
A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e
Chamber will be hosting
its quarterly luncheon on
Thursday, October 10th
from 12-1pm at its new lo-
cation and invites the com-
munity to attend. RSVPs
are required for this event,
and lunch is catered by
Tacos Hometown for $15
each. Chamber luncheons
are a great way to learn
about what is going on in
your community.
For more information
on the Heppner Chamber
of Commerce, visit www.
heppnerchamber.com. For
more information on the
Heppner Community Foun-
dation, visit www.hcfgives.
org.
Call
9228
Heppner, OR – October
1, 2024 – On Thursday,
October 10th, The Heppner
Chamber of Commerce, in
partnership with Heppner
Community Foundation,
Business Oregon and Re-
inventing Rural, is hosting
a free evening Business So-
cial at the new Innovation
Hub on Willow Street. This
newly renovated space will
be the new host of cham-
ber luncheons and socials,
as well as available for
private and public rental.
The chamber invites en-
trepreneurs, small business
owners, and all other local
business leaders to attend
this event. Attendees can
expect keynote presen-
tation, “Getting Real in
Rural: Energizing Small
Business Entrepreneur-
ship” by Brad Attig, CEO
at Foundry Collective and
happy hour refreshments
from local vendors.
On Friday, October
11th, there will be free
workshops and one-on-
one assistance available
for small business owners,
entrepreneurs or individuals
Citizens voice concerns
to MCHD board
Sykes Publishing
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Heppner Gazette-Times
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