Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 13, 2024)
50¢ VOL. 144 NO. 45 8 Pages Wednesday, November 13, 2024 Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon Morrow County Courthouse targeted in statewide bomb threat hoax Commissioners propose moving Irrigon Justice Court to Boardman Circuit Court annex By Annalynn Black At the November 6 th Board of Commissioners meeting, Patrick Keely presented a proposal for the approval of MCPT 5310 and 5311 Grants aimed at funding the purchase of a “right-size” vehicle. Keely provided a detailed explanation of the grant ap- plications, stating, “before you guys, I put our grant applications as they stand currently, with both our 5310, 5311 grants. These are formula grants provid- ed based on payroll and some other pieces that come down through ODOT. They are a fixed sum.” Keely continued by breaking down the specif- ics of each grant, noting that the first grant, 5310, amounted to $125,754, and was set aside for right-size vehicles that are not ADA compliant. He explained, “We made the choice with this lesser sum to set it aside to right-size our ve- hicles that are not ADA compliant. We are utilizing our other ADA compliant vehicles to transport one ADA accessible person at a time. To right-size these vehicles will allow us to utilize this newer vehicle to take up to two. This will allow us to put vehicles on the road that can facilitate more passengers.” As for the 5311 grant, Keely shared that it was a larger sum amounting to $415,262 and would be used to fund administrative costs. He stated, “Looking at our total for those we are able to fund most of our administrative funds through that which includes the managers’ salary, dis- patching salary, and some of the other pieces that fit under that administrative umbrella.” The motion was car- ried to approve the use of the grant funds, thereby advancing the initiatives to improve transporta- tion services through the right-sizing of vehicles and supporting administrative operations. Finance Director Kevin Ince brought to light the issue of unauthorized distri- bution of funds as outlined in ORS 210.180. During a routine audit, it was dis- covered that an authorized accounts payable packet was altered after approval but before the checks were issued. Ince reported, “Es- sentially about $12,500 of payments that went out of the county that didn’t get reviewed and audited prior to the distribution.” Ince elaborated on the steps taken to prevent such an incident from occurring again. He and his team revisited the existing pro- cess and collaborated with their software vendor to implement stringent con- trols. Ince explained that they have hard system controls now that won’t al- low anybody to modify any payments once distribution has been approved, before the checks are cut. He add- ed that any modification would require re-review and approval, with the only exception being himself having the authority to bypass this process. Ince clarified that there was no need for board action as this was an internal operational issue, but he was open to addressing any questions from the board. Commissioner Drago inquired about how the incident happened in the first place. Ince responded, “You typically would go through an exercise where you validate that there is a complete segregation of duties, I’m guessing when Incode was implemented a number of years ago that system security was never fully built out. And that’s not uncommon when there is maybe one or two staff, and segregation of duties is impossible.” He noted that previously there were only detective controls in place to review transactions post-factum, which did not prevent inappropriate transactions but helped in detecting them. Ince reassured the board that they have taken corrective measures with their software vendor to add extra steps to ensure such an oversight does not happen in the future. With these new controls in place, the risk of unauthorized fund distribution has been significantly mitigated. Working Out of Clas- sification was brought up by Human Resources Di- rector Lindsay Grogan and Vincent Guerrero Assis- tant County Administrator. They discussed implement- ing a class policy that pro- vides employees who tem- porarily assume the duties of a department head with temporary assignment pay. Grogan explained that the previous Transit Man- ager resigned in October, leaving Patrick Keely to take on both the roles of transit supervisor and tran- sit manager. To address this, Grogan and Guerrero proposed that Keely receive the temporary assignment pay, which would be either the base rate of the high- er-level position or 5% above their regular pay, whichever is greater. Vi n c e n t G u e r r e - ro praised Keely’s per- formance, stating, “He’s Morrow County Courthouse Over the past weekend, courthouses across Ore- gon, including the Morrow County Courthouse, re- ceived bomb threats that quickly mobilized law en- forcement agencies state- wide. In response to the threats, police conducted comprehensive sweeps, uti- lizing K-9 teams and sup- port from local fire depart- ments to ensure the safety of these public buildings. By the end of the search efforts, no suspicious items were found, and authorities confirmed the threats were hoaxes. An initial statement from the Morrow County Sheriff’s Office detailed the immediate response to the threat, with the courthouse and nearby Bartholomew Building placed under in- tense scrutiny. The search involved a coordinated ef- fort between the Morrow County Sheriff’s Office, local fire departments, and K-9 units, who conducted thorough inspections of both the interior and ex- terior of the courthouse grounds. Streets surrounding the Morrow County Court- house were temporarily closed to allow for a secure investigation. Lt. Melissa Camarillo of the Morrow County Sheriff ’s Office confirmed the threats were directed at all courthouses statewide, leading to a syn- chronized response across multiple counties. By Sun- day afternoon, authorities concluded their search with no suspicious items found in any of the buildings. HHS pays tribute to service members and veterans Local veterans gathered at the Heppner High School to be -Continued to PAGE SIX recognized for their service on Monday the 11th, Veterans Day. -Photo contributed. Heppner Jr/Sr High Smith, the guest speaker. School Veterans’ Day As- The school band and choir sembly began at 8:30 a.m., performed for the audi- Total votes: 2,708 (109 votes) ence, and Mr. Grant read Write-in: 6.84% (8 votes) Breakdown of Precincts - with students gathered in the roll call of veterans classrooms to listen to vet- Unofficial Results Total votes: 117 erans share their personal in attendance. Following Heppner Councilor, Position 1 stories. At 10:30, everyone the ceremony, a meal was Morrow County Com- Bill Beard: 53.79% (71 assembled in the gym to served, allowing guests missioner, Position 1 votes) hear Representative Greg and veterans to connect Gus Peterson: 805 votes Ryan Olds: 45.45% (60 and converse. Roy Drago Jr. 173 votes) Write-ins: 5 Write-in: 0.76% (1 vote) Over Votes: 0 Total votes: 132 Under Votes: 147 Councilor, Position 2 Total Ballots: 1,130 Will J Lemmon: 92.68% Morrow County Clerk (114 votes) Write-in: 7.32% (9 votes) Bobbi A. Childers: 946 votes Total votes: 123 Write-ins: 3 votes Councilor, Position 4 Carol Dougherty: 65.79% Over Votes: 0 Under Votes: 181 (75 votes) Total Ballots: 1,130 Write-in: 34.21% (39 Morrow County Sheriff votes) John A. Bowles: 907 votes Total votes: 114 Write-ins: 17 votes Morrow County Soil and Water Conservation Over Votes: 0 Under Votes: 206 District Heppner scores a touchdown against Waldport. -Photo Total Ballots: 1,130 Director, Zone 3 Contributed Morrow County Trea- Brian Doherty: 99.04% The Heppner Mustang Irish by the score of 58-0 to surer Morrow (3,496 votes) football team scored early advance to the next round. Write-in: 0.96% (34 votes) Jaylene Papineau: 872 and often as they won their They will host the Lost votes Total votes: 3,530 OSAA 2A State Football River Raiders in a quar- Write-in: 8 Director, at Large 1 Championship first round ter-final matchup on Les Duane A Neiffer: 99.05% Over Votes: 0 game. The Mustangs (10- Payne Field at Greg Grant (3,531 votes) 0) defeated the Waldport -Continued to PAGE THREE Write-in: 0.95% (34 votes) -Continued to PAGE SEVEN Total votes: 3,565 Director, at Large 2 Jim McElligott: 98.73% (3,410 votes) Write-in: 1.27% (44 votes) Total votes: 3,454 Ballot Measures CALL 25-103: City of Board- 541-989-8221 man New Home Rule Charter ext 204 Yes: 63.04% (493 votes) No: 36.96% (289 votes) for more Total votes: 782 25-102: North Morrow information Vector Control District, Four-Year Local Option Levy Renewal for Vector (Mosquito) Control Yes: 79.62% (2,156 votes) No: 20.38% (552 votes) Morrow County Election Results: Full Breakdown by Precinct Voter Turnout 64.38% Ballots Counted 4,695 Active Registered Vot- ers7,293 Morrow County Com- missioner, Position 1 Gus Peterson: 62.73% (2,570 votes) Roy Drago Jr: 36.27% (1,486 votes) Write-in: 1.00% (41 votes) Total votes: 4,097 Morrow County Clerk Bobbi A Childers: 99.25% (3,722 votes) Write-in: 0.75% (28 votes) Total votes: 3,750 Morrow County Sheriff John A Bowles: 97.72% (3,563 votes) Write-in: 2.28% (83 votes) Total votes: 3,646 Morrow County Trea- surer Jaylene Papineau: 99.11% (3,470 votes) Write-in: 0.89% (31 votes) Total votes: 3,501 City of Boardman Council Member, at Large Heather Baumgartner: 32.63% (545 votes) Brenda Profitt: 28.62% (478 votes) Cristina Cuevas: 33.35% (557 votes) Write-in: 5.39% (90 votes) Total votes: 1,670 Mayor Paul Keefer: 93.47% (630 votes) Write-in: 6.53% (44 votes) Total votes: 674 City of Heppner Councilor, Position 1 Ralph Klock: 99.44% (530 votes) Write-in: 0.56% (3 votes) Total votes: 533 Councilor, Position 2 Ian Murray: 99.28% (549 votes) Write-in: 0.72% (4 votes) Total votes: 553 Councilor, Position 3 No Candidate Filed: 0% (0 votes) Write-in: 100% (80 votes) Total votes: 80 Mayor Corey Sweeney: 98.44% (567 votes) Write-in: 1.56% (9 votes) Total votes: 576 City of Ione Councilor, Position 1 Jason R Carson: 97.06% (132 votes) Write-in: 2.94% (4 votes) Total votes: 136 Councilor, Position 3 Jim Eynetich: 56.21% (86 votes) Jesse Shoemake: 43.79% (67 votes) Write-in: 0% (0 votes) Total votes: 153 Councilor, Position 6 Mark Patton: 97.81% (134 votes) Write-in: 2.19% (3 votes) Total votes: 137 Mayor Michael T Skow: 92.48% (123 votes) Write-in: 7.52% (10 votes) Total votes: 133 City of Irrigon Councilor, at Large (Vote For 4) Melvin L Lambert: 23.60% (351 votes) Hector Cano: 24.61% (366 votes) Marlina Serratos: 23.60% (351 votes) Thomas Roberts: 25.96% (386 votes) Write-in: 2.22% (33 votes) Total votes: 1,487 Town of Lexington Mayor Sheila Miller: 93.16% Mustangs defeat Waldport Irish 58-0 Mustangs win OSAA 2A champi- onship first round
