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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