Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, December 11, 2024 -- THREE
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Dear Santa
“Dear Santa,” she wrote,
scooted up to her desk.
“Now this ain’t the first
time I’ve made this request.
You know I’ve been good,
well… far as cowgirls go,
But with all due respect,
Sir, your response has been
slow.
Now, I’m guessin’ the cow-
boy I ordered’s a hot item
And I’ve delt with these
backorders, best not to fight
‘em.
I’m figurin’ on makin’ it
easy on us both
So, I’m changin’ my order
a bit…here goes.
The part about bein’ tall,
dark, n’ handsome
(Not the part about money,
‘cause I still prefer he have
some)
Well, nobody’s perfect, an’
what’s a few extra pounds.
Don’t have to be “show
quality,” just long as he’s
sound.
Hair would be nice, but not
a requirement.
Wouldn’t mind a guy with a
real good retirement.
Teeth need to be clean, but
they can be store bought,
Long as they work, and he
don’t take ‘em out a lot.
It would be great if he came
with a horse…
Boots, chaps, spurs…his
own tack, of course.
Won’t be too fussy ‘bout the
horse he rides.
If he can get on by himself,
I’ll be satisfied.
Well, my stocking’s hung
up, there’s room under the
tree.
I’ve left you some cookies,
and some real good corn
whiskey.
Now, I know you’re busy,
but please rush if you could
‘Cause I’m startin’ to worry
‘bout what’s startin’ to look
good.”
Susie Crosby
Prineville
Bank of EO expands
services in Pendleton
Jeff Bailey
Due to popular demand,
the Bank of Eastern Oregon
has expanded its services
in Pendleton. The Hep-
pner-based bank has opened
a full-service branch at 800
SW Dorion Ave., the former
Oregon Education Founda-
tion building.
President and CEO Jeff
Bailey said BEO custom-
ers had been asking for
a full-service branch in
Pendleton.
“We are pleased we can
now offer our local custom-
ers personal and business
banking services on site, as
well as the agricultural and
commercial loan services
we’ve already offered in
Pendleton,” Bailey said.
BEO has operated a
loan production office in
Pendleton since 2012. Staff
members Mike Short, Tracy
Hamby and Jessica Mul-
vihill, all from the former
loan office, have moved to
the new branch. Pendleton
native Bethany Olsen is the
branch manager.
Bank Eastern Oregon
has 16 branches in Eastern
Oregon, one in Idaho and
five in Washington, where
it operates under the name
Bank of Eastern Washing-
ton. In addition, it has loan
production offices in Ma-
dras and Ontario. For more
information, search www.
beobank.com.
2025 Fair and Rodeo
Queen Applications Open
-Continued from PAGE ONE
asked to make sure appli-
cations are complete with
required documentation and
delivered by this date.
Fair staff will contact
all accepted applicants to
schedule interviews in Jan-
uary.
For additional informa-
tion, contact Gibbs at the
fair office, 541-379-3998 or
mcfair@morrowcountyor.
gov; the Morrow County
Rodeo Board, 541-571-
6959; or Morrow County
Assistant Administrator
Vince Guerrero, 541-676-
5664.
Smith selected to
serve on Joint Special HHS outdoor club
Session Committee
takes to the slopes
SALEM, Ore.—Rep. said Smith.
Greg Smith (R-Heppner)
was selected by the Ore-
gon Speaker of the House
to serve on the Joint Spe-
cial Session Committee,
Smith’s office announced
last week.
The Oregon Depart-
ment of Forestry (ODF)
was recently announced
insolvent, due in part to the
harsh and costly wildfire
season last summer. That,
in turn, left the ODF unable
to pay wages to Oregon’s
dedicated firefighters.
Oregon Governor Tina
Kotek called on the legisla-
ture to meet on Dec. 12 to
send $218 million to state
agencies still contending
with the cost of the 2024
fire season.
“I am honored to be
selected by the Speaker
of the House for this role.
I will use this position
of leadership to ensure
that every firefighter who
protected Oregon homes,
property and people will be
fully compensated for their
hard work last summer,”
Smith was recently
elected to serve his 13 th
term as a state representa-
tive, making him the lon-
gest-serving member in the
Oregon Legislature, as well
as the fourth-longest-serv-
ing state representative in
Oregon history.
He holds a gavel as the
co-chair of the Joint Ways
and Means Subcommittee
on General Government.
Smith also serves as co-vice
chair of the full Joint Ways
and Means Committee. Ad-
ditionally, he is the ranking
member of the House Rev-
enue Committee.
To reach out, visit Rep
Smith’s Facebook Page or
send him an email at rep.
gregsmith@oregonlegisla-
ture.gov.
Rep. Smith is a Re-
publican who represents
the entirety of Morrow,
Gilliam, Sherman, Wheeler
and Wasco counties, and
portions of Clackamas,
Jefferson, Marion and Uma-
tilla Counties.
Heppner FFA
wreath workshop
A group of 20 members of the Heppner High School Outdoor
Club ventured to Anthony Lakes for an opening weekend ski
and snowboard trip. It was a great first trip, with new snow
over groomed trails. More trips are planned for January,
February and March. Back: Ryan Gerry, K. C. Anderson,
Ava Gerry, Zaleta Masterson, Zac Brown, Joseph Albitre,
Christopher Humphreys, Landon McMahon, Lane Critchlow,
Tyelor Moore, Mason Orem, Marty Medina, Connor Wilson,
Dave Fowler and Blaine Gibbs. Front: Olson Anderson, Jai-
me Cavan, Nick Wenberg, Kooper Miller and Darby Spivey.
-Contributed photo
Sunstone Solar receives
state approval
A massive solar farm
planned for Morrow Coun-
ty received final approval
from the state last month.
The Oregon Energy
Facility Siting Council ap-
proved the site certificate
for Sunstone Solar at it
Nov. 14 meeting. The larg-
est solar farm in the state,
Sunstone will sit on ap-
proximately 10,000 acres
about 15 miles northeast of
Lexington.
Sunstone Solar is
owned by Pine Gate Re-
newables. The company has
three years to comply with
site certificate conditions
and begin construction, and
up to three years beyond
that to complete construc-
tion.
Once built, Sunstone
will have nearly four
million solar panels and
will produce up to 1,200
megawatts of electricity—
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Call
541-676-9228
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The Heppner FFA is in Students are hard at work
full swing with their annual crafting beautiful wreaths
wreath-making workshop! for sale.
By Doris Brosnan
A fun “full circle” situation at Willow Creek Terrace
occurred when newest resident Bobbi Angell joined the
Community on the Hill last month: Bobbi is a long-time
resident of Heppner and was the first cook hired when
the Terrace opened. In addition to that coincidence,
Bobbi once lived on Chase Street as a neighbor to Rita
(Hedman) Dezoete and Joyce Ward, and her apartment
location now has her as a neighbor to these same two
friends!
This is a busy month for residents and staff at the
Terrace. The tree and the halls are now decorated, and
today the residents are creating gingerbread houses; to-
morrow they will be working on a Christmas craft that
will enhance their rooms. Soon they will be having their
cookie-decorating party; on the 17 th they will be enjoying
their “Christmas Sweater Day,” and on the 18 th they will
gather around the piano for the singing of carols.
And the festive events don’t stop there. On Christmas
Eve, everyone is invited to enjoy hot chocolate, cookies,
conversation, and carols. It will be while everyone is
sleeping that Santa will visit and leave an individual gift
under the tree for each resident. (Of course, they have all
been nice, not naughty!) And the Christmas-Day dinner
will offer ham and all the trimmings.
In charge of this meal and the breakfast and lunch
menus is Chef Shawn Lifferth. Everyone agrees that
good fortune smiled on the Terrace when Shawn joined
the staff, for he brought with him the myriads of skills
he accumulated in his many years as a trained chef in
some exclusive restaurants.
Shawn encouraged his son Colby to also come to
Heppner and apply for a resident-care-associate position
at the Terrace, and Colby joined Julie Teeman as the
newest staff members. Openings remain for an additional
cook and another care provider; interested persons can
contact the Terrace office or call 541-676-0004.
In addition to the hired staff at the Terrace, the vol-
unteers who provide assistance with many activities are
also indispensable to the smooth running of the facility,
so interested persons are encouraged to check on these
opportunities.
Among these several activities featured at the Terrace
this month, two others stand out as particularly important:
Butch Christian will celebrate his birthday on the 15 th , and
Ginger O’Brien will celebrate her birthday on the 20 th .
Both celebrants will be selecting their birthday lunches
to share with friends and neighbors.
Viewed as one of the more positive months for cele-
bration, December is definitely a good time to be on the
Hill among familiar faces.
177 N. Main
P.O. Box 337
Heppner, OR 97836
Chris@sykesrealestate.net
YOUR AD
COULD BE
HERE!
FFA students hard at work crafting festive wreaths in the
wood shop at Heppner High School. – Contributed Photo
A View from the Hill
enough power to provide
electricity to about 800,000
homes for a year.
It is also approved for
7,200 megawatt hours of
energy storage, an inter-
connection substation, six
collector substations, four
operations and maintenance
buildings, 9.5 miles of
230-kilovolt (kV) overhead
transmission lines and other
miscellaneous structures.
Broker
Chris Sykes
541-215-2274
For Sale
$220,000
This cozy 1950s home, located in a peaceful
community, offers a blend of classic charm
and modern comforts. The 3-bed, 2-bath
property features a finished basement with two
bedrooms and a bonus room, perfect for extra
space or an office. The well-maintained yard,
complete with mature fruit trees, provides a
relaxing outdoor space. Essential appliances,
including a fridge, range, washer, and dryer,
are included, making it move-in ready. Sold
as-is or with conventional financing, this
charming home is ready for you to make it
your own! 285 W ARCADE ST
Lexington MLS# 24676541
We Wish All of You a
Joyous Holiday Season
and a
Merry Christmas!
Together, let’s make
2025 a Year of
Plentiful Harvests and
Thriving Community
Growth.
From All of Us in
HEPPNER
IONE
279 N. Main Street 280 Main Street
541-422-7466
541-676-9125
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