Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, December 18, 2024 -- THREE
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Respect
boundaries of
belief
Do not quarrel with
someone’s “self-identi-
ty.” I do have a problem
with anyone imposing their
“self-identity” on me in any
way, though. Agreed?
This means that you
don’t expect, yeh demand,
that I respect your “pre-
ferred pronouns,” etc. This
means don’t expect, yeh
demand, that I “celebrate”
your “pride” in self, etc.
Let’s leave what should be
private matters private—
between you, your loved
ones, perhaps your pets
and social media accounts
too. For my part, I think
privacy matters and is under
assault from the culture of
self-invention. I also hold
that pride, contrasted with
humility, is harmful; it is
up to you if you agree or
respect that.
I simply ask that you
respect boundaries; if you
don’t, I get irritated. I’m
not alone. If you are guided,
nay ruled by, your worship
of self, your choice, please
don’t impose that on me
or the world. Some of us
have transcendent guides
we reach toward for virtue.
We call Him (yes, “Him”)
a loving moral authority,
which we all fall short of
following in goosestep.
That’s quite at odds with
the self-identity approach
where, the creed proclaims,
“anything goes.” Again, it
is up to you to respect that.
In the words of John
Milton, “Thy self not free,
but to thyself enthrall’d”
(Paradise Lost, Book 6,
Line 181).
Keith Gallagher
Condon, Oregon
Hero?
I read something re-
cently that almost made
me wanna leave the planet.
It’s ok though. I decided
to stay. But I am ready to
move back to that cabin I
wish I hadn’t sold. Looks
like we’ve finally gotten to
the point where insanity is
“normal.” How do I know
this? Because we’re now
making folk heroes out of
cold-blooded killers.
So here it is folks…
if a company doesn’t treat
you right, you have the
option (and apparently the
obligation) to take out the
CEO. And, if you play your
cards right, you’ll even
have folks raising money
for your legal fees. Did
anybody see that coming?
We might have…if we had
looked a little closer at the
“Don’t Offend Me” mantra.
Seems it’s grown a new set
of horns. Better get those
pronouns right folks…and
whatever you do, don’t give
someone the wrong flavor
latte. You may be the next
target.
Brian Thompson was
the 50-year-old CEO of
United Healthcare. His
Marxist (alleged) killer,
who has “grievances” with
the health care system, is
being hailed a hero. One
woman who donated to the
killer’s fundraising site told
the story of how her mother
died without the treatment
she needed because her in-
surance company wouldn’t
cover the cost.
While I’m sorry for
her loss, I fail to see how
that warrants supporting a
murderer. Did I miss some-
thing? Are we at war with
United Healthcare? Mean-
while, the media is virtually
silent on the devastation of
the family of Brian Thomp-
son. I guess bashing Daniel
Penny (a real hero) is more
important.
I know our healthcare
system is a wreck (this is
my opinion, and I represent
only myself). Costs are
outrageous. There’s a ton
of waste due to stupid reg-
ulations. People don’t take
responsibility for their own
health and expect doctors
to fix the problems they’re
still creating. Doctors order
a barrage of tests because
they know they’ll get sued
if they miss something.
People who get free health-
care abuse it…not to men-
tion millions of illegals who
also “qualify.” The folks at
the top are so disconnected
from the ground floor they
haven’t a clue what needs
to be fixed. And I wonder…
when did we get the idea
that healthcare should be
free anyway. Maybe we
should get back to paying
Docs in chickens…and
goats. Yes, it needs fixing…
but not by assassination.
So, is this the prece-
dent we wanna set…where
emotions justify murder?
Let’s see…I mean…what
about Dr. Fauci? Not too
thrilled with him. Should I
put him six feet under? No.
Jail might be appropriate.
Here’s the deal. There
are plenty of people who
see the insanity in all this.
But if we say nothing, we’re
helping the wrong side.
We need to call evil what
it is. Some things need
to shock us…even make
us angry. Remember the
people who said they were
disappointed that Trump’s
assassin missed? Those
people should have been
shut down immediately.
I believe our complacen-
cy has contributed to the
downhill slide. Let’s not be
afraid to speak up. And let’s
lift the Thompson family
up in prayer. I’m sure they
would appreciate it.
“Woe unto them that
call evil good, and good
evil; that put darkness for
light, and light for darkness;
that put bitter for sweet, and
sweet for bitter!” (Isaish
5:20).
Susie Crosby
Prineville, OR
Ione park bathrooms
vandalized
The City of Ione has
announced that a security
camera has been installed in
Ione City Park due to recent
vandalism at the city park
restrooms.
According to the city’s
announcement, if vandal-
ism occurs again, the city
will be forced to lock the
bathrooms at night, and
possibly on weekends.
Residents are asked
to report any suspicious
activities to Ione City Hall
at 541-422-7414.
Students share school news with Boardman councilors
By Annalynn Black
In the December meet-
ing of the Boardman City
Council, student represen-
tatives from local schools
presented updates on var-
ious activities and initia-
tives.
The session kicked
off with two students,
Finley and Danny, from
Sam Boardman Elementa-
ry School. They reported
that 23 veterans attended
the recent Veterans Day
celebration and noted the
upcoming winter concert,
scheduled for Dec. 12.
“We hope you will have
a great December, and we
will see you in January,”
Nichols remarked.
Next, Fernanda and
Hartford from Windy River
Elementary School shared
their school’s recent dress-
up days and the election of
student council represen-
tatives. The students also
mentioned that diagnostic
testing has begun, with
results leading to various
prizes.
Emma, eighth-grade
president, and Westin,
eighth-grade vice presi-
dent from Riverside Mid-
dle School, highlighted
their anticipation for an
upcoming game night. They
reported that school dances
held so far this year have
been a “big success,” fos-
tering connections outside
the classroom.
“We’re excited to keep
this tradition going,” Perez
expressed.
A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e y
mentioned that fundraising
efforts are underway, em-
phasizing the importance
of such events for school
funding.
Lucero, from Riverside
High School, discussed
the senior class’s dress-up
week and door decoration
contest, which promotes
school spirit and healthy
competition among stu-
dents, according to Lucero,
along with fundraising ini-
tiatives. She noted that at
a recent basketball game,
they sold yearbooks rang-
ing from the 1980s to the
2023 graduating class.
The council also ad-
dressed a request from
Boardman residents, the
Leightons, who have previ-
ously sought permission to
place a shipping container
on their property.
Mrs. Leighton ex-
pressed her desire for a
solution, stating, “I just
really want to come up
with a solution on how we
can have one. I want to put
in my work; obviously, it’s
ugly, and it’s an eyesore.”
She proposed painting
and landscaping around
the container to enhance its
appearance.
Mayor Keefer respond-
ed, noting, “I mean we
aren’t going to solve it
177 N. Main
P.O. Box 337
Heppner, OR 97836
Chris@sykesrealestate.net
today, but if you had any
questions that you would
like to maybe have answers
to, or thought processes to
be able to get ready for our
January work session.”
Council member Ethan
Salata raised concerns about
the possibility of people
living in the container and
suggested that the council
could look into codes to
prevent this scenario.
Council member Rich-
ard Rockwell acknowl-
edged initial concerns but
expressed his understand-
ing of the Leightons’ vision,
proposing a review of past
ordinances in Oregon to
find a resolution.
“This is not the first
time discussion has come
up even in the state of Or-
egon, so there’s got to be
somewhere we can draw
from to come to some kind
of resolution,” he stated.
Council member Kar-
en Pettigrew asked about
the lot size. The Leightons
confirmed they own two
lots with more than enough
space for a container.
Next on the agenda
was Resolution 27-2024,
presented by City Financial
Director Martha Barajas,
regarding inclusion under
the Oregon Deferred Com-
pensation Plan.
This resolution would
provide city employees
with an additional option
to the existing 457 B retire-
ment plan.
“Is there a benefit to
this?” Pettigrew inquired.
Barajas responded that it
offers employees more op-
tions for retirement savings.
Mayor Keefer supported the
resolution, referencing his
experiences in the school
system, where employees
had limited choices.
Following the discus-
sion, Council Member
Brenda Profitt moved to
approve the resolution,
with Rockwell seconding.
The motion passed unani-
mously.
In appointments, Sam
Iron and David Jones were
inducted into the planning
committee, with Marcie
Rodello, Richard Rosales,
Bobby Barnes and Roy
Drago Jr. being named to
the Housing Investment
Advisory Committee.
Public comments in-
cluded a brief introduction
from Gus Peterson, the new
Morrow County commis-
sioner-elect, who expressed
his intention to engage
regularly with the council.
“I will be a regular;
it’s one of the things that
I said I was going to do.
Here I am and I’m going to
continue to be here. I look
forward to the opportunity
of working with all of you,”
Peterson said.
Taylor Rightman re-
ported on the Parks Mas-
ter Plan Advisory Team’s
Broker
Chris Sykes
541-215-2274
For Sale
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recent meeting with city
representatives and con-
sultants to improve Board-
man’s parks. Anticipated
developments include ADA
compliance enhancements,
new play structures, bench-
es and tables.
“Two thousand twen-
ty-six is going to be the year
of the parks,” one council
member said.
Another remarked on
Boardman’s rich history,
mentioning that the first
Park Director in Oregon
was Sam Boardman him-
self, and that would be a
good thing to note moving
forward in projects.
An audience mem-
ber provided information
about state grant funding
available for cities looking
to enhance ADA structures,
further emphasizing the
collaborative efforts to
improve community fa-
cilities.
Mark your calendar for the
following events:
New Year’ Eve – December 31st
Prime Rib Dinner at 5pm with music
by Joe & Andrew Lindsay
Elk’s Annual - February 15th Annual
hosted by ER Shane and Regi Lazinka
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