Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, December 25, 2024 -- THREE
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Goat Flu
Got the bug. Feeling
poorly enough that it might
even be The Man Cold…
but maybe not. I’m still
able to walk and nobody’s
bringing me chicken soup.
Besides, I figure as long as
I can still crochet, it can’t
be that bad.
I t ’s k i n d a f u n n y,
though. It used to be that
you either had a cold or
stomach flu. That was the
choice. Not COVID, type A
or B, Bird Flu, or any other
popular bug. You treated
the symptoms. You might
even remember your mom
slathering Vicks Vapor Rub
on your chest. Yuck.
I noticed that Newsom
declared a state of emer-
gency due to the Bird Flu.
This falls on the heels of the
non-destructive earthquake
emergency relief. I guess
fighting the Trump Effect
costs more than he planned.
Got to thinking. May-
be I have the Goat Flu.
All my symptoms became
more severe this morn-
ing as I watched nearly a
dozen goats break through
the fence and head for the
alfalfa.
That’s when the deliri-
um hit. I lost all control and
began screaming at the top
of my lungs “I hate you!
I’m getting the gun!”
Next came physical
violence. The grain scoop
was the handiest weapon,
and I connected several
times with Billy the Perv
(whom I’m sure led the
escape). The effect on Billy
was minimal (I think he
enjoyed it), but I did feel a
little better post-attack. Fact
is, it probably staved off a
mass slaughter.
Beware of the Goat
Flu, folks. Pretty sure I
need to declare a State of
Emergency, because I could
sure use Federal funds to fix
the fence.
So, do you ever won-
der why God doesn’t just
heal everyone? I wonder
about that sometimes. Jesus
healed a bunch of people
when He walked the earth.
Many witnessed these heal-
ings, including the Apos-
tles, who never backed
down on these claims even
as they faced death because
of their faith.
Remember, some may
die for a lie they think is
true, but nobody dies for a
lie they know is a lie. They
died knowing the truth. I
witnessed a miracle years
ago when he healed my
daughter’s heart. She was
three months old when di-
agnosed with a hole in her
heart. I was told she would
need surgery at six months.
God had other plans.
A friend prayed for a new
heart for her. I remember
listening to her heart with a
stethoscope and hearing an
obvious swishing sound. A
week later, the doc intently
listened to her heart, then
said words I will never for-
get… “You need to go cel-
ebrate. There’s not a thing
wrong with this child’s
heart.” Yes, God still heals.
But I do wonder what
people would be like if they
never experienced sickness
or adversity. Would we
even give God a second
glance? A preacher told me
once that God puts us on
our backs to get us to look
up. Makes sense. So look
up, pray, and trust God with
the results. Healed or not…
He knows exactly what we
need when we need it.
“And we know that
for those who love God,
all things work together
for good for those who
are called according to his
purpose” (Roman’s 8:28).
Heppner Chamber, MCHD December
board meeting canceled
WCVEDG plan
annual luncheon
The December board
meeting for Morrow Coun-
ty Health District Board of
Directors has been canceled
due to board member avail-
ability. The board will meet
for its regularly scheduled
WCVEDG and Chamber
members, and all other
community partners and
leaders are encouraged to
attend. RSVP to reserve a
lunch at https://shorturl.at/
HpDmU. Tacos Hometown
will cater.
The Willow Street In-
novation Hub is located
Lexington has an- evolve the conversation,
at 188 W Willow Street,
nounced
the launching of drive consensus and ensure
Heppner, OR.
a new Lexington Com- lasting change.
munity Development
Hart’s scope of work
Group (LCDG), a 501(c) consists of six major com-
(3) non-profit organization. ponents: 1. Governance
The town is looking for and policy development
interested residents to form in tandem with 2. Board
the inaugural board.
development, recruitment
The LCDG primary and succession planning,
purpose is to promote the 3. Vision and mission de-
wellbeing, growth and sus- velopment, 4. Leadership
tainability of Lexington and board training, 5. Stra-
and the surrounding area. tegic planning, 6. Strategic
The inaugural board will plan progress and process
set the vision, mission and consulting, and 7. Grant
strategic goals and will act program development.
as an important link to the
Applications are avail-
community’s needs.
able on the Town of Lex-
In October of this year, ington website at lexing-
the Lexington Town Coun- tonoregon.com/projects.
cil hired consultant Alison Lexington Town Council
Hart and Associates to fa- will select a sub-commit-
Pictured L-R: Austin Willis, Iker Bunce, Kaden King,
cilitate the development of tee that will evaluate the
Landon Tuttle, Havin Gray, Hayden Stills, Lizzy Finch and
Rylee Palmer. Not pictured: Lily Nichols and Darby Spivey. the LCDG. Hart has more applications and provide
-Contributed photo
than 30 years of experience recommendations for ap-
Heppner High School’s stress. The team’s success leading and developing pointments.
For more information,
Technology Student As- highlighted their mastery organizations. Her client
portfolio
includes
chambers
call
541-989-8515. Appli-
sociation (TSA) chapter of engineering principles
of
commerce
and
small
cations
can be dropped off
delivered an impressive and teamwork.
businesses,
as
well
as
sup-
at
Lexington
Town Hall
performance at a recent
Darby Spivey earned
porting
small
business
de-
in
person
or
in
the wa-
competition, bringing home third place in Flight Endur-
velopment
networks
around
ter
payment
deposit
box
awards in all three events. ance. He demonstrated his
the
country.
or
emailed
to
lexington.
One of the standout expertise in aerodynamics
She says she is liv- oregon@gmail.com. Ap-
achievements was Lizzy and engineering by design-
ing
her
passion of helping plications are due by Jan.
Finch and Rylee Palmer ing and constructing a light-
leaders
sharpen
their focus, 24, 2025.
in the Manufacturing Pro- weight rubber band-pow-
totype event, earning first ered model aircraft capable
place with their innovative of sustained flight.
and practical design.
The Heppner TSA
This category required team’s strong showing re-
students to identify a prob- flects the hard work and
lem, develop a solution, dedication of both students
and present a fully realized and their advisor. These
prototype, showcasing cre- achievements not only
ativity and technical skills. bring pride to their school
They made toys to donate but also underscore the
to charity.
importance of STEM edu-
K a d e n K i n g a n d cation in preparing future
Landon Tuttle also excelled innovators and problem
Ready to help with your
in the Structural Design solvers.
hearing healthcare needs
and Engineering category,
The Heppner Junior
claiming second place. The High TSA chapter also
600 NW 11th Street
competition challenged par- competed in gliders and
Suite E-21
ticipants to build and test a towers. They won all three
structure for maximum effi- places in towers, and first
Hermiston, OR 97838
ciency and durability under and second in gliders.
P.S. Ask us about our financing
Willow Creek Valley
Economic Development
Group (WCVEDG) and
Heppner Chamber of Com-
merce have announced their
annual luncheon will take
place at the Willow Street
Innovation Hub on Wednes-
day, Jan. 22, from noon to
1:30 p.m.
This is a free lun-
cheon. Grant recipients,
Lexington community
development group seeks
inaugural board applications
Heppner TSA Shines
at Competition
"EARS"OF
EXPERIENCE
Mustang varsity boys score two wins at
Holiday Hoop Fest
The Heppner Mustang
boys’ basketball team won
two games this past week-
end at the Heppner Hol-
iday Hoop Festival. The
Mustangs (5-3) defeated
the Vernonia Loggers 53-
22 and the Echo Cougars
60-49.
Against the Loggers,
the Mustangs started out
scoring quickly and led at
the end of the first quarter
18-6. The Mustangs con-
tinued to dominate the pace
of the game and led 31-13
at halftime.
In the third quarter,
Heppner scored 15 points,
and their defensive pressure
held Vernonia to only four.
Heppner stretched the lead
to 46-17 as the fourth quar-
ter started.
Heppner held the Log-
gers to single-digit scoring
in each of the four quarters
of the game. In the final
quarter the Mustang de-
fense held the Loggers to
only five points. Everyone
on the Mustang team got
to play significant minutes
in the game and Heppner
came away with the win by
the score of 53-22.
Keaton Coiner had
a double-double (scoring
and rebounds) on the night
and led the Mustangs with
19 points. He also hauled
down 12 rebounds in the
game. Freshman big man
Gage Heideman was next
with nine points for the
Mustangs and he also had
three rebounds. Joseph
Albitre had eight points,
two rebounds and three
assists on the night. Scor-
ing five points each were
Mason Orem and Caleb
George. Mason also had
three rebounds and one
assist while Caleb recorded
two rebounds. Jace Wilson
scored three points, had
one rebound and dished out
two assists. Jackson Coiner
scored two points, had two
rebounds and two assists in
the game. Caylan Proudfoot
also scored two and he also
had three assists. Tripp
Stewart recorded three re-
bounds and one assist, Mar-
ty Medina had one rebound
and Alakae Rodriguez had
one rebound and one assist.
Darby Spivey contributed
two rebounds and one assist
for the team.
On the second day of
the Holiday Hoop Festival,
the Mustangs played the
Echo Cougars. Heppner
started the game out fast
again as they scored the
first 13 points of the game.
The Mustangs led at the
end of the first quarter 18-5.
Heppner kept the defensive
pressure on the Cougars and
continued to stretch the lead
even more. Heppner led at
halftime 38-16.
The third quarter saw
Echo come out of the locker
January meeting.
Board member applica-
tions for the vacant position
will be accepted through
Jan. 17 for review at the
Jan. 27 meeting.
room fired up. They put on
a press to speed the game
up and scored the first 10
points of the quarter. Echo
continued the fast pace and
cut the Mustang lead down
to only six points at 40-34.
The Mustangs then found
their footing at that point
and went on a scoring run
of their own to take back
control of the game. The
Mustangs outscored the
Cougars 11-6 from that
point on to take a 51-40 lead
into the fourth quarter.
Heppner scored the
first nine points of the
fourth quarter to push the
lead back to 20 points at
60-40. Echo then finished
the game on a nine-point
run that made the final score
60-49.
Recording the sec-
ond double-double of the
year for the Mustangs was
Mason Orem. Mason had
15 points and ripped down
11 rebounds in the game.
Scoring 11 points each were
Keaton Coiner and Gage
Heideman. Keaton also
had eight rebounds and one
assist while Gage recorded
four rebounds. Finishing
with 10 points, five re-
bounds and two assists in
the game was Caleb George.
Joseph Albitre scored six
points and had two assists,
Marty Medina tallied five
points and two rebounds
while Caylan Proudfoot
scored two points, had two
rebounds and two assists.
Jackson Coiner had two
rebounds and four assists
on the night, Tripp Stewart
recorded one rebound, and
Alakae Rodriguez had one
rebound and one assist for
the Mustangs.
This week, Decem-
ber 27-28, the Mustangs
will co-host, along with
Weston-McEwen, the 2A
Preview, which will be held
at the Pendleton Conven-
tion Center. The other teams
that will be participating
are the Enterprise Outlaws,
Knappa Loggers, Kenne-
dy Trojans and Oakland
Oakers.
The Mustangs will play
the Knappa Loggers on
Friday night at 7:30 p.m.
On Saturday, the Mustangs
will take on the Kennedy
Trojans at 3:30 p.m.
The Mustang girls’
team will play the same
teams in games starting at
6 p.m. on Friday and 2 p.m.
on Saturday.
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177 N. Main
P.O. Box 337
Heppner, OR 97836
Chris@sykesrealestate.net
Broker
Chris Sykes
541-215-2274
For Sale
$220,000
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including a fridge, range, washer, and dryer,
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Lexington MLS# 24676541