Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 29, 2025)
Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, January 29, 2025 -- THREE ~ Letters to the Editor ~ The Heppner Gazette Times will print all letters to the Editor with the following criteria met: letters submitted to the newspaper will need to have the name of the sender along with a legible signature. We are also requesting that you provide your address and a phone number where you can be reached. The address and phone number will only be used for verification and will not be printed in the newspaper. Letters may not be libelous. The GT reserves the right to edit. The GT is not responsible for accuracy of statements made in letters. Any letters expressing thanks will be placed in the classifieds under “Card of Thanks” at a cost of $15 Email to editor@rapidserve.net or upload to Heppner.net. Romance It had been a long week, a long month for that matter We’d had our fill of ranch troubles. The pocketbook had been fatter. So it was a nice treat when he poked his head inside. Said “Hey Hon, what’cha doin’? Wanna go for a ride? *** Now we’ve a pretty good life and I’m not complainin’ But we’d been pretty busy and the romance was wainin’. Sunsets, hand-holdin’ an’ kissin’ in the moonlight, Stood in line behind fences an’ wire strung tight. *** With the kids and the crit- ters, tractors and clogged sinks, Time alone was hard com- in’, pretty close to extinct. So I dropped the dish towel, left the mud on the floor. Left the sink clogged an’ headed for the back door. *** I slipped on my boots, gave the oldest the word “Be back in a while. Gonna check on the herd.” He had the truck runnin’ which was no small thing, Cause he’d been workin’ on it since we got it last spring. *** I slid in beside him. Had to move a few things Toolbox, water jug, fence pliers, seat springs, Three pair of old gloves, grease gun, cow tags, Two flannel shirts, miscel- laneous brown bags. *** It took me a while, but I cleared me a space. Put my hand on his knee and a kiss on his face. We traveled a while, then he turned to me sweetly, “Hon you know I love ya but would you mind com- pletely? *** He’s tailed us four miles and it’s cold outside. He’s got to be tuckered, could we give him a ride?” With those puppy dog eyes an’ when he put it that way, My resistance was down. What else could I say? *** “Go ahead, let ‘im in. I guess a gal could do worse. But I’m keepin’ this spot cause I had it first.” He opened the door. The dog bounded quite nicely, Cleared the steering wheel and landed precisely. *** His feat was Olympic. Even risked limb and life. He squeezed in between us like a hot buttered knife. Then he stuck his tongue out which proceeded to drip, Filled the air with dog breath. Let loose with a yip. *** With an arrogant glare, he said with his face “Could you move it a bit? A cowdog needs his space. The next thing he accom- plished took some guts to achieve. We were rollin’ down win- dows, Tryin’ to breath. *** Seems he had a small prob- lem of digestive means. From leftover dinner. That’s right, we had beans. Well, we cut the trip short. Made it back to the ranch. Neither one in the mood. So much for romance. *** Back to the dishes and the mud on the floor. I had a great thought as I walked through the door. The next time I’m yearnin’ for time with my sweetie, I’ll turn off the lights and turn on the TV. By Susie Crosby Prineville, OR HB 2797 would cede local control to state Greg Smith’s House Bill 2797 would add two commissioners to the Port of Morrow, to be appoint- ed by the governor and approved by the Senate, as is the case with the Port of Portland. His rationale is that our Port has become too successful to be run by elected volunteers, and “ex- perts” need to be brought in. Aside from the gross insult to the current board and its electors, Smith’s proposal misses important distinctions between the Ports of Portland and Mor- row that affect how they are run. The Port of Portland was established in 1891 by the Oregon Legislature, and its commissioners have always been appointed by the governor and approved by the legislature. Its re- sponsibilities now include a major international airport, four marine terminals and six industrial parks. The Port has an annual budget of about $3 billion. By contrast, the Port of Morrow was established in 1958 by a group of moti- vated Morrow County cit- izens, and its first board of commissioners represented every community in the county. It is now the second largest port in Oregon, but not in the same ballpark as Portland: our Port has an annual budget approaching $500 million. This “big industry,” as Smith puts it, has grown entirely under the auspices of elected com- missioners from within our county. (Full disclosure: my husband was appointed to the board last year.) One has to wonder what Smith’s actual motivation is in wanting to cede local authority to state control. Voters in House District 57 should not allow it. Sincerely, The Re ve rend Le a Mathieu Ione, OR Morrow SWCD to meet Morrow Soil and Wa- ter Conservation District (SWCD) will meet Tues- day, Feb. 4, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Ag Service Center in Heppner. To join via Zoom or conference call, please con- tact the SWCD beforehand at 541-676-5452. Meetings of the Morrow SWCD are open to the public. Decorations to be removed from cemetery Christmas decorations will be removed from graves at the Heppner Ma- sonic Cemetery beginning Jan. 13. Artificial decora- tions will be saved in the storage shed; all others will be discarded. Call 541-561- 6768 to pick up decorations or remove them from graves by the end of January. Oregon strike teams heading home from Southern California Oregon fire trucks line up along the highway in California getting ready to head back to Oregon. - Contributed Photo. SALEM, OR—Fol- lowing a two-week mobi- lization to Southern Cal- ifornia to assist with the wildfire response, all of Oregon’s 21 strike teams are coming home. The teams began the demobilization process last Thursday morning. Two of the strike teams started their drive back to Oregon on Thursday, while another 15 began their journey to their home agencies on Friday. Those strike teams were assigned to the Pali- sades and Eaton fires near Los Angeles and have spent the last two weeks working the fire lines and supporting the communities impacted by these disasters. According to OSFM’s Facebook page, the remain- ing four teams—two on the Eaton Fire and two assigned to support initial attack efforts on new fires—were also demobilized late last week, with the final two teams heading home Sat- urday morning. In total, the Oregon State Fire Marshal mobi- lized 21 strike teams, 370 firefighters and 105 fire engines and water tenders, marking this the largest out- of-state deployment in the agency’s history. “I am immensely proud of the work fire- fighters from the Oregon fire service and the Oregon Department of Forestry have done over the last two weeks in California,” Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said. “Their dedication and pro- fessionalism have made a meaningful difference for the communities affected by these devastating fires. “The willingness of our firefighters to step up and provide critical aid, often in challenging and dangerous conditions, is a testament to the strength and resilience of Oregon’s fire service,” Ruiz-Temple added. The strike teams sent to California by the State Fire Marshal were request- ed through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact. This compact provides help during gov- ernor-declared emergencies or disasters by allowing states to send personnel, equipment, and supplies to support response and recov- ery efforts in other states. The strike teams’ expenses will be reimbursed directly by California. 2025 Morrow County Fair and Rodeo Queen -Continued from PAGE ONE Kathryn “KC” Anderson volved in her community, where she helps with the Heppner FFA backpack program, Heppner Elks Club, the Heppner Booster Club, the local MOCO rodeo and Western States Junior Rodeo. Her future plans are to graduate and attend a four- year university with an animal science program. From there, she would like to pursue veterinarian school and focus on a ca- reer as a large animal vet. For now, this talented young lady enjoys spend- ing time with her horse, Tonka, competing in ju- nior rodeos and playing volleyball. “Her outgoing person- ality and natural ability to socialize and greet the public makes Anderson an excellent choice for queen,” the fair and rodeo said in a statement. “She looks forward to represent- ing the Morrow County Fair and Oregon Trail Pro Rodeo as queen.” KC’s coronation date will be during the Town and Country event in Hep- pner on Feb. 6, 2025. Assistance now accessible in Heppner for local residents South Morrow County Seniors Matter is teaming up with two organizations to give local residents bet- ter access to assistance programs available in our region. The state of Oregon, through the Oregon Depart- ment of Human Services (ODHS) and the Com- munity Action Program of East Central Oregon (CAPECO), offers various programs aimed at assist- ing residents with food (including SNAP benefits and food boxes), housing, employment, child-care as- sistance, energy assistance, long-term care, Medicare and more. However, in a rural area like ours, finding the right program or navigating the process to access these services can sometimes be a challenge. To help address this, ODHS and CAPECO have teamed up with South Mor- row County Seniors Matter (SMCSM) to bring program representatives directly to Heppner. On February 4, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., staff will be available in the lobby of St. Patrick’s Apartments (190 N Main St., Heppner) to provide answers to ques- tions and help residents access resources. There’s no need to call or make an appointment; assistance will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. This service is avail- able both to seniors and younger residents. While eligibility re- quirements do apply and individuals may not be able to sign up for programs on the spot, the representatives will assist in guiding indi- viduals through the process and help them understand what programs they may qualify for. This initiative is a pilot program, and its future will depend on the level of community engagement, so residents are encouraged to take full advantage of this valuable opportunity. 541-276-2152 177 N. Main P.O. Box 337 Heppner, OR 97836 Chris@sykesrealestate.net Broker Chris Sykes 541-215-2274 New Listing $425,000 This 0.77-acre property offers everything for animal enthusiasts, with a livestock pasture, year-round creek, two chicken houses, a barn with a lean-to, and a deer-proof garden with a greenhouse for year- round produce. A 10x12 storage room. The 5-bedroom, 2.5-bath home, including a master suite, features modern updates like new flooring, hardy plank siding and new windows. Energy-efficient ductless heating and cooling. Outside, rock retaining walls, a tool shed, and a partially finished basement add function and flexibility. Located within city limits, it’s a short walk to Main Street Perfect for animal care, gardening, and quiet living, this move-in-ready property is a rare find. 580 S MAIN ST Heppner. MLS#: 629913772 Lunch & Dinner Menu 1/30 - 2/5 Thursday - Chicken bacon ranch wrap with chips Friday - French Toast, scrambled eggs, & hashbrown patties Saturday - Grilled Cod fillet sandwich with French fries Sunday closed Monday - Flatbread pepperoni pizza with salad Tuesday - pulled pork nachos Tuesday Night - 6-9pm $2 hard shell tacos Wednesday - loaded 1/4lb cheeseburger with mac n cheese
