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VOL. 145 NO.17 8 Pages
Wednesday, April 23, 2025
Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon
Nichols breaks 32-year
school record at regional
invitational
Fundraisers planned to help family in
search of answers
Lizzie Ginn, pictured, and her
family have been on a long
search for solutions to her
medical problems.
-Contributed photo
Several fundraisers are
being planned to help a
local teen Lizzie Ginn and
her family as they seek an-
swers to ongoing medical
problems.
The first of these fund-
raisers is planned for Lex-
ington’s May Day celebra-
tion, where there will be a
table selling snow cones,
along with a jar for dona-
tions.
According to a family
friend, the Heppner teen
has chronic granulomatous
disease (CGD), a rare ge-
netic condition in which
the immune system doesn’t
work the way it is supposed
to. With CGD, white blood
cells are unable to fight off
certain bacteria and fungi.
According to the Na-
tional Institutes of Health,
people with CGD—like
Lizzie—are highly sus-
ceptible to frequent and
sometimes life-threatening
bacterial and fungal infec-
tions.
At the same time, Liz-
zie has other rare genes that
have led to more hospital
stays and more testing,
since those genes might
affect the results of any
treatment plans.
Here is the story in her
words:
“My name is Lizzie
Ginn, and I have been asked
to tell my story.
“I am the daughter of
David and Crystal Ginn.
My support team consists
of my parents, my brother
Jacob and my grandma
Judi Hall, my primary care
provider Eileen McElligott
and numerous other family
members, friends, commu-
nity members and lots of
doctors.
“I have had and con-
tinue to experience many
health issues. Over the last
couple of years, I have had
multiple surgeries and so
many other tests that I have
lost count. I have seen and
continue to see multiple
doctors in many different
fields of study.
“I have a whole team at
Doernbecher: ENT, Hema-
tology/Oncology, Infectious
Disease, Rheumatology,
Immunology, Cardiology,
and Pulmonology, working
hard to figure out exactly
what is going on and how
to treat me. They have had
many consultations with
other children’s hospitals
and specialists.
“I have had and con-
tinue to make multiple trips
and hospital stays to Doer-
nbecher. Each trip or stay
gets us that much closer to
a diagnosis and treatment
plan.
“As you can imagine,
this has taken a toll phys-
ically, emotionally and fi-
nancially on me and my
family.
“I am humbled by the
amount of support our won-
derful community continues
to offer. Saying ‘Thank you’
does not begin to express
my gratitude to our com-
munity.
“My goal is to find a
diagnosis and treatment
that allows me to be my-
self again. I would love to
get back to playing sports
and helping at community
events.”
Future fundraising
plans include dinner and
Bingo, and community
members are asked to keep
their eyes open for future
events. A Venmo account
has been set up under @
crystalginn91 for anyone
wishing to make a donation.
Please contact Tonja
Lemmon 541-561-8953
or Kaylee Thompson 541-
256-0942 for more infor-
mation.
BOC hears update on county strategic plan
At the April 2 Morrow
County Board of Commis-
sioners meeting in Heppner,
the Morrow County com-
missioners heard an update
on the county’s long-await-
ed strategic planning pro-
cess.
Consultant Matt Dix-
on, a veteran in local gov-
ernment with 28 years of
experience, gave the up-
date along with Morrow
County Administrator Mat-
thew Jensen. Dixon said he
founded a consulting LLC
after being asked to help
communities with strategic
planning.
“I realized early on
in my career, local gov-
ernments don’t do a very
good job of really thinking
beyond the next budget
cycle,” said Dixon.
BOC Chair David
Sykes began the push for
the long-range strategic
plan recently, possibly
spurred by the confusion
surrounding the planned
new circuit court building
in Heppner.
The intent of the plan
is to define a long-term
vision— up to 50 years
out—for Morrow County.
“A strategic plan is re-
ally stepping back and say-
ing, ‘Where are we headed
and where do we want to
be in the next 50 years?
How do we want people to
describe living in Morrow
County in 50 years from
now?’” Dixon said.
That will include as-
sessing community needs
and identifying county pri-
orities for the next five
years. The plan will ulti-
mately guide county oper-
ations and capital improve-
ment projects.
While the board of
commissioners will es-
tablish the vision for the
county’s future direction,
Dixon and Jensen said they
will not be working in a
vacuum. A project adviso-
ry committee, composed
of community volunteers
nominated by commis-
sioners, will gather public
input through workshops
and surveys.
A kickoff meeting is
planned for April 23, and
workshops in both ends
of the county are already
scheduled for May 1-2.
Dixon said Jensen had
also given him a list of
community stakeholders in
government and education
and health and economic
development.
“So those stakeholders
will also have their own
opportunities in two meet-
ings,” he said.
In addition, Dixon
plans to launch a public
survey through advertise-
ments at public locations.
“By the time it comes
to you, you will have a re-
ally good sense of how the
larger community feels,”
said Dixon.
A strategic planning
retreat is set for June 9–10,
with final adoption expect-
ed by early fall.
The county aims to
align future decisions, in-
cluding use of funds like
those from Amazon, with
resident input and long-
range goals.
Lily Nichols
Heppner High School
athletes made their mark
at the Cove Charter School
1A-2A-3A Regional Invi-
tational in La Grande on
Saturday, highlighted by ju-
nior Lily Nichols breaking
a 32-year-old school record
in the 1500 meters.
Nichols took first in the
event with a time of 4:55.67,
besting the long-standing
record held by Jenny Krein.
Nichols also added a sec-
ond-place finish in the 800
and helped lead the 4x400
relay team to gold.
Hallee Hisler also had a
standout meet, winning the
400 meters with a time of
1:00.59, and finishing sec-
ond in the 200. Her younger
sister Healy Hisler wasn’t
far behind, taking second in
the 400 and third in the 200.
On the boys’ side, Jo-
seph Albitre won the high
jump, clearing an even 6
feet for a personal best. Se-
nior Nick Wenberg placed
in the top five in both the
100 meters and long jump,
and Chris Humphreys
placed second in the javelin
and sixth in discus.
Full stats from Satur-
day’s meet were:
Boys
1 0 0
M e t e r s
5th – Nick Wenberg (12),
12.24a (0.7) PR
8 0 0
M e t e r s
9th – Marty Medina (12),
2:18.34a
1500
Meters
9th – Marty Medina (12),
4:36.35a PR
Shot Put (12lb)
16th – Lucas King (9), 32’ 1.5”
-Continued to PAGE EIGHT
ICABO to host local
candidates forum
ahead of May 20
election
The Ione Community
Agri-Business Organiza-
tion (ICABO) will host a
public candidates forum on
Thursday, May 1, at 7 p.m.
at the Ione Legion Hall,
providing voters with an
opportunity to hear directly
from candidates ahead of
the May 20 special district
election.
Candidates running for
positions with the Port of
Morrow, Morrow Coun-
ty Health District, Ione
School District, Ione Li-
brary Board, and other local
special districts have been
invited to attend and share
their vision for the future of
the county.
The event is open to
the public, and community
members are encouraged
to attend, hear what the
candidates have to say and
ask questions.
Murray’s receives AEDs
from health district
Community gathers for two local Easter egg hunts
Off to the races. - Photo by
Julia Finch
The Easter Bunny
By Rachel Sykes
On Saturday, April 19,
families in Heppner were
treated to not one but two
festive Easter egg hunts,
each hosted by a local busi-
ness eager to bring easter
joy to the community.
The first event kicked
off bright and early at 8
a.m., hosted by Heppner
Market Fresh. Shoppers
were greeted by grocery
aisles transformed into col-
orful hunting grounds with
plastic eggs scattered across
Murray’s Drug in Heppner and Murray’s Condon Pharmacy
each received an AED (Automated External Defibrillator)
device from the Morrow County Health District through its
community benefits program. Ann Murray notes that anyone
nearby with an emergency requiring CPR can borrow the
device from the store. “We are very grateful to the MCHD for
these devices,” says Murray. Pictured (L-R) are Scott Lamb,
Ann Murray and Michael Skow. -Contributed photo
Locals kids drawing up an egg attack plan. - Contributed
Photo
the floors. The aisles were
divided by age groups, and
each one contained a spe-
cial prize egg for the lucky
child who found it. Kids
hurried through the store
and filled their baskets.
An hour later, the fun
continued at the Morrow
County Fairgrounds, where
the Heppner Elks Lodge
hosted the second egg hunt
of the morning. Children
lined up for a chance to
meet the Easter Bunny, who
made a special appearance
to pose for photos. Despite
cloudy skies and a light
drizzle, the festive spirit
remained strong as kids
dashed across the field,
baskets in hand, determined
to gather as many eggs as
possible.
It was clear that many
of the parents were enjoy-
ing the festivities just as
much as the kids, sharing
in the excitement and com-
munity spirit.
CALL
541-989-8221
ext 204
for more
information