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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (April 23, 2025)
TWO - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, April 23, 2025 The Official Newspaper of the City of Heppner and the County of Morrow Heppner GAZETTE-TIMES MCHS donates to Hardman Community Center upkeep U.S.P.S. 240-420 Morrow County’s Home-Owned Weekly Newspaper SEARCH OLD COPIES OF THE HEPPNER GAZETTE-TIMES ON-LINE: http://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/ Published weekly by Sykes Publishing and entered as periodical matter at the Post Office at Heppner, Oregon under the Act of March 3, 1879. Periodical postage paid at Heppner, Oregon. Office at 177 N Main St. Telephone (541) 676-9228. E-mail: editor@rapidserve.net or sykeschris@hotmail.com Web site: www.heppner.net. Post- master send address changes to the Heppner Gazette-Times, P.O. Box 337, Heppner, Oregon 97836. Subscriptions: In Morrow County $36/year. Outside Morrow County $41/year. In County Senior Rate (65 years or older) $31/year. 9 month Student student subscriptions $36/year. Chris Sykes ...............................................................................................Publisher Andrea DiSalvo ............................................................................................. Editor Cindi Doherty.........................................................................................Advertising All News and Advertising Deadline is Monday at 5 p.m. For Advertising: advertising deadline is Monday at 5 p.m. Cost for a display ad is $5.65 per column inch. Cost for classified ad is 55¢ per word. Cost for Card of Thanks is $16 up to 100 words. Cost for a classified display ad is $6.15 per column inch. For Public/Legal Notices: public/legal notices deadline is Monday at 5 p.m. Dates for publi- cation must be specified. Affidavits must be requested at the time of submission. Affidavits require three weeks to process after last date of publication (a sooner return date must be specified if required). For Obituaries: Obituaries are published in the Heppner GT at no charge and are edited to meet news guidelines. Families wishing to include information not included in the guidelines or who wish to have the obituary written in a certain way must purchase advertising space for the obituary. For Letters to the Editor: Letters to the Editor MUST be signed by the author. The Heppner GT will not publish unsigned letters. All letters MUST include the author’s address and phone number for use by the GT office. The GT reserves the right to edit letters. 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 $16 L-R: Morrow County Historical Society Treasurer Neva Mc- Mahon, William McMahon and his sister Patty Harshman, both of whom attended elementary school in Hardman, Sam Martin and Cheyenne Martin. Seated is long-time resident Judy Stevens. -Photo by Kay Proctor By Kay Proctor Morrow County His- torical Society members recently donated $1,000 to the Hardman Commu- nity Center for the upkeep and continual restoration versity, and Portland State of the 1900 building. The building is listed on the University. Bob taught and coached U.S. National Register of for 40 years at various Or- Historic Places. Some of the updates egon schools: Warrington needed are new siding and Junior High, and Clack- windows. amas, Monroe, La Salle (Milwaukie), and Riverside (Boardman) High Schools. He retired in 2002. Bob coached multiple sports, mainly basketball and golf, and was particularly proud The South Morrow of his teams winning Or- County MS Walk will take egon State golf titles in place this Saturday, April 1988, 1989 and 1991, as 26. Participants will meet well as finishing runner-up at Hager Park in Heppner five additional times. He at 10 a.m. The walk is was named Oregon’s Golf about a mile long over even Coach of the Year four ground, but participants are times. warned to watch for vehi- He was a voracious cles and dogs. reader of fiction and nonfic- tion and enjoyed crossword puzzles and working in the yard. He also enjoyed fol- lowing high school, college and professional sports. The Morrow County Bob was married to Pa- Board of Commissioners tricia D. Partlow of Board- unanimously approved a man for 60 years and they $40,000 funding request had two sons, Robert of Sa- from the Stokes Landing lem and Christopher of Mil- Senior Center in Irrigon waukie, and two beloved during a meeting earlier granddaughters, Erika and this month. Kat. He is further survived Representing the cen- by two sisters, Dora Sue, ter, president Sharon Tinnes now living in McMinnville, and treasurer Karen Cooley and Anita, in Tennessee, shared the financial and and a brother, Gregory, in operational challenges the San Francisco. all-volunteer organization Bob was preceded in has faced in recent years, death by both parents, a including prolonged clo- brother, Herbert, and sister, sures due to COVID-19 and Beverly. the loss of a volunteer cook. “We were closed down for several years during COVID, which made it dif- ficult,” said Tinnes. “Then we closed down for two have a huge impact.” If you or someone you years again because we know is interested in volun- lost our cook. And since we teering in the center three are a strictly all-volunteer days a month, the center is organization, it was very offering volunteer training difficult to find someone to with dinner May 8 at 4:30 come in to cook that didn’t p.m. Please RSVP to 541- expect to be paid, even 676-5024 by May 5 if you though it’s only one day.” The center provides plan to attend. Other volunteer po- sitions are also available. Please inquire with Clark at the Neighborhood Center. Obituaries Robert H. ‘Bob’ Davidson, Jr. MCHS members were given a tour of the center after their annual meeting there. Sam or Cheyenne Martin, who led the tour, live next door and have done extensive work with repairs and displays, along with other dedicated locals. Either of the Martins may be contacted about renting the historic build- ing for events, reunions or meetings. South Morrow MS Walk Saturday Robert H. “Bob” Da- vidson, Jr. passed away March 29, 2025, at Mil- waukie, OR, from compli- cations associated with di- abetes. Services and burial will be at the Lexington Cemetery at a later date. He was born to Robert H. Davidson and Mildred Pollard Davidson on Sep- tember 4, 1942, during his father’s service in World War II. Bob was the second of six children. A native of Eastern Oregon, he grew up in Lexington and graduated from Heppner High School in 1960. Bob received a bache- lor’s degree from Eastern Oregon College in 1964, a master’s degree from Port- land State College in 1968, and did further graduate work at the University of Oregon, Oregon State Uni- BOC approves $40k for Irrigon senior center Volunteers needed at Neighborhood Center The Neighborhood Center is looking for three enthusiastic, hardworking volunteers over the age of 18 to work in its food pan- try. Volunteers will assist clients with grocery shop- ping, stock shelves, carry out groceries and more. “Food truck week is a very busy week here at the Neighborhood Center,” says center coordinator Nikki Clark. “This is a small commitment that will weekly meals, social activ- ities like music performanc- es and game days, a lending library, and free medical equipment to local seniors. “We have walkers and wheelchairs and crutches,” said Tinnes. “So anyone in the community actually is able to come.” Tinnes emphasized the center’s role in combating isolation and supporting mental health for the elder- ly. At the same time, she said the senior center has to rent out the facility to cover basic expenses like utilities. “That’s the only way we can make a go of it,” she said. Commissioners ex- pressed their appreciation for the center’s contribu- tions to senior well-be- ing and acknowledged the importance of continued support. The approved funding will assist with general operations and help expand community programs. Holly Rebekah dinner and bingo April 27 Health District Candidates Forum Planned April 23 The Heppner Chamber of Commerce invites the public to attend a candi- dates forum to hear from those running for positions on the Morrow County Health District Board. The MCHD candidates forum will take place on The event will include picture-taking opportuni- ties, prizes and, of course, a no-host brunch at Buck- nam’s Tavern. Those who cannot at- tend but want to support that cause can send contri- butions to Barb Orwick. Wednesday, April 23, at 6 p.m. at the Gilliam & Bis- bee Building. Candidates will present their platforms and answer questions. Submit questions in writing at the event, or via Facebook Messenger or livestream. On Sunday, April 27, starting at 2 p.m., visitors can enjoy a Mexican fiesta at the Holly Rebekah Lodge in Lexington. For only $5, the Re- bekahs will be serving a chicken enchilada, Spanish rice, dessert and a drink. Bingo will commence at 3:30. A packet of 10 Bin- go cards can be purchased for $5—that’s enough for 14 regular games and three blackout games. Winners might even walk away with prizes. All ages are welcome to come to either or both events and enjoy visiting and having a fun afternoon. The Holly Rebekah Lodge is located at 135 W Main Street, Lexington. The Heppner Chamber of Commerce invites the public to attend a candi- dates forum to hear from those running for office on the Port of Morrow Com- mission. The Port of Morrow candidates forum will take place on Monday, April 28, at 6 p.m. at the Gilliam & Bisbee Building in Hep- Father Thankachan Joseph Misery – Mercy & Mystery My Easter wish for all of you is that the Risen Christ fill you and your families with the gift of peace. This coming Sunday, Catholics will be celebrating the feast of Divine Mercy. As I sat and pondered this feast, I received the news that Pope Francis had died. He worked to make humanity like the Divine in the world. Through his encyclical letters, he made us think and reflect on the face of God in the world. His teachings were always an inspiration for us about divine love, care, affection and concern for human suffering. The Gospel reading of the day reminds me of the psycho-social aspect that the disciples experienced during the first Easter morning. In the Gospel of John 20:19, we read: “It was late that Sunday evening, and the disciples were gathered together behind the locked doors, because they were afraid of the Jewish authorities.” This particular passage made an impact on me when I read it. We have gone through a tough time of this sort in the recent past when the pandemic hit the universal world, which shut down our economy, our freedom of movement and coming together—everything was in a stand-still condition. On this Divine Mercy Sunday, I have chosen a title “Mercy and Mystery” for our reflection. I hope it may be very apt for us all. During the Good Friday reflections, I was very touched by a character whom we meet on our meditation of the Stations of the Cross. We may meditate on the character and personality of a woman called Ve- ronica. She comes forward to the aid of Jesus, who was going through tremendous and excruciating pain on His way to Calvary, the place he needs to be for crucifixion, after His condemnation by Pilate. Veronica observes the misery/agony the Lord was going through and at that moment, she comes forward to aid Him without concern for how the male-dominated Jewish community may react to her. Love and friendship make her act promptly. She doesn’t waste time and opportunity but comes up, wipes His bloody face, and consoles Him with her handkerchief. She reaches out as empathy personified. In similar situations, when we meet our family mem- bers or members of our community, what are my first reactions? Like the apostles in the Gospel, we are also go- ing through emotional bankruptcy because of our shame, guilt of the past, brokenness, disappointments, failing to reach ambitious goals. We need to look into ourselves, into how we can find ways and means of overcoming unhealthy feelings of depression, anxiety, hurt, loss of self-worth and hatred. In these miserable conditions, like Veronica, we need to reach out to others without being bothered by the opinions of others. We need to become God’s mercy in similar conditions. The second reading of this week from the Acts of the Apostles helps us to practice mercy and re-live mercy: “All who believed were together and had all things in common; and they sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to all, as any had need” (Acts 2:44-45). I think the Divine Master invites every one of us to con- tinue the same acts of kindness and benevolence to the people around us, even in this present time to become like Veronica. The Divine Lord is inviting each one of us to stretch our helping hand and reach out to someone who needs our services. The Gospel of John (20:19-31) narrates an experi- ence of the apostles, the lockdown/shutdown that the apostles immediately experienced after the death of the Lord, which is very fresh in our minds and hearts; the shutdown is actually in God’s plan. In Genesis 7:16 we read: “A male and female of each kind of living being went into the boat with Noah, as God had commanded. Then the Lord shut the door behind Noah.” Similarly, we read in the Gospel passage, “the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’” (20:20). When we are faced with such situations, the Lord will be there on our side to whisper into our ears about the same words of consolation, “peace be with you.” WWW.HEPPNER.NET Submit News, Advertising & Announcements Letters To The Editor Send Us Photos Start A New Subscription LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED "EARS"OF EXPERIENCE Ready to help with your hearing healthcare needs 600 NW 11th Street Suite E-21 Hermiston, OR 97838 P.S. Ask us about our financing options! (541) 371-1900 Call Verna 541-371-1900 Port of Morrow Candidates Forum April 28 pner. Candidates will present their platforms and answer questions. Submit questions in writing at the event, or via Facebook Messenger or livestream. Spiritually Speaking WWW.HEPPNER.NET Submit News, Advertising & Announcements Letters To The Editor Send Us Photos Start A New Subscription Offering complimentary hearing evaluation and/or to have your current hearing aids cleaned & checked, schedule today! verna@vernashearingcarecenter.com
