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VOL. 145 NO.19 10 Pages
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon
Proposed district bond measure includes plan for
Heppner schools
Proposed plans for Heppner schools include the remodel of the current Heppner Jr./Sr. High
School into a K-12 campus.
Morrow County voters
will vote on a proposed
General Obligation Bond
(Measure 25-104) for Mor-
row County School District
in the May 20 election.
For the past few
months, the district and
its school board have been
engaged in an information
effort to inform stakehold-
ers about the district’s pro-
posed bond.
Through community
town halls and presenta-
tions to community orga-
nizations, a question that
some voters in Heppner
asked was about the plan
for Heppner schools. The
district is providing more
information about the plan
for Heppner schools:
-The proposed bond
measure includes remod-
eling the existing Heppner
Junior/Senior High School
into a K-12 campus.
-Currently, Heppner
Elementary and Heppner
Jr/Sr High School oper-
ate in Heppner. Like oth-
er schools in the Morrow
County School District,
these two schools are older
structures with end-of-life
operating systems.
-By consolidating into
one school building, the
district would realize signif-
icant operational savings,
both with facility expenses
and staffing.
-Other neighboring
communities like Ione,
Echo and Sherman County
have successful K-12 cam-
puses.
-If the proposed bond
measure passes, the com-
munity will have the op-
portunity to be involved in
the design process for the
Heppner K-12 campus.
-The district would re-
tain the Heppner Elementa-
ry gym building for district
and community use.
If the proposed bond
passes, other projects would
be funded at Irrigon Jr/Sr
High, Riverside Jr/Sr High,
Sam Boardman Elementary
and other schools in the
district.
The proposed MCSD
General Obligation Bond
would raise $204.4 mil-
lion. The district would
receive a $6 million match-
ing grant from the Oregon
School Capital Improve-
ment Matching Program
if the bond passes. The
proposed bond would ma-
ture in 20 years or less and
the bond rate would be an
estimated $2.99 per $1,000
of assessed property value,
although the actual levy rate
may differ.
More information about
Bond Measure 25-104 is
available at mcsdbond.org,
bondinfo@morowsd.org
or by calling the Morrow
County School District Of-
fice, 541-676-5705.
Good Shepherd
acquires 61 acres of
land in Boardman
HERMISTON, OR—
Good Shepherd Health
Care System (GSHCS) has
announced the acquisition
of 61 acres of land located
on Main Street in down-
town Boardman. GSHCS
says the property will be the
future location of a health
care facility providing out-
patient services for the
residents of Boardman and
surrounding communities
in Morrow County.
According to a Good
Shepherd statement, the
new facility will allow
Good Shepherd to deliver
state-of-the-art care in Mor-
row County.
“This development is
a testament to our ongoing
mission to provide com-
passionate and exceptional
care, close to home, meet-
ing the needs of our grow-
ing community,” said Art
Mathisen, Good Shepherd’s
CEO. “Purchasing this land
in Boardman positions us
well to expand services
for our Morrow County
patients, ensuring they have
access to the most essential
health care services, right in
their own community.”
Good Shepherd plans
to actively engage with
Morrow County stakehold-
ers throughout the planning
and development process.
“We believe that col-
laboration and input from
the City of Boardman, res-
idents, leaders, businesses
and community groups will
be essential as we move
forward,” said Mathisen.
“Together, we can fos-
ter a healthier future for
Boardman and Morrow
County. We thank our Good
Shepherd Health Care Sys-
tem Board of Trustees for
their continued leadership
and support as we em-
bark on this important en-
deavor to expand health
care services in Boardman
and Morrow County,” said
Mathisen.
For further information
or to stay up to date on the
progress of this new health
care facility, visit www.
gshealth.org.
Ione School District recognized
in #OregonStrong campaign
Legacy of longtime Oregon farmer and Oregon
Baseball supporter lives on with Bob Kilkenny Field
Heppner’s Bob Kilkenny (front) was a lifelong supporter of University of Oregon sports.
-Contributed photo
Reprinted from goducks.
com
On August 15, 2008,
Bob Kilkenny climbed
aboard a John Deere ex-
cavator, something he’d
done countless times as
a lifelong farmer in the
tight-knit Eastern Oregon
community of Heppner. But
this time it was different.
Instead of breaking ground
on his wheat farm, Bob was
breaking ground on PK
Park, helping to usher in the
long-awaited return of Ore-
gon Baseball after a 27-year
hiatus from Division I play.
Bob Kilkenny spent
his entire life in Heppner,
Oregon. The town shaped
his values, his work ethic,
and his identity. A proud
Irishman and a man of
deep faith, Bob carried his
heritage and values into
everything he did.
He first arrived at the
University of Oregon in
the fall of 1948, follow-
ing in the footsteps of his
older sister, Ilene. Though
financial limitations cut his
time in Eugene short, Bob’s
love for the U of O never
wavered. He returned to the
family farm, but his passion
for the Ducks was passed on
to the next generation. All
five of his children—Rus-
sell, Patrick, Kelly, John,
and Kevin—would go on to
become proud Ducks!
“Dad always placed a
tremendous emphasis on
education,” said his daugh-
ter Kelly Kilkenny Hale.
“Dad used to say education
-Continued to PAGE SIX
Forum highlights candidates’ vision for
economic growth, sustainability
Nitrates, ethics and unity top of mind for Port candidates
By Chris Sykes
Heppner, OR—The re-
cent Port of Morrow can-
didates forum brought to-
gether six candidates vying
for three positions on the
Port commission, a pivotal
body in Morrow County’s
economic and agricultural
landscape.
Hosted by the Heppner
Chamber of Commerce,
with Madison Rosenbalm
facilitating, the event aimed
to give voters insight into
the candidates’ visions for
the Port of Morrow, an en-
tity central to the region’s
industry, infrastructure and
job creation.
The forum, held in a
structured format, allowed
candidates to present their
backgrounds, address
pressing issues like water
safety and economic devel-
opment, and outline their
commitment to uniting a
county often divided by
geographic and economic
differences.
The evening began with
opening remarks, each can-
didate allotted two minutes
to introduce themselves and
their motivations.
Abe McNamee from
Irrigon, running for position
3, is a landowner in Irrigon
and Heppner and father of
nine. He emphasized his
deep ties to agriculture and
his 12 years of experience
with the water district. He
expressed a desire to en-
sure the Port supports the
next generation’s ability to
thrive in Morrow County,
stating, “I don’t think you
can sit back and complain
about things without getting
involved.”
Joel Peterson, also
running for position 3, high-
lighted his lifelong connec- not in attendance.
tion to the county, his en-
J. Fletcher Hobbs,
gineering background, and running for position 1, a
his extensive community Boardman resident and ag-
involvement, including his
-Continued to PAGE FIVE
role on the Bank of Eastern
Oregon board. Appointed
to the Port Commission
18 months prior, he sought
to continue fostering the
Port’s positive impact.
Danny Kearns, run-
ning for position 2, is a sev-
enth-generation Oregonian
and business owner. He
brought a personal touch,
sharing a light-hearted an-
ecdote about making his
daughter laugh with a dad
joke. Kearns spoke of his
passion for entrepreneur-
ship and his desire to inspire
youth, drawing from his
experience hosting a scho-
lastic event.
Raymond Seastone
running for position 2 was
Students celebrate their award, taking a photo in front of a
student-made project. The project showcases the many things
that students love about being Ione Cardinals. Back (L-R): Leo
Cabrera, Michael McElligott, Carter Eynetich. Middle (L-R):
Will McElligott, Miley Strzelewicz, Novalee Campbell, Phegley
Padberg, Brionna Serrano, Khira Kreitzer, Mrs. Chelsea Geer,
Hunter Scoggin. Front (L-R): Victoria De La Torre, Keltie
Rietmann, Rosa Aguilar, Caydence Kreitzer. -Contributed photo
In April, the Ione
School District was notified
that its Associated Student
Body (ASB) had received
an award from the Coalition
of Oregon School Adminis-
trators (COSA) for its out-
standing participation in the
#OregonStrong Campaign.
The campaign aims to
highlight the positivity and
resilience within Oregon’s
schools. COSA provided
Ione’s student leaders with
a digital survey, which they
shared with students across
the school.
Ione was recognized
for having the highest per-
centage of student respons-
es relative to its enrollment.
More than 60 students com-
pleted the survey, earning
the Ione ASB a $500 award
for effectively mobilizing
their peers.
“Teachers have Google
Classroom, so it was easy
for them to post the survey
in their classes. That really
helped,” one student leader
shared.
COSA representative
Cate Study presented the
award during a visit to the
high school and hosted a
brief listening session with
all high school students.
The event took place in the
student lounge, located on
the cafeteria stage. At the
front stood a student-made
poster celebrating what stu-
dents love most about their
community.
During the session,
students and staff shared
heartfelt reflections: “I like
how the school prepares me
-Continued to PAGE TWO
CALL
541-989-8221
ext 204
for more
information