Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, May 28, 2025 -- THREE
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Sharing the
Love
As the warm weather
arrives, and green things
abound, the multitude of
hens just itching to become
new moms begin jockey-
ing for position and for a
secluded and unoccupied
nest. They hunker down
in the darkness, hoping to
be undiscovered and un-
disturbed while dreaming
of the arrival of little fuzzy
things.
While this Farm Lady
gets just as excited as any-
one at the prospect of new
life (and more eggs), she’s
had to remind herself (and
the hopeful hens) that this
little farm can only handle
so much “new life” and
some hens will just have to
wait their turn. Most even-
tually give up and decide
it’s not worth the hassle.
Not to be discouraged,
one black hen apparently
decided that motherhood
was worth any amount of
disturbance or intrusion,
and she would be rewarded
if she stood her ground. No
amount of getting “shooed”
off her nest, nor gathering
of her eggs (terrible…I
know) would faze her. She
would just circle around
and head right back to the
egg-less nest.
The other hens must
have taken pity on her.
Rather than lay in anoth-
er nest, they would scoot
her over, lay their eggs,
and then go back to their
non-maternal activities.
Every morning she could
be found sitting on a whole
new batch of eggs, which
she would lovingly keep
tucked under her wings,
while harshly scolding any-
one that came near.
After several days of
watching her efforts, this
Farm Lady’s cold heart
melted just enough to leave
the hen and her prospects
alone (and even tucked a
few more under her for
good measure). She sat
dutifully for weeks on over
a dozen eggs until finally
the hatching and peeping
began. One by one, various
assorted chicks appeared,
and all was well…but that’s
not the end of the story.
As life in the hen house
can be a bit hazardous for
the newly hatched chicks,
the hen and babes were
moved to their own little
house within the chicken
yard for safekeeping. The
hen seemed to like her new
home and clucked happily
at her scurrying brood.
Then one morning, I
noticed a black hen outside
the nursery door, look-
ing quite distraught while
frantically trying to get in.
Thinking mama hen must
have somehow gotten out;
I opened the door to let
her in, only to find another
black hen looking very
much like she wanted out.
Okay, so they must have in-
advertently gotten mixed up
during the morning feeding.
I let them each go their way;
Black Hen #1 in, Black Hen
#2 out. Problem solved.
There are some things
on a farm that just can’t
be explained. The next
morning, as I opened the
door to the nursery, I would
find one such phenomenon.
There, tucked back in the
corner, were two black
hens, sitting in tandem,
softly clucking to the babes
beneath their wings. How
there came to be two hens
in what was believed to be
a secure fortress is yet a
mystery.
The bigger mystery,
however, is this: there was
no scolding, no ruffled
feather, and no selfish am-
bition…. just two moms
sharing the love. I don’t
presume to know what all
goes on in the hen house,
but I do know there’s a
lesson in there for all of us
somewhere. Makes you feel
all warm and fuzzy inside,
doesn’t it?
From The Farm Re-
port: Confessions of a De-
termined Farm Lady
Susie Crosby
Prineville, OR
The Gazette Puzzle Pop
Sharpen your mind with our Gazette Puzzle Pop!
Weekly math, word, and local trivia from our five
towns—no internet or phones allowed. Answers in
next week’s edition—grab a pencil and show off!
Math Quizz
Level - Easy
Q: Enchanted Square: A square clearing has a pe-
rimeter of 28 m. What’s its area?
Riddle
Level - Moderate
Q: The more you take, the more you leave behind.
What am I?
Heppner students take a
musical journey through
the decades
177 N Main St.
Heppner, Or 97836
O: 541-676-9228
E:sykeschris@hotmail.com
By Rachel Sykes
Last Wednesday, May
21, the elementary school
gymnasium came alive
with music, color and nos-
talgia during the highly-an-
ticipated spring concert.
Under the direction of mu-
sic teacher Brook Baker,
students transported the
audience through a vibrant
musical journey across the
decades.
Each grade level was
assigned a decade to repre-
sent, with students dressing
in era-appropriate costumes
and performing songs that
captured the spirit of the
times.
Kindergarten and first
graders charmed the crowd
with their 1950s flair, while
the second and third graders
brought the 1960s to life.
The fourth and fifth grad-
ers showcased the groove
of the 1970s, and the sixth
graders brought a modern
twist with hits from the
2010s. Finally, the high
school choir gave a nod to
their parents’ generation
with several hits from the
1990s.
The evening featured
energetic singing, enthu-
siastic participation, and a
lively performance from the
school band. The gymnasi-
um echoed with applause
and excitement as families
and friends enjoyed the
students’ hard work and
musical talent.
The spring concert was
not only a celebration of
music but also a joyful
reminder of how creativ-
ity and history can come
together in the classroom.
Thanks to Ms. Baker ’s
leadership and the students’
enthusiasm, it was a night to
remember.
$165,000
Charming 1900 Victorian Home in Heppner, Oregon
– A Unique Opportunity! Step into history with this
1900 Victorian gem, located in the picturesque town
of Heppner, Oregon. This two-story home offers
4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Classic Victorian
Style: From its timeless architecture to intricate
woodwork and high ceilings, this home exudes
vintage appeal. 4 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms: Plenty
of space for a growing family. Detached Garage &
Basement: A versatile space for storage, a workshop,
or future renovations. Ideal for those with a vision,
this property offers the opportunity to restore and
personalize to your taste. With a little love and care,
this house could become a stunning blend of classic
and modern. Enjoy the charm of small-town life in
Heppner while crafting the home of your dreams.
Don’t miss out on this rare chance. Selling as-is. 195
N COURT ST Heppner MLS#:24426505
Price Reduction
Wildhorse grants help
MoCo organizations
-Continued from PAGE ONE
Foundation was for the
purpose of formalizing the
charitable giving on behalf
of the CTUIR and Wild-
horse Resort & Casino.
A total of 40 organiza-
tions were awarded grants
this period, in amounts
ranging from $2,249 to
$30,000, for projects in the
areas of public health, pub-
lic safety, arts, education,
environmental protection,
historic preservation, and
cultural activities. The total
amount awarded this quar-
ter was $515,757.
The Wildhorse Foun-
dation has awarded a total
of over $19 million in grant
funding since its establish-
ment in 2001. Grants are
awarded on a quarterly ba-
sis with the deadlines being
January 1, April 1, July 1,
and October 1.
In addition to the quar-
terly grants, five organi-
zations recently received
Rapid Response Grants in
Births
Level - Moderate
Q: What was the original name of the Columbia
River landing near Irrigon, Oregon, before it was
renamed Stokes, and what was the significance of its
competition with Umatilla Landing?
Puzzle: Snail mail
Q:Which number doesn’t belong: 2, 3, 5, 7, 10?
A: 10 because it’s not a square number.
Riddle
Q: I’m light as a feather, yet the strongest man can’t
hold me for long. What am I?
A: Breath
Morrow County Trivia
Q: Which Morrow County river, a tributary of the
Columbia, is vital for irrigation in the region?
A: Willow Creek
Broker
Chris Sykes
541-215-2274
Sold!
Morrow County Trivia Challenge
Answers from May 21th edition
Lexington Hunter Education
The course is a 1 day Field Day on June 14,
2025 at 8:00 am. The class requires students to
take an approved online course and bring the
certificate with you. Instructions for signing up at
http://vem.myodfw.com/eventprofile/174.
For more information contact instructor Jim
Marquardt at 541-969-4845. For help signing up
contact 855-686-1055 or
odfwhelp@payitgov.com
Amelia James Van Liew
Amelia James Van
Liew was born May 21,
2025, to James Van Liew
and Krista Vendetti of
Bridgton, ME. She weighed
7 pounds, 6 ounces and was
18-3/4 inches long.
Grandparents are Dan
and Sandra Van Liew of
Heppner, OR; Rhonda Rob-
erts of Brookside, CO; and
Tom Vendetti of Florence,
CO.
amounts of $1,500 or less.
Rapid Response Grants are
intended for small and im-
mediate needs that surface
throughout the year, and
funding decisions are made
within 30 days from an ap-
plication’s submission.
The Confederated
Tribes of the Umatilla In-
dian Reservation comprises
the Cayuse, Umatilla and
Walla Walla tribes, formed
under the Treaty of 1855 at
the Walla Walla Valley. In
1949, the tribes adopted a
constitutional form of gov-
ernment to protect, preserve
and enhance the reserved
treaty rights guaranteed
under federal law.
$220,000
177 N Main St.
Heppner, Or 97836
O: 541-676-9228
E:sykeschris@hotmail.com
Discover a timeless treasure with this beautifully
preserved Craftsman-style home, featuring 1,174
sq ft on the main level and an additional 1,008
sq ft in basement, perfect for storage or extra
space to customize. This 2-bedroom, 1-bath gem
combines classic charm with modern comforts,
including a newer furnace, forced air heat, and
a freshly painted exterior. Located in a prime
spot near the school and within walking distance
to downtown Heppner, this home provides
both convenience and a sense of community.
Experience small-town living with easy access
to downtown. Don’t miss the chance to make
this spacious, character-filled home your own!
240 N COURT ST Heppner MLS#:24652848