Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, June 18, 2025 -- THREE
MoCo Republicans
to meet June 25
~ 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
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The Morrow County EP5 5-25 scope.
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 Republicans will meet at 6
T5 Firearm Solutions
in the classifieds under “Card of Thanks” at a cost of $16 Email to editor@rapidserve.net or upload to Heppner.net.
p.m. on Wednesday, June hold the gun until the draw-
Just sitting here won-
dering what happened to
all the normal people. I
remember when everybody
knew that kids who threw
rocks at people were brats.
Common thoughts were,
“Where are their parents?!”
and “That kid needs a trip to
the woodshed!”
Well, my thinking
hasn’t changed much. As
I learn what’s happening
on the streets of America
today, I’m picturing some
pretty large woodsheds are
needed…with lots of kin-
dling sticks. And I would
still like to know where
their parents are.
Just a thought: I wonder
if the downhill spiral might
have accelerated when we
decided a woman’s place
wasn’t in the home and we
started letting others take
on the parenting role. I
know…it’s hard to make it
on one income these days
and I’m not faulting women
for doing what they feel
they have to do. But regard-
less of the reason behind
it, the diminishing time
spent raising our own kids
has given lots of room to
some “bad actors,” and the
negative influence they’ve
had on the last generation
is showing.
Even if you’ve had the
first couple years with your
kids, the influence of the
following years is critical
to forming a decent human
being. Today, the garbage
being fed to kids in school
is more toxic than ever. And
it’s not just classroom time
doing the damage. Social
media is turning young
minds to mush. Now they
have the opportunity to
“connect” with all kinds of
crazy. Are there some good
teachers out there? Yes, for
sure, but they have a huge
fight on their hands just
trying to teach the truth.
I know that a parent
can do “everything right”
and still watch their kids
go downhill. God is the
perfect parent and Adam
and Eve sure messed up.
And remember who’s lurk-
ing around “seeking whom
he can destroy.” He has a
lot of tools at his disposal
these days.
But still, I can’t help but
wonder how in the world so
many people could get it
so wrong…I mean, some
lies are easy to believe,
especially with enough pro-
paganda. I get that. But the
current nonsense is pretty
incredible.
1) Female and male
anatomy are just sugges-
tions.
2) Men in women’s
sports is fair.
3) Babies are dispos-
able.
4) Only good folks
cross borders.
5) Throwing rocks,
burning cars and looting is
peaceful protesting.
6) It’s ok to hate Jews.
7) The world will be
safe with a nuke-capable
Iran.
8 ) Biden was never
obtunded.
9) Trump just wants to
be king.
10) Terrorists and the
news media can be trusted.
11) There is no God and
we’re all here by accident
(Satan loves that one).
So, how do we thwart
the lies? We continue to tell
the truth, boldly. We will be
accused of being unloving,
insensitive, intolerant and
all kinds of nasty things.
But watching silently while
the truth is getting buried
beneath a mountain of de-
ceit isn’t helping anyone…
Heppner
Does Care
It was rewarding to
learn that several Heppner
area residents took to the
street to protest President
Trump’s actions on “No
Kings” day. A photo of
them was featured on the
KGW evening news as the
opening for the station’s
coverage of “No Kings”
day.
I was pleased to learn
some people stopped and
chatted and some honked
and waved. Heppner area
folks do care about the
issues which are too numer-
ous to mention.
If you do care, I encour-
age you to contact your con-
gressional representatives
by email, phone or the US
mail. Our representative is
Cliff Bentz and our senator
is Jeff Merkley. Contact
information is easily found
on the internet.
Joan Larson
Heppner, OR
row County Health District
Board members.
The current board con-
sists of Diane Kilkenny
(Chair), Scott Ezell, Ste-
phen Munkers, Donna Ri-
etmann and Laura Torres.
These board members ap-
proved extremely generous
severance packages for two
employees—Emily Roberts
and Nicole Mahoney—who
voluntarily resigned from
the Health District. That’s
right—your tax dollars at
work.
Emily Roberts resigned
on March 30, and Nicole
Mahoney’s last day was
June 13. Despite resigning,
they were rewarded with
severance packages totaling
$440,000 for Ms. Roberts
and $370,000 for Ms. Ma-
honey. Additionally, Ms.
Mahoney is set to receive
a $50,000 bonus check on
January 1, 2026.
The board claims these
severance packages are
standard practice for ad-
ministrative staff. I urge
any former administrative
employees to come forward
and confirm—or refute—
this assertion.
This decision is both
shameful and unacceptable.
Ms. Roberts and Ms. Ma-
honey oversaw the firing
or resignation of more than
40 employees over the past
three and a half years. Their
leadership resulted in a cul-
ture of fear and instability.
And now, the very individ-
uals responsible for dis-
mantling employee rights
and job security are being
handsomely rewarded.
There is even a pending
lawsuit related to Ms. Rob-
erts’s actions, highlighting
further concerns about her
conduct. These two individ-
uals have, metaphorically,
torn this district’s hospital
apart—yet the board has
chosen to reward them.
Last year, the district
cited a lack of funds when
providing only a 0.5 per-
cent cost-of-living adjust-
ment for employees. How,
then, can it justify nearly a
million dollars in payouts
to two individuals who
resigned?
I sincerely question
whether this board’s inten-
tion is to leave the Health
District financially crippled
before new board mem-
bers can begin to repair the
damage.
I strongly encourage
every concerned taxpayer
to attend the upcoming
board meeting on Monday,
June 30, in Boardman. Your
voice matters.
Sincerely,
Jimmy Wimer, RDMS
(AB, BR), RT(R)(CT), ARRT
Heppner, OR
25, at the Bellamy house
in Lexington, OR. Precinct
Committee Persons (PCPs)
and anyone interested in the
county Republican Party
are encouraged to attend.
Discussions will center on
the summer 2025 events.
The MCRP Summer
FUNdraiser event is sched-
uled for 7 p.m. this Friday,
June 20, at the American
Legion Hall in Ione, OR.
The event will feature an
American Trivia team com-
petition, an auction, and
dessert.
Also at the event, 2025
rifle raffle tickets will go
on sale for a custom Howa
1500 hunting rifle with a
Pendleton composite long-
range hunter stock. T5 Fire-
arm Solution put together
the gun, which features a
tungsten cerakote finish and
is equipped with an Arken
ing, and then custom load it
with 7mm PRC ammo upon
pickup by the winner.
A limited number of
raffle tickets will be avail-
able to those 18 years or
older for $25 each or five
for $100.
PCP positions are open
for Heppner, Boardman
and Irrigon. Individuals
interested in one of these
positions are encouraged to
attend this meeting to learn
about the positions. PCP
appointments can be made
during MCRP meetings.
The Republican Par-
ty is open to individuals
interested in conservative
ideals and values. The Re-
publican Party platform can
be found at https://oregon.
gop/. For more information
on the Morrow County
Republican Party, contact
mocoreps@gmail.com.
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George DesBrisay
541-571-2318
Collective
Psychosis
Craig Martin
541-571-8838
78471 AGNEW RD. HERMISTON, OR 97838
To the editor:
Let’s recap. Protestors
bravely stood up against
a monarchy that doesn’t
exist in this country, and
hasn’t since 1776. This is
collective psychosis.
Respectfully,
Keith Gallagher
Gooseberry, OR
Bad
Leadership Heppner burn ban
Rewarded correction
IONE RURAL FIRE
PROTECTION DISTRICT
BURN
BAN
No Open Burning - No Burn Barrels
The burn ban for the City of Heppner went into effect
To the Community of
Monday, June 16, at 7 a.m. Last week’s G-T incorrectly
Morrow County,
This letter is intended stated the start time as 7 p.m. No open burning is allowed
for those who may not be until further notice. Burn barrels are included in the ban.
The Gazette-Times editor apologizes for the error.
fully aware of the recent
decisions made by the Mor-
Sup
er
ch
Nonsense
especially our kids. Don’t
let anyone reinvent morali-
ty…or truth. There is right
and wrong, good and evil,
and real truth. If we look
for it, the evidence is over-
whelming.
“Don’t let anyone cap-
ture you with empty philos-
ophies and high-sounding
nonsense that come from
human thinking and from
the spiritual powers of this
world, rather than from
Christ” Colossians 2:8.
Susie Crosby
Prineville, OR
FIRE BAN STARTED
JUNE 4th UNTIL
FURTHER NOTICE
By order of Fire Marshall
connection
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