By Debbie Raney
Burns Times-Herald

County Commissioners from District 60 — Harney, Baker, Malheur and Grant counties — met on Jan. 22 in Ontario to elect a replacement for State Representative Tom Butler.

Based on county population, the votes from each commissioner varied in the actual count, from 1/3 of a vote to four votes per commissioner. Malheur County commissioners represented the majority, with 12 total votes; Baker County counted for 10 1/2 votes; Harney County’s three commissioners represented four votes, and Grant County’s accounted for one. The total available votes during the process was 27.

Cliff Bentz of Ontario was the unanimous selection by District 60’s commissioners, receiving all 27 votes. Bentz is an attorney and partner for Yturri Rose, LLP. He was raised in Drewsey, and continues to have ties to Harney County, both personally and professionally.

“Cliff brings experience and vision that are going to be a tremendous asset to the people of House District 60,” said Senator Ted Ferrioli. “I look forward to serving together as strong voices and advocates for Eastern Oregon.”

Bentz will represent District 60 through the remainder of Butler’s term, but will have to run for the office during the May Primary Election. According to Harney County Clerk Maria Itturiaga, he will not be listed on the ballot as the “incumbent.”

His opponents for the District 60 appointment were Tim Smith of Burns, and Deon Strommer of Baker City. Smith, Strommer and Bentz have all filed as candidates in the May primary.

Following Bentz’ selection, Strommer told The Oregonian newspaper he was remaining in the race, but knew it wouldn’t be easy to beat Bentz. “Cliff’s well-known, and a good guy, you’ve got to overcome that if you want to do this.”

Smith released a statement last Friday, reiterating that his intention to run in May’s election had not changed. “While the vote of the county commissioners on Jan. 22 in Malheur County was certainly disappointing I remain confident that my support from the people of the district remains strong,” he said.

By Lauren Brown
Burns Times-Herald

Curbside recycling could be a reality for the City of Burns if the management at 4R Recycling Center and C&B Sanitary can come to an agreement.
Wayne Baron, manager of the 4R Recycling Center, brought the issue before the Burns City Council at the Jan. 23 meeting. Baron said that since the center opened last year, there has been a lot of local interest in curbside recycling. Currently, locals can drop off their recyclables six days per week at the center. “The public has asked us time and time again to do curbside recycling,” he said.

However, Baron noted that in talking with Burns City Manager Justin Boone, he found out the city’s franchise agreement with C&B Sanitary doesn’t allow it.

Boone agreed and said that C&B Sanitary has all the curbside recycling rights. The city has nine years left on its 10-year agreement with C&B. But the agreement is subject to annual review.

Rod Dinsmore, owner of C&B Sanitary, was present at the meeting, and Councilor Len Vohs asked Dinsmore whether or not the business had any intention of instituting a curbside recycling program.

Dinsmore indicated that perhaps at some point in the future that could be a possibility.

“If these people,” Vohs said, indicating 4R Recycling, “are ready to do it … is there some way this can be worked out?” he asked.
“Maybe we can have a closed door discussion about this,” Dinsmore said.

City Manager Boone said he would arrange a meeting with Baron, Dinsmore and himself to see if they could come up with an agreement.
In other business:

• the council held a public hearing to obtain input on the updating planning ordinances.

Planning commission members John Reponen and Lee Williams were present to answer questions on the proposed changes. The planning commission held a public hearing regarding the same ordinances on Dec. 20, and after some discussion, recommended that the council approve the proposed changes.

Reponen explained that most of the changes update the ordinances to reflect changes that have taken place in the community. For example, he said the old language still refers to the Edward Hines mill. “It’s just an update to take us out of the Edward Hines era,” he said.

Councilor Vohs pushed to approve the proposed changes sooner rather than later because the council would still be able to make later amendments if some more changes were needed. He was concerned that outdated ordinances could make the city ineligible for potential grant funds.

However, city attorney Steve Finlayson didn’t feel the ordinances were ready for approval. He recommended the city hold the hearing open until the Feb. 13 meeting at which the council may act on the proposal;

• Burns Police Chief Rob Nou said that new officers Newton Skunkcap and Jeff Brewer will begin active duty on Feb. 6 and Feb. 19, respectively;

• the council went into executive session to discuss with counsel threatening litigation;

• the council heard an update from City Clerk Dauna Wensenk on the aircraft fueling ramp project at the Burns Municipal Airport. The Airport Committee met with engineers Fred LeLacheur and Tim Orthomeyer of Morrison Maierle to go over the project specs. The project is scheduled to go out for bid on Feb. 3.

Councilor Vohs reminded the council that the fire suppression issue at the airport should not be forgotten. In May 2006, the state fire marshal gave the city five years to come up with a more permanent fire suppression system at the airport.

The next Burns City Council meeting will be on Feb. 13 at Burns City Hall.

The Harney County Chamber of Commerce hosted the 58th annual Banquet to honor the Outstanding Citizens of Harney County
on Saturday, Jan. 26.

Award winners

Student of the Year — Burns…………………Sarah Fitzpatrick

Student of the Year — Crane…………………Rena Barrett

Senior Woman of the Year…………………….Zora Retherford

Woman of the Year……………………………….Jolyn Wynn

Grassman of the Year…………………………..Ed and Leilani Davis

Lumber/Ind. Person of the Year……………Jim Campbell

Senior Man of the Year…………………………Bob Sands

Outstanding Young Farmer/Rancher…….Rich Jenkins

Outstanding Educator………………………….Angie Halvorson

Distinguished Service………………………….Heather Bailey

Business Person of the Year………………..Gary and Jill Miller

Boss of the Year…………………………………..Tom Rogers

Man of the Year……………………………………John Petty

By Randy Parks
Burns Times-Herald

The Burns Hilander wrestling team placed sixth at the Reser’s Tournament of Champions held Friday and Saturday, Jan. 25-26, in Hillsboro.
The tournament featured 23 of the top wrestling teams in the state from all classes, 1A-6A.

Joe Drinkwater was the lone Hilander to earn an individual championship as he placed first in the 152 pound weight class. Drinkwater got an escape in the third period to decision Mitch Sturdevant of Newberg 1-0 in the title match.

In his first match of the tournament, Drinkwater beat Sam Hartley of Redmond 14-2. He pinned Zack Reser of Westview (3:58) in his second match and then advanced to the finals with a 7-0 win over Brock Halter of Glide.

Also placing for Burns were Josh Cate, who took third at 140 pounds, Mike Schaff, fourth at 135 pounds, Patrick Stampke, fifth at 119 pounds and Brendan Palmer, sixth at 125 pounds.

In the JV tournament, the Hilanders’ Chance Peasley placed second at 119 pounds and Raymond Wright finished fifth at 140 pounds.
Newberg won the team title with 193 points. Newberg placed five wrestlers in the finals and had two individual champions.

Final team standings are as follows:
1. Newberg 193.0, 2. Hermiston 142.5, 3. Canby 139.0, 4. Roseburg 130.0, 5. Crook County 127.0, 6. Burns 94.5, 7. Sprague 91.5, 8. Culver 88.5, 9. West Salem 84.0, 10. Hillsboro 79.0, 11. Cleveland 76.5, 12. Crater 71.5, 13. Oregon City 71.0, 14. Grants Pass 66.0, 15. Tillamook 66.0, 16. Redmond 65.5, 17.

Thurston 65.0, 18. Scappoose 63.5, 19. Glide 55.5, 20. Gresham 51.0, 21. Westview 42.0, 22. Glencoe 27.5, 23. West Linn 17.0

Marjorie May Molyneux Breon died on Jan. 19.

She was born on Aug. 14, 1925 in St. Johns, to Ray McVicker and Ruth Smith McVicker.
Breon was raised in Vancouver, Wash., and graduated from Vancouver High School in 1944. She married Loyd Molyneux on April 1, 1945, in Vancouver.

They raised their five children in Vancouver and then moved to Mt. Vernon, where they ranched. In September 1972 Loyd passed away.

She married Ben Breon on Jan.14, 1976.

The Breons rode for three years for the Dayville Grazing Association in the Murderers Creek area, then they moved to Crook County and lived on the 96 Ranch for 25 years. They retired to the Burns area in 2003.

Breon enjoyed talking with family and friends. She also loved to see what Dick Jenkins had new out at the Round Barn Visitor Center. She liked visiting friends at the Narrows, and when she was not able to get around as well, she enjoyed watching the many people at McDonald’s.

Breon loved the memories of the real estate deals she and Marcheta Roser had completed over the last few years. She enjoyed her home and showing off the blue pine cabinets that Tex Ward built for her and Ben. One of the things she cherished was all the friendly people of Harney County and the views of the wide open spaces. She commented often that they should have moved here 25 years ago.

Breon is survived by her husband, Bensell Breon of Burns; brother, Richard McVicker of Vancouver, Wash.; daughters, Susan and husband Torrey Emery of Arcadia, Neb., Judy and husband Gerald Tikka of Battle Ground, Wash., and Anita Molyneux of Cocoanut Creek, Fla.; sons, Dennis Molyneux of Burns, and Rodney and Carolyne Molyneux of Vancouver; and step-son, Bensell Breon, Jr of Siletz. She is also survived by 12 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren and 19 nieces and nephews.

Breon was preceded in death by her first husband, Loyd J. Molyneux; grandson, Kevin Molyneux; great- grandson, Cameron Banes; and parents, Ray and Ruth McVicker.

Breon was buried at Moon Creek Cemetery in Mt. Vernon. LaFollette’s Chapel was in charge of funeral arrangements.

Maisie Beth (Bellamy) Bennett, 86, died at her home in Hines on Jan. 22, just one day short of the 19th anniversary of the death of her husband, Maynard.
She was born on Feb. 18, 1921, in Strong City, Okla., to Carl and Glena (Giles) Bellamy.

In 1925, the family moved to Imperial Valley, Calif., via an old Model T Ford with “California or Bust” on the side of it. They farmed in Imperial Valley for 10 years. While in California, Bennett’s family founded a Nazarene church, as there were none in the area at that time.

Ten years later, the family moved to Oregon, where Bennett’s father bought and ran a dairy. Bennett loved life on the farm, where she did all the baking for her parents, six brothers and one sister.

She graduated from Canby High School in 1939, and attended Northwest Nazarene College (NNC) briefly before having to return home to work after her father’s death. Bennett returned to NNC and graduated with a degree in education in 1946.

Bennett was hired to teach Home Economics and “gym” at Crane High School, and she taught there for two years. During this time, she met her future husband and soul mate, Maynard Bennett. The couple were married on Sept. 3, 1949, in Goldendale, Wash., in the Nazarene church that was co-founded by her mother.

Bennett’s children often teased her that she had married “the milkman, the meat man and the egg man all in one.” They had a son and two daughters while living in Goldendale, and then moved back to Burns in 1955. A third daughter was born in 1958, shortly before the family moved to Portland where they lived until the kids were grown and gone.

The couple moved back to Crane in 1982. Following her husband’s death in 1989, Bennett moved to Burns and then to Nampa, Idaho, where she lived until just recently moving back to Harney County.

Bennett embraced her role as wife and mother and was a cook and homemaker. She never wavered in her faith and clung to the promises of God’s word. Many people were won to the Lord through her witness and prayers, including her husband. In his final days on this earth, he shared a glimpse of heaven with his family and his desire for his family to join him there one day. Without Bennett’s faithful prayers, he may not have known the Heavenly Father as his own personal Savior, and when he gave his heart to the Lord, it completed their union, because it meant they would spend eternity together. One could not speak of one without the other, and Bennett longed for her husband for 19 years.

Bennett was extremely social and loved visiting with anyone who took the time to sit with her. Her cooking and graciousness as a hostess were unsurpassed when her husband was still alive.

She attended the Harney County Church of the Nazarene, but had not yet transferred her membership from the Karcher Church of the Nazarene in Nampa, Idaho.

Bennett is survived by her children, Jerry Bennett and wife Jane, Sandy Volle, Kathy von Rummelhoff and husband Jim, and Patti Brown and husband Gene; grandchildren, Ty Volle and wife Stephanie, Crystal Galvan-Mendez and husband Rogelio, Matt Bennett, Amy von Rummelhoff, Stephen DiBene, Nate Bennett, Heather Volle and Audriana DiBene; and great-grandchildren, Haydn Anderson, Kaleigh Anderson, Ariana Galvan-Mendez, Carsen Volle and Camryn Volle.

Bennett is also survived by brothers, Tiny Bellamy and wife Mary, and Ted Bellamy and wife Angie; sister, Glena McIntyre and husband Herb; numerous nieces and nephews; and a loving church family and many friends.

A Celebration of Life service was held on Saturday, Jan. 26, at the Harney County Church of the Nazarene. She was laid to rest next to her husband in the Burns Cemetery.

Donations in her memory may be made to Harney County Church of the Nazarene. LaFollette’s Chapel was in charge of arrangements.

Storytime for preschoolers is held Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. at the Harney County Library.

Burns Fire Dept. meets each Wednesday at the Burns Fire Hall at 7 p.m.

Burns Elks Lodge, 118 North Broadway, meets each Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Alcoholics Anonymous meets each Wednesday at the Foursquare Church at 7 p.m.

Chamber Music Bell Choir meets each Thursday at 6:30 p.m., at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 393 West A. Street. Bell ringers are being recruited. For information, call Carol Sawyer, 573-6886.

Tai Chi is held every Thursday at the Harney County Senior and Community Services Center, from 9:30-10:30 a.m. All ages are welcome to participate.

Kiwanis Club of Burns-Hines meets for a no-host luncheon each Thursday at Glory Days Pizza, 690 Oregon Ave., at noon.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly meets each Thursday at Hines City Hall, 101 East Barnes, at noon. Call 573-2896.

The Boys & Girls Club holds karaoke each Thursday. Members of all ages are welcome to join Hanna in the education room for a program that promotes the art of singing, as well as a fun way to practice reading skills.

Teen Night is held at The Boys & Girls Club each Thursday, from 6-7 p.m. for all teenagers.

Alcoholics Anonymous meets each Thursday at the Foursquare Church, at 7 p.m.

Oregon Old Time Fiddlers, District 9, meets the first, third and fourth Friday of each month. Call Julia at 573-2770, for time and place.

Boxing is held each Friday from 2-4 p.m. at the Boys & Girls Club. The fundamentals of boxing are taught to kids. Permission slips must be turned in prior to participation in this program.

Hines Middle School Reading Club meets each Friday from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the Harney County Library.

The Boys & Girls Club has the Club Bucks Store open each Friday. This is an incentive program in which members earn “club bucks” by doing good deeds and helping out around the club.

Alcoholics Anonymous meets every Friday at Foursquare Church at 7 p.m.

Diabetes Support Group meets at the Harney County Health Building, 420 North Fairview, the first Saturday of each month at 2 p.m.

Alanon holds an open meeting each Saturday at Foursquare Church at 5:30 p.m.