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About La Grande observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1959-1968 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 3, 1959)
LA GRANDE OBSERVER WEATHER Tartly cloudy through Fri day with chance of a few scattered showers; high FrU day 68-73; low tonight 36-42.; 4th luua 64th Yt.r r PROPOSED .OPTION "Nyj;" LlV AVERAGE MlflNMENT ,,- Jv . . : 4tt 1 MV : 1 ' vN - QxiMT.oN u POMPS '' ; I - v.v;-;v -Ncv -: ! ! RIGHT NEXT TO THE AIRPORT This is where La Grande city officials propose to construct contemplated new sew age treatment plant, subject to a $344,000 referendum here Oct. 2. Violent objects, however, may delay the hoped-for project and even the voting date. The entire up per and right central portion of area sketched on engineer's map shows proposed oxidation ponds. IT'S UP TO THE VOTERS OCT. 2 Proposed $344,000 Sewage Vote Somewhat Controversial (Editor' not The Observ er new taper Is doing series in the public interest on the pending bond Issue Oct. 2 . coneering the praposed new sewage treatment plant . to replace fh present one lo cated about two miles east of . La Grande. This is the final of a three-part series.) . BY GRADY PANNELL Observer Staff Writer On Oct. 2 of this year La Grande voters will decide one way or the other on a propos ed $844,000 bond issue suggested by the city administration for construction of a new sewage treatment plant. This proposed figure, we must point out, is subject to alteration between now and the planned ballot date, but is a certainty provided that the treatment sew age site is selected at a strip of city-owned land at Municipal Airport approximately four miles cast of the city. There are other alternatives, however, which loom as a pos sibility on this somewhat con troversial question. As pointed out previously, the city can forget about the entire matter even before the referen dum is voted on, thereby making it necessary for a ballot by lo cal citizenry; additional lunds can be raised for reconstruction of the present sewage plant in an entirely diifercnt manner by city fathers; or a new site clos er in, but possibly more expen sive, could be selected. 1 "Nothing is definite or final except possibly the referendum," according to outgoing City Man ager Fred Young. 1 City Engineer Dave Slaght may have additional and more cur rent information at a later date, and which he will bring up be fore a city commission meeting., Slaght along with the city man ager, has been working very closely on the matter and also has been in direct correspond ence and contact with district Pondosa House . Owners Warned By Health Dept. The Union County Health De partment has issued a warning to those who purchased houses from the Pondosa townsit? at an auction earlier in the year. Investigation has revealed, authorities point out- lhat tnese houses are general'y in poor con dition in regard to wiring and plumbing. The departtrrnt has asked pur chaser! to carefully consider the requirements for health and safety in remodelling of the old houses. No G.I. or F.H A. loans will be given on houses which do not me state requirements In regard to wiring, plumbing nd sewage dis - posal facilities. Further information can be ob tained by calling or writing the department. - " C"lj ,RaA and state sanitarians. Slaght also has compiled an extensive engineer's survey of his own about. the present sew age plant and the proposed new one which has been favorably received by local, state and pri vate consulting engineers. His draft of the proposed new oxidation ponds at Municipal Airport is 'what the city officials arc working with on the new project in mind. Why Municipal Airport when this site has been objected to by various interested persons? The city owns property (land) at the air terminal, enough acre age to more than take care of present and future growth of La Grande suitable for this pur pose. City spokesmen say that, based on engineering surveys, a lagoon- Firm Plans New Office In La Grande Pioneer Federal Savings and Loan Association will open an of fice in La Grande sometime in November accordin to Bill Thomas, chairman of the board if directors. The new office will be located at ill2'4 Adams Ave., with Don Guyer, formerly of Baker, in charge. The Association's home office is in Baker and has been serv ing Eastern Oregon since 1901. The firm currently has loans in Union County in excess of $900,- 000, Thomas said. The Association handles home loans and savings with total as sets of more than five million dollars. Guycr has been with the firm for 14 years and will move with his family to La Grande in the near future. He attended Ore gon State College and savings and loan schools. RESEARCHER DOUBTS 'LAST' CONFEDERATE VET SOLDIER WASHINGTON t'PH A Scripps Howard staff writer re ported today that a search of gov ernment records cast doubt on the claim of ailing Walter G. Williams. Houston, Tex., that he is the na tion's last surviving Civil War vet eran. Lowell K. Bridwcll said that his research shows that Williams "is a Confederate veteran only in his memory-clouded mind." Records of the National Ar chives and the Census were ex amined by Bridwell as the basis for his story. He said that records of the Confederacy kept by the archives fail to back up Williams' claim that he served in the famed Trwia lirirnde of Gen. John fl. LA GRANDE, PONDS type or preferably "oxidation" sewage plant would be the cheap est, best and most suitable fac ility for a needed new disposal plant, and the airport land is the logical site. . But there arc objections by various organizations and persons to an airport site and this pos sibility even may stymie an Oct. 2 bond election vote. Proponents of the oxidation or "lagoon' type treatment ponds argue thusly: 1. Special survey conducted by a competent engineering firm that has been indifferent to the "pros and cons' of the airport controversy. 2. Cost. City fathers are bud get conscious to the extent that should the whole affair come to a vote and possibly pass there looms the possibility of initial construction being done entirely by city workmen and city equip ment; and, they point out, the proposed oxidation type sewage facility is cheaper and is sanc tioned "all the way" by the health departments. Opponents of the proposed air port site say this: 1. A "lagoon" facility is in violation of zoning ordinances, according to the airport zoning board (joint city-county group) which is given state authorization on zoning control, rules, etc. 2. Such a facility would con stitute a hazard to air flights in that the ponds would attract wa terfowl. 3. Union County Pomona Grange states that the "lagoons" would destroy value of down area water wells and would not be attractive to fish and wild life. Norm Daniels, chairman of the ariport zoning board, told the city officials that his group was on record against such a located sewage plant. The city countered with a rul ing by City Attorney Carl Helm, Jr., that "No rule or regulation See PROPOSED en Page 7 Hood. Furthermore, according to the reporter, Williams is 103 years old instead of the 116 as he claims. This would have made him 8 years old at the time Williams said he was serving with Hood, the story said. Williams applied- for a Texas Confederate pension Aug. 5, 1932, and in an affidavit said he was a member of Company C. Sth Regi ment of Hood's Brigade 11 months before the war ended. Bridwell noted that Hood's Bri gade had been broken up long be fore Williams "believes he enlist ed." Williams Is now in extremely feeble condition nl his Houston - ' ,-; 1 - I OREGON, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1959 City Dads Override Zone Unit City commissioners, in regular session last night, voted to go ahead and use the airport proper ty as the basis for the engineer's report relative to the planned sew age bond election despite objec tions by th? Airport Zoning Board The Zoning Board's letter, read to tl.e commission, objected to the proposed location on five points involving airport safety and ex pansion. The objections, as stated in the letter, are: 1. It will be possible for fug to form and restrict pilot vision. 2. Flights of waterfowl may be attracted to the water and would creat a flying hazard. 3. The sun reflecting on tin ponds may cause a glare in the pilot's eyes. 4. In the case of forced landing, the ponds would restrict revue operations. 5. The ponds would restrict the expansion of present facilities. The soon to-ret ire city manager. Fred J. Young, told the commis sion members lhat the city en gineer, in drawing the plans, took possible expansion of the airport into consideration. The proposed lagoons would not restrict exten- tion of the present runways. Young continued. Commissioner Merle Becket said. 'I am not impressed by the lett-T. It reflects the thinking of a special interest group and doesn't consider the we'fare of the entire com munity." Beckett suggested that the com mission pursue the matter further. "If every small objection is to be considered we might as wll forget the ponds, Ihey won't be constructed without objections," Young said. City Attorney Carl G. Helm Jr.. when asked what alternatives were open to the commission, said it would be possible to take the mat ter to circuit court. "No board has the final authori ty in a case like this. Even though permission was refused, you can probably go to court," Helm said. The commission was warned by Yr tng thdl if t'.r ciiy do-s r..itliing and the Mate is required to enter the picture they will be less im pressed by the objections. "The stale will insist on better facilities. They will not neces sarily require oxidation ponds," Young said. The oxidation ponds are offered to the taxpayers as a savings, according to Young. They can be constructed for less than a chemi cal plant and the upkeep costs would be cut from an estimated $2,000 a month to $2.ooo a year. The bond issue of 344.0)0 to be voted on Oct. 2 was based on con struction cost at the airport. ac cording to Young. If the ponds were built closer to La Grand", the construction costs would decrease but land acquisition would offset any savings in cons! ruction, it was pointed out. Clarinet, Coats Are Stolen Here Two cases of larceny were re ported to the La Grande police yesterday. Carmen Nelson, 14P5 N Ave., reported the theft of her clarinet from the band room of the Jun ior High School. The instru ment, valued at $40, has been in the band room since July 15. according to police. Nothing else was reported stol en and the instrument was insur ed, police said. Mrs. IX-Ibert Houston. 1711 7. Ave., toid police that two wool jackets were taken from her car in a parking lot Saturday morn ing between 11 and 12. The items were described as a red( and gray piaia women s jarxci and a man's dark brown and tan plaid jacket. The coals were valued at $20. home where he is being cn-cd for by a daughter. Last month, Con gress passed and President Eisen hower signed a bill which would declare the day of the Texan's death a day of national mowing with flags to be flown at half mast. In 1958, a special federal pen sion was approved for Williams and Confederate veteran John Sal lings, Slant, Va., who died last March 16. According to Bridwcll, Sailings apparently was the last survivor of the war between the states. He said the examination of Wil liams' claim was prompted by a letter from a Cincinnati woman who lived in Williams' former home town of Franklin. Tex. On Disregard Rebel Argentine Army Generals Hurl A New Challenge At Frondizi Bl'ENOS AIRES (LTD Argentina's "rebel" generals hurled a new challenge at President Arturo Frondizi's gov ernment today, rejecting its dismissal of Gen. Carlos S. Toranzo Montero as commander of the army. The Cordoba garrison and the anti-aircraft academy in the Mar del Plata had proclaimed their open defiance of the government order, and a "great majority" of the Enrollment In Schools Increases La Grande city school enrollment shows an increase of 115 pupils this year over last year's record enroll ment of 2.382. City Superintendent of Schools Lyle Riggs reported that 2.497 pupils were registered on the open ing day of school last Monday. It is expected that this record will increase with late enrollments an ticipated throughout this week. La Grande High School led in enrolment gains with 58 more students than last year: while the junior high school had 48 more pupils entering classes than the year before. The elementary schools had nine more than last year's opening day figure, but several more young sters are expected as probable cnrollees before week's end. The high school had 514 stud ents compared to 458 opening day boys and girls the year before. The junior high recorded 609 Monday as compared to 5B1 a yar afip. The eleniNijary inure was 1.374 to 1,35. i ' Breakdown in the lower grades rcvea'es this: Greenwood el-mentary 273; Ri- veria, 214; Willow, 176; Acker- man, 245. In the hijh school, there are 144 seniors, 192 juniors and 178 sopho mores. At the junior high: 170 freshmen. 186 eighth grad-rs and 178 seventh grade students. The largest single elementary class is the one at Central, with 88 first graders. Smallest ele mentary class is fourth grade at Willow. 22 youngsters. Work Sheet Hits Peak Employment in the La Grande area has reached the highest level of the year, the peak hitting at the close of last month. Ernest O. Burrows, manager of the state employment offic, loir" the Observer newspaper today that emp'oyment trends continued ir logging, lumbering, transporta tion and construction, with the latter mostly on a replacement basis. Total unemployment In both Union and Wsllowa counties was under last year's figure, with 25T unemployed persons at the end o' August compared to 310 in July and 314 a year ago. Construction on the $300,000 ele mentary school building in La Grande topped this phase of the r-port. Also under construction is a large supermarket In Island City. Construction also continued on V S. Highway 30 west of the city, and railroad officials reported there has been no freight car shortage here thus far. Building permits irsued by the city total-d J127.570 last month s compared to $27,660 in July and $6,930 last year during the same period. Area non-agricultural employ ment is expected to hold at the prrsent high level through Sep tember, Burrows said, adding that som? replacements will bo re quired arcund the end of this month for co'lege students who leave jobs to return to classes. A decrease in agricultural em ployment is expected with com pletion of grain harvest, however. The harvest was about 85 per cent complete through August in Union County and 50 per cent completed in Wallowa County. Unemployment claim filings In Burrows' office totaled 49 In Au gust as compared to 67 in July and 1 in a year ngo. Chief Scores Americans nation's other garrisons were re- ported siding with Toranzo. Gen. Pedro S. Castineiras, cho sen by the government to replace Toranzo, said he had no idea how soon he would be able to assume command. Heavily-reinforced guards stood watch at army barracks in the Buenos Aires . area, and troops were reported confined to bar racks. Unofficial sources said similar precautions had been or dered at garrisons throughout the country. Fourteen generals who an nounced their opposition to Toran zo s dismissal in telegrams to the provincial garrisons were report ed under arrest Wednesday night as a prelude to possible court martial. The Cordoba garrison, cradle of the revolution that overthrew President Juan D. Peron in 1955, was the first sizeable military or ganization to reject Toranzo's dis missal. Col. Horacio Zanarruza. the Cordoba commander, denounced the "unjustified removal" of To ranzo. He declared lhat the troops under nis command would obev only the orders of the deposed general. War Secretary Elbio C. Anaya relieved Toranzo of command Wednesday, apparently because of reports that the army command er planned to dismiss a number of subordinate generals without consulting him. State Water Board Schedules Meet Here September 16 The State Water Resources Board will meet here Sept. 16 at 9:30 a.m. The board staff will present the findings and conclusions of the Grande Ronde river Basin inves tigation at that time. It Includes studies of beneficial uses of water including, domestic, municipal, irrigation, power de velopment, industrial, mining, recreation, wildlife and fish life uses. Pollution abatement, drainage and reclamation also were studies. MANGLED V 'II V" , , ... i , . Shown above is the front seat of the late model car in which Lantz Wayne Trump 5 19, Enterprise, suffered fatal injuries yesterday morning near Upper.Perry. Trumii died Wednesday afternon In a local hospital. Note the twisted steering wheel in the" upper left corner of the picture. , (Observer. Photo) ' 12 Paget Of U.S. MAKING OF TOP U. S. CITIZEN ARLINGTON, Va. (UPI) Korean-born Dorothy Lh Drell ignored labor pains, climbed out of her maternity ward bed and appeared in Alexandria Federal Court Wednesday just in time to become an American citizen. "I've been waitinq for this day to long I just didn't want to mitt it," said Mrs. Drell, 2, wife of a school teacher. She was among 71 pertont naturalized. Clutching her citizenship certificate, Mrs. Drell re turned to Arlington Hospital. Wednetdiy night the- gave birth to a boy. Enterprise Youth Dies In Hospital Lantz Wayne Trump. 19, Enter prise, died in the Grande Ronde Hospital yesterday afternoon of injuries suffered Wednesday morn ing in a collision at Upper Perry, about five miles west of here. A passenger, James Victor, 19. also of Enterprise, was reported in fair condition at the hospital this morning. State police said a westbound Consolidated Freightways truck driven by Joseph Hienzel of Bil lings. Mont , was just coming off the Upper Perry bridge on a curve when it met tho eastbound Trump car which police said was in the wrong lane. The officers said Trump appar ently didn't see the truck coming. Tho terrific impact tore the wheels out from under the 'truck's! trailer .and welded the two ve hicles together. Two tow trucks were required on the scene of the 4:55 a.m. accident. BULLETIN DENVER (UPI)-A gat ex plotien gutted two ttory building in downtown Denver during the noon hour today, shattering plate glatt windowt and causing damage at far at a block and half away. At least one person was killed and eight injured, three of them seriously. YOUTH ARRESTED HERE Miles Rodney Schooler. 21 was arrested by police yesterday morning for a stop sign violation, according to police. Schooler, 401 K Ave., was picked up at the intersection of Y Ave., and First St., following a violation at X Ave. and Second St., at 11:51, police said. INTERIOR OF Five Cents Crime Hits At No Man's Violence WASHINGTON (UPD-FBI Di rector J. Edgar Hoover lashed out today at Americans who stand idle while criminals turn parts of the nation into a "no man's land1' of violence. ' Hoover, writing in the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, described as "shocking'' the 93 per cent increase in crime last year. He noted it was the highest rate in the recorded history of U.S. crime. i -J The FBI chieA said the repdrt showed that some areas are veritable "no man's land" whepa crime is ever lurking. He repri manded citizens who have a "do tached attitude towards crime. "J No One Immune "This country's citizens," Hoo ver wrote, "must awaken to thfc fact that the war on crime is not just the battle of the law enforce ment officer. "J -i "Every citizen has a stake when hoodlums prowl the streets brazenly committing atrocities which appall even veteran poliee officers. No one is immune from the attacks of depraved murder ers, robbers, sex offenders and kidnappers." ".'S'- Hoover said the police officers are a "small patrol" when con pared with the "army of law breakers roaming America.""'-. Lonely Battle . "Often the law enforcement of ficer's battle is a lonely one,", he added, "and too frequently trie citizens who should be his allies are indifferent and apathetic:",. Hoover noted that the Interna tional Assn. of Chiefs of Police hold their annual convention ia New York City.,, from Sept.- 47 through Oct. 1. He called it a "summit meet ing" of law enforcement officers and said that citizens should look upon the meeting with the "same fervent interest" with which they view other conferences affectine their nation's security. '. Cove High School To Open Sept. 8 -ve. t special Cove High School will open Sept. S at 1:45 n. with busses running on the same routes and schedules as last year, according to Charles Haggcsf- ty. principal. It will be a full any of school and hot lunches will be available. New students at the high school are asked to register either Friday or Monday afternoons to give them sufficient time to study their schedules. ; DEATH CAR i