Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 24, 1938)
OREGON p B L I c HISTORICAL SOCIETY AUDITOR i : - PORTIA - r. c- Volume 53, Number 51 Threatened Loss Of Forest Funds Brings Action Lions Told Site Matter Must be Cleared up Soon That Heppner may forfeit money allocated for construction of forest service buildings here this year if necessary work in clearing title on site is not soon completed was told to the Lions club Monday by F. F. Wehmeyer, local ranger. The neces sary work to make the site accept able to the government has dragged along for several months while for est service officials, ready to start work, have been forced to mark time. Logie Richardson, abstractor who has been in charge of the' title work, reported shortly after the meeting that promise was had that last of necessary quitclaim deeds would be obtained within a few days. Diffi culty in obtaining these was met by several parties located at a distance who were not easily contacted. Spurred by Mr. Wehmeyer's report, the Lions club committee got busy immediately after the meeting and assured the balance being available to pay Mrs. Pauline Quaid for the lot being purchased from her as part of the site. Wehmeyer said more money had been made available for this year, making possible construction of sev eral buildings if the site matter is straightened out in the near future. In bidding good-bye to fellow members of the Lions club, E. L, Morton introduced B. C. Pinckney as his successor as manager of the local branch, First National Bank of Portland. Mr. Morton was given the club's felicitations upon his leaving for Newberg to take a similar po sition with the Portland institution, Alden Blankenship read a tribute to Washington from James Trues- low Adams' "Epic of America" in commemoration of the anniversary of the first president's birth. A. R Rayburg of Walla Walla and Werner Rietmann of lone were introduced as guests. School Band Raised In State Competition Heppners school bandsters are again preparing to attend the state band contest to be held this year at Eugene, April 8-9, announces Harold Buhman, director. The local band, which for the last two years has taken first place in its division, this year will be moved up from class D to class C, stifening the competition. The state contest has been set to tie in with the national contest, and winners in each division will have the opportunity of playing in the re gional section of the national con test. Bands are limited to 90 mem bers under the national regulations, and Mr. Buhman expects to take fifty bandsters from here. Sixteen new uniforms were recently pur chased so that this number could be equipped. Farm Conference Grinding Away Today With reports to be heard from four major committees, the Mor row county farm economic confer ence is holding sessions today at the courthouse. A large attendance of farm folk from all parts of the coun ty is present. H. A. Lindgren, livestock special ist, and Miss Joan Patterson, home furnishings specialist, with the ex tension service from Oregon State college, are assisting Joe Belanger, county agent, in conducting the conference. Committees making re ports are those on land use, farm crops, livestock, and rural and home life. Claude Cox made a business trip to Portland Tuesday. Heppner, M. B. Haines Passes; Funeral Held Here Funeral services for M. B. Haines, for many years a noted host of east ern Oregon hotels, were held from the Elks' hall here at 2:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon with interment in Masonic ' cemetery. Alvin Klein feldt, Christian minister, officiated. Mr. Haines died at Pendleton last Sunday. Native of Vincent, N. J., where he was born May 25, 1864, Mr. Haines as a boy moved with his parents to Denver, Col., and shortly came to Morrow county. His father was post master at Eight Mile for a time. He lived in Oregon about 45 years. Learning the cooking trade at a young age, he was chef at the old Palace hotel for a time when that hostelry was under the management of Phil Metschan, now manager of Portland hotels. He also ran a res taurant of his own here. In this residence he lost his wife by first marriage in the flood of June 14, 1903. On January 25, 1907, he married Etta M. Brown in Heppner. Shortly re moving to lone, Mr. and Mrs. Haines conducted the hotel there for 13 years, in which time the quality of meals was widely known. Mr. Haines went from there to Condon to be first manager of a new hotel at that place, and after several years re moved to Fossil where he managed the hotel until about five months ago when the home was moved to The Dalles where he arid Mrs. Haines had since resided. Surviving besides the widow is a brother, Bruce Haines of Valdez, Alaska. He had held mem bership in the lone Christian church and the Elks lodge. Mortons to Newberg In Bank Transfer Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Morton and son Jack will leave Saturday for Newberg where Miv Morton goes in a transfer in his work with First National Bank of Portland, an nounced this week. Succeeding Mr. Morton as manager .of the local branch is B. C. Pinckney from the ' Portland office, who with Mrs. Pinckney and 13-year-old son, Bob by, will make their residence in the home vacated by the Mortons. Mr. Pinckney is familiar with eastern Oregon banking, having been located at Union and Lakeview with the Portland institution and also having had experience with federal financing agencies at Spokane be fore going to Portland. Mr. Morton has been manager of the local bronch since its inception in January, 1934. Starting from scratch, he has seen the local bank reach the million-dollar point in de posits, and both he and Mrs. Morton have become prominently identified with civic and social life of the com munity. Mr. Morton was serving his second term as councilman and was active in the Lions club, American Legion, and Boy Ccout work. Thru her activity in the Oregon Wool growers auxiliary, Mrs. Morton was raised to the secretaryship of the state organization at the recent Prineville convention. The well wishes of the entire community ac company them to their new home. Their daughter, Miss Arlene, high school senior, was expected to com plete the year's school work here be fore joining the family at Newberg. Catholic Ladies Set St. Patrick's Ball The Catholic Ladies Altar society announce their annual St. Patrick's ball to be held the evening of Thurs day, March 17, at the Elks hall. Pritchau's Rhythm Boys of The Dalles have been retained to dis pense favorite ballroom tunes. Always one of the highlights on the season's social calendar, the event this year will live up to all expectations, say members of the committee in charge. Most of the population of the Lena district was in town Monday for last rites for the late Tom Healy. Included were Mr. and Mrs. John Brosnan, long-time residents. Oregon, Thursday, February Healy -Vale Shooting Tragedy Gives Shock; Rodeo Star is Native Tragic death of Tom Healy and Harlan Vale near Walla Walla last Thursday evening bowed the heads of many Heppner relatives and friends as the news was received here. The young men were found dead from bullet wounds on oppo site sides of the kitchen table at the farm Vale was managing at Berry man station near Walla Walla. Verdict of the coroner's jury was that Vale had accidentally shot Healy, then took his own life in re morse. They were known to have been close pals. Healy, son of Mr. and Mrs. Mike Healy of Boardman, was born here. He rode bucking horses at the an nual rodeo here for the last several years and two years ago won the bucking championship. Vale, son of Mrs. Nat Webb of Walla Walla, was a nephew of Mrs. Percy Hughes of Lena. His mother, nee Ella Ayers, spent her girlhood days in Heppner, and here met the young man's father, the late Jay Vale, an employee of the old Minor & Co. store. Funeral rites for Healy were held from St. Patrick's Catholic church here Monday morning, with inter ment in the local cemetery. A large concourse of relatives and friends paid their last respects. Besides his Elks Anniversary Festivities Fete , Three Major Events Annual Ball Cli maxes Day in Which Visitors Take Part Saturday was a big day in Hepp ner Elkdom as many out-of-town members of Heppner lodge 358 joined with local members, honored old timers and visiting dignitaries to celebrate three big events the 70th anniversary of the founding of the order, the 41st anniversary of the founding of the lodge, and the an nual Washington Birthday ball. With Jack Allen, district deputy grand exalted ruler, heading an in itiatory team from Pendleton as ex alted ruler, 11 candidates were in ducted into the lodge at the after noon session. Other visiting officers were Raley Peterson, esteemed lead ing knight; Earl Hanna, esteemed loyal knight; Harold Kester, es teemed lecturing knight; D. C. Brown, esquire1; Willis Lecklider, inner guard, and Bruce Ellis, secre tary. Mr. Ellis is also first vice pres ident of the state Elks association. With the Pendleton delegation also were Roy Ritner, secretary of the chamber of commerce; Paul Kaip, city alderman, and Boone Watson, octogenarian Morrow and Umatilla county pioneer. Other honored guests included Clyde Buxton, exalted ruler of Ba ker lodge; L. L. Matlock and Frank Roberts, only remaining members of the number who signed the lodge charter; D. A. McAtee, 40-year member, and another group with more than 25 years membership, in cluding Frank Engelman, W. K. Cor son, H. A. Duncan, Frank Turner, W. C. McCarty, Nels Justus. The above mentioned were pres ent Full list of more than 25 -year members, with years of membership, was read as follows:, L. L. Matlock 41, Frank Roberts 41, D. A. McAtee 40, W. K. Corson 37, Frank Engel man 37, J. O. Rasmus 35, M. D. Clark 34, Whit Mauldin 34, Robert C. Wil ley 33, A. M. McNabb 32, Harry Duncan 32, D. M. Ward 31, Walter W. Continued on Page Eight 24, 1938 parents, he is survived by his widow who was in Portland at the time of the tragedy; brothers, Michael of Portland and Pat, Boardman; sis ters, Mary of Portland, and Jose phine and Geraldine of Boardman. Funeral services were held for Vale at Walla Walla on Monday, also. Vale's wife and baby were in Walla Walla when the fatal shooting happened. His mother, who a day before had landed at San Francisco on the return from a trip to the Ha waiian islands, had taken the boat on to Los Angeles when attempt was made to notify her. Vale was a gun fancier as evi denced by twelve guns found in the house. Three revolvers were found in the kitchen, of which two were said to have inflicted the fatal wounds. Many empty cartridges in the back yard showed signs of much target shooting. Theory of the fatal shooting was that Vale had attempt ed some trick shot, acidentally shot his pal and being overcome by re morse shot himself. The bodies were discovered the next day by two men neighbors who operate an adjoining ranch also belonging to Mrs. Webb. Both Vale and Healy were in Heppner about a week ago when Vale placed an order with E. G. No ble, pioneer local saddler, for a sad dle for his wife. Evangelist Coming REV. CARL BASSETT who will conduct special meet ings in the Methodist church, March 6 to 20. Elks Slate Minstrel As Band Benefit An all-home minstrel show under the managership of the dean of minstrels, Dr. R. C. Lawrence, is announced for April 2 as a benefit for the school band. The affair is sponsored by Heppner lodge 358, B. P. O. Elks. The minstrel is slated for 8 o'clock and following will be staged a dance, also benefitting the band's trip to the state contest. Morrow county should mark the date as a red letter day on their cal endar, Lawrence says, as the ready cooperation on every hand promises an all-star cast. WORK FOR ROADS Judge Bert Johnson and Commis sioner George Peck were in Portland last week end attending sessions of the state highway commission meet ing in the interests of county roads. Though no definite word of work to be done in the county was given, there was hope that some work would be obtained on Rhea creek Heppner sector of the Heppner Spray road. Elmer Tipley of Condon was here Saturday for the Elks celebration. Subscription $2.00 a Year Morton Resigns as Councilman; Post Will be Filled Mar. 7 Junk Pile Gets Ac tion; Dads Follow Clean-Up Report Transfer of E. L. Morton to man agership of Newberg branch, First National Bank of Portland, motivated his resignation from the city coun cil Monday evening. Announcement of his successor was set for the next regular meeting of city dads, Mon day March 7. P. W. Mahoney, acting mayor in the enforced absence of Mayor Jones due to absence, expressed the coun cil's regrets for the loss of Mr. Mor ton to the city and appreciation of his valuable service as councilman. Mr. Morton's successor will serve until the next regular election in November. The resignee was serving his third year as councilman. Heppner's graveyard of tin cans and other refuse was object of the dads' principal action. This long-time source of grief a mile up Balm can yon southeast of town was recently attacked by use of prison labor to eliminate the overflow into the coun ty road right-of-way, and to gen erally alleviate the spot's offense against a pleasing rustic landscape. The dads ordered continuation of the clean-up work and construction of a new fence, well fortified with heavy posts and barbed wire, far enough back from the road to make sight and smell less offensive, and plead for public cooperation in dumping garbage well within con fines of the new enclosure that the garbage dump might be kept in more presentable condition. It was ex pected after present work is com pleted that a caretaker would be used to burn all inflammable ma terial occasionally and to assist in keeping the place in better order. As a warning to all who may in the future be tempted to dump their garbage on the road side of the fence, the dads cited a state law forbidding dumping of refuse on road right-of-ways violation of which carries a severe penalty and subject offend ers to prosecution by the state. Enlarging upon the civic better ment theme, the council ordered further check-up on certain clauses of the special committee's secret re port recommending effacement of fire and health hazards within the city. This report, made several months ago, already has resulted in removal of vacated wooden build ings at the corner of Main and Cen ter streets. To facilitate street and sidewalk improvement work, the council di vided the city into two zones, north and south of Willow street, the south side to be under supervision of the watermaster and the north portion under the chief of police for report ing and bad condition of streets or sidewalks. Immediate work was also ordered on some streets now need ing attention. It was believed some work would need to be done on the macadam laid last fall, but it was decided to leave this until the construction com pany makes its spring check-up. Under the construction contract the contractors are required to maintain the macadam for a year. A communication was read from League of Oregon Cities advising that court rulings have left little room for city supervision over peaceful picketing in labor disputes, and a proposal to pass an ordinance to regulate picketing was left on the table after council decided no labor trouble was imminent here. INSTITUTE TOMORROW Morrow county teachers will meet at the local school at 2:30 tomorrow afternoon for institute. Music teach ers will convene earlier than the general assembly to discuss plans for the annual May day music festival.