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.