Thursday, Dec 15, 1938
County School Law
Benefits Talked
At Lexington Meet
Crook County Super
intendent Tells of
Oldest Unit Set-up
More than 100 representative cit
izens from over the county attend
ed a county-wide meeting at Lex
ington Tuesday afternoon at which
R. H. McAtee, superintendent, and
H. Baldwin, board chairman of the
Crook county schools, explained how
the "county unit" school system is
working in their county.
The meeting was called by the
committee representing the new
county school board organization,
and Orville Cutsforth, committee
chairman, presided. Those assembled
took no definite steps of procedure,
but the barrage of questions fired at
the visitors denoted a lively inter
est. As a member of the committee, J.
O. Kincaid said it was the commit
tee's desire to determine what is the
best course to follow in the future
in school administration for the best
interests of taxpayers, parents, pu
pils and the community generally.
One of three courses may be taken,
he said. One, to follow the same
course as that already being fol
lowed; two, to consolidate districts
and three, to adopt the county school
law, which he objected to being
called the "county unit" plan.
That Morrow county has the sec
ond highest per pupil cost of educa
tion among Oregon counties at pres
ent, was the assertion of Mr. Cuts
forth in opening the meeting. Among
counties having the lowest per pupil
cost are the four counties now oper
ating under the entire-county-in-one-district
plan. Among these is
Crook county, the first county in
the state to go county unit. It was
because of this fact that Mr. McAtee
was invited to address the meeting,
said Mr. Cutsforth.
Both Mr. McAtee and Mr. Bald
win declared they considered the
plan in Crook counity entirely suc
cessful, and Mr. MAtee said that he
believed it was satisfactory with at
least 95 per cent of the people. Mr.
Baldwin said that in his six years
on the board the county schools had
been operated on a cash basis.
A point in question with many of
those attending was whether,
with organization under the county
school law, the new district would
assume indebtedness of existing dis
tricts. This point was explained by
Mrs. Lucy E. Rodgers, county school
superintendent, who said that the
county school law provides that a
fair appraisal shall be made of all
existing school properties, assets
balanced against liabilities, and the
net indebtedness of any district as
sessed only against property within
the original district to be liquidated
over a period of not more than 15
years. Districts having larger assets
than liabilities would be properly
credited with the difference.
Favoring the county unit plan,
primarily, are the advantages of a
single administrative head for the
entire county, uniformity of taxa
tion and uniformity of standards,
Mr. McAtee emphasized.
Whereas, Morrow county at pres
ent has 40 school districts with
boards levying taxes, in Crook coun
ty a single board levies all special
school taxes in their county a separ
ate tax for elementary and high
schools. The . elementary levy for
1938 was 5.3 mills, and combined ele
mentary and high shool levies 9.6
mills. This compared with a county
average in Morrow county last year
of 12.5 mills.
The county unit board has an ad
vantage in selecting a superinten
dent, McAtee pointed out. Whereas
an incompetent person might be
chosen under the old systetm due to
vagaries of politics, the unit board,
which has appointive power, can go
onto the open market and choose the
best from among available talent.
Besides eliminating detail expense
of operating the many districts in
Morrow county, of which clerks' sal
aries alone were estimated at $2000,
economies could be effected through
(Continued on Page 11)
Heppner
Officers of Eastern
w il 80 $ WW(XI
THE DALLES, Dec. 4 (Special) Officers of the Eastern Oregon Wheat league, elected at the 11th
annual convention here Saturday, are: Seated (left to right), H. D. Proudfoot, Wasco, president; C K.
Barker, Condon, vice-president; C W. Smith, Corvallis, secretary-treasurer. Front row (standing), 8. P.
Walker, The Dalles, route 3; Jens Terjeson, Pendleton; Oscar Peterson, lone; back row, Millard R.
Eakln, Grass Valley; J. Z. Weimer, Condon, and J. L. Staggs, Enterprise, county representatives on the
executive committee. John L, Campbell, Madras, was not present when this picture was taken.
Courtesy Portland Oregonian.
School Committee
Holds Meeting Here
The committee representing the
county school board organization,
studying plans for district reor
ganization met at the courthouse
Tuesday afternoon. Reports were
made on local sentiment so far un
covered. It ws decided to add more mem
bers to the committee so that the
county may be better covered, with
a member named for Boardman,
Butter creek and Gooseberry com
munities, and to continue a cam
paign of education for some time.
It was thought that a special elec
tion might be called next year if
public demand seemed to justify,
or that it might bedeferred until
the next primary election in 1940.
Members now serving on the com
mittee are O. W. Cutsforth, chair
man; Floyd Adams, R. B. Rice, Merle
swaggart, Emil Carlson, Oscar Pet
erson, E. E. Rugg and Alden Blank
enship. The new members named
are Jesse Warfield, Gooseberry;
Nels Kristensen, Boardman, and
Marion Finch, Butter creek. A mem
ber will be named from Irrigon.
The committee will meet again
January 13.
P. P. & L. Sponsors
Decorative Lighting
Prizes will be offered to Heppner,
Lexington and lone residents again
this year for Christmas decorative
lighting, by Pacific Power & Light
company.
To qualify, the decorations and
lighting must be in place by De
cember 22nd at 5 p. m. and be light
ed from that hour until 9 p. m. and
each day during those hours until
January 1st, both dates inclusive.
Judging will be by three local per
sons, and prizes will be awarded on
the basis of 60 per cent for display
of Christmas spirit and 40 per cent
for simplicity or design and electrical
effect.
At least six lights, or a total of 60
watts if standard voltage lamps are
used, must be used outside of the
home to qualify.
Two prizes will be offered, first
prize $10.00 in cash, second prize
$5.00 in cash. Decision of the judges
will be final.
Entry blanks must be signed by
those wishing to enter the contest
on or before December 22nd, at 5
p. m. at the Pacific Power & Light
company office in Heppner.
Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Anglin have
received word from their daughter,
Miss Rachel who is attending a Bi
ble college in Oakland, Cal., that she
recently preached her first sermon.
Miss Anglin has taken up accordion
and xylophone in connection with
her work which she is enjoying very
much.
Gazette Times, Heppner,
Oregon Wheat League
McNamer Home Has
Exterior Pictorial
Christmas Display
An outstanding depiction of
Christmas spirit is reflected from
the home of Mr. and Mrs. C. W.
McNamer on N. Court street.
Attractively displayed in front
of their house is a colorful pic
torial scene of the Christ manger
with the three wise men on their
way to greet the coming of the
Messiah.
The manger scene, several feet
high, is a separate piece as is each
of the wise men. At night an ap-
pealing lighting effect makes the
scene especially attractive.
Locals Win First
League Hoop Game
The Heppner quintet won their
first league basketball game last
Friday evening by defeating a strong
Fossil team, 28-25.
Heppner shot ahead to an 8-4 lead
at the end of the first period, but
Fossil came up to 10-12, half time
score. After an exciting third per
iod, the score was tied up at 19-all.
Fossil took a one-point lead in the
first of the fourth quarter, but in
the final minutes the Mustangs for
ged ahead to pull the game out of
the fire, 28-25. Prindle of Fossil was
high point man with 10 points.
The line-up:
Heppner (28) Fossil (25)
Barratt (6) F Pringle (10)
Morgan F Dyer (2)
Drake (6) C Wham (6)
Coxen (6) G Dean (4)
Pettyjohn (2) ... G Bird (3)
Heppner won the preliminary sec
ond team game, 29-13. This coming
Saturday, the local team will meet
Hermiston on the latter's home floor.
Dr. McMurdo to Head
President's Ball
Dr. A. D. McMurdo received tele
graphic notification this week of his
appointment as Morrow county
chairman again for President Roose
velt's annual ball to benefit infan
tile paralysis sufferers. Dr. McMur
do served in this capacity two years
ago.
The ball is slated for January 30,
and Dr. McMurdo expected to make
committee appointments shortly.
BLAHM-PETERSON
Miss Norma M. Blahm, youngest
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Adam
Blahm of Hermiston, and Harry Pet
erson, son of Mr. and Mrs. P. C.
Peterson of lone, were married at
Pasco, Wash., Nov. 12. Mr. and Mrs.
Ralph Isaacson of Echo were wit
nesses. After a short honeymoon in
Portland, Mr. and Mrs. Peterson will
reside at lone.
Oregon
Earle Bryant Named
New Deputy Sheriff
Earle Bryant has been chosen to
succeed Elbert L. Cox as deputy
sheriff beginning January first, Cox
having resigned to devote his time
to farming interests and operation
of the Hardman-Eight Mile stage
run. Cox has served the county ef
ficiently throughout the two terms
of C. J. D. Bauman as sheriff, being
in charge of tax collections.
Mr. and Mrs. Bryant have pur
chased the former Van Marter res
idence on North Main street where
they will reside. They have been
living for some time at the farm
home of Mrs. Bryant's parents, Mr.
and Mrs. R. .A Thompson.
Mrs. Neva Cochell, deputy for the
past several years in the tax depart
ment, has been advanced to chief
tax collector.
High School Operetta
Comes Tomorrow
Time for the annual high school
operetta, this year entitled, "Ask the
Professor," is drawing near.
Just so you won't miss it or be
late, it is to be held Friday, tomor
row, at 8:00 p. m. in the school gym
auditorium. The admission charge
is 15 cents for grade school pupils,
25 cents for high school students,
and 35 cents for adults.
Let's all put it down in our mem
orandum: "See the high school op
eretta." Eastern Star Elects;
Install Jointly, 20th
Ruth Chapter 32, Order of Eastern
Star, elected officers for the new
year at Friday evening's meeting.
Joint installation of officers with
Masonic Blue lodge will be held at
Masonic hall next Tuesday evening,
preceded by the annual 6:30 o'clock
turkey feed.
Chapter officers named were Faye
Ferguson, worthy matron; Robert
Wightman, worthy patron; Madge
Thomson, associate matron; W. O.
Dix, associate patron; Etta Parker,
conductress; Ella Benge, associate
conductress; Muriel Vaughn, sec
retary; Emma Evans, treasurer.
Short Term Circuit
Court Conducted
Judge C. L. Sweek of Pendleton
was in the city Monday for opening
of the December term of circuit
court, hearing a few cases at law
and equity. No true bills had been
returned for the session and there
were no criminal cases to be tried.
There appearing no demand for a
new grand jury with opening of the
regular term the grand jury was not
summoned at this time.
Page Three
Morrow First Among
Counties Finishing
Tax Foreclosure
Alfred, Bauman Tell
Lions of State Meet;
School Rumor Spiked
That the sheriffs office and Mor
row county citizens are to be com
mended for the good showing of
tax collections in this county, was
the assertion of Frank C. Alfred,
district attorney, before the Monday
Lions luncheon. Alfred and Sheriff
C. J. D. Bauman both brought re
ports from the annual convention of
sheriffs and district attorneys of
Oregon, held in Portland last week
end.
At the convention, Alfred inter
viewed district attorneys from many
other counties and found that in all
instances Morrow county was the
only county so far to complete its
delinquent tax foreclosure. This, he
said, was due to the exceptionally
good tax payments in this county
which kept down the number of
parcels, and efficiency of the Sher
iffs office.
Both officers reported full con
vention sessions with not time en
ough to complete business on the
dockets. The sheriffs didn't get
around to tax collection matters at
all, said Bauman. An interesting
entertainment feature was a visit to
the Oregon medical school and the
"baby" crime laboratory there
maintained. The laboratory was
termed baby beacuse, while quite
extensive, it has not been so long
established and is still quite incom
plete. Both sheriffs and district at
torneys passed a resolution favor
ing the coming legislature making an
appropriation to assist its develop
ment, as it is a public benefactor
as a major agency for combatting
crime.
Another recommendation in the
public interest came from the dis
trict attorneys, said Alfred. It en
dorsed the Washington parole sys
tem for state penitentiary sentences.
Under this system a judge must
make a fixed maximum sentence for
crimes of like nature, and a par
ole board then studies particular
cases and determines whether a
parole at an earlier date is advis
able. In Oregon, judges may, at
time of sentence give varying terms
for crimes of the same nature and
may also recommend leniency.
Alden Blankenship added to re
port on the schol situation given
the week previous by answering a
misinformed rumor that he was
favoring school district consolidation
to perpetuate the superintendent in
office. He pointed out that clearly,
under the law, any board of direc
tors has complete power of hiring
and firing a superintendent.
Club guests included Dr. Neil
Black, medical consultant with the
state relief set-up, and Miss Dow,
his assistant, from Portland; Mrs.
Clara Beamer, local relief manager;
Lt. Marius P. Hanford, command
ant of Camp Heppner, and Capt. F.
A. Railing, dentist from CCC head
quarters at Lewiston, Idaho.
of School Plans
Elks Slate Debate
Heppner lodge 358, B. P. O. Elks
will hear a committee report at its
regular meeting this evening pre
liminary to staging a debate on the
proposed school organization changes
for the county to stimulate dissem
ination of information.
Tonight, also, Francis V. Galloway,
district deputy grand exalted ruler
for Oregon north, will make his of
ficial visit. Initiation and "feed" are
slated on the evening's program.
Theater and Elks
Announce Free Show
Star theater and Heppner lodge
358, B. P. O. Elks, have set their
annual free Christmas show for kid
dies of the county on Saturday, Dec.
21. All youngsters of the county are
cordially invited to attend.
The free show has been an annual
feature for many years, and each
year has become more popular.