OREGON HISTORICAL SOCIETY PUBLIC AUDITOR! PORTLAND. ' mints Volume 56, Number 51 Branch Warehouses Would Be Taken Over by Farmers Lexington Grain Growers Air Plan for Consolidation Plans are under way for the for mation of an extensive warehouse operation on, a co-operative basis, according to Geo. N, Peck and G. J. Ryan of Lexington, who were in Heppner Tuesday. Preliminary work on the project has been completed and officials of the Morrow County Grain Growers, Inc., are now con tacting farmers of the county in an effort to stimulate interest and to sell a certain amount of stock re quired to put the deal over. Involved in the proposed co-operative set-up are the properties Of the Farmers Elevator company of lone, including the 96,000 bushel ca pacity elevator and two warehouses at lone, and the warehouse at Mc Nabb siding; the present warehouse property of the Morrow County Grain Growers, Inc., at Lexington, and the property of the Heppner Farmers Elevator company, the el evator, grain warehouse, chop mill and hay warehouse. The Lexington concern had previously added the Beckner warehouse in lone to its property. In line with its proposed expan sion of holdings the concern pro poses to expand its scope of business to a point not heretofore attained by a similar organization in the county. As soon as all business de tails have been transacted it is the intention to install a line of stock and other feeds which can be sold on a competitive basis with outside concerns now supplying a large part of these supplies to Morrow county farmers and stockmen. The Morrow County Grain Grow. ers was organized in Heppner in April, 1930. It was set up as a mar keting agency to comply with the agricultural marketing act. It ef fected a direct saving of 6 cents per bushel to the farmers of the county through co-operative marketing, fig ures submitted by Ryan and Peck reveal. Through cooperation with other agencies savings on freight rates and the purchase of grain bags have been effected. In 1936 the Farmers National Grain corporation withdrew from the field and started liquidating its properties. This gave the local group an opportunity to acquire storage facilities at Lexington. Later in the .same year the facilities of the Lex. ington Farmers Warehouse company were acquired at a total investment Continued on Page Eignt Bleakman Announces for Commissioner No strange to Morow county vot ers is G. A. Bleakman, several times elected county commissioner, who this week came forward with his announcement for a return to the office in the Republican ranks af ter a term's absence. Bleakman thus becomes the earliest contend er to make his intentions known about running for local office in the coming May 17 primaries. Other county offices to be filled at this time include those of clerk and assessor. PRECIPITATION 4.73 INCHES Precipitation for the winter since since December 1 amounts to 4.73 inches, according to figures com piled by L. L. Gilliam, official ob server. December moisture measur ed 1.78 inches, January 1.89 and February to ate 1.06. Rainfall the last week end accounted for .67 inch, .26 falling on Friday and .41 on Saturday. Frost on Tuesday night and fog Wednesday morning indicated more rainfall, in the opin ion of the weather observer. Heppner, Pendleton Chorus to Sing Wednesday All signs point to a big musical evening when the Pendleton Wo men's chorus presents a concert at the high school gym-auditorium in Heppner next Wednesday evening, Feb. 28. The chorus of 30 women's voices will sing several' groups of songs and in addition there will be a male quartet and two soloists. Miss Richardson of the chorus will be presented in special numbers and perhaps the highlight of the pro gram will be the singing of Dan Motanic, Cayuse Indian, whose bass- baritone voice is considered one of the finest in the northwest. The chorus is directed by Ted Roy, Pilot Rock, who won renown during his career at Oregon State college with his tenor voice and who later studied under some of the best teachers of the east. Tickets may be obtained at Hum phreys Drug company store or from members of Heppner Music club, sponsor of the entertainment. PARALYSIS FUND SHOWS INCREASE Gain Over 1939 Shown by Returns Coming in from Various Districts in County Returns from the several activities connected with the drive for funds for the national infantile paralysis foundation indicate that an increase over the 1939 campaign will be shown. While all moneys have not been turned in to the treasurer, the amount on hand shows receipts in excess of $30 over that taken in last year. One county idstrict has not been heard from and there is also the county's share in the "March of Dimes" which will be turned back from national headquarters. Receipts from the Heppner dance totaled $97.10. Added to this am ount is $58.50 from individual and organization donations, making a total of $150.60 from Heppner. Other county districts reporting included Boardman, $32.50; Morgan, $24; Lex ington, $32, and lone, $41, or a total of $286.10. One district, Hardman, remains to be hard from. Incluled in the organization and group list are the Woolgrowers auxiliary, Eastern Star, Rebekahs, Past Noble Grand club, all of Heppner, and the Liberty school of Eight Mile. Full account of disbursements cannot be made at this time. One bill has been allowed, that of the, orchestra in the amount of $42.50. It is possible that another $30 will be required to square up accounts of the Heppner dance. At any rate, the county's 50 per cent will am ount to more than $100. B. C. Pinckney, treasurer, has submitted a statement for 1939 as follows: Balance on hand Jan. 1, 1939, $314.05; received from 1939 dances and donations: Heppner dance $219.30, add Heppner dance funds $3, Cecil dance funds $28.40, Rhea Creek grange $5, total $255.70. Less expenses: Orchestra $36, Gaz ette Times, printing, $12, supplies $6.30, Elks hall $25, Patterson & Son $1.80, total $81.10, or balance of $174.60. Payment to national fund $87.30, balance retained $87.30, plus "March of Dimes" $6, or a total de posit as of August 1, 1939, $407.35. Disbursements: Aug. 30, 1939, Mrs. Tom Keating, nursing, $85; Sept. 26, 1939, Patterson & Son, $10.59; Mrs. P. A. Mollahan, $205.66, and Hepp ner hospital, $105.10. Total disburse ments made for account of La Verne Van Marter, $406.35. Balance on hand Jan. 1, 1940, $1. TO PLAY IN PENDLETON Mary Lou Ferguson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. B. Ferguson, has been invited to play four piano compositions before the Delphian club, literary organization, in Pen dleton Friday evening. Mary Lou has captivated Heppner audiences with her artistry, for she plays ad vanced music with skill. She is a pupil of Mrs. J. O. Turner, who, with Mrs. Ferguson, will accompany her to Pendleton. Oregon, Thursday, Feb. Mustangs Win 'A' Title, But Lose to Irrigon in Play-Off Tourney Play Starts at Condon Friday, Heppner vs. lone Final Wheat League Standings By JERRY ACKLEN "A" Division Won Lost Pet. Heppner 5 1 .833 Arlington 3 3 .500 Fossil 2 4 .333 Condon 2 4 .333 XJ J-1 V lO-LUll i Irrigon 9 1 .900 Boardman 7 3 .700 Umatilla 5 5 .500 Lexington 4 6 .400 lone 3 7 . .300 Echo 2 8 .200 Mustangs va. Comets A tall, laky center by the name of Jones playing with the Irrigon Comets, champions of the "B" div ision of the Wheat league, proved to be the undoing of the "A" divi sion champs in the Wheat league play-off game between Heppner and Irrigon high schools at Her miston last Tuesday night. The Comets won 33-25. Heppner earned the right to play for the league championship by de feating Arlington for the "A" title here Friday evening. Jones sank the first and last bas kets of the evening and also looped the casaba through the hoop en ough times to bring his evening's total scoring to 18 points while his little teammate, Houghton, tossed in 9 points to bring the Irrigon score to 27 by this classy pair alone, but Connell " surprised himself ' and his teammates by coming through with 6 more Irrigon points to make up the total 33. On the Heppner side, Pinckney, Crawford and Snow furnished the bulk of the counters for the Mus tangs with Scrivner looping an al most impossible shot that tied the score for the fifth time in the game with only three and a half minutes left to play. Jones sank the first basket after the game was 50 seconds old but Pinckney evened the count five seconds later when he dropped a long shot through the hoop; Snow potted one a few seconds later to put Heppner in the lead until Irn gon's Jones knotted the count once more. A gift shot by Pinckney and a free toss by Jones finished the first quarter's scoring exactly even at 5-all. Pinckney sank another long shot early in the second canto to break the tie, but the Comets countered with three baskets in rapid succession that gave them a lead that lasted until the beginning of the fourth period. Score at half time was 14-12 in favor of Irrigon, Coach Bob Knox fired his Hepp ner boys with plenty of pep during Continued on Page Eight Firemen Schedule Smoker for March 16 Heppner Fire department an nounces that arrangements have been completed for staging a smoker here on the evening of March 16. The event will be held in the county fair pavilion. Headlining the show in the main event of eight rounds will be Louis Doney of Heppner and Stanley Partlow of Boardman. Doney has been seen in action here and fight fans like his style. He weighs 157 and his oponent tips the beam at 153 pounds. The semi-final bout will see Sam my McCracken, 146, of Hermiston and Mike Moschella of Stanfield throwing the leather at each other. Four preliminary bouts are being arranged to open the show. These fights will be booked from home talent. 22, 1940 Farmer-Business Men to Dine March 1 Farmers of Morrow county will be hosts to the business men of the county, Friday evening, March 1, at a banquet in the Christian church. Arrangements have ben made to ac commodate all the business men and a like number of farmers. Tickets may be obtained at the county agent's office and the farm ers are aske to call at the office and get their tickets as soon as pos sible and let the office know which business man they will bring. The importance of agriculture to the average business and the likel relation of all business t6 agriculture has prompted the farmers to sponsor such a meeting to make for a better mutual relationship. BPW Preparing for Spring Activities Democracy's attempt to balance powe rwas the theme discussed at the meeling of the Business and Professional Women's club, held at) the home of Mrs. Clara Beamer Tuesday evening. The program, in charge of Dorothy erlach and Neva Bleakman, was given after the reg ular montly dinner of the club. During a business session, pre sided over by Rose Leibbrand, pres ident, Mrs. Lorena Jones was nam ed chairman of a committee to ar range for the annual mother and daughter to be held on May 6. The club is working an its plans to have some of the unsightly old buildings of the town removed. It is recalled that at a recent meeting the old planing mill was under dis cussion. Early the following morn ing the fire department was called to put down a claze in the struc ture. While not expecting such speedy action on their plan, the club members properly deny any intent of removing the building by such means. Sunday School Has Dinner at Liberty About 40 members of the Liberty Sunday school enjoyed a dinner at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Claud Huston Fridav evening. Mrs. Leon ard Rill was co-hostess. Turkey and noose with all the trimmings were served in a manner upholding the Eight Mile tradition and 'tis said the diners were no less traditional in upholding their part of the bar gain. The Liberty folks are proud of their Sunday school, which has a membership of 40 and an average attendance of 30. It is felt that few of the rural districts of the county can make as good report, and even some of the town schools might be included. ANNUAL BALL SATURDAY Heppner lodge 358, B. P. O. Elks, comes forward with its headline evnt of the year next Saturday when special lodge ceremonies in the afternoon will be climaxed later in the evening by the annual Wash ington Birthday ball. Initiaion of a large class of candidates is on the lodge program calendar which starts at 2 o'clock. At the same time ladies of Elks will convene at the Lucas Place for a social afternoon. Lunch will be served continuously in the club rooms throughout the afternoon, free to Elks and ladies. Only Elks and ladies are invited to the evening function, starting at 9. RAIL RATE LOWERED Redctionu of two cents per hun dred pounds of wheat has been an nounced by the Union Pacific, re ports T, W. Shobe, district freight agent from The Dalles. This will make the rate approximately 14 cents per hundredweight on Hepp ner branch points. The announce ment came through G., J. Ryan, manager of Lexington Grain Grow ers, who said that as soon as the effective date for the cut is learned it will be made public. Subscription $2.00 a Year Reorganization School District Meeting Called Public Urged to Meet With Board Thursday, Feb. 29 A meeting of importance to the entire county has been set for Thursday evening, Feb. 29, at the courthouse in Heppner. While pri marily called as a meeting of the school district reorganization board, it is highly important that school patrons and all others interested at tend, according to Mrs. Lucy Rod gers, county superintendent, who says that Lester Wilcox, of the staW departmlent of education, Salfbm, will be present to assist with the conference. Tentative plans of the Morrow county board will be under discus sion. Under the terms of a law pass ed at a recent session of the state legislature, counties may appoint boards for the purpose of reorgan izing school districts. Morrow coun ty has had a board working on plans for the last year. These plans will be submitted at the forthcoming meeting and Mrs. Rodgers says if there is someone with an idea on the matter this will be a good time to present it. Due to thinning population in the farming districts, an unofficial con solidation of numerous schools is in force now. School buses are op erating from country districts to the town schools and following the gen eral trend of this movement the re organization board has mapped ten tative consolidations which will be presented to the several districts. Tentative plans call for consolida tion as follows: Heppner, district No. 1 will include districts 41, Sand Hol low; 48, Pleasant Point; 24, Willow; 2, Lena; 34, Willow Creek; 42, Balm Fork or Twin Pine; 33, Gurdane; 3, Willow Way; 6, Golden West; 59, Matteson; 31, Eight Mile; 49, Hail Ridge; 38, Valentine. Lexington district No. 12 18, Strawberry; 27, Alpine; 50, Hods don; 23, Divine; 17, Blackhorse; 53, Social Ridge; 15, Clarks Canyon. lone district No. 35 11, Liberty; 29, Rocky Bluff; 36, Gooseberry; 21, Dry Fork; 4, Davis; 14, Pleasant Vale; 5, Morgan; 9, Lone Tree; 10, Ella; 8, Cecil. Hardman district No. 4051, Bur ton Valley; 19, Rood Canyon. In recommending these consolida tions, the board is not acting arbi trarily, but is following the act of the 1939 legislative session provid ing for reorganization and leaving final action in the hands of the state department of education. Explana tion of the act has been made at a series of meetings over the county. Lions Hear About Purposes of SCS Heppne Lions club learned some thing of the purposes of the Soil Conservation service in a brief talk made by Robert Weir, contact offi cial of the local, CCC camp, at the Monday luncheon. To show that a conservation pro gram is essential, Weir said that nearly 50 per cent of the cultivable land if the United States is classified under the erosion program. That would seem to place the service on a permanent basis if needed produc tion is sustained, he said. As far as the local situation is concerned the program is far from completed and some phases of the work have been given scarcely more than a trial. The club decided to return to Ho tel Heppner for its meetings. A vote of appreciation was extended the Elkhorn management for the fine service given the last month.