ft. -
111
n
Volume 57, Number 7
Heppner, Oregon, Thursday, April 18, 1940
Subscription $2.00 a Year
Heppner Lumber
Plant Scene of
Renewed
Action
Machinery Arrives
for Reconstruction
of Burned Mill
All is hustle and bustle at the
former plant of the Heppner Lum
ber company, where machinery has
arrived for reconstruction of the
mill destroyed by fire late last fall.
A crew of 12 men is engaged in
preparing the site for the new mill
being erected by Heppner Lumber
company, Inc., and when prelimin
ary work is out of the way a larger
force will be put on to hurry erec
tion of the sawmill and planing mill
which will constitute the operation
of the new plant.
Organization of the new company
was completed in Portland this
week with H. E. Leash, president,
Leonard Kraft, secretary-treasurer
and Orville Smith, vice president
and plant manager. Articles of in
corporation were filed at Salem on
Tuesday and the new concern is
on its way.
Work of clearing away debris of
the former plant has been going on
for several days. With this out of
the way excavation for the founda
tion of the new mill has been com
pleted and workmen Wednesday
started laying the framework. Four
truck loads of mill machinery have
arrived from Trout Lake, Wash
and tne entire plant will be here by
the end of the week. Erection of
the mill is under the supervision
of Neil Gordon, millwright, and it
is expected the plant will be ready
, for operation in 60 days.
The new mill is a band saw type
and will have a capacity of between
35,000 and 40,000 feet per eight hour
shift.' Addition of a planer will give
employment to a larger number of
workers than the former mill em
ployed and it is expected the entire
operation will use no less than 125
men.
Logs on hand at the mill site am
ount to approximately 200,000 feet
and at least 70,000 feet more are
down in the timber awaiting trans
port to the mill. Kraft timber hold
ings at present amount to about
7,000,000 feet and negotiations are
under wav for more timber of suf
ficient volume to insure a long-time
operation of the Heppner mill.
Band Places Second
at District Contest
Court Action Has
Sanction of C of C
Action of the Morrow county
court in refusing to cooperate with
business interests of Arlington in
securing a bombing field for the
northern part of Morrow county
has the whole hearted support of
the Heppner chamber of commerce.
The board of directors, meeting
Wednesday evening, discussed the
matter briefly and decided to take
no official action other than to
commend the court for its stand,
indicating thereby that the business
men stand ready to assist the of
ficials in all matters concerning the
welfare of the county.
A report on the merchants' free
matinee showed increased interest
in the monthly event and a desire
on the part of the business houses
to continue the show. The commit
tee will distribute tickets to the
merchants a week or so prior to
the next show, which will be on
May 4.
L. E Bisbee was named chairman
of a commitee to contact other or
ganizations of the city relative to
assisting with lunch plans for the
county school spring festival on
May 3. It is hoped to stimulate in
terest in the festival by getting a
large number of the townspeople to
turn out for the lunch and the pro
gram. The chamber of commerce
proposes to furnish something for
the lunch, possibly lemonade and
coffee.
A vote of confidence was given
the Heppner school band and its
director, Harold Buhman.
B. P. W. Elects .
Officers for Year
Miss LuhrHager was hostess to
the Business and Professional Wo
men's club at her home Tuesday
evening. The group enjoyed a bak
ed ham supper following which a
business session was held.
Election of officers for the en
suing vear resulted in Miss Rose
Leibbrand being elected as presi
dent; Neva Bleakman, vice presi
dent; Florence Bergstrom, secretary,
and Harriet Pointer, treasurer.
Reports on the Eastern Oregon
conference held at Pendleton Sun
day were given by Clara Beamer,
who told of the afternoon meeting,
and Mrs. Ealor Huston, on the
morning session. The club voted to
pay expenses for a car going to
Grants Pass for the state convention
May 16. Lorena Jones, chairman of
the mother-daughter banquet com
mittee, reported that the dinner will
be held at 6:30 o'clock p. m., May
6, in the Christian church basement.
One hundred tickets will be sold.
REPUBLICANS IN
MAJORITY HERE
Check-Up Shows G. O. P.
Leading Democrats of County
By Score of 1341 to 820
A check-up made by County
Clerk C. W. Barlow Wednesday fol
lowing close of registration books
Tuesday evening shows the repub
lican party holding a safe lead over
the democrats. The figures obtained
by Clerk Barlow, while correct so
far as his records disclose, may be
altered in some cases when regis
tration books from the several pre
cincts are trned in. Cancellations
are to be expected but these will
not materially affect the count made
yesterday.
According to the clerk's " figures
the republicans show a total reg
istration of 1341 and the democrats
number 820. Independents and oth
ers total 35, making a grand total
of 2196. Breaking this down into
precincts the count shows the fol
lowing results: Alpine, republicans
16 democrats 24, non-partisan 1;
Boardman 87, 166, 2; Cecil 43 16;
Eightmile 39, 30, 2; Gooseerry 23,
18: Hardman 111, 35, 4; lone 183, 78;
Irrigon 63, 59, 7; Lena 35, 8; Lexing
ton 108, 56, 6; North Heppner 358,
181, 7; Pine City 17, 13; South Hepp
ner 258, 136, 6.
Truck Burns After
Highway Accident
A 1940 model truck owned by S.
B. Prock and driven by Earl Fay
destroyed by fire just off the Ore
gon-Washington highway about
three miles east of Heppner about
7 o'clock last Saturday evening. Fay,
who gives his residence as Seneca
apparently was alone m the truck
at the time the machine left the
highway. He received injuries to
his head, although not serious.
Prock. owner of the truck, was
following closely behind in a flight
car and rushed ay to a doctor.
Returning to the scene of the acci
dent a short time later he discovered
that the truck had been destroyed
by fire.
Work Required to !
Land Mail Route
Heppner and prospective patrons
will have to get busy if the proposed
rural mail route leading from here
to lower Little Butter creek and
return via Lena and Hinton creek
is to become a reality. That was
the firm conviction expressed by
J. O. Turner at the Lions club lun
cheon Monday.
While most of the argument lies
on Heopner's side, the fact remains
that Little Butter creek residents
are now being served from Echo
and regardless of the fact that up
wards of forty families in territory
between Heppner and the present
route are without mail delivery, the
Echo contractor, postmaster and
business interests are determined
to hold the territory now in. their
grasp by virtue of the thrice-a-week
mail service.
Heopner's school band, disap
pointed but not dispirited, returned
from the district contest at La
Grande Friday evening with second
honors for the division in which it
competed. This is the first time in
five years that the local musical
organization has returned home with
anything less than first place. Com
petition from Burns and Union was
keen enough to crowd the Heppner
youngsters out of the top spot and
the slogan, On to Spokane (if we
win at La Grande)" is just another
one of "them" things.
Despite their luck, the youngsters
and those accompanying the band
had a big day in the Union county
city. The contests were spirtied and
entertainment was ample to keep
everybody interested. The Heppner
band made a good showing and
yonugsters and their leader, Harold
Buhman, are not down hearted. They
feel they have reason to work hard
er to produce a better band than
ever, in which they will have the
generous support of the commun
ity. Mrs. Eddie Thorpe and son Carl
returned Tuesday from Portland
where Carl had been taking medical
treatment for his legs.
Former Resident's
Passing Reported
Word was received in Heppner
Wednesday of the passing of Mrs.
Harvie Young, former Morrow
county woman who had been a res
ident of Medford many years. Date
of passing was not stated in the
message which announced fnueral
services to be held in Medford at
2 o'clock p. m.. Friday. April 19.
Remembered by many as Gladys
Cox, Mrs. Young was the daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. O. J. Cox, long
time residents of the county. She
attended school in Lexington and
Heppner and upon completion of
high school was married to Harvie
Young of Eight Mile. After severa
years of farm life in this county the
Youngs moved to Medford where
they have since resided.
Mrs. Young's mother still resides
at Lexington but the father passed
away several years ago. Besides the
husband and father, two brothers
also survive.
The deceased visited her mother
at Lexington late last fall and short
ly after returning to Medford was
seized with the illness that resulted
in her death.
Republicans Will
Hear Candidates
The new service contemplates a
daily-except-Sunday route out of
Heppner. To accommodate all who
want to get their mail out of the
local postoffice it will be necessary
to cut into part of the route serv
ing upper Blackhorse out of Lex
ington and to take over Little But-,
ter creek from the Charles Barthol
omew ranch to Lena. The route has
been mapped out to offer continu
ous mileage as far as possible, avoid
ing doubling of territory. It is pos
sible that a few of the farms below
Heppner will be included and that
will necessitate doubling back to
the Blackhorse road just below the
F. S. Parker residence. Existing
contracts on the Blackhorse and
Lena routes do not expire for two
years and in the meantime people in
the unserved territory have a leg
itimate claim for service. To win
over the districts now served and
to get adjustment of existing con
tracts is Heppner's job and one that
will require . speedy and effective
action,. Turner pointed out.
Lee Howell presented the matter
of sponsoring a memership in the
Beaver Boy State camp. The Lions
have sent one boy to the camp each
year since the movement was adop
ted here.
The Lions will meet as usual next
Monday.
A meeting of Morrow County Re
publican club' has been scheduled
for 7:30 o'clock p. m., Wednesday,
May 1, announces Frank C. Alfred,
president, who urges all republicans
to attend. Several attractions will
be offered in the presentation of
district and local candidates.
A special invitation has been ex
tended to Roy Ritner and Rex Ellis,
republican condidates for -congress,
and there will be other republican
office seekers on hand to tell of their
political aspirations. Copies of the
primary ballot will be on hand for
group discussion.
McFERRIN-THOMSON
The wedding of Miss Irena Mc
Ferrin and Curtis Thomson, both
of Heppner, was an event of Monday
morning, April 15, at Moscow, Idaho.
The ceremony was witnessed by
Mr. and Mrs. Roderick Thomson.
Immediately following the ceremony
the wedding party returned to Hepp
ner where the bridegroom, son or
Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Thomson, is em
ploved in the Thomson Bros, store
Both young people are graduates
of Heppner high school.
TAX TALKS LIKED
Talks on taxation by Mr. and Mrs.
Tom Wells were received favorably
by Lexington grangers at the regu
lar meeting last Saturday evening
After making detailed explanations
of the methods employed in mak
ing assessments and collecting tax
es the speakers were called on to
answer numerous questions pro
pounded by people of the audience.
The grange sponsored the talks in
an effort to give the people a bet
ter understanding if the tax system.
Carlson Comes as
Protective Assistant
Ellis Carlson of Asotin. Wash.,
has been added to the local office
of the Umatilla National forest as
protective assistant for the current
season. Work in the forest areas
has started and will be pushed as
rapidlv as weather conditions per
mit, according to Fred Wehmeyer,
in charge of the Heppner district.
Prvor Parrish and Max Buschke
have been sent to the west end of
the reserve and will work out of
Fossil. On the east side Elmer Hin
ton and Bert Bleakman have started
the spring activities. Road machin
ery will be moved in as fast as pos
sible. Wehmeyer states. The moun
tains are drying out and motorists
can make it to Tupper station with
out chains. Fishermen will be able
to reach Skookum, Alder and Wall
creeks if no more heavy weather
prevails in the next few days.
CHECK SHORTAGE SETTLED
N. W. Luckey, who claims Burns
as his residence, was released from
the custody of the sheriff Tuesday
evening folowing incarceration in
the county jail a few days on a
charge of uttering an NSF check.
The charge was preferred by D. M.
Ward after a check he cashed for
Luckey "bounced back" with the
significant initials inscribed thereon.
Luckey was able to make restitu
tion and Ward withdrew the charge.
The accused man is said to be an
electrician and to have operated an
electric shop at Burns.
Dance at Lexington grange hall
Saturday evening, April 20. Music
by Wright's orchestra, Pendleton.
U.S. Army Seeks
Bombing Field in
Morrow County
'No-Man's Land' in
North End Viewed as
Possible Location
Uncle Sam's preparedness plans
became a bit more vivid to Morrow
county people last Saturday when
Captain John C. Gates of the U. S.
army visited this section in quest
of a location for a bombing field.
Captain Gates, in company with Col.
C. L. Tinker and Col. G. E. Strate
meyer of Hamilton Field, Calif., has
been making a survey of several
possible sites in Oregon, some of
them in central Oregon and one at
Arlington, and while in the vicinity
made a trip into Morrow county to
sound out sentiment relative to con
verting some of the unoccupied land
of the north end into a practice
ground for army bombing planes.
A map was displayed showing that
a study had been made of the terri
tory in question. It is proposed to
take over the larger part of four
townships lying between lone and
Boardman. Much of this land is
now in possession of the county and
is unoccupied except for that por
tion coming under the Taylor graz
ing unit and a few ranches. The
ranches are more or less marginal
and there would be relatively small
acreage for the government to pur
chase. It is also possible that som
of the railroad lands are included
in the proposed field. The tract as
platted on Captain Gates' map
would be approximately 12 miles
wide and 16 miles long.
Some of the objection that might
naturally arise to the location of a
bombing field in this or other lo
calities is removed by the fact that
high explosive bombs are not used,
states Captain Gates. A regulation
size bomb is released from the plane
but it carries only a small amount
of black powder which forms a white
smoke when exploded. Ihis is tor
the purpose of locating the position
of the bomb in relation to the tar
get, observation of which is made
from planes.
There would be some construction
in connection with the field and at
times a considerable number of offi
cers and men would eb stationed
there during maneuvers. Supplies
cers and men would be stationed
chased through local agencies, it
was indicated, the captain express
ing satisfaction with the available
transportation facilities.
The Morrow county court was
waited upon Wednesday morning by
a delegation of Arlington business
men who came for the purpose of
enlisting support of this county for
the project. Their plan calls for lo
cation of the headquarters at Ar
Continued on Page Four
Care of Pre-School
Children Stressed
Proper care of the pre-school
child .is liighly important if the
child is to enter school prepared to
enjoy the life awaiting him there,
according to Dr. M. Carter Davis
of the state tuberculosis association,
who visited the caunty this week.
Dr. Davis spoke before a meeting
of the Morrow County Health asso
ciation Tuesday evening in which
he outlined a program for the care
of children of both pre-school and
school age.
Dr. Davis was here to assist Miss
Lucille Vale, county health nurse,
in conducting clinics at Boardman
and Hardman in which numbers of
pre-school children were immuniz
ed against contagious diseases. He
explained the duties of the county
nurse and urged the health associa
tion to continue the program of ed
ucating parents in care of their
children.
64