Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (May 1, 1947)
J J M eppner Gazette Tim i ' ': Heppner, Oregon, Thursday May 1, 1947 Volume 64, Number 6 ES Fire Destroys Ball Residence on Rhea Creek Monday P.M. Sparks on Roof Fanned Into Flame By Wind Storm Fire apparently starting from sparks emitting from a trash burner connected to the gas range set fire to. the A. C. Ball residence on Rhea creek late Monday afternoon destroying the house and all nearby buildings before it ran its course. Only the barn and sheepshed which were some distance from the house were spared. Mrs. Ball and little son, Archie Jr., were alone in .the house at the time. She had lighted a fire in the trash burner in starting preparations for the evening meal. Noticing what she at first thought was dust kept getting blacker she investigated and found the roof was on fire. Mr. Ball was in a field some distance from the house and out of sight and did not reach the fire until after neighbors and people from town arrived. A few personal effects were carried out but house and prac tically all contents were destroy ed. Some insurance was carried. Mrs. Ball and the children were housed in town until ar rangements could be made to move into the bunk house where the family will make out until a new house can be built. Mrs. E. R. Shaffer brought a camp outfit from Cecil to aid in fur nishing the temporary quarters. Students Display Talents at Annual Speech Festival Students from five schools of the county met at lone Tuesday in the annual speech festival, with the lone school acting as host. Both high school and grade groups participated in what to the teachers proved a very sat isfactory festival. Pertinent subjects were sub mitted for the panel discussions. including, "Should Oregon have a-sales tax? , "A grade point average of 3 should be required before a student Is eligible to participate in school activities "Should Orientals be permitted to become citizens of the United States?", and "What advantages and disadvantages result from consolidation of school dis tricts?" Reresentatives from each of the county's five high schools took part in the panel discus sions, which were rated by a committee of teachers. One best speaker from each . school was chosen to speak on the panel at the evening pro gram,, the subject being "What's wrong with teaching as a car eer?" The day's program included one-act plays by three high schools and two grade schools. Of these Heppner and lone high - schools and Boardman grade school repeated their plays in the evening. Participants In the evening panel were Robert Buchanan, Lexington; Ross Doherty, lone; Gladwyn Hudson, Heppner; Lou is Rucker, Irrigon, and Maxine Ely, Boardman. Individual performers accord ed a place on the program were Ronald Baker, lone; James Ken ny, Irrigon, and Carol Miller, Heppner, who gave memorized selections in the evening. Mar ion Green and Jo Jean Dix gave reading selections, Tricia Law rence a story, and Hoyt Brown a written speech. Heppner's play, repealed in the evening, was "Alice's Blue Gown"; Ione's was "Ten Percent Tommy," and Boardman's was "Straight Shooters." Teachers played an important part in the festival serving as moderalors and judges. Serving as moderators during the day program were Adrian Bechdolt and Gerald Fahey, Boardman Mrs. Pearl Haycraft, Lexington, and Miss Mary Brackett, lone. George Corwin, Heppner, served as moderator in the evening, Judges were Leonard Pate, Heppner; George Jones, Board man; Francis Ely, lone; William Ludwlg, Lexington; Elmer Snif fer and Mrs. Bertha Severln, lone, Play judges were Mrs. George Corwin, Heppner; Mrs. A. W. Lundell, lone, and Miss iAnn Jones, Boardman. Judges for activities: George Corwin; Mrs. Adrian Bechdolt, Boardman, and Mayo Wlesflock, Irrigon. Grade school judges were Ev erett Smith, Heppner; Miss Em ma Crego, Irrigon, and Mrs. Francis Ely, lone. Delay in Hospital Construction Seen Due to Financing Delay in construction of the Morrow county hospital is seen by officials if the type of build ing wanted is adhered to. Some investigation made the past week by P. W. Ma honey for the county court brought to light the fact that outside assistance look ed forward to, a federal grant, can not possibly be obtained ear lier than July 1, 1948. Mahoney went to Portland to see what could be done about getting this county's name on the list of hospitals seeking fed eral aid. He learned that while the legislature appropriated $22, 000 for the purpose of making a survey of the state to determine how much federal money will be required, the survey has not even started and when it does it will require several months to cover the state, and there is no assur ance as yet that the local pro ject would receive one-third of cost grant upon which the latest plans for the building are based. There has been some criticism of the court and hospital com mittee because actual construc tion is not under way but Ma honey says if those inclined to offer criticism will look into the situation carefully they will un derstand the officials' position. , o Heppner Extension Unit Accepts Invite To Country Home Mrs. Ralph Thompson has in vited the Heppner home exten sion unit to hold its regular meeting on Thursday, May 8, at 1:30 p.m. at her country home. This meeting will be conduct ed by Miss Jean Williams, rec reational specialist of the Ore gon State college extension staff. The project on flower arrange ment which is one of the most interest projects where empha sis will be placed on original arrangements. A specialist tries to visit each unit in the county at least once a year. The women have been very interested to at tend Miss Williams' meetings. She was in Morrow county in December to train the project leaders on pny planning, and again on Homcmakers day when she led the recreation merri ment of "Fun For All." The women with or without transportation will assemble at the Lucas place at 1:00 p.m. to arrange their transportation to the Thompson home. The Lexington unit will meet at the Ladies Aid room at 1:30 on Friday, May 9, for the same home extension unit meeting. Artist's Conception of Proposed Memorial to Gold Star Veterans 'i rV l ft vi L"; y. n m h p v ' 'tt i i ...... y t The above drawing was made by Mrs. Francis Nickerson and Frank Davis from floor plans drawn by F. M. Crawford of the Tum-ALum Lumber company at Walla Walla and is the art ists' conception of what the pro posed permanent memorial to the Gold Star veterans of Mor row county will look like when the building is completed. Through the efforts of the Ju nior chamber of commerce a movement has been started to j meeting rooms for civic and , county organizations; kitchen provide a community center In for preparation of meals; a gen-; but principally on materials. Heppner, dedicated to the mem ory of those who gave their all in the defense of their country and to the living who helped gain the victory. First step in the plan has been to secure a site, and the second has been type of building and estimated cost. Plans call for a completely equipped building to start with eral assembly room for any and all civic and county functions; a youth center, and rest rooms for ladies having leisure time while in town shopping. Estimated cost of the struc ture has been placed at $40,000. This figure is based on the pos sibility of being able to get much of the material at cost and perhaps some good will labor, 'Wranglers' Chosen Riding Club Name After sailing untler the title of "Sagebrushers" the first few weeks of its existence, the rid ing club met April 22 and chang ed to "Wranglers," under which name it will be known from here on. At the same meeting a drill team was organized, with prac tices set for twice each month The first drill practice will be held the evening of Wednesday May 7, and the next on May 21 One general meeting will be held on the second Tuesday of each month, the date being May 13 this month A large ride is planned for May 18. This will be for the entire group and will be Jn charge of Mary Fleener. The Rodeo grounds will be the starting point for this all-day event. Anyone inlerested in the drill work is advised to contact Cal Sumners, president of the club. Heppner's Errors Prove Expensive in Game With Condon Another Scoring Record Made When Condon Wins, 22-21 Home runs and 2-3 base hits were almost a dime a dozen Sun day when Heppner and Condon crossed bats on the Condon field. It was a track meet as to base running and a basketball game as to scoring 22-21 in Condon's favor. Aided by a high wind and abetted by Heppner errors, the Gilliam county boys just had to win. Heppner started the circus by pulling five errors in the first inning, giving Condon six runs on one hit. The Blakemen ran four men across the home plate in their half of the first, but those errors put them behind the eight ball and the best they ever did was to pull into a tie in the first half of the ninth. In Condon's half at bat, a home run cinched the game. Heppner made 13 errors, got 20 hits and scored 21 runs. Al Massey made two home runs and Kenny Hoyt one for Heppner. Potter, Shaffer, Burch and Gosney made one each for Condon. Ray Massey made two triples. Miller started the game for Heppner, pitching four innings, and retired in favor of Stouten- berger. Ashenfeltcr hurled the first five innings for Condon, re tiring in favor of Burns. Players and fans state that a high wind sweeping over the field made fielding difficult, but it was a boon to the batters. o Mrs. W. E. Davis has received word of the birth of a baby girl Thursday, April 24, to Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Wood who reside in Nevada. Mrs. Wood is Mrs. Dav is's sister. News Briefs Around Town By Ruth Payne I Some 25 members of the Hepp-1 ner Degree of Honor lodge mo tored to The Dalles Tuesday to attend the state convention of the order which is being held there this week. Mrs. Frances B. Olson, national president, at tended the meeting at which time the drill team of the local order presented the ritualistic work which the members have been practicing for quite some time. Attending from Kate J. Young lodge of Heppner were Mes dames Millard Nolan, Roy Quac- kenbush, Carl McDaniel, Wil liam Barkla, Burl Coxen, Ted Pierson, Harold Hill, Adison Moore, A. R. Shamblyn, Tom Harris, Elwynn Hughes, Frank Engkraf, R. G. McMurtry, Carl Bergstrom, John Bergstrom, Wil liam Cunningham, Hazel Benge, Vernon Munkers and G. W. Gertson, and Miss Carolyn Bergstrom. Mr. and Mrs. P. W. Mahoney made a business trip to Portland last week. They returned from the city Saturday. Mr. and Mrs. Ted Pierson spent a few days in Portland vis iting relatives and attending to business. They motored down Thursday. Glen McLachlin has returned to Heppner to work and will not move his family to The Dalles at the close of school as had been expected. Charles Bartholomew was in town from his Pine City farm the first of the week transacting business. Mr. and Mrs. James Davis of Cle Elum, Wash., arrived in Heppner the last of the week to visit their son and daughter-in-law, Mr, and Mrs. William Dav is. Mr. and Mrs. Walter Becket, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Becket and Miss Esther Bergstrom made a business trip to Yakima, Wn., the end of the week. West ley Jutley of Burns spent the week end in Heppner with his father, A. C. L. Jutley. Satur- The Jaycees have scheduled a dance at the fair pavilion on June 14 to start the ball rolling to raise funds. They likewise have a plan to do a little mis sionary work at Milton -Freewa-ter during the Pea festival on May 11, and from now on the main objective will be to raise funds and get the memorial building started at the earliest possible date. Special Election Will e Way For City Water Improvement Local and State VFW Officials Figure in Joint Installation at Condon -"' 4 ; : ''""VCrO - . .? V Hi i f-.r V f l r ; J : v i Mrs. Frank Maddock Jr. was over from Condon Wednesday transacting business In Heppner. Mrs. John Monahnn and chil dren of Condon vlsiled Wednes day at the home of her parents, Mr, and Mrs. James Farley Sr, Ill hVa hi-. t it 1 ' . 1 J llU 1 M day, the Jutleys spent fishing, reporting only moderate suc cess on the trip. Mrs. Alena Anderson and daughters, accompanied by Er- vin Anderson, motored to Herm- iston and Stanfield Sunday to spend the day with relatives. In Hermiston they visited Mr. An derson's mother who is a patient at the Hermiston hospital. F. W. Turner returned Tues day from a business trip to Port land. E. Harvey Miller returned to his home in Portland Sunday after spending a few days in Heppner attending a meeting of the Triple-A. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Avers, who have been living in Stan field for the past several years, moved to Heppner this week to make their home. They have purchased the Albert Rea resi dence on Green street and the Charles Fraters property on Gale street. Mrs. Richard Meadors motor ed to Baker Tuesday to spend a few days visiting relatives and taking care of business matters. Mr. and Mrs. Riley Munkers of Arlington were week-end guests in Heppner at the home of Mrs. Effie Morgan. M. D. Clark and daughter, Mrs. Frank Riggs, have return ed to Eugene. They expect to I return to Heppner the end of May. Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Deos of Odell are visiting at the home of Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Jones in Heppner. Graveside services for Shorty Riese who died suddenly Mon day morning at the E. L. Buck num rooming house, were held Thursday morning at 10:30. Mr. and Mrs. W. O. George, son Kit and Wilma Lou Harsh- man left Thursday morning for a motor trip through California. Mr. and Mrs. George are part of the Oregon delegation that will attend the Pacific coast confer ence of independent theater ow ners which is being held in Los Angeles. En route south, they will visit friends in San Fran cisco and will visit in Tahoe and Reno, Nevada. Edwin Bucknum motored to Portland Wednesday morning to Mtend to some business matters Mrs. J. G. Barratt Sr. under went major surgery at St. An thony's hospital in Pendleton Monday. ; J,jjJ Reading from left to right (front tow): Francis Gates, Bend, senior vice commander, Department of Oregon; Roscoe Allen, Portland, deputy inspector. Department 61 Oregon; Dr. Clyde Dunham, commander; tan buiver. rortiana, deputy inspector, Department oi Oregon. Second row: Duane Johnson, judge advocate; Harry Owens, trustee; Harlan McCurdy Jr., past com mandor and chaplain; Francis Nickerson, senior vice commander. Third row: Reese Burkenbine, service officer; Roger Connor, guard; Archie Struthers, officer ol the day; James Driscoll, adjutant and quartermaster. (The photograph was taken al Condon April 14 when the Heppner and Condon posts held Joint . ,,. ... -,n ...til. . I I.., -in.. v instaiiiiiion oi uur-uis wan wie ussisiuucu ui iiie simu oiiicurs.; LEXINGTON HIGH BAND WINS NUMBER 2 RATING The Lexington school band at tended the music festival at Eas tern Oregon college, La Grande, Friday and Saturday and return ed home with a number 2 rating for band performance. Through the efforts of Orville Qutsforth, the band was able to have the directing services of Mr, Mitzler of Walla Walla. Cuts forth flew to Walla Walla and took the director from there to La Grande. Mrs. Cutsforth ac companied her husband on the flight. Arlington All Set For Initial Rodeo Saturday-Sunday Top Hands Headed For River Town to Compete for Prizes Under auspices of the Arling ton Saddle club a rodeo will be held at Arlington Saturday and Sunday, May 3 and 4. Man agers of the two-day show are Howard jonnson ana ijiies rar man, Condon rodeo stock owners. A new arena and bucking chutes have been constructed one-half mile south of Arlington on the John Day highway. Arlington is now dressed in rodeo attire with street banners and window decorations in pre paration for its first rodeo. Invi tations have been extended to all riding clubs in the immedi ate vicinity to participate in the event and in daily parades thru Arlington. Goldendale, The Dal les and Moro riding clubs are to be present for the celebra tion. A rodeo queen Is being select ed at Arlington Friday. Five con testants are running neck-and- neck for the title. They are June Ann Huntley, Dorothy Seeley, Maxine Zastrow, Mildred Cim miyotti and Nedra Weatherell. Attendants, in addition to the four losing girls in this contest, will be sent from Condon, Fossil, Heppner, The Dalles and Goldendale. Due to the fact this is one of the larger rodeos sponsored in eastern Oregon in the early spring, a large number of world- famous rodeo and round-up men have signified their intention of participating for the prizes. In Gilliam county there are also a number of young men, such as the Johnson boys, Verne Evans Pete Wheelhouse and others who have been taking prizes through out the country the past several weeks, who will take part. The rodeo grounds were built by the Arlington Saddle club, which was organized this past winter. Roy Wheelhouse of Ar lington is president, Roy Philip pi of Blalock, vice president, and Virgil Woelpern of Blalock, secretary-treasurer. Voters of Heppner will go to the polls Tuesday morning to decide a matter of vital Import ance to the city whether or not the council shall be empowered to issue $75,000 worth of water improvement bonds. The polls will open at 8 a.m. at the coun cil room In the city building, and remain open until 5 p.m. The voting will be on a reso lution calling for a charter am endment authorizing the issu ance of water bonds for the pur pose of providing funds with which to build a reservoir, and repair, extend and improve the water system and water pipe lines of the city in the above sum, and the bonds shall be the direct general obligations of the city. Time has been short for pre paring for the election and there likewise has been no campaign ing. The mayor and council, ex tending back into the term of J. O. Turner and passed on to Mayor Conley Lanham and new councilmen, have studied the water situation for several years, realizing that each year the job of rebuilding the water system is delayed makes the task that much greater. L. R. Stockman, engineer of Baker, was employ ed to make a survey of the wa ter plant and he recommended a reservoir and general repair of the line. The city had already purchased several thousand feet of mains to relay worn out sec tions in the city. It is now desir ed to put through all of this work and it can be started very shortly if the voters give their approval to the bond issue. The present improvement plan involves considerably less fund ing than the rebuilding of the water system when the line was run to the city well at the forks of Willow creek. It is pointed out that the demand is urgent for a bigger supply and that without it further growth of the town will be hampered. Imme diate demands are sufficient to warrant an increase and the ca pacity must be boosted to give assurance to those who would make homes here in the future. The chief concern of the city officials is the indifference of voters. It is felt if a large seg ment of the population is rep resented at the polls the resolu tion will carry. Efforts will be directed towards getting out the vote. A. W. Jones and Alex Green will serve as judges, C. R. Mc Alister, S. J. Devine and R. B. Rice as clerks of the election. o Local Band Made Fair Showing at Music Festival Heppner's school band made its first appearance at a musical festival in several years Satur day when Billy Cochell and his young musicians played for jud ging at the Eastern Oregon col lege event in La Grande. The band scored nothing below D and nothing higher than B, and while this may seem only a fair shnwintr th Vfllinffetorc hnH a n ahs. About 160 were fed there, opportunity to learn what is ex others eating at home and at,pected of them the restaurants. , . ,. q Outstanding strong points of CARD PARTY SCHEDULED band' as P0nted out by the BY DE MOLAY CHAPTER ' 3udRes' were tempo' rh'thm. Th Mn..v t,ot, m sPlr. accent, phrasing, dynam- ...C ....K.v.. -,!, J .! MILDRED PENNEY OF PENDLETON BECOMES BRIDE OF IRV1N RAUCH Of interest to their friends in Morrow and Umatilla counties was the marriage Wednesday, April 20, of Miss Mildred Pen ney, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D. Z. Penney of Echo and Irvin Rauch, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jul ian Rauch of Lexington. The ceremony was performed at the Presbyterian church in Pendle ton, pastor. Dr. Earl Cochran, of ficiating, and Mr. and Mrs. Or val Matheny as attendants. Pre ceding the ceremony, Miss Jean Rauch, sister of the groom, sang "Because" and Miss Rose Hoosier sang "I Love You Truly," Mrs. Harry Braun playing the accom paniments. .The bride wore a blue dress maker suit with brown and white accessories and a corsage of red rosebuds. After the wedding a reception was held at the home of the bride's aunt, Mrs. Delia Hoosier, in Pendleton. The couple went to California for their honey moon. o Heppner Cleaners Changes Managers As of this morning, the Hepp ner Cleaners & Dyers changed hands, Mrs. Adelle Hannan, ow ner, leasing the plant to Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Collins of Cottage Grove. The newcomers are experienc ed laundry and dry cleaning op erators, having owned and con ducted the Collins Laundry & Cleaners in Cottage Grove the past 18 years. They visited Hepp ner two weeks ago, liked the town and decided to locate here. Some new equipment is being installed at the local plant to aid in giving better service to the patrons. Hayes Sisters Die Five Days Apart Death struck twice within five days in the family of the late Jeff Hayes, the first occurring on April 22 when Minola (Hay es) Porter died at Tacoma, Wn., and again on April 27 when Gladys (Hayes) Buckler died in Portland. The women were sisters of Vi etta Gaylord, Alton Hayes of Montana, and Walter Hayes of Condon. They were raised in this district, their parents, Jeff and Grace Hayes, being pioneers of the Lone Rock section. Joe Hayes of Heppner attend ed the funerals of his cousins. LARGE DELEGATION ATTENDS CATHOLIC CONVENTION HERE Three hundred and twenty four persons registered at the eighth annual convention of Confraternity of Christian Doc trine of the Diocese of Baker held in Heppner Wednesday. Of this number many were local parish ioners while numerous delegates came from Hood River, The Dal les, Dufur, Condon and Hermis ton. Mayor Conley Lanham wel comed the visitors in cordial manner, following which the leaders took over. Luncheon was served at the Oddfellows hall by the Rebek- De Molay has scheduled a card party for the evening of May 9 to be held at the Willows grange hall in lone to which the public has been invited. A meeting of the chapter was held Monday evening in the Mosonic hall at Arlington. Telephone Company Seeks Increase of Rates in Oregon MAN HELD HERE FOR WHEELER AUTHORITIES Arnold Ivan Reed was arrest ed Tuesday and placed in the Morrow county jail on complaint of Lester Maley of Fossil. Reed was charged with taking a jeep without the consent of tho ow ner and was driving along the Gooseberry road when appre hended by Sheriff C. J. D. Bau-man. Reed, who gave his address as both Fossil and Hermiston, F. D. Tellwright, vice presi dent and general manager for Oregon for The Pacific Telephone and Telegraph company, an nounced the first filing in more than 25 years for a state-wide general increase in telephone rates with the Public Utilities Commissioner of Oregon. "Our problem is that pre-war prices are not enough to meet post-war costs," said Mr. Tell wright. "We have made every effort to get along on present rates be fore asking for price relief and we now are asking for only what is essential to meet current costs and keep our credit sound. "Although our revenues from our Oregon operations have more than doubled since 1910 our costs have climbed even fas ter. Costs of buildings, equip ment and supplies of all kinds have Increased tremendously Our payroll, which represents was turned over to the sheriff of Wheeler county who took him two-thirds of our operating ex to Fossil for a hearing, pense, has more than tripled since the pre-war year of 1940, ilue to higher wage rates and more employees." The company reported that its earnings on intra-state plant in vestment have dropped rapldlv -the last half of 1916 being 45 percent below 1945. "Rates in most of our ex changes were set in 1921," Mr. Tellwright continued, "but rates set as far back as 1921 are not enough for 1947 costs. It is only as a last resort that we are ask ing for an increase now to bal ance the tremendous upsurge in telephone expenses. "We are faced with the neces sity of making large capital ex penditures $25,000,000 in Ore gon in 1917 alone to catch up with plant and equipment short ages and to meet the demands of thousands of people who have applied for telephones. To raise the required capital it is a mat ter of utmost Importance in the public interest that our credit position be maintained on a sound basis." tone. Weak points were lack of advancement, immaturity, and lack of experience (volume, rich ness of tone, balance, etc.). John Stehn, director of the Uni versity of Oregon band, offered this comment: "A musical ap proach to music. Results largely ineffective due to the lack of ad vancement of the players. Nice control of tone; quality of the band as a whole quite good. Good dynamics. It's a very com mendable job for a band in this stage of development. Expect re sults of apparently careful re hearsing to show In another year. He commended the sax ophones, bass, solo comets and tho baritone and suggested that the director build up the middle of the band horns, trombones, clarinets, etc. for the future. Director Cochell complimented the members of the band for their exemplary conduct at the festival. The girls chorus did not go to La Grande. o- SUFFERS BAD FALL Mrs. J. L. Hall Is recuperating at home following serious injury sustained about a week ago when she fell while working at Scotty's. She sustained a con cussion when her head struck the end of one of the benches and It was feared she might have suffered a skull fracture. She was quite ill for several days and it may be some time before she can resume her work in the food shop.