I E T Y ; URL! 1 f, Heppner Gazette Times Heppner, Oregon, Thursday, March 18, 1948 Volume 64, Number 52 Committees Start Work To Complete Hospital Finances Frank W. Turner Heads Move For Raising $20,000 Headed by Frank W. Turner, veteran fund raising campaigner, committees are out to raise the $20,000 needed to complete finan cing of the Pioneer Memorial hos pital. Turner was chosen Mon day evening, much against his better judgment (he alleged), and only accepted because there is not time to hunt for a chair man. He set to work immediate ly choosing committee chairmen and announced this morning that everything is set to go. A second meeting was held at the council chambers Wednesday evening at which time names were submitted and final plans adopted for the drive. At the same time, solicitors present were briefed on the status of the hos pital financing in order to be prepared to give the right ans wers to inquiring prospective donors. It is understood that part of the $20,000 needed has been subscrib ed and it is expected that not only will pledges be In but that the funds will be mostly sub scribed within the next ten days. "It will be an effort to raise the needed fund unless every citizen is ready and willing to do his part. I believe the fund should be subscribed In smaller sums by the many rather than by a few citizens putting it up in large amounts, and we have planned our campaign to give everybody a chance to contribute," Turner said. "It is essential to get this fund in hand as quickly as pos sible if actual construction on the hospital is to get underway this year. By this plan of raising the needed funds no one will be im posed upon or hurt financially." Contributions by check should be made payable to Morrow county. They will be placed in the hospital equipment fund and donors will be given credit, ac cording to Judge Bert Johnson. (Further discussion of this sub ject will be found on the editorial page.) Library Assn. To Sponsor 3-Act Play "Hillbilly Courtship," a comedy in three acts, has been chosen as the play to be sponsored by the Heppner Library association and to be presented some time in April. The cast of 13 local people Is being coached by Waldo Jackson, grade school principal. "Hillbilly Courtship," as the title suggests, is a screaming farce-comedy and some rare entertainment awaits the public when it is presented. FORMER RESIDENT PASSES MARCH 11 IN PORTLAND Portland papers carried notices of the' death of Mrs. Elnora Bar tholomew who passed away on March 11 at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Tom West, in Portland. Mrs. Bartholomew, whose hus band was the late Herbert Bar tholomew, lived with her family in Heppner for a number of years, coming here in the 90's and leav ing a year or so after the flood of 1903. She had made her home in Portland ever since. She was a talented pianist and figured prominently in the musical and social life of the community dur ing her residence here. Her hus band was an uncle of Charles Bartholomew of Pine City. Survivors are Mrs. West and Nelson Bartholomew, both of Portland, and four grandchildren. SCHEDULE BOOSTER NIGHT To boost membership and al the same time gather in a little "kale," the Junior chamber of commerce, assisted by the mem bers' wives, has scheduled a booster night for March 24. There will be a program starling at 8 o'clock, to be followed with a box social. Letter From Mariannas Jells Fine Work of With the Red Cross member ship campaign on in full force this week, a letter received early in January by Mrs. E. O. Fergu son seems timely to publish this week. The letter is from Thomas C. Corcoran, Phm 3c aim was written Christmas day on the Is land of Guam. He writes: Dear Mrs. Ferguson: The local Red Cross here on Guam brought down some gifts to the dispen sary here where I have the duty and lo and behold! I find some slippers you women had made. I remember when I was at San Di ego Navy hospital last year I thanked you for them, and I thot I'd let you know that your work and time to make some of us guys a little more comfortable" Is still making patients happy to know that some of the ones at Basketball Winds Up With Defeat of County's All-Stars Having defeated the Motor Inn Theatre Indians of Pendleton by the decisive score of 60-38 a week or two ago, the Morrow County All-Stars figured they had a chance to even the score with the Condon Rover Boys in a season wind-up game. Consequently, La Verne Van Marter, business man ager for the All-Stars, scheduled a game with the Condon boys for March 16. The Rover Boys came over Tu esday evening and when they re turned home their standing had not been injured in the least. In truth, it had been enhanced. The Morrow countlans trailed all the way and the All-Stars were will ing to lay their suits away until next season. o Local High School Rated As Standard Heppner high school has been given a rating of conditionally standard following an inspection of school and plant here on Feb ruary 4 by Carrol B. Howe, super visor of secondary education, Or egon department of education. In a letter to the district, State Supt. Rex Putnam said in part: "The school at Heppner offers a very complete ducational pro gram for a school of this size and provides an example of what can be done with an interested and progressive school board and a vigorous administration." There is more comment on the school program and then recom mendations are offered for im provements that will make it per manently standard. Due to lack of space this week, further com ment will be postponed until next issue, except to quote Mr. Put nam's closing paragraph: "The Heppner high school will be rat ed as conditionally standard un til such time as the laboratory provisions arc made for biology. No plan will be required, as the school will automatically become standard as soon as the condition is met." , Churches Prepare Sunrise Service Rev. Shelby Graves is chair man of the Easter Sunrise service to be held this year at the As sembly of God church. Joe Jew ett, pastor of the Heppner Church of Christ, will be the speaker, Rev. J. Palmer Sorlion will read the scripture, and Mrs. Betty Warren will provide special mu sic, accompanied by Mrs. Ray Taylor at the piano. Text of the message to be brot at the 6:30 a.m. service on March 28 is "Proper Easter Garments," Luke 24. WRANGLER RIDE SET FOR SUNDAY, MARCH 21 Members of the Wranglers rid ing club will be heading for the Jim Valentine ranch in Sand Hol low Sunday morning, according to Oscar George, president of the organization. The group will leave the Rodeo grounds at 10 o'clock and ride to the Valentine place where at noon Mrs. Valen tine will serve lunch. Jim has promised to provide the hay and oats for. the riding stock. The Wranglers have scheduled a dance for the night of April 10 to be held at the I. O. O. F. hall in Lexington. Dr. and Mrs. Henry Roe Cloud of Pendleton were house guests Tuesday night at the home of Rev. and Mrs. J. Palmer Sorlien. Dr. and Mrs. Cloud were guest speakers at the school banquet for the athletic teams and the P-TA meeting which followed at Lexington. Miss Lela Tolleson was home Friday evening from Walla Wal la whore she is employed as a nurse. Mr. and Mrs. Tolleson look her back Saturday and then drove to Wallula and took the train for Spokane. Mr. Tolleson returned home Sunday night and Mrs. Tolleson remained there for a few days for medical treatment War Red Cross home worked during the war al so! I've still got the Christmas card you sent me when I was in the hospital. I am well now and on duly with the fleet marine forces commander, Mariannas Is lands. We don't have many pa tients here nnd some of the corps men and myself are using your slippers. Thanks a lot! Sincerely yours, Thomas C. Cor Coran. Jack O'Connor, campaign direc tor for Morrow county, aiinounc ed Monday that the drive for membership Is officially on and he hopes response will be prompt so that the drive may be com pleted at least by April 1. Forty five percent of the amount col lected will remain here to assist in local projects and for an em ergency fund, Funeral Services For Otis Biddle Held Tuesday P.M. Funeral services were held at 2 o'clock p.m., Tuesday at the Methodist church for Otis Biddle, prominent farmer of the Sanford canyon district, whose death oc curred Saturday, March 13, at the Portland General hospital, fol lowing a lingering illness. The Rev. J. Palmer Sorlien officiated. Interment followed in the Hepp ner Masonic cemetery. Otis Perry Biddle was a native of Morrow county. He was born July 19, 1894 in the Gooseberry section, the son of Marion and Jennie Elizabeth Biddle. A vet eran of the first World War, he enlisted August 7, 1918 at Lafay ette, Oregon, serving as a private and later as a quartermaster in the Spruce division. He received his honorable discharge at Van couver, Wash. Following his ar my service he was employed for some time by the late R. A. Thompson, later engaging in farming for himself and enjoying considerable success. He was married December 8, 1923 to Alice Eleanor Kirk daughter of James Kirk of Heppner. To this union were born three daughters, Eu genia Eleanor Ball, Fern Marie and Phyllis Mae Biddle, and one son, Marion Otis, who, with the mother survive. Besides his im mediate family, he is survived by his father, Marion Biddle of La fayette; a brother, Orrie Biddle, also of Lafayette; five sisters, Li la Holmes, North Bend; Zola Brockman, Clinton, Wash.; Opal Moe, Salem; Viola Mix, Portland, and Zelma Pearson, Klamath Falls; and a grandson, Leon Jay Ball, Heppner. The mother and a brother, Clarence, preceded Ot is in death. The brother, Orrie, was the only member of the fam ily residing away from here able to attend the services. Home Ec Club Has Charge of Grange Meeting Saturday The Home Economics club was in charge of the regular meeting of the Lexington grange Saturday evening when the theme was "Safety and Home." The commit tee in charge, Mrs. Chris Brown, Mrs. J. A. Troedson and Mrs. Ce cil Jones, arranged the following program: Song, "Oregon Suits Me." aud ience. Two songs by the Lexing ton Horizon Girls Iris Bloods worth, Jo McMillan, Ida Buchan an, Edna Ivey, Ileen Shannon, Pat Majeske and Betty Griffin. Rollcoll by each member giving a safety resolution. Tableau, "In the Garden." Movie, "A Stitch in Time." a special film on farm accidents sent out by the Sears, Roebuck Foundation, shown by Tom Wilson of the Soil Conserva tion service. Readings, Mrs. J. A. Troedson and Mrs. Armin Wihlon. Group singing to close. The refreshment committee in cluded Mr. and Mrs. Burton Peck, Mr. and Mrs. George Peck, Mrs. Elsie Beach and Mr. and Mrs. Harry Dinges. A feature of the program was a table display of antiques. New grange members attend ing were Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Munkers and Tom Wilson. MRS. ALICE WILES DIES AT DALLES HOSPITAL Services were held at 2 o'clock p.m. today at the lone Coopera tive church for Mrs. Alice Wiles, 76, who passed away Monday, March 15 at The Dalles. Rev. Al fred Shirley, pastor, officiated. Interment was in the I. O. O. F. cemetery at lone. Mrs. Wiles is survived by the following children: S. L. and Floyd Wiles of lone; Mrs. Vida Britton' Tygh Valley; Mrs. Jes sie Carr, The Dalles, and Mrs. Dottle Warfield, Pendleton. O HENRY VOGLER FILES Henry Vogler, Pine City ranch er, got in under the wire just before filing time closed on March 12 and will have his name on the ballot for county commis sioner. This gives the voters a chance to select a nominee from among three candidates, the oth er two seeking the post being Oscar Peterson of lone and Rus sell Miller of Boardman, Vogler has extensive Interests in the county, as well as a large wheat ranch just over the line in Uma lilla county. o EXAMINER COMING A drivers license examiner will be on duty Tuesday, March 23, at the courthouse in Heppner. Persons wishing licenses or per mits lo drive are asked to get In touch wtth the examiner be tween the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. , o Frank S. Parker and daughter, Mrs. Frances Mitchell, drove to Pendleton today to meet Mr. Par ker's niece, Mrs. Mildred Barger of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, who is spending a month's vacation vis iting relatives in Oregon, o Mrs. Thelma Anderson and Peggy Hayes went to Pendleton Saturday, Reading Public To Benefit By Additions To Library Shelves By Ruth Payne New books placed in circula tion this week at the Heppner public library include: The Fed eral Reserve System, Its Purposes and Functions; Miller, Men and Volts at War; Meany, Babe Ruth; McCrone, Red Plush; Presiden tial Report on Civil Rights; Free man, Discovering South America; Davis, Soldier of Democracy, the biography of General Dwight D. Eisenhower; Fay, The Two Franklins; Hahn, The Soong Sis ters, the revealing biography of the three greatest women in Chi na; Rourke, Audubon; Charwood, Theodore Roosevelt; Morison, Ad miraj of The Ocean Sea, the life of Christopher Columbus; White, A Puritan in Babylon, the story of Calvin Coolldge; Slmonds, Edi son, His Life, His Work and His Genious; Mussolini, My Autobi ography; Nash, Nothfhg - But Wodehouse. Mrs. Grace Nickerson received serious facial injuries and body bruises in a fall Thursday eve ning when she tripped on a rais ed place in the sidewalk in front of the Hiatt apartments on Balti more street. Mrs. Nickerson, walking along with her hands In the pockets of her coat, was un able to remove them quickly en ough to break the fall and struck her face on the sidewalk. Mrs. Charles McDaniel of Hard man was brought to Heppner to a physician the end of the week to receive treatment for injuries she received in a fall when she slipped on the ice. At the time of the accident, Mrs. McDaniel was helping load a truck with their household effects, prepara tory to moving to Stanfield where they have purchased a small ac reage. During her stay here she was the guest of her brother-in-law and sster, Mr. and Mrs. Bert Bleakman. Mrs. Charles Hodge Jr. enter tained Wednesday evening with a handkerchief shower for Mrs. Harry Anderson who Is leaving soon to make her home in Idaho. Present were Mrs. Frank Davis, Mrs. Wlliam Cochell, Mrs. Louis Gilliam, Mrs. LaVerne Van Mar ter, Mrs. Ike Cole, Mrs. Ambrose Chapin and Mrs. William Bar ratt. Two tables of bridge were in play for which Mrs. Cole re-, ceived high score. Mrs. Grace Turner and Lstel "Bud" Fields were married March 12 in Boise, Idaho. Edward Chidsey of La Grande was a business visitor in Hepp ner the end of the week. Mr. Chidsey, a former resident of this area, is now with the state high way commission. Rev. and Mrs. Charles urayoeai returned to Corning, Cal., the end of the week, having been called to Heppner by the death of her grandfather, the late C. A. Miller. They were accompanied as far as Eugene by Miss Loraa Mae Jones who is attending North west Christian college in that city. Mrs. Anna Plerson of White Salmon, Wash., is spending a fortnight in Heppner with her son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Ted Pierson and family. Mrs. Walter Barger and daugh ters have returned from Tacoma where they had been visiting her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Doherty held "open house" at their new country home Sunday afternoon, complimenting his mother, Mrs. Katharine Doherty, on the occa sion of her birthday and to give their friends an opportunity to inspect the new house which was recently completed. Forty four guests were present during the afternoon. Among those from a distance were Miss Helen Do herty from Vallejo, Cal., and John Doherty from San Francisco. Mr. and Mrs. Francis Nickerson and Mrs. Grace Nickerson motor ed to Portland Tuesday to spend a few days looking after business matters. They were accompanied by Mrs. Florence Hughes who will visit relatives and friends in uie city and in Centralia, Wn, for some six weeks. Although Mrs. Hughes says her plans are indef inite, she hopes to visit in Cal ifornia before returning to Hepp ner later in the spring. Allen Case made a business trip to Portland the first of the week. Mrs. Floyd Worden and Mrs. Frank Wilkinson were hostesses for the meeting of the Morrow County Shrine club and auxiliary at the Masonic temple Saturday evening. Bridge, pinochle and Chinese checkers were played with Mrs. Allen Case receiving high for bridge; William Corhell high for pinochle and David Hynd, high for Chinese checkers. Refreshments were served. According to word received by Heppner relatives, funeral ser vices for Keith, nine year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Les Rasmussen, were held in Lyndon, Wash.. Thursday afternoon. The Rasmus sens lived in Heppner several years ago. Mrs. C, C. Carmlchael of Lex ington is a patient at Coffee Memorial hospital In Portland where she recently underwent a major operation. Mfs. Merle Miller returned Sat urday from Portland where she had been receiving medical at tention for the past few weeks. Mr. and Mrs, Ike Cole and Mrs. Henry Happold returned Sunday evening from Portland where they spent the week end visiting relatives. Mrs. Neville Blunt returned Tu esday evening from Victoria, B. G, where she had been visiting relatives for the past three weeks. She was met in Walla Wala by Rev. Mr. Blunt. Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Bucknum were business visitors in Pendle ton the first of the week. I Mr. and Mrs. Henry Baker re turned Sunday from Portland. Mrs. Baker had been in the city for some time with her mother who has been ill and Mr. Bakre motored down after her the end of the week. Eddie Chinn returned from Portland the first of the week. Mr. and Mrs. Eldon Gosney and children of Hood River spent the week end in Heppner with her mother, Mrs. V. R. Runnion and Mr. Runnion. Other guests this week at the Runnion home are her son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Hoevell of San Francisco. Harlan Devin of Condon is spending this week in Heppner with his mother, Mrs. Sylvia Dev in, who is seriously ill at her home on Baltimore street. Don McElligott of lone was transacting business in Heppner Monday. Mr. McElligott reports that his father, Charles McElli gott, who had been spending some time in Portland under medical care, has improved con siderably and is again at the ranch near lone. Mr. and Mrs. Peter Timm were over from Pendleton Monday transacting business in Heppner. The Timms who formerly lived on a farm near lone now have a ranch in the McKay dam district between Pendleton and Pilot Rock. Walter Moore of Pendleton was a business visitor in Heppner on Tuesday. Among lone visitors in Heppner Tuesday were Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Lindstrom, Mrs. Wer ner Rietmann, Mr. and Mrs. John Eubanks, Mrs. Garland Swanson and Mrs. Delbert Emert. Mr. and Mrs. Fred Parrish mo tored to Condon Saturday evening to attend the baskeball game be tween the Heppner and Condon town teams. Mrs. Louise Ritchie of The Dal les visited in Heppner the first of the week. During her stay she was the houseguest of Mrs. Ora K. Wyland. Prior to coming to Heppner, Mrs. Ritchie visited rel atives in Hermiston and Pendle ton. Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Batty of Kimberly were week-end houseguests of Mr. and Mrs. Law rence Becket at their country home in the Eightmile district. Mr. and Mrs. Harry Munkers motored to The Dalles Saturday afternoon to spend the week end with relatives. Vince Stingle has returned from The Dalles where he had been a patient in The Dalles hos pital. Dr. L. L. Taylor, government veterinarian from The Dalles, was a business visitor in Hepp ner Tuesday. Mr. and Mrs. Eldon Kenton and children of Salem visited this week with her father, L. D. Neill, and Mrs. Neill, having come up to be present for Mr. Neill s birth day. According to word received in Heppner, Mr. and Mrs. George Matthews of Pendleton are the parents of a daughter, born Sat urday in that city. Mr. Matthews formerly operated a radio shop in Heppner. Mrs. Jeff Pierce has returned to her home in Bend after spend ing several days here assisting with the care of her mother, Mrs Ada Cason, who has been ill. Mrs. Cason is much improved at this time. Harley Wright returned Tues day evening from Portland where he had been spending several days at the veteran's hospital. Ramon L. Kent was over from Pendleton Tuesday, looking after business matters in Heppner. Mrs. Eldred Edenhofer returned to her home in Portland Wednes day after spending several days in' Heppner at the home of her son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Steve Aalberg. Recent guests of Mrs. R. A. Thompson and Mrs. Linnie Low den were their brother and sister in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Scott Brown of Portland. The Browns returned to their home Saturday. Mrs. Carla Van Horn and chil dren of Pendleton are spending this week in Heppner at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. O M. Yeager. Mr. Van Horn brot them over Sunday. The Brownie troop of Girl Scouts was entertained at a birth day party at its meeting Monday afternoon in the Civic Center building, this being the birthday of Karen Valentine, a member of the troop. Mrs. James Valentine provided the refreshments of birthday cake, lee cream and Easter candy favors. Games were the diversion of the afternoon Present were Carol Anderson Peggy Applegate, John Brosnan Joyce Casebeer, Judy Collins, Helen Graham, Carol Groshens, Margaret Hughes, Ruth Peterson Kay Keithlcy, Connie Lee Massey Carolyn McDaniel, Maurine Pal Heart Ailment Proves Fata! To Samuel J. Devine Resident Since 1900 Dies Suddenly Monday Evening Death came suddenly Monday evening to S. J. Devine, 70, a res ident of the county since 1900. He had been showing an apartment to prospective tenants and was busy turning out lights just after the visitors left when he was stricken with a heart attack. A physician was called but it was too late. Services were held at 2 o'clock p.m. today at the Church of Christ with the pastor, Joe Jewett offi ciating and arrangements in charge of the Phelps Funeral home. Interment was made in the Lexington cenwtery with the Lex ington grange participating in the graveside services. Samuel Joseph Devine, known to all his acquaintances as Joe, was born April 21, 1877 in Can ada. He moved with his parents to North Dakota when three years of age, where he grew to man hood. "In 1900, in company with the late T. W. Cutsforth, he came to Oregon and homesteaded north of Lexington where he farmed successfully and made his home until 1943 when he retired to make his home in Heppner, hav ing built a residence here in 1937 looking forward to the time when he could spend his declining years more leisurely. He did not relinquish ownership of the farm. Mr. Devine was first married in 1898 to Nona Langley in North Dakota. To this union four chil dren were born, three of whom preceded him in death. His sec ond marriage was to Mary Pearl Wright of Heppner. This was in 1924. Survivors include his wife and son, Claude Devine of North Bonneville, Wash., and eight grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Mr. Devine became a member of the Lexington Christian church on December 12, 1928. He was a charter member and first mas ter of the Lexington grange, and served as master of the Pomona grange twice. He was a member of the Oddfellows lodge at Lex ington. o Spring Vacation Set For April 1-2 Supt. Henry Tetz announced Wednesday that the annual spring vacation of the Heppner school will be April 1 and 2. It had been planned to come ahead of Easter but due to time missed earlier in the semester the term exams could not be gotten out of the way. The band concert on Wednes day evening, March 31, will be the closing activity of the first semester, giving the school folk the balance of the week to go places and see things if they wish. o HEC MEETING 25th A meeting of the Lexington grange home economics club scheduled for today, Mfrch 18, has been postponed one week, to March 25. The meeting will open at 1:30 p.m. at the home of Mrs. Chris Brown in Heppner. o Mr. and Mrs. Ed LeTrace spent the past week end with Ed's mo ther, Mrs. J. W. Routson, at Wei- ser, Idaho. They found Mrs. Rout- son greatly improved. mer, Phyllis yuacKenousn, San dra Scouten, Karen Valentine and Joan Moe, members of the troop, Mrs. Richard Meador, troop lead er and Mrs. Jerry Brosnan and young son of Lena. Janet Wight man, a member of the group, was unable to attend because of ill ness. Mrs. L. D. Neill entertained at an open house between the hours of 2 to 10, Tuesday after-1 noon and evening, honoring Mr. Neill on the occasion of his 72nd birthday. Those present from out of town included Mr. and Mrs. Eldon Kenton and daugh ters Sharon, Vicki and Nancy of Salem; Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Neill and daughter, Mrs. Charles Plourd, and daughter Marjorie of Hermiston; Mr. and Mrs. Harold Neill and daughter Kay of But ter creek; Mrs. Bernice Mather and son Bobby of Echo; Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Wattenburger of Echo, and Mrs. Orplia Goe and son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Ira Waldron of Kansas City, Mo. Other guests were Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Moore and son George, and Mr. and Mrs. Burl Coxen and son Glen. The beautifully decorated birthday cake was made by Mr. Neill's daughter, Mrs. Eldon Ken ton of Salem. Sunday, Mr. and Mrs. Neill en tertained at dinner for Frank S. Parker whose birthday Is the same day as Mr. Neill's, and who, Incidentally, Is just the same age. Present for this occa sion were Mr. and Mrs. Parker and Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Scott of Portland. Woo I growers Aux Closes Books And Dispenses Funds Unable to find people willing to serve as officers, the remnants of the Woolgrowers auxiliary, once a flourishing club of wom en interested in the sheep indus try, has decided to "give up the ship." An canvass .of about 50 per cent of the membership show ed that the ladies were willing to quit and to divide up existing funds among worthy organiza tions. Beneficiaries of the auxiliary's funds were the Heppner Parent ner library, $25; Heppner school Teacher association, $25; Hepp- band, $25; Junior chamber of commerce, $25, and the proceeds of three $25 bonds totaling $69.21, were turned over to the hospital fund. March 31 Definite Date For Concert The concert to be given by the Heppner school band has been given a kind of "off again, on again, gone again, Finnegan" status the past few days, but March 31 has been definitely set as the date for the event, accord ing to both Supt. Henry Tetz and Director Billy Cochell. Postpone ments from the original date, March 19, was made necessary due to the illness of Mr. Cochell. Then on Tuesday morning of this week the date was given to the press as April 2. Before announce ment could appear the school of ficials definitely decided upon March 31. In line with the purpose for which the concert is being given to raise funds with which to pay off the band uniform debt and buy some new instruments, Mr. Cochell reports that the band has received a check from the Heppner Rodeo association in the amount of $300 for the band's services at the 1947 show. This has made it possible to clear the uniforms debt and to buy a new set of drums. In addition to this check, the band and school ac knowledge the gift of a reproduc er from C. L. Hodge of the Hepp ner Appliance company, which is coming in handy for both band and individual practice. Fire CoUs "Fog" Machine Into Use Heppner's volunteer fire de partment put the city's "fog" ma chine into use for the second time when shortly before the lunch hour Wednesday burning grease at the O'Donnell cafe caused the alarm to be sounded. The truck was at the scene In short order and the danger of a serious fire was quickly removed when the machine developed 80o pounds pressure and the "fog" was applied. The first time the new equip ment was called into use was at the Carter residence a few weeks ago. It eliminates the fire with a minimum of damage. The cafe was delayed a little in serving lunch Wednesday but aside from that little damage was done. o Mr. and Mrs. Jack Merrill were Sunday night guests at the home of Mrs. Merrill's parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. R. Prock. They were en route from Klamath Falls to Port land and left their little son Gregory with his grandparents while they continued on to the Rose city. YEAGER WAS CONTRACTOR It is not the purpose of this newspaper to slight anyone at any time, neither to cast asper sions. Such slips as may occur are more often sins of omission rather than wilfull commission. It so happens that a sin of omis sion was committed last week In the writeup of the Baker house. We failed to mention that O. M. Yeager was the contractor in charge of the finishing work. We cheerfully admit the error and offer abject apology to Mr, Yea ger. o Mr. and Mrs. Ed Grant and Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Munkers were visiting in The Dalles Sat urday. Mr. and Mrs. Munkers re turned with a new car. 92.03 Pet. of Up To February 25 Collected Morow county taxpayers are still ""in the money," if the rate at which they pay their taxes Is a criterion. According to figures obtained from the tax collector's office, 92.03 per cent of the tax bill up to February 25 has been paid in. Not only is the current tax money well paid in but as of De cember 31, 1947 the 1947-48 taxes were paid up to the extent of 98.17 per cent, Mrs. Frances Mit chell, deputy sheriff and tax col lector, pointed out. Personal taxes are practically paid up and with the lumping of 1931 and prior accounts It is ex pected that the county's books will be quite generally cleaned up by the end of the current year. Monument People Show Interest In Proposed Highway 50 Miles to Rail Head By Good Road Has Strong Appeal Monument people are interest ed in the construction of a few miles of highway from that point to connect with the Heppner Spray highway at the mouth of Chapin creek or some other point. This was the expression of several leading citizens of that community Monday when repre sentatives of the Heppner cham ber of commerce paid them a vis it and explained plans underway to have such a road included in future plans of the state highway commission. The group met at the Holmes cafe where a good luncheon was enjoyed and road and community affairs discussed. The visitors ex plained that considerable prelim inary work has been done on this end of the line to get some road work done that will draw the two communities closer together. A cut-off from the mouth of Chapin creek to Monument across Sun flower flat down Wall creek to the north fork of the John Day or following a route already be ing graded in part by the Hepp ner Lumber company will save people of that part of Grant coun ty approximately 27 miles In reaching Heppner, the nearest railhead. This plan has been in corporated in Morrow county road and highway plans which will be presented to the interim committee of the legislature next Tuesday at Pendleton. The Monument folks were a lit tle skeptical at first but as the plan unfolded they warmed up to it and ere long were displaying enthusiasm. Several of them who have lived in that region many years said they are still wonder ing why the road was not built into Monument instead of to wards Spray when the present route was located. They also stat ed that they consider Heppner their closest neighbor from the standpoint of a railhead and some of the older ones are de sirous of reestablishing business relations here. Monument, suffering from growing pains, is confronted with a street improvement program. The city, under the leadership of Mayor Chester Brown, has map-, ped out and sent to the interim committee its plans for this im provement and will have repre sentatives at Pendleton Tuesday to explain the program. These representatives assured the chamber of commerce delegation that they would back the propos ed new highway connection as submitted by the Morrow county court. The Heppner visitors were tak en to Monument by Frank Davis, manager of the Tum-A-Lum Lumber company plant here, and included Orville Smith, manager of the Heppner Lumber company; Jack O'Connor, J. C. Penney Co. manager and president of the chamber of commerce; Louis Ly ons, proprietor of the" Heppner Photo studio, and O. G. Crawford, publisher of the Heppner Gaz ette Times. With the establishment of a sawmill at Monument by the Heppner Lumber company and the prospect that there will be two or three other smaller plants put up in the vicinity soon, the need for a shorter haul to a rail shipping point is at once ap parent. The Heppner Lumber company has six miles of grade under construction which will be resumed as soon as weather con ditions permit. At present Emory Moore and his crew are engaged in preparing the site for the new mill. This is a big job requiring the removal of thousands of yards of gravel from the old channel of the John Day and us ing it to surface the mill grounds. The company has straightened the river channel, which was eat ing up a lot of good soil from year to year, and the dredging operations have created a ten acre mill pond. Current Taxes The county has disposed of a large part of the property acquir ed through tax foreclosure, farm land having been just about all sold off, and leaving a few lots here and there in the several towns. There is one thing that enters Into the prompt payment of taxes which is a little upsetting when final flgues are tabulated. The law provides for a small rebate for paying the taxes in full. With an annual tax bill of approxi mately $400,000, rebales amount to $10,000, or thereabouts. Pay ments to taxpayers the current year have amounted to $H,.'itil t2. Against ths is an offset of 72M interest penalty assessed to tardy taxpayers. Last year the county gained $380 from this source.