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Grand Jury Expected
To Indict Soldier
For Brutal Shooting
Ray Alan Barber Held In
Heppner Jail; Confesses Crime
Ray Alan Barber, 17 year-old soldier who was AWOL from Fort
Lewis. Washington is in the Morrow county Jail at Heppner aciussd
of the brutal murder of a motorist who had given him a nd2. Tho
victim was Anthony Peter Bipp. 38, a former carpenter end welder
. at McNary dam who had spent the last three weeks at his former
home. Woodland, Wash., and was returning to Westland to cgaln
accept employment at the dam.
According to police reports now In the hands of Bradley D. Fanch
er. Morrow county district attorney, and also included in a signed
confession to officers by Barber, Hipp was shot 8 times while drw
ing along the highway between Boardman and Ordnance last Fri-
day afternoon.
Early stories of the murder
stated that the gun, a 32 calibre
revolver belonged to Ripp but
" Fancher stated that further ques
tioning of Barber estabished that
the gun was in the possession of
Barber at all times. The gun had
belonged to Barber's step-father,
a resident of Hillsboro. Oregon,
and he had taken it with him on
his return to Fort Lewis rerently,
following a leave from the base.
AWOL From Fort Lewis .
Police reports show that Barber
had gone AWOL from Fort Lewis
Thursday night and had reached
The Dalles" some time Friday
where he admitted buying a box
of shells to fit the gun. He was
given a ride in the back of an
eastbound truck and it was in
the truck that he loaded the gun,
according to Fancher.
Ripp saw the soldier in the
truck and according to Barber's
statements, motioned for him to
get out and ride with him. Bar
ber was in uniform. Barber's con
fession states that he shot Ripp
while driving along the highway
and that Ripp either jumped
from, or fell out of the car while
it was moving. Barber stopped
the car, reloaded the gun and
then returned to the body where
he fired three or four more shots
into the body which was lying
on the pavement. It was at this
time that he went through Ripp's
pockets taking his valuables and
his wristwatch.
Police reports continue that he
returned to the car and while he
was trying to start it two cars
approached. The first, driven
by Robert Apperson, employee of
the Pacific Telephone and Tele
graph company stopped and
Apperson investigated the body
on the pavement, the second car
driven by Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd
Simpson of Walla Walla slowed
down and upon seeing the body
drove on to Ordnance where they
called the state police office in
Pendleton. Apperson drove on to
Boardman where he too, reported
the shooting.
Fancher stated that reports in
dicate that Barber left the high
way on foot, when the car wduld
not start, heading for the rail
road tracks. He was carrying a
duffel bag which he dropped'
shortly along with items of
clothing he was wearing and the
articles he had taken from Ripp's
pockets. He later returned to the
highway, apparently in search of
a ride, where he was arrested by
state officer George D. Harris of
Pendleton.
Victim's Possessions Taken
Ripp's wristwatch was broken,
apparently when he fell from the
car, and had stopped at 2:18 lead
ing police to believe that was the
time of the shooting.
An information has been filed
here by P. W. Mahoney, acting
district attorney in the absence of
Fancher, who was on his way to
Portland at the time of the crime.
He was stopped in The Dalles
by police and returned to Arling
ton where he took Barber's con
fession, before the accused man
was .brought on to Heppner and
lodged in jail.
Fancher stated that the Grand
Jury has been called and he ex
peers them to meet the first of
the week to establish, the charge
to be filed against Barber. He
. also stated that Army officials
have turned over prosecution to
the county but will provide Bar
ber counsel if he desires. The case
will be heard by W. C. Perry,
circuit judge for Morrow and
Umatilla counties.
Barber had been married about
three months, and according to
police reports he had been in
trouble twice while he lived in
Hillsboro. His father is dead and
he had been living in a foster
home where he had been assign
ed by the Hillsboro court for a
previous offense. He had joined
the army last December.
Ipppet
Year. Single Copies 1 0
Rainfall During
Past Quarter
Below Normal
Rainfall in Gilliam, Morrow
and Sherman counties was only
82 of normal during the three
months period April-May-June
according to information released
by the U. S. Weather Bureau this
week. Precipitation totaled 2.16
inches. The average for the past
20 years is 2.64 inches. Cloud
seeders operated during every
favorable situation through out
the period according to Ernest
Kirsch, Corresponding Secretary
of Tri-County Weather Research.
It was the second driest April-May-June
during the past ten
years, Kirsch said. Only 1949 was
drier.
Under the contract which Tri
County Weather Research has
with Dr. Krick's rainmakers, no
additional payments will be re
quired for the April-May-June
period. Dr. Krirk could have col
lected $13,330.00 if rainfall had
been doubled normal and other
contract provisions met.
The Tri-County contract ex
pired June 30. Farmers in the
area paid Krick a total of $23,
512.64 for the cloud seeding pro
gram. An initial payment of
$15,000 was supplemented by ad
ditional bonus payments total
ing $8,512.64. Bonus payments
were earned when rainfall in the
area was 185 normal during the
October-November-December per
iod and 135 normal during the
January-February-March period.
Directors of Tri-County Wcath.
er Research are planning meet
ings in August to consider an
other year's program. They will
meet August 24 with the Oregon
Wheat Commission and R. T.
Beaumont, OSC Meteorologist.
Beaumont is evaluating the pro
gram. Another meeting is planned
August 29 with Dr. Krick to get
his version of the success of the
program.
'.
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MISS NANCY BANDS, BOilHCKAM
cents
Heppner,
v 4
Ray Alzn Ecrber, left, is shown shortly after his capture near
Bocrdmcm last Friday following the fatal shooting of Anthony Peter
Ripp. Shown with his is Umatilla county district attorney George H.
Corey cr.d an unidentified state police officer. First reports were
phoned ti Pendleton and it was not known whether the crime had
been ccrrnitted in Umatilla or Morrow county. Prosecution, however
will take ptexo ct Heppner and will bo handled by Morrow county
district attorney Bradley D. Fancher. (East Oregonian Photo)
Wheat Continues to Roil;
Average Yield Reported High
A check of elevators in this
section of the county Wednes
day showed a continuing flow of
grain was coming in from ranch
ers but that storage and ship
ping facilities were still able to
handle all the hauling with a
minimum of delay.
Miss Darlene Wayne, clerk at
the Morrow County Grain Grow
ers Lexington station reported
that they had continued to aver
age over 49,000 bushels a day for
the past week and that 28 cars
had been shipped from there on
Tuesday and Wednesday. It was
reported that excellent cooper
ation by the railroad has made
possible the heavy shipments.
Officials at the Lexington
plant reported that the McNabb
station will be full by this Fri
day night and that grain trucks
will be diverted to the lone ele
vator. It was also stated that they
were afraid for awhile that it
would be necessary to dump on
Think It's Been Hot?
-It Has!
A check of your thermo
meter most any day this
week would have proved that
Old Sol was really bearing
down ... or maybe you could
toll without lookincjl
Anyway, tho Gazette Times
official thermometer, while
it may bo small and not off
icially Ok'd by the govern,
moat weather bureau, work
ed up quita a sweat of its
o .vn and came up with these
unofficial, but undoubtedly
correct figures:
Sunday 102
Monday 102
Tuesday 99
Wednesday 91
A
Oregon, Thursday, July
the ground but storage apparent
ly will be adequate.
Don Bennett, clerk at the Hcpp
ner station of the Grain Growers
reported Wednesday that they
received 62,287 bushels to date
with 20 cars shipped. Available
storage here amounted to about
200,000 bushels at the time. He
stated that the Heppner station
was receiving about 10,000 bush
els a day.
Reports from various ranchers
over the area show a continuing
high yield per acre of fall seeded
grain.- Leonard Carlson reported
200 acres harvested with an aver
age yield of 37 bushels; the Man
kin and Bunch operation report
ed one field averaged 38 bushels;
and other reports from the Lex
ington told of one operator who
finished harvesting - Wednesday
with an average of 34 bushels
of Rex wheat for 400 acres, and
another grower of Turkey Red
stated that his 33 bushel aver
age was for 1100 acres.
Many other reports have been
heard substantiating stories that
without question Morrow county
is headed for the largest wheat
crop in it's history.
o
New Ice Cream Store
to Open Saturday
Anothoir new enterprise will
open Saturday in Heppner as
Steve and Deloris Aalberg of the
HeDDner Bakery announce the
grand opening of their Rich Maid
ice cream department in the
bakery.
Installation of necessary ma
chinery and freezers was com
pleted early this week and a full
stock of from 12 to 14 flavors of
ice cream, and the popular Polar
Freeze will be available by open
ing day.
Aalberg stated that on Satur
day free cones will be waiting
all visitors. Plans call for the
carrying of specialty items also,
such as ice cream cakes, pies etc.
Factory representative making
the equipment installation was
Everett C. Jones, who was born
in Heppner and spent his early
years here.
o
Mr. and Mrs. N. D. Bailey spent
the week end in Monument with
their son-in-law and daughter,
Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Johnson and
family.
The Parade of Royalty-
f
-'ikf y:. .
First Princess Dance
To Honor Nancy Rands
With the arrival of Fair and
Rodeo time in Morrow county
also comes a parade of lovely
girls ... the girls who have been
chosen by their respective com
munities to reign over the four
days of festivities.
First of the five princesses to
be honored by a dance this Sat
urday night at the fair pavilion,
is Nancy Rands representing
Boardman. She Is one of three
Blondes in this year's royal court.
She Is the daughter of mayor
and Mrs. R. B. Rands of Board
man and was sponsored In the
contest by the Boardman Tilll
cum Jr. Women's club.
Nancy Is 17 years of age, 5 foott
26, 1951
Fire Blackens
100 Acres of
Grain Near lone
Fire Monday afternoon destroy
ed between 50 and 100 acres of
wheat on the Ray Heimbigner
ranch west of lone. It started in
a field that was being harvested,
but the cause was unknown.
The lone fire truck wa called
to the scene and over 250 men
joined in the fight along with
five tractors from neighboring
ranches. Besides the loss of
wheat, the fire burned an old
grain elevator and the power
line leaving the Heimbigners and
the Lloyd Rice homes without
electricity. The fire burned
through stubble and cheat grass,
and on the Rice ranch it burned
up to the machine shop, but it
was saved.
Before being controlled at a
bout 5 o'clock the flames jump
ed the road In one place and
burned some stubble on the
Charles Carlson property.
The field burned was yielding
over 30 bushels to the acre, and
though Heimbigners reported the
wheat was insured, it did not
cover the actual loss. The destroy
ed elevator was not Insured.
The lone fire siren sounded
again Monday evening and fire
men found two small fires were
burning on the . bombing field
north of town. Lightning was
blamed for this call.
o
Morrow County
Hunters and Anglers
Will Meet Monday
The Morrow County Hunters
and Anglers will meet Monday,
July 30 at 8 p.m. announced Mrs.
Paul Brown, secretary. The ra
ven, crow and magpie contest
sponsored by 1he organization
will end on July 30 and prizes
will be awarded that evening.
Mrs. Brown will send out cards
telling the meeting place. Re
freshments will be served and
sound movies will be shown on
Canada, Alaska and Yosemite.
Everyone interested is asked to
come.
o
Ownership of Local
Hardware Changes
Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Kenagy
have gone to Waldport where
they will operate a moorage and
several motor boats during the
remainder of the summer having
seured this business in a trade
of their hardware store in Hepp
ner to Mr. and Mrs. Frank C.
Andresen who have arrived from
Waldport and will operate the
Marshall-Wells store on N. Main
street.
: O
Heppner Star-Gazer
Reurns from Meeting
T. P. Maher, Heppner, returned
Tuesday from Victoria, B. C.
where he attended the northwest
regional convention of the As
stronomical League held in that
city last Friday and Saturday.
The meeting was held in con
junction with the Royal Astro
nomical Society meeting and the
program Included a trip to the
Dominion Astrophysical obser
vatory near Victoria which is
equipped with a 73 Inch tele
scope, which at the time of its
installation, was the largest in
the world.
' Maher has been a member of
the Portland Astronomical Soc
iety for 10 years. He reported
many other Oregonlans were pre
sent j 4 with blue eyes to go with her
light hair. She is a senior at
Boardman high school where she
is president of the Girl's Athletic
club and is very active in 4-H
club work.
She likes to ride and will be
seen in the parade and on the
field on her father's horse, Snip.
Her hobbies include swimming
and the piano.
Nancy was first presented to
the pi-blic at last Saturday's
Kick-Off dance, along with other
members of the court, by John
Emsdorff, master of ceremonies
for the evening. She will be seen
again this Saturday at the pavi
lion.
C of C Brochure on
Heppner Due Soon
The Heppner Chamber of Com- wer a long-felt need by the com
merce's new advertising broch- munity and county for an ade-
ure is off the press and will be
available for distribution within
a short time announced J. R.
Huffman president of the organ
ization. Members attending Monday's
meeting were shown a complete
copy of the pamphlet which was
sent to him by Jim Barratt, Cor
vallis, who has been overseeing
the publication. Everyone ex
pressed satisfaction with the
folder and felt that it will ans-
Change in Heppner
Mail Departure
Set For September
A technical change in the pre
sent mail service will be Install
ed September 1 1951 under pre
sent proposals set forth by the
Post Office Department. In line
with a present nation-wide pro
gram to terminate contracts with
railroads and set up Star Route
Service where ever advantageous
to the Government the Depart
ment is calling for proposals from
prospective bidders on the 58
mile run from Arlington to Hepp
ner. Under the new set up mail will
leave Heppner via the contract
or's truck promptly at 6:00 p.m.
Monday thru Friday at 12:00
Noon Saturday, and on Sundays
and Holidays there will be no
lay over time at Heppner, the
contractor returning to Arlington
immediately after delivery of
mail scheduled for an 8:00 a.m.
arrival at Heppner.
Repeated surveys by the Postal
Transportation Service, have
shown that the volume of mail
arriving at the Arlington termin
al ficm Heppner and other points
In the valley on Sunday evenings
and the evenings of holidays,
does not warrant the additional
cost contingent upon holding the
contractor's truck over from 8:00
a.m. to 6:00 p.m., or a later hour.
Mr. Flory District Superintend
ent of the Postal Transportation
Service, Portland, Oregon, con
ceded to the above schedule for
Sunday Service, after vigorous
protest from the local Postmaster,
it being Mr. Flory's original in
tention to eliminate Sunday and
Holiday Service entirely.
o
Gordon Coles Joins
Gazette Times Staff
Gordon Coles has joined the
staff of the Gazette Times as a
linotype operator and printer.
He had been working In Califor
nia before coming to Eastern
Oregon.
He moved his wife and three
small children to Heppner last
Sunday from Hermlston, where
they had been staying with his
parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Coles
until they found a permanent
position.
STREET PATCHING
City superintendent Victor Gro-
shens reports that his crew has
completed nearly two weeks work
of patching street paving in Hep
pner. All streets are again in
good condition with all potholes
filled.
o
GRASS FIRE CALLS
HEPPNER FIREMEN
City firemen were called Tues
day evening to combat a grass
fire on property adjoining the
swimming pool. There was no
damage.
o
HOSPITAL PATIENTS
OUT PATIENTS Mrs. Betty
Sue Canada, Spray; Mrs. Bill
Rowell, lone; Mrs. Roy Leathers,
Kimberly; Kenneth Keeling,
Heppner; Mrs. Ida Reid, Hepp
ner; Mrs. Antona Bonner, Kin
zua. MEDICAL -Mrs. Ovella Henson,
Spray, dismissed; Mr.. Ed Kelly,
Heppner, dismissed; Mr. Carl
Linn, lone; Mrs. Susie Hughes,
Heppner; Mr. Joe Hendrix, Kin
zua, dismissed; Mr. Harry Munk
ers, Heppner.
SURGICAL Mr. Bill Olson,
Heppner. dismissed.
MINOR SURGERY Miss San
dra Harshman, Hardman, dis
missed. NEW ARRIVALS To Mr. and
Mrs. Jim Bloodworth, Lexington,
a baby boy born July 21. Mother
and baby have been dismissed.
Volume 68, Number 19
quate advertising piece.
The brochure gives a complete,
yet brief, description of Heppner
and Morrow county showing and
describing the major industries,
businesses and recreation areas.
It is well filled with new pictures
of many points of interest
throughout the county and Is In
tended to be used for answering
requests received by the chamber
and other county organizations
and businesses for information
about the area. It Is expected that
most stores will make them a-
vailable to the public without
charge as soon as they are re
ceived and can be distributed.
The chamber laid plana to
send copies of the brochure to
other chambers of commerce
throughout the state and to other
points where they may gain a
wider circulation.
An expression of thanks was
extended to Mrs. Tom Wilson who
wrote the brochure and also to
Judge Garnet Barratt and Jim
Barratt for the assistance they
have given In providing the nec
essary Information and pictures.
The completed pamphlet
brings Into the results of over
three years of discussion and
planning by the group to give
Heppner and the county a com
plete advertising piece.
Causes But One
Small Forest Fire
The Heppner office of the Unit
ed States Forest Service reported
Wednesday that only one fire
was reported during the dry
lightening storm which passed
over the county Monday, night,
July 23.
Madison Butte lookout first re
ported the blaze at 10:45 p.m. on
Gllman Flat. A crew from Tupper
Guard station cross checked the
location from Red Hill lookout,
which is unmanned and Ken
Keeling and Walter Ray were
dispatched from the local office
on Tuesday morning. They had
the fire under control by about
10:30. Frank Derk and Phil
Smith followed later and stayed
during the night on mop up op
erations. The blaze was confined
to about one acre of grass and
trees.
Forest service officers express
ed thanks to Carl Cox, rancher
in the area, for the assistance
given them.
Wayne W. West district ranger
reported this fire was the only
one in the Heppner district but
that Walla Walla and Dale dis
tricts were called on to fight sev
eral fires some of which requir
ed the help of logging and mill
crews to combat
West stated that burning con
ditions were extremely critical
in the wods and urged travellers
to use the utmost caution when
in the mountains.
LOCO I WAr Woman
Here on Furlough
Gladys Erwin captain in the
Women's Air Force has been
here visiting her brother Harold
Erwin of Heppner.
Captain Erwin has been over
seas for 38 months and has been
stationed in Nagoya Japan In
the headquarters of the 5th air
corp 314th air division of the 8th
army. She has been doing ad
ministrative work.
She is on a 15 day leave before
being assigned to Fort Meyers,
Va., near Washington D. C She
attended schools In both Heppner
and lone.
o
TO LEAVE SOON FOR
STAT IN ENGLAND
Walter Luckman, former Hepp
ner resident and pioneer in this
area will sail Aug. 4 from New
York on the liner Queen Mary for
his native England.
Luckman plans to spend at
least a year visiting relatives and
friends that he hasn't seen In
many years. He came to Heppner
in 1903, and for the last year has
been living in Portland,
o
Visiting at the W. O. Dix home
from Friday till Monday were
Mr. Dix's two sisters, Mrs. von
Appen of La Center, Washington
and Mrs. George Miller of Portland.