LIBRARY
U OF 0
EUGENE. ORE
WIPE
LOSS
OF
SCHOOL FUHDS
SEES'! POSSIBLE
State Department Issues Warning
That Building Program Imperative
As an aftermath of last Tues
day's special school bond elec
tion, the Heppner school board
and taxpayers may be faced with
another serious problem that of
possibly operating next year un
der a seriously restricted budget,
or of voting a special tax levy to
make up for the state basic
school support funds which may
be withheld because the district
has not taken action to provide
better school facilities.
The information Was given to
the Gazette Times Wednesday
afternoon by Walter Shold, ele
mentary supervisor of the state
department of education. He was
contacted by phone at his Salem
office.
Mr. Shold said that the Hepp
ner school has been classified as
conditionally-standard, and that
a plan of improvement was due
in the state offices by July 1, to
bring the schools here up to stan
dard which is necessary if the
district is to continue receiving
state basic school support funds
which last year amounted to $46,
000 and which are estimated at
$50,500 for the 1954-55 school year.
In discussing the necessary im
provements to the Heppner
schools (largely the elimination
of the badly overcrowded class
rooms), Mr. Shold said that "We
will have to have something more
or less concrete, or we must with
hold .state funds." He continued
that the state department under
stood that the people must act
upon an expansion program, but
intimated that Tuesday's vote
gave indication that apparently
no immediate improvement of the
district's facilities would be forth
coming. He said that the next
distribution date for state funds
is in August and that the deci
sion on whether to withhold the
funds would be made at that
time.
New Census Gives
lone 333 Population
The city of lone showed a big
increase in population in the past
four years, a re-enumeration just
completed showed. The new popu
lation count showed 333 persons
living in the town compared with
a 1950 census of 262.
The new nose-tount was taken
with the help of the Secretary of
State's office and under the di
rection of Norman Frees. Local
enumerators were Mrs. Omar
'Rietmann, Mrs. Cleo Drake, Mrs.
Merle Baker and Mrs. Echo Pal
ma teer.
The town will gain consider
ably in state tax receipts from the
increase.
o
Air Force Gives
Approval For Road
Along Bombing Range
The county court this week
received word from the Army En
gineers that the secretary of the
air force has signed an easement
which will give the county right-of-way
for its planned road along
the east end of the Boardman
bombing range.
The letter said that the actual
papers can't be transferred until
the air force has had opportunity
to check the entire area for ex
plosive materials.
Judge Garnet Garratt said that
the letter gives the county assur
ance of the project's OK by the
air force so that it can go ahead
and secure the other rights-of-way
necessary for completion of
the road which will tie the north
and south sections of the county
together.
o
Fire Restrictions
Now On in Forests
All National Forest areas with
in the Umatilla National Forest
have been designated by Reg.
ional Forester J. Herbert Stone as
areas on which smoking while
traveling is prohibited because of
the fire danger on and after July
1, 1954 and extending to October
31, 1954.
Camp fire permits are not re
quired on the Umatilla forest,
but is is a requirement that camp
fires be built in a safe place,
cleared of all burnable material,
and that they be completely put
out before left even for a short
while. Campers are required to
have in their possession a shovel,
axe and water bucket. All per
sons using the timbered areas are
urged to use care to insure that
no fire escapes.
T&TE
Curtail Program
The effect of the loss of state
money, which for next year
amounts to nearly 25 percent of
the total budget for the district,
would undoubtedly result in a
serious curtailed educational pro
gram here if the withdrawal were
continued for any length of time.
The only other alternative would
be for the school board to ask for
a special tax levy in the district to , coop manager announced. Nel
raise an equal aomunt of funds. son was followed closely by a
Such a levy would have to be load of barlev from the Ashbock
nearly 10 mills.
If the educational program
were curtailed it would probably
be through the elimination of the
school lunch program, transporta
tion of students by bus, and pos
sibly the discontinuance of seve
ral classes now offered students
such as agriculture, band, ath
letics etc.
When advised of Mr. Shold's
statement, board members said
today that they have been. aware
of the possibility that the funds
might be withheld, but were
strongly in hopes that the bond
program would receive the ap
proval of the people, giving the
district a definite plan for im
proving the school's facilities and
bringing the school system up to
a standard rating.
The members said that they
have had no opportunity to
study the problem since the elec
tion, to know just what steps will
be taken to save the funds.
County Wheat
Support Price Up
Basic 1951 Morrow county
wheat price support rates have
been raised four cents a bushel
over the previously announced
price, it was announced today by
Paul Tews, office manager of the
local agricultural stabilization
and marketing commission.
The new loan rate on No. 1
soft white wheat will be $2.26 per
bushel. Tews said. The increase
was made to bring the loan rate
up to 90 percent of parity. The
rate here is four cejits higher than
in Umatilla county.
There was no change an
nounced for the loan rate for No.
2 or better barley whicli remains
at $1.27 per bushel.
Tews said that he has received
no further information on the
new acreage allotment figures for
next year, but said that it is pos
sible that it is being held up
pending final action on a con
gressional bill which could keep
local allotment cuts to the na
tional average of 33 percent. Mor
row county took a 32 percent cut
last year and another reguction of
about 12 percent has been pro
posed. o
Election of School
Director Set July 16
The directors of school district
No. l" Tuesday set Friday, July
16, as the date for a special elec
tion to pick a director to fill the
vacancy by the resignation of the
former chairman, Mrs. Stephen
Thompson. The polls will be
open from 4 to 7 p. m. and the
election will be held-at the school.
The term of the new director
will be one year and so far, only
one person, Howard Cleveland,
Heppner rancher, has indicated
that he will be a candidate for
the office.
lone Man Named
Portland Navy CO
Comdr. Arthur W. Bergstrom,
USNR, has relieved Comdr. G. F.
Welker as commanding officer of
the naval reserve surface bat
tallon at the Swan Island navy
and marine corps training center,
according to Capt. E. L. Lugibihl,
top officer at the center.
A 36 year old veteran of the
South Pacific action in World War
II, Comdr. Bergstrom is a native
of lone and a graduate of Grant
High school and P.eed College in
Portland.
He is now in the lumber busi
ness, headquarters in Eugene, but
maintains his home in Portland.
GRANGE MEETS FRIDAY
Last week it was erroneously
announced that the Rhea Creek
Grange would meet Friday, July
2. The grange will be next Fri
day. July 9 with a potluck dinner
at the grange hall.
Copies 10 cents
Harvest Starts;
Wheat and Barley
Prospects High
Harvest officially got under
way Tuesday in Morrow county
when D. O. Nelson, Sand Hollow
area rancher, hauled the first
load of wheat to the North Lex
ington elevator of the Morrow
County Grain Growers, Al Lamb,
and Luciano ranch on Butter
creek.
Nelson is cutting Elmar variety
wheat which has shown a test
weight of 60 pounds and indica
tions are that the crop will run
about 20 bushels to the acre
which is considered a good aver
age for that area.
Lamb said the early shipments
of barley had tested good and a
heavy crop is indicated from most
sections of the county. The last
few days of hot weather has done
much to bring on the crop.
The cool June weather has
slowed the start of harvest for
most sections of the county about
two weeks later than last year,
but several other ranchers in the
north section of the wheat belt
are expected to start operations
within the next day or two.
Lamb said today that his pre
vious predictions that there would
be ample storage facilities in the
county for all the wheat and bar
ley were being born out by recent
developments. He said that con
tinuing heavy shipments of the
county stored grain to terminal
points has assured plenty of
space to handle this year's crops.
Nelson was the first wheat
rancher in the county to cut
wheat last year.
o
Three Fires Keep
Firemen Busy Over
July 4 Weekend
Three fires over the Fourth of
July weekend kept Heppner fire
men busier than at any time this
year, though only one of the
blazes caused any great amount
of damage.
The first fire was reported on
Saturday afternoon when a barn
on one of Frenk Wilkinson's
ranches about 6 miles east of
Heppner on Willow creek caught
fire. Two local firemen made the
run to assist residents of the area
keep the blaze from running. The
barn was completely destroyed
and several acres of grass and
grain were burned before the fire
was stopped. No estimate of the I
damage was made. The alarm
was not sounded for this call as
city trucks cannot leave the city.
Two calls were received Mon
day, the first to the Thoral Broa
dus residence on Hill street to
control a small grass fire, the
second to the Allen Hughes resi
dence on May and Chase streets
where a blaze resulted from over
heated cooking utensils. The fire
had been extinguished before the
arrival of firemen, but there was
a small amount of smoke damage
it was reported.
o
MORE FISH RELEASED
The state game commission re
leased a truck load of legal size
fish in Morrow county streams
this afternoon.
The location? That's their
secret!
MOUNTAIN CAMP BEING DEVELOPED;
EFFORTS TO GIVE IT AWAY FUTILE!
Morrow county residents may
soon have an attractive forest
campsite available for their use,
if plans now started continue to
develop.
Orville Cutsforth, Lexington
rancher, recently purchased about
eight and one-half acres of the
Herren creek meadows area ad
joining his cabin and is rapidly
cleaning the area and making
plans to install camp tables, fire
places, rest rooms and other
camp conveniences. His problem
at the present lime is finding
someone to give the land to, when
his work is completed.
Cutsforth is willing to deed the
land to some organization or
agency if they will agree to care
for it and manage its operation,
but so far he has had no takers
for his offer.
Cutsforth purchased the land
several weeks ago and as soon as
he made his plans known he re
ceived several offers of assistance
Heppner, Oregon, Thursday, July 8, 1954
City Street
Asked by
wpTji ii .ii ii. i miiwimiiiiiimiiiluji i.ninipL-.m.nnmnjiJi Jim i i .. i
NEW LIONS OITICEES vcre installed last Thursday evening at a
meeting attended b members and wives. Here outgoing presi
dent Lowell Gribbie (left) is presenting the new president Al
Lfimb with the gavel and bell. Bob Vogel, president of the Pen
dleton Lions club, who was installing officer, watches. Other
officers installed at the meeting were Loyal Parker, first vice,
pres.; Robert Penland, second vice-pres.; Harlan McCurdy Jr.,
third vice-pres.; La Verne Van Marter Jr., sec-treas.; John Erns
dorff, tail twister; Bill Faira, Lion tamer; and Paul Jones, C. J. D.
Bauman, Ed Gonty and Pirl Howell, trustees. (GT Photo)
Funeral Services For
C. H. Bartholomew
To Be Held Friday
Funeral services for Charles
Herbert Bartholomew, 76, who
died Wednesday in Pendleton,
will be held at 10 a. m. Friday
at the Echo Methodist church.
Mr. Bartholomew is survived
by his widow, Mrs. Phebe Bartho
lomew; one son Oscar F., Salt
Lake City; three daughters, Mrs.
Mary Set her, Seattle; Mrs. Faye
Finch, Echo; Mrs. Lila Myers, of
Echo; nine grandchildren and
three great-grandchildren. He
also leaves two brothers, Edwin
of White Salmon, Wash., and Fred
of Estacada; two sisters, Mrs.
Jennie Saling, Corvallis and Mrs.
Eva Don ley. Estacada.
Mr. Bartholomew was born in
Elmwood, 111., Dec. 13, 1877 and
had lived in Morrow county for
the past 70 years. He will be
buried in the Echo cemetery.
Folsom Funeral Home is in
charge of arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, Mr. Bartho
lomew's family requests that con
tributions be made to the charity
of the individual's choice.
Infant Daughter of
James Petersons Dies
Word has been received of the
death of Mary Faith, infant
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. -James
Peterson in The Dalles. She was
born July 5.
The Petersons just recently
moved to The Dalles from Hepp
ner where Mr. Peterson was con
nected with the Heppner school.
n
I. O. O. F. PICNIC SUNDAY
The annual I. O. O. F. picnic
will be held Sunday, July 11 at
at Herren Mill sue on wiuow
creek, everyone is urged to come.
Sgt. Wayne Wilson arrived in
Heppner Wednesday to spend a
months furlough from Fort Bragg,
with his mother, Mrs. Harold Cas
tor. from local organizations and
businesses including money for
the construction of 10 small
camper's fireplaces from the
Hennnpr Odd Fellows lodge, lum-
hr fnr a hridire from the Heppner
Lumber comoanv and an offer of
sufficient gravel for the bases for'
i the Lions club,
lso had assist-
service in plan -
the fireplaces from
Cutsforth has al
ance of the forest service in I
ning the layout of the camp and fellowship comes from tne na
ho himself has built several camp : tional Farm and Garden Assoeia
tables, removed many trees, built, tion, Inc., Washington, D. C. Mrs.
a garbage dump and done much ' Casswell received this fellowship
other work. He had originally due to her work as leader in home
planned to give the area to the ' demonstration work, her interest
forest service for their manage- in horticulture and her interest in
merit, hut a cut in the budget ap
nronriations for this district has
prevented the service from ac
cepting his offer. He's willing to
Five it awav free, along with all
his expended effort in making
it an attractive and useful camp
ing area, to someone who will
take care of it.
But so far, no takers!
Improvement Project
West - Side Residents
Temporary Water
Shortage Brings
Use Restrictions
The weekend's hot weather, the
first of the summer, has caused
the Heppner water department
considerable worry and numerous
residents an equal amount of
inconvenience. 1
Tuesday evening many resi
dents of cemetery hill and those
along the higher section of Gil
more street were without water
for several hours when water
use in town exceeded the quan
tity available according to Vic
Grot-hens, water superintendent.
The shortage brought a request
from the city that all persons use
caution in the use of water until
an improvement project now un
der construction can be complet
ed. Groshens said that the heavy
use of water early this week for
lawn sprinkling etc., had drawn
the water level in the reservoirs
down to a dangerously low level
which caused a sufficient drop in
pressure that residents on higher
elevations were without water at
times. There is sufficient water
available from the city wells, but
under the present gravity flow
system only a portion of the
available water can get through
the mains to the city. The city
has ordered special pumping
equipment to enable it to put the
water into the system under pres
sure, hut a few necessary parts
have not yet arrived. When the
pump is installed it will practi
cally double the amount of water
available, Groshens said.
. care Asked in Use
Groshens today asked that all
residents on city mains use care
in the? use of water until the new
equipment is installed and he
listed the following restrictions
which must be imposed:
Don't irrigate during the heat
of the day.
Don't irrigate all night.
Don't waste water.
If the fire alarm sounds, please
shut off your waler immediately.
Mrs. Maud Casswell
Receives Fellowship
i Mrs. Maud C. Casswell, county
agent, home economics received
word that she has been named
first choice to receive a national;
fellowship, the Sara Bradley Ty -
1, on memorial fellowship. This,
- advanced study in landscape
architecture.
- ' Since the fellowship does not
restrict the school which Mrs
Casswell may attend, she is con-
i idering several scnoois pending
opportunities. She will leave her
duties as agent this fall to con
tinue her studies in landscape
architecture.
war
(Mttttf
Of
71st Year, Number 17
12 Blocks Would
Get Curbs and
Paving Under Plan
Residents of about 12 blocks on
Heppner's west side Monday
nigm presented pennons to Du
chy council asking that curbs and
pavement be placed on Gale, Cen
ter, Baltimore and Water streets.
The improvement work would be
done through the formation of an
improvement district.
The streets for which the im
provements were asked are Gale
street from the Willow creek
bridge to its south end, Center
street from Main to its west end,
Baltimore from Main to its end,
and Water street from Gale to its
west end. Also included was the
request for the same work to be
done on the short "no-name"
street connecting Water street
and the Seventh Day Adventist
church.
In accepting the petitions the
council decided to have all the
necessary engineering work done
on all streets in the area lying
west of Main street with an eye
toward more requests in the fu
ture for similar work. The engi
neering will establish grade lines
for all curbs and streets and pro
vide proper drainage of the en
tire area.
The council will set a public
hearing on the proposals and if
there are no serious remonstran-
ces, will order the formation of an
improvement district. The cost of
the work will be charged against
the property holders, but may be
paid under a 10-year plan if the
owner so desires.
When the project is' completed,
if will be one of the largest street
improvement developments In-
Heppner in many years.
While discussing streets the
council authorized the calling for
bids on sealing and resurfacing
many blocks of streets in other
sections of town, as a continua
tion of the resurfacing program
started last year. This work will
start by August 1.
It was announced that the city
has placed $50,000 of surplus
sewer funds in special time de
posit with the First National
Bank that it may draw interest
until 1902 when the first of the
city's sewer bonds are callable.
The council last month had in
structed the finance committee to
investigate the best method of
investing the fund. The city will
receive 2' a percent interest on the
money.
Local Bank Deposits
Reflect Increase
Quarterly statement of condi-
lion figures for the Heppner
branch of First National Bank of
Portland show that on June 30
H-'1 deposits at tne nrancn were
$5,032,990 and loans were $1,608,-; man of ,ne Ame,riean Soroptimist
3.34, according to branch manager Intornati()n;ll Mrs Bafton ls a
J. H. Bedford. 'native of Kildare, Ireland having
Released at the same time were wn)f t0 thp United statos ln 1920.
comparable totals for the branch s0 wiM pome f0 HepptM,r frorn
for June 30, 1953. On that date (hp njennial convention of the
deposits were $5,370,358 and foans, Amt-ru an Federation of Soropti
were $1,811,371. i mjst rluns at Banff( Alberta. Mrs.
All-tirne record high figures for, Ruton ls a past president of the
the First National Bank of Port-, .... nrn ,llh nnd has srvP(j as
and and its 07 statewide banking
offices were revealed by C. B.
Stephenson, president of First Na -
tional. As of June 30, 1934, de-
posits at First National were
$703,181,710, loans were $318.881. -
144, and resources were $775,-
744,041.
In releasing the figures, Step-
henson reported that all three fig -
ures represent large increases
over a year ago. Over June jo,
1953. deposits at First National
have increased $131.11.1,37.), loans
have increased $10,.80, (wl, and
resources have increased $101,
189,303.
This is the first mid year state
ment of condition issued by First
National sinre the statewide bank,
purchased Its 15 affiliated banks; office did $10,880.78 in the six
with 18 offices on February 8.! months period just ended against
First National's capital funds $i 0,073.81 in the first six months
now total $00,877,792, exclusive of j of last year,
the reserve for possible loan loss-j The increase represents that
es of $2,531,518, which represents! much additional business at the
the largest employment of bank .office, Driscoll said, as there have
copital, in the Pacific Northwest,
-o
Mr. and Mrs. Lowell Gribbie
and family left Wednesday for a
ten day vacation at the coast,
Building Program
Stymied By
26 to 191 Vote
The voters of school district No.
1 Tuesday decisively turned
thumbs down on a proposal to
issue $325,000 in bonds to finance
purchase of a new grade school
site and build a new elementary
school. The vote was 207 no to 101
yes. Nearly 50 percent of the
registered voters in the district
went to the polls.
The rejection of the bond issue
at least temporary brings to a
complete halt any program by the
school board to alleviate the seri
ously crowded conditions in the
Heppner schools. The planned
new building would have housed
the first five or six grades many
of which were taught in church
basements, inadequate basement
rooms in the present building,
and temporary quarters during
the past year. The board is now
faced with the problem of find
ing outside classroom space for
at least an additional two rooms
for the large incoming first grade
this fall.
The heavy Tuesday vote was
taken by some persons as an indi
cation of disapproval of the
planned location of the new
building, however the site, the
so-called Tum-ALum property
was approved at a special election
earlier this year and under school
law the local board has authority
to acquire and build on only such
property as is approved by the
people. The issue in last Tues
day's election concerned only the
issuance of the bonds however,
and had no bearing on the choice
of location which was decided at
the previous election.
Members of the school board
Slid Wednesday, following their
regular monthly meeting Tues
day night, that they were uncer
tain as to what course of action
they would now follow. They did
ndicate that nothing could be
done at least until after July 16,
at which time a third member of
the board will be elected at a
special election to be held then.
! whon questioned as to whether
they planned to resubmit the
bond issue to the people, the
hoard said that they would have
to study the problem further be
fore they could make any decis
ion, o
New Lexington School
Superintendent
takes Over Position
Lawrence Brent, formerly of
Monroe, Oregon, has moved to
Lexington and taken over as new
superintendent of schools. He re
places James Vanover who re
signed at the end of the past
school year.
Mr. Brent served in an adminis
trative position in the Monroe
schools for the past five and one
half years coming there from
Texas and Oklahoma.
He and his wife arrived in Lex
ington about two weeks ago.
o
Michigan Woman To
Install Incoming
Sorpptimist Officers
Members of the Heppner Sorop
timist club will hold their annual
installation of officers at a ban
cnot in iio held at Hie Lecrion hall
Z.rar,nv ,, 1S nt 1 ., m.
Installing officer will be Mrs.
Arthur A. Button of Dearborn,
M. , u Assimiiatlon chair-
aroa cxtL,nsion chairman for
Michigan. She was chosen out-
jtamUn(, ..DParborn Citizen" and
(he Woman () the Year by her
club she served in the R. A. F.
. (ur, World War t and sne has
three song and one daughter who
have ,SPrved In the U. S. Armed
forceSi
j " (,
P.cf (i I
i iwpn.i
Receipts Show (jam
Postal receipts for the first six
months of 1954 at the Heppner
post office showed an increase of
$12.97 over the same period last
ri it
year, postmaster james unscon
revealed this week. The local
been no major rate increases in
the last year.
Tiie office has shown constant
gains during the past 10 or more
years.