Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 25, 1955)
L I 5RARY U OF 0 EUGENE. ORE. mtones epper Copies 10 cents Heppner, Oregon, Thursday, August 25, 1955 72nd Year, Number 24 Murder Trial To Open Here Monday Morning The trial of Mrs. Ann Whitney Avcnt, charged with second d groe murder in the fatal shooting Juno 4 of Dellmore Lessard, Port land attorney, will open at 9:30 a. in. next Monday, Auust 29 at ths courthouse in Heppner. Cir cuit judge William W. Wells will bear the case. Mrs. Avent is being held in the Wasco county jail at The Dalles awaiting trial on charges that she killed th? Portland attorney in O'Donnell's Cafe in Heppner the afternoon of June 4, 1955 by shooting him with a 38 calibre revolver. She and Lessard, who was representing Mrs. Avent's ex husband, had had a discussion about the custody of her son im mediately prior to the shooting. Mrs. Avent will be represented by attorneys Ralph Currin, Pen dleton, and John Bassett, Port land. She has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. Prosecution Will be handled by George Corey of Pendleton, for mer Umatilla county district at torney, who was appointed spe cial prosacutor by attorney gene rai Kooert i. mormon early in July after Bradley Fancher, Mor row county district attorney had asked to be relieved of prosecut ing the case because he had pre viou iy represented Mrs. Avent as an attorney. Corey will be as sisted by Wolf D. Von Otterstedt, an assistant attorney general from Thornton's office Judge Wells has called for a panel of 6q jurors from which the trial jury will be selected and it is expected that it will take at least one day and probably long er to select the jury. o Kindergarten Sets Registration Sept. 7 Registration for kindergarten classes sponsored by the Heppner Civic League will be held Wed nesday, September 7 at 9 a. m. at the civic center building, it was announced this week by of ficers of the group. Registration fee is $10 which must be paid at that time, and a monthly charge of $6.50, payable at ths end of each month is plan ned. If desired a child may go by the day and pay on that basis. Mrs. Douglas Drake will again be the teacher and classes will be held in a room in the old Hepp ner school building which has been made available by the con struction of the new elementary building. Anyone wishing turther infor mation should contact Mrs. Jack Loyd, phone 6-9487. ROYAL COURT Queen Carol Ann Wiglesworth (center) and her court at coronation ceremonies last Saturday night. Queen Carol was crowned with her white Stetson hat by chamber president Jack Bedford and the girls wore presented with corsages my Mary Van Stevens, mayor of Heppner. Shown with the queen are prin cesses Carolyn Crablre3, Eetty Olmstead, Marilyn Munkers and Sharon Rill. A ium t-urt A VUtKN Here Morrow County Fair and Rodeo queen Carol Ann Wiglesworth gets the official kiss of office from cham ber of commerce president Jack Bedford at the conclusion of coro nation ceremonies held Saturday night in downtown Heppner. (GT Photoi) Harold Wright Named Winner Of County Grassman Award I. ,,H-iJ . v-... mi t , - -....-v ,,,) -- , ' i ' i I I .ill.)! ill j9 SuAiAiltu, 1055 GRASSMAN OF THE YEAH. some 01 tns lusn Duncngrass By Irene Wilson Conservation and perpetuation of native grasses on land owned by his family since the 1870's and productive hay and pasture operation has won for Harold Wright, Heppner, the 1955 Mor row County "Grassman of the Year" title. Announcement was made this weak by grassman committee members of the Mor row County Farm Bureau, spon soring, organization. Wright runs a normal herd of 450 Ilercfords on his headquar ters ranch of 1400 acres at Ruggs nd 8014 acres located about three miles sowthwest of Hard- man. Pasture lands are given the maximum opportunity for preservation by rotating pastures, feeding hay from bottomland hay fields and leveling bottom land for top hay production, commit tee members pointed out. Livestock numbers and forage production are kept in balance by rotation of stock on three large pastures, varying from 120n to 3000 acres and five smaller pas tures"of from 200 to 700 acres on the Hardman ranch in the upper country. C J I 1 u ' - I sf ' l I .. Harold Wright, Hjppuer, 13 snown on bis ranch which helped him Adequate hay reserves are pro vided by Wright with the pro duction of over 600 tons xf hay annually from 150 acres. Normal carryover is 100 tons. Cattle are held in the lower elevations in the spring and fall and moved to tne upper pastures lor summer range to utilize forage in the pro per season. All bottom lands have been leveled, fertilized, seeded and ir rigated for hay and the third crop of alfalfa-grass hayland is used for pasture. Alta Fescue, Tall Oatgrass, Smooth Brome and In termediate Wheatgrass are used in mixtures with alfalfa. Com merciai fertilizer is used in es tablishing new seedings of hay and pasture and barnyard ferti lizer is utilized on alfalfa with a manure spreader. This year 70 acres of wheatland was fertilized on a trial basis. The normal wheat-summer fal low rotation is followed by Wright on cultivated wheat land but in 1950 he seeded sweet clo ver and grass on his crop land on a trial basis, pasturing and turning it under as green manure in 1951. His first wheat crop following green manure averaged 4o bushels per acre in 1952 and 35 bushels in 1954. The county average is about 20 bushels per acr3. In addition to developed springs 17 ponds have been constructed and developed to increase move ment of cattle over the range. Ahout 40 miles of fence is kept in top shape. Sheep sheds, mov able feed racks, hay and machi nery barns are outstanding in this mild winter area. Since a gradual switch over a period of years to more cattle and less ?hoep, Wright has converted some of the sheep sheds for feeding of registered stock and fattening out calves. Close culling of stock has im- Father McCormack To Be Transferred The Most Rev. Francis P. Leip zig, Bishop of Baker, has announ ced that the Rev. Francis McCor mack, pastor of St. Patrick's Catholic church in Heppner, has been transferred to Ontario, Ore gon where he will be pastor of the Blessed Sacrament church. He will take up his new duties September 1. , Replacing Rev. McCormack will be the Rev. Patrick J. Gaire who has been serving at the Ontario parish. He will not arrive in Heppner until early October and until that time the parish will be, served by Rev. Matthew Crotty, Baker, vicar-general and chancel, lor of the diocese. Father McCormack has served the Heppner and lone churches since April, 1940, coming here the same year the new St. Patrick's church was constructed. During his tenure, he aided in the build ing of the lone church, which was completed in 1949. wnn his son Kennetn a. inspecting to win this year s title. (Photo by Tom Wilson) proved the quality of Wright's herd. It is inoculated and test ed for disease prevention and sprayed regularly in the spring and as needed during the fall and winter. Livestock includes 21 registered Hereford bulls, 15 registered heifers, 38 registered sows and a commercial herd of which 25 per cent is eligible for registration. In addition he has 50 Targhee ewes which raised 77 lambs this year. Wright was onrtiof the first in the county to seed crested wheat grass, to follow recommended grass mixtures with hay and to establish creeping alfalfa trials, A cooperatnr in the Heppner Soil Conservation district since 194,3, Wright was one of the first six to sign and take an active part in it. Active in community and farm organizations, Wright is a mem (Continued on page 6) REA Grants Loan Of $625,000 to Local Cooperative Word was received this morn ing by Ed Collison, manager of the Columbia Basin Electric Co operative, that the co-op has been granted a loan of $625,000 by the Rural Electrification Ad ministration. The telegram was sent this morning from Washing ton, D. C. Collison said the co-op plans to use the money to add trans mission lines which will serve new customers, extend some pre sent lines and increase the size of some now in use. Much of the work will be done in the Blalock area, Collison said, though some is planned in the Heppner section. The loan application was made over four month ago. 0 North Morrow 4-H Fair Set Friday Final plans for the North Mor row 4-H fair which will be held in Boardman on Friday, August 26, were completed last week at a meeting of the 4-H council held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Hamilton. The 4-H part of the fair will be held ahead of the regular North Morrow fair in jrder to give club members a chance to go to the state fair, if they are eligible. The regular fair will be held September 8, 9(red to a teaching position at Port- and 10. The fair will be held in the large fair building instead of the 4-H building, it was said. Cook ing demonstrations will start at 9 a. m. and at 1 p. m. Judging of the poultry and rabbits will be held followed by livestock judg ing. Home economics Judging will start at 2:30 and the style revue at 3:30 p. m. Fair, Rodeo Plans Taking Shape, New Events Added Everything is shaping up to make next week's' Morrow County Fair and Rodeo one of the best yet, members of the fair and rodeo committees said this week. Grounds and buildings are in ex cellent shape and rod?o stock Will begin arriving in Heppner next Monday. Opening day of the fair will be Wednesday, August 31 when all 4-H entries close and some of the judging and contests will start. Closing time for all open class entries is 9 a. m. Thursday, Sep tember 1. With the rodeo converted to a strictly amateur event this year, one of the heaviest registration of local cowboys ever experienced is expected according to members of the rodeo committee. Several new events have been added to the rodeo schedule in cluding a Saturday night show which will be held under the new field lights'. One go-around of the Morrow county amateur calf roping, a Calgary roping event and others are planned for the night show. Also added to the program this year will be the Northwest Ama teur Bucking contest which was transferred to the Heppner show by the Pendleton Round-Up as sociation. It is expected to draw a large number of the north west's top amateur cowhands. Top prize for this event will be a Hamley saddle. Winner of the Morrow county amateur calf roping will again receive a K-V Saddlery saddle donated by the Heppner Pine Mills. Rodeo stock will be furnished by Ed Ring, Wilbur, Washington and it is certain to provide a good show. Reports from the last rodeo where the stock was used told of only 4 cowboys out of 32 who were able to stay on top of the broncs in the bucking com petition. A" complete fair and' weekend program appears in a big fair board advertisement on page one of section two of this paper. 1 20 Youngsters Take Swimming Lessons More than 120 youngsters took part in beginning and inthermedi ate swimming, classes at the Heppner pool, instructor Larry Dowen revealed this week. The classes have been held during! the summer swimming period Dowen reported that 16 child ren passed the beginners class and 28 finished the intermediate instruction. In addition 10 adults took advantage of the basic sur vival swimming classes. Those to complete beginning swimming were jerry nuu.son, Mine Koenig, hanura Lampoen, Darlene Turner, Bob Iiby, Bruce1 lomson, Steve Rogers, nuiMi n . 1. 1 Carpenter, Lynn Burkenbine, Jean Schmidt, Patty Mahon, Di- ane Fulleton, Harold Grey, Harold Grey, Bill, Parsons, Lanny Upton and Larry Heath. Those to complete the inter mediate lessons were Diane Mc Curdy, Beverly Blake, Sharon Keithley, Julie Pfeiffer, Sharon Lindsay, Sheryl Harris, Shannon Mahoney, Laura Sumner, Jean Collins, Tom Driscoll, Ron Grey, Larry Smith, Homer Huston, Douglas Rogers, Chuck Smallwood Laddie Dick, Ren Harris, Janice Martin, Carol Groshens, Shan Applegate, Kim Avent, Janice Driscoll, Rodney Flug, Carolyn McDaniel, Tom Green, Susan McQuarrie. Lane Smith and Sara Burnside. Nickerson Named To State Position Francis Nickerson, a former resident of Heppner and the son of Mrs. Grace Nickerson, was this week named executive secre tary of the state system of higher education committee on high school-colleee relations. The announcement was made by Dr. Earl L. Pallett, Eugene, commit- tee chairman. " ' Nickerson succeeds Dr. E. Dean' Anderson who has been transfer-' land State college. The offices of j the committee will be transferred from Portland to Eugene. jments had been made for debates Nickerson has been teaching! at Hood River, The Dalles, Pen at Westfir, Oregon, during the1 dleton, La Grange, Baker, Ontario, past year. I Burns, Lakeview, Klamath Falls L. Dj Hale of Albany was visit- Ing In lone and Heppner last ( week. He is owner of a ranch near 1 lone. . I Part of New School Ready for Occupancy; Registration Called At least five rooms in the new that all high school students are Heppner elemtntary school will to assemble in the gymnasium be ready for occupancy by the j auditorium Friday, September 2 opening ol school, it was reveal ed this week, as school officials issued a call for student registra lion and made plans for the open ing of the school year on Tues day, September 6. Joe II. Stewart, Heppner school superintendent, said that an in spector for Freeman, Hayslip, Tuft and Hewlitt, architects for tli? new school building, has notified the board that he, Tuft, and a representative of the con tracting company will be in Heppner next Tuesray to release at least five rooms for prior oc cupancy. The board and repre sentatives will check the rooms for completion. It Is also believed that there will be more rooms available by the opening of the school, but the completion of the five will accommodate all of the outside rooms with the exception of one basement classroom in the old building. As soon as the rooms are accepted, crews will start moving equipment into them. Registration Set. Stewart announced this week Willow Creek Road Oiling Planned in County Program The county court revealed this week that the improvement of the Willow Creek road leading from Heppner to the mountains has been put on the road program for next year. Flans call for con siderable widening" and straight ening of the grade and an oil sur face for a distance of about 12 miles. County Judge Garnet Barratt said Wednesday that the oiling would be done through the aid of federal secondary highway and state funds. It is expected that the project will hav'e to be spread over a two-year period in order to get sufficient money to com plete the work. The court does plan, however, if possible, to start some' of the reconstruction work this winter with county roa1 crews, The reconstruction will include considerable straight ening and widening of the road bed. Tentative plans call for 20 foot paving to be laid as far as the Heppner wells at the forks of Willow creek. The court indicated that it is quite possible that the actual oil- iing of the road will not bo done ,tnljl 1957 whPn the t()ta amount of federal available. aid money will be Sixty percent of the rnon(,v wii romp from fedpral ,d 20 t t . , 2o (.ent fro,n eounfv fun(f. t-inal oiinrmiol r,f thn ,l,.tQllc of the program are still subject to the approval of both the state and the federal government, but it is not expected that any major difficulties will arise from these sources. COON SAYS HE'LL DEBATE DAM BILL HERE EVEN IF NEUBERGER WON'T COME WASHINGTON, D. C, August 24 Representatve Sam Coon ,R. Ore) said today he has ac cepted invitations from 19 Ore gon communities to debate with Senator Neuberger on the John Day bill. He said that it is his intention, "to appear at each of these cities, even though my challenger, in these debates, has failed to accept several of the invitations." "When I agreed to these de bates," Coon continued, "it was with the idea in mind, that the John Day bill is so important, '1 should be discussed, fully and completely, at every possible place. I told the people in my dls trict I would debate this bill at every city, town and crossroad, which offered me an invitation to appear. 1 mean to keep that pro- mise." In a statement, released from iiis office, Coon said firm arrange- and Bend. "In addition," .said the Oregon Congressman, "I have accepted invitations from Fossil, Moro, Prineville, Madras, Condon, Ar at 9 a. m. for registration. On that same day and time, all first graders will meet in the base ment of the new school building and students new to the school system will meet in room six of the old building. Registration for all other students will be held in their individual rooms on the first day of school, Tuesday, Sep tember 6. Busses will make their regular routes at the usual time Friday morning, Sept. 2, Stewart said and will make their return run at 10:30 that morning to return the students to their homes following registration. No Grade Football Stewart also announced that football in the elementary grades has been eliminated next year because of the danger involved for younger students and the dist ance and expense involved in meeting game schedules. The elementary grades will concen trate on basketball and baseball, however, touchtackle and flag football will be played in P. E. classes to teach the fundamentals of football. Much Remodeling Done A great amount of remodeling and redecorating has been done in the school plant during the summer it was revealed. Among the major improvements made was the installation of new showers and shower rooms in the gymnasium, new stairs, treads and the installation of consider able floor and wall tile in the gym building. Seven rooms in the main build ing have been repainted as have all halls and floors. New library facilities have also been built. All schools In the county, ex cept for Irrlgon, will start classes on Tuesday, September 6, the county school superintendent's office said today. Irrigon will open on Monday, August 29 pri marily because its band has at least seven engagements within the next short time and it was felt that it would be easier to ar range practice sessions if school was being held. Dr. Wolff to Resume Practice Here Soon Dr. and Mrs. Wallace Wolff and children expect to arrive in Hepp ner about September 1, according to word received here last week. They arrived in New York on July 26, from Puerto Rico where he has been stationed with the Army. From there they went to Wisconsin where they visited re latives. Dr. Wolff left Heppner about two years ago when he was called into the service. He plans to re sume his practice here in the near future. 0 James Hall, assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Portland Is at the Heppner Branch for two weeks, during the ab sence of Robert Ferrell, who Is on vacation. lington, Heppner, Enterprise and John Day." "The people in these towns," he added, "have just as much right as anyone to hear the arguments on this bill. I Intend to give them the facts on the John Day propo sal even though Senator Neuber ber, who challenged me to these debates, decides not to show up." Coon added that he was not surprised at Neuberger's attitude of indifference toward Eastern Oregon. "Even when he was in the Oregon State Legislature", said Coon, "he had very little re spect for the wishes of the people east of the mountains." Coon's John Day bill.ILR. 5789, provides for advance sale of power from the John Day Dam in order to obtain funds to expedite construction of the Columbia River project, which will at all times be owned and controlled by the Federal Government. Preliminary'hearings were held on the biil shortly before Con gress adjourned. Chairman Clif ford Davis, (D. Tenn.) of the subcommittee on Flood Control of the House Public Works Com mittee has said that hearings on the bill will be continued early In the next session.
