L I 5RARY
U OF 0
EUGENE. ORE.
mtones
epper
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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
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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.