U OF 0
E U Q E , ORE.
Campaign Developing to Get
Heppner-Spray Highway Improved;
More Bad Reports Are Received
Since last week's stories appeared telling of
the nearly impassable condition of the Heppner
Spray highway, this newspaper has received
dozens of additional reports concerning the road
from residents who are directly effected by its
condition. These reports, some of which we will
relate below, all tell the same story. They all
add materially to the case the residents of this
area have to present to the state highway com
mission that the road must be included in some
program of improvement.
Some of the reports we received during the
past week told of:
One car being stuck In the road for over four
hours.
From Monument comes this: "The mill here
is being overhauled but t here are the roads to
HAUL the lumber over. It seems the roads are
a lot worse in the past 10 days since you took
those pictures. In fact some traffic has gone
around by way of Condon t0 get t0 Heppner."
One user of the highway said he barely made
it through one section of the road north of the
old Blue Mountain ranch on Monday and by last
Friday it would have been entirely Impassable
by car had state highway crews not dumped a
few loads of big rock in the worst places.
Other reports told the same story, only the
words used to describe the condition varied and
many of those words aren't printable.
In addition to complaints, other facts have
come to light during the past few days which
give added proof of our statement that' Heppner
business is being hurt by the bad condition of
the highway.
No lumber has been hauled over the road
for three weeks, and it is reported that the load
limit now in effect will be continued until May
1. This will mean that lumber normally hauled
from the mill at Monument to the Heppner Pine
Mills for processing either will not reach here or
it will have to be trucked many mile's extra by
way of Fossil and Condon. Should that lumber
supply be shut off for any length of time a sub
sequent reduction in employment at Heppner
Pine Mills would result.
Local fuel dealers who service customers in
the Spray and Kimberly areas are forced to
either ignore users' needs or violate load re
strictions to take heavy trucks into the John
Day river country. No dealer who has spent
considerable time and money to develop ac
counts wants to sit back and let them be lost
to the future because he can't serve them now.
Neither can he afford to drive half -empty trucks
the necessary distance, nor add many miles to
his route by taking a round-about road if that
is available.
. Regarding lumber, another unpleasant pros
pect shows itself. It is entirely conceivable that
a continued load limitation on the highway and
Harry E. Yarnell
Passes Monday
Harry E, Yarnell, 69 years of
age, passed away April 2 at
the Pioneer Memorial hospital.
Death was the result of a stroke
suffered February 14.
Harry Ellsworth Yarnell was
born April 6, 1886 at Drewsey,
Oregon and came to lone in 1925
from Bickleton, Washington. He
had farmed south of lone since
coming to this county. He was
Carried February 22, 1912 to
Kathryn Walsh at Bridgeport,
Conn.
Mr. Yarnell was a member of
Willows Grange and was an ar
dent hunter and fisherman. He
was well known in Morrow
county for his ability to locate
water wells having located many
during the past years.
Surviving are his widow, two
sons, Alton H Yarnell, lone; and
Clifford S. Yarnell of Vancouver,
Wash.; one brother, Glenn W.
of Yakima; a sister, Gladys Cri
der, Bickleton, Wash.; three
grandchildren and several nieces
and nephews.
Rosary was held Tuesday even
ing and funeral services Wednes
day morning, both at St Williams
Catholic church in lone with Rev.
Patrick" J. Gaire officiating.
Interment was in the lone ceme.
tery with Creswick Mortuary in
charge.
t
SIXTY-SIX DOLLARS worth of coyote pups, all from one litter, were
photographed last weekend after they had been turned in to the
county clerk Bruce Linds:y for $6.00 per head bounty. They were
caught along with the mother by Charlie Daly and Al Fetsch last
Friday on the bombing range. The pups, less than nine days old
were put to death shortly after the picture was taken. During
the past week an additional 24 pups and four older coyotes have
been brought in for bounty. (GT Photo)
(AN EDITORIAL)
lack of any future improvement plans by the
stat? highway department, could result in lum
ber from Monument being sold into the Prine
ville area. This haul is longer but the road is
better and as a result hauling costs could be less.
We don't say that such a thing will happen, but
it could, and the loss of such a lumber supply to
Heppner would most certainly be felt in a sub
sequent reduction in payroll.
The state highway department has ignored
repeated requests over past years from residents
in this area saying that not enough traffic was
carried on the road to warrant any improvement.
Three years ago we were told by a member of
the highway commission that only 17 cars a day
used the highway, a figure so low as to be nearly
ridiculous. Last fall county judge Garnet Bar
ratt wrote a sizzling letter to the highway com
mission stating that the road was in worse con
dition than any county road in Morrow county,
and asking among other things if any recent
traflic count had been made on the road and
flatly stated that, "Morrow County's patience re
garding action on this highway has ended." '
In answer to judge Barratt's letter, state high
way engineer R. H. Baldock replied, in part, that
the" last traffic count was taken in 1952 but that
one would be taken soon. Less than two months
later a count was taken with these results: Two
miles south of Hardman, 100 cars a day; at the
Morrow-Wheeler county line 90 cars a day; 0.1
mile north of the John Day highway 140 cars a
day. This is not heavy traffic compared with
some other state highways, but it is a far cry
from the 17 cars previously reported by the com
mission, and practically double a 1952 count
finally'admitted by the state of 70, 50 and 60 cars
for the same counting locations. Traffic had
doubled, or more, in three years, yet no improve
ment of any kind had been done on the road.
This week, letters will go out from the Hepp-ncr-Morrow
County Chamber of Commerce to
every member of the state highway commission,
pointing out the condition of the highway, ask
ing that some maintenance be done on it im
mediately and that steps be taken to place the
road on a state program for improving and hard
surfacing. The Morrow county court has joined
the fight too, and the commission will shortly
hear from it. Several Interested and effected in
dividuals and businessmen have told us that
they are writing letters and copies of these edi
tions of the Gazette Times are going to all mem
bers of the state highway commission.
More facts and more letters are needed if
residents of Morrow, Grant and Wheeler counties
are to get a decent connecting highway over the
mountains. If you have legitimate complaints
about the road or can show that you are being
hurt business-wise because of its condition, your
letter to the State Highway Commission, Salem,
will help.
Farmers Warned
Against Farm Truck
License Plan Change
Oregon state Farm Bureau rep
resentative Howard Fujul warn
ed, at the Morrow county Farm
Bureau meeting March 27 at the
Garland Swanson home, that far.
mers should be aware of a
movement afoot by other organi
zations in the state to remove
farmers' truck license privilege
which would make it necessary
for farmers to buy PUC licenses.
He said the cost of these would
be prohibitive to farmers due to
the small amount of use their
trucks get.
The group passed resolutions
favoring the limiting of the term
of advisors to the state board of
agriculture to one 4-year term,
anrl favoring" a nrice Droeram for
cattle at such a time as the price
falls to 10 percent below parity,
o
Voter Registration
Deadline Nears
Deadline for registering to
vote in the May primary elec
tion is April 17, voters are re
minded. If any change In resi
dence has occurred since the
last election a new registra
tion i3 required.
-o-
Mrs, Evonne Gammell of Pen
dleton was a Heppner visitor
over the Easter weekend.
J
I
Mountain Snowpack
Getting Deeper;
Ample Water Seen
Water content of the Arbuckle
mountain snowpack averages 43
percent above the 27 year aver
age and 9 percent more than last
year at this time, according to
snow measurements taken on
Thursday, March 29, on the Ar
buckle mountain snow course.
Tom Wilson, Soil Conservation
service, and Vic Kriemeyer, For
est Service, reported 36 inches of
heavy wet snow with a water
content of 15.5 inches. Measure
ments taken last year at this
time showed a snow depth of 43
inches with 14.2 inches of water.
Comparable measurements in
1954 re 23 inches of snow with
8.9 inches of water and In 1953
snow depth was 42 inches with
17.1 inches of water.
A water content of 10.8 inches
is the 27 year average for this
time of year according to federal
and state cooperative snow sur
vey records. Soils are wet and
unfrozen beneath the snow pack,
Wilson reported. In addition to
the water stored in the snow
pack, considerable water has al
ready left the watershed. Stream
flow has been high in Willow
creek during March, and water
has been entering the Columbia
river during the past four months.
HHS Paper Named
For Two Awards
Word was received this week
by staff members that the Hepp
ner high school paper has been
warded two recent honors.
The paper was the recipient of
a first class honor rating in the
National Scholastic Press first
semester contest and it won se
cond place honors in the 32nd
annual Columbia University
scholastic press conference.
The paper's catagory is for
senior high schools with less than
j 300 students and for a duplicated
i newspaper.
POMONA GRANGE MEET
AT BOARDMAN APRIL 7
Pomona grange will be held at
Boardman grange Saturday,
April 7 starting at 10 a. m. Din
ner will be served at noon and
th program will start at 2 p,
m. At 8 p. m. the fifth degree
will be put on.
Copies 10 Cents
JlKlXli .1 1,1, 1." IV 8lW!lIWWIIlH
MORROW COUNTY Water Resources Committee members who met
planning program In he county. Shown front row, left to right, Dick Wilkinson, secretary; Newt
O'Harra, chairman; Allen Tom. state representative from this district; standing: Garland Swan
sen, chairman of domestic ond municipal water committee; P W. Mahoney, flood control; Dr. L.
D. Tibbies, polution; R. B. Rands, Boardman, executive committee member. Back row, Don Lane,
executive secretary of state water resources board and Bill Barratt, irrigation committee chairman.
(GT Photo)
CC Told State Losing
Business Due to High
Income Tax Structure
Oregon's tax structure is running
business out of the state, Mrs.
Louise Humphrey, executive as
sociate with Oregon Tax Re
search, told guests at the Hepp-ner-Morrow
county Chamber of
Commerce annual banquet last
night at the Legion hall.
In elaborating on her state
ment, Mrs. Humphrey said that
representatives of Eastern busi
nesses who come to this area in
quest of plant locations, check
both Oregon and Washington.
The decision to locate in Wash
ington is frequently made on a
personal, selfish asis-manage-
ment prefers td live, in a state
where they don't have to pay an
income tax. She said that Ore
gon has the highest income tax
rate in the nation.
Mrs. Humphrey pointed out
that the state's high budget
which made necessary this year's
45 percent surtax on incomes was
brought on by the people them
selves. Between 60 and 70 per
cent of the total budget was
voted by the people. She also
said Oregon is the only state
where the emergency clause can.
not be put on a tax bill by the
legislature enabling it to de
velop a more sound tax structure
for the state. She added that 22
percent of the people in the state
paid 66 percent of the tax, before
surtax, and that 100,000 returns
had no tax at all to pay. Mrs.
Humphrey was introduced by
state representative Allen Tom.
Chamber president Phil Blak
ney gave the welcome and intro
duced Rev. George R. S. Little,
master of ceremonies. The in
vocation was given by Rev. Pat
rick J. Gaire. The report on the
chamber's activities for the year
was given by secretary Bradley
Fancher.
Awards Given
Certificates of recognition for
special activities or accomplish
ments during the past year were
Heppner Honor Roll
Students Listed
The sophomore class had the
highest representation orr the
Heppner high school high honor
roll for the third nine weeks.
They are Joann Brosnan, Tom
Currin, Helen Graham, Peggy
Applegate, and Jim Morris. Jun
iors were next with Janet Wright,
Jay Sumner, Mary Jo Stewart,
and Alice Fa ye Stewart. Nancy
Anderson, Karon Prock and Lance
Tibbies were high for the seniors,
and Janice Martin, Renn Harris,
and Steve Flug for the fresh
men. Those making the low honor
roll with a 3.00 or better were
Carolyn McDaniel, Susan Mc
Quarrie, Bob Huffman, Shirley
Kononen, Francine Francis, Lau
rel Allstott, Jesse Smallwood,
Meredith Thomson, Eddie Gros-
hens, Phyllis Quackenbush, Jan
ice Beamer, Len Ray Schwarz,
Judy Collins. The senior class
had 'the largest number of stu
dents on this honor roll, and they
are Shirley Palmer, Sharon Bry
ant, Skip Ruhl, Lowell Turner,
Edith Morris, Bob Hare, Judy
Wright, Nelson Connor, Bob Stev
ens, end Darrell Blake.
Heppner, Oregon, Thursday, April 5, 1956
s , I i : t s i s i
, 4 4. ,s 'fW V ft
... - ...
awarded to six persons by Blak
ney. Recipients were James Far
ley, for construction of new show
room and shop; Paul Koenig, for
the remodeling of Heppner Tine
Mills; Jack Angel accepted for the
hospital board, an award for their
part in completing the new hos
pital wing; W .C. Roswall, for his
part in developing the television
cable system; Mrs. Mary Stevens
and the council for their develop,
ment of the city park and city
planning; Lowell Gribble, P-TA
president, accepted for the school
board, for their efforts in plan
ning and building the new grade
school.
Bonds Redeemed
$1,000 was raised during the
pttst year for redemption of the
rodeo field lighting bonds and 20
names of bond holders were
drawn. Those whose bonds were
redeemed were Heppner Elks
Lodge, -6 bonds; Fair board, two;
one each by Conle'y Lanham,
Terrel Benge, E. E. Gonty, James
Thomson, Ed Thorpe, C. N. Jones,
Harry O'Donnell, James Farley,
Gilliam & Bisbee, W. C. Rosewall,
and American Legion baseball.
4-H Clubs Plan Fun
Night April 14
Local 4-H clubs and leaders
are sponsoring a 4-II fun night
April 14 from 8 to 12 at the lone
Legion hall, it was announced
this week.
Entertainment will include old
time and modern dancing, a cake
walk, card games and games for
the kids. Refreshments will be
served by parents and leaders of
4-H members. Donations will be
taken for the International Farm
Youth Exchange fund, sponsored
by the 4-H.
Granddaughter of
Local Woman Killed
Janey Schaffeld, 4 year old
daughter of Mr and Mrs. Ted
Schaffeld (the former Betty
Adams) of Ontario was killed
Tuesday when she was run over
by a tractor on which she had
been riding.
The little girl's urandmother,
Mrs. Floyd Adams, Heppner, left
Tuesday night for Ontario.
o
Legi
ion Planning
Anniversary Party
The Heppner American Legion
announced thfs week that it is
planning an anniversary party
Saturday evening, April 14 which
will be open to the public.
A card party, dancing and
other entertainment is planned
and the public is invited to take
part in the celebration of the
10th anniversary of the Legion
building. Admission will be 75
cents per person and funds will
be used to beautify the grounds.
BROTHER DIES
Frank Davidson was called to
Baker by the death of his bro
ther, Dow Davidson. Funeral ser
vices will be held Friday.
Mrs. Lee Palmer and Mrs.
James Green were Pendleton visi'
tors Saturday.
f..
ft , X 'V f
V x
last week to lay groundwork for
Water Resources
Group Seeking
Stream Flow Data
Nearly 30 persons attended the
first meeting of the newly form
ed county water resources plan
ning committee last Wednesday
at the court house. Newt O'Harra
is chairman of the committee.
Various reports were given by
committee chairmen and Don
Lane, executive secretary of the
state water resources board spoke
briefly and aided the organiza
tion in the formation of water
resources plans in the county.
The group voted to seek aid
in determining more accurately
the amount of flow in streams
in the county as one of the first
steps it should take. The feel
ing was that without such in
formation,, very little actual
planning could be done. At the
present time only one stream
measuring station is located in
the county it is on Willow
creek in Heppner. More accurate
Information on flow in this and
other streams is needed, it was
felt.
O'Harra named a committee,
consisting of all other commit
tee heads, to formulate a plan
to obtain this information.
Reports were given by chair
men of the several committeec
including Garland Swanson, do
mestic and municipal water use;
Dr. L. D. Tibbies, polution; Bill
Barratt, Irrigation and P. W. Ma
honey, flood control.
Another meeting is planned in
about 30 days.
Band Club Sets
Saturday Carnival
The second band parents club
carnival is all set to open its
doors to the public Saturday
night at 7:30 at the fair pavilion,
it was reported today by Bill Cox
and LeRoy Gardner, general
chairmen for the event.
The carnival which promises
to be as good or better than last
year's very successful fun night,
is planned largely.as repeat of the
previous performance, it was
said. There will be games of
all kinds for both young and
older kids, fish ponds, shuffle-
board contests, and all the other
booths normally expected at
such an event.
One of the most popular booths
at last year's show, the dunking
tank, is again scheduled with
several well known persons due
to hit the water as a result of
well aimed baseballs. There
will also be a movie show for the
small children,
The carnival is being spon
sored by the Heppner band par
ents club with the chamber of
commerce having charge of one
booth. Funds derived from this
event will be used to complete
the band uniform purchases
started last year and possibly
provide additional needed instru
ments for the school band. Mrs.
Oliver Creswick is president of
the club.
o
IONE P-TA CHANGED .
The lone P-TA will meet at 8
p. m. Tuesday rather than on
Wednesday evening due to a con
flict with the scheduled band
concert.
73rd Year, Number 4
New Motel
Here Seen
Possibility
Heppner may get a new 16
unit motel if plans of a local
resident materialize, it was re
vealed Monday night when the
city council received an appli
cation for a building permit for
the structure from Rufus Piper.
The council rejected the ap
plication because plans called
for frame construction with stucco
exterior which does not in all re
spects conform with the city fire
code which calls for fireproof
outer walls on all building con
structed within the fire zone. Mr.
Piper was not available at the
time of this writing, but the Ga
zette Times was informed that
changes in the plans could pro
bably be made so the building
will meet code requirements.
The motel, which is planned
as a "U". shaped structure con
taining 16 units, is to be built
on the corner of Main and Balti
more streets on property now oc
cupied by the Piper residence. If
details can be worked out, con
struction may start within three
months. Cost is estimated at
$25,000.
Permit Granted
The council granted another
building permit to William C.
Turner for the construction of a
residence on south Court .street
just south of Willow creek. Cost
was set at $15,000.
The council went on record as
favoring the formation of an
active ground observer corps In
Heppner following a talk by Lt.
Rose from the Air Force filter
center in Bend and Sgt. Robert
Coleman of Hermiston. The two
explained that there is no active
observer post In this area and
that the Air Force and civilian
defense organization is trying to
get one formed here. Lt. Rose said
a campaign for volunteer obser
vers will be conducted soon.
Annexation Ordinance Passed
An ordinance calling: for the
annexation to the city of a strip
of property adjacent to the south
city limits was given final pas
sage and the date for a hearing
was set for Mry 7 at the city
hall. The property is owned by
Mr. and Mrs. Bert Kane, Mr. and
Mrs. Roy Quackenbush and Helen
Cox.
Two applications from George
Terrill and Walter Farrens for
permits to keep chickens were
refused because of complaints
from nearby residents.
The council was asked by Ro
bert Penland, a member of the
Heppner fire department, to set
up a sinking fund for the future
purchase of replacement fire
equipment for the city, He
stated that one truck was a 1937
model which would In a few
years have to be replaced. He
asked that the fund be started
in next year's budget and be
added to each year. The re
quest will be referred to the bud
get committee.
Park Plan Received
The council spent considerable
time reviewing preliminary plans
for the landscaping and de
velopment of the city park which
were received from the landscape
architect. Several changes were
recommended by the members
and the plans were referred back
to the architect for revision,
o
Shirley Kononen
Wins FBLA Trophy
Miss Shirley Kononen, Hepp
ner high school senior, will re
ceive the Future Business Lead
ers of America trophy at the next
student body meeting at the
school, it was revealed in the
current issue of the Hehisch, the
school paper.
Dr. E. K. Schaffltz, one of the
sponsors of the club, is the donor
of the trophy which is given for
outstanding club activity during
the year. Receiving honorable
mention were Edith Morris and
Meredith Thomson.
Participants in activities was
the basis of the selection and
club members named the winner
at a recent election.
o
BARRATTS RETURN
FROM ARIZONA
County judge and Mrs. Garnet
Barratt returned early this week
from a three-months trip to Ari
zona. The trip was planned as
a vacation trip, but judge Barratt
took sick in Phoenix and spent
over a month in the hospital
there.
He is now back at his desk in
the courthouse.