Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 29, 1959)
U F 0 Look, Ma-No Pump! fa HEPP Si3 u'U . yp :A Heppner, Oregon, Thursday, January 29, 1959 1 1 Tl M ES r ; Am JV El Copies 10 Cents 75th Year, Number 47 Ballot on School Consolidation Question Shows Opinion Varied in Three Towns Explanation Given On Purpose of Vote First incomplete returns on the school consolidation ballot which was sent out last week to resi dents in the Heppner, Lexington and lone school districts by the Lexington P-TA, shows a variety of feeling in the three areas. The ballot asked residents to vole "yes" or "no" on the quest ion, "do you favor consolidation of Heppner, Lexington and lone Reorganization Hearings Scheduled For Next Week Three public hearings will be held next week in Morrow county by the county school reorganiza tion committee on the prelimi nary comprehensive reorganiza tion plan for the schools of the county. The hearings are scheduled for Monday, Feb 2 at 8 p m at the lone school cafetorium; Wednes day, Feb 4 at 8 o'clock at the Heppner grade school multipur pose room; and Thursday, Feb 5 at 8 o'clock at the Boardman high school. Explanation of the proposed re organization of the county into a county administrative school district will be given and any resident of the county or any af fected district in an adjacent county will be "heard with refer ence to changes proposed by the plan. Legislation on Education Aids is Compiled by P-TA Of interest to local P-TA mem bers and school patrons is a cur rent series of broadcasts on the progressive legislation affecting schools during the present sess ion of the Oregon legislature. The series, "The legislature and your schools," will cover both public elementary and sec ondary education and higher edu cation. Oregon Education Assoc iation executive secretary Cecil Posey will provide the commen tary and the programs will in clude interviews with legislators and other observers. 'Among the stations to carry the programs are KEX Portland at 7:45 to 8 p m Wednesdays. Dates on other stations will be announced later. "Oregon Education" reported the following NEA plan for legis lation in the 86th congress. "Massive federal financial as sistance to schools, far more ex tensive than the recently passed national defense education act and broader in scope, will be the NEA's major legislative goal in the first session of the 86th con gress. The NEA's goal, its methods and the local and state associa tion effort required to attain the objective were outlined last1 month to education representa tives of 46 states, including Ore gon. They met in Chicago to lay the groundwork for passage of a sharpened-up Murray-Met-calf measure. A nearly identical bill came close to passage in the last congress. "Real federal support of edu cation is imperative if Oregon's school system is not to deterior ate," declared Posey following the Chicago meeting. Already drafted is a new Mur-ray-Metcalf bill. It calls for $25 for each school age child in the U S the first year. This would mean a appropriation of $1.1 billion. In succeeding years the amount would increase to $50, $75 and $100 for each child from 5 to 17 years of age. Oregon schools would receive $11,439,850 in the first year of operation under the proposea law. The funds would be alio ratpd tn the state educational agencies for use in providing school facilities ana raising teachers' salaries. into one high school." A break down of the returns from the three areas showed Heppner was mildly in favor of the idea, Lex ington strongly in favor, and lone strongly against it. By Wednesday, 49 percent of the 864 questionnaires had been returned for tabulation and they indicated at 266 or 63.4 voted yes, while 151 or 36.6 voted no. There were six votes return ed from undetermined areas and these were equally divided, ; yes and 3 no. A breakdown of the vote show ed the following: Heppner, 569 ballots sent, 50 return Yes, 193 or 67.5; No 93 or 32.5 Lexington, 102 ballots sent, 57 return r r4 n m . r O A frf les, m or si.o7o; no d ui o.-ivc lone, 193 ballots sent, 37.8 return Yes, 20 or 27.4; No 53 or 72.0 C J Friedrich, recording sec retary for the Lexington P-TA, said that ballots are continuing to come in and that a more com plete tabulation will be announ ced next week. He will be glad to give the current tally, however to anyone who wishes it. Explanation Given Regardless of the outcome of the vote, it will have no legally binding effect on the eventual outcome of the present school consolidation and reorganization question, though the vote will give the county school board a good idea of the wishes of resi dents of the three areas. There was some misunderstan ding in the wording of the ballot which stated that it was being sent out at the request of the county unit school board and the reorganization committee. This was not true, and the Lexington P-TA today made the following statement to clarify the purpose of the vote: "The Lexington P-TA wishes to make the following statement: The county unit and the reorgan ization boards had nothing to do with the ballot heading on the poll vote recently solicited by the Lexington P-TA. This vote was taken to ascertain the thinking of the south Morrow county peo ple upon the high school consoli dation issue so as to prepare a brief to be presented to these boards." Another statement was sent out this week to residents in the lone district by lone school sup erintendent, Dallas Shockley and was prepared through consolida tion with Fred Martin, chairman of the county reorganization committee. It stated: "Your attention is called to the questionnaire which has been sent out by the Lexington P-TA in reference to school consolida tion. "The Lexington P-TA has not been authorized by the Morrow county reorganization committee to circulate such a questionnaire. "Any such presentation by the reorganization committee would be required, by law, to include a school location, a transporta tion plan, and a comparative cost study. These studies are under way but have not been comple ted. "A discussion of school consol idation will not be a part of the official February hearings on the formation of a county admini strative unit." It is emphasized that the vote has no legal backing, however it can be useful in future con siderations by either the county unit school board or a county administrative board. WEATHER Hi Low Prec. Thursday 33 23 .08 Friday 52 30 .01 Saturday 57 42 .16 Sunday 57 30 Monday 48 33 .01 Tuesday 54 43 .09 Wednesday 49 34 .80 Rainfall for the week, 1.15, for January" and for the year, 2.40 Inches. f , .... V v. 1 COW rLLHo CHOOSE OFFICEr.3 Mrs Raymonl French, center, was elected president of the Mcnow Count Cow Belles at the organization's recent annual meeting. Other officers for the corning y?ar ere, from l?ft Mrs Don Robinson, second vice president; Mrs Floyd Jones, third vice prv'.-font; -r Gvrdon O'Erien, secretary; and Mrs George Rugg, first vice president. Com mii'ee Iicals appointed at the meeting includsd Mrs Rugg, publicity; Mrs Herb Ekstrom, father of the year; M.s Bob Brmdle, 4-H beef demonstration; and Mrs Jones, beef promotion. (Wilson Photo) Week's Ralnfa Brings January Average Way Up Tuesday brought the heaviest rain of the new year to the county and the entire past week was by far the wettest of the winter. It rained on six of the last seven (lays, according to the Heppner weather station report. Tuesday's storm, which was general throughout most of East ern Oregon dropped .80 inch of moisture on Heppner, and other weather stations in the county reported as much as one inch during the day. The temperature was warm until late afternoon when a few flakes of wet snow fell here, but did not stick. Rain fall has totaled 1.15 Inches at Heppner in the past seven days and brings the January total to 2.40 inches, considerably above normal for the month. There were a few reports of high water in isolated places from the Tuesday storm but as far as is known- there was no great amount of field erosion or washing. Practically none of the precipi tation fell as snow in the moun tains which are practically bear of any snow cover except in the highest elevations. Gun Club Shoot Nets Dimes Drive $275 The annual March of Dimes benefit merchandise shoot held last Sunday at the Morrow Coun ty Gun Club netted the drive $275 it was reported this week. It was one of the most profi table benefit events held this year in the county. Predators Kill Stock in County The U S fish and wildlife ser vice reports that stock and game losses to predators between Oct 5 and Dec 27 in Morrow county amounted to 5 sheep, 4 chickens and one turkey. Coyotes or bob cats accounted for all the losses. Carl McDaniel, federal trapper for this area reported that dur ing the past 20 days a total of ISC predators have been killed by hunters in Oregon. Taken were 286 coyotes, 143 bobcats, 7 bear and 50 fox. In addition 56 porcupines, 23 skunks, 100 rac oon, and 32 badgers were taken. EXAMINER COMING A drivers license examiner will be cn duty in Heppner on Tues day, Feb 10 at the court house between 9:30 a m and 3:30 p m. V Hi. ' Fred Crump, Former Morrow Resident, Dies at Seattle Vord has been received of the death, January 23 in Seattle of Fred Crump, 73, following an ill ness of about two weeks. Mr Crump was born November 20, 1885 in Morrow county. His parents homesteaded in the Sand Hollow area and lived there for many years. He is survived by his widow, Claudia of Seattle; a sister, Lula Wheeler of Port Angeles, Wash ington, five nephews and four nieces. Funeral services were held in Seattle where he had made his home for several years. Polio Decline is Noted in Oregon Only 26 cases of paralytic polio were reported in Oregon during 1958, far below the 345 cases listed as median during the past six-year period, according to pro visional figures released recently by the state board of health. An additional 14 cases of non paralytic or unspecified polio brought Oregon's total 1958 case load to 40, compared to 146 for the median period. Dr Samuel B Osgood, state edidemiologist, attributed most of the decline in paralytic polio to widespread use of Salk vac cine. He warned, however, that too few persons in Oregon have the recommended three-shot pro tection to precent at-least scat tered outbreaks. Lexington By MRS H V SMOUSE From the Oregon Centennial's slogan "Know Your Oregon," the Morrow county home extension service chose for the theme of January home extension unit meetings, "Know Your Morrow County." Previous to the January meet ings, members of the various units in the county wrote the history of their town or commun ity. These were collected, printed and bound in pamphlet form by the home extension service. The Lexington unit wrote the story of Lexington and adjacent country, its early settlement, by whom, how town was named, its schools, churches, businesses, etc. The presentation of this story of Lexington was given at the unit meeting held at the home of Mrs W A Ruggles on January 21 and conducted by her. The pamphlets on "Know Your Morrow County" were presented to the 26 members and visitors present. Jf. I A 1 A 1 f , ' V I ' V I Soil District Annual Meet Set "Stubble Mulch Farming in the Columbia Basin" will be discuss ed by Verle Kaiser, agronomist, Soil Conservation Service, Spo kane, at the annual meeting of the Heppner Soil Conservation District Tuesday, Feb 3, at 7:30 p m at the Lexington Grange hall, district supervisors have an nounced. In addition a short business meeting of the Lexington Blow Control District to elect two dir ectors will be held after the genera meeting. Included on the Conservation District program will "be a brief progress and financial report, statement of conservation objec tives in the district for 1959, a film, "Mountain Water" and re freshments. Supervisors of the Heppner dis trict, which covers 1,330,660 acres, are Raymond French, Heppner, chairman; Don Peterson, lone, vice chairman; Raymond Lun dell, lone, treasurer; N C Ander son, secretary; John Wightman, Heppner and Alvin Wagenblast, Lexington. Directors whose terms expire on the Lexington Blow board are: Kenneth Smouse and Fred Nelson, both of lone. Other members of the board are: Roy Martin and Robert Kil kenny, Lexington. Area Early This was followed by various members and visitors adding to the story bits of history they knew or had heard from parents or pioneers of old days and old times. Mrs Roy Campbell told of the early school in Lexington, having a picture of it taken in 1890. It was located on the lot north of the present Barnett house on the highway. A one room school house with an enrollment at one time of 108 pupils and one teach er. She also told of the formation in 1892 of the Social Ridge school by C N Peck, Jos Eskelson and William Campbell. School opened in 1893 with 14 pupils, taught by F E Miller whose salary was $30.00 per month. Mrs R B Rice reported on schools northeast of Lexington, the Devine, Strawberry, Hodson, Black Horse and Alpine schools, the later one being taught at one time by Mrs Clary, assisted by Miss Rosela Daughtery, now , AS A 4 4 -Mi ARTESIAN WELL approximately 12S gallons of water a minute is flowing from this well brought in last weekend on the Tom Michos ranch between Heppner and Lexington. It is the- first artesian to be brought in in this immediate area in many years. The well is located alongside the new house which will soon be occupied by Mr and Mrs Art Watkins and the water started to flow at 202 feet. A piece of stovepipe is being used to lead the flow of water from the 8-inch casing and it is flowing about one-third full. (GT Photo) Lexington Youth Wins Honor ot Portland University Larry Lindsay, son of Mr and Mrs Alex Lindsay and a senior at Portland University was se lected as the University's "legis lative intern" with the oppor- unity of spending a week in Salem under the guidance of any legislator he would choose. Larry had hoped to serve under Senator Yturri of Ontario as he considers him the outstanding legislator of the Oregon Senate. A letter from Senator Yturri stated that he would be glad to give Larry "all the help and in struction possible during his stay at Salem. Larry, with one of his instructors, will also attend a two lay seminar at the legislature during the first week of Feb ruary. Lindsay has maintained a four point average throughout his col lege course at Portland Univer sity. He likewise maintained such an average in high school during his four years at St Joseph Acad emy, Pendleton. Here he was outstanding in debate and other speech activities winning three first places In state "B" speech tournaments. This honor recalls an editorial in the East Oregonlan at the time his team won state honors in debate. "Perhaps there are some future public office holders in the making on that team." 2nd Coffee Day Due For March of Dimes The March of Dimes "coffee day" held last Saturday at Winn Dee's Snack Shop was so success ful that the operator's, Mr and Mrs Winn Crist, are going to do it all over again next Sat urday. Containers for the Mirch of Dimes were placed on all tables and patrons dropped their coffee money there rather than into the cash register. No tally has been made, but the idea was declared very profitable to the drive. Insurance Agency Plans Open House Mrs Adon Hamlett, owner of Swanson & Hamlet Insurance, lone, will hold an open house for her new office at the Ham lett home on 3rd and B streets Wednesday, Feb 4 from 2 to 5 p m. The agency recently moved into the remodeled quarters from a downtown location. The agency handles General of America and other lines of insurance and is pay station for PP&L and lone TV. History is Mrs Alec Lindsay. Mrs Ray Dolvcn described the early days of Ben and Mrs Swag gart homesteading on the then called Penland Buttes, but now called Swaggart Buttes. Mrs Harry Dinges showed a map she had made of early day roads, comparing them and their location with the present high ways. Mrs Burton Peck had a paper written by her husband, of his recollections on the historical steps required in binding togeth er seven quarter sections of raw sagebrush land in Clark Canyon, upon which Kenneth Peck won the title of State conservation man of the year in 1956. Some of these recollections will be in cluded in the supplement to the story of Lexington, which Is now being collected and written. Many old pictures of pioneers. schools, picnics and gatherings of all kinds were brought and displayed. Of interest to many was a copy of one of Lexington's Country Fair Planned to Note State's Birthday In observance of the Oregon Centennial, the Lexington P-TA will sponsor a celebration on Feb ruary 14 with an old country fair theme, it was announced this week by Mrs Ellwynno Peck, P TA president. The celebration will be held at the Lexington 10OF hall and booths will be sponsored by or ganizations throughout the coun ty. There will bo contests for the best costumes for men and wo men, and high and grade school students. There will also be a basket social and old time dan cing. The affair will start at 6:30 in the evening. Mothers to March Friday Night More than 35 Heppner women have volunteered to march Fri day night during the Mother's March on Tolio, one of the final events of the month for the March of Dimes. Co-chairmen for the Mother's March are Mrs Elmer Schmidt and Mrs N C Anderson. The volunteer Mother's March workers will make the rounds of Heppner between 7 and 8 o'clock to pick UP contributions to the fund. Residents who wish to make a contribution are asked to leave their porch light on to indicate that they wish to help. The workers will not make a general canvass, but will stop only where the light is burning. Earlier this week a coffee hour was held at Mrs Anderson's for the volunteer marchers; and on Monday a dime-a-dip luncheon was held by Mrs Schmidt with proceeds going to the March of Dimes. The drive officially ends Sat urday night. Eluta Campfire Girls To Give Programs The Eluta Campfire Girls will present a program for their par ents on Sunday, Feb 1 at 3:00 p m In the basement of the Methodist church. Monday evening the girls will be guests of the Heppner Mo ther's club, who sponsor this Campfire group. Both programs are part of the requirements to qualify them for the Wood Gatherer's rank. Noted early day weekly newspapers, the Lexington Blade, published in 1890. The paper was brought by Mrs Orris Padberg. A skit, depicting the activities of early day homemakers, of churning butter, sewing strips of rags together to be woven into rugs and carpets, of quilting bees, setting hens and raising chick ens, together with some of the local gossip was given by Mrs J A Troedson and Mrs II V Smouse, dressed in old time dresses, long aprons and sun bonnets. After a short business meeting conducted by Mrs Frank Schrage, a Dutch auction of white ele phants was held. The proceeds to be used for the Lexington unit's part in the Morrow County home extension service's dona tion for the national home dem onstration meeting to be held In Portland this fall. Refreshments of homemade cookies with tea and coffee were served by the hostesses, Mrs W A Ruggles and Mrs H V Smouse.
