REVPNCB CAZtTTE.TlMES. Thursday, lanuarr .
ifjrpimrr CSazrttr-OJiinrii
MOUOW COUKTTf NEWSMPEI
PHONE 221
The Heppner Gazette, established March 30. 1883. The Heppner
Timet established November 18. 1897. Consolidated February 15.
1912.
Chaff Chatter
Wes Sherman
WESLEY A. SHERMAN
Editor and Publisher
HELEN E.
Associate
SHERMAN
Publisher
FOIHIMIII
VAtlOCUTIQN
NATION At I0ITORIAL
s9)CuTI?N
Subscription Rates: Morrow and Grant Counties. H00 Year; Else
where S4J0 Year. Single Copy 10 Cents. Published Every Thursday
nd Entered at the Pout Office at Heppner. Oregon, as Second
Class Matter.
WATCHING i
ball torn
l)MSl IllJV,
second rate foot,
from the Pacific
second rate team
Sagebrush for New State Flower?
A news item reports that Rep. Clinton Haight Jr. of Baker,
chairman of the legislative Interim committee on natural re
source!, plans to introduce legislation In the 1163 session of the
legislature to moke sagebrush the state flower, replacing Oregon
grape, and to make the Jackrabblt the Mate's animal symbol,
rather than the beaver.
This move Is occasioned, of course, by eastern Oregon's battle
for more adequate representation and undoubtedly fanned by
Sen. Vernon Cook's recent condescending remarks about the
Jacks and sage of eastern Oregon.
Rep. Haight makes a pretty good case, though ierhaps with
tongue in cheek. He says the rabbits can outrun and outproduce
the beaver two to one. Sagebrush Is much more prolific than
Oregon grape In this state, he declares, at the same time hinting
that the current state flower may be a spreader of wheat rust.
It la pretty much of a foregone conclusion that Rep. Haight's
proposals won't get very far even if lie were serious about it,
because there are probably lot more crapes than sages in the
legislature.
However, the Ideas bring up another thought. Eastern Ore
gonlans should adopt some symbol for decals lor their autos and
lapel buttons to wear In order to add a little more pride and
prominence to our section of the state. Thus, wherever an eastern
Oregonian went he would be advertising to the world that he
Is one of those "Jackrabblts" deserving of recognition and rep
resentation. A Good Job by President Whitesmith
With the Heppner-Morrow County Chamber of Commerce
meeting Monday, Incoming president Fred GImbel takes over
leadership of the organization and President Mike Whitesmith
retires from this responsibility.
Under Whitesmith's leadership, the chamber has had a
good and active year. It has been a year of accomplishment,
and a great deal of the credit is due to his hard work. Just a
few of the activities during the year include: The Lucky Buck
program, Christmas Opening promotion, Farm-City banquet,
help with the rodeo and rodeo parade, sponsorship of the Wel
come Edition of the Gazette-Times, sponsorship of a booth at the
Pacific-International Livestock Exposition, sponsorship of the
football banquet, and cooperation witn a number of youth and
farm activities.
The chamber has been an active voice In supporting local
Improvements that Its members feel are needed such as the
Willow Creek dam project (survey of which Is now In progress i,
highway Improvement, cleanup palntup campaign, and others.
It hus acted, pro and con, on legislation considered either
beneficial or detrimental to local Interests, such as opposition
to the new ambulance law that will work a hardship on small
privately-owned emergency vehicles.
As president, Whitesmith has been zealous and conscientious.
He has taken time from his business to take care of chamber of
commerce matters and has handled some of the hardest tasks
himself when no one else volunteered to do them. As he retires
from this post, he deserves hearty congratulations for a Job very
well done.
Heppner Needs Better Street Signs
It Ls good to live in a town small enough so that everyone
apparently knows everyone else and where they live. And there
Is considerable to be said for not trying to make a big city out of
a small town. But sometimes it isn't quite adequate, in giving
directions, to say, "they live on up from the courthouse, across
from the John Smiths," or "He lives on that little street that
deadends a couple blocks from the depot."
This is by way of saying that Heppner needs better street
signs. Some of our streets seem to have none at all. Others
have a few signs but not adequate. It is an accommodation
for visitors to have proper signs, and although old timers may
not need them, the newcomer finds himself considerably handi
capped without them as guides. During the recent Christmas
lighting contest we noted that it was difficult to inform the
public where to go to see some of the homes because of this
deficiency.
from the !ig Ten In the Rose
Bowl on .New j ear's day In a dull
game on IV, we eouldn t he I
but muse how much nicer
was to be sitting at home than
it would b to battle lOO.OuO
other souls to get Into the con
crete 'vml and then to fight
traffic Mia rest of the day getting
out. Mabe that Is a sign of age?
THOSE WHO felt engulfed by
the week-end fog here only
rind lo drive a lew miles to get
ahove It. The forest area around
Cutsforth park is now a winter
wonderland. Anyone who would
want to make photographic
Christmas cards for VMY2 (only
3;i days until Christmas) could
get some beautiful snow pictures
up there. The sun was shining
brightly Monday and the snow
niul Ire shimmered and sparkled.
The Elmer Schmidt family was
enjoy In ? skating on the pond at
t'utsforthf. and others were up
there with skils to pursue that
siwrt.
MRS. TED SMITH, like many
others, has been having an or-
Ideal witn the flu, but hers has
been particularly persistant
case. After listening to Ted the
other day, though, we would
guess that he Is almost sicker
than his wife, though In a dif
ferent way sick of his own cook
ing. He even makes a face when
berlng some 1VW sou Is. was de
jstroyrd by the flood that resulted
I from a tluudburM. occurring
iom everting at o clock
tliis evening it Is eotimated var
loukly that from i to t)
people are dead. Already :
tMMiies have been found uton the
streets of Heppner. and the
search has hardly commenced.
Another story carries this
headline, "Tells of Wild Work
or Torrent. Datelined Spokane,
ii says, a special lo ine ;poKe
man Review from Echo, Ore.
says N. T. Tooker of the Fair
banks-Morse Company of Port
land who was at Heppner when
the awful disaster happened last
evening by the bursting of an
immense cloud, arrived here this
afternoon to bring out the news
lie said: The rushing torrent
came at 5:M) o clock last even
Ing when most of the inhabitants
were at their evening meal. All
were taken so suddenly without
warning that nothing could be
done to save those who were
caught In the rushing waters.
Homes, stores and all buildings
In the principal portion of the
town were torn loose end driven
onward."
Other stories are headlined.
"Rush Coffins to the Scenr
"Sees Death Approaching."
Brings the Hrst ftows to Out
side." "Relief Is on the Way to
Heppner, ' and "From Scene of
Horror."
Pace 2 of the paper continues
with. "fscril)es the Sting of
he taiKs anoui nis preparations. Death," (About a sheepherder
wnose six companions auegeuiy
were drowned just as they were
sitting down to a meal beside
lower Willow Creek when the
flood hit i "Hasten to Find
Bodies," "Senator Morrow a Big
Loser," and others.
We'll take the paper to the
library to be placed with others
of historical Interest concerning
the flood.
A PACKAGE came In the mail
the other day with some very
Interesting contents. An accom
panying letter explained, "This
paper was brought in to me at
the local tavern by a boy that
was having their house remodel
ed after a fire and after reading
it over I saw where your town
was the main topic, i mougni
that maybe you would be Inter
ested in It. I hope It will be
some good to you. Sincerely, Aus
tin V. Hubble. St. John, wasn."
It was very thoughtful of Mr.
Hubble for the paper is the
Seattle rost-Intel l i g e n c e r of
Tuesday, June 16, 1903. and the
blc headline says, 'Three Hun
dred Coffins Ordered for Heppner
Dead."
The entire front page Is de
voted to the flood. One of the
main srortes is neaaea, t-n-
eulfcd In a Wall of Waters."
Datelined Portland, It starts out,
"Engulfed In a mighty wall of
water, whose strengtn Knew no
master, Heppner, the county seat
of Morrow county, Ore., num-
TO THE
EDITOR
Richmond Family
Move lo Rockford
Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Richmond
and sons, Larry and Stanley,
moved last week to Rockford
Wn., In the Spokane area, where
he will assume his new duties
as assistant manager of Rock
ford Grain Growers.
Richmond has been employed
ior rour years by Morrow Coun
ty Grain Growers, Inc. as book
keeper and field man, coming
here from Uarkston, Wn.
Both Air. and Mrs. Richmond
have taken an active part in
community affairs during their
time here. He was a member of
the executive committee for
Little League for two years; has
been on the Cub Scout commit
tee four years and served as
Cubmaster for one year. She was
a den mother for Cub Scouts for
three years. Both were active in
the Methodist church. Richmond
served on the church board four
years and was chairman of the
board for one year. She was sup
erintendent of the primary Sun
day school. Mrs. Richmond was
also active in Civic League and
Mothers club.
Their many friends have been
wishing them success in their
new location.
Gazette-Times Gets
Treasury Citation
Announcement is made by Mr,
Thomas S. Frideaux, chairman of
the Oregon Savings Bonds com
mittee, that a United States
Treasury Department citation
has been awarded to the Gazette
Times for outstanding public ser
vice to the community and the
nation through its long-time sup
fKrt of the Savings Bonds pro
gram.
In his statement, Prideaux
noted that this newspaper has
set an unusually fine long-term
record for backing the Savings
Bonds program and he also
stated that without such support
which has heen nation-wait
among all advertising media, it
would have been completely im
possible for the Treasury Depart
ment to have averaged approxi
mately four and three-quarter
billion dollars of Savings Bonds
sales each year since 1H.
The award carries the wording.
'Presented to Gazette-Times in
appreciation of patriotic service
o the nation through the United
States Savings Bonds program."
It is signed bv the Secretary of
he Treasury and by Irideaux as
state chilrman.
Mr. and Mrs. Jim Thomson.
Bernlce ind Bruce, were dinner
guests on Sunday at the home
of Mrs. Harry Duvall.
Miss Betty Domicile ol Reno.
Nevada, is spending a New
year's vacation with her sister
and family. Mr. and Mrs. Vic
Groshens. and getting acquaint
ed with her new little nephew,
baby Gregory Allan Groshens.
Week-end guests at the Everett
Struckmeier home were Mr. and
Mrs. Keith Allen and family.
nternrise Mr and Mrs. Lowell
Hall and familv. Caldwell. Idaho:
Mrs. Harrv Brooten. t'loverdale;
Miss Bernlce Struckmeier. Salem:
Mrs. Richard Struckmeier. Jeff
erson, mother of Mr. Struck
meier: Edwin Faxon. Corvallis:
Mrs. Maurice Pettit. Walnut
reek. Calif., mother of Mrs.
S'ruckmeier; and Mr. and Mrs.
Glenn Struckmeier and family,
Albany.
Dear Editor:
We note you have a very In
teresting paper. Of special In
terest is a late article by N. C
Anderson who must be compli
mented. And I suggest every
one read it again.
Oh how sad the story that
our economy has become so tight,
that our county has lost 77 op
erators in agriculture, and in
such a short time. These things
are a real tax dollar loss to our
county.
At many agriculture conven
tions this last fall we had great
speakers tell us the farmer was
producing so good that they were
not all needed in the world. They
did not say the farm program
is so tough that a large percent
will be forced out of business
each year Yet that is the case,
and there are lots of starving
people in this world.
I also note Mr. Weatherford
had some good points of ec
nomlc interest in your paper.
And our county needs more men
that are not afraid to speak out.
Part of our economic condition
may be a result of high taxes.
Mavbe our road building pro
gram is getting too much money
and is retting too big, and out
of place. Maybe our school pro
gram is going like the socialists
want it. Or maybe it Is just plain
under the table spending like
the $22,000.00 grant for a plan
ning council. Now is the time to
take warning. Let us keep our
government close to the people.
And beware of the brain wash.
When we lose control it will be
worse than the iron heel.
We note our livestock area Is
going to suffer from some of this
high tone planning where Indus
try is expected to come into our
county that will be more of a
liability than an asset.
If our county population is
standing still or going backward
then why expand the school pro
gram to the breaking point?
And if there are going to be
less people on our county roads
then it might be time to take
new look at our road program.
There has been very little travel
iast our place this year and
his may be the reason our roads
are better.
Now the tax dollars you save
mav be your own. And the nation
ou might save will be your
own.
Now Mr. Editor if you have the
space there is one more compli
ment I want to mention and
that is the excellent work you
have done on the trade at home
add in your December 2Sth paper.
There is much more behind the
add than just the reading. The
thousands of tax dollars from
this part of the county that is
paid into Heppner or our county
seat and the way it is spent sort
of leaves a bad taste in our
mouth about trailing at Heppner.
Forever yours, R. S. Crum
Small Business
Hearing Slated
A public hearing on problems
of small business will be held in
The Dalles on Feb. 16 by a sub
committee of the Legislative In
terim Committee on Small Busi
ness. Rep. Katherine Musa, The
Dalles, announced that the hear
ing will start at 1:30 p. m. in
the county courtroom of the Was
co county courthouse.
Individuals and organizations
are invited to offer comments.
suggestions and recommenda
tions on problems or small busi
ness and how to alleviate them.
Sen. E. D. Potts, Grants Pass,
Is chairman of the Business Law
and Taxation subcommittee
which will conduct the hearing.
Other members are Sen. Vernon
Cook, Gresham, and Rep. Musa.
Arrangements to testify at the
hearing may be made by con
tacting the Interim Committee
office in the State Office Build-
ng, Portland.
Cancer Deaths Up
Seven Per Cent;
2nd High Killer
Among those ente r t a 1 n 1 n g
guests on New Years was Mrs.
Clara Gertson. She was hostess
for a dinner party given for
The Oregon State Board of
Health rejmrted that earner
deaths Increased almoM seven
inrcent lat yr?r to a record
high of 2 is8 compared to 2.WO
In I'A'J. This is the first time
since l'JIH that the Oregon can
cer death rate rose above the
national average.
Cancer again last year was
second only to heart disease
among the leading causes of
death In Oregon in all ages. It
is second only to accidents
among children one through H
years of age, third to accidents
and suicide among young adults
i:wi years ol uce. second to
heart disease for ixrsons 25-61
years, and third following heart
disease and stroke for ersons
over C5 years of ace. The largest
Increase In cancer fatalities last
year was In persons over ti5 year
or age. ror men, oo per rent ot
the cancer deaths were C years
or over and for women slightly
less than 3d per cent.
There apiears to be a con
tlnued leveling off of lung can
rer deaths. In r.rM. lung cancer
fatalities had increased 19 per
cent. I he lung again this year
was the leading site lor cancer
deaths In males. The ration of
males to females for this site Is
six to one.
Cancer killed 4S children un
der the age of 15 years last year
a Hi per cent decline over the
61 In liG9. This was due pri
marily to the reduction of leuk
emla deaths. Cancer of the brain
and other parts of the nervous
system claimed an additional 13
lives.
Cancer was listed as the cause
of leath for 169 adults from
25-41 years of age of which
about 63 per cent were women.
This is the only age group where
women exceed men In cancer
fatalities, primarily because of
cancer of the breast and genital
organs.
Last year there were about 250
cancer deaths lor every luu.uuu
persons between the ages of 45-
64 or 930 deaths. Men exceed
women by about 11 per cent at
these ages. Lung cancer topped
all other sites with 147 deaths
or 30 per cent of cancer fatalities
among men at these ages.
Among women cancer or the
breast and genital organs headed
the list with 200 deaths or 43
per cent of all cancer deaths
of this age group. Sites located
in the digestive system account
ed for 121 deaths for men and
108 for women, while an addit
ional 60 male and 36 female
deaths were listed due to Leuk
emia or neoplasm of the lym
phatic system.
Health board figures showed
that approximately one out of
every 100 men who were 45 years
or over last year died from can
cer, compared to one per 150
women. Leading sites for men
were the prostrate and lung with
the breast continuing as the
leading site for women.
More detailed breakdowns by
site, sex, and age group may be
obtained from the vital statistics
section of the Oregon State
Board of Health, the report concluded.
Vet Pensioners
To Get Queries
Income questionnaires were
mailed to 23.0O Oregon veterans
ami their survivor wim me
mmiihlv rwnilon
tu.r li twl failure lo promptly
return the forms may result In
suspension of payment. Acting
M,,i,-,r T. If. Conner of the
Veterans Administration Region
al OHue for Oregon warned to
da v.
In order to prove continued
entitlement under the law per
sons receiving enslon for non
service oonnectid death or disability-
are reoulred each January
i,i r..i,iri actual Income for the
iaM 12 months and estimated In
come for the new year.
Ijisi J.muarv one out of five
questionnaires had to be return
ed to the pavee because the card
was not completely filled out,
Conner said, the ensuing delay
in securing corrected reports
created many stop payments,
and 30 to 60 days are required
to restore monthly checks In
such cases.
The questionnaires cover In
come from wages, social security,
retirement pension and annuities,
dividends, interest, unemploy
ment compensation, rentals, sale
of property, self employment,
farming and all other sources.
Pensioners In the Portland
area may seeure personal assis
tance in filing their reports at
the VA office in the uncoin
Building. Conner said. Those re
siding elsewhere are Invited to
secure the assistance of VA rep
resentatives at the Roscburg Vet-
erans nospnai. ine uomicniaij'
near Medford. and from county
service officers throughout the
state.
Persons receiving compensa
tion for service connected deatn
or disability are not required
to reoort income, with ine ex
ception of parents drawing pay
ments under tne uepenaency
Indemnity act.
GIs Here Pay Loan
Taxes Averaging $269
Ths average en GI with an
Oteifon veteran' firm and home
loan pU a property tax trf j
tfiia jrar. ioiopated to $JJl
last year and Sl'.M In 1 '.:'..
Tills figure was reported y
lf..u V Hell, auditor fur the On!,
checks Decern-Mpartment of Veterans' Afl.tirs.
which paid ine r.M W ues in
November on the properties tt
22.9H World War 11 and Korean
veterans who have state Imtm
The tottl amount paid in laves
this vear was $3,631. 1'.il. against
$M77,iit2 a year ago.
In Morrow countv. the tax on
42 properties was JI1N23. The
average tax here was S-'i.'.i. com-
the statewide average
parol to
of $213.
The lorrower pays his taxis
monthly to the slate veterans
department along with hu loin
repayment. The department in
turn pays the tax collector, and
does it before November 15 in
earn the veteran a 3 per cent
discount. The discount this year
saved the veterans $171.16:1.
Stops in Hawaii
Arlo D. McRoberts, aerograph-
en mate mini ciass, ii.-s.n, sun
of Mr. nnd Mrs O. A. Devin of
Henimer. spent the Christmas
holiday at Pearl Harbor. Hawaii,
while serving aboard the attack
aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea
Pearl Harbor Is the Coral Sea s
first stop on Its way to Join the
Seventh Fleet In the Western
Pacific The 63.(KX)ton ship
moored at the Ford Island pier
In the historic harhor to give
Its crew a chance to celebrate
the holiday before continuing
their cruise on December 26.
SHOP IN HEPPNF-R
STAR THEATER
rhone 6-9278
If no answer call 6-9452
I
guests, Miss Leta Humphreys,
Mrs. Ethel Zeimantz and Mrs.
Mabel Chaffee.
Your health is our
first consideration
We work hand in hand with your doctor
In safeguarding your health. We fill his
prescriptions with professional precision.
You can count on our careful attention,
day or night. Just Call!
HUMPHREYS
REXALL DRUG STORE
MR. & MRS. ROD MURRAY
217 N. Main Ph. 6-9610
IP ore at your uervice around the clock I
CE
fl
To All Heppner Residents:
Your Attention Is Called To -
City Ordinance No. 342
WHICH PROHIBITS
GARBAGE OR ANY
CORPORATE LIMITS
'THE PLACING
OBSTRUCTIONS
OF HEPPNER."
OR THROWING OF RUBBISH, REFUSE,
IN ANY OF THE STREAMS WITHIN THE
YOUR COOPERATION S ASKED-
IN COMPLYING WITH PROVISIONS OF THE ORDINANCE.
IF DEBRIS HAS ACCUMULATED -
IN CREEK BEDS ON YOUR PROPERTY, WE REQUEST THAT YOU TAKE STEPS
TO REMOVE IT.
THIS ORDINANCE CARRIES A MAXIMUM FINE
OF $100 AND MAXIMUM IMPRISONMENT OF
BUT VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE WILL MAKE
SARY. WE ASK THIS COOPERATION TO KEEP
FROM FLOOD AND FIRE.
50 DAYS
FURTHER
OUR CITY
ON CONVICTION,
ACTION UNNECES
CLEAN AND SAFE
-By Order of the City Council
eciirru