HEPPNER GAZETTE-TIMES, Thursday, May 17 .1962
MOBHOW COUNTY'S NEWSPAPER
PHONE 678-9228
The Heppner Gazette, established March 30, 1883. The Heppner
Times established November 18, 1897. Consolidated February 15,
1912
' WESLEY A. SHERMAN HELEN E. SHERMAN
Editor and Publisher Associate Publisher
NEWSPAPER
PUBUIHIIS
ASIOCIAflON
NATIONAL EDITORIAL
Subscription Rates: Morrow and Grant Counties, $4.00 Year; Else
where L50 Year. Single Copy 10 Cents. Published Every Thursday
and Entered at the Post Office at Heppner, Oregon, as Second
Class Matter.
OFFICE HOURS: 8 a. m. to 6 p. m.; Saturdays, 9 a. m. to 5 p. m.
i
Elks Fire Big Loss to Whole Community
Loss from the fire which claimed the Elks lodge hall, club
rooms and the Star Theater is far greater than the some
$200,000 to $250,000 in material damage. It hurts the business
community; it restricts the social life of the area; it destroys
recreational outlets. Its damage will reach many who are not
members of the lodge and who never attended the shows at
the theater.
Heppner's Elks lodge is known and respected throughout the
northwest, and it has brought many visitors here who other
wise would never have come to the city. As we mentioned in a
recent editorial, the lodge through its projects has done immeas
urable good, and its generosity has been enjoyed by the entire
area.
Likewise, the theater has been a drawing card for the town.
Its manager, Mrs. Elaine George, consistently endeavored to
bring the best in entertainment, and young folks particularly
enjoyed it in leisure hours.
Being as hardy and as well-established as it is, we know
that the lodge will take steps as soon as possible to build
again, and its program, though temporarily curtailed, will
continue.
Many have expressed warranted concern for the future of
the theater. It did not receive the support it deserved from
adults in the community. Whether it will be in operation again
is a matter that not even Mrs. George can say at this time. Its
Importance must not be overlooked, however, and we join
many otiiers in hoping that it can be restored or replaced,
it is a rather painful thought that this community may not
be able to provide adequate recreational facilities so that both
adults and youth would be forced to travel to towns some
50 miles away or more to find leisure activity of this type.
Thus, Joss from the fire is not only that suffered by the
Elks and the theater management; it is shared by the com
munity. While expressing our condolences to the Elks and Mrs.
George, we would add our voice to the many who have praised
the work of the volunteer fire department and to those who
assisted at the time of the fire.
After tile initial shock of realization that one of the town's
heller buildings was in flames and the rush to get at it,
little confusion was evident. The firemen pitched into their
work methodically and eiliciently. They stuck with it until
it was out. Until that time, they contained it so that even the
adjoining buildings sultered no greater damage than a small
note poked in the turpaper roof ot one. In a fire of this magni
tude one would expect mat an entire downtown block could
go, but this was never an actual threat because of the fire
inanship in evidence.
The public at large did itself proud, too. Everyone who
could .see anything that needed doing pitched in to help out.
I'dinier firemen stepped back Into harness, and others offered
to assist. Those who couldn't be ol use kept out of the way
and that's a big help in itself, Thoio were no reports of driving
over hoses, intertering with the lnemen, nor obstructing their
work.
In such an emergency as this, the true iieighborlijiess that
is characteristic oi our area shows to its best, and the spirit
seems to prevail that no matter how great the loss, each otters
in share so that all meet it together.
Rood Tax Base Defeated Before Election
No matter how much a voter might have been in favor
of the county's measure to establish a $U5,lH)0 road tax base
in the primary election, it will do no good to vote for it.
At Hie "11th hour" Just before the election the county has
been advised by the State Tax Commission that the proposal
is illegal because the county cannot iiave two tax bases one
lor the general fund and one for the road fund.
Since there is no way at this late date to take it from
the ballot, the only sensible thing to do is to vote Wo on this.
Doing so will be no affront to the county court nor to other
county officials. This is merely the inevitable that lias to be
accepted, it it should pass tand the chance now is remote), it
would only be declared illegal anyway.
This, of course, will leave the county road situation in a
precarious position tor a white, it would appear that the county
court will call a special election to propose another serial
levy for roads, but Hie legal piilalls that best the last serial
levy no doubt wil be avoided. When the current budget runs
Us course, the road department will have no tux funds to turn
to unless a serial levy is proposed and approved by the voters
at a special election.
Down With Lethargy! Get Out and Vote I
Lethargy the slate of inaction or indifference is one of
the greatest threats to our way of life. Its brother apathy is
seldom more apparent than in a primary election in an off
presidential year. Hut how about a campaign to beat lethargy
and apathy? All those willing may signify by getting out and
voting in the primary.
True, there isn't widespread interest, but there are some
important local contests on the Hepublican ballot, and some
other slate and national races of significance on both of the
party ballots. There are two slate measures that command
attention, and two contests on the judiciary ballot.
This is certainly worth the trouble of any registered voter
to stale his preference. Hut if you don't bother to go to the
polls, von may be sure that there are always two candidates
who will be the victors ami rule you in the end Mr. Lethargy
and Mr. Apathy. 3
Hemorrhoids Cured Painlessly
By Non-Surgical Method
The non-surgical, elec
tronic method for treatment
of Hemorrhoids (Piles) de
veloped by doctors of the
Bcal-Oliver Sandy Blvd.
Clinic has been so success
ful and permanent in nature
that the following policy is
offered their patients:" fter
all symptoms of Hemor
rhoids . . . have subsided
and the patient has been dis
charged, if he should ever
have a recurrence, all further
treatments will be given ab
solutely free."
Patients experience little,
if any pain. Their treatment
requires no hospitalization
and does not employ drugs
or injections.
Write today for a free,
descriptive booklet, yours
without obligation: The
Bcal-Oliver Sandy Blvd.
Clinic, Chiropractic Physi
cians, 2026 N. E. Sandy
Blvd., Portland 12, Oregon.
iiiiimliitmiiiiiiiHMmiiiiiiii
Chaff and Chatter
Wes Sherman
HlMIIIIIIMIIIMMMIIItlllflHIIII
LIVING NEXT door to the city
fire alarm almost insures that
a sleeping editor will be cata
pulted out of bed from sheer
shock of the nerve-shattering
blasts at any time of night that
a summons comes. A few years
ago, as a volunteer smoke eater
in another town, we answered
every nocturnal call, routing the
weary bones and groping for a
pair of pants to slip over the pa
jamas, grabbing turnout coat
and eventually reaching the
scene of the fire still uncertain
whether this was really happen
ing or whether our lost soul
had been transferred to the River
Styx.
By steeling oneself, though, it
is possible to control the old fire
horse tendencies, and a guy can
convince himself that he has a
right to sleep through it. We
have learned to roll over and
drift back into the realms of
morpheus, secure in the know
ledge that here Charlie and his
boys will competently take care
of it, and undoubtedly it's only
a chimney fire anyway.
For some reason the sleep that
we enjoy from 5 to 7 is the best
of the night, being by nature
and vocational necessity a swing
shifter. So when the big blast came
Friday morning just after 6 a. m.
it was as annoying as if a huge
horse fly had suddenly burst in
the bedroom to start his raucous
buzzing. A lot of noise for an
other chimney fire. We rolled
over to take another crack at
dreamland. The pestiferous con
science clamored when the blasts
continued, but by now we were
determined to stay in bed.
Printer Joe Hartle, though, is
a fitting candidate for daylight
time if there ever was one. For
some ridiculous reason, he is up
around 4 a. m. and is about town
for morning coffee often between
5 and 6. We got through the
siren all right, but when Joe
knocked at the apartment door
and yelled that the Elks' build-
Painful Plight of Paper Procrastinarors
We have said it before, and we will say it once more. Prob
ably the most painful duty facing an editor is leaving out
important stories from the paper for the simple reason that
there is no place to put them.
Sadly enough, this happens every week. The thing that makes
it tough is that we know very well that, to someone, the story
we leave out is most important. Quite often the one who is the
victim of the omission is convinced that there are many stories
of far less importance that reached print, and oddly enough,
this may be true.
The basic trouble comes because too many people who want
news in the paper think that Wednesday is soon enough, and
Tuesday is early. But that isn't true. In our little plant, all
the news must be set into type on one machine. Volume of
news now in the paper has probably increased as much as
100 over what it was just a few years ago. One man has to
set that type, and he sticks with it Tuesday and Wednesday
nights until his eyes look like two "burnt holes in a blanket,"
as the saying goes. We have no more mechanical capacity than
the Gazette-Times ever had since the "hand peg" days.
When all the real important news comes Tuesday and Wed
nesday, it is necessary to use less important material to get
the paper started. The printing process is nut done all at once,
but the press starts to roll as early as possible on Wednesday.
It is necessary to use whatever is ready to get out on time.
It is not our intention to leave out legitimate news that is of
significance to our area, but the contributor has an obligation,
too. He should inform us of important events coming up just
as soon as he knows of them so that we can get them on our
calendar and expect them.
For example, when the Jaycees seat belt drive was scheduled
for Heppner, one of the members of the Pendleton organization
called on us well in advance, told us of their plans and asked
for our cooperation. He said that he would send us the details
as soon as plans were completed.
That was exactly the thing to do. We put it on our calendar,
expected it, and when it came we were ready for it. Result
was that it received adequate publicity treatment and the
drive was a success.
On the other hand, an important meeting was scheduled in
Heppner that was to be held this week. Publicity had to be
in the paper last Thursday. We were not advised of the forth
coming meeting until last Tuesday when we received a phone
call, and in the mid-week rush, its significance was overlooked.
Along with some thirty other stories, it was left oot of the paper
because there just was no place to put it without taking out
something else which was equally important to some other
group.
We had failed to realize its significance until we received
an irate call Friday morning, charging that we are prejudiced
against the sponsoring group. We are prejudiced against no
community group lodge, church, civic organization, political
party, nor any other legitimate entity.
We want news of local organizations, and we appreciate
those who are so helpful in letting us know of things going
on. But we ask that those interested in publicity bear a few
things in mind: 1. Do not assume that we know of your important
event coming up until you tell us. 2. Remember that a com
munity the size of ours has more organizations in proportion
to its size than larger cities with consequently greater demands
on the limited paper facilities available. 3. To avoid the painful
plight to which we referred above, do not procrastinate. Get
the word to us at the earliest possible time. 4. Bear in mind
that it is not practicable to run an added page in the paper at
will. This is geared to the amount of advertising and the time
and resources available to produce it. 5. Be sure that we com
prehend the significance of your story.
In case there are any who still do not understand, we cord
ially invite them down at midnight any Wednesday, or at 2
p. m. any Thursday to perspire with us as we attempt to
squeeze all the type We have into the space available.
(0s
v o o AND
YOUR FEET WILL
BE AS GAY AS
A SPRING SONG
In
I Featherweights
wr .
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SI2ES
AAAA-t
414 thru 11
SIZES'
AAA-C
Yi thru 10
CUSHION CIIPI SOLI WITH HEEL FULL WIDOIE CUSHION CRIPI SOLI,
float your fool en million of air bub. Cuihiom ovory Hop you toko. Soft
bin. Soft gloVfc Itolhir. Jtttl arch for glovo loathor. Stool arch for oxtra
xtra lupport. support.
Announcing The Winners in our FREE
GLOVETT Drawing:
Mary J. Lippert, Monument
Muriel Runnion, Heppner
ONTY'
ing was engulfed in fire, we hit
the deck, growling at our stup
idity in not getting up in the
first place.
CHIEF CHARLIE and his smoke
eaters looked as if they had
been on the job for hours when
we arrived on the scene with
camera about 6:20. Charlie,
backed by his firemen, had al
ready gone up the south stair
way in an attempt to stop the
second -story fire but they were
forced to retreat by the intense
heat and dense smoke.
We found young Tom Gonty
on hand with camera, and with
the same thought as ours. To
gether we clambered to Gonty's
roof for a better picture-taking
vantage point. Within a few
minutes, Ed Gonty joined us.
Soon the Elks friends organ
ized a salvage operation and
swarmed in and out of the club
room like ants on a disarranged
anthill. They carried out chairs,
desks, trophy case, files and hun
dreds of articles, each man with
tears running down his cheeks
from the heavy smoke.
ASSISTANT CHIEF Bill Farra
had set up the rural pumper at
the rear of the building and was
attacking the fire from that
point. The steel door at the top
of the fire escape, entry through
which might have meant stop
ping the fire considerably earlier,
yielded to no man until an
acetylene torch was brought, and
the door was burned through.
On the roof of Heppner Auto
Sales a crew poured thousands
of gallons of water on the top
of the fire as flames broke
through. Howard Keithley, H. J.
Stroeber, Fred Gimbel, Herman
Green, Don Stroeber, and Nate
McBride were at it. They placed
ladders against the fire wall
that rises some 12-14 feet above
the Auto Sales building and
climbed up.
When the roaring flames broke
through, the heat was searing,
and only the protective wall of
water from the hoses kept the
firemen from getting scorched
as they poked their heads above
the top of the wall.
Morgan Connor took a posit
ion at the back of the building
and poured water into the in
ferno from his 2y2 inch line. It
got so hot that he had to move
back, but he couldn't leave with
out shutting off the water, and
he could hardly do that without
getting burned. He had a tiger
by the tail. But he managed it.
Avery Taylor grabbed a hose
and cat-walked along the nar
row ledge at the crest of the
wall, not more than a foot wide.
A slip one way would have
plunged him into the fire. A
slip the other way would have
plummeted him 14 feet to the
Auto Sales roof.
FOR A TIME it appeared that
the volume of water was fail
ing to do the job, but the men
stuck at it doggedly and stub
bornly and they gained ground.
Eventually there came a time
when the dense black smoke that
rolled out of the building in a
cloud turned whiter as it became
dissipated with steam. It was
then the smoke eaters knew that
they were getting it controlled.
Wind came up slightly and
shifted to blow to the southeast
to pose another threat, but it
subsided.
Soon only blackened waste re
mained in the upper portion of
the building, and the once proud
and well-furnished lodge hall
was charred chaos.
THERE IS THE old saying,
"There is no great loss but
what there is some small gain."
That is true again in this case.
This emergency showed the
helpfulness and thoughtfulness
of many people. Mr. and Mrs.
Max McCormac of Mack's Cafe
made a big urn of coffee and
took it to the firemen. Strangely
enough, nothing tastes better af
ter an hour or so on the end of
a hose than a cup of coffee. Fred
Gimbel grabbed the insulated
cup that was handed to him and
took a big gulp as if it were
Kool-Aid. That man instantly
was afire inside, too!
The McCormacs also earned
gratitude of the boys by serving
them double portions for break
fast, and the department asked
us to express their appreciation
in print.
NEWS of the fire traveled fast
through the countryside, and
many neighbors from other
towns responded. Charles O'Con
nor of lone arrived to has his
townspeople could be of help,
and a crew was standing by
there. But at no time did it
appear that the fire was getting
away, and no extra aid was
summoned.
OVER THE week-end liniment
sales at the drug stores must
have been booming. Even the
more active firemen found mus
cles they hadn't used in a long
time as they ran up and down
ladders, hoisted hose and clam
bered about the premises.
"THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED"
was a thoroughly delightful
play, and its director, Mrs.
Maurice (Janet) Groves did a
superb job on it. One long-time
citizen here declared it was the
best play that the high school
had ever presented.
It is always a revelation to
see what the high school kids
can do when they get on the
stage. Probably not many ever
intended to become actors, but
the experiences for them is won
derful, and it brings out hidden
talents.
We particularly enjoyed the
clever little touches that the di
rector worked into this play
the paper boy (Randy Stillman)
riding his bike across the front
and tossing a paper on to the
porch as naturally as if he were
making his morning rounds
down the avenue the actors
making their entrance from the
front the use of inkblot slides
in the play the excellent stage
setting (that we'd wager Mrs.
Groves' contractor husband had
a hand in).
The entire cast did a wonder
ful job. Rodney Ayers as the ab
sentminded bird fancier surely
put his whole physical being
into his work and got hearty
laughs for it. His falls were
neatly executed and after going
through them three nights in a
row and at rehearsals, he should
be black and blue all over.
It is apparent that Mrs. Groves
is dedicated to her work as di
rector and the interest reflects in
the production.
ENGAGED in an unusual and
valuable project are pupils in
Mrs. Harold (Inez) Erwin's 6th
grade class. They are studying
Willow Creek and its drainage,
and Wednesday took a field
trip as far towards the source
as they could go, accompanied
by extension and soil conserva
tion helpers. They are making a
relief map of the 70-mile long
creek, studying its tributaries,
plant and animal life along the
creek and other interesting
points in the science project.
Winning Exhibits
To Be on Display
At NW Science Fair
Oregon museum of Science and
Industry, Portland, will play host
May 25-26 to more than 600 sci
ence fair exhibits which will be
on display during the Northwest
Science Fair.
Approximately 14 students
from Umatilla-jMorrow area will
be eligible to enter exhibits in
the fair.
Students eligible to enter this
fair are the gold medal winners
from school and regional fairs
throughout Oregon and south
west Washington.
Winners of the Future Scien
tists of America competition and
finalists in the Oregon State Sci
ence Talent Search will also
have projects on display.
Subjects range all the way
from a linear accelerator to a
study of soap bubbles. Experi
mentation and scientific investi
gation have been emphasized in
this year's projects.
Gold medal winners of the
three competitions will be invit
ed to attend the Science Award
Dinner May 26
They found that little material
on the subject is available and
have aroused the interest of lo
cal agencies.
We hope to publish results of
this study.
COMMUNITY I
) BILLBOARD I
Coming Events
SPRING MUSIC CONCERT
High School Band, Chorus,
Grade School Honor Band
Benefit of Scholarship Fund
Wednesday, May 23, 8 p. m.
High School Gymnasium
Adm. 75c 50c, 25c
BASEBALL GAME
Varsity vs. Faculty
Tonight (Thursday) 7:00 P. M.,
under the lights
Adults, 50c; children, 10c
AWARD ASSEMBLY
High School Students Awards
Tuesday, May 22, 7:30 p. m.
High School Gymnasium
This space will be used
each week ,to announce com
ing events of a public service
nature at no charge.
SPONSORED AS A PUBLIC
SERVICE BY
C. A. RUGGLES
Insurance Agency
Heppner
P. O. Box 611 PH. 6-9625
To All Who Helped
During Our Fire
We Extend Our Grateful And Sincere
Appreciation.
It is impossible to thank everyone individually. In
fact, dozens lended a hand to protect our property
and that .of others in a truly neighborly spirit, with
no thought of receiving credit nor compensation
and without bothering even to be identified.
To all those who shared in battling the fire, or in
any manner had a part in helping, we extend this
message of gratitude in the hope that each ont' will
know it is intended for him.
We can find no words sufficient to express our
thanks to the members of the Fire Department who
did such efficient and valiant work in fighting the
fire. We feel tremendously fortunate in having such
reliable and unselfish men as these volunteering
their services to us and our community.
B.P.O.E. No. 358
By Conley Lanham, Exalted Ruler
I 1
(Adrrrtliioitat)