LIBRARY
U OF 0
EUGENE, ORE.
xercises Held;
Grads Set Mark
In Scholarships
(Pictures on Page Two)
By HELEN SHERMAN
Challenged by Its class motto.
Looking Toward New Horizons
the graduating class of Heppner
High school was inspired by
speakers and atmosphere as it
sac wnn ciignuy tnrough com
meneement exercises Tuesday
evening, May 2V, on the hifh
scnool gymnasium stage.
Thrills were experienced, too
as many received scholarship
awarcis ior outstanding citizen
ship and scholastic achievements.
A new record was set in the
lotal amount of $6,045 that was
made available this year for
use of students in furthering
ineir education in college.
Dr. Hester Turner, guest speak
er, newiy-seiected dean of stu
dents at Lewis and Clark col
lege, Portland, stirred the class
into realization of its indcpen
denee, as of now, from close
school bonds and that now each
will be challenged to think In
dependently.
She said each graduate must
answer tor himself the Question
"Who am I, and what must I
cio now 7"
"Your lives will be full of
important choices, and it is up
to you to choose the best one
for you," she said. "We need
people who can think indepen
dently. America differs from
Russia in that we do not want
the 'master nlan' where all stu
dents are channeled into the the
same 'end product (scientists).
An individual is important here
even it he is a square we
develop the corners, instead of
trying to cut them off. Learn now
to make decisions independently
and prepare yourself for change
and always be ready to adipt
10 new situations."
Before the class processed to
music by the high school band,
yenow tapers were lighted on
the platform by junior class rep
resentatives, .'nannon Mahoney
ana LeKoy Gardner. The candel
abra were banked by tall bas
kets of yellow chrysanthemums.
the class flower. Above the stage
hung an acqua-colored foil cloud
with "Class of 1962" outlined
in yellow chrysanthemums in
side. Junior class escorts were
Lorraine Leonnig and Dick
Spring.
Guests were welcomed by a
salutatory speech by Judy Anne
Schmidt, and she reminded her
classmates of the "hallway of
doors we will need to open as
we follow the paths leading to
success and our ultimate goals.
Each of us holds his own keys
to the doors leading toward his
own horizons."
Mrs. Sam Miller, accompanied
by Mrs. C. C. Carmichael, sang
a vocal solo, "I Will Lift Up
Mine Eyes."
Sandra Harshman gave the
valedictory address, emphasizing
the need for her classmates to
follow the "road of individuality,
through development of enthus
iasm, sincerity, friendliness,
sense of values and definite pur
pose." Gordon R. Pratt, high school
principal, presided over the
awarding of leadership and
scholastic awards.
Miss Esther Kirmis, county ex
tension agent, presented the an
nual 4-11 scholarship to Libby
Van Schoiack, a 9-year 4-H club
member. The $200 award is given
by the Union Pacific Railroad to
one girl in each of the 19 coun
ties which it serves. Through
the adult home extension unit,
Libby was elected to live in the
Azalea House at Oregon State
University, while she is train
ing for a career in home
economics.
Representing Heppner Elks
lodge youth committee, Conley
Lanham announced recipients of
four scholarships and one leader
ship award. First place for girls
($200) went to Sandra Harsli
man, and second place ($100)
to Judv Schmidt. First place for
boys was awarded Kenneth Dag
geit, and second place to D"ii
aid Clark, for the same amounts.
Sandra Harshman also won an
Elks leadership award of $50.
Mrs. E. E. Gonty, Soroptimist
club president, announced Bev
erly Blake as winner of its $100
scholarship award. The high
school good citizenship award,
enabling her to attend a summer
camp of her choice, went to
Phyllis Nelson, and from the
grade school, Diane Schaffitz re
ceived the camp award.
PTA scholarships were an
nounced by Mrs. L. E. Dick, local
president. Tuition scholarships
lor two girls entering the field
of teaching were awarded Linda
Van Winkle and Beverly Blake
in the amount equal to full tu
ition and fees at EOC, but usable
at any state school. Mrs. Dick
also asked members of the class
who had been together in ihe
first class of kindergarten in
Heppner to stand. There were
about 10 graduates who had
started kindergarten and gene
through all vears of school here
together.
Arnold Melbv, band director,
thanked the community for its
support of the music scholar
ship prgoram and announced
that Judy Schmidt and Don
Clark were awarded $100 each
fur use in college entrance. Judy
also won the John Philip Souta
award for service in the music
department.
An honor certificate for leader
ship from the University of Ore
gon was presented Linda Van
Winkle by Mr. Pratt, who pre
sented most of the awards and
honors.
The lone Lions club award,
presented for the first time this
year, went to Judy Schmidt as
outstanding senior girl, and to
Eddie Howard as outstanding
senior bo v.
Fifty dollars will be applied
by the club toward the second
term of the college of their
choice.
An award given annually by
the Kinzua Pine Mills of $500
was divided between two senior
bovs, Ron Creswick and Donald
Clark.
The Future Homemaker award,
given for outstanding service in
(Continued on Page 6)
Delegation Tells
Of Highway Need
A delegation of men from Mor
row and Gilliam counties Friday
once more brought to the atten
tion of the State Highway Com
mission the need for an improved
highway from Heppner to High
way 30, and this time they were
backed by the support ol bam
Mailicoat, director of ths State
Department of Planning and De
velopment. Meeting at their appointed
time with the commission at
11:30 a. m. in Salem were three
from Morrow county, Judge Os
car Peterson and Assessor Oliver
Creswick, both of Heppner, and
Garland bwanson of lone, to
gether with Leo Barnctt of Con
don and the Rev. Wilmer Edges
of Arlington, all of whom spoke,
together with several others from
Gilliam county.
Mailicoat told the commission
that the department of planning
and development supports a new
route from Morgan to Arlington
because of the Boeing develop
ment. Creswick summarized points
brought out in six resolutions
that the Morrow delegation took
to the meeting, and the reso
lutions were turned over to the
commission. Judge Peterson act
ed as leader of the group.
Although the comm i s s 1 o n
made no promises and again
pointed out the lack of funds,
as well as the great demand for
highway projects, cooperation
seemed to be "much better,"
Judge Peterson said.
The Henpner-Morrow county
Chamber of Commerce has made
plans to continue being repre
sented at coming commission
meetings until some definite im
provement ot the hignway is
assured.
Former Residents
Hurt in Accident
When Mr. and Mrs. John
Graves of Hardman went to Port
land last Thursdav to visit her
narents. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Wil
cox, they arrived just after the
elderly couple had been invoivea
in a two-car auto accident near
Grcsham.
Mr. Wilcox. 83. received trac-
tureH ribs and is confined to i
hospital in Gresham this week.
His wife, Ethel, 74, sustained a
broken leg but was released from
the hospital Friday. Also in the
Wilcox car were their daughter
and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs.
Ed Brosten, Boville, Idaho. lie
suffered a broken pelvic bone
and is confined to the Gresham
hospital, and his wife, Eva, re
ceived some bruises and was
shaken up but has been released.
The accident occurred just af
ter Mr. Wilcox had stopped at
a four-way flashing warning sig
nal. A car approached from the
side just as Wilcox started up
and hit his vehicle broadside.
The only occupant of the other
vehicle was not injured.
Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox lived in
Lexington for many years.
Becket Recovering
After Eye Operation
Harold Becket, owner of Becket
Equipment Company, is recover
ing from an operation performed
in the Walla Walla General hos
pital Tuesday, May 22, when one
of his eyes was removed. He is
reported to be making good im
provement after the delicate and
painful operation.
The eve was injured in his
shop some years ago and another
injury about one year ago aggra
vated the condition, Mrs. Becket
said. At various times he had
bits of metal removed from it.
Recently ulcers developed, and
a specialist said that it would be
necessary to remove the eye to
save the other one that was
being affected by it.
Mrs. Becket said that her hus
band had been "awfully sick'
following the operation, and the
strain on his nerves was severe,
but he has shown rapid improve
ment and has been able to spend
some time in a limited capacity
in his shop.
It is necessary for him to re
turn periodically to the hospital
for treatment. He went over
Tuesday and expects to go again
Monday.
10 Cents
wf ''j JF"
CONSERVATION MAN of the Year title In Morrow county is shared this year by a father and son
operation, Elmer Palmer (riqht), the father, and Roger Palmer (left), the son, in the Elmer Palmer
and Son ranches at Eightmile. The two are pictured in their stubble-mulched summer tallow, and
their strip cropping system is visible In the background. (q.t photo)
Father and Son Team
Share Conservation Title
(Pictures also page 3, Sec. 2)
Conservation Man of the Year
one of the foremost honors
given annually in Morrow coun
tyis a title shared this year
by a father and son combination,
Elmer Palmer, the father, and
Roger Palmer, the son, who op
erate as Palmer and Son on their
ranches at Eightmile.
Making the selection for the
Morrow County Wheatgrowers'
association, sponsoring organi
zation, was a committee com
posed of Paul Tews, lone, chair
man; Bob Rietmann, lone; Ray
mond Lundell, lone; and V ;rnon
Munkers, Lexington, 1961 Con
servation Man of the Year in the
county.
The Palmers will be presented
at the annual meeting of the
association, and Tri-County
Equipment Company will pay
tribute to their achievements hi
conservation work by awarding
them the traditional plaque.
Elmer Palmer, a native of the
county, was raised on the old
Laurence Palmer ranch nonh
west of Lexington. He started
farming in 1933 on the old Hoon
place west of Hardman in 1933,
and shortly after he married
Muriel Patterson, who was reared
in lone and graduated from lone
High school.
They farmed the Hoon place
until they bought the Redding
place less than a mile south of
the Eightmile post office in the
spring of 1944. The original 1240
acres has been expanded until
the ranch now consists of 4,030
acres. All of this is under tneir
ownership with the exception of
800 acres which is rented from
the Palmer estate. To the old
Redding place was added 320
acres, then known as the Batty
place, together with 750 acres
of grassland, known as the old
Harshman place, and a 153C
acre ranch near Rock Creek, 1?
miles from the home ranch.
Son Roger has ranched with
his father since his graduation
6fch Graders Report on
Talks on the Willow Creek
watershed and its far-reaching
importance in Morrow county
were given, not by a learned
scientist nor a prominent govern
ment official, but by four sixth
grade Heppner school children
at the Chamber of Commerce
meeting Monday.
The four, taught by Mrs.
Harold (Inez) Erwin, gave facts
learned in the science project
undertaken by their class and
which was climaxed by a field
trip to the upper watershed of
the creek recently.
Mrs. Erwin introduced the
children and told of the organi
zation, planning and preparation
involved in the project. She said
that she assumed the role of
"learner' on the field trip and
"instructors" were Ralph Rich
ards of the Soil Conservation of
Prospecte
Gazett
- 1
from Heppner High school in
1954. He married the former Snir
ley Peck and they have four
children.
The Palmers established their
first strip cropping in 1919 when
a long sloping field on the oiig
inal ranch was eroding too much
to suit Elmer. Permanent grass
strips were established at this
time, and they were later plowed
up to establish an alternate sum
mer fallow grain system to pro
tect their wheat and barley allot
ment base.
Success of this strip cropping
led to contour stripping of an
other steep field on the home
place. Because of a great loss of
soil from the Palmer Estate crop
land of 600 acres, 380 acres were
established in strip cropping this
spring. Five diversion ditches
also will break uo the ens.on
pattern on this ranch, loading
the water into grassed water
ways. These diversion ditoh'.-s
were used to set the contour
for strips.
All fallow is stubble-mulched
this year, made by double disc
ing for the first operation, going
over it with a (iranam-iio.'nie
plow with points. It will be fol
lowed by the skew treader to
even out the straw, then another
working with the Graham-Hocme
with shovels, and linally rod
weeded. Initial operation was
done with a lightweight tandem
disc so that stubble was not
destroyed hut early growth was.
Forty acres in the 750 acres of
grassland on the old Harshman
place were cleared of sagebiush
with the noble blade which de
stroyed competition so that na
tive grasses would do well.
On the Rock Creek ranch the
cropland was seeded to pubes
cent wheatgrass, nomad and la
dak alfalfa, a part of the soil
bank program. Heavy infes
tations of sagebrush have been
eradicated by use of a brush
beater, the patches then plowed
up and cropped to grain before
fice, Robert Booth of the U. S.
Forest Service, Glen Ward of the
Fish and Game commission, and
Joe Hay of the county extension
office, all of whom accompanied
the class.
David Hall told of the purpose
of the study and explained,
"Without water we could not
live."
A watershed must have plant
life, he pointed out; hence, the
study of this related subject was
undertaken. Students took tem
perature of the Willow Creek
water on their trip to Cutsforth
park, measured its depth, and
checked its condition. They found
the temperature to be 49 de
grees and the creek to range
from five to 14 inches deep.
Ricky Gimbel told of the study
of precipitation and discussed
four major floods and 11 minor
Heppner, Oregon, Thursday, May 31, 1962
seeding to permanent grasses.
Three springs have been de
veloped for livestock water to
make for good distribution of
stock. The ranch is divided into
three different pastures which
allows for deferring and rotating.
l tie l'aimers have also develop
ed some dryland seeding of alf
alfa on wasteland area above
their home, and this is used
as a part of their hay supply
for 80 head of cattle which they
run on their ranch.
When visited to interview
them concerning the Conserva
tion Man honor, Elmer and Mur
iel were; in the process of moving
into their fine new home.
"We got tired of trying to keep
tin? floor in the old house from
sagging and realized that we
were putting a lot of money into
it," Elmer said, "and so we de
cided to build a new house."
Klmer did much of the inside
work himself, and the couple is
already enjoying life in their
new home. Mrs. Palmer's modern
kitchen shows the progressive
spirit of the family.
Roger and his family live in
a home they built on the place,
close to the old family home,
when he and Shirley were mar
ried. View from both father's
and son's homes overlook a vast
area of farmland, alternating
bright green and brown from
growing crop and summer fallow
at this time of year, with moun
tain peaks looming up on the
distant horizon.
League Farm Team
Practice Call Out
Bud Mashall, farm team man
ager of the Little League or
ganization, announces a call to
all boys between the ages of
eight and 12 who are not play
ing Little League baseball to re
port for farm team practice at
the league field Saturday morn
ing at 9:00 a. m.
Willow Watershed
floods that are on record in
Heppner. Flood waters wash
away and ruin plant cover, he
said. Of the 890 square miles
in the watershed, 100 slquare
miles are forested. "This is not
enough," he said. Fall of
water in Willow Creek averages
60 feet per mile for its 70-mile
length.
Amanda Smith told of soil
conservation in relation to the
watershed and discussed various
methods of irrig a t i o n. She
brought out how even beavers
play an important part in flood
control with the dams they build.
Sheila Luciani told of how
weeds destroy plant life neces
sary to the watershed. Two
thirds of the moisture that falls
in the form of snow and rain
in the watershed is lost in run
off through Willow Creek, site
said. Sheila also told of testing
lest Since
Times
79th Year, Number 13
Swimmers Requested
To Buy Tickets Now
For Coming Season
City crews are getting the
municipal swimming pool in
shape for the coming summer
season, and it is tentatively
planned to open the pool on
Saturday, June 9, depending
on whether it can be made
ready by that time, Recorder
Ted Smith said Thursdav.
All who plan to use the pool
are urged to buy tickets at the
city hall now. A family season
ticket sells for $18. Season
ticket for an individual adult
is $9, for a high school student
SO, and for a grade school
student $1. For daily swims
without a season ticket an
adult is charged 50c, high
school student 25c and grade
school pupil 15c.
Tickets should be purchased
at the city hall and not at the
pool, Smith said.
At this time city crews are
painting the pool, and they ex
pect to have the work done
Monday. At least two days dry
ing time is required, after
which other work must be
completed prior to the opening.
It is expected that the open
ing day, whenever It is, will
be a "free" day to start the
season off witli a bang, the
city recorder said.
Port, Rural Fire
Budgets Printed
Printed In this paper are bud
gets for 1962-G3 and notices of
budget meetings for the port of
Morrow and the Heppner Rural
Fire Protection district. Second
printing of the Port of Morrow
budget will be on June 7 and
second printing of the fire dis
trict budget will be on June 14
to meet legal requirements.
Budget hearing for the Port of
Morrow is scheduled for Thurs
day, June 21, at 8 p. m. in the
Morrow county cour t h o u s e,
Heppner, and hearing for the
fire district budget will be Mon
day, June 25, in the fair build
ing annex, Heppner, also at 8
p. m.
Total expenditures of all funds
In the port budget, including
general and port facilities, are
estimated in the port budget at
$06,601. Estimated receipts and
cash balances are listed at $41,-
354. Tax levy for the year, all
within the six per cent limi
tation, is placed at $28,100.
The fire district budget calls
for total expenditures of $6,095,
and tax levy of $0,245, including
$150 estimated in taxes that will
not be received by the end of
the fiscal year. The total is with
in the six per cent limitation.
Fire district budget Is printed
on page two, this section; and
Port of Morrow budget is on page
four, section two.
McNary Golfers
To Visit Sunday
Golfers from McNary will be
guests of the Willow Creek Golf
club Sunday with men starting
to tee off at 9 a. m. and the
women at 10 a. m., Clint Mc
Quarrie, local club president, an
nounces. Some 20 men and 10 women
from the visiting course are ex
pected, and the local club would
like to have as many of its mem
bers present to greet them as
possible. Prizes will be awarded
for various events during the
play. Men will play 18 holes
and the women will play nine.
the water in the creek and d s
covering that it is unfit to drink.
Mrs. Erwin had enlisted help
of a number of agencies in pre
paring for the project. Others,
in addition to those mentioned
above, included the State Water
Resources board, the Army Corps
of Engineers, and Leonard L.
Gilliam, weather observer. Par
ents who helped were Mr. a id
Mrs. Gene Hall, in charge of the
cookout at Cutsforth park after
the class sessions; Mr. and Mrs.
David McLeod; and Floyd Jones.
In connection with the pro
ject, maps, elevation charts, pre
cipitation charts and other
charts were made.
Fifth and sixth grade mnsic
students of Mrs. Ola Mae Ben
son also appeared on the pro
gram to present several cute
numbers. David Hall was master
of ceremonies for the group.
May
Give
Rains
Boost
On Growth
Outlook for the prnln ernn In
Morrow county at this time is
the best that it has been since
the 1948 season, County Agent
Nels Anderson said Tuesday af
ter touring various areas of the
county with Howard Cushman,
extension soils specialist.
i ciont remember when the
prospects looked better unless
it was in 1948," he said.
Unusually heavv nrpHnitntinn
for May, together with moderate
temperature, has contributed to
the favorable conditions.
"We found the summer fallow
full of moisture," Anderson said.
It not another drop of rain
comes between now and harvest.
mere will be enough."
May Rainfall Posts
New Record Locally
With a total of 3.27 inches
of rain recorded, the month
of May has posted a new
record for precipitation in
Heppner, Leonard L. Gilliam,
weather observer, said Thurs
day. Only twice before, since
records have been kept, has
the rainfall topped three inches
in May in 1912 with 3.15 and
in 1925 with 3.17.
Total rainfall for the year
to date is listed at 7.12 inches.
The current week's report
shows .36 inch of rain, coming
last Thursday and Friday.
With the 1.73 of last week,
the total for the two weeks
exceeded two Inches.
Report for the week:
(Leonard Gilliam, observer)
Hi
Lo
Prec.
Thursday
54
57
66
74
67
64
64
44
45
42
53
43
36
38
.33
.03
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
However, with some five or
six weeks still to go before har
vest starts in July, there are
still some question marks stand
ing in the way of a bumper crop.
One of the foremost of these is
the possibility that weather may
urn hot. Hall storms, too, could
wreak damage to the wheat and
barley.
The county agent said that
spring seeded grain has still
"quite a ways to go yet," but
added that harvest In Morrow
county seems to come at about
the same time regardless of the
season and when the crop was
seeded. The start comes in the
north end of the county shortly
after July 4. However, it could
be as late as July 15 In some
places in the northern part of
the county with the southern
ranchers harvesting later as us
ual. At this time there seems to be
no evidence of rust, Anderson
said. Some warm weather but
not unusually hot could make
the crop grow even more rapidly
than it has been in the past few
weeks.
Rain of last week brought from
1.25 lo 1.50 Inches in various
places around the county and
contributed to one of the heav
iest month's precipitations for
May that has ever been recorded
here, Anderson said. Some ranch
ers report more than 3 inches
of rain in the month
Part of the barley crop Is head
ed out and wheat is getting
ready to head out, the county
agent reported.
Bechtel Brothers
Awarded Contract
Bechtel Bros, of La Grande was
awarded a contract for construc
tion of the addition to the A. C.
Houghton school, Irrigon, after
bids were opened last Thursday
by Morrow County School District
R-l board of directors. The low
bid was $135,287 for the project
which will include a library,
cafetorium, two classrooms and
an office.
Six bids were received on the
project, and the low bid was
considered by the board to be
quite favorable. Bechtel Bros,
constructed Unlt-A school In
Heppner last year.
Construction is scheduled to
start early in June and com
pletion is anticipated by the end
of October. The addition will be
wood frame with brick veneer.
Heppner Auto Sales received
a contract from the board for
furnishing two school buses, one
a 66 -passenger bus and the other
24-passenger. The larger bus is
scheduled for use at Irrigon and
Boardman, and the smaller one
will be used at lone. It is hoped
to have the buses ready for use
by the time school starts In the
fall.
Wrangler Ride Set
For Dougherty Ranch
The fourth and final play day
ride for the Wranglers club will
be held at the Jerry Dougherty
ranch Sunday, June 3.
All riders who wish to ride
from Heppner to the Dougherty
ranch are asked to meet at the
fairground barns at 9:30 a. m.
Sunday morning, according to
the chairman, Rod Murray.