Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 15, 1962)
iiPBowpn ftBTiPTTr.TiMES. Thursdetv. November IS, 1962 milllllllllllllllllimillll IIIIIIIHIHIIIIIII l HMIIIIIIIMMIIIIIlHIMMIIIIIMMHIIIIItlllllllllllll the mt mW' HEPPNER GAZETTE-TIMES MOBROW COUNTY'S NEWSPAPER PHONE 676-9228 I'he Heppner Gazette, established March 30. 1883. The Heppner Times established November 18, 1897. consolidated ueDruary 10 1912. HELEN E. SHERMAN Associate Publisher NATIONAL EDITORIAL WESLEY A. SHERMAN Editor and Publisher NEWSPAPER "ASSOCIATION Subscription Rates: Morrow and Grant Counties, $4.00 Year; Else where $4.50 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. IIIISIIIIISISIIIIISIIISIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIltllMHIIIIIIISIIIlllillIMIIMIIIIIIIIIlllllllll'MMMSIIIIIIIIIISIISSISSSSIIISW 'Bob-Toiled' Budgets Won't Do The Legislative Interim Committee on Local Government last Friday held a meeting in Salem to consider the report of the Local Budget Law Advisory committee. In the report was recommendation for a new bill that would substantially alter the present law on publication of budgets. As provided under the recommendation, budgets could be published in summary, doing away with the itemized form that has been used. Publication of the summary budgets would be a minimum requirement for municipal corporations, such as cities, county governments, and some types of taxing dis tricts. Result of this would be, in essence, that the public would get even less information on how its money is being spent for public purposes. It is getting more difficult all the time for a person to keep abreast of what is going on in government, as was pointed out in a lengthy editorial in this column several months ago. To curtail the information available on public funds is a step that should be indignantly opposed by all tax payers. It may be that many persons do not read the budgets when they are published, but on the other hand, many others do, and they in turn, spread the word to those less informed. The rijjfht for all to read them is fundamental and should be re tained. News media have an extremely difficult time trying to reach the public on information of importance to citizens. It would be too much to ask of a newspaper that it explain in detail in its news columns about all proposed budgetary items, but the public has a right to know. Papers customarily run stories coincident with publication of budgets to help explain them, but this is not a legal obligation. It is a courtesy consis tent with the avowed responsibility of the press. Earle Richardson of the Polk County Itemizer-Observer testified at the hearing Friday that legal publication rates for weekly newspapers, fixed by state law, have climbed only slightly in the past 30 years, from 10c a line to 13c a tine for first insertion and from 5c a line to 8c a line for subsequent insertions. This is moderate payment for this type of com position and certainly does not reflect the general inflation of the past 30 years and certainly hasn't kept pace with rise in printers' wages during that period. Citizens who are really concerned about losing a grip on government should become concerned about this bill. They may express themselves by contacting the legislators on the Committee on Local Government: Rep. Edward J. Whelan, chairman; Rep. Beulah Hand, vice-chairman; Sen. Eddie Ahiens, Sen. Richard Chapman, Sen. Ward Cook, Sen. Robert Straub, Rep. Hob Chappel, Rep- Edward Fadeley, Rep. William (iwinn. It has been our criticism in the past that budgets have already become too concealing and too abbreviated for the general public interest. To "bob-tail" them further would be a step just exactly in the wrong direction. Community College Funds in Jeopardy? With a recent statement made by State Senator Ren Musa of The Dalles (whose district includes Morrow county), there is some concern about future of state funds for community colleges. He was reported as being in favor of withdrawing state funds for community colleges, but a television program Tuesday night quoted him as saying that he did not make such a state ment but only that the matter be "reviewed." This possibility of withdrawal of state funds was something that some may have considered when the Blue Mountain Com munity was "sold" here, but little was said about it. The con sensus seemed to be that the state support was established and would not be rescinded. The preliminary brochures distributed here showed these figures for the proposed Blue Mountain College: Total annual operating budget, $ i:i(),l(X), of which $1280,754 was to come from state aid, $121,051 from student fees and $22,51)8 from local area support. The $22,598 from "area support" was to be assessed on property in the Umatilla-Morrow district and was to be about 210th of a mill. As it turned out, the budget was considerably higher be cause other things were not taken into account. Actual millago In Morrow county is not great for the l!H2-(3 tax year at 1.1 mills, but it is more than five times as high as it was originally expected to be. The public seemed to approve, nevertheless, and passed the budget by a large margin. But the threat of losing state support if it turns out to be a real threat would change the picture considerably. It would throw the biggest share of the community college budget on the property tax roll in the district and would be a much greater load iii future years than Is now being paid. Pressure on the state for funds particularly for higher education is great, and there may lie some effort to sidetrack community colleges with the thinking that other institutions are more important. Apparently the AFL-CIO is getting con cerned about the matter, too, for it was reported Tuesday that they are opposed to elimination of state support for technical vocational training as being of lesser importance than other education. It is to be hoped that Senator Musa is not in favor of withdrawing stale support for community colleges and that he is cognizant of the feeling in this part of the district. It is a matter that the public here should keep an eye on. Suggestion to the OSAA Now that the facts of the 19-19 lone-Crane game have been reviewed in the disappointed calm that followed the contest at lone, it is apparent that the Cardinals lost the right to go into the state semi finals, not by some 70 yards that the officials had announced, but by the whisker-thin margin of two yards. A story elsewhere gives details. There is no "beef" about it from lone, but the incident may well be called to the attention of the Oregon School Activities Association to prevent embarrassing situations in the future. Tie football games are not at all a rarity in playoffs, and are decided on the basis of yardage gained. Officials at the lone-Crane game were in too much of a hurry. They wouldn't even measure Ione's last gain, the play having been in progress when the final gun sounded, to see if It were a first down. Many spectators thought it was. The referee declared it didn't make any difference, since yardage was the determining factor. But it did make a difference to lone supporters, who would like to have the consolation of knowing, in the face of defeat, that the Cards scored one more first down than the visitors in the tie game. Rules of the OSAA seem pretty vague on these tie games, especially in quarter finals. The officials in this case tallied the totals on an adding machine immediately after the game and before the excitement and pressures of the contest had died away. It is only human that in the confusion they made an error, but in the interests of fairness it should be guarded against in the future. The OSAA could devise a form that would list all yardage gained, as compiled from the statistician's hook, and this could have places for coaches', officials' and principals' signatures who would have the right and the obligation to review the figures. These certification signatures would be necessary be fore the game was official. Sure, it's only a game, but when the kids work as they do to win, in the interests of fair play they are entitled to a completely objective decision. Elks Say, 'Know Your America' November 18 to 24 is 'Know Your America Week' and Elks lodges around the nation are calling attention to the need for all citizens to talk, act, and live American patriotism. Heppner's lodge is joining in this emphasis and point out that L. A. Donaldson, grand exalted ruler, declares, "America is an idea 'that all men are created equal, that they are en dowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.' "I am sick of hearing whines about what's wrong with America," says the Grand Exalted Ruler. "Let's get up and shout about what's good about America. Let us show our youngsters yes, and their elders, too that America is not just a piece of real estate. "Go forth to serve America!" In this venture, all citizens can heartily Join with the Elks and should pause sometime in the next few days to give some thought to it. 150-Year Trip to Pluto Dr. Walter Hiltner came up with some rather staggering figures on space exploration in his talk at the Columbia Basin Electric Co-op annual meeting Friday. Among them was the information that it will take 150 years to make the long trip to the planet Pluto, traveling at some 35,000 to 40,000 miles per hour. Well, if humans ever make the jaunt it will be after we have perfected longevity considerably more than at present, or produce a couple of succeeding generations en route. Chaff and Chatter Wes Sherman THE DAY was overcast and gloomy, everyone seemed tired and worn for no apparent reason, and occasional raindrops fell outside. In short, everything con tributed to a condition of being low in spirits. From across the street stepped our jaunty jeweler, Randall Pet erson. He burst into the office whistling as gaily as one of the Seven Dwarfs of Snow White fame. Suddenly the whole atmos phere changed with his cheer ful mood. The dingy walls bright ened, the rain drops looked like silvery pearls splattering on the street. "What makes you so happy?" we inquired of Randall in some wonderment. "No partciular reason," he re plied. "Just makes a person feel good to whistle. Try it." He con cluded his business and left, and the indescribable tune that came forth faded in the distance while we gazed at his departing figure with reflection. We puckered our lips to give it a try. But the raucous notes that came forth sounded as if we have been eating crackers. However, the mood lingered on and it was a brighter day from there on out. WE'VE BEEN hearing all kinds of nice things about Pioneer Memorial hospital that should be passed on. The other day, some one told us of a relative who had been transferred from a large city hospital to Pioneer. We asked how the patient was progressing, and the reply was that he is doing fine. Then the person went on to point out how wonderful the treatment is at the local hospital as compared with the impersonal reception in the larger hospitals. It made one almost yearn to get sick nere. Then Mrs. Chapin came in yesterday to report on Ambrose's condition. He is mucn oetter al ter a recent heart attack. She was profuse in her praise of Pioneer Memorial and said mat everyone there was "just won derful" to her husband from Administrator Will O'Harra, to the nurses, to even Bob Lowe, custodian, who normally would not be required to have much contact with the patients. The hospital sits on the hill in a fine location as a beauti ful building. It is good to know that the treatment inside is as good as the structure appears outside. A SUBSCRIBER in Alaska really must enjoy getting the Ga zette-Times. He renewed tha other day and sent as payment of the $4.50 annual subscription the following: A $2.JlJ Morrow countv property tax refund check, duly endorsed; two small refund checks from Sears and Roebuck totalling $1.18; and the balance in nickles and dimes stuck in a cardboard mounting that he apparently had fashion ed without benefit of knife. HEPPNER football fans who were so disappointed when Bums beat the Mustangs, 20-13, and thereby prevented the home 11 from getting into the state playoffs may take keen conso lation In one of the football scores reported as of Friday in the A 2 quarter finals: Vale 41. Burns 6. Ouch! The inlanders must be saying. "That smarts!" SOME FIRMS who do their sell ing bv direct mail must em ploy psychologists to think up new gimmicks. Among the junk mail reaching our office the other day was a letter from an insurance company, seeking bus iness, stamped outside: "Please Do Not Open Until After 8 P. M." Apparently the psycnoiogy is that a busy businessman might be more receptive to a few min utes of persuing the company's nlea in the comfort of an easy chair than he would in the hustle and bustle of a business day. (Note to the psychologist: ou 11 have to think up a new idea. It went into file 13). IT IS ornery of us to pass this on. but we lust can t contain ourselves. Mel Dixon, pastor of the Methodist church here, said that Rev. Bill Briggs of the Ar lington Methodist church, an ar dent fisherman, went salmon fishing one day. He tried all day but had no luck. Ashamed to come home aim report his failure to his wife, he stopped a stand or store and bought a couple of nice salmon. He brought them home and left them in the kitchen without comment. Mrs. Briggs, who was used to getting the fruits of her husband's hobby, took the latest catch In stride. She promptly gave the two fish to the neigh bors. ONE OF the elk stories that needs to be passed on is one reported by Orville Cutsforth. He was hunting with one "Shank" Smith at Mallory Flats (where ever that is). Shank had a .348 Winchester rifle and went out to reconnoiter. He hopped up on a small evergreen blowdown that was nearly horizontal and balanced himself as the sus pended tree, still partially se cured by its roots, bobbed up and down. As he looked, he saw neip Defend It! KN0WY0UH AMERICA WEEK NOVEMBER 18-24 a whole herd of elk heading towards him and he excitedly started preparations for a kill. A big cow, however, came run ning out of the herd and jump ed over the end of the evergreen, causing it to bob all the more. A calf ran underneath. As Shank desperately continued to balance himself, his Winchester .348 fired harmlessly straight up in the air and the herd went thund ering by. AT THE last meeting of the city council, the boys had a little problem on their hands. Myron Huston, who works at the city dump, lost another pitchfork in the fire and burned a handle off. This has happened several times, and Myron him self said that he has lost at least two that he paid for him self at about $5 each. What to do about it? Some one must have told the city dads to go to the devil and check to see what he does in pergatory. Anyway, they came up with the answer. They are going to get a steel pipe and weld it on the pitchfork for the handle. TO THOSE who do not receive Inklings from Mail-Well En velope Co. via the Gazette-Times, we will repeat this one from the last issue: A truck driver was stopped by a policeman for holding up tranic. beems he kept stopping his truck, getting out, and pounding on the sides of the van. "What do you think you're doing?" Inquired the belligerent cop. "It's like this," explained the driver. "I'm driving a half-ton truck loaded with a ton of canaries. I have to keep half of them flying." WELL, good for Martha! (Do- herty, of course). She breezed right through the Soil Conser vation Districts speech contest and won the state champion ship last Thursday, bringing more honor and recognition to Heppner and Morrow county. Martha won three contests to make the state finals, and her championship comes on the heels of Bev Davidson's third place finisher there last year. We'll soon have a reputation for pro ducing the best women talkers in the state. Martha added more by getting high individual honors in the 4-H state soil judging contest also last week. And our Soil Conservation Man of the Year, Elmer Palmer, and his wife, Muriel, also deserve congratulations for win n 1 n g third places in their respective soil judging contests. How about that? All these honors make Ralph Richards of the local SCD office as happy as a kid. PARTING THOUGHT: Don't worry about your station in life. Someone will tell you where to get off. COMMUNITY ) BILLBOARD Coming Events LEGION MOVIES Friday night, 8:00 p.m. Leeion Hall This week "Elephant's Stam pede." Plus one-half hour cartoons. FALL BAZAAR and TEA First Methodist Church Saturday, Ndvember 17 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Finest in Handmade Gift Ideas! HARVEST SMORGASBORD St. Patrick's Parish Hall Sunday, November 18 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Delicious Food Free Nursery PUBLIC THANKSGIVING SERVICE Methodist Church Thursday, November 22 10:30 a.m. Rev. Bill Alsup speaker 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. 676-9625 bo TURK EY mi WITH THE PURCHASE OF ANY SU ft? c OR port Coat -Slacks Combination 9-50 to 75.00 O SLACKS BY DAY'S O SUITS AND SPORTS COATS BY CURLEE AND MICHAEL-STERN W LSOM'S MEN'S WEAR 'The Store of Personal Service'
