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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.
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'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'