HEPPNER GAZETTE-TIMES,
IIIIIIIIHIIIIIIIIIIIHIIIIII
the mi
GAZETTE-TIMES
MOEBOW COUNTY'S NEWSPAPER
PHONE 676-9228
'I he Heppner Gazette, established March 30. 1883. The Heppner
Times established November 18,
1912.
WESLEY A. SHERMAN
Editor and Publisher
NEWSPAPIR
IllltlltUIII
ASSOCIATION
Subscription Rates: Morrow and
where $4.50 Year. Single Copy 10
and Entered at the Post Office
Class Matter.
OFFICE HOURS: 8 a.m. t0 6
Mllllllltllllllllllllllll)li(illllilll(IIIIMII(illllllllllllHIHIHMIIIIIIHtllltllllHMHIttllHIMIIIIIIII(IIHIHMHIIHW
School Story Error Unfortunate
A story headlined, "Finances Pose School Closures " in the
Tuesday issue of our pood newspaper neighbor, The East Ore
gonian, gave an erroneous slant to discussion that took place
at the regular Monday meeting of the Morrow county school
hoard.
Superintendent Robert Van Houte was reported as having
said that "lack of money" might result in further school closures
in the county. He did not, however, make such a statement,
and the story, apparently through no fault of the Heppner
correspondent for the paper, gave the wrong slant on the pro
ceedings. A staff member in Pendleton edited the story, misinterp
reted it, and the printed version came out with the wrong
implications. In an endeavor to correct it, another story was
printed Wednesday, but it could scarcely be expected to undo
the impact of Tuesday's front page story.
This is not written to censure the East Oregonian, and it
is not written as a defense of the school board, for the directors
are accountable for their actions. What it did was done in
open meeting with a sizeable audience attending. It is written
merely to set the record straight so that those in the affected
areas are not unduly incensed as a result of the misinformation.
The discussion on the Lexington school and the situation
with the elementary schools in northern Morrow county came
up first at a budget meeting last week. Some of those present,
Including citizen members from all parts of the county, sug
gested that it might be well to consider the possibility of
closing or curtailing the Lexington school in the interests of
economy to the district.
The matter of shifting the grade school students to Irrigon
was also brought up. This probability was really not news
since at the time the board reached its decision several weeks
ago to relocate Riverside High in the "Boardman area," it
indicated that it favored sending the elementary children to
the A. C. Houghton school at Irrigon, where the new addition
lias been completed.
This discussion at the budget meeting was purely tentative,
exploratory and preliminary.
Following the budget meeting, these matters were placed
on the agenda for the January board meeting under "Budget
Problems," again as a matter to discuss and consider preliminary
to preparation of the budget.
Under this topic on the agenda was this statement: "Con-
problem in the formation of the budget; between 45 and 48
students would be the first four grades next fall."
Three possible alternatives were listed under the heading:
First, Hie possibility of shifting part of the Lexington pupils to
Heppner; second, to send all of the pupils to Heppner; and third,
- to leave the school as it is.
As to the Boardman-Irrigon situation, three possible pro
posals were also listed: First, move 5th and 6th grades to Irrigon;
second, send all elementary students to Irrigon; or third, make
no changes.
At no time in the discussion Monday, which the editor of
this paper attended, was anything said of a serious financial
hardship, as implied in the East Oregonian story, that would
make it necessary to close the schools.
It is easy to see that those In the Lexington area who would
oppose the closing of t lie schools might consider this reported
statement as a move to force closure on a pretext that of
apparent at this same meeting when the board reaffirmed
"serious financial hardship."
That there is no current budgetary hardship, however, was
a previous action In proposing that a $59,000 surplus be ear
marked in the 19G3-61 budget to complete the job of constructing
the Heppner Lexington high school building. This surplus, re
ported earlier in a story in this paper, has accrued through
some unexpected payments of delinquent taxes, through a
residue in Hie emergency fund, and through unused portions
budgeted for specific items.
In reviewing the Lexington and Boardman-Irrigon sit
uation, the directors, in this writer's opinion, are doing what
they should do as stewards of public money. They were con
sidering all angles so that the taxpayer might get the most for
his money. When a class in school gets down to U) or 12 pupils
per teacher, it should be subject to review in order that the,
board may be in a position to justify the expense to the public
which should demand that its tax money be spent wisely.
No action was taken on either of the two elementary sit
uations in question at the board meeting except that it was
agreed that nothing would be done at Lexington until a meeting
had been arranged with Lexington parents and townspeople to
hear their wishes.
It Is easy to misinterpret, to get the wrong slant, to pick
up rumors and thereby add more confusion to an already diffi
cult situation. Newspapers attempt to be accurate, but sometimes
a piece slips through that conveys the wrong impression.
It is suggested that any school patrons who may have
been disturbed by this story attend the next school board meet
ing and listen to the proceedings,
A Good Hearing
From any point of view, the Corps of Army Engineers
healing on the Willow Creek dam, conducted by Colonel J. H.
ltcddow, district engineer, must be applauded.
It was conducted fairly, the plan was presented concisely
and factually, everyone was given ample opportunity to speak
and the meeting was opened to questions.
Those who support the project were delighted that there
was such a preponderance of evidence in favor of it and par
ticularly appreciated the response of outsiders from Hermiston,
Pendleton, Portland, and other points who came to give testi
mony or submitted written statements. Hermiston gave it
especially strong support.
The conviction of Steve Thompson in his opposition was
evident and his views are respected. One can well appreciate
how he, his son, anil their families may feel about it in view
of the fact that it will take their headquarters ranch if it
reaches culmination.
It was obvious, too, that Dick Krebs is sincere in his feelings
against the irrigation feature, although he presented little
evidence in opposition.
During the survey on the project, the Armv Engineers and
the Bureau of Reclamation have done good work. Wlllard Sivley,
chief of the flood control section, was particularly Impressive
as he presented facts at preliminary meetings.
From the local end, Judge Oscar Peterson and Oliver Cres
wiek h ave carried the burden of coordinating interests and
their work was apparent at the hearing.
Thus ends the first step. The interest is here. Rut there
is n long road ahead before the dam is approved.
Thursday, January 17, 1963
IIIIIIMirotllllllllMIMIIItlll
HEPPNER
1897. Consolidated l-ebruary id,
HELEN E. SHERMAN
Associate Publisher
NATIONAL EDITORIAL
Grant Counties, $4.00 Year; Else
Cents. Published Every Thursday
at Heppner, Oregon, as Second
p.m.: Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m,
Chaff and Chatter
Wes Sherman
IT IS likely that a new Morrow
county legend will spring up
from the banquet of the Live
stock Growers annual meeting,
held Saturday night. It will
probably be debated for years
whether the stunt pulled by Or
ville Cutsforth and George Rugg
was authentic or not. There are
those who swear that it was on
the up and up, and others are
equally vehement in declaring
that it was all a gag. (Some did,
nil right).
WHEN THE snowflakes started
to drift down last week, we
expected to see roman candles
and skyrockets going up over
near the center of Ken Peeks
holdings. Morrow county's No. 1
ski enthusiast had been for
lornly waiting for months for a
trace of the white stuff. Even in
early fall you could see him
examine every white flower
petal that happened to be waf
ted about by a light breeze.
But the snowfall still wasn't
enough to do much good at Ar
buckle, although it did bring
hope to the winter sportsmen.
Discouraging, though, must
have been Wednesday's spring
like day again on the heels of
last week-end's bitter cold.
WELL, WHAT do you know?
We've stumped the post office
department. Postma s t e r Jim
was over the other day check
ing our mailing list with us to
see that we ' have the papers
properly zoned for Uncle Sam
uel's postal department. Jim
knows the zones of most cities
of any consequence without
looking them up. When we came
to some of the smaller ones,
however, he had to consult his
big fat book to find the code to
designate the zone.
Things went fine until we
came to Supertino, Calif. Jim
hesitated, then grabbed the
book. Supertino just isn't any
where to be found in the book
that is supposed to include all
the post offices in the country.
But one can't dismiss it lightly
by saying there is no such place,
for the paper has been going to
the address for some nine
months. None have been return
ed and no address corrections
have come through.
Do you suppose that some
trusted on a mail car some
where down the line has been
enjoying reading the Gazette,
then tossing it out to the ele
ments along the tracks? We
wouldn't suggest it!
We 11 have to call on our
readers to assist. Maybe the one
in Supertino will read this and
write and tell us where he is.
In the meantime, we'll just
ii-c v nuH umii trie swallows
come back from Supertino.
DURING THE bitter cold last
week came reports of 21 below
at the Bob Brindles, 16 below
at Pendleton, and so on. This
kind of perplexed us because
our thermometer outside the
dining room window, seldom
dipped below 10 above, so we
felt snug and warm.
When we figured what hap
pened, though, we suddenly be
came real chilly. One of the
children had been playing with
the thermometer during the
summer and pushed the glass
stem and bulb upward so that
it registered at least 10 degrees
above true temperature. Which
isn't a bad idea.
Now when summer comes,
we'll just push it down as far
as it will go and keep 10 or 15
degrees cooler than anyone else.
IF WE HAD been on our toes,
we would have dug out some
Hawaiian records Tuesday,
turned up the volume on the
record player and ODened the
door to serenade the Charlie
Ruggles across the street. These
fortunate people took off that
day for Hawaii. We'll have to
admit that we felt a little
mournful at being left behind
to write copy for this paper
while they headed for palms,
leis, sunshine and frolicking in
the surf at Waikiki.
But it was an event that
The Jeannace Freeman
There is a letter elsewhere in this paper from Jake Bennett,
former Portland city commissioner and now state legislator,
written on behalf of Jeannace Freeman, who is under sentence
to death for her part in the killing of two children near Redmond.
Bennett relates society's failure to provide for the girl dur
ing an unfortunate and perhaps dismal childhood. He declares
that the death penalty for her is unfair when the children's
mother, also involved, received a life sentence which means, in
Oregon, an average of but seven years in prison.
The crime committed by the two women was an awful and
gruesome one, that we know. We know nothing of the trial of
the Freeman woman, nor of the mother, and therefore cannot
say if they were fairly treated or not.
The thing in Bennett's letter that gives us pause is the
charge that society turned its back on a person in need of help.
This is something which could well be pursued.
It was just a couple of months ago that a state policeman
was shot and killed near Arlington, allegedly by a mental case
who should have been in an institution but was not because of
a disagreement over which state or what agency was responsible
for him.
Years ago we covered a trial of a man charged with first
degree murder. He was a hulking fellow of low mentality who
had killed a young girl. As we sat through the trial, his conse
quent sentencing and then re-sentencing twice more after the
Oregon Supreme Court turned down his appeal and the U. S.
Supreme Court refused lto review it, we could not suppress the
thought that society, in its failure to provide for this man in
mental distress, was as much guilty of the crime as the con
demned man, who later died in the gas chamber.
At a time when we are prone to emphasize scientific pro
gress, we should not forget our obligations as a responsible
society. Probably many a person destined for a sordid life
could turn out to be a useful citizen if more of his fellows
showed concern and offered real help when it is needed most.
And in so doing, responsible citizens would be helping to
protect themselves.
Charlie and Helen had looked
forward to for years, and we
hope that they enjoy every
minute of it.
CLARENCE ROSE WALL has
one idea how to lick rust on
wheat. He has turned a few
thousand head of sheep into his
neias, croDs on which are ud a
couple of inches. The sheep will
eat ine rust, alter which be
hopes the grain continues to
grow without the nuisance.
SENATOR LLOYD KEY brought
laughter in an appearance at
tne btock Growers meeting Fri
day when he suggested that in
stead of being a "lame duck'
because he would soon be out
of office, he was almost a "dead
duck." The new legislators were
sworn in Monday, so as of now,
ben. Key is, Indeed, a gone gos
ling. However, he was not de
feated in his home Umatilla
county but was "reapportioned
out of office," one of very few
legislators who can claim that
dubious distinction.
TO THE
EDITOR.
To The Editor:
In 1956 the mother of Jean
nace Freeman, on account of fin
ancial trouble, asked the De
schutes County Juvenile author
ities to provide care for her
daughter. She was sent to the
Perry Center in Portland, with a
report saying that "tnere was
no evidence that Jeannace had
been delinquent in any way,"
but was anxious to be away
from home where she had
never had a chance." She was
enrolled as a student at Cleve
land High school. This was a
critical and decisive period m
this young, mentally disturbed
girl's life, as the following story
conclusively Droves.
By 1957 a vice principal re
ported Jeannace was "greatly
disturbed" and needed psychiat
ric help, and that hers was an
"emergency case." Jeannace al
so appealed to her "counselors
for help" on many occasions.
The counselor reports "that she
feels these problems came from
the girl's childhood experiences
which must have made her life
a nightmare." The counselor
further reports "that the girl
had been raped when only four
years old." The counselor con
linues: "She kept asking for
help for her .(.mental) condition.
"Rut uio had no monev" for that
purpose but we did allow her to
spend half of the school day in
class and half with the coun
selor" (She was about 16 years
old tneni. bhe was "really an
able girl." The Perry Center had
no tacilities lor caring for a
"badly disturbed child" it is re
ported. The counselor further reports
mat "Uur psychiatrist who ex
amined her at that time felt
that "there was much good in
her if she could be reached."
But again society failed her. The
counselor further reports "that
in her opinion if Jeannace had
been really helped with her prob
lem (mental) at that time she
would have grown up to be a
good citizen." But again we fail
ed to help. Counselor further re
ports that "Jeannace was just
beginning to be different" and
was making a real effort to
adjust to a normal life," when
school authorities asked "Mult
nomah County Welfare Bureau
to help in getting Jeannace the
help she needed and wanted,
they refused because she was a
ward of Deschutes County."
Again we had failed our duty
as a society. She was then com
mitted to Hillcrest School for
Girls at Salem. In discussing
this case with the personnel in
charge of the Hillcrest School
January 2, 1963, they volunteered
the following statements and op
inions:
"The Freeman girl was in very
bad condition when we received
Case
T
-
Nth I JJfrlih
MR. AND MRS. CARL BERGSTROM, lone, were honored by friends
and relatives Sunday, December 30, on the occasion of their
45th Wedding Anniversary. A
at the Valby Lutheran church,
snare the occasion with them.
her" "she appeared to us to
have been a victim of circum
stances, perhaps stretching back
to her younger years of life"
a tragic childhood "should
have been hospitalized at the
Mate Mental Hospital for treat
ment before we received her"
"she was of a kindly nature, es
pecially to children" "neither
vile or vicious "no sign of
cruelty" "Oregon should have
a hospital for the care of teen
agers afflicted as Jeannace was
when she came to us. We would
and did help her some" "We
cannot imagine that she would
commit a crime such as this
"We believe she should have a
chance to be cured."
And so it has been school
teacher, counselor, school prin
cipal, school psychiatrist, Hill
crest Assistant Superintendent
in charge, House Mother, and
State Doctor, all point the finger
ot shame at Oreeons neglect
in this case. They all cannot be
wrong.
In addition to the above I have
read the Court records at Mad
ras and all the news reports
puonsned there ot the arrest
trial, and conviction of these
two persons and could find no
uncut eviuence oiner man uie
testimony of the mother of the
children that the Freeman girl
toon part in tne killings.
The facts are that newspaper
records, which I read, show that
the mother when first arrested
confessed as follows: "I planned
tnis tor three clays because I
loved them so much and could
no longer support them. I said
a little prayer over them. Tliev
are in Heaven now." Records
show that the mother in open
court said "I admit in partici
pating in my daughter's death."
When asked if she did it purp
osely sne answered "Yes" (This
court record I have read) Later
she plead not guilty on account
of insanity. For some reason not
known to me they did not try
the one who had confessed
which was the mother first.
WHY? She had been indicted
for first degree murder as had
the Freeman girl. They put the
ireeman girt on trial firs.
WHY? on the charge of first
degree murder, before what was
no doubt an angry jury and
used the testimony of the mother
who had already admitted her
guilt to help convict Jeannace
freeman. The lurv uroceeded to
find her guilty without mercy
which automatically means
death in Oregon unless set aside
by the Governor. After the Free
man girl was convicted and sen
tenced to death they then
brought the mother to trial, not
before an angry jury but before
the judge, only. WHY? Not on
a charge of first degree murder
for which she had been indicted
but on the charge of only second
degree murder. WHY? and she
was sentenced to life in the
penitentiary by the judge which
in Oregon averages about 7
years.
I have had some experience
in law making and if what was
done in this case is just and
legal under the law, we had
best start to change some of our
laws. Under such a practice any
one could be convicted, even if
innocent. Almost any witness
would be willing to lie to help
convict someone else, if thev
could save their own life by so
doing. And another thing, the
Freeman jury did not know
when they sentenced the Free
man girl to death that the
mother comparatively speaking
would be set free. Had thev
known, my guess is that the
Freeman verdict would probably
have been the same as that re
ceived by the mother.
But at any rate, a death sen
tence for one who pleads inno
cent and 7 years in the peni
tentiary for one who admits
their guilt, just does not make
sense, nor does it measure up
to equal justice. I am not sug
gesting death for the mother. A
cardinal principal ot law is (as
understand it that a com
plainant should come into court
with clean hands. Can we hon
estly claim that we are without
fault? We may. if we wish, col-
ect our pound of flesh in this
ase. To do so. will assure us
front page publicity in everv
newspaper in America. And per-
sr ft I
reception was held in their honor
with about 90 guests present to
Mrs. Abrams To Lead
4-H Cooking Club
Six girls organized a new 4-H
cooking club on Thursday. The
club was named "Kettles and
Spoons." Officers elected were
Debbie Young, president; Fran
ces Abrams, vice president;
Amanda Smith, secretary-treas
urer; Marcia Lovgren, song
leader; Susan Melby, reporter
Our president appointed Lin
da Cooper as game organizer
Esther Kirmis explained what
our beginner's cooking club
would teach us; what officers
of the club would have to do,
We were welcomed by our
leader, Mrs. Robert Abrams, and
the meeting was held at her
house. She said the club would
meet on Wednesdays after
school. She served popcorn and
hot chocolate.
Three of the charter members
were unable to be present. They
are busan htarK, Kathy Mat
(hews, and Lynn Key.
Susan Melby, reporter
Hoof end Horn Club
Meets at Greenups
The 4-II Hoof and Horn club
met at the Don Greenup home
Friday evening, January 11, for
our regular meeting. Although it
was very cold, there were 13
members present.
Dee Ann Pettyjohn led the
American flag salute and
Teressa Harshman (our new
member) led the 4-H flag salute.
Then we had our business meet
ing. Some planning was made for
our field trips and each was
given a demonstration to do at
our meetings. We would like to
improve our demonstration work.
Refreshments were served by
Mrs. Greenup.
Judy Jones, reporter
Gayle Randall, Umatilla, vis
ited here last week with her
mother, Mrs. Celestino Randall.
and her sister, Arletha.
haps in most of the world. Rut
such publicity will not produce
uic- Kino oi dividends.
And lest we forget, both of
these persons will be judged and
perhaps ounished. as will up nil
who deserve to be, by one who
makes no mistakes. We can
safely trust Him, at least I pre
fer to do so.
I believe leeal. fair, ennnl and
civilized justice will be hpsr
served by setting this death pen
alty aside.
J. E. "Jake" Bennett
703 N. E. Tillamook St.
Portland, Oregon
EXECUTIVE SUITES
ALL KING - LENGTH BEAUTYREST BEDS
COMPLETELY AIR CONDITIONED
DIRECT DIAL PHONES
ALL CHANEL T. V. . FAMILY UNITS
INDIVIDUAL ELECTRIC HEAT
PRIVATE LANAIS & POOL . MOUNTAIN VIEW
EXCELLENT RESTAURANT . ROOM SERVICE
CLOSE TO CITY CENTER
BANQUET FACILITIES
MEETING & DISPLAY ROOMS
2401 S. W. 4th AVE. PORTLAND 1, OREGON
PHONE CA 6-1 121
Glennie to Chairman
Campaign Drives
Pete Glennie, high school
teacher, has been appointed
special events chairman of the
annual March of Dimes cam
paign, according to Mrs. Jack
Loyd, countv chairman. He will
head special projects through
coming weeks to aid raising
funds for the county campaign.
Postmasters in each town
serve as city chairmen. Funds
may be turned into Jim Driscoll,
Heppner; Mrs. Flossie Coats,
Boardman; Mrs. Lavelle Partlow,
Irrigon, Mrs. Ruby Roberts, lone;
Elwynne Peck, Lexington, or
Mrs. F. M. McClintock, Cecil.
County treasurer is Mrs. LenRay
Schwarz.
Ruggles Among Tour
Members in Islands
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ruggles
and Mrs. Ola Ruggles were
among tour members who left
Portland Tuesday night for a
two-weeks trip to the Hawaiian
Islands. The tour is sponsored
by the Grange organization,
with headquarters in one of the
leading hotels at Waikiki. They
except to return to Portland Sat
urday, January 26, and motor
home on Sunday.
Also making the trip with
them are Mr. and Mrs. Robert
Belshe, long-time friends of
Moro.
Larry Tibbies Makes
U of O Honor Roll
Larry Tibbies, son of Dr. and
Mrs. L. D. Tibbies of Heppner,
is on the honor roll for the Uni
versity of Oregons fall term, ac
cording to announcement from
the university.
A total of 360 undergraduate
students made the grade point
averages of 3.50 or higher, it was
reported. Forty-four stude n t s
made perfect grade scores of all
A's.
Guests at the Lee Palmer
home Monday evening were Mr.
and Mrs. Linclon Nash and Mrs.
Nash's mother, Mrs. Mary Nog
awski, Lidgerwood, N. D., who
joined the group in Hood River
Sunday for the Nash wedding
anniversary. She was here un
til Tuesday afternoon.
COMMUNITY
BILLBOARD
Coming Events
LEGION MOVIES
Friday night, 8:00 p.m.
Legion Hall
This week "The Light in the
Forest," Walt Disney pic
ture, in color.
Plus one-half hour cartoons.
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
At John Day, Friday evening.
At Burns, Saturday evening.
GRADE SCHOOL
BASKETBALL
At Condon, Sat., 1:30 p.m.
7th and 8th Grades.
Legion Auxiliary Benefit
Public Card Party
Monday, February 11, Legion
Hall.
Dessert at 8:00 followed by
bridge and pinochle. Help
send a girl to State!
Don't Delay! Send in TB Seal
Sale Returns Now. (if not al
ready in.)
SPONSORED AS A PUBLIC
SERVICE BY
C. A. RUGGLES
Insurance Agency
Heppner
P. O. Box 247 PH. 676-9625
PORTLAND
OREGON