i
HEPPNER GAZETTE-TIMES. Thursday, February 28, 1963
GAZETTE-TIMES
MOBBOW COUNTY'S NEWSPAPER
PHONE 676-9228
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
NIWIPAril
PUI1ISMIII
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.
In Defense
(From Sherman County Journal)
Writers in cities have been having another round of noting
the decline of small towns. Perhaps It would not bo amiss for
a lifelong resident of a small town to have a turn.
Small towns are declining in economic Importance because
the roads are good enough and the incomes are good enough
to permit residents of rural areas to go some place to trade if
they want to. In the first years of this century it took a farmer
probably on the average, about two hours to get to town and tie
his team to the hitch rack. Today his grandson can get toj
Portland In about that time and start looking for a parking
place.
In that halcyon day a farmer bought something when he
went to town, which wasn't often. Most of the time he stayed
home and worked, which has something to do with grandson's
leisure.
Small towns used to have available nearby everything need
ed by the farm families, at least, all they could afford to buy.
Today that isn't true, not so much because of the decline ofj
small towns as the Increase in the wants of people and incomes
to provide them.
Small towns do a better job of catering to the wants they
do fill than they ever did. Small town groceries have about
all the facilities the big stores have, refrigeration and frozen
food dispensers and dally deliveries of bread and milk (Grand
pa would have scorned them). They also do a good job of
handling the machinery for the farms, most of which is sold
in small towns. The farmer Is closer to extras that way. Those
who like to trade at a food store where canned rattlesnake and
champagne are available will have to go to the big towns, but
that, we think, is a restricted trade.
The country doctor with his black bag and his wisdom is
no more, medicine having exchanged the black bag for some
glittering gadgetry and the wisdom for scientific impersonality.
Country lawyers are fewer because law suits are fewer.
Small towns as a social center are stronger than ever. Any
one who lives in a rural area knows that there is something
going on every night. There are grange meetings, school activ
ities, lodge doings, committee meetings and social get togethers
enough to keep a country family as occupied as any denizen of a
big city. A farmer's Sunday suit doesn't expire from the attention
of moths.
Life in a small town is just as interesting as in a large,
city. Residents know fewer people, but know them much better.
Also they are known much better and, one's conduct must
pass the inspection of the all-seeing eye of the public. If one
wants to be a non conformist in the matter of conduct the city
is the place for him. And if one is good, and decent, and honor
able, and upright a small town will love and protect him
and feed him when he Is sick and pay his hospital bill. There
is no finer security than being a good citizen in a small town
In America.
Small towns may continue to decline in economic import
ance; it may be harder to find a night club in them or a suit
of clothes or a set of bedroom furniture. But It is easier to find
a friend.
Farra Joins Navy
As Seaman Recruit
James Allen Farra, son of Mr.
and Mrs. John W. Farra, Hep
jner, was sworn Into the U. S.
Navy, at Portland, on February
25, in the rating of High School
Seaman recruit.
James attended Heppner high
school and was graduated in
May, 19C2. He made application
for enlistment at the Pendleton
recruiting station and was pro
cessed for enlistment by Earl L.
Cox, Navy recruiter.
Shortly after receiving t h e
oath, James left Portland for San
Diego, Calif., where he will
Attend Wedding
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Parrish
were in John Day on Saturday
to attend the wedding of their
nephew, William Fletcher of
Pendleton, to Carolyn Allen, also
of Pendleton. Mis. Fletcher's
father is assessor of Grant coun
ty. Also going with Mr. and Mrs.
Parrish was her brother, Bill
Huddleston of Pendleton.
SPRING
Is Just Around The Corner!
LAWN FERTILIZER
House Plant Food
GARDEN SEEDS
Cornett Green
Feed
Heppner, Oregon
HEPPNER
NATIONAL EDITORIAL
undergo basic training for ap
proximately 10 weeks. Upon
completion of recruit training he
will be granted two weeks leave
prior to reporting to his first duty
station.
As a High School Seaman Re
cruit, James will receive a Navy
school in the field of his choice.
TO THE EDITOR
Dear Editors:
Our subscription cheek enclos
ed. We enjoy the Gazette very
much. We must admit it does
make us very homesick for Mor
row County at times. There Is
something about your area and
its people that gets into the
blood. We keep thinking how
pretty the hills will be soon with
spring flowers and meadow larks
on every fence post. Don't be sur
prised if you see us come driving
in anyday to soak up some of
that good old Eastern Oregon
sun and let the wind blow the
mildew out of our hair! You see,
we really are homesick.
Sincerely,
Katherine & Erling Thompson
McMinnville, Oregon
SHADE TREES
Dworf Fruit Trees
HERE NOW
PLANT WHILE DORMANT
TO THE EDITOR . . .
To the Editor:
I should like to make some
observations in regard to your
article entitled, "Irrigon Petit
ions Board; lone Re-Affirms
stand," on the front page of your
paper in the February 14, 1963
edition.
In the ninth paragraph of your
article you say: "Jack Hynd of
Cecil started to read a prepared
statement," etc. You failed to
mention that the chairman of
the school board asked if there
were any remarks anyone cared
to make on the subject. Jack
Hynd rose, addressed the chair
man, and stated that he had
some remarks. The chairman
acknowledged Mr. Hynd, and
then he started to read his pre
pared statement. Your article
might leave some doubt as to
whether Mr. Hynd was interrup
ting the board, when in reality
he actually had the chairman's
acknowledgement, if not Mr.
Martin's.
In the tenth paragraph of your
article you state (in reference
to Mr. Martin's interruption,)
"One person challenged Martin
by declaring to him, "You're out
of order.' " Unless there were
two persons in the room who
made similar comments, you
have reported this incorrectly. I
was sitting next to the person
who made the statement, and
his exact actions were to stand
up and say, "Mr. Chairman, that
man is out of order," and to
point at Mr. Martin. If there
were one person in the room dur
ing the exchange between Mr.
Martin and the audience who
made a worthwhile statement
according to all of the rules of
order with which I am familiar,
it was this man. I think that
your article does not reflect this.
I also noted that during this
unseemly exchange the gavel of
the chairman of the board was
silent. I could not clearly see the
desk at which the board was
sitting from my position in the
center of the rignt siae oi tne
jury room since I did not stand
ud durine the exchange. How
ever, I noticed as I entered the
room that you, Mr. Editor, were
in a much better position to ob
serve the board, being seated in
the front, I think that if the
gavel had been stolen during
this exchange that you would be
doing a public service to expose
the culprit or culprits who spir
ited it away. If this happened,
the gavel must have been
promptly, returned, for later in
the meeting it could again be
heard clearly in the rear of the
room.
In regard to the letters sub
mitted to the board by the lone
citizens I noted that the board
acted swiftly to refer them to the
budget committee and to enter
them in the minutes without
readine them. This was done
hist after an intermission in
such a quick manner, while
people were still entering the
room, that I could not near tne
motion and I did not find oppor
tunity to request a re-reading of
that motion until some minutes
later lust before the board re
tired to the Judicial chambers
to review teacher recommendat
ion matters.
As the secretary of an lone
fraternal organization, I wrote
one of those letters, and it was
delivered to the board with the
express intention that it be read
into the minutes of that meet
ing of February 11, 1963. I realize
that the secretary of the board
has read that particular letter
upon entering it into the min
utes, but I wonder it the mem
bers of the board are familiar
with its contents. Incidentally, li
was not addressed to, nor did it
mention anything about, the
budget committee.
In regard to the mimeograph
ed, unsigned letter circulated to
the lone Advisory Board mem
bers under the heading, "Morrow
County Schools," I interpret the
contents to mean that the closing
of the lone High school would
result in a savings to the tax
payers of Morrow county. Let me
state that every publicized pro
posal that the proponents of this
school system nave maae, mat
I have read, has contained words
to the effect that they would
save the taxpayers' money. If
this system is efficient, then I
think that the board and the
superintendent's office wou 1 d
have been able to absorb at
least in part, the rising costs and
increases in services in the add
ed efficiency which they claim
centralized control would pro
duce. However, school budgets
have taken drastic jumps during
the several years of the County
Unit system.
We have had a low turnover
of school directors and no change
Therefore, I must believe that
either the system is at fault, or
the people who administer it, or
a combination of both. 1 think
that a full-scale investigation of
the administration of the Mor
row County school district is in
order and that the investigation
should be conducted by a dis
interested agency who would
have no connection with the
National Education Association,
the Oregon Education Associa
tion, or the Oregon State Board
of Education, or any of their
allied agencies. The proponents
of this system have had several
years to prove its efficiency. If
the system is efficient, well-run,
is providing the best education
available to all students in all
schools at a cost that a good
majority of the taxpayers of this
county approve, then the people
in charge would be quickly vin
dicated. But, If waste is evident
and equal education opportuni
ties are not being provided to all
students In all locations, it
would be evident that a change
would be desirable.
In regard to any proposed
closing of lone High school and
the merging of its student body
with the Heppner High school,
I would be opposed to such a
thing for these following reas
ons. If the capacity figures of
the new Heppner High school
which I read were accurate,
(250 student capacity) and
Heppner's present enrollment is
now at 200 students or over, such
a merger would result in another
building program immediately.
Ione High school's enrollment is
now over 50 and lone Advisory
board Director Don Meialigott
stated in the aforementioned
meeting that the projected en
rollment, based on present
grade school enrollment, at lone
High school in the next four
years would make a high school
enrollment of nearly 80 students.
Incidentally, these figures do not
include any hypothetical increase
caused by the influx of students
due to a Boeing project or any
other similar project. Project the
same rate of increase ratio for
Heppner High school's present
enrollment and the unfinished
building would be woefully in
adequate. I would be curious to know if
the taxpayers of this county
would be willing to pile another
large amount of money on top
of the hill where the present
building is being built. Also, one
would wonder what the cost
would be of renovating the
present lone High school for
grade school purposes. In view
of present rising building costs,
I think it might well exceed the
$130,000 which the school board
condescended to spend to build
it in the first place.
The second reason I am not in
favor of any such merger is that
I am not confident in the future
of the City of Heppner as a
center of population. It is based
on a lumber economy and there
are many examples In Eastern
Oregon of the purchases of small
mills by corporations such as
Georgia Pacific and Boise-Cascade
and then the subsequent
closing of these mills. If the
Heppner sawmills close, I be
lieve the county seat will be
moved to a location in the north
end of the county where the best
possibilities for growth and pop
ulation increase exist. When this
occurs, the south portion of Mor
row county would be left with
one high school serving three
towns of approximately the
same size. But instead of the
high school's being located in a
geographical center, it would be
on one end, in the most inaccess
ible location of any school build
ing in Morrow county. And that
school can be reached on a bad
secondary state highway that is
likely to Be improved.
My third reason is that if and
when lone High school's enroll
ment is waning there is a much
greater possibility of there being
a population center to the north
that would be closer to most of
the lone area than is Heppner,
the roads leading to this popu
lation center would be better,
and that center would be based
on something more solid than
the lumber industry or any yet
to be seen missile industry. That
would be an area with which
lone High school could merge
much more satisfactorily.
In conclusion I realize that the
Morrow County School Board
graciously moved, seconded and
carried a motion to continue
lone High school one more year.
However, that motion did state
"one more year," I am curious
to know what their intentions
will be at the end of that one
year.
Incidentally, my wife is an
employee of the Morrow County
Schools, and she and I are pre
pared to suffer any consequences
which might arise out of the
statements contained in my let
ter. Very truly yours,
Gene Rietmann
lone, Oregon
'Rcmtmkx GOOD
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The Gazette - Times
Chaff and
Wes
IF GLOOM could be sold, a good
many Heppnerites would have
been rich after the basketball
game with Sherman county
Tuesday night. Disappointment
was keen in seeing the Mustangs
go down to a 62-66 defeat at
the hands of the Moro boys.
With it went chances of Hepp
ner's going to the state tourna
ment at Coos Bay, this, of course,
on the possibility of their beat.
ing Vale for the district chamD-
ionship.
But now with the pressure off,
and a couple days of wound
licking having gone by, fans can
point to a fine year with pride.
The kids did a wonderful job
this year and turned in one of
the school's finest seasons with
a record of 14-4. It can also be
said that Heppner also defeated
every team that defeated them.
Sherman county was the only
team to down them twice.
The Mustangs lost to a very
fine outfit. Sherman county
shows poise, balance, and ac
curate shooting. It is good to
have a team of this caliber rep
resent the western division of
the Greater Oregon league, and
we're sure that anyone from here
who happened to be able to see
them play Vale would be solidly
behind Moro. It would be a great
thing and a feather in Hepp
ner's cap if they now could go
all the way and take the state
championship, but that is in
deed pure speculation.
We don't know how our team
could have played any harder
than they did at Condon. We
Reserve the right to think that
we might have had enough ex
tra to win if Lee Padberg hadn't
been ill. It is a tribute to his
courage and determination that
he played that game with a
temperature of 102 degrees in
a bout with the flu. We regret
particularly that Lee didn't get
the chance to perform in the
state tournament this year. It
hardly seems right in view of
the fact that he was high prep
scorer for any single game ( the
last we've heard) with 44 against
John Day. He has run up a high
total for the season (statistics
are not fully compiled yet) and
has had some other fine nights.
It isn't only his scoring though,
it's his agility and never-say-die
attitude that go along with
his other basketball skills which
make him a real player. Lee
played a fine game against Con
don, but think what he might
have done if he had been up to
par.
But he has another season, and
who knows? Might bring an
other team along to a title.
Coach Bob Cantonwine and all
his players deserve high tribute.
Dick Springer really came on
$100
DOWN PAYMENT
BUYS ANY
New or Used
At
HEPPNER FORD
Yes, a pencil and good
BUSINESS FORMS mtan
RELIABLE RECORDS
Out of the targe variety of business
formi that we handle you can chooM
thoie that both speed up and In
crease efficiency In your personal
forms system.
The completeness of our Dim assures
you-a business form for every form
for Complot Information
RECORDS met GOOD
Chatter
Sherman
strong in this one, as he did
against Athena, and it's too bad
that he doesn't have another
year. Shan Applegate, another
senior, player his heart out and
nearly brought the game out
of the fire. Two more seniors
will be lost big rebounding
John Porter and Fred Harnden,
who came from Mitchell to add
floor strength and spark to the
team.
LOCAL FARMERS who, like
others, have been witnessing
a period of declining income and
higher costs, including taxes,
should appreciate this story
from the recent issue of Forest
Log:
"Ralph Yeafer says one of his
farmer friends has been buying
scads of claw hammers for a
buck and a half and selling
them for the same price. 'There's
no profit in it,' admits his friend,
'but it beats farming.'"
THE JIM CONWAY show, "Out
door Sportsman," sponsored by
the PTA Wednesday night was
a dandy. The color presentation
is twice as good as the program
one sees on TV over KGW. There
are some beautiful shots in the
2-hour show, and hunting and
fishing sequences that really
stir the outdoor sportsman, even
though because of costs and dis
tances, the actuality is out of
reach of the ordinary guy.
This picture drew a better
crowd than the last PTA ven
turethe magician show but
it still deserved a better atten
dance than actually turned out.
Too much other competition, ap
parently. DID YOU ever pause to listen
to a conversation between a
couple of old fishermen? The
Wallowa Record last week print
ed a little squib, "When Fisher
men Meet":
"Hiyamac."
"Lobuddy."
"Binearlbng."
"Cuplours."
"Ketchanenny?"
"Bassencarp."
"Ennysizetoom?"
"Cuplapowns."
"Hitinard?"
"Sordalite."
"Wahchoozin?"
"Bobbawurms."
"Fishanonaboddum?"
"Rydonnaboddum."
"Igoddago."
"Tubad."
"Seeyaroun."
"Yeahtakideezy."
"Guluk."
IT'S KIND of interesting to think
that spectators crowding into
the gym at Condon, figured at
AR
together
BUSINIIS
'. cottons of rWe
EusJnots., - 1
1100, nearly equalled the pop
ulation of the town there.
The highway between Heppner
and Condon probably carried
more traffic on the single night
than It usually does in a week.
Car lights going home over the
curving and bobbing highway
looked like a Dragon Dance on
Chinese New Year's, with the
lights weaving and twisting. It
was a longer trip home than
it was going over, but we're
proud of our boys.
IMPORTANCE of the hyphen in
our English punctuation was
brought out recently when
omission of a hyphen in a form
ula caused a huge missile to
malfunction with a resultant
loss of many millions of dollars.
This week we had an illustra
tion of how inclusion of a
hyphen threatened to cause a
little chaos, too, but fortunately
we caught it in time.
Darrel Reisch brought in a
story about an economic survey
conducted by lone high school
students. It reported on their
summer earnings, which ran sur
prisingly high, and how they
spent the money they earned.
"Most often mentioned," said
the typewritten report, "were
clothes, cosmetics, books and
magazines, car expense, candy,
gifts, movies, dental and med
ical, and to help with the family
expenses."
However, when Darrel typed
the story, his righthand little
finger apparently reached up be
yond the "p" and hit the hyphen
when he typed the word "help"
so it came out like this: ". . .
and to hel- with the family
expenses."
Well, there are undoubtedly
some youngsters in some fam
ilies who look at it that way,
too!
L. E. Bisbee, who has spent
the past two months at Wald
port, was a true harbinger of
spring when he returned to
Heppner Tuesday. He often
spends the winter in Waldport
to return in the spring, and this
time his return was accompanied
by bright sunshine.
Coming Events
LEGION MOVIES
Friday, March 1, 8 p.m.,
"Dino," starring Sal Mineo.
plus one-half hour cartoons.
High School Music Concert
Thursday, February 28, High
school gym, 8 p.m. Public
invited.
Elks Pinochle Tournament
Starts Friday, March 1, 7:30
p.m. Continues for six
weeks. Elks club rooms.
BENEFIT CARD PARTY
Rhea Creek Extension Unit,
Saturday, March 2. Grange
hall, 7:30 p.m.
SQUARE DANCING
Saturday, March 2, 8 p.m.,
Fair pavilion building. All
Squared-up Rounders come
and bring a friend.
PTA TALENT SHOW
Plan now to participate. Var
iety of talents needed. Fri
day, March 15, 8 p.m.
SPONSORED AS A PUBLIC
SERVICE BY
C. A. RUGGLES
Insurance Agency
P.'O. Box 247 PH. 676-9625
Heppner
versatile toots of tfadmt
' ..
COMMUNITY I
J BILLBOARD (
I " i n i.0 mm ii'frJ I