L I 3FARY
U OF 0
EUGENE, or,
Only Old-Timers Remember the Devastation in Heppner Sixty Years AgoJune k, 1903
t . ' - j,
Morgan Appointed
To School Board
Morrow county's outg o 1 n g
school board all but one direc
tor of which will leave their
positions by July 1 met in a
"lame duck" session Monday
night to act on routine business
and found that it had a fairly
busy session with a number of
matters to be considered. Some
were deferred to the new board
those in cases where policy Is
involved or decisions that might
affect the future operation of
the district.
Milton Morgan was appointed
by the board to serve as direc
tor from the lone area. He had
been recommended by the ad
visory board there and petitions
had been circulated for the ap
pointment. Members of the ad
visory board at the meeting said
that nothing had transpired to
change this position, and the
action was taken in order that
Morgan could take a place on
the board as soon as he can take
the oath of office.
Realizing the difficulty that
exists in the interim existing
until the new board is elected,
the directors sought to act on
matters that need attention at
once.
They appointed Gordon Pratt
as acting superintendent of the
district to serve after Supt. Ro
bert Van Houte leaves his post
to act on administrative matters
until the new board takes furth
er action.
This action will provide some
one to whom applicants for
teaching and administrative pos
itions may apply in the ensuing
few weeks.
The board also instructed the
clerk to notify the Oregon Edu
cation association placem e n t
bureau and the State Depart
ment of Education of vacancies
existing in order to invite appli
cations. Contracts for three part time
teachers were approved. Mrs.
Nancy Leroux will teach English
and math at Riverside on 70
time, Mrs. Gladys Hobbs will
teach 5th grade at Houghton
school on 50 time, and Mrs.
Ted Talbott will teach girls
physical education and teach
girls' basketball and girls' vol
leyball on 20 time.
In order to protect $3000 that
had been set aside for the
Boardman school site that has
Auto Parts Sets
Grand Opening
In New Location
Grand opening of Heppner
Auto Parts in its new location
at 234 Main Street, next to
Central Market, will be Satur
day throughout the day, Mr. and
Mrs. R. G. (Pete) McMurtry,
owners, announce.
The McMurtrys recently
bought the building from Mrs.
Jennie Gorfkle of Pendleton and
moved their stock from the small
building next to the Bank of
Eastern Oregon where they have
been In business since 1950.
At the new location, they have
approximately three times the
amount of floor space, and new
counters and shelving provide
room to display merchandise
that formerly could not be seen
by customers.
The move was made in fast
time when the new quarters
were ready with seven men from
the National Automotive Parts
Association, Portland, assisting
with the job. In all, it took 260
man hours for the move, Mc
Murtry said.
At the grand opening, a con
test will be open to all persons
over 16 vears of age with three
prizes offered. Those coming to
the store will be invited to write
down as many brand names as
they can see on merchandise in
stock. The one with the most
will receive a $43.90 load leveler,
combining an overload spring
and shock absorber. Second will
receive a $20.50 set of seat belts,
and third will get $10 credit
on New Britain tools. The con
test will be open from 8 a.m.
to 5 p.m.
One feature of the new lo
cation is customer parking in the
rear, McMurtry said.
The McMurtrys came to Hepp
ner from the Willamette Valley
in 1933, and he worked as a
mechanic before entering the
auto parts business. Associated
with them in the store is Charles
Starks, who, with Mrs. Starks,
are owners of Northwestern Motel.
been contracted, the board took
$3000 from its general fund to
apply towards an approved
$50,000 payment to The Timber
Company. Culmination of the
site purchase is not expected be
fore the end of the fiscal year,
and this action makes it possible
to have the $3000 available in
the bond fund to pay for the site
after the year's books are closed.
Don Olmscheid, administrator
at the Houghton school who has
resigned to take a position in
St. Helpns. urged the board to
act on an application of Michael
I Tollar as his successor at Hough
'ton in order that Tollar might
attend summer school if the ap
pointment were made, since
school is starting before the new
board will meet. The "lame
duck" board deferred action to
the new board, however, with
members stating that it would
be improper for them to make
the appointment without the ap
proval of the incoming board.
Tollar has the unanimous recom
mendation of the Irrigon advis
ory board.
Administrator Gene Ha r r y
man's request for financial re
lief for the lone High school
student body was also deferred
to the new board. He pointed
out that $700 is needed to care
for a deficit incurred in getting
a new textbook program under
way, one which the board had
previously approved. Under the
plan the' student body buys the
books and rents them to the
students. The heavy cost of the
book purchase is not liquidated
until rentals have had sufficient
time to underwrite the cost, he
explained. Directors said that
this would be a matter of con
the incoming
I hnnrH
Election boards for the June
22 elections were appointed by
the board.
Olmscheid, Biehl,
Reisch, O'Rourke
Resign Positions
Resignations of teachers and
administrators cut rather deeply
into the Morrow county school
system this week. They were an
nounced and accepted at the
meeting of the outgoing board
of directors Monday night.
Don Olmscheid, administrator
at A. C. Houghton school, Irri
gon, for the past four years, re
signed to accept a position as
elementary superintendent at St.
Helens. Director Harvey Warner
moved that the resignation be
accepted, but said that he did
so with deep regret.
Darrel Reisch, director of spec
ial services for the past year and
administrator at lone High
school for the year prior to that,
resigned his position to become
high school principal at Home
dale, Idaho. He and his family
moved Thursday (today) for the
new position.
Glenn Biehl, coach at lone
High school for the past two
years whose football team went
to the state B finals in the fall
of 1961, resigned to coach basket
ball and teach at La Grande
High school. He is attending Wil
lamette University this summer
on a fellowship.
Mrs. Violet Lanham, Heppner
High school teacher, asked for a
leave of absence for the 1963-64
school year in order to take a
tour of Europe. The leave was
approved, subject to having a
vacancy existing upon her re
turn. Members of the board had
good words of commendation for
her work in the school here.
Lawrence O'Rourke, Heppner
High school Spanish teacher and
English teacher, resigned in or
der to continue his studies.
Resignation of Mahoney and
Abrams as attorneys for the
school district was accepted. It
had been awaiting board action
since May 31.
The resignation of Supt. Van
Houte, which had been tendered
several weeks ago, was formally
accepted. It is effective July 1,
but he will be on vacation after
June 15.
Van Houte expressed apprec
iation for the cooperation and
support that he has received
from many and for the cooper
ation received from the board.
The directors who had resign
ed previously, D. O. Nelson, Mrs.
Esther Anderson, Bob Sicard and
Dick Wilkinson, went through
the formalitity of presenting
their resignations again to make
sure that the action was official.
Red Cross Schedules Belated Fund Drive Here
80th Year
Heppner, Oregon, Thursday, June 13, 1963
D. C. Trip Spurs Hope
For Willow Project
Meetings with the Bureau of
the Budget, with Oregon's Con
gressional delegation, and an
appearance before the Rivers
and Harbors Congress highlight
ed the attendance of County
Judge Oscar Peterson and Oliver
Creswick, chairman of the
Chamber of Commerce develop
ment committee, in Washington,
D. C, last week.
The two went to Washington
in the interests of the Willow
Creek dam primarily and also in
reference to the Columbia River
waterfront for the Port of Mor
row and for the improvement of
the Lexington airport.
They found that they had a
busy schedule during the five
week days. They spent some
time with the deputy director
of the Bureau of the Budget, and
Judge Peterson spoke on the Wil
low Creek project. "He was very
receptive," the judge said.
They met with the U. S. Army
Corps of Engineers, met the
chief of the corps, General Wil
son, but made a presentation to
General Graham of the Corps on
the proposed dam and the river
waterfront.
The Morrow delegates read a
statement at the Rivers and Har
bors Congress, and it was sup
ported also by a statement from
Congressman Al Ullman. This
was one of many projects pre
sented to the Congress and was
in the category of those which
had not yet been submitted for
official approval.
Peterson and Creswick visited
at Ullman's office several times
and had luncheon with him, his
wife and son. Senator Wayne
Morse had a breakfast at which
they appeared, and they also
met with Congressmen Bob Dun
can, Walter Norblad, Edith
Green and the office of Senator
Maurine Neuberger.
"Duncan was not very hope
ful on the Boardman situation,"
the judge said.
Another appearance was at
the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration on June 6
where the judge presented the
program underway on the Board
man site.
The two learned many things
on the trip. They were advised
to have facts compiled for later
presentations on projects sought.
The Congressional delegation
Father's Day June 16
Stores to Honor Father Saturday
Father is king this week-end
with Father's Day coming Sun
day, June 16. In his honor, mer
chants of Heppner are having a
Father's Day promotion Satur
day. Those shopping for gifts for
father will be given special con
sideration, Randall Peter son,
chairman of the merchants com
mittee, states.
A number of stores are offer
ing special bargains for the
the -mm1
GAZETTE-TIMES
stressed the importance of con
tinuing efforts to bring the pro
spects to successful conclusions
and urged that some local rep
resentatives be on hand to tes
tify at later meetings.
"If we are persistent in our
efforts to see that the Willow
Creek project is not stalemated
in someone's basket, we stand
a very good chance to be includ
ed in the omnibus bill next year
and should also be included in
the appropriations bill," Cres
wick said. He said that no where
did anyone bring any objections
to the project.
"It was an education to have
a close look at the workings of
the government," Creswick said.
Wranglers Plan
Overnight Ride
At the last regular meeting
of the Wrangler Riding club,
plans were made for the over
night ride to Camas Prairie on
June 29-30, with Mr. and Mrs.
Harold Evans as hosts. Four-H
horse clubs are invited to par
ticipate, and those planning to
go must have the $3.00 fee paid
for meals to Mrs. Archie Munkers
by June 20, and to let her know
if transportation is needed.
During the business meeting,
presided over by Everett St ruck -meier,
Fred Mankin was asked
to be in charge of siding the
club barn on two sides.
Entertainment was provided
by Glen Ward who showed a
colored film on the "Autumn
Birds of Oregon."
Penney's to Open
Friday Evenings
J. C. Penney store in Heppner
will be open on Friday even
ings until 9 p.m. beginning Fri
day, June 14, Mike Whitesmith,
manager, announces. The Friday
evening schedule will remain in
effect continuously from now on.
It was reported that some other
stores in Heppner were also
planning to be open on Friday
evenings, including Case Furn
iture store.
week-end some of which are
listed in Father's Day adver
tisements on page 4 of this sec
tion. Other special events in the
community which may be of in
terest to dads Saturday are the
Little League doubleheader at
the league field near the fair
pavilion, and the E ks' barbecue
and dance, for members and out
of town guests, Saturday evening.
HEPPNER
x-
vmrr schools
u v i
K.
BUS FOR 4-H summer school left
V
Morrow county bound for a week oi college life on the Oregoni
State University campus. Driver Leonard Munkers (left) and
County Agent Joe Hay (right) escorted the delegates.
Absentee Ballots
Ready for Elections
Those , who will not be in
the county on Saturday, June
22, and are otherwise eligible
to vote in the Morrow county
district school elections may
apply now for absentee bal
lots from the office of Beverly
Gunderson, clerk, in the court
house. Two elections will be held
at the same time, from 2 to 8
p.m., on the Saturday. One
will be on the revised school
district budget, and the other
will be a special election for
directors to replace those who
have resigned.
lone Event Nets
$1500 for Church;
To Be Held Again
Auction and barbecue sponsor
ed by the lone Community
church at lone Saturday proved
to be a success beyond the spon
sors' expectations with some
$1500 netted for the church.
The money will erase a deficit
in the church budget at the end
of the fiscal year and will pro
vide new Sunday School tables
and equipment that have been
needed, Mrs. Bob Jepsen said.
Reports were presented by
workers Wednesday night and it
was found that receipts were
$1952, of which not more than
$450 will go towards expenses.
The goods for the community
auction were donated, and most
of the food for the barbecue was
also given to the cause.
Sizeable crowds were on hand
throughout the day, and mer
chandise offered for sale brought
generally good prices with Don
Wink as the auctioneer. Some
250 persons enjoyed the barbe
cue dinner at noon with pit
cooked meat prepared by Chefs
Jack Loyd, Garry Tullis and
Fred Nelson.
A popular attraction was the
stage coach ride with Buck Lieu-
alien of Pendleton driving the
authentic stage coach, using his
well-known team of palominos.
Children were waiting at the
start of the rides and at the end
of the day, some had to be turn
ed away.
In view of the success of the
event, the church decided to
stage it again next year.
Bob Jepsen was general chair
man of the planning committee,
and in all some 50 persons had
active parts in the work.
WEATHER
By Leonard Gilliam
Weather report for the past
week is as follows:
Hi Low Prec.
Thursday 72 43
Friday 73 44
Saturday 74 54
Sunday f3 47
Monday 75 50
Tuesday 85 51
Wednesday 85 53
On the 60th anniversary of the
Heppner flood of June 14, 1903,
the number of eyewitnesses of
the disaster has dwindled, but
there are still quite a few old
timers who recall details of the
flood as if it had happened yes
terday. The story has been told and
retold, but the documentary ac
counts remain more incredulous
than fiction.
At the left is one of the well
known photos which shows the
devastation that was Heppner
after the great flood. The white
building at the left with the
steeple is the Methodist church
which still stands on the same
location. Poplar trees at right
mark the approximate location
of the channel of Willow Creek.
Number 15
10 Cents
v
j-L
I ... itlh ,. ,,.1
; ...
Monday with 31 delegates flora
Many Sponsors
Assist Sending
31 4-H Delegates
Thirty-one fortunate 4-H dele
gates left June 10 for Corvallis
for a week of college life on
the Oregon State University
campus. They are attending the
annual 4-H summer school this
week, according to Joe Hay,
county extension agent.
Classes, assemblies, sports and
parties are all a part of the pro
gram. Four-H members will be
living in dormitories on the
campus this year. Mrs. Max
Jones, irrigon, and Leonard
Munkers, bus driver, Lexington,
will act as chaperones for the
delegation. Munkers will also
drive one of the shuttle buses
on campus during the day.
A number of business places,
organizations and individuals
have contributed $750 to send
these 4-H members to summer
school. Nonda Clark, Heppner,
was the winner of a state schol
arship sponsored by Safeway
stores. Here is a list of the
friendly sponsors:
From Heppner Central Mar
ket, Bank of Eastern Oregon, P.
W. Mahoney, First National
Bank, B.P.O.E., B. J. Doherty,,
J. C. Penney, Tryco Equipment
Co., Elma's Apparel, Soroptimist,
Pine City Extension Unit, Wil
son's Men's Wear, Humphreys
Rexall Drug, Turner, Van Marter
and Bryant, Rhea Creek Grange
and Heppner Auto Sales.
From lone Willows Grange,
lone PTA, Jordan Elevator, Paul
Pettyjohn and Charles O'Connor.
From Lexington Pomona
Grange, Lexington Oil Coop,
Peck's Grocery, Lexington
Grange, Alfred Nelson, Jr., Mr.
and Mrs. William Doherty and
Morrow County Grain Growers.
From Irrigon Irrigon Grange.
From Boardman Mr. and Mrs.
Arthur Allen, North Morrow
Council, Boardman Soil Conser
vation District and Nathan
Thorpe.
From out of county Safeway
Stores, Portland, Umatilla Elec
tric Co-op, Stewart's Market,
Pendleton Grain Growers and
U. S. National Bank.
The Morrow county delegation
will return on Saturday. They
will arrive in Heppner about
4:00 p.m.
Kids Cautioned
On Sidewalk Riding
Chief of Police Dean Gilman
this week issued a word of caut
ion to children in regard to
children riding bicycles on down
town streets. He asked parents
to cooperate by telling their
youngsters to observe the ord
inance that prohibits riding bi
cycles on the main sidewalks.
There is danger of an accident
that could mean serious injury,
for instance, to an elderly pedes
trian. If the matter is not resolved
with this warning, the chief said
that it may be necessary to take
further action.
The picture was taken looking
north.
Two stories on the flood con
tributed by Arthur Raymond
Crawford, now of San Jose,
Calif., and O. M. Yeager, now
of Castle Rock, Wn., are printed
on page six of this paper. Both
lived here at the time of the
flood.
Mr. Yeager is now compiling
a Morrow county history which
he hopes to have published soon.
He also sent a list of those who
died in the flood, except for
those who remained uniden
tified, but since it has been pub
lished often before, it was not
included in this edition. Any
who would be interested in see
ing It are invited to come to
the Gazette-Times office.
Blood Program
In Jeopardy;
Goal is $1500
A Morrow County Red Cross
drive three months later than
the usual date will be conduc
ted from June 17 through 27, it
Is announced by the Rev. Charles
Knox who has been appointed
by the county Red Cross organ
ization to act as campaign
chairman.
It Is expected that a door-to-door
canvass will be conducted
for the campaign which has
$1500 as its goal.
At the time of tne regular
campaign month of March, no
one could be found to head the
drive here. One appeal for vol
untary donations was made
through the paper and $109 was
collected as a result, together
with $99 that was received from
Boardman and Irrigon.
Without funds to defray ex
penses for the local blood pro
gram, the county is virtually
certain of losing its blood pro
gram, and Red Cross blood
would no longer be available
through Pioneer Memorial hos
pital, Mrs. Carl Troedson, who
has been active in the county's
Red Cross program said.
"Many hours of work have
already been given by a few
people," the Rev. Knox said.
"Many more have signified a
willingness to combine their ef
forts with this small group and
help.
."Morrow county and you can
not aford to be without the
benefits of the Red Cross," he
continued. "Have you stood in
the. hospital corridors and heard
the doctor say, 'We have to give
blood now.' Then the labora
tory technician replies, 'But we
are out of blood.' The family
anxiously asks, 'Where can we
get it? We will drive for it.'
Pendleton Is only 70 miles away,
but when a life is at stake, that
is eternity! Yet this eternity is
possible, due to the American
Red Cross blood bank, and the
facilities for processing blood."
The Red Cross also supports
the summer Red Cross swim
ming lessons, which are avail
able for any young person or
adult. Every year the local Red
Cross swimming instructors re
ceive advanced training to help
with life saving Instruction.
Of the funds given locally, al
most half stavs at home to help
with the programs here. Should
a disaster come to the area or.
any type, the national organi
zation would assist without
using local funds.
"During the campaign, give
and give generously, as this gift
may be the gift of life for some
one you love dearly," the Rev.
Knox said. "Welcome your Red
Cross solicitor, and give just as
generously as you can."
Cow Elk Shot;
Unborn Calf Dies
Dick Graham, Kinzua Corp
oration forester, Friday discov
ered a dead cow elk between
Thorne and Rutabaga Creeks. It
had been shot and an unborn
calf had been removed and was
left beside the mother.
Apparently the wanton hunter
had started to butcher the elk
but did not complete the job
and left the animals on the spot.
The matter was turned over to
Jim Gordon, state policeman for
Investigation, while some local
sportsman suggested that person
responsible should be nominated
for the "meanest man" title.
13-Year-Old Girls
Take Plane Trip
A big thrill in their young
lives came to Pamela McCabe,
13, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Ernie McCabe of Heppner and
Jenny Smith, also 13, daugh
ter of Mr. and Mrs. Orville
Smith of Seattle, Wn., Monday.
The girls boarded an air
plane in Pendleton on that
day to take a trip by them
selves to Seattle. Jenny has
been staying in Heppner with
Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln Nash.
They expect to spend about
a month at the Smith's sum
mer home on Orcas Island. Mr.
and Mrs. Smith and family are
former Heppner residents. The
McCabes took them to the air
port in Pendleton.