HEPPNER GAZETTE-TIMES. Thursday. October 24, 1963
THE "rf HEPPNER
GAZETTE-TIMES
MOEHOW COTOTY'S NEWSPAPEB
The Heppner Gazette established March 30, 1883. The Heppner
Times established November 18, 1897. Consolidated February 15,
1912.
WESLEY A. SHERMAN
Editor and Publisher
NIWfPAPIt
PUILIfHIlS
ASSOCIATION
HELEN E. SHERMAN
Associate Publisher
NATIONAL EDITORIAL
Subscription Rates: $4.50 Year. Single Copy 10 Cents. Published
Every Thursday and Entered at the Post Office at Heppner, Oregon,
as Second Class Matter.
MltMIIMmilllllMMIH""
Pointing Towards a Better Fair and Rodeo
It was apparent at a meeting Monday night that there is
substantial Interest in working together to promote even better
fairs and rodeos in Morrow county.
Decision was made to draw up new by-laws for the rodeo
committee and for the fair committee, each of which is sub
sidiary to the county fair board.
This was done with the feeling on the part of some that
procedures should be more definite and that the method of
selecting new members of the committees should be better
defined. Both the rodeo and fair are well-established here and have
earned rightful places as outstanding public events in the county.
Men and women who have worked on them have served well
and diligently. To them and their dedicated leadership goes the
credit for the events being what they are today.
However, around the county has developed a feeling that
"new blood" and new ideas need to be added, especially to the
rodeo, to keep moving ahead. The point is a good one that per
haps virtually all rodeo board members will concede.
On the current board are some who have served for a number
of years and a few new members. The old-timers have experience
which has been Invaluable in putting on the rodeo, and the
new members are learning as they associate more with it.
Concern has been expressed by a group of local residents,
not now on the board but keenly interested in the rodeo, to
keep more "new blood" coming on, to keep the show on the
upswing, and to keep it from getting entrenched in a "rut."
At the meeting Monday there probably were some differences
of opinion, but there was no quarrel with this point of "new
blood." After all, everyone interested in the show at all is
interested in staging a good one.
Every indication points to the fact that the fair and rodeo
will go back together to the extent that they will be held within
the same week. Biggest problem confronting the consolidation,
as contrasted with the split fair and rodeo for the past two years,
is conflict on dates elsewhere. Such things as the Shrine game,
rodeos elsewhere, and the Stale Fair have to be considered.
There are some definite advantages to having the fair
and rodeo in the same week. A combined show is considerably
easier to publicize, it is less confusing to the public, and it
won't take so much time for those interested in both. This time, '
coming just before school starts, is at a premium for many
families who would like to get in last-minute vacations, for
instance.
As the fair board, fair committee, rodeo committee and others
join to work towards even better events, one thing that should
be done is to define objectives, particularly for the rodeo. Are
we interested in making it a big affair, bringing in outside
people and attracting a crowd from considerable distance, or are
we interested In keeping it essentially a local affair? Are we
going to aim at making a profit or are we concerned only with
breaking even? If we aim for a profit, should there be some
project or improvement for which it should be used?
Answers to these questions make all the difference in the
world on the conducting of the rodeo. It has never seemed quite
clear Just where we are aiming.
One thing that must be done if the aim is for large crowds
is to develop more crowd -consciousness. The rodeo spectators
sat for 4Mi hours at the show this year on hard board seats in
a stand where there is little room for their legs. There was only
token concessions service in the stands on the warm days and
many were pretty well parched before they left for home.
People today have it pretty easy. They can sit at home and
watch top performances on TV and get up to get a sandwich or
refreshment at will. They almost demand this type of treatment,
too, when they go out. If they don't get it, they will stay home
or go somewhere else. It is up to the committee to provide a
fast-moving show and to provide the best in entertainment,
comfort and convenience for spectators.
This year's rodeo shows were very good and a credit to
the committeemen who worked so hard on them. They were
too long, but that came about because there was an unexpected
boom in entries. Some means will have to be employed in the
future to keep the length of the program down if it is expected
to draw crowds sufficient to provide profit.
By the same token, the very fact that there were so many
entries indicates a gain of interest in the rodeo.
One of the best features of the Morrow county rodeo, as has
been said many times, is the local flavor. Participation by local
people is a big drawing point. Whatever the direction the rodeo
takes, it should not lose this home flavor.
At the same time, there are new vistas possible for both
the fair and rodeo if there are enough people willing to get
behind them and work and if all cooperate towards that end.
The meeting Monday was a good start.
Dog Complaints Arise Again
Complaints of dogs running at large are usually a sign of
spring. A number of grievances directed towards dogs here
during the past week therefore may be somewhat unseasonal,
but the points nevertheless seem to be well taken.
In one instance a resident hung a deer inside his garage
for the night and closed the door. However, the door was swollen
and didn't go clear shut. In the morning lie found that dogs
had pushed the door open and had badly chewed up the hind
quarters of the deer.
Other canines have been having a field day with garbage
cans, tipping them over and scattering the contents for half
a block. Another familiar complaint is that of messing lawns
and digging in flower beds.
In this year's county budget a sum was provided for con
struction of a dog pound. It has not been built as yet, but County
Judge Oscar Peterson said Wednesday that the county court
has hired a contractor to do the work, it will be done soon.
The city council at a meeting several months ago agreed
to purchase a gun that shoots a tranquilizer, harmless to the
canine but making it much easier (and safer) to capture a
dog running at large. This purchase was contingent on the
construction of the pound by the county.
Residents who are bearing the brunt of the dog nuisance
have a right to expect some relief soon.
Most human beings look upon "man's best friend" with a
great deal of warmth, sympathy and understanding. We wouldn't
want to do without these pets. But just as it is with a citizen,
the animals cannot be allowed to run with abandon and
Jeopardize property.
Dog owners have a responsibility to take care of their pets
and keep them under control so that they do not damage property
of neighbors. Tighter control is coming here, and those who
do not wish to lose their pets to the pound should take steps
to take care of them.
Chaff and Chatter
Wes Sherman
THERE ARE two members of the
Heppner High school faculty
who are fanatics about hiking.
In fact, if someone had happen
ed to come along between Kim
berly and Spray at 3:30 a.m. last
Thursday morning they would
have found Principal Gordon
Pratt and Bob Cantonwine hoof
ing It towards Spray.
They are now so fanatical
about hiking, in fact, that it
is best not to mention the inci
dent. The two had been to a meet
ing of the Greater Oregon
League in John Day and were
headed home in Cantonwine's
brand new 1964 model 4-door
hardtop. About six miles towards
Kimberly from the Spray-Hepp-ner
junction the transmission
went out on the car, and there
they sat, miles from home.
It was a pitch black night and
some nine miles from Spray, but
they figured that was the best
place to summon aid. A white
line went down the middle of
the highway for part of the
route, and that helped them see
where they were going, but it
ran out and they had a hard
time blundering along. (Iron
ically, the next day a highway
crew came along and painted
a new white line).
At Spray, they aroused some
one at the hotel and got a room,
tumbling in about 4 a.m.
First, however, they figured
they had better call home. Bob
tried to call his wife, but the
line was busy. Then Gordon tried
to call his wife but that line
was also busy. The two wives
in fact, were busily chatting
about what could have happened
to the men. Cantonwine declares
it was 15 minutes before they
could get through to tell them
about it. Said he, "Can you im
agine them talking on the phone
for 15 minutes at 3:30 in the
morning."
Mrs. Alice Vance came to their
rescue and drove over from Hepp
ner Thursday morning, arriving
about 11:30 a.m. They were back
at their high school work by
1:30. (Surely seems like a hard
way to play hookey for one
morning).
But the best is yet to come.
Cantonwine called the garage in
Milton-Freewater where he had
bought the new car from a long
time friend. The fellow sent a
mechanic over in another new
car to tow the disabled car home.
In doing so he came upon a herd
of cattle on the highway. The
car he was driving got by, ail
right, but one of the heifers
walked into the side of the Can
tonwine car and smashed in the
side.
Figuring that the new car was
hexed, the high school athletic
director convinced his friend that
he should have another car out
of the deal, and he is going to
get it (after some lengthy negot
iations). But it won't come for
30 days. Meanwhile, the Can
tonwines are driving their Jeep.
They don't feel too distressed
about it because they weren't
too crazy about the color of the
new car anyway.
These two faculty members
may be devoted supporters of
President Kennedy's physical fit
ness program, but it would seem
that hiking over the country
side at 3:30 a.m. is carrying
things a bit far.
MEANWHILE, back at the home
front, a lot of women are be
coming eligible for the purple
heart medal with little bowling
balls emblazoned on them. The
beginners' class is finding new
muscles, all right. The co-publisher
came limping home today,
for instance, with a catch in
her git-along.
Another lady, who has had a
touch of arthritis or birsitis,
threw one ball and had to quit.
She was mighty disappointed af
ter looking forward to it tor
some time.
Who knows what this bowling
Remember to Stop for School Buses
Apparently there are still many motorists who do not fully
understand the law about stopping for school buses. Local
authorities have called attention to the fact again this week,
and a new release from the Oregon Traffic Safety Department
coincidentally has arrived to emphasize the same thing.
Motorists, either approaching a stopped bus or following
behind the bus, must stop while signal lights are flashing and
wait while loading or unloading is completed. This is true on
all two or three-lane roads or highways. On highways where
there are two or more lanes in each direction, approaching
vehicles are not required to stop but those going in the same
direction as the bus must come to a halt.
Maybe some of these laws are a little more difficult to
respect in areas such as ours where traffic is pretty light on
the open road, but the law is aimed primarily at safeguarding
children who may dart into the highway from a spot invisible
to a motorist, either in front or behind.
A recent case was reported where three cars were in a
line, nearing a stopped school but. Neither of the first two
drivers stopped, but the third driver did. The first two were
adults, but the third was a 17-year-old driver and it is a credit
to this youthful driver.
There is another angle to this that should be brought out.
It is our feeling that sometimes school bus drivers, protected
by law, are a little careless and inconsiderate about motorists,
too, by failing to give enough warning and indulging in other
practices that may live up to the letter of the law but still
jeopardize safety.
For instance, coming back from a basketball game last
winter late one night, the highway was a glaze of ice. Cars
in front of a school bus were travelling not more than 20 miles ,
per hour with due regard for all existing conditions. They were
well spaced, knowing that if one went into a spin, the following
car would be powerless to stop. But the bus driver, favored
with the traction of a heavy load and more tire surface, found
the going easier and not so hazardous for his vehicle. In view
of the condition of the road he followed much too closely, in
this editor's opinion, to the car immediately ahead of him. It
kept the motorist under pressure of going faster than he deemed
prudent, knowing that if he went out of control the bus would
crash into him.
The safety of the child is the paramount thing in this matter
of bus and car. All involved should know the law and respect
it, and in so doing, should also go the next step in being as
considerate, careful and thoughtful as possible to make it
easier for the other driver.
Odds and Ends
SHOES
95c
TO
$6.95
A Few Pairs Men's Oxfords .... $6.95
fervor is going to do?
Just conversing with a fellow
after 9 p.m. on the telephone
when he abruptly said, "Well, I
gotto hang up. I gotta get down
to the bowling alley."
Around this newspaper the
talk is running rife. No. 2 son
comes home and reports he had
a 173. No. 3 son comes home
talking of splits, spares, rail
roads, and so on. Just last
night and this is the truth
we went in the dining room to
find two of them feverishly past
ing Green Stamps in the books
and the stamp book open to
the page for bowling balls and
shoes. There goes those end
tables we were figuring on!
Well, the old man, who hasn't
pitched a bowling ball in his
life, is out in the cold, but we
startled them all when we cas
ually announced. "I remember
when I had a 300 game."
That brought things to an
abrupt halt and their eyes
popped out.
After due pause for emphasis,
we followed with, "Yep, when
I was a kid, I played sandlot
football and one time the other
team beat us 300 to nothing."
With the new lanes, stores in
town better stock up on soup be
cause there will be a run on it.
Housewives will be going to
bowl in the middle of the day,
leaving cans of soup for their
husbands.
BUT 13-year-old son Jim's com
ment is worth repeating. Sit
ting in the front room the other
night, he declared suddenly, "It
sure seems weird."
"What seems weird?"
"It seems weird when you
walk into that bowling alley
that a thing as nice as this could
be in Heppner, without driving
iu miles to get there."
SAY, that Mustang football
team played a whale of a
game the other night against
Pilot Rock. We commented to
one of the coaches early in the
season that the boys didn't show
enough fire at the start of their
games. They didn't seem to get
rolling until about the third
quarter.
We would have had to eat
those words Friday night! They
whipped right into gear and
away they went. Lee Padberg
turned in one of the best high
school performances we've seen
for a long, long time, but he
didn't do the job alone,, of course.
When you give him five yards
to get moving, he's gone like a
streak.
Another thing that is a joy
to watch is the way Larry Mues
sig returns a punt. We can't
recall another high school player
we've ever seen that does so
well. He moves in on the ball
on a dead run so that by the
time he catches the pigskin, he
is really travelling, and this
brings bonus yardage.
All the team performed won
derfully well in the Pilot Rock
game, and it was a real thrill
for the home fans to watch them
in action.
School Bus Stop
Law is Explained
Yellow school buses, filled
wtih students, books and noise,
are a familiar sight to Oregon
drivers. But as familiar as
drivers may be with the sight
of the school bus, many drivers
are not familiar with the laws
relating to the stopped and load
ing bus.
Just what is the procedure
when meeting or passing a stop
ped school bus?
The Traffic Safety Division of
the Department of Motor Ve
hicles breaks the "School Bus
Stop Law" into two situations.
One section of the law applies
when traveling on a two or
three lane street. If the school
bus is stopped and has its red
warning lights flashing, all
drivers traveling in both direc
tions must stop. The "stop lines'
tor cars meeting and passing
the bus are imaginary lines
drawn across the road from the
back and front bumper of the
bus.
A different situation applies
when traveling on a street with
two or more lanes in each direc
tion. In this situation only the
cars going in the same direction
as the bus must stop. Vehicles
traveling in the opposite direc
tion of the bus may proceed.
In both situations, drivers
must stop only when, and as
long as, the bus's red warning
lights are flashing. If thev are
not flashing, the driver may pass
the bus with caution.
Dinner Scheduled
Family Night will be observed
at the Heppner Methodist church
Sunday evening, with a potluck
dinner served at 6:30 p.m., ac
cording to Rev. Mel Dixon, pastor.
A short business meeting will
take care of official quarterly
conference business, and will be
followed by a program. All
church constituents are urged to
be present.
COMMUNITY
BILLBOARD
Coming Events
BAKED FOOD SALE
St. Monica's Guild
Central Market
Friday, November 1
RUMMAGE SALE
Big variety of clothing, house
hold appliances, toys, furn
iture, knick-knacks.
Civic League Rummage Sale
Friday, Saturday, 8 a.m. to
4 p.m. Old Bakery Building.
TRAVELING FOOD SALE
Heppner High Senior Class
Saturday, October 26, start
ing at 1 p.m.
ANNUAL TURKEY DINNER
Lexington IOOF Hall
Saturday, October 26, 5:30 to
8:00 p.m.
Tickets $1.50, 75c.
SPONSORED AS A Ef BLIC
SERVICE BY
C. A. RUGGLES
Insurance Agency
P. O. Box 247 PH. 676-9625
Heppner
Byus Couple Has Girl
Word has been received by rel
atives here of the birth of a new
daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Dean
Byus of Seattle, Wn., on Tues
day, October 15. The young miss
weighed 6 lbs., 12 oz., has been
named Rebecca Ann. and ioins
one sister, Kathy. Mrs. Byus will
be remembered here as the form
er Shirley Kononen, and a niece
of Mrs. Herman Blettell.
SPECIAL SESSIONS
At The
Roller Skating
RINK
ADULT NIGHT, 7 to 10 P.M.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 30
Thursday, October 31
Halloween Night
7 to 10 p. m.
SPECIAL TREATS!
ESPECIALLY FOR YOUTH
REGULAR SESSIONS
3 Days Each Week
Friday and Saturday 7 to 1 0, Sunday 2 to 5
i
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