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GAZETTE-TIMES
MOSBOW COUIfTTS KEWSrAPEl
Tl. !!ef.pnrf Gurtl established March 30 The Heppner
Timet established November is,
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PUIIIIHIII
AIIOCIAIIOM
WCSLXT A. SHCKMAlf
Editor cud ruUUbw
Subscription Rates: U-50 Year.
Every Thursday and Entered at
aa Second Class Matter.
Ridiculous Proposal
It U difficult to understand by what temerity a legislator
from Eugene propose to consolidate five eastern Oregon coun
ties Gilliam. Morrow. Sherman. Wheeler and Umatilla with
the county to be known as "Umatilla."
Rep. Richard L. Kennedy of ruger.e. a Democrat. has actually
Introduced such a bill In the legislature, as hard as It U to
believe.
Perhaps his action Is so ridiculous as not to Justify ex
position. It is hardly conceivable that it would have any chance
of serious consideration. But In view of the current trend to
take away from the small and add to the big. residents of the
five counties In our area should generate some alarm about this.
Introduction of the bill In Itself is getting foot In the door.
Is it possible that this young representative has any Idea
of what he Is proposing? Does he have any acquaintanceship
with Eastern Oregon and it problems? Does he realize the
serious economic Impact this move would have on our area.
Does he have any conception of the distances that would be
Involved between communities of the massive county and
the county seat? Did he consult with any of our area s leaders
whose people are so vitally affected?
Were these five counties consolidated, the new county of
Umatilla would embrace 9.065 square miles. This would be
a larger area than six of the 50 states and about the same
size as three others. It would exceed in area the following
states: Connecticut, 5.009 sq. miles; Delaware. 2.057 sq. miles;
Hawaii. 6.439 sq. miles; Massachusetts, 8.257 sq. miles; New
Jersey, 7336 sq. miles; and Rhode Island. 1514 sq. miles. It
would be almost as big as Maryland, 10.577; New Hampshire.
904; and Vermont, 9.609.
With the county seat In Pendleton, the residents of Mitchell
Ivould be about 180 miles from the county seat Those in the
Maupln area would be about the same distance. Condon would
be more than 100 miles away, and Fossil would be 120 miles
distant
Loss of county seats in four counties would have a very
depressing economic effect, far more widespread than a cursory
contemplation by a man from Eugene might reveal. There
would be considerable loss of payroll and loss of a great deal of
local county business. Mest counties attempt to buy at home,
and the taxes that businesses pay are fed back to them. The
fact that county courthouses are in these communities brings
additional business to them. It would be a crippling blow to
Hhe newspapers 4n these county seats, and the areas depend on
these papers for local Information.
Probably the greatest wrong that would be done by Rep.
Kennedy's proposal, though, would be to accelerate the trend
to take government farther from the hands of the Individual
citizen.
Local communities have seen their schools closed through
consolidation moves in the attempt to provide better education.
To many small towns, loss of schools has meant loss of com
munity centers with a consequent sacrifice of some voice by
the individual in the small districts on how the schools are to
be conducted.
On the state level, we have lost ground in Eastern Oregon
on representation so that today we are permitted only one
representative in the legislature for 9,065 square miles and only
one senator for 8,752 square miles.
On the Congressional level, we are right now facing re
districting which will add to the mammoth area that the second
Congressional district must cover, again lessening our voice.
Why is Eastern Oregon subject to such Increasing encroach
ment so that it must constantly be on the defensive? One reason
is that it has no major media to sing its praises, to point out
its importance and feed the populace information on its prob
lems and needs. It has no large daily papers; it has no television
stations. Thus, there are those In high places in our state who
ignorantly believe that this is a "land of sage brush and Jack
. rabbits."
We become fair game for appalling proposals by theorists
who take neither the time nor the trouble to seek, search nor
make any attempt to understand.
It was only a few short weeks ago that Warne Nunn said
at our Chamber of Commerce banquet that nearly one-third
of Portland's exports in a recent year went to the Orient, pre
sumably the bulk of it in wheat. This was a market developed
by the wheat counties in an exemplary example oi initiative.
Doesn't the western part of the state recognize this economic
importance to them? If so, why the continuous efforts to handi
cap and throttle Eastern Orgeon?
According to press reports, Rep. Kennedy's proposal by his
own quotation, ". . . would be a start on the governor's proposal
of consolidating and reorganizing counties."
This is strange support by a Democratic legislator for a
Republican governor. Not more than six months ago Governor
Mark Hatfield spoke in Heppner and told us of the bright
future for Morrow county and Eastern Oregon pointing out
how the John Day dam would open new vistas and reiterating
that the Boardman Industrial site, a project that he has nurt-
ured from the first, was one of the greatest locations for in
dustrial development in the world. He has stated again and
' again that this would turn into a complex of the greatest
economic importance to the State of Oregon. Is it logical to
consider a merger of counties where such vast progress is
contemplated?
Nunn, in his talk, was even more glowing in optimism on
our future.
One of the theories of county consolidation is that it will
bring tax economies to the people. This must be discounted.
True, it would eliminate some offices in the present county
seats, but the staffs of the larger county would be enlarged
with deputies and secretaries, working In more grandiose build
ings. Check at the Morrow county courthouse any day and
you will find the officers working and busy. The fact that
the government is under close scrutiny of the people serves
to hold costs down.
When Rancher John Smith wants to talk to the county court
about a culvert out on his road or discuss a matter of weed
control, he can walk into the courthouse here and present his
case. He may not win his point but he will get consideration.
Could he do this conveniently if the county seat were 100 to
150 miles from him? If he lived, say at Eightmile, chances
are he would be greeted with. "Where's that?" This, providing
he had the opportunity to infringe at all on the time of the
officials he sought
It would be as difficult to get something done on a particular
county road in this 9,000 square mile area as it is now to get
major Improvements on the Willow Creek highway on the state
level.
Whatever governmental economy was gained by a consoli
dation would be more than lost by the depressive effects when
county seats were taken away.
If legislators such as Rep. Kennedy are serious in their
-TIMES. Thursday. March II. IKS
ujtrraii.
isr. iomowwn '""""7
NATIONAL IOITOIAI
HELEN C SHERMAN
Associate rubllshw
Single Copy 10 Cent. IMblUhed
the Post Office at II ppner. Oregon,
efforts to effect economic In government, they could do
much greater service by proposing a one house legislature lor
the state. There U llttl excuse for two when each U based
strictly on population. The people have a clwvk and balance
safeguard In the Initiative and referendum. Millions of dollars
could be saved In one swoop by this Idea.
This would also have some curtailing effect on the number
of 'pet peeve" bill and out land lh proposals that are Intro
duced at the espens of the taxpayer.
Aa this U written, a letter arrive from our Rep, In In Mann
(printed elsewhere on thU page). He counlers Rep Kennedys
bill by proposing tbut not costing taxpayers money by Intro
during a bill I that Lane. IJnn. Benton. Marlon and Claikamss
counties be consolidated. Undoubtedly, the Lane representative
will consider this preposterous. It U all right, as the old b8
goes, when It happens to -thee, but abhorrent when applied
to "me."
Renv Mann, obviously Indignant over the proposal, writes
that It must be a "rather expensive Joke.
That It could be. but It Is much more appalling tnan runny.
Migration to La Grande
There Is certain to be quite
La Grande Friday and Saturday,
The HePDner Mustanrs have
basketball tournament, and It Is certain that they will have
large following of local fans to support them there. The
number will perhapa even exceed the some 300 who went to
Milton-Freewater Saturday night to see them defeat the Enter-
prise sharpshooters In a thrilling game.
Since losine the first three league games of the season.
the Mustangs have been In n
have evidenced an unusual desire and determination in every
succeeding contest. When Pilot
regular game, they fought right
In order to gain the fourth spot In the tournament.
There Is something Inspirational and dramatic In watching
an underdog work against odds. The spirit that the Heppner
team shows Is the antithesis of the disease of apathy. o
prevalent In our modern society. Perhapa this Is one reason
why it Is such a captivating pursuit to watch the Mustangs
at work. Their novcr-aay-die attitude Is invigorating and re
freshing. By their efforts they have shown that they can be the equal
of any team In the Greater Oregon league. They will enter
the tournament In somewhat of an underdog role, but everyone,
not the least of whom are the Pilot Rock and John Day players,
know that they have a good fighting chance of gaining the
championship. The Rockets will have to play better than they
did in the last game here to beat them In the opener.
It's going to be tough to maintain "business as usual" In
Heppner Friday afternoon and Saturday. It's easy to understand
Ed Dick's advertisement In this paper "Closed Saturday
We'll See you In La Grande." Many of those who can't be
there will be sorry that they are unable to make It. but the
Mustangs can well know that all will be 100 behind them
In spirit
This Is support that the Blue and Cold have earned and
deserve for their performance. It goes without saying that they
will do their very best They don't know how to do anything
less.
TO THE EDITOR...
To the Editor:
Enclosed herewith Is a copy
of HB 1835 which would con
solidate the counties of the 2Sth
legislative district into one
county and a copy of a letter
I have written to the author of
the bill.
One can only assume the
author of the bill must not be
serious. I am advised it costs
the state $600 when one of us
Introduces a bill.
At that rate we can only con
clude this is a rather expensive
joke.
IRVIN MANN. JR. . ,
Representative. 28th Legis
lative District.
Representative Richard L.
Kennedy
State Capitol
Salem, Ore.
Dear Representative Kennedy:
My understanding is that your
purpose in introducing legisla
tion to consolidate the counties
of the 28th legislative district
Into one county is to create a
bigger governmental unit that
you believe would be more ef
ficient and more economical
than the five county govern
ments we now have.
It takes an hour and a half
longer to drive from Milton
Freewater in north eastern
Umatilla county to Mitchell in
southwestern Wheeler county
than it does to drive from Port
land to Eugene.
May I suggest to you then that
you direct your considerable en
ergies to effecting a consolida
tion of Lane, Linn, Benton, Mar
ion and Clackamas counties in
to one county. This would in
volve an area with which you
are more familiar and we East
Oregonians, and parti c u 1 a r 1 y
those of us in the vain legisla
tive district, will take care of
our own governmental structure.
The county then formed
would be about the same area as
the one you propose. By apply
ing yourself to this major step
in county consolidation, be as
sured that you would form a
really big government that
would surelv be that much more
! efficient and economical than
are the present structures.
Sincerely yours,
IRVIN MANN. JR.
Representative, 28th Legis
lative District.
Dear Editor:
The community of lone has
something to be proud of A
clean well kept school. The stu
dents and faculty have a great
deal to do with this but I feel
most of the credit goes to the
custodians. We have some very
good ones and they spend a lot
of time working as it takes a
lot of work to keep up the areas
such as the cafeteria and gym.
I had the opportunity, not
long ago to be in another school
(outside our county) and was
astonished it was not kept up
any better. I'll not go into de
tails but it was not clean. It
was then I thought how lucky
we were and why we should
be proud of the way our schools
are kept Our 'custodians keep
the floors shining (and that's
not all), so let's all give them
the big 'Thanks" they deserve.
Yours, truly,
Grace McKinney
lone, Oregon
Tell the advertiser you saw It
In the Gazette-Times.
migration of lleppnerites to
and for good reason!
battled their way to the district
underdog role. Undaunted, they
Rock edged them In their last
back to win two piayon ui
To the Editor:
It is certainly gratifying to re
port another very fine low rec
ord for few serious man-caused
forest fires in Oregon for the
1964 season.
The fine support we have re
ceived from newspapers, radio
and TV stations has been a
large factor In making this good
record possible, s
It is significant that In spite
of increased use of Oregon's
forest lands by loggers, hunters,
campers, fishermen, picnickers
and sightseers, that there has
not been a corresponding In
crease in the number of man
caused fires. This is a tribute to
the stellar work being done to
ward the prevention of fires.
Your help in this effort is very
much appreciated by all for
esters charged with the manage
ment and protection of our for
est lands.
We know also that you realize
that we can never completely
eliminate man-caused fires and
that our Keep Oregon Green
eductional forest fire prevention
program must receive continuing
attention. In this we know that
we will always be able to count
on your support.
Albert Wiesendanger
Executive Secretary
Keep Oregon Green Ass'n.
2750 State St
Salem, Oregon
Mr. and Mrs. Lyle Jensen vis
ited this week end in St. Helens
at the home of her mother, Mrs.
Ava Baseel.
; ,; - . " . . . , - r- - k
birvf f ...,2V. VrftU- -z"-
! " zris ' hrr1- .-i,?-: J
Some tigers are fierce. Some tigers are ferocious. We build both.
There's the incredible GTO with its extra helping of horsepower (360), or the way it comes (335).
Or there's the LeMans with a 285-hp V-8, a 250-hp V-8, or a 140-hp six. Either way they're all Quick Wide-Track TljJCrt
tigers with bucket seats, carpeting and lots of Oh-you-kid I PODtiaC Lt ESailS & GTO
Sff THf NEW SONNfVllU. STAR CHIEF. 6 RAND PRIX. CA7AUNA, J2, L MANS. CT0 AND TIMPEST AT YOU AUTHOfllUO PONTIAC MAIM.
FARLEY MOTOR CO., MAY & CHASE, HEPPNER, OREGON
Chaff nd
Wes
JACK VAN WINKLE seemed a
bit disgruntled as he hoaed
off dirt and mud on HM
and concrete around hi service
station Tuesday. ,
Te been watering this for 13
vears and haven! had crop
cl," he said.
BUILDING A NEW HOME must
tw one of the most Interesting
excellence that a person ran
have. All the Idea of the entire
family mum be coordinated in
the planning.
vv m. fuisforth had express
ed the Idea of building his new
i. ...... ...M.-rm-.l aiii-r inr ivn-
" ........
.I...... .if "iktiiania iv im-.
Mm wife Barbara apparently
ihia round, and the new
tutsforth place. going up near
the golf course. U no Ponderosa.
On tile. too. had the Idea of
putting In a one lane bowling
alley in the basement, but we
understand that Uarhara prevail
ed over this. too. While Orvtlle
was away or busy with some,
thing ele. the wife told th
masons to extend the fireplace
flue Into the basement and set
up another fireplace n the
lower level, right where Orvllle
envisioned the bowling pin to
be.
To the Editor:
There ha come to my atten
tion recently a rumor being circ
ulated in our vicinity that dur
ing the recent flooding of the
Willow Creek Basin, the Red
Cross did not respond to a re
quest, or some requests for aid.
This l not true!
To my knowledge, there has
been no single application, nor
even verbal request, for any
kind of aid as a result of the
December flood. This office has
always responded Immediately
to any kind of request for aid
In whatever way our policies al
low, as many people whom I
have served can attest. We have,
furthermore, even exceeded our
policies on the local level In
order to helo In Isolated case
where the board of directors
deemed It necessary and urgent.
For the public's Information,
the Red Cross Is prohibited by
national policy, by which we are
governed, to give disaster aid
to less than five families In
volved in any one disaster. There
can be. however, certain forms
of aid administered from local
funds if the situation warrants
such a loan. or. In rare Instances,
a grant. This office, therefore,
investigated, In conjunction with
Sheriff Bauman but to my know
led ce. received no report or re
quest for help.
If any misunciersianairiK oi
any nature has arisen, I Invite
anyone to come and interview
your American Red Cross worker.
I hope that everyone will re
spond to the Red Cross drive for
funds In order lor us to continue
this agency's effectiveness.
Very sincerely.
MELVIN DIXON
(Home Service Worker,
Chapter 100)
American National Red Cross
To the Editor:
I sure enjoy your paper and
must say we always receive It
on Friday or Saturday. That Is
pretty good time. I must say.
You know I will be 72 years
next May and the Mrs. will soon
be 69 years. We are two of the
few of our age that were born
In lone that are still up and
around.
Mrs. Evalyn Farrens Is my sis
ter and Louis, Elmer, Archie and
Roy are my brothers. There U
only one left In my wife's fam
ily, Mrs. Verda Ritchie of Port
land. Thank you,
Glenn A. Ball
909 So. 34th Ave.
Yakima, Wash.
Chatter
Sherman
Tough lu k. On Hie! Hut I
probably will be more fun sit
!in around the fireplace than
It would be chasing bowling
hall back and foitn.
WARNING! A new fad h
In the grade school, and It
mav have caught the drug
Mores with cinnamon oil "
short supply. Klda buy a tiny
iw.nu ..f the oil br 35tf and Hick
t.s.ihi.lcks in It. Then they suck
on the toothpicks. Man. that
hot stuff! If you are a la
in a home now plagued with
cinnamon oil and are a guinea
pli for your Md. oun now
what wo mean we wonoer u
might have a detrimental effect
on some youngster who might
be allergic to II?
Some sly parents might dig a
yo-vo out of the trunk and see
if he can't get that started again
as a diversionary tactic. At least
we don't have to ut o '!
AT A SFRVU'E STATION In
Milton-Freewater after the
game Saturday night, a young
man got out of a Volkswagen
and approached u. "Are you
from Heppner?"
After getting an affirmative
reply, he Introduced himself a
Steve Barber from Enterprise
and said that he was a "ham"
l amateur radio enthusiast) who
"worked'' Kav Nichols and lUs-
kell Sharrard In Heppner quite
often. He asked that regard be
conveyed to them.
Barber tnen extended obvious-
Iv aincere congratulation and
kkxI wishes to the Heppner
High basketball team
"You certainly have a fine
team." he said, "anil we hope
they win at La Grande." He ex
pressed some disappointment be
cause the Savages lost, but said
that Heppner quite noticeably
showed a greater desire and de
termination. This, we thought, summed It
up correctly, and we pasa on this
little Incident because we
thought It a rather unusually
nice gesture of Rood sportsman
ship on the part of a stranger.
SCARCELY A WEEK goes by In
this newspaper business that
we don't write the obituary of
some elderly rson. A great
many of them have led Import
ant and significant lives, but be
cause of the Interval letween
their active peaks and the time
of their deaths, the go.nl thing
that they have done are lost to
memory or dimmed with the
passing of time. Thus, the sig
nificance of their passing Is not
always placed in proper per
spective. A few, however, remain active
until the end. Such was the
case with Mrs. Lena Shelton
Searcy, mother of Mrs. Charles
Rugglcs. She was a painter,
among other things, and kept
busy at It to her 93rd year, at
the time of her death. Such a
person Is a true Inspiration.
While she did not live here,
many here knew of her and her
achievements.
IT IS ONE of the small tragedies
that we seem to reserve the
eulogies for the time Immed
iately after death, that we neg.
Icct to record the good things
and historical facts about our
elder citizens while they are
with us. With every passing
year, some of our once-prominent
residents complete their
lives and take to their graves
Information that should have
been perpetuated.
Families of elderly persons
could help by writing down the
significant things In the live
of these people. Some day we
would like to see something
worked out whereby a history of
Morrow county, as revealed by
those who made the history,
could be compiled and published.
WALT Mt'RETTA of the fWing
i ornpsny aii in a talk to the
lone lions the other night that
Ihe new tet site near lloardiiian
has a problem with navy bomb
I n it plane. No, It Un'i the noise
thev make, but apparently they
come In l"W over the I-
site that It gives Ihe personnel
there Ihe Jitters. The iiinpaitv
has a weather towrr alxiut pi)
feet high, and omeiimes it
eetn that the planes are
uo.ii-intf in l.Mer Otn this The
site I near the flight iir..,r
and It seem that the ll( like
to use the iwer line to the tent
stand a a guide toward the
target.
INTEREST OK Heppner pe.
ner eople
Round lip,
In the ivntiieton
alwava great, is maie ren
greater with the selection of
Shannon Mahonev. our last
ear s Fair and Itodco ouceti. to
the Round Up court this rar
She' a fine addition to the
court, and her part In the pro
ceeding will he a matter of
pride shared by all In Morrow
county.
The GT editor are also
(rrsonally happy over the selec
lion of Jan McCurdy. daughter
of Mr. and Mr. Hon Mcv'urdy
of Pendleton. Having known bei
parent since before her birth,
we have followed her growth
each vear since infancy by the
t hrlstma card with a cur
rent picture of Jan that we re
ceived from the Met'urdys. Each
ear's card. too. carried an ap
propriate clever poem twe sua
et they were written by her
talented mother. Peg).
Only when Jan went t OSU
two year a'o were the picture
card discontinued.
With (Shan and Jan on the
court, we'll lixik forward to the
Round Up thl year. (We'll have
to apologize to Shannon for call
Ins her "Shan." which she dla
claim a a name, but couldn't
resist the rhyming of "Shan and
Jan.").
When you patronise Gazette
Time advertiser, you help
makw a better p-per. Tell them
you saw It In the Gazette-Timer
COMMUNITY
BILLBOARD
Coming Events
HEPPNER HIGH
BASKETBALL
District A 2 Tournament
EOC Gvm. La Gramle.
Heppner vs. Pilot Rock. Fri
day. 7:30 pm.
Finals. Saturday night.
FOOD SALE
By Heppner Extension Unit
Saturday. March 20, Central
Market. 11 am.
ELKS CRAB FEED
Saturday, March 20. 0:30 pm
lone members hosts.
Special Magician program,
dancing following.
BLOOD BANK DRAWING
Register now with Mr. Or-
vllle Cutsforth.
Drawing Monday, March 29
Elks Temple.
SPRING VACATION
For all county schools, March
20 29.
SPONSORED AS A PUBLIC
SERVICE BY
C. A. RUGGLES
Insurance Agency
P. O. Box 247 PH. 678-9625
Htppaer