Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 17, 1966)
It's Up to Us Now When Howard Preston, chief of the planning section, l. S. Army Corp of Engineers, Walla Walla district, said at the conclusion of the Informational meeting on the Willow Creek project last week that the matter U now In the hand of the local people, he made It precisely clear that now U the time to "fish or cut bait." After long ear of hope and effort, the multipurpose proj ect, authorised by Congress lat year. U within our grasp. It U now up to the peeple to unify and coordinate their final efforta ao that the Willow Creek dam may be built The one final hurdle, before the Congressional appropria tion can be sought, la the organisation of the Irrigator of the Willow Creek valley. Without thU part of the muStipurpoa plan, the benefit cost ratio would fall below the 1-2 to 10 that now stands on the benefit aide, and the dam would not be considered feasible. While the Engineer. Bureau of Reclamation people and the State Water Resource Board are convinced that the Ir rigation feature would bring economic benefits to the ranch era. It Is no secret that some of the farmer are hesitant After year of growing their crops under their water rights and using the creek's flow when It Is available, they are a bit wary of this new concept They are In the position of trading the known for something that Is promised to be bet ter, but they do not know for a certainty that It will be. To the non farmer It would seem quite apparent and logi cal that having: the water at the peak of the growing season would certainly be much more beneficial than following the practice, which some do, of saturating the soil In late winter or early spring when plant are dormant. If a resident In town were watering hi lawn now, his neighbors would laugh at him. But It has been pointed out that soil conditions on the north end of the creek are different. When a rancher applies a heavy irrigation to deep, sandy soli during the time of heavy runoff. It saturates the ground and holds pretty much through the season. Some have followed this practice for many years and believe in It They can get three good cutting of alfalfa by this method. The question Is would it be better to have the stored wa ter available for the growing season and reduce the early year Irrigation? Quentin Bowman of the Water Resources board believes that there would be enough water In most years for both early year and summer Irrigation. Something long considered but never accomplished came up again this week when the Heppner-Morow county Cham ber of Commerce earnestly discussed moving towards divers ion of more Ditch Creek water Into Willow by means of a res ervolr in the Ilerrln Meadows area. The county and state agen cies are doing work towards this end. This water would sup plement the supply to the proposed dam and help assure both early and later irrigators. At the same time the Engineers are initiating a study of the John Day basin. Some believe that the county should ac celerate Its work on the Herrin Meadows project to save the Ditch Creek water for Morrow county, although Judge Paul Jones says that the county has a long standing water right on the upper Ditch Creek flow. Some of the ranchers on Willow Creek do not have the depth of soil that those. on the north end have and do not follow the practice of early Irrigation. It would appear that the stored water for summer use would be particularly bene fiical to them. It has been made clear, too, that the Irrigation district has virtually complete control over the use of the water. If It is agreed that some should be released early, this can be done. It would be a self-governing body. The estimated cost of the water seems fair at S3 per acre foot and a maximum cost of $6 to $7 per acre (not to be con fused with acre foot) regardless of how many acre feet a farmer needs to amply irrigate his land. The officials have made it clear that the irrigators would not be asked to pay more for the water than would be economically feasible for them and that the federal government would make up the difference from power revenues on the repayment schedule. Despite all these points, though, the non-farmer cannot make up the minds of the irrigators for them. They must de cide for themselves. There are many persons in the commu nity who earnestly hope that they can see their way clear to proceed with the organization and do It as promptly as pos sible. We believe that the rancher has another stake In this mat ter that may not have been emphasized enough, and that is his general relation to the economy and welfare of the coun ty as a whole. It was quite surprising when one fanner at the recent meeting remarked that the dam would be a difficult thing for the City of Heppner because of the additional burdens of sewage disposal, school facilities, and other needs that it would place on the people. These are problems that a great majority of the people of Heppner would gladly meet in order to obtain the benefits of the dam! Somehow there has not been enough communi cation between farmer and city dweller. We are in a posit ion to know how many businesses in the community are mak ing plans for moving ahead and expanding when the dam comes. The surge of construction dollars in the community would give our businesses a badly needed lift for two years. The influx of workers would help fill vacant houses in lone, Lexington, as well as In Heppner. In the ensuing years, the benefits accruing from the recre ation and wildlife features, the possibility of attracting per haps some small Industries with the water supply marked for . industrial use, and the knowledge that the area would be pretty well protected from another major flood would contrib ute to the local economy. There Is no doubt that the recrea tion facilities of the dam would attract many visitors. The Engineers measure this feature, in terms of economic bene fit, at $26,500 per year. One only has to look at the acceler ating use of Bull Prairie reservoir to envision what this would do and the Willow Creek dam would be much more acces sible, as well as considerably larger, than Bull Prairie. Currently under consideration here is the development of a retirement home, which is a great idea. Many older persons have left Heppner reluctantly in their golden ages to seek the sanctuary of retirement houses elsewhere. They liked it here the fine climate, the lack of congestion, the quiet way of living. But they had to sacrifice this for the unfamiliar memories of some of them are the horrors of the flood of hustle and bustle of the cities. The dam would mean something to these people. In the 1903. They would have the security that the dam would of fer. They would be able to enjoy fishing from the banks of the reservoir and outings on its shores. , As to the problems that might come, the City of Heppner Is aware of these and working on them. The planning commis sion at the present time is operating under matching funds on a study of needs for the community and is moving with the thought that the dam will some day be a reality. For tunately schools were constructed with the future in mind, and an influx in population would not overtax them. We believe there is too much of a cleavage between our farm and city people. Actually Morrow county has no "city" people. We are all rural residents both farmers and towns people. We live in a rural county. We are interdependent. We need each other. What is good for one is good for the other. One benefit that is not included in the Engineers' esti mates is the indirect economic benefits that come both dur ing the construction phase and post-construction period of the dam. This will help make the business community to liven and grow. Goods and services that ranchers have not found available close to him will start filling in. We have seen some businesses discontinued in recent years ones that really hurt to lose. There is a need for concern here, and it is time that our people realize that they must unify, work together, and seek avenues for progress. It is time for all to stop looking critically at the other fel low but rather to boost him, to work for his good, and in doing so, to contribute to the general welfare of the county. We have often expressed in the pages of the Gazette- Hltmtt CAZCTTC TIMCS. Thursday. rbvarr 17. 104 TUB Tf HEPPNER GAZETTE-TIMES Chaff and Chatter Wes Sherman fUppoet, Or?oa tTSM OKVIIJ.E CUTSKOItTH and !len Ward, expecting to tlo some survey work at Ilerrln Mead MORROW COUNTY'S NEWSFAfEl me Jicppncr waxen csisDiivnej Mann . iJvvi int iiciiiiiwr imv, turnon hurtt M.m;1iB at Time established November 13, 1T7. Consolidated February Icutsforth I'ark where there waa 1912. NIWfMMI ty wjryiuiHui Wj-AIIOCIATION NATIONAL NIWSPAMI lt6,6w - - - - - - - - i.a a WESLEY A. SHERMAN Editor and rubUaher HELEN C. SHERMAN Associate Publisher Office Hours: 8 am. to 6 pm, Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. until noon Saturday. Subscription Rate: S4S0 Year. Single Copy 10 Cents. Published Every Thursday and Entered at the Post Office at Heppner, Oregon, a feecond uas Matter. Mustangs Head Into Stretch With only three game remaining on It regular league chedule. the Heppner High basketball team Is now entering the home stretch drive for the championship of the Western division of the Greater Oregon league. They go to Wahtonka at The Dalles Friday night and then finish the following week-end at home with a pair of games against Burn on February 23 and Grant Union February 26. After winning two came against top competition over the past week-end the Mustangs are now In sole possession of first place In the division. Their season's 15 wln-2 loss rec ord Include a one-point loss to DeSales of Walla Walla, Wn., In non-league game (one which they squared with a vic tory over DeSales here later) and a 4-polnt loss to Grant Union on their long road trip at the start of the league sea son. Should the H-Mcn go on to win the western division, they still have to battle their way through the district tournament at La Grande on March 4 and 5 before they have a ticket to the state tournament on March 14-16 at Coo Bay. So there Is yet a long road ahead. Fortunately the team hasn't shown any Inclination to be unduly Impressed by the high ranking it has held among the state's A-2 teams throughout the season, and the "rating Jinx" hasn't caught up with them yet They have played each game for itself with the knowledge that this Is a tight league this year. Every team is a fine one with many excellent players. There are no easy games In the western division, and each contest requires maximum effort for victory. Heppner piay have had It a bit tougher than the others' in the competition through the season because It has been marked as "the team to beat." To the present however, this pressure has been good, for it has kept the squad at a peak. For eastern Oregon teams the road to Coos Bay Is longer than for most other squads in the state, In a way besides the mileage involved. Many teams have only to win their league championships to qualify. In the eastern Oregon cir cuit however, the split league is virtually the same as two separate leagues, and a playoff Is necessary between the two halves to determine the representative. This Is done at the district tournament with the two top schools of the western division eligible to play, together with the winner of the eastern division. The fourth spot Is determined by a playoff between the third team of the west against the second of the east the hard route that Heppner took last year. The 1965 "Cinderella team" which entered the district tournament in this lowly position swept the field and went on to the state. It appears this year that conditions will be different If the Mustangs continue as they are, they may enter the dis trict as champions instead of In the underdog role. They will be the ones that all others attempt to vanquish, so it won't be easy. In early games this year, the Mustangs showed only flash-. es of state tournament caliber, but in recent games they have approached a season's peak, nicely brought to that condition through the guidance of Coach Bob Clough. With most of the squad qualifying as veterans of last sea son's district and state tournament, the team now has devel oped a poise and skill that gives one the impression that It really has the stuff of which champions are made. Games against Madras and Sherman were tough ones close, tight contests against teams that were bent on winning. But the Mustangs never slipped, never faltered, never lost their poise. At the same time they were alert to take advantage of any weaknesses shown by their opponents. If they maintain that poise, if they continue to show the fine coordination that has characterized their recent play demonstrated by their lightning fast break, it Is going to take a truly inspired team to beat them. To the sports fans the next few weeks will be exciting ones. The Mustangs again this season are adding zest to the hometown spirit and are giving us all a lift by their achieve ments on the basketball court To those of us at the stage of life when Joints are stiffen ing and muscles ache at physical exertion, it is Invigorating to watch these boys develop to the physical and mental fi nesse they attain. Every year from the unknowns a new crop emerges to demonstrate skills of which few realize they were capable. It is a bit on the side of the cliche to say that we are, proud of these Mustangs but we are. Since they have kept a humility through the season notwithstanding their high statewide ranking, we know they can accept another compli ment that might swell lesser heads. All the people of the Heppner area think they are great. some 14 Itunes of new snow on the ground. When the bright warm day of last week moved u to re mark to Rolce Fulleton that we were thinking of taking uff our snow Urea, he advised u to wait until April. We're clad now thtt we heeded his advice. WHEN WE mentioned recently that Mrs. Micrman lather made the race for the Cherokee strip In the Oklahoma territory In 1S89. this struck a park with K. U. IPctel Mi.Murtry Both hi father and hi moth er made the race, too, although they were not acquainted at the time. Ill mother, who wa Margaret Walters of Illinois rode In two-seated surrey, and hi father. J. S- McMurtry of St Louis, Mo., was mountetl on pack muU, Unfortunately Mis Walter wasn't very well versed In bench marks, and she staked out section that had bern set aside for school uhc. so she didn't get any land. McMurtry. on the mule, did n't have the fastest mode of transportation by any mean. out he rot a choice section on the bank of the Cimarron Klver. Maybe it was good that the young lady dldnt et claim to lanu, tor rete sane. iiw be ing unsuccessful, went to Join a sister and her family on an other section, and this happen ed to be near McMurtry' claim That' Low the two eventual parents bechmo acquainted. A bend In the river cut off a choice bit of McMurtry' land, a piece of about seven acres. This proved to be prime cotton land, and he raised 500-acre bales of cotton to the acre on It McMurtry sold the first load of cotton ever ginned at Perry. uxia About 3't miles from the Me Murtry section, some lucky homesteader found oil on hU property and they brought In a well producing 800 barrel. Others were found closer, but when a well was sunk about a half-mile from McMurtrv. it with S)Mt McDanlcl and Fleanor Canity acting a the rd Itor. Gene Staik U estdcnt ol the tlub this rar. In the Ins? Issue, under "From the President's lk." were some cute quip about the vo cation and aviM-allon of some i the numbers: SADIE PAItltlSII: The first mbhln of Spring -April IV D1.A MAE GIKKIIFNS: Folk singer: Tien ager with crim inal -word that's somehow a hit. KLF.ANOK GONTY: Why Is il everyone seems to think If the shoe fit, their ft probably would look better In a size smaller. HELEN SHERMAN; Samson had the rl:ht Idea about adver tising. He look two columns and brought down the house. tJENK STAKKS: One of the stimuli that keep a rhapcrone awake Is memory DAISY ()LU.NS: Thl space cleaned by Heppner I leaner I. VI LAMIAM: Adult education will continue as long a kids have homework. SYLVIA MclUMEL: There I not hi ni? wrong with the younger generation that Ix-contlng tax payers won t cure. BETTY I KKIr Fr.ll: Save V. S. Currency-redeemable any time for anything JO PETTYJOHN: You can tel that a child Is growing up when he stops asking where he canto from ami starts refusing to tell w here he rolng. WAVKL WILKINSON: When driving, r.irl. watch that freery kid stuff! ETTA PARK Ell: Of the var ou kinds of compulsory educa Ion. the most compulsory Is ex perlenee. MA'xic. TIIO.MSUM Never get mad at someone tut know ng more than you do. Its not his fault. DONNA GEORGE: In Amer lea, land of optortunlty, even the greatest nu-n and women were bom Illiterate. JOAN HUGHES: Procrastlnat Ion Is a thief of time and so are a good many other long words. JEWEL iIACiEK: There Is a charity that is not tax deduc tlble. MARJORIF. WORDEN: A gard ener need a hatred for weeds proved to be a dry hole. That' ,vin more than a love for flow. the only thins that keep Pete r iiuiii nraiinK uiaiuunu sum- JOYCE JOHNSON: II no pins and rrom driving a Rous trouble iitmlniz one of the hap- Koyce today. pleKt day, of h,.r litv: The day I htr form a rirni'rim rhjtlrmAn AFTER SITTING in the H eppner I expires. High cheerlne section at the Sherman County basketball WHAT'S NEXT? DEPT. From game in Moro Saturday night. OSu come an interesting we think the yell leaders should ni- with inrv iinithnuu, fund he called the "Heppner Hall- marketing specialist, reporting marks . They have a cheer for ,w,-trmm.nt- every occasion one when the i mow being marketed Is team takes the floor, one when .anriwlrh rrea.l. neanui butter they score, one when someone an jelly, from a pressure can. goes out on fouls, one when o Soachettl In circle (which they want to cheer up their op ponents, one for the coach, and I so on These kids have some sort of intelligence agency that devel ops a system of counter-cheer we have seen advertised on TV) 3. Koast beef in pear-shaped cans. 4. Vellum paper place mats for feeding pets. 5. An oven to cook hamburg Death of Brother Follows Visit By Mrs. Brown Maurice A. Fry, age 74. tf Alameda, I'iiUf. died Sunday, February 13 In an thikland ho pital waa the brother of Mr. Blanche Urown, city librar ian. Mi had Just returned to her home here Sunday from a plane trip to California to vUit him, after she had heard of Ms st-rlou Illness. Horn riltrusry II. 1h.U. In Wheeler County, he waa the on of Olive L. and Freeman N Fry. He lived In Heppner a a hoy, and graduated from llepp ner Hkh sthool in l'.MH. lie was married t.i Mary II. Ileeren on August si. 191 In Kvanslon, 111. After his return to Heppner with hi family, lie oM-ratel an electric store during the UCii's. Survivors, beside hi wife, Mary, are two daughters, Mrs Donald S. IKrancesi of Sun Val ley. Calif : Mrs. W. G. (Margar et I MacNIecc. who will be re membered here as "Bunnle", of Cold Uay. Alaska; one son. MaurL-e A. Fry. Jr.. of Alame da, and one sister. Mr. Brown ol Heppner. Funeral service were hdd Wedne.lay, February 16, In Ala nieda. Kv. B. Stanley Moore, former rector of AU Saint Epsl copal church here, assisted In the service. whlh was under the auspices of the Knight Templar of the Alameda Com- mandery. of which he was a pat nwnmandcr. Dads Weekend Set At OSU Feb. 18 20 Father of Oregon State Uni versity students will be honor ed on campus February 18 to 20 and In typical father fashion will clve a financial boost to the student body. Some 2.NX) fathers are expect- ed to participate In the tradit ional Dads Week end program that will Include meeting with the dean of the school In which their son or daughter Is enrolled and campus tours along with athletic and enter tainment event. The Dads Club i sponsoring 17 full tuition scholarship, this year, worth $5,100. and ha giv en more than JJ.OU) to the stu dent loan fund in the past three year to help worthy and needy students complete their education. COMMUNITY H J BILLBOARD K Times how important the rancher Is In Morrow county; we have helped publicize his causes; and we have tried not to overlook any opportunity to boost this most important in dustry. Now comes the time when a segment of the ranchers holds the balance of a vital development in their hands. It is not for us to attempt to tell them that this irrigation project would result in Utopia for them because they are the ones who work with the soil, not us. But we say in all earnestness that this project is of more vital importance to Morrow county than some may realize. It is our sincere hope that enough of our ranchers will be able to Justify the irrigation feature so that it may move ahead with dispatch. Ranchers will soon be contacted to sign up for the irriga tion district or organization. It is emphasized that this still does not oblige them to participate In the purchase of irriga tion water. Their individual decisions on that would come when the project nears reality. What It would do is pave the way for pre-construction work, a step that will require some three years before actual construction could begin. Nearly every day some anxious citizen comes Into this office to express his hope and concern for the Willow Proj ect. An elderly man came In last week saying, "There must be something I can do. Isn't there something I can do?" Mrs. Frank Parker at the meeting last week emphasized what some have tended to forget one of the main functions of the dam is aimed at preventing a major flood like the one in 1903, something that remains vivid in her mind Should there be a cloudburst again that caused another disaster would there be any doubt about the construction of the dam? We think not, and this is a possibility that should not be pooh-poohed. "If you want It, I think the project Is yours," said Preston. Do we want it? This Is the time of decision. ing. When the band across the Urs in 211 seconds. way siriKes up wttn song, tney 6. An aluminum foil package Immediately break forth with that enables the consumer to roll the foil In or out by twist ing a knot on the end. 7. Freeze-drled coffee, which, when mixed with hot water, tastes like percolated coffee. Air Base Holds Service for Cook Funeral service for MSgt. Larry A. Cook, Jr.. were held have Monday. February 7. at Sondla never met, and don't know each Air Force Base at Albuaueroue. other at all. N. M. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. The two cards, chosen from Larry Cook. Sr., returned the end thousands on the market, were of the week after traveling to absolutely identical. the base to attend the services. Lodge of Sorrow was opened JIM DRISCOLL, Heppner post- by Albuquerque Masonic Lodge master is going to have to go AF & AM at the Base Chapel at on a trash program of physical 8:30 a.m. Chapel services were fitness. The roster for the East conducted by Major Arnold, squad of the Shrine All-Star Navy chaplain, and Rev. Dill football game lists Jim Drlscoll tb,eck, family minister, at the as a halfhnek. snrt Jim' n. University Church of Christ at postmaster. Of course, we know 9 f;m- , , , t , , they mean Tim Driscoll, and not ,uGrae? de ?erX,ce was heJd f 1 Jim, but the dad Is getting all e MNa"onaKl Cemetery, Santa act .. fc.y iiiuuaijr jiriavir and by different words to their school's credit sung to the same tune, One thine about it, this bas ketball season they have had plenty to cheer about. IT JUST COULDNT HAPPEN When George Steagall observ ed his birthday last week he got a greeting card from his mother, Mrs. Cora Burnsidc of Spray, and another from his mother-in-law. Mrs. Delia Par sons, clear across the nation at Jonesvllle, Va. Now these two ladles Jim is used to getting signed Pfi,,' JJl fi' 1 ?nd up for sports action, though. I Albuquerque Masonic lodge, They used to make the same mistake with son Tom, who Is J. Tom Driscoll. It's an easy mistake to make. I think the G-T may be guilty of writing Jim Driscoll occasion ! allv in snorts, stories when Tim Driscoll wa meant. ISSUED periodically by the Sor optlmlft Club of Heppner is its bulletin, "Soroptlmistings,'' Coming Events BASKETBALL Friday, February 18, Heppner vs. wahtonka. Wahtonka High gym. The Dalle Jayvecs, 6:30 p.m., Varsity :oo p.m. Support the Mustang! ELKS' ANNUAL Saturday, Feb. 19 fiyth Anniversary Celebration Registration from 11 a.m. Initiation at 2 p.m., ladlei card parties, 1:30 p.m., din ner and dancing. FFA BANQUET Annual Parent and Son FFA banquet High school cafeteria Tuesday, Feb. 22. 6:30 p.m. PANCAKE LUNCHEON Shrove Tues., Feb. 22, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Episcopal Parish Hall Everyone welcome. FOOD SALE Cherry Desserts, by Heppner Extension Unit Tues., Feb. 22, 2 p.m. Western Auto Store. SPONSORED AS A PUBLIC SERVICE BY C. A. RUGGLES Insurance Agency P. O. Box 247 PH. 678-9625 Bsppnar DANCE To Live Music Saturday Night Wagon Wheel HEPPNER Phone 676-8997 Order T Now Orders Going In February 19 CORNETT GREEN FEED Phone 676-9422
