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