Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 15, 1966)
I HEPPNER GAZETTE-TIMES. Thursday. September IS. 196. GAZETTE-TIMES Heppoct. Oregon 97838 morrow couirrrs newspaper The Heppner Gazette established March 30, 1SS3. The Heppner Times established November 18. 1S97. Consolidated February 15. 1912. TO THE EDITOR. p y i u s h NIWSPAPII EIS SOCIATION NATION A I NEWSPAPEt s5C6T6N 3& AStJ LMJjumg'irmi WESLET A. SHERMAK Editor and Publisher HELEN E. SHERMAN Associate Publisher Office Hours: 8 am. to 6 pnu Monday through Friday; 9 ajn. until noon Saturday. Subscription Rates: $450 Year. Single Copy 10 Cents. Published Every Thursday and Entered at the Post Office at Heppner, Oregon, as Second Class Matter. 1V2 Would Threaten Local Control While the property tax seems to be subject to more kicks and criticism than any other tax that John Q. Public pays, there are some things In its favor. One of the foremost of these Is that the citizen has more control over the property tax than any other tax that he pays. Much of the property tax load is Imposed because residents of the aroa have voted for it or at least theoretically have ap proved it. For instance, the public votes on the school budget each year, and the tax (above the 6 limitation) wouldn't be imposed unless the majority voted in favor. While there is no vote on budgets which hold within the 6 limitation (such as the City of Heppner budget and the Morrow County budget), public hearings are held annually and the budgets are published for all to review. Anyone who has criticism has the right to be heard, and it Isn't too far fetched to believe that if there Is something in the budg ets that the public really doesn't want, the people have it within their power to shout long and loud enough to change it and cut expenses. It would take considerably more organization and shout ing to do much to alter the state income tax; and the fed eral income tax is so far removed from the average citizen that any cry he may make about outlandish expenditure Is just a howl of the wind. The property tax has serious faults. One is that assess ments can never be thoroughly fair, because they must be made pretty much on subjective judgment, although criteria have been established in the hope of making them as equit able as possible. And by our own doing, largely, we have placed too much of a burden on the property taxpayer. His ownership of prop erty may not be a true reflection of his ability to pay, which is supposed to be one of the most important principles of a Just tax. But the load continues to mount One reason that the property tax is subject to so much criticism Is the very fact that it Is controlled locally and therefore is vulnerable to change. It Is the one tax that an outraged taxpayer has somewhere near within reach. He can't, by his vote or by protesting, cut the federal income tax; he can't lower the state income tax unless he can wield enough influence on legislators to get them to consider it; but he can, in his own sphere, create enough fuss to Influence the local property tax. But what would he do if the 14 property tax limita tion measure should be approved, provided the State Supreme Court rules next week that it should be on the ballot? The taxpayer who votes for the limitation is at the same moment signing away his right to influence the one tax over which he can exert some real control. The measure gives the State Tax Commission the power to adjust local budgets and taxes within code areas in cases where the 1H limitation is exceeded. This, incidentally, is a Job that the commission doesn't want at all. It means only sweat, blood, toil and tears. But it would give to the state, a power that had been reserved to the local people. While the sponsors of the m?c measure have the motive of cutting property taxes, there are loopholes In their propos al which actually could result in higher property taxes. For instance, by a certain majority of voters a school dis trict could vote itself out of the limitation. Relieved of this taxing load, other taxing agencies in the code areas involved would be free to hike their taxes clear to the 1'4 limitation, and this would mean more taxes, not less taxes. And poor old John Q. Taxpayer couldn't do much about it, because he signed away his control to the State Tax Commission! The old six per cent limitation would be abolished. It won't be known probably until late next week whether the State Supreme Court will reverse the lower court that ruled the m measure off the ballot But if it does come up for a vote in November, John Q. Taxpayer better think on - . . 1 1 1 . .. V, ; - V Wnfnrn "Vac" r. cnmA m inpsp anpies Deiore ne iuiim iua a uwic ac this measure. To the Editor: I thought Heppner people would be interested tn a bit of news concerning Ellis Thomson of New York City. He is a cous in of James and Rod Thomson and left Heppner In 1935. He Is completing his fourth trip to Europe, having left Aug ust 19 to flv to Amsterdam and returned from Brussels Septem ber 9. He had a Eurail pass which means unlimited railroad travel in Europe He planned to spend a dav in Stockholm. Swe den: then to Vienna. Austria; Sicily and Italy. He writes, "Don't worry about mv spend ing much monev in France. I'll be in Paris onlv a dav or two." He also adds, "'I must sav Ed die Burchell has done well." Then he writes, "I don't think they believe me in the office when I tell them Josephine Ma honev and I used to be the best dancers In Eastern Oregon, but can vou think of anybody who was bolter?" Ellis savs his brother. Earl, of Portland is sending him some sliced rock for the top of his coffee table. He writes. "I can hardlv wait to see them. I'm covering mv coffee table with them, so I'll have a touch of Oregon in mv apartment." Chaff and Chatter Wes Sherman Ellis attends a painting class aides ?" ONE PASSF.NT sav too much agin the ratn In this country, but Alan Martin, new element ary school principal, called this moist Wednesday morning ami asked what our average rainfall Is. We told him that it Is In the neighborhood of 13 Inches. "IVies It alwavs come all at once?'" he queried It sure puts the Pendleton ians on the spot. Ranchers there surelv low the rain, and thev surelv need It. but those con nected with the Round-l'p on this dav must he a bit bitter about all that mixture of hydro gen (2 parts) and oxygen (1 part that is probably making their oH-ning miserable. THE TALK at school board meeting Monday night turned to teachers' aides. Chairman Ir vin Rauch remarked that he felt It would be necessary for the district to relv more and more on teachers' aides to help keep costs down and help solve the teacher shortage problem. In the back row, we couldn't help but ask the facetious ques tion of Principal Martin, sitting beside us, "If the district should have anv 'lemons' as teachers, would their helMrs be 'lemon each Monday night and thinks he is improving in his work. He is employed in the office of the New York Central Rail road company. Very truly yours, Josephine Mahoney Baker To the Editor: Dear Mr. Sherman: I always read the "paper from home" completely and all edi torials of the papers we take are of interest to me. I read your editorial. I think, week before last on Gov. Hatfield. I appre ciated your good words for him as we remain as interested in him politically as if we lived in Oregon. The enclosed copy of an in terview with him was taken from "Decision," a magazine put out by the Rev. Billv Gra ham and his staff interesting! In mv humble opinion Mr. Hatfield Is a gentleman of high principle and stands head and houlders above most politic ians. He is a man the entire west is proud of and not only ex-Oregonians. His opponent seems like a good man but I sincerely be lieve the governor to be bet- Why Two-Year Terms? Seven of the nine elective positions in Heppner city gov ernment will be on the ballot at the November general elec tion. This is somewhat unusual and is due to a combination Df circumstances. Regular terms of four will expire as of January 1, 1967, and they must stand for reelection if they wish to continue fn their positions. These include the positions of treasurer, re corder, and two couneilmen. The mayor, W. C. Rosewall, is serving by appointment fol lowing the death of Al Lamb, and so the mayoralty Is up for election as prescribed by the city charter (an appointee serves until the next regular election). Two couneilmen are serving by appointment. Bill Cox was named to replace Haskell Shar rard, who resigned, and Harlan McCurdy, Jr., is serving in Mayor Rosewall's former council position, left vacant when Rosewall was named mayor. It is conceivable, though not at all probable, that there could be almost a complete turnover of city officers in one full swoop, leaving only two with any experience to carry 6n as a nucleus in operating the city. The situation could be relieved a bit if the charter did not call for two - year terms for mayor, treasurer and re corder. Of course, the mayor in this case would have to stand for election anyway since he is serving by appointment. But it is a little difficult to understand why terms of two years were set for these three positions while the couneilmen are elected for four-year terms. It is difficult enough to get good elective city officials without imDosine on them the necessity of running for elec tion everv two years. Four-year terms would seem to offer more security, particularly in the position of city recorder. This iob carries considerable responsibility, and once a gooa can didate is elected, it would seem fitting that the official be encouraged to remain In the office. Actually, this office, being directly responsible to the council, is one that might well be left to appointment by the council, which would seek a qual ified and capable official, and not be subject to election at all. The same might be true for the city treasurer. The mayor Is one who should be elected, of course, but it would seem reasonable that he be chosen for a four-year term instead of a two-year term. The shorter term hardly gives one a chance to become oriented to his position before But it Is hard to top this Mar tin. "I don't know about that." he whispered back, "but a helper in the instrumental music de ter prepared and more able to accomplish more things for Ore gon and the Northwest. I think this Is a good time to leave pol itical bias at home when going to the polls. With best wishes Sincerely yours, Mrs. Thomas J. Wells 1000 S. E. Friedel Dr. Vancouver, Wn. 9S't-l To the Editor: Dear Shermans: We certainly have enjoyed the old home paper. It has been just like a letter from our many friends. We were sorry to have missed vou when you were on the coast. When you come again be sure to look us up. Best regards to all our friends. Sincerely, Hillard & Lucille Brown 111 Ammons Rd. Toledo, Oregon partment would "band aide'." surelv bo Mrs. Max (Grace) Buschke and Mrs. Carey I Alice i Hastings went to Portland Saturday to at tend the Holiday Market on be half of their apparel store, Ml- I n.li.s Aoeomnanvlni! them was; burg l ni.ta Shliios iif Council. Wn.. lUuartet. Chuck Kcnnison's Ace ' uia . ... ...i.i... . ii i i,, transported. Bill and fv. . . , " w ' I nr inaiivt l i,v . ; ion um mn, ......... orlal Coliseum Plaza und In the j ,.r, Idah , mid the Frlsbee Kam Koval Bui ding. They returned iiv along with free ihuiv ride Monday afternoon. he is subject to election again. This, one would think, would tend to discourage good candidates, although Mayor Lamb served a number of terms and was returned each time by the voters. It would be reasonable to amend the charter to make all elective positions four year terms. In the same vein, representatives to the state legislature and representatives to the U. S. Congress have to battle for reelection every two years, if they wish to continue. While there may be good reasons for this, it would seem to be dis crimination against these two groups of office holders. Sena tors and most other elective positions are elected for longer terms. One would think that more Interest would be attracted to these positions if they were for longer tenure. How many peo ple want to engage in a struggle for their Jobs every two years? Some might reason that officials may keep in closer touch with constituents, knowing that they must have the votes to return every two years. But on the other hand, the attention to election biennially takes time from the heavy load of du ties they have to perform in government It would seem better all around if minimum terms of four years be set for these candidates. It would probably be a pretty tough job to change them on the state and national levels, but it shouldn't be difficult to amend the city charter to make changes in the City of Heppner. A City (By GILES FRENCH, in Sherman County Journal) There seems to be no cure for a city; with three billion humans on earth many of them must live in cities. Yet, we cannot help but join the ranks of those critics who pronounce cities as an eventual end of civilization. Because of the Supreme Court edict on legislative appor tionment there is no effective opposition to spending federal money to rehabilitate cities. They do need something but there is no assurance that our American cure for every thing the money poultice will do much for cities. Certainly It will not do as much for cities as it will for the politicians who appropriate it Many cities have already made great improvements. Streets have been turned into freeways and auto transportation made relatively easy; there is seldom a shortage of schools even though some are old age should not render a school useless as readily as does the lack of ideas in teaching. Many cities have adequate public buildings. Eastern cities complain of slums the modern word is ghettos, which Isn't accurate. Re building slums won't eradicate them; it is the people who make the slums, not the reverse. What is wrong with cities is built into them by the fact of crowding thousands of people together. There is nothing for them to do. The very fart of crowding gives employment to many in the service trades: the utilities, laundrys, clerks. Much of a city's energy is spent In making the wheels go 'round; in taking in each other's washing to use an old ex pressive phrase. There is little creative in the work of most city dwellers; they shuffle papers, deliver goods and perform other simple services that neither inspire nor exalt They never enjoy the pleasure of producing a crop or raising a call or anything so tangible and satisfying to the human kind. Children In a city are doomed to an existence most unnat ural; there Is nothing to do. The monotony of city streets arouses no curiosity about the geography around them. Pub lic recreation is limited and of necessity Is more regulated than recreation. Small yards require little work; there is no room for animals one of the best ways for youth to learn. No wonder they gather in gangs and sometimes become de linquents. Cities demand great quantities of water and the lack of it may eventually limit their size; really the world can hard ly afford to use a resource in short supply as Is water to flush toilets. Cities demand paved streets and many a quiet street, paved and curbed, is traveled by no more than 20 ve hicles a day. Cities want and probably will get a larger per centage of the things the world produces, if such avarice causes a decline in the productivity of the country cities may have to be abandoned. But where will all the people go? AND Jl'ST to prove that school board meetings aren't always grim and boring affairs without moments of humor: The directors attention was focused on the construction schedule of Riverside High school, which has faced tnutiv delays, postponements and set backs. Among the most inter ested listeners was Ron Daniels, Riverside principal Supt David Potter pointed out that the current schedule calls for advertising for con struction bids on November 3, opening bids December 6, awarding contract December 14, start of construction IVcvmbcr 'M. completion of construction December 15. 17, and moving into the new school LVormher :v, vxn. Chairman Rauch looked at Principal Daniels and exclaim ed, 'Merry Christmas, Ron!" A PENDLETON church received credit for a very beautiful float In the Dressup parade in Pendleton Saturday when the parade moved Into the Round l'p grounds. The announcer apparvn 1 1 y couldn't find any information on ihe Heppner Soroptimists' float i grand sweepstakes winner tn the Morrow county rodeo pa rade', and told the crowd he didn't know whose float this was but thought it was that of a church In Pendleton. This was a bit of a disap pointment for the Soroptimists and their crew who had labored long to build the float and had devoted a great deal of effort this year to make it so that it could lx Joyce Johnson, Wave! Wilkin son and wife Helen worked on it in Pendleton from early af ternoon until parade time, f ter Dick Wilkinson had hauled it to IVndleton. They didn't get home until about midnight uf- ter getting It In shape for he return trip. Since the principal reason for taking the float to Pendleton Is to boost the home town of Hepp ner. It Is a bit deflating when the effort is credited to a Pen dleton church at the time of Its public recognition. Someone said that a radio an nouncer noted the oversight. however, and broadcast the cor rect information over the nir The Sorops didn't win any sort of prize this year. At pre vious Dressup parades they have been first prize winners, and this year's float was among the prettiest thev have made. The gals suspect that they were placed In the wrong category which put them in competition with some of the real lavish floats that come from Milton Kreewater and other places. Nevertheless, they enjoyed going over and don't expert to win prizes, particularly. Bui next year, they sav if they go next year they are going to have one big word In huge let ters across the float: "HEPPNER." AN INTERESTING bit on the hospitality of a very kind Pendleton woman: When the Sounl float was parked on a street with the crew preparing it for the parade, a woman liv ing nearby came out, brought them ice water (it was a hot day) and was a cordial im promptu hostess. She opened her home for Sara Miller to change clothes and did everything sue could to make the visitors wel come. She Is Mrs. Bob Lockwood, 114 7th Street. The interesting part Is that Mrs. Lockwood was keenly in terested in the Miss America pageant because her nephew Is engaged to Miss Oklahoma, and lived in her former home town The pageant was to be conclud ed that night, and she was very excited about the event. Miss Oklahoma had been one of the preliminary winners. This got the Sorop gals excit ed about the pageant, too, and so after the Dressup parade was over, they were anxious to find out who had become Miss America. When they learned of the win ner, they were almost as thrill ed as the woman who had be friended them. It was Miss Oklahoma! AFTER LAST week's squib on the flies and yellowjackets at Bull Prairie, we received a copy of Don Moffatt's Mill City En terprise and noted this helpful hint on yellowjackets: "You don't need a fancy chemical arsenal or a platoon of kids armed with flyswatters to keep yellowjackets from in vading a campsite, picnic or outdoor barbecue. "A mangy old fish skeleton a pan of water and a little veg etable oil can be turned into a defensive weapon capable of drowning a small army of for aging hornets in their own greed. "Don't laugh. Oregon State University extension wildlife specialist Andrew Landforce says that the homemade yellow- jacket trap is Just as sure fire as a Molotov cocktail on a thatched roof and can be set up in about the time It takes to blacken a hot dog over an open fire. "The way it works Is simple. Just fill a pan or other contain er with water to about two or three inches from the top. liang the skinned fish, tail down about one-half inch above the Low Level Flying Missions Slated Alrorafl from the H'HMh Troop Carrier C.ioiip, a Portland based Mr Force Reserve unit, will no doing low level flying missions September 17 and is The Illr.liis will extend along an Irregular route In the aie.i of The Ki.Iles, Grass Valley, Maupln, Warm Springs, Madia .. Docker Ranch. Kent. Johnson and return to The Dalles nic.t As many as ten C ll'.l "ftlii: boxcars" will fly between ti.iM pin. and 10:00 pin, Saturday and between ll:u a in. and 2 .o) p in.. Sunday. The day (lights will lie conducted al fiOO feel ,Nac th ground and the night (lights nl 1000 feet. In lastiii' out the routes of travel, every effort was made lo avoid tosvi.h and airpoits. The training missions ai part of the unit's annual opei attnnsl ri.'idlness InslH-ction III which its pilots und navigator are requited to donionsttal their ability to perform various maneuver Father Kopp Coming Sunday for Service Father Claremv Kopp of Cove, will be at All Saints' Episcopal church for Holy Communion at 10 a m. on Sunday, September IS. A coffee hour will follow the service. The Rev. Dirk Itlne hart will be In Condon to hold services In that community. Coffee hour gathering after church are now being held In the rooms between the church and the parish hall In order that Sunday School may continue while the parents are visiting. Main Street Show During Roundup Bills Henchmen Hilled as the 'Crcatest Ft en Show In America," the Main Street Show sponsored by the Main Streel Cowboys on the four central hindiies blocks of Pen dleton during the Pendleton lioiind Cji Ih el to entertain the iiiixm nh'.s visitors expected .i to Miturdav from Wednesday tills week. Included III the dhow will he the lleiii liioeu. rock 'n roll hand from Heppner. and Hut Cabal I, to from Me. Hold, Oregon's iMiswer t'' Hie Tlajuanii llan The Henchmen will be on Main Street fur dancing Thurda, Friday ami Saturday. The Call allcros will entertain on stage Friday nil III. Saturday mornliu and Saliuday night Starting Wednesday night and tunning almost continuously un til Saturday midnight will be Ihe amii ii'ient rides on the Un Imi Pacific parking lot lit the end of Main Slreet. Also el.lortalnlng will bo the Fali'oiis Junior Drum A Bugle I'eips and the Highland Ijiisje-. from Alhcna; the Pendleton Kain:ois Junior Drum A Bugle Corps ami the usual gun fight i and other Impromptu activities sponsored by the Main Streel Cow lo s A special attraction this year will be the performance of real old tune melodrama on stage on Main Slreet with the College Community Theatre group pro vldlng the actors anil actresses The crowi. will be expected to l.oo. hiss and cheer as the oc elision calls for. Other acts Include the Sykes Trio, the championship Walts (Wn ) Lions Barbershop water In the center of the con tainer. Then tniur on enough oil to cover the surface. 'The fish attracts the yellow jacket who cuts off a hunk of Ihe meat, tucks It under Its stomach and takes off like a fat trapeze artist with an arm load of rocks. The yellow-Jacket loses altitude after the ver tical launch from the fish, does a hellyfiop Into the tank and Is trapped by the oil. "Landforce savs It's not un common to trap from i!00 to 300 yellowjackets In a short peri od of time with the simple de vice. Fish makes the best bait because chunks can be cut oil by the yellowjackets. Landforce advises not to get any of the oil on the fish, since that seems to blunt the aroma." Well, now, we don't exK-ct to go on any more picnics this year, but hunters might take note and give this a try If the yellowjackets are still around in quantity when doer season opens. and other activities. The Ma'i.streetivs famed Med li ine Wat. on Show Is nil ne this year with a group of M-ml rofesslonal nets headed up b lr Horace Dropplns, purveyor of mirth und a wonderful elixir he claims will help anything Included In the Medlcln Show wi be Donna & Cheryl, (olkslnger; Dclorrs Patterson, song slvlls., 'The Pearl of the Prairie;" Davy I-alb and his Jar Cats, Dixieland South Pendleto!- style; Dr. Horace IVopplns' now famous DrojM-tles and Julie Pat terson, "the Hello Dolly" girl. Add to this package of enter talnment the thrill and color of Pioneer Morning, Saturday, a time when homage Is Paid lo the Pioneers who carved theii homes mi' of the wild west, with the displays of historical oh Jis ts In to w indows of the husl ness places as well as the free rides In many horse-drawn con veyanees of the days gone by. and you hte a wonderful tlm" w ail tin! for you on Pendleton's Main Streel. You are Invited to a Ucaa 1 9f WWUHl of fte and for CUSTOM SUITS OUTER COATS SPORTSWEAR IN OUR STORE MONDAY, SEPT. 19 ALL DAY MEET JOHN LUPPERT E. V. PRICE REPRESENTATIVE SKILtED IN MEA8URIN3 AND STYLE QUIDANCE MORE THAN 600 of the newest suitings for Fall and Winter, from the world's finest looms, will be on diHpIny in largo tailor's swatches. The values are outntnnding. Be sure to come in and see them. This is a twice-a-yenr event! THE EVENT SMART DRESSERS WAIT FORI GARDNER'S MEN'S WEAR THE STOHE OP PERSONAL SERVICE" Clothes tailored by . V. Price & Co.
