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
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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
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THE STOHE OP PERSONAL SERVICE"
Clothes tailored by . V. Price & Co.