LIBRARY
U OF 0
EUGENE,
ORE
97403
Property Taxes to Hold Near Last Ye
ar's Level
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MICROWAVE RECEIVERS, uit Installed In the Heppner TV re
celvlng itatlon on the hill wnl ol town. reprent a consider
able Investment by Oregon Telecommunications. Inc., which
will bring microwave TV hero under contract. says Carl Spauld
Ing. Happner TV manager, shown examining the equipment Bar
ring unforeseen difficulties, microwave television may bo in op
eration hero in about two weeks. (G-T Photo by Spike Pardee).
Microwave TV Nearing
For Heppner Viewers
With good luck, microwave
television to Heppner homes
through thr ruble system of
lli'l'i'ii'T TV may bo n rcnllty
within two Wfi-ks, Curl Spauld
InK, mnnnn'T of the cubic
ti-m. Mid Monday.
h'(iulmrnl was hclnt; , Install
itl 111 Ik W(Mk, Inrludlnu a bis
ri-ivptlon "dLsh", mvlvcrs una
remolultor In thu m-w rocelv
Int; Klailon on top of the hill
wvst of the city.
By Tupiulay, thin nd of the
vii'in wj prptty well prepar
ed for a trial run, but work
wm -H to bo done at CJoodnoc
lllll. nrar Arllnk'ton, which will
rcluy KlunaU from IMrtland to
Hrppni'r..
The nilcrowuvo nyslem cornea
throuKh Oreon Teletmmunl
iatlon. Inc., and Spauldina
said that the Heppner iastalla
tlon represont.i about un $S).
txjo InveMtment for the firm,
which alno Mipplles microwave
television to a number of other
it lest In Kustern CreKn, In
liudltiR La Grande and Baker.
Heppner TV will have an in
vestment of about $ti.50. iiuiud
Iiik cost of the wnall concrete
bulldlnK.
The cable system manaRer
cautioned that the microwave
equipment l delicate and "tern-jM-rumental"
and thut It rould
take some time to Ret It In
proper adjustment before feed
ln it throuKh the cable sys
tem. If some eiulpment should
malfunction, It may be neces
sary to cull In an expert from
another purt of the country to
et It In proM-r operation, he
Maid.
Therefore, the public should
not be disappointed If micro
wave Is not forthcomlns as soon
as is hoM;d. The cable system
here contracts with OreRon tel.
communication!! for the service
on a monthly fee basis.
Portland Channels Coming
The new system promises to
furnish class A pictures irom
Portland over four channels.
Under the now system, channel
2 (KATU) will bo viewed over
channel 2 here; rhannrt 6
i KOIN I will come over channel
Ci channel 8 IKGW) will come
over channel 4; and channel 10
the educational 1 channel, and
share
KPTV
I'linnnei . ;
,.. nrrlixi nnlv
late at
nleht and on week-ends when
'. h,u.i..'niinnnl channel is off
the educational cuum"
,hJL",r-,... A nlcturc
means
tha reception should be at least
as goon as " iq 1 Tkkpr)
celved from channel 19 vK"kj,
paw. on channel 4 here. Under
he new plan, KEPR will not
be received locally. nce the
networks will all be covered by
the Portland stations.
Wasco Translators Down
Recent loss of pictures from
KGW-TV, KOIN TV. and KATU
TV. Portland., was due to the
fact that the Wasco translator
was shut down, Spauldlng said.
Service was discontinued there
at least temporarily when local
people In that area failed to
give necessary financial support
for operation of the translator.
Signals are picked up from the
translator, not by cable, but by
antennae on sets in the area,
and there Is a difficult problem
of enforcing any payment of
fees for support of the translat
or. The drastic action was a step
to get this support.
Hennnor TV has been picking
up the Portland signals from the
translator, although because of
distance Involved, the signals
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ure erratic and undefendable.
When the translator went off
the air. this meant the lost of
the Portland stations here, but
they will be restored when the
microwave Installation is com
pleted. and the local cable sys
tern will no lotiKer rely on the
Wm system for the relay.
When the shutdown came,
Heppner TV restored KNUU,
Hlchland. to channel 2. replac
Ins KATU.
When microwave is a reality
here. It will end a lohR period
of waiting for the service. Ap
proval bv the Federal Communi
cations Commission took many
months, and a proposed FCC dir
ective that would have prohib
ited the viewing of channels
from more distant points In
areas served by closer stations
was headed off when a storm
of protest rose around the coun
try. Portland Hunter
Dies on Saturday
Of Heart Attack
Isadore Cohen, 52, of Portland,
'hoi a huck Saturday afternoon
In the Wilson Creek area some
18 miles south of Heppner, but
he had little time to enjoy it.
He died of a heart attack as
he and a companion, Richard
l.owry. also of Portland, start
ed to skin out the kill at their
camp.
lxiwrv went to the Larry Gen
try place on Rhea Creek and
called Sweeney Mortuary. The
body wrs brought to the mortu
ary before being taken to Port
land for services.
Death occurred probably be
tween 2:30 and 3 p.m. Satur
day, Sweeney said. It was un
derstood that Cohen had a his
toiv of heart trouble.
It was believed that he was
employed as a meat cutter by
a market In Portland.
Edward Holman and Son,
Portland, was In charge of ar
rangements for funeral services
which were Wednesday at 1:30
p.m. Interment was In Willam
ette National cemetery.
Straub Expected
Here October 17
Robert Straub, Democra t i c
candidate for governor, will be
In Hconner Monday evening.
October 17, according to Orvllle
Cutsforth, campaign chairman
here for the candidate.
A dinner will be held In the
Wagon Wheel banquet room,
and a public meeting will fol
low at 8 p.m. Everyone is in
vlted to come to the meeting
and get acquainted with him.
WEATHER
By don giluam
Official weather report for the
week of September 29-October 5
Is as follows:
HI Low
Thursday 78 51 ,
Friday 75 38
Saturday 84' 44
Sunday 67 46
Monday 68 36
Tuesday 73 38
Prec.
.36
Wednesday
78 41
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83rd Year
THE
GAZETTE-TIMES
Heppner, Oregon 97836, Thursday, October
City Council Passes
An ti-Litter Law
Heppner' city council passed
the "antl-lltter" ordinance at
Its third and final reading, ap
proved the zonlnjt ordinance's
first reading, and considered
possible chance In the city
charter at the regular monthly
meeting Monday night.
The ordinance against litter
ing provides a fine of not less
than 15 nor more than $100, or
a jail sentence of not less than
two days nor more than 50 days,
or both, for those found guilty
of scattering any type of debris
or trash on either public or pri
vate proiierty.
First reading of the ordinance
audit of the city's records and
WEARY FIRE CHIEF Charles
Ruggles, wearing protective
glasses, looked like a man
from Mars alter the Elks Tem
ple lire in May, 1962.
(G-T Photo)
Charles Ruggles
Resigns Position
As Fire Chief
Fire Chief Charles Ruggles
will soon end his service as a
"smoke eater" after being a vol
unteer fireman for 37 years.
He tendered his resignation
to the city council at the Mon
day night meeting and asked
that It he effective no later than
January 1. 17.
The council accepted the let
ter with reluctance and immed
iately cast about for a replace
ment. The fire committee will
consult with Chief Ruggles and
members of the department to
seek a new head for the vol
unteer department.
Ruggles, whose Insurance bus
iness is located almost direct
ly across the street from the
city fire station, has been chief
here for about 16 years. It was
in January, 19-18, within a week
after he moved to Heppner, that
he fought his first fire in this
city.
The worst blaze In his recol
lection was the fire of July 18,
19-19, that destroyed grain ele
vators of Morrow County Grain
Growers here with total loss,
including nearby buildings, of
$000,000.
Probably the second worst fire
was that which gutted the Elks
Temple in downtown Heppner
on May 11, 19H2.
Chief Ruggles said in his let
ter to the council that his res
ignation Is "due to business
and personal" reasons. He said
later, In elaboration, that he is
quitting on Instruction of his
physician.
He first started as volunteer
fireman at the age of 18 and
was a fireman at Moro and oth
er places before coming to
Heppner.
Because the living quarters of
Mr. and Mrs. Ruggles adjoins
their business and because the
location is so close to city hall
and the fire station, It has been
ah ideal situation. All fire calls
could be handled through the
one central location, and Mrs.
Ruggles has devoted freely of
her time to stand by and take
and receive calls while the de
partment was answering alarms.
And how is an old "fire
horse" going to restrain him
self from answering the call
when the fire horn blows dur
ing the night after January 1?
"Well, for a while I'm sure
I'll have trouble staying In
bed," he said, a little remorsefully.
"StWJ ft, "
on zoning followed the recent
public hearing at which no one
appeared. The ordinance must
be presented twice more at en
suing council meetings before
it can tecome city law.
Possibility of charter changes
came up after Allan Langen
waiter, C.P.A.. of Hermlston gave
a report to the council on the
made recommendations.
He suggested that the coun
cil consider offering an amend
ment to the charter for vote of
the people that would make the
position of city recorder appoint
ive rather than elective. Lang-
enwalter pointed out that he
felt the council, working close
ly with the recorder. Is In a
better position to choose a cap
able person for the office than
leaving the matter to an elec
tion. He also felt that once a
competent recorder is on the
Job, it should not be necessary
for the person to seek to con
tinue his position by running
as a candidate lor reelection.
To Review Charter
City Attorney Bob Abrams
concurred in the suggestion
and added that the city should
consider proposing other charter
change. Abrams said that he
felt It didn't seem right to have
some city officers elected for
four-year terms, as councilmen
are, and have some elected for
two-year terms, as the recorder,
treasurer and mayor are.
Abams asked the council for
permission to do more research
on the charter. He suggested
that It should be compared with
the model charter prepared by
the League oC0.egon- Cttie
with an idea Of -bringing the
entire document up to date,
rather than doing it "piece
meal." Langenwalter reported that
the books and records of the
city are In "very good shape"
and commended Elaine George,
city recorder, for excellent work
done. He also said that Mrs.
Ernest McCabe, treasurer, is
doing a very good job.
The auditor had only two
other comments to make on the
city's business. He said that the
state tax street fund is accum
ulating more funds than are
necessary and that the sewer
fund is now "beginning to car
ry Its own weight" after sewer
fees were raised. This is reliev
Ing the burden on the water
fund, he said.
Sidewalk Repairs Set
It was reported at the meet
ing that all but two of the let
ters sent by the city advising
some property owners to repair
sidewalks have brought replies.
The city had ordered that ar
rangements for making the re
pairs be made by September 15,
or the city would do the work
and file liens for the costs
against the properties.
On the two who were not
heard from, it was voted to pro
ceed with the repairs and file
liens for the costs.
Agreement Reached
It was also announced that
the city and the Parker Corpor
atlon have reached an agree
ment on an easement across the
Parker property west of town
for a water main that will ex-
tend to the high school. The
city will pay $100 for the ease
ment. The Parkers asked the city to
consider supplying water to the
Fred Hoskins residence just
north of the city limits. The
council, aware of the increasing
demands on the system inside
the city, did not act on this
matter as yet, even though the
proposed customer would be
willing to buy the water sub
ject to prior use by those with
in the city ana conttning tne
consumption of water to the
residence only.
Mayor Clarence Rosewall an
nounced that the general elec
tion for city offices will be No
vember 8. and the council ap
proved giving the usual notices
of election and set fees to be
paid members of the election
board at $5 each.
Jail Report Given
Chief of Police Dean Gilman
reported on a visit to the new
Malheur county jail In Vale in
connection with the joint city
county committee's work to see
what can be done about im
proving jail facilities here. Gil
man made the trip with Sher
iff C. J. D. Bauman and State
Officer Curtis Culp.
The Vale jail is much larger
than would be needed here, he
said, and it provides for max
imum security. It can house 52
prisoners and at the time of the
(Continued on page 8)
6, 1966
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9tU.JSM
WHEN JIM JACOBS. Heppner
the Mustangs, this is what opposing tackier see. Jim, who has
been troubled with injuries some this year, expect to be in the
starting lineup against Bums here Friday night
(See Story Page 6) (G-T Photo by Spike Pardee).
Heppner Lumber
To Shut Down;
Market Blamed
Heppner Lumber Company
sawmill will shut down follow
ing the close of work Friday,
J. B. (Barney) Malcom, presi
dent of the company, has an
nounced. The closure will be for an in
definite period and is due to a
depressed lumber market blam
ed on the nation's "tight mon
ey" situation, Malcom said.
Most of those employed In the
sawmill here will be offered
work at the Spray sawmill of
Heppner Lumber Company. The
plant at Spray will work two
shifts and will employ some 30
men.
Malcom said that he can ef
fect certain economies by oper
ating the Spray plant two
shifts rather than to operate
each of the mills on one shin
He said that he has green logs
to cut at Spray as compared to
the dead timber available here,
rand the logging supply situa
tion is better at the Spray op
eration
Planer of the Heppner Lum
ber Co. here will continue to
operate.
Malcom said that the plant
here has operated continuously
since it started eight years ago
except for temporary shutdowns
due to severe weather condit
ions or similar circumstances.
The operation has previously
weathered depressed mar k e t
conditions.
"If and when the market
picks up, we will start again,"
Malcom said.
lone Lions Slate
Broom Sale Soon
lone Liens club will hold Its
annual broom sale, on Wednes
day and Thursday, October 12
and 13, it is announced by Ted
Falmateer of the club.
Men of the club plan to go
from dour to door in the sale,
expecting: to cover Heppner
Wednesday, October 12, and
Lexington and lone the follow
ing night.
They will have both regular
brooms and whisk brooms for
sale. The project is carried on
cooperatively with Oregon In
dustries for the Blind, and pro
ceeds are shared between the
blind and the . Lions. In the
latter cse the funds are used
for civic projects.
Number 32
5PPNER
10 cents
High fullback packs the ball fort
Ballots Printed;
Saturday Deadline
For Registering
Ballots for the general elec
tion, to be on November 8,
were printed by the Gazette
Times Saturday and were de
livered to Mrs. Sadie Parrish,
Morrow county clerk. Con
spicuously missing from the
ballot was the 1 property
tax limitation measure, ruled
off by the courts.
Sample ballots will be
available to voters from now
until election time at the
clerk's office in the court
house. A final reminder is given
that Saturday, October 8, is
the final deadline for register
ing. For the convenience of
late registrants, the clerk's
office will be open Saturday
from 8:30 a.m. until 8 p.m.
Any who are in doubt as to
whether they are properly reg
istered should check with Mrs.
Parrish.
PTA Sets Dinner
For High School
Staff, Parents
Heppner High school parents
will welcome this year's high
school teaching staff with a
potluck dinner on Wednesday,
October 12. at 6:30 p.m. In the
high school cafetorium, accord
ing to announcement by Mrs.
Marshall Lovgren, high school
PTA president.
Parents are asked to bring
dishes on the following plan:
senior parents, salads; junior
parents, vegetable and potato
dishes; sophomore parents,
meats and hot dishes; freshmen
parents, desserts.
Urgent PTA business will be
the subject of a short PTA meet
ing at 8 p.m. after which Prin
cipal Dick Carpenter will intro
duce the teachers to tne group,
and there will be time for the
guests to visit.
Those who cannot be there
for the dinner will be most wel
come for the later part of the
evening. ;;
PFC. MONAGLE HOME
Pfc. Larry Monagle is home
on two-weeks iurlough Irom his
army training at Ft Sill, Okla.,
and will be visiting nis parents,
Mr. and Mrs- Charles Monagle,
He will leave to return to his
base on October 15, where he
is training with the 73rd Light
Maintenance company.
Only 2 Areas
Top 60 Mills
For 1966-67
With the aid of some 53 mills
In state relief, property taxes
in Morrow county for 1966-67
will stay at about the same lev
el as those for 1965-66, Rod
Thomson, assessor, said after
completing compilation of the
assessment roll this week.
The greatest increase In any
code area is 2.9 mills in area
10-2. near Irrigon, where taxes
will be 40.6 mills for the com
ing year as compared with 37.7
for 1965-66.
However, 17 of the county's
20 code areas show increases of
from one-tenth mill to the 2.9
mills. Three code areas show de
creases. One rural section near
Irrigon (10-1) will be down 2.7
mills, to 435 for the coming
year. The code area in the City
of Irrigon (10-3) will go down
3.1 mills to 51.7, and in the City
of Boardman (Code area 25-1),
the decrease will be 8.7 mills,
bringing It down to 48.0 from
the 56.7 of last year.
A factor In the decrease in
Boardman Is the increased val
uation there. Assessment roll
shows valuation this year to be
$263,909 with the new town de
veloping, as compared with on
ly $113,336 last year before the
development was well under
way. Only Two Areas Top 60 Mills
Interesting enough, only two
code areas In the county exceed
the 60 mills that Is considered
to be the dividing line where
the proposed 1 property tax
limitation would take effect had
it been approved for the Novem
ber general election ballot and
then passed by the voters.
Only Heppner and lone exceed
60 mills in taxes. Heppner's
millage for all taxing bodies
levying to property owners with
in the city lim i ts totals 66.4.
This is an increase of only 3
mill over 1965-66, and theoret
ically would have put the to
tal taxes within the city 6.4
mills over the 11 limit
In lone, the millage for the
coming year is 72.9 or 12.9 ov
er the theoretical limit. Taxes
there will be up 5 of a mill
over the 72.4 of last year.
. "Our tax picture is actually
one of the best In " the state."
Thomson said after compiling
the roll. He pointed out trjat
Wheeler and Gilliam counties
have somewhat lower levies but
added that the counties do not
offer as many services as Mor
row does.
State Tax Belief Up
Property tax relief from the
state coming to Morrow county
tor 1966-67 will be 5126.845. un
from $96,875 last year, the as
sessor pointed out. This is the
county taxpayers' share or the
total of $18,285,083 surplus fund
earmarked for such relief
around the state. It benefits all
taxpayers in the county by 5.3
mills, lust one mill more than
the 4.3 mills of relief last year.
in addition, personal proper
ty taxpayers will receive bene
fit from the state to the tune
of 8 to apply against Inven
tory taxes. Another state bene
fit comes in the form ot senior
citizens' relief, which will be
$2,754.72 for 1966-67. This is
practically the same as last
year, Thomson said.
Morrow county s toiat taxaDie
value for the year is figured at
S24.125.082. after exemptions.
This is an Increase of $694,032
over the previous year.
Personal Property Climbs
Personal property (before ex
emptions) shows an increase to
$3,297,150 from $2,871,840 for
1965-66. Real property (before
exemptions) shows an increase
of $393,460. going to $18,4U,
260 from $18,014,800.
Accounting for much of the
$425,310 increase in personal
oroDertv valuation are mcreasea
farm machinery and equipment,
going to $1,213,510 from $1,087,
840, increases in livestock, par
ticularly cattle, going to $814,-
090 from $677,995, and in other
machi n e r y and equipment,
reaching $826,100 as compared
with $675,390 for 1965-66.
Number of cattle is placedVat
33,844 as compared with 31,993
for 1965-66. Horses and mules
are up to 893 from 840; sheep
and goats are up to 15,893 as
compared with 14,871; but swine
is down to only 77 as compared
with 104 last year; and poultry
down to 5,503 as compared with
12,552 last year.
Public utilities assessment is
down somewhat from last year
dropping to $2,622,772, as com
pared with $2,643,350 for 1965
66. Agencies "Hold Line'
The fact that taxes will re
main at near the same level as
last year indicates that taxing
bodies adhered pretty much to
their policies of "holding the
line", imposing no great de
mands for increases.
Taxes imposed by cities for
city purposes are an example.
In Boardman, taxes for city
purposes dropped to 6.5 mills as
compared with 16.1 levied there
last year, but again, the in
crease in valuation is a factor.
In Heppner. the tax for city pur
poses will be down .1 mill, de
creasing to 15.4 from 15.5. lone
(Continued on page 8)