Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 8, 1966)
HEPPNER GAZETTE-TIMES. Thursday. Dumber 8. 1966 THE HEPPNER GAZETTE-TIMES Heppner, Orgoo 97836 MORROW COUNTTS NEWSPAPER The Heppner Gazette established March 30, 1SS3. The Heppner Times established November IS, 1SS7. Consolidated February- 15. 1912. ,- I NATIONAL NEWSPAPIl lAsbcMTteN J KJ History Publication Needed r X W-ASSOCIATION -s ni HELEN E. SHERMAN Associate Publisher Monday through Friday; 9 am WESLET A. SHERMAN Editor and Publisher Office Hours: S a.m. to 6 p.m. until noon Saturday. Subscription Rates: $4.50 Year. Single Copy 10 Cents. Published Even- Thursday and Entered at the Post Office at Heppner. Oregon, as Second Class Matter. Soles Tax Not the Answer If the 1967 legislature moves in the direction indicated on the basis of the recommendation of the state tax study com mitteeto propose a sales tax to the people the results will be disappointing all the way around. People of this state have never gone for a sales tax, and although proponents believe that conditions have changed to the point that the public would do almost anything reason able to alleviate the burden on property, we don't believe that they will approve a sales tax even now. The tax study committee's recommendation, we under stand, was by vote of 6 to 4 the Republicans In favor and the Democrats against. Governor-elect Tom McCall Indi cates that he is not In favor of submitting the sales tax to the people at a special election, preferring to explore the realm of the income tax first McCall favors a broader-based income tax. This seems to us to be the best route. When it appeared that the 1H property tax limitation measure would be on the general election ballot, legislators realized that the situation was acute and that the people were crying for action. When the measure was stricken from the ballot on a technicality, the legislators still realized that they were faced with a mandate to do something to relieve the property tax burden in the 1967 session of the legislat ure, and this still holds true. Something must be done. If i .n,v,i, nArf nH o.-nrkahlp and if it doesn't Dro ll Oil I jviucuiuij fcw " -- - duce results, the state's voters will undoubtedly have another initiative presented In the nature of the IH limitation, al though it may be a somewhat different version. Oregon is among the few states in the nation which do net have a sales tax, but this is not an argument for im posing one. Our state is more attractive without one. The greatest arguments against a sales tax is that it is not based on a person's ability to pay. A man who has a large family and works for small wages, for instance, must buy considerably more consumer goods than a well-to-do couple without dependents. Tentative proposal as we under stand the plan backed by Speaker F. E. Montgomery of the House is that food and drugs would be included, making it even worse on the low income consumer. There are many more reasons to oppose the tax: As analyzed on a telecast by Forrest Amsden of KGW-TV News the other night, a man owning a $15,000 home, given as an example, would pay more in sales tax than he would get in relief on property taxes, even if the sales tax were all earmarked for property tax offset One reason is that util ities would also benefit by the property tax reductions, ben efitting them by millions, and John Q. Homeowner, and John Q. Farmer would be pungling up for them through the sales tax. The sales tax is costly to administer. It would require set ting up new machinery, and, we presume, hiring of auditors and personnel. Machinery for the income tax, it should be remembered, is already in operation and would require little more expense if the income tax base were broadened. No matter how you look at it the sales tax is a nuis ance. It involves more records and more bookkeeping for all business, and this is especially tough on small businesses, which can hardly keep up with federal and state bookkeep ing requirements on social security, unemployment compensa tion, workmen's compensation, withholding taxes, and oth ers. To impose this on some businesses would be almost the last straw. The sales tax. too, is a chore for the consumer who has to face the irritation of carrying a pocketful of pennies to pay for it. This is emphasized every time a per son takes a trip to our neighboring state to the north. Ranchers and farmers will be hit by a sales tax, too. The degree to which they suffer depends on how the bill is written. They are among those most desperately needing property tax relief. But what good does it do to relieve them in one pocket when the state takes it out of another pocket? Once the gate is opened on a sales tax, even though it may be only two per cent at first, the pressure is almost sure to make it climb to a higher percentage for other purposes. Neither Irvin Mann, representative from our 28th district nor Martin Buchanan, who lost to him in the general elec tion and who is a member of the state tax study committee, are in favor of a sales tax. Buchanan was among those who were in the 4-man minority on the report Rep. Mann points out that he believes the legislators are "gun shy" on another income tax proposal because of the resounding defeat of the state tax program in the fall of 1963. But it may be recalled that this program was designed to go towards an alleged deficit in state funds. If provisions for a broader based income tax were designed so that the additional, above what is now being paid, would go solely against property tax, it Just might win enough friends to carry. There is a considerable difference. In the fall of 1963 voters had the feeling that the state was wielding a club on them and saying, in effect, "Either vote for the program, or we'll cut out this or that service." Whether right or wrong, voters weren't in a mood to vote yes under this imag ined compulsion. The handwriting, so clearly marked by those who signed the Vk property limitation petitions, is still on the wall. If the legislature pins its hopes on a sales tax, the situation will only be aggravated. The plan towards a broader in come tax should be tried first with its provisions carefully designed to provide relief on property taxes and without any attempt to tie strings to it for some other purpose. Oregon may have one of the highest state income taxes in the nation but it is only a drop in the bucket compared to feJeral income tax. It is the fairest tax, and while no tax is painless, the income tax doesn't have all the obvious disadvantages of a sales tax. Under the income tax, relief to property owners would come from our people according to their ability to pay. Rep. Mann is in favor of working out plans for a poll of the peop'e to determine which way they wish to go. This would seem to be a good and reasonable suggestion if it can be worked out to give a valid cross-section of opinion. It would certainly have more merit than plunging into a spe cial election on a "do or die" sales tax. Oscar Peterson's efforts to stimulate interest and enthusiasm towards publication of a Morrow county history deserve serious attention of all who are fond of the county and appreciate what it means to them. The true Morrow cvuntian has a high loyalty for this county. He cherishes the way of life hero, which Is rather unique In a nation that is tending to concentrate its population in metropol itan areas. He likes to think of the past, reliving the thing that have Influenced the culture and development of the county early settlement by hardy ranchers, the old time harvests, the huge flocks of sheep that once were characteristic, the Indian days, the 1903 Heppner flood, the early days at Hardman as an important stage coach stop, the problem of coping with tne vast distances bv horse and wagon, the cattle drives, the early home steads, the rural schools that once were scattered to the remote corners of the county. Despite the great Interest in these things, little has been done towards publishing an accurate history to form a perma nent record. Only bits and pieces are scattered around, une oi the best efforts was the publication several years ago of "Yes-ten-ears cf Morrow" as a cooperative protect of the extension sen-ice and home extension units. This publication, which could only touch the highlights of the county's history, has been In great demand and copies are still being sold nearly every' wek. Something more detallea Is needed, and this Is what Oscar Peterson Is striving for. Ora Yeager, now of Castle Rock. Wn., an old timer nere. nas written a history centered around Heppner, but the mgrt cost oi publishing it has been a stumbling block. He has devoted hund reds of hours writing the manuscript but has met with little success in his effort Peterson says that Giles French of Moro, who has Just com pleted a third book of his own. These Things We Note, nas shown interest In editing and supervising publication of a his tory and estimates the cost at about $5000. This may seem a high price to some, but those familiar with publishing costs know that it would be a real bargain if it can be done tor that. History of another Eastern Oregon county was published at a cost twice that sum. French, a native East Oregonlan, is a natural ror sucn a task. A talented writer with a gift for expression, he is intimate ly familiar with the history of this part of the state. He is an excellent and accurate editor. Because he has had several books of his own published, he knows how to go about it Now retired, he has the time to work at it The plan Is that French, with Yeagers permission, could use the existing manuscript as a basis for the book. But a great amount of work would need to be done in coordinating, research ing, editing, adding material and perhaps getting and selecting pictures to make a complete and accurate publication. Cost of publication is more than any single Individual could be expected to pay. While there would be a keen demand for the book from those particularly interested In the county, It could not be expected to generate any widespread general circula tion, and so cost could not be covered by book sales alone. His torical societies, libraries, and those out of the area with a pen chant for history would supplement the local tale, however. So, what is particularly needed Is financial help. Folks who realize the Importance of this project could offer to donate to it with the thought that their contributions would document the history of the county so that generations to come could appre ciate the heritage they enjoy. The county's history Is filled with drama and color. Stories of the past here are even more remark able and powerful than fiction because they are true. Old timers still remaining can reach back in their memories and enthrall listeners with their tales of the early days, but few of these stories are being recorded. Every passing month sees more and more of the old timers slipping away, and it will not be long until their accounts are either lost or so distorted in passing down from mouth to mouth that they are no longer his torically valid. Peterson hopes to interest farm groups, civic organizations and others in supporting this project. Financially, it has to be con sidered a losing proposition, but the result would be something that could not be measured in money. It would be an Invalu able work to the county and its people. The hope is that this will strike a spark with those willing to help. I? it does, give Peterson) a call to express this lrtterest and talk it over with him. OTHER EDITORS SAY Chaff Chatter Wes Sherman MOKKOW Is a county of many moods. In the spring it Is verdant and vibrant. In the summer it Is teeming with ac tivity ami warmth. In the fall it Is crisp and mellow, and In the winter it can become cold and brittle. Sometimes it is temperament al and capricious, flaring up with a sudden or unex inn-ted outburst. These still surprise the old timers, but they amaze and .sometimes bewilder newcomers A sudden waterspout that gouges gullcys ami w reins buildings is one such manifes tatlon of this temperament. We experienced another ex ample Sunday night which had us a bit concerned. We went to the valley to vis it relatives and paused Sunday afternoon to see the 5:Ji per formance of Holiday on Ice In Portland. It was late when we reached Arlington and then headed over the McNab cutoff towards lone. It had been a real pleasure to get back to tranquility of Eastern Oregon after sloshing through the downpours thai held through Hood River. Suddenly, about halfway to lone from the Arlington Condon highway, we came across a bunch of tumblrwced on the road. We skirted around It with the thought that there must have been a storm here. too. A little farther along, we right through It with scarcely n cough i n slop to clear lur throat. She averaged a tlc written single spaced page ev ery l' minute for n total elapsed time of i: minute. That's a pretty good record. The ordinance wasn't n bad listening as one might think. even Ihoiu'h It dldn I have a plot Certainly It was not a had entertainment as homo of the TV programs one sees now adas. OKVll.l.K Cl'TSKOHTl! recently came up won a new iiuu-m rum-liers are encountering a a result of littering. The Utter bugs scatter beer and soda pop cans along the Mads, and cows or calves occasionally step on the cans. This makes the ends clamp over the hoof, and the bovine Is stuck with an unwant ed shoe. Ik-fore the ran Is fl nallv knocked off. the animal gets lame ami may suffer per manent Injury sometimes re sults. "Handlers would much rath er be bothered with bottle than cans." Orvllle said. All of which they should have to do neither, as the high schixd hoy once phrased It. Fire Department Misses Coffccmakcr Missing one :ui cup auto matic West Rend aluminum eoffccnwiker from the llepp ncr lire Department. And un happy Is the fireman without that hot cup of coffee on a cold, winter ulc.hl of practice or fire fighting! Anyone who might have In formation that would lead to return of the coffeemaker asked to get In touch with Klre I bu t Charlie Uugglcs. Korrle llurkenlilne. or one of the volunteer firemen. It has been missing for several weeks, (and no one likes to see un unhappy volunteer fireman). Service Held Monday For Lcota Brannan Resident of Spray blinked our eyes w hen the road s Brannan, a resl seemed to dlPP" , the (of ,he ,,, thrw vrsri o( The 'Junk Mail' Handicap By CONNIE JOHNSON. EDITOR, BLUE MOUNTAIN EAGLE, JOHN DAY News reports, a short time ago, told of a virtual breakdown in mail handling at the Chicago post office. Millions of pieces of mall accumulated creating a critical Jam with resultant de lays that led a trouble-shooter from the Postmaster General to propose that large amounts of third-class mall be destroyed. Caught in the backlog were 5.600 sacks of parcel post Blame for the crisis was placed on a high rate of absenteeism, a high volume of pre-Christmas advertising matter and the diffi culty of recruiting new employes. The basic problem, according to a report in U. S. News & world Kepon, . . . appears to oe a growing shortage of dedicated labor that once made good mail service possible in many places. Up to now, nobody has come up with a machine that can replace this kind of labor. It seems that the Post Office is always getting criticism oi one sort or another. We're not authorities on big city postal employ es, but we can't find much to complain about with the postal department at the local level. There are exceptions, nowever, and we believe many of these problems are inherited by local postal employes from the overall government system. One think, were certain that postal problems wouia De re duced tremendously if the postal department altered its policy on third class mail the "junk mail" that usually winds up in wastebaskets before it is read by the boxholder. Third class mail requires a large amount of the postal work er's daily production. It also enjoys a low postage rate. We believe if rates on this third class, or "junk mall", were made the same as first class mail, there would be far fewer foul-ups In post offices, and costs of operating the post office department would be reduced. Instead of making scapegoats of post office employes, wed rather point the finger of scorn at the third class mailing "priv ilege". reaches of our headlights. There was nothing ahead but a jung le of tumbleweed. The road wasn't even visible and the turableweed appeared to be up to three feet deep over the road, a sodden mass from ap parent heavy rains. We started through the Jung le, but it got thicker and thick er. Finally the car could push aside no more of the weeds and stopped. We tried backing up and making a run for it. still unsure whether w-e were on tne road or not, but the pile of weeds resisted. We got out and moved some, uncertain wheth er to try to proceed to turn back. All we could see was tum bleweed ahead as far as the lights would shine. It was a bit strange digging tumbleweed off the road at midnight with nary' a soul around but us. We decided to go on ana picked our way through It. Soon it was behind and there was no more evidence of a ca pricious outburst until we came upon the snow starting Just out of Lexington, another example of a fickle jtemperament TUMBLE WEED, which has been immortalized In song, isn't always so fondly romanti cized by the ranchers. The greenhorn thinks of it as harm less and novel, as it tumbles along In the wind. But the rancher know that when It piles against fences in a good blow, the combination of the strong wall it presents and the force of the wind can take fenc es right out Even knowing this, we were unprepared to find such a blockade on the road which had been so free and clear when we went west Just about 30 hours earlier. Maybe a fella ought to carry a pitchfork in his car as well as a shovel. ONE OF THE requirements In passing an ordinance by the city council is that the ordin ance be read In full at a coun cil meeting. In most cases this Isn't much of a chore, but it was different with the new zon ing ordinance. This is 30 pages long. For the past two months, the council dreaded the time when this would have to be read. The planning commission had care fully worked out the ordinance with the engineers, and the council had gone over its pro visions in detail. So Monday night, the time finally arrived. Mayor Rosewall offered to take turns with Elaine George, recorder, in read ing it but Mrs, George said she was willing to get at it, even though she had a cold and sore throat She plunged in and waded Sprav and a former Heppner resident, died November 30 at St. Anthony hospitul In Pendle ton after a lengthy Illness. She was 40. Lcota Jean Allison was born May 17. 1H2G. in Montana; she was united In marriage April 22. I'MVi. in Lexington to Mur riith Brannan of Sprav. In addition to the widower, she is survived by a brother. Leon Allison of Lawn dale, Calif.; two sons, Dan Woolery and William Norman Woolery. both of Tacoma; a daughter, Norma Jean Dlckman. Morrow (la, and five grandchildren. Services were held Monday, Dii-ember 5. at 1 p.m. at the Spray Assembly of Cod church with the Reverend Darrel Hos kins officiating. Interment was at Haystack Cemetery. Arrange ments were under the direction of Sweeney Mortuary, Heppner. Average Ex-GI Pays Tax of $337 The average ex CI with an Oregon veterans farm and home loan paid a property tax or JJJ7 this year, i 5.3 porcent Increase over the $X!0 he paid last year and 94 percent above his VM payment of $M llils f.gure was reported by II. C. Saalfeld, director of the Mate Department of Veterans' Affairs, which paid S10.M9.6U in 16 07 taxes this month on the prop erties of J1.H3 World War ll and Korean veterans who have state loans. Last year's tax payment was &M10.005 on 29.407 proper ties This year's tax increase was higher than last year's. How ever. In Mmc counties there was a decrease from last year. In Morrrow county, the tax on 54 properties this year $12. 51 ITS. The average x here was 123100. against last yesrj average uf $214 00 and as com pared to the statewide average this year of J337. The borrower pays his taxes monthly to the state veterans' department along with his loan repayment- The department In turn pays the tax collector, and does It by November 15 to earn the veteran a three percent dis count. The discount this year saved the veterans $X5,34!). Churches to Join In Sunday Program Churches of the South Morrow County Ministerial association arc Invited by the Chrtstiun Church to attend a Sunday meeting at 7:30 p.m. to hear Frank Sutton, The Dalles. North west representative of the Amor lean Sunday School Union, and see a llm that he win present, This One for Jesus," Al Boschee, pastor of the host church, an nounces. The meeting will be in the Christian thurch. This is on the occasion of the 105th annivers ary of the American Sunday School Union, the pastor said. A free will offering will be ta ken. 1 COMMUNITY BILLBOARD Couple Announces Birth of First Child Congratulations are being re ceived by Mr. and Mrs. Kit George on the birth of their first child, a sen, born Saturday, De cember 3, at Fort Collins, Colo., where the father Is attending Colorado State University. His birth weight was 7 lb. 6 oz., and has been named Robert Cam eron. Maternal grandpare n t s are Mr. and Mrs. Jack Van Winkle, Heppner; paternal grandparents are Mrs- Elaine George, Hepp ner, and Oscar George, Walla Walla, Wn. Great grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Don Hanna man, Lapwai, Idaho, and Mrs. Cleo Van Winkle, Lexington. Maternal great-great grand mother is Mrs. Julia Hannaman, Prosser, Wn. Mrs. Van Winkle and Patricia will leave Friday by plane for Fort Collins to help with the care of the new infant . Home address of the new parents is No. 7C, Aggie Village, Colorado St. University, Fort Collins, Colo. 80521. More Fun, Always... At the TWO Sparkling New In SALEM In EUGENE 112 Rooms 150 Rooms KMUtaawcaiU IKUsiM frshlUflXMUl fcsspMJMHM BOTH HtHi HAVt MMTAWMHTf WITH i-H0UR COM! MHO SCHOOL LUNCH MENDS Heppner Elementary School end Heppner High School December 12 thru 16 December 12 Sloppy Joes, green beans, canned fruit, milk December 13 Macaroni and cheese, molded vegetable salad, peas, cake, milk, bread and but ter. December 14 Beans and ham, cornbread and honey, celery and carrot slices, purple plums, milk. December 15 Buked potatoes, wieners and sauerkraut, bread and butter, peaches, milk. December 16 Creamed tuna on toast, cabbage salad, cheese sticks, milk, dessert. Mr. and Mrs. Bill Farra visit ed her brother-in-law and sis ter in New Plymouth, Idaho, over the week-end. The Karrag are looking forward to a Christmas visit from their son, Jim, on leave from the U. S. Navy, Coming Events HEPPNER HIGH BASKETBALL Heppner vs. DeSales, Friday. December Heppner Hlgn Gym Heppner vs. Condon, Satur day, uec. iu, London itign Gym. CHRISTMAS SHOW AND SILVER TEA Bv lone Garden Club Friday, Dec. 9, 2 p.m. -8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, 10 a m. 5 p.m. Gilliam A Blsbee Building Public welcome. Lot of Christmas decorating Ideas. CHRISTMAS PROGRAM Tuesday, December 13 Elementary grades 1 5 "Christmas Windows" Junior High Gymnasium, 7:30 p.m. No admission. Public wel come. HIGH SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE Wednesday, Dec. 13. 7;00 p m. Heppner High ITA Invitps all parents to attend stu dent s classes. SPONSORED AS A PUBLIC SERVICE BY C. A. RUGGLES Insurance Agency Heppner P. O. Box 247 ML 678-9629 One of The Very Finest Gifts A PORTABLE TYPEWRITER FOR CHRISTMAS GET YOURS NOW! CONTACT THE HEPPNER GAZETTE-TIMES LARRY H0LL0WAY of Standard Office Supply Will Be in Heppner December 15 and Id Thursday and Friday And Will Have A Supply of Popular Portables With Him Or We Can Get The One You Want. Leave Word at The Gazette-Times. AN ADDING MACHINE IS A FINE GIFT IDEA, TOOI STANDARD OFFICE SUPPLY 1214Vi Adams Ave. La Grande Ph. 963-3531
