Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 29, 1966)
HEPPNER GAZETTE -TIKES. GAZETTE-TIMES Hppo. OiTOO 97S38 MOBBOW CO0NTTS NEWSPAPER The Heppner Garctte established March 30, 1833. The Heppner Times established November 18, 1897. Consolidated February 13, NIWIPAMI pyilllMIII AllOCIATION WESLET A. SHERMAN Editor and Publish Office Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., until noon Saturday. Subscription Rates: $450 Year. Single Copy 10 Cents. Published Every Thursday and Entered at the Post Office at Heppner, Oregon, as becona uaas Matter. Inventory Time With the New Year at hand, again. Businesses will check their stocks and make their physical counts to see what Is left after the Christmas shop ping period and determine the amounts on which they must pay taxes. But it is also a time to look back on the old year to take an Inventory of community accomplishments and to prepare for the new year coming. There probably is a tendency to think that at the time of New Year, we can erase the old slate and start fresh. All the bad things are over and done, we rationalize, and now we can get down to cases with only good things ahead. Hope springs eternal in the human breast, and this is fine, because it brings rejuvenation. Despite setbacks, disappointments and sadnesses, man Is still basically optimistic, and from the depths of his soul he has the capacity to become re-inspired. The end of the old year and the coming of thei new gives him a chance for a clean break. But on the local scene at least, we can't kick old 1966 out without a few compliments. Morrow county had no dis asters. It had no devastating floods nor storms, no major crimes, few destructive fires. There were some economic setbacks. Our lumber indus try was hit with a depressed condition, and a lack of spring rain hurt our crops. But harvest turned out not nearly as bad as many had expected. While Morrow county is so situated that it does not nec essarily reflect the abundant prosperity of the nation as much as more industrial or populated areas, neither does it sag as badly when recessions occur. There is a stability here be cause the county is not susceptible to temporary booms. Gains made here are of the slow, steady and sure variety. The interest in recreational development in southern Morrow county picked up in 1966, and plans are in the offing for greater things in the new year. A number of major building developments are contemplated in Heppner, indicating a faith in the soundness of the community. At lone, the Pacific Gas pumping station will give some help to the economy there and will go on the tax rolls upon completion to help pay a share of the burden. Developments in the north end of the county are begin ning to surge, and 1967 should bring some rather striking de velopments there. The new town of Boardman blossomed during 1966, and it is giving the county a "new look" at its "front door." Despite the troubles in getting Riverside High school construction under way, it is sure that it will be on the way up soon, and this will be another milestone In an ever better county school system. As we view it, the school year of 1966-67 shows the steady gains being made in the educational opportunities and facil ities offered here. Teaching and administration staffs seem to have attained a new high in excellence, and the work of the school board and county administration in pressing for ward against many problems (some of which seem almost insurmountable at times) are paying dividends. It can be seen in the attainments of our students. Consider, for in stance, the number of our high school graduates who are now in college. It is a high proportion, and most of them are doing very well in higher education. We think, too, of the attainments of our adults whose worth and merit are recognized at state and regional levels. Bob Jepsen has Just been elected president of the Oregon Wheat League, and Gene Pierce recently was elected president of the Independent Bankers. There are many other such at tainments. At the holiday season, it is good to take inventory, too, of all the fine things our people have done how they have ral lied to help others in the many different projects undertaken through the year. There have been many. Work for the hos pital, work for the kindergarten, work for the churches, con tributions for the Heart Fund, the Cancer Society, the Red Cross, the March of Dimes. In our Morrow county, neighbor liness is an outstanding characteristic, and when a person or family or institution has need of help, it is generally forth coming on a voluntary basis. We note that Roger Babson's national forecast for 1967 has a rather pessimistic tone, and we see in this morning's pa per that in Vietnam they are preparing for a 50-year war. Although somewhat insulated from the rest of the world by its location, Morrow county cannot help but be affected by national and international events. Our boys are serving in Vietnam and are going through the miseries of that war. We all pray for a speedy end to the conflict The greatest accomplishment 1967 could bring would be to see it ended in some manner. Our wheat cattle and lumber conditions are dependent upon national legislation to large extents. At the same time, Morrow county, with its self-reliant peo ple and no boom-or-bust industries, can enjoy a fair prosper ity when conditions elsewhere may not be too good. Add it all up, and it has to be conceded that 1966 was a good year. There is every indication that 1967 will be even better in Morrow county. There may be unforeseen events of adversity, but. Just as our people can welcome and enjoy the good things, they are also hardy and resilient enough to meet problems with con fidence. These qualities are pretty hard to beat, and they give our people' a long stride in assuring a Happy New Year. Rainbow Dance Set For Thursday Night Ruth Assembly No. 50, Order of Rainbow for Girls, will spon sor its annual Christmas Dance on Thursday evening, December 29, at the Heppner IOOF hall. The semi-formal dance will car ry out the theme, "Silver Bells". General chairman for the dance will be Linda Clark, worthy as sociate advisor of the Heppner assembly. A queen and two princesses, chosen by the as sembly, will be announced dur ing the intermission. The pub lic is invited to attend. Live music will be furnished by the "Go'Fers", a combo from The Dalles, with admission at $1.50 per person. Dancing will be from 9:00 to 1:00 a.m. Refreshments will be served during theevening. Thursday. DKnbw M. H$ NATIONAL NIWSFAfll HTI.EN E. SHE KM AX Associate Publisher Monday through Friday; 9 f-m. Again it Is time to take Inventory Mrs. Olire Hughes and Mr. and Mrs. Tom Hughes and fam- ily of Heppner spent Christmas in sweei Home with Mr. and Mrs. Keith Marshall and Mr. and Mrs. Bill Hughes and fam ilies. Mrs- Marshall is a daugh ter and Tom and Bill Hughes are sons of Mrs. Olive Hughes. The Tom Hughes were due back by mid-week but the mother is continuing on to California to spend several weeks with rela tives in Sacramento and south ern California. Guests of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Fielder for Christmas were friends, Mr. and Mrs. Wayne McLarty and three children of Anton, Texas. The McLarty's drove to Heppner, arriving Fri day, December 23, and leaving Monday. They reported a good trip up. TO THE EDITOR... O. M. Yeager Box 476 Castle Rock, Wash December 19, 1906 To the Editor: Like Oscar E. Peterson. 1, too, want to thank you for the fine write up you gave us in the issue of December 8, about my history of Morrow county. Oscar has been working hard to have this book published. I think Oscar Is the one to push it, Giles French is the one to edit it and myself to write It. When I first started to write my version of the subject I had no Idea of ever having It pub lished, but the farther I got in to the matter the more urgent It became to have a complete history of Morrow county to leave behind me. This much I aim to do if I can. More than 13 years ago I made many trips to Portland to talk to Fred Lockley and to get his advice on how to so about the Job. Fred Lockley had writ ten and published many vol umes centered around the Col umbia river. Fred was the first Chaff nd Wes AS WE WTlte this, we expect the week between Christmas and New Years to be an unus ual one for the G-T publishers. For the second time since we have been In Heppner, we ex- rt to be gone when the paper printed. We're taking advan tage of the "light time1' of the 13th month for a little vaca tion, while Arnold, Spike, Mar lon. Reggie, Bill, Jim and Kan ay get out the paper. It has been so long since we missed a paper, we're almost afraid to go. although we know we have a very competent staff of hard workers. We've wanted to go down to California for years to see the farm opera ton of George Barkley, friend since childhood, and to Truckee to visit the Siena Sun, publish ed by a cousin, Walter Barrett, ana to Monterey and Oakland to see Mrs. Sherman's sisters and families. Right at this mo ment, we don't know whether we'll get to all these places or not. We do think, though, that Christmas time is an occasion to think of friends, and we'd like to get this opportunity to visit some we've neglected. IN THESE p re-Christmas days. we have been touched with the many nice things that those among our u-T readers nave sent our way. The mail has been filled with many nice notes and letters perhaps a sentence penned across the cor ner o( a renewal notice with a check for a year's subscription. Others have come in to express some nice pleasantry. We sure ly appreciate these gestures which Impart the fine holiday spirit from the great people our paper serves. SANTA CLAUS had 67 calls in two hours on "Call Santa" night in Heppner, the sponsor ing Jaycees report. His local crew kept pretty busy most of the time handling the calls, we understand that the youngsters could even hear the Jolly gen tlemen making toys in his North Pole shop. One report has it, though, that the first call was a com plaint from a youngster who told Santa he didn't like the train he got last year. Poor old Santa can't win them all! WE EXTEND hearty congratu lations to Bob Jepsen on his election as president of the Oregon Wheat League. He makes a fine looking president and he still has a year to go to reach Jack Benny's recogniz ed age, so this gives Bob a real youthful approach in working on the complex and difficult problems of the wheat growers. We share the county s pride in seeing our wheat growers taking leading positions in the state league. In 1964. Milton Morgan was at the helm and he now is doing work on the na tional level with the wheat in terests. A number of our county grow ers have positions on commit tees of the league. Generally speaking. Morrow wheat grow ers are younger than the state average. They are vigorous, progressive, active, and this brings a good outlook for the future. Noticed that Giles French had a quip about how wheat grow ers used to appear at their con ventions in overalls, but now thev eo all dressed ud. Person ly, we think this is to their credit. Probably it is brought about by the fact that wheat growers now have to take an active part in national affairs and must put a good loot lor ward in promoting their wcl fare. In choosing Jepsen, they have a fine looking representative who Is equaly at home in a well-fitting suit or in dusty work clothes on tractor or com bine. THE THING we can't get over about wheat is how complex an operation man has made it. Basically, man puts the seed kernels in the ground to raise a crop to feed himself and his fellows. But In this complicat ed society and government of ours we have such things as parity, allotments, certificates, surpluses, foreign markets, Pub lic Law 480, and other terms outside reporter to reach Hepp ner a day or so after the grunt flood of 1903. At that time Fred was part owner of the Pendle ton East Oregonian. My father, James L. Yeager. the local fur niture dealer and of course, the undertaker, as they were call ed then, told me to go out and pick up several men and start building boxes to bury the dead. This I did. I worked for weeks on this Job, then the mayor, Frank GUllm, asked me to start rebuilding the several bridges over Willow and Hint on creeks. At that time Hlnton creek emptied into Willow creek al most opposite the old stock yards near the old railroad sta tion. Mr. Hart was the station master then. There were more than 10,000 men came to help in the search ing for the unfortunate victims. I have the complete story of the great flood in my book and if it is a success I will write at least two more volumes. Jesse O. Turner, attorney once told me there were enough stories of Chatter Sherman ad infinitum. It's enough to drive a person eoofv. Some of the new releases on wheat read like a graduate student's thes is on some technical problem. We don't see how the ranchers can keep all these things straight. How great it would be II somehow the farmer could revert to the simple procedure of planting his wheat cultivat ing it, harvesting it, and sell ing It just as we produce and sell newspapers. At least we can publish a pa per without holding half of them back and depending up on a paper supplier to furnish certificates to bring us to par ity. Nor does the government control the papers we send abroad, except to fix the post age. ITS ALL in the point of view. If you don't believe so. com pare writeupa in different week ly papers on the same basket ball game where home loyalty is at its zenith. For instance, we note in the Pilot Rock paper that the Rock ets almost upset the Mustangs at Heppner last Tuesday (which is true). The account then con tinues that when Gene Harri son fouled out "It cave the odds to Heppner." wnicn is by way or saying that if the Rockets hadn't lost their best man (late In the game), they might well have conquered Heppner. But when we wrote the story from the Heppner angle, we re sisted the impulse to say that me score mignt nave oeen much wider In favor of the Mus tangs if one of our stars, Mac Hoskins, hadn't been ill and out of uniform Or even a greater victory yet for Heppner if Russ Kilkenny was back on the ros ter from hla Injury. (Odd that the Pilot Rock Record overlook ed these things!) This is not to belittle the Rockets. They are coming up with a mighty fine team a big team and they know how to use their height under the bas ket. The height factor about killed the Mustangs and we'll sneak in, parenthetically, again "without Mac Hoskins." But it seems a popular thing in hometown sports writeups and we confess we are guilty on occasion despite our desire to be objective to Join the "We Woulda if We Hadda" club. Oftentimes, the officials bear the brunt. "If the officiating hadn't been so rotten, we'd have won," so to speak. But despite all the excuses and the ailments and the shortcomings, the score is the only thing that goes on the record. And that's something we have to live with. We admire Coach Mas Wat anabe and his crew, though, and we think they are going to go far this year. WONDER HOW President John Kennedy would feel about all that fuss over the book on his death if he were here to ex press himself? MOTIC Beginning Tuesday, January 3, we will be in business in association with Lyle Jensen at Heppner Barber Shop at 166 Main Street. I have been forced to move because of the sale of the building in which I am now located. I will bejiappy to meet and greet all my customers at Heppner Bar ber Shop. --Jerry Hollomon Morrow county to fill several books, and 1 want to be the one that writes them. I am very sure that the people of the county would prefer to have native, born in Heppner to write this. I understand there are others going to attempt to writ this. All they could write about Is hearsay. Before I left Heppner many years ago I spent several months Interviewing every one of the old timers still living then. Now they are all dead. 1 have been told that there are several writers that have tried to see and copy my manuscript but that would be against the copy right laws of the U. S. Gov ernment In the United States of Amer ica copy right laws on page 4, section 2 is. this: "Rights of Author or Proprietor of unpub lished wusk: Nothing In this ti tle shall be construed to annul or limit the right of the author or proprietor of an unpublished work, at common law or In eq uity, to prevent the copying, publication, or use of such un published work without his con sent and to obtain damages therefor." I did tell Mr. Tom Glass he could use my flood story In writ ing his thesis on his graduation from the Oregon University, but nothing more. Sincerely, O. M. Yeager Castle Rock, Wash. Dear Editor: My highest compliments to the Rev. Donald R. Pederson on the Guest Editorial he wrote for the Gazette-Times last week. -A Salem Scene Ik I I k " I f,A This waning year of intensi fied popular demand for tax re form promises to haunt the 1967 session of the Oregon legislat ure, which commences January 9. Demand for overhaul of our state's tax structure has appear ed chiefly In the form of prop, erty tax reduction proposals. Most notable among these was the 14 per cent property tax limitation measure proposed for the November ballot the Ore gon Supreme Court killed it on grounds of Insufficient signa tures, but the sentiment behind it is far from dead. Admittedly, property taxes in Oregon are too high, dispropor tionately high. Gaining one of the finest educational systems In the U. S., one which now con sumes two-thirds of all local tax revenues, has been a major fac tor In the steady rise of prop erty taxes. Property owners cannot be blamed for wanting to shift some of their Inequitable bur den. But It Is generally agreed, there must be better ways than that ventured by the 1H per cent lid proponents, and our elected lawmakers now find it imperative to find them. Interestingly enough, Oregon has quite enough revenue to op erate at existing state levels, but not enough to meet rising f roperty tax reduction demands, n the current biennlum, state direct property tax relief amounted to $31.8 million in state general funds. Governor Mark Hatfield's recommended 1967-69 budget earmarks $20 million for direct property tax relief; it also provides for $178 per census child in basic school support (up from $160), Increas ed aid to community colleges and increased shares of gaso line tax revenue to cities and counties all indirect relief measures which shift the load from local property taxpayers. In addition, general fund sur Dluses at the end of each fiscal year are to continue to apply to direct relief, as per the de- POWER CONTROL ELECTRIC MOTOR SERVICE WE REPAIR: Electric Motors Power Tools HydJualic Jocks Alemlte Equipment CI 8.E. 4th Pendleton Phone 276-5882 Planning Started On Distribution of Immunization slips among county school child ten hike been made, ac cording to Dr. L. D. Tibbies, health officer. Morrow County Health IVpartment. However, clinics will not be held until In 1967. Dates will be announced later tor each school. Written parental consent Is necessary bofore the Immuniza tions can be given. Parents of both grade and high school stu dents are asked to sign the slips and have each pupil return the slip promptly to his teacher. This Is necessary so that the needed biological can be or dered and clinic sessions sched uled. Immunizations available, ac cording to Mm. Lowell Chally, R.N., include -the DPT (combin "What Christmas 19C6 Means." Hope every one took time out of the busy Christmas rush to read It. It la truly an article worthy of being publish ed far and near; too bad it can't circle this troubled old world and spread the cure for most of man's worries. It would be an excellent recipe for happier living. I suggest that people cut out tiie article and put it In a prominent place In the home to refer during the year 1967. 1 bought extra copies and plan to send them to many states In the U. S. to help spread the good word. My Sincere Thanks Mrs. Lois Winchester fry Imttt L Cutter cislon of the 1963 legislature. And Oregon's new cigarette tax is expected to raise $6.9 million for direct property tax relief In the next two years. But much more must be forth coming. Thus we hear proposed a variety of new or Increased taxes tied to property tax re lief. These include an Oregon sales tax. and plans to Increase Income taxes or broaden the In come tax base bringing more people into the tax paying pic ture. Other lawmakers propoae put ting a variety of alternative measures to a vote of the peo ple, cutting what they term ex cessive spending, eliminating some existing property tax ex emptions or providing more state aid to local government. Debate probably will boil down to the relative merits of a sales tax or broadening Oregon's In come tax base; answers may be decided by the legislature, or one or both may evolve Into statewide ballot measures. At any rate, It is clear that tax reform wll be the number one concern of the Mth legis lative assembly. Meaningful property tax relief must be achieved, or Oregon cities, coun ties and school districts might well be hurt by voters taking matters Into their own hands. it ALWAYS FIRST OUAUTY aW Jackets Jr. Boys' reversible multi color pile Sixes 4 to 7 Boys' wide wale corduroys, nflfl reversible nylons llrJOO Sizes 6 to 12 if Boys fleece lined wide wale corduroys, nylons Sizes 14 to 18 Jr. Girls' coats and nylons, corduroys, Sizes 3 to 6x Girls Storm coats, wools, textured nylons Sizes 7 to 14 Men's corduroys, laminated knits, nylons Immunization ed diphtheria, pertussis and tct anus) aeries or booster, for ag es J and under: DT (combined diphtheria and tetanus) series or booster fur ages 6 and over; smallpox vaccination. Initial or booster; and. polio Balk injec tion ( booster only) for those who have completed the aeries of Salk injections. Golden Age Club To Meet Tuesday The Golden Age club will hold a pot luck meeting Tuesday, January 3, at the Episcopal Par ish hall. 7:00 pm. Music and games will be on the agenda. All members and potential members are invited. Fatal accidents occur early in the holiday period. During the last six hours of Christmas Eve, the hourly rate for fatal acci dents is approximately five times greater than It Is for the remainder of the holiday. COMMUNITY W BILLBOARD K Coming Events HEPPNER HIGH BASKETBALL Heppner vs. lone, Friday, Dec, 30. Heppner High gym Heppner vs. lone, Jan. 3, lone High School gym PTA Spaghetti Feed. Ion Cafctorlum, 5:307:00 pjn. January 3. RAN I BOW DANCE Thursday, Dec. 29, 9:001:00 Heppner IOOF Hall Semi formal. Music by "Go" Fers" of The Dalles Admission $1.50. Public Invit ed. NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY Saturday, Dec. 31 Elks Crab Feed, 6 to 8 p.m. BPOE No. 338 Dance following, music by Roy Miller orchestra. OUR WLSH TO EVERYONE A SAFE AND HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON! SPONSORED AS A PUBUC SERVICE BY C. A. RUGGLES Insurance Agency Heppoer P. O. Box 24? IK. t7f -K3S Open Every Friday Evening Until 9 p.m. Re 7 88 1 88 jackets Fj7fl ft wools II OO (o)88 1 duced 388
