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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 16, 1967)
HEPPNER GAZETTE-TIMES. Thurtdcrr. November 16. 1967 THE mf fX-" HEPJPIMEK GAZETTE-TIMES Heppner, Oregon 97836 Phone 676-9228 MORROW COUNTY'S NEWSPAPER The Heppner Gazette established March 30. 1883. The Heppner Times established November 18, 1897. Consolidated February 15, 1912. NATIONAL NEWSPAPER NIWIPAMt PUILIIHIII ASSOCIATION WESLET A. SHERMAN HELEN E. SHERMAN .. ARNOLD RAYMOND Shop Foreman Printer GAIL BURKENBINE Sbciety Circulation v5n Asg)cgTIN EDITOR AND PUBLISHER ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER REGGIE PASCAL Linotype Operator RANDY STILLMAN Apprentice JIM SHERMAN Pressman cihcrrintinn Rntps: $-t .50 Year. Single Copy 10 Cents. Published Every Thursday and Entered at the Post Office at Heppner, Oregon, as Second Class Matter. Office Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. until noon Saturday. A New Tack on Tax Problems Now that the special session of the legislature has gone well over the time It was expected to take to propose a settlement on property tax relief, it appears evident that the Impasses being faced by the legislators will not be satisfac torily resolved. rA. Un nmii'tntr rrrontpr thflt whatever tvDP of wuua oirtriii uc fiiw"'6 - ' - - ' ' -j r - . tax program that Is proposed will be defeated by the people I when it Is referred to tnem. At xne same rime, uie reason ing of some Is coming full cycle and one hears more and more that the property tax "isn't such a bad system after all." Since this seems to be the trend, however reluctant, what about focusing attention on some new tacks? Instead of at tempting a "crash program" of effecting property tax relief all at once, concentrate on finding means to escalate, as the state's economy permits, the property tax relief program now in effect. This year the state is providing property relief at the rate of $1.21 per 51000 of assessed valuation. At least that's a good start. Turning to another tack, the two groups who find the property tax most burdensome are farmers and home owners. As to the farmer, if the tax is oppressive but is to re main with him, the alternative may be to find a way for him to gain a fair share of income. While union workers' wages have gone up rapidly, the farmer's "pay" hasn't really increased for many years. He surely isn't paid in proportion to his investment, particularly in a county like Morrow where the capital outlay essentially is rather great to develop a spread sufficient to ma). v a living. Why not take the tack of focusing on a plan to Increase the farmer's income to relieve his tax burden? He should have a greater share of the food dollar even if it Is neces sary to raise the price of the foodstuffs he produces. This probably would not be too easy to accomplish, par ticularly without complaint by consumers. But in a pressure packed society where the militant groups are getting their way (such as the automobile workers), the farmer is pecul iarly non militant. Through his organizations he may com plain vehemently, but he so far has been too dedicated to his calling to "go on strike." It is rather repulsive to think that the time may come when he, too, must resort to string ent pressure. Some steps have been made towards property tax relief on homes. Elderly citizens of low income have senior citizens' exemptions on property taxes. Disabled veterans are provid ed with exemptions. Maybe other reductions on home taxes might be effected by considering taxing some property which is currently tax free, such as churches. Maybe encompassing some of these properties with an accompanying reduction on homes might be more palatable to the public. Maybe the legislature has made the mistake of trying to take too big a bite at once. Maybe the problem has to be hacked at around the fringes by diverse means to come up with some answers that may make the present system less oppressive. 'Livestock' in the City A perenlally troublesome matter within cities is that of whether a resident should be allowed to keep chirkens, rab bits, ducks, cows, horses or even dogs and cats that may be nuisances to his neighbors. Probably most humans have a fondness for animals of some kind. Many have a particular affection for horses; many others consider dogs as "man's best friends"; and some adore cats. A few may wish to keep a cow for the milk she produces; and some lik,? to have fresh eggs from their own chickens. In none of these instances can others blame them. However, when one lives within the city limits and en joys the advantages that come from urban living, it would seem that he must expect to forego some of the benefits of living on a farm, from which lie must travel some distance to obtain the services that city living provides. A person cannot reasonably expect to "have his cake and eat it." But Heppner, as some councilrnen put It, Is a "good went em town" and it allows a little more freedom and a little more leniency on this "livestock" Issue than some larger cities. Dogs and cats roam the city without bringing too much complaint, and the horse population within the city limits must reach a considerable number. It would seem that the "love thy neighbor" philosophy . here as it is in many instances of human relationship- should be a prevailing guideline. If ones animals, indeed, are a constant bother or nuisance to a neighbor, the owner is imposing on that neighbor. One who feels moved to keep animals or poultry In quantity might well consider finding a place outside the city limits large enough so that he could enjoy them without being kept in a turmoil by his neighbors' complaints. Aside from the issue of whether it is permlssable or legal, the matter comes down to a question of why should a person do things that are constantly offensive as intruding on a neighbor's rights and privileges? TO THE EDITOR... Chaff and Chatter Wes Sherman WE'RE more convinced than driving, wanted to cut over to Students Visit Council It was good to see Adrian Cook, high school sociology and history teacher, and two of his students, Vernon Fred rickson and Rick Witherrite, at the Heppner city council meeting for November. Perhaps this is a little thing for editorial comment, but it is an infrequent occasion when students or any citizens attend a council meeting just to observe or show interest in what is going on. Municipal government is an important part of lives of all city dwellers but it is often taken nonchalantly and all too casually by the public. The community offers quite a laboratory for social stud ies with the county seat here and the municipal government in operation. Students the citizens of tomorrow can profit by learning how they function. Some day some of them will sit on city councils or county courts and deal with the prob lems faced by municipalities and local government agencies. The council has a standing invitation for anyone to at tend its meetings, and it was obvious that the city fathers were glad to have Mr. Cook and his students present. It is rather surprising that small towns do as well as they do in maintaining their governments when so few per sons take a genuine and active interest. A night observing the council in action can be quite an education to those who have not suffered with the many problems large and small which face a community. On some first Monday night of the month try taking the time to drop into city hall and see for yourself. Proud to be American It Is pointed out that the National Observer, in a recent article, declared that we should quit apologizing for Amer ica being America. "Be a proud American" is the theme. One group that has always left no stone unturned to show that it is proud to be American is the American Legion. This is the patriotism that the Heppner post exemplifies as it starts the service of placing flags on downtown streets for nine major holidays and other special occasions when the colors should be displayed. We're glad that they are proud to be American and step forward at every opportunity to say so! All who love their country should join in a re-dedication to Americanism. Already more than 40 Heppner businesses and five in Lexington have subscribed to their flag service for a nom inal charge. Others who may not have been contacted are invited to sign up. May the spirit that the Heppner post manifests spread throughout the country and start to be an antidote to the draft card burners and others who seek to desecrate the tra ditions and principles that American citizens have respected and cherished through its history. ever as of this 14th day of November, 1967, that what this country needs to win the world from communism is more Mike Benges. He is a person who is willing to devote a good share of his life in a strange land in close contact with a people far less privileged than Americans. He lives on their level and thus demonstrates that equality, in the minds of some from the United States, is really a prin ciple and not merely a word. If everyone had a chance to visit with Mike for a couple of hours, as we did on his current emergency leave home follow ing the accidental death of his step-brother, Ralph Benge, all would eet a much better under standing of Vietnam and what is trulv going on there. Mike has lived with the Montagnards and the South Vietnamese for five years. He understands them, understands their background, and knows their culture He can give some considered opinions on what the U. S. is doing in Vietnam, what would happen if our armed forces are pulled out, and what to expect if they stay. That he has gained the re spect of the Montagnards is ev ident from the fact that they recently sacrificed a buffalo for him, one of the greatest exhib itions of honor that they can bestow. Mike plans on staying in Viet nam as long as he can make a contribution and as long as the Agency of International De velopment, with which he is as sociated, permits him to stay. Sometimes his disdain for red tape and his intolerance of sham put him in a bit of a spot. For instance, he was asked to make a government report in July which asked, "How are you going to improve rice pro auction in iub77" The rice, which in his area is a dryland variety, and doesn't grow in paddies, had lone since been planted. There was no chance to change anything. He wrote on his report, "May be we should import an Indian Hopi dancer to pray for rain." This brought some remon strances from the higher ups, but Mike didn't retract it. But the lone man has a great respect for America's leaders in Vietnam. His emergency leave came lust at the time that Am bassador Ellsworth Bunker was returning to Washington, D. C, for conferences, and so Mike came to the States on the same plane with the ambassador and other dignitaries. "The ambassador is a very intelligent, very capable man," says Mike. "He has a mind like a steel trap." He pointed out, too, that the ambassador has an awesome responsibility. We just wish that what Mike had to say to us this day could have been nationally televised across America. We hope that we convey accurately some of his opinions in the story else where in this paper. a back way through Albany. "Oh, no," we advised, with our paternal wisdom, "you'll hit the Albany crowds at the parade for Governor Reagan. Dutiful Dick stuck to the freeway, and in a few minutes we were enmeshed. It took two hours literally two hours to travel five miles on the free way to the Corvallis cutoff, which is still 16 miles from Corvallis. Cars would inch forward for a few feet, then stop. Some tried cutting back and forth from one lane to another as opportu nity presented. Some tried driv ing, down the shoulder. Some drove across the ditch and head ed back north. Quitters! We got tangled in a group of five big busses and sniffed their diesel exhaust for an hour or so. Other Heppnerits were in the same jam. - Beverly and Eddie Gunderson were among them. Their car started heating from the constant idling and they had to Dull off. Many others were in the same plight. Our I had THE FACT that Oregon State I nn-oroitif'o fivith"! tinm ic ....wo.vj " f orty thousand people, aner now rated only No. 8 in the na- all. is three times the popula- Pontiac behaved itself. Some folks got out and start ed walking. Kids got out and played at the roadside. Occas ionally we would go forward a few feet. When the game started at 1:30 we were still on the free way. Bob Blackburn, whose voice came in over the car ra dio, announced that the stadi um was jammed, which was heartening news to the thous ands passing the time of day on the freeway ." iust a few vacant spots visible in the end zone seats, said he We didn't know it at the time. but Dr. A. D. McMurdo had left Heppner the same morning. went to Portland, visited his son, and they flew to Corvallis, There was no traffic jam in the sky. They had a leisurely lunch in Beaverville and then went to the Stadium in plenty of time to view pre-game activi ties. Too bad he didn't have a helicopter to rescue some of his Heppner friends! We finally gained the turn off and conditions improved, We reached the outside of the stadium in time to hear the public address announcer des cribe Haggard's field eoal, af ter the roar of the crowd had died away. With one minute to go In the first half, we reached our seats. The rest of the- game, we decid ed, licking our wounds, was worth it. And we observed a minute's silence for the thous ands who were still behind us on the freeway. Now we understand Tad Mill er and his party had intelli gence enough to go down 99 W and got there in good shape. Parker Stadium will hold more than 40,000 people with ease, but if there are many more crowds this big, the pub lic is going to have to learn to get around in the cool of the morning or else someone is j going to have to engineer a bet ter system of getting there Forty thousand people, afte Co-op Control Urged lone, Oregon November 6, 17 To the Editor: Hep. Joseph Y. Resnick, New York, who has issued stinging charges against various farm organization!! during the past several months, last week in Washington. D. C. labeled some farm cooperative leaders as "nothing more than Mafia in Overalls." In issuing the charge Resnlck called On the U. S. Treasury De partment and the U. S. depart ment of agriculture to propose enabling legislation to exert the same control over coopera tives as the government now ex ercises over all private Indus trv. Legislation must be enacted to curb tax excesses and other unfair practices without harm lne lee t mate farmer coopera tives, Resnick said. He argued that cooperatives are now con trolling farmers and threaten ing the very existence of private companies in the iarm supply sector. In substantial areas of the U. S." he said, "the co ops have taken over the farm supply bus Iness and the commodity mar keting business. They practic ally pay no taxes. They are buying up and absorbing, the private companies they were established to compete with on the theory that healthy compe tition would benefit the inde pendent farmer. The co-ops are now gigantic business, often controlling their own sources of suply such as oil refineries, po tash mines and feed mills. Since July. Resnick has been heading a one-man blitz on the American Farm Bureau Feder ation business activities. And he has received many com plaints from producers regard ing the patronage refund poli cies of Farm Bureau connected co-ops and other cooperatives. He asserted that there is now $4 to $16 billion outstanding "in worthless certificates" issued by cooperatives to member farmers in lieu of cash refunds. Very simply, what happens is that the co-op keeps the cash, the customer keeps the certificates and the co-op then refuses to redeem it, making the certifi cates worthless!" To make this situation worse, he contends, the customer must treat worthless certificates as if they were cash, and must pay per sonal income taxes in some states personal property taxes, on the full amount while the co-op deducts these so-called securities from its taxable in come, and as a result, pays practically no taxes." Resnick told a press comer ence that one Pennsylvania or chard operator told him that he more than $125,000 verts Into tax-exempt coopera tives." He Raid that the Farm Bur eau Is using "kept money" to drive Independent millers, sup ply houses, oil dealers, ware houses and grain elevators out of business. "They ure expand ing Into contract farming a system which destroys the farmer as an Independent bus inessman and, In effect, makes Delegates Report On Youth Meetings At Legion Dinner A good turnout of members attended a loint put luck dinner meeting of the American Legion Post No. 87 and Auxiliary held Moniliiy evening, November 6, In the Legion hull in Heppner. Special guests for the even ing were Mrs. Ora Coe of Mil. ton-Freewater, district president of unit 6, and Gail Zerba of Athena, district commander. Reports were heard from five youth delegates who had at- him the captive employee of the tended the Girls' and Buys' State contractor The Farm Bureau conventions in Salem last sum Coop or the feed companies nu.r where they learned of Some co-ops, according to' ,ate government and its poll. Resnick admit to not redeeming cl4,s xhe students elect thrir their paper for 20 years. He own government officluls to termed a redemption period of rm pOVernine bodv and reo- over three years "unreasonable , r0Sentatives are chosen lo at and added that coops should pay interest on the refunds n holds. Resnick complained that there is no government control over any aspect of the activities oi co-operatives. He said he had been unable to find anyone in the government who can tell him how many co-ops there are, what their sales value is and exactly how much in worthless certificates there is in circula tion. "Co-operatives are virtual ly exempt from anti trust laws under the Capper-Volstead Act. They are also free from scru tiny by the Securities txenange Commission. Today, a man holding a share of stock in Gen eral Motors has more influence in determining management policy than a man owning a share of stock in a co-op. If the trend continues, soon there won't be any tax-paying busi nesses left, he warned. Resnick said that he was of fering an amendment to S 109, the producers' bargaining rights bill, which would give farmers adeauate protection from un fair treatment by co-operatives. The U. S. department oi ag riculture reports that there are about 8,500 farm marketing ana purchasing co-operatives with gross annual business of $20 billion. This, USDA pointed out, represents about 25 percent of the total farm marketing sales and 25 percent of the total farm supply business in the nation. This is a reprint from the Commercial Review dated Octo ber 10, 1967. Sincerely yours Lloyd Morgan 'worthless certificates" from local cooperative. According to Resnick the law states a co-op must distribute only 20 percent of its earnings in cash, and many distribute the rest in common stock, re volving fund certificates or sim pie book allocations. "Most Farm Bureau cooperatives dis tribute the 20 percent in cash and the balance in what I call "funny money". They then re port to the Internal Revenue Service that they have no tax able income for the year, and, in turn, the co-ops tell their customers that the certificates or stock that the customers own are unredeemable and pay no interest or dividend. They can not be cashed or be used in payment for merchandise pur chased. In actual fact, the con gressman argued, they are worthless. To further compound the problem, he pointed out, the co op is left with vast amounts of cash "which it uses to go out and purchase taxpaying Dust ness, and which it then con- Pioneer ltggJ rwHuw "I lilllllif Ponderings Bv W. S. CAVERHTLL tion is the most disconcerting news ever to be heard bv those who fought the freeway jam on Interstate o to get to Parker Stadium Saturday. We know most of the back roads around Corvallis from Irish Bend to Airlie after liv ing nearby for 20 years, but didn't have sense enough to take them. The whole family had a case of Beaver football fever after watching the WSU game, and so we got up at 4:30 Saturday morning to see the "big one between the Beavers and USC. We took granddaughter Becky Lynn to Stayton from Salem and ett there 21 hours before game time, iiguring on being settled in our seats at Parker stadium by 12:30. It was 11:45 when we came to Albany. Son Dick, who was tion of Pendleton - Should we go again when a capacity turnout is expected, we'll plan to go out the Falls City road from Dallas, head south to Airlie, through Kings Valley and hit Philomath to double back to Corvallis. By that time, though, all freeway users should have decided to do the same thing and we'll get caught in a jam again. Or maybe it would be better to get a skiff at Oregon City, put it in the Willamette and row to Corvallis. But it was wonderful! Three to nothing. Wonderful! As to the U of O-OSU game, though, father will keep lip buttoned what with one son a senior at Duckville and another son and drughter-in-law alumni of Beaverville. Confusion in Our Coffee Club Confound the experts, any how! One of our club members hap pened to read that Bad Boy Maccoi- Viae ITtrvnt in tho rmlo rof a billion dollars. It looks a"a Join the PTA November 7, 1967 To the Editor: A communication to the peo Die of Henoner. We realize that educating children is the largest, most im portant, and most costly under taking a community has; a pro ject which is the responsibility of every person in the commu nity, not just parents andor teachers and school administra tors. Employers in all trades or oc cupations have educational re quirements that must be met by employees, and their interest in education is great. The min imum state requirements of school attendance and of col lege entrance are of utmost im portance to every citizen of Ore gon. Our laws and our regula tions point to the need for bus iness and social behavior stand ards which our schools teach. tend Boys' and Girls' Nation in Washington, D. C. Representatives present for the dinner meeting were Meri lee Jacobs, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Walt Jacobs of lone; Nan cy Doherty, daughter of Air. and Mrs. Bernard Doherty; Russell Kilkenny, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bob Kilkenny: Earl Ayres, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Ayres, and John Rawlins, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Rawlins, all of Heppner. Slides were shown by John Rawlins during the evening, ac companying the representatives' reports. Other special guests were Bob Kilkenny and Earl Ayres. Wrangler Awards Given at Dinner; Two Tie for Trophy Members of the Heppner Wranglers club and their fam ilies enjoyed the annual "buck burger" feed sponsored by the club In the fair annex building on Wednesday evening, Novem ber 8, at 6:30 p.m., with Fred Mankin as chairman. Awards were given out dur ing the evening for playday ac tivities. Those winning in the six-year-old and under group were Maureen Healy and Ron nie Currin, tie for first; Krynn Robinson, second, and Cindy Dougherty, third. In the seven-to-12-year-old group, Joan Healy won first; Kyle Robinson, second; Mary Adair, third, and Abby Wilson, Susan Healy, Lisa Collins, and Jeannie Daley tied for fourth. In the 13 to 17-year-old class, Marsha Jones won first; Becky Fulieton, second; bherri O- Brien, third, and Ruby Fulleton, fourth. Those winning in the senior group were Bob Steagall, first; Beverly Steagall, second; Cliff Adair, third, and Patti Petty john, fourth. Sharing the honors for the 3 year revolving trophy were Maureen Healy and Bob Stea gall. Those winning the timed re lay were Gregg Brooks, Patti Pettyjohn and Sandra Rodrig-ues. Jaycettes to Meet Monthly meeting of the Hepo- ner Jaycettes has been announc ed for Thursday evening, No vember 16, 8:00 p.m. at the os wmcn our scnoois teach, home of Mrs. Pat Wonser. All Schools, however, can not do members are urged to be pies- the job necessary without citi zen participation. One of the better ways of participating is to join the PTA and be an ac tive and participating member. Each business, each social, each religious organization, and each citizen should be represented and take an active part in the PTA. The PTA is a voluntary or ganization, and it is sort of a buffer zone or a communication zone between the people of a community and the school. There are many committees to be filled by volunteers, if citi zens wish to communicate with the school in an organized manner. There are many social and fund raising projects that require committee workers and leaders; these projects are to benefit our children. The PTA for the Heppner El ementary School has sponsored an enrollment drive primarily for their organization but in cluding the high school club. I am certain, however, that there are many who did not for one reason or another buy a membership. This is another invitation or request for you to join the PTA. Know darned well most of you are not too busy to volunteer for a committee and to helD form a good interesting, active rlA, Mrs. raul Warren is sec retary of the high school PTA. Call her up and order a mem bership card; tell her which committee you would like to work on, too, if you will. Above all, attend the PTA meetings De actively concerned ent. COMMUNITY BILLBOARD K like bankruptcy for his country. That news item stirred our fel low to a flow of words (he can talk a parrot off its perch). We couldn t stop him, didn t try. "Thirty million Egyptians owe one billion. That's $33 per capita, too bad. Compare that situation with that of Uncle Sam, a good buy, 200 million of his people owe somebody $320 billion. That's $1,600 for every man, woman and button in the country. The experts say we are doing fine, that Nasser owes others, while we owe our selves. We do. All of us owe some of us, and the 'Some of us' are increasing their claim on the rest of us rapidly." He stopped for a breath, then add ed, "We may be foundering in debt up to the top of our ears, but we still have the best coun try in the world to live in." Meanwhile, our coffee had grown cold. about schools and kids and show it. Bill Weatherford, President Heppner High School PTA POWER CONTROL ELECTRIC MOTOR SERVICE WE REPAIR: Electric Motors Power Tools Hydraulic Jacks Alemite Equipment 421 S.E. 4th Pendleton Phone 276-5862 Coming Events JAYCEE FIDDLER CONTEST Old-time Fiddler Contest Sponsored by Heppner Jay cees v Friday-Sat. nights, Nov. 24 & 25 Junior High Gym YOUTH MOVIE "Berkeley Revolution", 50 minute color movie Friday night, Nov. 24, grade scnool multipurpose room High School and College stu oents invited No admission COMMUNITY SERVICE United Community Thanks giving service Wednesday, Nov. 22, 8 p.m. Heppner Christian Church People of all faiths invited CowBELLE MEETING Morrow County CowBelle luncheon meeting Friday, Nov. 17, noon, Wagon Wheel Cafe Installation of officers PEP CLUB PIE SALES Tuesday, Wednesday after noons, 4 to 6 p.m., Nov. 21, 22 By Heppner Hieh PeD Club Next door to Gardner's Benefit for cheer leading un- iiorms DON'T FORGET CHRISTMAS OPENING NOV. 24, 25 DOWNTOWN HEPPNER SPONSORED AS A PUBLIC SERVICE BY C. A. RUGGLES Insurance Agency O. Box 247 PH. 676-9625 Heppner