Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 23, 1967)
LIBRARY ' u or 0 EUGENE. ORE. 07403 Santa s Coming 2 p. m. Saturday! liiltfeire sff Excitement reminiscent of the famous Race for the Cherokee Strip or that akin to the old homestead aayg in the west in noticeable In some Quarters ov er the Bureau of Land Man. agcment's public land auction that will be held Friday at Greenfield orange hall, Board man. starting at 1 p.m. At that time, ii,83 acres or BLM land in north Morrow county, checkerhoarded with private land, will be on the auction block under the public act of 1964'. County Judge Paul Jones says that he has had many Inquir ies concerning the land, most of them coming from Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Califor nia, t But Interest - extends much farther than that. The iudee said that a BLM official told him Tuesday In a telephone con versation from Portland that the toD three letters on his desk that day were .Inquiries on the land from New York, Michigan and Louisiana. "I'm afraid that the Grange building Isn't going to be near big enough to hold the crowd,' he said. The judge said that the BLM had given him some folders des cribing the plots up for sale, but by Tuesday virtually all or them were gone and he was re ferring Inquiries to the Bureau In Portland. Key to the widespread Inter est is the potential of convert' lng the land from desert coun try to productive and profitable agricultural land under irriga tion from the Columbia River. Soil, topography and climate are figured to be conducive to profitable development of the area, using water that will be backed up In the Umatilla Res ervoir on the Columbia behind the John Day dam when it is completed In the spring of next year. There are 26 tracts to be of fered for sale, and the auction will continue until the last one is sold, according to the BLM announcement. Disposal of the lands has been In controversy ever since a group of businessmen, some of them from Portland, some local and some from Washington, fil ed on the property in 15, hop lng to obtain it under the Des ert Entry Land Act of 1877. Many applications by others followed, and after considerable debate, discussion and public hearings, the BLM eventually decided to offer the acreage for sale at auction under the 1964 act. This closed it to Desert Entry. Sealed bids on the tracts were accepted until Tuesday at 4 p.m. at the BLM office in Port land. Oral bids at the auction itself must exceed the sealed bids. All bids ir.ust be at or above the appraised tract pric es. These appraised prices range from $31 to (52.50 per acre. As sessments on surrounding lund are in the neighborhood of $50, and so, with the "speculation fever" gripping many would-be Investors, it is predicted that the lands will bring prices well above the appraisals. The successful potato project of Ray Dunn and Bill McClan nahan, operating in the far northeast corner of the county, has increased Interest in the ac reage to be sold Friday. The two, working in conlunction with Spada Distributing Co. in Umatilla, which Is handling marketing and distribution of their potato crop, purchased 1,700 acres of BLM land a year ago at $50 ner acre. They used Columbia River water on 500 acres this year and brought in a very good crop. There have been rumors that several national food firms have been showing interest in tho lands and may place bids themselves. 84th Yeat Number 39 WEATHER November 15-21 GAZETTE-TIMES Hi Low Prec. Wednesday .58 35 Thursday 58 35 Friday ' " 44 32 Saturday 48 34 tr. Sunday 41 31 Monday ,53 27 Tuesday 45 25 jinual uinshnas Ppening Features indow : Coiif esl ' W Heppney's Main Street will be "Santa " Claus Lane" for Christmas Opening Saturday. The genial gentleman from the North Pole is due to arrive in downtown Heppner at 2 p.m. on that day to greet all youngsters of the area. He will have candy treats for all the kids. Santa's first appearance will be just one of the highlights of Christmas Opening week-end. Anoth er big feature will be the annual window guessing contest, and merchants are offering 15 fine prizes, with total value of about $150. Everyone men, women and children except store owners and their wives (or husbands) are eligible to. take part. , The big downtown Christmas tree is scheduled to be in place with the work being done by Oris Crisp and his crew as a fine gesture in assisting with the community event - Columbia Basin Electric Co-op again will have the Christmas lights In place and decorations up to bring the holiday spirit to "San ta Claus Lane." Heppner stores are filled to overflowing with gift merchan dise, and a check early this weeK showed tnat most of it is now out on counters and shelves ready for shoppers. Early shop ping has been brisk, they re port. Rules of the guessing contest are listed on page 1, section 2, of this paper In the Chamber of Commerce advertisement. The contest will be from 9 a.m. un til 4:30 p.m. Saturday, and in most instances, those participa ting will guess the retail value of gift merchandise in desig nated windows. However, some stores will have different types of guessing contests and will give details to those who call at their stores. The person whose guess is the closest to the ac tual figure will win that store's particular prize. Here are the participating businesses and their prizes: Case Furniture Store, Tensior desk lamp: Central Market. 12 lb. turkey; Elma's Apparel, $10 gift certificate; Gardner's Men's Wear, shoe shine kit in hard wood footrest box, and second prize, set of trouser hangers; Gazette-Times, $10 cash; Gon ty's, transistor tape recorder; MiLadies Apparel, $10 in mer chandise; Murrays Rexall Drug, S10 gift certificate; J. C. Penney Co., thermal blanket; Peterson's Jewelers, anti-tarnish silver plated fruit bowl, $11.50 value; Tum-A-Lum Lumber Company, one gallon Plasolux paint, val ue $10.85; Van's Variety, horse racing set, value 51a; Western Auto, $10 in merchandise; Pet tyjohn's Farm and Building Supply, Black and Decker i ineh electric drill. (Continued on page 8) Survival Classes Scheduled Soon . Fallout survival school, con ducted by the Department of Education of the State of Ore gon, will be held in the circuit court room of the county court house on four consecutive nights, December 12 through 15, County Judge Paul Jones an nounces. Each session will consist of a three-hour study period, start ing at 7:30, with a coffee break dividing the class period. No tuition is required and no materials are required or the participants. It will be compos ed of lectures. Illustrated by pictures and other visual aids. The general public is invited to attend, and each is urged to take the full lz-hour course, Mrs. Dorothy Viera of the State Department will instruct the course. Judge Jones said that the county court has made it an order that all county employees attend the school. "This is an unusual step, but we feel that county employees need to be in a position of re sponsibility if attack and ensu ing fallout occurs," he said. Radio Film Slated For Chamber Meet "Sounds from Inner Space" is the title of a motion picture film that will be shown as the pro gram feature o f the regular meeting of the Henoner-Morrow county Chamber of Commerce Monday by Ted A. Smith of KUMA, Pendleton. Mrs. Avon Mel by, program chairman, an nounces. The film concerns the history and development of radio in the country. Gross Receipts During Year '66 Show Small Gain By GENE WINTERS County Extension Agent - - Morrow county farmers and ranchers grossed $10,709,765 from their crops and livestock in 1967. according to the 1967 Morrow County Extension ag ent's annual report completed this week. Cash -receipts in 1966 farm crops and livestock was estima ted to be $10,586,000. Crops lead the county's agri cultural income with a gross to farmers of $7,645,253, while live stock totalled $3,064,512. Wheat income was up aobut million dollars over last year. Cash receipts of wheat including marketing certificates amounted to b.5 million dollars from 165,- 000 acres, largest acreage in his tory. Low yields and low prices at harvest were responsible for the small increase over that pro duced in 1966 on 110,000 acres. Sale of beef cattle was up $250,000 from last year to $2, 407,000. This reflected the slight ly higher weaning weights and increased prices for slaughter cows and bulls. Better lamb prices brought income up 20 percent to $323,000 in the sale of sheep and Iambs. Wool was down substantially. Barley income took the great est drop in cash receipts being down from nearly 1.5 million dollars in 1966 to $370,000 this year. Increased wheat allot ments and the substitution clause permitting wheat for barley reduced acreage to 13, 300. this is the least acreage re corded since 1954. Increased melon and potato plantings reflected considerably larger income from these crops over previous years to $280,000. The value of the 1967 hay crop . Heppner, Oregon 97836, Thursday, November 23, 1967 10 Cents Row Seriol Election fo be Decesnher Special Deer Hunt Slated This Weekend A special deer hunt on land in the Heppner game unit has been authorized for this week end, Thursday, November 23, through Sunday, November 26, It is announced by the Ore gon State Game Commission. The hunt applies to land only outside the boundary of the Heppner Ranger district, Umatilla National Forest In addition, some private land will be closed.; Those who hunt must have general deer tags as well as antlerless permits . for . the Hc'ppner unit," according to Glen Ward, state game agent. Hunting Is expected to be good as the deer are plenti ful and they are feeding in the daytime. Ward said that the hunt was scheduled because of complaints of ranchers and land owners of damage being done by the deer. Hunters are also reminded' that the coming weekend will be the last for the pheasant season, which ends November 26. was over 1.1 million dollars. With slightly more than 13 to be sold the value of sales amounted to $386,000. Further information is avail able from the county extension office. Fiddler Contest Friday, Saturday Lively entertainment for the holiday weekend is planned for the public by Morrow county Jaycees who win stage an oia time Fiddlers contest Friday and Saturday nights at the Heppner Junior High gym. They are sponsoring the event in cooper ation with the Eastern Oregon Old -Time Fiddlers association. Manv more entries from throughout the northwest have been received, according to the committee in charge. Friday night's program starts at 7:30 with intermediate ana the 7-county competition plan ned for the program. Saturday nieht's contests will start at 7 p.m. with the regional contest, followed by tne classic oia tim ers' competition. Besides the music featuring the fiddlers, other entertain ment is planned for variety and President Bob Jepsen Readies League Meet Accident Results In Minor Injuries George William Smith, 26, of Chicago, 111., suffered facial lac erations and other injuries shortly after midnight Sunday when his car went out of con- -trol on the Heppner-Lexington highway ana hit a bridge rail ing near the Jim Bloodsworth place. Smith was treated at Pioneer Memorial hospital and was dis missed Tuesday morning. He has been visiting with his sis ter, Mrs. Tom Martin, and fam ily through the hunting season. About half of the bridge rail ing on the west side was knock ed out from the impact and Smith's car was heavily damag ed. His sister said the road was frosty and the car skidded in making a turn south of the bridge as Smith was proceed ing north from Heppner. He was alone in the car. i a lively master of ceremonies will keep the program roiling. Trophies and prize money will go to winners. State and nat ional champions are schedul ed, and the Jaycees are staging the program to bring top en tertainment here. They are hoping for excellent response from the public. Friday night's admission is $1 for adults, and Saturday night will be $1.50. Students will be ad mitted for 75c either night. All Jaycees have tickets for sale, or they may be purchased at the door. (Also See Story and Pictures, Page 6) President Bob Jepsen of the Oregon Wheat Growers League has announced that the list of speakers for the league conven tion in Portland November 30, December 1 and 2 has been completed. Flovd Corbin. Los Angeles, a world known speaker, and Glen Hofer. the executive vice presl dent of the National Association of Wheat Growers In Washing ton, D. C. have consented to ap pear on the program. Corbin has appeared before 2500 convention groups. He was a business executive witn 1U years of sales experience before losing his sight as a result of an auto accident, in aadition to his lecture activities, he nas written five books. His topic for the Thursday luncheon meeting will be "Are You a winner .or a Whiner?" . Hofer was a wheat producer in the Waitsburg area before as suming his present position about a year ago. He will dis cuss the projects of the Nation al Association as well as pend ing and future proposed wheat legislation. ; Dr. Joellene Vannoy, Western Wheat Asociates home econo mist in the Asian area, will bring a message that should be of special interest to both the men and women. jNer travels have taken her to Hong Kong, Philippines, India, Indonesia and manv other Asian underde veloped countries. The commission report will be given by Bob Nixon of Junc tion Citv. representing the west ern area of Oregon on the wheat commission. Another feature or the pro gram that should be of Interest to both the men and women will be a talk and demonstration given by C. C. Haggard of Pa- $150,000 Annual Levy Proposed To Continue Plan BOB JEPSEN PRESIDENT OF Oregon Wheat League arranges lor annual league meeting November 30 and December 1 and 2. ' cific Power & Light. The theme of his presentation will be elec trie safety on the farm and In the household. Don McKinnis. a past League president, and now employed by the State Dept. of Agriculture, will discuss "Irrigation and To tal Development." McKinnis serves as development special 1st for the state. "By looking over the list of prospective recommenda t i o n s coming from the various coun ties, we have a Job to do at the convention," commented President Jepsen. "As a result, we need each producer's think ing to help us arrive at our de cisions." Electric Cooperative Notes Good Year USE CHRISTMAS SEALS CH1HTMA11M7T- 8 OIKTMOI IM7 . 0o0OOOOO00 OOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOO' FIGHT TUBERCULOSIS EMPHYSEMA AIR FGLLUTION rvinfrrpssman Al Ullman was unable to keep his speaking riarp at the annual meeting of Columbia Basin Electric Coop erative in Condon last Thursday, but this was the only disap pointment for the crowd of more than 200 which attended at Memorial Hall there. They heard a good address by Hank Alderman, editor of the Ruralite magazine, who accept ed a last minute invitation to speak when Cong. Ullman was called back to Washington, D. C, two days prior to the meet ing. They enjoyed the witticisms and geniality of Stewart Patty, Eugene, a vice president of the First National Bank of Oregon and former Condon resident, who was master of ceremonies. They heard a comprehensive report of progress made by the cooperative and some important plans for the future by Mana ger Harley Young. Thev heard the president's re port from Walter J. Jaeger of Condon who stressed, "This util ity system belongs to you the members," and who told them, "The past year was better than the one before." Margins Increase They heard Jack Hynd, secretary-treasurer, report on operat ing revenues for the year, which totaled $678,135 with margins for the year at $156,936. The margins were up $33,880 from the $123,056 of the previous vear. aitnougn tne operating was slightly down irom the S684.139 of 1965-1966. They enjoyed a fine meal served In jig time by ladies of the Order ot Eastern star, Con don; they were entertained by the singing or a "DarDersnop trio from Condon, which sang during the meal and between talks; and many received fine door prizes which were given by electrical firms and suppliers for the occasion. Two were especially honored. The cooperative had planned to give an award to the oldest per son present, but when it was found that there were two wom en from Condon who topped 85 years of age, gifts were present ed to each. Mrs. W. K. Farrar was the older at 87, and Mrs. Ethel Rattray, 85, also received (Continued on page 5) SDeclal election has been called by the county court of Morrow county for Friday, De cember 8, from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.. to decide on a $150,000 an nual serial levy for a 5-year period for the county road main tenance and Improvement pro gram. The county has depended up on a serial levy for its road pro gram since 1948 when a nve- year levy was iirst voiea. uiner five-year levies were voted un til 1962, when a three-year levy was approved. Most recent vot er approval to the road levy was given In early I9to when an annual levy of $125,000 was ap proved. 1 This current 3-vear serial levy ' will expire in June, 1968, and if the road program is to be continued without severe cut- backs, another levy must be vot ed prior to that time. This is the question that will be put to registered voters of the coun ty on December 8. It is necessary to hold an election because the amount In volved would place the county budget over the b7o limitation. similar to conditions that have existed since 1948. When vot ers cast ballots at the special election they will decide on the proposition of exceeding the 6 limitation in the amount of $150,000 per year. cost $1.57 per $1,000 Figures show that this amount will cost the taxpayer $1.57 for each $1,000 of true cash valua tion. The $125,000 per year cur rently being levied for roads costs $1.29 per $1,000 of assess ed valuation. This would mean an increase of 28c per $1,000 valuation. Judge Paul Jones explained that the higher figure is asked because of the increasing needs in the road department. During the past few years the county has undertaken a program to put virtually all of the rural areas on hard-surfaced roads. and it is expected to continue this program through the next 10 to 12 years, when the goal should be nearly accomplished. Considerable road work has been done in the north end of the county during the past two or three years, and the county expects to build a frontage road along Highway I-80N soon. made necessary because of the construction of the freeway with limited access. Another project that will mean expense to the county is the state requirement to em bark on a complete sign pro gram for the roads in the coun ty that will require an estimat ed $10,000. This will mean in- 'stallation of many more cau tion signs, designating curves and other hazards, but is ex pected to make the county's roads considerably safer to drive. A number of years ago, the road serial levy was voted as a 10-mill levy. This was discon tinued after i962 when a desig nated sum was set for the ser ial levy. If the 10-mill lew were still used as a basis for levy ing the road tax, it would bring in some $240,000 annually on the county's assessed valuation today, much greater than that of several years ago. Utilities Share Cost A large part of the tax for roads, as it is for other levies against property, will come from public utilities serving the (Continued on page 8)
