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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 30, 1967)
HEPPNER GAZETTE-TIMES. Thursday. Mowmbtr 30, 1967 THE HEPPNER GAZETTE-TIMES Heppner. Oregon 97836 Phone 676-9228 MOHROW COUNTT'S NEWSPAPER PUIIUHIII AIIOCIATIOM WESLEY A. SHERMAN HELEN E. SHERMAN ARNOLD RAYMOND Shop Foreman Printer GAIL BURKENBINE Society Circulation Subscription Rates: $4.50 Year. Every Thursday and Entered at as Secona iiass iwuuer. Office Hours: 8 a.m. until noon Saturday. EDITOR AND PUBLISHER ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER REGGIE PASCAL Linotype Operator RANDY STILLMAN Apprentice JIM SHERMAN Pressman Single Copy 10 Cents. Published the Post Office at Heppner, Oregon, to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. Special Election Coming Even though the county has depended on a serial tax levy since 1948 to carry a major portion of financing Its road program, It may come as a surprise to some that a spe cial election is called for Friday, December 8. At that time voters will cast ballots on a $150,000-pcr-vear levy for a five-year period to be used in constructing, improving, maintaining and repairing county roads. There are quite a few new people In the county since the last road election in early 1965, and there may be some other voters who have forgotten that this serial road levy election comes up every few years. It is particularly for the benefit of these persons that we point out that this is not a new or an additional levy that is being proposed. It is continuation of a plan that has gone on for some 19 years. The proposition would increase the levy from $125,000 per year to $150,000, which is what the county deems necessary to do the job that the road department has to do. Also, it would cover a five-year period instead of three years. The last serial levy was voted early in 1965 for a 3-year period, but others were for five-year periods. The serial levy method of financing roads was started in 1948 when voters approved a 10-mill levy each year for a period of five years. This was voted again in 1953 and once more in 1958, still as a 10-mill levy. In February, 1962, it was discovered that a change in the county's tax ratio from 22 of true cash value to 25 of true cash value brought the county more money than could legally be collected since the law limited the increase on serial levy proceeds to 6 above the previous year's proceeds. Using the millage basis, the proceeds increased as the amount of taxable property increased. Thus, as the county s valuation went up, the amount available for roads Increased. Union Pacific-a major taxpayer here-discovered the il legality which had gone unnoticed by county officials The cial limit for the year 1961-1962 was $147,916, but the 10 mill levy brought $165,347. After considering the matter, the county decided to refund the overcharge and this was done, the refunds going to taxpayers in proportion to their pay ments. Most of their taxes for the year had been paid as of November 15, 1961. Meanwhile, the legislature passed an act stating that such serial levies could no longer be voted in terms of a millage lew but must specify a certain sum to be collected. Thus, he amount would remain fixed annually through the years covered by the levy and could not escalate with higher valu ation. , . ' In May, 1962, the county presented a measure in an at tempt to establish a tax base of $115,000 for county roads. Bu be ore this could come to vote, it was ruled illegal by the ao mey general. County Judge Oscar Peterson announced the Illegality before the election and asked voters to vote against it. Consequently, it was defeated. Two months later, the county presented a return to the serial levy as the method of financing roads, asking voters for $115,000 annually for three years. This was approved. In late 1964, the county again proposed a serial levy cf $115 000 for three years to carry on when the 1962-voted levy expired on June 30, 1965. This was presented without much publicity or advance information and was defeated. Then the bad storms struck. The Christmas flood of 1964 hit followed bv the January, 1965, floods. The county pro 5oLd its serial levy again;' this time asking $125,O0 . per year for a 3-year period. In the emergency, it went over by a landslide. Now, this levy will expire on June 30, 1968, and so the matter faces voters once more. It is interesting to note that if the old 10-mill levy were still being imposed, the proceeds this year would total some $240 000' This is due to the gain in valuation. But the coun ty is asking for $150,000 and asking to return to the five vear levy instead of the three-year basis. The longer term will permit better planning for the road department and will eliminate the cost of holding an election so often. Morrow can be proud of its county road system. Its suc cessive county administrations have done good work in bring ing roads to the present conditions. One of the outstanding achievements has been the oiling of many important county roads. Those who have traveled the Baseline road recently know the Improvement there. Many of these important county roads are more comfort able to travel than several of the state highways within Mor row's boundaries. State highways are in crying need of im provement here. The county roads serve all. They are vital to the farmer- almost equally vital to the businessman. They are Im portant to tap recreational areas, and considerable improve ment has been made in roads to recreation spots in the past few years. Improvements are well distributed around the county, too Much has been done on roads in the northern part of the county and more is in the offing, one being a frontage road that will be necessary as a result of the construction of Highway I-80N. Probably some road construction will be needed to serve lands opening there for agricultural develop ment. We think Orville Cuteforth put it about as good as any one could when he said that the average taxpayer will spend about as much per year on the serial levy as he would In buying one tire. "At that rate, we make a profit on our investment," he said, meaning, logically, that wear and tear from bad roads would cost a person more than that. The road department has proceeded in an orderly, well planned manner and its results are readily apparent. But much needs to be done to complete the county's road goals. We recommend that voters approve the serial levy on Friday, December 8. It will cost taxpayers $1.57 per $1000 true cash value of his property, but if he drives any distance at all, he will save more than that on the better conditions of the roads. Land Sale Postscripts Sale of 22 of 26 tracts of Bureau of Land Management lands in north Morrow county Friday afternoon provided prob ably the most exciting local news event of the year. While the BLM would have preferred that at tracts were sold, the officials were prttty well satisfied with the results. Chester Conard, manager of the Baker office, BLM, expressed this after the sale. The plan at present is to offer the re maining tracts at some time in the future. Many do not realize that also to come up for sale aro quite a number of small tracts in central and southern Mor row county. These are much smaller than those that were on the block Friday, and they will be sold under a different act with the sale to be conducted in Portland. Some of them may be lands withdrawn from the National Forest by the U. S. Forest Service. In all they will total some 3500 acres in tracts of 20 acres and more. One of the biggest surprises that was incidental to the Friday auction was the announcement that 5 of the pro ceeds of the sale will go to the state to be apportioned back to Morrow county. Apparently none of the county officials here were aware that Morrow county would receive any direct benefit from the sale For some reason, this didn't come out during the long time that the county and BLM officials were Jointly consid ering how the land should be offered to the public. Judge Paul Jones says that he understands now that the state will turn the 5 share to the county after taking out an "administrative charge." Amount of the charge is as yet unknown? SJnce the 22 tracts brought a total of $-172,500, a five per cent share would be $23,625. That's quite a tidy sum in it self. Indications are that whatever the county receives, after the administrative charge, must go into the general fund since it has not been budgeted for any purpose. It's probably too early to speculate what it may be used for. It could be that it would have to be shared with other dedicated funds, such as county schools. Or It could be held until the next fiscal year when it might be listed as a cash carryover. , In any event, It Is a little too early to "count the chick ens" since the money has not been paid as yet In view of the pre-sale buildup about big agricultural industries being Interested in the land sale, it was a bit of a surprise that no such interest was apparent in the bidding Friday. It could be that some land combinations will be formed now that it is in private hands, but most of the pur chasers were quite mum on their plans, saying that they bought the land for their families or that their plans were Indefinite. , , It is interesting to note, too, that the only actual Morrow county residents making a purchase were Oscar Peterson and his son, Gerald, who bought 640 acres (tract No. 10). This is located near the bomb range road and is the same one for which Peterson filed for Desert Entry. After the first few tracts offered brought no bids, there was some spirited bidding on a few of them, one of which was the 640 acres that the Petersons purchased. The Anderws brothers, Joe and Fred, of Echo, had sought some tracts that stimulated lively bidding because their lands are adjacent to them. But they backed off when the price went up. La ter after all tracts had been offered, and 12 remained to be sold, the unsold ones were offered again, and Joe Andrews purchased three tracts near to their present holdings. The total of $93,000 paid for six tracts by Rex Ellis was the highest investment made by any buyer. Joe Andrews paid $83,000 for three tracts. As a result of the fact that the 22 tracts were purchased by a number of different buyers from scattered points, no clearcut picture for development unfolds. Had a large oper ation bought a number of them, such as a food processing firm, it would immediately be quite evident what plans are 111 ut0 since the stakes were high totaling $472,500 it is apparent that the purchasers have some plans in mind to realize profits from their investments, even though they, have not been revealed. n t Addition of these 22 tracts, totalling 9,744.74 acres, to the county tax roll will be no big bonanza for the county coffers. The BLM appraisal on them is $431,900, an average of $44.32 per acre. However, the county appraisal is consid erably less than the BLM appraisal with average around $25 per acre. Judge Jones points out that the county is not permitted to use a government sale in establishing value. Private sales only may be used. Values on the county appraisal are sim ilar to those of private lands in the same area. Thus, the lands probably will go on the 1968-69 tax roll at approximate ly half the BLM appraised value. This would mean the addition of only some $3,000 in taxes, and that won't broaden the base much! But still the hope remains that these lands will be brought to their productive capacity. Through irrigation, agricultural development and improvement they may eventually add con siderable in sharing the tax load, making the land purchase itself only "peanuts" in the total economic picture. The buyers apparently have faith in the future for it takes a considerable amount of courage to write out a check of $20,000, $30,000, $40,000 or even $80,000. It is good that they have that kind of confidence in the area and its poten tial. When water is brought to the land, the possibilities can challenge the Imagination. Chaff nd Chatter Wes Sherman School Bells Christmas Program By Alan R. Martin, Principal Heppner Elementary School This year the Heppner Ele mentary School Christmas pro gram will be held at 8 p.m. Monday, December 11. Featured will be the bands and voices of the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grades. Mr. Hedman and Mrs. Groshens are already deep in the middle of practice. nrnarflm will be presented in the multipurpose room instead of the gymnas ium. Many factors have influ enced our decision to use this area. It is difficult to have a Christmas program practice that must also be used for basket ball practice. We found that the stage in the gym was not suit able for this year's presentation. The acoustics in the multipur pose room are far better. Both instructors wished to use the multipurpose room. The stage there is far better equipped for such programs light control, adequate curtains, easy access, etc. Such a plan to use the mul tipurpose room is not without its problems. The most import ant, of course, is that there is a cmtillnr cAntincr nrtfl in the multipurpose room than there is in the gym cssu seats as op ruwo t.i rn VI Wnwpvpr. we be lieve that if the audience is limited to adults only, we win have room for all interested par ents. To allow children to see the program we would present a repeat program during a school day for children in particular. We do not wish to prohibit anyone from enjoying our pro gram Wo Hn hplieve that the multipurpose room is a far bet ter area lor mis presentation and that limiting the audience on Monday evening, December 11, to adults only will permit the largest number of persons possible to celebrate Christmas with us. FFA Boys Start Tree Sale Sunday The Heppner Chapter, Future Farmers of America, will again hold its annual sale of Christ mas trees. Members plan to cut trees in a variety of sizes this Saturday, December 2, and will place them on sale starting Sun day, December 3. For the sec ond year, members will again provide a flocking service. The Christmas tree sale has been one of the Chapter's lead ing money-making projects in past years. Trees will be placed on the corner lot of Inland Chem ical company, corner of Main and Center streets, next to the Heppner TV. The FFA flocking machine, do nated to them by Mrs- Helen Cox last year, has increased the organization's profits consider ably, and has allowed the boys to furnish a more complete Christmas tree service. Orders may be placed through the high school or with any of the members. NEITHER the carpenter who pounds his thumb with a hammer, the cook who burns his omelet, nor the dalrymnn who sees Old Boss kick over the milk pail have a monopoly on frustrations. The newsmen has 'em, too In Spades! We, along with representa tives of other newspapers, spent most of Friday at the BLM land sale. We sat the session out, visited with some folks for a few minutes after most of the crowd dispersed, and thought we had all the facts and fig ures. So did the Oregon Journal re porter. So did Dean Holmes of the East Oregonlan. So did Stan Federman of The Oregonian. We spent several hours get ting up the map that is on page 3, section 2, to give a good rec ord of the sales for time im memorial. We spent more time today averaging the appraisals, the selling prices, and totalling the figures on the transactions. We wrote the editorial that ap pears on this page. The second section went to press earlier today (Tuesday) and the map was printed. Only now do we hear a re port that more of the tracts were sold when most or the crowd was gone, and the offic ials opened the bidding again at the request of some of the linger-longers. Now our averages shown in connection with the map are oil. Tracts 1. 7, 19, and 21 should be marked as sold. Correct fig ures are in the story on page 1 unless they have sold more tracts since Friday! Apparently there Is nothing wrong with reopening the bid ding as long as the officials were there to hear the offers. As a matter of fact, Judge Jones says that it was announced that oral offers would be entertain ed at any time as long as the officials were there. But they fooled all the news men. None of the dailies had the complete story, either. Like us, their representatives had folded their tents and left be fore the last tracts were sold. Meanwhile, we'll join the car penter who has his thumb wrapped in a Band-Aid, the cook who is throwing his ome let into the garbage can, and the dairyman who is crying ov er spilled milk. WHEN THE sale was progress ing, there was no doubt that the land was really moving. Wind was howling in a gale, and all you had to do was look out the window and see it move. We tried to get to the River side school to take some pic tures. We drove down by the school and got caught in a dust cloud. This was a little differ ent, though, since it held close to the ground across the flat that some day will be land scaped. The dust came along in waves, buffeted briskly by the wind. They looked similar to whitecaps on wind-swept water. The dust obscured the street, and we figured we'd probably get off and get stuck in loose sand. . . ,mi( Even Irving Anaerson oi dluj., who did the auctioneering, quipped that land was really moving mat aay. He also naa one ouiei ju. He said, with tongue in cheek, that they had had a bid from Las Vegas irom rraim ra, who hoped to buy the Mor row county lands for a song. That would be the day! WE SEE by the papers that Mac Hoskins and Jim Doherty are continuing at Blue Mountain College right where they left off last year with the Mighty Mus tangs' basketball team. The two ex-Heppner High stars are playing with the Tim ber Wolves and came back bun day after a trip to Sitka, Alas ka, where they won three games played with Sheldon Jackson junior coneKe ui. cuna. Doherty was a starter m tne n ii.Vilnti RMCC WOn. llllcll fcamc, ....... - 117 to 73. Mac Hoskins scored 12 for me TimDer vyuivco that one, but Doherty was held to 2. In a previous game, Do herty tallied 9 and Hoskins 3, as the Timber Woves won, 104 78 The BMCC hoop squad has won five straight and they have averaged 101 points per game Their high to date was 111 against the Sitka team last Thursday, when they won, 111 60 On Friday night the Timber Wolves play Portland State Frosh at the Memorial Armory in Pendleton. Saturday night they play Columbia Christian College, also of Portland, in Pendleton. Heppner fans ought to make the journey over and see them perform in college spangles. WITH CHRISTMAS coming up fast, we'd like to remind Mor row county parents of sons in Vietnam that the Gazette-Times will send them the home paper free of charge. All that need be done is to provide us with the name and address. Were happy to do this little bit to help keep them in touch with home. Notice by the Red Cross sur vey of most wanted items on the Christmas list of overseas servicemen is the hometown pa per. HOLIDAY I?TNS have fine ac commodations for travelers and they also put out a good monthly magazine. We picked up one on a recent trip, and found some rib ticklers in it that we thought we might pass on: . Joe Morrow says th s is the age of tension every ouuy living in fear or dchuihb IBM card. THE TOURIST, marveling at New England's scenery, final ly asked a New Hampshire farmer where all the rocks The naUve replied, 'The great glacier brought them here. "Well," demanded the strang er, "where is the glacier now? Drawled the farmer, "It went back for more rocks." AN OLD Chinese proverb: If thine enemy wrong thee, buy each of his children a drum. MORE men are known by their mortgages than their deeds. A BRIDEGROOM is a man amazed at the outcome of what he considered a harmless little flirtation. ROSES are green. People are pink. His color TV has gone on the blink. THERE are three basic rules for having good teeth. Brush them twice a day. See your den tist twice a year. Keep your nose out of other people's busi ness. . TO THE EDITOR. People Friendly November 25, 1907 DWe Kist finished reading Mrs. Nolan's letter to the editor In JL" nf vnur Hennner Gazette-Times. As newcomers to Heppner, our exi-'--i';,c " been entirely different We have found the peopie io uc u.t . . it.. .. 4 tmcnitnhlfv and for this we are deeply grateful. very sinn-reiy, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Follensbco Mr. and Mrs. Cleo Chllderi and iamny , vi uZ Thanksgiving vtaltlnj in Helix at me nomc m "'. v. parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Becniel. A1MJ juiiiii R ". r was Mrs. Chllders" brother-in- law and sisier, ni Dale Brock and daughters of Lewlston, Idaho. Pioneer Ponderings By W. S. CAVERHILL The Special Session Tko nnimniD nt the soecial session is not surprising. It was too mucn to expect mat me same group of men who failed ft tax program during the regular ses- sion wuuiu unu n m session. Their performance has engendered a rising opposition to all tax increases. Their per sistent effort to impose a sales tax in tne lace oi aaverse puns was a political mistake. The raid r,n tho Veterans' snmlus was another. Their refusal to adopt a modified income tax to meet the emergencies of the bienni um exhibits indifference to the realities of the situation. The re sult may well be stronger sup port for the 1 per cent limi tation, which, if passed, would throw our taxing system into utter chaos. It is regrettable that the members didn't make the necessary cuts in the budg ets, supplemented by a revised income schedule, and go home. COMMUNITY BILLBOARD Coming Events rrw HOLIDAY BAZAAR Episcopal Parish Hall Saturday, Dec. 2, from 11:00 Many homemade Christmas gilts ana iooas Luncheon In Tea Room from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. OES SOCIAL CLUB Monthly meeting, Saturday, December 2 Heppner Masonic Hall, 1:30 p.m. CHRISTMAS WORKSHOP Social Rooms, lone United Church of Christ Tuesday, December 5 Sponsored by lone Garden Club Afternoon, 1 to 5 p.m., even ing, 7 to 9 P-m. Everyone welcome. Bring Christmas materials BLUE BIRD CANDY SALE Starts Tuesday, Dec. 5, house-to-house Kathryn Beich candies, ?1 per can Make nice Christmas gifts HEPPNER HIGH BASKETBALL First home game, Friday, Dec. 8, 7 p.m. , Heppner vs. Grant Union Heppner vs. Burns at Burns, Sat, Dec 9 SPONSORED AS A PUBLIC SERVICE BY- C. A. RUGGLES Insurance Agency P. O. Box 247 PH. 676-9625 Heppner BLUE BIRD :andy sue Will Start TUESDAY. DECEMBER 5 And Continue FOR ONE WEEK DOOR-TO-DOOR KATHRYN BEICH CANDIES $1 Per Can By 2nd AND 3rd GRADE AGE BLUE BIRDS TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR THEIR ACTIVITIES THIS MESSAGE SPONSORED BY YOUR HOME-OWNED BANK AS A COMMUNITY SERVICE RANK OF D Eastern Oregon HEPPNER IONE ARLINGTON MEMBER. FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION
