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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 7, 1967)
HEPPNER GAZETTE-TIMES, Thurtday. December 71967 THE -J . IIEPPNEIt GAZETTE-TIMES Heppner. Oregon 97838 Phon 676-9228 MOHHOW COUNTY'S NEWSPAPER -rh iT,.nnnpr Gazette established March 30, 1883. The Heppner Times established November 18, 1897. Consolidated February 15, 1912. . NATIONAL NEWSPAPER rtfio nniwiapu H5V PUiUIHIII -AIIOCIATIOM WESLEY A. SHERMAN HELEN E. SHERMAN ARNOLD RAYMOND Shop Foreman Printer GAIL BURKENBINE Society Circulation EDITOR AND PUBLISHER ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER REGGIE PASCAL Linotype Operator RANDY STILLMAN Apprentice JIM SHERMAN Pressman Subscription Rates: $4.50 Year. Single Copy 10 Cents. Published Every Thursday ana tnterea ai me rosi uun-e ui neyyncr, uickuh. as Second uass Mauer. Office Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. until noon Saturday. He Faced a Tough Job There are few who would like to be In the shoes of an Oregon legislator right now in view of the stalemates of the long regular session and the ill-fated special session. Who would like to come home to face constituents after the thwarting and frustrating experiences of these long, weari some and so-called "fruitless" sessions? It would be similar to a wife mustering courage to tell her husband she has smashed the car, or a salesman coming in to tell the boss that he had failed to sell a single item. It brings out that it takes people with tough hides to be in politics today, and they must be admired for the fortitude they develop. When Irvln Mann came to the Chamber of Commerce Monday, he appeared in no sense apologetic for the failure of the legislature to accomplish its primary objective. Ha had the appearance of a man who had done his best. But he still had some constructive thoughts on what might be done. He sincerely believes that the 1H limitation threatens the state with economic chaos if it is passed, and right now is trying to rally his fellow legislators for some stop-gap legislation to forestall this possibiity. The legislature and its members have taken all kinds of ridicule, taunts and jibes. But who among us would step up to say "I could have done better?" The very fact that their deliberations resulted in a deadlock would tend to in dicate that each was sincere and acted on conviction. The public gave them a mandate but to do what? Cut taxes way down and still give all the services that every one wants? At the same time, the public made it pretty clear that it would accept no other tax proposals. The legislators deserve credit for trying and trying hard to do a near impossible task. Their frustration is greater than those of the bystanders, for they fought the battle. Theirs is the greater concern for they bear the responsibility delegat ed by the voters. Such were thoughts in watching and listening to Rep. Mann Monday. There is no doubt that he worked most dil igently and conscientiously on the property tax problems, which he feels so keenly, and he deserves commendation of his 28th district constituents for the effort. Congratulations, Louis and Bob! Morrow county's Conservation Man of the Year, Louis Carlson, is now Oregon's Conservation Man of the Year, and it makes us mighty proud to hear it. He was announced as state winner at the Oregon Wheat League meeting in Port land last week, and thus, his good work, supported by wife Betty, brings honors to all of Morrow county. Reports from the annual meeting indicate that it was one of the most successful in league history and probably the best attended. This is due at least in part to the fine president of the organization, Bob Jepsen of lone, who was in charge of the meeting. Congratulations, Bob! Congratulations, Louis! These are the sort of fine young men who comprise the corps of Mor row county farmers. President Bob Jepsen Addresses Oregon Wheat League Following Is the text of President Bob Jopsen's ad dress given at the opening session of the annual conven tion of the Oregon Whent League at the Sheraton Hotel, Portland, last Thursday: The 40th annual meeting of the O.W.G.L. is now underway and will soon be past history. I am hoping we will write this mectinc in the history books as one to be well-rememberea. At this time I would like to sav that it has been a great nrivilcce and honor for me to serve as president of this fine organization. This opportunity has been, without ceasing, a challenging one all during the year. Looking back over the year, I can say it was not as difficult as I had anticipated. I believe the reason for this Is because of all the fine help I have had alone the way. I owe a great deal of thanks to our executive vice-president, John Welbes, his office staff, Ivon and Wilma. all of our league officers, our standing committee chairman, our county presidents, the commission members, and of course, all the membership of the Oregon Wheat Growers League. The founders of the Eastern Oregon Wheat League back in had many, many problems. We find today that we still have many of the same problems. In 192(5 the Eastern Oregon Wheut League had five standing com mittees; they were farm man agement, finances, production, wheat handling, and world sup ply and demand. When I start ed working with the Wheat League we had six standing committees. A seventh commit tee, public relations, was soon added, and I served as a char ter member of that committee. Then last vear. unon reeommen dation from the marketing and transportation committee, we split that committee because there was too much material to be considered by one commit tee. Bv chancing to two com mlttees, a marketing committee and a transportation committee, we find we now number eight in stand n? committees. This first meetine in 1926 of the wheat growers was well at tended as they all gathered to gether to wrestle with the prob lem of "What can we do to help ourselves?" Today we find that our problems have gained Chaff and Chatter Wes Sherman 'loneer Ponderings Bv W. S. CAVERHILL Christmas Christmas is coming soon. For me it will be my 81st. As I re call the observance of the day over that span of years, I can not decide whether the true spirit of Christmas has lost or gained. Certainly the commer cial side of it has expanded and time extended. Perhaps a picture of a small town's observance sixty years a do will provide a comparison. The event was always on Christ mas eve, not the day before or the day after. A large tree was put up in the church. The dec orations were mostly home made. Strips of popcorn and popcorn balls were numerous and later eaten. Varied colored candles clamped to the branch es provided the light. Santa Claus was the center of attraction and distributed gifts for every youngster In the com munity. He always arrived a little late. (Not a month be fore!) Many of the gifts were homemade sox, mittens, sweat ers, etc. Hams and fruit cakes appeared for those in need. We waited impatiently for the day to come, but we waited. No thought was given to changing it for convenience. Santa Claus was seen once on Christmas eve. Church' Youth Sing Carols for Missions A group of junior missionary volunteers of the Seventh-day Adventist church, accompanied by some of their senior sponsors, will circulate throughout the Heppner residential area, start ing Thursday evening, singing many of the familiar Christmas carols. The public is invited to share in their world service work by making monetary contributions. The funds will be used for up lift and welfare services, both to needy families in this area and In other parts of the world, according to H. E. Preston, pas tor of the Heppner church. Recent Thanksgiving holiday visitors at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Dick Carpenter and fam ily were his parents, Mr. and Mrs. L. L. Carpenter of Eugene and Bill Peters of St. Paul, who is a brother of Mrs. Carpenter. IN STOCK FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY- 3 F-100 Vz Ton Pickups 1 F-250 34 Ton Pickup CHOICE SELECTION NEW FORDS and MERCURYS Heppner Auto Sales Ph. 676-9152 I WAS SURPRISED to see a swan eoine to school," said Bert Corbin. He had been at the high school checking on his po lice rounds Sunday, and in driv ing down the hill met a big white bird groggily walking up the road. He stopped the car and pur sued the bird, managing to catch it after some effort. It had come flying to town like an air plane with an engine shot out. Adele LaTrace reported that it ust about crashed into a win dow at the LaTrace home but bounced to a landing nearby af ter clearing the house. Glen Ward later lndentinea it as a wnisti ne swan a young one and it is a rather rare bird, Where it came from no one knows, but it surely was oti course in coming to Heppner. Examination showed tnat it had been shot in the breast, but the wound wasn't bad. Appar entiv some misguided hunter had fired at it from some dis tance awav. Pete McMurtrv took a picture of the bird with Onicer corDin and it was then taken with kindly hands to a pond at the Marcel Jones place to conva lesce. There it is finding plen ty of feed, and it has a happy home for as long as it wishes to stay. Marcel is hoping that it will choose to remain in this sanctuary, but chances are that once it has its "engine repair ed. it will vield to the irresist ible call of the wild and wing away with a fond adieu to those who gave it succor and refuge. WE of the Gazette -Times staff were saddened today when word was received from Mrs. Louis (Jean) Gilliam of Condon that Sgt. Tommy Erwin, former ly of the Condon Air Force Sta tion, had died of natural causes in October, apparently at his present assignment in New Mex ico. Perhaps not too many in the Heppner area knew Tommy, but he became acquainted with quite a number during the two or three years that he worked with the Condon station's paper, "The Scope," which the G-T prints. Tommy developed an interest in rockhounding and greatly ad mired the collection of Indian artifacts of Bruce Bothwell. He was a huge man, both in size and in spirit. He was as friend ly and congenial as he was big, and the staff here enjoyed it every time he came over. Sgt. Erwin came back on a visit during the summer and said that he was going to put in for a transfer back to Lon don as soon as he could be cause he liked this area so well. We looked forward to that time, and we are deeply sorry that he will not be returning. His death was apparently from a heart ailment. Loss of Tommy is the second from the Air Force who have become good friends. Sgt. Jim Chauncey, who was pretty well known among the business people here I" r n 1 H BERT CORBIN and new friend, a whistling swan. a vear earlier from natural causes on Okinawa. He, too, had planned to return and liked the newspaper business so well that he was considering entering the field after his discharge trom the service. WE'RE BREATHLESSLY await ins someone to announce the ultimate Christmas gift an electric button pusher, mats about all there Is lett to invent. This year they are coming out with electric hair brushes, elec tric combs, and electric clothes brushes. Out for some time have been electric toothbrushes, elec trie can openers and electric knives. It's getting so that it will be considered a major ei- fort to Dick them ud or to push the buttons to start them, and sn something has to De design ed to rescue the over-burdened citizenry. Maybe some day they will in vent an electric spoon, so that all a person has to do to eat is to sit at the table with his mouth open. And it could be that they will develop an at tachment to hook on to the mouth to eliminate the labor of chewing. w w ONE PORTLAND department store announces in a prolus ion of advertising. "An old- fashioned Christmas" and fills the ads with "mod" dresses, Da bv doll eames. and all sorts of the electric gadgets mentioned above. That's an "old-fashioned' Christmas like grandmother never heard of! W. S. Caverhill In his Pioneer Ponderings column on this page describes the "real" old-fashion ed observance of Christmas, which didn't include turning on the commercial pressure as ear ly as Thanksgiving or prior. We note in the last issue of the Industrial News Review this definition: "An old-fashioned Christmas was one when peo ple paid cash for the gifts they bought." and who also previously work- That would take us back a j o - 1 . ' Lit- x !- eu Willi uie ocupt;, uieu ttuuui uu, wuuiuii i 11: Boxgq Christmas C curds NOW PRICE VAN'S VARIETY HEPPNER In number and are much more complex than those of our foun ders. One of our more complex problems today Is that of lobby ing. Today lobbying Is big bus Iness. There are over 10)0 as sociations, suc-li as our Nation al Association of Wheat Grow ers, that have offices in Wash Ing ton, D. C. Each of these as social inns are constantly look Ing after its special interests as our office does for us. We have exactly the same situation here In our capital city of Salem. There are many, many special interest groups that have men employed to keep a watchful eve for any legislation that will affect its group. This vear, for the first time, the OWGL has such a man employed as a spc cial counsel in Salem to keep us continually informed ns to what is going on that will at feet us as wheat growers, and also to keep the legislators m formed on the needs of the OWGL. I am happy to say that this year, for the first time, our legislators were better educated as to the needs of the OWGL, and our wheat growers were better informed as to legisla tion under discussion than ever before in our history, because of our man In Salem, George Dewey. So our basic approach to our problems today are the same as it was to our founders, and that is "what can we do to help ourselves?" We know we can't personally spend much time in Washington, D. C, keeping a watchful eve on congress, we know we can't personally spend much time in Salem keeping tabs on legislative action there. Nor do we have time to wade through all of the vast amount of material that is printed per taining to legislation. We don't have time for these things be cause our farm work takes up the biggest percentage of our time. Then what can we do to help ourselves In this area? Who will do this work for us? The answer is in our voluntary contribution of 3c per allotted acre. This is your money work ing for you in legislative ac tion. As most of you know, tax es collected bv the Wheat Com mission cannot be used for this purpose, so the money must come direct from the farmer. So take comfort in the knowledge that while vou are out work ing on the tractor, you are also working in Washington, D. C, and in Salem through your 3c per allotted acre, Now let's talk about the growth of our organization. Our organization is gaining in num ber each year, and just this year three counties in the Wil lamette Valley have loined us. and we are very happy to have Yamhill. Polk, and Marion coun ties as co-workers in the OWGL. This year "The Valley" will be competing with the rest of our counties for the best cake oak er, and for the Conservation Man of the Year award. Again we welcome you new members and our thanks go out to all of those hard working people who made this achievement possible. The next few thoughts I would like to share with you pertain to a trip taken by our first vice-president, Bill Hulse, and by me, to Washington, D. C. Bill and I were represent ing you, the Oregon wheat growers, in attendance at many many meetings with the USDA. We also attended an executive session of the NAWG while there and we joined with wheat growers from other states at a breakfast for the congressmen from these stataes. It is import ant that we send our wheat league officers, including the ex ecutive vice-president, to Wash ington. D. C. annually to at tend these functions. They are vitally important to the wheat industry. Let's take a look now at our 1967 state legislature. They have been making history themselves as this year they rolled up the most number of days ever in session by the Oregon legisla ture. And then they had to turn around and come back for a special session a few weeks ago called by Gov. McCall. These are hard working men, and this has been a busy vear for them. Many of the resolutions that were adopted at our annual con vention last year have been brought to truition by our state in nhtainine more research as sistance in the area of plant natholoev. we were able to re tain pari-mutual funds for fairs and special shows, we passed a land-use tax statue, we were instrumental in holding down development of new community colleges until our present col leges "get on their feet," and we protected the highway us ers fund. Our problem of inheritance tax is now before the perma nent tax study committee, and you may be sure that George is keeping track of what is go ing on there. Many of our trips to Salem this year have been to deal with legislative problems. But we have also made trips to Salem to meet with the state work men's compensation executives. I think we are all painfully aware that any farmer having an annual payroll of $1,500.00 or more, is required by law to have workmen's compensation coverage by Jan. 1, 1968. Our league members have studied many plans presented by var ious state and private compa nies, and I feel the one we adopted at the fall workshop will serve our best interests at this time. This one is called the group divided plan, and it is : underwritten by the Oregon i State Workmen's Compensation insurance. Each grower will ac- i tually get his own experience rating and will be grouped to the amount of premiums paid In the larger premium paid the larger Hint dividend. It Is Just that simple. And now, I would like for all of you to think with me for a few minutes about the one Item thnt is of most importance to all of us. And this, of course, is the price tho low price that we are receiving for our grain. Last year, at this time, our sur plus was down to a minimum so we got a 15 Increase in al lotted acres. An additional 15 increase in allotments was is sued later, very much against our recommendation. The USDA asked those wheat growers who could grow wheat profitably on these additional acres, to do so, because it was urgently needed to feed starving people In many I countries. So we grew more wheat and the farmer is now saying to you, Mr. Secretary of Agriculture, "This has been hard work, and costly to produce this extra wheat. Now that we have done so, please see that the hun gry people of the world get fed." This brings up another sub ject, and that is the subject of effective bargaining power for the wheat producers. I under stand that Secretary Freeman is afraid the farmer might quote gouge the public," unquote, it they were given this bargaining power. You and I know that this is not what would happen. All we are asking for is that the wheat grower be given a fair return for his product. On July 1. this vear. a fair return price was established by the USDA for wheat at $2.61 per bushel. I can assure you that if the wheat producer were getting this price on all of his production he wouldn't be ask ing for any more; he wouldn't be gouging the public. The price of wheat could increase 70c per bushel before it would effect the loaf of bread one cent. Let's turn this Idea around. When the wheat farm er is getting anything less than a fair return, isn't the public then gouging the wheat farm er? On September 30, of this year, Orville Freeman, said in Port land at the dedication of the new agricultural wing at OMSI that the farmers were subsidiz ing the government overseas food aid program. The secretary knows it is true, and no one knows it better than you and I, the wheat gowers. I have al ways said that the wheat grow er should have an export certif icate on all of the wheat that is shipped overseas. I believe a reasonable and fair amount for this certificate would be the dif ference between $2.61 and the going market price of wheat to day. This would give the pro ducer a fair return for his prod uct. A farmer must participate on the present farm allotment program before he would be el igible. Agriculture means busi ness for Oregon. This Is the message the newly formed Agri-Business Council of Oregon is a statewide public re lations firm tor ail of Oregon s agriculture. The Oregon Wheat Growers League has given the Agri-Business Council of Oregon our whole hearted support in the past, and we will be very proud to continue this support in the future. I would like to impress upon you the urgent need for each wheat grower to be aware and very much concerned with what the future will hold for you. On July 1, 1969, the present cer tificate farm program expires. Many people are working hard to do awav With vour domestic certificates. Twenty-one bills are pending in the House to abolish the wheat and feed grain programs. What steps are you taking now to help keep, or to help Improve our program? Don't sit back and wult for someone else to do It get In and do your part now. In closing I would like to say that you can all be very proud of your Oregon Wheat League and your Oregon Wheat Com mission. It has been very grat ifying as I have traveled about the state In your behalf to see the respect that our legislators and politicians have for our or ganization. We havo a rep uutlon for making careful, thoughtful, wise decisions In tho past years, and I know we are determined to carry on this pol icy. So my fellow wheat grow ers, I urge your continued, ac tive participation, and careful deliberation as you go into your committee meetings. They are vital to the welfare of the Ore gon Wheat League. Again I thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve as your president. Guests for Thanksgiving hol idays at the home of Mrs. Mary Johnson were her two daugh ters. Coming from Toledo were Mr. and Mrs. Hank Robertson, and from Portland was another daughter, Mrs. Agnes Sperry. They returned to their homes on Sunday, November 26. COMMUNITY BILLBOARD Coming Events HEPPNER HIGH BASKETBALL First home game, Friday, Dec. 8, 7 p.m. Heppner vs. Grant Union Heppner vs. Burns at Burns, Sat., Dee 9 Heppner vs. lone, at lone, Tues., Dec. 12 Condon, at Condon, Fri., Dec, 15 IOOF-REBEKAH FAMILY CHRISTMAS DINNER Monday, Dec. 11, IOOF Hall Potluck dinner, 6:30 p.m. Christmas party, exchange of gifts following dinner PUBLIC STYLE SHOW Saturday, Dec. 9, 7:30 p.m. Fiesta Bowl Showing of Holiday Fashions by MiLadies Apparel Everyone welcome HIGH SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE Wednesday, Dec. 13, 7:30 p.m. Sponsored by High School PTA Opening session, Multipur pose room Refreshments at close of evening SOROPTIMIST FOOD SALE Saturday, Dec. 16, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Central Market Varieties of baked foods for the Christmas holidays SPONSORED AS A PUBLIC SERVICE BY C. A. RUGGLES Insurance Agency P. O. Box 247 PH. 676-9625 Heppner ISI3KaiSjBSal dends. Dividends are paid on f For Holiday Foods & Gifts Come To The Bake and Fancy Work Sale THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. Sponsored By Dorcas Society of Seventh-day Adventist Church BIG VARIETY OF HOME-BASED PIES. CAKES, COOKIES, ETC. HAND MADE FANCY WORK ITEMS, WILL MAKE LOVELY CHRISTMAS GIFTS NEXT DOOR TO TURNER. VAN MARTER & BRYANT THIS MESSAGE SPONSORED BY YOUR HOME-OWNED BANK AS A COMMUNITY SERVICE RANK OF UjEiastern Oregon HEPPNER IONE ARLINGTON MEMBER, FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION
