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
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Printer
GAIL BURKENBINE
Society
Circulation
EDITOR AND PUBLISHER
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
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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