LIBRARY
U OF 0
EUGENE.
ORE
07403
Possibilities of Nuclear Power Plant Discussed at Meet
Possibility of getting a ther
mal nuclear power plant to lo
cate in north Morrow county
with a thought at using Its
waste water lor irrigation "can
not be too hopeful or optimistic
until we see the power load
growth," Oscar JC. Peterson of
the Port of Morrow commission
told some 75 persons assembled
nt the annual meeting of the
Heppner Soil and Water Conser
vation district at the Lexington
Grange hall Tuesday night.
The former county judge was
one of six speakers on a panel
formed bv the port commission
ers and Rupert Kennedy of The
Dulles, executive secretary of
the Mid-Columbia Planning
Council.
Peterson's talk was devoted to
the much-discussed thermal nu
clear power plant In which
many see tremendous possibil
ities should one be located in
this county. It has been propos
ed that with the Increase in pow
er load In the Northwest and
the fact that since dams now
stair-step the Columbia River
with no other wince to go to de.
velon hvdro-electrlc projects
that nuclear plants will be used
for the generation of power in
the future.
"By 1U74. we are told, we will
need a one million kilowatt
plant each year for 10 years to
firm up the electrical system
and take care of the load," Pe
terson said.
Sites Studied
A study of feasible sites for
such plants was made by Bat-
te le-Northwcst. but of the 16
studied, only three were in the
eastern Columbia section, Peter
son said, one at Norm Dalles,
one on the south bank of Cou
lee Dam and one at Hanford.
Peterson pointed out that such
a plant must be located near a
bin load center ana oe at a
place where transmission costs
would not be excessive. Most
sites studied are In the Wlllam
etto Valley area where loads are
great.
Best hope for securing such a
plant for Morrow county would
come bv developing a power
load nearby, Peterson said.
"We have had one Inquiry
from a large Industry that might
tuke one-tenth of Its output," he
said. "In putting a few things
together It would not be Impos
sible to build up to a feasible
atomic energy plant."
Such a plant would use some
320,000.000 gallons of water per
day, and attention Is being giv
en to the Idea that this might
be used to Irrigate large sections
of land In the northern part of
the county.
Could Irrigate 50.000 Acres
Kennedy pointed out in his
talk that the waste water from
such a plant could Irrigate 50,-
000 acres. He envisioned locat
ing the plant on a site present
ly owned by the Port of Mor
row and feeding the hot waste
water back wrhain as far as
JunliHT canyon where a lake
would he formed and water dis
persed from there for irrigation.
Peterson pointed out that be
cause the water leaves a nuclear
power plant "tremendously hot,"
there Is quite a possibility that
the effluent could not be re
turned to the river because of
killing fish life and the pollu
tion problem.
Using the prolert as a combi
nation with irrigation might
eliminate the need for expens
ive cooling towers which In
crease the $125,000,000 to SHO.
000,000 cost for the nuclear
plant by one-tenth, Peterson
said.
Kennedy envisioned many
benefits that could come from
such a power-Irrigation combin
ation. Not only could the water
be used for irrigation, he said,
but the amount of steam issu
ing from the plant would be
sufficient to heat a city, he de.
dared. It could -be used to op
erate industries or heat schools
He said that recreation could
be developed around the Irrlga
lion reservoirs.
Congressman Al L'llman has
asked the Bureau of Reclama
tion to study the possible com
bining of Irrigation to the ther
mal nuclear plants in its South
Side study. It was announced
from Washington, D. C, last
week that $11300 is included in
the President's budget for the
South Side stud v.
Study Support Urged
The South Side study should
be expedited," Kennedy said.
"It Includes land of hluh capa
bility in Umatilla, Morrow and
Gilliam counties."
He sa d that 330,000 acres are
included In the study area.
"You're on vour way on this
thing and you should back this
up with strong support."
Kennedy delcared that me
Bureau of Reclamation Is Inter
ested only In working on these
protects where the people have
signed to cooperate and are ac
tually supporting the proiosals.
"You people should look for
ward to getting water on the
land If it is economically feas
ible," he said, adding, "Wash
ington will have a million acres
under Irrigation before Oregon
gets started."
Kennedy said that the county
has a vast amount of summer
fallow, on which taxes are paid
every yenr. Through irrigation,
this land could become product
ive each year, he declared.
Industry and agriculture must
operate compatibly to provide
jobs for the Increasing popula
tion coming from an-expanding
birth rate, he declared.
Kennedy advised the group to
work for both agriculture and
industry without emphasizing
one over the other.
Gar Swanson, treasurer of the
Port of Morrow who acted as
moderator of the panel, said
that tho proposed nuclear plant
"might seem like a dream now,
but I see nothing but a reality
in it as time goes on."
He said that he does not be
lieve It feasible for the plants
to pour the hot waste water
back into the streams as would
be required at other locations
because of polluting the rivers
and killing fish life.
Kennedy pointed out a prob
lem In transmission of power
from such a plant to areas
where the power load Is heavy.
saying that technology has not
advanced to such a point in
transmission where methods
have been devised to "push
more current" through the wires.
Bonneville Power is meeting
more resistance continuously
from those objecting to the pow
er lines crossing their lands.
(Continued on page 8)
District Elects
Three Supervisors
At Annual Meeting
Dick McElligott, Bryce Keene
and Albert Wright were elected
to four-year terms as supervis
ors in the Heppner Soil and
Water Conservation district at
the annual meeting of the dis
trict in the Lexington Grange
hall Tuesday night.
McElligott had been appoint
ed to fill an unexpired term
and Keene and Wright were
chosen to succeed Vernon Munk
ers and Roger Palmer whose
terms had expired. Both asked
that they not be considered for
additional terms.
Kenneth Turner, chairman of
the nominating committee, com
mended both Munkers and
Palmer for their fine work with
the district.
He said that Wright and
Keene live in the area of the
Rhea Creek watershed which is
being proposed for development
under Public Law 566.
Ray French, chairman of the
supervisors who presided, call
ed upon Ed Gonty for the treas
urer's report. Gonty was chosen
to succeed W. C. Rosewall who
resigned from the position. Mc
Elligott was called upon to give
the annual report of activities.
Among guests recognized by
the chairman were Louis Carl
son, county and state conserva
tion man of the year; Earl
Jones of Bend, area conserva
tionist, who gave a brief talk;
and members of the Morrow
county court.
A film of a wilderness area
In Colorado was shown as an
entertainment feature. It was a
substitute for a film on irriga
tion that failed to arrive because
of a mixup in scheduling.
84th Year
Number 50
HEPPNER
GAZETTE-TIME
Heppner, Oregon 97836, Thursday, February 8, 1968
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arcia Jones
Chosen
Wranglers' Princess
HEPPNER HIGH'S basketball team is entering the crucial stage
of the Greater Oregon League season with two important games
coming up here this weekend against Sherman County Friday
night and Wahtonka Saturday night. From left are Dave Hall,
Randy Stillman, Jerry Healy, Jon O'Donnell, Steve Pettyjohn,
Bob Dobbs. Russ Kilkennv. Garv Kemp, Calvin Ashbeck, Bill
McLeod, John McCabe and Larry Pettyjohn. Kneeling are the
managers (from left) Bob Freeman and Bob Peck and Coach
Bob Clough (right). (HHS Photo by John Rawlins)
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K X i(
MIKE BENGE (center, with glasses), who for five years has work
ed in Vietnam in a civilian capacity, was reported missing Fri
day after Ben Me Thout was taken by the Vietcong. Benge, son
of Mr. and Mrs. Terrel Benge of lone, is shown here as he
was escorting Richard Nixon on a tour in Vietnam last year.
Mike Benge Reported
Missing in Vietnam
Michael D. Benge, son of Mr.
and Mrs. Terrel Benge of lone,
is reported as missing in Viet
nam, according to his sister,
Mrs. Matt (Joan) Hughes.
A telephone call received from
Washington, D. C, Friday by
Matt Hughes said that he had
been missing for 72 hours. The
call was from a Mrs. Raudstein
through the federal govern
ment's Aid program. Benge was
working in a civilian capacity
with the Montagnards in the
central highlands of Vietnam
and had served there for the
past five years.
There were no details on the
circumstances. The Viet Cong
apparently took Ban Me Thout
in their recent offensive, and
Benge was headquartered there.
Since he traveled frequently
to and from various points in
the highlands, the family is
hopeful that he may be in hid
ing with the mountain people.
Mrs. Hughes called Washing
ton, D. C, Monday in the hope
of receiving further news but
learned nothing further.
Benge was home on a short
leave in November. He was to
complete his tour of duty by
April of this year. When he was
home he said that he might
return for another two or three
years.
He made the trip to the Unit
ed States in November on the
same airplane as Ambassador
Ellsworth Bunker and reported
to Washington, D. C, before re
turning to Vietnam.
Mustangs to Play
Huskies, Eagles
Here This Week
By BOB DOBBS
Mustang followers are glad
to know that the Heppner High
basketball team will be play
ing at home for the next two
week-ends. The Mustangs host
Sherman County on Friday, Feb
ruary 9, and Wahtonka of The
Dalles, Saturday night, Febru
ary 10.
Sherman County's Huskies
have not met the Mustangs so
far this season. The Sherman
team managed to pull off a
51-48 league decision last week
end over the Pilot Rock Rockets
who had been in undisputed
first place.
The loss threw the Rockets in
to a league lead deadlock with
Wahtonka. Sherman's win last
week could very well be a great
deal of help to the Mustangs in
their bid for the tournament.
Heppner can't afford to lose
any more tilts if they want a
berth in the tournament. The
upcoming games are musts tor
the cagers to end on top at the
close of league play.
A big change has been com
ing over the Mustangs ot late
and the change is apparently
helping the club. The squad is
just now learning what team
play really is. They are begin
ning to pass the ball, and set
someone up for the good shot.
This makes playing much bet
ter and the results are obvious,
when one looks at the 81-51
stomp they put on at the ex
pense of the Madras "White
Buffs."
Saturday night at 8:00 p.m.
in the Heppner High gym will
be a game to see, as the Mus
tangs play host to Wahtonka.
The Golden Eagles, now co
leaders in league standings,
whipped the Mustang five, two
weeks ago on home territory for
the Eagles. Early in the season
Heppner had stopped them to
step into the finals at the Mid
Columbia Tournament on Sher
man County's floor. So this is
the third meeting of these
squads in this season's sched
ule and the first time on Hepp
ner's floor.
This game will be important
to both clubs, but more so for
the Mustangs than the Eagles.
The Eagles could still get into
the tournament if they lost, but
one more loss for the Horsemen
and it could be all over.
County, Schools Check
Suspected Marijuana Use
County and school officials
are investigating the possibility
that use of marijuana has ob
tained a start in Morrow coun
ty, Judge Paul Jones, who as
county judge is also juvenile
judge, told members of the
Heppner-Morrow County Cham
ber of Commerce Monday.
The judge said that there is
strong evidence that "we do
have in our schools and com
munity some of the drugs we've
seen about on television and
have read about in the news."
He added, however, "We don't
believe that there is anything
yet but marijuana."
The county has the names of
four juveniles suspected of
handling marijuana, he said.
These names and license num
bers of cars they operate will be
given to officers in adjoining
counties, as well as local auth
orities, and they will be watch
ed carefully, the judge declared.
"I don't think the situation is
such that it can be handled with
kid gloves," he said.
Letters Mailed
On United Appeal
Letters have been mailed
from the Heppner branch, First
National Bank, on behalf of the
United Appeal in Morrow coun
ty, John Venard, chairman of
the Appeal in the county, an
nounces. The only contact- to be made
in the county for the United
Appeal will be this one by
mail, Venard states. It supports
15 different agencies and insti
tutions. Venard said that no goal has
been set in this appeal in Mor
row county, but pointed out that
in 1966 nine Morrow county
children received a total of 1744
days care from the child -care
agencies included in the Ore
gon United Appeal. The total
cost was $12,121.
He also stressed the import
ance of the USO to the boys in
service.
Venard asked that recipients
of the letters use the envelopes
enclosed to mail their contribu
tions. 1
. He said that school authori
ties, the juvenile counsellor, the
welfare administrator, the sher
iff, and city police have been
working on the matter.
Judge Jones said that the
county and the juvenile coun
sellor, Al Boschee, are asking
the full cooperation or parents
and the public on this matter
in order to stamp it out before
it gets a good start.
He pointed out that he is of
the opinion that a car in which
marijuana is found may be im
pounded, whether or not par
ents have given permission to
juveniles who may be driving
the cars.
The judge revealed no names
but said, "We may have to
make known the names of ju
veniles involved, and this may
prove embarrassing to some of
us."
He said that a proposal is
being considered to have some
professional people to come here
and conduct seminars on the
use of drugs and narcotics, how
to identify them, and obtain
other information which would
be helpful in meeting the prob
lem. Heppner High school Princi
pal Dick Carpenter said Tues
day, "There is pretty strong ev
idence that a few high school
students have been using mari
juana."
He said that some are sus
pected but no one in a respon
sible position has actually ob
served any incident to corrobor
ate the suspicions.
The matter is being investi
gated with the aid of the coun
ty and city police, he said.
"We feel that we have to nave
helD from some law enforce
ment agency, just as in the case
of the drinking problem, which
can determine the source ana
cut it off," Carpenter said.
As to the possible use of mar
ijuana in or near the school,
the principal said that he could
not say that none was in tne
school. He pointed out, however,
that "even if a youth is involv
ed in an accident midway be
tween Heppner and Lexington
at 2 a.m., he is identified as a
Heppner High school student,"
indicating that if a youth at
tending the school is suspected
of marijuana use anywhere, he
would be similarly identified
and the school would be involved.
Marcla Jones, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs Floyd Jones, was cho
sen as the princess to represent
the Wranglers ciud in tne iyos
Morrow County Fair and Rodeo
Court. She is the first princess
to be chosen on the court or
Oueen Berniece Matthews of
lone.
The new princess was chosen
Sunday in tryouts of the Wrang
lers with five girls competing.
Others were Janet Palmateer,
lone: Patti Healy, Butter Lreek;
Sherrl Lynn O'Brien and Fran
ces Abrams, olh ot Heppner.
Judges were Mrs. Sheldon Lieu-
alien, Pendleton, and Kenny
Ropers. Ilermiston.
Marcia, a lb-yearoia junior
at Hcnnner Hieh school, lives
with her parents and an older
brother. Greg, on the Hinton
Creek Ranch. Her first horse
was given to her by Oscar
George. At the age of three she
was riding alone, and won her
first trophy belt in Wrangler
competition when she was six.
In 1962 she won the pole bend
ing trophy at the Wrangler
Show and was also winner of
the 4-H Small Fry Showman
ship award that year.
Marcia has been active in her
father's 4-H horse club for six
years and has been awarded
many ribbons. In 1966 she went
to the State Fair where she won
a first in horsemanship and a
second in showmanship. In the
Columbia Basin Quarter Horse
Association show at Hermiston
In 1966 she won the reserve
youth all-around trophy. She is
a reeular competitor in Wrang
ler Play Day events and in 1968
was presented tne tropny ior
having the most points in her
division.
At the present time, Marcia
is particularly interested in cut-
"I
t. .
PRINCESS MARCIA JONES
Funeral Directors'
State Board Picks
Sweeney President
Jerry Sweeney was elected
president of the Oregon State
Board of Funeral Directors and
Embalmers at the board's reg
ular annual meeting in the
State Office building, Portland,
early last week.
Sweeney was appointed to tne
board last year by Governor
Tom McCall.
Glen Macy of Macy's iuncrai
Home, McMinnville, was elect
ed vice president, and Charles
Cornwell of Ringo-Cornwell iu
neral Home in Woodburn was
elected secretary-treasurer.
Others on the board are J.
H. Campbell of Campbell-wat-kins
Funeral Home, Coos Bay,
and Don Durdan of DeMoss-Dur-dan
Funeral Home, Corvallis.
The two-day meeting was
held last Monday and Tuesday.
During that time the board gave
13 funeral directors' examina
tions and seven embalmers li
cense examinations.
One of the tasks ahead for
the board is the rewriting of the
embalmers' law and presenta
tion of them to the legislature
in the 1969 session. George w.
Woodworth, deputy attorney
general for the State of Oregon,
has been assigned as attorney
to the board.
ting competition and travels
once each week to Pendleton to
practice in their new indoor
arena. She was the champion
cow cutter in her division at
Madras -in both 19G6 and '1967.
In Heppner she won the $100
novice class in 1967.
Activities in Heppner High
school also keep her busy. This
is the second year that she has
been a member of the drill
team. She also takes part in
Girls League, Future Homemak
ers and the Pep Club.
For her summer appearances
with the court she is planning
to ride one of the family fav
orites, Tico Chex, a registered
quarter horse.
The other three princesses for
this year's court will be select
ed by the Lexington Grange,
Boardman Tillicum Club and
the Lena Community.
arpenter Takes
Trip to Academy
Principal Dick Carpenter of
Heppner High school left Port
land Thursday morning on a
trip called "Education Airlift"
to the Air Force Academy.
Thirty-four school administra
tors from Oregon are making
the trip to the academy at Colo
rado Springs, Colo., where they
will be oriented to the facili
ties and gather information to
tell students in regard to re
quirements for admission.
The trip will be made in Air
Force airplanes and the group
will return Saturday night.
This Education Airlift is sim
ilar to a trip that Mrs. Violet
Lanham of the high school fac
ulty took to West Point last year
for a similar purpose.
Flu and Trip Cut
School Attendance
School attendance at Heppner
Hieh was at about only 50
of the enrollment Tuesday, Dick
Carpenter, principal, said.
Thirty-eight were absent on
account of illness, generally at
tributed to the "flu." and 43
seniors were gone to Salem on
a field trip to the State Capitol
building. All but live or tne
seniors were on nana at an
parlv hour to make the trip.
The five were among those who
were ill.
But if the 38 was an unus
ually large number out for ill
ness, the 52 out on Monday was
even worse. This represented
about 25 of the student body,
which totals less than 200.
A similar condition existed In
lone where 32 of 89 students in
the top six grades were out on
Monday because o f illness.
Some returned by Tuesday, how
ever. Apparently younger school pu
pils hadn't suffered the "bug"
quite as much. It was reported
at the Heppner elementary
school Tuesday that only 29 of
the student body of some 420
did not report for school.
Bert Corbin Files
For Sheriff Post
City Police Officer Bert Cor
bin filed as a Democratic can
didate for Morrow county sher
iff late last week in the office
of Mrs. Sadie Parrish, county
He is the third candidate to
enter the sheriff race, and the
second city officer to file. Of
ficer John Mollahan previously
filed as a candidate on the
Democratic ticket. Sheriff C. J. D.
Ranman. incumbent, filed pre
viously as a Republican candi
date for reelection.
Corbin's filing was the only
one for any office during the
week, Mrs. Parrish said.