I
HEPPNER CAZETTE
Gold Pieces Unearthed at Pond
(Continued from page 1)
coins. Although the detector
were used around the dam and
other spots In the area, no more
w lorn! I'd
The cold pieces were found
apparently In approximately the
tame locution where the boys
found the $5 gold pieces years
ago.
Some Mar Be In Dean
It la possible that some of
the cold that may have been
hidden there has been scooped
Into the dam Itself, either at the
time of original construction or
in the silt removing and restor
a I Ion operations.
Mrs. Kalph Thompson added
some Interesting background on
Press Campbell Thompson, Who
Is believed to have hidden the
cold. He was the uncle of Ralph
Thompson, who Is one of Hepp
ncr's well-known citizens.
Press Thompson homesteaded
on what is now a part of the
Greenup place, and ne had a
house, barn, and other buildings
at or near the present pond
site. A creek runs through there
and springs feed the area.
The homesteader Is credited
by some as bringing the first
sheep to the county. He also
ran cattle and at one time hired
quite a crew of men. While he
was a bachelor, he was not a
recluse. He at one time owned
a general store in Heppner and
was a shareholder in a bank,
Mrs. Thompson said.
He believed in banks but may
have kept a considerable
amount of gold on hand because
of the distance to town and the
fact that he needed It to pay
his help.
Money Under Rug
One story Mrs. Thompson
mentioned hearing Is that when
men came to be paid, he rolled
back a rug and took money
hidden there to pay them.
Eventually, Press Thompson
had a stroke. He attempted to
tell his brother (Ralph Thomp
sons father) where the gold
was hidden, but because he was
paralyzed, could never reveal
the location, Mrs Thompson
said.
Ralph Thompson was born
near this place, in another can
yon In the same area.
The homestead site of Press
Thompson was sold eventually
to George Currin, then became
the Kilkenny ranch, and Is now
operated by the Greenups.
The True West article quoted
an interview with an Irrigon
woman who as a ennd Knew
Press Thompson and rode by
his house on the way to school,
On her twelfth birthday, the
man gave her a $10 gold piece,
She said that he told her he
had been a successful miner be
fore moving here and recalled
that he took the coin from a
wood box, about the shape and
size of a cigar box.
Amount in Question
This article said that the
treasure is reputed to be $36,000
or more, but Mrs. Thompson
said that she does not under
stand how anyone could know
what might have been hidden
there.
The spot where the 28 gold
coins were found Is mucky be
cause of heavy water content
from the underground springs.
Greenup said that they were
bright and shiny when located,
except for a little discoloration
of one or two pieces, and were
all in good condition.
i u
Always first quality1
REDUCED
THRU
SATURDAY
Our Own
Gaymode fashion slips
Half slips, Reg. $3 NOW 2.33
Full slips, Reg. $4, NOW 333
- TTMES. Thursday. March 14. 1961
The Minnesotans declined to
give their names when they
were contacted by the writer.
They said that they did not
want their pictures taken and
declined all publicity. They
camped at the site In their
Volkswagen station wacon.
Shortly after, Greenup settled
with them bv d vlding the coins,
and they have departed from
the area.
The pond and dam represent
a sizeable construction, and if
anvone undertook to do a trior
ouch lob of searching for ad
ditional treasure It would be a
costly and exhaustive operation
The pond is of considerably
more value to Greenup than a
good many times the value of
gold found to date.
Mrs Greenup said, "i ve proo-
ably walked over that gold a
hundred times."
Probably the least excited of
any persons about the wtioie
thing are the Greenups them
selves who have been bothered
so much by others that it has
become a nuisance to them, cut
thev remain cordial and friendly
when contacted on the matter
at least to the home folks.
Walking over the ground even
brings some feeling of excite
ment and one has to resist the
urge to dig. j
As we told John venard, man
ager of the First National Bank,
while walking over the site
with Greenup Friday afternoon,
Don t lust walk along, John:
kick up some dirt."
Smoker and Dance
Slated at Spray
Spray Rodeo Association in
vites the public to its Smoker
and Dance scheduled Saturday,
March 23, at the Spray High
School Gym, Mrs. Joann Grif
fith of the association states.
The smoker will feature AAU
boxers of Eugene and Portland,
as well as some local bouts. Ad
mission will be $1.25 for adults
and 75c for high school students
It will start at 7:30 D.m.
Dance following the smoker
will feature western music, and
supper will be served at inter
mission by the Spray High
school student body. Adult ad
mission is $1.25 and high school
students are admitted for $1
each.
In past years, these events
have drawn good support from
the Heppner area, and this is
very much appreciated, Mrs.
Griffith said. Funds are used in
promotion of the Spray rodeo
which will be in May.
Kathy Melby Serves
On Dance Court
Kathy Melby, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Arnold Melby, was
presented as a member of the
Intercollegiate Knight court of
Pacific University at the recent
IK Ball.
Miss Melby, one of five final
ists in the IK Duchess Pageant,
is a freshman at Pacific major
ing in music education.
The five finalists were cho
sen from 11 contestants by
members of the Intercollegiate
Knights. The young women
were rated on personality, char
acter, talent, beauty, and con
versational ability.
STORE HOURS
9 A.M .to 6 P.M.
Private Parties
Offer to Buy
Impoundment Site
A grouD of private Investors
haa offered to buy the Kelly
Prairie site for a fish Impound
ment and hold It until such a
time as the county Is able to
exercise an option to purchase
the site, County Judge- Paul
Jones said Mondav.
Purchase price of the property
is $45,000. The judce suid the
Investors recognized the Import
ance of the reservoir project to
Morrow county and made the
offer in the hope of seeing; the
project culminated.
Recently the Bureau or out
door Itecreutlon said that It
could not participate with fed
eral funds, which had been
counted on by the county and
the State Game Commission, be
cause It was felt that this would
obligate the U. S. Forest Service
to maintain recreational and
sanitary facilities due to the
fact that 85 of the shoreline
of the some 500 acre lake would
be on National Forest lands. Un
til that time It appeared that
development of the site would
start within a year or two.
The Judge said that the coun
ty court is considering the pro
posal of the private persons.
Meanwhile, the court met one
day last week with representa
tives of the State Game Com
mission to see what could be
done towards development of
the project, and one thing sug
gested during the meeting was
that the county acquire the
property.
The present option on the
property expires April 4.
The county court is also con
tinuing to explore the possibil
ity that an impoundment at
Penland Prairie be developed as
an alternative to Kelly. This
would be only about 150 acres,
about a third the size of the
proposed Kelly impoundment
but five times as large as Bull
Prairie reservoir.
A number of meetings have
been held with the Forest Serv
ice on the proposals, and ad
ditional negotiations are being
held with them, the Judge said.
Also In the way of recreation
al development, the court Is
planning to arrange a meeting
in the near future with the Corps
of Engineers, State Game
Agents Glen Ward and Jack Me
land, and representatives of the
Boardman Park district concern
ing the proposal that the coun
ty take over the park and boat
basin at Willows. The park will
be formed with the rising of the
Umatilla reservoir ot John Day
Dam, and construction work is
now in progress on the park by
the Corps or Engineers.
Colleen Pinckney
Dies in Kennewick
Mrs. Robert (Colleen) Pinck
ney, 40, sister of E. H. (Tad)
Miller, Jr., of Lexington, died
unexpectedly at her home on
Monday, March 4, apparently
irom a heart ailment.
Funeral services were Thurs
day, March 7, at the Einans
Memorial chapel, Richland
Wash.
Mrs. Pinckney was born and
reared in Heppner and received
her elementary and secondary
education in Lexington and
Heppner schools. She was a
Graduate of Hennnpr Hiph
scnoot,
She had suffered from a heart
1 ailment but only recently had
undergone a medical checkup
and appeared to be in good con
dition. She was home alone at
the time of her death, since her
husband was working, and died
in bed, her brother said.
Surviving are the husband,
Robert Pinckney of Kennewick;
two sons, Ronald, a freshman at
Willamette University, and
Scott, a sophomore at Kenne
wick Hleh school; her father, E,
Harvey Miller, of Portland; two
brothers, Tad Miller of Lexing
ton and James B. Miller of Pen
dleton; and a sister, Miss Mar
ian Miller, who teaches at Ore
gon College, Monmouth.
HOSPITAL NEWS
Patients who were admitted to
Pioneer Memorial hospital dm-
inp the Dast week, and are still
receving medical care, are the
following: Bill Brannon, Hepp
ner: Jim Lindsay, lone; Thorn
as Steagall, Lexington; Marvin
Massey, Olex; Elsa Mott, Hepp
ner. and Marv Glavev. Heppner.
Those who received medical
care, and were later dismissed,
were Pauline Gates, Arlington,
and Helen Salter, lone, trans
ferred to Pendleton hospital.
Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin B.
Hamilton of Spray are parents
of a second daughter, Cheryl
Renee, born on Friday, March 8,
weighing 6 lb., 8 oz. She joins
a sister at home. Grandparents
are Virginia Kopcinsky of KS
tacada, and Leonard Kopcinsky
of Prineville, and Mr. and Mrs.
Al Pentecost of Condon.
POWER
CONTROL
ELECTRIC MOTOR SERVICE
WE REPAIRS
Electric Motors
Power Tools
Hydraulic Jacks
Alemito Equipment
421 S.E. 4th
Pendleton
Phooe 278-5862
Friend of Mike Benge
Writes from Vietnam
No further Information has
been received here on Mike
Benge, who has been reported
missing in Vietnam since the
Viet Cong overran Ban Me
Thuout, where he was station
ed, according to his sister, Mrs.
Matt Hughes.
A letter to Mrs. Terrel Benge
from Gerald C. Hltkey, howev
er, explains details that occur
red prior to the time that the
lone man was reported missing
Hickey. who worked with the
Rand Corporation and was serv
ing in Vietnam, had been a
friend of Benge's for four years.
The letter, written under date
of February 13, is as follows:
Your son, Mike, may have
mentioned mv name In letters
from Ban Me Thuot. We have
been friends for the past four
years, and during mv field trips
to Kontum In 1SKM-65 and since
then to Ban Me Thuot, I've seen
a lot of Mike. He was a great
help to me In gathering data
on the social and economic as
pects of the Highlanders' soci
eties. In Ban Me Thuot he al
ways extended the warmest
hospitality, and at the time of
the attack on January 31, I
shared a room with him. The
day before, we had all gone to
Buon Kram where his adoptive
father, Y Bham Nie and his wife
broke out the lars of rice wine
and invited us to eat with them.
Among the Highlanders, both
at Kontum and Ban Me Thuot,
Mike was very much liked, and
he did a great deal for the vil
lagers. In fact, he did a tremon
dous Job for the American gov
ernment, and if we had more
people like him, I don't think
things would have gotten this
bad. Mike did many things In
an unconventional way, but he
achieved a lot more than most
U. S. government people do.
Among the Americans who have
been around a long time (like
me), Mike Is known as one of
the most effective people in the
provinces.
"It was his great concern for
the Rhade that made him try
to get to Buon Ale the morning
alter the attack. During the at
tack we were behind sandbags
on the balcony (Mike had ar
ranged a defense of the villa),
and it was clear that Buon Ale
A, south or Ban Me inuot, was
the scene of heavy fighting.
"First thing the next morn
ing, Mike got into one of the
Scouts and disappeared. We fig
ured that he went to Buon Ale
A as he had many Rhade
friends there. As the day wore
on (we were busy trying to or
ganize the refugees coming in
from areas of Ban Me Thuot
that were burning) we began to
worry, particularly since Buon
Ale-A was not accessible fight
ing continued in that area. I
left Ban Me Thuot for Nhatrang
late the following afternoon,
and there still was no news of
Mike. It was only when I got
back to Saigon on February 3
that I heard about Mike being
captured and the sad news
about the missionaries in Buon
Ale-A.
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"I have a very strong feeling
that he will not be harmed; the
fact that It was announced by
Radio Hanoi Is reassuring, for
they never have done anything
to any of the civilian captives.
Also, they undoubtedly are well
aware that Mike la very well
liked among the Rhade, both in
Ban Me Thuot and in the vil
lages, and to do him harm
would be very adverse propa
ganda for the Viet Cong. It may
sound strange, but the Viet
Cong probably appreciate the
good projects that Mike has re
alized. In the long run, his good
reputation will be his best pro
tection.
"Do hae courage, and don't
let yourself become discouraged.
People here will do all they can
to get Mike released. If there
is anything I can do for you,
please do not hesitate to ask,
and I will pass on any news
we get concerning; Mike.
Plans Underway
For Church Auction
A planning meeting of com
mittee chairmen and other
workers for the lone United
Church of Christ's sixth annual
Auction and Barbecue Dinner
was held at the home of Mr.
and Mrs. Keith Rea, co-chairmen,
Monday night, March 4.
This annual event is schedul
ed for Saturday, June 1, at Wil
lows Grange hall, with the auc
tion to begin at 10:30 a.m. Be
gun in 19G3, it has become a
most successful program and is
looked forward to each year.
A special attraction again this
year will be the Country Store,
with many handmade articles
and homebaked foods, plus
boutique articles. Chairman of
the Country Store is Mrs. Gar
ry Tullis, with Mrs. Clell Rea
in charge of food, and Mrs. Le-
land McKinney in charge of i
fancy work.
Articles for auction are need
ed and anyone desiring to con
tribute merchandise, old or new,
is asked to contact Bill Riet-
mann, 422-72; Don Bristow,
422-7122: Lindsay Kincaid, 422-
7418, or Eldon Tucker, 422-7182.
Articles can be picked up any
time from now on and will be
stored until auction date.
Fun for the children and
adults also will be furnished by
Norman Nelson, who is again i
supplying his Model T Ford for
free rides for the youngsters.
High school youth are planning
a fish pond, plus a
snack bar,
with Mrs. Norman
Nelson as
chairman.
Mrs. Pete Canno- chairman
of the antique sale, nas already
collected some valuable an
tiques, and requests that any
one who wishes to donate an
tiques that need repairs should
get in touch with her.
Mrs. Bui Kietmann and Mrs.
Bob Rietmann, chairmen of tick
et sales, state that prices for
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Heppner, Oregon 97836
Lincoln City Has
Better 'Soaker'
When the Gazette-Times re
cently proclaimed 2X Inch
of rain on Monday, February
19, as "No Joke, Good Soak"
in a weather report headline,
It caught the eye of Mrs. Fred
(Betty) Clmbel of Lincoln
City, and she has sent a clip
ping from the paper there.
On the same day, February
19. Lincoln City had 4.33 inch
es of rain. (How lucky can
you get!) In two previous
days, a total of 2.73 Inches
was recorded. Total rainfall
for the week was 7.06.
"We could well have used
your headline but no one felt
like joking on Monday the
19th," she said. "Do you know
we've become so acquainted it
really has to pour before we
take too much notice."
The Glmbels, former Hepp
ner residents, send best re
cards to their many friends
here. Fred Gimbel is with Pa
cific Power Company and was
formerly lineman-agent here.
the barbecue dinner to be serv
ed at noon will be $1.75 for
adults and hleh school students,
$1.00 for grade school children,
and no charge for pre-school
children.
Other committee chairmen be
sides those mentioned, are Mil
ton Morgan, arrangements: Fete
Cannon and Alfred Nelson, bar
becue: the church deaconness-
es, dinner; Mrs. Bob Jepsen, pub
licity; Earl McCabe, meat wrap
ping, and Koy w. Linosirom,
meat carving.
Pvt. Ron Croker
Completes Training
Marine Private Ronald L. Cro
ker, son of Mr. and Mrs. James
More
Always... Eugene
215 Coburg Road
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Groups Combine
Efforts to Stage
Spring Carnival
Spring is Just around the
corner, and with it comes plans
for the annual Band Carnival,
which will be held this year on
Saturday, April 20, announces
Mrs. Wallace Wolff, president of
the Heppner Elementary PTA.
This annual spring fund rais
ing event will be co-sponsored
by the Elementary school PTA
unit, the high school PTA, and
the Heppner school bands, under
the direction of Arnie Hodman.
The carnival provides some
thing for everyone In the fam
ily, with a family dinner being
planned for 5:30 P.m.. with the
carnival following from 6:30-10
o'clock. A dance is being plan
ned from 10-1 a.m., with music
to be announced at a later date.
Committees for the scheduled
events have not yet been an
nounced. Proceeds derived from the
evening's efforts will be divided
between the band, the high
school PTA and the grade school
PTA units for scholarships and
other needed student uses.
Publicity committee assigned
to promote public attention to
this year's carnival are Mrs.
Robert Laughlin, who will make
and distribute posters, Mrs.
Wolff, and Mrs. Forrest Burken
bine. H. Croker of Monument, com
pleted two weeks of training un
der simulated combat conditions
in the fundamentals of day and
night patroling, employment of
infantry weapons, survival
methods and assault tactics at
Camp Pendleton, Calif,
Fun,
ivuv.
Phone: (503) 342-5181
- VAN 108 (MODEL GS11305).
38-3764-