HEPrNEI GAZETTE-TIMES. Thundery. October IT, I9M
THE ML?' UJEFFWBK
GAZETTE-TIMES
Heppner. Orgoa t7836
Phooe 67S-22t
unminw coumrrs NEWSPAPER
The Heppner Gazette established March 3a lvj. The Heppner
Times established November 18. 1837. Consolidated February 13,
1912.
NATIONAL NIWSPAPI1
rhiiiiMi-.ii.'.HiM
NIWSPAMI
.V PUIIISHIIS
ASSOCIATION
WESLEY A. SHERMAN
HELEN E. SHERMAN
ARNOLD RAYMOND
Shop Foreman
Winter
CAIL BCRKENBINE
Society
EDITOR AND PUBLISHES
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
REGGIE PASCAL
Linotype Operator
KELLY GREEN
Apprentice
Chaff nd Chatter
Wes Sherman
Circulation . ,A , ih.Mi.hHf
t" Thuay and Ered at the Post Office at Heppner. Oregon.
Office Hours: 8 a.m. to S p.m.. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m.
until noon Saturday. , . .
Vi Limit Could Hike Costs
Although there are still many questions una nswered con
cerning effect of the proposed 1H property tax limitation
Son which voters will cast ballots Novembe. M .7 .
It becomes Increasingly clear that there are distinct possibil
ities that it could Increase costs to taxpayers rather than re
lieve their turden.
Thus the result could be the opposite of what the pro-
JTZZmS! likelihood that it will severely pen-
which have held ciose iu
In taxes tor
Morrow)
the lWc limitation in property taxation (ia
arh si 000 of true cash value of property i.
The uncertainty and unanswered questions arise because
there are many facets of the proposal which are yet o be
determined and which will not be determined until the
ZTllT wS be used for
,11 tTon and dsu bution of the taxes under the limit? (Sug
gsted propais wry widely). Would funds coun es
no- below the 141 limitation, or close to the lr limita
tion bcUd i xo dualize the tax load in other parts of the
lute- .In other words, would Morrow. Gilliam and Wheeler
counties where the taxing percentage is comparatively low.
So 'help pay for the heavy tax load in Multnomah coun
tv'Y Could a taxing agency vote this November on funds for
he 19 7C budget when it is found Impossible to operate
underhe limitation? .No definite opinion on this has been
eiven bv the attorney generals office).
Those who believe that a "yes" vote will relieve their
property tax burdens (particularly those in the counties now
Mow 'or close to the 1-,-c limitation) should consider the
following possibilities which tend to show that their costs
could increase by passage of the measure:
1 The possibility that the state legislature might repeal
the 1959 act (which it has the power to do) which Prides
that the State may levy a property tax for bonded indebted
ness only The State then could impose a statewide property
tax up to the l'j limit, and the counties would levy no
taxk acting onlv as a collection agency for the State. The
state then could redistribute the taxes to the local taxing
agencies under its own formula, which might provide for
equalization of the taxing load in the various counties. This
could hit counties In this section of eastern Oregon hard.
2 The possibility that the state legislature might pro
pose a 'ales tax, or some other tax. to fill the gap in loss of
revenue to local taxing agencies. If approved by the people,
this could also mean that taxpayers in counties with rela
tively low tax percentage to true cash value could have ad
ditional burden. Since they are currently below or close to
th 14 limit, they would pay close to the present property
taxes and could have the additional burden of paying the
added tax. , . ,
3 The possibility that one taxing agency votes out from
under the l's" limitation, leaving other taxing agencies free
to escalate budgets up to the limit without a vote of the peo
ple. For instance, if it is determined that the Morrow county
school district cannot provide education for our children un
der restrictions of the 14 limitation, the voters of the coun
ty could remove the district from the provisions by polling
a majority vote of approval equal to 20 of the registered
voters (a difficult majority to achieve, but a possibility). Once
the district is voted out of the limitation, other taxing agen
cies could hike budgets to the full 14" limit, since the school
district budget would no longer be subject to it. Since the
school district now takes more than 71 of the tax do lar
here, this would give other agencies in the county great lat
itude in increasing budgets.
4. The possibility that taxing agencies would resort to
user charges instead of taxes. Consider the possibility that a
city finds it impossible or difficult to provide services the
public desires under the limitation. It would be legal for it
to provide for "user charges" in lieu of taxes in some cases
and circumvent the 14 limitation. For instance, it could
charge a fee for city streets on a front foot basis.
5. In another possibility, if the taxing agency isn't able
to offer the service, perhaps the resident would have to sup
ply his own service at additional cost to him. For instance,
if the school district found it necessary to cut out the bus
transportation system to come within the measure's provis
ions, the parents themselves would have to provide their child
ren's own transportation.
6. The loss of revenue (variously estimated between
$100,000,000 to $150,000,000 as a statewide total) to the tax
ing agencies would be a severe economic blow to the state
and would be costly to many businesses and others. While
some different form of tax might eventually fill the gap (as
indicated above), there would be a considerable time when
the agencies would have to "live" within the 14 limita
tion. Much of the taxes collected locally are spent locally
by the taxing agencies and contribute to the local economy.
Curtailment of their purchases of goods and services, and
the loss of money going into circulation through salaries
which may be eliminated, could be other economic blows.
7. The possibility that competent, trained personnel, dis
satisfied with the severe restrictions in Oregon, might move
to other states rather than to work under restrictive condit
ions. 8. Reductions that property taxpayers would receive un
der the measure would proportionately reduce their exemp
tions on State and Federal income taxes. Oregon Tax Re
search points out that State income tax collections from
homeowners and individuals would be enhanced by close to
S5 million annually. State corporate excise and income taxes
for the same reason could increase by about 54 million an
nually. But the Federal treasury would, by far, be the great
est beneficiary of these lessened deductions. It may collect
as much as $4 for each additional SI of State tax collections,
bearing in mind the recently enacted 10 Federal surtax,
which seems quite likely to be extended by Congress next
year. A property tax reduction of S150 million could increase
other tax liabilities to State and Federal tax gatherers by
$40 to $45 million annually.
Not all of these possibilities could apply because some
are contingent on the avenues that might be taken to meet
the emergency situation which would face the taxing agen
cies in the state. But some of them certainly would apply,
and the result may very well be more costly in actual out-of-pocket
expense to the taxpayer than it will save him.
There is no way to measure the loss which would be
caused by chaotic conditions the proposal could bring. Think
NOW THAT college Is In full
mrine. parent of the mlgrat
lni ntudrnt have started to
sweat out the dearth of letters
feeding back home and compar
ing mites on what kernels of
news other parents have receiv
ed from their kids.
Some report a postcard or two.
some have had some Rood let
ters, and some have been pret
ty well "skunked ".
Bill Slewert recounted the sue
cinct message tnat is reporteo.
to have come from one college
youth to his father, to wit:
"jjear une:
No Mon,
No Fun.
Your Son."
To which the father wrote
back:
"Dear Lad:
How sad.
Too bad.
Your dad.
Now. hear this, all you Mor
row county college kids! Get
husv and write vour parents.
Don't go hiding under the bed.
Most of you get the G T-we've
eot vou on the subscription list
and you're reading this right
now!
You're not studving that hard
We know that old dodge, we've
been there. Get a letter off to
your folks, y'hear!
WHAT-THEY-WONT THINK-OF
NEXT DEPARTMENT! Rain
bow Girls have been embarking
on a new venture, at least we ve
never heard of it. They ve been
out sellin? snook insurance for
Halloween. For a couple of
bucks vou cet a policy that en
titles vou to free window clean
ing of all your business win
dows if thev are soaped up on
the Spook night.
Now some might give this
venture the Jaundiced eye. But
it has its points: 1. If the girls
are selling the insurance and
have to do cleanup, you can
bet they won't be out soaping
windows (maybe even guarding
against it). 2. It's probably
worth $2 to get the windows
washed anyway. 3. It is easier
for those of us who are Rain
bow parents to buy the insur
ance rather than pungling up
out of pocket to donate for costs
of the upcoming dance. This is
what proceeds are going for.
better. Thank vou. thank you!
Ql'OTE OF NOTE: -We wonder
If those bioki!U.is who assert
ed there in't a perfect man on
the globe ever heard a campaign
speech?"
THE DICK WILKINSONS. Dick
Krebses and Markham Bakers
covered a goodly segment of
the earth's surface on their re
cent People-to-Peopie tour In
three weeks time, going as far
as a place called Krasnodar, in
the USSR,
These faraway places with
Interesting names reminds us of
the two women talking:
"Where did you go on your
vacation?"
"Majorca."
"Majorca? Where's that?"
"How should I know? We
flew."
'Marsha Sowell Has
College Play Part
Marsha Sowell of Heppner
will apiear In Pacific Univer
sity's production of "Arms and
the Man." October 17 19, 24 26.
at the Tom Miles Theater on
the Pacific University campus,
Forest Grove. She Is the daugh
ter of Mrs. Nona Sowell, Hepp
ner. Set In Bulgaria around IRSo.
"Arms and the Man'' la a light
romantic anti-war comedy by
George Bernard Shaw. It will
feature three elaborate seta and
special costuming. Prof. Ted
Sizer directs the play.
Miss Sowell, a graduate of
Heppner High school with the
class of l!Ki7, Is a sophomore
at Pacific.
PROPERTY TAX
FAX
Mr. and Mrs. Gary Connor and
four children of Springfield vis
ited from Friday through Sun
day at the home of his brother
and sister-in-law, Mr. and Mrs.
Dean Connor, and family. Join
ing them for dinner on Satur
day were Mr. and Mrs. Albert
Connor. Connor Is assistant prin
cipal in the Junior High school
in Springfield.
WE KNEW WED GET tripped
up on those old 4-H pictures
last week. The staff spent a
good part of an afternoon try
ing to get the pictured parties
identified, but we figured we'd
go awry somewhere. We did.
Some kin of the VanWinkles
read the caption which listed
Mrs. Kenneth DuVall (June
VanWinkle) under one photo
and never questioned it. But
Mrs. Kit (Shirley VanWinkle)
George did! It was she who was
pictured and not Mrs. DuVall.
When Shirley saw the picture,
in presence of her dad. Jack
VanWinkle, it is reported, she
tossed the paper to the floor
and declared to poppa, "You
don't even know your own dau
ghter!" They say Shirley and her
auntie, June, look a great deal
alike.
Well, sir, the prettier they are,
the harder they are to tell
apart.
(We hope that helps let us
off the hook!)
But no one has complained
on another error that we sus
pect in the identifications of
those old pictures. Can anvone
step forward and submit a chal
lenge? WE'VE BEEN wanting to men
tion, even emphasize, in the
paper for some time that it is
GREAT to see the work being
done by the State Highway
crews in taking off some of the
curves on the Willow Creek
highway. They have been silent
ly at work, and the job they
are doing at Jordan, near lone,
is a wonderful improvement. It
will make the highway much
School Bells
HEPPNER HIGH SCHOOL
GENERAL WORK EXPERIENCE
PROGRAM
Report for 1967-68 School Tear
By HAL WHITAKER. Coordinator
The controlling purpose of a
general work experience pro
gram Is to give teenage boys
and girls maturing experiences
through supervised part-time
employment that will help them
to become productive, responsi
ble individuals. This part-time
work need not be related to the
occupational goals of the stu-
ripnt. It mav be performed eith
er in the school or in public or
private establishments outside
the school, and all or part of
At the beginning of the school
year testing was conducted with
the help of the counselors at
Heppner High school and one
from Blue Mountain Community
College. The purpose of this
testing was to assist the stu
dents in determining what type
of Job they would like and what
Jobs thev were best prepared
for. We had them complete ap
plications for Jobs, and write
letters of application, work on
the personal interview, and
work on personal appearance
health habits.
After we had worked with
them and found out what types
of work placement they would
fit into we gave them a list of
the work may be done during the training stations that would
cr-hnnl hnilr Students receive." luuiouiic hi nc
school credit for this general su
pervised work experience edu
cation.
The HDnroach was to work
w ith students who were in need
of additional income to remian
in school, students who did not
plan to continue their education
hpvnnd hieh school, students
who had special needs, and stu
dents who were naving proD
lems in other classes but could
work with their hands and do
many jobs well that did not
involve too much reading, or
only simple math.
The program is designed pri
marily for seniors, juniors, but
sophomores were not excluded.
The following are the object
ives of the program. They are
to help the student develop:
1. Understanding of the em
ployment opportunities avail
able and the preparation need
ed to enter and make progress
In occupations.
2. An appreciation of the
scope and importance of indus
try. 3. Effective work habits and
attitudes, and understanding of
employer-employee and custom
er relationship.
4. Awareness of personal-social
traits which are essential
for successful worker-patience,
personal appearance, coopera
tion, consideration of others, in
itiative, reliability and trust
worthiness. 5. Skills and procedures per
formed by the workers in the
occupation.
6. Abilities needed to exer
cise and follow effective leader
shin in fulfilline occupational,
social and civic responsibilities, i
7. Ability to use communica
tion skills related to the occu
pational area involved.
8. Ability to identify needed
health and safety practices.
9. Ability to manage time,
energy and money as a wage
earner.
10. Abilitv to carry out proper
procedures in applying for a job.
Wp worked with the students
in the class room for six weeks. !
We made a visitation to each
participating business and had
them explain the work program
and what they would expect
from the student.
We then discussed in the
classroom each job and the spe
cial requirements of that Job.
Then each student had a per
sonal interview for the job he
selected. The employer made the
choice as he normally would do
in filling a job opening. The
employers selected the student
that they felt was best quali
fied for the job.
When we could not place each
boy in the area he was best
suited we tried to place him in
a job as close as possible to his
job field.
The following is a list of the
work stations and the hours
worked by the students at each
of the stations:
Lott's Electric, total student
work hours 840.
Central Market, 240 hours
wosked.
Farley Motor Company, 530
hours worked.
Jim West Ranch, 320 hours
woked.
Heppner Auto Parts, 128 hours
If vou have a question con
cerning real or personal prop
erty please state all the fact
as briefly ait possible and mail
It to Mrs. Joyce Ktteh. Morrow
mnntv siMH-ial assessor, or to
P. O. Box 418, McMinnvllle. Ore-
fon. 97128 under the name
"PROPERTY TAX FAX". Please
ask only one question per sneei.
Then watch this column for the
answer.
QUESTION! m j
I htrr a small tract of tlm
lw which has not been class!
fid as fomt land. If I apply
lor a Scieclal Assessment
Timber land under the nw law.
do I henr to file each yeair
ANSWER!
No. An initial filing cooUn
um until Drooertr is sold or
th Assessor notes a change In
uset or you notify him that you
wish the dealanation remevea.
Barclay Service
Held October 14
Funeral services were held
Monday, October 14, for Lewis
Barclay, 71, who died Thursday,
October 10. at Pioneer Memorial
hospital. He had been a resi
dent of this area for many years
and was formerly employed at
Tum A Lum Lumber Co.
Mr. Barclay was born Mav 9,
1897. to Jess Barclay and Mar
lorie Napier Barclay In Missouri.
He Is survived by two sisters,
Mrs. Mae McPherrin, Milton
Freewater. and Mrs. Marjorie
Smith, also of Milton-Freewater,
and numerous nieces and neph
ews.
Services were held at Sweeney
Mortuary Chapel with Rev. Mel
vin Dixon of the United Metho
dist church, officiating. Inter
ment was at Heppner Masonic
Cemetery.
Commendation Goes
To Spray Sailor
?eaman Ronny L. Brisbois,
L'SN. 22. son of Mr. and Mrs.
Lee Brisbois of Spray, has re
ceived a Letter of Commenda
tion from his commanding offi
cer. He received the commenda
tion for helping apprehend a
man who had stolen money
from the American Shoe Repait
Company in San Diego.
He is currently serving aboard
the amphibious flagship USS
Eldorado, now operating in the
Western Pacific.
Before entering the service
in October. 1966. Seaman Bris
bois attended Blue Mountain
Community college in Pendle
ton.
Dr. Blake Visits
On Statewide Tour
Dr. Walter Blake, candidate
for state superintendent of pub
lic Instruction, brought his cam
paign to Heppner on the lat
leg of his HfK) mile statewide
Journey lust Thursday.
Blake came to town In hi
brightly decorated, self-contained
van In which he is making
a two week tour that Is taking
him to every corner of the state.
The candidate eats and sleeps
In the van, which is being fur
nished to his campaign by O.
car Funke of Portland, who
serves as driver and cook.
Among points covered by
Blake in his local appearance
were these: Merit pay for teach
ers, protection of the public's
right to elect the state superin
tendent of public Instruction in
stead of making the office ap
pointive, retaining the publics
right to vote on school budget
expenditures, closer relationship
between teachers and parents,
Improved system of reading and
spelling, and teaching respect
for law-and-ordcr and Justice.
66-Year Resident
Dies October 10
Hugh O'Rourke, 84, a resident
of Heppner for 66 years, died
Thursday, October 10, at Pioneer
Memorial hospital.
nnm Mirrh 1R84. In Coun
ty Litrlum. Ireland, he came to
the Heppner area in ne
worked lor several years on
ranches In the Butter Creek and
Hinton Creek areas. He was
a member of St Patrick's Cath
olic church.
Survivors include a brotner,
DnrnarH D'Rnurlcp. nl Redlailds.
Calif., a sister, Mary Fax of
Lowell, Mass., and a nephew,
Peter O'Rourke, of La Grande.
Poslt!atinn nf thp rftsarv WaS
Monday, October 14', at St. Pat
rick's Catholic cnurcn. mnerai
mass was held Tuesday, October
15 u-ith tho Rpv Ravmond
Beard officiating. Burial was in
Heppner Masonic cemetery, with
Sweeney Mortuary in charge of
arrangements.
Mr. and Mrs. Jim Reed and
daughter, Rohna, of Lafayette,
enjoyed a week-end visit at the
home of her parents, Mr. and
Mrs. Howard Keithley.
COMMUNITY U
J BILLBOARD K
u-nrkpd.
Pioneer Memorial Hospital,
184 hours worked.
Heppner Elementary School
140 hours worked.
Morrow County Grain Grow
ers (Machinery Division) 155
hours worked.
Heooner Gazette-Times, 25
hours worked.
of the administrative expense that new systems might bring,
of the cost of thousands of hours deliberation working out
various interpretations.
Think of the loss that school districts might suffer in
hampering educational programs after years building to cur
rent levels.
The lSi limitation was proposed from Multnomah coun
tv as a measure to save taxes for home owners. Studies show
that of every S3 in reduced taxes which might be achieved
under the measure, S2 would benefit utilities and industry
and only $1 of the saving would go to the home owner or
farmer. If the measure is adopted and a sales tax is pro
vided to fill the gap, the burden will shift to the consumer,
farmer and home owner, while the utilities and industries
are relieved from a substantial amount of property taxes.
Opponents to the 14" limitation are try ing hard not to
pose the possibilities as "threats". We know of some pos
sible stringent cuts that might be taken in Morrow county
if this measure passes, but we do not propose to elaborate
on them in view of the fact that to do so might be miscon
strued as a "threat."
This proposal is very difficult to understand in all of its
ramifications. It has the best tax experts confounded in some
areas. But we urge every" voter to bear down and study its
provisions, and we strongly recommend that local taxpayers
read Ron Daniels' analysis of the proposal starting in The
Gazette-Times this week. He has devoted a great deal of
study to it.
Articles in the East Oregonian recently have left one
erroneous impression inadvertently which should be correct
ed. They stated that Morrow county taxing agencies would
not stand to lose revenue by passage of the measure since
the county now levies average taxes right at the 1H1 limi
tation. This was true on the figures for prior years used in
the articles, but under the 1968-69 tax roll, taxing agencies
here would lose some $206,000. If the proportional reduction
method should be applied by the state, the loss could be
much greater.
It is well established that some relief is desirable to re
lieve property taxes in this state. We well know the plight
of the farmers here, and as a property tax-paying business
we certainly know the burden to business, but this regressive
action, while it may seem enticing to some who are desper
ate for relief, cannot provide the answer.
The Rhyming Philosopher
TWADDLE
IN WRITING AND SPEAKING MOST PEOPLE USE WORDS
FOR EXPRESSING THEIR VIEWS AND PROSPERITY;
BUT HIGH-FLYING PHRASES ARE JUST FOR THE BIRDS
AND INVARIABLY SOUND NONSENSIBLY.
THE POET. FOR INSTANCE. WHO LIKENS THE MOON
TO A TRANSLUCENT ORB OF RECRUDESCENCE
WITH MAIDENS COLLAPSED IN A SOLSTITIAL SWOON
AND IMMERSED IN A NUPTIAL DESUDASCENCE;
SUCH LANGUAGE ELICITS MOST READERS CHAGRIN
CAUSING FEELINGS THAT VERGE ON THE MURDEROUS;
AND WHEN POLITICIANS EMPLOY THE SAME SIN
SUCH REACTION HAS ALSO OCCURRED TO US.
WHEN SEEKING OUR VOTES HE WILL SELDOM COME OUT
AND EXHIBIT HIS AIMS LIKE WE KNEW HE SHOULD,
AVOIDING THE ISSUES WHICH LEAVES US NO DOUBT
HE'S DOOMED TO INOCUOUS DESUETUDE.
SO MAKE SIMPLE STATEMENTS IN USE EVERY
AND AVOrD ALL PRETENSE AND POMPOSITY.
AND NEVER, NO NEVER BE CARRIED AWAY
BY EXUBERANCE OF YOUR VERBOSITY.
DAY
HARRY W. FLETCHER
Coming Events
HEPPNER HIGH FOOTBALL
Wahtonka at Heppner, Oct
18, 8 p.m.
Pilot Rock at Pilot Rock, Oct
25, 8 p.m.
Grant Union at Heppner, Nov
i a n m.
Support the Mustangs!
FALL RUMMAGE SALE
Sponsored by Heppner Civic
Leaeue
Friday & Saturday, Oct. 25-
26
Former Tryco building, 8:30
a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Baked Food Sale on Friday
TURKEY DINNER
Sunday, Oct. 20, 12:30-6 p.m
St. Patrick's Parish Hall
Come and bring the family
Hunters and visitors welcome
SPEECH CONTEST
Sponsored by Heppner Soil
and Water Conservation
Distr.
Thursday, Oct. 24, 7: 30 p.m..
Heppner High Multipurpose
Room
Public urged to attend
FARM-CITY BANQUET
Wednesday, Oct. 30, 7 p.m.
Heppner High Multipurpose
Room
Walter Leth, guest speaker
$100 diamond given awav
rickets now on sale
SPONSORED AS A PUBLIC
SERVICE BY
C. A. RUGGLES
Insurance Agency
P. O. Box 247 PH. 676-9625
Heppner
"Need to know
the area code for Scarsdale,
New YorIc?H
p Look in the "CALL GUIDE" section
W4 in the front of your
LMi TELEPHONE DIRECTORY