LIBRARY
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EUGENE
ORE
07403
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JCar
"f'J i 85th Year
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Shortage Shuts Down Heppner Lumber Co.
55 Men Idle
As 35 Loads
Set to Ship
Number
51
HEPPNER
ft '. T '
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FTE-TIME
AFTER THE STORM COMES THE REPAIRS. Howard Keithley,
standing on awning, and Bud Butterfield make repairs to the
long awning in front of Wagon Wheel Cafe and Heppner Auto
Parts. The awning dropped at tne heignt or tne recent siorm
under weight of heuw snow. It had been propped up tempor
arily since that time. (G-T Photo).
Heppner, Oregon 97836, Thursday, February 13, 1969
Price 10 Cents
Road Damage High;
County Sets Limit
As snow melts away, the Mor
row county court and road de
partment has been reviewing
the storm damage to county
roads. The report from County
Judge Paul Jones Tuesday is
that damage is excessive.
One road, the Sandhollow road
from Fritz Cutsforth's elevator
to Buttercreek, has been closed
because of the extensive dam
age from frost boils and deter
ioration. The road will remain closed
for some time since it is too
soft for gravel trucks to oper
ate on It.
The county court established
a load limit of five tons on all
its roads and was engaged in
posting them to that effect
Tuesday. This means that few
loaded ' trucks will be light
enough to operate on them, be
ing limited, perhaps, to such as
pickup loads of hay.
Judge Jones said that he does
not believe any log truckers are
now operating on county roads,
and said that none will be per
mitted until conditions improve.
Soft spots and deep chucK
holes from freeze damage have
also hit some of the state high
ways here. In places, the state
maintenance crews have placed
flares to warn traffic of poten
tial hazards from damage.
"Some of the county roads
have no bottom to them now,"
Judge Jones said. Some are dan
gerous for car traffic and will
be worse for heavier trucks.
He said that he believes the
county's road oiling program
will now be set back two years.
Last week the announcement
was that it would be set back
one year, but snow blankets
still hid much of the damage.
County crews have not yet been
able to make repairs that came
with the Chinook several weeks
flPTI.
The county is attempting, by
its temporary signing program,
to notify road users of bad spots
and road closures.
As of Tuesday the only road
definitely closed was that from
Fritz Cutsforth's to Buttercreek.
It isn't only the cost that will
upset the schedule on the coun
ty's normal road program, the
judge said, but also the mater
ials and labor involved to do
the job of repairs.
County crews were working to
keep school bus routes open, but
some truck operators have been
notified that they are to stop
hauling until conditions im
prove. Those who have emergencies
and need to haul loads are re
quested to check with the coun
ty court.
"This is one time when we
really feel discouraged about
the situation," the judge said,
fo
Conservation Post
Ralph Richards, work unit
conservationist with the Hepp
ner Soil and Water Conserva
tion district for nearly 10 years,
announced at the annual meet
ing of the district last Tuesday
that he plans to retire at the
end of this month.
He has been with the Soil
Conservation Service for almost
34 years. Before coming to Hepp
ner to take his present posit
ion in 1959 he served at Junc
tion City. Prior to that he was
stationed in western Washing
ton. Richards was reared in
southeastern Idaho in the town
of Malad.
During the time Richards had
been here the Heppner district
has compiled an outstanding
record. Currently it has one-half
of Oregon's total stripcropping,
one-third of Oregon's diversion
terraces, the largest acreage of
stubble mulch in the state, and
currently has the unique dis
tinction of having 100 of its
farms as cooperators.
Richards said that his future
plans are somewhat indefinite
although he may seek employ
ment in some other field for a
few years after doing some of
the things he would like to do.
He said that a successor is
expected to be appointed for the
position here soon.
Temperature Stays
Warm; Weather
Now Near Normal
The weather settling back
to near normal for this time of
the year in this country is not
monopolizing the news any
more.
Warming temperatures and
periodic rains have done a pret
ty good job of clearing the snow
from the Heppner landscape,
but quite a bit remains on
fields in different spots around
the county and in higher ele
vations. There has been no serious
flooding, and principal damage
has been to county roads.
Maximum temperatures held
into the 40's through most of
the week and two nights didn't
get down to freezing. Last snow
came Wednesday, February 5,
with a fall of 2.3 inches, al
though there was a spatter of
sleet Saturday night.
Rain totaled .19 inch, and
with the .14 inch moisture from
last Wednesday's snow, the to
tal moisture for the week was
.33 inch, Don Glliam, weather
observer reported.
As of Tuesday night, it ap
peared that this memorable
snow of the winter of 1968-69
might be pretty well consigned
to the record books and diaries
for folks to recall years from
now when it happens again.
Complete report for the week
is as follows
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
( 2.3 inche
Heppner Chapter
Marks FFA Week,
February 15-22
Vocational agriculture stu
dents In Heppner High school
will join Future Farmers of
America members throughout
the nation In activities to focus
attention on the Importance of
agriculture during the National
rKA Week. February 1.V22, Hal
Whitaker, advisor of the local
chapter, states.
"FFA ... an Opportunity for
Youth" is this years FFA Week
theme. FFA members seek to
inform the public of the import
ance they place upon the vast
opportunities in American agri
culture.
"Before an FFA member can
conquer the battle of starvation
halfway around the globe or ev
en increase profitability of
farming or ranching, he must
first conquer himself." Whitaker
said. "There is an urgent call
ing for FFA members to giasp
the opportunities available in
agriculture."
"It is fortunate," he added,
"that the FFA provides a place
to build, create, and enjoy the
business of life. FFA provides
an atmosphere for members to
learn, to do, to earn, and to
serve."
Annual Parent and Son Ban
quet of the Heppner High chap
ter will be a highlight of the
week's observance here. It will-
be held in the high school cafe
torium on Tuesday evening,
February 18.
The Heppner FFA chapter has
29 members. Monte Evans is
president, John Harris vice pres
ident, John Hall secretary, Mark
Pointer treasurer, Don Cossitt
reporter, Steve McDaniel sentin
el and Calvin Ashbeck, officer-
at-large. -
The national FFA organiza
tion has approximately 450,000
members with 9,000 local chap
ters in the 50 states and Puerto
Rico.
Accomplishments of the local
chapter are listed in the spon
sored message on page 3, sec
tion 2, together with other in
formation about the chapter, the
FFA creed and purposes.
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HAPPY FAMILY Is this threesome. Jerry Alan Blanckaert. born February 2, is the center of In
terest for father and mother. Sgt. and Mrs. Jerry Blanckaert of Condon. As the first baby o
in Pioneer Memorial hospital in 1969, Jerry. Jr.. won many prizes lor himself and hUjpannU.
Th B nnrkmrtt whose home is in Denver. Colo., have been in Condon for 29 months where ho
Iehrve! Wh7 Ai'r Fore. StaTon? Young" Jerry is their first son. While collecting prize, .around
fown Friday. Sgt. Blanckaert said that he had a .surprise in .tow : hta wJ e. He had nd
for Mrs. Dorothy Beuchat ol Denver, motner oi ..i -
her in Pendleton Friday evening.
Hodde Tells Need for Developing Irrigation
(Also see story page 8)
By KEN TURNER
rhnrlos W. Hodde. Vancouver
Wash., chairman of tlie Pacific
Northwest River Basin Commis
sion, tola iarmers ana uusnir-
men at the annual Heppner
SWCD meeting at the Lexing
ton Grange hall last Tuesday
evening that tne jNorinwesi
must develop irrigation to com
pete with the Midwest's crop
efficiency. Also, the Southwest
will continue eyeing our rivers,
he predicted.
! v, wnrttiirost utilize state or federal government. The
a river for power, navigation, federal government may be able
fi.h nd rprreation while the to help up to 2o for quality
Southwest Dumn their rivers and recreational control.
bone dry. We differ here in that
we can't store much of our wa
tor Hodde said.
Speaking of the Southside
project, each irrigation project
must be planned so that it fits
in a master plan lor tne oraer
ly development of the entire re
gion, the speaker said.
Financing may have to come
from state revenue bonds,
guaranteed reimbursable by
Hi Low Prec.
42 22 .14
30 18 .02
43 25
47 40
47 32 .10
49 35 .07
50 32
snow).
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Grain Growers
Set Open House
Monday, February 17, will be
Open House at the machinery
division of Morrow County Grain
Growers in Lexington, Everett
Brock, manager, announces.
Pancakes and sausages will
be served all day; there will
be prizes for visitors; and there
will be treats for the kids.
Part of the occasion is due to
the announcement of the new
International-Harvester Hydro
static drive which has been de
veloped for the line of farm
tractors. New International
Harvester trucks will be on dis
play, and those who come to
the Open House are invited to
take them for demonstration
drives.
THERE WERE SEVERAL QUESTIONS asked of Orrin Potampa, IFYE student to Korea, after his
illustrated talk before the Soroptimist Club of Heppner last Thursday noon. Pictured together
after the meeting are Mrs. Elaine George, club president; Mr. Potampa; Miss Mary Speckhart,
Umatilla-Mcrrow county 4-H agent, and Mr3. Birdine Tullis. Morrow county Extension Aide.
(G-T Photo).
IFYE Important In Korea, Speaker Says
He stressed that federal Bur
eau of Reclamation may not
bring projects as soon as desir
ed. Farmers and water control
districts will have to do as oth
er industries and use their cred
it. Northwest farmers are gener
ally caving more for irrigation
water than the Northwest users.
(Continued on page 8)
Becky Fulleton
On Spray Court
Miss Becky Fulleton, daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. Roice mileton
of Heppner, has been selected
one of the four members of the
1969 Spray Rodeo Ciurt.
Other girls who win riue on
the court are Phyllis Linn ot
John Day, Vonda Hettinga ot
Dayville and Debbie Tippett of
Monument.
The rodeo kick-off dance win
he in Snrav Saturday evening,
February 15, with music by The
Outlaws. The rodeo court will
be introduced and receive tick
ets at this time which they will
sell for the annual saddle raf
fle, with the girl selling the
most tickets to be crowned
queen of the court.
Dates of the 21st annual Spray
Rodeo were set for May 17 and
18 at a meeting of the bpray
Rodeo Association recently in
the Spray school's central li
brary.
Elected officers for the com
ing year are Don Griffith, presi
dent; Jerry Beach, vice-president;
Mrs. Jerry Beach, secre
tary, and Mrs. Don Griffith,
treasurer.
Clarence Warren, Bill Rich
ards and Frank Robison were
re-elected to the board of dir
ectors. New members of the
board are Bill Chapman and Ben
Hamilton.
Oixratlons of Heppner Lum
ber Compuny were uliut down at
noon Tuesiliiv because of u
short a (tp of wide door boxcars,
Bruce Malcom, general manager,
mi Id.
The closure threw about
men out of work temporarily,
including the employees at llu
mill and truckers who haul
lumber and chips.
Malcom said that the compa
ny has 35 carloads of lumber
waiting to be shlped but has
no curs to load it on.
He said that he wired Gov.
Tom MeCall, Cong. Al Ullman,
others in Oregon's Congression
al delegation and Union Pacific
officials Tuesday asking for re
lief. He had not received re
sponses as of parly Wednesday
morning but felt It was prob
ably too soon to expect them.
County Judge Paul Jones was
also seeking to alleviate the sit
uation and was attempting to
get in touch with Cong. Ullman,
although Congress is now on a
10-day recess.
Malcom said that the mill em
ployees were signing for unem
ployment compensation, and if
the plant Is still closed through
next week, they may start
drawing compensation.
Heppner Lumber must use
wide door box cars because of
the method used in packaging
the lumber. Kinzua Corporation
can use cars with narrow doors,
and Nona Sowell. office mana
ger at the Heppner office of Kin
zua, said Wednesday morning
that this company is having no
particular problem getting cars
at the present time. Apparently
the wide door cars are in short
er supply than the narrow door
cars.
Malcom said that he believes
a problem on connections from
the main line is partly respon
sible for the trouble. Cars may
be consigned for Heppner Lum
ber and set aside at Hlnkle but
the train coming to Heppner
three times per week may de
part before the cars arrive at
Hinkle, and then they are sent
to another shipper.
Heppner Lumber needs six
wide door cars each time the
train makes its run here in or
der to fill its requirements,
Malcom said. Lumber is produc
ed at the rate of about three
carloads per day.
The car shortage has plagued
the local mill off and on for
some time, Malcom said.
Judge Jones said that he was
in contact with the State Em
ployment Service Tuesday and
the spokesman asked him If he
could take any action to get re
lief on the problem. In a sim
ilar situation on a shortage of
cars for grain shipments sever
al years ago, he was able to re
solve the problem by contacting
concerned officials.
There was no way of telling.
as of Wednesday, how long the
shutdown will continue. As soon
as a supply of cars is received,
operations will be resumed.
By HELEN SHERMAN
'The American Foundation
Farm Training program is be
coming one of the most import
ant organizations in Korea," Or
rin Potampa, IFYE of Portland,
told members and guests of the
Soroptimist club at its luncheon
meeting last Thursday. This
training program is involved in
4-H educational work with Kor
ean youth who are interested
in developing the land, he said,
and has been extremely succes
sful. Potampa spent several weeks
last summer as an Internation
al Farm Youth Exchange stu
dent in the rural village of
Mokpo, near Seoul, South Kor
ea. His talk, accompanied by an
excellent variety of colored
slides, brought attention to mod
ern influences and advances in
both agricultural and social life
in Korea.
His tour and study were spon
sored by Ralston Purina compa
ny, whose interest is in advan
cing the poultry industry there
and establishing feed plants.
Necessity for good land man
agement and conservation be
come increasingly important in
the small country of South Kor
ea, which is one-third the size
of the state of Oregon, with
need to produce food for approx
imately 30 million people.
About 607c of the Koreans are
in some way engaged in farm
ing. Potampa remarked, with
only about 30 of the moun
taineous peninsula land tillable.
Farms average in size between
four and five acres, with most
of it planted in rice, their prin
cipal food. Throuch the coun
try's Office of Rural Develop
ment, farming standards are
being improved.
Many traditional customs con
tinue in popularity, due to the
low economy of the nation. The
value of the "A-frame" rack,
for both carrying farm produce
to and from the market, as well
as uses in the field, was point
ed out. The use of sticks and
rocks for household chores is
still customary, with women
doing much of the heavy work
at an average income of be
tween 30c and 60c per day. Few
homes have running water or
electricity.
The valuable aid of U. i.
Peace Corps workers in teaching
health and English to the Kor
eans received special commen
dation. Birthdays at one year
and 60 years are felt to be the
most important, as mortality
rates are highest between birth
and end of the first year, and
after 60 years of age.
Potampa was accompanied to
(Continued on page 8)
Board, Teachers
To Reach Decision
Board of directors of the Mor
row county school district and
the teacher negotiation commit
tee are expected to act on the
salary issue at the regular
monthly meeting of the board,
which wlil be Monday night at
Riverside High school, Supt.
Ron Daniels said Wednesday
morning.
At a budget meeting Tuesday
night the board decided that if
the issue cannot be resolved
Monday, it will vote a "persist
ent disagreement" and the mat
ter will be declared at Impasse.
Procedure then will be for an
arbitration committee to be
formed in an effort to resolve
the matter.
However, it is hoped that the
board and teachers can agree
on a settlement that will not
I force impasse.
West Extension
District Starts
New Pump Station
Ground breaking was begun
for the West Extension Irriga
tion district Pump Station No.
1 Tuesday, February 4.
These are the first of such
pumps to be installed in the Col
umbia River to supply water to
an established irrigation district.
The need for supplying addit
ional irrigation water became
acute during the summer of
1968. The normal supply, return
flow from other irrigation dis
tricts in the Umatilla Basin, was
seriously low. In fact, the entire
basin had an acute water short
age. The district's problem came to
the attenton of Cong. Al Ullman,
who was able to locate three 500
h.p. pumps that were surplus at
the Hanford Atomic Energy
Commission Installation. Max
Jones, irrigation district mana
ger followed upon this through
the Boardman Soil and Water
Conservation District. He was
familiar with the grant of
equipment program of the Soil
Conservation Service by which
the Soil and Water Conserva
tion District had previously ob
tained much needed equipment
for conservation work in the
Boardman SWCD.
It was learned from A. J. Web
ber, state conservationst, Soil
Conservation Service, Portland,
that a grant was possible and
negotiations were completed to
complete the grant to the Board -man
SWCD. A rental agreement
of the equipment to the West
Extension Irrigation district was
worked out as negotiations prog
ressed. In future years of acute short
ages these pumps can supply
72 cubic feet per second or 32.
400 gallons per minute into the
main canal at Umatilla, which
will assure the district enough
irrigation water even when the
Umatilla Basin has an extreme
ly low supply.