Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 13, 1969)
I HEPPNER GAZETTE-TIMES. Thursday. February 13. 196) riiT? GAZETTE-TIMES Heppner. Oreqoa 7838 Fboae 676-92M MORROW COUNTTS NEWSPAPER Thu llnnnni-f Gazette established March au. ltvu. nri.... ?l!n eXbL?ed November 1& IK. Consolidated February 15. T NIWIPAPH C(r&t rWiSHtti ASSOCIATION WESLEY A. SHERMAN HELEN E. SHERMAN . ARNOLD RAYMOND Shop Foreman Printer CAIL BURKENBINE Society Circulation A .. 8-sS ESJfs- Jf& ska asw'Si; SCTJ-Sr.lTS. S P-ir,. Moni., .h.ort " until noon Saturday. The Quandary of Teacher Salaries Nw.ti.tion. on teacher salaries In Morrow county are now eolne Into their third month without being settled, anil InVht of receni "developments, there must be some public confusion on what is taking place. When teachers first proposed a salary schedule that woufd Increase the base pay to SC. 00 from ' he preset W ,for a new teacher with a bachelor degree a"d no P," and asked for an Increase in Increments to 5 of base pay from the present 4. It came as a shock to many people her?. IncreS" ore'the Increases allowed for '';''n'"; other step on the salary schedule, which may be either anoth , ' V,f Experience or additional training that advances he tcac-hor on t e scale to a higher level. As long as the . teache? remains In the district, he gets at least the ex,er. '''"'on"-;" Vhelle. with the SG000 base, the 4 Increment figures $210 per year (4 x $6000). Wi "out any advance preparation and with the proposal coming after poor economic years in Morrow county, the teachers' request seemed out of reason. But unknown to many school patrons here was what taking p.ace around the rest of the state where perh aps the economy had been more prosperous. Of early settlement made none was as low as $6000. Of 23 settlements reached by January 28 In school districts elsewhere, the lowest base was $6150 in one district. Eight districts came In with bases ,Tf $64(:b; four established bases of $6500; six set the base of tftfiOO' and one. Culver, was set at $6700. $ Were it not for this fact, teachers here may not have originally proposed the higher figure. Their request was not merely for selfish reasons, but the bae verv difficult to employ new teachers here with a $6000 bae when they would almost surely have opportunities elsewhere at higher starting salaries. (Incidentally, the negotiating committee is not the in vention of the local teachers but is a requirement of state law in setting up the committee here, the Morrow teachers and the district are only complying with the law)- The teachers1 first proposal, offered in December, 1968, for the ensuing school year, was rejected by the school board since its members know only too well the situation with the poor crops in the years of drought. Since that time, counter proposals and "counter counter proposals" have been made and rejected, back and forth. But in the meantime, the school board has realized what is happening around the state, and Ironically, the original positions of the teachers and the school board have tended to reverse themselves. . After the series of rejections, the teachers in their latest offer taking note of the economy, agreed to remain on the present salary schedule-the same base ($6000) and the same increment (4). Their only requested increase would be that the district pay each teacher the full $13 per month that the health insurance plan costs. Now rea'izing the difficult bargaining position that the district would be in when it comes to hiring new teachers with the base at $6000, the board has sought to work out a schedule that will, indeed, provide a higher base but seeks to achieve this without sharply Increasing costs of instruction. With this in mind, the board had made one proposal of a $6400 base and cutting increments to $200, which would mean a $40 per year cut on the increases below the current schedule. In effect, this would make more attractive salaries for the new teachers but would reduce the incentive for many of the more experienced teachers with higher training. It was after this district proposal that teachers agreed to stay with the present schedule, provided the insurance pay ments were borne by the district. This is counter to the OEA recommendation that teachers go to impasse (deadlock) rath er than accept a base figure below $6300. The board surprised many by rejecting this proposal, but there were three reasons apparent for the action: 1. Direct ors now realize that the higher base is needed to secure re placements for some of the teaching staff who will be leav ing. (In most instances, salary Is not the reason for leaving). 2 They feel that if the state sales tax is passed and, under terms of the bill, a district base is established with a 5 limi tatlon, the district cannot afford to be caught with the pros pect of increasing school salaries in a later year under the umbrella of the base. 3. The majority of directors feel that the district should not pay the full amount of the insurance premiums that the teachers should at least share in these payments which are designed for their personal benefits. Consequently, the board has now come back with the offer of a $6300 base, increments of $220, and district pay ments of $6.50 per month (half) on the insurance plan. This is where the matter stands at present. The problem Is a more knotty one than a person might realize from the casual reading of the headlines. There is every evidence that the teachers are not being motivated prin cipally by selfish interests but that they are genuinely work ing towards offering the best possible educational opportuni ties here. Sometime ago they realized what was happening around the state, when probably most of the rest of the public didn't see this point. Unpalatable as it may be to the taxpayer, there is a monetary competition for school teachers,. If we are to pro vide adequate teachers for our students, we have to keep pace and face this fact. The teachers certainly seemed to be keeping the com munity in mind when they offered to retrench their position to the current salary schedule, and they are to be commend ed for it. It indicates that they are earnest in their desire to serve. We agree with the board that the full insurance benefit should not be paid because we think it right and logical that the teacher should share in this benefit that is designed for his own welfare. The plan adopted here is a more costly and presumably better plan than that in some other districts where the district pays the full sum. We can see danger in going the full route on benefits for they may increase costs to the district without providing a basically better salary structure. At the same time, we feel it reasonable for the district to pay a large percentage of this benefit to help the econom ic position of the teachers without a major hike in district expenditures. Under the circumstances that prevail, It seems to us that StP? HEPPNER MEMBER MewSpMper Mioclttlon - Foundtd 1883 EDITOR AND PUBLISHER ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER REGGIE PASCAL Linotype Operator DALE COOPER Pressman KELLY GREEN Apprentice 1 1 i i the board chould concur on the $6000 bane. 4", increment schedule. It Im nut very Ine, lea I to expect 'he teachers to ask li-M than lh y receive at pn-M-nt. We think they are on solid ground In holding to the portion that Increment should not be reduced. If the writer were hired to a position with the understanding that he would receive an estab.lshed figure each year a an increase, he wuuld ixpett that additional pity and lay his plans accordingly. If it were reduced, after the promise had l'n made, he would certainly M-ek em ployment elsewhere If It were available to him. ll is true that the St'iOoO r.ase will leave the district In a bad Mot In bargaining for new teachers, but for the current year when the budget ai-ain I faced with a beginning def icit and other coMs are going up. It would seem better to Toe this prospect anil battle it through. A to the limitation if the sale tax passim, It is doubt ful that till will come to pns tecause the Indication Is that the sales lax will net pa- However. If the board only In creases the base pay and cuts the Increments so that no ma jor additional expenditure Is required. It is not building a much higher tax base anyway. (Under the term of the pro pped bill, the di:tt!ct would be limited to a 5 tudget In-t-reii e over the previous year). This Is a very troub'esume problem, and both the mem bers of the negotiating committee and school directors have done their best to solve it r atisfactorily, with all Involved seeking to o nslder the best Interests of everyone. The teachers could well take the position that the econ omy Is no concern of theirs, since they are prolessional peo pie with a service to render and can quite readily find posit ions elsewhere. Tnat they have not taken such an adamant position Is a credit to their professional Integrity. The directors, charged with the responsibility of providing the best education for children but knowing the plight of the r,i in an Ytnmilv difficult Dositlon. Thev know that thev must keep costs to very acute reamy oi ine uuurih mums pnasaK.. We would propose that the salary schedule remain the same this year with the thought that groundwork be laid for a good Increase for next year, probably commensurate with the state average. The district could make substantial payment towards the insurance. There Is every prospect that this will be a better year for the economy here, and there is some hope that the state will offer more property tax re- For the future, the public could be Informed and kept abreast of developments in order to understand the problem and to evaluate it, rather than getting it "cold turkey" as the original $6100 request came this year. This doesn't answer all the problems but If we were ap pointed as an arbiter on a committee to settle the matter, we believe that this is how we'd look at It. Certainly it behooves all to reach a settlement very soon or the vote on the budget will have to be delayed. If this should occur, it could bring additional problems to the dis trict. FFA Opportunity to Learn and Serve FFA provides an opportunity for youth in agriculture to learn, to do, to earn, and to serve. The FFA organization does not make these young people great. But rather it pro vides them the opportunity to excel, to grow, and become outstanding youth-leaders for agriculture in America. Experiences in leadership, citizenship and cooperation, and the pursuit of vocational and educational objectives pro vide these young people with opportunities for personal growth. Participation by members at local, state and nation al levels within the organization Is the basic plan. An FFA member begins his career as a student of voca tional agriculture. He has thus elected to begin his career In agriculture. He and the others like him find common goals and objectives in FFA. His opportunities in FFA are many; much more than the awards or contests which are important in providing com petition, experience, incentive and encouragement. The mem ber can apply what he learns in the classroom to his per sonal agricultural situation. Through active participation, the member can demonstrate his ability In public 'speaking, par liamentary procedure or livestock judging. He also takes part in establishing chapter goals, and just as important helps accomplish them. Many typical chapter activities include earning their own resources and providing community serv ice. Future Farmers of America are celebrating FFA WEEK, February 15-22. Their theme "FFA ... an opportunity for youth." Through the FFA, a member can develop skills and pre pare himself for his vital role as an adult leader in American agriculture. Millions of young people have grasped these op portunities in FFA to learn, to do, to earn, to serve. Chaff and Wes Sherman THINGS ARE DIFFERENT now. Anyone for a mudoan ngnrr AS OF EARLY this week it look pH ns if Al Bunch brought his topsoil In and added to the snow in the center oi jviaiii otroot InatoaH of takinc the snow out and putting it on his field. GILES FRENCH says, in his "These Things We Note" in the Sherman County Journal, "Many people in southeast Asia live in houseboats along the river banks and it might be a good way to keep from paying nmnprtv taxes." Well. if the snow and rain keeps on, Giles, this mignt De a very goou possi bility, even in the drylands of Morrow and Sherman counties. THOSE FOLKS who tried to phone the G-T Tuesday morn ing must have thought someone was trying to set a new record fnr a tpnt'thv trlenhnne conver sation. All they could get was a busy signal unin u a.m. mu no one here was talking. In fact, it was unnaturallv ouiet for a Tuesday morning. Somenow ine receiver on one vi the extensions was dislodged from its cradle the previous night. Apparently after so long a time, this causes something to happen in the exchange so that all that emits is a busy signal. It wasn't until someone from the county tried to get us and then came down that we re alized we were out of service. We called the repair service and they got things straighten ed out as soon as they could. If you were among those provoked at us because you couldn't reach the G-T, we apologize. Dale Slusher, PNB manager, says this matter of the receiver being off the cradle apparently caused a fuse to blow. It about caused the editor to blow a fuse, too. But the peace and quiet was nice, we'll admit, while it lasted. The jingle jangle returned to normal after 11 a.m. DR. McMURDO, we know, was among those trying to call. He a minimum or they face the Chatter eventually got through, and it was good to hear his voice again. Our good neighbor has had quite a siege after that fall on the icy street on January 8. Oddly enough, we saw that happen while we were talking on a long distance call. The doctor was edging his way across the very slippery street when suddenly he lost his footing and did a cartwheel. He hit hard, and re mained still on the ice for a few seconds after going down. Arnold Raymond rushed out to give aid, but by that time the hardy doc tor was up and walking away. He was hurt rather seriously, though, and it is good to know he is improving. WE WISH THE BEST to Ralph Richards who plans to retire from the Soil Conservation office as of February 28. When we ask ed him how long he had been in conservation work, he replied without hesitation, "Thirty-three years, 10 months and 24 days." He didn't know how many min utes! When a fellow works that long for one employer, one can well understand that he has a good right to count the days. Certainly the Heppner SWCD has made an enviable record while he has been here, and we're sorry to see him go. We don't exactly know what Ralph will do to enjoy retire ment, but maybe a person will find him stripcropping the golf course with his irons, or stubble mulching his flower beds, or studying the diversion terraces at Acapulcc, or tossing a noott and worm to the trout in a small watershed project some where. WISH that more folks could have seen how happy Sgt. and Mrs. Jerry Blanchaert of Condon were to win the prizes in the First Baby Contest. Young Jerry, who was five days old when we took his picture, was the only one who was indifferent about it all. He was their first child, and this is always something extra-special, but they are also YOUR SENATOR REPORTS . . . BY KEN JERNSTEDT, STATE SENATOR 18th District Including Morrow county Controversy was the key word of the session this week . . . controversy stemming from four potentially explosive bills: fluoridation, sex education, abortion and gun control. Bv the printing time of this column, fluoridation, the brain child of the Dental Association and the scourge of thousands throughout Oregon, will prob ably have received a violent going-over from its first hear ing Friday, February 7. According to the Chairman of Health and Welfare, the com mittee Is expected to pass out the measure to the floor of the Senate, whore It will receive stiff opposition. This measure Is the first one of its kind introduced In the Senate. In earlier sessions, the House has tried five various times . . . one to prohibit fluor idation . . . but failed on each attempt. Proponents for statewide man datory sex education in public schools received two severe blows this week. The first of the two set backs came Monday during the Senate Education Committee's hearing when near ly 75 persons emerged to lend vocal support to opponents of the proposal. The second came later in the week when House Speaker Robert Smith announc ed his firm opposition to the bill on the grounds that he does not favor placing the legislature in the business of influencing or dctating curriclulum in school districts. As a result of the opposition, the bill has been modified by the Senate Education Committee leaving the question of teach ing sex education to local school board control. The abortion issue came alive again this session with the in troduction of two measures, Sen ate Bills 193 and 182. The bills, similar to those introduced last session, would liberalize the ex isting statutes that already per mit abortions under certain cir cumstances. Senate Bill 193, the more con servative of the two measures, would allow termination of pregnancy under three specific situations ... if the pregnancy endangered physically or men tally the mother or child, if the child would be deformed, and if pregnancy was caused by criminal assault. Senate Bill 182 goes a little further by allowing the decis ion for termination of pregnan cy to be made by the woman alone. The outcome of these bills is unknown; however, the feeling of acceptance for Senate Bill 193 is more favorable than it has been in the past. Gun control, the issue that plagued many lawmakers in the nation's capitol last year, has worked its way into the legis lative scene in Salem with the introduction of Senate Bill 178, which requires all owners of concealable firearms to obtain permits from the state police. The bill would also prohibit the transfer of a gun to anyone without a permit. I am against a pleasant and appreciative young couple, away from their real nome in Colorado, and so happy to win the prizes. The merchants who give the prizes would have felt even better than usual about it if they could have seen the little family together in the hospital room. BY GEORGE, don't forget the Washington Birthday sale here next week. The Rhyming Philosopher CONSIDERATION WE GO ABOUT OUR DAILY OCCUPATIONS ENGROSSED IN PRESENT TASKS, AND YELP ABOUT THE PRICE OF BEANS OR LATEST STOCK QUOTATIONS, IGNORING ALL THOSE FOLKS WHO HELPED US OUT. IF SOMEONE PLEASES YOU WITH CARE OR KINDNESS, OR HELPS YOUR DAY BECOME LESS WEARISOME, DO YOU THROUGH IGNORANCE OR BASHFUL BLINDNESS JUST TAKE IT ALL FOR GRANTED AND STAY DUMB? THE PAYMENT PEOPLE GET IN TERMS OF MONEY IS NOT THE SUM OF ALL THAT SEEMS WORTHWHILE; BUT WORDS OF PRAISE MAKE DARK DAYS TURN TO SUNNY, AND MAYBE CHANGE A TEAR INTO A SMILE. THE POSTMAN AT YOUR DOOR DESERVES A GREETING, THE DRIVER OF YOUR BUS A WORD OF THANKS AND ALL THE BUSINESS PEOPLE YOU'LL BE MEETING, WITHOUT FORGETTING BOTH THE COPS AND CRANKS. AND WHEN YOUR LOCAL PAPER GIVES YOU PLEASURE JUST MAIL A CARD AND VOICE THE WAY YOU FEEL WHILE PRAISING OTHERS METES A PRICELESS TREASURE. YOU ALSO GIVE YOURSELF A BETTER DEAL. HARRY W. FLETCHER LCj all gun control legislation at this time. The move to lower the voting age was boosted this week by a compromise measure that would change the voting age to 19 rather than 18. as suggested bv Governor Tom McCall. Ac cording to key legislative mem bers this change has enhanced the chances of passage consid erably. . , Mv mail Is picking up! Please feel free to express your opin ion to me on any Issue. TO THE EDITOR Out of Touch To the Editor: In your action of reprinting the editorial "Four-Letter Words" from the Madras Pioneer, you gave that unfortunate selection your endorsement. By so doing you have indicated the degree to which your editorial policy is out of touch with the realities of our national situation and the extent to which you believe others In this area suffer from similar myopia. As one who disagrees with much that is taken for granted in our society, I find mvself classed among the "youthful dissenters;" I do not, however, appreciate the implication that my dissent thereby necessitates my being in need of a good bath, nor do I believe that I am thereby insensitive to qualities such as giving, hard work, pray ing, and loving. If there is to be any healing of the wounds of our world, there must be an end to illogical condemnation of those who dif fer from the prevailing perspec tive. Many of the claims of dis senting youth are proper and legitimate. It would be well for the rest of the people to cease focusing their attention upon a radical and ineffective minority of those who dissent and to open their ears and hear what the young people are saying before passing an uninformed and in accurate judgment. Sincerely, Rev. F. W. Luedde, Jr. Philosophy of Hunter To the Editor: To the sportsman of heart and soul, the beauty of the true hunt is never over. Sam Walter Foss has said the true hunter hunts for the thoughts that throng the woods, the dreams that haunt the sky. The hunter's philosophy is never a stepping stone to a higher, more beautiful or more abundant life. It never leads to peace or reverence for life. Neither does it lead to "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." If we will be true to the high er principles of life, then we will admit that the philosophy of the hunt blinds the eye to beauty, dulls the spirit of mer cy, the heart to the ways of peace, the soul to love towards -ir,H'o fwintiirps anH the mind to compassion and clemency. It destroys the spiritual vaiues oi heart and soul, placing the brute in man beneath the life he seeks to take. The hunt is a negative sport filling the countryside with trespassers, vandals and killers of children's pets. Howard H. Caudle Grand Junction, Colo. Reprinted from Hartford, Conn., Courant , as submitted by Lois Winchester, Heppner. MEETING CALENDAR Monday. February 1' Chamber of Commerce, 12 noon. Wagon Wheel dining nm Ruth Assembly No. 50. Order ot Rainbow- for Girls. Masonic Hall. 7 p.m. School Board. Regular Meeting. Riverside High school, 7:.W p.m. Civic League. Kindergarten room, 8 P m. Heppner Neighborh.KKl Center Advisory Board, 7:30 p.m. Morrow Count v Fair Board, Fair Dormitory. 8 pm Tueday, February 18 School Board, Final Budget " Meeting, Heppner Elementary school, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. February 19 Willow Lodge. IOOF Hall, 8 p.m. Jaycees, 8 p.m. Carnation Club, Ida Farra home. 7:30 p.m. Thursday. February 20 Jaycee Wives, Heppner Neigh borhood Center, 8 p.m. Soroptlmlst Club, ProRram'; Ing. 12 noon, Wagon W heel dining room W A.C. of Rhea Creek Grange. All Day Potluck. 10:30 a.m., home of Mrs. Leonard Rill Technical Action Panel, Heppner Neighborhood Center, 1 p.m. Friday, February 21 Sans Soucl Rcbekah IOOF Hall. 8 p.m. Lodge, PROPERTY TAX FAX QUESTION: Our parsonage Is used prac tically every day In the week for various church activities. Why should It be taxed? ANSWER: Exemptions are granted to re ligious organizations when the primary use of the buildings and land is for religious pur poses. In this case, the primary use of this property is as a res idence for the minister; there fore, it is subject to taxation. If specific parsonage rooms are used only for church purposes, not for ministerial residence, an adjustment can be made. Stepped-on Toad To the Editor: Well, here It is, poking up its little head again. Charles Hodde, chairman of the Federal com mittee, Pacific Northwest Rivers Basin development, speaking at the Heppner Soil Conservation meeting at the Lexington Grange hall last week, said, among other things, that to util ize and save our river, irrigation must be developed here and that most of the land for that use was here in Eastern Oregon, Irvin Mann, a little late, but nevertheless, is advocating the same thing down at state legis lature. Yes, the pressure is going to increase around those 240 sec tions that we gave away until Boeing's eyes pop out like a stepped-on toad frog. That land is the heart, the meat, and the gizzard of any irrigation pro ject, but it will cost millions to get it back. O. W. Cutsforth COMMUNITY BILLBOARD Coming Events HEPPNER BASKETBALL Friday, Feb. 14, Sherman there Sat., Feb. 15, Wahtonka, here Friday, Feb. 21, Pilot Rock there League games Support the Mustangs! GRADE SCHOOL Sat., Feb. 15, Condon, there 1:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, lone there, 2 p.m. VALENTINE CARD PARTY Bv Triple Links Club Saturday, Feb. 15, 8 p.m., IOOF Hall Bridge, Pinochle, Refresh ments Public invited PANCAKE LUNCHEON Shrove Tuesday, Feb. 18, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. All Saint's Episcopal Parish Hall Fublic welcome, sponsored by E.C.W. TEEN DANCE Sat., Feb. 15, Fair Pavilion Music by Burnt Sleep combo Sponsored by Morrow County Jaycees Admission, $1.50 each LEXINGTON BLOW CONTROL DISTRICT Imnortant Meeting, Monday, Feb. 17, 8 p.m. Norman Nelson residence ELKS 72nd ANNUAL Sat., Feb. 22 Registration at Ford Garage. 11:00 a.m. SPONSORED AS A PUBLIC SERVICE BY C. A. RUGGLES Insurance Agency P. O. Box 247 PH. 676-9625 Hcppnoi Jfm9 HIM'1"'1 min I 1 I I II iliij " 1
