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
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