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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (March 20, 1969)
LIBRARY u or o EUGENE, ORE . 07403 86th Year Number 4 mm HEPPNER GAZETTE-TIME en ii i "'t.f . Is I f f ' ' ff J -' ill; .- I '.' J I 1 1 .i i i ""IT IT L-W HEFTY HAULING JOB was the moving of this huge 5000 KVA transformer from Jordan substation el Columbia Basin Electric Cooperative to the Sandhollow substation, accomplished Saturday. Heavy truck ol Mitchell Bros, and the transformer together weighed a total of more than 90.000 pounds. Transformer alone weighs 26 tons. Transit time was 2t hours for the load which was 12 feet wide, 18 feet talL The transformer replaces a 1000 KVA unit at Sand hollow and is de signed to give more capacity to the area. It is hoped to energise the 5000 KVA unit this week. tiariey Young, manager, says. Heppner, Oregon 97836, Thursday, March 20, 1969 Price 10 Cents R-l School Budget Tax Levy ieducei Resources Raymond Nichols Drowns In Ocean Outing Mishap Two Tourney End Mustang Losses Hopes Crushed bv the high-geared offense of Sutherlin High School Monday afternoon and frustrat ed by fouls in the game with Dayton High Tuesday. the Heppner High Mustangs bowed out of the State A-2 Basketball Tournament at Coos Bay Tues day afternoon with two losses. Sutherlin rode roughshod ov er the Mustangs, 86 to 49. but the plucky squad battled to the wire against the Pirates until fouls killed them. The final score was 65-50, but the point spread came after the Mus tangs' offense was cracked by losing two men on personals. A bad first quarter against the No. 1 ranked Sutherlin Bull dogs got the Mustangs off on the wrong foot in the tourna ment. They could do little right while Sutherlin was credited by its coach, Gary Olson, as play ing its best game of the sea son. Led by Dave Vermeer and Mike Chandler, the Bulldogs ran up a 25-6 lead in the first period. Sutherlin hit seven of 13 attempts for a .530 average in the period, and added 11 free throws, while the Mustangs hit only 3 of 13 for a .230 average and made no free throws. Do Better in Second After getting their "tourna ment legs" a bit in the second quarter, the Mustangs scored 18, nearlv matching Sutherlin's 20, but the Buldogs had a 21 point halftime lead, 45 to 24, and pulled away through the rest of the ball game. Cal Ashbeck was the only Mustang to hit double figures in the game with his 10 on four field goals and two free throws. Chandler rolled up 24 for Suth erlin, Vermeer made 16 and David Whited 14. When his frst team proved in effective against the high-gear ed opposition, Coach Bob Clough used reserves liberally, and Mike Smith. LaVerne Van Mar ter. Jerry Healy, Lee Huson and Mel Ashbeck tallied eight of the total of 18 field goals scor ed by the Mustangs. Smith had a pood night with three beau tiful long shots for the short time he was in the game It was an entirely different storv in the consolation brack et Tuesday afternoon against Dayton. The Mustangs came on spitting fire, and it looked as if they would scuttle the Pir ates until personal fouls and turnovers blasted them. With John McCabe back in shooting form after a point drouth in the district tourna ment and the first game at State, the Mustangs shot quick ly to an 8-3 lead. McCabe and Cal Ashbeck each connected on two from the floor to start things off. . Dayton's shooting was off but Bill Stoller and Kandy Freeborn, their mainstays, started connect ing midway, and, although it wasn't evident at the time, the handwriting was on the wan. Five Personals Called McCabe collected two more field goals, Gary Kemp one and Larry Pettyjohn a free throw in the period for a Heppner total of 15. But the team had five personals called against them, and Dayton quickly benefitted from the one-and-one situation, often making two points on one foul in the second period. Freeborn and Stoller tallied five field goals between them in the first Quarter, but Dayton also picked up six free throws to the Mustangs' one. Thus the score was 16-15 for Dayton at the end of the first. Jon O'Donnell zeroed in dur ing the second quarter and join ed his teammates matching Dayton, bucket for bucket. The ogre of fouls continued to plague the Mustangs, though, as they piled up six more. Sev eral key players found them selves in trouble. Meanwhile, deadly free throw shooting add ed points for the Pirates, and at halftime it stood 28-27 for Dayton. McCabe and O'Donnell on strongly in the third quarter and Heppner grabbed the edge at 33-31, but Freeborn and Stoller were matching the pace. The lead changed three times until McCabe swished his fourth field goal of the period, and the Mustangs were in front for the last time. 40-39. The Pirates got a free throw, then Stoller connected to move them in front, 42-40. Stoller add ed a free throw, and it was 43 40, but McCabe came back with another bucket and it was 43 42. Metzker hit for Dayton, and McCabe retaliated for Heppner on his scoring spree. Kemp knot ted the score at 45-45 when he sank a free throw on Owens' foul, but that was the last of the good news lor tne Mus tangs. McCabe Goes Out McCabe by this time had three personals against him. As the quarter neared its end, an official whistled an offensive foul against him. Just seconds later he was charged with his final infraction and left the ball game. With him left the scor ing ounch for the Mustangs. He had scored 13 points in the third quarter and 21 in the three periods. The quarter ended, 49-4D, lor the Pirates, but Heppner was (Continued on page 8) Band Entertains Elementary PTA Before Meeting Lively musical entertainment opened the Heppner Elementary PTA meeting last Wednesday evening, furnished by the 7th and 8th grade band members plus two bass horn players from the high school band. Room mothers agreed to act as a committee to prepare din ner for the Morrow County Chap ter of the Oregon Education As sociation when that group meets at Heppner High school on Tues day, April 29. Mrs. Ramona Marshall and Mrs. Anna Schwarzin were nam ed delegates to represent Hepp ner at the State PTA Convention in Medford, April 21-23. Parents and teachers were In formed by Mrs. Grace Drake, county juvenile officer, of the need for supporting House Bui 1075 which proposes subsidizing the cost of juvenile court with state funds which would match county contributions. A vote fa voring the support of this bill resulted. Those named to the nominat ing committee for next year's PTA officers were Mrs. Marlene Gray, chairman, assisted by Mrs. Shirley Gray and Mrs. Schwar zin. Principal Alan Martin spoke briefly about proposed changes in next year's school budget for the county schools. Raymond Allen (Ray) Nichols, 22, of Heppner, drowned Satur day in tne raciiic ocean near Florence while on an outing with other University of Oregon stuaents. In company with Mike Smith. formerly of Heppner, Robert Blair and Marjone Elliot, Nich- ,'rVrJ RAYMOND NICHOLS Girls' Pro Team To Play at lone JOHN McCABE McCabe Selected For State Mention John McCabe, 5-10 Junior guard n Heppner High's basketball team, has been chosen for hon orable mention on the Oregon ian's A-2 all-star state basket ball team. He was the only Mus tang to be named. First team of the all-star squad includes Dave Dieker of Grant Union, the only Greater Oregon League player to be cho sen for either the first or sec ond squads. Two Greater Oregon players in addition to McCabe were cho sen for honorable mention. They are Dennis Kenison of Vale and Tim McMahon of Pilot Rock. On the first team are Gary Shontz, Rogue River; Dieker. Grant Union; Brad Boscoe, Myr tle Point; Bill Stoller, Dayton; and Rich Manning, Stayton. The second team includes Dave Chandler. Sutherlin; Ron Jones, Rogue River; Mike Vaira, Sheridan; Donn Pollard, ScaD poose: and Bill Potter, Neah- came fcah-Bie. Ex-Heppner Man Killed at Siletz Gary Sumpter, 31, who was shot and killed at Siletz Satur day night while acting as a re serve officer on the Toledo po lice force, was well known in Heppner and lived here for about a year in 1962. At that time he was a laboratory tech nician for Dr. C. M. Wagner and worked part time at the hospi tal. His wife also worked at Pio neer Memorial hospital. Sumpter was employed as a lab technician at Lincoln City and also served as a reserve of ficer. A Newport youth, Michael Meester, 17, shot and killed Sumpter and wounded State Po lice Officer Clayton Durr, 37, of Newport, before taking his own life with a high-powered rifle. The incident began in New port when an officer pursued Meester for speeding. State and Toledo police joined the chase and the youth headed for Kern ville. The report said that the youth stopped his car at Siletz, and fired through the wind shield of Officer Durr's car as it rounded a curve. The officer suffered face wounds. Sumpter took shelter behind the open door of his car, but Meester again fired the rifle. The bullet went through the door and through Sumpter's badge. The reserve officer stag gered behind the car, collapsed and died. Meester jumped in his car and fled. As he approached a road block, he drove through the bar rier, and two police officers re sumed chase. Shortly after they found the youth's car parked on a wide spot on a curve. As they approached, Meester shot him self through the head. Sumpter is survived by his wife, Marcia, and two children, Julie and Mike. The Royal Maids of St. Lou is, Mo., billed as "America's Greatest Girls' Professional Bas ketball Team," will play the faculty men of lone and Hepp ner schools on Tuesday, March 25, at 8 p.m. in the lone school gym under the sponsorship of the lone Lions club. Among those Dlaving for the Royal Maids are Georgia Wash ington. 6-3. of Arkansas, a hook shot artist, who is in her fifth year of professional ball; Joy Lynn Allison of Oklahoma, a dribble wizard and set shot ar tist; Phillis Jones, 5-7, Sherry Hickerson, 5-11, Linda Shanks, 6-1, and Mary Emison, team comedienne, all of Arkansas. Larry Emison is owner and manager. The Maids play men's rules and are said to be America's best dressed team. Names of the faculty team have not been announced, but it is expected to include such stars as Clint Agee, Gene Dock ter, Gordon Meyers, Dale Hol land, Bob Clough and others. Tickets are available at thp door at $1.50 for adults and $1 for students. The Royal Maids are compos ed of former high school and college stars. They feature fan cy passing, super ball handling, exciting play patterns, clever moves and amusing routines. A special halftime show will feature basketball wizardry with every girl on the team partici pating. Included will be trick shots, crazy passing, dribbling routines, juggling acts, balanc ing antics and super ball spin ning tricks. ols had taken a turn on a two- man rubber life raft, going through the surf, according to Sheriff John Mollahan who went to the area after being nottried ot the accident. Mrs. Mollahan is a sister of Nichols. When breakers hit the raft, Nichols lost the oars. The raft drifted farther than others hud gone out Apparently fearing that he would be taken to the open sea, Nichols attempted to swim to shore, but failed. Sheriff Mollahan said that he was esti mated to be 100 yards from those at the waters edge when he went down, and they were powerless to help. The Coast Guard was unsuc cessful in launching a boat to attempt to find him. The Lane county sheriff's office continued a search for the body, but it was called off early this week. It had not been recovererd as of Tuesday night. Nichols, son of Mrs. Eddie Thorpe, formerly of Heppner and now of Banning, Calif., graduat ed with the Heppner High school class of 1964. He was a very good student and participated in football and basketball at the school. He was a senior in mathe matics at the University of Ore gon and expected to graduate in June. He visited in Heppner recently and said that he was looking forward to graduation. During the summer oi iata, Nichols assisted at the Heppner municipal pool as a lifeguard. He had a senior lifesaving cer tificate. Nichols also helped with the Chamber of Commerce-sponsored summer recreation pro gram for youth of the commun ity at the high school Besides his mother and step father, Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Thorpe, Banning, Calif., he is survived by the sister, Mrs. Mollahan, and a brother, Robert, serving in Vietnam. XY Petitions Ready For School Posts Port on Program Dewey West, president of the Morrow county Port Commission, Gar Swanson, treasurer, and other commissioners will be at the Monday meeting of the Heppner-Morrow County Cham ber of Commerce to tell of pro gress made by the port and plans for its future. Rupert Ken nedy, coordinator, of The Dalles is also expected to be present to tell of a new brochure that has been produced to help attract new industry. Volunteers Sought To Drive Ambulance Will O'Harra, administrator of Pioneer Memorial hospital, Tues day sounded an appeal for dri vers for the ambulance at the hospital. Bob Lowe is regular driver and has handled 90 percent of the ambulance calls, but a re lief driver is needed. The late Bill Farra was relief driver be fore his death last December. The relief driver is paid for runs that he makes. There are three main qualifications, O' Harra states: He must be be tween 21 and 60 years of age; must be in good health; and must qualify for a chauffeur's license although he doesn't have to have such a license. Those interested are asked to call O'Harra at the hospital. Terms of one school director of Morrow county district R-l and seven advisory committee members expire June 30 of this year, and petitions are now available for any who wish to file for the positions, Supt. Ron Daniels states, All those currently serving have agreed to serve again, but others interested may also file. ihe school board position is that of Zcne I, Boardman, with Gerald Peck currently serving as director. The coming 5-year term will expire June JO, 1974. Advisory positions, the current committeemen, and expiration dates are as follows: Heppner-Lexington Alb e r t Wright, June 30. 1972 (3 years), Everett Brock, June 30, 1972 (3 years). lone Cecil Jones, June .30, 1972 (3 years). Boardman Bob Sicard, June 30, 1972 (3 years), Carroll Don ovan, June 30, 1970 (one year), Irrigon Ken Lamb, June 30, 1972 (3 years), Lee LeBlance, June 30, 1970 (one year). Those wishing petitions may obtain them at any ot the local schools or the district office. HAROLD KERR Morrow County Extension Agent Harold Kerr Here As County Agent Harold Kerr, who served as county extension agent in Crook county for 814 years, has arrived in Heppner to serve as Morrow county agent In charge of the extension service here. With his family, he arrived here Saturday. They are living in the Roy Davis home on Chase Street. Iri the family are Mrs. Kerr (Carol); Cindy, 8; and Bry an, 7. The new county agent has been with the OSU extension service since 1960. He graduat ed from Oregon State in 1957 with a bachelor of science de gree. For two years he was in the army and served as a food insDector in New York City. In 1968 Kerr completed a graduate program at Colorado State University and received a master of education degree in June. At Prineville he was a mem ber of the Kiwanis club and of Lookout Mountain Grange. One of his principal hobbies is fish ing, he states. Kerr replaces Gene Winters as chairman ot tne extension staff here. Winters currently is on assignment with the AID program on a wheat research project in Jordan. The county extension agent said that he had not been to Heppner many times but is finding that the people are friendly and that he is getting acquainted quickly. County Ex tension Agent Gail McCarty was introducing him to many residents early this week and helping him to become orient ed to the new position. March 31 Deadline On Farm Filings March 31 is the deadline for farmers filing of applications for special assessment of unzoned lands, Mrs. Joyce Ritch, special assessor for Morrow county, an nounces. Those who filed for special assessment last year are requir ed to file again this year un less they wish to revert back to market value. The statutes contain no pro vision for extending the filing deadlines, she points out, and urges farmers interested to file now. Any wishing further infor mation may call the assessor's office. BMCC Schedules Evening Classes Six communities in the Blue Mountain -Community College district have been scheduled for classes during spring term. David Raynalds, evening school director, said four of the 25 pro posed courses have not been of fered before in the night pro gram. The new offerings are ba sic horse management, parlia mentary procedure, math for adults, and anthropology. Heppner classes held at the high school are math for adults, March 31; Investments and an thropology, April 2. Painting is scheduled to meet in the Morrow County School District building at Lexington on April 3. High school equivalency prep aration will start March 24 and painting March 27 at Hermiston Junior High school. An inter mediate sewing class meets at Hermiston Senior High school on March 25. 20,000th Patient Enters Hospital Vernon (Pete) Gilman of Heppner became the 20,000th patient of Pioneer Memorial hos pital when he was admitted Monday, March 17, for medical treatment. The hospital was opened in June, 1950, and has been in op eration for 19 years serving the area. Thus, it has been receiv ing patients at the rate of more than 1,000 per year, Will O' Harra, administrator, points out. Gilman is the uncle of Dean Gilman, city police officer, and is employed on the Don Green up ranch. Sale Dates Set Merchants committee of the Chamber of Commerce, meeting Friday, set dates for two com ing events. Moonlight bale will be on the night of Friday, Ap ril 25, and Sidewalk Bazaar will be July 18 and 19. A meeting of organizations will be called at a later date to lay plans for the Bazaar. Jerry Adamson, chairman, presided at the meet ing. Spring Starts! Another 2 inch of rain, but one day reaching to 66 degrees indicates that it is time for spring which officiary starts today (Thursday), March 20. Complete weather report for the week by Don Gilliam, official observer, is as follows: Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Hi Low Prec. 47 25 51 27 54 32 66 37 63 43 57 41 .21 47 32 .03 Gain, Help Close Gap Several changes were made In the budget of the Morrow county school district for 1969 70 at the public hearing Mon day night in Lexington. When the hearing was over, it was determined that the tax lew for the ensuing fiscal year will not be Increased as much as had been expected. The In crease will be n,547, wnicn will amount to about 45c per each $1000 of true cash value of property, according to Supt Ron Daniels. Figure for total taxes to be levied is placed at $1,173,680. Receipts will be greater than anticiuated. Daniels said, and this will cut the proposed tax burden considerably. Total budget resources will go to $291,312 from the original esti mate of $274,312. These are re ceipts from all sources except taxes to be levied. The added receipts come from several areas, including a great er collection of previous years' taxes than expected; $2,000 ad ditional in basic school support receipts; and higher payments from some government pro grams, such as Public Law 874, than expected. Better Cash Position Eyed Supt. Daniels said that the outlook now Is that the district will be able to finish the cur rent year with the minus $15,0U0 cash balance that had been ex pected.. He believes that It can be completed even no carryov er but no minus balance. Budget requirements were re duced $6000 when $7000 was ta ken from a $10,000 fund that had been , budgeted or street and parking area improvements for Heppner High school and $1600 was taken from a remod eling fund for Heppner Elemen tary school. Of this $8600. $2600 was placed in the contingency fund with the feeling that this emergency fund had been set too low, thus leaving the budg et requirements $G000 less than previously budgeted. Daniels said that although the total budget requirements are up about 10, the tax levy will be up only about 4 be cause of the additional resourc es. The cost of operating the dis trict will remain near $13 per $1000 true cash value of prop erty, not much above the cur rent 1968-69 budget, Daniels said. Most of the approximately 30 persons at the hearing were there in some associated capac ity school administrat o r s, members of advisory boards, teachers, and others. Few ques tions or remonstrances came from the audience despite Chair man Jack Sumner's repeated re quests for expressions. Teacher Salaries Talked ' " Members of the budget com mittee, including the school dir ectors, supplied most of their own criticism. Don MeElligott, chairman of the school board, said he felt it essential, even at this late time, to raise salaries of beginning teachers because about 17 teachers are expected to leave the system this year for one reason or another. He showed a list of settlements on teacher salaries in other districts and pointed out that of 101 set tlements, Heppner ranks in 100th place. Its base salary for a teacher with no experience and bachelor degree Is set at $6100 in the 1969-70 budget. One other district has a $6000 base, but all others are higher and the average is $6437, he said. i MeElligott proposed cutting out at least one of the proposed three new teaching positions and raising the base to $6300. However, no action was taken. He stressed that the district may find it almost impossible to hire needed new teachers at the low base. Street Work Discussed Considerable discussion cen tered on the fund for improving the road to and from Heppner High before the item was cut. A sum of $3,000 was left in the ' budget to make repairs to park ing lots with the thought that more funds might be earmarked next year for further improve ments on the streets. The city and county will be contacted to see what help may come from i them. Bob Sicard of Boardman,, a member of the budget commit tee, opposed the inclusion of a ; video tape camera for Heppner High in the budget. This item is listed at $1750 and ties in with the educational television system. Sicard said that he be (Continued on page 8)