LIBRARY
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EUGENE,
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07403
86th Year
Number 4
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HEPPNER
GAZETTE-TIME
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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)