Heppner gazette-times., March 27, 1969, Page 2, Image 2

HEPFNEI GAZETTE
THE "tf S
GAZETTE-TIMES
Heppner. Oreqon 97838
Phone 676-8228
MORROW COUNTY'S NEWSPAPER
Tin" Heppner Gazette established March 30. 1RH3. The lieppner
Times established November 18,
lit 1 2.
NtWIPAMI
pvuiu
f Hill
ASSOCIATION
WESLEY A. SHERMAN
HELEN E. SHERMAN
ARNOLD RAYMOND
Shop Foreman
Printer
GAIL BL'RKL.NBINE
Society
Circulation
Subscription Rates: S5.00 Year.
Copies 15 Cents In Advance.: Minimum Hilling 50 cents. Published
Every Thursday and Entered at
ox Second Class Matter.
Office Hours: 8 am. to 6 p.m.,
until noon Saturday.
Reduce the Slaughter
An advertisement nationally distributed by an Insurance
company has come forth with a startling statement which
should make every person pause and consider soberly.
Substance of the message is that of every 50 drivers a
person meets on the highway, one Is drunk. It is emphasized
that this driver Is not just drinking but Is drunk.
Other statistics have been advanced to point out that In
upwards of GO percent of the fatal accidents, drinking has
been involved.
In a nation where 55,000 persons were killed In traffic
accidents In 1968, this drinking driver situation is something
which must be dealt with In the name of humanity.
Next time you go to a big football game, where perhaps
40,000 persons Jam the stadium, or watch such a game on
television, stop to contemplate. Look at the mass of people,
healthy, happy; men, women and children; all have loved
ones; all have the possibility of meaningful lives and cap
able of making contributions to the society In which they
live.
Then Imagine these lives, plus another 15,000, erased
from existence. You can picture this mass of humanity scat
tered in grotesque positions, some maimed, some bleeding;
some dead, some dying all beside the wreckage of twisted
vehicles. This was our national record in 1968.
What a terrific slaughter! What a gross waste!
We've long recognized that with the automobile and with
the speeds we travel on modern highways we have developed
a lethal situation. We've long heard drummed into our con
sciousness, "If you drink, don't drive."
Apparently the admonition has been of little effect, in
view of the statistics. If alcohol is indeed a factor in 60
of the fatal accidents, this means that 33,000 of last year's
deaths may be blamed, at least in part, to the drinking dri
ver. On the Fourth of July, 1960, a Stayton family was going
to "Stay Home and Stay Safe" by attending the local fire
works celebration. The mother prepared a picnic dinner on
the patio at their home. The father decided to take an eight
mile drive to Mehama to visit his elderly mother for a few
minutes, and several of the children happily went along.
Three of them never returned. Just out of Mehama, a drunk
driver veered Into the wrong lane of the North Santiam high
way and Into the path of their car. Later, a state policeman
told us that he, driving ahead of the Stayton family, had
witnessed the tragedy through his rear view mirror. The
toll was four, since the intoxicated driver perished, too.
Such situations and variations of them happen hund
reds of times on our highways each year. Maybe some of
those who witness such tragedies learn a lesson that they
don't forget, but others too quickly forget. The toll of the
accident goes to join the thousands of others In our grim rec
ord book of traffic deaths as a rather commonplace event.
Thousands of drunk and drinking drivers almost literally
get away with murder In this country.
One seldom reads of drunkenness being Involved in a
particular accident because it is too difficult to prove. The
smashed car may be filled with beer bottles, or whiskey bot
tles, and the driver, if he survives, may be reeling around
the scene. But a reporter who would say in his story that
drinking was involved might find that his paper Is sued for
libel because nothing can be proved.
To this time there really hasn't been much deterrent to
the drinking driver. A large percentage of those arrested for
drunken driving, when cases strong enough to present come
to court, are found innocent.
There are laws pending before the state legislature that
would make It tougher on the drinking driver, and these
steps must be taken if we're ever going to reduce this slaugh
ter. There Is a law that would fix the percentage of alcohol
content In the blood at a lesser amount to consider the indi
vidual legally drunk. It has been far too high In Oregon to
this time .15 of 1. One proposal would set the legal limit
at .10 of 1.
Another law pending is that which would permit officers
to stop motor vehicles for safety inspections. We heartily
endorse that, too. This could afford officers a chance to pick
up a few of the drunken drivers at the same time.
Some will talk of personal liberties, violation of an indi
vidual's rights, the delay that an Inspection may cause, and
similar objections. But think again of the 40,000 in the foot
ball stadium wiped out or the 500 or 600 every year In
Oregon.
We're for any legislation that is going to help reduce
the carnage on the highway. We're for Gov. Tom McCall's
proposals on this subject of highway safety, and we hope that
those legislators who represent our districts will join with
pthers to pass such legislation.
A Tool to Work With
In the complete and neat new brochure packet that the
Morrow County Port Commission has developed, the county
has a fine new tool to work with in its efforts to attract in
dustry and promote development.
The packet is just off the printing presses. Much of the
work in developing it was done by Rupert Kennedy, coordin
ator for the commission, but many others had a hand in it,
one agency especially being the Soil Conservation Service.
Nothing this complete nor elaborate has been prepared
hitherto for the purpose of "blowing the horn" of Morrow
county. This will certainly help implement development here,
and all of those who assisted with the preparation of the
brochure are to be complimented just as the Port Commis
sion is to be congratulated for its continuing good judgment
in using public funds wisely as an investment in the coun
ty's future.
Mrs. Joe Balfo and three
children spent several days dur
ing spring vacation week visit
ing with her parents, Mr. and
Mrs. Nick Frank in Silverton,
and with her sister and family
In Portland, following their re
turn from Coos Bay, where they
went earlier In the week to see
Heppner participate in the state
A -2 basketball tournament. i
-TIMES. Thursday. March 27. 19GS
IIEPPNER
IHy7. Consolidated rcbruary 13,
MEMBER
PER
Atoclatloo Foundd 1885
EDITOR AND PUBLISHER
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
REGGIE PASCAL
Linotype Operator
DALE COOPER
Pressman
KELLY GREEN
Apprentice
Single Cony 10 Cents. Mailed Singh
the Post Office at Heppner, Oregon,
Monday through Friday; 9 am
Mr. and Mrs. Claude Graham
were hosts last week to their
son-in-law and daughter, Mr.
and Mrs. Bernard Damon, and
three children of Eugene. The
visitors also traveled to La
Grande, where they visited with
Damon's mother.
For any kind of printing, call
The Gazette-Times.
Chaff ,nd Chatter
Wes Sherman
THERE M notice elsewhere In
thin paper thai the City of
llcupncr is going to pursue
course of enforcement of It
parking regulation. Martini;
.March 31.
I.est anyone think this action
come through the "power of the
press a a result of lust weeks
editorial ("Work 'Em Or Take
Em Out". we ha: ten to ex
plain that the city was already
working on the mat'er. A com
miltee had teen named to study
the parkins situation, and this
week's action Is the result of
Its deliberations. If we had re
alized the move was afoot, we'd
have drawn in our horns for
while.
Citv councils throughout the
length and breadth of this land
learn that some problems abso
lutely have no satisfactory so
lutions, no matter which way
they turn.
One such perennial nrublem
Is that of docs. Councils are con
stantly caught between the dog
lovers and the dog haters, and
as surely as spring rolls around,
the dog problem will come up.
It is always discussed with
sincerity, and opinions come
forth with the hope that some-
ne with a super gift of wis
dom will supply the answer to
please all. But after all have
vented their feelings, the mat
ter drifts into limbo once more
to slumber until the next spring.
And so it is with parking me
ters. There are those who like
hem and those who don't like 1
them, and never the twain shall
meet. The council, charted with
the responsibility of administer
ing citv business efficiently and
justly, is caught in the middle.
Experience has shown that if
there are no meters, some will
usurp the space available for
parking. In the past, the busi
ness people themselves, and
their employees, were the worst
offenders. This despite the fact
that they have the most to lose
by taking their customers' nark
ing space.
On the other hand, t is some
thing of a nuisance to feed them.
One of the nice things about liv
ing in a place like Heppner is
that things are more informal.
Jaywalking is prevalent, and
other regulations that must be
rigidly enforced for peace and
safety in more congested areas
are winked at. It would seem
that parking meters are a bit
out of tune with this tone of
living, being a symbol of mech
anization and urban life in an
area where the space is ereat
and the air pure.
But a few years ago, the mat
ter was discussed at Chamber
of Commerce and most of the
business people felt parking
meters should be left on the
Btreets.
Although we'd just as soon
see the heads removed and the
steel posts used for tieing hors
es at rodeo time, the malontv
rules. The council's action this
week is good because the intent
is to see that all obey the rules
not just the conscientious few.
Maybe their action will take
care of things at least until
another spring rolls around.
IT'S SURPRISING how many
people here did not recoenize
Kit Anderson when he came to
work with the G-T during his
spring vacation from OSU. When
he left with his parents to go
to Africa for two years in 1965,
Kit was a boy, and many re
member him as a vounester.
But four years make a lot of
difference. Kit has shot ud in
height, attended one year of
school In Ibadan, Nigeria, grad
uated rrom Albany High school
and has a year at OSU. He has
been working for the Albany
Democrat-Herald to cover OSU
sports in his spare time and al
so has worked part time as a
disc jockey and announcer for
an Albany radio station.
When Kit was a freshman at
Heppner High, he worked part
time at the G-T and showed a
fine talent for writing, espec
ially in sports. His journalistic
interest Is continuing, and so
he Is loininer the Gazette-Tmes
this summer to assist with news
and advertising.
The Rhyming
SPRING
AS NOW THE MARCH WIND SNORTS A STORMY SNOOTFUL
WHILE HYACINTH AND TULIP GREET THE SUN,
AND BLOSSOMED TREES ARE BURGEONING AND
FRUITFUL
TO HAIL THE LILAC'S BLUSH THAT SPRING'S BEGUN,
CAN PEGASUS STAND TETHERED TO THE WINTER
NOR HEED THE POET'S EFFERVESCENT FLUTE
TO SPEED THESE SOULFUL LYRICS TO THE PRINTER
THAT NEVER BE IT SAID THE MUSE IS MUTE?
FOR I HAVE HEARD THE SONG OF PHILOMELA
AND HARKENED TO THE CALL OF TRITON'S HORN,
SO WHO AM I TO PLAY THE DOUBLE-DEALER
AND NOT ANNOUNCE TO ALL THAT SPRING IS BORN?
SO COME YOU LADS AND LASSIES, GET YOUR SHOES ON,
THERE'S MUSIC FOR THE DANCE AND SONGS TO SING,
THERE'S HILLS TO ROAM AND MANY SEAS TO CRUISE ON,
FOR SPRING IS HERE. SO LET THE WELKIN RING!
GIVE OUT WITH SHOUTS TO NATURE'S NEW AWAKING,
OR, BETTER YET, LET NATURE TAKE ITS COURSE;
OR IF YOU FEEL RELUCTANCE OVERTAKING
ROLL IN THE GRASS AND WHINNY LIKE A HORSE!
HARRY W. FLETCHER
3
We have visited with him
from time In lim since he re
turned from Africa, and he look
like the same Kit to us, but h
la now so tall that nianv urn
not recognize him when we
went around the business sec
lion Monday,
The week here Is lo help him
get acclimated to the newspaper
routine, weekly style. "! we're
looking forward lo having him
with us this summer.
JUST NOTICED an Hem In
"EDUCARLE." a 111! e Kneel
of informalion sent out by the
Oregon Board of Education,
which is quite a surprise.
Never In the states history'
has a passenger been killed
while riding an Oregon school
bus." It stale.
Those 1000 yellow scnooi
buses which carefully deliver
thousands of Oregon students to
their classrooms every day rep
resent the state's largest trans
portation system public or prl-
ne."
This Is an amazing thing.
Consider the hundreds killed
every year In traffic accidents
nd think of the vast system oi
school bus routes. Not a single
life lost.
This is a tribute to the driv
ers of these hoses WHO no a
super lob in protecting the safe-
v of the children entrusteu to
their care.
Morrow countv school district
buses roll ud more miles than
the big matoritv of other dis
tricts in the state, and their rec
ord Is amazingly good. We can
think only of a couple of times
when buses were involved in
even minor accidents.
On the law of averages, the
youngsters are probably far sa
fer in the buses than they are
in their own homes!
WE'RE ANXIOUS to find out
whether the anonymous dog
or the concrete layer emerges
triumphant.
If ever a sidewalk were pour
ed without a dog's tracks being
impressed in it. the fact has yet
to be recorded.
Thus, the new curb and por
tion of a crosswalk at Willow
and Main were neatly poured
and left to dry Tuesday. A bar
ricade was placed around the
fresh work. But shortly after
wards inevitably a dog's
clearcut footprints appeared in
it.
The Question is: Had the con
crete set too firmly for them to
be eradicated, or does Bowser
leave his prints to preserve for
posterity in his own version of
Graumann's Chinese Theater?
Meanwhile, we d nominate the
concrete contractor as being the
most likely candidate lor
World's Most Frustrated Person.
He takes great pains to work
out all the irregularities, get his
job smoothed to a "T" and Pres
to! Along comes Bowser.
PROPERTY TAX
FAX
QUESTION:
Is there any adjustment made
in property taxes for widows and
please tell me what I must do
to have my property put in my
name only.
I was widowed last May and
our Social Security checks are
not really adequate and I have
not been able to secure employ
ment as yet
ANSWER:
No adjustments in taxes are
made for widows, but you may
be able to qualify for a Senior
Citizens Residence Exemption or
an exemption as a widow re
maining unmarried of a war
veteran. These are not automat
ic but must be filed for every
year after January 1 and prior
to April 1. For further informa
tion, contact your assessor.
If your property was owned
by you and your husband as
tenants by the entirety, then,
upon your husband's death, you
are the sole survivor and as a
result the sole title holder. Take
a copy of your husband's death
certificate to the assessor and
he can correct his records.
Philosopher
MEETING
CALENDAR
Monday, March 31
Chamber f Commerce. 12 noon
Wagon Wheel Dining Room
Tuesday, April I
AK AM No. 6. 8 p.m.
f (!,,, lie Alinr Socictv. X P.m.
LIS Relief Society, Legion Hall.
9:45 a.m.
Wranglers. Fair Dormitory
Ion Aee Club. Episcopal Par
ish Hull. 1'ollUiK winner, i
n m
Evening Group, Home Extension.
7:30 p m,
Wxtnaadav. Aoril 2
Willow Lodge, KX'JE Hall. 8 p.m.
Rhea Creek Extension unu,
Crance Hall. 10:30 a.m.
Countv Court, 10 a.m.
Juycees. 8 p.m.
Thursday. April J
Holly Rebekan Louge, o p.m.,
I av ineton
Soroptlmist club, 12 noon. Wag-
on Wheel Dining itoom, Bus
iness Meet ins
Friday. April 4
Sans Snuel Rebckah Lodge 0.
33. IOOF Hall. 8 P m.
TO THE EDITOR
What's Going On?
rtenr Wes:
In your hour of travail, and
no doubt an upset stomach, full
est sympathy goes out to you.
Print shop gremlins are vicious
mischief makers, we will admit
The little devils had me going,
also. I always start with page
one and read every line right
on through, to and including the
final page. But this week I was
Jumping all over the place to
find your fine editorial page.
Anv other paper would have
caused no concern but my fav
orite family Journal thats dif
ferent.
In trvinc to figure it all out
I came to a brilliant conclusion.
That darned four-page form
somehow eot reversed on the
press bed. That is my consid
ered opinion. Ah well, It was
all there anyway, Wes. I didn't
find any pages missing. It could
have been worse, maybe. I do
hope that this "juxtaposition"
was discovered before you made
the complete run.
My sincere wishes for a very
rapid recovery.
Your fellow sufferer,
Art Crawford
2852 Kingston Way
San Jose, Calif.
(Editor's Note: Only a few of
our readers will understand what
our "fellow sufferer" is talking
about, since only a few received
papers of the recent issue that
were transposed inside. In mak
ing a "backup" run on the press
the papers were turned to the
wrong position with the result
that pages 6 and 7 were where
2 and 3 should be, and 2 and
3 were in the back of the sec
tion. The "boo-boo" was caught
after only about 100 were print
ed in the garbled condition. It's
customary, in such a case, to
send the "bad" papers out of
the area to lessen the ribbing
that the staff will take. In this
case, one of them went to a
fellow journalist, Mr. Crawford,
and he realized right away what
had happened, Thanks for the
sympathy, Art!)
Team Complimented
March 20, 1969
To the Editor:
We housed the Heppner bas
ketball team during the A-2 bas
ketball tournament. The boys
were great well mannered,
pleasant and very considerate
real nice to have around.
I know parents wonder some
times about how their kids be
have away from home (I know
I do). We would like for them
to know their kids were great.
Parents and Heppner can be
very proud.
Sincerely,
Mathew Fitzgerald, Mgr.
Ponv Village Motor Lodge
North Bend, Ore.
Seeks Information
March 10. 1969
To the Editor:
I am trying to get in touch
with someone who is related or
NOT
PARKING METERS
TO BE ENFORCED
During the severe winter weather that
made driving and parking and servicing of
the parking meters difficult, the meters
were not strictly enforced.
Beginning Monday, March 31, the
parking ordinance will be strictly enforced.
A minimum fine of $1 will be imposed if a
ticket is paid within 24 hours. If it is not
paid within that period, additional penalty
will be imposed as stipulated in the ordin
ance. HEPPNER CITY COUNCIL
YOUR
SENATOR
REPORTS . . .
Thirlv Oregonlans are alive
tcdav because of Ihe increased
traffic safely consciousness on
the part of the stale and lu
people: a consciousness that has
come in the wake of a well map
ii nut traffic safety urogram
devised by the l7 legUlature.
Although Oregon's death rale.
over Ihe last iwo years, naa
been reduced by 30, even In the
fuce of a seven percent nine in
miles traveled, we rannol ail
back and feel Ihe job is complet
ed. Realizing this, the legislat
ure has once again turned Ita
attention toward a killer mat
was responsible for 618 deaths
last year traffic accidents, we
have done tnis ov consiuenng
expansion of our present safety
slatutes. Some maior pieces of
Pioneer
Ponderings
Br W. S. CAVERHILL
A Surprising Admission
According to a news Item ap
pearing In the Oregonlan Feb
ruary 20 the proponents of the
sales tax showed an amazing
candor In their failure to pro
vide property tax protection, an
excerpt from the article follows.
The Tax Commission could
start collecting the sales tax
July l, 1969, but tnere wouia
not be any property tax relief
impact until tax bills came out
In the fall of 1970.
'Property tax relief would av
erage about $6 per thousand of
taxable property, but would vary
i i i i . . 1 , . ilnmtnHinff nn tho t :) v i n ct
code district, assessment sched-1
ules and other impact factors.
The proponents estimated the
plan would reduce taxes on an
average of 25 percent the first
year, but this amount wouia
shrink as scnooi and govern
ment costs continue to climb.
Without apology we wish to
add, "and eventually vanish."
Evans Welcome Son
Mr. and Mrs. Kenny Evans of
Adams announce the birth of
their first child, an 8 lb. baby
boy, born Saturday, March 15,
at St. Anthony hospital in Pen
dleton. The baby has been
named Gibbon Lee. Mrs. Evans
is the former Jan Hager of
Heppner. Grandparents include
Mr. and Mrs. James Hager and
Mrs. Emma Hager, all of Hepp
ner; Mrs. Eva Wright of Med
ford; Mr. and Mrs. Verne Evans
of Heppner, and Mr. and Mrs.
J. R. Evans of Condon.
knows something about the fam
ily of "May Bell Sanders
Reed."
May Bell first married Will E.
Reed, then I see from the ceme
tery records that she was the
wife of A. R. Reed. I see there
has been quite recent flowers
put on her grave.
I know she had these follow
ing children (don't know if there
were more or not): Alfred Lee
Sanders, William Sanders (he
died in Echo in the 1920's), Jas
per Sanders, who died in Octo
ber, 1918, in Portland, and there
was Roy Sanders, but I don't
know anything more about her
family. Does anyone know if A.
R. Reed is still livine? Or and
of her family?
Sincerely,
Mrs. L. G. Fullerton
Box 834, Echo, Oregon 97826
BT KEN JEBNSTEDT,
STATE SENATOR
18th District Including
Morrow county
legislation Introduced thus far
include:
Scnntce Bill 217 establishes a
program of annual safety in
spection of molor vehicles.
Along the same lines there I
House Bill 1043, whit-h allows
the slate police to make ran
dom spot-checks of the mech
anical conditions of cars and
trucks.
House Bill 1044 would require
all Oregon drivers to take a dri
ver's license examination every
four years. It also Increases the
fees of drivers license from $3
to $10.
House Bill 1233 provides that
vehicle license plates should be
made of reflectorized materia).
Housee Bill 1104 changes the
maximum speed for trucks from
the present limit of 50 mph to 60
mph.
House Bill lost) lessens the
amount of alcohol In the blood
as a basis for conviction on
drunk driving charges.
Opinions Wanted
As the legislature progresses
in Its consideration of these
measures, it would be of great
assistance to me if you could
let me know your opinion on
one or all or mese measures.
You can voice your opinion by
writing to me at your Oregon
State Senate, State Cnpllol
Building, Salem. Oregon 97310.
The legislature is determined
to do as much as possible to
ward realization of the goal of
maximum property tax relief. As
a result. House Speaker Bob
Smith and Senate President fc.
D. Potts, meeting Friday with
Ways and Means Chairman
Senator Ncwbry and Represen
tative Hansell, have identified
as much as $33 million in State
revenue which could possibly be
trimmed from proposed budgets
and applied to property tax re
lief. Two bills before the legislat
ure receive strong; support to al
low the State to expand its lend
ing facilities. One bill, heartily
endorsed by Oregon farmers,
would allow the state to issue
$545 million In bonds for irriga
tion projects. The proposal.
which would place Oregon In the
'vlu'"
pie who desire financial help
for construction on irrigation
projects, calls for a constitution
al amendment allowing the
State to provide this service.
Pollution Measure Eyed
The second proposal calls for
a constitutional amendment al
lowing the State to sell bonds
in order that it may lend the
money to cities and counties for
anti-pollution facilities. Under
the proposal, local governments
could borrow as much as 75 per
cent of the cost of the project,
allowing them to repay tho
money over a 30-year period.
Advocates maintain that not on
ly will this help combat pollu
tion, but will save local gov
erning entities millions of dol
lars due to the low interest rates
set by the state. Both of these
measures would establish loan
ing agencies similar to the high
ly successful loan situation of
the Department of Veterans' Af
fairs.
r
COMMUNITY
BILLBOARD
HEPPNER HIGH BASEBALL
Invitational Tournament at
Pilot Rock.
Friday, 1:30 p.m., Saturday,
10:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Heppner, Burns, Nyssa and
Pilot Rock teams.
SCHOOL ELECTION
Vote on 1969-70 School Bud
get Monday, April 7, 8:00
a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Heppner Elem.; lone High;
Lexington Distr. office;
Boardman City Hall, and at
A. C. Houghton in lrrlgon
FOOD SALE
Saturday, March 29, from 10
a.m.
By St. Patrick's Altar Society
Central Market.
PUBLIC CARD PARTY
Willows Grange Hall, lone
Sat., March 29, 8 p.m.
Pinochle and Pedro
Donations to lone Library
Fund
Prizes and Refreshments.
Public welcome.
GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE
United Methodist Church,
Heppner
Friday, April 4, starting at
12:30 p.m.
20-minute sessions
Fublic urged to attend
SPONSORED AS A PUBLIC
SERVICE BY
C. A. RUGGLES
Insurance Agency
P. O. Box 247 PH. 676-9625
Heppnctf