Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (July 12, 1973)
t HEPPNER ORF.. GmTTETIMES. Thurdt, July IS. 17J r ' :J New numbers raruwrs iruuu State Rep Jack Sumner, DHeppner, apparently hasn't had as much trouble being effective a many freshman legislator do. Mutt freshmen spend their first session groping around in the dark-learning the ropes. In fact, there are a few. like Portland Democrat Wally Priestly, who have been to more than one session and still grope around in the dark. But Sumner has gamed a reputation for independence that has given him some added clout when his favorite bills come up for a vote. Included on that list usually are those that favor farmers and ranchers. Since Sumner is independent but not so much so as to join a coalition with Republicans, the House Democrats see him as a key vote for issues that split along party lines. That means the Democrats are more likely to give htm what he wants in terms of farm legislation-if they can depend on his support of the party's fragile majority on other issues. That means that farmers in the mid-valley and elsewhere have a friend in Salem-a friend who is becoming more infuential because he learns quicklv. - ( Albany Democrat Herald) Rep. Jack Sumner Says legislature did a good job The Oregon Legislature adjourned last week after standing up to some of the most difficult problems this state has ever faced. In the weeks ahead I plan to do a more in-depth analysis of this session's many accomplishments, but it's appropriate now to give you a quick summary. At the beginning of the session, everyone agreed the Number One need was solving the question of school finance so that skyrocketing property taxes would not overload Oregon's homeowners and renters - a problem five legislatures had only dented. In an unprecendented move, we referred a tax plan to a vote while we were still in session. That was the "Tom McCalT plan. The people ultimately said the plan went too far, too fast. We needed to know. As a bi-partisan alternative, we developed a three-step program of property tax relief which people are saying is still the most comprehensive plan of tax relief offered in any state. First stage of the plan requires no new taxes, and assures families with incomes of less then $15,000 that they'll receive direct tax relief, whether they rent or own their homes. The second and third phases require voter approval to relieve property taxes further through increased basic school support. Property tax offsets would come from corporate tax increases and adjustments in the less regressive personal income tax. The Number Two challenge to this legislature was land use planning. People knew Oregon had to be protected from uncontrolled development, unscrupulous developers and short-sighted planning. As a result of this session's work, the state will have the framework needed to plan for the wise use of our land and guarantee that our children will live in an Oregon we have known. ' Other concerns of the environment were resolved by this session. Landmark environmental laws passed in 1371 were tightened up and improved, including the state's model bottle deposit bill. Bonding programs have been passed to allow the state to build before construction prices make improvements impossible. The legislature approved measures providing $150 million in bonds for highways, $200 million for moderate-income housing and $300 million for water development and irrigation. Limited use of highway funds for public transportation was passed, and the state's transportation needs were put under a new Transportation Department - one of many state agencies reorganized for greater efficiency. Tough measures were passed to deal with the drinking driver who's involved in half of Oregon's traffic fatalities. But the drinking driver, and other alcoholics, will have more and better treatment facilities and programs available. Many bills passed which ventilate government. A shield law now protects Oregon newsmen from having to reveal confidential news sources, assuring your right to a free flow of information. A landmark conflict-of-interest law requires lobbyists to register and list expenses, and public officials to submit information that could indicate conflicts of interest. All governmental meetings must be held openly under yet another law, the "public Right to Know Bill." Smut peddlers, "massage" parlors and live sex shows have been greatly restricted by some of the toughest new laws in the nation. The responsibilities of adulthood, with the exception of drinking, have been granted to Oregon's 18-year-olds. For the first time, renters' rights have been balanced against the rights of landlords. It fosters a much-needed reform: landlords are restrained from acting unfairly. But it's not just one-sided. Some tenants, too, make problems - such as forbidding reasonable access and leaving property behind after moving. The problems can now be solved without the threat of a lawsuit. New home buyers and those buying land in new subdivisions are protected by new consumer protection laws. Day care programs in Oregon were saved from arbitrary federal cutbacks by emergency legislative funding action. This legislature also supported the concept of full citizenship rights for women, and voted to bar discrimination on the basis of sex in granting credit, hiring for jobs, and providing public accommodations. We're proud of this record of achievement. But we're prouder still that we did it while opening up the legislative process to more people - even though we had to work under the extreme pressure of not knowing what would happen to federal funds. The 1973 legislature has gone home, but behind us is a record no session in history can match for results. It was worth the time we took to do the job right. you cen dial Now telephone numbers for Pucific Northwest Hell's Repair Service and Time of Da go into effect Monday, Jul !. for Heppner. Lexington and lone The now numbers are: Repair Service. 1 27 5080. Timeol Day. I 844 1212 "Although these are dialed like long distance calls, there is no charge for dialing these new numbers." says Dale Slusher, local PNB manager. TWO MEN ARRESTED Doyle Howard Key, 44. Heppner, was arrested and bonked in the county jail Saturday evening on charges of driving a vehicle while under the influence of liquor. Key posted bail and was released. Gene Arlynn Hembre. 34. Heppner. was arrested by local authorities at 3:30 a m. Sunday for driving while intoxicated. He was booked and later released on his own recognizance. I 1 o U II IM X'A ' J are km !tmiuMiimiiufltmBtmmtwiitiH!tiiiiMiwiii!itiwnimHiiiiHnniiiHtitiiiiitiitn JJSTjWt. Norse sense A COMPLETE LISTING M m mm 1 H 'I Appraiser loses lawsuit The case of Richard Schlicht ing vs. Morrow County Court, et al. was decided June 27 by the State Court of Appeals in favor of Morrow County and County Assessor Joyce Bergstrom. The case has been in the courts for about two years, according to Herman Winter, district attorney. Schlichting had been hired as appraiser by the assessor and approved by the Morrow County Court. He was subsequently fired from his position by the assessor because of a series of "personality clashes." Schlich ting demanded a hearinr but since there was no civil service in the county, local officials refused the hearing, holding that he was subject to employ ment at the pleasure of the assessor. Schlichting then filed suit against the assessor and indivi dual members of the court claiming he was unfairly dis charged. He sought $100,000 in damages, reinstatement in his job. and back pay from the time of his discharee. Attorney Dennis Hachler, Pendleton, was attorney for the complainant. "And now for the neighborhood news.' The mail pouch EDITOR: We'll be missing your "Opinions" here in the land of the hippies. We think Oregon the greatest, and go ther quite often having folks at Sisters and Hermiston. If it weren't for our little home here at the Bay we would emigrate too! ,. KENNETH & BLANCHE COOK Bodega Bay, Ca. EDITOR: As the new publisher of your old Sebastopol Times I am extremely anxious to make you feel at home in the City of Heppner. I can't think of a finer way to make your feel at home than to the first reader to scream, "Cancel my subscription!" WM. POTTER JOHNSON Publisher, Sebastopol Times. Sebastopol. Ca. EDITOR: We think Dave Harrison, Harold Kerr, Dean Connor and Martha Doherty should receive a big "thank you" and a pat on their backs for taking time to work with the girls' newly formed softball this past season. We think the girls really enjoyed it. We know Frances did. Also, thanks to the other people who took time to help the girls. MR. & MRS. BUD PECK Heppner. EDITOR: Few people really have a picture of what is involved in large college athletics from a management level. The super-splendid sports writer of the Oregonian, Leo Davis, has written about this in the June 20, 1973, issue. Of particular interest to me, born in Heppner and graduated from Oregon State in 1911, is that Davis so nicely features "our" Jim Barratt, athletic director of OSU. Davis' column gives one a picture of the magnitude of Barratt's job, and of the executive he really has to be. Ever hear of an Ail-American Athletic director? No? Well, you have now. Jim Barratt is nothing short of that, and we Oregonians, especially in Morrow County, are proud of "our Jim." MARVIN SMEAD, Portland EDITOR: Surely seems refreshing, to say the least to have a man stand right up and tell our Congressmen to take a deep seat and a tight rein because there is hard riding coming up. Think I will start taking salt-water baths just so my skin will be tough enough to take his spurs, if I deserve them. W W. WEATHERFORD Heppner THE GAZETTE-TIMES Heppner. Orogoa t7W Pboo S7S-S22S M08BOW COOrm MWSFAE The Heppner Gazette established March 3a 1883. The Heppner Time, mtablktned November 18, 1897. Consoli dated February 15, 1912. IffEMBFRS OF NATIONAL NEWSPAPERS ASSN. AND OREGON NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSN. ERNEST V. JOINER, Publisher Subscription rales, IS.H a year ia the state. K.I elbewbere. Single copy. IS cenU. Mailed single copies. 23 cents. Mmiauum biTfine. $ l.s. mini niiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiitn Need an aerial map? One of the finest aerial photographers, specializing in high altitude photomapping. will be in Heppner today and Friday to take aerial views of Heppner for the Gazette-Times. The specially-built plane carries a $50,000 Zeiss camera, said to be the finest made. If any rancher, developer or government entity would like aerial photomaps or topographic maps taken on Friday, he may contact the Gazette-Times publisher. Ernest V. Joiner, not later than Friday. Inasmuch, as the photomapping plane will be in Heppner Friday anyway, it will be very inexpensive to have the services of the best photomapping company on the West Coast. aiiiiiiiiiiintiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiittiiiiiniiniiiiniiiiiiiiitniiiiiitwiiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiitini Mayor of Hard man DEAR MISTER EDITOR: Well. sir. all of us out here survived the Fourth and I'm glad to see that you did. A heap of folks didn't. ' The fellers brought the world situation up to date Saturday night at the country store, as usual, and they all reported where their gardens was coming in nice, or their neighbor's was. which amount ed to the same good summer eating. Ed Doolittle had a clipping left over from last Saturday night when the fellers took up the American way of celebrat ing by sacrificing ourselfs on the highways. This piece he saw was about where a lot of cities now is putting in computered traffic light systems that count the cars, find out the traffic speed and f igger out how to change the lights so everybody can keep going as fast as possible. Ed said instead of fast lights we ought to be building them speed-breaker humps in the road about ever mile, and Ed said he wasn't to sure about the value of these big roads where you got four lanes fer traffic, one lane fer the ambulance and one fer the wreckers to pick up the pieces. Farthermore.when me and the old lady got to church Sunday, the preacher had cars on his mind. He was talking about the younger generation and I dozed off in spots, but I recall he said kids today don't have any more devilment in em than ever other generation, but now they all got cars so they can spread their mischief over more territory. COW POKES The preacher said a wonder of this age is that a 17 year old boy can drive a car through the church circle driveway on two wheels, and with one arm flopped out the winder, hut he can't git a lawnmower across the yard without cutting up the garden hose. Turning to other matters, Clem Webster told the fellers the Republicans have give the Democrats plenty of run-on issues in recent months, and he's wondering what the Demo crats will make of Breshnev's visit. Clem said the top Russian and Nixon seem to hit it right off, and he. fer one is going to worry until he finds out what we've sold and give the Russ ians this time. The Russian idee of a deal is all take and no give, but Clem said we have a hard time learning that. The Democrats had a pritty good issue to run on in that wheat deal. Clem allowed, but all the stealing and lying the Republicans have been caught at lately make that $-100 million mistake a minor matter. Speaking of stealing. Mister Editor. I am disagreed with the judge that jest made them soldiers that stole from Army clubs in Vitnam give everthing back to the Guvernment and take jobs without pay. I'd ruther be pore and free than rich behind bars. But you can't f igger money. I recall Tommy Manville onct said he spent $1 million getting rid of 12 wives, but he had no regrets cause getting rid of six was worth the price, so he got a bargain. Yours truly. Mayor Roy By Ace Reid ERNEST V. JOINER BiiitiiiuntitntntnniittannintHmtantti Horse Sense is the title of this weekly column. I trust you will not ruffle my dignity by making the obvious pun! It will be I regular feature of the Gazette-Times, a place where the editor can relieve his frustrations, convey his personal opinions and observations, and comnent on the foibles of our times Don't feel obligated to agree with me, and do take issue when vou feel like it. Freedom of speech, you know, is no good unless "ou use it. Like an arm or a leg. freedom of speech will wither away unless it s used. So exercise it while you can. Next time the legislature meets it may become illegal. I am in Heppner from choice, not compulsion. I find it a retreshing change from the crowded freeway country with its w all to-w all people. Deep Throat movies, welfare bums, high taxes, communes, homosexuals and wild game refuges that pass for California universities and colleges. The fact that there is no sales tax in Oregon is a good 5 percent reason for coming here. Steering down an Oregon highway without having to endanger the lives of hitchhikers packing every thing from babies on papoos e boards to mangy hounds in drag is a definite plus. And when I found out that I. Stranger, could cash a check in any business firm along Main Street without having to furnish references, a financial statement, driver's license, birth certificate and fingerprints, I knew this was my kind of town. I even hear that bank Joans are made to ranchers on the streets! I am a shaken man. Did you Jcnow that there are as many people on the California welfare rolls as there are residents of the State of Oregon? We are fortunate to live in a state where the legislature meets only once every two years. It is a matter of record that nothing bad ever happens to the citizens of any state until the legislature meets, thus the longer the period between meetings the better off the citizens are. Down in Texas, I once advocated that state legislators, then seeking an increase of their $900. a year salaries, be given $100,000 a year, but on one condition-that they never meet. Under this plan, legislators would be so well paid they wouldn't have to steal and the people wouldn't be robbed because the legislature would never meet! I never understood why nobody bought the idea. A good rule of thumb is to regard all politicians as thieves. Chances are you will be right. Once in a while, of course, one turns out to be honest. This gives you a chance to change your mind and be pleasantly surprised at having misjudged him. The closer the politician is to the grassroots voter, the more honest he is apt to be. For good reason. The people are able to watch him more closely, and are more willing to do the watching. I'd be willing to bet that it would be harder for Judge Paul Jones to swipe a paper clip for personal use than it would be for the Russians to steal the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington (which they just may have already done). I haven't met our state representative and senator yet, but I understand both are very popular with Morrow County voters. I prefer the ones people hate; it means they're stepping on toes that need to be smashed, thus saving taxpayers money! On the subject of saving money, the legislature just adjourned found itself with $239 million it inherited from the previous one. It didn't waste any time spending the surplus where it would do them the most good. It didn't occur to lawmakers that the money might be returned to the people from whom it was extracted in the first place. And one legislator took pride in announcing publicly that the late session passed 3.000 new laws. Hardly anything to be proud of. For one thing, it means we have 3,000 ill-considered laws. It is impossible for any man to study, understand and pass intelligently on 3,000 bills in 180 days, and bad legislation is worse than no legislation. It also means that there are 3.000 things you can do today that you won't be able to do 90 days from now. Every law infringes upon somebody's liberty. Thus it naturally follows that the fewer laws enacted the fewer people who will lose their liberties. Nobody has yet questioned the maxim that "he who governs best, governs best." , There are only three people standing in the way of construction of Willow Creek Dam: Cong. Al Ullman, Senators Mark Hatfield and Robert Packwood. It isn't the people of Morrow County, who have spoken. It isn't the Corps of Engineers; it builds what it's told to. It isn't Congress, for it has already okayed the dam. All that remains to be done is that our three representatives in Congress stop playing politics with the people of Morrow County and demand that construction .begin. The have gotten as much political mileage out of Willow Creek as they are entitled. From what I hear, they (or their predecessors) have appeared in Morrow County just before a general election for 30-odd years to pledge their support for the dam. They get the votes, hie themselves to Washington, and forget the whole matter until the next election, at which time the cycle starts over again. Unless these gentlemen act, and quickly, to end the pussyfooting and get the dam started, the voters of Morrow County would be justified in holding all three of them personally responsible at the polls for this ridiculous 30-year fiasco. Is it asking too much for them to make good on their promises? Don't tell me Cong. Ullman isn't powerful enough to swing the dam. He is slated to succeed Rep. Wilbur D. Mills, D-Ark., chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, one of the most powerful men in Congress. Mills said Saturday he will retire unless his health improves, and Ullman will replace him. Ullman swings a wide loop in Congress, wide enough to swing the deal to build one lousy little dam on Willow Creek. . The publisher apoligizes to the business men of Heppner for failing to contact them for advertising space in last week's newspaper wishing Charlie and Dorothy Heard a happy retirement and expressing their gratitude for the Heard's contributions to the city. We took over suddenly; "cold turkey," as we say, and didn't know where some of the businesses were located. We will goof up more, too, as we go along and try to get acquainted. So if we overlooked you, please understand it wasn't intentional. Nobody wishes the Heards health, long life and happiness more than the new publisher and his staff. The Heards are wonderful people, and we're all elad thev will remain in Heppner. 'You'd bfir took erf turn good Jak; nexf fwne you w'w wiS k coming acrou a tupf morief coemfer in Bofon" MEYRICK NEILSON OF YETBURY LTD. and STAIR AND COMPANY LTD. invite you to visit their Summer Exhibition of Fine English Clocks at 120 Mount Street, London, W.l.