Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 15, 1973)
To reconstruct, expend llc-pner wctcr system hmd election called for Dec. 3 $450. 000 Heppner residents will go to the polls In special election Dec. S to decide whether $450,000 In general obligation bond? will be Issued to Improve, reconstruct and ex tend the water supply system of the City of Heppner. The Common Council unanimously endorsed the resolution at a special meeting Thursday night. The city is faced with an emergency situation because the State of Oregon recently refused to permit the city to make any new water connec tions until its water system has been brought up to accepted state standards. Navy willing to relocate range Rear Admiral John Tierney, speaking before the Rotary Club in Hermistnn Thursday, told business and professional men that "the Navy is less pessimistic ana more opti mistic" that It has been in some time in trying to find an alternate site to replace the Bon rd ni un Bombing Range. "Another site is under investigation by the Navy at this time," Tierney continued. "I am not at liberty to disclose the location a! this time due to the public's rewtion. The proposed site is owned by 36 individuals, and each land owner must be contacted before any commitments can be made. Should the Navy disclose the proposed site at this time, oquisition would be virtually impossible." ') The Navy is faced with many problems in trying to relocate, other than finding a suitable site. Among them are 1 Hear Admiral John Tierney speaking before the Kotary Club in llermiston last week said "The Navy will relocate facilities from Boardman as soon as we can find a place to move to." PGE$500,000 land deal near Cecil Portland General Electric has purchased 1,700 acres of ranch land in Gilliam County, in the Pebble Springs area near Arlington, the Gazette-Times learned yesterday. The $500,000 land deal was recorded in Gilliam County court house Oct. 31. It involves purchase of the Krebs Bros., Inc.. lands. According to the records, $100,000 in cash was paid to consummate the transaction. The area has been the second choice site for a nuclear fueled generating plant to be built by PGE. The first choice is the Cartv site near Boardman. Unconfirmed reports to the Gazette-Times indicate that PGE does not consider the Pebble Springs site an alternative to the Carty one. but "in addition to it." If so, this could mean that a nuclear generating plant could be located at Carty when the Navy pulls out. plus one to be constructed at Pebble ' PNo Morrow County land was involved in the PGE-Krebs Bros, transaction, although part of it is adjacent to Morrow County. Steve Anderson, city engi neer, said the following work will have to be dune to bring Heppner's present water ayi tem up to state standards: improve Well 3 and utilize the Thorpe Well as a standby source of water: relocate the existing 8-Inch Willow Creek transmission line and replace It with a 12 inch line; relocate Reservoir No. 1 on the West hill, directly in line with Willow St., and Increase iti capacity to one million gal lons; automate Wells 2, 3 and S to maintain an automatic water level within the reser voir; and improve the present distribution system within city limits. The latter includes taking the relocation of its $200 million bombing range facili ties and approval by Congress of the site. Should the Navy decide to move its facilities immediately, the earliest possible date it could relocate is 1979-80. New sites for the Navy have been under study since 1960, with seven sites considered at that time. All seven sites were rejected by the Navy for various reasons; namely the distance from Whidbey Is land, Wn., which should be inside a radius of 200 miles; the terrain, weather, and air traffic. Another study was con ducted by a research team from Stanford University, in 1969, and nine sites were proposed. Seven of which had previously been considered by the Navy. The Port of Morrow has been instrumental in trying to over the present county water system and extending a new lo-inch feeder line to Heppner High School; placing a cross tie in Qua id St. to upgrade the elementary school system; and Installing new water mains in Riverside, Center and May streets. At present, Heppner High School and the elementary school are only receiving IS and 20 per cent, respectively, of the required water needs as determined by the Oregon Insurance Rating Bureau. New fire hydrants would also be installed ; existing ones would be brought up to state standards. The estimated total cost of the project is $791,620, with the force the Navy to relocate its facilities by promoting nu clear power parks east of the Cascades. In recent years Portland General Electric, the Oregon Congressional delegation and state and business leaders have been seeking the relo cation of the range. In October, the Oregon Nuclear and Thermal Energy Council decided that the Portland General Electric nuclear plant should not be built unless the Navy relocates. "Nuclear power is impor tant, especially during the energy crisis," said Tierney, "and we are in sympathy with residents who are in favor of both the power and the -agricultural development in this area. Our presence in Boardman is detrimental to the Carty plant," said Tier ney, referring to the use of coolant water from the plant for agricultural irrigation. CB ponders PUC ban on lighting Columbia Basin is consid ering plans which might be considered by its board of directors on the banning of display lighting. The P.U.C. has issued an order directing privately owned electric utilities in the state to disconnect service to customers who refuse to comply with its directive banning display lighting. The rural electric co-ops are not directly under the P.U.C. in this matter, such action is to a certain degree a policy decision of the board of directors. It is requested that the small commercial consumers should continue to fully, vol untarily cooperate with the ban on advertising signs. Signs should be directly asso ciated with security or safety needs, if not advertising a service offered in evening hours. Manager David Harrison said that a check on Heppner Main Street on the evening of Nov. 7 showed only one advertising light in use. "The Columbia Basin appreciates the fine cooperative attitude of the business membership," Harrison said. Russ Dolven in RCA National rodeo finals Russ Dolven, 32, Wicken burg, Arix., formerly of Lex ington, will be entered in the Rodeo Cowboy Association s National Finals. The finals will be held in Oklahoma City, Dec. 1-9. Dolven will be entered in the steer wrestling event. Only the top 15 cowboys in each rodeo event are invited to partici pate in the national finals. Dolven has been following the rodeo circuit for several years, and is well known here for his rodeo performances and for having lived and attended school at Lexington. Orwick elected Elected to three-year terms in the Lexington city election. Nov. 6, were Gene Orwick. mayor; Clifford Williams, Leonard Munkers. Ed Baker and Bud Wilson, councilmen; and Ron Riley, recorder. U.S. government paying $348, 750 of the amount. Estimated total cost to the City of Heppner Is $442,870, The new system will allow the development of the West, South and East hills and allow for any future industrial development In the city. Anderson estimated the population of Heppner to be 2,300 within the next 10 years. (BAM Vol. 90, No 3 Judge defends Lake Penland Jones' appointment to Gov. Tom McCall last Thursday announced he would let stand the appointment of Morrow County Judge Paul Jones to the new state Land Conservation and Develop ment Commission. Jones' confirmation was held up pending an investi gation of his connection with the Lake Penland Corporation conducted by the Local Gov ernment Relations Division and the Real Estate Commis sion. Jones, one of the original 25 investors in the recreational facility who each put up $3,000 Jones won't 'sacrifice' Penland Morrow County Judge Paul Jones has denied a story in the Sunday Oregonian to the effect that he is sacrificing his $3,000 equity in Lake Penland. "I never made that state - ment either to the corporation r or to the governor. I have no intention of sacrificing or giving away to the corporation my $3,000 equity," he said in a statement to the Gazette Times. The full text of Jones' statement follows: "A recent news item has indicated a possible conflict of interest with my position as commissioner due to my association with Lake Pen land. In the Sunday Oregonian a statement was made that I am sacrificing my $3,000 equity in Lake Penland. "I never made that state ment either to the corporation or to the governor. I have no intention of sacrificing or giving away to the corporation my $3,000 equity in the corporation. I am today re Voters approve college bonds In the largest vote in the college's history, Blue Moun tain Community College won voter approval Nov. 6 to complete a building program planned 11 years ago. Voters in Morrow and Uma tilla counties approved a $1,600,000 bond issue to con struct a physical education and music facility which, when completed, will essen tially complete the campus. The vote was 2176 to 1531. The issue carried in all but five of the college district's 22 precincts. Morrow County voters approved the levy 226 to 'Our Town' slated for tlov. 15, 16 & 17 Remember when the milk w as brought by a friendly old milkman and his horse-draWn cart? When doctors made calls? Your first strawberry soda with your sweetheart at the corner drug store'? All of these scenes out of the past will come alive Nov. 15, 16 and 17 at the Heppner High School when the Heppner Drama Club presents Thorton Wilder's "Our Town." Linda Slusher, director of the play, said the unique The proposed Improvements will allow for the population increase. More Important, he says, it will enable the city to provide itself with an ade quate water supply, while furnishing both schools the water necessary to meet fire protection standards. As of Jan. 1, 1973, the assessed valuation of the City of Heppner was $7,720,654. The to launch the development, and for which he would have received one lakeside lot, was charged with having had a conflict of interest by the Attorney General because he actively supported develop ment of Lake Penland while serving as a county commis sioner at the same time he was an investor in the corporation. Jones was, in effect, ordered to divest himself of his Lake Penland investment, which he at first agreed to do. But later, on Nov. 10, Jones wrote L.E, Dick, president of the corpor ation, to disregard his ex questing my attorney to take the necessary legal procedure to place any title or interest that I own in Lake Penland in a trust until such time as I ' leave office in this county, not -,4-eause of the proposed ap-, pointment to the LCDC, but because it has been inferred that it is in conflict with my position as Judge of Morrow County. "I do this with regret since it has been a gratification to look forward to building a cabin on one of the lots in the near future. "I also regret that my association with Lake Penland has resulted in embarrass ment to them because of my membership. Our intent from beginning to end has been to build a facility for the general public, to promote tourism and recreation in this county that we could be proud of, and this we have done. "I was informed several months ago that my name, 166 and Umatilla County approved 1950 to 1365. The vote exceeded by 376 the previous high total vote in April 1968. The college board of educa tion met yesterday to canvass the vote and instruct archi tects on details that will assure completion of the building by fall term 1975. Board Chairman Bob Zerba, Athena, described the election as an important step in the college's history, adding that it assures future students and residents of the two-county district of a well-rounded staging of Our Town forces the audience to use imagination and their own lifetime experi ences in relating to the characters and their situation. Our Town is a play set in the small town of Grover's Cor ner, New Hampshire, but it's an expression of life with which anyone watching can identify. Curtain time on all three days is 8 p m. at Heppner High School. present city charter does not allow the city to bond itself for more than 10 per cent of Its assessed valuation, or $772, 065. The city now has general obligation bonds, sewer, in the amount of $5,000 with a maturity date of Feb. 1, 1974; water bonds, $12,000, with a maturity date of April 1. 1974; and swimming pool and flood damage repair bonds of $86- Heppner, Ore., Thursday, November pressed intent to return the property to the corporation. "It is my understanding," Jones wrote, "that the corpor ation is not in a financial position to do this at this time . I have todav contacted my attorney, Dennis Doherty, and requested that he do what is necessary to put my equity in Lake Penland in trust until such time as I leave the service of Morrow County." Jones told the Gazette Times Monday that he is far from happy with publicity from the governor's office with others from Eastern Oregon, had been submitted to the governor for his consider ation for appointment to the LCDC. After so much time had elapsed, I had concluded that . someone els bad been select ed. ' " " "Ron Schmidt of McCall's office told me on Oct. 10 that with my permission Gov. McCall was appointing me to the commission. At that time I told him I would accept. Again on Oct. 23, following a TV news item involving Morrow County, its officials and Lake Penland officials, the gover nor's office called, asking me to withdraw my name. I refused, saying that McCall could fire me but I would not quit. "Wednesday, Nov. 7, fol lowing an intensive investi gation, which the corporation and myself had requested, the governor announced his in tention to let my nomination stand. physical education, health and recreation program. "Our mandate is to see to it that these facilities are used seven days a week by students and other citizens from throughout the far reaches of Umatilla and Morrow coun ties," Zebra added. The building will include a 1 ; ; , ! v. : . ' . . V ' V .-mill , hwM -- -- h;;t:: X'jiUv- " " iithzzuj i h V ' ""' f .. ' ooo and $90,000, respectively, dite in 1983 and 1986. The city, under its present charter, will have a reserve bonding capacity of $596,065 after April 1, 1974. The council announced that the improvement program will not raise present water rates. Funds to pay for the bonds will be obtained by an ad 13, 1973 that, while clearing him of any illegality in the Lake Penland Corp., left him and the corporation both under a cloud of suspicion. McCall, in a press inter view, was quoted as saying that a factor militating a gainst Jones' appointment to the LCDC is that the corpor ation itself "disregarded, ap parently out of carelessness, certain requirements for sub dividing land."- Jones disputes that any requirements were not, or are not, being met. Instead of the investigation, which he had interest "The area comprising this Congressional District is one which the governor has ap pointed me to represent. All other appointees are from west of the Cascades. , 'The personal satisfaction that this appointment first afforded me had been wiped out by events of the last two weeks. However, I would be disappointed if the people of my county expected me to quit while both the corporation and myself are still under fire." Jones went to Eugene Tues day to attend a convention of the State Association of Ore gon Counties, of which he is a past president. He said he planned to go by Salem and "demand written documen tation of illegal or question able practices" on the part of Lake Penland officials or himself. "I am entitled to know the results of that investigation, and I demand to know whats wrong, if any, were commit ted," he said. music facility, indoor swim ming pool, gymnasium for basketball, volleyball, gym nastics and other activities; and facilities for weight-lifting, wrestling and handball. Precincts voting against the bond issue were Hermiston, Milton-Freewater, Stanfield, Umapine and lone. Members of the cast of the play "Our Town" are shews rehearsing the wedding scene. Pictured above, from the left, are Toni Toll. Joha .Meyers and Jak t hitty. valorem tax on property. Any additional operating costs would be offset by revenue derived from new water users and other services. There will be an increase In the property tax. The bonds will add $4.74 per $1,000 valuation to the present tax load, bringing the total tax rate for 1974-75 lo $30.12 per $1,000. IS cents stand demanded, clearing him and the corporation of any wrong doing, "it has served only to create a lingering suspicion that something is amiss in the corporation's activity." The findings of the investi gation have never been given him, Jones said. "I only know what has appeared in the press." Jones must still be approved by the Senate Committee on Excutive Appointments, pro ably in December, and then by the full Senate at the special session next year. Noise parade studied Parades, Christmas deco rations and underground "sprinkler systems were the, topics discussed at the lone City Council meeting Nov. 6. Mike Warren, student body president, and John Edmund-t son, principal of the lone High School, appeared before the council to discuss the student noise parade held Oct. 18. The city council had received several complaints that the actions of some of the drivers taking part in the parade were dangerous. The city council asked the lone student council to draw up some guidelines for future noise parades and to present them at the next city council meeting. Further ac tion was postponed until the student report is received and reviewed. " Mrs. Mary Holtz was ap pointed to investigate the cost of Christmas decorations that do not require electrical lighting. The city's present decorations will not be usable this year due to the governor's ban on outdoor lighting. The council studied plans for the underground sprinkler system to be installed in the city park. No action was taken and the study will be con tinued at the next meeting. C.J.D. Pauman, Heppner, is in intensive care , at the Veterans's Hospital, Walla Walla, Wn.
