! HEPPNER ORE. GAZETTET1MFS, nrU. Sekr C. UTJ
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Horse sense
RR NEXT V. JOINER
I think television station KGW, Portland, owrs to Judge
Paul Jones, the Lake Penland Corp, and the citizens of
Morrow County tome kind of a retraction from its recent
broadcast suggesting illegal or unethical conduct in the
affairs of Lake Penland Corp. The broadcast was an
irresponsible piece of reporting, and a jood journalist would
welcome an opportunity to publicly reams a wrong done to
any person through error, bias or plain sloppy reporting. I
have done so several times, and it didn't hurt a bit.
Gov. Tom McCall, after having found through his
ordered investigation of Lake Penland, praised the whole
project and gave Judge Jones a clean bill of health. McCall
wTote a letter on Nov. 14 to Forest Amsden, an official of
KGW TV, rebuking him for the Lake Penland approach His
letter, in part reads:
". . . You had your romp on the technicalities-and Jim's
series on the subject was important-but everyone missed the
forest for the trees on what Penland really represents in the
area of dramatic citizen action.
"Creation of the lake (Lake Penland and conjunctive
recreation area actually has been a miracle of ingenuity on
the part of the participating local people (Heppner). It
touched high ground in effective work by a team made up of
these men and women and representatives of a half-dozen
federal, state and local agencies.
"Producing a 60-acre body of water in that lake-scarce
part of Oregon took some doing. Sure, they made some
procedural short cuts-all to common in land development
al they've been raked for that; and now, in all fairness. TV
ought to put the uniqueness of their masterpiece into
perspective in what I judge could be. with John's sensitive
handling, a whale of a human interest story." Signed Tom
McCall
The geniuses at KGW did. as McCall suggests, miss the
forest. Lake Penland is the only lake and recreational area
built by a bunch of smalltown business men and dedicated to
public use. These men didn't run to Washington with their
hands out for money, they put it up themselves. They got
nothing in return but satisfaction, and a little guff from KGW.
The story of Lake Penland should be televised as a unique
exercise in people doing for themselves in behalf of the public
good.
To end the story of Judge Jones' "involvement." and it
should be ended, he attended a meeting of the Association of
Oregon Counties at Eugene, Nov. 14-16. When he was
introduced he was given a standing ovation. Gov. McCall
personally appeared in Eugene to swear hirn in as the
"embattled" member of the Land Conservation and
Development Commission.
I take a dozen Oregon newspapers, and in each issue
there is published the names and offenses of people who have
" been arrested by city and county law enforcement officers.
But in Heppner. such news is withheld from the public. The
reason arrests here go unreported in the Gazette-Times is
. because the Chief of Police of Heppner and the Sheriff of
.Morrow County do not keep official log books of their
activities that are open to the public and the press-1 am not
going to speculate as to why such records are not readily
avaliable to the public, but I have written to the Attorney
General as to the legality of law enforcement officers
failure to maintain accurate records to which the public has
access. It is not fair or proper for this newspaper to publish
the names of only a few violators without publishing the
names of all of them, and w e will no longer do so. We want all
arrest records open to us. or none. And if the Attorney
General says the records should be maintained and open to
public scrutiny. I hope the city police and county sheriff will
abide by that decision. The citizens of Heppner and Morrow
County have a basic right. I think, to know about violations of
the law and to know what their law enforcement officers are
doing. Even if it should develop that the state does not
require maintaining public records of arrests. I would hope
that law enforcement officers would recognize that such
news is of public interest, and provide it. And if the public
wants this type of news, which I think it does, then elected or
appointed officers should be instructed to furnish it.
I would like to explain that my stand in favor of the Dec. 3
bond proposal to modernize the city's water system has
nothing to do with personalities. It has only to do with water.
Or the lack of it. Nothing more. Mr. Vic Groshens, writing in
the Mail Pouch, seems to think a personal attack has been
made upon him as a former water superintendent. I don't
know who were mayors, councilmen or superintendents in
other years, and it doesn't matter in the present crisis. Had I
been a member of the city council 20 years ago I would have
done exactly as those councilmen did-provide water to city
residents at the least possible cost. That is, after all, their
duty. There comes a time, however, when a water system
cannot be further "patched and spliced." It must be
reconstructed and modernized. That is the situation in
Heppner today. Last week I used the phrase "Mickey
Mouse" to describe the water system. Some resented it. But
"Mickey Mouse" means to patch up. repair, mend and
make-do at the least possible cost, and there's nothing
derogatory in that. It is simply good business, as long as it
works. For that matter, I am running a Mickey Mouse
newspaper operation. Hardly a week passes that I don't tie
some machine together with baling wire to keep it going until
I am eventually forced into a new machine. Don't feel
insulted, for none is intended. When I get ready to insult
somebody it will be in no unmistakeable terms!
I have to give the ecology nuts credit. They maintain an
efficient organization for harassing their opponents. After
having labeled the lunatic fringe of the environmental
movement as "nuts," I have received dozens of letters from
nearly every' state, Mexico and Canada. They are all in the
same vein-venomous and bristling with invective.
Obviously, the Gazette-Times doesn't circulate in all these
places, which indicates the ecology nuts have a system of
communication set up and a policy of heaping coals on the
heads of those who oppose them. They're wasting their time
on me. of course, but there's a bright side. While they're
attacking me they're leaving some nice people alone! Next
week I'll devote this column to environmentalists-the real
ones I admire and the phoney ones I despise.
GAZETTE-TIMES
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The mail pouch
EDITOR:
Your recent editorial comment concerning ratchet penal
ties charged Columbia Basin for August and September at
our Condon Substation was illusionary to some extent.
As I told you prior to your editorial, the ratchet penalties
did not result in a $100 fine per se.
In our present power contract, there are many, many
restrictions. One of these is that we must pay a minimum
level of demand charge eaual to 50 per cent of the level of the
preceeding eleven months-excluding the effect of irrigation
load Last December, we had some cold days and those 50 per
cent of our members who have some electric heaters had
them pretty well all in use. Thus, a high load peak was estab
lished. When our members at Condon conserved just enough
in their usage to reach a level under 50 per cent of the Decem
ber peak - Columbia Basin was charged a ratchet penalty.
I wrote BPA and complained of the August charge as soon
as our billing was received; later we received the September
penalty. The penalties amounted to $21.85 for August and
$38.95 for September. Penalties are not uncommon in our
peration if the wrong operating condition is present. We had
been paying a penalty at two of our three delivery points (or
poor power factor when I became manager of Columbia
Basin, This amounted to $217.55 for August. 1972. for
example. Within a few days we purchased and installed
capacitors to correct this condition on our system.
I appreciated you calling the nature of our problems to the
attention of your readers
DAVE HARRISON.
Manager.
i ED. NOTE-Call it anything-you still got soaked cash'
money for not using more power.'
EDITOR:
Your little editorial in the last Gazette-Times dated Nov. 15
was very well written, believe me. You are very well versed
on the art of printing what you wish to believe.
To begin with, the Mickey Mouse w ater system as you very
aptly refer to is a far step from what it was 20 years ago. The
city in 1950 was drinking from cow dung-strewn feedlols. The
total water situation was one diesel motor on one pump,
feeding 228 gallons per minute to the city on an 8-inch cement
line.
Since then the total gallons per minute to the city was
boosted to 750 gallons per minute through a sanitary 8-inch
line. The city contracted 6 miles of pipe line, and the city
crew laid an additional 2'i miles. This was done in the
budget. Please check State Sanitary records to see what was
accomplished. In addition, an 8-inch iron and an 8-inch
Transite line was laid around the city, all on budget money.
This improved pressure to all points, except Lott's addition
In addition, repairs were made to the 780.000 gallon
reservoir on budget money, saving 125 gallons per minute to
the city, plus the contamination caused by this faulty
reservoir.
In the past the city has had some real mayors and
councilmen. of which I am proud to have been associated
with. The only though these people had was the well-being of
the city, and above all. it's finances.
Look at the record, if you will. For the past 20 years what
department paid the bills?
In 1950 the city had one operable well at a capacity of 350
gallons per minute. Since 1950 three wells were drilled and
put into operation for a total capacity of 1.800 gallons per
minute, all done on budget money. How can you say the past
20 years have been lost?
Get your facts straight. Mr. Joiner.
VIC GROSHENS.,
Heppner.;
i ED. NOTE-You have just described a Mickey Mouse water'
system; which, had it not been a Mickey Mouse operation, it
would not now be condemned by the State of Oregon. Now for
the facts you requested. (II According to the Oregon Insur
ance Rating Bureau, when it rated the Heppner system in
1938, it got 3.097 deficiency points, placed Heppner in Protec
tion Class 7 which carries a high insurance rate; and in 1968.
30 years later, the same bureau gave Heppner an even worse
rating. 3.381 deficiency points for its fire protection system.
(2) According to the Preliminary Engineering Report on
Proposed Water System Improvements for the City of
Heppner. dated November 1973. compiled by Stephen C.
Anderson & Associates. P. 2, "The present distribution
systems are too small and do not have adequate cross
connections and shutoff valves. Fire flows as recommended
by the Insurance Rating Bureau are less than adequate in the
business district and only about 15 per cent of the
recommended amount at the grade school and high school.
The present water system is inadequate in many ways." All
of which is why the .State of Oregon has, to put it bluntly, "cut
our water off." 3 I quote from a letter to Mayor Jerry
Sweeney written by the Department of Human Resources.
Portland, dated Nov. 16. 1973. the agency that decreed no
more water connections for Heppner until its water system
has been upgraded: "Our immediate concern is to learn
when approval action will be taken to correct the severe
water supply problem near the High School Also, we need to
know when additional quantities of water will be delivered to
the City, thus assuring an adequate supply for new users It
would be helpful if some indication were made as to where
suitable building sites exist that will be developed when an
adequate water supply is assured . . Our past
correspondence has asked that no new water users be served
because of the inadequate supply."
EDITOR:
Imagine my surprise this morning when 1 heard excerpts
being read from the Gazette-Times over Radio Station KGO,
San Francisco! It made me sit up and listen.
Eighty years ago last March I was born on Willow Creek,
the daughter of L.M and Ethel Powell. Father was known as
Milton.
After locusts cleaned us out, my parents moved to Eastern
Montana I recall hearing my parents speak of the cloudburst
on Willow Creek in which many of their close friends lost
their lives
Is it possible for me to learn the year in which this
cloudburst happened. I would appreciate any information on
it.
MRS. VIOLET POWELL ROSE.
Grass Valley. Ca.
(ED. NOTE-The date was June 14. 1903. Give my regards to
that old radio reprobate. Jim Eason of KGO.
EDITOR:
I suppose this letter will go where my other one went, in the
wastebasket.
Anyway, your language has improved.
What I wish to bring up is this dam business. I doubt if the
people of Heppner had a chance to vote on it thai we would
ever have a dam built.
The money spent on the thing so far would go a long way
toward the waier line and sewer works.
Isn't there some way the money could be used where
needed and not on a dam which most don't think is needed?
Also, the last two or three floods have come down Shobe
Canvon and a dam on Willow Creek wouldn't be any help at
all. "
Keeping the creek clean through town is what is needed.
MARTHA VAN SCHOIACK,
Heppner.
REMEMBER THIS?
....REMINISCE!
25 YEARS .(i). Nov. 18. I'M
Conservation of electricity between the hours of 4:30 and
6:30 p.m., the evening peak demand period, is being urged
for all users of power in the Pacific Northwest during the
w inter weeks. . .City council pledges cooperation in plans for
flood control dam on Willow Creek. . .Case Furniture adver
tised new Admiral combination automatic radio-phonographs
for $69,95. . .Flatt's Stage Line announced passenger
service to Arlington, 7 days a week, $3.80 round-trip. .
.Appearing in "A Mind of Her Own," junior play, were
Colleen Connor, Gerald Bergstrom, Rose Pierson, Norman
Ruhl. Marlene DuBois, Rita Johnson, Darlene Wise, Vesta
Cutsforth. Mrs. Marie Clary, coach. Bob Bergstrom, Loren
Pieper, Betty Graves. Jim Orwick. Rachel Cox and Marlene
Turner.
35 YEARS AGO, Nov. 21. 1918
H V. Gates of Heppner Light & Water Co. makes
proposition to city regarding new hotel for Heppner . . . R.W.
Turner was seriously injured last evening by being kicked in
the side by a horse. . . Henry Blahm and family will move to
Walla Waila next week after residing in Heppner 26 years . . .
Ashbough's new meat market is now open to the trade and is
supplied with a good line of fresh and cured meats . . Judge
J. P. Williams has been holding matrimonial court this week
and reports the following weddings: Jeff McFerrin and Amy
Crawford of Heppner were married Saturday evening.
Robert Brinson and Vina Thorp were married Monday. . .
County Superintendent Mrs. Lena Snell Shurte contemplates
three one-day institutes over the county instead of one
general meeting lasting three days. . . After an enforced
vacation of five weeks Heppner schools opened again
Monday (flu epidemic! . . .
Alayor of Hardman
DEAR MISTER EDITOR:
Feronct, Mister Editor, the fellers didn't get no sialic from
their old ladies about spending Saturday night at the country
store. Zeke Grubb said his old lady actual suggested they
have supper a little early so he wouldn't miss what she calld
the opening ceremony of the session.
That's how Zeke knew it was clout to Thanksgiving.
It never fails to amaze him, Zeke told the fellers, that his
old lady can git started on her Thanksgiving cooking a full
week ahead, and still be late gitling dinner on the table
Thanksgiving day. If they was to move Thanksgiving up to
Mondav. like some of the other holidays. Zeke figgered he
wouldn't git nothing atall to eat the first Monday
Thanksgiving cause it would take his old lady a year to work
out a new schedule.
And Zeke was able to report on why the other wives was so
eager fer the fellers to git from under foot. He said his
preacher was pushing fer a community Thunksgiving service
and supper at the church, and all the wimmen around the
nayborhood was to fix the food. What was happening, Zeke
allowed, is that all the wimmen is gittmg together to plan
what they're going to fix, and Saturday night was their first
planning session.
Clem Webster said he was in favor of the eating fer
whatever reason. He was of the mind that some of the best
eating a man can git in this world is good, solid home cooking
at church. He said his old lady even makes a special biscuit
fer church suppers, and she calls em angel biscuits. When all
the wimmen work out different dishes and breads and
goodies to bring, Clem said if they was any better feed to be
had the Good Lord is keeping it fer Hisself.
General speaking, Mister Editor, the fellers was in a
metier mood Saturday night, and it was more than looking to
the Thanksgiving supper at the church. It was the
Thanksgiving. They complain about anything and every
thing, but they are quick to admit they got a heap to be thank
ful for. Ed Doolittle said tins old country has seen some
rough going at home this past year, but he was special
thankful we ain't in a shooting war. As bad as the news has
been out of Washington lately. Republican Ed allowed, it's
been worse in the Middle East.
This Thanksgiving, declared Bug Hookum, he is like the
feller that grumbled cause he didn't have no shoes, til he met
a man who had no feet. Bug said he was reminded of the old
ladv at the revival meeting that stood to witness at church.
She said "I ain't got but two teeth, but thank God they hit."
And me. I am thankful that when ever bone in my body
aches. I ain't a herring.
Farthermore. I kin be thankful that my friends in town '
give me a new lease on mayorship of this town. Its a good
feelin to know ones wanted, and that theres something that
makes friend besides good grammar in a weekly letter to
you. Mister Editor. And I'm grateful to Missus Steagall for
offenn me mayorship of her home town, St. Charles, Va., I
know its a great town, but I'd have a great lonesomeness
there awav from old friends
Personal. I'm thankful fer a heap more than I'm worried
about. It would be a better world if we could be more thankful
fer what we got and quit being bitter ulmut what the other
feller's got that we ain't.
Yours truly,
MAYOR ROY.
P t ' Q.
L L.fi
Church
politics
on Israel
BY
LESTER KINSOLVING
"Put your pistol up Jake, with all the notes you
qot in here, you have done robbed this bank:
Israel's nearly three million citizens know better than to
expect much by way of justice for their nation in the United
Nations.
For they have learned over the years to expect that Israel
will be voted against, almost automatically, by a large
coalition of Communist and Arab countries who are now
beginning to purchase African votes as well.
Israel, on the other hand, might expect some semblance of
fairness from the National Council of Churches (NCC) in the
U.S.A. For all 31 of the Protestant and Orthodox
denominations who belong to this organization are
self-professed followers of Jesus Christ.
On Saturday Oct. 6. however, while Jesus' fellow Jews of
the Holy Land were observing the solemnity of Yom Kippur,
the armies of Egypt and Syria struck simultaneously.
Did the NCC deplore the massive sacrilege of using the
holiest day of the Jewish year to start a war? It did nothing of
the kind.
The NCC General Board, meeting only one week later in
New York, resolved that it "Deplores the outbreak of
hostilities." (The absolute nonexistence of any self-identified
"hostility lobby" rendered this neat solution comparable to
resolving officially against the man-eating shark.)
The NCC General Board also called upon the U.S.
government "to use the present spirit of detente, especially
with the USSR, to effect an immediate mutual cessation of
arms shipments to the belligerents."
This resolution was passed despite the enormus airlift of
weapons by the Soviet Union to Damascus and Cairo. And
considering the obvious lack of influence of an church council
upon the Kremlin, this resolution, whatever its intent,
constituted a call for an arms embargo upon Israel alone.
Such an embargo proposal, if it had not been ignored by the
U.S. government, would have very possible resulted in
Israel's defeat, and a genocide on the Mediterranean,
courtesy of the Syrians and the Iraqis, if not the Egyptians.
The American Jewish Committee's two guest observers at
the NCC meeting. Rabbi James Rudin and the Rev. Gerald
Strober (Presbyterian), were appalled by this resolution.
And so were a few of the NCC delegates such as Cleveland's
Episcopal Bishop John Burt, who tried valiantly but in vain
to amend this embargo proposal.
The AJC observers noted with deep regret the NCC's
"failure to deal with the reality of the Middle East War,"
including "aggression threatening the very existence of the
State of Israel." ,
What the AJC did not say (understandably, as they were
guests ) is the fact that while church property is sacrosanct in
Israel, in Libya, strongman Muammar Quadaffi can
expropriate an entire Roman Catholic Cathedral and turn it
into a mosque without so much as a murmur of international
protest.
There are also the NCC's Arab member -denominations,
such as the Antiochian Orthodox (until recently Syrian
Orthodox I bodies, who. while contributing little or nothing to
their share of NCC's budget, use the NCC as a national
platform for Arab propaganda.
Any of these Arab denominations might walk out of the
NCC (as did the Seventh Day Babtists, only this year.) If
such withdrawals begin to multiply, the NCC's image of
many denominational members could be seriously tarnished.
This ecclesiastical fact of life is approximated by the old
question as to why the U.S. should offend 100 million Arabs
who control a lot of oil. simply for the sake of 3 million Jews.
Answered Golda Meir, who seconded the AJC's expressed
regret about the NCC:
"If the United States would sacrifice the lives of millions
for the sake of oil. this is not the America I once knew."