Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (June 6, 1974)
Heppner, Ore., Gazette-Times, Thursday, June 6, 1974 After 25 years Page 5 Kindergarten becomes :a. 'part of school system By LIZ CURTIS An era ended with a hop, skip and a Jump Thursday, May 30. The Heppner Community Kindergarten became history after 25 years in operation as 49 boys and girls received certificates of graduation at their picnic at the fairgrounds. Next fall, kindergartens in Morrow County will become a part of the school system. The years of bake sales, chili feeds, rummage sales and campaigning to put kinder garten in the school system are over for parents of 5-year-old children. Heppner can be proud of its kindergarten, which has been paid for by tuition and hard work on the part of many parents. Rachel Dick was the main force behind the or ganization of the kindergarten in 1949. The Jaycee-Ettes, of which Rachel was president, organized the kindergarten. It was housed in the old Civic Center Building on the old fairgrounds where the library and museum now stand. The Jaycees pitched in to help ready the building. An Aug. 15, 1949 edition of the Heppner Gazette-Times announced, "Mrs. Dick Meador and 19 youngsters hold forth at the Civic Center each school afternoon from 1 until 3 p.m. The Jaycee-Ettes are still hopeful that the enrollment will reach 25 before too many days. A restroom has been installed for the little people and they are quite comfortably housed, with plenty of equipment to handle 25 children. Glowing accounts come from all con cerned." Much of the equipment had been donated by Margaret Cason. who some will remem ber as having taught school at Madison Butie. Her daughter, Betty Frickardt. was on the kindergarten board. Inez Meador recalls she had made the statement that she would like to teach the kindergarten, so she was offered the job. She only wanted enough money to pay the babysitter. She remem bers'her surprise when she was given her first month's Bike Marathon raises -1,000 for Red Cross Sixteen adventurous bike riders, aged 10 to 60. pedalled 2t miles to garner more than St. 000 for the Morrow County Red Cross chapter last Sat urday. Atop bikes of all descrip tions, riders started at Wright's Country Store in Ruggs. rode cross-country down Rhea Creek Road, and after taking occasional rest stops and water breaks at checkpoints, ended at lone City Park. The supervised ride en countered no traffic problems due to the cooperation of the Morrow County Sheriff's De partment and Oregon State Police. Completing the course were Cindi Bergstrom. David Blackaller. Doug Harris. Greg Sweeney. Chris Rietmann. Paula Hcinrichs. Diana Ball, Ann Toney. Jeff Edmundson. Craig Miles. Darrell Miles. Lottie Laughlin. Tammie Brannon. Terry Toll and Jeanette Piper. Each participant collected signatures of sponsors who pledged to donate money for each mile ridden. They are now in the process of collect Jennie Lewis, 07, dies at Clackamas Jennie Louise Lewis, 87. a retired custodian at Heppner Schools, died May 25 at Clackamas Hospital after a short illness. Mrs. Lew is w as born Jan. 4. 187 in Spring Valley. Minn. A ''former Heppner resident, she had been a resident of Clackamas since 1952. She was a member of Shamrock Rebekah Lodge No. 113. Clackamas. Funeral services were held at Hillside Chapel. Inc., on Wednesday. May 29, at 2 p.m. Interment was in Mt. View Cemetery. Oregon City. Survivors include a son, William Lewis. Gladstone: ' pay check for $97. Kindergarten philosophy has changed markedly since those beginning days. Inez recalls buying how-to-teach book and starting in. Dee Jones, who has been the teacher for the past five years, had the advantage of several books and workshops to train her. New learning aids have been added, especially in the last three years. A sophisti cated sound center has been added, which includes a record player complete with eight sets of earphones and a tape recorder. The film strip machine is a favorite among the children. The numbers and quality of books and learning games have increased. First grade teachers in the grade school have worked with the kindergarten teachers in selecting these materials. All of the equipment and supplies now owned by the kinder garten are being given to the school. The first year ended, the way all succeeding years have ended, with a picnic. The Gazette-Times reported on May 25, 1950; "A picnic on the courthouse lawn Friday, May 26. marks the successful conclusion of the Heppner Kindergarten's first year... Average enrollment of 14 peppy pre-schoolers under the capable guidance of Mrs. Richard Meador." Inez laughs when she re members that at the picnic the 4-year-old brother of one pupil tackled her to the ground and all the kids piled on top of her, much to the embarrassment of mothers watching. In the early 1950s, the spring and fall rummage sales were started to help raise money for kindergarten. Rachel Dick recalls that the rummage sales were begun as a better way of exchanging clothes. But the sales have gone a long way toward supporting the program. Some have brought in as much as $1,000 and helped to keep tuition charges relatively low compared to charges at other private kindergartens around the state. ing the donations which are to be turned in to Judy Laughlin. Heppner TV. by June 10. Prize winners w ill be determined by the amount raised. Proceeds from the fund drive will go to the American Red Cross, half of which will remain in the local chapter to support community related activities. Each summer Red Cross offers swimming and life saving courses through lone and Heppner pools. First aid multimedia courses have been offered throughout the county, in structing residents to be better prepared in emer gencies. The aid to dependent mili tary families volunteer has assisted these families with financial relief, receiving word in emergencies and untangling governmental red tape. Each year the blook bank is replenished as donors give through the local drive. In 1971. Red Cross disaster relief program came to the aid of Heppner flood victims with more than $14,000 in relief. four daughters. Mrs. Henry Vandeberghe and Mrs. Verna Vandeberghe. Clackamas, Mrs. A. Lucille Troedson, Wilsonville. and Mrs. Owen Peltit. Pendleton; three brothers. Judson Polonty. Nortonville, N.D., Elwin Polonty. Stanchfield. Minn., and Ross Polonty. Mesa, Ariz.; three sisters, Mrs. Elsye Kowalkowskie, Jack sonville, Fla.. Mr. Florence Hailing. Rochester. Minn., and Mrs. Leona Sheridan, Peck. Mich.; 13 grandchil dren, 37 great-grandchildren, and two great -great -grandchildren. This spring was the first year without a rummage sale in Heppner in sometime. Next fall, the Soroptimists will take over the fall rummage sale. The Jaycee-Ettes disbanded but the kindergarten did not. The Heppner Civic League incorporated in 1956 to operate the kindergarten. In 1972 the name was changed to Heppner Community Kindergarten. Teachers of the kinder garten, including Inez and Dee, have been Rachel Dick, Becky Taber, Dorothy Huit, Grace Drake, Rita Wolff, Mrs. Fielder, Grace Schmidt, Marian Jonasson, Janet Turner and Ruth Maatta. Each teacher could write a book about her pupils. Inez remembers the boy who had to wear his hat. Rachel had a student who insisted on sitting under the table during class, instead of using the standard chair. It took most of the year before he conformed to the chair custom. "Rita relates that she was somewhat stric ter than her predecessor and some pupils complained to their parents for awhile about "that mean teacher." The kindergarten has grown in size. The parents of students under Dee Jones have marveled at her love and patience. Last year Donna Bergstrom was added as an aide and has been very popular with the young scholars. The kindergarten was not housed in the Civic Building too many years because the building was condemned. Inez recalls that first winter was very cold in the drafty old building. In spite of the efforts of Mr. and Mrs. Fair a in keeping the building heated, kindergarten had to be closed part of that winter. The minutes of the Jaycee Ettes were lost, but several recall that kindergarten was held in the Catholic Church basement and the Episcopal ' Church Parish Hall. For at least 15 years it has been on school property. It was in the old George house, and has ended up in a basement room of the Junior High Building at the elementary school. The old order passes Last class for HICK Forty-seven boys and girls received certificates of grad uation Thursday, May 30, the last class to graduate" from the Heppner Community Kinder garten. One student. Trina Palmer, will enter 1st grade in lone. The others will begin 1st grade at Heppner Elementary School in the fall. Students in the morning class were Dyann Brosnan. Marty Buschke. Scott Dougherty. Gene Garrett, Melissa Gates. Shawn Holt, Kevin Hughes. Jana Mar quardt. Marion McMillan, Michele Miles. Trina Palmer. Eric Pointer. Noella Rill Kimberly Robinson. Jamie k :!;; ? k$M&fS$&z c-m .... sr .:"Ar" . '-- ' " Part of the success of the kindergarten has been due to the cooperation given by the school. Since 1971 the kinder garten has received funds from the Blue Mountain 4-C Council, which handles state and federal money. Heppner Elementary School Principal Don Cole has spent many hours in assisting the kinder garten board with the red tape of the 4-C program. A kindergarten board has been elected from the mothers each year to administer the program. The officers for this last year are Sue Duncan, president; Dianna Ball, vice president; Judy Buschke, secretary; Sharon Biddle, treasurer; and Jean Ann Turner and Pat Wright, board members. Each year board members have given long hours in maintaining a kin dergarten program. Others serving as president over the years have been Shirley George, Ruth Maatta, Pat Jensen, Ann Griffith, Betty Marquardt, Pat Gentry, Rene Toll, Joyce Johnson, Sharon Cutsforth, Patti Prock, Joyce Espey, Slvane Erick son, Sarah Sharrard, June Blakney, Kathy Collins, Marge Eckman, La Fern Pratt, Dorothy Wagoner, Buryl Sanders, Dagmar Fancher, Alma Green and Betty Pfeiffer. A few others have served but their names are not available. In the fall a new face in the same kindergarten room will greet the bright-eyed begin ners. Mike Anderson of Payette. Idaho, has been hired by the school board as the kindergarten teacher. He comes to Heppner highly recommended. Some of the parents who helped to establish the kin dergarten 25 years ago have had the Satisfaction of seeing their grandchildren in the program. Countless parents, too many to name, have put in hard work to help provide a good beginning education for their children. Their biggest reward is knowing that after 25 years, kindergarten has become a part of the school Springer. Melissa Turner, Michael Valentine, Kimberle Wright, Sandra Wright. Tiare White. Chad Smith, Melissa Eubanks. Marcie Stookey and Marty Brannon. Children in the afternoon class were Greg Anderson, Bobbette Angell, Andrea Ball, Shelly Biddle, Scott Buschke, Tami Cate, Karen Chick, Penny Connor, Ken Curtis, Merry De Spain, Reid Dun can. Dena Granzen, Greg Godin, Renee Lewis. Mickey Moss. Paula Plocharsky, Mary Roberts. Raymond Thomason. Jimmy Yoeman, Billie Joe Hrabik. Kimberly Murray, Nathan Walsingham and Michele Cotton. Dennis Toney and Rev. David cause as they biked 20 miles UGwlSfc? & si k m fet,"?;' 'I ."-. ' ' "'mm'mm . - - - ...... ..-v, ,-,...,., :.v1. . m . Vl MMa- L Mm 'It A New wheat developed for Rew, a new soft white common winter wheat, has been released by the agricul tural experiment stations of Oregon and Idaho. Taller than Hyslop and slightly shorter than Wanser, Rew is believed to be best adapted for lower rainfall areas where the short height of varieties such as Hyslop Blackaller aided the Red Crass from Ruggs to lone. - ' ...... - . - Mmkz KXi i : i and Nugaines sometimes makes them difficult to har vest. Rew has yielded as high as Hyslop in both high and low yielding locations. However, under irrigation it is poorly adapted. Rew was a selection from a cross of Orfed-Elgin-Elmar-3-Heines VII and Orfed-Elgin-Elmar-3-C.I.13438. Final selection was made in 1968 by Oregon State University's Charles R. Rohde. It was named in honor of Ronald Rew, a Pendleton farmer and lawyer and a member of the Oregon Wheat Commission, and Oregon Wheat Growers League who was a strong supporter of wheat research. The new variety has been tested for four years at the Pendleton and Sherman Experiment Stations and for shorter periods at the Western Effective June 7, 1974 No Burning Ban is in Force There will be no burning except in approved incinerators. Burning barrels are NOT approved. Maximum Fine $100 plus costs CITY OF HEPPNER i Kindergarten students smile for the camera. These students were in the afternoon class taught by Dee Jones in Heppner. Front row ( I. to r. ) . Raymond Thomason, Reid Duncan, Scott Buschke, Paula Plocharsky, Shelly Biddle; second row (I. to r.), Bobbette Angell, Karen Chick, Tami Cate, Michele Cotton, Jimmy Yoeman, Dena Franzen and Greg Anderson. Back row (I. to r.), Mickey Moss, Andrea Ball, Merry De Spain, Renee Lewis, Ken Curtis, Mary Roberts and Penny Connor. Heppner Community Kindergarten teachers of the past, left to right: Rachel Dick. Inez Meador and Rita Wolff listen to the present teacher. Dee Jones, explain the latest in teaching aids, the earphones and filmstrip machine. dry farming area Regional White Winter Wheat Nursery and other eastern Oregon locations. Rew has moderate resist ance to strip rust and also resists common and dwarf bunt, much like Nugaines. The new wheat was tested for milling and baking quality for three years. After two years, a notation was made ATTENTION BARGAIN HUNTERS! We may have what you're looking for. Come to the Heppner High School Dance Team's YARD SALE Saturday, June 15 8 a.m. to9 p.m. 220 Cannon St., Heppner (Jim Roger's residence) Good Selection of Items Bake Goods Free Kool-Aid Proceed w ill help support the Goldtrotters. Donations welcomed. Drop off at the Roger's any time. that the variety possessed "promising milling proper ties." After the third year, the notation was "particularly promising overall quality characteristics." Results from milling and baking tests indicate that Rew's quality is equal and similar to that of Hyslop and Nugaines.