Page 2, THE GAZETTE TIMES, Heppner, OR., Thursday, May 8, 1975
Mayor of Hard man
Horse sense
KRXKSTV. JOINER
I've been out of town for a month and there's a lot of
catching up to do. Let's get to it. Randy Lott has been
lamenting the rise in the cost of a fifth of Ezra Briggs
charcoal filtered bourbon; and Winn Crist, fed up with the
high cost of Oregon booze, smuggled a case of Cutty Sark in
from Colorado at a saving of about 40 per cent (sheriff, arrest
that man. Oregon's booze is about the highest we've run
into, which means that in this state it is official policy that the
rich can get smashed but the poor cannot ... Ed and Tom
Gonty are back on frozen TV dinners because Eleanor went
a-visiting . . . Carl Spaulding won't turn on cable TV service
to the new development on the hill until the developers pay
the $3,000 it cost to underground the cables . . . Everbody is
going to Gardner's to buy clothing before Leroy gets the bill
for expanding his store on the vague chance he will add the
cost to his merchandise . . . Police Chief Dean Gilman found
that in one month the presence of the new night officer has
(presumably) cut burglaries from 14 in March to 2 in
April . . . The secret is out: the reason Jim Rogers' meals
tasie so good is that he hires the prettiest and most shapely
girls to serve it. thus making it impossible to concentrate on
the food ... If you're still barking about the cost of good
beefsteak at Central Market ( 1.69) consider that it's selling in
California's Safeway Stores for 2.69 . . . Banker Ken Belcher
and Dr. Joe Gifford fled to Moultrie, Ga., last week to fly
back a new plane for the good doctor. Ken's bank financed
the sale and the added "interest" was that Ken got to fly the
job home fit took five hours to fly over Texas," Ken
grumbled. Like they say, everything's bigger ...).. .Last
week the Oregon Legislature passed HB 2579. which means
the public can't see a criminal's rap sheet another move to
protect the criminal, and to hell with the public. School and
city and county governmental officials are trying
desperately to repeal the state law and permit them once
again to hold their meetings in secret, and to hell with the
public again . . . Mayor Jerry Sweeney's new mustache
makes him a dead ringer for British Comedian Terry
Thomas . . . Don't feel insulted if Heppner merchants ask for
identification when cashing your checks. They've been
ripped off for thousands through bad checks. Now they're
organizing to protect themselves. No offense, stranger.
Writing a bad check has become almost a "constitutional
right" for many people, and it is well nigh impossible to
legally collect a bad check in these permissive days . . . Why,
I asked, is everybody calling Ernie Ceresa "Ernie Sirica"?
Answer: because he's made some pretty hard judgements
around town! . . .
0 It didn't take Oregon's legislative chickens long to come
home to roost. The 1973 session gave most public employees
the right to strike. It should have known better. Now the state
is faced wilh union demands for a 27 per cent wage increase
or a strike that would shut down the public's business. State
employees already receive more in wages, benefits and job
securitv than exists in the private business sector. That isn't
enough. It never will be enough. Any state that gives its
employees the right to strike has just turned over the reins of
government to labor bosses. From that point on the public
will be in a constant state of blackmail for more money, more
power, more decision making, more security and more
benefits If the blackmail isn't paid the taxes won't be
collected, the garbage picked up. the children taught or the
water and sewer services continued. From 4his time on.
unless sanity prevails and that ridiculous 1973 law repealed,
this state and its people belong to organized labor and
organized labor exists for the sole purpose of getting
everything it can get its hands on. The union needn't worry.
Its blackmail demands will be met. It will cost taxpayers
about $300 million a year. Until next year when the ante will
be upped. Every striking public employee richly deserves to
be fired, imprisoned or both. When one strikes against a
corporation or a business, that is bad enough. But for one to
strike atiainst the public welfare and threaten the fiber and
structure of the government that holds us together, he
deserves the contempt and punishing hand of the public he
would destroy for a lousy buck. Gov. Straub could make
himsell a hero by telling the union goons to go to hell, fire
i hem at once and prohibit their employment in government
in the future But is there an elected official in Oregon with
the guts to stand up to union demands?
Ust week Leann Rea of Boardman wrote a letter to the
editor outlining her problem with the telephone company.
For lour vears she and her husband have been trying 8ef
phone service at their farm where they specialize in raising
hay tor commercial purposes The situation is that their
residence is in one phone company's territory and it won't
pro ide servic e, whereas the phone company whose territory
the Kea residence is NOT in CAN provide service, but cannot
do so because the Reas are in a competitor's territory. The
PUC has been ol no help, even though it is the state agency
c harged with protecting Oregonians from utilities companies
and utilities from each other. Pacific Northwest Bell, in
whose territory the Reas live and which declines to extend
mt ice. also refuses to release the Reas from its jurisdiction
in order that the competing phone company can extend
service Utilities enjoy a government-sanctioned monopoly.
In turn, utilities must provide reasonable service to the
public- to maintain that monopoly. Failing to do so. the least
that can be expected is that the offending utility in this case
Pacific Northwest Bell' should release any person on the
borders of its territory from being forced to use a phone
service that cannot or will not be supplied. I suggest the
manager of Pacific Northwest Bell be contacted. If there is
no satisfaction, contact the state consumers' office in Salem
or anv other good consumer group. If that does no good, a
law er might conc lude that a suit against the phone company
might be productive, especially so in the Rea case where
actual damages are a factor in what appears to be a
conspiracy to withhold telephone service. Let the
Gazelle-Tunes know what happens. We're interested.
P S It has never been explained why large corporations so
olien spend millions leven billions) of dollars to build up
good public image through advertising and public relations.
Then, in one dismaying display of sheer stupidity, louse the
whole deal up with a petty instance such as the one involved
in the Kea case
Dean Gilman says he has a sure fire, fail tare method of
determining v. hen spring is definitely here. When you see the
snakes come out to sun on the warm pavement. Dean says,
you can be sure the half-starts and false beginnings are over
and that spring is actually here. Check it for the next few
da vs. II could save you a good case of pneumonia in cases like
last Friday's warm day followed by Saturday's brrrrrrr.
It didn't gel much attention in Heppner, but my March 27
column on the poor quality of public education has been
reprinled in six states so far. Here in Oregon it was reprinted
in The Fore Front, publication for Oregon Research and
Education, in its April 21 issue; and last Sunday it was
featured on the editorial page of the Herald and Newt at
Klamath Falls. Sometime, somewhere, somehow the
American public Is going to have to come to grips with its
most expensive, uncontrollable and tyrannical ascred cow,
public education.
1
Rep. Greener's threat
'Ease property fax
or 2nd revolution'
"Unless positive steps are taken to ease the property tax
burden. Oregonians will soon be ripe for a second American
Revolution." State Rep Ralph Groener. D-Oregon City, said
in Salem. May 2.
Citizens protest groups are being formed in several areas
of the state, including my own district, to fight what they
consider unfair and unjust taxation." Groener stated "At
best, their mood is one of anger and frustration."
Groener. a member of the House Committee on Education
and Sc hool Finance, said the only workable solution is to fund
schools through a progressive income tax based on ability to
He raised the issue April 30 before the committee and
called for a revival of the 1973 tax relief and school finance
plan initiated by Gov. McCall
The McCall plan had its flaws, but 73 per cent of the
properl v owners in this state would have seen their total lax
bills reduced." he said "What I'm seeking is an improved
plan that people will have time to study and understand "
He suggested plac ing responsibility for updating the plan
with a legislative interim committee, one of whose
assignments would be to conduct "town meetings"
throughout the state.
"These meetings would not only aid in determining what
the taxpavers want, but would serve as a means of informing
people of the lax options we can offer." he said
He called uxn citizens to support property tax reform by
writing or calling Iheir legislators
"The pressure is building, and the only way to hold the lid
down is lo show people we're taking action." he said "The
alternative is to slick our heads in the sand and hope the
problem solves itself."
The mail pouch
EDITOR:
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN Anyone who will lake the
lime lo examine a cily map or the tax rolls w ill soon find out
thai WE ARE. in the Cily Limits, we do have city water and
have never had the privilege of sewer lines or hook ups.
However, we for the most part, have a hard lime
convincing anvone of this fact. They need only to consult the
Zoning Ordinance Book published in Sept. 1966 by the Cily of
Heppner to get and keep Iheir facts straight.
MRS J.W.NOKKNE
Heppner
"And just how long hive you bwn driving thil school bui?"
THE GAZETTE-TIMES
Mnltlum ( ol 'XTY'K NEWSPAPER
Box 337. Heppner. Ore. 97836
Subscription rale: $6 per year in
Oregon. $7 elsewhere
Ernesl V. Joiner, Publisher
Published every Thursday and entered as a
second class mailer at the post office at
II. .......... rWjwtnn unilor lh nl Mir-h 1 l?Q
g l '"l" l n ' mctii m hiiviii mi.
I Sernnd-class postage paid at Heppner, Oregon.
ntutMut&mMuumuMMmunuuMuttt
Water . . .
(Continue from Page 1)
the realtor to have the
property cleaned up."
-Variance permits were
granted to Dean Teel for
placing a mobile home on his
property. However, when the
building permit was applied
for the city attorney asked if
the property owners on the
east of the property had been
notified, as they would have to
look at the trailer.
When it was found they had
not been notified, the variance
permit was rescinded. It was
stipulated the owner supply
the cily w ith a list of property
owners and the city will in
turn send the necessary let
ters - Granted a building permit
for the third lime to Mike and
Danny Sweeney and Larry
Prock for the construction of a
six plex at 515 N. Elder. The
permit had to be re-applied for
because construction had not
started within the 60 day
limitation set forth by the city.
Approved a variance and
building permit for Harold
Whilaker who plans to con
struct a residence above the
Lebush Shoppc. The Whita
kers applied lo the city
planning commission previ
ously and their request was
granted after a hearing was
held and there were no
objec tions lo their application,
- Adopted a resolution for a
state highway fund applica
tion for streets within the cily
that are in need of repair due
to excessive and unusual
traffic.
-Heard a letter of com
plaint from Ed Dick, regard
ing access to his properly
from Bisbee St. Mr. Duvall
agreed to work with cily crews
in eliminating the problem.
Mike Sweeney asked the
council for a letter to the
Department of the Interior,
for (he preservation of six and
one-half miles of Oregon Trail
located in the Boardman
bombing range.
The council voted to
approve a progress payment
to Kenny Construction, with
holding 15 per cent in retention
to insure paving of the streets.
According to Ralph Marlalt,
the contractor is making an
effort to remedy the situation.
A meeting of the finance
committee will be held to
re negotiate a contract with
the city attorney.
-Set May 12. 7 p m. for the
time of a special meeting to
discuss the franchise of the
cable television system. The
meeting will be open to the
public.
Ordinance 394. which will
increase the city's sewer rates
was read, but could not be
formally adopted at the meet
ing because of the absence of
councilman Warren Plochar
sky. The ordinance will be
read for the third time at the
June meeting.
School needs . .
(Continued from Page I)
Remodel present shop into a music room. Stage is
presently used for music instruction. $3,000.
The following recommendations are for the A C, Houghton
Elementary School.
- Add six classrooms, special reading room, speech and
hearing room, conference room, storage room, rest rooms
and pantry.
-The present space is full, several rooms are overcrowded
and three classrooms occupy an area wilhin the old building
which are conditionally safe from a fire standpoint. $250,000.
- Construc t a new gymnasium 132 x 70 feet, with dressing
rooms Present frame gym is old, small, and a part of the old
building which is only partially usable because of the fire
regulations. $218,000.
-Increase the size of the present library. The present;
library is the size of a single classroom, not adequate for
expanded school needs. $1,000.
Riverside High School needs:
- Four general classrooms. This would accommodate
growing enrollment which adds about 30 students per year.
$120,000,
-Construct proposed addition to gymnasium. This would
provide more space to scheduled P.E. daises in oruVr lo
meet the increased demand. $141,000.
-Provide additional sealing in gymnasium. Present
capacity is limited. $9,000.
In oilier business, Orville Cutsforth reported he recently
returned from Salen where he visited the state legislature.
He attended the meeting representing the Farm Bureau in
(he two bills regarding corporation bills.
He said he was unhappy with the way Senator Thorne
conducted (he meeting, giving two hours to those In favor of
the bill and granting the farmers only five minutes to voice
Iheir opinions.
Cutsforth quoted excerpts saying, "Four companies
control 50 per cent of the farm market, and In the food
induslry, four firms control 90 per cent of the breakfast foods,
75 per cent of the flour, 5 per cent of the processed meats, 65
per cent of the sugar, 80 per cent of the canned goods and one
single company controls 90 per cent of the soup."
Cutsforth has been Invited back to Salem to testify on the
measures. "Only this time I will be prepared," he said.
DEAR MISTER EDITOR:
Usual I Jest take care of the big decisions at my home. I
work out farm support prices and how muc h we ought to pay
fer Arab oil. and I handle tric ky items like how to cut the
federal budget and increase aid to other countries. I even had
lime left over recent to work on the Equal Might Amendment.
I t.t (he old lady worry about the little problems, like taking
care of the garden, the cow and the house.
Bui even President Ford has to take time off from his
golfing and skiing ever now and then to go to his office and
find out what Kissinger has been up lo. so I don't think li s out
of line fer me to do a tittle private worrying about personal
situations as long as I don't make it a habit. I alius figgered
the best way lo worry was to fall asleep right after you start,
but the old iady has called this mailer to my attention and I
will pass it on to you.
We got this cow I reckon we ought to sell. Her eating has
fell off and her milk likewise. The price of beef what it is, I
can t sell her. and wilh feed prices going up ever week, I
can't feed her. Until a few years back, she got along good on
hnv in winter and the little pasture In summer, but I reckon
she heard of all the supplements everbody s got to git In their
diets now, cause she don't seem to gil the nourishment out of
her feed that she use to, On the other hand, if milk price
controls git the price of milk out of control like the Stale Milk
Commission done in North Carolina. I can t afford nol to keep
the cow fer the little milk she gives,
As I see it, Mister Editor, ever self-respecting farm ought
to have a cow. And changing rows Is a serious business, like
changing w ives or churches. You know what you got. but you
never know what you're gitting. Take our old cow. fer
instant, she has sorter got use to our place in the past 12
vears and we have gol use to her. She knows what time the
old ladv will come to milk and feed, and we know what tree
she'll tie standing under if we gol out to look fer her in a
storm The old cow knows our fences as good as I do, and I
'know she has give up Ihe lilee of greener pastures, so In
places the fence ain't nothing more than a strand of baling
wire, . ,, .
Practical speaking, is it better to have more milk and more
worrv. or less milk and no worry? A new cow probable
wouldn't Slav home, and she might gil on Ihe road and run
over, or she might tear down a fence and tear up a neighbor's
crops. Wc don't git muc h use out of our old cow. but we can
depend on her to be what she is. She's like old wore out shoes
thai feels good on your feel,
Mister Editor, would you sell her or keep her? I don I figger
this is a hard question to put lo you. cause you newspaper
folks solve Ihe world's problems ever time you come out with
a paper, and all you gol lo do it with is a typewriter.
Yours trulv.
MAYOR ROY
i
1 I.ESTFIt KIVSOlA ING
Selectively indignant
mlinmic ctnrbhnfrfpix
i
PITTSBURGH. PA-At lo oo a m . this Monday. April 28.
al this city's Heinz Hall, an estimated 2.ono people will attend
the annual stockholders meeting of IBM.
Among these stockholders are the national headquarters of
the Methodist. United Preshvterian. Episcopal, Disciples of
Christ. American Baptist. United Church of Christ.
Reformed Church of America along with Ihe National
Council of Churches
Headquarters staffers of these denominations have banned
together lo form an organization called "The Church Project
on U.S. Investments In South Africa "
For Ihe third successive year, this organization of
hierarchs will introduce a resolution designed lo inhibit or
eliminate IBM's doing business in South Africa. iThe volume
of IBM's business there amounts lo approximately one tenth
of one per cent, according lo IBM headquarters
The wording of this ecclesiastical stockholders' resolution
will lie different in some measure from the resolutions
introduced in 1974 and 1973 For Ihe Securities and Exc hange
Commission requires that no stockholders' resolution may be
reintroduced unless it receives al least 3 per cent of Ihe vole.
Each year, the anti-South African resolution of these
religious denominations has received less than Ihe required 3
percent. And last year, exasperated IBM stockholder Wayne
Six asked why these religious stockholders showed no such
concern about Ihe governments of the Soviet Union and
Maoisl China, which have regimes far more repressive than
South Africa's.
This interesting query reportedly evoked no response from
the churchmen.
This year. IBM stockholders might care to inform these
churchmen publicly thai IBM is also doing business in
Uganda. For there is no such resolution pertaining to this
East African country.
Conditions in this nation have been reported by Ihe last
U S Ambassador to Uganda, Thomas Palric k Melady, who is '
now Executive Vice President of St. Joseph's College in
Philadelphia.
Writing In the Jesuit magazine "America," Dr. Melady
recalls:
"Since President Idi Amin took over Uganda on Jan. 21,
1971. over 50.000 Ugandans have been killed "
"I lived through the horror of seeing close to 50,000 people
brutalized and expelled from Uganda because they were of
another ethnic origin." (Indian).
"While I served in Uganda, I met several of the widows of
prominent Ugandan civilians slain by Gen, Amin's men. One
widow, whose name I cannot reveal as she still lives in
Kampala, asked me if 'Africans in South Africa suffer more
than we do in Uganda?' "
Few rank and file Methodists, Presbyterians and
Episcopalians could sincerely answer this In the
affirmatlve-especially in view of Dr. Melady's mentioning,
during an Interview with this column:
"Gen. Amin's men prefer to dispatch their victims with
sledgehammers; either that or they force Ihe larger
prisoners to take the smaller prisoners and tear off their
limbs."
How can the churchly stockholders of IBM be concerned
about South Africa and not about the continuing horror of
Uganda? One probable answer : the government of Uganda is
not white. And Gen, Idi ("Big Daddy") Amin Is slated to be
the next President of the Organization of African Unity.
Moreover, as the Rev. Carroll Slmcox, editor of "The
Living Church" magazine notes: "Our leaders have
proceeded on Ihe assumption that they know better than the
rest of us what is our corporate duty In this mailer."
Hence the ecclesiastical bureaucrats continue applylnj
their selective indignation lo IBM, while the rank and file 6
these purportedly Protestant organlzallons-rather thai
Prolesling-conlinue to pray, pay and obey.