Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (June 26, 1975)
BESSIE WETZELL U OF ORE NEWSPAPER LIS EUGENE OR 9 7 4 0 3 Goes to museum 38 year old biscuit returned to Russians p .! ...jmh . ..))L.iiiuyiuiiimi,iunuiniiiiiiiii iin. '" ' ' i I m ! . ! i .. . ii ! ii ? . f i ' - ? ! "- Hul) Ixmc, Heppner, center, speaks with Russian interpreter Iruui Haslorina. not in picture us Ambassador Anatoli y. I'SSR Embassy. Washington. I) ('. look on. l.t General Georgi Baidukov, co pilot of the historic flight, studies picture taken In 19.1? of the three airmen Kxpeclations of 38 years reached a climax for Robert Lowe last Friday when he received a personal interview with LI. General Georgi Baidukov, and other Russian dignitaries at Vancouver. Wa. Baidukov. was the co-pilot of the Russian plane that made : the first historic air crossing of the North Pole. The Russian plane covered 5,288 miles across the polar wastes in 63 hours and 16 minutes to blaze a new air route across the top of the world. They had just 10 :'t gallons of fuel remaining when they landed, enough for about 15 minutes of flight, when they landed at Pearson Fit-Id. June 20. 1937. Friday. June 20. 1975. 38 years after the historic flight, two of the surviving airmen received the recognition they deserved at the route over the pole dedication of a monument to their milestone flight. After they landed at Pearson Field in 1937. their plane was dismanlled and returned to Russia. While the plane was being dismantled a few items aboard the plane were tossed aw ay as they were thought to have no significance. One of the items discarded was a small packet of hardtack wrapped in parchment paper. It was recovered by Eugene Spencer. Portland, who gave the hardtack to Mrs. Jenny Lowe. Mrs. liwc removed the parchment paper and wrote the historical events on the parchment. She preserved the hardtack by re-wrapping it and later placed the biscuits in a small plastic bag. The items were placed in her writing desk. After her death in 19.K!. her son. Robert Lowe. Heppner. found the hardtack with (he parchment paper and thought of ways to return it to the Russian airmen. In November 1974. he read in the newspaper where the Russian airmen planned on retracing their historic flight. He made up his mind he would be in Vancouver. Wa. to witness the dedication ceremonies and if the occassion arose, he would return the hardtack to the Russians. Ime left Heppner with Jack Ijoyd and Ernie C'eresa of the Gazette Times at 3:30 Friday morning. While at the dedication site, he inquired about the possibility of interviewing the Russians. He was told to wait their arrival for lunch alter the dedication ceremonies. As they emerged from the vehicle. Lowe, slopped Georgi Baidukov and through an interpreter he told of his plans to return the hardtack. Baidukov offered to purchase the hardtack, but Uwe refused, saying. "I would like to return this to you as a token of appreciation." lie also presented Baidukov a small postcard showing the three airmen and the plane used in their first flight. Baidukov was overwhelmed at the thought and told I.owe the hardtac k would be returned to Russia to be placed in the museum that houses the aircraft used in the historic flight After many thank you's were expressed. Baidukov left to fulfill his luncheon engagement. Lowe was questioned by other Russian dignitaries as to the expressed purpose of his visit. He related his story and they were overwhelmed at his kindness, Meanwhile. Russian members of the news media gathered about They asked Lowe where he lived and when he answered Heppner. they asked its geographical location and the population. They asked about the main industry in Heppner and Lowe replied. "Heppner and most of Morrow County is a farming and lumbering community." Ail of the one-hour interview with the Russians was done through an interpreter. B G. Strelinikov. a journalist for the Hussian newspaper Pravda. Lowe also spoke briefly with V.M. Peskov. journalist. A M Troshin. editor and consulate general Yuri ( hemohud. San Francisco. Ca. The Russians w anted to reciprocate Lowe's act of kindness and did so by giving Lowe. Russian money, cigarettes, a bottle of vodka and a hand painted wooden spoon. Peskov. who made the presentations to lxiwe remarked. "Just drink a little vodka at a time, and keep it cold " Ernie C'eresa. Gazette-Times, was also given Russian money, cigarettes and a wooden spoon as a token of appreciation Many pictures were taken by the Russian photographers present at the time and a trade agreement reached w hen the Russians asked feresa to send the Gazette-Times to Moscow. They in exchange would send the newspaper Pravda to Heppner along with photographs they had taken. It was a very eventful day as well as historical for Bob Lowe and the Gazette-Times. It was brought about with the returning ot a piece of Russian hardtack. 3H years old 9. "z6 v,fe THE T A r77ir. JUCj- ! JLlVlJCiS Vol.92, No. 19 Heppner, OR., June 26, 1975 15c Dig city girl becomes fair and rodeo princess How does it gil I from Hie big fit become a rodeo princess in a spaiscly populated Fast en) Oregon count)"' The thought wouldn't occur to iiiot big city girls, but if ou are a girl w ith roots establish ed in a place such as lone and lots of relatives to visit there ever summer, and a dislike for fit lite, then it's possible Morrow Count Fair and r, .v' l Rodeo Pi mi ess Donna lie.i is ju-. such a girl She moved fiooi lone ill the age of one to Milw.mkie Ur . where her father Ivii hard is a machinist or lim.iik Industries A lew vc.iis ago she inov ed with her mother and sister to San Francisco and later to South San Fr.iiu isro But cveiy summer, she and her fourteen vc.ir old sister Pare . came I - - i i - .-0 v i - 1r I - " ii J t s. w V r j TRIM FSS M)NNA RF.A Ilk k to lone to isii .units ,md lini les ,niil IhcM gland p.oeiils. Mi ,ind Mis ( c l I.Y.i "M sisti i ,oid I kept Irving to H lsiiade our iiiolhel to let Us v.'" to si IhniI in lone I lonn.i s.ivs ",as veal she lin.ilh let us " I hi IKmiii.i .i 1 1 1 -i uli ii t; st hool .out hv i lie III Solllll S.im I'lamisto involved living ,ii i ii 1 1 1 ! t.Hi in.inv Hnple one didn I know The go K hv e with the Louis M.dvnisens ,uid leler li Mis llalvolseu as ' (ii.indiuolliei iNil ' allhniich Ihev don't think the .11 c related unless it s vvav back " Tall, daik h.nrcil I Nmii.t likes smiIs In South S. 111 h i, 1111 ism she said one had to Ii out lor ever thing so she never did pal licipale III the sport s programs there How ever, she participated m gvinnaslics At lone last year she plaved ollcyh.i!l, basket tiall aiul tennis She is the center lor the lone girls' basketball team This vear she will Im1 a senior at lone lb gh St hool This summer she is teaching swimming at the lone pool When she isn't doing that she finds somismie to clean house for or hclpk out on the Hal' lorsen ranch. Much of her summer will be taken up with the activities ol being a rodeo princess She sas she is reall enjo uig the experience btvaiise she has the npmi lim it to meet many new people. Princes Ihiniu is one of those gals who has definite ideas almut what she wants In do. When she finishes high school she wants to attend Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton and tieenmr a dental assistant. When asked if she would like to return to the big city, she replied that hp preferred very small towns iHinna will lie riding a horse belonging to former Morrow County Rodeo queen. Dimples Mtmkrrs, for the nuinmer' rmirt rent.i She encourages everyone io come to Saturday night' dance and dancr to the music of the Dejxit II Death claims Tiny Sweeney The coiiiiiiuiulv was sad deiied bv the death of Olive Tin " Sweeney. Morrow t oiintv Public Health Nurse and wile ol Ma or Jerry Sweetie, who died Saturday. June 21. at Pioneer Memorial Hospital She w.is horn Jul 26. 1926. at Butte. Montana. She and Mr Sweeney were married at Helena. Montana. September X l-MH She .itlended Carroll College at Helena and was a graduate ol SI .lames School of Nursing ,ii I'utte Besides being a registered nurse, she was a licensed luncral director. She .mil her husband ocratcd Sweeney Mortuary Mrs Sweeney had Inrn on leae ot absence as Morrow County Public Health Nurse tor several months lux ausc of illness She w as the first recipient of the Heppner Soroptinnsl Chili's Ihginty of Service waid in 1971 (or her assist ance to flood v ictiins She was -"""' "s "S 1 Tl MFFF aclie at the tune in Red Cross disaster ser ices Mis Sweeney was a mem lier ol St Patrick's Church and Altar Sn iety. The llepp ner Morrow County Chamber o Coinnierce. the Oregon Funeral Director's Associa tion, and the Nation. il Funeral Director's AssihuiIioii Survivors besides the widower are a daughter. Kathleen Sunseri. Portland, sons. Michael J . Daniel J . Brian C. and Gregory R .all ol Heppner, and Patrick W. of Oregon City, brothers. Wil liam Harris. Palmetto. Flori da. Edgel Harris. Butte. M011t.11 ml I low ai d I.y nils nl Federal Way. Washington, one grandson and numerous mixes and nephews Recitation ol the rosary was held Monday evening at St Patrick's Chui ch A luiiiial mass ,is held Tuesday, at SI Patricks C.ithohe Cliuuh ( Mill i.iting were The l!ev John O'Brien and The liev Raymond Beaut S.u red selections were sung by William Kenny. ,11 conip.oiied by Rikka lews 011 the 01 uan Casket lie.iiers were Paul .tones. iiiv Punk. Ralph l.nliii.in Fverclt Browning. William Kilkenny and Marvin AlUc Concluding ser ices and vault interment were at Heppner Masonic Cemetery ( ontiibiilious ma Ih' made to the Pioneer Memorial llospii.il Fund Tri-Counfy health services receive $91,303 gran? Morrow County Judge, Paul Jones, was informed late last week In separate calls from the others of Senators Hat field and Pack wood and licp Al l llman. that the Rural Health Initiative 3Me grant application hiadc by the To County Health Services Commission has been approv ed. The rotnmir.sion will receive 191.303 for the 1975 78 fiscal year to iH-gin its projet. Ttie nine member commis sion was established by the County Courts of Gilliam, Morrow and W heeler counties In February to coordinate and increase health care In the three counties. Member of the commission Inchule Judge Jones, current project direc tor; Lit Curtis, chairman and Hazel Mahoney from Morrow County; Judge Barnett. Mar vin AHe and Father Charles Dnesbach from Gilliam County and Judge Leckie. Keena Shean and Clarence Asher from Wheeler County. The objectives of the project encompass such areas as providing sufficient primary care through nurse practi tioner in Fossil and Condon under Uie preceptorship of Heppner based doctors, ex tension of health services through the use of out reach workers. Improved emergen cy communications. Identifi cation of health problem in the project area, linkage with the University of Oregon Medical School and the quip ping of drug and alcohol detoxification room in Pioneer Memorial Hospital in Hepp ner The first function of the commission will be to hire a coordinator for the project Also in the first year $10,000 has been budgeted for the addition to and updating of laboratory equipment in the lab at Pioneer Memorial Hospital. The commission is the result of the cooperation between the three counties since 1970 to bring doctors and later nurse practitioner into Fossil, Con don and Heppner. Hie project Is considered unique in the I'nited States In that there is cooperation across county lines to improve health care In rural areas. r.licf.ey Hoshins crowned Queen At the coion.it ion ceremony S.iiiud.iy night at the Morrow County Fair grounds. Mickey Hopkins liecaine the tirsl (iieeii in the county's history to he crowned by her mother. Ii.nleiie lloskins. a lornier Morrow County Rodeo queen placed the Clown upon her daughter's head alter Queen Sherry Kemp asked her to do so Following the coronation Queen Mickey introduced members nl her court . priiucssfs Mary Ann Proctor, IVmna Rea. June McLean and Balharu Palmer Each ot the princesses spoke bnellv to the audience and in ited them to attend the rodeo Aug :'l Z Master of ceremonies Har old Kerr, introduced the billowing Morrow County Rodeo Queens to the audience and nave the year each served as queen: Eva Padberg. Dimples Munkers. 1H.H. Ce cilia Heal. Iii5. Dailene lloskins. 1946. Merlin Robin son. 19-17: Katie Van Schoiack. 19.12. Pat Doherty. 1918. Sharon Stookey. 19.17. Verena Schiller. 191.7. Slichelle Burns. 1971. Susie French. 1972. Jeanme Grant. 197:i. Sherry Kemp. 1974. and Mickey lloskins. 197.1 Kerr also introduced the Boaidman Harvest Court, and the Round-l'p Court Irom Pendleton Music by the Depot II entertained the audience dur ing the coronation ceremon ies Following the coronation a dance was held in the queen's honor with music by the Countrv Revue cm - " :vjs.vmmm iiiwsi.imu v . 4 r i - r f J n il i k Three quirns, foimer Fair and Rodeo Queen Dartene lloskins, 1974 Rodeo Queen Sherry Kemp and 1975 Fair and Rodeo Queen Mickey lloskins. f
