Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (July 31, 1975)
Page 2, THE GAZETTE Horse sense EHVI-STV JOIVKR A couple of yean ago this newspaper mounted a bruising campaign against parking meters in the city. It was a logical, brilliant, inspired presentation. To wind it up the citizens were polled on the question of removing the parking meters. About ISO people voted S to I to remove them. Virtue, at long last, was about to triumph. Then the city council, members of which are pledged to carry out the wishes of their constituents (if they happen to agree with them), promptly voted to retain them. So much for newspaper crusades. So much for civic virtue. Two years later the Gazette-Times is ready to adroit its error in asking removal of the parking meters. They should be allowed to remain. Before king, Heppner will be the only town in Oregon (and maybe the world) with parking meters. Then they can be bronzed, declared a historic monument, and made a part of the United States Bicentennial museum of the past. In 10 years school youngsters may be given field trips to Heppner to see these famous and historic hitching posts just as they are now provided field trips at taxpayer expense to see the famous Shakespearean Festival at Ashland. It makes me shudder when I think how near we all came to getting rid of our only feasible claim to fame, aside from the '03 flood. It just proves that our councilmen are endowed with more wisdom than we credited them with. Only recently the city of LaGrande hooded 400 meters on a 90-day trial basis to find out if it would create bedlam in the central business district. Retail stores wiU be asked to compare their sales for the 3-month period with those of the same period in 1974. If the results are the same as other cities of America that did the same thing, they will show that the stores never sold more goods, shoppers were never happier, and the city cussed a lot less. And the meters will stay out. And that's another step toward making Heppner s hitching posts genuine relics of the past, worthy of preservation. Now we're on a crusade to get all the other cities to take out their meters, and for Heppner to leave her's intact. Our thanks (and apologies) to the Heppner Qty Council for standing fast in the face of the Gazette-Times' ill-advised and short-sighted crusade. It's too bad more people don't read their newspapers. If you had read our leading daily recently you'd know that on the West Coast women are using Preparation H to shrink their wrinkles. This woman said it really works, only she finds that when she gets tired her face tries to sit down. Then there's Stanfield. the town that became internationally famous overnight when the city council enacted an ordinance forbidding animals to enjoy sex in public. It worked a hardship on ranchers, some of whom had to check their heifers into a motel in order to insure a calf crop and still stay legal. Now the town's in an uproar again. Cody, a dog belonging to the Dennis McLaughlin family, gave birth to four puppies on July 10 and the chief of police has complained that the dog violated the ordinance. Cody has defied the council. She even nurses her four offspring, and right in public, too! Contempt, that's what it is. And those who do read newspapers don't have much confidence in them. For example, this newspaper has consistently criticized the public schools for their failure to teach children to read and write, as they did so well 50 years ago. We have called for taxpayers to turn down any further requests for classrooms, higher teacher salaries and fancy educational frills until students show signs of being able to read and write and figure simple interest. We were accused of conducting a sneaky, despicable vendatta against "the kids." Well, if you read the editorial page of the Oregon Journal on July 24 you would have read of a survey conducted (not by a newspaper) but by the academically respected National Assessment of Educational Progress and paid for by the National Center for Education Statistics. The guts of the article: "Less than one-half of the 17-year-olds and adults could successfully determine the most economical size of a product. Only 10 per cent of the 17-year-olds and 20 per cent of the adults could correctly calculate taxi fare. One per cent of the 17-year-olds and 16 per cent of the adults could balance a checkbook." That tells the story of our educational system, arrived at by a survey of 34.000 17-year-olds and 4,200 adults. Morrow County is being prepared for a million-dollar school building and remodeling project in September. As far as I know not one dollar will go toward improving the school children's capability to read, write and balance their check books. Are we putting our school tax dollars in the right places? And how can one little old weekly newspaper be so consistently wrong. Believe me, it's disheartening. Now that the city has tied the new water well into the water supply system, all is not sweetness in Heppner households where clean, good-tasting water- has been the rule. The new well, it turns out, produces sulphured water. The stench is "outtasite." It is curing some people from - drinking water, and should increase the wine consumption. Bill Collins says it's a fine howdydo when you spent $350,000 for a new water system and it gets crossed up with a sewer. He says everybody around his house went around casting accusing glances at each other before they found out the stench was coming from sprinklers at work on the lawn. Another wag (who, as usual, declines to be quoted) injected a biblical note into the sulphuric comment by shouting that what we're going through here is just a sample of how bad it's going to be in hell. Nobody is taking him seriously, of course. The Heppner Volunteer Fire Department is one of the best organized groups I have ever seen. By the time the fire alarm sounds, until the trucks are rolling is a matter of minutes. Last Monday they answered a fire call to the John Ledbetter ranch. When they arrived at the Led be iter Ranch the fire was across Sand Hollow Rd , on the Don Evans ranch. Fortunately the fire was contained by the time the volunteers arrived with their equipment. Had the fire still been raging when the fire department arrived at the wrong location the results could have been disastrous. The fire department would not ha ve been at fault. Whoever phoned in the wrong location should realize that the fire equipment is old, the roads are narrow and winding and the trucks cannot travel at excessive speeds. The fire depatment is willing to help you 24 hours a day, so give them some consideration, at least give them the correct location in the event of a fire. THE GAZETTE-TIMES f " MORROW C'Ol'N'TY'S NKWhPAPER Box 337. Heppner. Ore. 9783 Subscription rate: $ per year in Oregon, $7 elsewhere Ernest V. Joiner, Publisher ,Published every Thursday and entered as -second class matter at the post office at illcppner, Oregon, under the act of March 3. 1879. (Second-class postage paid at Heppner, Oregon, - TIMES, Heppner, OR., Thursday, July 31, 1975 V The mail pouch EDITOR: I would like to make an addition to an article in last week's Gazette-Times regarding living relatives to the Cecil family settlers of earlier days. Only three of the family were mentioned. The late Norah Rasmus was the granddaughter of the settlers of Cecil, OR. Her surviving family includes nephews, John Cecil, Walla Walla. WA ; Darrel Cecil, Mearham, OR. ; Vernon Cecil, Pilot Rock. OR.; Frank Cecil, Spray. OR.; Percy Cecil, Heppner, Or.; as well as nieces Geraldine Gates, Spray, OR. and Nadine Dysart, Walla Walla. Great nieces and nephews include Kay Gorham, Heppner; Gordon Cecil, Heppner; Jerry Cecil, Heppner; Ron Cecil, Pendleton; Norine Edwards, Pendleton; Gene Cecil, Meacham; Becky Cecil, Meacham ; Judy Alfred, Spray; and Jan Stroeber, Heppner. The family would appreciate these additions being made. NORINE EDWARDS. Pendleton. Court house notes Last week Juvenile Director Carolyn Davis took four from the county to visit the Oregon State Penitentiary and the Oregon Women's Correctional Center at Salem. The two young people and Heppner Policemen, Chuck Holt and Wayne Maxam, who made this one-day tour with Direc tor Davis were very impres sed with the institutions. The County Planning De partment has issued zoning permits for buildings to Er nest and Lois Winchester for a dwelling east of Heppner; to Robert and Sally Diehl for a residence near Ordnance; to W E. Nelson for a soil lab, office and truck scale off the three-mile interchange south of Highway 80; to Donald Kamph for a mobile home shed at Ordnance; two per mits to Retha McCall for residences in the Irrigon area; to Taggares Simplot for a scale house and office near Boardman; and to Donald L. Linnel, Boardman, for a larger mobile home. Assessor Everett Harshman spent July 21, 22 and 23 in Medford meeting with 32 other county assessors and with the State Department of Revenue. The three women in the southeast comer, first floor, are still doing a bit of furniture re arranging. Treasurer Mc Daniel says she keeps busy with daily postings; assistant tax collector Fetsch seems to have constant re-indexing, a never-ending job. Mrs.'Irby, who holds a new position put into operation July 1, has had her salary as county tax collector established by the county court. Other court business which was conducted at the regular meeting in Irrigon last week, included the acceptance of a bid to blacktop the old and ne.v car parking Iota near the courthouse. An agreement "You Are Probably Wondering Why I've Called This Meeting Of Supporters Of iVIy Energy Program..." was reached to rebuild and straighten and resurface the taxiway at the Lexington Airport from the landing strip to the UJown area. This will be done with airport improve ment funds already in the airport account. The court heard representa tives Shirley and Zearl Gil lespie, from the Boardman Cemetery District requesting information on the use of a strip of property along Colum bia Avenue. A request from the County Planning Commission for tui tion fees for several members of the commission to attend a short course in Eugene was approved. Tile court also approved a new fee schedule for the Minning Department. During office hours last Thursday Judge Jones per formed a wedding uniting Faith Elaine Elizabeth Johns with Larry Lee Ulrich. NAVAL GRADUATE Coast Guard Ensign Normal W. Williams, son of Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Williams of Lexing ton, OR, was graduated from Aviation Indoctrination School at the Naval Air Station. Pensacola, FL. The three-week course In cludes Instruction In basic aerodynamics, aviation phy siology and engineering. Students also undergo ex tensive physical fitness train-! ing and learn land and tea survival techniques, Upon graduation, (hey proceed to an advanced phase of the Naval Aviation Program, leading toward their destination as . naval aviators. i A 1974 graduate of Portland State University with Mas ters degree in History, he joined the Navy in February 1973. YCC Program nears season's completion After their Strawberry Mountain weekend trip of July 19 and 20, the Youth Conser vation Corps group camped at Tupper and had a busy week working and learning. Monday and Tuesday, they worked at the C.C.C. Spring, the Skookum game enclosure, Nine-Top Spring restoration and camp cleanup, Copple Butte Trail and on fence rollup at Long Prairie. These evenings they learned about cattle ranching from Dick Wilkenson and about range management from Shirley Rugg and Art Gal braith. Wednesday and Thursday, the work crews were at pumper ponds on Alder and Swale Creeks and doing cold patching at Bull Prairie and continuing fence rollup at North Jones Prairie. Wednes day evening after dinner there were interest sessions and softball. "Thursday evening some of the campers came to Heppner. Friday's work included pre paring barrier posts (limbing, peeling and notching), finish ing work at Nine-Top Spring and Government Spring, and working at Tupper on the fuel break and painting the shower complex. That evening the groups prepared for small group weekend activities which gave them the choice of .gold panning in the Llkhorn Range, floating on the Minam, or returning to the Strawberry Mountains. This week Monday, they continued working at Fair view Camp, painting tables at Bull Prairie and at Penland Lake where they also worked on picnic sites and did slash piling on the entrance road. That evening was free time. This Tvevlay they Installed barrier posts and painted at Fairview, continued various projects at Bull Prairie and Penland Lake, and had a Softball and volleyball game with the Forest Service Fire Crew campers from Opal Meadow. Yesterday and today they continued working at Bull Prairie graveling trails, cleaning up the entire picnic grounds and piling slash. Last evening they had free time after dinner and tonight they have the option of coming to Heppner. Tomorrow, Aug. 1, they will learn of erosion control and will observe the Elkhorn Umber sale well as get In some work at Fairview and Bear Creek. They will join In the dancing at the Hardman Hall In the evening. Saturday, Aug. S will be a work day at Skookum and Bull Prairie where they will finish barrier posit and bumper logs. Satur-( day evening they will review slides and video tapes of this year's camp experiences. Next Sunday their final week begins with a restful morning, guests for a barbe cue dinner at I p m. and with instruction on fisheries mana gement from Errol Claire of the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission in the evening. Monday will be given to field experience in fisheries mana gement under Errol Claire and to stream cleanup and habitat improvement in the area. That evening after dinner, Ralph Burcham will instruct them on trapping techniques and pelt prepara tion. Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 6 and 7, campers will do work on Wilson Creek on stream cleanup and habitat improvement and do some erosion seeding. Next week Thursday is labeled "Finish all Projects Day." That evening when they come to Heppner the campers will sing for the patients at the Pioneer Memorial Hospital. Their final day and evening, Aug. 8, will be devoted to Tupper Camp cleanup. After Friday's dinner they will have a campfire ceremony to end their summer experience. On Saturday they will all depart for home by 11 a.m. Heppner District Ranger Sam Miller says that this second year's YCC Camp gained from. the first year's experience. He states that "the campers have learned many outdoor skills and some have grown considerable In self-confidence. They have seen much of this part of the state. They have worked on many projects that were helpful to the Forest Service." Ranger Miller says that It la impossible to tell if the program will be continued next year as it depends on. federal funds being available. He anticipates that because' the program has been to worthwhile It may continue. He praised the planning done by Dave Olcott, camp director. VIsIT ON BIRTHDAY Weekend guests at the horn of Mr. and Mrs. Archie Padberg wert Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Tucker, Salem; Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Ross, Can by; Eldon Tucker and family, km; and Teresa Whita and daughter, Sabrina, Pendletoti. All wert visiting to eel-, brste Mrs. Padberg's birth-, day, July 21 Her family surprised her with silver dollar for every year. A drop In guest was JuaniU Moore of liermlston. Mayor of DEAR MISTER EDITOR: I been going to church fairly regular tinea my Pa dJdnt give me no choice In the matter. I kept on going after I growed up and my old lady give ma aomepun of a fighting chanct to decide fer myself whuther to go to preaching or face the consequences, meaning her, not to mention the Devil. , I even took in the services during my short hitch In the first war to end all wars, when I had plenty of reasons not to. I would say I've gone to church all my life, but I hope I ain't yet. After all this time I can truthful tay It's a habit I'm thankful I never broke. Herbert Hoover liked to My that the Good Lord don't count the time a feller spends fishing, and I like to think that would hold fer telling In church. I alius took the view that church was fer the here more than the hereafter. I figger if I do my best with this life, the next one will Uke care of Itself. I mention going to church because one of the fellers come to the meeting at the country store Saturday night with this report by a marriage counselor at Purdue University. Dr. Wallace Denton there says what folks need to keep their marriages healthy Is more fights. I am full agreed with him, because what he't talking about is talking out your problems Instead of sulking over em. He said as long as you fight fair and give the other party as much ss you Uke, you'll build a strong bond between you. Me and my old lady have been carrying on like that as long as we been together, and even now when she gives more than I can Uke I ease out of the bind by deciding I got pressing business to Uke care of out of earshot. In a little while, the storm passes and we're both ready to deal the cards fer the next hand. Mister Editor, the church builds on this same kind of fighting. You git bunch of different people together and you're bound to have difference of opinions. But the church is one place where If you don't agree with somebody, you try to. You find a way to git around the differences because you want to. You know It s fer everybody's good that you do, so you do. To give you some Idee, my old lady and the wlmmen In her church circle have been fighting among theirselves as long as I've known em. They squabble about this and that six days a week and they praise the Lord together on Sunday, and through it all they are the best of friends. I recall onct the men in the church fell out about putting a kitchen in the basement. All we could agree on was that we'd better let the wimmen work It out. We did and they planned the kitchen to everybody's satisfaction. I ain't an expert on religion or married life, but I am of a mind that fighting flavored with love is good for whatever ails both of em. Yours truly, MAYOR ROY. iyjonuivjent news Mrs. Bud Engle Miss Sherry Pflugrod. dau ghter of Mr. and Mrs. Edvern Pflugrod of Hamilton, and Mr. Gary Schultz were married June 30 at Aldrich Park in Pendleton. They are living in Hamilton where he Is employed by the bride's parents. A shower was given the newlyweds July 20 at the Oral Leathers home in Long Creek. Dorothy Jordan and Arthur Gienger were married July S at Wmnemucca, NV. The groom is the son of Mrs. Crystal Gienger. The couple are living on his ranch which was formerly known as the George Gienger place. Crystal Gienger has moved to John Day where she is employed. Mr. and Mrs. Ben Enoch Jr. of Ritter are the parents of daughter, Angela Ann, born June 28 at Pendleton Com munity Hospital. The infant weighed pounds, 10 ounces. Maternal grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. W.R. Heise of Monument and maternal great grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. A C. Heise of Ritter. Bill and Joe Elder and Vera Gardner of John Day attended the Snake River Stampede at Boise last week. Vera Gardner spent several days with her aunt, Mattie StubbJefield, be fore returning to her home in John Day. Mrs. Gary Engle accom panied her mother, Mrs. Joavs Enright to Bend Mon day to be with her sister, Mrs. Dave Rounds of John Day. Mrs. Rounds underwent surgery resulting from Injur ies she received In a one-car accident between John Day and Mount Vernon Sunday night. She was flown to Bend. Mrs. Bob Blakesle of the Rudio Ranch suffered a bro ken arm Monday from a fall at the ranch. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Scott, Imperial Beach, CA. plan to visit his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Scott, July 31. The Monument Grazing Aa tociation held their regular monthly meeting at the Gary Engl noma Monday evening. All member were present except Dan Capon and Cliff Riech. Mr. Fred Shanks left Mon day for Fall River Mills, Ca to spend the week with her, mother Mrt. Percy Crelghton. Hardman Jerry Cupper, Portland, and son Cody, Seattle, WA, visited his grandmother, Mrs. Mattie StubbJefield and other rela tives Thursday while enroute to LaGrande to visit his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Cupper. Scott is stationed at Coro na do Naval Air Base. He was married April to Miss Melissa Hall. Thia will be the couple's first visit home since their marriage. Mrs. George Stubblefield, Mrs. Jim Stubblefield and Mrs. Leonard Osborne are planning a household shower for the newlyweds at 2 p.m., Friday, Aug. 1 at the city park. Three ranches were sold last winter and spring so there are some new members. Bob Blakeslee and Sherman Per kins of Montana purchased the Rudio Ranch from Bill Mc pherson. The Riechs, from Dallas, OR bought the Johnny Shaw place (formerly known as the Joe Post place) and Art Leyendekker, Yakima Valley, purchased the Jessie Emery ranch. The Harold Reynolds and Norris Stubblefield families and Charles Bam spent last weekend camping at Bull Prairie. Mr. and Mrs. Gus Peterson and sons, Ture and Lonnie spent last weekend at the home of Mrs. Tad Hardesty, Eugene. The occasion was the seven ty firth birthday of Mrs. liar desly's mother, Mrt. Esther Dobbins. Mrs. Dobbins is Mr. Peterson's aunt. She was a resident of Morrow County for many years. Roy Peterson, son of Mr. and Mrt. Gus Peterson, went to Pasco Sunday, July 20. He passed his flying test and received his private pilot license. Mrt. Wanda Miller returned home July If after spending a month visiting her mother at Kress, TX and relative In Amarillo. She returned by way of California, visiting in SanU Barbara and Bishop. Her daughter Nlckl, who ' drove back with her mother, returned to her horn In Salem ' by plane earlier. G-T WANT ADS PAY
