BESSIE WETZELL
U OF ORE
NEWSPAPER LIB
EUGENE OR 07403
THE
"If you don't want it published, don't let it happen.
E
Heppner, OR, Thursday, Jan. 29, 1976
Vol. 92, No. 50
15c
Sweeney appointed
Mike Sweeney was introdu
ced as a new member of the
Morrow County ' Planning
Commission Monday night at
the Morrow County Court
' house. Dorris Graves, Roy
Undstrom and Fritz Cutsforth
were re-appointed to the com
mission for another term.
Keeco Inc. presented a vari
ance requiring a setback in
M l zone, located at the south
west corner of Highway 730
and Patterson Ferry Road.
Keeco Inc. also presented an
application for a condition use
permit for contractor equip
ment yard and an office on the
same property.
The application for the
equipment shed and the office
was approved, however when
it was discovered that Kenn
Evans was seeking the vari
Employees
for 3 year
An awards dinner for the
employees of Eastern Oregon
Logging Company, Kinzua
Corporation was held Jan. 17
at Kinzua.
The dinner was held to
honor construction employees
and their wives lor having no
lost time accidents over a
three year period.
Construction employees and
wives honored were: Richard
Mortimore. Cleburne Rob
bins. Mr. and Mrs. Roger
Cook, Glen Potter. Mr. and
Mrs. Oliver Munger. Mr. and
Mrs. Howard Cline, Mr. and
Mrs. Kendrick Dunlap. Mr.
and Mrs. Everett Howell, Mr.
and Mrs. Steve Medlock, Otis
Cody and Sherron Mangum
isisler . Mr. and Mrs. Doyal
Hubble. Mr. and Mrs. Jack
Progress report on
irrigation project
By Dan Wilton, Project Coordinator
The irrigation project for North Morrow County and
Western L'matilla County, now known officially as the
Stanfield Westland project, is making rapid progress toward
providing enough Information for the landowner so they can
decide if they want lo participate in an irrigation project
from the Columbia River.
At the most recent meeting of the Stanfield Westland
Project Coordinating Committee, reports were heard from
lending Institutions as to the importance of a financial
consultant to advise the committee and assist them in finding
aources of financial support for this project.
Also st the meeting were representatives from Vitro Boyle
Engineering Firm who explained seven conceptions! ideas
on how to bring water from the Columbia River to the nearly
95.0O0 acres now signed up in the project. They discussed
pros and cons of each alternative and asked the coordinating
committee for feedback.
The coordinating committee, at the suggestion of the
engineering firm, voted to re-open the sign up for the project
so landowners within the existing signup area, or
landowners adjacent, either on the east side, east of
Buttercreek. or on the west side south of the bombing range,
and Boeing land, could participate in the irrigation project.
Additional lands will carry a 10 per cent late charge so they
will need to make a contribution of 13 20 per acre. The new
deadline for additional acres Is Feb. 5. 1976. Interested
landowners should contact the Stanfield Irrigation office in
Stanfield.
The coordinating committee stated that additional lands
will help the overall feasibility of the project, because the
larger the project area, the smaller the per acre
development cost. Approximately 1.000 additional acres has
already requested permission to Join the project.
The coordinating committee, a 12 man board includes:
Larry Campbell, farmer, chairman; Gaylord Madison,
farmer, vice-chairman; Dan Wilson. OSU. Extension
Economist secretary and official spokesman for the
committee; Robert O'Rourke. Attorney and irrigation
districts representative; Bill Penney, manager. Port of
l'matilla; Ken Turner, farmer; Chester Prior, farmer;
Stafford Hansell. farmer; Darrell Maxwell. Umatilla County
Extension Agent; lladley Akins. Ag. representative. U.S.
Naliot-! Bank, part project coordinator; pill Giltwt,
manager. Stanfield Westland Irrigation Districts and Tom
Harper, city manager. City of Hermlston.
The coordinating commute, on Nov. 21 authorized the
Stanfield and Westland Irrigation District to enter Into
contract with Vitro Boyle Engineering firm to complete an
engineering feasibility study of the area lo be completed by
Aug I. 1976. This completion date coincides with the
completion date of an economic feasibility study being done
by Oregon State University Extension Service.
The three major questions that the two studies will answer
art: ,
I w"ha kind of legal organization Is necessary to
administer the project, the pricing policy and a
recommendation on how the financing should be arranged.
I The cost of delivering water lo the different areas of the
'"j n'e ability of the land within the project lo pay back the
coal of development and the cost of operation, based upon
everal cropping pattern, crop yields and price variations.
ance because of difficulties
with the Boardman Telephone
Co., as he wanted his office to
be served by Pacific North
west Bell, some discussion
followed. It was later discov
ered the county road had not
been built on county property,
and this was the reason for the
variance. Evans wanted a
variance of 14 ft. however, the
planning commission approv
ed a two foot extension.
The commission approved
the final plat for Greenwood
Estates Subdivision.
The subdivision includes 17
building lots of more than an
acre per lot. Bob La Rue,
lrrlgon and Bob Lagier, engi
neer of LaGrande presented
the final plat to the planning
commission. The County
Court must approve the final
plat prior to construction.
honored
record
Warren, Henry Geer, Mr. and
Mrs. Don Stanton and Mr. and
Mrs. Marvin Howell.
Lee Wilson. Safety Com
pliance Officer, Accident Pre
vention Division, Workmen's
Compensation Board and Bill
Bolender. Safety Consultant
State Accident Insurance
Fund presented the crew with
merit awards from their
respective offices.
Representatives from Kin
zua Corporation, Heppner,
and their wives attending the
dinner to congradulate the
employees for their fine re
cord included Mr. and Mrs.
Darl Hagey. Mr. and Mrs. Bob
Lankford. Mr. and Mrs. Chuck
Vader. Mr. and Mrs. Guy
VanArsdale and Milo Prindle.
County equipment
needs repairs
Nine employees of the
County Road Department
were temporarily laid off Jan.
5 by the Morrow County Court
until the equipment operated
by the employees can meet
State Safety Standards.
Prior to their dismissal, the
men notified road master Doc
Sherer, that some of the
present equipment did not
meet safety standards. Sherer
took the list and asked the
courts advisement on the
matter. The County Court
decided to contact the State of
Oregon Accident Prevention
Division, Pendleton to have
the equipment checked, re
garding the necessary safety
features.
After the Accident Preven
tion Division inspected the
equipment, they listed some 20
faulty features with the equip
ment. Some of the necessary
corrections include the re
placing of all broken or
cracked glass within the
vehicles; installation of seat
belts and roll bars; bleepers
must be Installed on all
equipment that has a reverse
gear; safety guard rails must
be installed when large equip
ment is in operation to prevent
anyone from entering the area
Juveniles
apprehended
Three youngster ages 7-9
years of age were apprehend
ed by Heppner City Police and
remanded to juvenile authori
ties, on charges of theft.
The youngsters were seen
entering a vacant home and
police investigated the young
sters activities. It appears the
youngsters had been ripping
off miscellaneous items from
parked vehicles in the neigh
borhood and placing them in
the vacant house.
Among the items recovered
NFO meeting
tonight, lone
There will be a National
Farm Organization meeting,
tonight, Thursday at the lone
Grange Hall. The meeting will
be preceeded by a crab feed
starling at 7:30 p.m.
Following dinner speakers
will include Mr. and Mrs.
Alvin Schulz. Mr. Schulz was
recently elected Washington
State president of NFO. Prior
his recent appointment he has
been active in both communi
ty and Grange affairs and
joined NFO at the start of
organizing in the northwest.
He has held various offices
from bean chairman, district
director and 4th district presi
PGE awards
Portland General Electric
Company announced recently
it has awarded Peter Kiewit
Sons' Co.. Omaha. NE. the
approximately Its million
contract for preliminary site
earthwork and reservoir con
struction for the utility'
Boardman coal fired generat
ing plant.
Peter Kiewit Sons' Walla
Walla Area office has respon
sibility for supervising the
operation.
Primary work to be com
pleted under the contract will
be excavation of material
from the power block and coal
handling area at the site.
Thi material will be used by
the contractor to construct
dam, divider dike and a
saddle dam for the 1400 acre
cooling reservoir.
During February the con
tractor will develop a con
struction water aupply system
and build shop and office
facilities In the reservoir area.
"We anticipate the majority
of work Involved with this
contract will be accomplished
where the equipment is work
ing : the electrical panel on the
rock crusher has to be rewired
and safety equipment instal
led. ?
When the county purchased
most of the equipment in 1969
safety features were not'
installed as it was not deemed
necessary.
Judge Paul Jones has stated
that as soon as the safety
equipment arrives for the
machinery it will be installed
by the mechanics Dick Sherer
and Glen Irby. He further
stated the cost of installing the
safety equipment and repair
to the rock crusher will
probably cost the county thou- ;
sands of dollars.
The equipment cannot be -put
into operation until all
repairs are completed and
meet state standards. Failure
to comply with the law could
result in severe penalties to
the county.
All snow equipment has
been equipped with the afety
factors and the equipment is
ready for any snow emergen
cy. The County Court does not
forsee the men being able to
return to work prior to March
1.
were plastic glasses, wind
shield scraper, can opener,
billfold, an instamatic cam
era, 5 eight-track tapes, check
book, cement weight and three
sets of mounted antlers.
Three Heppner teenagers
were arrested by Heppner
City Police and charged with
criminal activities in drugs.
Police reported the juveniles
had been smoking marijuana.
They have been remanded
to juvenile authorities.
dium .
His wife Oryissa M. Schulz.
has worked as a columnist and
free lance writer and is a
legislative consultant to the
Washington State Legislature.
She is a chairperson on agri
culture workshops, state con
ference on food and nutrition.
She is a lay member of the
Select Committee on preser
vation of agricultural land.
Washington Stale; Member of
the Policy Council. Hunger
Action Center and is listed in
the 5oth edition of Marquis'
Who's Who in the West tand
America i.
contract
in 1976, but the contract will
extend lo the end of 1977."said
Ad Starner. PGE's manager
of generation construction. He
said the contract w ill involve a
peak construction force of
about 190 worker.
PGE expect permanent
foundation work for the 550
megawatt. NS0 5O0 million
project to begin in late 1976.
S DAYS TO WIN It
The Morrow County Fair
Committee Is offering III for a
theme for this year's Fair.
Parade and Rodeo.
Entries mutt be submitted
by Feb. J. Entries may be sent
U Delpha Jones. Lexington,
l.li Curtis, Heppner or Larry
Mills, at the Morrow County
Grata Growers. Becante of
(he limited lime, phone rails
from entrant will be accept
ed. The winner will be selected
Feb. 4. at the regular meeting
of the Fab- Committee.
ify Water System Completed
"The City of Heppner now
has enough water to serve
2.500 residents, or until 1995 if
the population increases at the
rate of the predicted one per
cent annual growth," said City
Engineer Steve ' Anderson,
speaking before the Chamber
of Commerce Monday.
"I have done a lot of things
in the past two and one-half
years," said Anderson, stating
he was hired by the City of
Heppner in June. 1973. By
November, 1973 he had com
pleted his study on the existing
water system and presented
his report to the Chamber of
Commerce asking for its
support in the passage of a
(450.000 water bond issue to
revamp the existing water
others march
Thursday night
Volunteers for the March of
Dimes w ill be knocking on the
doors of homes in Morrow
County towns on Thursday
evening. Jan. 29. People in
Boardman, Irrigon, lone
Lexington and Heppner will be
asked to contribute to the 1976
campaign.
The Morrow County chapter
of the national foundation uses
part of the money collected to
sponsor Mikka Lou Evans, 14
month-old daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Ken Evans, Irrigon.
Mikka was born with two birth
defects of the windpipe. She
has spent three months of her
life in the Oregon Medical
School Hospital and has had
several corrective surgeries.
Mikka will also need another
operation at the end of
January. She requires two
large machines to help with
her breathing and catheter
replacement supplies are used
constantly. The Morrow Cou
nty March of Dimes ha paid
for these machine and up-
Wheat seminar
A one day wheat and
production seminar will be
held at the Willows Grange
Hall, lone, Feb. 2. starting at
9:30 a.m. lo bring grower
abreast of current develop
ment in the wheal Industry.
' Project coordinator, Norm
Goetze, an OSU extension
agronomist (aid the meeting
I designed for grower, but
should be of interest to
supplier and trade people.
Topic to be covered in
clude: change In wheat
grading procedure, perfor
mance of new wheal varietie
In Eastern Oregon, winter
S (JJi I-- ' 'i
line. In March 1974, he and
Orville Cutsforth went to
Washington, D.C. and testified
before the Senate in hopes of
securing federal funds for the
proposed water line with the
building of the Willow Creek
Dam. However, in 1975 Presi
dent Ford vetoed the constru
ction of the dam and new plans
had to be designed by Ander
son. Some of the existing reser
voirs, thought to be obsolete
by the City had to be repaired
and used in the project. With
the usage of these reservoirs
there is now ample water for
the city as well as sufficient
water for any fire hazard.
At present the city has four
zones of water pressure.
plies.
Pat Gentry, county chair
man and coordinator of the
Mother's March, stated. "We
have a large turnout of volun
teers this year and are looking
forward to exceeding the
amount of money we raised
last year." The fund grossed
$1,044 in the 1975 march.
W ft
1
MIKKA LOU EVANS
hardiness of wheat, foot rot of
wheat, how to sell wheat and
report from the Oregon Wheat
Grower League.
Other on the program with
Goetze are Robert Powelson,
OSU plant pathologist; Char
les Rohde, Columbia Basin
Research Center at Pendle
ton; Ai Plummer, Oregon
Department of Agriculture,
Portland, Don George, USD A
Agricultural Research Ser
vice, Pullman, WA; and We
Grilley, executive vice presi
dent of the Oregon Wheat
Grower League, Pendleton.
J
City Engineer Steve Anderson
various modifications made to
better circulation within the
city due to the looping of some
of the existing mains and
additional fire hydrants, and
additional water pressure.
While the pressure varies
from 30 to 90 pounds per
square inch (psi), due to the
surrounding hills, all areas
within the present city limits
now have an ample supply of
water.
The city of Heppner is now
rated 7-B by the state for Tire
protection and in the near
future the city should be rated
at least 7-A which should
mean a decrease in the fire
rates. It is doubtful if the City
of Heppner will ever increase
beyond 7-A as the city has a
volunteer fire department and
School
committee
meets
Boardman The Morrow
County School Budget com
mittee met at Riverside High
School Jan. 26 in the second of
three scheduled meetings.
A lively discussion, with the
music department of the
Heppner High School revealed
that the participation in the
program has increased dra
matically. In 1974 approxi
mately 20 were involved in
band in Heppner High. This
has increased to 43 and is
projected to involve more than
60 students.
The Elementary School is
experiencing the ame type of
growth and the involvement is
expected to reach 90 to 100
youngsters.
This activity has resulted in
need for more instruments
and equipment to carry on the
program. Presently the In
structors are using a number
of their own amplifier and
electrical Instruments. A
result a higher than usual
request was made in the
budget.
The budget committee re
commended that some form of
rental program be worked out
to offset the cost of new or
replacement instrument.
Four budget item were
approved by the committee:
( 1 approved capital outlay of
$34,446; (2) approved replace
ment outlay of $21,404; tl)
approved capital outlay of
major improvement to build
ings $12,720 after deleting
$2,014 for a r H water healing
coil at lone, and (4) approved
additional staff cost of
$89,818. These will be passed
to the school board with the
budget as a whole after the
next meeting.
point to a map showing the
Heppner' new water system.
the rating is given by the
state.
New hydrants were added in
the area of the Elementary
School and at Heppner High
.School and the existing stand
pipe hydrants were replaced.
Should the City of Heppner
expand beyond the predicted
growth rate, the present water
system could be expanded due
to the existing work completed
in the field. The city now has
two automatic booster sta
tions that are virtually vanda
lism proof.
"I feel confident that Hepp
ner now has a modern, water
system, one that will provide
for the growth of the area,"
said Anderson.
Pet Rock
Show
The Oregon Agate and
Mineral Society will sponsor a
series of exhibits and lapidary
demonstrations at the Oregon
Museum of Science and In
dustry. Jan. 31-Feb. 8, includ
ing its "Firs tAnnual Pet Rock
Show."
Vying for attention with pet
rocks of all breeds will be a
special Bicentennial display of
stones from each of the 50
states. Oregon's state rock,
the thunderegg. will be a focus
of interest and visitors will
have the opportunity to pur
chase an Oregon thunderegg
and have it cut open at no
charge. A wide variety of
rocks, minerals, and jewelry
will be on sale, and rock
hunting location maps of
Oregon will be available.
On weekends during the
show, Oregon Agate and
Mineral Society member will
give actual working demon
strations of faceting, rock
cutting and polishing, carving,
jewelry making, silversmith
ing, and the art of making
pictures from crushed stone.
Awro" will be handed out
in the "First Annual Pet Rock
Show" at OMSI on Feb. I. The
public Is invited to bring in
favorite pet rocks on any day
during the two-week Agate
and Mineral Society exhibi
tion. These will be registered,
identified and put on display
until judging at 1 pm ,
Sunday, Feb. I. Pet rock
expert Mr. Ralph Mason of
Oregon' Department of Geo
logy will b among the Judge
handing out award In catego
rie ranging from "Best of
Breed" to "Best Trained."
The Oregon Agate and
Mineral Society show will be
held at OMSI Jan. 31 Feb. I.