Page 2, THE GAZETTE-TIMES, Heppner, OR, Thursday. April 15, 1978
p w mi mm
By ERNIE CERESA
In the April 1 edition of the Burns Times Herald there was a
story commenting on how a reporter had scooped the rest of
the state newspapers when he discovered the Steens
Mountains had been purchased by an investing group from
California. The story continues the investors paid $70 million
for the mountains, including a portion of BLM land. If the
Bureau of Land Management has been unsuccessful in
capturing the wild horses on the property the Californians
had hopes of running some of their horses with those of the
state in order to increase the breed.
The story explains the future plans of the group saying they
plan to remodel the area and turn the area into a resort.
After reading the article I sent the clipping to Orville
Cutsforth, fully aware that he considers the Steens
Mountains his second home. After reading the article Orville
went into action. He called meetings at his home and was
prepared to defend the Steens from any intruders. He and his
wife sent letters to various senators and congressmen and
also a letter to the BLM with a $5 check asking that they
return maps showing the locations of the newly purchased
property.
Glen Ward of the State Wildlife Commission was contacted
by Cutsforth and asked when the transfer took place and if
the sale was advertized in the paper. If the advertisement
was placed in any of the states newspapers why hadnt people
objected to the sale?
Ward checked into the matter and assured Cutsforth that
perhaps the paper was in error, however, Orville had the
news clipping and was not to be put off. He wanted a definite
Answer.
In desperation Orville contacted Gov. Bob Straub and
asked. ' How could the State of Oregon sell the Steens
Mountains?" Gov. Straub replied that he had received many
inquires and that no sale had been consumated. Cutsforth
told the governor he had about 500 men ready to defend the
mountains against the intruders. No one was taking the
Steens. especially Californians.
' Mr. and Mrs. Cutsforth have a dinner engagement with the
Governor in the future at which time they will all have a good
laugh over the entire matter.
What about the news item in the Burns Times Herald? It
was false, remember it was April Fools day.
The $5 check to the BLM has been returned to the
Cutsforths.
, Carolvn Clark Reiley is a teacher. She is a remedial
reading specialist. She works at Hilltop Junior High School,
t The school is in Chula Vista. CA.
Ms. Reiley made a study. She says she stddied the
readability of news stories. The stories she studied were
prepared by The Associated Press and United Press
- International. The Associated Press and United Press
m International are wire sen' ices. They provide stories to
newspapers.
Ms. Reiley came to a conclusion. She decided that both
wire services "are writing over the heads of junior high
school students."
Can this be true? Are junior high school students unable to
comprehend (Dig) a news story?
Ms. Reilev is not alone in her opinion. Edward B. Fry is a
' professor. -He heads the reading center at Rutgers
University. He commended Ms. Reiley for her research.
"The average person in the United States reads at about
the 8th grade level of difficulty." said Mr. Fry.
Ms. Reiley and Mr. Fry are educators. Their field is the
English language. They teach the language to your children.
Thev are paid to do this. They are experts.
Thev and their fellow English teachers have your children
for 12 to 16 years. They mold the little minds. They use the
laiest teaching techniques. They experiment. They
(shudden innovate.
Then ihey give your little darlings diplomas. Your children
are educated. They have been taught the English language.
Thev have been learned by language arts experts.
But thev can't understand a simple news story. They read
at the 8th grade lev el of difficulty. (An 8th grade level of ease,
apparently, is illiteracy.!
Is that a problem? No. of course not. Ms. Reiley has the
answer. Write simpler news stories.
How do you do that? Nothing to it. Use the style the
educators have perfected. Here is an example from a
primary textbook "Feeding the City."
Did you have a banana with your cereal this morning?
Did the banana come from Panama Or did you eat a banana
from Guatemala? Or perhaps your banana came from Costa
Rica Look at the paper labels on the bananas. The name of
the country is printed on them."
It "s easv to w rite a urn pie news story. Use short sentences.
Use simple words. Use the 200 words that every junior high
student must learn Folio ing is an example of a simple news
storv :
WASHINGTON tAPi-Henry Kissinger flew this week.
First he flew to Israel Then he flew to Egypt. Then he flew
back to Israel Then he flew back to Cairo. Then he flew home
to the United States He was Unhappy. The people in Israel
told him to go to hell. The people in Cairo told him to go to
hell President Ford met Mr. Kissinger at the airport. He
shk Mr Kissinger's hand He said Mr. Kissinger is doing a
good job."
Simple enough. Ms. Reiley? No? Okay. Have another
banana and start over.
From Ih Shrlloa-MaM fount Joaraal. Shelloa. W A.
"This new spaper is published, and rather successfully,
loo. without regard to race, color, creed, national
origin, age. marital status, physagogut addiction,
professional ability, religion, physical handicap,
medical condition, pigmentation (hair andor skin.
political persuasion, literacy, previous condition of
servitude. citizenship, criminal record, club member
ship, ancestry. Incestry. outcestry, agrwsy and (hoo
bn : Sev"
THE GAZETTE-TIMES
MORROW COUNTY NEW 8PAPF.R
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EDITOR:
In my opinion the residents of Morrow County are not
getting their full share of their Blue Mountain Community
College tax dollar. Based on Umatilla County's 1975 support
of the college district required a tax rate of $1 .93 per $1,000 of
valuation. Based on Morrow County's valuation for 1975, we
paid $1.91 per $1,000 of valuation. Only two cents less. (I got
this information from the tax assessor in each county.)
I believe in the Community College concept and believe
BMCC is doing a great job. My complaint is that I resent
having to pay more than my fair share for it's operation. I
would rather pay out of county tuition for my family and
would recognize considerable savings over the years.
From personal experience (my son is a BMCC student) I
can prove that the amount of equalization pay he receives
does not begin to pay his transportation costs. He receives
approximately $38 per month. Figuring what it actually costs
him for gas. oil, tires, insurance and depreciation, I come up
with a conservative figure of something over $200 actual cost.
How nice it would be to live in Pendleton and have only the
expense of housing, food and clothing of a BMCC age student.
In a newspaper report of Mr. Daniel's tax message to the
Heppner Chamber of Commerce he justified the cost of living
raises on all employees salaries. I agree this is necessary but
I ask. where is the cost of living raise in the equalization pay?
In addition to this complaint I have several others that add
credibility to my opinion. Access to the college classes
other than the ones offered in my area is impossible to me
because of the distance and time it takes to travel that far. I
would enjoy and need to take advantage of the new athletic
facility during the times it is open to the public, but again
because of distance it is denied me. Many plays, concerts,
athletic events, etc. are impossible to attend for the same
reasons yet our tax base is only 2 cents less than Umatilla
County.
PAT WRIGHT
Lexington.
EDITOR:
Eastern Oregon participants in the American Monitor Poll
strongly oppose federal aid to Israel and Egypt to help
maintain balance of power in the Mideast, and federal
funding of meetings to promote women's rights. Local results
have been near the same as expressed throughout the state
and nation.
The American Monitor Poll has Interviewed more than
20.000 voters all over the country on the issues. The
Washington based 300-10 Action Plan, sponsor of the monthly
poll called it the nation's most comprehensive test of voter
sentiment. George Millett. Executive Secretary of the 300-10
Action Plan, pointed out that Gallup and Harris questioned
only 1.000 to 1.500 citizens compared to American Monitor's
20.000 to 25.000.
"A unique feature of the plan is that it also informs the
participants on how their representatives in Congress have
voted on the same Issues," Millett said.
For this poll taken in February. total of 1137 registered
voters In Oregon responded. 214 were from district 2
represented in Washington by Rep. Al Ullman. Other
districts responded with 338 votes in district 1-Les AuCoin;
338 votes in district J-Robert Duncan and 249 votes in
district 4 -James Weaver.
Nationally 4 per cent of Ihe voters expressed opposition to
the federal funding of women's rights conference while M per
cent voted against aid to Israel and 3 per cent voted against
aid to Egypt. Before the returns could be counted by the poll,
the House of Representative In Washington had already
paued a bill ta appropriate nearly $1 billion for e h side of
the conflict. ...
The American Monitor Poll Is conducted by volunteers in
more than 300 Congressional districts It ta supported
entirely by concerned citizens. "It Is an effective instrument
in the hands of Ihe people which lakes on renewed
Importance In hl election year." Millett added.
The questions for April are No. I. "Would you want your
Congressman to vote to establish and operate direct
markeling from farmers to consumers?", and No. 2. "Would
you want your Congressman to vote for the extension of the
Revenue Sharing Act. which provides for giving fund to
slat, county and city governments?"
The American Monitor Poll is opened to anyone wishing to
have their vote counted.
CARL M MARQUARDT
oo 10 Action CommHt
Lexington.
EDITOR:
On April 3 an article appeared on the front page of the East
Oregonian concerning the Morrow County Bicentennial
: Committee plans for a Fourth of Jul) 'f"''
states the lone Lions Club had agreed to hold their annual
fireworks in Heppner. These fireworks have been put on by
the lone American Legion Post No. 95 for 29 years
We feel proper credit should be given each organization for
the work they do in the community. The fireworks have been
a Legion project. The Uons Club conduct many other
a- f worthwhile projects in the community for which we have
' We hlveSked a member of the Bicentennial Committee
for a retraction and correction of the April J statement but to
date none has been received. u..
The statement that the fireworks will be taken tol Heppner
Ihis year is incorrect. This matter was tabled at the Feb. 17
meeting of the American Legion because of lack of
information from the Bicentennial Committee.
The lone American Legion cannot use their permit at any
other location other than the lone Memorial Field. If Ue
Bicentennial committee wishes to have a 'iJ"8
they will have to obtain a permit from the State rire
Marshall, going through the proper channels.
JOHN JEPSEN. Commander
Post No. 95. American Legion
CHARLES DOHERTY. Adjutant
Post No. 95. American Legion
(Continued on page 3)
ouEie! off !
Colonel Nelson P. Conover. Walla Walla District Engineer,
has notified Mayor Jerry F. Sweeney that a recommendation
against any further work on the Willow Creek Dam flood
control project is being submitted to the U.S. Army, Office of
the Chief of Engineers (OEO.
In a letter report to North Pacific Division Engineer. Major
General Wesley E. Peel. Colonel Conover said. "A town
meeting was held in Heppner. OR March 19. 1978, sponsored
by the City of Heppner ... I feel that it brought out the mood
of the community . . . Mayor Sweeney publicly stated he
would no longer support the project. This position was fully
supported by other people attending." Colonel Conover
continued. "It was apparent local people will Do longer
tolerate uncertainty of a project which has been repeatedly
proposed and disapproved."
Col Conover advised the Walla Walla District Is updating a
special report. The report will include data on a flood control
channel alternative and the potential flood problem. Col.
Conover said. "I recommend that no project be considered
unless, and until, there is a clearly expressed change in the
desire of the people (of Heppner)."
In 1903. after a cloudburst, the Willow Creek Basin suffered
one of the most disastrous floods In the history of the United
Stales, with 247 people losing their lives.
In 1949 the Corps of Engineers prepared a survey report
recommending a 110 foot high concrete dam. The study was
updated In 1963 and the project authorized by Congress in
1965,
Their first plan called for a 11.500 acre feet reservoir with
I. 300 acre feet reserved exclusively for flood control and
I I. 200 acre feet for joint use flood control. Irrigation, wildlife,
sport fishing, recreation, water quality, municipal and
industrial water supply, etc.
The second plan called fr 1.500 vre4Vl f iwm4 nwlrol
and 1,500 acre feet for future Irrigation use, loo acre fret for
fishing and recreation and 1.400 for sediment storage.
The second plan was a reauthorization bill, because project
uses had been changed drastically. The Oregon Congression
al delegation actively supported the new authorization and it
passed both houses of Congresa. It aa vetoed by the
President on December II. 1974.
The alternative being considered In the updated special
report calls for a reservoir of 1,000 acre feet of storage with
1 000 for flood control. 2.000 for future Irrigation use. for
recreation and sport fishing, and 1,000 for sediment storage.
Some (pl believa that if your eyebrows grow toflSf
yott will be very rich!
I
Y
llayorofflanfmii
DEAR MISTER EDITOR:
They say even a blind hog finds a acorn onct in a while, and
I think Bug Hookum dug one up Saturday night during the
discussion at the country store. Bug stumbled on a cure fer
SScSy ' troubles. What we got to do. he said, la go back
'tt'wfth SecreUry Kissinger an I worked b
When Kissinger was single he had the world by the tall, Bug
avowed. He could calm troubled water. .nywher quker
than Superman could change clothes, and his skill at gitting
people and nations to find grounds fer agreement was saw as
little short of a natural resource.
Back then, declared Bug. he had people to git him up
mornings and fix him working man'a breakfast. After he
got married, he starting grabbing a piece of toast and waiting
fer Nancy to git dressed to go with him to whatever comer of
the world he was scheduled to save that day. And when she
starting talking to him about all them banquets settling
around his middle, you think he cut out banquets? No sir, he
cut out the piece of toast and tried to git by all morning on
black coffee. That, said Bug. ain't no way fer a man that runs
the world to start the day. and the country now Is paying fer
the mistake. Detant is forgot.
So. Mister Editor, if you keep a chart on all the column
writers say is wrong with Washington, you'll see they have
left out the root of our troubles. Bug said it don't matter if
you're going to the office to race rats, to the pasture to fix
fence or to Israel to head off a war, you can't do It right on a
empty stomach. Fer onct, the fellers was unanimous agreed.
It was Ed Doolittle that said If our history has showed us
anything, it Is that we are what we eat.
With all the bicentennial attention right now, went on Ed,
you'd think folks would git the point. The first sign of a man's
values, even before you looked at his mules and horses, was
the kind of table he set. Whatever we did, from fighting for
our freedom to taming the west, we eat first, was Ed's words.
What pioneer would of thought of sloshing down his coffee,
nibling a piece of dry bread, kissing his old lady on the run
and finishing dressing after he got the saddle on his horse and
he was galloping off to build a nation, was what Ed wanted to
know.
Farthermore, broke in Bug. It didn't matter what section of
the country you were building, breakfast was where you
started. We've come around now to pills and powder you pour
in milk, and by the middle of the morning we've run out of
steam and ambition. A glass of make-believe orange juice,
even if it went to the moon, can't make up the loss, was Bug'i
words.
I see some hope. Mister Editor. I read where on one recent
trip, Mrs. Kissinger shopped fer a shaving brush fer her
husband while he was busy giving away Jet fighters to keep
the peace. At least he don't shave out of a squirt can.
Yours truly,
MAYOR ROY.
TJhy a colt
(Mark 11:1 10)
By Rev. Mark Johnson
think that we all know what a murder mystery Is. In any
good murder mystery, there is usually one main clue which,
when discovered, finally solves the problem of "who done it "
This past Sunday, we celebrated Palm Sunday which is the
day when Jesus came riding Into Jerusalem in order to face
the cross. The story of Palm Sunday (Mark 11:1-10) can be
compared to a murder mystery in that there is one main clue,
and once that clue is discovered, we can fully understand
what is happening.
The main clue to the story of Palm Sunday is centered
around the animal on which Jesus rides into Jerusalem. If we
know why Jesus rode on this particular animal, we will then
understand the text. The Bible says that Jesus rode on a colt.
Why is this animal Important? The Importance lies in what
the animal symbolizes. The word for colt in the Greek
language is "polos" which means "any young animal."
Whenever a leader of a country would come Into another
country, the animal on which he rode signified his Intentions.
If He rode on a large horse, it meant He had come to do battle
with the people. However, if He rode on a "polos" or a young
animal like a colt, it meant He had come in peace. Therefore,
by riding on this particular animal. Jesus was revealing to
the people that He was coming in peace to be their "prince of
peace " The only problem with this is that the people didn't
want Him to ride in on a colt. They wanted Him to come In on
a horse which would have meant that He had come to be a
military leader In order to destroy the oppressive forces of
the Roman government. The people watching Jesus coming
on a colt were shocked and disappointed because they wanted
a military hero, and not Just a "prince of peace." Therefore,
in five brief days, the same people who had cheered His
arrival were soon yelling "crucify him" because Jesus did
not turn out to be the.kind of king they expected.
In many ways, we are much like the people in the story.
We, also, want Jesus to be what we want Him to be. We want
Him to give us one great and glorious moment after another.
We expect that if we are Christian, then all should be well,
and we should not have any difficult moments. We are so
caught up with success and power that we expect Christ to be
the one who gives us one successful moment after another,
and who is the one who can grant the power we desire
However, when this doesn't happen, we often disregard
Christianity as a fraud mainly because it does not do ahal wt
want it to do When we can't remake Christ Into what we
want, we often have no time for Him or His teachings.
I believe that it is important thai we take another close look
at what is happening in the text. Why did Jesus ride in on
colt? He entered Jerusalem in this manner because he
wanted to reveal something very Important to Ihe people, lit
was saying to them that He had come to be their king
However, He was not to be the king which they wanted. He
was not ready to get involved in all of the power struggles,
and petty competition In which they were involved. Rather,
He had come to be different type of king He had come to be
their "prince of peace." He had come not to destroy the
oppressive forces of Rome, but rather to go to the cross and
die It was through this strsnge event that lie could do for
them what needed to be done He had come to bring them new
meaning, purpose and hope for their lives He had come to
provide fur them a rock on which lo stand in the midst of their
shifting lives It wss only through the death and the
resurrection that this could be done for the people.
Everyday, ymi w t art fstrd with s3 sorts cf praswr.
anxieties and frustrations ahkh we would like to get rid of,
but somehow are alaayt there Our lives art more and mora
busy everyday and H seems at though each year becomea
more complei. The mood today with many of us la one of
anxiety, fear, hopelessness and meaningWaneaa. It la Into
these types of situations that Christ cornea He comet riding
on colt to be our pftnee of peact He comet for various
reatona : lo remind ua that In the midst of change, there Is ooe
who duetnl change; ta the midst of tripping and falling. He la
there lo pkk us up. when at feel unloved and atone, lit is
Ihert lo lovt and be our friend, when failure and tragedy
airlkt our tivea, II ta thert la ttreng then and cart (or ua.
As wt again prepart for another Fatter Sunday, It It this
message which ran give ua hop Jeaut dWanl come riding
Into our lives on a horse in order la glvt ua on great
turrestfv' moment after another. H rather comet ruling In
an a colt la order la b our "peine of pete lit comet to ua
In order to glvt at hop, meaning and purpos In the midst of
frftvfied and an x tout world.