Page 2. THE GAZETTE-TIMES, Heppner. OR. Thursday. July 22. 1ST
Language, weather are
major hassles for two
New Zealand students
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JFTiaf is Heppner's population? These signs, one at the north end of town and the other
at the south end don't jive. (G-T Photo)
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THE jm
GAZETTE-TIMES
Editorial & Viewpoint
Put personal feelings aside
We are glad to see that the Heppner
common council finally put aside their
personal feelings and represented the people
of this city the way they were elected to.
For three weeks, First Federal Savings and
Loan tried, sincerely, to gain council
acceptance and support as part of this
community, to serve Heppner and its people
in the most feasible way they could do so.
For three weeks a man tried to gain
acceptance into this town with a $17,000
mobile home
When applications meet city codes and
ordinances, there should be no hassle. That is
what those codes are for. Personal feelings
have no place when a vote is cast.
Last week the mobile home gained council
approval ... by a slim vote.
The mobile bank finally received accept
ance and approval this week. It will not only
be an asset to the community as a convenient
financial institution, but as a means to better
beautify the corner of Main and Central
Streets, a plot that until now, has been
scarring the city's busy main street with
tumble weeds.
A presentation by Bert Arndt, PR man for
First Federal, was impressive. But the need
for the impressive speal actually wasn't
needed for the council to approve the building
permit.
The structure met all city codes, including
fire codes that the city stopped the bank with
two weeks ago.
The word "temporary" threw a scare into a
couple councilmen but Arndt assured them
that a concrete block structure, built on a
cement foundation was permanent. He also
had to assure tham that the bank is a
"financial institution."
The council put aside their personal
feelings and ok'ed the building, 3-2.
Even by that slim vote, the council gained a
reassuring vote itself that they are doing their
job in the best interest of Heppner.
w.c.p.
Correspondence & Comment
Language barriers and hot
weather seem to be the
biggest hassles for two New
Zealand students working on
the Lawrence Becket ranch
near Heppner.
Ian Jackson and Tony
Petch, speaking with a dis
tinct New Zealand accent, are
on an exchange program with
Oregon Stats University. Five
New Zealand students are in
Oregon and five Americans
are in New Zealand.
The pair still has the fall
term at OSU to complete and
will head home after almost a
year here, around Christmas
time.
They attend Lincoln College
in Christchurch, 7,000 miles
away. They have attended
OSU since January, complet
ing the winter and spring
terms there.
In their junior years, both
find Morrow County's sun-
lone
fire
(Continued from Pagel)
Crabtrec's furniture was
moved out the front door of the
building by neighbors to a safe
location across the street.
Howard Crowell, acting fire
chief, while fire chief Gene
Lancaster was on vacation,
said the alarm was turned in
about 3:15 a m. Friday and,
with the help of 12 volunteer
firemen, was under control in
about 45 minutes.
Crowell said the fire started
inside the building and had
been burning for some time
before the alarm was turned
in. Crowell would not venture
any statement on how the fire
started. He said an "old
building like that burns very
quickly, leaving little behind."
Some reports have it that
the fire was started by elect
rical wiring. Another report
would not rule out foul play.
Reportedly, some furniture
was moved around in one of
the buildings, not the way it '
was left before the fire.
The Stefani building was
built by Paul O'Mcarra in the
early 1900s for his blacksmith
shop. Art Stefani, Sr. bought
the building in the mid-liHOs.
He (hen had the building
stuccoed, which is all that
remains from the Friday fire.
The Crum building and the
Holtz apartments were built in
the late-1940s.
shine, "warm and dry". The
temperature, they say, Is
about the same but Tony
termed this weather, "sort of
tropical."
The young men said grain Is
not a feasible crop In New
Zealand because of the rain.
Calling it "too humid" there,
Tony said his farm lost 800
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Tony Petch
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Ian Jackson
In New Zealand where Tony
lives on the North Island, the
average yearly rainfall some
times exceeds 60 Inches. It
takes about five or six years
for this area to get that much
rain.
Ian lives on the South Island
where the ground gains about
25 inches of rain each year.
Both men live on sheep and
cattle ranches.-
Ttiey have been at Becket's
for about four and one-half
weeks and will stay there, as
farm hands, through harvest.
Neither has ever worked on a
wheat ranch before.
bales of hay due to high
humidity last year.
In their stint here, language
has been their biggest prob
lem. They both speak English
with an accent and that accent
has caused them to repeat
many things. Also, different
names for tools, crops, etc. is
a slight burden but nothing,
they say, that they can't be
adapted to.
"People are the same," they
say, "but country people are
better than city people."
On that quote, most will
agree, in Morrow County or in
New Zealand.
County health
clinic explained
As of July 1, 1976. the Morrow County Mental Health Clinic
separated from the Umatilla Mental Heullh Clinic. Because
it costs less and provided better service, the Morrow County
clinic has been under the auspices of the Umatilla Clinic for
the last four years. Since the Morrow County Mental Health
Clinic now employs two professionals and has an increase in
fee collections it was more beneficial for the clinic to
separate from Umatilla.
Although the 1976 77 budget to the Morrow County Mental
Health Clinic is $116,847, the county's share is only $3,702. The
rest of the clinic's funds come from Federal and State grants
plus fees collected from patients.
The Morrow County Commissioners decided to establish an
Administrative Hoard after the Morrow County Mental
Health Clinic separated from the Umatilla County Mental
Health Clinic. The commissioners have appointed Robert
Abrams, Heppner, acting-chairman; Mrs. Joe Stahl,
Irrigon; Matt Dohcrty, Irrigon; Don Bri.stow, lone; and
Mildred Baker, Boardman. The Administrative Board will
establish clinic policies while the director is responsible for
the program.
One of the first tasks the board will undertake is to select a
new director for the clinic, since the current director, Terry
D. Hirni. ACSW. has resigned effective August I, 1976. Mr.
Hirni will be moving to Portland to accept a position with
Metropolitan Family Services. The board will recommend a
new director to the county commissioners, who will make the
final division.
Amtrak possible
Sequal to harvest,
harvest, harvest
EDITOR:
Sequel to Harvest, Harvest. Harvest:
Those wonderful wages that always seem lo accompany
harvest time. The extra hours of pay somehow always seem
to help so much to clean up those unexpected bills.
As you roll out of your comfortable beauty rest equipped
bed and don your freshly laundered, soft clean clothing, you
cannot wait to enjoy the incomparable fellowship along with
the wonderful food prepared by the friendly and beautiful
young ladies of the house who seem to lake great pleasure in
seeing you consume the never -ending supply of hotcakes.
eggs, bacon, sweet rolls, fruit, coffee, milk and almost
anyil.mg U tlwy think yt might enjoy, ymi do not even
dream of the way harvest ued lo be just a few years ago.
You gel into your air -conditioned, ultra clean pickup and
drive down the.dusly road with your windows closed lo the
dusl clouds billowing up around you and maybe say a little
prayer of thanksgiving as you reminisce about the way it
used lo be.
You finally gel lo thai big. beautiful combine and spend the
next few minutes servicing with the pressure grease gun and
The
Heppner
Gazette
Times
(he electric fuel pump. (The belts are equipped with spring
(ightenerst. All done servicing.
Now up (he steps Into the big, air-conditioned cab. You
adjust the seat to (he most comfortable position and also to
in; uifeiw ui Miiiiic )uu uuuc iu ukii push the starter
button and the quiet roar (your cab is sound insulated too)
lells you the big diesel engine is running and has activated
(he many gauges that tell you all is well.
Put the machine in gear and touch (he hydrostatic
transmission control lever lo go any speed forward or
backward you desire effortlessly.
The wheal is short this year, but don't worry loo much
about running the massive 24 foot header into the dirt. It's a
full free float design and nearly Impossible lo dig into (he soft
dirt
Gosh, don't forget to turn on the radio lo your favorite
station. Just push the button lo gel the program of your
choice.
Be sure lo lay out your fields so the trucks can pick up your
load of wheat with the wind blowing the itchy, chaffy dust
aay from the driver who musl leave his air-conditioned cab
to stand outside on the running board as you empty your bulk
lank of IM bushel in just three minutes without stuping.
No dirt, no itrh. no sarms of flying ants, no ht sun
beating down on you. no hard work, sumptuous food served
by pretty girls three lime day. fellowship beyond
compare! My Cod. can this really be harvest. I'rfi'
RAY HEIMBIGNER
Circle E Ranch, lone
Railway service again ?
Will Eastern Oregon ever have passenger
rail service again? Could be.
Representatives from Amtrak, the Oregon
Ifc'parlment of Transportation and the
Oregon Historical Society will be aecompny
ing niemlHTS of the Oregon Association of
R.iilwuy Passengers on a special fact finding
trip lo possible station slops along the route of
the proposed Portland to Ogdcn Irain service.
Hie louring fact finders will stop in
Uoiirdman. Aug. 6 and 7 and will also make a
slop at Huikle, near Hcrmiston.
The Amtrak hoard of directors is expected
lo arrive at a decision this summer whether lo
add tins experimental rtul passenger service
to its nationwide net work.
Hie purpose of the special fact finding trip
is to survey potential station stops for station
facilities and local interest in resumption of
train service lo central and eastern Oregon.
The three departments will view possible
station facilities and share ideas with local
officials and clli.cns showing Interest at
Boardman and Huikle, along with Cascade
IK ks, llomi River, The Dalles, Pendleton,
UiCrande. Baker and Ontario.
The lour will stop in Boardman at 9 p m.
Aug. 6. stay Ihe night and meet again at la m.
in Boardman and at 9.13 a m. in llinkle.
THE
rV - HEPPNER
GAZETTE-TIMES
Ihe nKiilal newspaper of Ihe
( 'II of llrpnnrr and Ihe Count v
of Morrn.
C M.Hrrd. I'ublUhrr
I More Itrnl. ' pulilUhrr
Will . Phinnet. I d'loc
PuhlUhed every Thursdoy and entered as a
irrond -class mailer at Ihe post nffiie al llfpp.r,
llregw.. under Ihe ar of March 3. UTS. Krtiind r Ism
pUKe paid al llrppttrr, Dick.ih.