Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 30, 1976)
BESSIE WETZELL 0 OP ORE HESS PAPER LIB EUGENE OR 97403 oon U vaccine By the end of next week, vaccinations for the Swine Flu should be ticking in everybody's arm. Late last Thursday night, Oregon recei.ri '- f.-st air shipment of influenza vaccine being provided by the federal government in a long -delayed nation-wide Immunization effort to prevent a possible outbreak of Swine Flu this winter and spring. The shipment, 50,000 doses of bivalemt vaccine manufactured by Merck Sharp and Dohme at West Point, PA., arrived at Portland International Airport about 9 p.m. Thursday night. According to Pat Wright, Morrow County Health Nurse, this county should be receiving its allotted shipment of the vaccine late this week or early next week. Mrs. Wright said she would start to schedule clinics for the Immunization as soon as the vaccine was in her hand. Mrs. Wright said the vaccine had been promised last week and last month and that she would "believe it when I see it. I'll Btart scheduling clinics as soon as I get it." The vaccine is the bivalent type which offers protection against two strains of fluthe A-New Jersey (tagged A-Swine) and A-Victorla. Another shipment of the bivalent vaccine 32,000 doses is expected to arrive at the State Health Division in Portland next Wednesday by air freight. The bivalent vaccine will be limited to the "high risk" population over 65 years of age and those under 63 with chronic health problems such as heart disease, lung trouble, kidney ailments and diabetes. The other flu vaccine to be included in the federally sponsored immunization program this year is a monovalent type which protects only against the A-Swine strain. This is recommended for persons from 18 to 63 who are in normal health. The Public Health Service does not expect to have a flu vaccine recommendation for healthy persons from three years of age through 17 until late October, and a vaccination program for this group may not be attempted unless there Is an outbreak of swine flu. According to Mrs. Wright, officials have termed that the vaccine is safe for that younger age group, but dosages have not been established yet. Tests are being made to determine this factor. Private physicians may charge for administering the vaccine, but not for the vaccine itself, which is provided by the public health service free of charge. Health Department clinics will make no charge for giving the vaccine, but will ask for a $1 per person voluntary contribution to help pay administration costs which were not fully covered by President Ford's Flu Program and state funds. Dr. Edward Press, State Health Officer, said that Oregon would probably receive 400,000 doses of Bivalent Flu Vaccine by December 1. This compares to the anticipated need for 375,000 doses to protect those over 65 and others with serious ailments. He said Oregon was told it would receive 600,000 doses of monovalent Swine Flu Vaccine by December 1. This is short of the anticipated need for one million doses to protect the general population from 18 to 65, but it is hoped that Swine Flu Vaccine deliveries may be accelerated as production improves at the four companies making it. In Oregon, influenza usually peaks in January or February, but may come earlier or later. Watch this paper for clinic schedules in this area. THE i GAZETTE-TI HEPPMEI2 VOL. 93, NO. 33 HEPPNER, OR. Thursday, Sept. 30, 1976 10 Pages 13 c eer, Elk populations up With deer populations up 12 per cent and elk herds up seven per cent, hunters should enjoy a prosperous big game hunt In the Hcppner unit this fall. Deer season opens In Oregon Saturday at dawn. Glen Ward, Oregon wildlife biologist and Vic Groshen, Oregon State Police game enforcement officer, cited mild weather and healthy births as the key reason for the Increases at the Heppner-Morrow Chamber of Commerce Monday. Ward's deer inventory of 176 miles by horseback, revealed a 12 per cent increase from 1973 populations to populations this year. That 12 per cent represented 14.4 head per mile this year, compared to 13.6 head last year. "Fawn production and survival were excellent," Ward said, noting that only five carcasses were found on the 176 mile trek this year, compared to 32 dead animals found last year. Ward said the inventory miles are a permanent route that is taken each year to determine numbers. Ward said that the mild winter, coupled with healthy births and low predation by coyotes were key factors in the deer's behalf. Ward also said that the area has a large carryover of large bucks this year, aided by the short season last year and the forked horn law that is still in effect. (No buck shall be taken that is less than a two point on either side. No spike bucks shall be taken.) In an aerial census, Ward said the Kocky Mountain Elk populations in the unit had increased seven percent since last season. That increase represents a jump to 849 animals in 1976 from 801 in 1975. A few factors have been added to help and defray hunters this year, including road closures and cow and doe permits. There will be 300 antlerless deer permits this season in the Heppner unit and another 500 in the Wheeler unit, nearby. The doe permits will help alleviate the 16 deer damage complaints in the area and prevent over utilization of winter range lands. Last year, hunter success was about 23 per cent in the short, seven day season. With the additional weekend of hunting this year, Ward foresees a "better success." Deer season runs from October 2-October 16. Last year, 6060 hunters bagged 1370 deer in the Heppner unit. Along with doe tags, there will be 400 cow tags, valid after the general bull season. During bull season this winter, a valid bull tag must be on the hunter's person. All other rifle hunting, with the exception of black bear, is illegal. To hunt bear, the hunter must have either had or still have a valid bull tag and a black bear tag. During cow season, to hunt bear, a hunter, along with the bear (Continued on Page 7) ''', ."-,... Candidate Durham slams legislature prion Ties Ken Peck: "Every year, there are a bunch of funny new laws that come about and they're starting to effect us. What can you do about that?" ..Jim Durham: "A two by four between the eyes of the legislators." Thus, setting the scene, Jim Durham, Deputy Attorney General and candidate for Attorney General in the state, visited with Heppner area citizens all afternoon Monday. Durham began his after noon's activities with a stop at the Paul Taylor ranch in North Lexington with Morrow County campaign chairman pilot. Steve Peck. At Taylor's, about 12 ranch ers turned out to discuss the state's recent cut off of farm wells. Farmers told Durham that they would like to have the "government in front of us or In back of us and get the hell off our backs." Calling the state's inter pretation of rules "arbitrary," farmers told Durham that no meters were used, and be cause of that, the state had "no basis" to start shutting off area wells and terming the area a "critical ground water area. "None of us are experts," one man said. "But we need a I ' S , - " . - i f i v . I - ' -1 -, ;,, - t . . 4 Jim Durham discussed Issues with area citizens at town hall meeting Monday. (G-T Photo) few years to get things to level out. We haven't had enough time to stabilize the area." Durham discussed the issue with farmers, saying he was "sick and tired of all the finger pointing and people passing the buck." He blamed legis lation for much of the state's problems but told the farmers that legislators from Eastern Oregon "have a lot more com mon sense than the ones from Portland and Eugene." They are, Durham said, "in touch with the real world." Durham's campaign trail moved on to Lexington and Hcppner's Kinzua plant where the five year Deputy Attorney General did some hand shak ing. After a tour through Heppner, a dinner and a re ception, Durham held a public town hall meeting at the Episcopal Parrish Hall. Among the issues discussed by Durham were crime, gun control, longevity of govern ment programs, government Ron Ward earns Eagle Scout Fifteen years ago, on Feb ruary 8, 1961, Ron Ward was on his way to becoming an Eagle Scout. Ron waited ten year before starting Into scouting but the last five years have been chock full of scouting activities, awards, honors and excitement. The excitement all climaxed Srptomtwr this year whf Ron received the Boy Scouts coveted Eagle Scout award at the Elk's Temple in Heppner. Ron's scouting background Is one that would make any rout master, father, Glen Ward. While working on his Ten derfoot requlrementi, Ron Prtirlpted in the 197 Fall .Shakedown Cam pout at Cuts forth Park. That Is where the young scout begins his career with the burning of eggs routine, which probably led to one of his first merit badurs. ' 1 V V r 1 Ron Ward Ijtier, in IVccmbcr of 172, Ron participated In the Ore' gon Trail District Campnree. The scout established their ramp at Bull Prairie in shirt sleeve weather, but by morn ing they were huddled around fires with eight Inches of snow at their feet. Ron was part of the next night's excitement when some fellow scouters stuffed the chimney of his tent stove with branches and other debris causing instant smoke. He evacuated quickly, Um snow M slowing him one bit. till he vms warming around a rampfire. rubbing smoke fil led ryes While serving as Assistant Putrnl Iradrr the following spring, Ron attended a camp (nil along Ue (trrgon Trail where he rcsfivrd. during a nuxk Indian raid, some first hand, first aid training - he was the only iwe out of ahmtl two (Wrn mhiU to rUh a dirt find In th eve. Ron became Patrol Ixatler and received his second class ranking on February 14, 1972. Valentine's Day. By this lime he was a highly respected scout as well as camp bugler in the district. In 1973, Ron became a First Class Scout and was tabbed as a candidate for Order of the Arrow at a .V.hjI JoiUm -v at Meacham He later traveled to the Scout camp in the vallm where h was initi ated into the Order of the Arrow, a National brother hood oriunUalion of jh outing Ron was alwat on his advancement schedule as was indicated by his accumulation of nine merit bailee at one aard nifihl He adtamvd to the rank of Mar on (H tnU'f 24, l-i.l nd m short time later res eis l n sjnvi.il aard outstanding of pLitjue for achievement. Ron attained the rank Life on April J. 1974 after six months, six merit badges and six mnre hours of community service With a total of 24 merit badges. Rim appeared before the Blue Mountain Council on April 4. 1976. a day and u. yettrs ailer his l-itc honor, for his board of review for LVigle. He m,ile a fine impression not only for his knowledge of scouting, but of government from local to the nAtHHial level Hon was uNMnlt-d the hili sciHitmg aviarl ni enter ed into Ifi "'thrrv pi r rent b" category-tb.it is he tus atliiined the hutbcst hoimr. one thai oolv IIiht fs-r enl of bs tint enter s uiintf. ever Conl'ltlM' h I 'm ,illjvlv encroachment, ballot mea sure 9, concerning nuclear regulatory acts; and Eastern Oregon as a whole. The following are brief parts of his statements: Criminal Justice: Durham said he would like to overhaul Oregon '8 criminal justice sys tem to include mandatory sentencing for everyone con victed of a crime. "The crime rate is out of site, it's be coming a business in many cases. Police and prosecutors and courts are doing a good job," Durham said. "It's cor rections that are falling dowTi." Durham said his revisions would call for sentences for a definite period with no possi bility of parole. He said he would abolish the Board of Parole and work toward con struction of additional penal facilities to handle the in crease in prisoners. Durham said rehabilitation programs are "not doing the job." Calling them a "bust," Durham stated that penal facilities are assuming a person that commits a crime is sick. "It hasn't worked," he said, "and frankly, I don't think it's going to." The penal systems always say "if we had the money, but that's the argument of every adminis trator that's not getting the job done." Durham advocates "some loss of freedom for everyone that commas a crime." Durham said the legis lature's priorities are "all screwed up" and said there are "guys on the streets that ought to be locked up." Durham said the legislature "has plenty of money" but "aren't using it right." He talked about the new capitol wings that are used six (Continued on Page 2) : w Pat Schwartz, Jack Sumner, and 'Doc' Sherer view road problem on wild curve south of lone. lone curve set fo r im ifi rprovemeni JL That wild curve below lone that has pl.igued and riddled drivers for many years is going to be widened, according to State Representative Jack Sumner. The road w ork is scheduled to be completed by December I of this vear. At present, the road is 18' j feet from the guard rail to the rock bluff. There Is Just 13 fli t two inches uf actual pavement. Widening plans call lor the road to be stretched to about .h in feet Harold "lkc" Sherer, Morrow t'ouniy nwdinaster and Sumner have been concerned with this blind, narrow turn In the highway that wim't allow a wheat truck and school bus to pass safely at the same time. Slicrer and Sumner met Thursday wilh Pat Schwailt, state-regional engineer and Ial Allen, assistant regional engineer in chargeof construction of region 57. The men disc uvted the hitfhw ay construction and set dates for the heeded work. Cost of the improvement is approximately .oisi The state w ill send a blasting crew n U'liio the work