Page 2. THE GAZETTE-TIMES.
City Council
After lengthy discussions
over the last few months, the
Heppner Common Council
Monday decided to destroy the
' Bert Roark house, located on
Elder Street.
The house was declared a
dangerous building earlier
this year and at a public
4 hearing Monday, there were
neither opposition or favor
able comments concerning the
destruction.
Ralph Marlatt, city main
. tenance engineer, along with
Forrest Burkenbine, fire chief
and Dr. Wallace Wolfe, agreed
that the house was a fire
hazard and health hazard as
well.
Marlatt said the floors were
uneven, wiring was bad, and
the back end of the house was
nothing more than a 2x4
lean-to structure nailed to the
roof.
A resolution was passed to
remove the building and bill
the property owner, Roark,
THE
Frlitnrial & Viewpoint
Voter turnout high
Voter apathy in Morrow County?
Xrt Hi,m registered voters in Morrow County, a total of 2,411 persons turned out at the Tuesday polls to vote their choices in
city, county, state and national contested races.
That 2,411 out of 3,081 represents a 78 per cent voter turnout.
And as far as we're concerned, that's great. ...u-j--.ii
There were 141 absentee ballots, more than usual. In the precincts, the total figure was mirrored by the individual precinct s
turnouts Take small Hardman. for example. Out of 31 registered voters, 24 turned out for a 77 per ccntage.
Here in Heppner, there are 1,198 registered voters. A total of 911 voted for a 76 per centage. Great.
In the north end, where the returns weren't compiled till 5 a.m., Boardman has 485 registered voters and got a turnout of 385.
.tTatotered voters, a turnout of 300 represents a percentage of 76. In Lexington, it was about the same. With 315
registered and 236 voters, that is a percentage of 74. . , . rn.,u
In the county's largest precinct, Irrigon, there are 539 registered voters and 414 turned out. That is a 76 percentile.
To say Narrow County voters were apathetic and uninterested is a crock. We're proud to be part of a county that is represented
by its people. wcp
Good job, Morrow County.
Editor:
We want to say hello to all our friends. It wai real nice to
- get together with the Harley Sagers recently when they
visited Idaho.
Since leaving Heppner, we have all been busy. I am self
' employed. ..paint, wax and clean floors, etc. Mrs. Everhart
will receive her Certified Public Accountant degree this year
from Boise State University
We have all been active in the work of the Gospel. I have
continued my writing and teach an adult Sunday School Class
of about 30 every Sunday morning. Helen teaches Bible
Memorization on midweek. Although I have made no definite
; plans to return to the pastorate, on August I we commenced
. an outreach ministry for the 'Truth. Faith and Hope
Fellowship" called "The Everhart Family Singers."
; Sinre its inception, we have ministered In 14 services and
: are scheduled for the Nyssa Christian Church, the Salvation
I Army Hall in Nampa and Fruilland Southern Baptist Church.
Members of our group include all of our children except
K Dan. 26, who is currently ministering in Guatemala lor the
1 Church of the Nzarene. He is helping rebuild churches
destroyed by the earthquake in February. He is interpreting.
singing In local churches and preaching the word
In our group, there is Jim 24. and wife Cindy ; Gary 23 and
wife Jean; Sam 19. Pam 17. Joy 15. Gloria 1J and Tim II.
: Gary tc up the musical numbers and Is the pianist Jim.
' Cary. Sam and myself each take turns ministering God s
official newspaper of the
v..y of llcopnec sod the C'ownly
of Morrow,
G M.lleed Ihllrirf
iMiifft tteed, t pl;ihef
WilC. 1'hinttct.t rfKoe
Heppner. OR. Thunidiy. Nov.
Roor
for any necessary fees. Bur
kenbine said the best way to
destroy the unwanted struc
ture was to wrap a cable
around it, pull it together, run
over it with a caterpillar and
then burn what was left.
A woodshed near the house,
which Marlatt termed as
being in better shape than the
house, will stay.
The destruction will take
place not less than 10 days
from Monday and not more
than 30 days. Roark will be
notified of the council's de
cision. Another hazardous home, a
Moyer owned residence, was
also termed a nuisance by the
council. However, in light that
persons occupy the house, the
council has found themselves
between a rock and a hard
place.
The house was condemned
early this year as a fire
hazard. That was when it was
unoccupied and children were
fy
-y
GAZETTE-TIME
Hello Friends
TI
GAZETTE-TIMES
4. 1976
house
able to run amok inside,
smoking, according to city of
ficials. But, there are people living
in the home now, and the
danger, the council was told,
may have been reduced by the
inhabitants.
City attorney Bob Abra
hams told the council it was a
"bad situation" and that he
had not pursued the issue.
Police Chief Dean Gilman
said the house was on his list
and that the inside of the home
was exactly what it was be
fore. "Contrary to people
living there," he said, "the
inside has not changed in any
degree. Perhaps it's worse,"
he said.
Gilman also said the house
had become somewhat of a
kennel and that the police
department was getting "sta
tic" at least twice a week from
neighbors. "If we can't help
the people of this commun
ity," Gilman told the council,
HEPPNER
Word at these services.
We say hello and hope we can come over to Heppner and
hold services.
Sincerely,
Floyd Curran Everhart
Rt. 7. Box 7476
Nampa, ID 83651
Thank you businesses
Editor: ,
We would like to write a letter of appreciation to the
businesses that sponsor ads about the activities that go on in
our community. More people will know and appreciate the
fact that businesses care enough to help out club, the
schools, and other organizations When businesses take the
lime and money to sponsor ads. we know that they care about
our community and future I nor p-ople will read this letter
and know what the businesses do for our community.
Thank you.
Uremia Bruner
Susan Gray
IIOTNER
poMkhed ery Thorsday and entered at a
ecMidtla aif at the ftkt al H'pp"r.
inr (.. under the art Marrh J. Serowd rl
mmU( paid al llrppoer. tHft.
"there is something wrong."
The police chief, building
inspector and city health of
ficial were supposed to have
inspected the house Tuesday.
In other business, the coun
cil: .approved a building permit
for Ed Gonty to construct a 24
by 48 metal structure behind
his business on Main Street.
The building, to cost $8,000,
will be fire resistant, set ,on a
concrete foundation in a com
mercial one.
.agreed to a state code for
inspecting mobile homes. For
several months, the council
has brewed over the issue of
whether or not to agree with
the state's policy. The policy
says that if the city inspects
mobile homes, 85 per cent of
the inspection fee goes to the
city and 15 per cent to the
state. The council had trouble
figuring out why the state
should receive any of the fee
b
charge. The other alternative
was to let the state send an
inspector in and take the full
100 per cent inspection fee.
Marlatt has been to a training
course and is an authorized
mobile home inspected .
.approved by a 3-1 vote to
endorse a bill to be proposed,
asking the state for revenue
sharing monies. Some dis
cussion concerning strings at
tached and increased taxes
preceded the vote.
.approved a five year fran
chise for Cliff Green to collect
and haul garbage in Heppner.
Costs for the service were re
affirmed as $3 for the first 30
Farmers warned
of over-supply
"The wheat industry should
be aware of potential losses
from having to store overflow
on the ground next season and
the financial problems as
sociated with such an over
supply of wheat," warned
OSU Extension Agribusiness
Specialist, Clinton Reeder.
Speaking to workshop gather
ings of some 300 wheat
farmers from seven Columbia
Plateau and northeastern Ore
gon counties over the past two
weeks, Reeder gave insight
into the decrease in wheat
export sales for the 1976-77
growing season.
Harold Kerr, Morrow Coun
ty Extension Agent, attended
a workshop held by Reed,
Gene Nelson, OSU Extension
Farm Management Specialist
and J.B. Wyckoff, OSU Ex
tension Economist. Kerr
pointed out economic specula
tions for the declined wheat
market in a November 1 pre
sentation to the Heppner
Chamber of Commerce.
Unlike the 1974-75 or 1975-76
production prices of $4 to $5 a
bushel, this year's crop has
been fluctuating considerably
lower, somewhere in the area
of $360 to less than $3.00
according to June through
August reports. This disheart
ening decrease is largely due
to favorable production
weather conditions (more
favorable than last year at
least) in India (South Asia)
and the U SS R. Those two
countries alone represent a
decrease of 147 million bushels
of U.S. export wheat.
The workshop also indicated
that a good production year in
Canada is expected to in
crease its exports this year
compared to 1975 76. In fact, a
large sale by Canada in Sep
tember may have contributed
to the current downtrend in
world wheat prices. Overall
the U S. wheat situation para
llels the world situation this
year. That is, increased con
sumption, increased stocks
and decreased exports are
expected
This is not to say the entire
U.S. wheat situation Is grow
ing stagnant. The USDA has
negotiated a new $:0 million
line of credit with South Korea
to finance export sales of U.S.
wheat. The US is still the
largest exporter of wheat
world wide comparing 1.040
billion bushels with a com
bined export of foreign nations
of 1.407 billion bushels "Un
known lo some of Ihr pnpu
lation is the U.S. import of
foreign wlat. 2 million bush
els is listed lo arrive in I S
ports this year," revealed
Kerr This token Import exists
even thouh the US. wheat
production has steadily in
creased for the past three
eart
An increase In supply and a
dwrcase In demand can only
mean that the stocks al Ihe
rod of Ihit marketing year will
increase. The total tWp
prararvee is expected to be 42
million bushels less than last
year Much of these Increase
stinks are In the I.-ihU "f
farmers. As a result, the
management of this inventory
will he less predictable. How
erf, aid may rmull from this
lower wheat price M-'iw of
Ihe higher pru es Ihe last two
tears many Aa atxl Stith
AnnitJl 0umIims ill.l'l'd
Mil of Ihe white wheal market
'.Sim prices are lower lhn
I Ni last l0 rt. petr
,,ne of lNe rrwintrte ill
hcCm lo buy '"." W
gallon can and $1 for each
additional can. The franchise
agreement called for service
at least once a day, except
where it was not required. The
agreement will be reviewed
annually.
.approved a recommenda
tion from the city auditor to
change the city's bookkeeping
procedures to a general ledger
type operation. Cost for the
service would not be more
than $575. It was approved
unanimously.
.agreed to review and adjust
the water rate schedule for
Bill Cox at his creamery. Cox
told the council, after gaining
the workshop.
Looking closer to home, a
decrease in projected yields
has caused Oregon wheat
production to be less than that
a year ago. This year's aver
age yield at 42.3 bushels per
acre is 4.2 bushels less than
1975-76. Though acreage is
slightly up, it is not enough to
offset the lower yields of 56 to
57 thousand bushels, about
1.400 thousand bushels down
from last season.
Uncooperative weather has
resulted in some reports of
sprouting Oregon wheat dur
ing heavy harvest time rain
fall. What direction is wheat pro
duction taking? It's a weather
you will or weather you won't
kind of gamble. One way of
keeping fully informed is by
attending your local Oregon
Wheat Growers League meet
ing, which incidently happens
to be coming up November 23
at the Heppner Catholic
Church Parish Hall.
Submit
losses
The Federal Crop Insurance
Corporation, USDA. would
like to remind their policy
holders that any claim for loss
on a unit shall be signed and
submitted to the corporation,
not later than 60 days after
harvest.
Notification should be given
the county office in Pendleton
several days prior to the
deadline so ir-3pections can be
timely.
The insurance period on
grain ends October 31, 1976,
for the current year. If har
vest will not be completed by
this date, notification to the
county office Is required. The
county office for Morrow
County is located In Pendle
ton, 1229 S E. 3rd or phone
273811. Extension 437.
Farm
report
Don Peterson. lone, state
president of the National
Farmers' Organization. Gylan
Mulkay. Monmouth, legisla
tive representative, and Leroy
Gilson. Rickreall. secretary,
met recently with officers of
the Grange, the Farmers'
Union, the Farm Du.t-u and
Agri Business Council at the
invitation of the State De
partment of Agriculture, to
discuss areas of general con
cern. Inert will be further
meetings which will include
major farm organizations and
commodity grow
Wheat production will be
down In the Willamette valley
next year. It appears at this
lime that Irrigated crop areas
which have the opportunity to
grow other crops will b used.
While tn Seattle recently,
Peterson made contacts with
many city people who were
mated that farmers art re
reiving below cost of produc
tion prices, which forct farm
ers to borrow money lo pro
duce next year's crop. This, of
course. Is Inflationary.
National Farm Organiza
tion Is making a major push to
sign contracts and block pro
duction This will enable them
to i"fket llwir products so
that farmers can put Into tiw
inrffketin? v-m their coat of
timlm !.o figures, which
hate not been In up lo now.
(1
meter readings, that he was
being charged for using
2ii0,000 gjllons a month while
he was using just 15,000 on the
average. The council agreed
to the adjustment.
.referred lo the city plan
ning committee a request
Dennis
District
IS A JAIL FACILITY NECESSARY
AND WHAT ALTERNATIVES IX) WE HAVE?
(Third and final of series.)
tn previous articles. I have elaborated the reasons we are
not able to use our juil In Us present condition and some of the
resulting adverse impacts.
After assessing these Impacts, the members of the Morrow
r...,iv Pea.e officer's Association are In agreement that the
jail problem Is the law enforcement problem of longest
standing and gravest concern, ronsequcnuy. we
bcn content to accept the Implications of the Jail situation
without bringing them to the public's attention.
It should be self-evident that Morrow County could
continue without a Jail. However. I believe that passing time
UnnM tttmnlv serve to aneravate Ihe related problems which
were discussed in my preceding article. We would continue to
divert police officers from law enforcement duties to
prisoner-related dulies. Monetary costs related to handling,
transporting and lodging prisoners out of the county will
Inflate rapidly. The deterrent Influence of the threat of
confinement would continue to diminish and offenders will
become Increasingly bold and inlimidaling. Law-abiding
people who desire lo see offenders deterred, or confined when
not deterred, will become increasingly frustrated.
The county court has appointed two cltiien committees to
study the jail situation In the past. The most recent study was
completed In Ihe spring of 1971. The committee's
recommendation Ihen was to use revenue sharing monies lo
bring our Jail up lo minimum standards for use as a lockup
facility, but lo continue to board long-term prisoners In other
and more sophisticated county jails.
Neither the committee's study nor its recommendations
were well publicized. Public attention was nut gained and
public support did not materialize. The committee's
recommendations were nol Implemented.
I slill tend to favor the recommendations of the citizen
committee. While I dislike the thought of continuing to send
our dollars to other counties with long-term prisoners, it does
nol appear realistic to believe that we can obtain funding
assistance beyond the local level. The two sources of such
funding, the Economic Development Administration and the
Law Enforcement Assistance Administration, do not seem
promising. Each would require NEW construction, rather
than the upgrading of the existing facility. Each would
require design and construction to their approval. Each
would require more cell space, and It is questionable whether
rllher would approve double cells. Moreover, the likelihood
of approval of a grant application from either is extremely
slim.
I hope, though, that a jail facility is within our local
meat. . have In mind a facility which can be used for
pre-sentence holding and posl-sentence "short-termers."
work releasees and jail trustees. This type of a facility could
be austere and yet meel our greatest need and alleviate ur
most pressing problems.
It would provide a deterrent Influence and. If that weren't
sufficient. It would permit over night lodgings, detoxifica
tion, short sentences and work-release sentences. It would
void scheduling disruptions and the necessity of either
calling an on-duty officer away from duly or an off-duty
officer back lo duty lo transport the prisoner, we might even
be able to operate such facility without any Increase In
staff.
The Peace Officer s Association la exploring these and
other alternatives. Includlng-no Jail, but Increase the
deputy positions; and. a combination adult holding and
Juvenile detention facility.
Law and law enforcement neither exist nor operate In
vacuum. In existence, they purport to r!rly follow the
public need and Interest. In operation, they strive to
Implement the measures necessary to satisfy Ihe public need
and achieve the public Interest,
II would undoubtedly be helpful If Ihe public examined Ihe
jail and discussed Ihelr thoughts wiih some of our Is
enforcement people. Too oflen there hat appeared to be as
Inclination lo cast fault or blame towards Ihe people nearest
to and most lslble In connection with the jail and other law
enforcement problems, meaning the officials within the
criminal Justice t)slem.
Responsibility, however, follows authority. As I have
previously explained, jail standards have been developed by
Ihe federal courts. C ongress and the Stale legislature. Those
bodies. In reality, must share In responsibility proportional
to Ihelr authority. The same Is true of local no law
enforcement officials, lor the only authority lo PROVIDE
jaiU veiled In the Iocs! goveri ' IwJi end budget
rommiliees,
,,Mwl Importantly, the public must also share In the
responsibility., for II Is Ihe public's interest Is) safety and
protection which Is si Issue, and II Is the public's assessment
of need snd priorities Mch will ultimately determine
whether we r outline with neither a jail a or lockup facility.
The Sheriff has Indicated that ht wmild fee glad U ape Ihe
jail for Inspection U any Interested group or person. The
Peace Offlcrr'l Association members are available lo speak
wUh groups about Ihe Jail sllualtott or any Mfcr law
enforcement waller of Interest. A c onslrwrtlve dialogue and
esrhange t In our Inleresl and. where the jail la concerned. It
should assist lo get offenders out of Ihe taruum and either
Inlo he fold' or lnl the "hag"
Dennis Dohertv
DinrKl Attorney
I
from the Heppner High School
to be annexed Into the city
completely. Now, the city
boundary cuts through the
center of the WIS gym.
.agreed to let the city crews
build a small storage room on
the back of the present city
building on Willow Street
Doherty
Attorney