Page 4. THE GAZETTE-TIMES, Heppner. OR, Thursday, Jan. 6. 1977 By LAVON STARR First of a Series In 1941 the U.S. Air Force assembled 100,000 acres of land in Morrow County branching it into use as a practice bombing range to train pilots on low level bombing approaches. Military and county people lived in harmony up until 1959 when the branch began to splinter. A near miss bombing incident occurred on the driveway of the Garland Swanson residence, lone. The castiron bomb with a smoke charge, for location purposes, weighed in excess of 25 pounds. The bomb contained no powder, however, and was not live. Along with the public relations hinderar.ee of the bombing accident the range itself was being examined by the Aero Jet Company in 1959 as a possible site for testing its moon rocket. That project eventually went to Florida. Another bombing miss in 1960 on property between Boardman and the bombing range, sent branch fragments deeper into Morrow resident hides. Their attention focused on the more comforting prospect of the Boeing Company's request to lease the land in 1966 in connection with the National Aeronautics and Bombing misses first steps toward citizen-range alienation I Industrial Pork Navy Land I PMutZu Water Easement I Srl Eastern Oi I tiSB Navy Held I BSiffrMlii BLM Lands I jpT WWMM 50,600 Acres k 1 i7'c-i U.S. Navy Bombing Rang wmiwwi I ISt (possible rpJeeseand safe 1978 I i-' j for agot-nucleahpurposes) I r r" j kLy rf I IftV I Fossil JC I 1 I 1 I Plant LT J -r-. ; J 1 PCSv cx J Lindsay I yS?jnsr&- (V Lands a 1 ,' l f ,"t. 26 Circles U rTcP J f?W , I No. 1 Powar&te In Oregon I I PGE,tfn Line 1980 Jiwfper Nuclear Site 1 t4 FAR wEstI Space Administration (NASA) proposal to build the Saturn moon vehicle. The vehicle was to be built in Seattle and barged up the Columbia River to Boardman for testing on the 100,000 acres Boeing was asking for. Pending acquistion of the land, a lease was signed in 1960. The 100,000 acres were assembled out of 37,000 acres of public domain for defense purposes, 24,000 acres from the Northern Pacific Railroad, 20,000 acres of Morrow County land which had been taken for taxes during the 1929 1932 depression and 19,000 acres of private property. Private lands were sold to the state by Wilkinson and Hynd properties. for ,.$580,000. The company's lease runs until the year 2040. In 1961 the Kennedy-Johnson administration took the Saturn project from Seattle to Mishould, La. on the Mississippi River. The moon vehicle was built in an abandoned arsenal. Texas, Lousiana and Florida were to become known as the Space Crescent of the South and the site for future space activity. It was this action that lost the northwest any share in the $5 billion space effort of the early '60's. The Air Force abandoned the bombing range in 1956 as it turned to electronic bombing practices and the U.S. Navy claimed the range by priority. The Navy assembled 50,000 acres of public domain in the east half of the bombing range and continued bombing practice. A letter to the Navy from Congressman Al Ullman, D-Ore., in August 1959 held the understanding with the Navy that it would give up the bombing range on completion of the John Day Dam Project. The project was completed in 1966. The understanding, known as the "Intent of Congress," has never been fulfilled by the Navy. Three other bombing mishaps followed. In November 1962, a bomb fell a quarter of a mile from the Robert Bafus home. In 1964 a misdropped bomb landed in an lone used car lot. And in October 1968 a bomb hit near the homes of Mr. and Mrs. Basil Rogers and Mr. and Mrs. Amos Shoemake. It left a crater measuring 20 inches deep, 6 feet wide and 8 inches long. Such accidents helped aggravate the festering military - civilian relationship. In the interim 1963 to 1969 period, the Port of Morrow brought together 4,000 acres of waterfront property. Land use was projected for commercial, industrial and commerce purposes. It has grown into a prosperous industrial park today. Seeing the vast economic potential of the area, the Port of Morrow commission recognized the presence of the bombing range as having a devastating affect on future development of the area. It requested a "five year Navy orderly move" in 1969 from the Oregon Congressional delegation. The request was to carry out the "Intent of Congress" that Ullman had previously called for. Twenty-three letters from the Port commission were written to the delegation from June 1969 to March 1972. The delegation made up of John Dellenback, Edith Green, Mark Hatfield, Bob Packwood, Al Ullman and Wendell Wyatt as well as Gov. Tom McCall all committed themselves to getting the bombing range moved. In 1974 the port was successful in attracting private utilities to the power cluster site surrounding the Carty Reservoir about 12 miles south of Boardman. Portland General Electric proposed nuclear and coal-powered generating plants at the site. But before nuclear power could be developed the Navy Bombing range would have to be moved for safety purposes. J 1 i 't . . .'.' . - - f v i i - . j - DAfJGER !' LG.7 flYi:;G AIRCRAFT ' SIC? Oil RED UGH! '4 i i t. " - I 'i In waiting for the Navy to leave, PGE decided to take an alternative site for its nuclear plants,at Pebble Springs near Arlington. Due to the time lost in waiting on military action, it became mandatory that PGE have a power plant on the Carty site by 1983. Since the nuclear issue was still up in the air with the Navy bombing range the utility company opted instead to build a 500 megawatt coal plant. Nuclear plans are still in store, however. Were nuclear plants to be built in the Carty Power Cluster it would result in, "the most multiple use power plant site in the United States," says Rupert Kennedy, Port of Morrow manager. Multiple use in that water used to cool the power plant would be turned back to the soil through circular irrigation. A recreation site would be created from the reservoir as well as a wildlife habitat in the warm water coming from the plant. Steam from the plant could be used in the cooking and canning of vegetables and potatoes in the food processing plants. "This kind of thing is what people are looking for," Kennedy said. "Right now we have the only nuclear power plant permit in the Northwest for private power companies. Aside from the Navy making no attempt to budge until a suitable site can be found elsewhere and the money obtained to fund the move, the nuclear arrival is also being contested by environmental opposition. "The main problem with this (nuclear power question)," said Kennedy, "is that a bomb was made with nuclear power before anything positive and useful was done with it." Eosfern Oregon ealt Bob Ewall, Tri-County Health Services head, talked to the Heppner-Morrow Coun ty Chamber of Commerce Monday about a new Eastern Oregon Health Systems Agen cy. Ewall told the chamber that a Health Systems Agency, the combination of four pro grams, had been developed into one agency with local boards made up of health consumers and providers. The EOHSA is the agency conditionally designated to serve the 18 counties of East ern Oregon. The agency will gather and analyze health data and prepare a plan which will contain a detailed state ment of goals for improving the health of the residents in Eastern Oregon by increasing the accessibility, continuity, and quality of health services, while restraining costs. Upon full designation, the EOHSA will review the appro priateness of services pro vided by hospitals, nursing homes and other institutions within the area. It will also recommend approval or dis approval of applications for new health service or medical t I ' s' m , i. m n mm kT' Wind rips former Heppner couple's home Dale and Joan Grey, former Heppner residents who recently moved from Boring, Ore., to Mt. Airy, No. Carolina, had the misfortune to lose their partially built new home due to a severe storm With a funnel cloud and heavy winds. The wind ripped off sub-flooring from the 90 ft. long structure. Debris landed on a car and pickup truck, causing damage to the vehicles. Dale, who was working on the building with two other carpenters, was buried in the debris and suffered three broken ribs. The other men received scrapes and bruises. All three were transported to a nearby hospital where they were treated and released. Dale's father, Dock Grey, lives nearby and will be remembered by older Heppner residents. He left Heppner and returned to North Carolina in the 1940's after working a number of years for Jim Monahan and Frank Wilkinson. here facilities projects. In addition, the agency will review and . approve or disapprove pro posed projects within the health service area under several Federal health pro grams. A majority, between 51 and 60 per cent, of the governing body of the agency are to be consumers with the remain der being providers and local elected officials. The 30 person board of directors will be made up of at least one person from each county. In Morrow County, Warren McCoy, coun ty commissioner, is the repre sentative. Ewall is one of three Umatilla County repre sentatives. In order to assure local input into the development of BMCC lists honor names Blue Mountain Community College singled out 251 stu dents for academic achieve ment during the college's fall term just completed. Heading the list were 102 students who earned grade point averages of 3.5 or better. Of this number, 15 received perfect 4.0grades. Another 149 received grades of 3.0 or better, averaging Bs or better. From Heppner, Shannon Kelly and Carl Lauritsen had 4.0 grade point averages. Sandra Palmer and Jillene Robertson were also on the honor roll. From lone, Lauretta Pie ning and from Irrigon, Pam ela Schemeder topped the list. Named on the Dean's list were Terry Crowder, Board man; Tami Toll and Dave Caretaker possibility The Morrow County Fair Board is entertaining the possibility of hiring a live-in caretaker for the county fair grounds. Liz Curtis said Monday that the board is toying with the idea and asked that interested couples contact Floyd Jones or herself. She said the couple may be asked to bring a trailer onto the grounds. Worden, Heppner; Arlynda Aldrich, Dennis Cheney, Kim Gutierrez, Richard Keene and Jerry Pettyjohn, lone; and Steve Doherty and Keith White, Irrigon. a health system plan, subarea councils are being developed in various areas of Eastern Oregon. These area councils will identify local needs, assist in plan development, review projects and make recom mendations to the EOHSA board of directors regarding local health care issues. The counties of Morrow, Umatilla, Wheeler, Grant and Gilliam will comprise one of the subarea councils. Five persons from each county will make up the 25 person board. Ewall will be making a sweep to cities in the counties to accept nominations for persons to serve on the coun cil. . Ewall will be in Boardman on Jan. 19 and Heppner, Jan. 20, for meetings with local, persons. Doctor Wallace Wolff ex pressed "discontent" with the medical aspect of the pro gram. He said that in all the 18 counties, there was only one practicing physician. Wolff said he'd favor at least one physician for the 25 person, five county subarea council. Ewall set other meetings in the area. The county court and hospital board will meet Jan. 12, and the EOHSA, 18 county board will meet in Heppner for a two day meeting on Feb. 18-19 for their regular, two month business meeting. mmm ( n MM Ladies Slacks by Jack Winter & Famous Name Brands $8.00 to $14.00 Tops by Terri Jr. Byer, & Tea Party Jr. Sizes A few Boys Coats Ladies Blouses Ship & Shore $8.00 to S14.C0 Ladies Coats Girls Tops if Blouses Coats Jeans Sizes 7- to 14 Nylon Car Coats Jr. Sizes Sweaters by Garland & Collage Ladies Long and Short Dresses Linens Odds and Ends Sheets and Towels 13 off Juniors Jeans by San Fransico Pantworks, Lov & Stuff Mavericks Sweaters Ladies Pant Suits Separates Jack Winter & Famous Name Brands 13 off Toddlers Railroad striped Coveralls 1 piece with zipper $5.00 S, M, L, X L Reg. $12.00 Heppner 676-9426