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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (April 14, 1977)
n "Mi M i - .! i ' i TWOThe Gazette-Times, Heppner, Ore., Thursday, April 14, 1977 lift. tM4-H- Letters to the Editor Watch Senate Bill 430 Senate Bill 430 is expected to come out of the Labor, Business and Consumer Affairs Committee this week with amendments limiting the application of workmen's compensation payments to general contractors. As worded in its development, the bill could have resulted in a requirement for self-employed persons to pay workmen's compensation on themselves. The bill was reportedly designed to stop general contractors from hiring skilled laboring people as sub-contractors, thereby avoiding the payment of workmen's compensation. The idea of self-employed persons paying workmen's compensation on themselves is beyond reason. While Sen. Jernstedt has given assurances that the bill will be tightened, it is hard to see how the legislature can correct the problem among general contractors and at the same time exempt others who are in effect doing similar things to avoid another burden from above. Several of the protesters from Morrow County would like to see a major revision of insurance program legislation in the ROAKDMA.N A k ll)NE 1 i f.xin;ton 1 TO BORROW TOO TOMORROW , i By Tom Franks Unanswered questions There are many unanswered questions surrounding the death of Mary Emily Lindsay of lone. Some will be answered and others will never be answered by logic alone. The questions all begin with why? Many ask why Michael Olds was not kept in prison? Why was Michael Olds, born of a 14-year-old victim of rape, in 17 different foster homes? Why did he shoot a woman in a holdup at the age of 17? Why was he a model prisoner? Why was he still in Walla Walla more than three days after money was reported missing from the pet store where he worked? Why, if he was responsible for the missing money, did he need money? Why did he have a gun? Why did he leave a note at lone with money for people, to be distributed through a Walla Walla tavern? Why did he leave Walla Walla the way he did and when he did? Why did he allegedly shoot a cab driver? Why did he come to lone? Why did he select the route described? Why was he missed when so many eyes were watching? Why was the death of Mary Lindsay necessary? Why? Why? Why? Personally, I don't think that there are any logical answers to these questions. It has been easy for many to reason that Riley had many opportunities to drop a lead or change the course of events. I would suggest that real life doesn't work out like a television script. Even if Riley saw every "opportunity," it would take a supreme act of judgement to weigh the odds. If anyone needs to be tried, it is Michael Olds. The system which he went through should be tried, too but tried separately. Another trial should be held for the news media which insisted on calling the Lindsay residence after the FBI had moved its command post from the Lindsay residence to Heppner. Nothing in fact finding journalism offers an excuse for the calls which were made to the Lindsay relatives last Thursday evening. It stinks Easter every Sunday The Easter season has now come and gone. Two very interesting things happen each year at Easter. One is that the newspapers are filled with articles and advertisements concerning the "special Easter services" which will be held at the various churches. I know that each year, I receive a form letter from the East Oregonian asking for information concerning the "special events" of our church during Easter. The second thing is that there are more people at worship on Easter than on the other Sundays of the year. What I am wondering is why do we make such a big deal about Easter? I will have to admit that our church is as guilty as the rest because we also have "special events" at Easter, as well as more people at worship than the other Sundays of the year. However, the manner in which we go about it would make it appear as though we only celebrate the resurrection of Christ once a year. The point is that the main emphasis of Easter is the resurrection of Jesus Christ; but if we are a Christian Church, then this is something which is celebrated every Sunday morning, and not just once a year. As we gather for worship and begin our worship "in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit," we are celebrating the presence of the resurrected Christ. In the preaching of the Word, we are celebrating the presence of the resurrected Christ. In the sacrament of Holy Communion, we believe that the presence of the resurrected Christ is there "in, with, and under" the elements of bread and wine. Therefore, not just Easter, but every Sunday morning is a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This means that we need not wait until Easter to celebrate his resurrection, but are invited to join our fellow believers each week as we gather together to announce that "He is risen." Therefore, each week becomes a re-enactment of Easter, rather than a big deal once a year. Rev. Mark Johnson Hope Lutheran Church state of Oregon. We are told that such a cleanup is underway. It is high time. Toot your own horn During the recent vote on the proposed city budget for Heppner, 256 ballots were cast from among 855 registered voters. These figures show that about 31 per cent of the voting population of Heppner decided what the remaining 69 per cent should do. This is hardly majority rule, let alone government of the people, by the people and for the people. The vote wasn't enough to give the city government a mandate on one hand or a vote of confidence on the other. The fact that nearly 70 per cent of Heppner voters stayed at home could indicate that the weather was bad. Unfortunately, the weather was good and the sun did shine. However you may feel about the worth of your vote, there is one thing for certain in this life. If you don't toot your own horn, nobody else will toot it for you. One toot may not be worth much, but a lot of toots make for a good party even when it comes to politics. tjf Letter Parole boards cited TO THE EDITOR: I would like to congratulate the parole boards for their fine job of giving parole to a CONVICTED MURDERER so he has the opportunity to murder another innocent person. Mary Lindsay of lone, who was murdered this week by CONVICTED, BUT PAROLED MURDERER, Michael Olds of Walla Walla, was a very respected and loved person by all who knew her. She has never hurt anyone or anything purposely in her life. Mary was a wonderful person and has done so much for her church and community. She will never be forgotten by the people of lone, Oregon. I was born and raised in lone and have known Mary all my life. I am sure that I am feeling just a small amount of grief as compared to her family over this senseless slaying. Of course, the State of Oregon can sit back and say "THIS ISN'T OUR FAULT," Olds was paroled from Washington. However, I am sure that many Oregon residents can recall the releases of Oregon's CONVICTED, BUT PAROLED MURDERERS, BOWLES, GILMORE, AND MARQUETTE. I just hope and pray every time a parole board, work release program, or rehabilitation program see fit to release a convicted murderer, REGARDLESS OF THE STATE, that they will think, WOULD I WANT A MEMBER OF MY FAMILY OR A CLOSE FRIEND to be taken as a hostage and thrown in a ditch and be shot to death. Maybe if this does happen, it will stop some of these convicted but paroled murderers to be released to commit another senseless slaying of innocent people. I pray to God that these responsible people, whoever they may be, will be haunted with the thoughts that they are just Reward of "Rotten Apples 19 You are and have been for years charging the taxpayers of Oregon confiscatory property taxes; which we have been dutifully paying with your assurances of good fruit. Now then, in return for our burdensome compliance we are rewarded with "Rotten Apples." Your legislation has created a climate that has bred the following: 1. Loss of new business both from within and outside our state due to an untenable tax situation. (a) Threat of property confiscation due to unjust zoning laws. (The large corporations get the laws changed at any time in their favor, whereas, the small businessman cannot.) (b) A completely untenable State Workman's Compensation law. Example: My business is agricultural aerial application (crop dusting). I am required to carry mandatory coverage on pilots of 46.62 per cent of their wages which varies from 25 to 30 per cent of their gross earnings depending upon their competence and experience. I must furnish this pilot with an airplane, a tank truck to carry the spray, a pick-up truck to carry the aviation fuel, field markers, tools, etc., and pay all the other expenses involved in the spraying operation. The rate of 46.62 per cent of the pilot's gross earnings for State Workman's Compensation is prohibitive in price plus the fact that it is the same rate regardless of the pilot's experience and safety record. We are not allowed to carry any other coverage this makes the state a monopoly; which is surely against the law? We can get better coverage for our pilots from Lloyds of London (24 hours on or off the job) with a premium we can live with, but this is not allowed by the state. Our industry has the best safety record of any state in the Union and our state insurance has the highest rates of any state. (The ag operators in our neighboring state have available to them a very reasonable premium for their workman's comp. Their rates are under or at least competitive with Lloyds as well as some of the domestic companies.) 2. A Senate Bill 4;l(l sponsored by the AFL-CIO proposes to require all self employed persons in Oregon to pay State Workman's Compensation on their income. They say their reason is they want everyone covered so that no one will become a social burden, if disabled. To begin with, what business is it of the AFL-CIO to dictate what the self employed do? Referring to social burdens isn't that what we are faced with already because of union members' pension funds being confiscated by their own union and used to purchase gambling casinos in Las Vegas? Should this Bill pass and become law in Oregon it would automatically eliminate our entire industry because there is no way an individual can pay 46.62 per cent of his gross earnings for state insurance on top of all the other taxes and expenses necessary to conduct a successful business. We are all carrying adequate insurance as it is, and at rates we can handle. (This Bill would place a hardship on many businesses including our farmers. The impact on the farming industry would affect all of us by the soaring food costs.) 3. It is hard to realize what has been allowed to happen to our Senior Citizens. These are the people who built this country, and with plans that it would be more livable for us. You are rewarding them by confiscating their home due to excessive property taxes. Some of our Senior Citizens have been reduced to eating canned cat and dog food in order to survive. Some of them are dying in their homes because their electricity was cut off or because they cannot afford medical care. (This almost makes us ashamed to call ourselves Oregonians.) If I was not seeing this I would not believe such a thing was happening. (There seems no bounds for your generosity to a number of able bodied young slackers who refuse to work or make any contribution to society. They are rewarded with welfare, food stamps, free medical and dental care along with free rent for themselves and their families.) 4. Senate President, Jason Boe, in support of SJR-7, so called "safety net" Bill, stated, Quote : "I am confident that the vast majority of the states' voters are proud of their schools and want them to stay open." This is very true except that it is spoken in the past tense. Everyone living in the real world in Oregon knows that recent school budgets were voted down for some of the following reasons: (a ) The majority of our children are not even receiving a basic education. ..too many upon graduation from high school cannot read, write, or figure simple arithmetic. They know nothing about applying for or what is required to hold a job. ( b ) Students entering a four year college are generally required to take the first two years in the so called, "bone-head subjects"; which they should have been taught in grade or high school. This non-learning process has gone on for so long that the non-educated are trying to teach the uneducated. Our schools are overloaded with assistants to assistants to principals, teachers and coaches. You have given teachers tenure and allowed them to join unions so that no matter how incompetent, they cannot be dismissed. (c) Vandalism, dope peddling and usage, beatings and interruptions of classes are allowed to occur with no meaningful steps taken to correct the situation. The solution to most of our problems is not more money, that just increases the problem not more taxes that just increases the burden on the taxpayer, and further becomes another excuse for doing nothing about the problem in the first place by the people we are paying to do the job. This state should not be in the mandatory insurance business, liquor business, or gambling; horse and dog racing. Our country was built on private enterprise and that means competition. It also means if we do not operate our business in such a manner as to show a profit, we lose it. The State on the other hand can "rob Peter to pay Paul," and this makes it too easy not to take the hard steps necessary to achieve success. I realize there are a number of dedicated, ambitious, hard working members of the Legislature, public employees and school teachers. What has happened over the years is that the non-producers, and those incompetent have not been weeded out, but have been promoted to areas of influence. The time has come to separate the wheat from the chaff, while we still have some wheat. Propose positive action I am proposing that positive action by Governor Straub and the State Legislature be taken to remedy the existing conditions. Plus, (a) no new property taxes this year and (b) a Bill passed to guarantee that no person sixty-two years or older, residing in the State of Oregon, shall be forced to lose their home due to zoning laws or inability to pay property taxes. There is still time for this action to be taken before the end of the 1977 Legislative session. If no action is taken on this notice then I shall be forced to take the only step available to me. I shall defer paying my property taxes until corrective measures are taken. (This is precisely the action taken by property tax payers in California and many of their grievances were satisfied by a special session of the California Legislature.) It will take the support and cooperation of every taxpayer in the State of Oregon who feels the way I do about these conditions (or others not listed) and are concerned about the future of our great and beautiful state. Now is the time for us to contact the Governor and our legislators and others in a position to initiate some corrective action. v It has been said that evil can only endure as long as good men choose to do nothing. Paul N. Hansen 620 E. May Heppner, Oregon 97836 Senator replies State Sen. Kenneth Jern stedt, R-Dist. 28, told the Gazette-Times Tuesday that Senate Bill 430 will not come out of committee until amend ments are attached to tighten the overall intent of the bill. Jernstedt said, "SB 430 is due to come out of the com mittee in the shape I thought it was in when I endorsed the bill." He said the original intent of the bill was to apply to the construction business and prevent contractors from contracting, instead of hiring individual carpenters, thus escaping payment of work men's compensation. Jernstedt cited an example. He said some contractors have been sub-contracting window framing on a job in stead of hiring a carpenter outright. The practice results in bypassing payment of Workmen's Compensation. The bill, which will come out of committee, will not effect the individual contractor, in dividual proprietorships or crop dusters, Jernstedt said. The bill, with amendments, is also not expected to have any impact on co-ops. Jernstedt said he has been assured by Committee Chair man Dick Groener, D-Dist. 14, that SB 430 would come out of committee with tight lang uage and amendments to re turn the bill to the intent it had when it was first introduced. Senate bill 430 stirs tax protest The contents of Oregon Sen ate Bill 430 stirred the begin nings of a tax protest in Morrow County this week as independent businessmen and self-employed persons viewed the prospect of having to pay Workmen's Compensation on themselves. The first local concern over SB 430 was expressed late last week by Paul N. Hansen of Heppner, who fired a lengthy letter to Gov. Bob Straub and state representatives concern ing the bill. Hansen indicated he would defer paying his property taxes if the bill passed and required him to pay workmen's compensation on his own income. The Gazette-Times' office saw a steady stream of per sons arriving to express their concern with the content of the bill and back Hansen's stand on the issue. The concern was extended to the entire insur ance picture in Oregon. Sen. Kenneth Jernstedt, R Dist. 28, and vice chairman of the Labor, Business and Consumer Affairs Committee, responded to the Gazette Times Tuesday indicating that SB 430 would not come out of committee this week without amendments which would limit the broad wording now included in the bill. (See related articles on Page 2.) as guilty as the person that pulls the actual trigger. They are the persons that put back these CONVICTED, BUT PAROLED MURDERERS INTO OUR SOCIETY, so he could do it the second and third time. I have no doubt that Olds, Bowles and Marquette and many others like them will be turned free again in another 10 to 15 years or less, so they can have the opportunity to murder again. Are you or I going to be their next victim????? VOTERS PLEASE VOTE FOR THE DEATH PENALTY so we can get these convicted murderers out of our society and off the streets FOR GOOD!!!!!! Our Country has enough problems without allowing this terrible thing to happen time and time again. WILL M ANSON BE PAROLED IN 1980??? I wouldn't be shocked or surprised, would you? If this cruel slaying of Mary Lindsay is JUSTICE-I WANT NO PART OF IT We're supposed to be proud of being an American, but how can we be when we allow this to keep happening in our Country?????? I truly hope you readers will stop and think about this, and realize that it could be a friend or relative of yours that will be slain next. I am begging you as a citizen of THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, that you vote for the death penalty the next time up. Sincerely, Sue Wiegand Clackamas, Oregon Letter Tax day notice Editor Gazette-Times As we approach another Tax Day (April 15), there are a couple of bills pending in the House of Representatives which will be of interest to many persons in the Heppner area. Some 54 million Americans are hit with an income tax penalty of up to 20 per cent because they are single, or because they are married with both partners working. The Committee of Single Taxpayers (CO$T) has been working for several years to eliminate this inequity. To accomplish this goal, Rep. Ed Koch has again introduced HR 850 in the House. Also pending in the House is HR 84, introduced by Rep. Herb Harris, which would make a beginning toward income tax equality for renters, similar to what has for so long been available to homeowners. Anyone interested in more information about these bills is urged to send a long, self-addressed stamped envelope to me at the address below, mentioning that this letter was read in the Heppner Gazette-Times. Thank you. Sincerely, Lee Spencer Box 4330 Arlington, Virginia 22204 Mary Lindsay A Tribute Mary Lindsay's death saddens all of Morrow County, especially her home community, the lone area. Her many years of community service, individually and through organizations, will be long remembered and greatly missed. Mary Lindsay probably served with the Morrow County Fair more years than anyone. She served the fair in many capacities through the years, most recently as chairman for the community booth division. She was planning to discharge that responsibility again this year. Mary was a deaconess for her church, Ione's United Church of Christ, which she supported and assisted in many ways. She joined the Willows Grange in 1934 and was master in 1955. For the last 17 years, she has been grange treasurer. She was active in the county Pomona Grange, holding various offices, and she attended the state grange regularly in recent years. She was a member of the 7th Degree of the national grange. In 1946, Mary joined the Locust Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star. She was the Worthy Matron in 1953 and again in 1961, and continued her active membership in the consolidated Ruth-Locust Chapter until her death. She served as a member of several Grand Chapter committees and attended the Grand Chapter of Oregon for many years. Mary was also active in the senior citizens' programs in the county. Many recall how dedicated she was to her husband James. Each day during his lingering illness, she came to the Pioneer Memorial Hospital at Heppner to cheer him and to help him with meals. Mary continued to operate their ranch and live alone in their home west and north of lone. She kept up the yard and tended the flowers she loved. Friends and neighbors say that Mary knew sorrow almost too well. Several members of her family also met unusual, tragic deaths. These deaths seemed to occur at holiday times, as Mary's own death came during Holy Week as Easter approached. After the services, family and friends gathered at dinner in the Willows Grange Hall. The community was invited to join them for coffee, visiting, and remembering Mary Lindsay. CONCERT Linfield College Band Thursday, April 14 8:00 pm j Heppner High School I Gymnasium 5 9 y I Donations Accepted I 9 0 I 9 0 I -r - - 0r ' A, A
