Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (May 26, 1977)
TWO The Gazette-Times, Ileppner, Ore., Thursday, May 26, 1977 Letters to the Editor TO IY10RR0VJ BOARDMAN IL .lONE 1 ji it AND TOO TOMORROW i By Tom Franks i With this issue of the Gazette-Times, I am no longer editor, but a columnist. Hot dog! The question is, "What shall I do?" Should I become the Jack Anderson of Heppner or try to copy Erma Bombeck? The thought of being an Ann Landers or a Dr. Spock is tempting. Then I could answer questions for the lovelorn or give out medical knowledge for 25 cents and a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Better yet, I could mail you a pamphlet for, say, 50 cents. It would inform you on the questions I raised but didn't answer in my column. We can ruM out the Jack Anderson bit. First off, there isn't enough mo ey in the city budget of Heppner to merit stealing. Erma is a little heavy for me. I cannot smile in the face of tragedy, not week after week. Ann is a difficult act to follow' as she walks the razor's edge between mod and moral. What really remains is an attempt to share a variety of notions and viewpoints wherever I find them. Ocean Kelpie For weeks now I have wanted to tackle the Kelpie question, but it has become so mixed up with politics, law, religion, ethics, ecology, astrology, medicine, big game hunting, rodeos, capital punishment, economics, women's liberation, psychology, hotel and restaurant management, botany, philosophy, palm reading, gas warfare, fashion and fooey that the very subject makes my eyelids heavy with sleep. As a sedative, it wouldn't be so bad, but the gastric acid that goes with it spoils the whole effect. Did you ever try to go to sleep with heartburn? Way too late Speaking of viewpoints, it was only last week that I was parked inside the big curve south of town (looking at the stars ) when a sheriff's deputy decided to check out the car. Not being able to see who it was, I prepared for the arrival of someone with a long nose for a funny bone. Seems the deputy was doing his duty "looking for minors in possession." In my case, he was about 22 years too late. I'll believe his story if he believes mine. I mentioned in an earlier column that I pay little attention to who drives what car. Nevertheless, when you can't spot the sheriff's vehicle that is bad, really bad. Play ball Thought for the week comes with an old story about the fellow who wanted to be a tennis champion. He hired one of the best coaches and took lessons for months. One day he worked up to the subject. "Will I ever be a tennis champion?" he asked the coach. "No," came the reply. "Why not?" "Because," said the coach, "you don't play to win. You play not to lose." 0 Kinzua news Barbara Pike ' 768-2861 Baby Casey Spivey and his parents, Daryl and Nancy Spivey, lone, were in Kinzua Friday night and Saturday for Casey's first visit at the home of his grandparents, Henry and Hallie Spivey. Raymond and Deena Reid and their daughters left Satur day evening for Hermiston to visit with the Pete Peterson family. DeRina and Dana accompanied their aunt Shir ley and Peri Peterson to the Hermiston High School grad uation to see friend Donna D'avanzo close out her high school years. Sunday, Ray, Deena, Lana and Mark Peter son went down the Columbia as far as The Dalles to do some archery fishing for carp in the sloughs along the river. They reported the best shoot ing at the slough near Board man. Thanks are due many Kin-zua-Camp Five residents, bus inesses, and clubs who were so very generous in their spon sorship of riders in the Fos-sil-Kinzua Bike-A-Thon on Saturday. Most everyone in town sponsored at least one young rider in their efforts to raise money for the fight against Cystic Fibrosis. The sight of so many grownups, teens and children pedaling for hours to help those who can't pedal for themselves was very good. Several of the really small children were still going at the windup, piling up from twenty to thirty-six miles. It was just unbelievable ! Steve and Roberta Conlee and sons and Chuck and Melba Mitchell and daughters left for a camping trip at East Lake on Thursday. They were joined at Bend by Robert and Nancy Misener, Bend. Fossil residents Bob and Margaret Misener also joined the group on Saturday for the opening of the trout season as the high lake. The weather was good, even though there was some snow on the ground, and the fishing was wonderful. I understand they came home Sunday with luts of fish, most all over a foot long. WHEELER DEALERS ISSUE INVITATION The Wheeler Dealers met on Friday evening to get their assignments for the Cystic Fibrosis Bike-A-Thon and to discuss their membership drive. The club will have a potluck dinner on Friday, June 24, at 7:00 at the park in Fossil. Anyone interested in joining the club is urged to attend. 'Music Man' in Condon A production of Merridth Willson's "Music Man," per formed by the Cooperative Arts theater group, is sched uled for June 3, 4, 10 and 11 in the Condon Grade School gym. All performances begin at 7:30 p.m., and reserved tick ets can be obtained by calling 384-2431 or 384-5901. Group members call this the most ambitious undertaking ever for the local non-profit troupe. Florida reader replies ... Editor: With regard to Rev. Mark Johnson's attitude toward capital punishment (Gazette-Times May 5 letter to the Editor), I'd like to state that the lack of capital punishment is why the world is sofulljof murderers today. If these menaces to society knew they would be given the chair for taking the life of a fellow being, they would hesitate. As it is, in too many cases, they are given life sentences only to be paroled on some technicality and out walking the streets in a few years watching for someone else to kill. And why should we decent people pay taxes to keep these fiends in penal institutions where they lay around watching color TV and are served better food than I can afford because I pay the bills. Yes, everyone is a child of God, all the murderers, too, but we are put here on earth to work out our salvation and "As ye sow, so shall ye reap," and "The wages of sin are death," and "An eye for an eye," etc. Apparently, Rev. Johnson selects the part of the Bible he likes and discards what he doesn't agree with. Well, you have to accept it all, or none, not just what pleases you. Michael Olds owes God a debt, and although God may love him, it is up to him to pay that debt. And if God loves all creatures, he also loves the animals he created and Mrs. Winchester should be praised for objecting to calf roping, the brutality of rodeo and any other abuses heaped on helpless animals. They shouldn't be downgraded and sneered upon as Rev. Johnson did in his letter to the Editor. I think he must have a very immature mind to liken the case of calf roping to the murder of a woman, and I can see no connection between the two. Do you, Rev. Johnson, have sympathy for a mad dog? Do you think he should be allowed to rampage at will? I think not. As for Rev. Johnson's sadness or Lois Winchester's hardness for Michael Olds, I say the cases are not parallel and Rev. Johnson is very inconsistent, to say the least. Murder of a human and abuse of cats and dogs can hardly be compared. God loves cats and dogs, too, and He put them here in our care and God bless Lois Winchester and all others who defend them. I cannot feel sorry for the killer Olds, but I do pity all helpless, innocent, abused animals. There can be no comparison between hungry, homeless, tortured animals who never harmed anyone and a man who is guilty of murder, regardless of how Rev. Johnson thinks. Sincerely, Helen Hayden 118 Ridgewood Brandon, Fla. 33511 Johnson lauds thought exchange Editor: A few weeks ago, I wrote an article concerning capital punishment. When I wrote it, I realized that the position which I took would not be accepted by all, but I did not realize that it would cause such unrest with so many people. My purpose was simply to state my position in order that each of us could then think through our own ideas concerning this issue. A GOOD TIME THAT'S A GREAT BUY BULOVA CONTOUR CORDLESS ELECTRONIC WALL CLOCK BULOVA has a recipe for lack-luster walls and time-conscious people. A cordless electronic clock that's contemporary in style and performance. Features: Smartiy contoured case . . . glass covered dial . . . three-dimensional numerals ... red sweep second. Black, white or sunny yellow with white dial; nut brown with brown dial. 73A" square, 21i" deep. Only $19.95 Main St. Heppner - 676-9200 s"v " msxm There is one misconception which I wish to clear up. Some people think that because I am against capital punishment, I am therefore in favor of leniency in the laws. This is simply not true. I believe that some of our judicial laws concerning probation for those committing murder need to be revised so that the chances of that person repeating his action is greatly minimized. However, just because our judicial laws are perhaps too lenient is not justification for the reinstatement of capital punishment. Or as the old saying goes, "Two wrongs do not make a right." Last week (May 19), Mrs. Irene Holtz wrote a reply to my initial article. I want to thank Mrs. Holtz for that letter. After reading it, I could tell that she had given much thought, time, and prayer before writing it. Even though I do not agree with some of her positions, I greatly appreciate her struggling with the issue. She talked about capital punishment being a deterrent to crime and murder. I truly wish that she was correct on this issue. The problem is that it is not a deterrent to crime and it never has been. Crucifixion was used by the Roman Government in the days of Jesus in order to stop crime. It did not work then and it does not work today. Because of our basic humanity, we will always have people like Michael Olds, and killing them is not going to change this situation. The solution, if there is one, is not in destroying such people, for that is like trying to cure cancer with a Bandaid. I wish to thank the Gazette for permitting such dialogue to take place within the community. My purpose was not to shock or upset people, but rather to help us think through our positions. I hope that as this continues, we can show care and concern for each other despite our differences. Rev. Mark Johnson The museum has grown until three new rooms have been added. There are many visitors from all parts of the county and they all say our library-museum is one of the best they have visited anywhere. I feel that the building and all it contains is a credit to Heppner and to close the library is only helping to kill our town. Why not dim or turn out part of the lights that are blazing all over town. That would help some. I feel sure you will find a way to keep our library open and to keep our librarian she is one of the best. Signed, a very disappointed citizen, Amanda Duvall Police, Justice Court news 'disappointed' Mrs. Duvall To the people of Heppner: This letter is written to express my sad disappointment to hear the city plans to close the library. Going back to the years before 1958 when the library was in a small building next to the City Water Department, they were crying for a larger place so they could accommodate the reading public with more books. At this time, the County Court was wanting some place to preserve the historical things of the past. I called the County Judge and the City Mayor to meet with me at my house and I told them I would build a joint building to house the library and museum, if they would find a suitable place for it. They both agreed they would work together and divide the expenses of maintaining the building. The Mayor agreed the city would keep up the grounds. They soon came up with the present location. In the fall of 1958, we met with an architect and his plans were approved by the Judge and Mayor. We set a date for bids and McCormack Construction Co., of Pendleton, got the bid. We began building early in 1959 and it was completed in May, 1960. The new library moved in and many historical and antique pieces were put in the museum. We dedicated the new building May 29, 1960. During these years, the library has increased with a great turnover of books for the reading public both in town and in the outlying districts. Justice Court proceedings for the week include: Susan M. Jenner, 27, Redmond. A warrant was issued May 23 for negotiating bad checks. Anthony R. Hiatt, 19, Heppner. Lodged in Umatilla County Jail for a parole violation pending a formal hearing Friday. Joseph A. Aldridge, 25, Richland, Wash. Cited May 23 for criminal activity in drugs CAID (less than one ounce of marijuana). Steven Lineweaver, 23, Boardman. Cited April 24 for CAID (less than one ounce of marijuana). Pled not guilty and requests a jury trial. Steven T. Hillings, 19, Boardman. Cited May 18 for CAID (less than one ounce of marijuana). Pled not guilty. Milton W. Tarter, 35, Irrigon. A warrant was issued April 1 for driving while sus pended. Tarter is currently booked in Bonner County, Ida., in connection with a first degree murder investigation involving the death of a Spokane, Wash., woman found May 20. District Attorney's Office: David J. Paxton, 22, Boardman. Arrested May 7 for selling amphetamines to an undercover agent. Sheriff's Office: A battery charger valued at $121 was reported missing May 19 from Morrow Produce, Inc., Irrigon. It was suspected entry was gained to the building through an elevator shaft. A cart carrying an acety lene and an oxygen tank were reported missing May 20 from the property of Elmer Stub blefield, Boardman. Total value of the missing items was estimated at $287. Irrigon woman in public concert Christi Cogswell of Irrigon will be among orchestra members Monday, May 23, when the Blue Mountain College Community Orchestra and Wind Ensemble presents a free public concert of 18th and 19th century composers. The concert will be held at the college theatre in Pendle ton, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Romantic, contemporary, baroque and classical music will be presented. THE IHZFPNER GAZETTE-TIMES Published every Thursday and entered as a second-class matter at the Post Office at Heppner, Oregon, under the Act of March 3, 1879. Second-class postage paid at Heppner, Oregon. The official newspaper of the City of Heppner and the County of Morrow. G.M. Reed, Publisher Dolores Reed, Co-publisher Terry M. Hager, Business Manager Jim Summers, Editor Eileen Saling, Office Manager Justine Weatherford, Local News Georgia Seal, Composing Janene Searle, Composing d k d v-l ::arZNs. R regular $11.99 regular $11.99 Glidden's Best Flat Latex house paint Quick drying, durable flat finish Resists blisters, peeling, mildew per gallon Easy water clean-up 60 , per gallon Glidden's Best Latex gloss house and trim paint! Chalk resistant, semi-gloss finish Quick drying, easy to use Easy water clean-up 676-9157 PeKvioS u y Sdippb M H if Heppner
