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.
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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
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