Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (July 7, 1977)
VOL. 94, NO. Council approves library funding The Heppner City Council Tuesday approved a Library Board request to allow opera tion of the city library for the 1977-78 fiscal year through a $2,700 donation from library patron Amanda Duvall. In approaching the coucil with the request. Library Board Chairman Ed Struthers Pro-roaders set meeting Persons backing the petition drive to establish a public ' road leading from Portland General Electric's coal-fired KrolVs open for business Kroll's Department Store opened this week at 167 Main in Heppner . and a grand opening is set for Friday and Saturday, July 7-8. Owned and operated by Bob and Phyllis Kroll of Heppner, the new store features a complete line of basic ready to wear for men, women, child ren, toddlers and infants. The store also carries a complete domestic line. Kroll said the store will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. This week customers may sign up for one of many door prizes to be awarded Saturday at 4:30 p.m. Although the office has a new occupant and the mementos have been cleared from the walls and shelves, remnants of the previous 12 years will remain. . For that period, recently retired Morrow County Judge, Paul Jones, directed the affairs of county government and played an important role in the direction and development of Morrow County. After the Friday ceremony in which D.O. Nelson officially assumed the judgeship, Jones paused to reflect on his past years in office and offer some insights for the coming years. Regarding his successor, Jones reiterated the feelings expressed during the cere monythat the county is in capable and competent hands. "I feel that in this case, as with any change of administra tion, the less impressions and recommendations I make, the better chance D.O. will have to get firmly established on his own," Jones said. He recalled his own initiation into the realm of county politics when his predecessor, Oscar Peterson, turned the reigns over to him. "I came into office with no obligations and nothing pre SAMPLE COPY LOCAL POSTAL PATRON THE ' 5pS;.:' GAZETTE-TE 27 HEPPNER, OREGON said the board had accepted Mrs. Duvall 's offer pending council approval. Terms of the donation call for the funds to be used for librarian's salary on reduced hours, supplies and services and books. The Library Board will administer the new fund and generating plant at the Carty site to Ella Road that goes into lone, have scheduled an organizational meeting for next week.. Beecher Emert, who started the petitions, said this week a meeting will be held Tuesday, July 12 at 7 p.m. in Heppner at the West of Willow restaurant. The public is invited to the meeting. "The time has come for people behind the road to become organized a little if we're going to accomplish what we want," Emert said. He noted that persons back ing the petitions would like to get together with Boeing Vice President Gene Norton to discuss the company's oppos ition to the road and deter mine what alternatives there are. Last month, after the petit ion drive was announced, Norton made a public state ment saying Boeing Company was not interested in having a road to the Agri Industrial Park from the south. Jones conceived," Jones said. "I wanted to turn it over to D.O. with as much freedom as I had". Now that the exchange has been made, Jones said he is r kalna Pmi Jam LuivM office aftar great hopes far Morrow County A ttpoflhehaliihaitahite. . looking forward to having some time to himself and his family. "People ask me what I'm going to do, where I'm going, will I travel," he said. "I really have no long range plans and just hope to take it day by day". He did leave the doorway open to the prospect of future public service, saying, "I'd like to feel I can be of some aid to the community. If the opportunity comes along, I'll be here but I'm not going to prevail on anyone". As for the role of county THURSDAY, the city will act as the disbursing agent. Struthers said the board is still pursuing the library district funding concept but added that it is a lengthy process and the Duvall offer will serve as an intermediary measure. In other council action, Mayor Jerry Sweeny announ ced the assignment of council member to various standing committees effective July 1. Citizens with specific prob lems are asked to contact the appropriate committee head. Water draws The continuing saga of the propriety of the city water system entered another round Tuesday as several council members said they had rec eived complaints during the past week from people who had no water pressure. City Recorder Marshall Lovgren inspected the system and found a closed valve and overheated pump at one of the reservoirs. After opening the valve, the pumps began oper ating and the pressure was restored. City Foreman Don Penney said the system was designed to work with the valve closed although a malfunctioning mercury valve was deemed to be the culprit in the lost-pressure mystery. Criticism was also leveled a steps down " ' "If " ' " ' ' ' 1 ' - la. M - ""a'- f t r !i t , i ..... x - HEPPNER JULY. 7, 1977 12 PAGES General chairman for the committee covering general government, police, fire and personnel is headed by Hubert Wilson and committee mem bers include Robert Jones, Jim Rogers and Larry Mills. A second committee headed by Cliff Green deals with water and sewer utitlities, streets, pool, parks and plan ning. Other committee mem bers are Warren Ploch'arsky, Jones and Rogers. Fire Chief Forrie Burken bine pointed out two street areas that pose fire hazards when used as parking areas. system debate the automated pump regula tor located in City Hall which Councilman Cliff Green called a monstrosity and about which Councilman Larry Mills re marked, "that turkey hasn't worked since we got it." After more discussion about the system, Green comm ented, "We've got to make a decision soon," to which Mills agreed and added that the problem was "which decision we should make." "We have a City Engineer telling us one thing (about the water system) and the man . we hired to operate it (Penney) tellilng us another," Mills said. Mayor Jerry Sweeny called an executive session for Thur sday and said he hoped that "a lot of the questions would be resolved." f , 1- v IT 3 15 c He told the council that cars parking in an area behind the high school and in a cul-de-sac behind the medical clinic prevent access by fire or emergency equipment. The matter was referred to Coun cilman Green's committee to look into the possibility of designating the areas as fire lanes. Burkenbine also said he had received complaints from ad jacent property owners of three properties where weed overgrowth also posed fire hazards. He asked the council to advise the property owners of the problem and to take measures to correct it. The council moved to fill a gaping hole on Morgan Street near the high school while leagal proceedings drag on to determine who exactly is responsible for the improper installation of water piping in the area. Sidewalk sale Heppner merchants are hit ting the streets Friday with their annual Summer Side walk Bazaar a one day sale that includes fun as well as bargains. Part of the fun will be provided Friday afternoon when Don and Malcolm Mcln nes will arrive in town with a four-horse draft team and wagon. The teamsters will give shoppers a Main Street exhibition and free rides will follow. but legacy remains judge, Jones said he has seen marked changes since the time he took office. "County government is much more complex now," he said. "The formation of administra tive districts (East Central Oregon Association of Counties, ECOAC) has been a big help but it requires a great deal of the county official's time". He pointed to recent trends in health insurance and welfare policies that have placed great er emphasis on local govern ment control. "I've seen more and more evidences of local control over the years." Jones said. "And at no time, any time, have I favored anything that would give away this local control". "Local government is right here in this courthouse," he said, gesturing with a sweeping motion through the air. "The people do have a voice and anytime a man who wants to see the county judge is refused, it will be a sad day for local government". Jones said several laws passed in the last few years open meeting laws, for in stancehave been instrumen tal in bringing county govern ment closer to the people. "The people are more involv ed now than ever before," he r ffs ': ' !:A ' . ' V'- .... - " V ..-'" ' r '- t ' ' .- f i f , ? 1 I f ' ' If ' " T, it", C I v- '; U ' ' W ' ; Ill -. , ; t I m . . . -.-.,' 1 Mga D.O. Nebon occopM a bit of advice from his predecessor. Judge Paul Jones after takng office here krtMdDy. Between Jones and Nebon standi Ed Sufvan, legoj counsel for Gov. Bob Straub, who ad RaWftored tfM ooHi of offico. Judge Nelson settles in as new county leader More than 50 friends, relativ es and well wishers were on hand Friday at the Courthouse as D.O. Nelson was officially sworn in as the new Morrow County Judge. Nelson sat at the head table in the circuit courtroom along Youth in town that day will be sure to enjoy the free swimming during the after noon hours provided courtesy of downtown businesses. Par king will be frep also. Several civic groups and organizations will also have booths on the street. The Heppner Rebekah lodge will have a white elephant sale and will be peddling dippy dogs; the Lexington Rebekahs' will have baked foods, bread and said. "There have never been any attempts from my office to withhold any information of court activities my door has remained open". Along with the increased complexity of county govern ment has come staff expansion and more departmentalization. "We have a full-time planning staff now which was unheard of when I came to office." Jones said. "Also, 12 years ago the Sheriff was operating with no deputies and there was no juvenile department outside of the judge's office. The scope of government has greatly chang ed and will continue to change". Looking ahead, Jones pre dicts major activity in the road department. "Demands for new roads and more maintenance increase constantly," he said. "When the road levy expires this year, it will require an expanded tax base especially as the North end continues to grow". Jones said when he took office, the county's assessed valuation was in the $80-100 million range. Now, it is conservatively estimated at $235-250 million and Jones expects it to jump to $500 million in the next three years. "Morrow County is no longer going to be a small county," with outgoing judge, Paul Jones, and the governor's legal counsel, Ed Sullivan, repre senting Gov. Straub. Jones, who announced his retirement on May 16 after 12'2 years in office, said he was looking forward to leaving the Friday punch; the Soroptimist Club will sell commorative Court house plates ; the Garden Club will have plants, bulbs, dish gardens, produce and garden related baked foods on sale; the Child Development Center will have baked foods; HHS cheerleaders will sell snow cones and the HHS dance team will have baked goods while the Morrow County Health office will give free blood pressure tests. Jones said. "Nationally, we're second in potato production, second in grain production and our industrial payrolls from Kinzua and Gourmet are boom ing," lie said. "The day of viewing Morrow County as a small agricultural county is over". Acknowledging that most of the development is centered in what is generally referred to as "the North end," Jones shakes his head saying, "I've spent 12 years trying to do those things, that would prevent people from distinguishing between the North and South". "But it's so hard to do with the different characteristics of the areas like soil composition and transportation outlets available there," he said. "I've tried to lessen the emphasis on that area but then, we just finished approving a new med ical clinic for Boardman. It's a hard point to get around". With the planned develop ment of the Boeing Corporation-owned land looming as a key to the unification or division of the county, Jones was asked about the current drive to convince Boeing officials of the need for an access road from the lone area. "I've been on the record in favor of the road but I've always judgeship "with mixed emo tions". "But I'm leaving with full knowledge that the man selec ted can take over and do a fine job." Jones said. "When I made the decision to retire, D.O. was one of the men I had high hopes would accept the position". Sullivan presented Nelson with an official document sig nifying his appointment and said the governor, "sends his personal congratulations and best wishes for the future". "This is a bit of a day of sadness with the retirement of Paul Jones. ..a giant among county officials," Sullivan said. "His wisdom and guidance will be missed". To the new judge, Sullivan said, "You have some big shoes to fill and you have the qualities integrity, devotion to duty and plain common sense needed for the job". Following introductions by Nelson of his relatives in the audience, including his wife Delpha, his parents, children and grandchildren, the oath of office was administered by District Attorney Dennis Doh erty and a new era in the history of the Morrow County judgeship began. run into a stone wall with the Boeing people," he said. "The area is important for the county but Boeing is calling the shots". Jones said if the plan to move the Navy Bombing Range was realized, it would open 40,000 acres in the area to agricultural use and would be a big step for the county. From the beginning of his administration, Jones said one of his main priorities has been to keep land available. "It seemed we negotiated at least once a month for the return of North end land from the Bureau of Land Manage ment," he said. "Finally in November of 1967 our efforts culminated with the sale of almost all the BLM land. We worked hard for that one". Now, with Navy negotiations progressing, the opportunity may again present itself, Jones said. "If it were possible for young men who wanted to farm to obtain financing for developing the bombing range, we could see farms and houses with families and it would be good all the way around," Jones said. "It's important to open up the county to the people as much as possible and in the past 12 years I've done my best". His efforts have been, appreciated. 4
