TWO The Gazette-Times, Heppner, Ore.. Thursday, September 8, 1977
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EDITORIAL LETTERS
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COMMENT
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Tough decision
The Heppner City Council this past Tuesday took
action on a matter that would leave them "damned
if they did and damned if they didn't".
The decision to terminate City Foreman Don
Penney's employment was made with the citv's
best interests in mind. QTORIAL
It is unfortunate Penney had a work-related
injury shortly after coming on the job in the spring
of this year, but the City of Heppner needs a
working foreman now more than ever before.
With the budget defeat earlier this year the city is
virtually without funds for street repair and
maintenance, water and sewer works, not to
mention capital improvements to the city's utilities.
If residents of the City of Heppner think
conditions of street and utilities are deteriorating
now, wait until next year after the winter when
the effects of the budget defeat will really be felt.
We commend the council for taking positive
action on a sensitive matter and we wish Mr.
Penney a speedy recovery.
Support urged
Residents of Heppner will soon be asked to
approve a special serial levy in the amount of
$18,000 for construction of a new Morgan Street
bridge EDITORIAL
The reason for needing the special levy again,
the budget defeat earlier this year.
Through state and federal grants the city will
receive $103,000 for construction of the bridge,
providing the city can come up with $18,000. Now
that's an offer hard to refuse.
Morgan Street is the main route to our high
school; a facility that will be in use for many
generations. It would be foolish to pass up the
opportunity to acquire decent access to that facility.
This issue of the Gazette-Times has a complete
story on the serial levy and in future issues, as we
have in the past, we will keep residents informed of
the bridge and the levy.
We urge you to study the bridge, its low cost to
residents of Heppner, and give your support to the
serial levy. tmh
COLUMN
by Terry Hager
Our All-Star Fleet-of-Foot-and-Mind Award this
week goes to a Heppner businessman who was given
a challenge he couldn't refuse.
Putting the rubber to the road, our friend hopped
on a skate board at the urging of neighborhood
youngsters and proceeded down the Lott-Rasmus-sen
hill from his home. Informed sources say he
looked like a belly dancer on a beach ball but on he
went to the bottom of the hill. COMMENT
It was on reaching the bottom of the hill that Robb
Ramjet found the going tough the gravel had the
same effect on the skate board wheels as a stick put
through the spokes of a bicycle wheel.
Skate board in hand, up the hill he trudged, then to
the hospital where it wasn't so funny. A gash cut
clear through to the nerves in his elbow-forearm,
fortunately with no permanent disability.
We understand a new product is coming of the
incident, though wide track, recap elbow and knee
pads. Is it necessary to have an exchange casing?
We apologize to some of the sponsors of the
Livestock Auction that were inadvertantly left out
of the 4-H and FFA "Thank You" ad in last week's
Gazette-Times.
The entire ad is running again this week and
includes Central Market, Farm Equipment
Headquarters, Oregon Potato Incorporated, Hep
pner Nor-Gas, Sabre Farms, Morrow County Grain
Growers, Union Oil, Turner-Van Marter & Bryant,
Morrow County Farm Bureau, Pioneer Implement
and Pat Cutsforth.
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Letters to the Editor
Not happy with fair coverage
Editor:
From first glance at last week's paper, one would scarcely
know that Morrow County had concluded it's annual fair and
rodeo. To me, it was a week of many note-worthy events.
My college journalism is indeed antiquated. Feature
articles and interviews then came behind the news..
Headlines included train wrecks and disasters. Perhaps not
stopping for a cow on the tracks would make more news than
not stopping for non-existant passengers or freight. Historic
buildings should be preserved, but so should some of the
events which happened during the week, never to be seen
again. The architectural structure of said depot fails to catch
my eye for its photographic qualities.
If Joe Blow is promoted to Chief Dog Catcher or if I rate the
title of "Local Sounder Off-er of the Year" do either of us
receive equal coverage? To me, a timely story would have
been Kinzua's twenty-five years of sponsoring a hand-made
saddle for local calf roping contestants and it's present
recipient featured.
School events- should be this weeks news. Maybe new
teachers would have preferred the surprise element to help
include students to come forth. The excellent coverage of
sports is as important as the accumlative effort of a year of
work and activities climaxed at our fair. Though it's
impossible to record everything major highlights which
represent much effort include champion animals, prize-winning
demonstrations, skillfully-designed garments, award
winning foods, champion showmanship, eye-catching floats,
booths and the sweepstake winners of crops, produce, arts
and crafts from this county.
Every parade needs a band and Jim Ackley is to be
commended on his efforts. Years past it was always assumed
the band would be on parade not only here but at Pendleton
and in full dress.
Our grand marshal and queen and court must really feel
put down with the quote, "the band high-lighting the
parade." Perhaps in years to come the rodeo should budget
space to cover court activities. My hat is off to a hardworking
group who did their smiling best to get out and promote our
fair and rodeo. In addition were present to host, welcome,
speak, make visitors welcome and present all the awards
throughout the year.
Agriculture certainly takes a beating these days both
price-wise as well as from nature and surely our fair and
rodeo should at least come to front in our own county paper.
My hat is off to the great community effort that makes this
all possible.
Merlyn Robinson
TIMES
Excitement from the Fair and Rodeo was gradually
subsiding this week in 1967 and the area was experiencing the
transition from summer to fall.
A sure sign of autumn's arrival was the opening of football
season and the Times featured a picture of Heppner coach Ed
Hiemstra, his assistants Adrian Cook and Dean Naffziger
and a few of the Mustang stars such as Dave Hall, John
McCabe and Al Drake.
Along with the grid outlook came the report that county
schools were opening for the 1967-68 school year with 1,112
students. Although the totar was slightly down from the
previous year, Heppner High School topped the 200 mark for
the first time.
In other news of the week, the Times reported that "Ken
Wright, an outstanding member of the Heppner High School
chapter of the Future Farmers of America during his high
school days, has been chosen for the American Farmer
degree of the national organization of FFA".
Moving back another 10 years to this week in 1957, big
business was in the news as the Times reported, "The
Morrow County Grain Growers last week completed the
purchase of the former Archer-Daniels grain elevators at
lone which the co-op has operated for two years under lease.
The purchase was made from W.E. Melena and Sons of lone
for $175,000.
"The three elevators which are operated as one unit have a
combined capacity of 420,000 bushels and give the MCGG
total storage of 2,950,000 bushels in its nine elevators. The
co-op is now the second largest county elevator operator in
Oregon, being exceeded only by the Pendleton Grain
Growers."
At that time the co-op had a membership of 375 county
farmers and a crew of ten regular employees.
Meanwhile, back in town...
"Directors of the Bank of Eastern Oregon late last week
awarded a contract to Mid-State Construction Co. of The
Dalles for the construction of the bank's new Heppner branch
building.
"Officals said the contract calls for completion of the new
plant within 120 days, but it is hoped that it can be occupied
prior to that time. The building is to be located on the former
McClintock property on Main Street and the bank is now
operating from temporary quarters in the Empire
Machinery building next door."
The following distiller's lament was found in the Times
pages this week in 1947:
Police records fail to reveal any undue hilarity or other
disturbance attributable to the cup that cheers during the
Rodeo. According to records in the sheriff's office, where city
charges as well as county cases are filed due to the jail
service, only two men's names were entered on the
docket and they were merely locked up to sleep off their
jags.
Ample policing was provided by the sheriff's office and the
city and from all accounts the crowds were kept in line
throughout the Rodeo period.
A look at this week in 1937 brings some names from the past
for all you horse fans.
"John Tubbs' mastery of Dillinger, the outlaw hitherto
unconquered, featured strongly in his winning the bucking
crown of the 16th Rodeo. The Spokane tophand rode Dillinger
Thursday, conquered Walla Walla Friday, tamed Bald
Hornet in the semi-finals, and did a nice job of riding
Jump-Off Joe in the finals.
"Herb Owens of Kennewick placed second with his ride on
White Pelican while Kenneth Depew of Salem rode Alcatraz
and Gene Pruett of Yakima rode Tollgate to split third
place."
This week in 1937 the Star Theater was advertising an
upcoming showing of the "Offical Dempsey-Sharkey Fight
Film, direct from ringside, showing the disputed knockout in
slow motion."
Picture credit
City of Heppner crews
have neglected Main Street
Dog gone! What's humane treatment?
Editor:
In response to William D. Baker's letter in your paper, I
would like to say, if I had the money, there is nothing I would
like to do better than provide for and take care of all
underpriviledged and abused old people, children and
helpless animals. That, of course, most certainly would not
include him.
Anyone who has the stupid audacity to say as his wife did,
"My dog is an outside dog and gets water once a day and
needs no more shade than the hot box he is chained to,"
should be getting pamphlets on animal care. When the very
small watering kettle has been turned bottom side up from
morning until night several times, it sounds like he doesn't
THE
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
Laura Craig, Composing
Patti Saling, Composing
even get water once a day. The day I checked on his dry
kettle and filled it with water his wife reminded me that he
didn't need any more care, "that her husband just must have
forgotten to water him that day."
I'll wager a bet that no one in Morrow County has more
orphan dogs of all sizes and Heinz 67 varities than I do and
they all stay a lot of places. They stay home and don't chase
the neighbors stock; they stay out of my unfenced garden;
they stay out of the flower beds on all four sides of my new
house; they stay out of my new rock garden project that
takes in the whole hillside above my house. They have beaten
paths around these areas where I work but no tracks through
them. Perhaps with a little kindness and compassion he could
train his dog to not need to be on the end of a chain in the hot
sun and far from the house at the end of the field so he
wouldn't have to hear him bark for mercy and
companionship.
My nine dogs visit back and forth with the wildlife that
comes down our canyon to explore around but they are not
allowed to chase them. That is another worthwhile form of
holding with no chains attached.
For the hot weather I built a lean-to sort of breeze-away
(open on both ends) and covered it with old quilts and bed
spreads. Then wheeled in wheelbarrow loads of soft dirt and
turned the hose on the whole works inside and out to keep it
wet and cool. They all dig and rearrange their beds each day
to suit their fancy and our two cats even join them for cool
snoozes. I'm sure his bit of effort rewards me with helping
them to understand the no-no areas on our shoe string
farmstead.
I would also like to add that our new renter Lowell Jones
has a big black lab that stays around the door step of his
unfenced yard and never leaves to bother any neighbors in
any shape or form. They have just returned from a three day
vacation and you can bet he was right there to greet them
with a joyous outburst of barking. On their return is the only
time he lets out a bark. Kindness sure pays off in many
ways.
Mr. Baker I hope you found time to read the copy of Oregon
Law ORS 653.315 on animal care that the sheriff took you.
You failed to mention that pamphlet of literature.
We feel gratified that our former neighbor dog short-legged
Herman Rickert misses us enough that he hikes the three
miles from town to visit us and our four-legged creatures
quite often. No dogs that I have baby sat with or taken care of
have ever had to be chained to keep them from running
away.
Kindness is an investment having no limit in dividends.
Most Sincerely,
Lois Winchester
Thanks for the help
Editor:
As members of the Morrow County Fair and Rodeo Board
of Directors we would like to take this opportunity to thank
everyone who helped put on the 1977 Morrow County Fair and
Rodeo.
To the numerous individuals who volunteered their time to
put on the Fair and Rodeo and parade we offer particular
thanks. The numbers of hard working hours put in by these
people is unbelieveable. A fair and rodeo would be impossible
without them.
We wish to thank all those who lent support to the entire
show by donating funds and items. We also wish to thank all
of you who came to the Fair and Rodeo.
We hope all of you had a good time this year at the Morrow
County Fair and Rodeo. We are always ready to listen to your
suggestions to make next year's show even better.
Sincerely,
Virginia Grieb
Paul Hisler, Chr.
Zearl Gillispie
Floyd Jones
Liz Curtis, Sec.-Treas.
George Luciani
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