'I
TWO-The Gazette-Times, Heppner, Ore., Thursday, Sept. 29, 1977
f VIEWPOINT )
LETTERS COMMENTS EDITORIAL J
Development Center
needs help
The crisis facing the Heppner Child-Development
Center October 1 finding themselves without a
roof over their heads is disconcerting.
Here we have a community facility, available to
all, where children of working parents can stay
during the day at nominal cost with the best of care.
The social development a child experiences in a
structured situation such as the day care center is
also important as more and more is expected of the
youngster entering school today. Learning to live
and play with others outside the family at
pre-school age is a proven developmental
advance EDITORIAL
Equally important is the fact that parents can
leave their Children at the Center, confident of
excellent care.
Representatives of the Center have asked the
Fair Board for permission to use the 4-H Annex
building at the fairgrounds.
While that was certainly not the intended use of
the 4-H building, it would be a stop-gap measure to
keep the Center operating until suitable housing can
be found.
We agree with Judge D.O. Nelson's comment this
week that if the Fair Board were to allow the Center
use of the 4-H building, it would be temporary.
One of the things that we think makes the request
so viable is that the Center is operating on a
self-sustaining basis. They are meeting their
expenses on the monies they take in and have
offered to pay the county rent for use of the building.
We are looking at keeping an important
community facility functioning, and until suitable
permanent housing can be found for the Center, the
Fair Board should look favorably on the request,
allowing temporary use of the 4-H Annex for the
Heppner Wd Development Center.
Local office move
opposed
The community has learned in recent weeks that
plans are already made to move the Welfare, Adult
Services and Children's Services joint offices from
Heppner to Boardman.
The state agencies involved cite the workload
differntial between Northern and Southern Morrow
County as the reason. They say 65 per cent of the
case work is done in the Boardman-Irrigon area,
about 45 per cent done in Heppner-Ione-Lexington.
That in itself, we feel, is not sufficient reason to
move the offices. EDITORIAL
Perhaps the agencies, instead of adding a
management person as they plan to do when the
proposed move takes place, should look at using
that person's salary for joint office space in
Northern Morrow County, thus having a small
office in each end of our growing community.
Secondly, we disagree with the manner in which
the move was planned. State officials say they
discussed the move months ago with then Judge
Paul Jones and later with Judge D.O. Nelson. Judge
Nelson was rather surprised when he heard of the
planned move a couple weeks ago.
As the community's newspaper, the Gazette
Times was never notified, either by press release or
phone of the move. We heard it on the street and
called the agencies.
One official told us they planned to call and tell
the paper when office space had been located in
Boardman and the move was ready to be made.
Great thinking by that time public remonstrance
would have been stiffled because of the
implication "it's too late to do anything now
because they're already gone."
When state agencies are contemplating a move of
their offices where the impact on the community
will be felt especially moving state offices from
the county seat they should be responsible enough
to go before the people with their proposal, listen to
the comments, evaluate the impact and make their
decision.
We oppose the move of state offices from the
County Seat of Heppner and suggest the agencies
involved take a look at their budgets and try to
locate small offices in both Northern and Southern
Morrow County.
We think there's a way. ..if there's the will.
1 1 1 L
(J I Li jPS&'MLO' CREK IS
-., ' t 1 1 S3 UNqfALTur TOR &
sifting through the TIMESjfl"
As in years past, hunters in Morrow County and
throughout the state are sighting in rifles, checking scopes
and stocking up on ammunition this week in preparation for
the opening day of hunting season this Saturday.
Luckily, recent rainfall ended the possibility of a
situation that occured a decade ago then the start of hunting
season was delayed for a week by the State Game
Commission because of extremely dry forests statewide.
Only .25 inches of precipitation had been recorded east of the
Cascades since June 22 of that year.
Efforts by a local group to artificially induce rainfall
were abandoned this week in 1967. The Morrow County
Weather Research association announced the discontinua
tion of its 'cloud seeding' project because of lack of financial
support and the fact there had been very few clouds to 'seed'.
A dry summer in 1957 also had deer hunters worried this
week, as Gov. Robert C. Homes announced a week's delay in
the opening of the season because of parched forest
conditions. However, a peek ahead in the Times files shows
that Providence took pity on the riflemen and allowed a
record-breaking 2.05 inches of rain to fall the day before the
regular opening date, causing the governor to rescind his
order for delay.
In gleaning through issues of the many Times from past
decades, it is fascinating to note how controversial past
topics are still of concern today.
Thirty years ago this week, the Times editorially
supported two measures which . still haven't become
actualities.
The first is the adoption of an Oregon sales tax: "How
many opponents of the sales tax have ever stopped to think
that they have been paying sales taxes for many years?
There seems to be something about the name sales tax
thatcauses a ruffling of feathers among certain groups
and individuals Yet, day after day, they go along paying
sales taxes under other names and, while they don't enjoy
parting company with the extra toll, they have been
conditioned to believe that Uncle Sam needs the money and
rich and poor alike have learned to refrain from
grumbling. ...Property owners should know that your
property taxes would be reduced about twenty-two per cent if
the sales tax measure is adopted..." Oregon is now one of the
few states in the country without a sales tax.
Of local concern, the second 1947 editorial pushes flood
control : "Flash floods such as the one which resulted from a
small water spout a few miles south of Heppner last
Thursday afternoon are a warning of what could happen if a
large water spout struck in the area above the town. We may
be entering another cycle of bad storm years.. ..and it might
be well to keep in mind the proposed Heppner flood control
dam and inform the army engineers that we believe such
protection not only is desirable but essential. ' And the status
of flood control in Heppner today?
As hot oil and rock were speedily thrown into place,
Heppner neared completion of its street surfacing program
40 years ago this week. City improvement was contagious, as
many property owners took advantage to purchase gravel at
low prices for covering of curb approaches, alleys and
garage driveways. Heppner could also boast of three
surfaced tennis courts as a result of the work, two at the
school and one at the residence of Dr. A.D. McMurdo for his
private use.
In other news that week, W.F. Pettyjohn and Charles H.
Latourell completed negotiations to become Dodge Plymouth
agents here and signed a five-year lease on the new Ed Dick
garage building.
In 1927, the big news this week was an early morning
robbery of almost $150 in cash from a blown safe in the
Gilliam and Bisbee' store. The crooks were apparently after
funds from the Morrow County Rodeo which had wrapped up
the day before. It was logical to assume they might be in the
safe since Leonard Gilliam was secretary of the rodeo
association and was known to handle some of the money.
An expert from a Portland intelligence office was called
in to investigate and he expressed the belief that experienced
cracksmen did the work. They wore gloves and used powder
to blow the safe, the first such job he had seen in many
months.
"ONLY A DREAMER"
All are dreamers.
A dreamer are you.
I am a dreamer,too.
Dreams are designs; a plan,
The very "Makins" of man
Only a dreamer, folks say.
Dreaming his time away.
Dreams weave the fabric of
life.
are the lift that carries us on.
Till life's last goal is won,
Ah yes,
A dreamer are you,
I am a dreamer.too,
Dreams design the fabric
For that last curtain call:
Dreaming, ever dreaming.
Comes that call
ThenNo more dreams at all
Katherine R. Farrar
Aug. 29th
82nd birthday
Obituaries
Eugenia Huston
Eugenia Huston, 88, died in
Heppner Sept. 19.
She was born Oct. 7, 1888
near Heppner, the daughter of
Jacob Smith Young and Mar
tha Hooker Young.
She was a member of Rhea
Creek Grange, the Degree of
Honor and San Souci Rebekah
Lodge.
Funeral services were
Thursday, Sept. 22 at 2 p.m. at
the First Christian Church,
Heppner, with the Rev. Edwin
Sikes officiating. Sacred selec
tions were sung by Carl and
Betty Marquardt.
Concluding services and
interment were at Heppner
Masonic Cemetery with
Message to farmers
(EDITOR'S NOTE) The following is a condensed version of a
speech made by Don Peterson of Valby, Oregon President of the
National Farmers Organization, during last week's NFO state
convention held in McNary.
'.. I would like to share with you some of the experience and
progress we have made this year.
. .The national convention in Milwaukie. Wise, in December of '76
was a chance for me to visit with national officers, staff and
farmers from around the country. From that experience the feeling
of national unity of purpose, to achieve cost of production plus a
reasonable profit, was realized. A mechanism of triggering enough
commodity into committed blocks has been developed. However,
the reluctance of farmers to change their marketing habits
contributes to slow progress.
. .During the year I attended two events that relate closely to our
public image and overall influence. One was a habitat forum in San
Francisco where I presented the farm economic picture. The other
event was a gathering of Lutheran farmers in Kansas City, where
we talked about grain reserves. We had our greatest difficulty
agreeing on a price level. I promoted the Oregon cost study which
has 14 as a reasonable price level. What became obvious was that
costs vary between areas and farms. Here is where the opportunity
our procedure offers, to vote for price levels, will fill an important
need.
..At this point I would like to comment on the works of Arnold
Paulson. He puts out a newsletter, is president of the National
Organization for Raw Materials (NORM) and is presently in
Washington D.C., lobbying for parity prices. I urge you to support
his efforts. One program we'll work on is to have Mr. Paulson come
to Pendleton and up on an in-depth economic study. Look for this
and be ready to help.
. .Our state board has the responsibility for political action and
public relations, how have we done? Well, I say. Prejudiced as that
is. Our lobbying group has been active and our public relations
efforts are off the ground.
..We have contacted many State legislators as our program
indicates, as well as the national legislative offices. The National
legislators have yet to call us for advice but they know we are here.
..Our national lobbyist, Chuck Frazer is our spokesman in
Washington. I informed Mr. Frazer of our payment limitation
problem out here because of drouth disaster payments and have
discussed with him a few times, some of our concerns.
. .We have contacted commodity groups and the ag-econ
department of Oregon in our effort to find ways to work together. It
is my feeling that efforts to work together will be much more
productive than criticizing one another's programs.
. .We have worked closely with the State Dept. of Agriculture and
have participated in the coalition of farm groups in weekly
meetings in Salem, while the legislature is in session. There will be
a gathering of this group on Oct. 12.
. .Today we are making a call to action, asking your help. We have
worked hard to develop a worthwhile program and are happy to
announce we are ready. You are the key, all of you, to what we
together do about the current economic ruin in rural America.
. .You've all heard about the 20 per cent or so of farmers that are
likely to be forced out of business this year. What about next year if
the current trend continues? I think it will, unless agricultural
people, allied businesses and local government officials work
together and use all of the tools available.
. .Our structure is filled with experienced people ready to work for
the farm community, whether it be county, state or national. We
ha ve two documents or contracts that are key to our program. One
is the membership agreement and the other is the contract for sale.
Both must be activated before your commodity is in position for
sale by the sales department for you.
..Our three year membership agreement or contract spells out
where you as the member elect your county, zone and marketing
area representatives to coordinate the program.
. .Our contract for sale enables you to determine on an individual
basis when you want your commodity sold. Either daily or
preferably by block for more clout in the market place.
..I've come to believe that farmers are very lax in their use of
contracts and have relied on others to handle their business affairs.
I feel that contracts through NFO. specifying commodity for sale,
binding contracts they are, are the key to building reasonable
price levels.
. .The hour is late for the majority of family farms unless we block
our production together to establish reasonable price levels. The
ability of large corporate units to raise long term capital and enjoy
tax incentives we can't use contributes to largeness, I feel if carried
to the extreme will change the whole social structure of America
toward individual serfdom.
. .The solution is group action, so that our blocks of production are
needed by the ever larger and fewer buyers. Lets work for income,
for profits rather than financial integration, which is right around
the corner if we don't generate some profits. Lets not kid ourselves,
we are the economic problem of the world, because we don't price
our product at profit levels. Lets generate earned income rather
than deficit financing and inflation.
..And so in our call to action today we solicit your dues, your
financial support, your encouragement, your signed production
and your well wishes.
Don Peterson,
President Oregon State NFO
Sweeney Mortuary in charge
of arrangements.
Casket bearers were Wilbur
Worden, Tom Huston, Myron
Huston, William Rill, Cecil
Rill and Tom Rawlins.
Mrs. Huston is survived by a
.daughter, Velma Parker, Pas
co, Wash.; and a sister, Fay
George, Portland. Her hus
band, Clive, preceded her in
THE
G.
ETTE-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
death in 1962.
Contributions may be made
to the Pioneer Memorial
Hospital Fund.
John Franks
John W. (Shorty) Franks,
93, Heppner, died Sunday,
Sept. 25 in Heppner.
He was a retired millworker
and ranch hand and had been
a resident of the area for forty
years.
, Mr. Franks was born Aug.
13, 1884, in Cambridgeshire,
England.
Funeral services were con
ducted Wednesday, Sept. 28 at
2 p.m. at Sweeney Mortuary
Chapel with Rev. Kenneth
Miller of All Saints Episcopal
Church officiating. Betty Mar
quardt played sacred selec
tions. Concluding services and
interment were at Heppner
Masonic Cemetery.
Casket bearers were Ernest
Ertz, Clifford Morris, Vern
Nolan, Hubert Wilson, Leo
Pankey and Robert Morris.
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