TWO The Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon, Thursday, November 3, 1977
Sifting through
LETTERS
COMMENTS I
. rmmmAi I
Ballot Measures,
levy endorsed
The polls open at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8 and since
the election is a special one, voter turnout is
expected to be light.
EDITORIAL
That is unfortunate because the two statewide
ballot measures and for Heppner residents, the
serial bond levy are important issues.
We feel the ballot items are important enough to
have explained them in detail in this issue of the
Gazette-Times and here we take the opportunity to
urge a "yes" vote on all three.
Heppner special levy
First, on the local front. The City of Heppner is
asking voter approval of an $18,000 special serial
bond levy for the construction of a new Morgan
Street Bridge.
The condition of the existing structure is evident
to anyone taking the time to drive by it narrow and
sagging dangerously in the span. The bridge is
already closed to bus and truck traffic and yet it
provides the most direct access to our high school.
What makes the levy so attractive is the $103,000
in federal and state grant funds. It means the
citizenry of Heppner is getting a $121,000 structure
for less than one-sixth the price tag.
The age is past where citizens of an area and the
local governments representing them can be so
foolishly prideful as to pass up state and federal
help "on principle".
With city coffers drained by last spring's budget
defeat and spiralling costs, residents of Heppner
should vote themselves some help in maintaining
the town by voting "yes" on the special levy
request.
Ballot Measure 1
The passage of Ballot Measure 1 next Tuesday
could have more beneficial effect for Morrow
County than any other single county in the State of
Oregon.
The measure calls for the creation of a Water
Development Loan Fund from which small, family
farmers could borrow money at reasonable interest
rates to improve their land through irrigation.
Here in Morrow County that would mean
Columbia River waters could be put to use making
unproductive lands grow economic rops; it could
provide a measure of relief for farmers on some
30,000 acres of land in the county threatened by
critical groundwater hearings that may put a
permanent cap on their wells; it could help take
away part of the economic sting dished out by a
drought; it could provide many more jobs and
construction of food processing plants in Board
man; it could do many things to make Morrow
County's economy stronger.
There is no cost to the taxpayer with such a
program it operates like the veterans home or
farm loan programs that have proven so successful
in Oregon.
Again, residents of our area can help themselves
with a "yes" vote on Ballot Measure 1, with it
coming assurance of a continued strong agri
cultural economy the backbone of Morrow County.
Ballot Measure 2
Ballot Measure 2 another self-supporting dev
elopment fund provides for Oregon's continued
support of non-nuclear energy sources.
Right here in Morrow County we are reaping the
benefit of such development with the construction of
a coal-fired generating plant by Portland General
Electric. Industrial development on such a scale
adds millions of dollars to our tax base, which in
turn lowers the tax rate paid by the individual.
The Carty Cluster the area where the coal-fired
plant is being built is ideal for future development
of energy producing facilities.
Another opportunity for Oregonians to provide
themselves with a security blanket at no cost to the
taxpayer. We recommend a "yes" vote on Ballot
Measure 2.
THE
GAZETTE
TIMES
Published every Thursday and entered as 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, Managing Editor
Jim Summers, News Editor
Eileen Saling, Office Manager
Elane Blanchet, Reporter
Laura Craig, Composing Chloe Pearson, Composing
Justine Weatherford Local Columnist
im nil i -..."-"''Z-! wmfdt
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Letters to the Editor
BMCC expresses
appreciation
Editor,
The Board of Directors for Blue Mountain Community
College asked the assistance o? the Heppner branch of the
AAUW and the Heppner-Morrow County Chamber of
Commerce in selecting a Budget Committee member to
represent Heppner. Both organizations responded promptly
by suggesting names for the Board's consideration.
The Board considered the names of Phyllis Kroll, Lyle
Lowe, and RayBoyceand, as you probably know, Ray Boyce
was named to represent Heppner on the BMCC Budget
Committee.
The decision was difficult because all three people were
interested in serving and were well qualified for the position.
The determining factor in Ray's selection was the fact that
he has had children attend BMCC and he has been in business
in Heppner for a longer period of time.
The purpose of this letter is to express our thanks to both
the AAUW and the Chamber of Commerce for their
assistance in naming this replacement to the BMCC Budget
committee.
We also want to take this opportunity to express our
appreciation to Homer Hughes, who decided not to accept a
new budget committee term . Homer has served on the BMCC
Budget Committee for fifteen years and his contributions
have been beneficial and his efforts over all of these years is
greatly appreciated.
Sincerely yours,
Ronald L. Daniels
President
Pictures spur concern
Editor,
Last week's Homecoming Special brought varied,
passing thoughts to mind again. I could not help but realize
how quickly time is passing. The senior football players
pictured were only kids, it seems, just a few short days ago
when I was still in high school. I remember them as the
"grade schoolers" we taught as teachers' aides, brothers of
some of my class mates, annoyances and pests, but terribly
dever.If thispassingoftimecamesovividlytome, I wonder
what it must be like for the relatives, teachers and parents.
But all is not well. From your photographs in last week's
issue and previous issues I sense a high school that is not
as united as it once was, less proud, more unruly. I am sure
that any unrest, discontent or tension felt during my high
school years would seem sleek and mild compared to
today. How many relatives, teachers and parents are
noticing this?
Each time I return to Heppner, I am more aware of this
changing attitude. I think Heppner, In many ways, looks
tired and feels sluggish. Conversations with friends in the
Heppner area during my brief return visits seem to support
my views. I have heard of less cooperation within the school,
sagging interest in activities, lack of maturity.
When I was in elementary school, being in high school
was something to look forward to. We admired the
upper-classmen and anxiously awaited "joining the team."
There were plays to produce, dances, student government
and the journalism department all to look forward to.
Unfortunately, it seems students in the elementary
school today have little to look forward to.
Sincerely,
Greg Davidson
(Class of '74,
Heppner Hig h School )
Growth brings
responsibilities
Dear City Planning Commission
T Heppner is indeed fortunate! In our tri-county area
Heppner is the only town with a sufficiently broad-based
economy to provide jobs for our young people, a hospital,
doctors, dentists and a growing business district struggling
to provide us with goods and services. Without a large
concern such as Kinzua Corporation, we would find it
increasingly difficult to maintain any one of these things.
Growth surely brings with it responsibilities. Housing,
streets, water, bridges, etc., to name a few. The alternative
to growth is to lose our hospital, business district and tax
base to support our schools. When any of us feel that it isn't
worth the effort to keep up, we might ask the towns around us
how they like doing without those things.
My feeling is that any builder wishing to help us by
providing the necessary housing should be WELCOMED, not
restricted, and that we should also examine the possibility of
providing low cost housing, too, for those that really need
assistance, such as our elderly. They would like to be
permitted to retire in their home community.
If we don't provide for growth we will still need bridges
anyway for people clamoring to get our of town
Yours truly,
Margaret G. Murray
Oregon's fair share
Editor,
We think that the Legislature and Governor were very
wise in offering the people of Oregon the opportunity to get
their fair share of the Columbia River irrigation water before
it is used elsewhere.
The State of Washington is programmed for 1,200,000
acres of irrigation from the mighty Columbia. Idaho will use
all of the Snake River irrigation water and California is
thirsty for imported water.
Oregon has 5,000acres for cherries at The Dalles, 70,000
acres in Morrow County and around 20,000 acres in Umatilla
County, being 95,000 acres. We think Oregon's share of the
Columbia is 400,000 acres, before they turn off the spigot in a :
very few years.
The Bureau of Reclamation, who have built many fine ,
irrigation projects, cannot, at this time, administer and
construct projects unauthorized by Congress such as the ;
Southside project in Umatilla, Morrow, Gilliam and Sherman '
counties in Oregon being 400,000 acres.
Other methods of loans and financing must be developed.
The use of moderate interest loans, substantiated by
Oregon's bonds, would be very beneficial to Oregon's future
in irrigation projects and jobs for our young people.
Sincerely,
Rupert Kennedy
Coordinator
Portof MorrowCommission
A Halloween thanks
Editor,
On Halloween night five teenagers end myself canvassed
lone for Lutheran World Relief. On behalf of the kids, myself
and the Hope-Valby Lutheran Parish I extend a deeply felt -thank
you to all the Ionians (and a couple of Heppnerites)
who showed themselves to be so generous. Thanks to you
we're sending $100 to help others who are victims of disaster.,
Also, a special thanks to the five kids who went door to
door you're super!
JohnS. Maas
Pastor, Hope-Valby
the TIMESJ1,
Could it be that Heppner has mellowed out a bit from
decadeago when the Times featured a front page story on the
upcoming Crazy Days?
"Merchants are to dress up in weird and crazy costumes
Friday and the funniest-dressed woman and funniest-dressed
man will each receive a $5 prize from the Chamber of
Commerce.
"Customers are invited to do the laughing at the
foolish-looking merchants." For the following day. a Kids'
Parade was planned with the high school band and one of the
cities new fire trucks included in the lineup.
In the same week, the selection of Larry Lindsay aa
Livestockman of the Year was announced at the annual
Farm-City banquet
"A young man working towards his law degree at
Georgetown University, Washington D.C., changed his plans
abruptly in 1960 when his father, Alex Lindsay, of Lexington
died unexpectedly.
"The son dedicated himself to the ranch operation,
taking his father's place and now seven years later Larry
Lindsay, still a young man, has been selected by a committee
of ranchers as Morrow County's 1967 Livestock of the Year.
He thus follows in the footsteps of his father, who attained the
honor in Morrow County in 1958."
This week in 1957, a full truckload of 424 deer, elk and cow
hides left on the first leg of a journey to a California tannery.
There they will be prepared and returned to Oregon
Veterans' hospitals for use by veterans for physical therapy.
Also in the week, leaders representing commodity,
youth, home economics and farm organizations met in the t
Courthouse to lay plans for Morrow County's upcoming Town
and Country planning conference, v
"Special problems listed for study Tnclude3Tlurtliec"
action on noxious weed control, school distrfctreorgajuzav
tion, further improvements of county roads, conservation of
soil and water, a study of feasibility of increased irrigation in
Norm Morrow County, need for a development or planning
commission, industrial oppportunities in the county and a
study of participation in activities by youth."
Heppner's Star Theater was in the news this week in 1947.
Theater management was seeking to poll the community on
whether to screen the recently released "Forever Amber" at
higher than usual prices.
"Do you want to see this Technicolor film based on the
best selling novel at increased admission prices? The
producer insists that the admission be $1.20 for adults and 55 '
cents for children until 1949 when the normal prices return."
A major business transaction topped the news this week
in 1937 when the Heppner Hotel changed hands in a $20,000
deal. D.M. Ward purchased the hotel from The Dalles Hotel
Co. "
"Mr. Ward enters the local hotel business with a ,
background of former business experience here, having
clerked in local stores at the turn of the century, and for
many years has followed wheat farming, more recently in
the lone section. In his venture into the hotel business at this
time, he expresses confidence in the business future of
Heppner and announces that it will be his endeavor to
conduct the hostelry on a high standard.
"The Dalles Hotel Co. succeeded the late Pat Foley to
ownership of Heppner Hotel. Foley took it over from the
Heppner Hotel Association, composed of public spirited
citizens who constructed the building by popular subscription
in 1920 for $65,000.
Picture credit
Indian Summer weather brought a lilac bush into
full bloom recently at the Harold Peck residence
shown here... but snow coming to the Blues this
week warns that winter is just around the corner.
Spirit of the holiday?
Editor,
I am amazed at the intellect (or lack of) demonstrated by
some of the Heppner youth Halloween night. It must require
a lot of bravery to steal candy from second and third graders,
to spray shaving cream in the face of elderly women who live
alone, or to write obscenities on the front of the Central
Market.
I don't know if the parents of these hooligans arewarg.
of their childrens activities, if they are and they don't care or
can't do anything about it, the parents are as guilty as their
children. ,
I am not writing about a little soap or wax on windows
and other similar pranks. What I am writing about are the
deeds that are far outside the spirit and object of Halloween,
which make Heppner a little less enjoyable place to live, for
all of us.
Robb Rush
Letters Policy
ALL LETTERS of general Interest are welcomed,
providing they are in good taste and not libelous.
250 WORDS IS about the maximum length we can
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it-
ALL LETTERS MUST be signed to be considered. If
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LETTERS SHOULD BE addressed to Editpr,
Gazette-Times, P.O. Box 337, Heppner, Ore., 87836.'