TWO The Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon, Thursday, Nov. 10, 1977
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VIEWPOINT
LETTERS COMMENTS EDITORIAL
Road hearing
response a start
Response to the Oregon Department of Tran
sportation public hearing held in Heppner Tues
day evening was gratifying.
More than 60 persons attended the session and
about half made a statement concerning Morrow
County roads in the state system.
The message to highway department officials
was clear. People here want an improved road
1
Road hearing draws response
Sifting through
system.
EDITORIAL
At the same time, we see the County Court
forming a citizens' committee to study and rec
commend on county roads.
The initial effort has been put forth by the
government agencies responsible for roads and
now the burden rests upon the citizenry of
Morrow County. The officials can only act when
they get input from the area's residents...such as
the input that occurred here Tuesday night.
We must be persistent, especially with the
state, to realize the improvements most needed.
Writing a brief and to the point statement of
your feelings and the roads that you feel should
have top priority, and sending it to the Depar
tment of Transportation in the next week or so
will have an impact on final decisions.
The time is now, however, to make those
statements or residents of Morrow County may
well be driving on these same roads until 1983, as
set forth now in the state's preliminary road
plan.
Fair Board asks
for citizen input
Last week's Gazette-Times carried the story
on changes being made in the operation of the
Morrow County Fair & Rodeo.
Since that time, we have heard many commen
ts, some supporting the Fair Board's decision and
EDITORIAL
some castigating their decisions.
Whatever the outcome, whatever the final
decision, all those concerned should make a real
effort to meet the other side past the half-way
mark.
At stake in the issue is more than the obvious
changes. At stake is the lifestyle a small com
munity thrives on. ..that of pullilng together to
make things happen.
The Fair Board meets Monday night at 8 p.m.
and then is the time to make your feelings
known...not after a decision has been made.
We've also heard some heartening comments
this past week and it doesn't appear that any
"final" decisions have been made...the Fair Board
is meeting next Monday with an open mind. ..open
to suggestions.
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
CM. 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
...Continued from Page 1
lone farmer-rancher and Port
of Morrow Commissioner.
"Morrow County is exper
iencing unexcelled growth,"
said Carlson, "and that
growth is being accomplished
with private money, not gov
ernment funds, but we need a
suitable transportation sys
tem to accomplish that
growth."
He continued, "These new
dollars being generated will
pay for new schools and new
roads."
Carlson also outlined the
need for ingress-egress to the
Port of Morrow Food Pro
cessing Park from I-80N.
Presently, all traffic work
ers, trucks hauling raw pro
duct and trucks haulilng pro
cessed foods must enter the
industrial area through the'
City of Boardman.
Morrow County Judge D.O.
Nelson backed up Carlson's
statement saying the County
Court supported access to the
Port Industrial area and
urged upgrading of Highway
207.
This situation creates a
remendous hazard for pass
enger car and pedestrian
raffic, especially in view of
he fact that the main road
borders directly on two sides
of school property and play
ground area.
The Heppner-Morrow
Chamber of Commerce in a
prepared statement read by
Terry Hager, asked for ODT
reconsideration of priorities
citing the economic growth
and stability of Morrow Cou
nty as being endangered by
current road conditions.
The Chamber statement
urged quick action on upgrad
ing Highway 207, providing
access to the Port industrial
area and reconstruction of the
Lexington to lone highway.
Comments made at the
meeting and those submitted
in writing within the next
week or so will become part of
the official hearings and will
be evaluated by ODT staff
before finalization of the
six-year program early next
year.
Residents of the area con
cerned with the condition of
Morrow County roads are
urged to make a written
statement, asking it be made
part of the official transcript
and send it to W.E. Schwartz,
Region Engineer, Oregon
State Highway Division, P.O.
Box 850, LaGrande, Oregon.
Van Hubbard, 70, passes
Van Hubbard, 70, lone, died in Heppner Tuesday,
Nov. 8.
He was born Dec. 29, 1906 in Dayton, Wash., the
son of Eliza and Lida Vannice Hubbard.
On Aug. 21, 1929 he was united in marriage to
Loree Brill at Dayton.
A retired rancher, Mr. Hubbard had lived in this
area for 34 years. He was a member of Heppner
BPOE No. 358 and the Dayton Methodist Church.
Services will be held today, (Thursday), Nov. 10
at the lone United Church of Christ at 2 p.m. with
the Rev. William Grahm officiating.
Carl and Betty Marquardt will sing "Beautiful
Isle of Somewhere" with Rikka Tews accompany
ing at the organ.
Active pallbearers are Don McElligott, Dick
McEligott, Cleo Childers, Alton Yarnell, Bill
Padberg and Herman Blettell. Honorary bearers
are Omar Rietmann, Gordon White, Charles
Carlson, Pete Hams, Mike Matthews and Oscar
Peterson.
Concluding services and interment will be at
Heppner Masonic Cemetery with Sweeney Mor
tuary in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Hubbard is survived by his widow, Loree, at
the home; a son, Robert, lone; two daughters,
Lillian Boyce, Heppner and Peggy Connor, Pilot
Rock; a brother, Rodney Hubbard, LaCrosse,
Wash.; two sisters, Frances McCauley and Mildred
Thronson, both of Dayton; seven grandchildren and
two great grandchildren.
Contributions may be made to the lone United
Church of Christ Memorial Fund in Mr. Hubbard's
name.
Letters to the Editor
Thoughts given on Fair and Rodeo
Editor: '
Last week's edition brings the Fair & Rodeo split news. It
seems some hasty decisions have been made on both issues.
After reading the Fair story, we discovered the 1978 Fair is
expanding to four days. Exhibits on display Saturday and
Sunday, with Sunday as Family Day. Monday and Tuesday
are reserved for livestock judging big deal ! The stock will
arrive on Friday and will be in place for no reason until
Monday. Could it be that a move to separate the livestock
section from the rest of the Fair is underway? Persons enter
ing animals shouldn't be expected to enter animals three
days prior to them being judged. Is this giving the exhibitor a
better deal as the G-T quotes Mr. Hisler? Is the livestock
show not a major attraction for this "new breed" of fairgoer
we expect to attract to a weekend fair?
In 1977 the Horse Show was held on a Sunday and with less
participation from the North End than usual. Could we
assume that our North End audience, anxiously awaiting a
weekend fair is not interested in viewing horses, cows, sheep,
etc.? The Fair Committee will have to work that out as it
pertains to their area of concern.
I would like to see the Rodeo Committee given an equal
chance to work out their problems and put on the type of show
they feel they can work with.
Why don't we have an active, working Fair Board, meeting
and planning with their Fair and Rodeo Committees? Maybe
their problems could be resolved if time were taken or
maybe too much time has been spent. Perhaps some
members serving for so long a time have grown tired of their
duties!
I understand the Chamber's Merchant Committee would
like to see a jackpot rodeo here perhaps that committee
should try their hand at putting on such a show. They could
find out first hand the pros and cons of the issue. There are a
few vacant lots down town and portable rodeo chutes and
equipment is yours for the rental fee. A jackpot contractor
will furnish everything including the chute help for a fee.
Presto you're in business and right down town where you
can catch every buck. Sounds great and we'll support you,
but don't try to compete with Condon's Fourth of July
festivities. Over in Gilliam County so much of the population
has left, there's a lot of people to come back and that's what
makes their celebration so successful. But, there are so few
left at home to stage a rodeo, the sponsoring Fair Board hires
the help to run the show to the tune of a $900 labor bill. All you
volunteer Committee members please take note!
As Mrs. Murray stated last week, Heppner is indeed
fortunate. No matter what type of rodeo is staged, each
business surely can't expect a given amount of revenue. But
that remains their problem to solve.
The Court is an issue at stake in this split. This is an area I
feel most qualified to discuss. In summers past we spent
three sessions of traveling some 2,000 miles supporting and
advertising the MORROW COUNTY FAIR AND RODEO. A
daughter as a pennant bearer pays all her own expenses. A
daughter on the Court joins a team of five girls accompanied
by a chaperone. In 1974, the total Court -related cost paid by
the sponsoring Fair & Rodeo Committees split 50-50 was
$1,560. In 1975 the cost was $1,500; 1976 funds were reduced to
$1,189, the Rodeo paying $799 and the Fair $390; in 1977 total
funds were $1,174, the Rodeo picking up $854 and the Fair
$320.
Compare these costs to the expenses of nine families
traveling with the Court and see who's bearing the brunt of
this promotional game for the Morrow County FAIR AND
RODEO. Look to the money funded in 1974 and compare with
1977 and maybe you'll realize why fewer girls are trying out.
And why do the girls try for the Court. The Court has a
history of representing the County continously for the past 57
years. As we travel around we find this is a tradition hard to
match. Our 57 years of Rodeo here compares only to the
Pendleton Round-Up.
When a Fair Board member says she cannot see using
Racing Commission funds to promote Rodeo, I believe she
should investigate how the Round-Up, along with all our
neighboring County Fairs are using Racing Funds.
The question seems to be how will this split end up? What
does the future hold for the Fair and Rodeo?
So, I looked into the crystal ball and heres the final scene:
"...and so it goes... some sentimental old Fair and Rodeo
Court Queens got together today and erected a memorial
stone etched with this epitaph...
HEPPNER RODEO
1922-1977
"Victim of Foul Play"
RIP.
Kathryn Campbell Van Schoiack
Heppner, Oregon
UNICEF thanks
Editor,
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the fine
people of Heppner for their many contributions to this years
UNICEF campaign. The children at Heppner Elementary
School collected almost $130 for this worthy cause. Thank you
again.
Sincerely yours,
Courtney Riser
P.S. Congratulations to the children also for their fine work in
collecting the money. You should be proud of yourselves.
"AUTUMN"
T'is Autumn; My favorite sea
son, We feel her nip in the air.
See her vivid paintings
Like galories, everywhere.
Summer's harvesting is past
On her heels comes Autumn;
Season next to least!
Jack Frost nipped the leaves
Bush and trees flaunt their
gorgeous colors
Reds, yellows, gold and
brown,
He'll nip again and again
Till leaves come tumbling
down
Here and there orange gold
pumpkins peep out,
Questing the stillness.
This sudden chill that lies
about.
Gathered in are foods for man
and beast
With a bonus to share
Nature's Horn of. Plenty;
Autumn's, bill-o-fare!
Katherine Farrar
the TIMES
The lone Cardinals were front page news ten years ago
this week as they prepared to fight for the district 8-man B
football championship in Prairie City on Saturday. The
teams was editorialized as the "Fighting Fourteen", the total
number of lone players.
While the Cardinals piay be out of championship
contention this year, one editorial comment continues to ring
true: "Ione's Cardinals have made records in sports
throughout their history far beyond a normal proportion for
their size. They have the quality called "heart"-or strong
desirewhich is one of the most important virtues in
athletics." ,
Another front page item in 1967 concerned work being
done on the reconstruction of Heppner 's swimming pool. It
seems strange that city residents who ten years ago voted
for a $110,000 bond for swimming pool reconstruction .can't
even manage to pay for pool operation today.
Young Rick Barnett of lone, age 14, was a thrilled hunter
in 1967 when he shot a spike elk near Meacham.
A state-wide flu epidemic closed Heppner schools this
week in 1957. Only 52 high school students our of an
enrollment of 134 had been present on Moncay absenteism
of more than 61 per cent. The elementary school fared
better only 112 absent out of 365 but officials closed both
schools.
A total of 5,815 cases of flu were reported in Oregon this
week 20 years ago, a figure which experts said was probably
only five or ten per cent of the total. One out of every five
Oregonians were expected to have Asian flu before the
epidemic ran its course.
The Gazette-Times in 1937 was published on Armistice
Day, Nov. 11. The lead paragraph in a story about
celebrations for the holiday seem rather ironic today, three
wars later:
"Peace reigns in America today on the 19th anniversary
of cessation of hostilities in the war to end war'. Only on the
gridirons of the country today will American youth be asked
to pit their strength against the enemy, and that not in the
interest of annihilation but rather in celebration of a time
when those young men of the preceding generations were
removed from the dangers of annihilation."
The story ended with a warning.. .and a prayer for peace,
less optimistically echoed today: "War clouds come and go.
But we in America have one major war in every twenty years
to remind us of the possibility of recurrence... The spirit of
Armistice day is the rejoicing at dawn of peace. Its message
is a world made secure against future war, that this peace
may be everlasting."
County Judge Bert Johnson and Commissioner George
Peck made public their dissatisfaction with the state
Highway Department's work or lack of it in Morrow
County before the Lions Club. The Judge quoted a letter
written to the department: "This county and the people of
this county believe that they have not been dealt with fairly
by you in the past in the matter of improving the secondary
roads and the completion of the primary road from HejDjmer
to Nye Junction as provided for in the-session laws of 1937..."
Does anything ever change? .Yes! ! Land prices! From
the 1937 Gazette Times: The stock ranch of Lotus Robison,
known as the Hardman ranch, comprising 4,040 acres was
sold to Raymond Wright of the same district for $22,225."
That averages out to about $7.26 per acre.
Classroom needs
explained to
school planners
The Morrow County School
District Long Range Planning
Committee was informed at a
Oct. 27 meeting in Lexington
that the district's 10 new
classrooms completed this fall
in Boardman and Irrigon are
already nearly filled to capa
city with an increase of at
least 126 students expected
before school opens next fall.
Matt Doherty, District Su
perintendent, told the commit
tee that by the most conserva
tive estimates the district
population will increase by 200
students by the close of the
1978-79 school year.
The total Morrow County
district count stands at 1621
students as of Sept. 30 an
increase of more than 500
students since fall of 1973. The
county's growing population is
attributed to increase agri
business, related food proces
sing industries, and power
plant construction in the north
end of the county, with Kinzua
expansion the major factor in
Heppner.
Crowding is currently being
experienced at schools in
Boardman and Irrigon and at
Heppner Elementary School,
while lone schools and Hepp
ner High School have ade
quate space to accomodate
additional students.
It was noted that a large
segment of south Morrow
County is not assigned to
either the lone or Heppner
attendance area. Students of
the areas attending the school
of their choice, with no effort
by the district to equalize the
burden on the schools. This
has resulted in a heavy
student load at Heppner
Elementary while lone has
enjoyed a low teacher-student
ratio.
The committee recom
mended that the school admi
nistration prepare some type
of feasibility study indicating
how better use could be made
of current facilities to balance
dassloads.
The growth problems in
schools in north Morrow
County can only be resolved
by adding no less than eight to
ten more classrooms and this
is seen by the committee as
only a temporary solution.
Committee Chairman Irv
Rauch directed Supt. Doherty
to meet with the local Plan
ning Committee in Irrigon and
Boardman to review popula
tion trends, . community
growth factors and interim
and long range solutions, with
a report expected at the next
meeting.
It was generally agreed that
a bond issue for new buildings
will be needed but the date of a
bond election is not expected
toe set until after the nex
meeting of the committee,
planned for Nov. 22 at 7:30
p.m. in the District office in
Lexington. .