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TWO The Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon, Thursday, November 17, 1977
Episcopalians host
Thanksgiving dinner
LETTERS COMMENTS EDITORIAL
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An effort
being made
Whether or not Morrow County will have a Rodeo
Cowboys Association rodeo here next year will be
known next Monday evening.
The decision rests with the Morrow County Fair
Board; a group that, as controller of the purse
strings, has been faced with several tough decisions
since last August's show.
EDITORIAL
Early in October, the Fair Board decided to put
the fair on one weekend and the rodeo on the
following weekend. Further, they decided to drop
RCA sanctioning of the rodeo and go to a
jackpot or winner-take-all amateur show and cut
back the size of the Fair and Rodeo Court, all in the
effort to balance the books.
People that have worked to put on the RCA rodeo
for many past years didn't like the idea of dropping
RCA standing and set forth to develop means by
which the production could be made more
profitable.
We think they did and evidently the Fair Board
thinks so too, because the decision to drop RCA is
now being reconsidered by the Fair Board. Making
the decision to reconsider was a big one and a
generous one for the Fair Board and shows they
are open minded about the issue.
We feel a major move is underway that will result
in a bigger and better 1978 Morrow County Fair and
Rodeo.
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Members of All Saints'
Episcopal Church plan to
serve their 4th Annual
Thanksgiving Day Dinner on
Thursday, Nov. 24, in the
Parish Hall to anyone who
doesn't want to" eat alone on
that holiday.
A cordial invitation is ex
tended to come early and
enjoy checkers, games, com
panionship, a fire in the
fireplace and sniffing of good
smells of the Thanksgiving
feast cooking.
Trays of food will be taken
to shut-ins who are unable to!
attend the festive gathering.
The church sponsors this
annual feast for the group of
people who do not enjoy eating
holiday dinners by them
selves. Father Kenneth Miller said
that a call to 676-9970 or
676-9496 would be appreciated
from any one who plans to
partake in the dinner so the
church members would know
approximately how many to
expect for dinner.
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Obituaries
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
accept, however, if you need more space, please use
it.
ALL LETTERS MUST be signed to be considered. If
you wish to have your name withheld for good
cause we will do so after contacting you for an
explanation.
TELEPHONE NUMBERS should be included. The
number will only be used by the Gazette-Times to
confirm it was you who wrote the letter.
THE GAZETTE-TIMES reserves the right to refuse
any letter it deems unfit for publication.
LETTERS SHOULD BE addressed to Editor,
Gazette-Times, P.O. Box 337, Heppner, Ore., 97836.
The Gazette-Times was the recipient of a news release
from the Oregon Department of Transportation this past
week, that notes the Department's receiving a first place
award in the Tenth Annual Awards 1977 "The Highway and
Its Environment" contest sponsored by the US Department
of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration.
The awards are given to demonstrate the compatibility of
highways with their urban and rural surroundings.
Oregon's winning entry was in the category "Outstanding
Section of highway in Its Rural Environment" and was for a
project on the Crooked River Highway near Prinevill, which
preserves the unique rock formations through the ancient
river valley canyon.
About the same time the news release came a friend told us
about a "rock formation" visible only from a certain portion
of one of his fields. At his urging we went to have a look.
What we saw combined with the timeliness of the
"Highway and Its Environment" news release prompts the
Gazette-Times to make an unofficial entry in next year's
contest on behalf of the Oregon Highway Division.
If you go past Pat Cutsforth's place toward Sand Hollow for
about a mile and-a-half , there's a turnout on the opposite side
of the road. Pull in, get out of your rig and walk to the edge
leadilng into the barrow pit.
There, ladies and gentlemen, is a magnificent piece of
sculpture we have dubbed "Ode to Highway 207".
There, sculpted by the Highway Department with the
graceful swoosh of a hydraulic dump bed, is a truly unique
slab of asphalt measuring some 8 by 15 feet and about IV2
feet deep and so totally "in tune" with the environment you
can't even see it from the road.
Selection of winners is based on the contestants' success in
creating highways or highway-related improvements which
reflect relatively new concepts of the highway not only as a
means of transportation, but also as a means of protecting
and enhancing the beauty. ..of the environment.
We can only assume that "Ode to Highway 207" was
sculpted to "enhance the beauty of the environment" which
is consistent with the Oregon Department of Transporta
tion's thinking in putting improvement of Highway 207 off
until 1983.
There are a couple of blanks on the proverbial government
entry form that might cause some problems in convincing
the judges that "Ode to 207" is a winner. The first blank calls
for an explanation of the "objective" and really, none
comes to mind in regards to the sculpture. The second blank
asks for an "Analyst" mi haps. ' ercie in futiHt
Van Hubbard
Letters to the Editor
Van Hubbard, 70, lone, died
in Heppner Tuesday, Nov. 8.
Services were held Thursday,
Nov. 10 at the lone United
Church of Christ at 2 p.m. with
the Rev. William , Grahm
officiating.
Mr. Hubbard was born Dec.
29, 1906 in Dayton, Wash., the
son of Elijah 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 358
and the Dayton Methodist
Church.
Mr. Hubbard is survived by
his widow, Loree, at the home,
a son, Robert, lone; two
daughters, Lillian Boyce, Hep
pner and Peggy Connor, Pilot
Rock; a brother, Rodney
Hubbard, LaCrosse, Wash.;
two sisters, Frances Mc
Cauley and Mildred Thronson,
both of Dayton; seven grand
children and two great-grandchildren.
A son, William Clyde
Hubbard, preceeded him in
death.
Concluding services and
interment were held at the
Heppner Masonic Cemetary
with Sweeney Mortuary in
charge of arrangements. Con
tributions may be made to the
lone United Church of Christ
Memorial Fund in Mr. Hub
bard's name.
Concerning Lexington's
sewer system
editor's NOTE: The following is a communication
from Mrs. Earl Papineau to the Department of
Environmental Quality and that agency's reply.
Mrs. Papineau submitted both letters in regards to
the proposed sewage system in Lexington.
D.E.Q. Pendleton, Ore.
Dear Sir:
I live in a small town, Lexington, Oregon, population
about 230 people. I have been trying to find an answer to a
question and hope you can help me.
Our town is working on installing a new sewage
treatment plant, which a large majority of the residents don't
feel we need.
There has been a rumor which has some people in doubt
as what to do.
That is that the D.E.Q. or State or someone is going to come
into Lexington and force us to put in this system whether it is
needed or not, and that the city will be forced to put it in at a
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
much higher cost than it might be obtained for now. That the
State or D.E.Q. is going to force all small towns and
communities to do this. Is this true? If so when? Have you ok
the State been putting pressure on Lexington to do this?
Lexington is a town that is platted with large lots at least
66 x 132 and the soil has a good drainage value, and our well is
way up on the hill about a mile from town. There have been a
great number of new cesspools installed in the last five years
and have been approved by D.E.Q. I feel no need for this
sewage plant. But if there is a need in the D.E.Q. 's eyes and
the town is going to be forced in putting one in, we would like
to know now.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Earl Papineau
Lexington, Ore.
P.S. There are only about 85 households in Lexington and
$555,000 plus interest is a great burden on a lot of us.
Mrs. Earl Papineau
Lexington, Oregon 97839
Dear Mrs. Papineau:
My answer to your letter is as follows:
1. The State Department of Environmental Quality is not
and will not force all communities to build sewer
collection and treatment systems.
2. Federal Environmental Protection Agency funds are
only available to solve existing water pollution and
public health problems.
3. To my knowledge there have been some failing septic
tank systems in Lexington. Unless it can be
demonstrated that there are severe problems the
sewerage project would receive a low priority for EPA
grant funds.
Sincerely,
Steven F. Gardels
Regional Manager
Eastern Region
Council should
reconsider
An Open Letter:
We would like to make the citizens of Heppner aware of a
situation that exists in our community.
In October a contractor proposed building three eight-unit
apartment buildings at the corner of Aiken and Elder. This
area is composed of individual family homes. A group of
residents went before the planning commission objecting to
this on the following basis:
1) A very poor street and bridge access to the area already
congested would be aggravated. There is already a bad
intersection at the corner of Quaid and Elder, this would
make a worse one at the corner of Elder and Aiken.
2) Water line problems low pressure and air in the pipes.
3) Many children headed toward the elementary school at
the same time that residents are leaving for work.
The planning commission turned the proposal down on the
basis of the objections of the residents present. It also
appeared that the contractors plans did not meet city
requirements, he had front yard parking, did not meet set
backs, etc. The contractor indicated he would not appeal the
decision. After this portion of the meeting those interested
parties left the meeting. The subject came up again later for
discussion after the vote had already been taken, at which
time some members of the city council expressed support for
the plan.
The contractor later appeared before the city council to
appeal the decision of the planning commission.
Residents of the area upset over this collected signatures
on a petition to present at the city council appeal. Normally
objections by a few residents is sufficient to stop the issuing
of a permit. We presented our petition, only one council
member asked to look at it. We were listened to politely then
completely ignored in their decision to grant a conditional
use permit. The only real discussion was over water
problems when the city engineer stated that the city water
line into the area was four inches rather than six as would be
required for proper service and fire protection. . The
contractor, Mr. Hardy, was asked if he would be willing to
bring a 6-inch line one block from Quaid street. He stated that
he would consider it. Later he said that he would be willing to
share part of the cost with area residents. The extra line
would be required for apartments that we don't want in the
neighborhood and to add insult to injury he suggested that we
should share in the cost.
We are upset. The council members obviously had their
minds made up before the appeal. Our feelings were
completely ignored in the decision. We are aware that
Heppner needs housing but not 24 one-bedrocm apartments
renting in the $200 per month range. We feel that family type
housing or low cost housing for the elderly might be more
appropriate.
We feel that the city council should reconsider this decision
with some regard to the desires of the neighborhood and a
realistic look at this contractor's plans with respect to the
needs of the City of Heppner and if he meets all of the
applicable city code requirements.
Mr. Hardy state several times that he only wanted to do
Heppner a favor by building these apartments. He is doing
Heppner no favors. He is a businessman and his primary
concern is to make a profit. We are disappointed that our city
council, elected to serve the interests of the people of
Heppner, had so little regard for our feelings in this decision.
Our primary concern still is the bad traffic situation. We
have a blind corner right in the area that the entrance to
these apartments would be. The added traffic over the
narrow bridge would also be a hazard.
Signed
Gary Watkins Barbara Watkins Harriet H. Evans
Debbie Koffler Ellen Campbell Chris Davidson
Mike Davidson Tom Springer Viola Springer
Bob Murray Margaret Murray Judy Davis Wayne Davis
George Koffler Thomas Marlatt Sally Marlatt
Fred Harrison
On High School spirit
To: Greg Davidson
We don't think you have the right to criticize Heppner
High School. You aren't at our school and you don't know
what really is going on. If you saw our homecoming week and
halftime and the preparation and spirit that went into that
week, you would realize that the students at H.H.S. are not
only spirited but are also proud of their school and actively
involved.
Speaking of lack of maturity, why don't you find out the
facts before you prejudge our school! At least our
underclassmen are treated with equal respect. Also, if the
Elementary students have nothing to look forward to, then
why is it that our clubs and athletic organizations are
growing bigger and bigger every year?
Heppner High Cheerleaders
supported by
H.H.S. Student Body
More coverage sought
Editor,
After reading your paper for the lone and Heppner areas
two weeks ago, we feel compelled to write you. We have
though about this several times, but have always decided it
best to leave things alone but, we do feel it is time to say
what we think.
Two weeks ago, the coverage of the lone High School
Homecoming was really poor! When Heppner had their
homecoming, there were pictures of the homecoming court
and a special edition of the players and pictures. All that the
lone homecoming got was a total of three pictures and not
very good ones at that. We do feel that your pictureof Del
La Rue was in very poor taste. Del has shown very good
sportsmanship all of the years he has been at lone, and that
picture sure leaves a lot to be desired! When the picture of
the Homecoming Court was taken no prior notice was given
to the girls. Consequently, one was in P.E. clothes, another in
an old shirt due to homecoming week activities, and another
well-dressed. We do not feel as though it is asking too much of
you to call the school office the day before you plan to be at
the school and give the kids a little bit of notice. Most of them
would appreciate a fresh hair-do or a little better clothing for
the occasion. Grace McElligott was queen of the
Homecoming court. There wasn't even a picture of her. We
realize it was a night game, but you could have at least gotten
a picture and write up of that it wasn't even mentioned.
This was an honor for these girls, and we'd like to see them
get the proper recognition they deserve.
We do realize that every business does have its problems;
but at the same time, we feel that it is time that we let you
know our feelings. Hopefully, you can better cover the news
and community and school functions. We'd appreciate
getting as much coverage as Heppner does. There are many
lone subscribers and business men who support the paper
who feel we should have better coverage. Granted, you do
live in Heppner and it is easier to get pictures of the functions
in Heppner, but we help support the Gazette-Times too.
The following people in lone feel we could do with a little
better understanding and coverage for our area.
Signed by 18 residents of the lone area.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The above letter was edited for
publication and the names of the signators were withheld
because the names were not written, but typed and the letter
did not come through the mail but was delivered by a young ;
boy to the Gazette-Times office late Tuesday, too late for
confirmation of the names appearing. The letter is on file at"
the Gazette-Times for inspection by interested persons. '
..We were pleased to receive this reader response to the.
Gazette-Times because to be a good newspaper, we feel our'
readers must use us, read us and criticize us. We do feel
however, justified in responding to a couple points made.
First, the picture of Del LaRue was one of tremendous
emotion and contemplation that is the lifeblood of high school
athletics and life itself.
..Regarding the Homecoming Court picture, prior
arrangements had been made and a picture was taken. As
happens from time to time, the photo was not suitable for
publication and on Monday morning the day we put the
paper together a call to the school was made informing the
office that a photographer would be down in the afternoon to
take another picture. We can only assume the girls were
notified of the retake.
..We strive to publicize and cover all events in our great
com m unity and we ask readers to simply call tin
(iazette-Times when they have items of interest to thi
cum inimitv.
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