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TWO The Gazette-Times, Heppner Oregon, Thursday, December 29, 1977
V
L
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
Gayle Rush, Composing Chloe Pearson, Composing
Justine Weatherford Local Columnist
(N Year's Evi Day)
HconToC pM.
Clssd Jan.
HEPPNER
BSralL
Ph 676-9203 cr 676 -
si
1
5805
Continued from page 1
agent Harold Kerr and Mor
row County Grain Growers
manager Larry Mills were
both forecasting a 50 per cent
of normal yield for county
wheat. With three days to go in
the month, April's precipita
tion measurement showed .07
inches of rain less than the
worst recorded April of .09 in
1953 and far short of the April
average of 1.33 inches.
May
Unexpectedly in May came
the resignation of Morrow
County Judge Paul Jones who
told the Gazette-Times he was
stepping down for purely
personal reasons and that he
was leaving the position with
mixed emotions.
"The last 12 V4 years have
been extremely rewarding
and have emphasized my
feeling of confidence in the
people of our county," Jones
said in his formal statement.
The first drought relief
started to come into the
county as some farmers
received a reduction in asses
sed valuation on dryland farm
property.
lone was getting ready to
spend its $100,000 in bond
funds approved by voters in
February for a new water
system. The city's old well
was drying up and it was
hoped water would be on tap
from a new system by late
summer.
In Heppner, the city library
and swimming pool took it on
the chin as budget committee
members continued to tear
down an already bare budget.
June
Three candidated filed for
the position of county judge,
area high schools turned loose
another class of graduates and
a petition drive supporting a
south entrance to the Carty
area, filled the news pages in
June.
D.O. Nelson, Bill Weather
ford and Dan Creamer all
threw their hats into the ring
before Gov. Bob Straub picked
Nelson for the job.
Forty-six members of the
class of '77 at Heppner High
School lined up for their
diplomas while nine seniors at
lone High School went through
graduation exercises.
Interest in an Ione-Carty
road to open up the benefits of
PGE's operations to south
Morrow County was again
sparked by a petition drive.
The response to the petition by
Boeing officials leasees of
the land was a resounding
"No". The petition was actual
ly directed at the Morrow
County Court but the Court
Dear Citizens,
Many of you individually and tkrough your membership
in various organizations helped the Neighborhood Center
provide Christmas joy to 39 needy county families this year.
Volunteers put in many hours last week assembling
baskets of foodstuffs and wrapping gifts. The senior meals
were carried on as usual and are continuing now between
Christmas and New Year's Day and will continue into next
year.
Obituaries
Pearl Steers
Pearl Lee Steers, long-time
resident of Heppner, died in
Hermiston on Thursday, Dec.
22, at the age of 88.
Mrs. Steers was born near
Spokane, Washington, on Oct.
10, 1889. Her family moved to
this area in 1894, settling on a
homestead outside of Hard
man. She lived in Hardman
until 1942 when she moved to
Heppner.
Mrs. Steers was a member
of the Methodist Church and
1977 in
had earlier reached an im
passe on the issue with Boeing
bigshots.
About 300 persons attended
the 24th annual Morrow Coun
ty Pioneer Picnic this year
hosted by the Bergstrom
.family.
Pioneer Memorial Hospital
received both a new admini
stratorBob Byrnes and a
green light on its expansion
plans. The State Health Com
mission granted PMH a Certi
ficate of Need which cleared
the way for further work on
pursuing funding alternatives
for expansion.
July
The Carty road petition
drive failed in its original
intention but provided a cata
lyst for the formation of the
Morrow County Economic
Development Association
which started looking into
other issues relating to county
economics.
D.O. Nelson was welcomed
,into office by some 50 well
wishers when he was officially
sworn in as County Judge.
At the Heppner Medical
Clinic, the duo became a
threesome with the addition of
Dr. Joe Diehl, who joined Drs.
Carpenter and Gifford. Just
next door, Dr. Lee Hazen
opened up shop in a new dental
clinic.
Graduates from the classes
of 1925-29 of Heppner High
School gathered at the Fair:
grounds for a lively reunion
and two days of activities.
August
The culmination of nearly a
' year's work by a lot of people
was realized in the form of the
1977 Morrow County Fair and
Rodeo.
A $1.3 million water system
in Boardman was officially
turned on and a medical clinic
in the area was approved by
city planners to serve the
1 fast-growing north end.
The Heppner Ranger Dis
trict welcomed a new face in
Ben Siminoe who was named
to the post of District Ranger
and the Morrow County Horse
Show saw a familiar face in
Becky Evans who took the
open class championship for
the third consecutive year.
Other familiar faces in new
locations were Gay and Patti
Harshman who purchased the
V-G Tavern in Lexington.
Kinzua Corp. got the go
ahead from the Board of
Directors to begin construc
tion on a new $4.5 million saw
mill at the Heppner plant.
September
New teachers found their
way to Morrow County for the
Letters to the Editor
Thanks to Christmas volunteers
the Rebekah Lodge of Hepp
ner. She is survived by two sons,
Samuel and Elmer Steers of
Heppner; a daughter, Mrs.
Grace Buschke of Heppner;
two sisters, Mabel Howell of
Spray and Alice Hastings of
Heppner; and a brother,
Samuel McDaniel of Heppner.
She is also survivied by five
grandchildren; 10 great
grandchildgrei); and five
great-great grandchildren.
Funeral services were held
on Tuesday, Dec. 27 at 1 p.m.
at the First Methodist Church
in Heppner with Rev. Steve
Tollefson oficiating. Vault in
Review
opening of the 1977-78 sclioul
session with student enroll
ment reaching an all time high
of more than 1,600.
City officials in Heppner
hoped they found some kind of
solution to the ongoing city
maintenance problems when
they voted to dismiss foreman
Don Penney. The dismissal
came after a summer-long
controversy concerning oper
ation of the city water system
and the sewage treatment
facility.
Local youngsters celebrated
state 4-H week with a host of
activities including a presen
tation to the Chamber of
Commerce.
The MCEDA continued to
pick up steam as the organiza
tion held a successful mem
bership drive. President Tim
Tullis said the group planned
to be "a broad based organiza
tion that looks out for Morrow
County and her people."
The Heppner Child Develop
ment Center turned up on the
front page when it was faced
with a move from its home in
the Seventh Day Adventist
Church. The Center was to be
in the news a lot in the coming
months before ultimately clos
ing its doors in December.
October
A total of 1.36 inches of rain
in September was enough to
send county farmers into the
field in October to begin
planting for next year's crop.
Meanwhile, low yield pay
ments to the tune of $1,165,000
were coming into the county to
help offset losses from the
staggering drought. Another
$200,000 was expected before
the end of the year.
The lone Cardinals cruised
to a 3-0 record before having
their bubble burst by Mitchell
while the Mustangs got over
some early-season troubles to
nip eventual state runnerup
Sherman County 7-6.
The Heppner area looked
like the place to be as some
10,000 hunters poured in to
take advantage of the excel
lent hunting conditions.
Dave McLeod, county ASCS
director for the past 19 years,
accepted a promotion to the
state office in Portland. Long
time assistant, Judy Buschke
was named as his replace
ment. November
Representatives of the Ore
gon Dept. of Transportation
caught an earful from local
residents upset over the lack
of consideration given to
Morrow County in the upcom
ing six-year road plan. The
turnout for the meeting was
one of the highest in the state
and the message was clear
As i have tor several years, I had a small party at my
home for the volunteer workers last Friday after we finished
packing our baskets.
This worthy work could not have been accomplished
without the thoughtful and generous contributions from
many of you in all sectors of Morrow County.
I thank you all, on behalf of needy persons and on behalf
of the Heppner Neighborhood Center.
Sincerely, Pat Brindle, Director
terment was in the Heppner
Cemetery. Burns Mortuary of
Hermiston was in charge of
arrangements.
Warren Miller
Warren Everett Miller, late
of Long Creek, died in
Heppner Dec. 21. He was 54.
Mr. Miller, a former stock
man at Kimberly, was born
Feb. 19, 1923 at Wedderburn.
He was a member of Long
Creek Lodge AF & AM. Mr.
Miller was united in marriage
to Mildred Button at North
Bend on March 22, 1946.
Services were held Monday,
Dec. 26, at the Presbyterian
Church in Monument with the
Rev. Rodger Perkins officiat
ing. Casket bearers were Fred
Livingston, Joe Sweek, Tunis
the folks are tired of second -grade,
dangerous roads.
Voters went to the polls -statewide
to decide two ballot
measures one dealing with s
the establishment of a Water
Development Fund and the
other considered establish
ment of funds to research and
develop non-nuclear energy
forms. Both measures passed
in Morrow County although
the non-nuclear issue went ;
down on the state level.
Heppner voters approved by a
2-1 margin a one-year serial ' ;
levy to replace the sagging
bridge over Willow Creek on ;
Morgan Street. 5
The Heppner City Council
overturned an earlier Plan
ning Commission decision and "
granted a conditional use
permit to a Gresham builder ' '
for construction of a 24-unit
apartment complex near
Aiken and Elder Streets.
Gross farm sales in the '
county dropped about $5.5
million in 1977 an 8.5 per cent i
decrease from last year. Much
of the loss was attributed to '
the drought and depressed
farm prices which more than '
erased any gains from new
acreage put under irrigation '
and an increase in cattle
numbers. Harold Kerr said v
the 8.5 per cent drop in farm
product sales actually repre
sented a 12-13 per cent loss in
income to the average farmer
because of increased costs
over the past year.
The Morrow County Fair
Board considered an appeal '
by the Rodeo Committee but
decided to stick with its
earlier decision to eliminate
Rodeo Cowboys Association
sanctioning from the Morrow
County Rodeo and instead
schedule a jackpot event. The
Board also stood by its .
decision to cut the Fair and '
Rodeo Court from five to three ' '
members.
Lexington voters turned out , 1
in force to reject a bond x
measure that would have been !
used to help finance a new
sewer system for the town.
December
Precipitation both snow
and rain and lots of it, ,.f
covered the area, considera-
bly brightening the outlook of
county farmers. If
The biggest ever Artifactory f
was well received and provi- !
ded local craftpersons a '
chance to show their stuff. The
annual Farm-City banquet
toasted area business and II
agriculture.
A blanket of snow provided
the traditional setting as
Morrow County residents $
moved into the holiday season
a time to reflect on times
past and things to come.
Happy New Year!
if
Round, Tom Calvin, Harry
Davenport and Ed Shanks.
Honorary earers include Stan
ly Musgreve, Donald Kayson,
Coy Johnson, Ray Adams,
Jack Adams and Wayne
Adams. Sweeney Mortuary
was in charge of arrange
ments. Graveside services were
held Tuesday, Dec. 27, at Gold
Beach Cemetery, Gold Beach,
with Long Creek Lodge AF &
AM officiating.
Survivors include his wife,
Mildred; a brother, Earl
Miller of Wedderburn; three
sisters, June Moore of Eu
gene, Audrey Ross of El
Segundo, Cal. and Ida Cole
man of Sacramento, Cal.
Contributions may be made
in Mr. Miller's name to the
Cancer Society in care of the
Order of the Eastern Star.
Sifting through
the TIMESm
The ski course at Arbuckle Mountain was getting ready,
to open this week in 1967, with $60 family or $25 individual
season tickets available.
Registered patrolmen Alan Martin, Loren Lucore and
Curtis Culp formed the ski patrol preparing to keep a close
watch over local skiers. .
An editorial on an inside page of that week's G-T
discussed the financial difficulties of operating the ski area
by the Arbuckle Mountain Corporation, a group of local
businessmen, and urged residents to buy season tickets to
help the cause: "Your pruchase will not only buy a winter's
season of enjoyment but will also help to continue and
develop Arbuckle."
But the high cost of operating a downhill ski course in an
area with a small population proved too great an obstacle to
overcome, and the Arbuckle ski enterprise has since shut
down. Anyone for crosscountry skiing?
Twenty years ago the Portland Chamber of Commerce
was planning to honor an lone girl for "bringing recognition
to Oregon". Kay Sherer, lone High School senior, had placed
third in the girls' senior division of the running high jump at
the National Junior Olympics. Her best jump was four feet,
nine inches.
The formal opening of the new modern building of the
Heppner branch of the Bank of Eastern Oregon and a big
open house was announced this week in 1957 by Heppner
manager, Gene Pierce.
The last issue of the 1947 Gazette-Times was published on
Christmas Day with local holiday events filling a majority of
the news hole, including the account of the "best program
ever produced by the (Heppner Grade) school", titled "A
Christmas Being". Ione's play at the grade school level,
"Santa's Airplane", was also reported to be well attended.
Present day readers will be fascinated by year end
bargains advertised 30 years ago misses skirts, $2; womens
blouses, $1,50; mens sport shirts, $1; mens casual coats, $8;
girls sweaters, $1; dress shoes, reduced to clear, $2-$3.50 a
pair. The most interesting thing about the good-sized
advertisement chock full of these and like bargains is that the
name of the store offering them is nowhere mentioned.
Two 'heroes' made front page news this week in 1927.
The first was proudly proclaimed a "Heppner boy":
"When Cecil (Buck) Lieuallen aided in the capture of.. .a Los
Angeles kidnapper and confessed slayer... near Echo last
Thursday afternoon, his name was broadcast far and wide as
a hero. Buck is considered by friends here as a Heppner boy,
having spent a large portion of his younger days here and
graduating from Heppner high school with the class of 1919.
That he is made of the kind of metal to justify all that is said
about him will be readily testified to by his former associates
here." (Suzanne Jepsen, director of the Tri-County
Homemaker Service, is Buck's daughter. His widow lives in
Pendleton.)
The account of the second hero, internationally known,
contained some advice: "Lindbergh, world champion flyer,
landed in Mexico City, notifies the world that young men in
this country know how to fly, in spite of the fact that their '
government does not yet realize the importance of flying.
"The United States ought to enlist the services of
Lindbergh to instruct American flyers and enlighten those
responsible for our air defense."
The editor of the G-T fifty years ago wrote a short New
Year greeting that bears reprinting:
"A New Year is born and an old year dies. It's time to
hang up a new calender, make good resolutions and be at
peace with the world. But, after all, a new year begins every
day, even though the calendar may disagree. Every day
affords just as great an opportunity to make good resolutions
and keep them as does Jan. 1.
"At any rate, we wish to those who make good
resolutions and keep them, to those who make and break, and
to those who make no resolutions at all, an exceedingly happy ;
New Year Day and a 1928 filled with days each ahppier than
the day before."
The present Gazette-Times staff sends out this same
wish for the new year 1978.
1 Elks Calendar
Thursday, Dec. 29
Liars Night
No Lodge
Friday, Dec. 30
Happy Hour 5-7 p.m.
Dinner 6-8 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 31
New Year's Party
Dinner and Favors
Live Music 9 p.m. to
2
Elks and out - of
B.P.O.E. 358
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 337v Heppner, Ore., 9783s!
Tuesday, Jan. 3
Senior Citizens Dinnpr
Wednesday, Jan. 4
Senior Citizens Dinner
Pinochle 7:30 p.m.
Boy Scouts 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 5
Ladies Night
Dinner 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Lodge 8:00 p.m.
a.m. Drawings
4-30 J
4:30 I
- town guests only.
Heppner. Oreg
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