TWO The Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon, Thursday, January 5, 1978
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Court suit....
CONTIM'KD FROM PACK 1
herty and the County Court
has already notified the other
defendants that the county is
not in a position to prepare
their responses nor to provide
representation for their pos
itions or interests as affected
property owners. To date, the
County has not been contact
ed by any of the property
owners or their attorneys, so
is not informed as to the
actions they will take.
The County is presently
collecting all the information
available to it concerning the
properties, the circumstances
under which building permits
were issued and the applica
tion of County ordinances. The
County Court and District
Attorney are also considering
several connected legal and
local government policy is
sues which appear to be
presented by the case. These
include :
1) If state law was violated,
should County officials be
responsible to indentify and
remedy those violations;
2) Who should be the proper
parties to determine whether
County ordinances were vi
Columbia Basin
battles frosty lines
Columbia Basin Electric Cooperative experienced
minimal damage and power outages from last week's heavy
frost and freezing rain, but that was only because the utility's
crews worked day and night scraping ice from lines.
Dave Harrison, CBEC manager, said outages occurred
in the Condon and Fossil areas on Bonneville Power
Administration lines.
Most of the icing was experienced in the Condon and
Fossil areas although the Eightmile and Gooseberry areas
south of lone also had icing problems. In addition to regular
crews, CBEC brought in two linemen from Prosser and
utilized vacationing high school students.
Where to write
Federal
Following is a list of Oregon and Eastern Oregon public
officials for the information of readers who want to
communicate with them:
U.S. Sen. Mark O. Hatfield, Russell Senate Office Bldg.,
Washington, DC. 20510. Member of Appropriations
Committee, Interior Committee, Rules Committee and
Indian Policy Review Commission. Portland office , Pioneer
Courthouse, Rm. 107, 520 SW Morrison, Portland, Ore. 97204,
phone 221-3386.
U.S. Sen Bob Packwood, Dirksen Senate Office Bldg.,
Washington, DC, 20510. Member of Finance Committee and
Commerce Committee. Portland office, 1002 NE Halladay,
Rm. 700, (P.O. Bos 3621), Portland, Ore. 97208, phone
233-4471.'
U.S. Rep. Al Ullman, of the Second District, House Office
Building, Washington, D.C. 20515. Member of Ways and
Means Committee. Salem office, 150 N. Church, Rm. 219
(P.O. Box 247), Salem, Ore. 97310, phone 399-5724.
State
Gov. Robert Straub, State Capitol, Salem, Ore. 97310,
phone 378-3100.
State Sen. Ken Jernstedt (Morrow, Gilliam and other
countiest, 311 Pine St., Hood River, 386-1393.
State Rep. Jack Sumner (Morrow, Gilliam and other
counties), Route 1, Heppner, 676-5364.
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
olated;
3) If County ordinances were
violated, who should be re
sponsible to decided whether
the violation is one which
justifies the time, cost and
implications of remedial ac
tionlocal elected officials,
private property owners or
Courts of superior jurisdic
tion; 4) Where more than one
remedial action is available,
should local officials have the
discretion to decide which, if
any, they wish to pursue;
5) Can the decisions of duly
elected or appointed local
officials in these matters be
second-guessed and over
turned in Courts of law, and if
so, what are the limits of the
authority, discretion and re
sponsibility of local officials.
The County Court is hopeful
that this case will help to
resolve some of these types of
questions. The role of the
Planning Office and Planning
Commission, and the admin
istration of locally adopted
ordinances of all kinds appear
to be at stake.
J
Old brands give stockmen source i)f fwride
by Elane Blanchet
Besides the practical use of
brands as one method of
identifying the ownership of
sheep, cattle and horses,
brands that have been used in
stock raising families for
generations are also a source
of considerable pride.
State law requiring the
recording of brands dates
back to 1917 and the "Oregon
Livestock Growers' Directory
of Marks and Brands" pub
lished in 1918, lists 95 recorded
brands for Morrow County,
some of them still used in the
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The Bank of Eastern Oregon in Heppner displays a large
collection of brands used by county stockmen, many of
which have been in the same family for generations. In the
"Old days" brands were recorded at the courthouse on
pieces of leather like the "bar U" brand, (shown in inset),
registered by B.M. Crowley in 1903.
Salem
A statewide plebiscite likely
would produce a favorable
consensus among Oregonians
regarding their newly en
larged Capitol Building.
One year old this month, the
Capitol wings which effec
tively doubled the buildings's
useable space nonetheless
remain a target for diehard
detractors. Dogged by contro
versy since construction be
gan Nov. 15, 1975, complaints
reached a crescendo as law
makers occupied commodious
new quarters last January for
the 1977 legislative session.
Early complaints involved
the $12 million-plus price tag.
Antagonists pointed out the
main building was erected at a
cost of only $2.5 million less
than 40 years ago. And
recalcitrant members of the
House of Representatives ges
tured their objections by
briefly delaying passage of the
bill appropriating funds to pay
for the addition.
Then there was the question
of furnishings. The public
abetted by cooperative news
correspondents raised quite
an uproar about everything
from the color of carpeting to
purple couches in lawma
kers' ofices. More complaints
followed about potted plants
and art objects. And to top
everything, in the midst of
Oregon's most serious drought
in memory, the Capital City
received a drenching down
pour and the roof leaked badly-
With the contractor's war
ranty period expiring this
'month, the roof still fails to
hold back now-normal precipi
tation and some settling has
caused embarrassing sags
and cracks in both the parent
structure and its offspring.
Those responsible for main
taining the edifice have no
county by the same family.
Others not listed were in use
before that time but as one
stockman put it, "They didn't
used to be as particular as
they are now."
Brosnan Ranch Inc., now
operated by Jerry and son
Eddie Brosnan, still use the
'Lazy B' brand recorded in the
1918 book on their stock. They
have papers that show the
brand was first registered in
Umatilla County in 1880, by
Jeremiah Brosnan, Eddie's
great-grandfather who settled
in the Butter Creek area in the
1870s. The 'Lazy B' was later
3k
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; . . A . t . i . a t a. i it
Scene
by Jack Zimmerman
doubts these problems will be
solved, however. And it ap
pears most folks have accep
ted floor coverings that re
semble putting greens and
consider purple among their
favorite colors.
As the tempest subsides, it
is interesting to learn similar
controversies have risen re
garding both of Oregon's
previous Capitol Buildings.
The first burned on the last
day of 1855 while lawmakers
argued about relocating the
seat of government in Corval
lis. Hardly more than a year
old, the two-story wooden
structure succumbed to
flames said to have been of
incendiary origin.
A downtown Salem office
building housed the Legisla
ture for the next 20 years until
a second Capitol was erected
on the original site in 1876.
Gov. W.W. Thayer claimed
the $325,000 structure built
with convict labor was a
false symbol of vanity. He
claimed the state's wealth and
population did not justify such
a monument.
That building tended to
suffer various stages of disre
pairbeginning with an 1879
windstorm that stripped away
most of its tin roof. A force of
40 men, armed with sponges,
buckets and tubs, worked day
and night to keep rain and
melting snow from ruining the
Senate Chamber.
That Gov. Thayer's senti
ments were shared by others
probably is partly responsible
for the fact a decorative
two-story portico was not
added until the mid-1880s and
the distinctive iron and copper
dome didn't rise until 1891.
That building also was
destroyed by fire in 1935 and
construction of its present
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reregistered in Morrow Coun
ty when it split from Umatilla
County in 1885.
Most stockmen are much
less certain about when their
brand was first used and
recorded.
Charley Daley said his 'DY'
brand has been in the family
over 60 years, first registered
by his father James Daley, but
he wasn't exactly sure when.
The brand was selected for the
first and last letter in the
name Daley. Charlie said that
his father wanted to get a JD
brand but it wasn't available.
No one is prouder of the
.Ami
Legislative Report from the State Capital
EXCLUSIVE to Oregon's Weekly Newspa
pers from Associated Oregon Industries.
replacement was accompa
nied by almost constant
ruckus.
A citizen body, the Capitol
Reconstruction Commission,
was in charge and got off to a
poor start by conducting its
first meeting behind closed
doors. Discussed was employ
ment of a director and his
salary without the presence
of reporters!
Then-Gov. Charles H. Mar
tin earned the undying enmity
Sifting
III II I f WIW A .
The first issue of the Gazette-Times in 1968 reported a
hike in the postage rates. The cost for a first class stamp
went up up all the way up to six cents.
Morrow County had snow on the ground ten years ago but
residents weren't battling the cold like present residents
were during the past week. Compare Monday night's low of
minus seven degrees with that of 32 on the plus side exactly a
decade ago. Precipitation in the county in 1967 measured only
8.64 inches compared to 13.69 last year, which, thanks to the
last three month's, is .1 inch above normal. Goodbye
drought!
Some comments in an editorial reflect what was going on
in both the nation and the county in 1968:
"If a poll were taken on what the American people most
desire for the common good for 1968, there is no doubt that
the vast majority would unhesitatingly name a satisfactory
cessation of hostilities in Vietman... Unfortunately, there is
little hope, as 1968 starts, that another year will see the end of
the conflict...
"Except for this dark cloud over us, the New Year may
be expected to be a real good one. There is no doubt that there
will be more demonstrations, riots and racial flareups, but
there are some signs these will start to taper off. There
seems to be some tempering of the attitudes in the deep south
as witnessed by the election of the first Negro to the
legislature in Mississippi and his colleagues' acceptance of
him.
"We wouldn't want to assume the role of soothsayer, but
we tend to think the hippies will start to silently steal away as
their fads run out and their stomachs get hungry...
"Turning to the local scene, prospects look very good as
this page of history opens. ..In just a few months the John Day
dam will be completed. ..the new reservoir may open avenues
family brand than Homer
Hughes who said their "Quar
ter Circle Heart" brand had
been used in the neighborhood
of 75 years, first by his father
C.T. Hughes, passed on to
brother Elwin and on to
Homer when his . brother
retired. "It's one of the
neatest brands anywhere,"
Hughes commented. "My fa
ther was offered $150 for it
back when $150 was quite a bit
of money." Hughes recalls
that his father, quite a
horseman, never needed to
throw a horse to brand him,
just blindfolded the animal
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of some Legislators by propos
ing a site other than that on
which the two previous Capi
tols stood. And when a citizen
complained about the expen
sive chair furnished the Chief
Executive when the building
was finished, Martin blamed
the Commission and invited
the complainer to come sit in
it any time he felt inclined.
Design of the present build
ing was the result of national
competition and the less-than-
through
and he carried the "Quarter
Circle Heart" before he quite
knew what happened.
In 1918, sheep were the
biggest stock business in'
Morrow County, numbering
166,050 (according to the
brand record book) and worth
$549,641, as compared to 6,402
cattle (all kinds) worth $222,
617. There were also more
horses than cattle in the
county at that time, 7,966,
worth over twice as much,
$464,596.
Sheep still carry
"Horseshoe dot"
While the sheep population
has been reduced to an
estimated 20-30,000, 4,000
breeding ewes still carry the
"Horseshoe Dot" of the Krebs
Bros, which has been used by
the Krebs family since around
1913. It was originally selected
by brothers Henry W., George
and John Krebs because of its
versatility it could be poin
ted in many directions to
differentiate between differ
ent bands of sheep when brand
registration requirements
weren't so rigid. The Kreb'
lost the 'dot' in the "Horseshoe
Dot" , one of the oldest sheep
brands in the county, for many
years but were able to get it
back at the last registration.
In now appears on horse and
cattle as well as sheep.
The Currin Brand, called a
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.
traditional product proved one
of the most distinctive in the
nation. Those in favor de
scribed it as a perfect combi
nation of utility, stability and
beauty. A well-known editor at
the time was less complimen
tary. Calling it too severe, he
wrote that it lacked the dignily
of its predecessor.
Then, as now, Capitol adorn
the TIM
we can just conjecture about. Sale of the BLM land
in the north end of Morrow County is the first step towards
agricultural development under irrigation. ..The Port of
Morrow may start to bear fruit on the new reservoir and
some industrial development may start to emerge. The new
Riverside High school will be completed and occupied..."
Taxes were on there way up according to the
Gazette-Times during this week 30 years ago: "Land and
timber owners of the county are due for a shock when the
1948 tax notices are received. ...Even the sage and sand acres
in the northern part of the county having been raised from
$1.35 an acre to $1.50. Timber land will be assessed at $3 per
acre, but a new rating system will bring more revenue on
timber stands.. .Using the Base Line as the dividing point,
all cultivated land south to the mountain grazing area has
been raised from $11.25 to $15. ..graduating down to $9 in the
lighter wheat belt.. .Irrigated land in the Boardman-Irrigon
area is assessed at $22.50 per acre.. .It is estimated that the
county's valuation will be raised at least by one million
dollars under the new rating system, placing the assessed
valuation at approximately $12,500,000."
J.J. O'Connor, manager of the J.C. Penney company
store, was elected by the board of Directors of the Heppner
Chamber of Commerce to take over as Chamber president
for 1948, succeeding Dr. L.D. Tibbies.
Morrow County was getting ready for a big rabbit drive
this week in 1928, to take place on Sunday, Jan. 8, in the
Alpine section at the lower Sand Hollow ranch of John
Kilkenny. "This paper is requested to state by those in
charge of the drive that there is to be neither guns nor dogs
allowed, and it is to be conducted according to the usual rules
governing such events, the object being to rid that secion of
all the rabbits possible in the time given to the work."
"cock-eye" the tug end out
of a harness was registered
by 1915 according to some
papers recently found, but
was probably used and recor
ded before that since George
Curin's grandfather settled on
the Currin Ranch in 1878.
Around 1500 head of cattle now
carry the 'cock-eye' brand.
A large collection of Morrow
County brands hang in the
Bank of Eastern Oregon in
Heppner, collected by Mana
ger Gene Pierce over the last
few years from his customers
and any stockman who brings
in his branding iron. Pierce
has 120 brands all told, with
about 90 displayed so far.
He has one brand he
especially treasures, that of
B.M. Crowley, on a piece of
leather with the recording
date of 1903 written on the
back. Pierce said that all
brands used to be recorded at
the courthouse on such a piece
of branded leather but that
almost all of the leather
brands were destroyed sever
al years ago in a courthouse
cleaning spree.
"I'd give anything to be able
to have all those old brands,"
Pierce said regretfully, think
ing about the loss that
represented an important part
of Morrow County heritage.
ments gave rise to continuing
complaints.
Meanwhile, it appears pub
lic buildings just tend to
provoke arguments. And in
the case of Oregon's Capitols,
the wrangling on the outside
often rivals debates that
accompany the lawmaking
process within.
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