TWO The Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon, Thursday, January 26, 1978
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LETTERS
Sifting through
COMMENTS
1 U
EDITORIAL
Budgets require study
by citizens
With the setting of a special election date this
week for a 3-year serial road levy for Morrow
County, residents can prepare themselves for a
bevy of other elections for tax monies needed to
support services we all use each day.
The School District will come forth with an
election date for their $4.8 million bond issue and
voters will have to decide on operating budgets for
their cities and county if those budgets show an
increase of more than six per cent.
The City of Heppner will probably go beyond a
six percent increase in budget, schools will
undoubtedly require an increase of more than six
per cent and perhaps the county which has not
gone outside the six per cent limitation in many
years will have to this year to provide needed
services.
Budget committees are now working to come up
with figures to present to the people you this
spring.
The budget-making process is long and
laborious and not much fun as committee members
sift through proposals and requests, determining
which services are necessary and beneficial to the
community.
Morrow County with the lowest tax rate in the
State of Oregon is getting hit with a double
whammy. Because the county is experiencing
growth and growth requires additional services, tax
money is needed to provide those services. The
growth will add to the assessed valuation of the area
which results in lowering of taxes, but the services
are needed before the new tax monies roll into
governmental coffers. It's the old "Which-comes-first,
the-chicken-or-the-egg" story.
We hope residents of the area take a long, hard
look at the budget proposals and special levy
elections that will be forthcoming and not vote an
arbitrary "no" simply because the proposal means
more taxes. A responsibility lies therein that
touches every voting citizen.
Willow Creek Dam
The announcement this week by an aide of
Senator Mark Hatfield stating that if the people of
Morrow County want the Willow Creek Dam
project, it could be a reality, bears careful
consideration.
The fact that this is an election year for Sen.
Hatfield aside, the dam could mitigate a serious
problem the cities of Heppner, lone and Lexington
face.
Regulations concerning flood plains in those
cities are getting stiffer and as it stands right now
construction in the commercial and residential area
of those communities is a thing of the past. That is
like signing a death sentence for those communi
ties. We haven't heard the complete proposal from the
Senator and the residents of the area would have to
know that information before making a decision,
but, we feel local officials should make every effort
to bring the matter before the people once again.
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
Published every Thursday and entered as second-class
matter at the Post Office at Heppner, Oregon, under
ths 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
tlieen Saling, Office Manager
Elane Blanchet, Reporter
Gayle Rush, Composing Uiioe Pearson , Composing
Justine Weatherford Local Columnist
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Daily Living....
'Cold shoulder' may
help heavy drinkers
by
Janice L. Green. Ph.D.
director of Mental Health Services for Morrow County
When our friends or relatives drink too much frequently
and repeatedly, we tend to recognize that they have a
"problem" and we try to treat them in an understanding way
when they are inebriated.
Frequently people accept behavior from a friend who is
"off the shelf" that would be considered entirely
unacceptable if the person were sober. However, from what
we know of societies where there is very little alcoholism
we may be making a mistake with our friends and relatives
which is costly to them. In societies where obvious tipsiness
is frowned on, and drunkenness an unheard of social gaff,
there is almost no alcoholism. It's quite possible that social
disapproval actually prevents excessive drinking.
Hence, it may be that your friendliest response to a
person who has had too much would be to turn your back on
him (or her). Don't listen to him. Don't sympathize with him.
Send him home. Tell him you would like to talk with him
tomorrow. Save all your pleasantries, conversation, and
sympathetic understanding for when he manages to be sober
or drinking with restraint, and be sure at these quieter times
that you actually do deliver the caring and sympathy that
such a troubled person so obviously needs.
Listen faithfully to the man who is sober and disengage
from the buttonholing drunk. If a person must ventilate it
should be done when in the full possession of his faculties.
Otherwise, you may be unwittingly encouraging the very
behavior which is destroying the life of your friend or
relative.
When the day comes that nobody will listen to a tipsy
speil, perhaps a troubled person might be prompted to face
his problems rationally, and in clear thinking find a solution.
OBITUARIES
Cosner L. Adkins Mollie E. Brown
Picture Credit
This scene shows Heppner after the 1903 flood. The
city's current flood plain is again a major issue in
adoption of a comprehensive plan for Heppner. If
accepted as is, further construction in the
commercial area and some residential areas will be
curtailed by law.
It's your say...,
LETTERS FROM READERS
Journalism questioned
Editor,
This is in regards to the story that appeared last week
concerning men's city league basketball.
The story read "Matt Greenup won the Week Award
and a two-week suspension for throwing a senseless cheap
shot in the game."
Whoever is responsible for writing that statement should
be aware of the ethics of good journalism and the laws
governing libelous statements.
Such "cheap senseless shots" can be termed libelous.
Libel is defined "copy is libel if it tends to harm the
reputation of any person by exposing him to public aversion,
lowering him in the estimation of his fellows, or deterring
third persons from dealing with him." Say it Safely, Legal
Limitation of Journalism, Paul P. Ashley.
We are not advocating violence in sports especially
recreational. However the Gazette-Times coverage should
have been a comprehensive report on sports violence in an
editorial instead of one writer's opinion in the sports section.
And furthermore, aren't there two sides to every
incident?
Gary & Marcia Kemp
EDITOR'S NOTE: The writer stands by his assessment of
the incident. Any situation in which an assailant rushes
through a crowd of people to deliver a punch that was never
seen by the recipient, is, in the writer's estimation, a cheap
shot. Secondly, any punch thrown in the course of a city
league basketball game, regardless of the provocation, is
senseless.
the TIMES
3
Morrow county experienced a brief preview of spring in
January 10 years ago, with a 70 degree maximum
temperature reported on Jan. 20 by weather observer Don
Gilliam. The mark matched a record set for the month on
New Years Day in 1918. The unseasonable weather didn't
last, however. A peek in the next week's Times shows
temperatures dropping back to the 20s and sub-teens.
The county had been plagued by a series of robberies ten
years ago, including one reported this week in 1968 when
Heppner Junior High was burglarized of typewriters and
record players worth $400. Previous burglaries included an .
$800 theft from the safe at Riverside High School and ,
break-ins and thefts from Del's Market in Lexington and
Bristow's in lone.
A compromise negotiated between the Morrow County
School District and county teachers was announced this week
in 1968, raising the base minimum pay for teachers from
$5,800 to $6,000. In a separate story, Supt. Ron Daniels told
the school board and the budget committee that the district
faced the dismal prospect of starting the fiscal year with a
deficit of $15,385. '
An editorial titled "Chamber Boosts County", written by ,
editor of the Gazette-Times at the time and 1968 Chamber of
Commerce President, Wes Sherman, praised the accom
plishments of the group: "Lights at the rodeo ground were
financed through a chamber project; the Port Commission
was formed from the active work of the organization; it was
behind the drive for a hospital with other community groups;
it worked for the development of Bull Prairie; it pushed for
the sale of BLM lands in the north end of the county; it has
supported agriculture in many ways; it sponsors the Rodeo
parade each year; it works closely in support of the fair and
rodeo.. .If the county achieves significantly in this year of
1968 and if some of the major projects in view reach
fulfillment or come closer to realization, one can be sure that
the Chamber has helped."
Oscar Peterson, lone rancher, was sworn in as Morrow
County judge this week in 1958. Peterson was appointed by
then governor Robert Holmes, to fill the unexpired term of
resigning Garnet Barratt.
An editorial published this week in the Times forty years
ago, expresses fear of the growing power of unions: "...Just
last Saturday Oregon Wool Growers Association was notified
by Harry Bridges, union organizer, that any sacks of wool not
marked showing the wool to have been sheared by union
shearers would not be handled by CIO longshoremen.
"What, we ask, if Mr. Bridges forces his point with wool
growers, is to prevent similiar action being taken against
wheat growers? Is it not possible, if present union tactics are
permitted, that very shortly Mr. Bridges and his ilk will be
telling our wool and wheat growers how many men they may
hire, what hours they shall work and how much wages be
paid?
"No, certainly, we have all believed that such a thing
could not happen here. But if the course of union organizers
may be taken as criterion, we in the farming sections of the
country may expect to see such attempts. They are probably
foredoomed to failure for many reasons, but it is time for
agriculture to wake up. Our farmers are lying with a strange
bedfellow when they play into the hands of uncontrolled,
unscrupulous labor organizers..."
A big booster issue of the Gazette-Times was in the works
in 1928, the purpose being to stimulate outside interest in the
county and to draw new settlers: "In creating a worthwhile
advertisement for Morrow County, and owing to the
universal interest displayed, that will well fill its intended
function, we have succeeded beyond our fondest expectation.
The Booster Edition will be all and more than we had
originally planned. And above all, it will have the right
outside distribution, the most important factor in the whole
undertaking. ..The Heppner Gazette-Times office these days
presents a real metropolitan daily appearance..."
One headline on the front page of the Times fifty years
ago this week proclaimed "Basketballitis Latest Scourge at
Heppner" : "Everybody's getting it, now that the new school
gymnasium is becoming more thoroughly appreciated by the
town of Heppner. Gay Anderson, "Red" Van Marter, Dave
Wilson and some of the other boys who "used to be" are
sporting a few sore muscles from the first work-out to the old
heads. ..Even Albert Adkins, Bert Stone and Earl Hallock
were throwing a mean basketball..."
There must have been some complaint about the price of
gasoline even back in 1928: "The day may not be so far off,
after all, when they will throw in an automobile or two when
one buys a gallon, of gasoline."
Conser Lee Adkins, 74,
Vancouver, Wash., died in
Heppner Tuesday, Jan. 24.
Mr. Adkins was born March
23, 1903 in Heppner, the son of
Francis and Mattie Dennis
Adkins.
On March 25, 1925, he was
united in marriage to Ret'ha
Fay Owen at Walla Walla,
Wash.
He was a former Heppner
resident and a retired carpen
ter. Graveside services will be
held today, (Thursday), Jan.
26, at 2 p.m. at Heppner
Masonic Cemetery with Rev.
Edwin Sikes of the First
Christian Church, Heppner,
officiating. Sweeney Mortuary
is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Adkins is survived by
his widow, Retha, Vancouver,
Wash.; a son, Frank Adkins,
Vancouver, Wash.; a daugh
ter, Joanne Knudson, Port
land; and three grandchildren.
A former Heppner resident,
Mollie E. Brown, died in
Redlands, Cal., on Thursday,
Jan. 19, at the age of 96.
Mrs. Brown was born in this
area and moved to Redlands
56 years ago.
She is survived by two
sisters, Mrs. Emma Haber
man of Redlands, and Mrs.
Clara Donald of Clearfield,
Utah; and a nephew, Ed
Brown, Redlands.
Funeral services were held
Tuesday, Jan. 24, in- the F.
Arthur Cortner Chapel in
Redlands with arrangements
handled by the chapel. Inter
ment was at Hillside Memo
rial Park, Redlands.
Sam McDaniel
Sam McDaniel, 79, Heppner,
formerly of Hardman, died
Saturday, Jan. 21, in Heppner.
He was born Feb. 5, 1898 in
Hardman, the son of Samuel
and Harriet Stowell McDaniel,
Morrow County pioneers, and
was a lifetime resident of the
area.
Mr. McDaniel worked for
many years at Reids Mill,
' south of Hardman, and was a
retired U.S. Forest Service
employe.
Funeral services were held
.Tuesday, Jan. 24, at 2 p.m. at
the First Christian Church,
Heppner, with the Rev. Edwin
Sikes officiating. Carl and
Betty Marquardt sang and
played "Beyond the Sunset"
and "Good Night and Good
Morning".
, Casket bearers were Evan
McDaniel, Melvin McDaniel,
T Cecil McDaniel, Scott Mc
Daniel, Delvin McDaniel and
Dallas McDaniel.
Concluding services and
interment were at Heppner
Masonic Cemetery with
Sweeney Mortuary in charge
of arrangements.
Mr. McDaniel is survived by
a daughter, Maxine Mahon,
Elgin; two sisters, Alice
Hastings, Heppner; and Ma
bel Howell, Spray; four grand
children and six great-grandchildren.
His wife, Debbie, preceded
him in death in 1976.
Lewis Ball
Lewis Ball, 75, a lifetime
resident of the area, died in
Heppner, Wednesday, Jan. 18.
He was born April 17, 1902 in
lone, the son of Jay and Mary
Johnson Ball.
He was united in marriage
to Anna Petersen in Heppner
on August 29, 1925.
Mr. Ball was a member of
the Willows Grange, lone.
Funeral services were fleld
Friday, Jan. 20 at 2 p.m. at the
lone United Church of Christ
with the Rev. William Gra
ham officiating. Carl and
Betty Marquardt were accom
panied by Rikka Tews at the
organ as they sang "In the
Garden" and "Beyond the
Sunset".
Active pallbearers were
Gerald Bergstrom, Tom Raw
lins, Don McElligott, Wilbur
Worden, Bill Nichols and
Jerry Rood, Honorary bearers
were Laurence Becket, Leo
nard Rill, Lewis Halvorsen,
Gordon White, Mike Matthews
and Leo Crabtree.
Concluding services and
interment were at High View
Cemetery, lone, with Sweeney
Mortuary in charge of ar
rangements. Mr. Ball is survived by his
widow, Anna, Heppner; three
sons, Donald, lone; Wayne,
Heppner; Ellis, Panama City,
Florida; a daughter Betty
Loy, Beaverton; two brothers,
Glenn, Yakima; and Ray,
Boardman; three sisters, Eve
lyn Farrens, Heppner; PearJ
Urlacher, Tacoma, Wash.;
and Ellen Chapin, Portland;
fifteen grandchildren and
three great-grandchildren. Uf
Contributions in Mr. Ball's
name may be made to the
Heart Fund.
CLASSIFIEDS
WORK FOR YOU
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