Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 2, 1978)
1 "fcr1 i(p ;(" f'' ' TWO The Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon, Thursday, February 2, 1978 Sifting through ill Plif A i a Straw Ballot g t fir LETTERS COMMENTS EDITORIAL Talk of resurrecting the Willow Creek Dam project is making for good conversation these days in Souther Morrow County. Senator Mark Hatfield, in an election year announcement, said the Willow Creek EDITORIAL Dam could be built if the local citizenry wants it and he indicated it could be done without bringing the Corp of Engineers back in the area for their notorious public hearings. The Willow Creek Dam issue should be carefully considered by residents of Heppner, Lexington and lone. If built, the dam would virtually eliminate the flood plain that now encompasses much of the commercial and residential areas of those cities. A public meeting has been scheduled for next Thursday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. in the Courthouse. At that meeting will be Steven G. Hickok, the Senator's representative; city and county officials; and possibly a Corp person. Those public officials need your atten dance and input at the meeting. As an added means of gaining public input, a straw ballot has been included on this page. Persons are urged to fill out the ballot, add their comments and mail it to the address listed on the ballot. From the public meeting and the straw ballot, your elected officials will make the decision on whether or not to support the dam. 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, D.C. 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, D.C, 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 counties), 311 Pine St., Hood River, 386-1393. State Rep. Jack Sumner (Morrow, Gilliam and other counties), Route 1, Heppner, 676-5364. 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 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 Will ow Creek Bain Project Yes, I would like to see Willow Creek Dam constructed No, I would not like to see Willow Creek Dam constructed Comments Please mail ballot to P.O. Box 337, Heppner OR 97836 & Farming: What the future holds in store The following is the text of Heppner High School senior Krynn Robinson's winning speech in Monday's FFA chapter public speaking contest. by Krynn Robinson America, the land of plenty, was founded by industrious immigrants, people of ambition and foresight. Our founding fathers decided that a free enterprise system should prevail, thus allowing a reasonable return for a given amount of investment, initiative and or labor. Thus given the incentive and desire, this pioneering spirit developed from a crude beginning into today's modern American farmer, who has inherited a love of the land and the desire to be independent, free, and self-reliant. Today's advocates cry "back to nature" while more than half of the family-owned farms have been forced out of business in the past quarter centruy. Agriculture must be allowed to prosper or those that have chosen to be the earth's caretakers, and have the stamina and inherited ability to competitively produce at minimum levels, will be socialized into non-existance. Agriculture involves the largest group of independent business men in this country, who provide their own labor, finance jnarketingand management skills. Though only 4 per cent of the U.S. population live on farms, agriculture is the highest producing but lowest paid minority in this country. Yet much has been said about agriculture being subsidized. Only few commodities have ever been subsidized and this has not insured profits. Most subsidy prices are below the cost of production, so actually the farmer is subsidizing the public through a cheap food policy. About 60 per cent of the cost of food is added after leaving the farm because of union wage demandsd at the processing stages. True, everyone deserves a decent wage, but how long can the farmer give all the profits to the middleman before our farm economy collapses? In a free enterprise system, modest profits must result if producers, processors and distributors can continue to produce, expand output, or improve products and services. How long will our nation be able to provide all that its people can afford to pay for? No longer does it seem inportant that our farm lands be allowed to prosper along with the rest of society. Food prices are up less than 100 per cent in 20 years compared to the wage scale, which has increased from 500 to 1000 per cent. The productivity of American agriculture since 1965 has increased 66 per cent, which is 4 times greater than A Poem is Born Sometimes on the rise of the morn, Sometimes in the still of the night, A poem is born. The mind cruises off on a far away seas, Sometimes on waves of reality Again, towards a land that can never be. Some wave thoughts appear serene and smooth, Others oft-times dashing high, As memories and yet-to-be's Glide swiftly by. Encompassing love and loyalty, friend and foe, On a sea less poetic hearts can never know. Loves of the past and the future; The here and the now, Drift closer and closer to the dreamship's bow. Lost in reverie, drifting along; Heart filled with the melody of an unwritten song. Comes the journey's end, thoughts begin to blend. Eager pen begins to write, blended thought on paper white. Again on the rise of the morn, Or in the still of the evening; A poem is born. Katherine Rozelle Farrar any other U.S. industry. Agriculture's productivity contributes to agri-business employing more people than any other industry in the United States. Likewise, agriculture's needs for equipment and supplies make farmers the largest customers for key industries such as petroleum, chemicals, rubber and steel. These costs have contributed to a 93 per cent rise in farm production costs. If reduction in agriculture results, how adverse the effect on the nation's employment would be, where job opportunities range from unskilled labor to highly trained scientists and technicians. However, what the world needs is more food, not less! People talk of a food-hungry world and America is criticized for not supplying more food to needy countries, though 80 per cent of the food provided by the World Food Congress comes from America. Much more food could result if modest profits to producers were realized .Why aren't we as a nation, trading surplus goods for oil and other needed imports, instead of paying whatever price is demanded? Why aren't tariffs placed on products that undersell the same commodities produced by United States industries? Can't a formula be enforced that would allow more imports to come in when . domestic supplies are short and cut back when our supplies are long? Obviously the protection of our own nation's economy leaves a lot to be desired, and farmers shouldn't be used as a pawn on the chessboard of international diplomacy. What is affecting agriculture is an economic, social and political blight that threatens a heavy hand on everyone. Environmental programs should help everyone including the farmer, who is the best conservationist of all. The long tradition of multiple use of public lands is being restricted by over-achieving environmentalists. Land use policies and water development projects must aid agriculture and public land grazing fees and restrictions cannot be prohibitive. Urban encroachment threatens to gobble up vast acres of fertile soil and this will continue unabated as lack of profit forces farmers to give way torising land costs and taxation. Investment and tax incentives, as well as commodity and production credit programs, should be strengthed and expanded to enhance small business and the endependent farmer, who are the very essence of the American way of life. The U.S. D A. which was created to aid agriculture in research ,marketingconservation and efficiency, has become nothing but a subsidary of the Dept. of H.E.W. Over 80 per cent of the Dept. of Agriculture's budget is spent for food stamps and welfare. How poorly this is administered is shown by the fact that nearly $440 was misspent for welfare payments in the first half of 1977 for ineligible persons. If excessive spending and mismanagement of taxpayers dollars can be stopped, inflation can be halted. When inflation strikes, both the producer and consumer suffer. We must make a national decision to become energy producers and leading food exporters. Our country needs a national policy that encourages agricultural production through profit incentive. The food producer must be encouraged to produce profit from this land while leaving the consumer with money to make purchases and investments. It is a fact that a nation grows and prospers as its agriculture grows and prospers. We must sustain a truly democratic way of life. Without vision, our nation could perish. America muststrengthen her efforts to lead the world in peace and prosperity through resolutions that make our own nation united with a sound economy. CLASSIFIEDS WORK FOR YOU 676-9228 5J The possibility of resurrecting the Willow Creek Dam project wr page news in the Gazette-Times last week and a story on the dam also made front page news ten years ago this week: "President Lyndon Johnson's proposed budget for 1968 lists $29,000 for the Bureau of Reclamation to use on investigation and survey of Willow Creek project in Morrow County.. .(This is) in addition to the $51,000 appropriated last year. ..The Bureau of Reclamation is involved only in the irrigation feature of the Willow Creek Dam project. Other phases of its multipurpose use are the responsibility of the Army Corps of Engineers with some help from local agencies...." Editor Wes Sherman commented on the appropriation in his column "Chaff and Chatter" on page two: "...Well, sir, on Tuesday came the word that another $29,000 is in the President's budget for the Willow Creek Dam. ..That's a good start for the Year of the Monkey, especially after Judge Jones called Cong. Al Ullman's office and was assured that the Willow Creek project is going to go through, probably just as soon as the Vietnam War is settled (and perhaps if we can keep from getting involved in another war.)" . With the front page report of the theft of $80 from the Heppner High School office ten years ago, editorial comment was given to the 'crime wave' hitting the county at that time: "The wave of burglaries occurring in Morrow County is unusually high for this area which has the reputation of being relatively free of crimes of any consequence. But recently two grocery stores have been entered, and three schools have been prowled. A motel was robbed, and there have been other instances where entries have been made... "Perhaps we in Morrow County, not being plagued by such crimes are too complacent about it, and perhaps too careless. At least during the present wave of entries more vigilance is called for.. .an alert public may give some help... Americans are getting a notorious reputation for their indifference for not coming to the other's aid, for "hiding their heads in the sand." We prefer the "old-fashioned" kind of Americans, and we urge our fellows here to, be the concerned and alert kind. Discussion of the organization of a union high school district called for by Orville Cutsforth, president of the Morrow County Farm Bureau, this week in 1948 resulted in no decision and little real interest expressed by Farm Bureau" members:... "The sentiment expressed by those called on was that more study is needed and first of all the road program should be well underway before undertaking another extensive building project..." An editorial on the proposal was likewise lukewarm: "This column is not disposed to take sides one way or another relative to the formation of a union high school district comprising the lone, Lexington and Heppner districts. ..it is doubtful if enough interests could be stirred. ..to get the movement started, but the idea has been advanced and school-minded folks will be doing some thinking about it..." With dog control regulations to be considered by Heppner City Council later this week, this little item printed on the front page of the Times 40 years ago is especially interesting : "NOTICE TO DOG OWNERS, By an order of the County Court, dog owners are given until the first of March to get licenses at the rate of $1 for male and $2 for female. After March 1st, the price will be $2 for male and $4 for female. C.J.D. Bauman, Sheriff of Morrow County, Oregon." The front page account of the killing of a bear this week in 1928 must have been of great interest to the readers of the day: "While in town the first of the week, Harry French reported to this paper that there was a big bear hunt on out his way. The bear was one that had been doing a considerable amount of damage to stock and it was hoped that the efforts to get rid of him would be successful. Harry promised to give further report as the hunt progressed and here it is. Guy Chapin and Kenneth Bleakman ran the bear out on Friday and gave him chase all day Saturday, interest in the drive increasing all the while and on Sunday no less than six nimrods of the neighborhood were hot on the trail of the bruin and Monday the party was composed of the original hunters and ten more, the latter being Ron, Percy and Bert Bleakman, Gilman Blevins, Frank and Ron Howell, Carl Leathers, Foster Collins, Fan Miller and Elmer Musgrave. Five days were spent all told in the chase, when finally Mr. Bruin was killed by Percy Bleakman at a point a half mile above the Joe Dillon place. He was a brown bear, weighing 200 pounds." ADITIIAD1CC Thomas Howell Thomas Stanford Howell, 74, died at his home in Heppner, Thursday, Jan. 26. A lifetime resident of the area, he was born July 26, 1903 at Hardman, the son of John and Nellie Merrill Howell. He was a grocery store and meat market owner for many years until his retirement; a mem ber of the First Christian Church of Heppner, and a member of the Heppner Elks Lodge. Mr. Howell was married to Millie Zigmant at Coeur D'Alene, Idaho on Aug. 19, 1948. Funeral services were held Monday, Jan. 30, at the First Christian Church of Heppner at 1 p.m., with the Rev. Edwin Sikes officiating. Sacred selec tions sung by Melvin Follett were "Beautiful Isle of Some where", "Sometime We Will Understand" and "The Old Rugged Cross". He was ac companied at the organ by Kathryn Hoskins. Active bearers were Robert Riddle, Len Ray Schwarz, Del Piper, Jerry Holloman, Ran dall Peterson and Ralph Marlatt. honorary bearers were Clayton Ayers, Dean Gilman, Wilbur Van Blokland, Jerry Rood, D.R. Tash and L.D. Tibbies. Concluding ser vices and vault interment were at Heppner Masonic Cemetery with Sweeney Mor tuary in charge of arrange ments. Besides his widow, Millie, of Heppner, Mr. Howell is survi ved by a son, Thomas, Fleppner; daughters, Kathryn Cummings, Spokane, Wash.; Nellie Hodges, Vancouver, Wash.; Betty Snow, lone; Patti Brannon and Brette Diggins, Heppner, a brother, Clarence Howell, Irrigon; three sisters, Opal McLaugh lin, Beaverton; Dorothy Ma honey, Hawthorne, Nev.; and Blanche Jones, Heppner; thir teen grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Two bro thers and a son preceded him in death. i 'A I
