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TWO The Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon, Thursday, March 9, 1978
Sifting through
the TIMES A,
4Yes' vote for
schools urged
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Morrow County voters will go to the polls next
Tuesday, March 14 and the ballots cast will
determine the fate of a proposed building plan for
much needed school facilities.
The bond issue asks voter approval for the
expenditure of $4.8 million for the construction of
four new buildings and renovation of specific areas
in three existing buildings. That's a tidy piece of
change taxpayers are being asked to cough up, but,
the taxpayer is also receiving a lot for his money.
EDITORIAL
What justifies the expenditure of such a sum,
especially when a bond issue was passed by voters
as late as 1975?
Increasing student enrollment is the answer.
Since 1971 the District's total enrollment has
jumped to 1,612 an increase of 540 students.
Figures indicate that enrollment in Morrow County
schools will increase to 2,350 students by 1982.
About 75 per cent of the growth since 1971 has
been in the Boardman-Irrigon area. The remaining
25 per cent, or about 135 students, have moved into
Heppner schools. In the future, growth is expected
to be heaviest in the Boardman-Irrigon areas
although Heppner's elementary and junior high
buildings are coming close to reaching capacity.
It is sometimes hard for taxpayers to justify
approving a bond issue of this size especially when
the taxpayer living in Southern Morrow County sees
that most of the bond issue is for facilities in the
Northern portion of the county.
Here we feel it is important that voters realize
that all schools in Morrow County are consolidated
into one district. There is a tremendous saving for
taxpayers by operating this way.
If the March 14 bond issue gets voter approval,
the total tax rate for Morrow County schools will be
a little over $9 per $1,000 assessed valuation.
Looking at other districts in Eastern Oregon we see
school districts that need $12-$15 per $1,000 to
operate.
The cost of the proposed bond issue would be
$1.48 per $1,000, meaning the owner of a $40,000
home would be paying about $59.20 in taxes the first
year of the bond issue.
As the assessed valuation of the county
increases as it is the cost per $1,000 will
decrease. It is estimated that when Portland
General Electric's coal-fired plant comes on the tax
rolls in a couple years, the cost per $1,000 will drop
to about .60 per $1,000.
In this week's Gazette-Times, comments by
District Superintendent Matt Doherty on the bond
issue appear on page one and information on the
bond issue itself appears on page 14.
We urge voters to study the issue before them
and vote next Tuesday, March 14. Polling places are
listed in this week's paper.
We recommend a 'yes' vote on Tuesday for
schools and the children they educate.
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.
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LETTERS FROM READERS
provides
Bond
needed facilities
Editor,
In considering the building needs of the Morrow County
School District, the Planning Committee had to recognize
that although all communities had some concerns, our major
problem was one of increased student population in the
Boardman-Irrigon area.
Enrollment in the district has increased 540 students
since 1971 with about 76 per cent of this coming in North
Morrow County.
Schools in that area are already filled beyond capacity
and are increasing by around 100 students per year.
The proposed bond issue to be voted on March 14, would
solve the classroom space problem in Boardman and Irrigon
for the next 4 or 5 years.
It is important for ALL communities to rally to the
support of a given area within the district when a major need
arises there. This kind of unity is needed if the County
District is to be an advantage to the children and patrons of
every community.
The current tax rate of $7.48 per thousand for the
operation of schools compared to twice that or more in other
school districts close by, points to a major advantage of a
county wide district.
The proposed bond issue would increase the rate by $1.48
the first year, but would still leave it low in comparison to
other district. The rate would decrease as the new property
comes on the tax rolls.
A yes vote on the issue would show all our communities
that the patrons of the school district are responsive to local
needs.
I feel that this bond issue is needed and that it deserves
our support.
Dick T. Wilkinson
Education Assn. supports bond issue
Editor,
We would like to make some observations about Morrow
County voters. The majority of those voters are prime
examples of why Oregon has such a high reputation across
the United States for voters who are independent thinkers,
knowledgeable of the issues or measures before them and
most important of all, they are practicing their right and
obligation of participating in our Democracy by voting.
There is another aspect of the Morrow County voter which
should not go unnoticed. They offer support to the majority of
ballot issues before them. The season for elections, ballot
measures and issues is before us and we know that the
majority of voters in Morrow county will continue to show
their support of the issues and all the other fine qualities
Oregon voters are known to have.
The teachers in our Morrow County Schools have
constantly been reminded of the valued support the citizens
THEGAZETTE -TIME
The Official Newspaper of the City of Heppner
and the County of Morrow
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.
G.M. Reed, Publisher Dolores Reed, Co-publisher Terry M. Hager, Managing Editor
Jim Summers, News Editor Eileen Saling, Officer Manager Elane Blanchet, Reporter
Gayle Rush, Composing Chloe Pearson, Composing Justine Weatherford, Local Columnist
and voters of Morrow County have given them and the
educational process in our schools We greatly appreciate
that support. There is now being presented to the voters and
citizens of Morrow County, a school bond issue for new
buildings and building improvements. We hope that the
voters will continue to show their faith and confidence in both
our school system and our children by supporting this bond
issue. Because our voters are knowledgeable, they will be
voting on this issue based on the facts, not on fictions. If you
have any questions or concerns, we urge you to contact the
nearest school office or the district office where answers are
available.
We look forward to your continued support of our Morrow
County Schools with a YES vote on Tuesday, March 14th.
v Thank You,
Morrow County Education Association
Marshall Helsa, president
Councilman confronts
planning problems
Editor,
In the past, there has been a lot of feelings on the part of
the citizens of Heppner, concerning the codes that have been
set forth about building placements of homes in the city.
I have to agree with the citizens of Heppner, in as much
as there has been too much of a run around for the citizens to
obtain a building permit, or a variance for mobile homes or
prebuilt homes.
It is my opinion that there could be and should be a
simple form that the citizens could get at city hall. By filling
out the form and returning it along with a small fee and a
statement declaring they intend to build on said property,
. they could, in turn, receive from city hall this same form
stating the maximum size of a building that could be placed
on this property. Then, if the citizen still wanted to build on
this property, they could apply for a building permit. Then
the planning commission could review the blue prints and
rule on whether or not this kind of a building could be built on
this zone.
I also think that all of the lots in the old town of Heppner
Flood plain indicates
need for dam here
To Whom It May Concern:
We have all known that our elected city officials serve
without salary Now they run the risk of finding out it really
doesn't pay!
The flood plain area in Heppner, Lexington, and lone has
forced hard decisions upon them. A careful study of all the
facts reveals only one reasonable conclusion If they don't
vote for construction of the Willow Creek dam, all buildings
from Heppner through lone in the flood plain could not be
repaired or rebuilt in the event of fire, flood or whatever.
Our communities would proceed on a massive decline. A
farmhouse suffering from insufficient fire protection , burns,
and can't be replaced. Stores destroyed, or even just in need
of repairs, would find it unprofitable, and therefore
impossible, to continue business. We would simply lose all
our facilities from deterioration.
The first person wishing to sell his property in tHfe flood
plain areas and unable to do so because of lack of flood
insurance would have the right to sue these same city
officials for not making flood insurance available to them.
This has already happened elsewhere.
Our officials are going to have to make a decision that
cannot possibly please everybody. Since we have lived here
the last 20 years or more, the main attraction of the
community has been the people's friendliness and the
willingness to help their neighbors. I can't think of anyone
that needs our help more now than our elected officials.
Hopefully the brick bat throwing can be reserved for some
place other than South Morrow County.
Communities elsewhere have benefitted greatly from
irrigation features of their dams Surely we are not any less
ingenius?
Meg Murray
"Mustangs Win Berth in State," proudly proclaimed the
Gazette-Times 10 years ago this week. A front page photo
showed co-captains Dave Hall and Bill McLeod holding the
district 7 A-2 basketball championship trophy after the
Heppner team defeated Vale and Grant Union in district
play, earning the Mustangs a trip to Coos Bay for state
tournament play. A front page story, sports page photos and
stories, an editorial, a column, written by editor wes
Sherman, a congratulations page supported by local
businesses, all told the Mustangs how proud Heppner was of
them and the kind of support they had. Though in glancing
ahead a week we find Heppner was defeated in its first two
games in Coos Bay, it didn't dim the jubilation felt in winning
the state berth.
Almost $20,000 was cut from the Morrow County School
District budget in 1968, but increases in beginning teachers'
salaries and a sharp increase in the district's percentage of
payroll paid into the public employees retirement fund would
more than nullify the cut, according to Superintendent Ron
Daniels.
The newly formed Soroptomist Club held its first meeting
this week in 1948, with the charter still open for membership
until April of that year. Twenty women were present at the
first meeting, held in the Elkhorn Restaurant.
Thirty years ago this week, American Legion Post No. 87
was getting ready to dedicate its new hall at the site of the old
St. Patrick's Catholic Church. The ceremony was set for
April 3. 1948.
Construction of an addition to the Shell service station at
the corner of May and Chase Streets was being completed 30
years ago this week by owner James J. Farley. Built for the
purpose of providing Pontiac service to the residents of the
community, the station was renamed the Farley Pontiac
Company.
Ed Bennett was selected as new city councilman to
replace resigning E.L. Morton at a Heppner City Council
meeting this week in 1938. A campaign to rid the city of
shacks considered as fire menaces was also discussed at the
meeting.
OBITUARIES
Services for Mr. and
Mrs. Harley Young
are Friday
This area is greatly sad
dened by the deaths of Helen
and Harley Young this week.
Mrs. Young died Monday,
March 6 and Mr. Young died
Wednesday, March 8. Both
had been hospitalized follow
ing long illness.
Funeral services for Mr.
and Mrs. Young will be held
Friday, March 10 at 2 p.m. at
the Heppner Methodist
Church with the Rev. Steve
Tollefson officiating.
Concluding services and
interment will follow at the
Heppner Masonic Cemetery.
Helen K. Young was born
January 7, 1926 at Maryville,
Missouri, the daughter of Carl
H. and Blanche Kissinger.
Harley B. Young was born
Dec. 12, 1925 at Quitman,
Missouri, the son of Russel B.
and Lula M. Young.
They were married Oct.
27, 1946 at Maryville, Missouri
and moved to Heppner in 1950.
Mr. Young worked for Colum
bia Basin Electric Co-op,
starting as a lineman and
became manager Jan. 1, 1956.
He held that position until his
retirement in 1972 because of
ill health. He was a member of
the Heppner Elks Lodge, the
Masonic Lodge, and treasurer
of the Boy Scout organization
in Heppner. Mr. and Mrs.
Young were members of
Heppner Methodist Church.
Mr. and Mrs. Young are
survived by their sons, Bruce
and Ron Young of Heppner; '
Brenda Weygandt of Mollala,
Debora Dubuque of Pendle-b
ton; Marcia Anderson of 7
Heppner and three grand- '
children. Mrs. Young leaves a ,
brother, Carl H. Kissinger,
Maryville, Missouri; and a '
sister, Gertrude Hoshor, Gar-
den City, Missouri. Mr. Young
is survived also by five ';
brothers, Herman Young and
Russel Paul Young, both of '
Maryville; Barnett Young, i
Savannah, Missouri; Dale i:
Young, Davenport, Iowa; and.''
Leslie Young, Inglewood, Cal-V
ifornia; and four sisters, Irene ''
Foster and Kathleen Gaugh, 7
both of Maryville; Annie
Richards, Loveland, Colo.; "
and Lorita Mansfield, Dur- '
ango, Colo.
For those who wish, v
to
-iDuuons ma
the Lung or Cancer Funds in
memory of the Youngs.
Burns Mortuary, Herm
iston is in charge of arrangements.
Picture Credit
At a public meeting Monday night, Chuck Steele
(standmg) tells an audience of 50 persons that Heppner's
flood plain will have a devastating effect on future
construction here. Steele is with the Federal Insurance
Administration, which administers flood insurance..
Related stories on page one.
have to be looked at individually. I do not think that we can
keep looking at the zoning ordinance which asks for 7,000
square feet in a lot. I think that as long as the setback and
side area is taken into consideration, all lots have a potential.
I also do not agree with the fact that a neighbor can stop a
building by merely objecting. In this area, I think the
complaint must state a valid reason for the objection. This
would eliminate the possibility that just because you do not
like someone, you could stop them from" building.
Most citizens of Heppner do not know that they could not
build back on there own property under the present
regulations if they were to have a fire. And I think that it is up
to us at the city council to change these things.
Hubert C.Wilson
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