Sifting through.
LETTERS
COMMENTS
EDITORIAL
4?
Will be missed...
On this week's front page there is a news story about
Oscar Peterson retiring from the Port of Morrow
Commission.
The man's record speaks for itself.. .a life of public
service spanning many areas of government and concern,
and nearly all 84 years right here in Morrow County.
More than 30 years ago Oscar joined the Pacific
Northwest Waterways Association and from there he worked
many hours bringing a Port District to life in Morrow County.
Finally, in 1959, as Morrow County Judge, Oscar was the
guiding force behind formation of the Port of Morrow. He
rightly earned the title of "Father of the Port of Morrow".
Oscar saw what was available and through his attitude
and efforts we can all see the results. Therein lies a lesson for
all of us.
Spring's here
Heppner area residents are invited to be participants in a
week-long activity fitting of spring.
Numerous groups and organizations are hoping to
beautify the city before Easter. ..ridding streets, alleys and
yards of trash.
Become a participant.
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Letters to the Editor
Portland General Electric again showed
with the donation of $14,000 toward the purch
in Boardman. Accepting the check from
Commissioner Homer Hughes looks on.
its concern for the community this past week
ase of an x-ray machine for the medical clinic
PGE's Bus Clough is Judge D.O. Nelson.
AAUW supports solution to overcrowded classrooms
Dear Morrow County Citizens,
In the past we citizens have taken pride in providing
uncrowded classrooms for our children in the Heppner
schools. As an organization we are writing this letter with the
hope of informing you the public that the growth in Heppner
has increased our school enrollment to the point that the 5th,
6th, 7th and 8th grade rooms at Heppner Elementary are
overcrowded. The situation is expected to become worse next
year.
If enrollments remain the same as they are now there
will be from 24 to 29 students in each of the 5th and 6th grade
rooms. Each of these four rooms has an average maximum
capacity of 19.5 students.
On the Junior High level the rooms have a maximum
capacity of 20 students per room but these rooms will and
presently have, from 26 to 32 students per room. One of the
rooms in use actually has a maximum capacity of 15
students.
This situation of overcrowding raises several questions.
How much individual help can be given any student? Isn't the
teacher limited to spending a large percentage of her time in
lecture-type teaching? In the case of an emergency can
students be evacuated from an overcrowded room safely?
Our ultimate question is, are our tax dollars being used
efficiently when children are taught in an overcrowded
situation?
A workable solution to the problem, that would only
involve the cost of two teachers' salaries was presented to the
School Board and the School Budget Committee, but not
adopted. The proposal was to hire two additional teachers.
The rooms are available as are desks, books, etc. The
proposal was to hire a teacher to teach a combination of 5th
and 6th grade students and a Junior High teacher. The
combination of 5th and 6th grade students is quite workable
at Heppner Elementary as students already go to different
rooms for such subjects, as reading, on their own
individual level.
The Heppner Branch of AAUW has gone on record
supporting this proposal. We would like to see this proposal
put back into the school budget. We urge you parents to
become more familiar with the situation at Heppner
Elementary and Junior High and voice your support for a
solution to overcrowded classrooms.
Sincerely,
The Heppner Branch of
The American Association
of University Women
BMCC strike explained
Editor, .
As a taxpayer, former BMCC student, concerned citizen,
and spouse of a faculty member, I feel it is absolutely
essential that some facts regarding the strike situation be
explained.
I am a former student who worked very hard during the
early sixties to promote the growth and expansion of BMCC,
so I feel a great kinship with the students who are concerned
with the fate of their educational programs. For many
students, as it was for me, BMCC offers the only apportunity
to attend college. Many students simply do not have the
resources to go elsewhere, nor do all other colleges offer the
same benefits as does BMCC.
The faculty DID NOT vote to strike simply because they
were seeking higher SALARIES. The issues of most concern
to the faculty are those of academic freedom and the
continuing integrity of the profession of teaching. The faculty
voted to accept the results of the impartial factfinder's report
sight unseen. The board voted no. The faculty voted to accept
the finished report. The board voted no.
The board meeting on Wednesday, March 8, 1978, was
certainly an eye opener. So many people attended that the
meeting had to be moved to the theater. Worried students
sought answers from an unresponsive board. The directors
declined comment about their intentions until they could
meet again in executive session. The chairman explained
that the letter regarding the strike vote by the faculty had
been officially received only that day, and they wished to
make no comment. Gad! The negotiations have been going
on for fourteen plus months. Surely, the board has some
opinions. These men were elected by and are accountable to
the people, but it was not apparent Wednesday night that
they thought it was necessary to explain anything. The
Faculty Association president read a list of items rejected by
the board negotiator. Some items rejected by the negotiator
were so ludicrous that the audience laughed out loud.
The strike vote did not occur because of union influence.
The decision was that of the faculty alone, and faculty
members who are not paying OEA members were permitted
to vote on the issue.
The proposed strike can have serious consequences. I
urge all concerned citizens to find out all the facts. Citizens
should ask question, demand answers, and take a role in
matters which are relevant to the well being of our area.
Sincerely yours,
Carole L. Innes
Pendleton
Reps offer death
penalty petition
To the Editor,
Several years ago Oregon voters elminated the death
penalty in our state. We have found from letters to us and
conversation with people all over Oregon that there is a
growing concern about the need to return to capital
punishment.
The Oregon Legislature has not allowed the voters an
opportunity to determine for themselves if they want the
death penalty reinstated, therefore, we have filed with the
Secretary of State a preliminary initiative petition for a
statutory measure to restore capital punishment in Oregon.
The petition will require 46,235 signatures prior to July 7,
1978 to place it on the November 7, 1978 General Election
Ballot. The petitions will not be available until about April 1,
1978, at which time we plan a 90 day intense campaign to
obtain the signatures.
The effort to secure the signatures will be taken to the
people. During March thousands of letters will be mailed to
Oregonians asking their help in gathering the necessary
signatures. We hope we will get a good response from people
requesting petitions which they will circulate.
If any of your readers want to receive petitions we ask
that you write to anyone of us. We can provide the content of
the measure upon request.
Jack Sumner Cecil Johnson Bud Byers
State Rep. State Rep. State Rep.
Route 1 3513 Upper Riv. Rd. 3221 S. Main Rd.
Heppner, OR 97836 Grants Pass, Lebanon, OR 97355
Oregon 97526
Appreciates support
To the Editor,
The Morrow Soil and Water Conservation District would
like to thank the Gazette-Times for the excellent presentation
of our annual report in the March 2nd, issue.
We appreciate your continued support in promoting our
informational program to the public. We hope that through
your effort Soil and Water Conservation is recognized as a
benefit to all.
Rudy Bergstrom
Chairman, Morrow SWCD
THE
GAZETTE -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
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 withheldfor 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.
: V
Heppner gained national attention this week in 1968 when
gold was discovered on the Don Greenup place on Hinton
Creek. Twenty-eight gold coins ranging from dollar gold
pieces to double eagles worth $20 apiece, were unearthed
while bulldozing work was being done at a pond site on the
Greenup ranch.
A front-page Gazette-Times story reported: "Discovery
of the coins caused a wave of excitement that rippled-via
wire service stories-across the United States. It brought
back into the limelight a story that Press Thomas, early
settler who homesteaded on the spot, had hidded a small
fortune there . Face value of the gold pieces found last week is
$375 but from a collector's viewpoint the value is far
greater. ..Apparently this is the third time that gold coins
have been found at the pond site. A story written m i rue west
magazine by Paul Atkinson in the August 1966 issue said a
fisherman spotted a double eagle in a foot of water while
fishing.
"...Some ten years ago according to Mrs. Greenup, four
boys were going fishing at the pond and while digging for
worms on the bank uncovered five $5 gold pieces.
"...Since the story appeared in Ture West magazine, the
Greenups have been almost besieged by would-be treausre
hunters, with calls coming from all parts of the United
States. ..It happened that two treasure hunters from
Minnesota arrived (last week) and asked for permission to
hunt for the treasure. Since Greenup was working there they
were given permission and he agreed to split any gold find on
a 50-50 basis. The Minnesotans used detecting devices and
helped spot the 28 coins which were uncovered by one of the
dozers. ..The gold pieces were apparently found in
approximately the same location where the boys found the $5
gold pieces years earlier..."
Two movements were underway in Morrow County
twenty years ago which would eventually bear fruit.
The Gazette-Times reported this week in 1958 that the
manager of the Port of Walla Walla was scheduled to speak
before the Chamber of Commerce on port development and
how it could aid an area in developing a greater business and
industrial potential. The county at the time was just
beginning to contemplate the establishment of a port
commission with an eye toward the greater development of
the north end of the county!
An Educational Betterment Committee was formed this
week twenty years ago in Lexington with Kenneth Peck
elected chairman; Gene Cutsforth, secretary; and Tad
Miller, treasurer. The committee planned to prepare a
complete report on details of an education betterment
program for Lexington students.
The ultimate aim of the group was the consolidation of
the Lexington and Heppner High Schools.
Honor students Mardine Baker, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. E. Markham Baker, was selected valedictorian of lone
High School in 1958. Salutatorian was Grace McCabe,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L.A. McCabe.
This week 40 years ago, the Times reported that the tank
in Willow Creek referred to affectionately as "the ol'
swimming hole" would soon be only a memory, as work by a
CCC crew progressed on straightening the creek channel
through Heppner. The article editorialized: "So, as the ol'
swimming hole disappears, the work of progress proceeds.
Maybe the dawn of a new day will bring another swimmin'
hole of a new and improved type..."
There must have been some Californians eyeing
Columbia River water even 30 years ago, according to this
Gazette-Times editorial printed March 11, 1948: "While
Californians are crying and perhaps praying for much
needed moisture, we of Eastern Oregon could stand a little
more sunshine. In truth, we have enough moisture for the
present and need to catch up on our sunshine.... The much
touted winter sunshine (in California), while enjoyable, is
becoming a matter of serious discussion over the radio
rather than inspiration for clowning by the radio comedians.
Drastic measures are being taken to cope with the continued
drouth, such as adoption of daylight savings time,
curtailment of use of electricity and who knows but that
California will have to revert back to the Saturday night rule
of bathing. .
"Just at present we don't believe we would trade Eastern
Oregon for California but believe it would make living
conditions better for both regions if the moisture and
sunshine couiu be evened up on a 50-50 basis. We will have to
do something about the unbalanced condition of the weather
or stand to lose the Columbia River to California."
George N. Peck submitted a short-to-the-point
announcement in the Times of 40 years ago that cleared up;
uncertainty around his intentions of running again for county i
office: "I will be a candidate for the Republican nomination' .
for the office of county commissioner.. .My record is your'
guarantee and my experience is your protection." j
The special feature at Star Theater this week in 1938 was i
"Stage Door", "where hope, laughter and heartbreak f
meet starring Ginger Rogers, Katherine Hepburn and j
Adolphe Men jou... from the famous stageplay by Edna!
Ferber and Geo. S. Kaufman." In 1928, the Star featured "the:
world's greatest motion picture, "What Price Glory", an'
epochal picture in which two strong men and a beautiful
woman work out their destinies on the Fields of Glory."
When World War I was being fought on foreign soil, thei
American newspapers of the day did everything they could to
drive home the need for civilian support in the war effort. ,
Here's a classic example, published in the Gazette-Times
this week in 1818, titled "Go After The Glutton": "....There
are people in this country, we won't call them Americans,
they have not yet shown they deserve that title, who do not 4
seem to realize the task of supplying the starving people of.
Europe with food. Three square meals a day have had the'
effect of making gluttons out of our well-meaning"
people.. .they are probably eating enough to nourish their own
bodies and two or three starving children of Belgium also.
These are the people the Food Administration should go aften
just as hard as the Hun in our midst who would put ground
glass in sugar. Both are giving aid and comfort to the enemy
and prolonging the struggle which will eventually weed them
both out. It's time to go after the glutton."