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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (March 23, 1978)
Sifting through LETTERS COMMENTS CQITADIAI the TIMES Letters to the Editor Support Bob Rietmann I jiMi..w..iii).mim(1i iB)Hlmrr i I ,1 ' ? i An important election date for Morrow County voters is coming up Tuesday, April 4. ..that being, Blue Mountain Community College's special levy and board of director's election. Morrow County has one person on the board Bob Rietmann of lone who is being seriously challenged by a Umatilla County resident. . Voters here should realize they are carrying about 25 per cent of the BMCC district costs and BMCC Board defended Board explains position EDITORIAL with this year's budget increase that comes out to about $1.78 per $1,000 assessed valuation. For comparison purposes, that's more than it cost to run county government here last year. There are obvious inequities in the system when Morrow County taxpayers are forking over that much of BMCC's operating budget and at the same time, stand to lose their only representation on the board of directors. An article in this week's Gazette-Times expounds on the BMCC levy and election and readers should ' avail themselves of the information. Whether or not voters approve of the levy amount, Morrow County should come out in strong support of Bob Rietmann. Voters, be awake Editor, Morrow County voters, be awake! This is the time to know what is at stake. The BMCC election is coming up soon. A wrong vote could be our ruin. Know your candidates who represents whom. If you don't take care, it could spell doom. Keep Bob Rietmann to represent us all. He knows the issues and heeds our call. He is fair and he is true. A vote for Bob will best benefit you! Dorothy Krebs Americans misled Editor, I believe the American people have been erroneously led to believe that if the Panama Canal treaties are ratified, no United States Treasury funds would be needed to pay Panama the monies which will go to the country as a result of the accords. Now that the Senate hearings are in progress, we are being told by the Senate leadership that separate congressional legislation will be needed to support the payments to General Torrijos' government since even the increased toll charges will not begin to cover the amounts involved. Since the Panama Canal became a United States Government Corporation in 1951, the Panama Canal Company has operated without expense to U.S. taxpayers. By law, it met its own expenses and those of the Canal Zone Government and has paid the U.S. Treasury $20 million annually in addition to generating funds for capital improvements. Senate Majority leader Robert C. Byrd, President Carter's proratification proponent, now admits that money from the Treasury would be necessary to implement certain aspects of the new relationship. Mentioned specifically was the $43 million required for relocation of military facilites and installations located on lands to be transferred and an additional $6.5 million to $8.5 million annual cost for the early retirement program for present U.S. employees of the Panama Canal Company. Canal Zone Governor H.R. Parfitt recently testified before a House Subcommittee, U.S. commercial shippers would pay an additional $22 million a year for use of the waterway as a result of the 25 to 40 per cent toll increase. Other costs to be borne by the American taxpayer include U.S. Government guaranteed loans of approximately $300 million; U.S. Foreign Military sales credits of $50 million; land with an estimated value of $1.1 billion; the Canal and its facilities and improvements estimated at $3.6 billion; and a replacement cost for the lost military installations of approximately $1.5 billion. Total benefits to Panama by the year 2000 are pegged at approximately $10 billion or a yearly average of about $500 million. No provisions are made in the treaties for Canal modernization and improvement between now and the end of the 22-year pact; costs which will undoubtedly be covered by the U.S. taxpayer in the interest of keeping the passage open. The canal has provided uninterrupted service to peaceful nations for more than six decades. It is vital to both U.S. security and prosperity as it provides he shortest, cheapest and safest transit between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans for U.S. commercial and naval vessels. Continued bottom of next column... Editor, I have recently noticed a number of editorials and letters in the East Oregonian and Heppner Gazette-Times regarding the much discussed threatened strike of BMCC faculty because of unresolved issues between faculty and the board of directors. Since most of the editorials I have read, and especially the ones by Ms. Carole L. Innes, seem to attempt to convey the message that the board of directors' sole reason for being is to say yes to all requests or suggestions of the faculty, I wonder if possibly the good Ms. Innes isn't so close to the forest that she cannot see the trees. I do not like to see the board of directors maligned and referred to as do nothing incompetents. I also am a taxpayer and parent of two former students at BMCC. I also have worked to help advance the college and the activities it has sponsored. Recently, I have found it increasingly difficult to meet my share of the current tax load and BMCC is no small part of that load. Except for Mr. Robert Rietmann, the current board of directors are unknown to me personally, although I know somewhat about them and their livelihoods and consider them very competent individuals. Mr. Rietmann lives in and represents this area of BMCC district very ably. He is an educated man of good judgement, character, a success in his chosen business. He is the father of college age children, aware of their educational needs. He also has the confidence and support of the people of this area. When Mr. Rietmenn and the other members of the board, who have the responsibility of listening to suggestions, requests, ideas etc., brought to them by Mr. Daniels and then making responsible democratic decisions to the operation, expansion, policies etc. of BMCC, reach the point where they yield pressure by threats of strikes or any form of persuasion other than their own good judgement, then we will be in trouble and certainly in need of a new board of directors as well as a new administrator. Personally I feel the instructors, be they professors, coaches, or just plain teachers, are there to impart their knowledge of their chosen fields or subjects to the students. If they have an idea or suggestion that seems worthwhile and of benefit to the college, then they should take it to Mr. Daniels so that he can help present it to the board of directors in a proper manner, not group confrontation. It is my feeling and considered opinion, if the faculty is going to attempt to be the governing or administrative body, then it is imperative that the board take whatever action necessary to acquire a new faculty even it if becomes so drastic as to refund tuition paid by students and closing the college down until new faculty personnel can be recruited. Let the people that desire administrative work seek it where ever there is a need for their talents. BMCC HAS ONE ADMINISTRATOR To use an old parallel I firmly believe it is impossible for a ship with more than one captain to ever reach open water or if perchance it should, it would never again reach land but would sail aimlessly on at the whims of the many captains. Until Mr. Daniels leaves or the board feels it is in the best interest of the college to replace him he, not the faculty, the student nor the citizen downtown, is the captain of the ship. As for freedom of instruction we have all seen or at least read of the results of such an open policy. I have no desire to see that type of instruction freedom become the policy at BMCC. In fact, I would much rather see the college use our tax dollars for the type of instruction it was originally set up to provide the tax area. Lee Pettyjohn Rt. 1 lone, Oregon The national interest of the United States will not be served by ceding to Panama, a country controlled by a military dictatorship which has plummeted the country into its worst economic chaos in its 75-year history, sovereignty over the entire Canal Zone and ownership and operational control of the Canal. It is imperative that the United States maintain sufficient operational control and management to continue to guarantee its availability to U.S. and world commerce. We in the Veterans of Foreign Wars are opposed to negotiating a new treaty which without doubt would become an awesome burden to all U.S. taxpayers. We ask each of you to let our two Senators from Oregon know how you feel about these treaties. Warren H. McCoy State Commander Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Oregon 4T THE AZETTE -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 Ron Jordan, Printer Editor, In the last week and a half the members of the Blue Mountain Community College Board of Education have been subjected to criticism from a few members of the BMCC faculty and student body. In spite of the fact that the critical statements reflect a lack of understanding of the issues involved, the board has chosen to remain silent. We hope this silence has not been interpreted by some as a lack of concern or indifference on the part of the board. Let me assure you that the board members are aware of the problems and we are very much concerned about the impact that a strike would have on the college in general and, more specifically, the problems that a strike of any length would create for the students. ' Members of the board have remained silent because we feel that successful negotiations must take place at the bargaining table. A public debate of the issues involved will only result in solidifiying current positions and make a compromise agreement even more difficult. This type of activity would simply lead to statements and counter-statements, charges and counter-charges, and would result in hostilities, involve personalities, divide the college community, and result in hard feelings for years to come. We believe that when the issues are made public and hardline positions are publicly stated, it becomes more difficult to reach agreements because the parties involved do not want to be accused of "giving in". Again, at our meeting last week, the board took positive action to resolve those problems and move toward a settlement. Three board members will be seated at the bargaining table as a part of the negotiation team. We have developed some new positions on the issues involved and we instructed our negotiator to request through the state mediator a return to the bargaining table 'at the earliest possible time. This request to return to negotiations has been delayed for over a week. We can only assume that the Faculty Association was not interested in an early return to the bargaining table. However, according to the news release by the Faculty Association on March 16, they are now ready to return to the bargaining table and a session will probably be scheduled on or about March 22 or 23. We believe that our current position is fair and reasonable, both on economic items and working conditions. This contention is supported by a comparison with contracts at other community colleges. The board is not objecting to a contract similar to those being provided at other community colleges. ' . We are deeply concerned that the college continue to provide a quality education and we certainly hope that this quality education will not be disrupted by a strike. However, we also feel that we have an obligaton to act in the best interest of the total college community and that includes the taxpayer, as well as the students and faculty. So, even though some may disagree with our silence at this point, we will . continue to conduct our negotiations in a professional manner, hopeful of reaching an agreement that protects the interests of the students and the taxpayers, and one that is fair and reasonable to the faculty. If this cannot be accomplished short of a strike, then the board is prepared to go to the public with the unresolved issues and to state publicly the board's position on those issues. We certainly hope that this will not be necessary and we are prepared to make every reasonalbe effort to reach a satisfactory agreement. The board is hopeful that the public will not let these labor problems influence their continued support for the college. The budget that will be presented to the voters on April 4 is a good budget and should be considered on its own merit. The labor problems will be resolved and the college needs approval of a budget so we can get back to the job at hand. I, therefore, urge each of you to vote on April 4, and to show your support for the college. Sincerely yours, Malachi "Mac" Campbell, Chairman Blue Mountain Community College Board of Education Edna Munkers Mary Edna Munkers, 87, Lexington, died in Heppner Wednesday, March 15. She was born near Lexing ton on Dec. 22, 1890, the daughter of Edgar and Sadie Scott Palmer, Morrow County pioneers. With the exception of four years living in Salem, her entire life was spent in the area. On Nov. 21, 1909, she was married to William Frank Munkers at Lexington. He preceded her in death in 1960. A daughter-in-law, Dimple Munkers, also preceded her in death in 1975. Mrs. Munkers and her husband were engaged in farming and carpentry work until his death, then she and two of her sons operated her farm. Her home was always filled with plants for she loved gardening and had the pro verbial green thumb. She will be missed by her family and the community. She was a member of the Lexington Grange. Funeral services were held Saturday, March 18 at 2 p.m. at the Lexington Christian Church, with the Rev. Edwin Sikes officiating. Carl and Betty Marquardt sang "In The Garden" and "Sunrise Tomor row", with Mrs. Marquardt at the piano. Concluding services and vault interment were at the Lexington cemetery, with Sweeney Mortuary in charge of arrangements. Casket bearers were Barry Munkers, Craig Munkers, Richard Laws, Larry Groves, Dean Naffziger and Jay De vin. Honorary bearers were Roger Campbell, L.E. Ruhl, Al Fetsch, Robert Campbell, Dean Hunt and Kenneth Peck. Mrs. Munkers is survived by three sons; Vernon, Salem; Archie, Heppner; Leonard, Lexington; two sisters; Grace Frieze, Drain Geatta Cox, Heppner; five grandchildren, two foster grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, seven foster grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild, nu merous nieces and nephews,, and a host of friends. Contributions may be made to the charity of ones choice. With interest in the Willow Creek Dam revived because of flood plain limitations haunting Heppner, it is interesting to note that two front page stories concerning the dam appeared in the Gazette-Times ten years ago this week. The man responsible for locating the movie "Paint Your Wagon" in the Baker area in 1968, Warren Merrill of Salem, industrial representative of Oregon's Division of Economic Development, spoke to the Chamber of Commerce about the ' tourism trade the dam would be sure to attract. "Tourism is our third largest industry and I'm firmly convinced that it is going to grow in magnitude and importance," Merrill said, "....with the increasing' urbanization in the Willamette Valley and the beginning of a continuous urban strip city running south from Portland, people will be looking to Eastern Oregon as a place to escape from the pressures of the city." Merrill added that if a community can attract 24 tourists a day throughout the year it is economically comparable to acquiring a manufacturing industry with an annual payroll of $100,000. He said building the dam would greatly magnify tourist attractions here. A Bureau of Reclamation official also addressed the Chamber of Commerce on soil testing and a feasibility study the Bureau was undertaking in regards to the irrigation aspect of the proposed Willow Creek Dam. Economic gains expected from irrigation by the project were being determined and a water requirement study was also planned at that time. Jim Barclay, son of Mr. and Mrs. Max Barclay of Lexington, was informed this week ten years ago that he was one of 50 students from the United States chosen for entrance at the Marquette University Study Center in Madrid, Spain, fr the upcoming school year. Linda Jo Tatone, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Tatone of Boardman, was selected valedictorian at Riverside High School this week in 1968. George Kenney, son of Mr. and Mrs. Don Kenney oft Irrigon, and Betty Eppenbach, daughter of , Mr. and Mrs. Elbert Eppenbach of Irrigon, were picked to share the honor of being co-salutatorians for the RHS graduating class of that year. Five businesses received awards for initiating or improving their establishments here at the annual Chamber of Commerce banquet 20 years ago this week. Certificates of recognition went to the Bank of Easter Oregon for its new Heppner branch;. Ford's' Tire Service for establishing a Heppner branch store; the Heppner Hotel for its extensive remodeling project; Phil's Pharmacy for modernizing the store; and Heppner Auto Parts for its building modernization. Herbert G. West, executive vice-president of Inland . Waterways Association, told guests at the Chamber banquet in 1958 that Morrow County had greater opportunity for the future development of its 30 miles of Columbia River shoreland than any county east of the Bonneville Dam. He urged the formation of a port commission, adding that Morrow is the Only county fronting the river without such a port district. . P.W. Mahoney was elected to succeed Bert Mason of , BPOE 358 as exalted ruler of the local Elks lodge this week in . 1938. Other officers elected were Loyal R. Parker, secretary; Hubert Gaily, treasurer; James Farley, Jr., esteemed leading knight; Joseph Belanger, esteemed loyal knight; Kenneth Akers, esteemed lecturing knight; Norton Lundell, tyler; D.A. Wilson, trustee; and Frank W. Turner, alternate delegate to grand lodge. This week in 1928 the Gazette-Times printed an item in its . editorial column urging local residents to shop at home. It's , reasoning holds true today : "A community thrives when its merchants thrive. Home town buying and trading is as essential to a community's growth and progress as its streets, boulevards, churches and schools. It is the duty of every citizen of a community to make his purchases at home. Numerous "buy at home" campaigns have stressed this fact, but still there are some people who go elsewhere than their own home surroundings when making purchses.... "There are numerous reasons why you should patronize your home merchants. They have invested their money and their future in your town; they pay taxes in your town; they give employment to people in your town.. .And, to put in a word for ourselves, it is a mighty good idea to be a regular reader of your local newspaper!" The City Council of Heppner did its hit this week in 1918 to aid the war effort : "The Heppner City Council has gone in for increased food production and soon the old hog law will be amended and the people of the city will soon be permitted to i keep a pig in their back yard. Of course it is the intention of the council to see that every pig and pen is kept in a clean, sanitary condition. it- C.W. Acock . Prominent Boardman rancher Charles Wells Acock, Jr., 53, died Saturday, March 18, in a tractor accident which occured while he was harrow ing fields near his home. Mr. Acock was born in Heppner on Oct. 7, 1924. He lived In Irrigon and Hermiston before moving to Boardman 11 years ago. The foreman of the paint crew at McNary Dam, Mr. Acock earned the distinction of being named Morrow Coun ty Cattleman of 1977 last December for his work in developing his herd of pure bred Hereford cattle. He and his wife Helen were honored at the Farm-City Dinner in Heppner on Dec, 9. Mr. Acock was a member of the Morrow County Livestock Growers Association, chair man of the Morrow County Rural Fire Protection Asso ciation, and An nrtiv mm. N porter of Future Farmers of America and 4-H. He was aj member of the Fraternal. Order of Eagles in Hermiston Survivors include his wife, Helen; mother Luella Acock, Irrigon; son, Charles W. Boardman; daughters, Maryi Thompson, Hermiston, and Nina Sellers, Portland; broth-!; ers, Ralph of Manhattan,! Kan., Dean of Irrigon, and Don, Portland; sisters, Mary Nerore of Bakersfield, Cal.fj Grace O'Brien of Longview Wash., and Betty Shoun of Pendleton; and five grandchild dren. Funeral services were held at First Methodist Church in Heppner at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 21, with Rev. Sam Crothers of Hermiston officiating. s Casket bearers were Emery" Ashbeck, Vern Evans, Carol Donovan, Bob Sicard, Bill ( Noland and Frank Russell. Interment was in Heppner . . M-t t J- t.
