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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (March 30, 1978)
TWO The Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon, Thursday, March 30, 1978 VIEWPOINT LETTERS COMMENTS EDITORIAL Vote Tuesday, April 4 th Voters go to the polls again next Tuesday to cast ballots on two special levy requests and at the same time will elect representatives for several Morrow County School District and Blue Mountain Community College board positions. Morrow County schools are asking your approval of a special levy that will add about 94 cents per $1,000 assessed valuation to the $7.58 per $1,000 currently paid. The district's advisory and budget committees and the district's administration have done a good job of holding the line on costs with this budget proposal. Taxpayers here are fortunate in that the amount of money needed to operate our schools is among the lowest in the state and even with the building bond issue passed by voters a couple weeks ago, will remain one of the lowest tax rates in the state. To maintain education in Morrow County at the level we currently enjoy, voters should cast a "yes" vote for the levy. The importance of the board and advisory committee ballots is exemplified in the paragraphs above. With good people on the board and advisory committees, everyone benefits. Several positions are open this year and voters should consider the candidates carefully. Blue Mountain Community College is asking voters to approve a levy that would assess a tax of $1.85 per $1,000, which is a drop of three cents from the current year. Of prime importance on the BMCC ballot, however, is the candidacy of Bob Rietmann of lone on the board of directors for the college. Rietmann is the incumbent and is challenged by a Pendleton resident for the position on the seven-member board. If Rietmann loses his seat on the board it will leave Morrow County without any representation, although taxpayers here provide 25 per cent of the district's share of operating costs. This points out some real inequities in the BMCC district's method of electing board members and Morrow County residents should push for a change in that area. In the meantime, Morrow County needs Bob Rietmann on the BMCC board of directors. Tim Mabry endorsed Editor, I am writing this letter in support of Tim Mabry, candidate for position No. 7 on the Blue Mountain Community College Board of Directors. Tim is a young man who is well qualified for the job. One qualification which stands out is in the area of leadership. As a Pendleton High School student he served as president of their chapter of Future Farmers of of America. While a student at BMCC he was Student Body president and Chief Justice of the Student Court. During his senior year at the University of Oregon he served as an administrative assistant to Rep. Wallace McCrae in the Oregon State Legislature. Again Tim would like to involve himself in a position of leadership. I urge you to vote for Tim Mabry, BMCC Board of Directors, position No. 7. Yours truly, Malachi "Mac" Campbell Chairman, Blue Mountain Community College Board of Education 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. Letters to the Editor Rietmann re-election urged Sifting through Editor, As the original representative of Morrow County on the Blue Mountain Community College Board beginning in 1962 until the end of my third term in 1974, 1 must comment on a potential situation facing the electors April 4. As Board Member, I felt I represented the whole district, but being a resident of Morrow County, I was able to express the unique concerns and thoughts of that area. Communication is always a problem, and it becomes more difficult when the college is located at such a distance from some of its users. My experience both on the Board and with the people in Morrow County, convinced me that Morrow County must be represented on the BMCC Board. Based upon the present filings, there is a possibility that this area, Morrow County, will be without representation on the BMCC Board after June 30, 1978. Bob Rietmann has represented Morrow County since August, 1975 in an effective, efficient and conscientious manner. He has expressed the concerns of this area while doing an excellent job representing the district as a whole. He is now running for re-election, but is opposed by a candidate residing in Pendleton. Beryl Brizendine is opposing Bob for election. No doubt Ms. Brizendine would be a good Board Member; however, Bob Rietmann deserves re-election both on the basis of his performance as a Board member and to maintain proper communication between the Board and the residents of Morrow County. Pendleton is presently well represented by two Board Members residing within its city limits. The addition of Ms. Brizendine would mean that on a seven member board, three would be residing in one small area. Additionally, based upon the candidates running for the other board positions, it is possible that four of the seven board members could be from the Pendleton area. From my experience on the board, the college is best served by a board representing all areas of the college district and I feel it is crucial to have a representative from Morrow County. I am asking your support for Bob Rietmann, Bob is interested in education generally and BMCC particularly. He has done an excellent job during his term of office and I urge 'his re-election. Sincerely yours, BobAbrams Experience qualifies Broadbent Editor, Three years of experience on the Morrow County School Board qualifies Ken Broadbent as an experienced candidate and well qualified for re-election to the Board. Ken has an excellent record of attendance and participation on the Board. He is concerned about the education of all the children in the school district and listens sympathetically to the concerns of people throughout the district. He has been a member of the Board through a period of Error noticed Editor, I noticed a mistake in last week's Gazette concerning the man who owned the Thompson ranch in the hills above the Kilkenny place. Press Thompson lived in those hills. He had several bands of sheep and in those days they made money. His money helped to start the first bank in Heppner. He was among the first to establish the Mason Lodge and he gave land to help build a school up in those hills. But he did keep money on hand at the ranch and someone found the most of it. He tried so hard to tell his brother, Alexander Thompson, its location, but he couldn't speak for , days. Now I know all these stories because Pres Thompson was my husband's (Ralph Thompson) uncle. I would like you to change the name in your story of the gold. I have been a reader of the Gazette so many years and . even if I live away from Heppner and I am sure I don't know the many newcomers, I still have many old time friends. A long time reader, Mrs. Ralph Thompson Pendleton EDITOR'S NOTE: In the March 16 edition of Sifting Through the Times, Press Thompson was Incorrectly identified as Press Thomas. We thank Mrs. Thompson for calling the error to our attention.) Peck supported for Advisory Committee Editor, April 4th is the date of the School Budget election and the Heppner-Lexington Advisory Committee election. One of the Lexington Advisory positions is currently held by Virginia Grieb, who is not seeking re-election. A Lexington resident, Steve Peck, is running for this position. Steve feels the Advisory Committee plays on important role in our children's education, but could have a stronger voice in the decisions made by the Administration of Morrow County Schools. He twice represented a group of concerned parents in Lexington during the recent controversy over the assignment of Lexington children to schools in the district. Steve has shown his interest by being involved and if elected, we can trust him to keep us informed of issues that concern our children's education and the wisest use of our property taxes. Vote for Steve Peck and become better informed about our schools in Morrow county. Susan Johnston 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 Sating, Officer Manager Elane Blanchet, Reporter Gayle Rush, Composing Chloe Pearson, Composing Justine Weatherford , Local Columnist Ron Jordan, Printer considerable growth and understands the problems and needs created by this. This kind of experience is needed in order to have a good board member. Ken's enthusiasm, dedication and experience make him a worthy candidate for re-election to the Morrow County School Board on April 4. , Sincerely, Delmer Hug Broadbent deserves vote Editor, Kenneth Broadbent has served on the Morrow County School Board since 1975. During this time he has an excellent attendance record at all regular and special meetings of the School Board and has taken an active part in all, Board activities. Ken has been on the Board during a period of rapid growth and has been a part of solving problems created by this growth. He works closely with his area Advisory Committee and tries very hard to listen to the concerns of those in his local community as well as patrons of the total School District. Anyone who becomes a ' public officer grows with experience, Ken Broadbent has that experience as well as the necessary dedication to continue to do a good job. He deserves your vote for School Board Member on April 4. Jerry Peck Vote for Rietmann Editor, Blue Mountain Community College is fortunate in having Bob Rietmann as a board member. He is an honest, fair-minded and dedicated man who undertakes his duties with total commitment. Since August 1975 he has been a board member. During that time we have held 48 board meetings. Bob has attended 45 of these despite driving a distance of 140 miles round trip. The people of Morrow County are a very important part of BMCC in providing-both students and a large share of tax dollars. It is, therefore, extremely important that these people be represented with a board member. This can only take place through the election of Bob Rietmann to position No. 1, as all board members are elected by a district wide vote. Let's vote for Bob Rietmann and give Morrow County a board member. Mac Campbell Chairman, Blue Mountain Community College Board of Education The Winds of Time March, the month of winds, I've heard say; But I've seen winds in many a place, on many a day Blow in a wayward way. The wind has a wayward mind; Is a thing of many moods. Today, touches the cheek gentle as a baby's kiss Tomorrow, I'll run with the wind A good wind at the back, As the Irish say, gently walks behind. So I breeze along with a cheerful mind. There's the wind "Maria" of the sailor's song, He cries to her to strongly blow, so his ship may safely homeward go. Another day, the gentle winds are gone An angry raging winter wind in her ermine robe of ice and snow, Strikes head on, stays our stride; We face this mood too. Gather courage; push on through There's always a gentle wind on the other side Yet they change from day to day. Those angry hurricane winds with the pretty ladies' names Play the most devastating games, Then off and away to another place, another day. We meet each wind's wayward way. The winds of time? We meet them all Ours to challenge We must face them all Ours to answer the call. by Katherine Rozelle Farrar TIME? Lilt' B. il-HJtt-yW, In an editorial published in the Gazette-Times this week ten years ago, Editor Wes Sherman presented the idea of hiring a full-time coordinator for projects which might affect future development of Morrow County: "Probably never in the history of Morrow County have there been so many projects in the talking stage things that would bring tremendous development to the county. Just a few of them are: The Columbia Southside project (potential irrigation), the thermal nuclear plant-irrigation combina tion, industrial plants (such as the one being considered by Dow Chemical) for lands of the Port Commission, the Willow Creek Dam project, proposed fish impoundments in the mountains, private irrigation projects that may develop on recently sold BLM land, and the offering of Boeing lands to other industries. "...There is a definite need to focus the efforts of all these groups (Morrow County Court, Chamber of Commerce, etc.) towards tying down some of these potential projects. There is a widespread feeling that these 'dreams' can become realities, but this cannot be accomplished by merely hoping they will come to the county or asking them to come. "There is a rather acute need for a skilled person, hired for the sole purpose of promoting the county and its economy.. .A good promoter may bring dividends to Morrow County a thousand fold." The Times reported this week in 1958 that a Korean orphan named Clayton has just arrived in Heppner, via the Harry Holt "babylift". The youngster was to make his home with his new parents Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Wilson and sister Rogenia. The seven-week old baby was to be joined later by another Korean orphan, six-month old Juanita, delayed across the sea because of chickenpox. Today, Clayton Wilson is a second-year student at BMCC and Juanita is serving in the Navy, stationed in San Diego. The princesses of the Morrow County Fair and Rodeo Court were announced 20 years ago this week. Joining Queen Patricia Steagall on the court were Ann Bell Coleman, sponsored by the lone Grange; Karen Valentine, Rhea Creek Grange; Joann Brosnan, Lena community; and Wanda Forthman of Boardman, sponsored by the Tillicum Club. Spring cleaning, an age-old tradition, was being engaged in in a big way by the City of Heppner in the spring of 1948: "Heppner's streets have been undergoing a series of cleanings in recent weeks under the supervision of Commissioner Pat Mollahan. What with good top soil washing down from the hillsides and all but burying the roadways...therehas been much work for the street cleaning department, but Pat seems determined to win out against the elements, and he, being a son of the old sod, it is safe to place your money on the idea he will accomplish his purpose." And a comment on spring weather by the Times 30 years ago: "March was a rugged month, giving us all of the 57 varieties of weather. While sub-normal temperature prevailed most of the time, crops made a good growth and there are some beautiful fields for this time of year. Trees have started budding and the willows along the creek have assumed a definite green hue. Sunday was all that could be asked by Easter crowds, and Monday brought one of the nastiest wind and dust storms seen in these parts in recent years. Little boys are playing marbles and flying kites, and the muse is stirring in the poetic breast. It must be spring at last." The Heppner Garage offered these enticing deals on used cars in 1928: "1927 Ford Tudor Sedan Guaranteed first class condition, $150 down payment takes it. Terms on balance; 1924 Ford Enclosed Touring, a-1 condition, good tires, runs fine, Pay $45 down and take it away; 1918 Buick Touring Runs fine, five good tires. Full price $50." Small-town weeklies traditionally try to report all the news in their communites, the personal as well as the larger politically-oriented stores. Here's a sample of the Rhea Creek correspondent's report, containing some familiar names, published in the Gazette-Times this week in 1928: "Last Sunday was the birthday anniversary of R.E. Allstott. A large number of relatives gathered to wish him many happy returns of the day. A new Star sedan recently purchased by Mr. Allstott added to the pleasure of those present. "In spite of the disagreeable weather a good sized crowd attended the Grange dance last Saturday night, though a number of the usual attendants went to a school entertainment at Rocky Bluff given by the pupils of Alice Keithley." - OBITUARIES Mildred Clowery Mildred Cecilia Clowery, 88, Hermiston, a former Heppner resident, died in Hermiston, Saturday, March 25. She was born June 11, 1889 in Remington, Indiana, the daughter of James and Katherine O'Connor Clowery. She was graduated from St. Joseph's Hospital School of Nursing at Tacoma, Wash., and was a registered nurse at Fort Lewis, Washington in 1914. She c$me to Heppner in 1920 and tor many years operated a nospital with Dr. A.D. McMurdo. In 1975 she moved to Hermiston, residing at the Good; Samaritan Nurs ing and Retirement Center until her death. Recitation of the Rosary was Wednesday, March 29, at 7:30 p.m. at St. Patrick's Church, Heppner. Funeral Mass will be today, Thursday, March 30, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Patrick's Church, with the' Rev. Raymond Beard of Milton-Freewater officiating.: Sacred selections will be rendered by Sister Regina Frances. Concluding services and interment will be at Heppner Masonic Cemetery, with Sweeney Mortuary in; charge of arrangements. Cas-! ket bearers are Harry 0'Don- nell, Larry Lindsay, Francis Doherty, James Farley, Dick' McElligott and Bill Kenny, j Miss Clowery is survived by a sister, Mary J. Lewis,' Englewood, Ohio; two nieces, j Sister Michael Catherine, St.f Anthony's Hospital, Pendle-; ton, and Mrs. Hugh Savage,! Englewood, Ohio; a nephew,'. ' Albert Pearson, Corvallis;, and a cousin, Helen Rayburn,: Beaverton. Polling Correction For the Blue Mountain Community College levy and director election on April 4, the correct voting location for Irrigon residents is the Mor row County Office Building, Irrigon, not A.C. Houghton Elementary School as listed in the sample ballot which ap peared in last week's Gazetted Times. 4 if-
