Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (April 6, 1978)
The Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon, Thursday, April 6, 1978 THREE License denial possible for Sundown ; The Oregon Motor Vehicles , Division has notified Sundown Pontiac Motors of Hermiston that it does not intend to renew the dealer's license for 1978. The firm has been given 60 days under the state's Admin istrative Procedures Act to request a hearing on the decision. As of Tuesday, this request had not been made, a spokesman for the state agen cy said. Harold L. Grover, adminis trator of the Motor Vehicles Division, also has told Sun down by certified letter that his department was immedi ately withdrawing the firm's authority to act as an agent for the division in issuing temporary Oregon registra tions and in inspecting vehicle identification numbers on out-of-state licensed vehicles com ing into Oregon. Graver's actions followed a continuing investigation of the Hermiston firm that be gan when the licensing agency received a complaint about the firm's alleged operations. Randy DeWees, new opera tions manager for Sundown (Bob Paoli, former manager, remains as dealer), feels most of the errors made by the Hermiston dealership were County The Morrow County Court 'dealt with a full agenda of business at its meeting held at the courthouse on Wednesday, March 29. The court approved two requests for zone changes for land from qualified farm to farm. The County Planning Commission had already gi ven the go-ahead on the requests made by Earl Blake of Heppner and Dewey West of , Boardman, After discussing once more the county -wide need for dog control, the Court decided to talk again to the mayors of the cities in the county about the problem. The City of Irrigon is making arrangements to do nate a one-acre parcel of land to the local humane society for use as an animal shelter for the joint efforts of Morrow and north Umatilla Counties and the Court has been asked for county financial assistance. In another matter, the county received a letter from the City of Irrigon asking to enter into an agreement with Morrow County for the Justice Court to handle the state traffic violations within the city and asking the county to allow the newly elected Irri gon Minicipal Judge to con duct court from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. every Wednesday to may sans USI.III3Irn3&iCa1S Farmers Non-Smoker Life Insurance can save you money in a big way! Because if you don't smoke, you'll probably live longer. And Farmers thinks you deserve to pay less than the guys you'll outlive. Ask your Farmers Agent about non-smoker lite insurance. And while you're at it, ask him about .. . Farmers Non-Smokers Auto Insurance Research shows that non-smokers tend to have fewer auto accidents than people who smoke So Farmers gives them a break on their car insurance If you haven't smoked for two years or more, flPr?'T you may be able to save plenty. j jvLU !' Call your Farmers Agent today. JQ&$Jj2 Our policy to saving you money Lrsi JL-a Ksyss-Agssit 676-5318 Hsppnsr farmers Nm Wofkf Lite Insurance Company Marcar Iflwd. WA immbw FanMn hrwrwci Group "clerical and procedural" and that none were made with the intent to defraud. "If we're guilty of anything, it was doing too much busi ness," he said. Sundown moved into Her miston, not with the intent of "stealing business" from other dealers, but to capitalize on the area's "tremendous growth potential" and to build a modern facility, DeWees said. Sundown had projected initial sales of 50-60 cars per month, about double the pre vious dealership's volume. This was expected to increase to around 150-200 cars per month in a few years time. The future came quicker than anyone anticipated, how ever, as sales immediately zoomed to around 100 a month when the dealership opened last October. It was some thing "we weren't prepared for," DeWees said. Sundown was especially surprised by the volume of Washington business it was getting. DeWees feels this led to some mistakes because the salesmen weren't familiar with the procedures involved in selling cars to Washington residents. . DeWees responds to com Court OKs zone changes handle city ordinance viola tions. No action was taken on the proposals. The Court reappointed Al fred Nelson as inspector of the Lexington Blow District. Bill Rietmann was named alter nate inspector. Sheriff Larry Fetsch and Deputy Wayne Maxam met with the Court with prelimi nary plans for a new jail, prepared by architect Jack .Miller, the Court recommen ded the . architect - include a juvenile office in an alternate plan. Mel Boyer, operator of the Lexington Airport, discussed with the Court the airport lease which expired Nov. 1, 1977. A rental amount of $150 per month $1,800 annually was agreed on and a new lease will be prepared. In business pertaining to the Road Department, the Court approved a markup of 15 per cent over the cost of culverts that are sold. The Court also agreed to terminate the lease on crushing at the Brenner site on Rhea Creek but to keep the lease open for rock stockpiled there. The lease on the Hanna site up Hinton Creek will also be terminated. The Court reviewed a re quest from Kent Goodyear that a larger culvert be placed more t Bisn mmm m J plaint's of high pressure sales tactics by noting his salesmen are "aggressive" and that the dealership's approach is to "go after the business and do what it takes to get it." The firm operates on the concept of "high volume, low profit," he said. This formula has apparent ly paid off for the new dealership which has risen to the top of its "planning potential" in Pontiac and GMC sales. Complaints have been made to the Consumer Protection Division about repairs at Sundown but DeWees said he has checked with Pontiac, Buick and GMC and that the firm's record is "outstanding" in this area and that it has ''fewer service complaints on a sales basis" than other dealerships. ' "We're doing everything we can to operate a dealership and to stay in Hermiston for a long time to come," he said. Plans have already been sub mitted to General Motors for a "huge modern facility" on a 6 acre site about midway between Hermiston and Uma tilla. It would employ about 50-75 people. DeWees said Sundown was trying to rectify its past across the road which drains near his property near Hepp ner High School. Goodyear had also said there was need of a stop sign at the junction of the road from the High School and Fuller Canyon Road. The Court and Roadmaster Doc Sherer agreed to both the larger culvert and the stop sign. The Court decided to inform Jack Wallace that at this time it did not want to sell a lot in Lexington owned by the coun ty which he had asked to purchase. Don Scott of the Lcyal DBOP I TOP QUALITY DREEM LATEX FLAT inn 1 1 nil hit ohll ram I 2nd GAL. THESE PRODUCTS TO npq? n n rp iG iave m ACRYLIC RUSTIC-KOTE SOLID COLOR STAIN Reg $11 45 GAL. DREEM ALKYD SEMI GLOSS ENAMEL Reg. $15 95 GAL DREEM ACRYLIC LATEX SEMI GLOSS ENAMEL i Reg. $14 95 GAL. LATEX ENAMEL UNDERCOATER Reg. $11.95 GAL. LoMingfon Lumber mistakes and "insure they won't happen in the future." The Sundown investigation began March 7. Grover said it showed the firm had not renewed its license for 1978. The division also alleged Sundown had not complied with some laws and rules relating to titles and registra tion procedures. As a result of the investiga-. tion, a citation was issued on March 7 by the Oregon State Police to the firm for operat ing without a dealer's license. The firm was advised not to sell vehicles until a license was obtained. This is a Class A misdeameanor under Ore gon law and carries a maxi mum penalty, upon convic tion, of $1,000, or a year in jail, or both. Two days later, Sundown was again cited by the State Police for not having a deal er's license and for failure to notify DMV of acquistion of a vehicle. The latter is a Class B traffic infraction and carries a maximum $500 fine upon conviction. DMV says it un derstands the firm has plead ed innocent to the charges and trial date is to be set. Grover said DMV investi gator Merle Graham told Sundown officials on March 9 Government Personnel Insti tute was retained by the Court as the person to negotiate matters of union agreements with the road department and sheriff's department. In other action, the Court: approved the expenditure of $7,180 for lumber from Pea cock Lumber Co. to rebuild ' three bridges in the county; approved the purchase of a 920 loader from Inland Machinery for $20,000 with trade-in allow ance; and signed a contract for auditing services with Witherell, Witherell, Morrison and Fife. ft t W W ii I Dreem latex flat 1st Gal. $12.95 SOME CUSTOM COLORS HIGHER ALSO ON SALE SOME CUSTOM COLORS HIGHER 989-8586 Lexington that they had continued to sell vehicles after the first citation and that that represented another violation. It was then the dealer closed its display and sales room until a tempor ary license was issued March 13. Grover said the division had turned over to the Consumer Protection Division com Martin campaign meet is Saturday Promising a campaign the likes of which "hasn't been seen in this county in recent years," Steve Peck, co-chairman of the Morrow County Roger Martin for Governor Committee, invites all interes ted persons to attend an informational committee meeting to familiarize voters with the candidate and his campaign. The meeting will be held Saturday, April 8, beginning at 7:30 p.m. at West of Willow restaurant. Peck said the purpose of the We're sending a shower of Country SPAR 1. W! vL Bros. Nutter Butters ) zi Friskies I Food I Asst'd. Flavors l Crystal White Balsam, Regular & Lemon Liquid Detergent Strawberries Where we Central tie prices and convenience for you. plaints submitted to it which allege unethical or illegal business practices by the Hermiston firm. DMV also is cooperating with the state of Washington in looking at alleged cases of Sundown providing Oregon addresses for Washington residents in order to evade Washington taxes. meeting will be to talk about the Roger Martin campaign and get as many people involved as possible. The candidate will be mak ing a return to visit to Heppner Saturday, April 22, and will be available to meet the people beginning at 5 p.m. at West of Willow. The previous day, Martin wil be involved in a three-way debate with Repub lican gubernatorial primary candidates Victor Atiyeh and Tom McCall. The debate will be televised live from Port land on KGW-TV. Style $7129 u ib. iHIBS roiiuS NABISCO Fig Nevtons Waffle Creams "tJRc u tD Campfire Miniature Marshmallows IO'j-oz. iff; Chicken Noodle 48-oz. ,i :-'-7 V; j Cello Pak pint ry: 'J Carrots 2-b MARKET Atiyeh to make 3 county stops Morrow County will host yic Atiyeh this Friday, April 7, and Saturday, April 8, during the Republican gubernatorial candidate's campaign sweep through Eastern Oregon. Atiyeh 's itinerary includes a no-host dinner in Heppner Friday at 7:15 p.m. in West of Willow; a Saturday breakfast at 7:15 a.m. in Beecher's, lone; and a noon luncheon in Boardman Saturday at the Nomad Restaurant. At each stop, the candidate will speak on issues facing Oregon in general and Morrow County in particular and will provide time to answer questions from each audience. The Morrow County Port Commission plans to guide Atiyeh on a tour of the coal-fired plant facility near Boardman. Atiyeh, current Oregon Sen ate Republican Leader and a 20-year veteran of the Oregon legislature, has said his re cord proves his top priority is the people of Oregon. He believes it's time bureaucra cies start assisting Oregon citizens instead of trying to Family Pck POflK CHOPS $ H 39 Li ib lOVi-oz. 7V-oz. 1 t ' 1 www"111 1 . Campbells Chicken Noodle Soup 4sH Sliced or Halves Radishes & Green Onions over-regulate them. , The candidate says the high cost of state government is a major campaign issue, point ing out the state budget has increased from $490 million to 2.126 billion during the past two administrations. Atiyeh has served on many committees dealing with the concerns of Oregon and has chaired such committees as the Committee on Trade and Economic Development. A Beaverton businessman, Atiyeh has been active in community organizations in cluding the United Fund, Red Cross, Oregon Boy's Club, the Isaak Walton League and is best known for his long time involvement in the Boy Scouts. Atiyeh ran unsuccessfully against Bob Straub for gover nor in 1974 as the Republican nominee. Don Peterson, chairman of the Morrow County Atiyeh for Governor Committee, urges all county residents to take advantage of this week's opportunities to meet the candidate. your way! fie I Betty Crocker Instant Potatoes Kraft I Macaroni & J Cheese 1 Dinners Lady Alberta Freestone Peaches 29-oz. PRICES EFFECTIVE ' April 6,7,8, ' GR0C. 676-9614 MEAT 676-9223 j WE DELIVER OH I TUESDAY & FRIDAY I Bc Bunch Ng. j 7
