TWO The Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon, Thursday, May 11, 1978
LETTERS
COMMENTS
Sifting through
the TIMESfl
EDITORIAL
COMMENT
Register to vote
May 23
Although the May 23 primary election is less
than two weeks away, it is still possible to register
to vote, providing certain requirements are met.
In some instances, it is even possible to register
on election day.
From now until the election, persons wishing to
register to vote must deliver to County Clerk Sadie
Parrish's office a completed registration form, and
obtain a certificate of registration. If the county
clerk receives the application more than ten days
prior to May 23, the certificate will be mailed to you.
During the last 10 days before the election, the
certificate must be picked up in person.
The certificates can be issued by the county
clerk or her representatives as late as 8 p.m. on
election day.
When appearing at the polls on May 23,
surrender the certificate of registration to precinct
officials, and sign it in view of the election board
clerk. The signed certificate shall be considered
part of the poll book, and your name will appear in
the book during the next election.
Voters who have obtained absentee ballots for
the upcoming election must send them to the county
clerk soon enough that they will arrive no later than
8 p.m. on election day.
- ..... -. H vX Sig
LETTERS FROM READERS
Kite flying story kindles memories
Picture Credit
Potatoes stretch to the horizon in this field near Boardman,
symbolizing this year's record Morrow County potato
planting. Favorable spring growing conditions have given
these plants a head start towards a possible bumper harvest.
Editor,
That article in last week's paper about the kite-flying day
really took me back to the 30's and early 40's when on a new,
windy, spring day Stanley Minor would be up on Barratt's hill
flying his large kite that seemed to us to be miles up in the
sky. We use to climb that hill as fast as we could to watch him
unravel the twine to make the kite go higher and higher. As
kids, we were so awed by that fantastic feat we used to think
that was the best thing that ever happened to our town.
People could see that kite for miles around, and we always
thought he had to be someone special to do such a grand .
Literature on industry, government
at library; many books overdue
by Justine Weatherford
A shelf full of facts about
nuclear energy and particu
larly about the developments
at the Boardman Nuclear
Plant and the planning for the
Pebble Springs plant has
collected at the Heppner
Public Library.
This week the draft techni
cal report on the comprehen
sive plan for the City of
Lexington joined the technical
reports on the cities of lone
and Heppner and other mater
ial sent to the library by the
East Central Oregon Associa
tion of Counties (ECOAC). '"
All of these governmental
reports contaip' diagrams,
facts and statistics. Their
implementation, writing .and
printing is paid for by taxpay
ers wno might like to see part
of what their money is buying.
The Heppner Public Library
catalogs four to six just-off-the
-press books each month along
with copies of selected sub
scription periodicals for
adults and children. In addi
tion several book orders are
authorized by the board each
year, depending on the state of
the funds available.
Because the city budget for
1978-79 has carried and be
cause a local lodge has
generously contributed some
money for books, several
significant orders should be
possible soon, and users of the
library service are encour
aged to register requests for
books they would like to see
added to the local collection.
Now that the microfilmed
listings of the State Library's
current non-fiction accessions
are available here, patrons
are able to obtain more helpful
information than previously
was available through their
library's forwarding of their
requests to Salem.
In the last five years the
Heppner Library has lost
more than one hundred books.
Probably most of the non-returned
books have left this
community with people who
have moved away. The librar
ian has tried to get in touch
with the borrowers but finds
that their forwarding addres
ses are usually unknown.
Some of the missing books
are undoubtedly right here in
this area. It would be very
helpful if they would be
returned to the library. Per
haps people are hesitating to
return them because the
overdue fines at 5c per day do
mount up. It is possible to
waive most of the fines due on
books that have been missing
for long periods.
It is most important that
any library books be returned
to the library. They are public
property. Our state law pro
vides a penalty for persons
who are convicted of "will
fully or maliciously detaining
materials belonging to a
publicly-supported library."
thing. As if that wasn't enough, each winter when it snowed
we would go to his house and, sure enough, there would be a
snow carving of Abraham Lincoln in his yard.
It is great to be living in these times, but I am also happy
to be able to have such memories.
Walter Skuzeski
..f or Atiyeh'
Editor,
As student body presidents of Portland State University
and Oregon State University, we have had the opportunity to
observe the political structure of the state. A great many
young Republicans feel stongly that it is time we simply
selected the best man for the job, and stopped playing
personality games.
That is why Vic Atiyeh is our choice for governor of
Oregon. He has shown over and over that he, is the one
candidate who actually knows and understands the issues,
and has realistic plans to deal with them.
Oregonians want tax relief Vic Atiyeh is an
acknowledged expert on taxation. We want less runaway
government spending Vic Atieyh has pledged to cut
wasteful bureaucracy. We want a better balance between
Oregon's environment and Oregon business Vic Atieyh
represents that balance.
The young Republican voters of Oregon care about the
issues. We are tired of political rhetoric and phony promises.
It's Time for Atiyeh!
John Becker
Portland State University
Stan McGehee
Oregon State University
THEi
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
Ron Jordan, Printer
Elks Calendar
Thursday, May 11
Ladies Nite, Bingo & Cards
Dinner 6:30 BBQ Spareribs
$3.00
Mother's Day Observance
Lodge
Friday, May 12
District Ritual Contest, Hepp
ner 7:00 p.m.
Hors d'ouvres 5:30
Saturday, May 13
Luau & Dance
Members and out-of
District Ritual Contest
9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Lunch served 11:30-12:30
Tuesday, May 16
Senior Citizens 4:30
Hors d'ouvres 5:30
Wednesday, May 17
Senior Citizens 4:30
Boy Scouts 7:30
Thursday, May 18
Lodge 8 p.m.
Dinner Drawing
Fisherman's Nite
Hors d'ouvres 5:30
town guests only.
The importance of each vote in a local election was
driven home with a heavy hammer ten years ago this week,
when a front-page headline in the Gazette-Times announced :
"Budget Passes by Three-Vote Margin, 285 to 283 County
gives Slim Win". Only two precincts out of six Heppner
and Boardman approved the Morrow County School
District budget in 1968, but tallied enough 'yes' votes to push
it over the top by a very slim three-vote margin. The budget
approved was 16 per cent higher than the one the previous
year.
William E. Rawlins, identified by the Times as a
prominent lone rancher and horticulturist, was chosen as
Morrow County "Father of the Year" this week in 1968.
Rawlins, the father of four and active in 4-H leadership, was
enthusiastically nominated and supported by the Empire
Builders 4-H club for the honor.
Food costs, percentage wise, were the lowest ever ten
years ago, according to this editorial written by then-editor
Wes Sherman: "Consumers today are spending YJlM per cent
of their income on food, a smaller percentage than ever
before, according to the Agri-Business Council of Oregon.
Today's all-time low is expected to drop to approximately 15
per cent by 1970.
"While this is good news to the consumer, it's making
things tougher on the farmer. In 1945, the farmer received
53c of each dollar spent for food at the retail level. Now this
figure has dropped to 32c. The poor profit picture has reduced
the number of farms from 59,000 to 37,000 in the last 14 years.
"...For many foods, the farmer receives so small a part
that if he gave his products away, retail prices would decline
very little. As an example, the retail price for a loaf of bread
is about 25 c. The farmer receives 3c for his wheat. With free
wheat, the bread would still cost 22c.
"Agri-Business Council recently conducted a statewide
survey in which the majority of Oregonians did not think the
farmer was getting his fair share of the food dollar.
"These people felt, however, that some mysterious
middleman was taking a big chunk of the profit from the
farmer. Using the 'loaf of bread' example, there are
middlemen. The transportation industry gets its share from
moving the wheat several times. A percentage of each dollar
also goes for storage and warehousing. The mills get part of
the dollar, as does the bakery and super market. Yet these
'middle men' are not mysterious nor are the charges
exorbitant.
"Who then is taking the profit out of farming?
Agri-Business Council contends it is the consumer. The
association says. 'The reason the farmer is not getting his
fair share is that he is subsidizing the consumer with low food
prices.'
"Something has to give. Agri-Business Council asserts
that food prices must increase and this increase must be
passed on to the farmer."
While food costs have increased considerably in the ten
years, the farmers' slice of that figurative loaf of bread is ,
even leaner.
Morrow County's first road department serial levy was
to Jte included on the primary ballot in 1948, following a
virtual shut-down of the department after the county budget
was defeated. The 10-mill levy was to raise approximately
$120,000.
The Gazette-Times commented: "An old saying, trite,
but true. 'Don't cut off your nose to spite your face, might
have some relationship to the current situation affecting
Morrow County's roads. It is being bruited about that the
voters are saying they will not support the proposed road
bond measure unless they know who is going to administer
the funds. That's just about as assuring as another
saying 'if we had some ham we would have ham and eggs, if
we had the eggs.'"
"It is rather difficult to foresee who will administer the
funds when two members of the county court are to be
nominated at the same time the road issue is to be voted on...
"If we think the roads are in bad shape now, what will be
their condition by the time another year passes or maybe
several years unless the attitude changes..."
Running for the county judge position 30 years ago were
incumbent Bert Johnson, Garnet Barratt, and George Peck,
while Russell K. Miller, Oscar Peterson and H.C. Vogler vied
for the county commissioner seat.
Heppner High School athletes were surely enjoying a
peak of success back in 1S2S: "For the second time within the
present school year, the Heppner High School athletic teams
have tromped off with the championship of the Upper
Columbia Athletic League. Last fall it was in football now it
is baseball...The Heppner boys proved their mettle by going
through the entire season without losing a single game..."
Lettermen on that championship squad were captain
Gerald Slocum, Robert Turner, Howard Evans, Harold
Gentry, Nolan Turner, Jim Monahan and Elmer Hake,
Marvin Gammell, "Red" Bramer and Onez Parker also
played on the team.
Classified printed fifty years ago: "For rent Good
pasture with lots of water. $2.00 a month. Troy Bogard, Eight
Mile, Oregon."
Community
BILLBOARD
Call 676-9228
Thursday May n
Soroptomists, noon, Wagon
Wheel
Story Hour, 10:30 a.m., Hepp-
nerLibrary
Friday May 12
Bake Sale, 9:30 a.m., Degree
of Honor Bldg.
Card Party Luncheon, bake
sale, 10 a.m. -2: 30 p.m.
Lexington
IOOF Lodge
Pioneer Memorial Hospital
Open House, 2-4 p.m.
Community Art Show, all
week, Heppner Elementary
multipurpose room; recep
tion 7-9 p.m.
Monday Mayis
! Chamber of Commerce, noon,
! West of Willow
M.C. School District Board,
7:30j).m., Lexington
Tuesday Mayi6
P.E. Program, 7:30 p.mT,
Heppner Elementary gym
Lions, noon, W. of W.
Heppner Planning Comm., 8
p.m., City Hall
Wednesday Mayn
County , Court,
courthouse
9:30 a.m.,
Sponsored
By"
RAY
BOYCE
INSURANCE
ixj
228 N. Main St. Hppner676-62