J i i Z '
TWO The Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon, Thursday, June 8, 1978
The Heppner
GAZETTE-TIMES
Sifting through
the TIMES&
An important issue concerning the transfer of
students from one school to another within the
Morrow County School District will be decided later
this month.
Earlier this year attendance or whether or not
parents have a choiqe in deciding where their child
will go to school came before the district's school
board. At that time several residents brought up
verbal committments made by school boards many
years ago when consolidation of the district was
taking place. Basically, the parents were saying
that a previous school board had said parents have
the choice.
Since that time the present administration and
school board began taking steps in the right
direction, establishing a written policy for
attendance transfers.
EDITORIAL
COMMENT
In April the district administration presented
an attendance policy which was also adopted at
the meeting allowing transfer from one school to
another for academic or social reasons.
Attached to the policy was a restriction on athletic
eligibility for transferring students. It states simply
that any student who transfers from any school in
one attendance area to a school in another
attendance area, be restricted from participation in
athletics for a period of one year. The policy only
applies if the student was involved in athletics at the
school he previously attended.
In essence then, a student that receives
approval for transfer based on academic reasons
of which there are many is penalized of sorts by
being prohibited from participation in athletics. No
mention is made of restricting other activity such as
participation in stage band, drama, or FFA, none of
which are offered at lone High School but are at
Heppner High School.
At the admission of two school district
administrators to The Gazette-Times this week,
finding reason for transfer on academic grounds is
not difficult. If that is the case and we feel it
Pioneer picnic lauded
Editor,
Another Annual Pioneer Memorial Picnic has come and
gone. It has been a satisfying experience for the
Green-Bryant committee to work together as a family and
with others in the community to arrange for and serve this
25th anniversary picnic.
We express thanks to the civic organizations, businesses,
fraternal groups, clubs and individuals who cooperated so
well with their services and contributions of gifts, time and
money. And, to the Heppner Gazette-Times for the fine
promotional coverage.
We served more than 300 people and feel that such a
response indicates the importance of continuing this annual
event. Again, thanks everyone for your help.
Sincerely,
The Green-Bryant Committee
Rescue Posse praised
Editor,
Last week end May 26th & 27th our church in Richland,
Washington had a Father and Son outing in the mountains
near Heppner.
. . ''Ms
Picture
Credit
County Koarimaster loc Sherer shows broken pavement along Ione-Boardman Road
caused by a Caterpillar-type farm tractor. The cleated tractor tore up the edge of the county
road for more than a mile. Most of the route it traveled was along empty summer fallow
land, on which it could have moved without causing damage. Sherer figures it will cost more
than $fi()0 to repair the road. Similar damage is common on county roads, he said.
is then a student who receives approval of transfer
from the district's administrators is being unjustly
penalized with the athletic restriction.
The district administration is concerned about
students who want to transfer for purely athletic
reasons but veil their request in academics. Also,
recruiting of fine athletes by coaches in another
school may occur, according to the administration.
They propose the athletic eligibility clause to
prevent that from happening.
The district's policy says that athletics shall not
be criterion for transfer. That means then, that all
applications for transfer are based on academic
reasoning and if the student gets approval for
transfer because of academics, why should he or
she be penalized if they also want to participate in
athletics.
Living in Richland, where there are no pine trees or
mountains we really appreciated the area near Penland
Lake.
During the day, Saturday, our two sons got lost in the
timber. When I discovered that the boys were lost most of our
group had left for home. It was a very unpleasant experience
to feel that myself and a few friends, all unfamiliar with the
area, would have to start searching for the boys.
However, before long, the Captain of the Search and
Rescue Posse was on the scene.
From then on, even though it was several hours more
before my sons were located, I felt much relief knowing that
the fine men of the Rescue Posse were helping.
My wife and I would like to express our heartfelt thanks
to the Morrow County Sheriff's Search and Rescue Posse,
and to Sheriff Larry Fetsch.
Indeed, Morrow County can be very proud of these fine
people.
Mr. and Mrs. Craig Buchanan
THEGAZETTE -TIMES
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
Rick Steelhammer, News Editor Eileen Saling, Officer Manager Elane Blanchet, Reporter
Gayle Rush, Composing Chloe Pearson, Composing Justine Weatherford, Local Columnist
Ron Jordan, Printer
A multitude of questions concerning equaliza
tion of education between high schools, junior high
and elementary schools are raised with this issue,
and answers should be diligently sought. The
biggest problem with equalization of education
appears to be at the high school level, where
students are preparing for college and life in the
working world.
On the subject of attendance policy, we see it
this way: If students and parents can readily apply
lor and receive approval for transfer on the grounds
of academic superiority at one school over another,
; then there should be no athletic restriction
attached. To penalize a student who seeks out
academic excellence with non-participation in
athletics is capricious, arbitrary and doesn't have a
place in the Morrow County school system.
Death penalty favored
Editor,
I know that the younger generation's thoughts are not
generally heard by the people who live and run this
community. But I took a poll on 'the views of the students who
were for or against the "Death Penalty". Because I heard
that it might be on the ballot, and I wanted to see what the
students around me felt about it. I took 100 students' answers
and reasons from the grades 5th through 8th. The results are
79 per cent was for it, and 21 per cent were against the
"Death Penalty". Here are some of the reasons they gave,
one student said, "Why should we kill people who kill people
to prove that killing is wrong?" A lot of students came up
with this one, "If they kill someone they deserve to die." One
other student said, "If we have the 'Death Penalty', everyone
on the jury would believe in killing the convicted." And
another student said, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a
tooth." This is what the students of the Heppner Jr. High
School feel about the "Death Penalty".
Signed a concerned citizen,
Shelly Fraser
Recreation needed
Editor,
I am writing this letter in response to the lack of activity
around Heppner.
I think that somebody could consider and probably pass a
bill that would allow the city to build a roller rink, movie
theater, or some other type of recreation for the people of and
around Heppner.
I'm sure that there are a lot of other people that feel the
same way about this situation and would like to see
something done about it.
The space for something like this might cause problems,
but I think that if people cared enough they would find space.
Just to think that you have to go 45 to 60 or more miles just to
see a movie, and at least 65 to go roller skating.
The cost of something like this would probably be high
but I'm sure that there would be enough people interested
enough to pay the prices to get in and etc.
I hope that this will be put into consideration, it really
would be grand if something could be done.
Sherry Clement
Editor's Note:
The above letters from two of next year's eighth graders,
Shelly and Sherry, were encouraged by their language arts
teacher, Linda Murray. We welcome the opinions of area
youths to this page.
With primary elections barely out of the way ten years ago
this week, Morrow County voters were getting set to go to the
polls again to vote on the School District operating levy for
a second time. The slim 3-vote passage the first time around
had been declared void by the School Board because of five '
invalid ballots cast in that first election.
The Paul Pettyjohn Company of lone celebrated its 25th'
anniversary this week in 1968. According to a front page
article in the Gazette-Times, Pettyjohn first purchased the
General Petroleum bulk plant in lone from Ernest Lundell in
1947, and became affiliated with the Shell Oil Company (he's
now a mobile dealer) in 1957. Observing it's 35th anniversary
this year, the Paul Pettyjohn Co. continues to distribute fine
petroleum products throughout the county.
"Happy is the rancher who brings in an artesian well"
read the cutline under a front page photograph ten years ago
featuring Don Evans capping the brand new 250-foot deep
well on his ranch between Heppner and Lexington. Within a
few days after harnessing the artesian flow, Evans reported
that the well was operating 11 sprinklers without a pump.
"Songs" was announced as the theme of the 1958 Morrow
County Fair at a meeting of fair superintendents this week 20
years ago. Among superintendent changes also announced at
the organizational discussion were: Jerry Brosnan in charge
of sheep to replace Ron Currin who had been named to the
fair board; Mrs. Walter Wright, general home economics to
replace new fair board member Mrs. John Graves; Robert
Jones, superintendent of vegetable- tr -eplaee Tom Wilson;
and the addition of Mrs. Willia.ii Rawlins, ,ws. Omar
Rietmann and Mrs. Helen Cox as flower superintendents.
Marion T. Weatherford was the guest speaker at the
County's pioneer picnic on Memorial Day in 1958, comparing
the facilities of the pioneers with modern day advantages and
urging all citizens to do their part towards preserving
American heritage. The annual picnic drew a crowd of 222
people that year, with Dr. A.D. McMurdo acting as chairman
and Mrs. Clive Huston and Mrs. Lenny Louden assistant
officers. Mrs. Floyd Adams was in charge of registrations
and guest book, assisted by Mrs. James Hager, Mrs. Elaine
S. George and Mrs. Joe Hughes.
Flooding conditions on the Columbia River this week 30
years ago, gave many travelers a forced tour through this
part of the county. Cars were routed from Highway 30 above
Boardman, through Heppner, and over the Heppner-Condon
Highway to the John Day where they chose a north or south
course, as their destination called for. According to a front
page report in the Times, the Columbia was the highest it had
been since 1894. The river had Willow Creek backed up for
more than a quarter of a mile, with ranchers busy trying to
save hay crops in the path of the swollen stream.
Meanwhile, back in the Portland area, the community of
Vanport had been devastated by flood waters when a dike'
gave way. The Times commented:
"Sympathy is of little avail in times of crises unless that
sympathy can be put to practical use, yet in the case of the
Vanport disaster there is not too much that the outside world
can do. All that can be done is being accomplished through
the efforts of the people of Portland and the relief agencies
centered there. Flood conditions, still in a dangerous stage,
makes it next to impossible for effective aid from upstate
communities regardless of the desire to help...
"It is a picture that recalls, vividly, the scene that was
enacted in Heppner 45 years ago, although that flood was of a
different nature. Here the water rushed and left its wreckage
behind. Relief work started immediately and it was possible
to search for bodies within a few hours after the flood passed.
It is a different story in Vanport where flood conditions still
prevail. Not until the water has subsided will it be possible to
get an estimate of the loss of life and to recover the bodies of
victims."
Wheat farmers in the area have probably been some
what encouraged by the recent target price hike for their
grain, and a glance back to the crop and price situation this
week in 1938 might provide even more encouragement, from
the "it could be worse" point of view.
"The average production of wheat in Morrow County for
the ten-year period 1928-1937 was 12Vi bushels per acre,"
reported the Gazette-Times 40 years ago. Yearly averages
were: 1928, 17.5 bu.; 1929, 12.8; 1930, 16.4; 19'31, 11.2, 1932,
16.2; 1933, 10.7; 1934, 7.6; 1935, 4.9; 1936, 10.7; and 1937, 13.5.
A separate but related article in that same issue in 1938,
was the account of an attempt by the Eastern Oregon Wheat
League, headed by president George N. Peck, to get an
additional 12 cents a bushel payment on contracted acres
from the government in return for a reduction of a similiar
amount in the commodity loan rate applicable to the area.
Peck said that such a concession to Pacific Northwest
wheat growers was necessary tf assist in disposing of the
section's large exportable surplus while making it possible
for ranchers to stay in business. '
The local market price was quoted at 56 cents a bushel at
the time the report appeared in the Times.
It could be worse.
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, Hppner, Ore., 97836.