Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 17, 1978)
TWO The Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon, Thursday, August 17, 1978 The Heppner GAZETTE-TIMES Sifting through - J13M , the TIMESj r n 7 Fo) n p n n V-J i . t J AkyJ I J Ljv.1 i 1 vnri Thoughts turning to Fair and Rodeo All thoughts are turning this week to the 1978 Morrow County Fair & Rodeo, and what a show it promises to be. A new format this year spreads the activities over two weekends which will give spectators a better opportunity to view the many exhibits before the local award-winners are rushed off to competition at the State Fair. In this week's issue of the Gazette-Times is a special section packed with informaton and a schedule for all the activities. We point out some new attractions this year, including the 4-H Action Alley, tobacco spitting and horseshoe pitching contests, and the adult showmanship feature which has also been dubbed "Harold Kerr's Show-Off Night." We understand that while an extension agent elswhere, Kerr was known to throw in a ringer or two during a similar event-and we'll bet someone is already a marked man for the go-round at this year's fair. New to the rodeo action this year will be races during the Saturday and Sunday performances. Although it isn't an RCA event this year; the Frank Beard stock will provide a challenge for top cowboys and cowgirls from throughout the Northwest. " All indications point to "the best fair ever" and you won't want to miss it. tmh Announcement is well received The announcement this week that Dr. Joe Gifford and his family may be interested in returning to Heppner is good news. First, we feel that Dr. Gifford is the right kind of man for a small community such as ours and a fine person, and secondly, it is a good sign that a doctor who left the community just months ago is willing to come back. That in itself says that Heppner must be a pretty decent place to live and work and that could be a plus in attempting to locate other doctors for Morrow County. The most important matter that came out in the meeting between Gifford and community leaders is the need to establish some positive direction for health care in Morrow County. The doctor's comments about the immediate need for an up-to-date emergency room and ambulance service should be heeded by the hospital ' board, the county court and the people of Morrow County. The hospital board and county court wasted no time as a meeting was held Wednesday to discuss those very things. Another meeting is scheduled for Friday for formation of a health care district that would take in all of Morrow County with an elected board of directors. Response to formation of the district has been positive so far and as public information is released concerning the district, we foresee even more support. Now that the ball is rolling, everyone needs to give it a push to keep the momentum up. tmh Willow Creek Dam requires attention With the announcement that the Willow Creek Dam is a reality, it also calls for careful watch-dogging of the project from its initial stages by city and county officials as well as the public. Years of effort to have the dam funded and constructed by many people in the Heppner community are about to happen, providing for the continued economic stability of Southern Morrow County. It would be a shame, if after all the effort, the dam, roads, water line and reservoir relocation and all the other changes that will come with the Willow Creek project, are not properly administered and planned for. We have seen the Corps of Engineers operate ins several different communities and although it appears that their plans and recommendations are cast in stone it ain't necessarily so. The right public input through local government officials can assure a project that's right and responsible. tmh -4 r t t ;-, - . (7 i v;r;.' ;fva , ; : Community help requested for table tennis championships Editor: I need your volunteer help for our upcoming event, the World Professional Table Tennis Title Match between Haiti and Thailand. This is something I would like to get everybody involved in. This is a very big event for a community as small as Heppner. My wife Cathy and I, now being Heppnerites, would like to prove that by all of us pulling together, we can promote good things as well as big events right here in our town. I've been in touch with a few out-of-town people, whose standard questions are: "Where is Heppner?" And in reply I say, "wait until the 18th of November, and we Heppnerites will let you know geographically." In promoting anything, the event that you are trying to promote will only be as successful as you allow it to be. Candidate clarifies residence question Editor: I have received several responses concerning the article covering my candidacy in The Gazette Times in July. The article pointed out some important differences in my political stand and that of my opponent. In regards to the statement that my opponent has lived in the district for less than one year, I have checked my resource to make certain that I used the information correctly. According to the Marion County Voter Registration file Chuck Bennett registered to vote on January 12, 1978. Based on the registration date, I stated that he has lived in the district for less than one year. If he had lived in Gates, Oregon (Marion County) for a longer period of time one would question why he had not registered sooner. If there are further questions concerning this statement or other issues please contact me at Rt. 1, Box 85C Culver, Oregon 97734. Thank You. Sincerely, Bill Bellamy Meaning that if you think big it will be big. But being successful in promoting is to use one secret key, and this key is enthusiasm. Without enthusiasm, you can't be successful. Most of all, you must have confidence in yourself. If you don't have this confidence, why should anyone else? So, people, if anyone is interested in becoming part of this fantastic project, please attend the meeting at the Elks Club on Tuesday, Aug. 22 at 7:30 p.m. sharp. I am looking forward to seeing you there. Sincerely, Jackie Jensen Executive Director 1978 World Table Tennis Match ...have something to say? The Gazette-Times welcomes letters from readers on any subject of general interest... letters should be not more than 250 words THE ETTE -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 Rick Steelhammer, News Editor Eileen Saling, Officer Manager Gayle Rush, Composing Chloe Pearson, Composing Justine Weatherford Local Columnist Ron Jordan, Printer The first planting of chukar partridges in Morrow County took place 25 years ago this week, along the upper reaches of Willow, Rhea, and Rock creeks. A total of 410 of the exotic game birds made up the 1953 stocking campaign. Since then, the grayish-brown chukars have flourished, becoming one of the favorite Fall hunting targets of area sportsmen. During the same week in 1953, fire demolished the Hardman area ranch home of Mr. and Mrs. Clark Stevens. Sparks from a fireplace blaze ignited on the roof of the home, then spread through the rest of the building. The Stevens couple escaped uninjured, but lost all household possessions except for one cook book. Fifty years ago this week in Heppner, 75 to 100 city residents were recovering from the effects of a brief food poisoning epidemic. For some reason, the overwhelming majority of those who were affected by the outbreak were adults, rather than children. Although the precise cause of the poisoning epidemic was never determined, it was speculated that a temporary contamination of the town's water supply was responsible. Also during that week in 1928, the Gazette-Times carried an account of the U.S. victory at the Olympics in Amsterdam, including the gold medal win in swimming by Johnny Wiesmuller. Wiesmuller went on to be better known for his portrayal of "Tarzan" in a countless series of jungle movies. Sixty years ago this week, work was completed on a new, $10,000 Boardman Elementary School building, located on a 10-acre tract along the Columbia River. The building was completed in the nick of time, just three days prior to the start of the 1918 school session. Also during that week, T.E. Peterson of Eightmile was still carrying a classified ad in the Gazette-Times for his missing 10-year-old mule, which was last seen five months earlier. The reward for its return, however, had grown from $5 to $20. Must've been some mule. The attraction at the Star Theater during this week in 1918 was titled For Valor, billed as a picture about "how a little Canadian girl made her slacker brother enlist." Lines were not likely terribly long. the Hardman postal station closed its doors for good this week 10 years ago, after the Postal Service determined that it would not be worthwhile to hire a new station manager, following the retirement of Mrs. Marie Lesley. The station had been located in the Hardman country store, which also stands vacant now. During the same week in 1968, friends and neighbors used five combines to finish harvesting chores for Dean Hunt of Lexington, after Hunt was hospitalized due to a blood clot in this leg. The volunteer harvesters included Gene Majeski, Paul Brown, Roger and Bob Campbell, Ken Peck and Ed Hunt. They combined about 900 acres, hauling all the grain to the local elevator to finish the job. Hunt was only part-way into the harvest when he fell ill and was hospitalized on doctor's orders. 1 During the same week in 1968, Orville Cutsforth returned from a five-week stay in Alaska, where he had been working a gold claim with a group of associates. Temperatures rose to 104 degrees during the trip, with hordes of mosquitoes driving the visiting prospectors nearly berserk. Cutsforth returned with a jar containing 26 ounces of gold gleaned from the venture, valued than at about $2,500. Now, the gold would be worth more than twice that amount. Picture Credit Potamus Falls, deep in the heart of the Blue Mountains, is a picture perfect scene for nature enthusiasts. The Gazette-Times camera caught the falls while a tour of proposed roadless areas was being conducted. Ullman, Bergland make swing through Northeast Oregon Secretary of Agriculture Bob Bergland will join Oregon Congressman Al Ullman on a daylong tour of northeastern Oregon, Tuesday, August 22. Bergland and Ullman will stop in Pendleton, Wallowa, Enterprise, North Powder and La Grande, Ullman will conti nue his travel in eastern Oregon the remainder of the week, stopping in Baker, Ontario, John Day, Burns, Lakeview, Klamath Falls, La Pine, Madras and Warm Springs. "Secretary Bergland will be exposed to local views on issues of vital interest within the Department of Agricul ture, especially those invol ving Forest Service plans," Ullman noted. Among the topics of a town hall meeting in Enterprise will be the RARE II evaluation of National Forest lands and the Hells Canyon National Recre ation Area. In Pendleton, Ullman and Bergland will speak at a Chamber of Commerce break fast, then tour the Pendleton Woolen Mills before going to the noon meeting at Enter prise. After a stop at North Powder, Ullman and Bergland will meet Tuesday evening with participants in a regional Small Farmers Conference at Eastern Oregon College in La Grande. The conference, one of five being held around the country, is jointly sponsored by the USDA and the Com munity. Services Administra tion. On Wednesday, Ullman will I take part in the dedication of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. The 2nd District Congressman was the sponsor of the legislation creating the monument. ' On Friday, Ullman will participate in the dedication of the Warm Springs Fish Hatch-: ery on the reservation of the ' Confederated Tribes. Ullman worked closely with tribal leaders in securing the federal ' funds for construction of the facility designed to revitalize fish runs. Before returning to Wash ington, Ullman, an avid fly fisherman, will spend the night on the Deschutes River. ' " m 4, i w W ' 1 toy .
