Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 31, 1978)
. 4 - m V - w - TWO The Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon, Thursday, August, 31, 1978 The Heppner GAZETTE-TIMES Sifting through . ' 4 X s I t 1 'i i Voters have choice DisU 55 race Voters in Eastern Oregon's District 55 will be electing a freshman legislator to the House of Representatvies in November and both candidates deserve serious consideration. Chuck Bennett, Democratic candidate who defeated Rep. Jack Sumner in the May primary, is opposed in the race by Bill Bellamy, Republican, who ran unsuccessfully against Sumner two years ago. Both candidates are young and anxious to serve the district. Bennett is a former newspaperman now employed by the Oregon Poll, a research group. Bellamy is a vocational-ag teacher and a long-time resident of Eastern Oregon. Bennett covered the legislature for several years for the Capitol Journal, but neither man has prior political experience. The election of a representative for the district is an important one as Eastern Oregon and its primary industry agriculture come under more regulation by the state. Many major issues will be confronting us in the near future, including Columbia River water allocation, state water policy, tax relief and future energy production which the area is suited for. The man elected to the position must be one who is aggressive, knowledgeable and understanding of the unique problems facing District 55. Voters when they have the opportunity should confront the candidates with specific questions and demand specific answers. "Good old boy" politics and nebulous answers aren't enough. Where to write Federal Following is a list of Oregon and Eastern Oregon public officials for the information of readers who want to communicate with them: U.S. Sen. Mark O. Hatfield. Russell Senate Office Bldg., Washington. DC. 20510. Member of Appropriations Committee, Interior Committee, Rules Committee and Indian Policy Review Commission. Portland office , Pioneer Courthouse, Rm. 107, 520 SW Morrison, Portland, Ore. 97204, phone 221-3386. U.S. Sen Bob Packwood, Dirksen Senate Office Bldg., Washington, D.C., 20510. Member of Finance Committee and Commerce Committee. Portland office, 1002 NE Halladay. Rm. 700. (P.O. Bos 3621), Portland, Ore. 97208, phone 233-4471. ' U.S. Rep. Al Ullman, of the Second District, House Office Building, Washington, D C. 20515. Member of Ways and Means Committee. Salem office, 530 Center St. N.E., Rm. 330, (P.O. Box 247) Salem, Ore., 97308, phone 399-5724. State Gov. Robert Straub, State Capitol, Salem. Ore. 97310, , phone 378-3100. , . State Sen. Ken Jernstedt (Morrow, Gilliam and other counties), 311 Pine St., Hood River, 386-1393. State Rep. Jack Sumner (Morrow, Gilliam and other counties), Route 1, Heppner, 676-5364. ...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 Transfer policy coverage rapped Editor: After reading the last issue of the Gazette-Times, one comes away with the feeling that lone Schools are very inadequate and any parent who doesn't rush his children off to Heppner to school is derelict of his duty. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is true, we cannot offer poetry, drama, and some other so called "enrichment" courses as full time courses because of our size. Still, much of this literature is already included in our basic English courses. We have more than our share of excellent teachers from kindergarten through high school. But don't take our word for it let's look at the results. Check lone High School's record for the last 14 years (from 1965 through 1978) and you will find that we have had three graduating seniors (in 1967, 1975 and in 1978) who have been awarded a letter of commendation for scoring highly on the National PSAT tests that they took as juniors. This scholastic commendation award is given only to students who rank in the upper two per cent of graduating seniors in the nation. Somewhere along the line lone must be accomplishing something right because they certainly are upsetting the national average. Now let's look at the total graduate picture. In the last 14 years 204 students have graduated from lone High School. Out of this 204, 150 or 73.5 per cent have gone on to receive some form of higher education. That's almost 3 of every 4 graduating seniors who have continued their education. In all, 48.9 per cent of the graduates have completed either a 2 of 4 year college course. Not bad when you consider some people feel that the curriculum is inadequate! One-third of our graduates (32.8 per cent) has graduated from a four year college or university. These percentages are facts that we feel very few school in the nation, much less the county, have equaled. We take issue with the Gazette-Times which infers that lone cannot do as well as Heppner. The Gazette-Times has featured news stories of school board meetings (front page four column spread) in which two families have requested transfer of a total of three children to Heppner High School. Hardly an earthshattering number! Through your reporting, the derogatory remarks of a very few have been given prominent space and come across to the general public as fact. If the Gazette-Times were really interested in reporting the facts, we feel you would have sent a reporter to check on some of the above statistics. No one has ever questioned the great majority of the people in this community who feel we have an excellent school and are proud of its accomplishments. With the prominence you have given these particular school board meetings, we feel you have damaged our school. This is very irresponsible journalism. It's a well know fact that if you repeat something often enough and give it enough prominence, regardless of its truth, you can make most of the readers believe it. We may not have the largest school in the district, but our graduates prove that it can do a better job. Berl Akers Mike Matthews 1 Eldon Tucker June M. Crowell Gene Crowell Joan McEUigott Joan Doherty Carol McEUigott Pete McEUigott Robert Baker Conrad J. Tworek Eunice McEUigott Lucy Ann Tworek Kathleen M. McEUigott Edith Nichoson Nancy J. Martinez Joe Gaarsland Jesse G. Childers Maureen McEUigott Michael McEUigott Vera Rietmann Coy Childers Don Bristow Gladys Heliker Doris Gollyhorn Bob Rietmann Marilyn Rietmann Judy Rea Dick McEUigott Loa McEUigott Bill Rietmann Ruby 0. Roberts Edith Matthews Art Stefani Carmen S. French Myrna Johnson Jim Swanson' Maryan McEUigott Charles O'Connor Beecher Emert A.H. Marick Grace Byrne Robin Baker June Lindstrom Lola Ann Pettyjohn Bonnie Ball Adon Hamlett Lovern Hams Ruth McCabe Thomas Gates Arlynda D. Gates Pauline Gates David Rietmann Loree Hubbard Delbert Emert Jean Jepsen Gene Rietmann Elmer C. Holtz Karen Beck Frances M. Barnett Arthur W. Rowell Jeannie Piening Dianna L. Hams Gladys Drake William D. Tews Marilyn Childers Lloyd and Mid Morgan Dot Halvorsen Don and Martha Peterson Donna Bergstrom Irene Holtz Ron Palmateer Nancy J. Spivey Kenneth E. Nelson Diane E. Taylor Eva M. Hamlett Vester W. Hams Janet Lindstrom Dorothy Zinter Nancy McEUigott L.J. McEUigott John Jepsen ' Richard Snider s Editor's Note: If "one comes away with the feeling that lone schools are very inadequate" after reading last week's article on the county school board meeting, the interpretation has been reached by the reader, not the newspaper. The article accurately capsulized a discussion regarding school transfer policy, an item that provoked more debate and took up more time than any other subject on the agenda at the Aug. 21 meeting. Pertinent comments by school board members, administrative personnel and parents were 'duly cited, and the Gazette-Times stands by their accuracy. It would have been a disservice for a community newspaper to ignore or "play-down" an account of the board's discussion of the transfer policy, which potentially has far reaching consequences for a number of county school children and their parents. Superintendent Doherty has stated that he received "more applications than ever for transfers this year." lone principal Chuck Starr noted that a less restrictive transfer policy could threaten the school's budget, could limit the size and number of classes, and could jeopardize a school board policy aimed at equalizing educational opportunities at the three county high schools. Surely, then, any discussion on the transfer policy is something the residents of lone and other communities in the county would want to be informed about. In carrying comments made by parents seeking the transfers, the Gazette-Times was answering the final, and -often most important of journalism's "Five W's" who, what, when, where and why. It is a newspaper's duty to let its readers know why a policy is being challenged, as well as the fact that the policy exists. The parents who appeared before the school board meeting believed that their children could benefit through a less restrictive transfer policy, and the Gazette-Times reported their reasons why. The Gazette-Times did not "infer that lone cannot do as well as Heppner." In a small community such as ours, school board meetings more often than not receive front-page coverage. We believe the discussion at the Aug. 21 meeting was important enough to once again warrant appearing on page one. By reporting the transfer policy debate, the Gazette Times in no way damaged lone High School. Using the press as a scapegoat for community woes is a Nixonian tactic that does no service for anyone. Only had we chosen to ignore or downplay the debate on the transfer policy would we be guilty of "irresponsible journalism." the IIMES Fifty years ago this week, a total of lots students turned out for opening day at Heppner High School-setting a new enrollment record in the process. Physical education classes were offered for the first time during the 1928 school year, with all students required to spend 20 minutes a day in the school gymnasium. While Heppner area students prepared to hit the school books, their fathers prepared to beat the bushes, since the opening day of the 1928 hunting season was also the first day of school. A Gazette-Times article noted that "every he-man with anything larger than a cap pistol for a shooting stick has mapped out his killing ground and is prepared to stalk his game." However, a government trapper named Adams from Portland jumped the gun on the 1928 hunting season. The Portlander drove into Heppner a week prior to the opening day, proudly displaying two buck deer he had killed. He was unaware that the hunting season had been postponed a week that year, and when informed of his blunder by an obliging Heppnerite, promptly turned himself in to authorities at the Courthouse. County lawmen, being an understanding sort in this instance, declined to press charges, and Adams was allowed to return to Portland with his premature venison. Inez Hayes of Rhea Creek was named Queen of the 1928 Heppner Rodeo, The Gazette-Times commented that the new rodeo queen "is not only charming in a cowgirl outfit, but an experienced rider fully capable of handling her part as queen of the rodeo." This week in Heppner 27 years ago, city resident R.L. Sandvig was recovering from an electrifying experience that gave him what had to have been one of the biggest shocks of his life. While returning from Pendleton near Cutsforth Corners, a lightning bolt struck his car, burning off the top of his radio antenna, leaving scorch marks on his roof, and burning a portion of his leg. Even though it was raining, the lightning bolt set fire to grass along the highway, after it bounced off Sandvig's car. Bob Cunningham of Heppner was driving behind the Sandvig car at the time of the incident. He said that Sandvig's auto appeared to be afire when the bolt struck the vehicle. The lightning storm knocked out power in. the Heppner area for more than seven hours. Ten years ago this week, area horsemen were nervous over the outbreak of equine encephalomyelitis, better known as horse "sleeping sickness." The disease had been spreading through the Yakima area and in Central Oregon, but this week in 1968, the first documented case in Morrow County was reported by veterinarian Jim Norene. The disease had a mortality rate of 30 to 50 per cent, and it was possible for the "sleeping sickness" virus to be passed on to humans. Don Bristow of lone somehow managed to escape serious injury when he was thrown from his car as it hit a concrete abutment along Strawberry Road north of lone. Bristow landed in a fallow field, cracking a rib and receiving a number of minor cuts. The 1968 crash left his compact car a complete loss. As if things weren't bad enough, Bristow had to walk two mUes to receive aid. Five years ago this week, a recently imposed ban on the use of the insecticide DDT was blamed for the destruction by tussock moths of nearly a half million acres in the Pacific Northwest, much of it in the nearby Blue Mountains. Then-Secretary of Agriculture Earl Butz made a helicopter tour of the Blues, and pledged to do his best to get the DDT ban lifted to combat the fir-eating insects. Tax revolt proponents Hn the saddle now' "GAZETTE - TIMES The Official Newspaper of the City of Heppner and the County of Morrow Published evary 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 atHeppner, Oregon. j w - 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 Editor: The best the Oregon Legislature can come up with wiU be a second guessed camouflage proposition. However they will never be able to come from behind and win this game. We are firmly in the saddle now, and we expect to ride this thing through to a stunning victory by a yes vote on ballot measure No. 6 come November. The state legislature played the major hand getting us into this over taxed gluttony, and it seems incredible now, that they are laboring at fabulous state tax expense, trying to rescue us; they should know that we are not in a mood to entertain a road block, and change direction at his late date. The California tax shaking revolt was so extensive that tremors of it are being felt throughout the nation. California carried the constitutional amendment by a 2 to 1 margin. The Petition drive explained Editor: The petition being circulated concerning the formation of a health district is not an initiative petition asking to place the issue on the November ballot, even though that will probably be the result. This petition is an appeal to the County Court to create the health district an act that the court is legally authorized to perform upon the receipt of the various petitions with 600 or more signatures and the calling of a public hearing. If at least 15 people do not appear to ask. for the election at that hearing, the court may then direct that the district be formed even though only about one-sixth of the registered voters of the county have signed the documents. Luckily for Morrow County our court, composed of the County Comissioners and the County Judge, do not regard this legal maneuver as a democratic" procedure and have" already declared that they will not impose such an autocratic declaration upon the people of the county. They will, rather, order the placement of the issue on the ballot and let the people decide. Some of the people circulating these documents were not completely aware of the legal implications and should not be accused of misrepresentation. Legal jargon often leaves much to be desired in the matter of clarity. Clifford A; WUliams Lexington legislature tried to pour water on the fire to stop measure 13 from passing, but the people turned a deaf ear to their proposition and overwhelmingly voted its passage. If somebody has been trying to inform you that we are looking for help to bail us out, forget it. The new constitutional amendment gives us authority ourselves to' write off a big percentage of the taxes that has been excessively bleeding our pocket books. So do it yourself, pick up your pencil and whittle them down to normal size, when you vote yes on measure 6 come November. We gratefully offer thanks to Governor Straub and the Legislature for offering us a hand for tax relief. But sorry, its too late, this amendment is already in the bag. The signatures of over 200,000 to get this measure on the ballot guarantees its passage. Fred M. Weatherford The Dalles Fair Board gives thanks To The People of Morrow County: 1 Morrow County's biggest show, the Fair and Rodeo, has come to a close for another year. The members of the " Morrow County Fair Board wish to express their thanks to the many people who worked so hard this year to put on the show. A big thank you goes to Queen Donna, and princesses, Kim and Laurie and their chaperone Mary Ann Palmer for doing an outstanding job as representatives of the Fair and Rodeo wherever they went. , A second big thank you goes to the members of the Fair and Rodeo Commutes who have given countless hours all year long in planning the 1978 show. To all of you who donated your time or money we would like you to know that a Fair and Rodeo could not happen without you. And to all of you who came to enjoy the good time and see what fine things the people of this county do, we say thank you and invite you back in 1979. Sincerely, Liz Curtis Morrow County Fair Board r, w- j. m- t- 7 K I.
