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TWO The Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon, Thursday, August, 31, 1978
The Heppner
GAZETTE-TIMES
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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
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