Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 21, 1978)
TWO The Gazette Times, Heppner, Oregon, Thursday, September 21,1978 The Heppner GAZETTE-TIMES Sifting through UDClOlPeDCG the TIMES Answers needed on proposed Health District The announcement this week by the Morrow County Court stating the proposed health care district will not be on the November general election ballot is disturbing, even though voters will have a chance to express their views at the polls at a later date. The fact that proponents of the Morrow County Health District didn't get their homework done goes hand-in-hand with the lack of information given the public about the district. Speculation on what the district would do has raised some serious misconceptions about its purpose and direction. Whether or not the hospital board and administration can correct those misconceptions at this late date is questionable. The City of Irrigon has already rejected the district by choosing not to be included. The City of Boardman is waiting for more information. Heppner has selected to go with the district and nothing has been heard from the towns of lone and Lexington. If one or more of the cities in Morrow County do not participate and remove their incorporated areas from the tax base for the district then a larger share of the financial responsibility is shoved onto agricultural and rural lands. Hardly a fair proposition. Secondly, if those incorporated areas are removed from the district, will the residents of those areas be given a vote in establishment of the district. Thirdly, since the proposal didn't make the November ballot, what is the procedure for establishing a tax base, if the district is approved by voters. Operating Pioneer Memorial Hospital and the many other health services that would be included in the district for a couple years without a tax base could prove disastrous. These and many other questions should be answered by proponents of the health care district, and if that is accomplished, then the delay may be a blessing in disguise. Public Meetings Monday, Sept. 25, Morrow County Planning Commission, 7:30 p.m., circuit court room, Courthouse. Tuesday, Sept. 26, Pioneer Memorial Hospital Board, 7:30 p.m., at the hospital Tuesday, Sept. 26, Morrow County School District, Spec ial Meeting, 7:30 p.m., River side High School. Wednesday, Sept. 27, Mor row County Court, 10 a.m., Judge's office, Courthouse. Wednesday, Sept. 27, Hep pner City Planning Commiss ion, 7:30 p.m., City Hall. Picture Credit Heppner 's town football team, in this pre-1900 photo, looks poorly equipped by today's standards, but determined spirit shows in the expressions of the turn-of-the-century players. A more modern, but equally determined Heppner team will take to the gridiron on Friday at 8 p.m. for the first home game of the 1978 season. This 1897 Heppner team is made up of (front row, from left) Frank Natter, Orvis Robinson, Bartholomew, the team's mascot, Bert Oney and Arthur Clark. In second row, from left, are L.E. Bisbee, Albert Leland, Bill Cowins, (unknown first name) McCallister, unknown player, Jack Matlock and Bob Stott. In the back row are unknown player, Bill Driscoll, Hap Blackman, (unknown first name) Hart, and Orville Jones. SJ 9 'v 1 r 1 0? i 1 ts-.jp ' 7 Tfce itaj we were jn rn F""'i i"1 'j f Writer questions school policy Dear Members of the Morrow County School Board: Discussion was held at great length from March until May on the advisability of allowing transfers within the county for scholastic reasons. The Board passed the mea sure unanimously in favor of allowing students to do this. At the August board meeting Mr. Doherty reversed the intent of the transfer policy established by the Board. Was this an appropri ate action for a Superinten dent who is responsible to the Board for initiation of their policy decisions? Is this truly the manner in which we want our decisions to be arrived at? Yesterday I asked Mr. James Goddard, Oregon Dir ector of Basic Education, how other counties with similar attendance areas solved their problems such as ours. He replied that the solution in such a situation is an open door policy that allows stu dents to go where they wish. Students that feel pride of locality is their primary concern can continue doing what they have always done. Students wishing to take more curriculum offerings are not denied their right to avail themselves of what is being offered elsewhere. Mr. Goddard also stated that he had never heard a definition of educational pro grams as interpreted by Mr. Doherty. Unfortunately, any prob lems concerning differences of opinion are magnified and blown all out of proportion when any forcing of anyone is involved. Additionally, a statement Mr. Doherty made to me during a discussion between the two of us in his office is as follows: "In the event Ballot Measure No. 6 passes, some of this extra curriculum will have to go!" Is anyone in the county going to be prepared to say what is going where? Or will Mr. Doherty take the initiative here also? The pressure tactics ap plied by the superintendent's office to the people wanting transfers have resulted in an increase in our county's diffi culites. The solution is to let those affected by the transfer policy make their own indivi dual decision as to what is important to them via the open door. Yours truly, Margaret G. Murray Dear Members of the Morrow County School Board: My intention was to come to the Board meeting tonight but I have decided I would rather put my thoughts in writing. I expect criticism of my views and prefer to be criticized for what I actually did say rather than for what someone thought I said as previously happened. I am going to ask the Gazette Times to print the letter I wrote the Board late last week and this one tonight. Mr. Doherty ignited a controversy that basically boils down to whether one group within a community has the right to force any other group in the same community to forego their right of individual decision concerning their children's education. This was an explosive admin istrative posture and one that has caused Mr. Doherty anguish I know, as well as many other people in the community. The only thing that could radically change the picture is the advent of sharply reduced income from property taxes. Mr. Doherty has indicated to me that he believes there to be "extra" curriculum at Heppner High School. I de plore his thinking .on this point. The courses he descri bes as "enrichment" courses are survial courses in a large four year university, If our schools retrench to the basic courses required for gradua tion as Mr. Doherty has appeared to be advocating, we would have no one capable of running our country. If lessening revenues des cend upon us the Board and ALL the people of our com munities are going to have to examine the complete picture countywide. I submit that the administration is shielding the county from the facts. An example of this is the enclosed article breaking down attend ance figures of all county grade schools and high schools except Ione's. One very possible effect of an open door policy could very well be an increase in the enrollment at lone Elemen tary if people were assured they could go to high school wherever they wished. It is an excellent school. At present my daughter is in the 8th grade at lone. There were 5 girls in the Junior High on opening day of school. In the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grades there were 44 pupils. lone lacks more housing to appreci ably change the picture through high school. It should go without say ing, but apparently it doesn't, that no one area intends to force their will upon any other area. The situation calls for careful consideration by everyone as to what direction they desire their school sys tem to take. 1 Anyone wishing to talk with James Goddard, Oregon Director of Basic Education, can contact him by calling 378-3602. Yours truly, Meg Murray Measure 6 proponent says SUBSCRIPTION RATE $8.00 In Morrow, Umatilla, Wheeler & Gilliam County; $10.00 elsewhere The Heppner (3 uiH$ 11 11 li2f 11 JlJXiliil Morrow County's Award-Winning Weekly Newspaper 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, 1 879. Second-class postage paid at Heppner, Oregon. G.AA. Reed, Publisher Rick Steelhammer, News Editor Gayle Rush, Composition Dolores Reed, Co-publisher Eileen Saling, Office Manager Kyra Query, Composition Ron Jordan, Printer Terry M. Hager, Managing Editor Justine Weatherford, local Columnist Ondi Doherty, AdvertisingOffice Editor: Your legislative reprisal measure is an eleventh hour forced tax substitute, designed to defeat our tax constitutional amendment measure 6. However, we are not falling for your delayed write-in tax measure 11. Furthermore we can't forget the over-tax burden you legislators thrust upon us. Now we can't believe the sincerity of your apology measure by offering to bail us out, since you were drafted to come up with a counter tax. Legislators must find a terminal point to spending. Make no mistake, we have a written-in terminal point on spending with a stopper when we write yes to measure 6 come November 7. The state legislature played the major hand getting us into this overtaxed gluttony, and it seems incredible now, that you labored at fabulous state tax expense, trying to displace us; you should know that we are not in a mood to entertain a road block, and change direction. Besides, we accept no substitues. 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. Their 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. The Oregon constitutional amendment gives us authority to write off a big percentage of the taxes that have been excessively bleeding our pocket books. Hence, with pencil in hand we will whittle taxes down to normal size, when we vote yes on measure 6 come November. It is estimated that the state has $280 million of tax hoarded dollars in the state treasury. We can see no future tax relief in the state-proposed measure 11. - Don't worry because measure 6 looks like a winner. Remember those more than 200,000 votes to get it on the ballot guarenteed its passage. Fred M. Weatherford The Dalles Moonshine whiskey was in the news 60 years ago this week, when Morrow County was in the grips of the prohibition era. Joe Handy of Heppner was arrested by Sheriff McDuffee at Handy's place of business, located in an isolated ravine in the mountains about 24 miles southeast of Heppner. Sheriff McDuffee, along with ex-sheriff Shutt, spent a weekend camping out near the moonshine operation, waiting for Handy to return to the alpine distillery, so that a "red handed" arrest could be made. Handy, who apparently observed the Sabbath, did not oblige the lawmen until Monday morning. When the distiller returned to fire up his equipment, the officers moved in and ordered him to hold up his hands. "It was necessary to repeat the demand quite forcibly before Handy complied," noted the Gazette-Times. "When the full force of the situation dawned on him, his hands went up in a hurry and he made no attempt at resistance." Handy had been living in a camp located about a mile from the still, which was not accessible by car or team. Officers confiscated a 30-gallon copper kettle, which had been encased in a stone oven, plus the still's goseneck and coil. The moonshine gear was put on display at the courthouse, drawing considerable attention from Heppner townspeople. A total of 26 gallons of mountain dew was seized in the raid. According to the Gazette-Times, "officers retained six gallons for evidence, and the balance was dumped into the creek for the benefit of the fishes. The liquor is pronounced by those who know as being the genuine stuff, and it certainly contains plenty of alcohol to preserve it throughout the ages and to thoroughly pickle any stomach that it might come in contact with." Officers stated that the still had been supplying thirsty Heppnerites with 16 gallons of moonshine per day, with the booze selling for $20 per gallon or $8 a quart. Coffee was selling for 54 cents per pound at the Thomson Brothers Grocery during this week 50 years ago. The popular grocery was also advertising soap at 12 bars for 49 cents, and figs going for 12 cents per pound. Cecil B. DeMille's "King of - Kings" was playing at the Star Theater during this week in 1928. Business hit rock bottom for the Peoples Cash Market in Heppner during September of 1928 when the store was forced to close due to financial difficulties. During that same week 50 years ago, the newly formed John Day Valley Freight Company opened for business in Heppner, offering regular overnight service to and from Portland. Twenty-five years ago this week, Heppner's new sewer system became operational, with 30 residents registering for hookup permits. Ten years ago this week, a number of Morrow Countians traveled down the Columbia River to take part in dedication ceremonies for the new, mile-long, $448 million John Day Dam. The towns of Boardman and Arlington had to be relocated to make way for the dam's backwaters. Sheridan Wyman and Ed Tarnasky announced their engagement during this week in 1968, and county clerk Sadie Parish was elected vice president of the Oregon Association of Clerks and Recorders during a convention in Portland. A total of 37 of 41 graduates of Heppner High School's class of 1968 enrolled in colleges, it was announced during this week 10 years ago. Five years ago this week, two Portland "hunters" were arrested along upper Willow preek, when state police found them to be in possession of one doe and one fawn. The Portlanders' dogs were eating the fawn at the time of the arrest by state police. They were convicted on poaching charges, and fined $205 each, with each also receiving a suspended 30-day jail term. ...have something to say? The Gazette-Times welcomes Jetters from readers on any subject of general interest.Jetters should be not more than 250 words 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, D.C. 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. v U.S. Sen Bob Packwood, Dirksen Senate Office Bldg., Washington, D.C, 2O510. Member of Finance Committee and Commerce Committee. Portland office, 1002 NE Halladay. Rm. 700. (P.O. Bos 3C21), 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.
