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.
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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
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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.
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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.