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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 28, 1978)
The Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon, Thursday, September 28, 1978-ELEVEN Public comment asked Biologit prepare 1979 angling changes Staff biologists with the Fish and Wildlife Department have prepared recommendations for changes in the 1979 angling regulations. The proposals will be presented to the Fish and Wildlife Commission in a public meeting Saturday, Sept. 23, in the Portland office of the Fish and Wildlife Department, 506 SW Mill Street. The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. The Commission welcomes comments from the public on rule change proposals or on any other aspect of the angling regulations. It is preferred that written suggestions or proposals be submitted prior to the September 23 hearing so each Commission member can be sent copies. However, Six or Eleven : What's in the numbers? Cont. from page 1 Another important aspect of 11 is that the ballot measure would allow local govern ments to have control over spending priorities, unlike measure 6, which doles out property tax funds on a formula set by the state. For instance, under Measure' 11, if taxpayers believe that Blue Mountain Community College should continue opera tions at its current level, they could allocate tax funds appropriately. Under Measure 6, the amount that could be spent on BMCC is locked at 75 cents per $1,000 valuation near ly two-thirds below the current funding level. Under 6, it appears to be nearly impossible to fund a Pioneer Memorial Hospital District after July 1 of 1979. The questions voters will have to decide on the merits of the proposals are complex and confusing, to say the least. While property taxes will indeed drop under either measure, there is no guarantee that the loss in revenue will not be made up through other means, such as an increase in income tax, or hikes in user fees for public services like water, sewer, parks and education. On the other hand, property taxes are . almost certain to continue to increase within the current six per cent limitation per year, anyway if both measures fail. The ballot measure receiving the most votes will be implemented, in the event that both measures are approved. , If voters believe that all property in cluding business property should get a tax break, they should cast for Measure 6. If they believe that only owner-occupied homes should benefit from property tax relief, Measure 11 best fits the bill. If voters feel that in some instances property tax increases may be justified to finance special improvements to schools, water systems, cemetery districts and the like, they would be best served by voting for Measure 11. If they believe that a hard-and fast limit on property taxes should be drawn, with no mechanism for voter approval above that limit, voters should cast for Measure 6. If voters believe that the loss in property tax income should be directed at local government, rather than by the income tax-supported state general fund, Measure 6 is the answer. If voters believe that renters should share in additional tax relief, Measure 11 appears to be the logical choice. If they feel renters should continue to share in existing renters' relief benefits (unless changed by the Legislature), they would be best served by voting for Measure 6. If voters believe that local counties, cities, community colleges and school districts are receiving more property tax funds than necessary, Measure 6 would be the appropriate vote. If they feel that such local agencies are receiving anything close to the amount of funds needed, voters would find Measure 11 the best of the two tax relief packages. Local government across the state would lose 39 per cent of its income under 6, and remain about the same under 11. In voting the pocketbook to choose the measure that would result in the greatest tax savings to an individual, Morrow County homeowners apparently stand to gain more through Measure 11 than Measure 6. Individuals with business interests would benefit more through Measure 6. Farm property owners have even a hazier view of how they would be affected by either of the ballot measures. What will happen to farm deferrals, taxes on farm inventories and the like remains to be seen. Most farm organizations have come out in favor of Measure 6,which would apparently insure that valuations could not increase by more than two per cent per year, so long as the property did not change ownership. Persons owning no taxable property ; would probably best serve their pocketbooks by voting against both measures, to insure that they will not face increases in income tax and user fees to make up the difference of lost property tax revenues. However, since at least one of the ballot measures appears fairly certain to pass, persons owning no taxable property who decide to cast for the "lesser of two evils" would probably be best served by Measure 11, since it provides more renter relief. The choices are complex, to say the least. More comparisons, legal interpretations and opinions will likely be made prior to the Nov. 7 election. But the final decision will effect everyone's pocketbook in some way, not to mention the coffers of local and state government. Everyone has a stake in the outcome of ' the election, so voting, and studying the issues should be mandatory. both written and oral testi mony will be taken at the hearing. Anglers and sportsmen's clubs are urged to submit their recommendations as early as possible in order to allow the Commission and staff time to evaluate them. Final adoption of regulations will take place at a public meeting on Oct. 21. At that hearing the Commission would like to take testimony on proposals already under consideration. New proposals presented on Oct. 21 may be deferred until consideration of 1980 regulations. Proposed opening dates for general trout seasons are April 21 for most lakes and streams and May 26 for coastal streams, streams of northeast Oregon, and a few other waters. The second or delayed opening is to protect migrating young salmon and steelhead or delay angling until water, weather, or ac cess condition are more suit able. The second proposed opening would be a week later ' than it was this year. Under a new policy adopted earlier this year by the Commission, three streams have been proposed by the staff for the exclusive man agement of wild fish. Man agement plans for these waters will also be presented to the Commission on Septem ber 23. . The three stream courses are the Klamath and William son Rivers in Klamath County and Threemile Creek west of the Steens in Harney County. The Klamath and Williamson Rivers are both popular and productive streams with good potential for exclusive wild fish management and Three- ., mile Creek is a source for pure . redband trout needed to pro vide eggs for the Depart ment's propagation program in waters throughout south east Oregon. The staff was also asked to prepare a management plan for wild trout and other salmonids in the lower 100 miles of the Deschutes and this plan will also be submit ted and discussed on the 23rd. A major angling rule change proposed this year relates to hook regulations. For the past two years a complex set of rules have been in effect for waters with runs of salmon and steelhead. Their purpose was to try to reduce illegal snagging. Department staff and the Commission have concluded that these rules have been unnecessarily com- Ping pong Cont from page 9 title holder for 1975 and 1976. Pataky also had wins over U.S. champion Tom Ruttin ger, Rob Roberts and Joe Lee. Apachart Sears, a right hander who uses a penholder grip, currently plays out of Hong Kong. Sears also has wins over 1977 world profess ional champion Tom Ruttin ger as well as a long list of Asian champions. Judy Bochenski, a former Salem resident, represented the United States during the nation's "Ping Pong Diplo macy" tour of the People's Republic of China in 1972. She participated in almost every U.S. open in recent years and is currently training in the Far East. It was her win over Tom Ruttinger that turned the tide with the Haitian team defeating the United States during last Year's world title event. Ms. Bochenski is noted for her powerful overhand smashes. CEiGfiipogne and Prime Uh for two, please. (At a very special price) This Friday and Saturday evenings, your Heppner Elks Club is serving Prime Rib with all the trimmings and champagne for a vjsry special price. Buy one dinner at the regular price of $8.25 friOl and Pay on'y half price for the second dinner joWtilt and champagne. Served 7-1 1 p.m., while the Prime Rib lasts. Don't Forget To Rtt Pick Up Your At The Bar printing 676-9228 Heppner Elks Club BPOE358 HEPPNER MEMBERS AND OUT-OF-TOWN GUESTS ONLY plex and often ineffective. New proposals deal with individual problem areas and in many instances only during the parts of the year when snagging is a problem. Some areas are simply proposed to be closed to angling; on others a hook restriction may contin ue to apply. The Pacific Ocean is broken out as a seperate zone in the regulations for 1979 to make it easier for anglers to find these rules. ' Highlights of staff recom mendations for changes to 1978 rules are listed below according to species and zone. SALMON AND STEELHEAD REGULATION PROPOSALS Ocean Zone . .AH salmon of legal size to be considered adults and entered on the salmon-steelhead catch record card. Rule to prohibit removal of heads or tails or other mutilation of fish in the field or in transit so size and species cannot be determined. Zone 1 Fall Creek (Alsea system) closed to salmon angling May-August to protect rem nant run of spring chinook. Tioga Creek, tributary of South Coos River, opened to steelhead angling. Adds five miles of open water for hatchery-originated steel head. Dam hole on Trask River closed to all angling Septem ber 1-December 15. Has Jong been a problem snagging spot during fall salmon runs. North and South Forks of Trask and Wilson River above Lee's Camp closed to all angling during summer to protect spring chinook which have been severely depleted under former regulations. Zone 2 Lower portion of Eagle Creek opened to salmon angl ing in April and May to provide opportunity to fish for expected large return of hatchery spring chinook. North Fork and River Mill Reservoirs on Clackamas Riv er closed to all angling in winter season to protect juvenile steelhead and salmon which rear there. Sandy River opened for salmon angling until July 15 to permit harvest of steadily increasing numbers of spring chinook. Restriction on angl ing from floating device to be dropped. Zones 3 and 4- no major changes Zone 5 Deschutes River steelhead bag limit of 1 hatchery fish (those with fin clips) per day and 2 per week. No wild harvest in 1979. All rainbow trout over 20 inches to be classed as steelhead and included in steelhead bag limit. Zones 6, 7, and 8- no major changes Zone 9 Season for salmon and steelhead won't be set until later in year after run strength determined. Poor run expected and season doubtful. Rainbow trout 20 inches and over are considered to be steelhead in the Snake River from September 1 to March 31, and the entire year in its tributaries below Hells Can yon Dam. Trout Proposals Zone 1- no major changes Zone 2 Seven additional waters op ened to year round angling. They are Benson Lake, Canby Pond, Cottage Grove Reser voir, Fern Ridge Pond, Mount Hood Pond, Timber Lake, and Trail Bridge Reservoir. Zone 3- no major changes Zone 4 ..Open Lost Creek Reservoir to year aroud angling. Zone 5 Change minimum trout size on Deschutes to 8 inches to provide additional protection for migrant steelhead smolts. Zones 6 and 7- no major changes Zone 8 ..Fishing in Mann Lake restricted to flies and artific ial lures only with catch and release fishery for Lahontan cutthroat. Lake is maintained with plants of hatchery finger ling trout and there were few available one year ago, mean ing a shortage of three-year- old fish in 1979 needed for egg source. Parsnip Reservoir and Threemile Creek closed to angling. Both are managed to provide egg sources for native redband trout. Zone 9- no major changes Zone 10 ..Trout bag limit of 5 fish 12 inches and over proposed to reduce harvest of salmon and steelhead smolts. Rainbow trout 20 inches and over classed as steelhead. OTHER FISH Permit angling for sturgeon 24 hours a day. SHELLFISH REGULATIONS Extend ocean season for taking Dungeness crabs one month until September 15, the same as for commercial crabbers in the ocean. pep SAVE YOUR DEER ELK CATTLE FOR THE ELK HIDE PROGRAM BPOE358 leave your hides of: Jerry's Mobil ilks Parking Lot Heppner Chevron Hides are used in the Vet's Hospital programs. , We have a complete stock of our "go great anywhere " signs. C EACH 6 FOR $ O No Hunting or Tresspassing Without Permission O Livestock Area-Sorry No Hunting O No Hunting Without Permission O No Vehicles Beyond This Point O No Tresspassing The Heppner GAZETTE-TIME Morrow County's Award-Winning Weekly Newspaper 147 West Willow Heppner 676-9228
