Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 26, 1978)
TWO The Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon, Thursday October 26, 1978 Sifting through the TIMES o easy choices in 'battle of the ballot measures' Pity, the serious-minded citizen who enters the voting booth Tuesday, Nov. 7, and attempts to cast reasoned, unemotional votes on the 11 statewide measures on this year's ballot. All 11 are either highly complicated or equally emotion-laden. No. 1 would change the manner in which judges are elected. No. 2 would clarify the State Senate's power to reject appointments by the governor. No. 3 would in crease motor vehicle registration fees. No. 4 would change formation and financ ing procedures for people's Utility Districts. No. 5 would permit denturists to fit dent ures. No. 6 would limit property taxes. No. 7 would prohibit state-paid abortions. No. 8 would restore the death penalty in some instances. No. 9 would prevent private elec tric utilities from including any of the costs of construc tion money (interest, etc.) for generating facilities in their rate bases before facilities are actually generating electri city. No. 10 would make selected changes in current land use law. And No. 11 also would limit property taxes but by a formula at variance with that fostered in No. 6. This particular ballot gives voters the power to decide issues that have been perplex ing our lawmakers for more than a century. How can anyone stay away from the polls? Two issues involve the power over life and death. Three bear significantly on that other of life's certain tiestaxation. False teeth are almost an inevitability in modern society and that issue could be made more emotion al only by adding a statewide requirement for flouridation. Voters even are vested with the power to turn off the power. About all that's miss ing from this ballot is a question regarding the right to bear arms. In these days just before the election, campaign fervor is at its peak. Claims and counter claims bombard the voter from radio, TV, newspapers and signboards. Statewide candidates for governor and many candidates for the legislature have taken sides. On most, if not all, there is no clear consensus. Campaign organizations for and against most issues are grinding their axes by almost any means. In addition to the emotions involved, some is sues are highly technical, difficult to fully comprehend and subject to opinions that can be settled only in courts of law. One highly visible example of the voters' dilemma is exemplified by the battle over Measures No. 6 and 11. The former achieved ballot status by initiative petition and attracted a staggering 200,000 , signatures. Because it ap pears incompatible with existing law, Gov. Bob Straub called a special session of the legislature to prepare No. 11 as an alternative. One or the other must receive a simple majority to pass and many oddsmakers figure voting may be distributed in a manner that would preclude acceptance of either. But even surpassing the clamor and confusion sur rounding these property tax relief measures, is the furor being raised about Measure No. 10. Here's an example. The campaign group seeking pas sage of this land use law constitutional amendment is called the Citizens Committee to Protect Our Land. The opposition calls its committee Citizens to Defend Your Land. Protection and defense are quite synonymous and one wonders if voters are sup posed to choose sides on the basis of whose land is involv ed ; yours or ours. And if that's the case, who's who? Supporters of Measure No. 10 claim they seek to bring the land use planning process closer to the people. They want to make the legislature assume the responsibility for enacting land use laws and remove that power from a seven-member appointed lay commission. Opponents claim passage of No. 10 would obliterate cur rent land use law and leave the state's natural attributes open to outright rape. Law yers on both sides make claims and counter-claims. Opponents say the measure's right of referendum by the people on local land use legislation will deter develop ment. Proponents point out that power currently exists and has not proved a deter rent. Opponents claim No. 10's passage will lead to legal entanglements. Proponents point to the legal morass in which current land use law is foundering. Gov. Straub opposes No. 10 and is using opposition reason ing in his campaign for a second term. He forecasts the end of an era for Oregon if it passes and bears down hard on what he considers the impossibility of the legislature to comply with one of its provisions. The provision re quires lawmakers to adopt new or existing land use laws in 60 days. Straub doubts the legisla ture can do an adequate job in that period of time. On the other hand, he warmly em braces No. 11, the alternative to No. 6 that legislators hammered out in that short, Salem Scene By Jack Zimmerman five-day special session. The Governor's opponent, State Sen. Victor Atiyeh, does n't endorse Measure 10. But he deplores what he calls the Chicken Little syndrome that predicts the sky's collapse if voters act in its favor. Atiyeh calls on 20 years of experience in the Oregon Legislature as basis for his relatively impassive reaction to the outcome. And he calls on that same legislative ex perience in supporting Measure No. 6, while Straub favors No. 11. Time alone will reveal the outcome involving both candi dacies and measures. Political analysts doubtless will lay blame or favor for those results on one strategy or another. But many voters on both sides of each race and issue likely will be as con fused the day after election as they were the day before. i ."Tr'. - - , t ' " f . t ; s-4 I- a l - : - I '.y-::x f; i? f "t. i . .. w yf v 1 7 i : A M -1 m ill ' Measure 6 would stymie buzzards in Salem' Editor: About three years ago, I read something in the paper where I was entitled to a refund on my local property home tax from the state. I understood that it was a refund because I was a Senior Citizen, so I applied and received $320 to apply on my taxes which were around $700. I didn't like this arrangement in no way, for I knew I was only breeding another bureaucratic monster here in Oregon, and we have hundreds of those, too many. To my surprise, this stupid rip-off was for everybody, which made it stink even more. But, believe it or not, before the ink dried on the check that paid my taxes, the three Musketeers in our County Court and their buddy, the Assessor had jumped my taxes up, and completely wiped out this assistance that I received from the state. I thought that this was a pretty rotten manuveur by my local government, but I have known for a long time that they are experts in that field. I am used to having my intelligence insulted by them, so this manuveur didn't disturb me. Then I heard where the United States Government was going to come to my rescue on my tax problem as a veteran. They weregoing to pay the first $7500 of my home taxes. That was another manuveur that smelled to high heaven and of course, my intelligence was insulted again. But believe this or not, before I can get home from filling in this application, the three wise men in our County Court, and their busom buddy, the assessor, send me a notice that my taxes had just gone up again ant that completely wiped out this benefit. So at present, my prayer is that "Measure No. 6" passes. It may not be perfect, but I would like to see the citizens of this state build a decent tax system and not turn it over to that crop of "Buzzards" in Salem, who are so disconnected from reality that they honestly believe that the sun comes up in the west. If we lose this round, the Siberian salt mines would look like "Paradise." In closing, I feel that "Measure No. 6" is our first shot for freedom, and I would like to suggest to the over-taxed citizens of Oregon that we dig in and fight, for if we don't we might as well kiss the word "freedom" good-bye. Otto H. Jorgensen Jr. Scappoose, Ore. OBITUARY SUBSCRIPTION RATE $8.00 In Morrow, Umatilla, Wheeler & Gilliam County; $10.00 elsewhere The Heppner 11 11 ill 11 Mvllll 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, 1879. Second-class postage paid at Heppner, Oregon. G.M. Reed, Publisher Rick Steelhammer, News Editor Goyle Rush, Composition Dolores Reed, Co-publisher Eileen Soling, Office Manager Kyra Query, Composition Ron Jordan, Printer Terry M. Hager, Managing Editor Justine Weatherford, local Columnist Cindi Doherty, AdvertisingOffice Genet Booth Mandt Genet Booth Mandt, 76, Heppner, died Sunday, Oct. 22 in Heppner. She was born in Azalea, Ore., Aug. 13, 1902. She was a retired restaurant cook and a member of the American Association of Retired Per sons. Private funeral services for relatives and close friends were held Wednesday, Oct. 25, at 2 p.m . at Sweeney Mortuary Chapel, followed by cremation services at Walla Walla, Wash. She is survived by two sisters, Agnes Davis of Lone rock, Edith Bailey of Sacremento, Calif., and numerous nieces and nephews. DEADLINES General News & Society Sports & Weekend Events' Late-breaking News Classified Advertising Display Advertising Friday, 5 p.m Monday, 5 p.m. Tuesday, 1 2 noon Monday, 5 p.m. Monday, 5 p.m. The Heppner GAZETTE-TIMES 676-9228 At least one Morrow County rancher was happy that Portland invaded the area's forests and rangelands during deer season 15 years ago this week. Portland hunter Ray Dobbs came to the county hunting for a buck, but picked up a good many "bucks" contained in a wallet lost in the mountains by local rancher Bill Barratt. Barratt had lost the wallet while riding for cattle with his wife, Bonnie. The billfold contained considerable cash, plus a check for $3,400. Dobbs would not accept a reward for his honesty, asking only that he be reimbursed for his long distance telephone call from Portland which was made to inform Barratt of his find. While the Portlander failed to bag any game during his stay here, Barratt made it clear that Dobbs would find a ready welcome the next time he came hunting in Morrow County. Another Portland hunter was in the news this week 30 years ago. Mrs. Lilly Clark, 65, was the object of an extensive air-ground search when she was missing for two days from her hunting camp in the Ritter area. The elderly nimrod was eventually found alive and relatively well. Voter registration 50 years ago this week showed a five per cent increase over the previous year, with a total of 2,297 Morrow Countians signed up to cast at the polls. Republicans in 1928 Morrow County numbered 1,667; Democrats totaled 530; Socialists drew in nearly 20 party members; Prohibitionists, 9; Progressives, 3; and independents, 68. Will Rogers was appearing in "A Texas Steer" at Heppner's Star Theater this week 50 years ago. Added attractions included Our Gang in "Rainy Days" plus a newsreel. During the same week, Union Pacific railroad was offering a special $6 round-trip fare between Portland and Heppner for local residents wishing to take in the 1928 Pacific International Livestock Exposition. fen years ago this week, the U.S. Forest Service began negotiations with Orville Cutsforth for purchasing a 650-acre parcel at Kelly Prairie. The Forest Service at that time planned to develop a reservoir and a recreational area at the site. Cutsforth 's wife, Barbara, was also in the news during this week in 1968, when the Gazette-Times carried a picture of her displaying an edible, 12-pound mushroom she found growing near the couple's summer home near Cutsforth Park. A Heppner-Wahtonka duel was in the sports pages this week in 1968, as it is today only this week's news is better. During the matchup a decade ago, the Eagles front line proved too much for the Mustangs, leading to a 20-12 Wahtonka victory. Five years ago this week, Dave McLeod, Morrow County ASCS agent, was prompted to a position in the state ASCS office in Portland, following a 21-year association with area farmers. During the same week, Heppner's Lyle Lowe became the first person to become a double winner in the Gazette-Times football contest. Lowe broke a four-way tie with Robb Rush, Anna Mae Steagall and Kevin Rountree by successfully predicting the outcome of a tiebreaker game. Last week, Lowe left Heppner to assume new duties with First National Bank's Portland office. Rumor has it that Lowe's final pigskin forecast before leaving town was unsuccessful, the banker having predicted a Wahtonka victory over Heppner. Picture Credit lone Mayor Linda LaRue tells Congressman Al Ullman of her town's problems, caused by a revised Corp of Engineers report released recently that increased Ione's flood plain to devastating proportions. A Corp report of revised flood plains for Heppner and Lexington is expected to be released soon again with increases in flood plain deliniations. The Corp reports come after each of the three towns has adopted their respective draft comprehensive plans. 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. 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.
