TWO The Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon, Thursday January 11, 1979
GAZETTE-TIMES U UlVJ?DLJ U
Sifting through
Politics as a career?
Better think twice
T , J.:
'.Of
the TIMES!
Ever think of making
politics your career?
That thought is bound to be
uppermost in the minds of
many youthful political aspi
rants as they observe activi
ties of this state's 60th
Legislative Assembly during
the months ahead.
SALEM
SCENE
By Jack Zimmerman
The craving to serve as an
Oregon lawmaker appears to
attract an ever-growing num
ber of candidates each elec
tion. In addition to satisfying
this urge for public service,
the role of Legislator appears
to include numerous addition
al personal gratifications. And
there's always the chance
legislative service will lead to
even greater satisfactions.
After all, haven't most of
our recent governors risen
from the ranks of the State
Legislature? And all but one of
this state's current delegation
to Congress served first as
lawmakers in Salem.
But what the budding politi
cian is likely to overlook is the
fact those who attain higher
office following legislative
service are the exception.
And if job security is a
consideration, forget
politics especially as it in
volves the Oregon Legisla
ture. Oregonians long have
prided themselves with the
fact their lawmakers rise
from the ranks of the citizenry
to serve part time and at the
will of the electorate.
Voters generally hold this
power in all political jurisdic
tions. But it may just be a little
stronger as applied to the
Oregon Legislature because of
the traditional citizen
lawmaker concept. Despite a
concerted effort on the parts
of some as pay and fringes
have increased in recent
years, less than a handful of
Oregon Legislators can be
considered successful profes
sional politicians.
Let's face it. The attrition
rate at the Statehouse is high.
Turnover in the House of
Representatives averages
more than 25 per cent every
two years. Senators, who are
elected to four instead of
two-year terms, naturally
serve longer. But the turnover
of Senators is considerable as
well.
Cont. on page 8
LETTERS
FROM READERS
Teen behavior at disco nights is blasted
Editor:
This is my first letter to the editor and I'm sorry it's not a
happy one. I wish that the problem I am writing about did not
exist, but unfortunately I cannot sit silent any longer in view
of what has happened.
As most of you who are parents of junior high and high
school kids know, there have been disco dances on the
weekends at the American Legion Hall for the past couple of
months. I was working with Mr. Ackley and Mr. Brisso, who
unselfishly D.J.'ed these dances. I sat at the door and took
admission and tried very hard to keep cigarettes, beer and
pot out. Even though I asked kids to put cigarettes out before
they came in, it never failed that there would be those who
defiantly "lit up" indoors and I'd have to ask again and again
until I felt like a very monotonous record. I worked with a lot
of these kids when I worked (for no pay, incidentally) as
pianist for the Junior High Chorus at the school two years in a
row. When I was in day after day contact with them then, I
felt that they were very, very special for the most part and
there were very few truly rude nad crude kids, one or two at
the most and I chalked their behavior up to preteen and teen
years; certainly not an easy time of life for anyone.
I have had my heart broken before, but it's going to take
a long time before I will want to give up my time and energies
to do something for the Heppner kids again. But I really don't
blame the kids. I blame you parents! I will probably be
ridden out of town, tarred and feathered for this, but it's the
parents that I blame. Parents that raise little girls who are
proud of how far they can spit snoose and how filthy they can
talk and how much beer and hard liquor they can guzzle out
in the parking lot, while getting into just any guy's car to do
that and a lot more. Sitting at the front door of that Legion
Hall I saw plenty. I don't have X-ray eyes, we couldn't close
the door completely because the same kids yanked it off its
hinges. I saw your children smoking, drinking, squirreling in
cars and fighting in the parking lot. I have heard some of the
filthiest, smuttiest lingo come out of these children's mouths.
13, 14 and 15 year-old boys and girls. I am no prude. I was
ranch raised and there is hardly a four letter word that I have
not heard used at one time or another, but this parking lot
stuff was enough to make the dirtiest mouthed waddy blush. I
have handled livestock that had more manners than some of
those young ladies, not to mention the boys, and a wild bull
can't be held responsible for his behavior! One might expect
a wild bull to tear the door off its hinges if they ever went to
disco dances! These were your children who were acting like
this!
I am appalled and saddened when dedicated teachers
like Mr. Ackley and Mr. Brisso are let down the way that they
have been for trying to bring a little entertainment into your
kid's lives. Trying to get them off the streets and give them a
fun filled place to come to on the weekends.
In the short time that we provided dances, Heppner
teenagers ripped off the door, scrawled obscenities in the
ladies room (and I suppose the men's), broke furniture,
ripped upholstery off the seats, gummed up the floors, ripped
the sink off the wall in the men's room, urinated on the walls
. and the floors, filled the toilets with broken beer bottles,
whole rolls of toilet paper and the legs of an antique table that
was in the powder room, not to mention the fact that the girls
found it necessary to throw used feminine napkins on the
floor (not wrapped up in any way, folks) and scrawl more
obscenities on the mirror and the walls of the toilet stall with
lipstick and soap. Maybe I shouldn't get so pushed outta
shape, the waste baskets were full of beer bottles and
perhaps there was no room to dispose of a feminine napkin in
the usual acceptable manner. I caught two eighth grade girls
who had jammed the door to the powder room from the
inside, so they could smoke their marijuana in peace. There
was a fist fight in the ladies? room at our last dance.
These kids were getting a service. I am sure that busy
guys like Mr. Ackley and Mr. Brisso could have used their
time and energy in more pleasant pursuits and I know I could
have spent mine in more pleasant surrounding than sitting at
an open door in 8 below zero weather ! They were charged a
very nominal admission: one dollar. I can't believe how
many tens and twenties that I changed. This should tell you
something. These kids take and take and take and haven't
been taught the fact that it's nice to sometimes say thank you
when someone is doing something for you. They don't seem to
think that giving is important. A little appreciation, a little
clean decent behavior. These things would have kept the
disco open, but I certainly can't blame the Legionaires for
not wanting to rent their building for the purpose of disco
dances for the youth of Heppner and the surrounding area
when the massive vandalism and animalistic behavior on the
part of your girls and boys is how they are repaid for letting
them come there to dance. I don't blame Mr. Ackley and Mr.
Brisso and myself for not wishing to do much else for the kids
in Heppner.
I am not so old, but I can remember when girls were
clean and feminine and they spoke with a little respect and
pride and I don't mean "boy what a great dirty word!" They
took pride in being clean and classy and feminine and
wouldn't have been caught dead with a plug of Days Work or
snoose in their mouths. I ache because some of the kids who
were clean and innocent two years ago when I was working
with them at the junior high have gone wild as little jungle
animals. Heppner is an affluent community for the most
part, but you can't buy manners. Manners must be taught
and it is not the responsibility of the school teachers to raise
your kids to be polite. It's you parents (and I use the term
loosely) that I blame.
Sincerely and with a broken heart I sign my name,
Judy Paine
W.G. McCarty was sworn in as mayor of Heppner 50
years ago this week, replacing E.G. Noble, who had served at
the helm of city government for a decade.
During the same week in 1929, the U.S. Bureau of Public
Roads authorized spending $25,000 to pave a portion of the
Heppner-Spray road, and Ralph Harris of lone resigned as
county surveyor.
Heppner's town basketball team took a drubbing at the
hands of Arlington, losing by a 30-15 margin. W.R. Poulson
was high-point man for the low-scoring local team, which
included Francis Doherty, Paul Aiken, Bill Bucknum and
Raymond Ferguson.
"Mademoiselle From Armentiers" was the featured
attraction at Heppner's Star Theater.
The Harold Becket home on South Court Street burned to
the ground 30 years ago this week, with subfreezing
temperatures hampering firemen from containing the blaze.
Mr. and Mrs. Becket and daughter Sharon managed to
escape to safety, but managed to salvage only a few pieces of
furniture. The Becket house was unique in that Mr. Becket
had performed all the construction work himself, starting in
1932.
V.L. Carlson, the Gooseberry area's volunteer weather
,'ecorder, reported that the just-ended year of 1948 was the
wettest recorded in history. A total of 20.77 inches of
precipitation fell on the Gooseberry area, nearly double the
norm of 12 inches.
Twenty-five years ago this week, more than 300 persons
turned out to take part in dedication ceremonies for Ione's
new gymnasium, cafetorium and swimming pool. The major
improvements to the school complex carried a pricetag of
$225,000.
During the same week in 195,4, the largest recorded
steelhead ever was pulled out of the John Day River near the
confluence with Service Creek by Redmond angler John
Parkey. The winter-run steelhead measured 33.5 inches, and
weighed just over 12 pounds.
Beverly Diane Holm, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley
Holm of Heppner, was Morrow County's New Year's Baby
for 1954.
Heppner School Superintendent H. C. Reed won an
honest-to-God door prize during the Heppner Chamber of
Commerce meeting during this week 25 years ago. The door
prize was, as you may have guessed, a door.
John Mollahan was sworn in as Morrow County Sheriff
during a Courthouse ceremony 10 years ago this week,
replacing retiring sheriff C.J.D. Bauman. Bau'man was
retained by Mollahan to serve as deputy. The new sheriff also
hired Morrow County native Larry Fetsch as a new deputy.
Fetsch must have liked the job, since he is the current
sheriff.
Five years ago this week, Elaine George resigned as
Heppner's city recorder, to be replaced by Marshall
Lovgren, the current city administrator.
Police Chief Dean Gilman asked the city council for
permission to stop issuing parking meter violations, since a
spell of unseasonably cold weather was causing many of the
meters to malfunction.
During the same week, the 1974 Morrow County Fair and
Rodeo Court was named. Selected queen was Sherry Kemp.
Her court consisted of princesses Cassy Chapel and Mickey
Hoskins of lone, and Michelle Evans and Patricia Van
Schoiack of Heppner.
Last year this week, Dr. Joseph Gifford of Heppner
Medical Clinic announced that he was leaving Morrow
County to accept residency in radiology at the University of
New Mexico School of Medicine in Albuquerque. Gifford had
been practicing medicine in Heppner for the previous three
years.
During the same week, the Rev. Wayne Smith took over
pastoral duties at the Christian Life Center Assembly of God
Church in Heppner.
Ackley 6appalledP by dance conduct
Editor:
During my almost six years in the town of Heppner, I
have dedicated a lot of my time and energies toward the
benefit of the young people in our area. I've had many
disappointments in the reactions of those young people
toward my efforts, but nothing can top the failure of my
latest venture.
My partner and I had been putting on dances in the
Legion Hall so the kids would have a place to go on weekends.
We made a little spending money, with most of our reward
coming from seeing the kids have a good time.
Unfortunately, a number of the more mentally unstable
variety must not have appreciated having a place to go on
weekends. Due to the damage done over the last few weeks,
there will no longer be any dances for the kids at the Legion
SUBSCRIPTION RATE
$8.00 In Morrow, Umatilla, Wheeler & Gilliam County; $10.00 elsewhere
The Heppner
GAZET
II ilMlico)
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 Dolores Reed, Co-publisher Terry M. Hager, Managing Editor
Rick Steelhammer, News Editor Eileen Saling, Office Manager Justine Weatherford, Local Columnist
Gayle Rush, Composition Melissa Scott, Composition Cindi Doherty, AdvertisingOffice
Ron Jordan, Printer
Hall. The best way to explain the type and amount of damage
done is to just give you a list : Gum ground into the floor, beer
bottles in the toilet, writing on the girl's restroom walls, one
broken table, one ripped out sink, five or six seats with
upholstery ripped and the stuffing torn out, part of the
thermostat stolen, a door torn off its hinges, one broken door
knob, one broken door panel, cigarette butts ground into the
floor, toilet paper rolls and loose pieces of toilet paper
jammed into the toilets, a used feminine napkin on the floor
of the girls restroom, and constant urinating on the floor of
the boys restroom.
The American Legion bent over backwards to give the
kids a building for their dances. They were willing to give
what they could for the benefit of our young people. But, how
can they or I continue with a good idea when the kids react
with such contempt?
I will probably begin phasing out my activities with
young people. It seems like each year the animal instincts in
our younger generation become stronger. There are very few
young people I can honestly look at with a lot of respect
anymore, and that is very sad. That goes against my entire
philosophy of humanity. But, then a human must have
human qualities, and not think they're being "neat" by
emulating a wolf, a sheep or a turkey. The decent kids in our
community are going to have to pull together and stop
encouraging the activities of the few that are jeopardizing
everyone's rights as human beings.
Parents, I haven't got much respect for some of you,
either. A lot of you honestly don't realize what your kids do,
and some of you honestly don't care. I've been in a position to
see a lot of things that you couldn't dream possible, and
believe me, it is appalling. If you condone the kind of
behavior that goes on in our area by a few of our young
people, then I heartily recommend that you seek professional
help, for your good and the good of your children.
I've written a controversial letter or two in this paper
over social problems in the past, and I expect to get a lot of
static over this attack on attitudes of our young people. But,
somebody's got to do something. School spirit is down and
dirty, it seems like striving for achievement is at an all-time
low, and respect for other people and their property is
non-existant.
Parents, I challenge you to do your jobs and raise your
kids with a little character and responsibility. Young people,
I challenge you to be the best you can be in whatever you
choose to do and face all of your situations with the concepts
of humanity that you were born with. Maybe then, parents
and their kids can look at each other with respect and pride
and be able to go to the zoo without feeling some sort of
kinship with its inhabitants.
Sincerely,
Jim Ackley
A very tired band man
Christmas Basket
program is lauded
Editor:
With the response for help in the Christmas Basket
project, Morrow County can wejl be proud of their citizens.
This year more people, organizations and business
establishments came forth generously to make Christmas
1978 a more happy and bountiful time for our less fortunate,
handicapped and senior citizens of the entire county.
We of the Neighborhood Center wish to extend our thanks
for your generosity and support. May the year 1979 be most
successful and happy.
Most Sincerely,
Pat Brindle, Coordinator
Picture Credit
Walking down Willow Creek would be a soggy proposition
during most of the year, but the current cold snap has made
the stream a scenic route home for many Heppner
schoolchildren. But Heppnerites have always found
interesting ways of dealing with the cold. Photo insert shows
snow carving of Abraham Lincoln created by the late Stanley
Minor of Heppner in 1935. For years, Minor carved Lincoln's
bust each winter, with the first big snowfall.