Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (April 26, 1979)
The Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon, Thursday April 26, 1979 SEVEN Senate bill will put teeth in shoplifting laws By State Senator Ken Jernstedt At the request of the Oregon Retail Council I have intro duced a bill which will soon be debated on the Senate floor. II should be of interest to all consumers, since it is an effort to control something which adds to the price of items we all buy in stores and super markets. It is SB 893 and has to do with shoplifting. Shoplifting losses amount to an estimated $7 billion annual ly, based on apprehensions. And it is calculated that only 1 out of 35 shoplifters are apprehended. Oregon ac counts for about 1.1 per cent of the national market so a very conserva'ive loss figure for Oregon is a $70 million annual loss. Retailers increase prices to absorb the losses they exper-' ience through shoplifting, so all of us pay for things that people steal. SB 893 is a civil statute and does not change criminal provisions already existing in Oregon law. It is uncomplicat ed and written in simple language. While it will not bring an end to shoplifting, hopefully it will provide an 0 MIS frfl fffl ii im iff WESTERN FAMILY SHOESTRING FRIES WESTERN FAMILY AA LARGE EGGS QUICK AND EASY TO FIX LARGE 20-OZ. BAG FOR THE INCREDIBLE EDIBLE EGG GUARANTEED FRESH DOZEN MISSION LONG SPAGHETTI CORONET STUDIO FACIAL TISSUE 22-OZ. SIZE 200 COUNT WESTERN FAMILY MAYONNAISE MJB FLAVORED RICE MIXES HIGH YIELD COFFEE Regular or Automatic -Drip, 39-oz. Size DEL MONTE GREEN BEANS CHUN KING CHOW MEIN MRS. BUTTERWORTH SYRUP HUNT'S TOMATO SAUCE SMUCKER GRAPE JAM or JELLY LIPTON CUP-A-SOUP Assorted Varieties, Pkg. of 4 PILLSBURY BROWNIE MIX 32-oz. Size Assorted Flavors, 6-oz. Size 9-oz. Size Sliced Seasoned, 16-oz Assorted Varieties, 42-oz. Size 36-oz. Size i Thick r Rich, 8-oz. Size 32-oz., Your Choice Deluxe Fudge, 22.5-oz. Size $1.15 39 5.79 3 tor 89 $1.49 $1.69 . . . 5for 1 99 59 $1.09 fe" till diss) If It C0RN MEDIUM SWEET PEAS OR NIBLETS CORN IN BUTTER SAUCE 10-OZ. SIZE YOUR CHOICE fa I SWANSON TAKE OUT J (If) FRIED CHICKEN... .5)iJ WELCH GRAPE JUICE SALTESEA FRIED CLAMS 12-01. S-oz. SWEET CORN NEWCROP FROM FLORIDA, SWEET & TENDER FOR FANCY ALL GREEN CABBAGE . 35 EXTRA CHOICE LEMONS Large 6,o,$1 ALFALFA SPROUTS "Yakima Grown", 6-oz. Pkg.. . ea. 49 U.S. NO. 1 BAKING POTATOES 6 '1 POamHt-s feu -ivt- v I) WHITE OR WHEAT PLAIN WRAP 2212 -OZ. LOAF (o 6 . "i r for LJ , HAMBURGER 'iTV HOT DOG v J BUNS HUR-FRESH h J PKG. OF 12 BUNS k S X O Jea. x iil:llniV:Vi::liH;7nmiT; COACH ELLA VALLEY WHITE EAT PLENTY AND STILL KEEP A SLIM WAISTLINE 8-LB. BAG SWEET TASTY CANTALOUPES RICH AND FLAVORFUL, FULL OF JUICE effective way of slowing its rapid growth and of discour aging both initial and repeated stealing, particularly as it relates to young people. Studies have shown that the average age of juvenile shop lifters is 13. Until recently girls shoplifted more than boys, taking small things like cosmetics, jewelry, perfumes. But more and more boys are now becoming involved. Another group that is invol ved is young couples who are unable to afford things they want and so they shoplift them. At present, since the onl' recourse is a criminal proced ure, many merchants take no action because they feel that it is not appropriate to take juveniles to criminal court, because it is time consuming and costly and there are delays in getting cases into, court, and because an attorn ey is needed to prosecute. Current law lacks the cert ainty of penalty, which is the only effective deterrent to shoplifting. SB 893 does the following things : Establishes a civil liability for taking merchandise or for altering prices on merchan dise. Makes parents or legal guardians civilly liable for the penalties imposed on minors. Awards to the merchant actual damages; a penalty in the amount of the retail value of the merchandise, not to exceed $500 for an adult or $250 for a minor; and costs of preparing and presenting the action of not less than $100 nor more than $250. One of the most effective parts of the proposed law is that first time offenders would be punished. A survey con ducted by Distributive Educa tion Clubs revealed a preva lent attitude expressed as: "Hey, don't try to kid us, we won't get caught-and if we do, nothing will happen!" Under SB 893 something will happen! Area students are BMCC's new officers Kent Madison, from Echo, has been named student body president for the 1979-80 school year at Blue Mountain Com munity College following rec ent student elections. Madison will be assisted in associated student body activ ities by: Mike Lincoln, La Grande, vice-president; Krynn Robinson, Heppner, corresponding secretary ; Penny Baxter, Umatilla, rec ording secretary; Lori Rine hart, Pendleton, treasurer; and Larry DeWalt, Lake Tahoe, publicity director. Morrow Co. schools seek handicapped for education Child Find is trying to locate Oregon children, birth to 21 years of age, with physical, mental or emotional problems or chronic illness. Sometimes these handicapped children are not receiving the free, appropriate public education to which they are entitled. This state-wide campaign, which is sponsored by the State Department of Educa tion, is appealing to people throughout the state to help in this child identification and public awareness program. Parents or guardians who believe fHUH may have physical, mental, or t. ji. or learning problems are encouraged to call the school in their local community. Also they may call the Child Find projects toll-free number in Portland for additional infor mation. The number is 1-800-249-7727. Those contacting the project will receive more detailed information on the services Child Find can provide. Sub sequently, they may request, through the project, that their child undergo appropriate testing in their local district.
