Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (May 17, 1979)
Tho Library University of Oregon If.u-ar.e, Or 97-103 voiers to me pons i uesaay in oevy oj elections Roads, inflation boost County budget Morrow County voters are asked to approve a $494,410 tax levy outside the 6 percent limitation imposed by the State Constitution in next Tuesday's budget election. Both County Judge D.O. Nelson and Warren McCoy are concerned that voters are hard-pressed by reappraisal in the northern part of the county, specifically Irrigon, may vote their pocketbooks. McCoy, Irrigon, says "People are upset about their taxes. I was upset by my own." And he blamed the federal and state government for the cause of the inflation which is adding a financial burden to local government. "All the demands have been put on us by the state and VOL. 97, NO. 20 ui . Li . .J I . - u. V Bill Kenny (right) has been selected as Valedictorian for the Heppner High School Class of 1979 and Scott McEwen (left) named Salutatorian. The pair are the top students scholastically In this year's graduating class. Top honors Bill Kenny and Scott Mc Ewen have been named vale dictorian and salutatorian of the Heppner High School class of 1979 as the seniors with the highest scholastic average in four years. As the class valedictorian, Bill Kenny compiled a 3.98 grade point average and except for a B plus in freshman algebra, received A's for every course taken. Salutatorian Scott Mc Ewen's average is 3.85. Six in the graduating class including Kenny and McEwen will receive honor plaques for their scholastic achievements. Also receiving the honor are Gazette deadlines revised New and advertising dead lines at the Heppner Gazette Times are being revised effective immediately, Terry M. Hager, managing editor announced this week. Deadlines for all materials submitted for publication will be one day earlier to enable distribution of the newspaper on Wednesday afternoon. Hager said the move would give readers more notice for weekend events and would enable shoppers to read mer chants' advertisements prior to the usual Thursday-through-Saturday sale period. Deadlines for advertising will be: display advertising, federal government. Inflation is killing us." Nelson referred to the reappraisal situation in the Irrigon area as a possible source of voter dissatisfaction during a speech to the Heppner Chamber of Com merce. But he strongly de fends this year's budget. "We think we have a good budget. To keep the roads up, we need the $100,000." The County Judge said the county court could have asked for millions of dollars for road repairs but added, "there's a limit to how much we can afford." The proposed budget is $247,406 higher than last year's budget figure attrib uted to the loss of $35,996 in federal CETA employment go to pair Maureen Healy, Michelle Cutsforth, Julie Grieb and Jackie Mollahan. Both Kenny and McEwen plan to attend Oregon State University; Bill will major in music education, Scott in pre-medicine. Kenny is active in the school's drama club, and band president of the National Honor Society while Scott is a member of the NHS, played varsity football and baseball. Bill is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Kenny and .Scott's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Don McEwen. Monday at 12-noon ; classified advertisements, Monday at 4 p.m. ; legal notice advertising, Monday at 4 p.m. News deadlines are as follows: general news and society items, Friday at 5 p.m., except events which occur on the weekend, for which the deadline is Monday at 12-noon. The final news deadline will be Tuesday at 9 a.m. Clubs and organizations wishing news release forms should call the Gazette-Times at 676-9228. News items may be called into the Gazette-Times office Monday through Friday from funds, a $47,000 reduction in federal in lieu of taxes because of a decline in federal forest receipts, a phase-cut in anti-recession funds amount ing to $24,000 and a seven and a half percent increase in road dept. salaries totalling $64,260. To pass, the budget requires a simple majority vote. The first year a proposal was submitted outside the six percent limitation; it drew a tie vote and was resubmitted with a resulting majority. Nelson and McCoy have made several appearances before organizations in both the North and South ends of the county, stressing the individual features of the budget. Their audiences have Morrow HEPPNER, OREGON Arietta Aldrich (left), and Michelle McElligott (right) have been named Valedictorian and Salutatorian respectively for lone High School's graduating class. Arietta is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cliff Aldrich and Michelle, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Don McElligott. ione names The valedictorian for Ione High School Class of 1979 is Arietta Aldrich, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cliff Aldrich with a 3.42 g.p.a. Michelle McElligott, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Don McElligott has been selected as salutatorian with a 3.3 gradepoint average. Arietta has been active as editor of the high school annual and a member of the National Honor Society and the Girls Letter Club. She plans to attend Blue Mountain Community College and major in accounting. Michelle is president of the Girls Letter Club, vice presi- 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or may be deposited in the mail slot of the G-T office anytime. Poppy sale Thursday The Buddy Poppies which will be offered to you on the streets May 17-18 are sold by a volunteer. All proceeds will go to the relief and welfare of the needy veteran, his widow and orphans. been small, Nelson said. The judge said last year's road budget was $648,387; this year's figure is $809,000. That includes a serial levy passed by the voters for $195,000 which is a carryover fund for three years. The county budget will meet a voter test with a separate ballot measure on authoriza tion to the county to levy taxes in the amount of $598,587 outside the six percent limita tion. This is the second year in which the two measures have been divided. Commissioner Warren Mc Coy favors the separation. "You can give the people a choice instead of throwing it all in one." Continued on page 3 The Heppner County's Award-Winning Weekly Newspaper top students dent of the senior class, secretary-treasurer of the stu dent body, a member of NHS and active at volleyball, basketball and tennis. Dr. Pagel on call weekend Persons needing medical attention this coming week end, May 19-20, should be informed that Dr. Joan Pagel of Portland will be at Pioneer Memorial Hospital in the absence of a resident physi cian in town. Dr. Pagel will be on call 24-hours a day at the hospital and will regularly see patients there between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., by appoint ment. She will arrive at the hospital Friday and remain on call through early Monday morning. Hospital Administrator Bob Byrnes also noted that Dr. Wallace H. Wolff has resumed practice, although this is not his regular weekend for being on call. Byrnes said the commun ity's response to Dr. Pagel has been "very good" with the doctor being kept busy with patients during the daytime hours. Increased PMH levy is explained "The 1979-80 Pioneer Mem orial Hospital Budget is more than just a minimal operating budget," Administrator Bob Byrnes told Chamber of Com merce members Monday, "It is a planning and goal-oriented budget to accomplish those things which are the expecta tions of the people in the health care service area." When voters go to the polls next Tuesday they will be asked to approve a special levy in the amount of $544,122 to improve and operate PMH for the next year. The total budget for the ensuing year tops out at $1.7 million, up $650,750 from this year. Byrnes points out that several items new to the PMH budget account for a substan tial portion of the increase. THURSDAY, MAY 17, 1979 Area high schools prepare for commencement exercises Area high schools are gear ing )p for baccalaureate and commencement exercises for graduating seniors with dates already set and even one high school preparing for its senior sneak. Heppner High School has scheduled its Baccalaureate for May 24, 7:30 p.m. at the Catholic Church with Dick Bigelow of the Baptist Church officiating. The invocation and benediction will be given by Six candidates CountyCoinmiioner Six candidates tossed their political hats in the ring Monday night in a bid for the County Commissioner's seat held by the late Homer Hughes of Lexington. Applying for the job at the special Republican Central Committee meeting at the Circuit Courtroom of the Morrow County Courthouse in Heppner were Merle Cantin, Ralph Crumb, Don Peterson, Dorothy Krebs, June Lind strom and Dick Wilkinson , all from Heppner-Lexington and Ione. Following a two hour ses sion of five minute speeches by the candidates and a question and answer period, the County GOP extended the deadline for announcement of candidacy to noon, Monday, May 21 with a decision to be reached in a closed caucus, Wednesday, May 23 at the Courthouse. Central Committee Chair man Steve Peck said Monday night's meeting was not an "official" meeting because it was required to give possible candidates a six day notice of formal sessions. The commit tee hopes to attract other candidates to apply for the job which pays $9,000 a year. By law, the central commit tee must make a recommend ation to the Morrow County Court for the Republican to fill the post. The County Court can either accept or deny the recommendation but must appoint a Republican. To ensure a fair decision, Included is $157,000 for the North Morrow Medical Clinic in Boardman; $139,588 for physicians services in south ern Morrow County; $50,000 for management, consulting and planning; a $50,000 in crease in the contingency fund; and $30,000 for capital improvements and replace ment of equipment. Included in those figures is $100,000 that will be used to guarantee a minimum $50,000 annual salary for two doctors, one for Boardman and one for Heppner. Voters should under stand the average physician generates well in excess of $50,000 a year income, in which case the tax dollars would never be spent. The board anticipates it will takt a $20,000 to attract the doctors to two seniors, Barb Devine and Phil Marquardt. . : . Graduation exercises are set for Saturday, May 26 at 7:30 p.m. at the high school gym . The senior class motto is "Life's Been Good" and according to Michele Port man, student counselor, the school's band director and a student are composing a graduating sone to the chosen itheme. Bill Kenny has been named valedictorian and Scott Peck appointed Heppner City Councilman Clifford Green, also a Central Committee member, to chair a rules committee for the May 23rd meeting and it was the consensus of the board to close the final decision-making to the public. Chairman Steve Peck was cautious in closing the session, emphasizing the goal of the party to make its political processes as open as possible. Initially there were eight potential candidates. Dorris Graves, Hardman, said she was asked to apply by friends and neighbors but said she wouldn't want to run for election a year from this November. Clifford Green asked her whether her family operations outside the county might handicap her position as commissioner; she replied that she would be able to devote Sunday to Wednesday to the job and be helping with the family's business in Wal lowa the remainder of the week. She emphasized her enjoy ment of analyzing and or ganizing matters and felt her experience with research an important ingredient for a commissioner's role. June Lindstrom, Ione said she was 40 years old, had her children almost raised and has time and energy to devote to the job. She says she doesn't have all the answers to county problems but will work towards solving them. Morrow County in the first place. Board member Ed Dick, referring to the salary guaran tee and capital improvements planned, said, "I'm sure the actual cost to taxpayers will be less when the full potential of patient use of the hospital is realized, but for that to happen we need doctors locat ed here." In recent months the hos pital board has been review ing a number of management proposals from various health care firms and last month decided that short and long range plans for the hospital must be developed before hiring one of the firms to manage the hospital. The board plans to move ahead quickly in this area and has TWO SECTIONS 14 PAGES McEwen, salutatorian. ' Heppner, seniors will attend a special graduation celebra tion May 23 with a trip to Ritter Hot Springs. Ione High School has slated baccaluareate for this Sunday at the United Church of Christ at 7:30 p.m. Graduation exer cises are Friday, May 25 at 8 p.m. Riverside High School in Boardman has set baccalaur eate for Sunday in the school Don Peterson was the only member of the Central Com mittee to toss his hat into the ring and praised the candi dates' interest n county government. He told the committee his political inter est in farm organization, both at the state and national level ; he has done political lobbying, served as county president of the Wheat League and as one of the workers on Governor Atiyeh's campaign. "I'm con cerned about county problems and I'm a good listener. The people of Oregon are going to have to put up money for these roads. I like this county and want to be more of an intimate part of it." Peterson is the son of former County Judge Paul Peterson who attended the opening session. A friend of Dick Wilkinson , Randall Peterson spoke on his behalf because as explained by Peterson, he was unable to attend because of his recovery from a heart condition. Peter son said Wilkinson is getting along fine and since he will be semi-retired from his farm will be available for the position. Wilkinson , an OSU graduate, has served on several boards including the Columbia Basin Electrical Co-op and is a life-long resident of the area. Gene Rietmann, Ione, withdrew his candidacy after speaking at length on county issues, say ing the central committee had an adequate number of good candidates to draw from. bid for requested $50,000 to use in planning and possibly for use in hiring a management firm. Again, monies not spent for their budgeted purpose would be returned to (he taxpayer. A federal grant in t!ie amount of $205,000 is expected to be approved in the weeks ahead and a local contribution of about $60,000 is needed to supplement the grant. "We have received word that the $60,000 will be returned to us, but at this (jme we need to budget the money to complete the expansion project covered under the grant," said Byrnes. The capital improvements and replacement fund reflects a phased plan of replacement for updating equipment with much emphasis on emergency Cont. on page 8 20 cents auditorium and commence ment exorcises for May '.'4 at p.m. in the high school gymnasium. Sunday's cere mony is sponsored by the ministerial association of Boardman. Rev. David Piper will present the program's sermon; Rev. Neal King, invocation; Rev. Al Gordan ier, benediction: and bibles presented to graduating sen iors by Rev. Carl Wright. The Central Committee ask ed each candidate to present a five minute speech regarding his abilities and qualifications for the position, then quizzed the six on county roads. Pioneer Memorial Hospital, how to obtain more money for Morrow County, the political division between the north and south ends of the county and whether they would run for election in 1980. Merle Cantin, a telephone company retiree, said he had attended County Court meet ings for over a year and felt that a communications gap exists between the board and the public. He called for more public input, and said if appointed, would close the budgetary situation of Pioneer Memorial Hospital. Ralph Crum , a farmer in the Ione area, who said he first came to north Morrow County in 1946 after eight years in Catepillar sales, insisted upon getting the most for the taxpayer's dollar. Dorothy Krebs said she was born in Pellican City, Oregon near Klamath Falls, was 53 years old like Great Britain's new prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, had four children and is married to Henry, a sheep rancher. She stressed her educational background, experience and ability to research solutions to county problems, citing her B.A. degree in General Chemistry from O.S.U., a Master . of Cont. on page 1 1 post 1' Y.-i " )
