Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (May 17, 1979)
TWO The Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon, Thursday, May 17, 1979 The Heppner GAZETTE-TIMES v. The landscaping of County's backyard Gazette-News Times Analysis In recent weeks the Gazette-Times has published a series of articles, contributed by a conservationist and an industry leader concerning land use management on the six, last-remaining, roadless areas in the Heppner Unit of the Umatilla National Forest. Beryl Stillman of heppner, State Project manager for the Elk Foundation Association and a devoted conservation ist, wrote a two-part series detailing the many ecosystems within each of the roadless areas and the delicate balance, which exists between elk and a dozen other rare wildlife species and the undisturbed timber lands. Stillman is probably one of the most knowledgeable persons around when discussion turns to elk and wildlife and the southern border of Morrow County we refer to as the Blue Mountains. He has devoted thousands of hours and thousands of his own dollars to independent field study and research of the complex issue. Allan Nistad, General Manager of Kinzua Corporation and civic leader, authored a third article outlining the economics of harvesting timber from those same roadless areas and the economic impact on the southern Morrow County community. Nistad points to the Forest Service's preferred alternative which allocates the six roadless areas to commercial logging with emphasis on preserving and. according to the Forest Service, en hancing the habitat for elk. He wrote the article as President of the Columbia-Blue Mountain Resource Conservation & Development Commission. Nistad also serves as chairman of the Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council and fills several other state-wide and regional civic posts in addition to his wood products industry duties. His life revolves around resource management and economics. Within the same period of time retired rancher and businessman Orville Cutsforth has raised concerns about projected logging in the Hell's Half Acre roadless area that comprises a good portion of the Willow Creek watershed. Cutsforth also maintains the Forest Service, county government and schools are missing the boat by not harvesting the pine beetle infested stands of lodgepole that will turn brown with the summer sun. As it turns out, county government and schools wouldn't receive forest receipt fees from the sale of lodgepole because proceeds from the sales go directly to finance further lodgepole sales which are uneconom ical to harvest. Cutsforth made his plea to the Heppner-Morrow County Chamber of Commerce and that organization in turn appointed a committee chairman chair ed by Heppner attorney Michael J. Sweeney to take a look at the Willow Creek watershed issue. All of the forementioned issues, concerns and proposals for management of the national forest lands that serve as Morrow County's backyard are directly tied to the economics of the area through hunting and fishing and other recreation, logging and employment at the local mill and subsequently, employ ment throughout the community. The economic issue is complex and far reaching; to-date, no one has compiled a balance sheet of all the resource values present in the roadless areas for objective analysis. Unfortunately, the public concern surfacing now is Johnny-come-lately on the scene as the Forest Service has '-- The Official Newspaper of the City of Heppner and the County of Morrow ONFA Oregon Nwspopr Publisher! Aisociotion The Heppner GAZETTE-TIMES Morrow County's Award-Winning Weekly Newspaper U.S.P.S. 240-420 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 SUBSCRIPTION RATE $8.00 In Morrow, Unatilla, Wheeler 8t Gilliam County; $10.00 elsewhere GM. Reed, Publisher Terry M. Hager, General Manager Eileen Saling, Office Manager Melissa Scon, Composition Justine Weotherford, Local Columnist completed not only RARE I & II, but also the Land Management Plan for the Heppner Unit of the Umatilla National Forest. Even so, it's not too late for Morrow Countians to have a voice in how the public forest lands in the Blues will be managed. When the Morrow County Economic Advisory Committee was meeting and formulating goals and guidelines for the County's Comprehensive Plan, Com mittee members specifically debated and accordingly adopted a goal preserv ing the right of the county to intervene and advise on behalf of its citizenry as to how the public forest lands within the county will be managed at any time. There were those who did not feel the county and its residents needed that protection; rather, leaving management of the forest to the Forest Service. Now it appears the committee was right in adopting that goal and it seems practical for the Chamber of Commerce committee to expand its responsibility beyond the Willow Creek watershed to include the six roadless areas. The Forest Service RARE I & II, and land Use Management Plan reports are lacking in recreational values and site specific ecosystem information. The reports, on the other hand, explain very well the values of harvesting the timber on those lands and the management alternatives which the Forest Service and the wood products industry prefer. Beryl Stillman has compiled most of the information necessary to determine the true recreational and wildlife values and detailed ecosystem information. In addition, he challenges some of the Forest Service figures on the economics of harvesting the roadless areas. Stillman has developed a management proposal he would like to see considered along with the five allocations proposed by the Forest Service. It does not call for a blanket wilderness designation; it would severely restrict logging in the areas but would provide for management by the Forest Service and allow off -road vehicle use on most existing roads ; it is a viable alternative and deserves consider ation. The basic issue and stark realiza tionis whether or not Morrow County will have any virgin old growth timber stands 10 to 20 years from now ; whether that option is economically feasible and desirable for Morrow County. Only a thorough economic analysis of the values will reveal the answer and the answer is needed now. The recreational and wildlife values are in current form only as long as the six areas remain roadless and the public should be aware that sales are already planned for some of the roadless areas. The Chamber of Commerce committee is a natural to undertake the responsibil ity of compiling the values and having them professionally analyzed. From there the County and Chamber along with the public, can let the Forest Service know how they want their backyard landscaped. tir Hint Cnarinf Dfllri r aii v mii iuut Printing Needs GAZETTE-TIMES 676-9228 Delores Reed, Co-publisher Rick Steelhommer, News Editor Gayle Rush, Composition Cindi Doherty, AdvertisingOffice Ron Jordan, Printer Aw Be sure to vote in Tuesday's County elections...Polls are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Your Right To Know...In this week's issue of The Gazette-Times, sample ballots and legal notices for the elections are published for your bene fit. LETTERS FROM OUR READERS Writer questions budget Editor: We have a county-owned and county operated nursing home for service to our community; not a profit making venture. I feel rates are higher than they should be and care is less than should be (due to understaffing and undertrainingof person nel). This facility does not meet standards for skilled nursing care. People paying for nursing home insurance, both private carrier and medicare, cannot collect because it does not meet standards. I believe it would not be too expensive to upgrade, at least the upstairs. Rates upstairs are $29.50 per day plus Support hospital Editor: The hospital Boo-Birds are at it again. This time they are booing the budget. It's only the latest in their campaign of sideline heckling. (Side-line heckling is the distinctive call of the boo-bird.) No matter what it is, they're against it. For instance, they raised such a clamor last year that four of the five unpaid hospital board members resigned; they were mad because the fifth didn't quitl For instance: They were in such a snit against ha -ing a hospital district formed that the idea was removed from the ballot. But less than a year later one of them is trying to get a state law passed to have elected board members rather than appointed ones exactly what the hospital district would have accomplished. For instance: They were so positive that everyone in Morrow County was incapable of keeping the hospital running that we just had to have an outside management company. But now that the Board has hired a firm to teach people how to effectively run the hospital and keep it a modern facility, they accuse the Board of being too extravagant. For instance: they accused the Eoard and administration of letting the hospital get run down and outdated. But now they oppose a budget designed to update the facility and equipment. For instance, they accuse the Board of not listening to the doctors, though the items in the budget listed for improvement came from recommendations made by the doctors. Another distinctive mark of the boo-bird is where they're not seen. You'll not see them at three a .m . answering a call to drive the ambulance. You'll not see them in an 81 hour class to train volunteer medical technicians to serve the community. You'll not see them struggling to get a hospital auxiliary going. You will see one of them complaining that a hose was left out for two weeks. You won't see the person walk over and pick it up. Get the drift. It's easy to always tear down what someone else is trying to build up. And if such tearing down destroys the morale of an organization from bottom to top, from paid employees to dedicated . volunteers, so what? The boo-birds will always clamor about their right to do such things. They even claim it's their duty. It reminds me of the radical students of the late 60's "Tear it down, I don't like it. To heck with what you think." Our hospital is striving to improve itself. She needs our support moral and financial. Don't let the boo-bird's words confuse you; just look at their actions, that's the proof of their mettle. John Maas Heppner point system (example 75 cents per day) plus charges such as $3.00 for an enema, $1.25 for mouth swab, etc. and of course all medication is extra. Rates downstairs are $27.50 per day plus same charges. Hiershes Nursing Home in Pendleton is a private business (has to show a profit to stay in business). Heirshe's does qualify for skilled nursing home care with therapy equipment, full time therapist, etc. The daily rate at Heirshe's is $30.00 per day . plus medication only. There is $1.00 per day discount if paid by the 10th or a net cost of $29.00 per day. Many of our people are buying nursing home insurance believing Pioneer Memor ial Nursing Home qualifies only to find after paying insurance for years and often after a large bill has been built up, that it does not qualify. Taxpayers of Morrow County are entitled to know what they are buying with their tax dollars. This facility was built as a "memor ial" to our pioneers, as toe name implies. Many of our living pioneers that are now in the nursing home were substantial donors to this facility and supported it tax-wise for many years. I feel these living pioneers are being "ripped off" by present administration of our nursing home both in dollars and in care. I have been trying for more than a year to have hospital board respond to these complaints; to date no responses. Our elderly and sick want to be close to family and friends. They should not be penalized in care or monies to realize this wish. You and I are so penalizing them when we allow this to continue. I do not intend this letter or last weeks letter to presume to tell you how to vote. I do want your vote to be an informed vote not an emotional vote due to pressure; the only way we can continue (o have a hospital is to vote as hospital personnel want us to vote. Jewel Hager Heppner Rodeo okay Editor: It is much to my amazement how one person can do something and it's alright, but let someone else do it and it should be against the law. I have been reading the articles in different newspapers about Lois Win chester supporting the bill to end particular rodeo events. I am certain that I am not the only resident that lived in Morrow County that can remember Lois and her family participating in all of the rodeo events in the Dast. Whv is it any worse to bulldoe a calf than it is to rein ydur horse so tight around the barrel race's that your horse bleeds at the mouth from the bit or to run your horse so hard and long that it is hot and exhausted? I can also remember when Lois used to dye her dogs different colors and dress them up for the rodeo parade, etc. Was this a normal life for a dog? I don't understand why Lois feels it is any harder on the calves, horses and bulls nowadays than it was 20 or 30 years ago when her family participated in these same events. I am almost certain that if the Gazette-Times "Sifted through the Times" they would be apt to find several articles from the past that includes members of the Winchester family in the highlights of the Morrow County Fair and Rodeo. Do we all forget so soon? Sincerely, (s) L. J. Turner 4606N.E. Glisan Portland, Oregon mmzmMmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Vote against Editor: If we vote yes on the hospital budget, the hospital board will have received the same as a blank check. The board has asked for its own study and may not know for a period of six months or more which road they want to take. They are asking the taxpayers of Morrow County for a budget which at this time is unrealistic. Prior to May 1, I had hopes that the board would start listening to the public, the doctor in the area, and become the response type of board that is needed to save Pioneer Memorial Hos pital. As of May 1, the area that could have been served extended approximately 25 miles to the north and covered the surrounding area of Condon, Fossil and Sprayand John Day. The PMH of Prineville and the Crook County Nursing Home have since May 1 parted with the consulting type manage ment group and have turned to the Northwest Medical Foundation. John Day, is sending a doctor to Condon on Mondays and Fossil has or will shortly have a doctor for that area. What area does that leave Pioneer Memorial Hospital to draw from for patients? Not very much. The board is asking the taxpayers of Morrow County for a budget that at this time is unrealistic. The existing board must be told through a no vote that their actions are not approved by the voters of Morrow County. Until a decision is made as to which road to take I feel that only revenue to operate for the next year should be voted on. They are asking for money to guarantee doctor's wages to come here. $70,000 is being asked for a manage ment plan and they don't really want it. The board wants to remain with the present administration. A no vote won't lose Pioneer Memorial Hospital, a no vote should inform the board that the taxpayer wants to see something for his money and something done, a no vote should also impress the Morrow County Court that they should be thinking about getting back into the hospital business until the problems of Pioneer Memorial are solved. I must stress again, a no vote will not lose Pioneer Memorial Hospital, but could keep her alive. Merle Cantin Heppner Public Officials U.S. Sen. Mark O. Hatfield Russell Senate Office Bldg.. Washington. DC. 2(151(1. Member of Appropriations Committee. Interior Committee. Rules Com mittee, and Indian Polity Review Commis sion. Portland office. Pioneer Courthouse. Km. 1(17. 52(1 S.W. Morrison. Portland. Ore. 97204. phone 22l-:i:!8. U.S. Bob Sen. Packwood Dirksen Senate Office Bldg.. Washington. D C. 20510. Member of Finance Committee and Commerce Committee. Portland office. 1002 N.E. Holladay. Rm. 700 (P.O. Box 3621). Portland. Ore. 97208. phone 233-4471. U.S. Rep. Al Ullman, Of The Second District House Office Bldg.. Washington. D C. 20515. Member of Ways and Means Commit tee. Salem office. 530 Center St.. Rm 330 (P.O. Box 247). Salem. Ore. 97308. phone 399-5724. Gov. Vic Atiyeh State Capitol. Salem. Ore. 97310. phone 378-3100. Siftin through the TIMES Fifty years ago this week, it was announced that 17 students would grad uate from the high school at Heppner. Those graduating were Virginia Dix, Cason Prock, Dorothy Herren, Patricia Cox, Harlan Devin, Maurice Edmondson, James Hager, Clarence Hayes, Paul Jones, Hadley Stewart, John Farley and Harry Wells. commencement exercises will begin at 8 o'clock. Bart Brown-Barker, vice president of the University of Oregon, will deliver the commencement address. A.J. Chaffee returned on Tuesday from Oregon city with a truck load of dynamite which he delivered to the road camp on Rhea creek. The powder is to be used largely in shooting the rock quarry located at the Jim Rhea place. There is considerable heavy work along Rhea Creek and the road crew is now at Keck Canyon. In an advertisement run by Ford Motor Company, the Model T is praised for its low repair costs, for a labor charge of only $2.60 you can have your generator put in first-class condition, a new universal joint will be installed for a labor cost of $3 and the average price of $22.50 covers the overhauling of the motor and transmis sion. Twenty-five years ago, the Gazette Times reported that work was started on the long hoped for dam on Willow Creek. The only problem, it wasn't man-made. Beavers were cutting trees down on the Fred Booker property. After the animal's nocturanal work was discovered, Glenn Ward of the State Game Commission set out live traps in an effort to capture the dam builders and move them a little further upstream where they can build to their heart's content. To date the animals have eluded capture. Modern surgery at Pioneer Memorial Hospital was inspected by more than 250 persons during the institution's open house last Wednesday. The most popular spot in the hospital among regualr visitors, especially the proud papas was the glass enclosed nursery. Oscar Peterson announced he was a Republican candidate for Morrow County Judge. Five years ago, the Heppner Common Council approved its budget of $798,000. Local athletes won state champion" ships. Heppner High School brought home 12 medals from the Class A track and field championships held at Pleasant Hill. The boys 440 relay team of Matt Greenup, Mike Bergstrom, Karl Harrison and John Boyer posted a :44.9 time to become state champions. " Charles Kyd Cont. from page 3 Society of Agricultural Con sultants and a trustee of Agri-Services Foundation, Clovis, Calif. He was a Mason and a member of the Shriners. Survivors are a son, Charles W. Kyd, Corvallis; daughters, Janice Kyd and Clarice, Dankers-Kyd, both of Seattle, brothers, George, St. Louis,' Mo., and Stirling, Columbia, Mo., sisters, Truella Haseman and Lois Toettcher, both of Lakeland, Fla. Funeral services are Friday in Boardman at Boardman Community Church. Burns Mortuary, Hermiston is in charge of arrangements. State Sen. Ken Jernstedt (Morrow. Gilliam and other counties), Stale Capitol. Rm S317. Salem. Ore. 97310, phone :i78-50. , State Sen. Robert Smith (Wheeler. Grant and other counties), Stale Capitol. Rm. S323. Salem, Ore. 97310 phone 378-8176. State Rep. Bill Bellamy (Morrow. Gilliam and other counties) State Capitol. Rm. H364. Salem. Ore. 97310, phone 378-8853. State Rep. Max Simpson ' (Wheeler, Grant and other counties), State Capitol. Rm. H481. Salem, Ore. 97310, phone 378-8789. Persons wanting information on billi, hearings, and other doings of the Oregon Legislature may call, toll-free, 1-800-452-0290 St V L.
