Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (May 31, 1979)
BESS IE W.ETZ ELL U OF ORE NEWSPAPER L 1 B E U G E N E 0 R 9 7 4 0 3 New city pumper provides Lexington area with increased fire-fighting protection , -wi1 j T Jr fJrXr TV -t m Mum- I t fefEt , , ' t l ' n Vx5.t J 1 h VOL. 97, County budget committee to analyze defeated What caused last Tuesday's voter rejection of the request ed Morrow County tax levy dominated the discussion at Thursday's budget committee meeting at the County Court house. Except for revaluation of property in the county it was a mystery to County Judge D.O. Nelson and Warren McCoy and the small group which attended the informal meet ing. Most of the members of the committee were missing for a variety of reasons, Don Kramer was home nursing an injured knee and the chair man Gary Grieb wasn't able to attend. Barton Clark, a newly appointed member of the committee, attended but is still learning the budget de tails. And his predecessor, who declined to be identified, felt the light turnout of voters was the reason behind the budget defeat. At the end of the marathon brainstorming, the court de ferred its decision until Thurs day when the budget commit tee will again meet with the court. The chairman of the hospi tal board, Fred Martin, also attended the session and said a decision to resubmit the Pioneer Memorial Hospital to the voters must be taken by the County Court which first divided the county and hospi tal tax levies two years ago into separate ballot issues. When asked why the hospi tal vote failed, Martin res ponded, "I feel it was pri marily a matter of communi cation; it's a very complex issue and hard to break down the misunderstandings." County Commissioner War ren McCoy, Irrigon, said 90 percent of the problem is that state and federal government keep raising their demands on county government and voters here "took their wrath out on the county government." Nelson and McCoy were disappointed with the election results, noting the low attend ance at public meetings held in both north and south ends of the county. "We went to Boardman and had five people at the meeting, ''.V- "-' NO. 22 four of which were city officials," Nelson said. McCoy thought a direct mailing to taxpayers might achieve better results but Nelson said they are used to tossing such material away. In one instance, flyers were sent to all parents of school age children and when McCoy and Nelson arrived at the Irrigon meeting, "not a soul came," Nelson said. A former member of the budget committee said he had heard some discontent from taxpayers over the inclusion of $18,000 in the District Attorney's budget for hiring a Deputy District Attorney. Nelson said the D.A. is required to do more and trying to rid the county of drug abuse. A portion of the D.A.'s expenses are borne by the state ($5,796) but the county Vandals strike Heppner High Heppner High School was the scene of vandalism early Thursday morning. Someone made entry into the school, overturned desks and tables in two classrooms, broke coffee cups in the faculty room, discharged fire extinguishers and damaged a water fountain in the boys' physical education room. The incident has been re ported to Heppner City Police and the case is under investi gation. Both Police Chief Dean Gilman and Principal Jim Bier do not suspect a connect ion with the latest vandalism and the vandalism last week to four buses at lone. Bier told the Gazette-Times, vandalism has been on the increase at the high school but felt other school districts were noticing greater problems. He noted that there is an Oregon law which requires assess 7"J A PT7 im FSTi m T ft, a MiidnZL., M M a G W M .J 1- 9 Morrow HEPPNER, OREGON supports the office and secre tarial expenses. The personal services of the D.A. total $39,186. At one point, Nelson said if we could sit down with every taxpayer in Morrow County and explain our budget, we would receive their votes. But he said the Court doesn't have the time. He believes the proposed 1979-1980 budget to be a fair budget based on the necessary road requirements and gov ernmental expenditures. "We can't lower salaries." "If we made cuts, we might set the county back 20 years," Nelson said. "I think the county does a real good job to take care of what it has with 1200 miles of roads to maintain." McCoy said some north end voters felt they weren't get ting a fair share of the ment of parents for the damage if their children are found responsible. Recently, Bier said, the Umatilla School District went to court to force parents to pay for a vandalism. With the latest incident of vandalism and other instances of plugged-up toilets, Bier says the school is going to have to "look at our security possibly installing an alarm system or hiring additional personnel." Bier said this time of the year is always a period of some vandalism and often such incidents are related to reaction to punishment by the administration or faculty. No student court exists with disciplinary policy in the hands of district principals. Bier says he prefers to work with the majority of good students to apply pressure on , thos who are the source of the problem. The Lexington Volunteer Fire Department has a new fire engine, a 1978 Inter national 1,000 gallon pumper with a 750 gallon tank. And it's not painted the traditional fire-engine red. New pumper adds color The Lexington Volunteer Fire Department tested out its new fire truck this week. The new vehicle is a 1978 International, 1,000 gallon pumper pur chased from a bond issue approved in November, 1978. The yellow truck replaces the old red fire engine, a 1954 Ford, which will now serve the department as an emergency backup. The Heppeer County's Award-Winning Weekly Newspaper THURSDAY, county's tax dollars on their roads and he felt the proposed stationing of road workers at Irrigon and Boardman would alleviate that feeling. Instead of placing road expenditures in the general fund, Nelson said the budget committee might consider a one year road levy. To offset the inflationary pressure on property-owners from increased valuation, it budgets Pioneer Picnic draws 300 for annual event of fun and fellowship More than 300 guests attend ed the 26th annual Pioneer Picnic held at the fairgrounds in Heppner Sunday. Hosting this year's event was the Peck family, descend ants of Clinton North Peck who first homesteaded on Clark's Canyon with a 10-acre timber culture in 1892. Chairmen of the 1979 picnic were Harold and Edna Peck, Upper Rhea Creek residents, who were honored by their children for the couples 45th wedding anniversary, coming soon. The Pecks were present ed with a handmade quilt, made of blocks done by many friends of the family and depicting bits of Morrow County history. Making the presentation were the Peck children, Patricia Hardy of Albany, Shirley Palmer of Eightmile and Marjorie Church of Elk City, Idaho. Door prizes were given to Reidun Martinsen of Norway, traveled farthest; Letha Archer, Heppner, oldest per son in attendance; Melody Marlatt, Heppner, name drawing. Miss Martinsen is an International Foreign Youth Exchange student staying with the Roger Palmer fam ily. Greeting the picnic-goers were Heppner Mayor Jerry Sweeney who delivered a short welcome; Harold Kerr, county extension agent, who Instead, Lexington residents will be seeing a new yellow fire truck. The yellow color is the latest innovation among fire and emergency vehicles and supposed to be more visible at night, Fire Chief Ed Baker told the Gazette-Times. The fire truck cost residents about $48,000 in a bond issue approved last November re placing a 1954 Ford with 200 MAY 31, 1979 meets was suggested that taxpayers unhappy with the hike in their property values appeal direct ly to the board of equalization or appeal directly to the state. County Assessor Everett Harshman told the court that property tax relief may be coming from the state legisla ture which is debating a bill to lower taxes on homes by 30 percent; it would only be in force for one year. told the audience what was happening in Morrow County agriculturally and industrial ly; and the Morrow County Fair & Rodeo Court, consist ing of Queen Debora Palmer, Princess Lori Edwards and Princess Jennifer Wenholz. The Rev. John Maas of Hope and Valby Lutheran churches gave the invocation. Highlighting the picnic as it does every year were the acquaintances renewed by former classmates and neigh bors and even relatives who haven't seen each other over the years. Chairmen of the 1980 Pio neer Picnic will be Mr. and Mrs. Darrell Vinson of Heppner. Juveniles arrested for lone bus vandalism Two lone juveniles, a 16 and 17 year old boy, were arrested Friday and will be charged with a Class C felony, criminal mischiei in the first degree in connection with the vandalism of four lone High School buses last week. Morrow County Sheriff Larry Fetsch said the youth were "detained" by sheriff's deputies and handed over to juvenile authorities. The juve nile Court Judge, D.O. Nelson gallon and 500 gal. water tank. Chief baker said the depart ment would keep the old vehicle as a backup in emergencies and would be installing a larger fire door to accomodate the city's two truck fleet. Chief Baker and Bill Sheir bon, a member of the depart ment left May 19 on a trip to Tipton, Indiana to pick up the . . I -T I .:. -fc GOP nominates Krebs for county commissioner post Dorothy Krebs, lone, has been recommended to the Morrow County Court by the County Republican Central Committee as its choice to fill the position of County Com missioner held by the late Homer Hughes. If appointed, Krebs will be the first woman commissioner in Morrow County history. The County Court meets Wednes day to consider the recom mendation. Her selection was made public by Central Committee Chairman Steve Peck follow ing a closed caucus of 16 Republican committee mem bers at the County Courthouse in Heppner, Wednesday, May 23. Krebs won the nomination on the first ballot in competi tion with 10 other candidates, Merle Cantin, Ralph Crum, More than 150 contestants expected Junior cowboys ride into Heppner for weekend rodeo Junior Rodeo is slated this weekend at the Morrow County Fairgrounds with an estimated 150 contestants ex pected to compete from Idaho, Washington, Oregon and Cal ifornia. Three shows are scheduled ; Friday night starting at 7:30 will make a determination of the case. The boys are also being questioned about six or seven other cases involving vandal ism and theft in the area. The principal of lone High School reported that the vandalism caused an esti mated $2,000 damage to the vehicles which have been repaired and returned to service. vehicle and save the residents $900, then drove it back to Oregon. The pair experienced a windstorm in Wyoming but other than that, Chief Baker said the trip was smooth. In addition to the fire engine, the department pur chased new hoses, 1200 feet of two and a half inch hose adding to its complement of 800 ft. of one and a half inch hosing. The new fire engine gives the department greater fire fighting capacity and could be the impetus towards creation of a rural fire district. At present, the 8 man depart ment serves only the immed iate boundaries of Lexington. Chief Baker said he will invite the Deputy Fire Marshall from Pendleton to see their new vehicle and discuss prop osed boundaries for the district. To create the district, High Tues., May 22 88 Wed., May 23 81 Thur., May 24 75 Fri., May 25 83 Sat., May 26 76 Sun., May 27 63 Mon.,May29 61 PAGES Dorothy Krebs Don Peterson, a committee member, Arnold Braat, Irri gon City Manager Jack Bais den, Dick Wilkinson, June Lindstrom, Paul Taylor and Truman Messenger. The rules committee rejected Baisden's p.m. and again on Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. The events are divided into two categories, Senior (15-18 year olds) and Juniors (9-14). Cost of admission is $2.50 for adults and $1 for students. Refresh ments will be sold by the Lion's Club. Senior boys will be com peting in a variety of events from saddle bronc and bare back riding, bulldogging, calf roping and bull riding and Senior girls will be partici pating in such events as cow-riding, breakaway roping pole bending, barrel racing, goat-tying and team roping with one header and the other, heeler. Junior boys' events include breakaway, calf riding and calf-tying. The girls will be barrel racing, pole bending, calf riding and team roping. The Morrow County Fair and Rodeo Court will make an appearance at the grand opening of the rodeo each boundaries must be outlined and the issue voted upon. Baker told the Gazette that when fire occurs outside the city limits, the Morrow County Grain Growers respond with its equipment. The chief hopes to arrange a public demonstration of the truck to residents of Lexington after storing and installing air masks, hoses and other equip ment. He urges anyone interested in joining the fire department to contact him. Men or women may apply and receive $2.50 per meeting (50 cents is deducted for refreshments) and $7 per fire call. The department currently has seven men, Gary Mun kers, Floyd Barman, Ray Shuman, Bill Sheirbon, John Ripple, Harry Green and Charles Hutchinson. WEATHER Low 53 54 49 46 40 43 45 20 cents Precip. .12 trace candidacy because he wasn't a resident of the county. The wife of a sheepgrower, Henry Krebs, Dorothy holds a master of science degree from Oregon State University, is a former member of the board of directors of Blue Mountain Community College and says she is interested in finding solutions to governmental problems. "I didn't know which way it would go. Obviously, she had good support. I think we found an electable Republican," the committee chairman said Thursday following Kreb's selection. The committee notified all the applicants of their decision Wednesday night and thanked them for their participation. Peck said the committee felt there were several good candidates for the position. night, which will also feature a colorful ceremony of horse manship, outfits and rodeo hats. The rodeo is approved by the Western States Junior Rodeo Association and is one of a series of rodeos attracting young rodeo stars. Silver belt buckles will be given away to the top competitors with a $15 entry fee charged to partici pants. Joe Nichols will serve as the announcer for the annual event. DMV office closed from June 4-15 The State Motor Vehicle Dept., Heppner, will be closed from June 4 through 15, to enable the examiner to attend school in Salem. It will reopen on June 18.
