Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (May 31, 1979)
TWO The Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon, Thursday, May 31, 1979 Kinzua demonstrating its industrial strength Any community would be glad to have an industry such as Heppner's Kinzua Corporation, for no other reason than the economic base and employment provided; but every so often one of these small, independent industries is a leader in every respect and that makes the attraction even greater. Last week's announcement that a study is underway to determine the feasibility of building a wood waste-fired power generating facility at Kinzua's Heppner plant is yet another project in an ongoing policy of development to keep the company out in front of the wood products industry. That policy, in recent years, has seen Kinzua build a new veneer plant, a $5-million computerized sawmill (the first of its kind in the pine industry); develop and maintain a comprehensive management plan for the company's own 200,000-plus acres of forest land, with sustained yield and wildlife habitat preservation as principal points. While each of the projects are cost-effective moves for the company, increasing or stabilizing its profit position, each of the projects also enhances the industry within the community. An example is the new sawmill, capable of cutting a wide range of log diameters with optimum useage of the wood fiber. This will enable Kinzua to use the small diameter log efficiently as the number of old growth, large diameter logs decreases in the immediate future. Kinzua Corporation is also a leader in community affairs, donating thou sands of dollars each year to such things as Heppner's summer swimming pro gram, Little League, and a host of other special interests; purchasing equipment for the hospital or offering assistance when the city or county might need manpower and equipment in an emer gency situation. The list goes on. The company encourages its person nelat all levels to become involved in the community. Kinzua employees are an active group in the local community through youth activities, fraternal and civic groups, local government boards and commissions. In addition, Kinzua's Allan Nistad serves the public through LETTERS FR0M OUR readers Abusive language Editor: Like many other students, I have noticed abusive language on the wall next to the tennis courts, and feel that somebody should do something about it. That project was started last year as an art project, by many art students. They started to write "Heppner" on it. Someone got to it before it was finished, with a spray can. It has been there for quite a while. My parents have seen it, and are upset also. I feel that the art teacher should try to get some students to do a paint job Fine teacher Editor: If you didn't know, Mr. Jim Ackley is quitting his job as the Heppner band teacher. He has been a great help to this community and especially to the kids. Besides being the band teacher, he has helped organize the Colt Basketball League and coached it. He and Mr. Audie Brisso sponsored Public Officials U.S. Sen. Mark O. Hatfield Kicscll Senate ( llficc Bids' . Washington. Of -'""ill! Member nl Appropriations Committee. Interior Committee. Rules Com mittee. ,ind Indian Policy Kovieu Commis sion Portland ollice. Pioneer Courthouse. Km HIT. :'o SW Morrison. Portland. Ore. WT.'o-l. phone .'21 :!:Wti U.S. Bob Sen. Packwood Dii ksen Senate I Mfice Rlrln . Washington. DC Jus I n Member of Finance Committee and Commerce Committee Portland office. 1002 N K Holladay. Km Tiki P O Box :2I '. Portland. Ore H72UK. phone 233-1471 . U.S. Rep. Al Ullman, Of The Second District House Office Bldg . Washington. D C tnmtuir of Wav- anH tpanc Commit 2H51 tee Salem office. 510 Center SI . Rm 330 P O Box 2471. Salem. Ore. 97308. phone 35W-572-J. Gov. Vic Atiyeh State Capitol. Salem. Ore 97310. phone 378-3100 various boards and commissions at a state and regional level, including his chairmanship of the Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council, and a current term as president of the Columbia-Blue Mountain Resource Conservation and Development Commission. Now, at a time when energy is a major topic of discussion and Columbia Basin Electric Co-op has received word from the Bonneville Power Admin istration (BPA) that the local utility will not have enough BPA electricity for its customers by 1983, comes the announce ment that Kinzua's Heppner facility may become the site of a power generating plant. Kinzua's Operations Manager, Harry Kennison, first suggested the idea of a wood waste-fired generating plant here more than four years ago. At that time he didn't receive much support as the cost-benefit ratio wasn't as great then as it is now with higher crude oil prices, threatened nuclear power production and increased demand. The idea was rejuvenated this year when CBEC manager Fred Toombs heard the proposal after informing Kinzua of a coming Utility rate increase. Toombs pursued the project with the CBEC board of directors and proceeded to bring together the right government agencies and private enterprises to get the project rolling. The wood waste-fired plant would do so many things for the community. First, it maximizes utilization of one of our most important natural resources wood fiber and it utilizes for the benefit of local people. Those with all electric homes will probably warm up to the project four years from now when BPA estimates that CBEC will be short of power. Others will be employed in the forests, chipping and hauling the slash wood fiber from logging operations and stands of pine beetle-killed timber. Kinzua Corporation is a leader, both in the wood products industry and here at home, throughout its ownership and local management; and that's a fact people here can point to with pride. tmh over it, and finish their project "Heppner", and whatever else they feel should be done. If it doesn't work, the student body should try to come to some decision or conclusion to take care of it. Now in the school we are electing student body officers. I hope they are capable of doing something about it. I am sure a lot of teachers have seen it also. I just want people to know that I feel strongly about it, and something should be done. Carolyn Hughes dances at the Legion Hall which, unfortunately, had to be stopped because of the bad behavior of a few people. He has also organized a Saturday bowling league for elementary and high school students. He will be missed greatly by the band students and people of this community. Eric Thompson, 7th Grade Heppner Junior High School State Sen. Ken Jernstedt Morrow. Gilliam and other counties). Stale Capitol. Km S.'ilT. Salem. Ore. 97310, phone :!7K-ntCo State Sen. Robert Smith - i Wheeler. Grant and other countiesi Stale Capitol. Rm S32.1. Salem. Ore 97310. phone 37K-B17B. State Rep. Bill Bellamy i Morrow. Gilliam and other counties) State Capitol. Rm H3M. Salem. Ore. 97310 phone 378-BR53 State Rep. Max Simpson (Wheeler. Grant and other countiesi. State Capitol. Rm H481. Salem. Ore. 97310. phone 378-8789 Persons wanting information on bills, hearings, and other doings of the Oregon Legislature majr call, toU-free, 1-80O-452-O290 mm-"""J """" ? .. . , . ft 'a i : .v4iw . . 1 ' I ; - ' r lit? J Jr I m ' Sifting through the TIMES Fifty years ago, the Gazette-Times announced that Morrow County's free Chautauqua would start in Heppner one week from Saturday and expected to draw one of the largest crowds ever seen in the city, June 8-11. The pioneer's reunion was to be a feature of the event. Burt Brown Barker, vice president cf the University of Oregon admonished the class of 1929, Heppner High School to aspire to a fuller and more complete intellectual existence in a short address at the commencement exercise. The Norton Winnard Memorial cup was presented to Fletcher Walker, a The Official Newspaper City of Heppner and 1 OIJTA County of Morrow Oregon Newspaper Publtthfj Aiiocia'ton 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 Pott Office at Heppner, Oregon under the Act of March3, 1879. Second-class postage paid at Heppner, Oregon SUBSCRIPTION RATE $8.00 In Morrow, Unatilla, Wheeler & Gilliam County; $10.00 elsewhere G.M. Reed, Publuher Dolores Reed, Co-publisher Terry M. Hoger. Generol Manager jjm Hacked, News Editor Eileen Soling, Office Manager Gayle Rush, AdvertisingComposition Melissa Scott, Composition Cindj Doheryi &hce Justine Weatherford, Local Columnist The Heppner GAZETTE-TIMES 'Pioneers9 honored on anniversary Harold and Fdna Peck, chairmen of this year's Pioneer Picnic, were pleasantly surprised Sunday when their three daughters brought out a handmade quilt to commemorate the couple's 45th wedding anniversary. More than 300 persons attended the picnic held last weekend. junior at the school for displaying scholarship and leadership. The weekly editorial page urged Heppner to get busy and lay out at least an emergency airfield, noting that "the field now used by airplanes is dangerous and does not meet government stand ards." A site was found by the American Legion but needed installation of a 2,000,000 candlepower beacon light at a cost of $1,800. Twenty-five years ago, it was reported that traffic accidents in Morrow and Gilliam counties over three day Memorial Day holiday weekend totaled six the worst accident record ever suffered by the county for a single weekend. Delbert Botts was killed in a motorcycle accident and Tom Huston brought to PMH suffering from bruises and lacerations when he reportedly fell asleep at the wheel. The first authenicated and verified report of the sighting of local residents of flying saucers or unidentified flying objects was published when three Morrow County men revealed they had watched nine of the objects, Thursday, May 6. Making the sightings were Al Lovgren. Robert Minck and Elmer Palmer who were working on a telephone line along the Condon highway at the top of the the . of Heppner hill when they saw nine saucer-shaped objects cross the sky at an estimated speed of from 1,200 to 1,500 miles per hour in a V formation. Lovgren, who first noticed the objects, said they were perfectly round in shape and appeared to be slightly domed on top ressembling the shape of an inverted saucer or dinner plate; their motion was a slow lazy rolling movement which he likened to a lazy goldfish swimming in a bowl and as they moved occasionally, the sun would flash on them. Their color was slightly, darker than aluminum and appeared to have a darker strip around the edge. The workers were near the Haguewood Ranch. They reported their findings to the Air Force. The new lone swimming pool was officially open to the public with David Raskin acting as lifeguard, assisted by Jerald Rea and Gary Brenner. Heavy rainfall over the Memorial Day weekend broke up planned picnics and outdoor parties but was a lifesaver for the grain farmers who had reported the dry conditions were hurting the coming crop. A former lone rancher, Laxton McMurray, Salem resident, gave $3,000 donation for purchase of a new, more powerful X-ray equipment. A fire on Friday completely destroy ed the Perry Wilson home in Hardman. Neighbors and friends in Hardman and Heppner immediately began a collection of clothing and household goods for the Wilsons. And county streams received their first planting of fish this weekend, according to state patrolman Bill Labhart. A truck load of legal-sized trout were released in Willow and Rhea Creeks. Ten years ago, County Judge Paul Jones announced he would leave by airplane Friday morning to plead for appropriations for the Willow Creek project in Washington, D.C. He was scheduled to appear before Congressman Al Ullman's committee. Carl Troedson of lone was chairman of the 16th annual Pioneer Memorial Picnic. Morrow County voters were sched uled to go to the polls Tuesday, June 3 to cast ballots on the sales tax package. The package would combine a three percent tax with proceeds dedicated to the property tax relief account. Salem Scene By Jack Zimmerman The explosion of a test device on a New Mexico desert ushered the world into the Atomic Age nearly 34 years ago. Today the Oregon Legislature is considering proposals that would virtual ly end that era in this state. And in the process, those proposals could produce unprecedented economic repercussions. In late March this column suggested energy not tax relief was the name of the legislative game during this 60th regular biennial session in Salem. That article dealt largely with bills aimed at legislating the Trojan nuclear generator near Rainier out of business. Two months later the legislative target has shifted upstream along the banks of the Columbia River to a place called Pebble Springs near Arlington the construction site of two more proposed nuclear generators. In the meantime, the nation weather ed an accident at a similar nuclear generator at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania. Despite the fact highly sophisticated safety mechanisms proved sufficient to prevent casualties and damage away from the plant site, much of the public was severely shaken. The reaction in Salem was develop ment of measures in each chamber of the Legislature to delay construction of the first Pebble Springs generator. In essence, the Senate measure would postpone construction at least a year while causes of the Three Mile Island accident are studied and feasibil ity of long-term spent fuel storage is examined. In the House of Representatives a more restrictive measure emerged. It would prohibit progress at Pebble Springs until the federal government actually begins construction of a permanent waste repository. Senate Bill 899 was passed by that chamber and sent to the House. House .Bill 2570 was passed in that chamber and sent to the Senate. Energy & Environ ment Committees from each chamber now possess the opposite body's meas ures and the ultimate question is: Which moratorium will prevail a construction delay of at least one year as proposed by the Senate or the House proposal that could stall Pebble Springs development 10 years or longer? At stake is an electric generating state Department of Energy and public utilities agree will be needed by Oregonians in 1987-88. Utilities participating in construction of the Pebble Springs project claim passage of any measure that delays construction much more than one year practically precludes ultimate comple tion at that site. And alternatives ranging from utilization of coal or oil-fired generators to possible construction of nuclear facilities across the river in Washing tonappear economically impractical. Utilities point out it would require 12,500,000 barrels of oil to replace one year's output from the first Pebble Springs Plant. Given the availability of oil, that alternative is quickly discarded. Coal, although abundant, would be equally prohibitive from a cost stand point. That fuel would come from Gillette, Wyoming 1,200 miles away requiring three loo'-car trains a day, 365 days a year and those trains would burn a million barrels of oil each year. The utilities have received overtures from Washington to build nuclear plants in that state. But if Pebble Springs is abandoned, completion of plants in the neighboring states would take two or three years longer. When on Use, Washington would receive the tax benefits while Oregonians pay for the power. The most critical aspect of an extensive construction delay, however, is the uncertainty of neccesary power in the next decade and beyond. Already utilities cannot assure adequate power for incoming new industrial development and significant expansion of industries already oper ating in the state. And that translates into jobs. Estimates indicate 290,000 young Oregonians will enter the job market in the next 20 years. Without power to sustain new and expanded industrial activity, jobs for those people will not materialize. In a state already concerned about its brain drain the exodus of Oregon educated youth to other regions for employment an acceleration of export ation of young people seems increasingly repugnant. Utilities, existing Oregon industries and organized labor are imploring lawmakers to consider this aspect of a possible nuclear generation moratorium and inviting the public to participate as well. They hope the public has more faith in nuclear technology than many lawmakers believe. They hope the public has learned from Three Mile Island and other examples that the atom can continue to work for man. They hope the public recognizes the explosion of that war-ending device more than three decades ago only opened the door for safe, economical peacetime applications of nuclear science. And they hope the public will deliver that message to the Oregon Assembly right away!
