The Heppner
GAZETTE-TIMES
Editorials o Columns
UDEOEPQDCOTi3 Letters From Readers
Progress is being made,
officials need
support of people
Less than a week remains
before Morrow County voters return
to the polls, for the third time this
year, to approve or deny a levy
request for the operation of county
owned medical facilities in Board
man and Heppner.
: More than $92,000 has been
trimmed from the initial medical
levy request back in late May and
since that time several other
important changes have taken
place. The Pioneer Memorial Hos
pital Board has responded to the
dual levy defeats in a positive
manner and should be commended
for doing so.
Hospital Administrator Bob
Byrnes has resigned his post a
change citizens from throughout the
community called for again and
again in the past year. A tough
decision for the hospital board,
however, in that a new planning
process and finalization of an
important grant application were
before the board.
Further, the PMH board has
formed a community advisory panel
to assist in planning and day-to-day
communication with the citizenry at
large. Two new ambulances one
for the Boardman-Irrigon area and a
second for Heppner are on their
way and should arrive about
mid-August.
It's the best way to see
a county fair;
get involved
The 1979 Morrow County Fair &
Rodeo is just around the corner and
again it promises to be two fun-filled
weeks of activity for local residents
and visitors alike.
Fair dates are August 17-21
followed by the annual three-day
rodeo the weekend of August 24-26.
Packed into those 10 days are
many hours of family fun and the
real reward for hundreds of exhibit
ors. The pavilion will be bursting
with displays of crafts, works of art,
flowers, foods and clothing. The
livestock pens and wheat displays
are representative of Morrow
County's heritage, and lifestyle
today as new generations step in.
' The Rodeo is highlighted by the
Friday night Morrow County Show
as local cowboys and cowgirls try to
tie up a number of trophy buckles
and saddles offered by Morrow
County businesses in true western
tradition Saturday and Sunday's
WRA approved rodeos give spec
tators a view of some top Northwest
rodeo talent.
County Extension Agent Birdine
Tullis put it best : "Fair & Rodeo has
traditionally been a time when rural
people get together; see those whom
they have not seen for a time and
renew acquaintances: a prideful
time, where the best of all things
receive recognition. Fair & Rodeo is
a special event in our fast-moving
society with room for everyone to
get involved it 's the best way to see
a fair."
ONPA
Oregon Newspaper
Publiseri Allocation
The Official Newspaper of the
City of Heppner and the
County of Morrow
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 March3, 1879. Second-class postage
paid at Heppner, Oregon
SUBSCRIPTION RATE
J8.00 In Morrow, Unatilla, Wheeler & Gilliam County; $10.00 elsewhere
Jerome F. Sheldon, Publisher Jane " Sheldon. Co-Publisher
Terry M. Hoger, General Manager Jim HackeM, News Editor
Eileen Saling, Office Manager Gayle Rush, AdvertisingComposition
Melissa Scott, Composition Cindi Dohertyi Qffrce
Justine Weatherford, local Columnist
The point of all this is that
Pioneer Memorial Board mem
bersand the County Court should
be given a little breathing room to
accomplish some of the other
changes Morrow Countians feel
necessary.
The County Court has made
clear its intentions to leave opera
tions of the county's medical
facilities to the PMH board and the
board, in turn, has shown a
responsiveness to accepting the
responsibility. Now the citizens of
Morrow County must accept this
separation of powers and under
stand the art of compromise the
fact that you can't please all of the
people all of the time.
When the only thing thrown their
way is brickbats and no roses an
excessive amount of time on the part
of the court and the PMH board is
spent putting out fires caused by a
misplaced spark. To that avail, no
one wins.
The operations of Morrow
County's medical facilities are
clearly in the hands of the PMH
board and the people. The two must
merge as a team, capable of
communicating and completing the
plays needed to win the game. That
includes room for a few mistake
calls up the middle, but no end runs.
tmh
a a ; ! -(SvXVh
Jug band concert
The planned gong show may have gotten gonged at Friday's
gong show but the merchant's jug band staged its first live
performance. We haven't heard any reviews of the program
but it's expected they will be staging an encore performance.
LETTERS FROM OUR READERS
'Time to pull together...solve
existing problems'
Editor:
As an individual I have some
observations to make concerning our
hospital and the upcoming budget vote
August 9. In no way does this reflect
action or thinking of the hospital board.
I have been told by a number of
individuals that the dollar amount of the
budget is not the determining factor
producing a negative vote, that is, in the
south end of the county, but a difference
of opinion in the policies of operation of
that institution.
We expect to have a difference of
opinion concerning an institution of
government such as the hospital. These
differences do exist on the hospital
board. I can speak for my 4 colleagues
that are strong individuals who do their
homework. The differences must be
resolved by debate, analysis of facts and
'Bellamy most
effective,'
peer claims
Kditor:
One of the most effective Republican
members in the legislative session which
just concluded was, suprisingly, a
freshman. Rep. Bill Bellamy earned the
respect of the Legislature for hard work,
dedication and sincerity.
Bill Bellamy represents a district
which is the most diverse in the state. His
district takes in areas both east and west
of the Cascades. It ranges from
metropolitan suburban areas to land
important to Oregon's agricultural
industry. And yet he represents the area
very well.
To be thrust into the middle of
emotional issues such as the nuclear
power debate makes some representa
iivcs uncomfortable. Not Bill Bellamy.
He fought hard to make sure that the
Legislature adopted a nuclear power
isition whic! was responsible, not a
ki,- ;rrk response to a critical situation.
hi- -"rvi on the House Committee
on Kducaii'ii. uas an important asset to a
Legislature wh.ch. at times, seemed to
want ' ignore tl. - vital concern.
Bill Bellamy, the fighter and the
leader, was an important factor in the
outcome of the 1979 Legislative session.
The people of the eigl,' -ounties which he
represents, and all Oregonians, were the
better for his service.
Oary L. Wilhelms
House Minoi .tv Leader
then by vote. The majority decision is the
decision of the board. Where exercise of
judgement is involved differences of
opinion are inevitable. In the United
States we assume we are able to
accommodate dissent. However dissent
ers are expected to be broad-minded
enough to accept the decisions of
governing boards, even though they may
not agree with the decision.
I have been advised by a representa
tive of "Save Our Hospital" group that
they are using the budget vote to
influence decisions of the county court
and hospital board.
This policy is certainly courting a
disaster for the hospital. We cannot
operate without a budget and we cannot
go in debt to operate it. In other words a
negative vote on the budget will mean the
board will make an attempt to salvage
some of the program, but at the present
moment closure of the institution is
likely.
The budget debate has already hurt
the hospital. Our administrator has
resigned. Experienced and qualified
administrators who were interested in
the position are now hesitant to apply for
the job. I received the OMA physicians
placement service bulletin yesterday.
Nearly all of that group is not available
until July or September of 1980. In other
words we've pushed solutions of the
Heppner pool
lifeguards get
comendation
Kditor:
I am writing to commend your
lifeguards here at the Heppner Swim
ming Pool.
We have been here in Heppner for the
summer.
As I took my children swimming
Saturday and watched them. I was
amazed at how well the lifeguards
watched these children. They not only
watc h for swimming safety but took care
of little disagreements among the
children.
I have never felt before that my
children were in such a safe place to
swim.
I would like to say thank you to these
lifeguards. Keep up the good work.
Verna J. Smith
hospital problems well into the future, as
these examples illustrate. We've lost a
whole year of progress by a three
month's delay in voting a budget.
It's time to pull together, vote a
budget and then get together to solve the
existing problems.
Frederick T. Martin,
A thirty-year citizen of
Morrow County, lone
On levy vote:
'How quickly
we forget'
Editor:
How quickly we forget. It is
definitely clear that the north end of the
county does not feel responsible for
anything in the south end.
However if you will remember, last
year when the levy came up for new
schools in the north end of the county, it
passed on the first vote.
We appreciate the fact that your
schools are crowded and are willing to
help finance them even though our
children do not benefit from them.
If you want to divide the county, why
not do it before the schools are finished?
That way if you want the schools and you
still think you need them, you could pay
for them with your taxes.
I personally know that people from
the north end of the county do use the
hospital in Heppner. Maternity care in
Morrow County is much less than in
Umatilla County.
We realize that taxes are hieh in
north Morrow County, but they are also
too high in south Morrow County and it is
equally hard to buy your own home here.
Please, we need this hospital.
People of Heppner, lone & Lexing
ton, if we band together and vote yes on
the hospital levy as did Boardman and
Irrigon for their new schools, we will
have the hospital that is so needed here.
Remember, we are a long way from the
nearest hospital, many people could die
on the way.
Living in Heppner and proud of it,
Greg and Janet Greenup
Heppner, Oregon
More letters from
readers on
page 8...
Sifting
through
th
TIME
Fifty years ago, the Gazette-Times
reported that Heppner was enjoying a
spell of real summer heat for several
days and the end was not yet in sight
though somewhat cooler today with
threatening clouds and an electrical
storm pending. Frank Gilliam reported
that the maximum temperature was 99
degrees and the minimum, 65 degrees.
Miss Evelyn Hunt, police woman
from Hollywood, stood in the middle of
Main Street for several hours on
Saturday, stopping cars going and
coming and giving their drivers instruct
ions concerning proper observance of
traffic rules.
The Gazette's comment: "Whether it
did any good or not we cannot say but the
majority of the drivers seemed rather to
enjoy being held up by a pretty little girl
in the uniform of a traffic officer."
Miss Hunt was accompanied to
Heppner by Mrs. H. Hudson of Portland
who is chaperoing the young lady on her
journey through Eastern Oregon.
Mrs. Josephine Mahoney arrived home
on Saturday from Portland, having
completed her vacation trip which
extended over a month of time in travel
and included many points of interest in
California.
Sheriff Bauman returned Monday
after attending the convention of sheriffs
and police at Missoula, Montana and then
gou.g on up into Western Canada and
British Columbia to look after some
property he and his father have there.
Missildine Bros, of Blackhorse are
getting well along with their wheat
harvest and expect to finish up the
coming week. Their wheat is making a
yield of 25 bushels to the acre and the
grain is of excellent quality.
An advertisement from the Heppner
Garage advertised a new Buick with 99
horsepower, new Fisher styling, non
glare windshield, for $1,235. Buyers couid
purchase the vehicle on a time payment
plan.
"Legion of the Condemned" was
being shown at the Star Theater with
stars Gary Cooper and Fay Wray.
Twenty-five years ago, it was
announced that Deanna Steagall would
be honored Saturday night at the first of
the series of princess dances leading up
to the Morrow County Fair and Rodeo.
Princess Deanna was the daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Steagall of
Lexington.
Ronald Currin, 1954 graduate of
Heppner High School won first place in
the FFA Better Framing contest for Blue
Mountain district sponsored by the
Oregon Kiwanis Club.
The Gazette ran three photos of
"Death Trap Corner" and asked "Why
have so many accidents occured there?"
reporting that a concrete abutment itself
would not seem to be the cause of the
death trap. In about 50 percent of the
mishaps, the car never reached the
abutment.
Three possible factors may have
resulted: cars leaving Heppner for
Condon on the steep grade of Highway
207 are unable to pick up much speed
until they begin the curve near the Flying
A motel; it is possible that drivers failed
to adjust the gas throttle to the changed
driving conditions and entered the curve
at faster than normal speed, a single
right car wheel might be enough to pull a
car from its intended angle and send it
careening into the abutment. The third
factor cited was that drivers might trust
the bank turn to the right.
Francis Edwin Ostrander, a machin
ist at Kinzua Pine Mills died of
suffocation when he fell into a sawdust
bin at the plant. He was brought to
Pioneer Hospital.
Fires plagued Morrow County and a
fire which occured at the J O. Turner
Ranch, burned over 950 acres of grass
and stubble and destroyed 35 acres of
wheat before being brought under
control. Another grass fire occured at the
Joseph Hughes home south of Heppner
burning an old 1929 Ford car. A third
grass fire threatened the George Ely
home on Second Street in lone.
Hospital Administrator John Erns
dorff told the Chamber of Commerce in
Heppner the early attempts to get an
adequate hospital here and how a small
tax levy was started in 1945 to build up a
fund for the new building.
The Pioneer Memorial Hospital was
dedicated in 1950. By 1954, the facility
had 641 patients, 95 percent of capacity
Continued on page 8
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