Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 6, 1979)
TWO The Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon, Thursday, September 6, 1979 It g5. The Official Nwpaper of the gss City of Heppner and the i an. County of Morrow The Heppner GAZETTE-TIMES Morrow Coantj's Awird-Wiuiig Weekly Newspaper U.S.P.S. 240-420 Published every Thursday and entered as second-clasa matter at the Post Office at Heppner, Oregon under the Act of March 3, W7. Second-class postage paid at Heppner. Oregon. Office aad commercial printing plant at 147 West Willow Street. Telephone, (503 ) 67I-D22. Address communications to the Heppner Gazette-Times, P.O. Box 337, Heppner. Oregon, 9736. SUBSCRIPTION RATE 18 V Morrow, Umatilla, Wheeler Gilliam counties; $10.00 elsewhere. Senior Citizen Rate, tS.OO Jerome F. She Won Pakltsher Eileen Saling. Office Manager Melissa Scott, Advertising, Composition Justine Weatherford, Local Columnist Ron Jordan. Printer Jane H. SheMea. Ce-Pablbher Jim Hacked, News Editor Cindi Deherty, Office Chloe Pearson, Composition Three cheers for the Red,White & Blue What a good sight it was in Heppner on Labor Day for the town to be dressed up with American flags mounted on store fronts. The brackets were installed and the flags placed as a project of the American Legion. Bravo for them! In recent years it has been the plaint of many citizens that there has been a loss of patriotism in the land that simple devotion to one's country that thrills to the sight of the Star Spangled Banner waving in the breeze. Perhaps the lessening of a patriotic fervor, if ' indeed there has been, was bred in the cynicism of the 1960's and early 70 's. The nation then was engaged in an unpopular war, there was unrest on the campuses and an abuse of power in the highest places. When the bicentennial year of 1976 came along, there was a renewal of respect for the flag as a symbol. It was popular to display Old Glory. May it ever be so ! Among Americans who have traveled abroad, who hasn't felt a heart -tugging throb at seeing the Stars and Stripes waving on a staff at an embassy or World Fair exhibition, or aboard an American ship? The sight of the flag at home should evoke the same emotion. So, congratulations to the Heppner American Legion Post for dressing up the town for a national holiday! Editors Notebook Is there, perhaps, a joke book from which federal bureaucrats may borrow to leaven their talks with hu mor? The following was told recently by Don Bliss of the Environmental Protection Administration at a public participation workshop in Se attlea familiar story with an appropriate twist: "I'm sure you're all fami liar with the old story about the three blind men who were trying to describe an elephant. One, seizing the animal by the Ulltnan plans hearings on power Oregon Congressman Al Ullman has announced that a House subcommittee will hold hearings in Portland Sept. 8 on the regional power planning legislation recently approved by the Senate. The Interior Subcommittee on Water and Power Resour ces will conduct the hearing in the Portland City Council chambers at Portland City Hall, 1220 S.W. 5th, starting at 9:30a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 8. Ullman, chief sponsor of the legislation in the House, said any person wishing to testify must write to the Subcommit tee on Water and Power Resources, 1324 Longworth House Office Building, Wash ington, D C. 20515, by August 31. The written request must include a complete return address and phone number. "It is generally better to deal by speech than by letter." Francis Bacon tail, said 'Aha, an elephant is like a snake.' Another, grasp ing the beast by the leg, said: 'Oh no! An elephant is a kind of tree.' And the third maybe he was from the EPA felt the 'great tusk and proclaimed that an elephant was a piece of polyvinyle chloride pipe." How is that for an attention getter? Bliss had the task of explaining the purpose ef public participation in envi ronmental protection pro grams. He closed his remarks with a couple of more stories. "One of the greatest lies, according to the story, is 'The check is in the mail.' Another is, 'This won't hurt a bit,' and the third and perhaps the greatest lie is 'I'm from the government; I'm here to help you.' " Bliss said he likes that story because it promotes skepti cism. He said that was the attitude Demosthenes was talking about 2,200 years ago when he wrote that : "There is one safeguard known gen erally to the wise, which is an advantage and security to all, but especially to democracies as against despots. What is it? Distrust." Some readers of the Gazette-Times will remember Rick Steelhammer, who for merly was news editor of this paper. Recently he sent a copy of the front page of a feature section of the Washington Post, on top of which was the penciled notation: "Local boy makes good. Regards. The Kid." From this note he drew an arrow down the page to a story with his by-line a piece about a family named Lilly in coal-rich West Virginia and a recent Lilly family reunion in the town of Beckley, W. Va., which drew members from all over the country. Legislative Report from the State Capital EXCLUSIVE toOreqon's Weekly Newspa pert from Associated Oregon Industries. Salem Scene By Jock Zimmerman State Treas. Clay Myers doesn't charge a fee to make public speeches. Nonetheless, during a re cent 20-minute address before a Portland civic club, his efforts were netting the state something more than $30,000! That doesn't mean the civic organization paid anything to hear Myers speak. The $30,000 is the amount of interest the state was earning on invested excess and trust funds while the Treasurer was making his talk. In fact, he told his audience, currentnetearningson invest ments placed by his office represent a profit of nearly i$100,0OO anhour during evert working day. It is through messages such as this that the state's 22nd Treasurer hopes to both in crease public knowledge " about the State Treasury Department and in the pro cess provide him with another Tour:year Term in office. Up for re-election in 1980, Myers hasn't officially de clared his candidacy. But it's likely the two-term former Secretary of State will for mally declare his desire to once again succeed himself with in the next 90 days. The Portland-born descen dant of Oregon pioneers has been one of the state's three top elected officeholders for 13 years and would obviously like to extend that tenure to record proportions. And the material he'll be delivering to au diences everywhere could well convine voters he's the logical person to retain as custodian of Oregon's purse. He describes his last three years as Treasurer as the most satisfying in public life and a time during which he believes he has made his biggest contributi""'' the state's taxpayer Following gra& ation from the University of Oregon, Myers spent 16 years in banking, property manage ment, investments and insur ance. Tom McCall brought the energetic business executive to Salem as Assistant Secre tary of State in 1965. Two years later he was appointed to succeed his boss, who won his first successful race for Governor. Myers handily won his constitutionally limited two terms in that office as Secretary of State and made an unsuccessful bid for guber natorial nomination in 1974. Undaunted by his loss to fellow Republican, now Gov. Victor Atiyah, he entered and won the Treasurer's race two years later. For someone in the lime light as much as Clay Myers during his terms as Secretary of State, themove to relatively low-profile Treasury ap peared to many as something of a come-down for the ebullient politician? Needless to say, the new Treasurer didn't share that opinion. On the contrary, he was suddenly and satisfyingly in an element for which he was both trained and experienced before entering public life. Historicallly, State Trea surers haven't been counted among Oregon's best known officeholders. Half have been re-elected to office. One, Bob Straub, became Governor. Another, Jim Redden, became Attorney General. But for the most part, the position is not noted as a steppingstone to higher office and most Trea surers have simply performed their requirements and faded Irom prominence when the job was done. Clay Myers may not settle for that kind of fate. And if the first three years in his present office are any indication, the 52-year-old is working as if he would like to continue serving Oregonians for many years to come. In addition to serving on seven state boards or com missions, Myers is responsible for all money paid into the treasury and is the state's official investment officer. It is this latter duty that offers a Treasurer the greatest oppor tunity for prominence and the area in which Myers is demonstrating notable exper tise. Although quick to admit much of Treasury's invest ment success is due to rising interest rates, Myers has produced innovations that are proving both sound and profi table. Among these have been making some $150,000 a year more by storing securities in the East where interest and proceeds can be received on the same day due, boosting earning another $30,000 to $50,000 a month by lending the state's securities, intensifying the selection and review processes of selected outside money managers, updating automatic data processing and extending new and better cash management techniques to major state agencies. t . It is in the area of cash management that Myers and his staff of 41 are currently most intently engaged. And considering aggregate re ceipts exceeded $4.7 billion and disbursements $4.1 billion in fiscal 1978, effective cash management is an obvious target for attention. Altogether Treasury super vises some $3.2 billion in total investments $2.4 billion by its own officers and $800 million by outside money managers. In-house earnings have increased from $132 ' million in 1976 to $196.4 million in 1978. Those figures slightly bog gling to the average Oregon ian mean total earnings have increased nearly 50 per cent during a two-year period and rate of return stands at something more than 8 per cent. For Clay Myers, the accom plishment is its own reward. In earlier clays when office holders were less well paid Treasurers were permitted to pocket whatever earnings their investments produced. Myers won't spearhead any attempt to restore that prac tice. He'll settle now for another term in which to further improve the state's financial status. OREGON MISCELLANY Author to hike emigrants' trail 3Jia 4 2 t a n e S 1 I O T ft Author Rick Steber of Union, Ore., plans to walk the Oregon Trail from the Snake River near Vale to the Dalles a distance of 450 miles this month. He plans to retrace the exact route of the pioneers who crossed the Oregon Trail by covered wagon. He will record what remains of the West's greatest thoroughfare and gain an insight into the impressions of the immigrants as they neared their goal just ahead of the winter snows. The trek is to publicize a new book, "Traces," that is to be issued early in 1980. The book is a joint enterprise of Steber, artist Don Gray and photographer Jerry Gilde meister, all of Union County, who have to their credit a previous book, 'Rendezvous' which captured the spirit of old Oregon in stories and illustrations. Two years ago Steber publicized "Rendez vous" by riding horseback 500 miles around the Willamette Valley. This time, the hike will take Steber across deserts and over the mountains of eastern Oregon. The Oregon Trail is quickly vanishing from ero sion and the advance of man but wagon wheel ruts over the Blue Mountains and across the high plateau leading to the Columbia River make the trail visible in places; on steep ground, rope-burn scars re main on old trees. A detailed set of maps will provide direction where no trace remains. The handful of surviving Oregon pioneers who followed the trail by covered wagon is the subject of "Traces." "The pioneers who recalled the crossing told me of the ordeal andof the well-marked road they followed," Steber said. "Now the trail is nearly obliterated and most of the t 4 111 '' 4 , O s i i m m m.m - i i v a : . w k . .'it.- 4 hlS nil .V V o, , will '. I Rick Steber begins trek emigrants have died. That's why I felt it was so necessary to record their stories In 'Traces' and to experjertce at Erst hand the' route they traveled as they crossed Oregon." The book "Traces" will be issued by Bear Wallow Pub lishing Company of Union, Ore. Ernest who? one might ask about the presidential candi dacy of Ernest Green, whose ad appears in a recent issue of the Pendleton Record. Ernest Green announces his entry into the race for President of the United States as an independent in 1980, in an ad paid for by Ernest Green . The ad pictures a man one might guess to be 45, wearing a western-style Stetson. Would he be bidding to be Letters From Readers Editor: Senator Ken Jernstedt of your district was recently criticized by the Portland Oregonian for what the paper calls his refusal to become deeply involved in "Contro versial issues." During my nearly 20 years as a member of the Legisla ture, I've identified two types of legislators: The work horses and the show horses. The show horses are the loudmouth prima donnas whose efforts are designed only to obtain free prime time publicity. They contribute lit tle to the legislative process. The work horses are those legislators without whom the business of the Senate and the Legislature could not be conducted. Ken Jernstedt of Hood River has always been one of the work horses, demonstrated recently by the fact he has been assigned greater interim responsibilities than any other member of the Senate. This follows on the heels of a session in which Jernstedt was highly successful in obtaining passage of legislation impor tant to people in his district. Even in unfairly criticizing Jernstedt, the Oregonian cor rectly noted that "he effec tively represents his consti tuents and over the years has wielded influence with his colleagues." The Portland newspaper should have told all the truth by reporting that Ken Jern stedt is one of the most respected members of the Senate, and his colleagues are looking forward to working with him again in 1981 and beyond. Sen. Bob Smith, Minority Leader, Oregon State Senate, Salem ! V - fta . '"" OS! xt) Sign Up For FoSI Classes How! (Through September 30th) Piaster Craft, AAacrame & Country Carving Classes start the first week of October. . rtrt' S This M' That V 476-5051 ALL YOU CAN EAT1 Buffet Dinner Friday, Aug. 31 $4.95 Adults $2.25 Children Under 10 Children Under 3 Free WEST OF WILLOW Restaurant HEPPNER Oregon's "favorite son" in the November election in 1980? The Times-Journal of Con don recently pictured a store window sign that added a bit of levity to the serious problem that the grasshopper infestation has imposed on central Oregon ranchers this year. The sign said: "Famous Gilliam County GRASSHOPPERS. U-Pick-50 cents lb." RUBBER STAMPS Made To Order The Heppner Gazette-Times Phone 676-9228 Sifting trough the TIMES 1929 Fifty years ago, after several weeks of earnest investiga tion, the city council decided that the best plan of securing an ample pure water supply for the city of Heppner was by theinking of wells. AJW. Edwards, a well driller in company with Mayor Mc Carty and others had gone over the ground at the forks of Willow Creek and said an abundant water supply could be had at a depth of more than 500 feet. He was sure that an artesian flow existed. The Council was also inter ested in investigating land at Skinner Creek. Two major changes in money were made for the Heppner Rodeo, September. 27-28 with the splitting of the bucking contest prize money four ways instead of three and increasing entrance fees in the calf roping from $1.50 to $5. Good news came with the announcement of the recovery of Bluebird, star bucker out of the show last year because of a wire cut. The string of bucking horses came from Albert Peterson's ranch at Ukiah. 1974 Robert Jones was named as conservation winner for Mor row County by the Oregon Wheat Growers League- J Donna's Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday Call For Appointment 360 e Aiken 6765393 676-W09 f The I FlRapco VA M&R FLOOR COVERING FOamers Carpet, Linoleum, 422 Linden Way Ceramic Tile, Kitchen 676-94 '8 Cabinets, Rapco Insulation HePPnr CASE FURNITURE . -. ' "H" Carpet, Linoleum, Counter Tops Installed Beauty Rest mattresses, Fabrics and Accessories, Sherwin Williams Paint TURNER ot am ' Houx ru-uxanc I Hail UIDTrD WT & BRYANT LaVERNM VanMARTER, INSURANCE HOWARD BRTANT 187 NORTH MAIN ITRFIT HCPPMR. ORfOON 73 aman Heppner Morrow County Bowdn Abstract & Title Compsny Title lni irnnratt SL ' Caruii-a 676-9912 481-9261,
