Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 31, 1980)
B S S S ! E W T Z L L U OF ORE NEWSPAPER LIB EUGENE OR 9' 7403 The Heppne Weather By fo Guuam FFHTTTN. TTT" f. 11 in low rre. VOL. !S NO. 5 THURSDAY. JANUARY 31, 1980 Morrow County's Home-Owned Weekly Newspaper -lfi PACKS " 20 cents " " 11KH Mt . OREGON Tues.,Jan.22 32 22 Wed., Jan. 23 32 25 Thurs., Jan. 24 53 26 Fri.,Jan.25 30 23 Sat.. Jan. 26 23 2 Sun., Jan. 27 15 -5 Mon.,Jan.28 10 -8 .03 j" snow .09 i1 2" snw' ' i It School Board committee approves 1980-81 budget Morrow County property owners will have to pay approximately $8.20 per thou sand in property valuation for taxes to go to the Morrow County School District if the school budget approved Mon day by the school board is adopted by the voters. The tax will be about 45 cents more than what was paid to the schools for this year's budget, Superintendant Matt Doherty said. The proposed budget would have raised the rate to $8.70 per $1,000 which would have been a raise of 97 cents, but the school board budget com mittee chopped that down to the approved budget. The voters will decide on the adopted budget in the election March 25. '" - Because of the trimming of the proposed budget, voters will only have to vote on an A Ballot March 25. A "B" budget would have been needed for $205,067 if the proposed budget was not trimmed. Doherty said the increases from last year are due to the addition of the two new, schools in Boardman. increa ses in salaries for employees, increased fuel " costs ' and capital outlay for the buildings and maintenance. The new budget will take effect the fiscal year begin ning July 1, 1980. Citizens can comment on the budget at the school board meeting in Lex ington Feb. 18. The total that needs to be raised from county property taxes in order to balance the budget is $3,336,509. The budget is for $5,476,854 and revenue for the schools other than county property taxes will raise $2,200,345. Employees salaries took the biggest raise in the budget. It is up $192,000 from last year. It was cut $14,864 Monday to $3,319,543 because one certi fied staff member at the district office was dropped from the budget. Current staff will cost the county $3,133,828 and new employees will cost $198,579. Employee benefits were approved by the budget com mittee in the amount of $802,610. Purchased services were approved for the amount of $514,311. That includes travel, utility payments, repair and maintenance, rentals, offi cials, insurance, school news papers, professional services and so on. The amount spent in this area last year was $430,950. The supplies and materials section of the school budget was approved for the amount of $373,000. Textbooks for Sam Boardman Elementary will cost $8,985 and supplies $6,570. Supplies at Columbia Jr. High .will cost $3,300 and textbooks $3,850. Nothing was spent last year for those two schools since they are new. Supplies at Riverside High School went up from $4,800 this year to $6,120 in next year's approved budget. Text books went up from $6,000 to $7,300. - The budget approved for this year in that area was for $303,800. The capital outlay section of the budget was cut $55,724 Monday night. Some of the projects that were proposed on- the budget were cut but instead are going to be done Computers draw debate The most talked about part of the proposed school budget that was approved by the budget committee Monday night was a computer for use at Heppner High School. Two teachers at HHS, Gor-' don Munck and Ralph Schu bothe, were instrumental in persuading the members of the school board and the budget committee to purchase a computer for use in the schools. "The world is full of computers," Munck said. "When a student leaves Hepp ner, he will come in contact with computers constantly. The computer is for career preparation." Schubothe, who teaches math, is planning on using the computer for math calcula tions and plotting while Munck . wants to use it to analyze enunciation of students when they speak Spanish. Munck said lone has a Radio Shack computer and other small towns like Pilot Rock and Enterprise have compu ters like the one Heppner will get if next year's budget is approved by the voters March 25. The amount approved is for $3,560 for an Apple II brand computer. Salesman Allan Feues gave a demonstration of the compu ter Monday night. Feuos said the computer is easy to program andean give tests in anyJieJdJThe testjean be true-false, matching or multiple choice. 'Its flexibility is phenomi nal," Feues said. It has a 48 K memory and djsc drive, which is faster than u.sing casettes, he said. He said many schools in Umatilla have the same type of computer so programs can be interchanged and recorded so jiew ones won't have to be purchased. Feues said any TV can work as a visual aid for the computer but the school board decided to purchase one with the computer. A $1,200 printer that can print 80 lines per minute was demonstrated but will not be purchased with the school budget money. It may be purchased with some other funds, Principal Jim Bier said. Riverside High School re quested funds to pay for a computer made . by another company for $1,800 but it may switch to the same Apple' brand so the two schools can interchange equipment. The Apple II has the advantage of a typewriter keyboard with standard spac ing for faster use. "The computer will enrich the students but will not make it easier on the teachers," Bier said, "because it will take more hours." The Riverside package will include a basic unit. The computer will consist of a 48 K computer, disc drive, extra discs, paper, supplies, electronic gear, accessories, and literature. this year with money that has been obtained from interest made on last year's bond. The projects include paving at Sam Boardman Element tary on the playground for $6,000, a basebalf backstoplor $1,500 and a paved play area for $8,000 at Columbia Jr. High School, bleachers for $2,010 at A.C. Houghton Elementary, and a curtain at Sam Board man Elementary to divide the gym from the cafeteria for $4,500. The transportation section of the capital outlay section of the budget is more than double with the adopted budget. Last yaer, $70,700 was approved and the voters will be asked to approve $148,430 for this part of the budget for next year. Capital outlay at the district office will rise from $5,932 to $15,244. The total capital outlay section of the budget will rise from $270,936 in 1979-80 to $355,231 for 1980-81. Also included in the ap proved budget is $48,000 for the contingency fund that is used onlv for emergencies. - ..J.. Columbia Basin Electric delays rate hike 30 days i Apple Computer Salesman Allan Feues gives his sales pitch to the Morrow County School Hoard budget committee. It must have worked as the committee approved a computer for Heppner High School in the budget. Boardman youth jailed in Hermiston for armed robbery Rate increases that were to have been put into effect Dec. 23 by the Columbia Basin Electric Cooperative, Inc., have been postponed for 30 days, according to Fred Toombs, manager. The action was taken by the board of directors at a meeting last Thursday, when a new consulting firm was retained. Last year's proposed rale hike averaging 40 percent, was based on a study by a consulting firm. Economic Engineering and Services, Inc. Rates for residential, general service and large consumers were to be in creased by 37.6 percent; initiators. 45 percent, and street and security lighting customers, 56.1 percenU Toombs said a revised study will be undertaken by R.W. Beck & Associates of Seattle, at the instigation of irrigation customers, "to create a more equitable approach to the costs of service." The electric cooperative that serves Morrow and Gil liam counties and portions of other counties would boost its rates under the pressure of a 90 percent increase from the Bonneville Power Administra tion. Toombs explained that rates are based on anticipated revenues from various cate gories of customers. "Cost of service and rate studies are very complex and it was the board's position that such an important matter should receive additional study before being placed in effect." he added. "Although additional study time will have adverse effects on operating capital for the Cooperative, the effect will not be significant. It is anticipated that the new rates will go into effect with Feb. 30 billing.". In other business at last Thursday's meeting, the board adopted an operating budget reflecting revenues of $2.4 million and a construction budget of $878,000. The ma jor construction expenditures, Toombs said, would be to update present facilities. Kenneth L. Plant, 710 Mt. Hood St. in Boardman. spent Cattlemen register Jo yote Cattlemen have until Feb. 6 to register to vote on the national "Beeferendum" to decide if they want to be taxed to raise money for research and for educating consumers. Cattlemen will vote on the referendum Feb. 19-22. Registration is being taken at the Agricultural Stabiliza tion and Conservation Service building in Pendleton. The phone number is 276-3811. "It's a total self-help pro gram," said Ray French, Oregon Cattlemen's Associa tion president from Heppner. "This is a cattlemen's program. We wrote the law, we'll pay for the program," and we'll run the program ourselves," French said. All cattle producers will be affected by the referendum. Anyone who owned a calf in 1979 is eligible to vote. Cow-calf operators, stocker growers, feeders and dairy operators are all affected. If the Beef Research and Information Order passes, cattlemen will invest 20 cents for every $100 in value of their cattle. The money will be spent on developing a better selling atmosphere to fight the anit-beef bias that is hurting the beef industry, a press release said. Kinzua VP gives talk Kinzua Mill vice-president Allen Nistad spoke briefly at the Heppner Morrow County Chamber of Commcerce meeting Monday. He gave an encouraging word to everyone concerned about the situation at the mill. He said Kinzua is continuing to work on its logging plan for the next year. Nistad said last Friday 226 paychecks were paid out. He said the annual payroll for 1979 was for $3,976,000. He said the mill is planning to operate with 172 employees for the next year with a projected payroll of $3,120,000. There are two shifts work ing at the sawmill and the plywood plant is closed with no current plans of reopening. If 50 percent of the voters who register by Feb. 6 vote later this month, and a majority of those voting say yes, then anyone who sells any cattle will, be charged two tenths of one percent of the receipts from the sale. An example would be if a cow-calf operator sells a calf for $400 to a stocker-grower, 80 cents will be paid if the referendum passes. If the stocker-grower sells the same calf to a cattle feeder for $600, $1.20 more will go to the fund. If the cattle feeder sells the cow for slaughter for $800, $1.60 more will go to the fund so a total of $3.60 will be paid for the one cow. According to U.S. Dept. of Agriculture information, this method will raise $40 million annually. Cattlemen can get a refund for the money if they apply for one within 60 days after they sell their cattle. The original act passed in 1977 was voted on and 5ii.4 percent of the voters were in favor of being taxed for the use of improving market conditions. The law then required a two-thirds yes vote. A national beef board will be appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture. Any organization that represents beef produc ers can make nominations for the beef board. The beef board will decide how to use the money that is raised from the referendum. Oregon will have one mem ber and one alternate for the beef board. Washington and Alaska will combine to have one member and one alter nate. Texas will have six members on the beef board. The number of members on the board has been deter mined by the number of cattle in the area. One member is designated for every 500,000 head of cattle in the geograph ical area. There will be 60 members serving three-year terms. " If 10 percent of the voters decide to recall the referen dum once it passes, it will be voted on again. his 20th birthday in the Umatilla County Jail in Pen dleton for the armed robbery of $912 from a gas station in Boardman. Iviorro County Sheriff re ports state that bail was set at $20,000 by Justice Char lotte Gray but that a detainer has been set because he violated his probation so he cannot be released oil bail. A grand jury will investigate the case. The robber reportedly used a shotgun to rob service staion attendant Jim Edle. He then took off in a black pickup. Minutes later, an Oregon State Police officer attempted to pull over a black pickup for speeding when he heard over the radio about the robbery. A high speed chase was the result as Plant drove on Highway 74 at speeds faster than 100 miles per hour. He drove across the Umatilla Bridge with police in pursuit when he crashed attempting to make the sharp turn in Plymouth, Wash. He miraculously survived the crash, according to Sheriff Larry Fetsch, and was arres ted by the OSP officer and Umatilla police and jailed in Hermiston. r. '-.,- . --. . j j I! i i - ' ' ' I ; I . : A I .'.ri V U j 7.1 ft; f'V 4 i" I I : , I.es Schwab assistant manager Gino Guglielmelli receives a beef certificate from local CowBelle member Clista Venard. Les Schwab offers beef certificates It was announced recently from the Oregon Beef Council that the Les Schwab Tire Centers, in cooperation with the Oregon Beef Council will sponsor their 16th Annual Free Beef Promotion. The announcement came from the office of Don Ostensoe, executive secretary of the Oregon Beef Council. The tire firm has purchased $85,000 in beef certificates to be used in this year's promo tion. The Oregon State Cow Belle Association is joining in this year's promotion to publi cize and promote the sale of beef. The beef certificates will be given with the purchase of two or more new passenger or pick-up tires or four Les Schwab retreads and can be used toward the purchase of beef at any business house in the meat business. The certifi cates may also be used as premiums on gifts. Last year the tire firm gave away more than $65,000 in free beef. Les Schwab stated he feels this year's promotion will be the company's largest promo tion. Recent expansion in the Northwest now gives the tire firm over 100 locations in Oregon. Washington. and Idaho that will be promoting the Beef Certificates with the purchase of tires Feb. 1 through Feb. 29. It's a cliff-hanger! Posse has frigid drill Along a thin, taut cable stretched down the face of a cliff Sunday morning, a group of men guided a wire-frame litter bearing a dummy figure. The setting was behind the Morrow County Fairgrounds where there is an exposure of rock 30-feet high. The men were members of the Sheriff's Search and Rescue Posse, who were dressed for the weather, some in padded coveralls and wool en caps, others in heavy plaid jackets. As they gathered around a fire built of criss-crossed fence posts, one said, "It was five below at my place this morning." The morning sun was bright but in the chill air The men's fingers grew stiff as they worked with the rigging for the litter and the cables they would use for rappelling. Part of the team was at the top. One hy one they descen ded, holding the rope in gloved hands and with booted feet feeling for uncertain toe holds. Deputy Sheriff Harry Oakes, in charge of the session, said the men were training in rappelling tech niques to be prepared for possible rescues in the more rugged areas of Morrow County. Last November, dur ing the hunting season, the posse was called out three times to search for missing hunters in the Umatilla Na tional Forest. In all three cases, the men were found. They had been separated from hunting com panions and made their way along stream beds or forest trails to relative safety. The sheriff's posse was recognized as an official organization in December of 1971, by then Gov. Tom McCall, following an exten sive search in the county for a local man who became lost. According to James G. Laun er, coordinator for search and rescue operations, the need for an organization of trained persons was recognized. The posse became a reality under former Sheriff John Mollahan. Training sessions take place several times a year. In addition, some of the activities the group has assisted have included a bike-a-thon, for which it provided patrol services, and the Sheriff Baumann Appreciation Day last summer. Members have taken train ing in compass and map reading and searches for lost aircraft. They have held a training session at Cutsforth Park for a simulated search, and have held several field training exercises for downed aircraft, as well as grid search and first-aid exercises. Launer said all members are volunteers but their atten dance at drills and meetings is mandatory. When a person is lost or injured and the sheriff's office is notified. Sheriff Larry Fetsch initiates the search and notifies the posse. The state's Emergency Ser vices Division in Salem is contacted to obtain a number for the search and rescue operation. After the search is completed, reports are sent to Salem. At last Sunday's drill, 17 men were on hand. After a couple of hours climbing up or down the cliff, they took a coffee break in a building at the fairgrounds. This was followed by an exercise utiliz ing the rodeo grandstand, where cables were stretched from the roof to the arena grass, The grandstand roof provi ded sufficient elevation for simulated areial rescues. " ' s -.,
