TWO The Heppner Gaiette-Times, Heppner, Oregon, Thursday. March 13, 19X0
Th Official Nawtpapar of th
CHy of Hoppnar and th
' County of Morrow
The Heppner
GAZETTE-TIMES
Kirrtw Cmtj's IMM-Owiei Weekly Newspiptr
U.S.P.S, 240-420
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Artrtrmrommuniralmn In lh Hrppnrr C.aMIr Times P O Box Vn. Heppnw,
Win in Morrow Umatilla. WheHw 4 Gilliam cwmliw; 110 00 aterwhrr.
Jerome F. Sheldon, Publisher
Steven A. Powell. News & Sports Fditor
Why a Partisan Vote?
Election days are nearing. The first vote
to draw Morrow County citizens to their
polling places will concern the school district,
both its budget and the selection of directors
and advisory board members. The election
will be Tuesday, March 25. But more
attention, perhaps, is being directed toward
the primary election in May when Republi
cans and Democrats seek their party
nominations for countywide and statewide
positions.
Two passing observations might be made
with regard to the county primary election.
For a community of relatively small
population, as Morrow County is, why should
candidates run under a party designation? In
the political system as it has developed in this
country, the differences between Republi
cans and Democrats are often hard to detect.
In a local area, those active in community
affairs are often well known to the voting
public their personalities and idiosyncra
cies, and they win or lose elections on this
basis rather than for the party label they
might adopt. Because of the many people who
choose to register as "independents," there is
a bloc that is denied participation in the
primary election. So why not adopt a
non-partisan system for county government?
Another observation concerns the time
spread between the primary election in May
and the general election in November. That is
a span of almost six months. It seems a
terrifically long gap. Why not move the
county primary election closer to final
vote in August or September, say?
Perhaps there is no relation between the
system in Oregon and that of other states or
jurisdictions. On the national scene, commen
tators have complained about how the
presidential selection process leading to the
national conventions has been so dragged out
with various state primaries, caucuses and
conventions, that only the well-heeled can
seek the final prize. The public becomes
jaded in the process. In contrast, Canada with
a parliamentary system changed govern
ments recently after only six weeks elapsing
between the fall of the Tories in Ottawa and
the victory of the Liberals in elections
throughout the country.
From the standpoint of time, local
governments in Oregon could tighten the
lapse between primary and general elections,
so their officials could spend more time with
performance of their duties and less with
wooing the voters.
The Gazette-Times was asked recently if it
would endorse any candidates. The answer is
no, neither in the forthcoming school board
election nor for the county positions. It might
be said that anyone willing to take the time to
seek office and accept its responsibilities
deserves credit for making the effort. This is
particularly true for elective offices where
there is no compensation like the school
board and advisory commissions.
The "best" person usually wins, for the
candidates are known through their partici
pation in church, club and civic affairs. They
have been the volunteers for committee
work, the organizers of parades, rodeos or
clean-up projects; the officers of Parent
Teacher Associations and similar groups.
Their accomplishments usually speak for
themselves.
Census hires area woman
Linda Jones of Lexington
has been named a crew leader
to supervise local efforts in the
upcoming 1980 Census of
Population and Housing.
Dave Rasmussen, district
manager of the area's census
office in Bend, made the
nomination
Jones will supervise about
11 enumerators (census tak
ers). In her training sessions,
Jones will learn to recruit,
train and supervise enumera
tors who will be hired in the
near future to participate in
Good grief, ISeiir
Goldschmidt sounds like Brock Adams
in comments on Amtrak's Pioneer
(The following letter by Rod Aho was written to
Secretary of Transportation Neil Gnldsrhmidt, rebutting
statements that Mr. Goldschmidt made in a letter published
in the Feb. 21. 19X0. issue of the Heppner Gaiette-Times. .
(Mr. Aho, formerly on the staff of Columbia Basin
Electric Cooperative, Inc., recently joined the Bonneville
Power Administration at Walla Walla. He is a train
enlluisiiist and a member of the National Association of
Railroad Passengers.
( In the final paragraph of Mr. Aho's letter, he suggests that
Mr. (loldsrhntidt's statement might have been prepared by
an underling and did not represent the real Neil
Goldschmidt defender and promoter of intercity passenger
trains. As a matter of fact, the Heppner Gaiette-Times
received two letters from the Secretary, one an
acknowledgement of our letter to him. and then his full reply.
The signatures on the two letters looked remarkably alike,
down to the squiggles and flourishes. We took the two letters
and laid them on our light table, one over the other, and the
signatures matched perfectly.
(Our suspicion was that Mr. Goldschmidt's letter had.
indeed, been written by an aide. Perhaps he hadn't seen our
inquiry at all. As for the matching signatures, they could
have been applied with a lettering guide.
Honorable Neil Goldschmidt. Secretary
United States Department of Transportation
Washington. D C.
Dear Mr. Goldschmidt:
Good grief, Neil ! After just a few months as Secretary
you are already beginning to sound just like Brock Adams.
I am referring specifically to a letter you wrote to Mr.
Jerome Sheldon, publisher of the Heppner (OR)
Gazette-Times, published in the February 21, 1980, issue.
You make the statement that you don't believe passenger
trains "will ever carry a significant percentage of intercity
passengers in most long-haul markets." My feeling is that as
long as we have a Department of Transportation and
Administration dedicated toward wiping out Amtrak, then
you're probably right passenger trains in this country don't
have a chance.
You state that Amtrak's deficits continue to be
"unacceptably high." By whose arbitrary standards? I'm a
taxpayer, and I don't like a taxpayer ripoff any more than the
next guy. But I certainly would rather see my tax dollars
being spent to support a good national railroad passenger
system than to see my money being thrown down the OPEC
rnthole through our continued dependence on the private
automobile as the primary means of Intercity travel.
What's this about Amtrak's "relatively high fuel
consumption"? You should know better than anyone that
figures released by DOT have consistently shown fuel
consumption by passenger trains far superior to the
automobile or airplane on a scat-mile-per-gallon basis. And
as far as comparing trains to buses, you also should know
thai there is no serious competition between Amtrak and the
intercity bus lines, despite Greyhound's claim to the contrary
that Amtrak is "stealing passengers."
And with regard to the Congressionally mandated
standards and criteria for continued operation of passenger
trains, I believe that these standards are totally arbitrary
and that they intentionally discriminate against long-haul
passenger trains. You mentioned "The Pioneer," You said
that Oregonians' use of that train will be a decisive factor in
whether or not it continues. Right now, however, It looks like
"The Pioneer" is being sabotaged by DOT and Amtrak, by
operating this long-distance train with corridor equipment
designed for short and medium ranges, and by refusing to
advertise or otherwise promote the train along the route. Try
calling Amtrak's toll-free number to arrange a train trip
between Portland and Chicago. You will be told to take the
Empire Builder, not the Pioneer and San Francisco Zephyr
option.
Finally, a comment about the suggestion to combine
postal and passenger train services. This is an excellent
suggestion, but how can postal contracts be maintained on
routes like the Empire Builder when its schedule has been
axed to three runs a week?
You may detect a note of hostility in this letter. I really
don't intend it to come across this way frustration would be
a better word. Because I for one had great hopes that once
Neil Goldschmidt got into office, the tables would begin to
turn back in favor of Amtrak, and it just bothers the heck out
of me to hear the same old Brockianisms coming out of your
office.
Hopefully the letter in the Heppner paper was just a form
letter sent out by one of your underlings not Neil
Goldschmidt, defender and promoter of intercity passenger
trains.
Sincerely,
Rodney A. Aho
808 South Wilbur Avenue
Walla Walla. Wash. 99362
Presidential ballot named
for Oregon's primary
The following persons will
appear ns presidential candi
dates on the Oregon Primary
Election ballot May 20, ac
cording to Secretary of State
Norma Paulus in Salem.
Democrats Edmund G.
Brown, Jr., Jimmy Carter and
Edward M. Kennedy.
Republicans John Ander
son, Howard Baker, George
Bush, John Connally, Robert
Dole. Phillip Crane and Ron
ald Reagan.
According to Oregon law,
the secretary of state shall
place the numes of those
presidential candidates on the
ballot who are generally
advocated or recognized in the
national news media.
Whether former President
Get -aid Ford should appear on
the ballot was a question
raised after the list was
released. Ford apparently
called Gov. Victor G. Atlyeh to
express Interest in appearing
on the Oregon ballot this year.
Mrs, Paulus said her staff in
the past eight months has
perused over 14.000, news
paper clippings from all
sections of the country to
determine those iK-rsons gen
erally recognized or advo
cated as presidential candi
dates. The only other way that a
name may be placed on the
Oregon presidential primary
ballot is by petition.
Heppner Auto Ports
234 N.Main Heppner 676-9,123
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'Salary increases for
officials seem excessive9
The
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Foamers
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR fcm ,hrough the TIMES 1 )H
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Heppner
Editor:
The requested salary in
creases for elected county
officials strike me as exces
sive. The salary committee
says the increases are justi
fied because the proposed
salaries are average for the
state. Does Morrow County
have a work load that is
average for the state? While a
certain amount of work must
be done by every county, the
fact that Morrow County has a
small population makes it
evident that our officials don't
have the volume of work that
similar officials in Multono
mah, Lincoln or even Umatilla
counties have, T
Money is tight and the
county officials deserve raises
to keep up with inflation but
the voters aren't likely to vote
in a 25 percent salary increase
when they are urged to settle
for 7 percent by President
Carter. A wage increase is due
these public servants but
let's keep it within reason.
Sincerely.
Susan Schubothe,
520 Gale,
Heppner
'President Carter, please
help private sector9
(The following was submitted
for publication.)
Pres. Carter,
I am a wheat and cattle
producer in north-central Ore
gon near Pendleton. I partici
pate in world-hunger groups,
farm bargaining and state
politics. I also am a student of
economics and I am writing to
you today because it doesn't
appear that you are getting all
the input you need in down-to-earth
economics.
I think you are correct when
you are opposing wage and
price controls, and gas ration
ing. We need desperately to
turn our private businessmen
loose and let them start to be
productive once more. Let the
private sector go to work!
I'm increasingly alarmed
by the many government
programs that are in effect
and the suggestion that more
agencies are needed, and that
more studies are needed.
There are plenty of programs
now that need support.
With the increased cost of
interest and gasoline to farm
ers we are facing an alarm
ingly difficult year, we will be
going further in debt contribu
ting to ever more debt,
inflation, and interest costs.
We really do need parity of
pricing between various seg
ments of the economy so that
we can trade our goods and
services; in particular, farm
products raised on the farm,
new each year, and a source of
either earned income or
increased debt. We really do
need help so that we may be in
balance with the rest of the
economy and start generating
income instead of debt.
I appeal to you in that you
are my president of my
country and are in the
strongest position to deal
productively with our eco
nomy. I plead with you to not
overlook the positive influence
of earned income from raw
materials rather than ever
more debt.
The private sector is still out
here but it is in trouble. Please
help us
Sincerely,
Donald E. Peterson
lone, Oregon 97843
503-422-7136
Smith scores
VAT proposal
Congressional candidate
Denny Smith say Rep. Al
Ullman's value added tax
proposal has almost no sup
port among the public, judg
ing from a recently completed
survey. Only 2 percent of those
responding, Smith said, fa
vored such a tax.
About lOO.OOOquestionnaires
were sent out, mostly in the
Pacific Northwest, in the poll
commissioned by Smith.
"I think one would get the
same results almost any
where, even in states that
don't share Oregon's tradition
of not having a sales tax,"
Qmith mniA
19.10
Fifty years ago the Heppner
MacMarr Grocery Store was
robbed of $305 in cash and
silver from the safe and cash
register. Checks were left
behind on the floor. The thief
opened the combination lock
on the safe. It was the third
burglary in 10 days in Hepp
ner. The loss was not covered
by insurance because the safe
was entered by working the
combination rather than blow
ing the safe up in some
manner.
The Heppner Lions Club
joined with the Heppner Rod
and Gun Club in asking the
state game commission for
Morrow County's quota of
game birds and fish. The
county was promised 1,000
birds and 200,000 fish the year
before and no birds had been
received and only 50,000 fish.
Four Heppner High School
students wrote songs to sub
mit to a national music
writing contest. Billy Cox
wrote "Dear Old U-jprnr
High," Fletcher Wa :. r wrote '
"Heppnerian's Creed," John
Franszen wrote "A Jump at
Conclusions," and Gerald
Swaggart wrote "Gratitude."
The Pennys store was re
modeled with cabinets, plat
forms and shelves to better
the display.
Two families in Irrigon were
left homeless when their still
exploded starting a fire that
burned their house down. The
county enforcement officials
decided not to prosecute for
illegal liquor manufacturing
because they did not have
enough evidence.
Two brothers were arrested
for the possession of intoxica
ting liquor. They said they did
not know the two gallons of
moonshine were in the car.
They were jailed and then
released after paying $1,000
bail.
1955
Twenty-five years ago Sally
Palmer and Richard Kononen
won $200 scholarships jfrom
the local Elks and went to the
district competition in La
Grande.
Mary Van Stevens opened a
dress shop in downtown Hepp
ner next to her flower shop.
Jeff Carter, Orville Cuts
forth, Edger Albert and Frank
W. Turner were honored by
the chamber of commerce
along with Delbert Emert and
Harold Johnston. The awards
civic service.
Lucy E. Rodgers retired
from her post as county
treasurer to move to Portland
W.E. Melena of lone pur
chased the lone elevators and
leased them to the Morrow
County Grain Growers for 10
years.
The Heppner Mustangs fin
ished fifth in the state B
basketball competition in Sa
lem ending the season with a
25-3 record. The only loss at
state was to the eventual state
champ Knappa 41-38. The
team went on to beat Prairie
City 57-34 and Enterprise 46 37
in later games. Against,
Knappa. Heppner led for three
quarters until Knappa got hot
in the final period. Dick
Kononen scored 10 for Hepp
ner. Kononen scored 15
against Prairie City and 12
against Enterprise.
1975
Five years ago the Bank of
Eastern Oregon had an open
house to celebrate its remo
deled building.
KinzuS was also having an
open house to celebrate the
opening of its new office
building.
A benefit for John Ekstrom
raised more than $1,350.
Ekstrom , a junior at lone High
School, was seriously injured
in an automobile accident and
spent several months in a
Portland hospital. More than
400 persons attended a spa
ghetti dinner in his honor.
Other money-making events
included a cake walk, silent
auction and white elephant
sale. ,
The family that had won the
First Baby Contest seemingly
disappeared from the com
munity and the merchants
were unhappy about it. The
parents collected the gifts,
and the father leased a local
gasoline station. He cashed in
the station's receipts one day,
the mother bought some new
clothes for the children. They
moved everything from their
trailer home and were gone.
Meanwhile their checks had
bounced.
Anita Davidson was third in
the state of Oregon in the Elks
Scholarship Competition. She
had won $2,300 in scholarships
and was going to be included
in the national competition.
She also won $400 from the
Union Pacific Railroad for a
4-H scholarship.
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SWEENEY MORTUARY
Cemetery, Grave Markers 676-5609
Granite, Marble, Bronze or 676-922$
Serving loom, Lexington 4 Heppner p.o, Box 97
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GLENN DEVIN"
Chevron USA, Inc.'
Commission Agent
676-9623
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