Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (June 12, 1980)
BFSSIF. WETZCLL U OF ORE NEWSPAPER LIB r :; z r: r cn c ? o ? Petitions being circulated State Parole Board criticised by Morrow IJ).A o by .Steven A. Powell . . Randall Fred Gaohring wan sentenced to five years in the state penitentiary in Salem In Morrow County Circuit Court Jan. 4. Alter only serving four months, he was net free from the prison on May 15 thanks to the state parole hoard. Ret-auKC1 of cases like this one, District Attorney Dennis Doherty is helping to circulate ti sfillowide initiative petition that will limit the authority of the parole hoard The petition will amend present statutes to authorize actual sentencing by the courts rather than the parole hoard, In establishing initial parole dates for convicted felons; prohibit the parole board from releasing felons before that date; and reduce the number of members on the parole board from five to three. Doherty said the Initiative will "Restore credibility to the courts and the criminal Justice syWm, eliminate parole board tampering with the sentence Imposed by local Judges, and transfer the authority to determine when felons should be released from an appointed. Inaccessible non-accountable bureaucracy to the local, elected Judges who hear the cases and are most familair with the facts." ..The initiative , is being sponsored by Douglas County District 'Attorney Bill a Lassell, who became dissatisfied with the system after prosecuting a man that received his third "life" sentence. Doherty said he would have supported the initiative anyway but the recent release from prison of Caehring has made him even more determined to see that the initiative gets on the ballot. When Gaohring was arrested. Oregon State Police found $9,692 in cash .67 ounce of hash, 22.55 ounces of marijuana and 14.576 amphetamine tablets. He bragged to an undercover investigator that he could set up a deal for 100.000 amphetamine tablets. He was convicted in Umatilla and Morrow Counties for selling and traffick ing. in large quantities of drugs for illicit profit. He served jiist four months of a five year sentence. "In Cfsr like this , one, -the police and courts do their jobs only to be thwarted by the parole board," Doherty fald. "It happens loo often. It is a failure of Jhe system and a frequent source of complaints. Are we going to continue on with this absurd system or are we going to change It?" . -. .Doherty said there is plenty oi waste in the parole board system. When sentencing a felon, the court must prepare a pre-sentence investigation, which is a thorough background of the criminal. Tne Judge then uses that investigation in helping to determine his sentence. The parole board receives all of this information and then does virtually the ( same investigation again. using persons on the parole board staff. The parole board "r then has a hearing and arbitrarily decides when the earliest parole date is that the , felon can be released If the parole board no longer has the power to set the earlier release date-since if the initiative passes it would be in the , hands of the local judges-the staff of the parole board could be cut and the number of members on the board could also be cut. Doherty said. If the initiative passes, the parole baord would still exist and have the power to decide if felons would he released al the oarlioi I parole dale or serve a longer, portion of judge's sentence. If a felon violates parole when released, the parole board would still be there to be sure the felon is put back in prison. "II is a worthy petition, long overdue," Doherty said. ''People are unhappy with the system and the terrible parole board decisions. Criminals are laughing at the penitentiary system. If the petition fails, it means people have accepted this system." ..Doherty admitted that there are not enough beds at the penitentiary in Salem to house all of the criminals. "We have to protect ourselves." he said. "We are either going to have to turn then loose or build. Some criminals have, to be released but more careful consideration has lo be made on who they are. Not all of them should be released afTtss earliest possible date." Doherty said there are 1,800 beds at the state penitentiary while there are more than ino.ooo felonies committed in 6regon every year so "most felons are not going to serve." Anyone who is interested in signing the petition or circulating one throughout the area may contact the district attorney's office. Doherty hopes to mail the petitions by June 24. "We do not have much time because ti should be voted on in the Fall election," he said. The Heppner E-TIME Morrow County's Home-Owned Weekly Newspaper Weather by Don Gilliam Tues.. JuneS Wed., June 4 Thurs.. Junes Fri..June Sat.. June 7 Sun., June ft Mon.. June 9 62-38-.02 H7-36-T 6C-44 6M3-.63 73-48-.04 79-4J 74-50 VOL. K NO. 24 Till RSDAY. JI NK 12, 19K0 HEPPNER. OREGON Ifi PAGES 20 CENTS Strike possible at Kinzua Corp. O Union employees at Kinzua Corp. in Hep pner tire contemplating a strike. The union met Sunday night to vote on the possible strike but kept the results quiet to the press . Union bosses negotia ted Monday und Tues day this week with Kinzua management in -tm effort hr "Avoid the' strike. If the strike does occur, it could begin as early as this week. "Negotiations with the union have begun because their contract expires this month (June It))," said Kinzua General Manager Harry Kennison. "It is unfair lalnir relations to re lease any information alHut the contract dur ing negotiations. That " Information "ti guard-' ed." Heppner wont sell water bonds without dam, official says School board to meet o The regular June meeting of the Morrow County School Board will be held on Monday. me Hi, ul B p.m. at the School District office in lx-xington. The hoard will consider bids for a numtMT of items, including fuel, tires and vehicles. The Board also will take action on proposed revisions in the transportation policy, In other business, the bourd will consider hiring of several teachers for the coming school year. The City of Heppner is in an unusual situation having ap prove;? a water bond issue for $430,000 at the May 20 Pri mary Election but not know ing if it will sell the xnds. The project rests in the hands of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and its work on the-Willow Creek ,Dam. The Corps is waiting to see if it will receive funds for the project. If it does not, Heppner Water Commissioner Clifford Green said Monday that the city will not sell the $430,000 worth of General Obligation Bonds because that will not be enough to pay for all of the improvements needed in the water system if the Corps does not help. Instead, Green said the city will try to pass a different bond for a lesser amount to just pay for the work that urgently needs to be done. "We will not go with this project without the Corps." Green said. Green added the city passed a water bond for a similar amount a few years ago that did some good for the system but the ctiy had rojNle with- the Corps then too. This time, the city will not sell the large amount of bonds without the Corps but will try instead to pass a water bond issue that will pay to replace the deteriorating Wilkenson line on Willow Creek. "That is our highest prior ity." Green said. Bids are scheduled to be taken for the project by the Corps in Septemberand Green said if the bids are taken, the project will go through and the bonds will be sold. The city is hoping to sell the bonds to the Farmer's Home Administration at 5' 4 percent interest but that deal "is not for certain." according to Green. The city may have to sell the bonds on the open market so the cost in interest miA be KJjchjr.ore. ' If the FHA does buy the bonds. Heppner will have 40 years to pay it back. To pay for the bonds. Green said the probable system will be to pay half in taxes and half in water receipts. Green said the repairs will "not solve all of the city's problems-just the most press ing ones." City officials tentatively plan to meet with the Corps this Monday night at City Hall to discus? the project. v! VIEW'S ' . A V JT V . 1" "La. Willow Dam project receives $7.7 million at. i v 2 W .A .... i i v-i ill wvw - .oy fist-,' " in appropriations from House subcommittee '".r 4rf-M''M: An appropriation of $7.7 the House, Senate and the DuRger said the Corps still has are available and bids have should begin in about two . . - "- : V g- 1 ' T " million for construction of the President tweause of the long not purchased its first piece of been taken to construct the weeks and it should only take ' ' !"V"'1 '.' 0 i- ' " ' . 11 Ml...., r-......l. l..... t i l: . I : it r i . . . . . . - J. ' - a few davs to Duiia me moaei dam. model dam. Willow Creek Dam has been approved by the House Knergy and Water Develop ment Appropriations Subcom mittee, Congressman Al Ull m on has announced. Ullman said the subcom mittee's recommendation will go to the full Appropriations Committee for consideration this month. Ann Warren, an Ullman assistant in Salem, said this week that it will be months before anyone knows for sure if the Willow Creek Dam funding will be approved by funding process. She said the Senate is discussing the Willow Creek Dam project. Senate-House debates will then take place. Kor final approval, the bill will go back to both the House and Senate for a vote and, if passed, go to President Jimmy Carter for his signa ture. "There is a good indication it will be funded because it was in the President's budget request," Warren said. Corps of Engineers Public Affairs Officer O.C. (Dug) Energy siting council to discuss Boardman Issues related to the Board man coal-fired generating plant in Morrow County will be discussed in Coos Bay Friday by the Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council (EFSC). The regular monthly meet ing will commence at 10 a.m. in the Neighborhood Facility Building, 2!i0 Hull Street. EFSC will be asked to amend the Boardman site certificate to change reservoir water quality requirements. The change would allow for 4 natural variations which are not related lo plant operation and have been agreed to by the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Department of Environmental Quality and Portland General Electric Company, the plant operator. Council members will also comment on a draft report on the Boardman project prepar ed by the siting and regulation staff of the Oregon Depart ment of Energy. Members of the public will have an opportunity to com ment on any subject related to EFSC's jurisdiction and responsibilities. real estate in Heppner for the dam project. He said the Corps still has a "freeze" on spending with a maximum of $25,000. Dugger said real estate agents have been in Heppner the last week talking with the six or seven landown ers that are within the $25,000 limit. "The Corps has asked for supplemental appropriations but because of the demands caused by the Mt. St. Helens eruption, it could be a long time," Dugger said. Because of the slowdown in the land acquisition phase, the dam ule. "It will be difficult to finish the roads as planned," Dugger said. "The finishing date for the overall project should not suffer but the start will be delayed." Dugger said the biggest problem is that the Corps cannot obtain real estate because of the freeze. He said the relocation of the roads and water is behind schedule but the Corps hopes to still start the project this summer or at the latest when the new fiscal year for funding begins Oct. 1. A small model of the Willow Creek Dam is being constructed at Troutdale so engineers may study the de sign, strength and materials tor the clam. Tne materials model dam The bids are being evaluated by the Corps, and Dugger said construction lleppner's Joedy Marlatt bursts out of the chute and attempts to lasso a calf in the senior division calf-tying event at the Morrow County Junior Rodeo last Sunday. (See more on pages 6 and 7) Pioneer Memorial Hospital survey shows people favor a local Health District; physical therapy needed Persons in the Tri-County are of Morrow. Gilliam and Wheeler Counties favor the establishment of a Health District to operate Pioneer Memorial Hospital in Heppner, according to a survey that began in Febru ary. About 30 percent of the persons that responded to the mail survey marked that they would favor a Health District rather than having the hospi tal county owned and operated under the direction of the Morrow County Court. Ap proximately 22 percent of the respondents said they would like to leave it county owned. The hospital operating board is appointed by the County Court and the hospital budget is approved by the County Court Budget Com mittee, subject lo voter ap proval. If a Health District is created, voters in the Health District elect the Board of Trustee members who are responsible for the budget and obtaining voter approval for district taxes. Of the persons who marked on the survey that they would like a Health District created. 18.5 percent would like it near the service area of the hospital while 13 percent w:ant it Tri-County and eight percent county-wide. The survey had a very good response record, said Hospital Administrator A K. Felt. He said a normal response is five to seven percent for mail surveys while this one collect ed 19 percent of the surveys mailed. There were 3,518 health surveys mailed to 11 zip code areas surrounding Pioneer Memorial Hospital. Heppner, lone. Spray and Arlington had the best response record with better than 20 percent of the questionaires mailed being returned. Lexington and Spray had the worst response rate. "There is a lot of research and weeks of work that went into this study." Felt said. "The hospital planning com mittee is in the process of determining what the hospital needs as a result of the survey. "19 percent is way better than average for mail respon se. And there is no single group or interest group that dominated the survey. People of all ages and incomes answered it." Of the 647 persons who answered the survey, many of them did not know what types of services are available to them in their respective counties. The Mental Health and the Ambulance programs in the counties were listed as "adequate" in most cases while the drug rehabilitation programs were often listed as "inadequate." Attitudes were split on the alcoholism pro grams, home health services, emergency medical services and emergency telephone numbers. As for additional services that respondents thought should be offered, the most popular ones were physical therapy, first aid, preventive therapy, first aid, preventive medicine and rehabilitation, survey did not know what types of services are available at Pioneer Memorial Hospital. Forty from Heppner and 74 overall did not know the hospital has medical-surgical hospital care. For pediatric care for children. Ill of the survey respondents did not know Pioneer has these facil ities. More than 200 persons did not know that the hospital has coronary intensive care, 92 did not know it has an emergency room. 273 did not know it has gynecology surgery, 179 did not know it has general surgery and 247 did not know Pioneer Memorial Hospital has respiratory therapy. Most of the participants said that they carry group insur ance for their medical needs. When asked in the survey if "Pioneer Memorial Hospital is meeting your community needs," 35 said "it meets all of our needs," 283 said "it meets most of our needs," 95 said "it meets some of our needs," and 148 said "it meets only a few of our needs." The health survey asked the participants if they presently have a health problem that is not being cared for and why? The most common problems not being cared for are allergies, arthritis, ulcers, vision, blood pressure and depression. The most common reason for not receiving treat ment was that the person had been to see a doctor before and had not been cured. Other reasons were lack of money, lack of confidence in the medical profession and dis tance to medical care. Most of the survey partici pates marked that they made $10,000 to $50,000 with the numbers being evenly distrib uted. They were mostly either on salary or retirement and most had lived in the area for 20 years or more.
