TWOThe Heppner riai'ttc-Times, Heppner, Oregon, Thursday, June 2fi, 1980
The Official Newspaper of Ifi
City of Heppner and the
' County of Morrow
ONPA
The Heppner
GAZETTE-TIMES
Morrow Cmtj's bWOwmI Weeklj Newspaper
U.S.P.S. 240-420
I'uhlished every Thursday and entered as second-class
mailer al the Prwl Office af Heppner, Oregon under the
Ac! of March .1. IH7W. Second-class postage paid at
Heppner. Onisnn.
Office at 147 West Willow Street. Telephone (503)
m-m.
Address communications to the Heppner Gazetle
Timcs. I'.O Box 337. Heppner. Oregon 97836.
$8 ltd in Morrow. Umatilla. Wheeler & Gilliam counties;
$in no elsewhere.
Jerome F. Sheldon, Publisher
Steven A. Powell, News & Sports Editor
Change of Owners t
With this week's issue, Jerome and Jane
Sheldon end their ownership of the Heppner
Gazette-Times. They pass their reins over to
David Sykes and his wife, April Hilton-Sykes,
who have been involved with a family-owned
newspaper at Reedsport, on the southern
Oregon coast. Their investment in Heppner
reflects a confidence both in their own
capabilities and the economic future of
Morrow County.
For the Sheldons, it has been an interesting
year indeed, becoming acquainted with the life
of eastern Oregon through their operation of a
community newspaper,
The Gazette-Times has almost a century of
history behind it , under various ownerships.
It is one of the oldest institutions in the area.
We are sure the community's loyalty to the
newspaper will continue with the new owners.
Oregon 9s Bright Spot
Morrow and Gilliam counties appeared as a
bright, white spot in a map of Oregon
published in last Sunday's issue of the
Portland Oregonian. The map illustrated a
story on unemployment statistics uumpaiiiig
the Portland metropolitan area with the rest of
the state.
All of the counties were shaded in various
tones according to the percentages of their
unemployment. The statistics were gathered
from various sources, but mainly from
unemployment compensation claims.
In Morrow and Gilliam counties the
unemployment rate is less than 5 percent,
reflecting the stability of an agricultural
economy. Certainly, there has been a
slowdown in lumber production and a number
of millworkers in the Heppner area have been
laid off. The curtailment has produced a
pessimistic outlook among some business
people. But agriculture seems to provide a
continuing economic base, as it has for
generations past, and a reason to look ahead
with cheer.
Eastern Oregon is literally one of America's
breadbaskets-and Morrow and Gilliam count
ies are major suppliers of wheat and beef, as
well as other crops. As long as people have to
eat, one can be sure that this county will
continue to prosper.
Shortchanging America
Now even the government is admitting that
gasoline rationing via coupons "would
unavoidably shortchange millions of Ameri
cans if it takes effect."
According to an Associated Press story last
week, Deputy Administrator Douglas G.
Robinson of the Department of Energy "said
the plan, calling for massive issuing of
coupons would require $100 million to develop
and would have a substantial error rate."
Robinson quoted a 10 percent error rate
would see ten million to 15 million persons not
receiving gas rationing coupons if the plan
went into effect.
This is a huge error which would create a
gigantic mess!
This is just another reason why we oppose
gas rationing via coupons.
When one stops and realizes that rural areas
of America, like Lake County, are going to
suffer more than population centers if gas
rationing coupons went into effect... one can
see why gas rationing coupons should not be
instituted. ke County Examiner,
Lake view. Ore.
t
Salem
Scene
Amid a veritahle cascade of
bad news about Oregon's
economy, some good news for
both business and consumer
has been largely overlooked.
The news in recent weeks
appears to have been domin
ated by reports on the effects
of inflation, interest rates, the
sagging housing industry, mill
closures unemployment and
damage wrought by a can
tankerous Mt. St. Helens.
Gov. Victor Atiyeh has even
drawn fire for suggesting
methods state and local
governments should utilize to
meet anticipated deficits in
tax revenues and federal aid.
Meanwhile-and compara
tivley unheralded-came an
other announcement by the
Governor that should be
emphasized as a definite
bright spot in an otherwise
gloomy economic forecast.
Gov. Atlyeh's good news
dealt with an unprecedented
16 per cent reduction in rates
charged employers for work
ers' compensation insurance.
And by way of comparison,
the two gubernatorial an
nouncements stack up this
way:
The anticipated income tax
revenue shortfall amounts to
$52 million for the current
biennium, coupled with the
loss of $13 million in anticipat
ed federal aid. Total, $65
million over the two-year
budget period.
The workers' compensation
rate reduction is expected to
produce an $80 million annual
savings in the cost of doing
business for Oregon employers!
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
A host
Editor:
Wr are writing this letler
hoping lhal somewhere nut
there is a family wailing to
become a hosl family for next
year's A F.S. student.
For us this year as a hosl
fiimilv has been very worth
while and heartwarming. Our
friends and family have bene
fit led with ns and we have
been looking forward to help
ing the nexl host family or
families
S far. however, no familv
Did you hear volcano
erupt? How many bangs?
Editor:
The sound of the explosive eruption of Mt. St. Helens on the
morning of 18th May was heard, with various intensities,
many miles from the mountain. It seems probable that such
long range propogation of the sound was caused by conditions
in Ihe upper atmosphere on that morning. In order to further
elucidate this phenomenon, known as upper atmospheric
focussing. I am seeking the assistance of your readers. It
would be appreciated if anyone who heard the explosions
between 8:30 and 9:00 a.m. on Sunday. 18th May could let
me know by letter or postcard where they were when they
heard the explosion, how many bangs or other sounds were
heard, and what was the intensity of the sound compared
with such things as a slamming door, a car backfiring or a
gun being fired. Was the sound intensive enough to cause any
damage?
Your assistance and that of your readers will be much
appreciated.
Yours sincerely,
J.M.Dewey
Professor of Physics
University of Victoria
Victoria, B.C. V8W 2Y2
Canada
Packwood joins New Jersey senator
in health bill for 'elderly disabled9
Senators Bob Packwood
(R-Ore) and Bill Bradley
(D-NJ). have urged Congress
to adopt "new and humane
answers to the health needs of
the elderly and disabled" by
encouraging alternatives to
hospitals and nursing homes.
The two Senators recently
announced their intention to
redesign health programs for
senior citizens and the disabl
ed under a new Title XXI of
the Social Security Act.
"Too often, the elderly and
disabled Individuals are auto
Silver lining for clouded economy
ax jsiCiv jLimmmuniiiv
It may take a while for an
$80 million savings in a
half-billion-dollar cost pro
gram to filter down to the
consumer. But it is a signifi
cant development for a state
that has regularly ranked
among the highest nationally
in workers' comp costs. And it
certainly will contribute to the
competitiveness of Oregon
manufacturers with those in
, other states.
The rate reduction has been
filed by the National Council
on Compensation Insurance
and the Oregon Compensation
Rating Bureau, it has been
approved by the Oregon
Insurance Commissioner and
goes into effect on July 1.
Broken down into the three
major industry groupings, the
reduction is an average of IS
per cent for manufacturers, 16
percent forcontracters and 16
per cent for all other classes.
Businesses with high losses
due to extensive worker in
juries and illness will not save
as much.
Rates are based on loss
experience and administra
tion costs. Gov. Atiyeh praised
Oregon employers generally
family
has come forward and those
previously interested have
dropped out.
Heppner High School coop
erated in every way with Jari
Alasuvanto and with us. They
would like In have another
AFS.'er and I'm sure lone
High School would also wel
come an exchangee.
If you as a familv (any tvpe
of familv) are interested in the
projerl please do not let any
preconceived opinion stand in
vour wnv. fonlacl F.laine
matically admitted to hospit
als or nursing homes for care
they would rather have and
could be provided at home,"
Packwood said.
"While we recognize that
hospitalization or nursing
homes may be necessary for
some patients, we believe that
many others could and should
avoid being admitted to an
institution. Our bill is meant to
help people receive the right
mix of social and medical
services they need to remain
in their own homes."
f
when announcing the rate
reduction, declaring that their
efforts to reduce losses were a
major contributing factor in
bringing rates down.
The Governor also credited
the Workers' Compensation
Department headed by Direc
tor Roy Green with cost
reductions and claim re
forms that produced half of
the savings.
The reduction is only the
third time rates have gone
down since the present work
ers' compensation system was
formed following passage of
the Three-Way Bill in 1965.
Other reductions were rela
tively insignifigant decreases
of 1.2 per cent in 1970 and 0.7
per cent in 1972. In other years
rates escalated substantially
as high as 27 per cent in 1971
and 29 per cent in 1976.
Improvements in the state
workers' compensation sys
tem are a top priority of the
Atiyeh Administration and the
rate reduction announcement
occurred only weeks before
results of the Governor's task
force study of the system Is
due to be revealed. Atiyeh has
indicated the study will pro-
"We nwd In politic man who
have something to give, not
men who hava something to
gat."
Barnard Baruch
sought
George. Jerry Healy or us
right nwnv.
Sincerely.
Boh and Marian Ahrams
Heppner
(The hrnnin familv this
piiHl m-IiihiI year howled Jari
Xliisiivanlii. from Finland,
who was an exchange student
at Heppner High School
under the Amerirtm Field
Service. He was graduated
wild the clans of I'WO.)
Sifting through
the TMES
1930
. .Fifty years ago construction
began on a two-story colonial
house on Gale and Center
streets that was going to be
the place of Heppner's new
mortuary. M.L. Case was the
owner of the structure, which
was estimated to cost $10,000.
Heppner Library opened
above the Humphrey's drug
store.
Heppner's artesian well
dedication with sports, a
band, and prizes was planned
for the Fourth of July.
1955
Twenty five years ago more
than 60 Forest Service fire
men gathered at the Tupper
Guard Station for a week of
training.
Camp Fire Girls had a
meeting in Heppner and two
new groups were formed
because of all the interest.
Three "Bobs" were set to
shoot off fireworks at lone.
The men involved were Bob
Rietmann. Bob DeSpain and
Bob Hoskins.
Queen Carol Ann Wigles
worth and her Morrow County
princesses were set to be
honored at the fair and rodeo
kick-off dance in July.
Heppner School Superinten
dent H.C. Reed resigned so he
could become principal at
vide a foundation for long
range reforms aimed at pro
ducing positive worker benefit
and additional employer cost
reductions..
Commenting on the rale
decrease. Green stressed it
should not be construed to
indicate employer savings will
mean reductions in worker
benefits. On the contrary, he
said, the rates have no bearing
on benefits and some will rise
this year as much as 8.1 per
cent. 1
The department director
went on to pinpoint several
developments that have com
bined to create more favor
able rates. One Is a decline in
both Incidence and severity of
on-the-job injuries due to
employer concent for safe
working conditions. Another is
efforts by the department to
re-employ injured workers
with marketable skills.
He cited as an example of
this program the fact 1,200
such workers were employed
In 1977 and the total will be
near 5.000 for 1979.
Still other contributing fact
ors involved legislation enact
ed in 1977 narrowing the
definition of permanent total
disability. requiring re
examination of permanent
total disability claimants
every two years and decla
rations of earned income.
Oregon's permanent total
disability caseload had soared
to 300 a year and currently ha;
declined one third to 20t'
annually. At an average cost
of $150,000 apiece, that decline
alone could produce a savings
of as much as $15 million,
Green said.
So in the meantime, whether
your major concern involved
volcanic ash on your straw
berries, pounding the pave
ment in search of a job or
trying to stretch a shrinking
dollar, take heart. Good things
are happening, too. Even if
you do have to look hard at
times to find them.
Kissinger to talk
Former U.S. Secretary of
Slnle Henry Kissinger will
speak on American foreign
policv Aug. IB nl a dinner in
Portland honoring Sen. Bob
Park wood.
The event Is scheduled at
the Portland Hilton beginning
al 7 p.m.
5
Willamette Valley school.
Funds were being asked for
in the amount of $37,000 from
the state emergency funds to
control grasshoppers in the
county.
High school physical educa
tion instructor Larry Dowen
was the lifeguard at the
Heppner pool, which was
delayed in opening because of
the late arrival, of filter
equipment.
1075
Five years ago Robert Lowe
of Heppner went to Portland
along with two members of the
Heppner Gazette-Times to
visit with Russian Lt. General
Georgi Baidukov and other
Russian dignitaries.
Mickey Hoskins was crown
ed queen of the Morrow
County Rodeo by her mother,
Darlene Hoskins, who was the
queen years before. Donna
Rea was fair and rodeo
princess. She moved to Mll-
waukie at the age of one from
lone and later moved to San
Francisco but came to lone
every summer to visit rela
tives. Her mother finally was
persuaded to let her attend
school in lone.
Tri-County Health Services
received more than $91,000
from a grant.
Sign only those petitions
f 1416 J Oil ttnn.5 nC
Editor:
The League of Women
Volers of Oregon wants lo
alert Oregoninns to he aware
of a number of inilialive
petitions which ore now being
circulated. As Oregoninns. we
, take pride in the initiative
referendum process pioneered
here In Oregon. As citizens. It
is bur responsibility lo refer lo
, the voters only those petitions
that will result in positive
change. 1
' There are several petit ions
that are now being circulated
that would result in irrepar
able harm to our form of
government: that would do
away wilh programs that hove
made Oregon a leader In the
notion for responsible public
action. We urge you to sign
only those petitions which you
fully understand and know Ihe
effect they will have. Such
responsible citizenship can
save taxpayers countless dol
lars and demonstrate our
CDS&jD0
Heppner Auto Ports
234 N.Main
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Rapco M&R FLOOR COVERING
roomers Carpet, Linoleum, 4J2t.noer.vVo
5
CASE FUtNIYUtl
Carpet, Linoleum, Counter Tops Inn ailed
Beauty Rett matt'euet, Fabrics and Accmoriet,
Sherwin Williams Paint
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TURNER ot
VAN MARTER
Q t BRYANT
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WI.ltU.lAL IfcHItU PHARMACY
'tat Ma Samot Oa rWre. Haail In
aaa.a at a aawa ..
vS Maa.-Pn. fm
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1100 Soothfate Pes
SWEEIHY KOriTUARY
Cemetery, Grave Markers 676-9603
Granite, Marble, Bronze r 676-922$
Serving lon, lexington A Happrmr p.o. Box 97
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fJAYMESl
Busnsrss
Ossvron
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constructive effort for change
when change is needed.
An informed electorate can
effectuate positive changes.
He an informed voter. Know
whal ynu are signing and Ihe
cried it will have If passed.
Inform others and vote in
November,
Sincerely,
Norma .Icon Oermond,
President
U'Uguc of Women Volers
of Oregon
VA spending ,
The Veterans Administra
tion spent $243,231,455 in
Oregon during fiscal year 1079
for iM'tiefits In veterans and
dcMndcnts, facilities and
operations, John Vogcl, direc
lor of Ihe Portland VA
regional office . said.
Of the total VA expendi
tures. $316,273 was spent In
Morrow County.
Heppner 676-9123
Ceramic Tile, Kitdieo Vt-UH y
Cabinets, Rapco Insulation h'pp'
you ruJ
'- -
llpm Ummi m Ow Mafaal Gwtar
din on 276-1)31
Service culls every Wednesday
in Heppner. lone and l'xinglon
)32 1 Maia Si, PwhSvum TtirffcuM UMAil
II N. Tim, llaritioa T ah ah urn 1677)1
GLENN DEVI N
Chevron USA, Inc
Commission Aqcnt
676-9633
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