Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 28, 1980)
1 -- r"T"l'' -r " 'I l""Mn""1"1'111111 p- ,., ..-p. g p p--minryi .i w"JJni" I'!" lP" ' mrjjr j. U IJ mr-ip-fr."tU itfrur jUirittiruiU" IH W'iM'llHim-w , The lleppnff Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon, Thursday, August 28, o Wo and rorfr of Juanita Cartnichacl is inspirational by Justine Weatherford Early (his month we re ceived a letter from William "Ole" Mitchell of Daly City, Calif., requesting a atory bout his favorite teacher, "Who, he writes, "did so much to Improve the lives of so many county youngsters." He suggested a rather difficult assignment, because that teacher, Juanita Leathers Carmichael, very modestly doesn't like to talk too much bout her years of work In this county of her birth, and because, she Insists, she is not photogenic. Now that school is about to begin again, readers might be interested In some facts we have managed to glean about this outstanding teacher. Juanita is the youngest of the ten children of Heatha Belle Hilton Leathers and Nicholas Hanson Leathers who migrated from Kentuc ky to Hardman, Oregon, In 1882, arriving there In March after traveling by train as far as Arlington. Juanita attended school at Hardman until the family moved to Vancouver, Wash., In 1923, where Juanita was graduated from high school with honors in 1924. Thinking buck on her early years at Hardman, this natur al musician recalls that she began playing piano profess ionally (for $5 a night) when he was nine years old. She played for dances at Hard man, Condon, Fossil and Mayville. When her small arms gave out, her trombone playing brother, Owen, would take her place at the piano until she was rested and could ontinue. They also played at he horse races at Umg Creek each summer for ftjur consec utive years. While she was at Vancouver High, Juanita went to beauty school at night so that she would tie able to earn a living after her graduation. She then worked in a beauty shop near the army barracks for three months, mainly marcelling hair which had been dry shampooed with cornmeal. She disliked this work so much that she determined to pre pare for something else. Her mother's brother was a teach er, and her mother encour aged her youngest child to prepare for teaching. So with $35 of her earnings in hand, Juanita departed for Monmouth, Oregon, to enter Oregon Normal School. Dur ing her years there she earned her way by playing piano accompaniment for the silent films at the Monmouth Theat er and for rhythmic classes at the normal school. She com pleted teaching requirements there with the class of 1926, again graduating with honors. She came back to Morrow County to take her first teaching position at the Pleas ant Point School on Little Butter Creek, She boarded in the Frank Swaggart home and walked two miles to and from the little school whose door opened toward the unkempt, early day cemetery. Teachers then cleaned their building and nearby privies; carried water they had pre-pumped into the building for drinking and the washing of faces and hands; chopped wood; built and maintained the fire, and taught as many as eight different grade levels. Juanita Ron McDonaldi 1 GOOD RIG 1975 Vi Less Than 4,800 Miles Ij&OOOOOOOO only had seven grades her first year, but managed with eight the next year. Times were good in 1926, and she rated generous wages--$120 per month, She remembers the children of the Swaggart, Cunningham, Daly, Cunha, Poff and Mitch ell families she taught at Pleasant Point. She now laughs over some rather unusual experiences during those two years. At the mention of the name William Mitchell she recalled a Christ mas program when young William was in the second grade. In his role he needed to present an orange to another child. The larger than expect ed orange became wedged In his trouser pocket and at the moment of presentation he could not, In spite of much twisting and squirming and hard struggling, get it out of the pocket. Miss Leathers finally res cued him, while viewers tittered with laughter, by telling him to Just go on with his part. "One day at recess when first graders, James Mitchell and Rose Cunningham were sitting on the 2 x 6 planked, front walk , a large rattlesnake rattled beneath the walk. Two eighth grade boys, Merle Swaggart and Bill Cunning ham, alerted me and said they would help kill it. So after involving the rest of my pupils in a playground game, the boys and I killed the big rattler with the school axe and shovel." Juanita treasures the hand bell she rang with a pump-like action at that school, along with an older handbell used by her husband's father, John Carmichael, when he taught school. In 1928 Miss Leathers went back to college at Monmouth for two additional years and took many class hours in music before accepting a position in Heppner School in 1930. Times were not so good then, and she was started at $95 per month for teaching 40 fifth graders and also teaching music to grades five through twelve. Of course, the special music responsibility meant many special programs such as annual operettas, Christ mas programs. May Day events and others; however, because of her many hours of additional work she received additional money-flS per year. During those years Juanita did much to build up the level of music in the schools; she encouraged participation in outside contests where the Heppner band won honors several times. Other school districts tried to hire her away from Morrow County, but she loyally remained here. In 1937 Miss Leathers marr ied C. C. "Judge" Carmichael, a Lexington wheat rancher. She taught in Lexington for four years and was the Lexington district clerk for nine years before returning to Heppner Elementary. When Juanita retired in Heppner in 1970 where she was then teaching seventh grade lan guage arts, it was 44 years since her first teaching at Pleasant Point. Juanita can recall many amusing incidents about her pupils. One year when they had been drilling diligently to 676-9921 Inc. GOOD PRICE ton 4x4 Pickup If Jvessffa Ltcf&trs Cormlchatl An early linn's photograph of Juanita Leathers when she began teaching In the Heppner Schools. prepare a Christmas operetta. Matt Kenny, who had a leading part and who was really tired out after the final rehearsal, said "After I go home and milk the chickens and feed the cows, I'll try to be back for the program to night." Of course he made the performance and everyone was pleased with the program. She recalls when seventh r Senior By Jontine Weatherford Last week seniors of Mor .row County enjoyed attending the County Fair on passes provided for them. " They missed getting together for their dinner meetings in Heppner and lone. The chief cook for these mealsites. Eleanor Gonty, enjoyed her holiday by traveling into the Bend area with husband Ed. They had several good visits with long-time friends and saw lots of mountain scenery. Assistant cook Marilyn Bergstrom spent much of the week working with the fair. She entered many exhibits in the needlework and foods divisions, and as usual her exhibits were the winners of many blue and red ribbons. Next week the usual senior programs will resume along a regular schedule. Seniors who wish to have blood pressure checked should come to the Neighborhood Center the aft ernoon of Wednesday, Sept. 3, when County Nurse Pat Wright will check them. They should also be planning ahead to have flu vaccine shots in Heppner the next Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 10, between 1 fr hat Burns One Load Efficient With A Built-in Blower System & Thermostat Draft Control mf Beautiful Inlaid Ceramics & Removable Door iVGL& JUkVCl F"e View Screen Firebrick Lined Coast to oast WMSMi J 1 1 grader, Jim Barratt, was absent a couple of days and his mother, Cy, had to write a, note concerning his absence.' Never-before-absent Jim took' the note to the school prin- cipal, Bill Poulson. As a joke Cy had deliber ately misspelled every word in her note. The shocked prin cipal carried the note to Miss Leathers who was amused by I Cy's humor. ' Citizens 4 J and 4 p m. at the center. In lone, flu shots will be given on Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 17. at the mealsite between 2 and 4 p m. On Friday. Sept. 12, the Social Security represent ative will be in Heppner to help answer questions during the morning at the Heppner Neighborhood Center. , Menus for the senior dinners next week are: at Heppner, Tuesday. Sept. 2. lasagna. buttered corn, tossed salad, cheese sticks, carrot sticks, pickled beets, oatmeal muff ins with jelly and strawberry cream deluxe. On Wednesday, Sept. 3, at lone and Heppner-apple ' juice, swiss steak and gravy, mashed potatoes, orange and cheese jello salad, hot rolls and jelly, and peanut butter pie. Eight residents of the hos pital nursing home especially enjoyed the Rodeo Parade. As the result of the cooperative efforts of Pat Brindle. the Neighborhood Center direc tor, Truman Messenger, chairman of the senior citizen transportation committee, Edna Struthers, Anna Schwarzin, Bonnie Arrington, Linda Bond, the Englert Car Convenience of up to 14 Hours The Blaze King You Can Imagine the Money You Can Save HOW CAN THE BLAZE KING DO THIS? The Blaze King is Airtight Energy- 11 eppner As is usual in Heppner, the word of Mrs. Barratt's poor spelling was the subject of lots of good-natured kidding for sometime. Long after that incident, Cy grinned at the very mention of spelling. , At this month's five-class reunion of 1930's Heppner High graduates, Juanita Car michael was especially popu lar. Most of these men and women had been In her class or had her for school music. They were delighted to see her looking so well and were so pleased to have her lead them in a few songs. This fine woman has, as William "Ole" Mitchell writes, influenced many per son's lives most favorably. She and Judge continue to live in their home on Heppner's Gilmore Street. Juanita enjoys gardening, golfing and playing weekly bridge games. Being ambitious and needing to keep her lively mind really busy, she has now, after several years of careful research, almost completed work on the history of her family from 1726 to date. She also has four compositions for piano to her credit. As schools begin here next week Tuesday, perhaps a little of the story of the life and work of dedicated teacher Juanita Leathers Carmichael, who loved teaching and loved her hundreds of students, may prove inspirational to some pupils and some teachers. Wash and the City of Heppner, arrangements were worked out for five wheelchair patients to attend the parade. Roy Wheelhouse, Clyde Cox, Esther Peterson. LaUna Crowell and Cleo Van Winkle traveled by bus and Merle Boyce. Elmer Byland and Hazel Vaughn went in the Brindle car. The green and white Quintra Bus had become very dirty and dusty while parked at the county shop area, so Bonnie and Linda, CETA workers at the Neighborhood Center, worked hard at washing it and cleaning it carefully, after the Englert Car Wash had gener ously donated its facilities. Pat Brindle made arrange ments with Edna Struthers and Anna Schwarzin of the hospital staff to move the nursing home residents. Tru man Messenger, who has given countless hours of work on the senior bus and who served as the driver last Saturday, happily parked the bus in a special space marked off by the city authorities beside the hotel so that the special passengers could take their places in the front row near the center of parade excitement along Main Street. A wonderful time was had by all. z5L "" r v Enjoy the a Stove Of Wood Irrigon Hem Fnna Rost Wihon Mr. and Mrs. Orville Buch anan of Irrigon have returned from a visit with their son, Wayne Buchanan, and family, In Kenai. Alaska, and have an exciting story to tell about their 6-year-old grandson, Russel, who caught a 50-pound King salmon. The Buchanans also enjoyed digging for razor clams. They said they were much larger than any they had seen before. They each dug their limit of 60 the 2 days they dug. Wayne Buchanan Is em ployed by an oil company in Kenai. There were 16 boys and girls, ages 9 to 12, who attended the Assembly of God Boys and Girls Camp at . Meadowwood Springs from the Irrigon Assembly of God. They were accompanied by Pastor and Mrs. Allen Gor danier and Mrs. Earlene Lathrop. There was a total of 208 campers from churches of the surrounding area, accor ding to Pastor Gordanier. Mr. and Mrs. Ponteleis Vrontakis of Salem were weekend visitors of her par ents. Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Warner. Their son, Michael, had spent the wek with his grandparents and returned home with his parerUs and brother. Jeffrey. Karyl Stephens of Portland, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Stephens, was an over night guest of her grandmoth er. Mary Stephens, on Thurs day and Friday. Chester Wilson of Irrigon and his daughter and son-in-law. Grace and Chuck Bartlett of Lynnwood, Wash., are among the hopeful archery hunters in the Tollgate area this week. Police were called to the home of Donna Driver after her sister, Beverley Tejeda, had entered the home and found a person, obviously a man, dressed in a green dress with a wig on and make-up on his face. Mrs. Tejeda screamed and left. When she returned with her uncle. Bill Ahalt, the man had left. Miss Driver was away working at the time, but had left her doors unlocked. The moral to this story is "lock your doors!" iB4taipiK insAla mmi BamiCKlftiwnal- Tji . 5 , - - Biblo School donates to Hhmry i U r I . tmi 1 John Maas of the Hope and valby Lutheran Churches presents Heppner City Lib rarian Bethel Heinrich with a check for $71 for improve ments on the children's lib rary. The money was earned through donations collected during vacation Bible school. "The children themselves de cided where they wanted the money to go," said Reverend Maas. Mrs. Heinrich said that it would probably take about $4,000 to bring the children's lib rary up to par. Profits from the book sale held this week at r Storting Sept. 2 OUR IMF HOUnSWILL "BET Monday Friday 8-5 Saturday 8-12 Noon LQorror County PSGrain Growers, Main Office Lots of KENNINGTON and AKKUVV Shirts Casual Shoes Gym Clothes Shorts the library will also go towards upgrading the child ren's library. This year we're making a special effort to put it (proceeds from the sale) into the children's library," added Mrs. Heinrich. "Unfortunately, our budget is the same from year to year, but books are going sly high." A golf benefit is also scheduled in Heppner to fund a microfilm reader for the library. "It(a microfilm reader) is something we need desperately, especially with so many people now research ing their family histories." 989-8221
