Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (March 4, 1982)
BESSIE V OF ORE NEWSPAPER EUGENE OR ' E T 2 E L L L I 8 97403 VOL. 100. NO. I Contractor threatens city with arbitration Willow The contractor installing Heppner ' new water line threatened to take the cily into arbitration hearings Monday, after the city council refused to grant him an extension to finish the project. Contractor Robert McGrew of Vancouver, Wash, came to Monday's council session and asked for more time to finish laying the water pipe across Willow Creek, which is part of the $4:10,000 water system rehabilitation project. McGrew said water in Willow Creek Is too high at this time, and he is unable to divert the flow to lay the pipe across the stream tied. According to the city's contract with McGrew, he has until March 3 to finish the project, after which he could be penalized $250 per duy. McGrew told the council he will not be able to finish by that date, and he asked for more time. He did not specify how much time he would need, however. The council went into closed-door executive session to discuss the request, and then returned to opening meeting to announce no extension would be granted. "The city is not in dire need of this water," McGrew told the council, "and I feel there is some prejudice here." He did not elaborate, but said he would consult his attorney and then ask for an arbitration board to dit'ide whether or not his contract should be extend ed In other business, the coun HHS Drama Club presents The Great Big Doorstep' f Sit - I Ji , S " II By MARY ANN CERULLO The curtain rose for Heppner High School's first stage. production of the year last Tuesdav March 3 with "The Great Big Door Step". ay' The three act comedy is set on the mud flats of the Mississippi River during the 1930's where a poor Cajun family is struggling to survive. The story is based around the fictorial Crochet family who dreams of better days when they can afford a house that will go with their fancy new doorsteps, which they found on the river and now sit in front of the family's miserable shack. Pictured are (L to R) Evvie (Marti Baker), the younger sister, Arthur, (Danny Fortenberry) the rebellious teenage son, Mrs. Crochet (Polly Fortenberry) the hardworking mother, Topol (Karen Kenny) the pretty older sister, and Topol 's Texan admirer (Earl Hammond). The play will run one more night, Thursday, March 4 at 8 p.m. GAZETT1 Morrow County's THURSDAY, cil heard from George Koffler of the Heppner Lions Gub, who asked the city for $6,500 to help finance a solar water heating project at the Heppner swimming pool. "We have eleven thousand dollars In material and labor now in the project, and we need about seventeen thous and in cash to finish it up," Koffler told the council. He said money for the projwt has not been easy to raise from private donations. "Money is hard to come by. Our fund raising has tot been as lucrative or as quickly as we had hoped." In pushing for the funds, Koffler said the solar system could save the city "thousands of dollars" over the next five to 15 yearr He said Condon has installed a solar system at its swim ming pool, and reduced its fuel bill by 71 percent. Heppner's projected cost for fuel in 1982 to heat water for the pool is $4,198. Koffler pointed out. He said the solar project would pay for itself in six years with an estimated savings of $3,000 per year in fuel costs. "Die council was reluctant to give money for the project for two reasons. City councilman Ron For rar, who has worked hard to install the solar system, told the council last year when the project was started that no money would be needed from the city. Monday, Forrar told the council, "I said last vear we IS nr The Heppner Home-Owned Weekly Newspaper MARCH , 1982 t PAGES would put the system together without any help from the city. That's irrelevant. The point is it's costing us a lot of money to run the pool," he told the council. "I feel It's (the pool) a lost child out there. The pool belongs to the city and we have to take the responsibility to take care of it." The council also heard from the city attorney, who said the money requested by the Lions Club is part of a 1971 bond issue earmarked for repair of damages caused during a flood that year. The attorney said it may not be legal to use the funds for a solar heating project. In other business, the coun cil: - heard from the cily engineer, who told them a mistake had been made in construction of the city's new water storage tank, and that the reinforcing bar had been left out when a wall of the tank was built. He said part of the tank would have to be either torn down or an extra wall added inside, which would reduce the capacity of the tank by 7,000 gallons, or about one percent, he said. The council took no action. - discussed a possible in crease in TV cable rates in the city. No amount was named, however, the cable company has not raised rates since 1976. - gave Pacific Northwest Bell permission to lay under ground phone lines on S. Main St. from the Coast to Coast store up to the swimming pool. . 3-TIM 25 CENTS Eight 127 ft. long girders were trucked into Heppner Monday and about 12 men began placing them between a pier and an abutment on the Morrow Co. Sheriff under investigation Morrow County Sheriff Lar- ry Fetsch is under investiga tion by the Wheeler County District Attorney's office. Wheeler Co. D A. Mark Nien staedt said Tuesday. Nien staedt would not disclose the reason for the investigation. Morrow County D A. Ann Spicer said her office works very closely with the sheriff's office, so the investigation was turned over to Wheeler County. Six Irish families to be honored Six Irish families who set tled in Morrow County many years ago will be honored during activities in Heppner on St. Patrick's Day. March 17. ' All the families settled in the county between 1870 and 1890, and all have descendants still living and farming in the area. Radio station KUMA of Pendleton will broadcast its popular "Kofffe Hour" show from the Farley Motors show room from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wed.. March 17, and the six families have been invited to 530 attend About 530 Elks members and out-of-towrt guests attend ed the 85th Heppner Elks Annual, reports Rick Smith, manager. A ladies champagne tea was held during the afternoon, while officers from the Condon lodge initiated new members ES HEPPNER, OREGON Cr. Bridge --I new Willow Creek Bridge Tuesday. The girders, manufactured in Tacoma, will support the bridge deck, said Resident Nienstaedt said a police agency was involved and had questioned some area resi dents and that material gath ered in the investigation would be presented to a Morrow County grand jury on March 12. He said any charges against Sheriff Fetsch would be determined by the grand jury. "It's possible that no charges will be made," he added. attend. Also that day there will be a no host ham and egg breakfast at the Elks Lodge from Ham. to 12 noon: cost is $3.50. Following is a list of the six Irish families to be honored: Brosnan - Jeremiah Brosnan settled in the Butter Creek area in the 1970's. Jerry and family, the fifth generation, still operate the ranch there. Currin - George J. Currin settled in Morrow Co. in the early 1890 s. George and sons still operate a ranch in the county. Hughes - William. John, 85th Elks at a lodge meeting. A dinner of crab, shrimp, roast beef and a variety of salads was served during the evening and danc ing followed at 9 p.m. with music by the Leonnig family upstairs and Bill Nelson downstairs. Many state officers attend ed the annual, as well as most ' 1 . --1 - v - ' '- .. - J j. J '- - - . Weather by The City High Low Preclp Feb. 18 60 43 06 Feb. 17 56 34 .01 Feb. 18 60 36 04 Feb. 19 67 44 trace girders transported, placed ',"f' -WW Engineer Don Johnson. "We'll probably get two (girders) in today (Tuesday), said John son. "We're planning to have the bridge done in four or five IV2 miles of Willow Cr. Rd. permanently closed One and one-half miles of the "old" Willow Creek Road were permanently closed off to traffic Monday as part of the Willow Creek Dam and road relocation project. Motorists can go up Willow Mustangs take 2nd See sports page 6 Matt and W E. (Eb) Hughes settled here in 1876, and still ranch with their sons. Kenny - Michael Kenny started raising livestock in 1882 in the Buttercreek area. A daughter resides in the Sand hollow area, Cecilia Kenny Bucknum resides in Heppner, and grandsons still farm most of the original ranch. Doherty - Jimmie Doherty, or "Blackhorse Doherty" set tled in the Blackhorse area in approximately 1880. The land is now being farmed by Tony Doherty. Annual of the north east district officers, said Smith. Del Meyer of Hermiston was the winner of a three-wheel all terrain vehicle drawing, with proceeds going to the family of Winn Crist. Smith stated, "Everything turned out and I think every body enjoyed themselves." Feb. 20 Feb. 21 Feb: 22 Feb. 23 Feb. 24 Feb. 25 Feb. 26 Feb. 27 Feb. 28 March 1 of Heppner days as far as having the girders in place," he said. Many people who happened to be on Main St. Tuesday morning stopped to watch the Creek by driving up Heppner Highway (207) and turning onto the new Willow Creek Highway or by traveling up Cowins Street and then turn ing left on a gravel detour road, said a corp spokesper Planning Comm. A Heppner City Planning Commission meeting, sche 13 seek 9 positions on school board Thirteen county residents are seeking election to fill nine available positions on the Morrow County School Dis trict board and advisory committees in a March 30 election. One position is open on the district board and seven advisory committee positions will be filled. On the district board, Ken neth Broadbent's position, zone 1, Boardman, a four year term, is being sought by Joe Stevens and Robert McKinley. In position number one on the Heppner - Lexington Advisory Committee, Helen Riehl and Karen Stack, both of Heppner are seeking election to the two year term. Stack currently holds the position. Position number six on the Heppner - Lexington Advisory Committee, now held by Brok Tucker, is being sought by Julie Ashbeck of Pine City. Position number six is a three 68 39 46 40 50 4 47 51 59 56 37 27 25 25 24 30 30 28 42 31 .01 snow .03 snow .10 snow .01 0 0 .02 .01 .01 .41 Normal Feb. precipitation is 1.12. Feb. 1981 precip. was 1.26. Feb. 1982 precip. was .58. long bed trucks, carrying the girders, go through town. About a dozen cars filled with spectators watched the place ment of one of the girders. son. "Cowins Street will also be severed in the near future ," said Resident Engineer Don Johnson. "It's probably better to go along the Ruggs High way (207), he added. meeting cancelled duled for March 8 at Heppner City Hall has been cancelled. year term. Position number 4, a three year term now held by Judy Wright, is being sought by Barbara Hayes of Heppner. Two Lexington residents, Ed Struthers and Nella Britt are vying for position number seven, previously held by Steve Peck of Lexington. Position number three on the Boardman - Irrigon Advis ory Committee, a three year term, is being sought by John Jensen, Marshall Richmond and Carol Titus, all of Board man. Titus presently holds the position. Burrel Cooley, Ir rigon, is seeking re-election to position number four, also a three year term. The lone Advisory Commit tee has two available posi tions; position number three, a three year term presently held by Harold Holtz is being sought by Perry Morter and Marvin Padberg is seeking re-election to position number two, also a three year term.
