Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (March 22, 1984)
BESSIE WETZELL U OF ORE NEWSPAPER LID EUGENE OR 07403 TTfie Heppiieff Morrow vol. ioz no. 12 Thursday, march 22. iwn Jim Swanson named Conservation Man of L.. V - C""i i " I &v I r I it f Y.tf h : - - ....... . S "J ' ! iu - - k , I ., 'I'M y t') i . ,l rj- 1 f I V I v v - I . w I j 1 Jim Srvyonton with ha cloughlar Jim Swanson, lone, hat been named 19M Conservation Man of the Year for Morrow County. Jim and hia wife, Monica, farm three fieldi in the lone area, and were chosen for the award because of farming practices with terracea, wa terway!, reservoirs and che micals. Jim's late father, Garland Swanson, won the award In 1963, for his work in dams and strip farming. Jim says he started on his current erosion control project around 1975 when, be cause of heavy rainfall, he began having problems with soil erosion. He called in Bob Adelman from the A.S C.S. office, and together they put in a six -year plan that has proved success ful to the Swansons. "First we took out the strips, and most of the dams," says Jim in explaining the conservation plan that was laid out. "Then we started putting in terraces." When the terrace project is completed this year, the Swansons will have installed over 84,000 feet of level ter races to control water erosion on the hillside. Jim will also have put in 17,160 feet of grassed water ways and Installed six reser voirs strategically placed on canyons running through his fields, all in the past six years. "One amazing thing is we layed out a six-year plan and stuck with it," says Swanson. "You can always find fault after several years but we haven't. We stuck with the plan." The terracing is partially funded on a yearly basis by the federal government, which has placed terrace work in Morrow County on a high priority. . Jim says he gets a certain amount of money each year to do the work, but he has opted to go ahead and finish the terraces ahead of schedule to save money. "Rather than leave a ter race half finished one year, we went ahead and finished it cont. p. 5 Adrwnne, wife Monka, ton luk Co. voters to elect school board directors, advisory comm. members Next Tuesday, Mar. 27, Morrow Co. voters will go to the polls and elect three Mor row County School Board directors and several advisory committee members. Seeking election for director from Zone II are Bryan Timmsof Irrigon and Dwayne Carroll of Hermiston (Morrow Co, resident). The four-year term is presently held by Bob Byrd of Irrigon, who is not seeking re-election. Running from Zone V are Frank Pearson and Robert "Bob" Mahoney, both of Hep pner. The position is also a four-year term and is current ly held by Jean Bennett. School district asks approval of $4,796,414 tax levy Morrow County voters will be asked to approve a tax levy next Tuesday of $4,796,414 for the year 1984 85. The amount represents taxes outside the tax base needed to operate the school system. The school's total budget expenditure for next year is $7,697,678, which is up five percent over the present year. Including the district's tax base of $742,978 (the amount that can be levied without voter approval) local property taxes make up $5,539,392 of the proposed budget. County polling places announced The following polling places will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. next Tuesday, Mar. 27, for a county -wide election: The Heppner Neighborhood Center, for all Heppner and Hardman residents; The Morrow County School County's pagks Morrow County the Year and mother Ireno. Three people are vying for the Zone VI at large position: incumbent Pauline Winter of Heppner, William James Doherty of Lexington an Mel vin J. "Jack" Strege of Boardman. Vying for Position No. one on the Heppner-Lexington Ad visory Committee, a three year term, are incumbent Dean Robinson and Helen Riehl, both of Heppner. George tfoffler of Heppner is running for Position no. two on the Heppner-Lexington Ad visory Committee, a three year term. Koffler, who presently holds the position, is running unopposed. This represents an increase in the tax rate by 44 cents over the present year or from $7.17 to $7.61 per $1,000 of valuation. The largest increases in the budget are due to salary in crements, increases in the cost of health insurance, costs of supplies, major repairs and school bus replacement. The amount of the budget which is partially funded by the state is $4,553,702, and the amount tota'ly funded by tax payers is $985,690. There will be only one bal lot; however, and voters will not see an "A" and "B" ballot as in years past. District office, for all Lexing ton voters; The North Morrow annex, for all Irrigon voters; lone City Hallk, for all re gistered lone voters; and Greenfield Grange, for all Boardman voters. ; f" Home-Owned Weekly Newspaper 25 Heppner, Oregon i i Also running unopposed for the Heppner-Lexington Advi sory Committee is Jean Bra zell of Lexington. Brazell is seeking election to Position No. seven, a three-year term. The position is now held by Ed Struthers of Lexington. Position no. four on the lone-Lexington Advisory Committee is being sought by Julie Nelson of Lexington. She runs unopposed for the three year term, which is presently held by Joan Doherty of Lex ington. (Editor's note: more infor mation about local candidates is featured in a Candidates' Forum, inside. Voters to consider BMCC directors Tues. Morrow County voters will be voting on Blue Mt. Com munity College's proposed tax levy and district directors as well as several other matters in next Tuesday's election. The college is requesting a levy of $3,190,237 for operation in the 1984 85 year. Since the college has no tax base, the total levy is in excess of that authorized by the Oregon Con istutition and must be ap proved by the voters each year. The entire amount of the levy refjnest is eligible for state property tax relief. The extimated tax rate is $1.44 per $1,000 of true cash value increase of three cents an per $1,000 of true cash value over the current year's levy. Oths wins G-T contest Mike Oths of Heppner was the first person to identify all photos of Jim Farley in last week's Gazette-Times and phone the G-T office. The special St. Patrick's Day con test was sponsored by the Gazette-Times. For his efforts, Oths re ceived two tickets to a ham dinner at St. Patrick's Catho lic Church parish hall Satur day evening. m i w County budget up 27 ; voters decide its fate Tuesday Morrow County voters will ; be asked to approve a ; $7,707,408 budget for 1984-85 in the election next Tuesday. Last year's budget was ? $6,068,802, which represents an increase of $1,638,606 or 27 percent. The amount of property taxes needed to balance the budget is $3,120,440 which is up $377,962 from last year's tax of $2,742,478. The general fund increased $277,484, with increases in the contingency funds, a slight increase in materials and ser vices, $23,000 for a weed con trol district, $125,999 to deve lop a park at Willow Creek Dam, and a 10.8 percent in crease in salaries for all elec ted officials. Revenues other than taxes are expected to increase by $316,303. Pioneer Memorial Hospi Coronation dinner Morrow Co. royalty, live music and good food will highlight the 1984 Coronation dinner for the Morrow County Fair and Rodeo, Saturday, March 24. The potluck event will begin at 6:30 p.m. at St. Patrick's Parish Hall in Heppner. This is the second annual dinner ;'hich is open to the community. Members of the fair and rodeo board and committees along with Indivi duals and sponsors who sup port and contribute to the annual summer event are in vited to attend, announced a spokesperson for the event. The increase if due to in creases in the cost of mate rials, services, telephone, electricity and salaries. To help offset the increases, the college has reduced other expenses, including adminis trative positions. However, funds are included for a full time foreign language instruc tor and matching funds for the Small Business Assistance Center. Voters will also elect three BMCC district directors in the March 27 election. Vying for Position No. three, a four-year term, are Franklin Hubbard of Hermiston and incumbent Joe Green of Pen dleton. Running for Position No. lone business people to meet, form group lone business and agri-business people will be meeting on Wednesday, Mar. 28, 12 noon, at Beecher's Cafe in lone, announced Jim Swanson and Chuck Starr. The purpose of the meeting, they explained, is to form an organization to work on issues affecting the area. k "Anyone interesting in see ing lone and south Morrow Weather by the City of Heppner tal's budget is included in the total county budget voters will see Tuesday; however, the hospital's budget will be $338,258 up from $133,867 last year. The hospital increases will be used for an anticipated three percent cost of living increase for salaries and wages, plus step increases, physician recruitment and assistance, increases in free assistance required on the Hill Burton act for indigents, capi tal expenditures for new equipment, and anticipated uncollectable debts. In the area of doctor assis tance and recruitment, the hospital has budgeted $83,000; partly to pay expenses in locating the doctor already in the community, and seeking out another physician to move to the area. "This is an important part The program will include the introduction of the court, Queen Sylvia Ladd and prin cesses Shelley Stroeber and Bridgett Greenup. Entertain ment will be by the Rev. Cathy Barker of the United Church of Christ, lone, and memories will be shared by Shorty Peck, Merlyn Robinson and Ray mond French of past fairs and rodeos. Master of ceremonies. Ro deo Chairman Don Stroeber and Fair Board Chairman Charley Daley will speak on the 1984 shows. budget, Four, a four-year term, are Dr. Mike Elsberry of Milton Freewater, Phillip Houk of Pendleton and incumbent Ken Dauble of Weston. Houl submitted the follow ing statement: "I have great respect for the present board, but feel that I can enhance the character of the board along with contribu ting my knowledge and expe rience. I am currently em ployed as director of the Fit ness Academy at St. Anthony Hospital and serve on the Blue Mountain Community College Long Range Planning Com mittee, as well as serving a four-year term on the Umatil la County Juvenile Services Commission." County continue to prosper should attend this meeting," Swanson and Starr said. Budget committee to meet The City of Heppner Budget Committee will hold its first meeting next Monday, Mar, 26. The group will meet at Heppner City Hall at 7:30 p.m. High LowPrecip. Tues., March 13 51 40 .26 Wed.. March 14 58 42 .27 Thurs., March 15 53 39 .06 Fri., March 16 57 33 .01 Sat., March 17 53 36 Sun., March 18 51 44 .01 Mon., March 19 61 44 02 of our hospital," says board member Ron McDonald. "We are competing with other areas for physicians." He points out that more physi cians in the area would in crease use of the hospital and thus increase the revenues of the hospital. "We would like to see more OBs (delivery of babies) at the hospital," he says. Funds for equipment re placement at the hospital have been increased over last year, partly because of a change in purchasing methods, and partly because of a need to keep equipment in good shape and up-to-date. Included in equipment pur chases are 15 separate items ranging from a new tub in the nursing home, to six new electrid beds, to a new cautery for surgery. "We need to keep our equip ment up to give good care," scheduled Mar. 24 Also honored with the court will be the five pennant bearers Dyann Brosnan, Bo bette Angell, Stacey Kennedy, Christy Stroeber and Lori Cecil. Many community sponsors will also be recognized. Queen Sylvia Ladd, 18, of lone, is the daughter of Elmer and Lorraine Ladd. She is a sophomore at Blue Mountain Community College and has an older brother, Richard. Princess Bridgett Greenup, 16, is a junior at Heppner High School. The princess is the New owners take over Heppner Chevron station I Ton MIIDiwii J , . "lytmmmmmimtm . . . : . 7 c ' 43 IS W V I v. I u Howard and Donna Buchanan are the new owners of the Chevron station in Heppner. The Buchanans, who came to Heppner from Hood River, purchased the station from Tom Troxell of Heppner. They took over the business March 10. Since 1959, the couple had lived In Hood River, where they had an auto repair shop. The Buchanans have a married daughter, Angelia, 19, who lives in Hood River, and a 16-year-old son, Keith, who la a sophomore at Heppner High School. The station's new name is Howard's Chevron; the phone number, unchanged, is 676-5556. to says McDonald. He also points out that the total purchase price must be reflected in the budget the year the item is bought, instead of spread out over several years as has been done in the past. In the county road fund, expenditures increased by $10,248, and revenues there are expected to be down $156,259. Also included in the budget is $11,445 to partially offset the cost of connecting the fair grounds to the City of Hep pner 's sewer system. The fair had trouble with a plugged up system last year. The tax levy for the pro posed budget would be $3.90 per $1,000 valuation as com pared to an actual rate of $3.53 last year. The rate is based on a county valuation of $800,000,000. daughter of Don and Colleen Greenup and has three sisters, Tag Ash beck, Mary Ann Davis and Sue Walton, and two brothers Bill and Greg. Princess Shelley Stroeber, 16, is the daughter of Don and Jan Stroeber of Heppner. The junior at Heppner High School has two sisters Cindy and Christy. The evening will conclude with a dance to the music of Firelight, a country rock band that will perform from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the fair pavilion in Heppner. Admission will be $3 per person. "r-ii..mi1 M I X : -
