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Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, May 15, 1951 - THREE
J ONPA
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Boy Scouts earning way to camp
The Official Newspaper of the
City of Heppner and the
County of Morrow
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The Heppner
GAZETTE-TIMES
Morrow County’s Home-Owned Weekly Newspaper
U.S.P.S. 240-420
Published every Wednesday and entered as second-class nu tte r at the Post Office
at Heppner, Oregon under the Act of March 3, 1879. Second class postage paid
at Heppner, Oregon. Office at 147 West Willow Street. Telephone (503) 676-9228.
Address communications to the Heppner Gazette-Times, P.O. Box 337, Hepp
ner, Oregon 97836. Subscriptions: $15 in Morrow, Wheeler, Gilliam and Grant
Counties; $23 elsewhere.
Joyce Hughes ........................................................... Office Manager, Typesetting
April Sykes ........................................................................................... News Editor
Carol Atherly .......................................................................Graphics Department
Becky E v a n s.........................................................................Graphics Department
Monique P a r r e t.................................................
Distribution
Pennl Keersemaker........................................................................................Bindery
Bob S m ith........................................................................................................Printer
David and April Svkes. Publishers
Letters to the Editor
Approval of tax base may not guarantee
funds
To the Editor:
Here we go again. The voters of
Morrow County are being asked to
up-date the current tax base for the
county schools. The school district
thinks the big tax base will assure a
bigger piece of the state’s ‘‘replace
ment funds” under M easure
Number 5, but that is not a sure
thing.
What about the districts that cur
rently have an outdated tax base like
Morrow County and don’t vote to
up-date or are operating under the
safety net? Will these kids be
penalized as opposed to some
wealthier districts? I don’t think the
legislators will take that inequitable
or politically suicidal approach.
What is a sure thing is that if the
voters approve this up-dated tax base
it's going to take more than an extra
half million dollars out of the tax
payers’ already depleted pockets.
Morrow County already spends
about twice as much per student than
the state average to educate its kids.
(s) Ronald W. Leff
Rt. 2, Box 454, #21
Irrigon, OR 97844
922-4614
Preserve wetlands, protect landowners
rights
To the Editor:
Landowners and local govern
ments, as well as farmers and ran
chers in your area, are being
adversely affected by confusing
federal wetland regulations enforc
ed by four separate agencies of the
U.S. government.
The lack of a coordinated ap
proach has resulted in severe pro
blems for many farmers. Certain
parcels of land that have been farm
ed for many years cannot now be us
ed for crops because of new and very
confusing wetlands definitions. In
addition, other landowners who
were trying to improve their proper
ty and even local governments wan
ting to make better use of ques
tionable areas have had federal agen
cies “ manage” their property by ap
plying new wetland definitions.
In one instance, a homeowner was
prevented from planting his garden.
In another, a farmer in a southern
state maintained his grove of hard
wood trees for nearly 50 years-
always intending to use the revenue
for himself and his wife at retire
ment. However, it has been deemed
Market Report
Compliments ot ttie Morrow County Grain Growers
Tues. May 14
W hite
*3.46
*3.45
*3.44
Soft
May-June
July
Aug.
Barley
a wetland, the value has plummeted,
and there are no prospective buyers.
Conserving true wetlands areas
while protecting private property
rights of farmers and other lan
downers will be best accomplished
by changes in our federal laws, harm
Bureau has been working with
members of Congress to write
legislation that provides a consistent
and realistic definition of wetlands.
This legislation provides just com
pensation to property owners if their
land is “ taken” by regulatory action.
Most significantly, the legislation
will actually provide stricter regula
tion of true wetlands than current
law while at the same time freeing
up land that is not truly a wetland.
It is legislation that protects the en
vironment while simultaneously pro
tecting private property rights.
More than 100 members of Con
gress have become co-sponsors of
the wetlands bill, but much more
support from many sectors will be
necessary if we are to have a
common-sense approach to defining
wetlands. We need a law that pro
tects landowners from having the use
of their land arbitrarily and unfairly
controlled by agencies of our federal
government.
We support the protection of bona
fide wetlands-true swamps, marshes,
and bogs. Let’s make sure the
federal government preserves the
wetlands while protecting the rights
of all landowners.
Sincerely,
(s) Douglas H. Breese. President
Oregon Farm Bureau
*99
*100
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To the Editor:
When our boys joined the Boy
Scouting program their aim was to
have fun, adventure, and excitement.
We are hoping that they are doing
this, but in reality this is not the aim
of Scouting. The Scouting aims are
(1) developing a good character: (2)
teaching the benefits of participating
citizenship; and (3) promoting per
sonal fitness: physical, mental, and
spiritual.
The Boy Scouts of America has
also developed a list of five unaccep-
tables in today’s society, and has
added additional program features to
help. Scouting is working to
elim inate: hunger, illiteracy,
unemployment, substance abuse,
and child abuse.
We believe that our young men
can make a difference in tomorrow’s
society by reaching for and par
ticipating in the full Scouting pro
gram. Part of this program is to at
tend a week-long summer camp with
activities to help reinforce the goals
mentioned. One or two boys need to
attend camp for two weeks for extra
leadership training. Our young troop
consists of eight 12-year-old boys.
For all boys to attend the week of
summer camp they need to earn
$1300. They have earned $300
toward this goal. During this time
these boys have been encouraged to
keep up their school obligations and
to engage in other activities, such as
colt basketball and now little league
and major league baseball.
If you know of work projects to help
earn the monies needed please let us
know. (We can wash windows,
clean yards, etc.) These boys can
work in teams of two or more and
we will have adult supervision. They
have been working on community
service projects on their own and as
a group, such as cutting, splitting
and stacking wood for an elderly
lady, cleaning the streets and emp
tying lots of debris last fall and again
before the St. Patrick’s Day ac
tivities, and shoveling snow for the
elderly. These boys have also had
money making activities to purchase
tents, camping gear and needed sup
plies. They have had bake sales and
a car wash for camp funds. Our
parents have been actively working
with the boys and are contributing
monies and assistance for the boys
to reach this goal.
If you or your organization care
to help these boys we would ap
preciate your contributions.
The boys’ summer camp will be
in July. Thank you in advance for
your consideration, time and
contributions.
Sincerely
(s) Gene Hall
Heppner Boy Scout Troup #661
Thanks from Ireland
To the Editor:
Dear Claudia,
On behalf of the St. Patrick’s
Traditional Group, I would like to
thank you most sincerely for your in
vitation to celebrate the St. Patrick’s
week 1991 with you. Also 1 would
like to thank the host families for the
wonderful hospitality and kindness
extended to the group.
We enjoyed the concerts and the
visit to the schools which was a
wonderful experience for all. Please
extend our thanks to the bus driver
for our safe journey to and from
Heppner.
Wishing you every success for the
future.
Yours sincerely,
(s) Joe Mannix
St. Patrick’s Traditional Group
Tour oganizer
Coorycullane, Dunmanway
Co. Cork 023 45599
Five-county consolidation would save
tax money
To the Editor:
It occurs to me during the past
several months that there may be
possible large property tax savings
in the consolidation of Umatilla,
Morrow, Gilliam, Wheeler and
Grant Counties into one large coun
ty which would be the ninth largest
in Oregon on a basis of population.
This thought has been prompted
by the fact that the small population
counties to the west and south of
Umatilla County are burdened with
complete county administrations and
small assessed valuations. Ballot
Measure 5 has impacted all units of
government, including counties, to
seek all alternatives to saving proper
ty taxes wherever possible. It would
appear this consolidation bears a
really close look.
One of the major drawbacks to a
larger county would be the public ac
cess to the county administrators.
People in Fossil or John Day, for ex
ample, may resent having to go long
distances to the central county office.
The average individual’s trips to the
county courthouse in a year are not
very frequent, however, and with the
proper set up, most of the public
business would still be taken care of
at the present county courthouse.
Access to county administrators
has been greatly minimized over the
years with modem communications
such as telephones, computers, fax
machines and the latest innovation,
video conferencing. The latter set
up enables people to see each other
and converse through the use of a
TV screen and telephone lines while
they are many miles apart. Such
video conferencing could be used
both by the public and by county
employees to save travel and
expense.
One of the major problems in the
conbining of several counties is the
tax assessment and collection. A
study of the vareous county tax
mileage rates would be necessary,
together with the various county
budgets, in order to determine where
savings could be made and if there
would be any large discrepancies in
mileage rates if a uniform rater were
established for the large county.
In the case of departments which
are partially or completely state
funded, the large county would
receive the monies now handed to
five units. Surely the larger combin
ed fund with one administrator could
be better used to service the needs
of the larger area wherever that need
exists. 1 am thinking about depart
ments such as Public Health, Men
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tal Health, Juvenile and other social
services. The present youth facilities
in Pendleton are probably adequate
to serve the entire five county areas.
One or more mobile health units
could be developed to serve the area
without duplication of facilities.
The sheriff’s department could be
set up with regional employees sta
tioned in each of the present coun
ties and each reporting to the head
office similar to the present state
police. The jail facilities in Pendleton
are probably adequate to serve the
entire five county area. Some of the
smaller counties do not have a jail
and are forced to board prisoners
outside the county.
County courts are at present ad
ministered by the state and it would
appear no major problems would be
incurred to realign the courts, judges
and jurisdictions to serve the larger
county.
There will be some individuals
who will say such a consolidation of
counties is unrealistic and un
workable. However, any change
does not come easily and such a con
solidation would only be feasible
after extensive study by people in
formed about county government.
This short proposal is not intend
ed to cover all the problems involv
ed in such a consolidation. It is more
of an attempt to start the public, as
well as county administrators, think
ing about how such a consolidation
could be brought about, and in the
case o f adm inistrators, what
organizational prodecures would be
practicable and cost saving.
1 would be pleased to hear from
the commissioners, department
heads or others in the five-county
area as to their thoughts regarding
such a consolidation and how an in-
depth study might be financed if such
a plan is thought to be feasible.
(s) Joe B. Green
811 N.W. 11th
Pendleton, OR 97801
(Joe B. Green is a retired CPA and
is a member of the Umatilla County
Budget Committee.)
Compromise
You know what a compromise is? Of
course, a compromise is a solution that
is not wholly satisfactory to anyone.
We’re headed for a compromise on
the salmon issue.
One side, the salmon preservationists
want a free flowing Columbia to assure
both down stream migrate of salmon
smolt and up stream migration of adult
salmon. Often that desire is expressed
only in quiet, private conversation. On
the public platform the demand is
softened somewhat to demand only
significant pool reduction behind the
many Columbia and Snake River dams.
We should listen to the private con
By Ed Glenn
versation. There the salmon advocates
make a strong case for free flowing
rivers to save the salmon. They point to the steady decline in salmon
numbers beginning with the very first, Bonneville Dam. That decline has
been so steady and unwavering that one cannot escape the conclusion that
so long as the dams exist, the salmon will swim directly into extinction.
The economic development folks, on the other hand, are hearing the
public talk of just reducing the pool levels behind the dams and are poin
ting out the adverse economic consequences of that action. BPA has already
told us how that will reduce the amount of water available for power genera
tion, which in turn will push the cost of power in the Pacific Northwest
up about 25%. The Port districts on the river warn of the impediment to
barge traffic the lowering of pools would cause. Irrigators, municipalities
and others warn of the cost they will incure in rebuilding their pumping
stations.
The question really is: Are we going to save the salmon or not? There
is no one to make that decision.
The Salmon Summit failed to head off listing of the Salmon as en
dangered. The Northwest Power Planning Council has recently taken on
some rule making power but they still can’t make the ultimate decision.
The federal agency charged under the Endangerd Species Act can’t take
economic considerations into consideration. BPA and the Corps of Army
Engineers are only minor decision makers. Congress will be no help.
What will happen is that some of the pools will be lowered. Enough
to create economic disaster, but not enough to really help the salmon. Power
will go up, probably this summer. Barge traffic will be hampered, lose
total volume, some shippers will fold. Irrigation will not only be more
expensive, but for some will just not be available. Some farmers will go
bankrupt and their land revert to desert.
But the dams will not be dynamited. Fish ladders will not be installed
on the upper Snake River dams. Locks will not be lowered, just closed.
And what about fish numbers? They will go down again. So then there
will be another round of pool lowering. More increases in power costs,
more lock closures, more lands not irrigated. And then, the fish numbers
will go down some more.
Because, you see, the private conversations of the salmon preservationists
are right. The salmon simply cannot survive without a free flowing river.
So 10 or 20 years from now, after depriving ourselves of the economic
benefits of the Columbia/Snake River system, it occurs to all of us that
we must blow the dams to save the salmon. But somebody does a count,
and guess what? The salmon are all gone. None. Extinct. Well, at least
we didn’t have to blow the dams after all. Now we can get started on
rebuilding the economy of the Pacific Northwest.
And so you have it, that’s a compromise. Nobody wins. The salmon
swims right on to extinction and their champions cry all the way into the
next cause. The barge shippers, irrigated farmers and electrical power users
have long since packed up and moved to Southern California where
everyone else lives.
We need a decision maker who won’t compromise on this issue. So
meone who will either blow the dams or throw the mother of all salmon
frys. We shouldn’t have a compromise on this issue.
ns I
SEE IT
Births
Raquel Esther Hernandez-a
daughter Raquel Esther was bom to
Daniel Hernandez and Barbara Jepp-
sen of Boardman on May 1, 1991 at
Good Shepherd Com munity
Hospital in Hermiston. The baby
weighed 8 lbs. 3 oz.
Angela Dawn Dodge-a daughter
Angela Dawn was bom to Michael
and Nicole Dodge of Irrigon on May
1, 1991 at Good Shepherd Hospital
in Hermiston. The baby weighed 7
lbs. 4 oz.
Ryan Martin Joy-a son Ryan
Martin was bom to Dovie and
Michael Joy, Truckee, CA. on May
1, 1991 at Tahoe Forest Hospital,
Truckee. The baby weighed 6 lbs. 3
oz.
Grandparents are Archie and
Gladys Alderman, Heppner and June
Joy, Reedsport.
Elizabeth Rose Newport-a
daughter Elizabeth Rose was bom to
John and Brenda Newport of Irrigon
on May 6, 1991. The baby weighed
5 lbs. 10 oz.
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HEPPNER. OR. a
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The future funding of the Morrow
County Schools is at stake.
Ballot Measure 5 changed the rules.
Vote “ YES” in MAY on the MORROW
COUNTY SCHOOLS TAX BASE.
Paid for by: “ Yes for Kids” , 318 Willowfork D r., Boardman, OR.