Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 8, 1992)
■ ■ I. » MIX Lexington writer helps keep community alive r* •» -» « t • A whirlwind of activity at 75 years, Delpha Jones of Lexington has been chronicling the lives of Lexington residents in her Gazette-Times column for over 40 years. “ I’ve lived through several G- T owners,” laughed Delpha, ‘ ‘the Crawfords, the Joiners, the Heards, the Sheldons and the Sykes. That's been quite an ac complishment in itself. I was tempted to quit several times, but then people would call up and say we need a reporter. I don’t know, it’s just habit I guess.” rhings have changed quite a bit in Lexington since Delpha first began reporting. “ When I first started,” said Delpha, there was the tavern, two grocery stores. Photo by Joyc# > Van Homs and Hatfields, and the Lexington correspondent Delpha Jones is right at home post office. I miss the school ac behind a typewriter. tivities when Lexington had a eight years, secretary of the same time Kenneth was bom .” school. That was fu n .” Her son was delivered by Dr. Delpha says that people complain Rebekah Lodge for 30 years, president of the Morrow County Tibbies, but both Dr. Tibbies and more about what’s not in the Dr. McMurdo delivered babies Historical Society for 12 years paper than about errors. (“ They said it was just until we there, said Delpha. The nursing Besides writing about the com got going. I guess we just haven’t home was located where Wavel ings and goings of her friends and got going yet,” she laughed.), Wilkinson’s home is now, near neighbors, Delpha just seems to master of the Lexington Grange the Catholic church. have the knack of getting herself Over the years of writing news, appointed reporter or president of for eight years, secretary of Pomona Grange for six years, Delpha says two things stand out the many clubs she has joined and fair committee chairman for in particular-the flood in Lex over the years. five years. She also still works as ington around 1950 and an inci She has been the deputy for a volunteer at the fair office dur dent with the mayor of Portland, Wheatland Pomona Grange for Bud Clark, both of which could ing fair. Delpha is not a Morrow Coun have turned out to be disasters. ty native, but fate just kept retur “ In the flood,” said Delpha, ning her to the Lexington area. “ the w ater came from She was bom in Baker City on Blackhorse, across Main Street Dec. 22, 1916 to Florence and down Willow Creek. It flood Wegworth, Naomi Jan Johns, (Spence) and Fred Merrit. She ed the basements of homes.” Jefferson Todd Hiatt and Michael was raised by her grandparents In the incident with Bud Clark Dean Lynch. and came to Lexington to live it was the case of too much of a Wegworth, 30, Lexington, was around 1921. When Delpha was good thing. Delpha was in charge charged with child endangering, in the first grade they moved to of arranging a speaker for the frequenting a place where con Arlington. She returned to Lex 1985 Morrow County centennial trolled substances are used and ington around 1930 to live with affair planned at the fairgrounds. possession o f a controlled her mother and stepfather, Ted She called Bud Clark, who has substance. Bail was set at $8,000. McMillan and her two half- ties to the Heppner area, but his Johns, 28. 575 Hager St. sisters, Jo Irvin, now of Irrigon office said he would not be able Heppner, was charged with child and Pat Cool of Pendleton. She to attend. So Delpha arranged to endangering, frequenting a place graduated from Lexington High have Jack Morton, the retired where controlled substances are School in 1935. dean of students at Western used, conspiracy to possess a con In 1936 she traveled to Baker Oregon State College in Mon trolled substance and conspiracy to visit her grandfather, Thomas mouth, to be the guest speaker. to deliver a controlled substance. Spence, and it was there she met In the meantime, Clark’s office Her bail was set at $23,000. her husband-to-be, Cecil Jones. called to say that he would, in Lynch, 33, also of 575 Hager They married on Aug. 12, 1937 deed be able to speak at the ban St. ¿nd Hiatt, 28, Lexington, at LaGrande. They lived in Union quet. No problem, said Delpha, were both charged with posses for two years and then returned and the banquet had two honored sion of a controlled substance, to Lexington. Cecil got a job with speakers. Still going strong. Delpha has conspiracy to deliver a controll well drillers who were drilling the no plans to quit writing. “ It’s just ed substance and conspiracy to city well at the time. They travel something I do. We want to keep ed around the country while Cecil possess a controlled substance. Lexington alive,” said Delpha. Bail was set at $25,000 each. worked for the drillers and lived “ I still get letters from people All were lodged at the Benton in Missoula, Mont., Nampa and who have left. It helps people County, Washington jail. Rathdrum. Idaho, Yakima, WA., Denton said that the drug raid where their daughter Charlene keep in touch with Lexington.” resulted in the seizure of metham- was bom in 1942, Hanford and phetamine, marijuana, drug Hermiston. They were gone from paraphernalia, guns and other the area for 11 years until they finally decided to settle down in property. Denton said that the individuals Lexington when Charlene was in had been under investigation for first grade. Cecil got a job at the some time, but information con Lexington Oil Co-op, now the cerning local drug activity receiv Morrow County Grain Growers. A nursing home auxiliary ed from Jack R. Townsend, a When her step-father died they meeting will be held Jan. 9 at 7 federal fugitive arrested by the moved out to the ranch, which p.m. upstairs at Kates Pizza. Umatilla Police Dept, hastened they later purchased. The club is still recruiting new The Jones’ son Kenneth was members so anyone interested is the arrests. Denton said that child en bom in Heppner in 1947 at Cor- invited to join them. The District dangering and frequenting a place da Saling’s Nursing Home. “ I’ll representative will be at the where controlled substances are bet half the kids in town were meeting, weather permitting. used are both misdemeanors, bom there.” added Delpha. “ She Anyone interested, but unable spoiled us to death. She fed us all to attend the meeting should call while other charges are felonies. kinds of goodies. Four people Tonia Adams, 676-9616 or A rraignm ent is expected were having babies there at the Tonya Jones, 676-9133. sometime this week. n R u -« _ ^ j a j k ? 35C azette imes VOL. I l l NO. 1 _M 6 Pages Wednesday, January 8, 1992 Morrow County Heppner, Oregon » ? .. ' w ... • • ■ \ . ' v ’ » -vi ■ vV-;.-' V.T t .i; } / ' _ ■ ; /-»j," v- , * ■' * » ■ t * I Four locals arrested in Tuesday drug raid Photos by Joyce Hughes (above l-r) M.C. Deputy Jim Hankins, undersheriff Verlin Denton and city police chief Doug Rathbun examine a case looking for drugs. Inset-scales used for measuring drugs found at the Lynch residence. Verlin Denton displays STP oil can and the drugs that had been stuffed up inside the bottom. Burglars strike three Heppner businesses Burglars broke into Central Market and Napa Auto Parts store and an outside refrigerator at Miller’s Mini Mart and Chevron in Heppner in the early morning hours of Sunday, Jan. 5. According to Heppner Police Chief Doug Rathbun. burglars ripped apart a pop machine for money and took a handgun at Napa Auto Parts and stole a camera, a handgun, a police scan ner. beer, wine and cigarettes from Central Market. An attempt to pry open the safe at Central Market was not successful, said Rathbun, but the store's office had been broken into. The thieves broke a hasp to steal food from die storage refrigerator at Miller's Mini Mart. The value of the stolen items and amount of damage done has not yet been determined, he said. The break-in at Central and Miller’s was discovered at open ing Sunday, and the owner of the auto parts store discovered the damage when he went to the store to work on Sunday, said Rathbun. Rathbun said that their office does have some information con cerning the break-ins and the in cident is under investigation. Penalties for burglary I and theft I. both C-felonies. are five years in jail minimum for each of fense. although the sentences may run concurrently, said Heppner Police officer Merle Cowett. St. Pat’s meeting - * * * • t * • HSj« I iS- >• . •••>>' ï'.iv Kelly Rafferty A Heppner girl, Kelly Raffer ty, remains in critical condition at Emanuel Hospital in Portland following a severe reaction to medication. parents are staying at the Ronald McDonald House, which pro vides housing for the families of seriously ill children. Kelly, 10 years old, is a fifth grader in Mrs. Dowdy’s class at Heppner Middle School. The family has lived in Heppner around two years. Dennis is em ployed with the Forest Service and Beth is a nurse at PMH Kel ly has been active visiting and helping patients at the PMH Nur sing Home. Donations to help with Kelly’s medical and family expenses may be made to the First Interstate Bank in Heppner. Kelly, the daughter of Beth and Dennis Rafferty, was admitted to Pioneer Memorial Hospital in Heppner Dec. 27, and then flown to the University Hospital in Portland. She was then transfer red to Emanuel’s bum center. Kelly may not receive any flowers or gifts because she is in isolation, but cards may be sent to the Emanuel Hospital Bum Center, fourth floor, 2801 N. Gantenbein Ave., Portland, OR 97227. The family requests that you please do not call the hospital, but if you want informa tion about Kelly you may call the Ronald McDonald House in Portland, switchboard 494-5200 between 9 and 10 p.m. Kelly's Bank o f Eastern Oregon Announcing '* r Rates as low as 73A % ___ - : “ . :: • ,•» I * j 2 s ,• - - ■ V J - ••.■J •* J j ■x I : ’ » ~ : ..i*. •. V.vV , ‘• ' • ' • o ' O V 5-f. „ :*». Vl * •' % fO •’ -, . - » c, ' ■ t. ■ • .• H- •f. . - ■ .•¿t v • • v-ooJ • N '■ v * , I * ■ ] IK OP a ê te m O reqon Arlington • Hoppnor • \or* F.D..I.C. | h *f * * ■ . ,'S '• , ,i . ~'Ycmr htdrpm àm t Horn* Owntd Bank * *’•> •- . V % ’ I-o HOME LOAN PROGRAM ♦ ♦ ♦ A meeting of the St. Patrick’s Committee will be held Wed., Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. at Kate’s Piz za. Topics will include final scheduling for St. Pat’s weekend. People are reminded that the St. Patrick’s celebration is less than two months away f • - Oc ' - ; * " ‘ v, ' Kt j * •• - Heppner girl remains in critical condition Booster Club plans winter chili feed The Heppner High School Booster Club will hold its annual winter chili feed during the Wahtonka game Friday, January 10 beginning at 4:30 p.m. at the Heppner High School cafeteria. The menu will include chili, baked potato, homemade bread and pies, punch and coffee. Members are reminded that membership dues should be paid I * . »• 1 • *v . • . Nursing home auxiliary plans meeting Four local people were arrested in an early morning drug bust Tuesday, Jan. 7, that involved of ficers from the Morrow County Sheriffs Office, the Oregon State Police, the Hermiston Police Dept., the Umatilla County Sheriff s Office, the U.S. Forest Service law enforcement divi sion, the Oregon National Guard Morrow County Undersheriff Verlin Denton said that search warrants were served on three area residences-the first at 7 a.m. at a residence up Willow Creek and then simultaneously at a residence in Heppner and one in Lexington. Arrested were Laura Jean * j .;*• '•* * *• f ’ j • ' l‘ ;• i ’ * •• '. ' * * - .. , ^ 1 * ,4 • 1 t . v ; ■?: I *
