Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 28, 2009)
Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, January 28, 2009 - FIVE Heppner overcomes tragedy By Mark Deuel Editor s Note: The Heppner Gazette-Times received this article in an email from the author, Mark Deuel. Deuel came across information about the 1921 Heppner High School basketball team while doing research on small school basketball. This story and other in formation can be viewed on his website at http:// oregonhoops history, blog- wagon roads. H elp from o th e r spot. com/2009/01/heppner- co m m u n ities w as quick overcomes-tragedy. html. Sports are often used as a diversion. Something else to think about for a few hours until reality hits again. It can be therapeutic. It can be healing. For tow ns bound to g eth er by tragedy, the gymnasium on Friday night is a chance to get together with an extended family that extends from Main Street to the fields and farms outside o f town. For H eppner, O r egon, no doubt the healing process from a devastating June day in 1903 was helped along by the sports teams of the Heppner High School. At the turn o f the century, Heppner, Oregon was a boom ing shipping center, with a “spider web o f roads” leading in and out o f the city for goods coming inland from the Columbia River. Formed at the con fluence o f three creeks, the land in and around Heppner was perfect grazing land. By 1900, the town had over 1,000 citizens, two banks, nine saloons and two major hotels. The grow ing city became the victim o f one o f the worst natural disas ters in Oregon state history when a devastating “wall o f water” shattered the city and the w ay o f life. On June 14, 1903 after an af ternoon o f rain and storms, an enorm ous and deadly flood punched the town and in an instant knocked it to its knees. The flood passed in two hours but left behind a trail o f destruction. Nearly tw o-thirds o f the hom es w ere gone, the business district was wrecked. Main Street was littered with trash and homes that had floated from their lots and came to rest. Telegraph and tele phone lines were decimated and the railroad line from Lexington to Heppner was destroyed. The only way in or out was badly damaged and nearly un-navigable to arrive but Heppner lost many residents who moved soon after the flood. The 1910 census counted 880 people, a substantial drop from the 1900 census count ing nearly 1,400. By 1990, the town was back to its pre flood count o f 1,412. The healing m ust have been slow. Recovering possessions and in the worst case, dead family members is an unthinkable and tragic task. The ch ild re n and babies, who survived that horrible event, became key figures on a basketball team that helped their parents re cover from that day. H e p p n e r H ig h School, with a student popu lation o f 87 students, had a few years o f success before reaching the state tourna m ent in 1921. The team returned five lettermen, in cluding center Jared Aiken, who was on the champion ship team of 1918-19. [Au thor’s Note: No information was given on this champion ship won by Heppner. Often, papers would declare their town the champions even though no formal league or cham pionship to u rn a ment was created. Heppner probably won the m ajor ity o f its games that year and probably beat a mix o f neighboring towns that had teams, club teams and alumni teams.] Heppner opened the season with 24-16 win at home over Lexington on January 15. They followed the opener with a close win at home over Pilot Rock 17- 15. After the game, the girls o f Heppner “entertained at the school house in honor o f the visiting team.” I found many stories like this, where after the gam e, both team s would gather at the school and have parties and gatherings and rehash the game over punch, pie and cookies. It’s an incredible show o f sportsmanship and pride. I BASKET BM1 TEW 60ES Î0 SALBt IQHOBBOI i u a a .W K tL .n - u j . . t k a . <SOOf> M U A V IN t, AT SAI.K3I* H ^ p p u p r'# ' b u ik o i Hull t< -#n :<•- from Aaiv-jn ? u m la y o w n iftr., w horo th<*> pr, .-'nt ti-.sv p • * of Oi-rpt •: a f th« »«: < toat on last T b u r n la y , Fiitto)* r.ttp S a tu rd a y . W h ile th e boy* fa H ri to brtntc f.om** [jlf , k iv i * a «ood aff< w h ( o ( 'h.'M M -h. i ’ fit th e b i t rm »t and th e ir c ap tain . J a r e d A rtten. brou»:hr homo the «ndlvirtu ' tally <*orert if* the • ta t# . T h e boy* a r e a ll v e il pt<-a»cd w ith . th e ir tr i p a n d w ith th»* tre a tm e n t they jocoivi • o' - * • ■*» T h e f r c a tiM h a n d ic ap they went u p 4 a g a in st n*** in th e *l*o of t!u* flo o r oo w hich th e ) A reas to in e d , a* w #re. to th * ir own »m all floor wis*-re* th*-> vv*»r«> a!»}.* to piny In ■ tot i i l l ............ r a th e r lost Ml th . flofci . t Solent # rd railed ir. Ih#tl to o t wi>r1 on th a t a cc o u n t. ^ "If M ar slj fs .d «! b u n c h mi o u r in. n .I t»'r. lo r a v..*! f h o n • h v.n;- th e hoIV If ..:•*• |l mi» have not experienced this in my many years o f sport, as a player or as a coach. I think we would do well to get back to this but I fear that we are moving in the opposite direction instead. Heppner won their third straight game to open the season over “the crack basketball team from Wheel er County High School at Fossil.” On Friday, February 4, Heppner met Lexington for the second tim e that season. Lexington took the game 20-12 and it showed that the “ Lexington boys have been doing some prac ticing and that our boys need a little more.” The article appeared on page 8 o f the Herald, and was untitled. Clearly, Hepp ner’s press was not fully into Heppner’s chances just yet. Next cam e a road trip to Condon on February 10 and Fossil on February 12. C ondon's slick floor could not deter Heppner, who bolted to a 17-2 half time lead. Condon couldn't make up much ground in the second half, outscoring Heppner 15-11 for a final scored o f 28-17. Fossil gave Heppner all it could handle two nights later. The Fossilites jumped to a 10-6 halftime lead. The second half proved to be a nip-and-tuck affair, as Hep pner battled back to even the score at 19 with under a min ute to play. Heppner scored a field goal and a free throw to win the game 22-19. On F e b ru a ry 18, Child Care Resource and Referral announces upcoming classes Child Care Resource and Referral will be holding the following classes: -Family Child Care O verview on February 2 from 6-9 p.m. in Pendleton and March 2 from 6-9 p.m. in Hermiston. This free class is required by the Child Care Division for anyone wish ing to become a Registered Family Child Care Provider, and for in d iv id u als that want to learn more about O regon's laws governing child care. - D H S F a m ily , Friends and Neighbors Ori entation will be held on Feb ruary 5 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in H erm iston and March 5 from 6:30*8:30 p.m. in Pendleton. This is a free class. -R ecognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and N eglect w ill be held on February 12 from 6:30-8:30 ) p.m. in Hermiston. The cost of this class is $5 and will be taught in Spanish. This class is required by the Child Care Division for anyone wish ing to become a Registered Family Child Care Provider and for DHS listed Provid ers who want to qualify for the enhanced rates. It will cover Oregon's mandatory laws and how to recognize child abuse and neglect. -Children with Dis abilities will be held Febru ary 19 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in Pendleton. The cost for this class is $5. This training will focus on young children with disabilities. The trainer will be Niki Brown from the ESD. -Building Blocks for Social Emotional Develop ment 4 Week Series will be held February 25, March 4, II, and 18 in Hermiston. been made and Heppner had been declared the districts' entrant to Salem. But one problem remained: finances. According to the Heppner i uotai grmw? •TATE tuOWAMtVT yearbook, “our school fi nances were rather low and it looked as though the team would not get to go, but the to* * «* * • * * (• * to •***« «-W* «4 »t > - [1 business men o f Heppner ilk» to !»«%'*• offered to finance the trip * M %■*#■■■ K»t»i UK **♦*» A**« 1»*^ * * t* * s * f i# a n » | « and the boys were able to fintiiw go after all.” fto 4 + f fto •** ***-«♦ to * j • to** !• 4*-*V*. Vyt *•» »to : Plans were quickly f»-»«»«to «HMWêlkg. » to « »4«*«« »#*•> #tonr»«tol foto» 1 ■ k* » * ■» f * • * «r to * s »4 ~ v made and the Heppner team « to* I to M a *»to » W to4 to»«» ^ I K# >**r*to«* »to« to * left for Salem on Wednesday il k « M * * | » 4 • to » H * v « « to •« *» *« « ** »to rtf» to »1# »**• March 9. Once in Salem, T>« totto« «Il Ito ftoftor I hm Uto» •» the teams drew lots to de . *Ui m to to*« totot t+ «W j cide their opponents in the (tin* Tto <*«*« **to *« m * '*» * to ?>*«!* L I tournament. When Coach N*»•»>« **•« »«to **# totoM i < » . . * * > ■ >• <*• • • ♦ v> «« * *■ • * Heard's turn came, he drew M **-**’• *»' »« ' ***•'• * ‘ ’ tot*»*»»to« to » «* «to* to* • <to I . « ï > M** * Southern Oregon's M arsh «» f *to »'* ' » to * I w , •* « » . U m ..... field, cham pions o f Coos mm***-* »* ?t »« *» #>to A *■ *•* County for the third straight %«*• » - W t « » to to »«** >■*•* - year and winners o f eight H f* <4 * t» * » #* i games in a row. *•■»-« » t l* * * 4 «*•* »** ( t o « * * - «• R ight aw ay, a fa Iwrto #to *• I (to '*»#»*«**»«* miliar problem greeted the 4* to flMtowU# - to»«*«*» • • *»• (to Ito . small school teams. Accus *•>■* ■*■* ***» **» ; «r« Ai«*« t * * r to — »>14»** 'A. { 1 «toi «toto* *1 «♦*# I tomed to playing on their smaller floors, the spacious floor at the Salem Armory was foreign to the boys the season. Once again, a dis from Heppner. Ultimately, trict without a tournament even if Heppner had hosted had some conflict over who M arshfield on their own would be their representa floor, it would have been a tive at the state tournament. tough game to win. Led by Just like Rainier the year second team all-state guard before, there was debate Thomas McGinnis, Marsh over who would represent field handled Heppner easily the district that consisted of 44-19. The Heppner Herald teams from Hood River to Pendleton according to the claimed “if we could only Herald. Interestingly to me, have that Marshfield bunch no mention of Hood River or on our own floor for a game, Pendleton was mentioned as w e’d show' “em.” W hile they d id n 't opponents o f Heppner dur capture the championship, ing this season. No m atter, H epp H eppner m ade a decent ner was in line for the trip showing at Salem and more to Salem. Not knowing if importantly, had a great time Pendleton and. Hood River in doing it. According to the High Schools were actually paper, center Jared Aiken in the district, I believe that “brought home the highest the debate might have been individual tally scored in over Heppner and Lexington the state.” Interestingly enough since the two schools split the two games during the for Heppner High School, the basketball team wasn't season. The team w aited the only team to have great several days for word from success in 1921. Indeed, the committee in Salem and the debate team was also on March 8 they finally got a noteworthy group and as the notice that they were debating was a significant selected to attend the 1921 activity in those days, the state tournament. For Hep town was equally as proud o f their debaters as they pner, it was a big honor. “All honor to Hep were the hoopsters. 1921 was a banner pner Hi!” proclaimed the year for H eppner a c tiv i Heppner Herald. The paper credited the team with put ties. The basketball team ting the town on the map gave the town a thrilling and specifically mentioned ride during the basketball the work o f Professor John season undoubtedly helping H eard, who coached the to heal wounds left open by team to an incredible sea that horrendous day in 1903 when the town was nearly son. The d ecisio n had washed away. There is a $5 fee for this class. -ECO Healthy, ECO Friendy will be held March 9 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in Pendleton. The fee for this class is $5. -Learning Through O bservation will be held March 23 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in Hermiston. The fee for this class is $5. -Foster Resiliency in Children will be held March 31 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in Hermiston. The fee for this class is $5. This session will focus on ways child care provider and parents can support resiliency in children. For more inform a tion or to pre-register for classes, call C hild C are R esource & R eferral at 1-800-559-5878 or 541- 564-6878. f A ** f ï» Condon visited Heppner for their return game. Condon led early 6-5, making good use o f the foul line. Condon hit four foul shots and a field goal for the slim lead. Halftime woke Heppner up, as “Chidsey and Ferguson guarded the Condon boys so effectively that they could not score a field basket.” The offense was pow ered by center Aiken, Elmer Patter son and Paul McDuffee who ran Heppner’s second half score up to 29. The 24- 2 second half explosion more than cem ented H eppner’s status as an elite team in the league. Heppner continued their strong play a few days later w ith a d o m in atin g perfo rm an ce in H erm is ton. Not many details were available on the game other than the fact that Hermiston were good sports in the 34- 12 loss and they said that “Heppner was the cleanest team that they had played this year.” Nevertheless, the clean playing Heppner team was a team to be reckoned with in the district. The win over Herm iston was H eppner’s sev enth victory o f the season and puts “them in line for the state tournament at Sa lem.” Hermiston returned to Heppner for the second meeting of the tw o schools on March 5 and again Hep pner won, this time 24-10 to run their record to 8-1 on **% *■«* It’s St. Patrick planning time again IHS sophomores The first St. Patrick’s the 2009 Wee Bit O ’ Ireland to hold lasagna Planning Committee Meet event on March 13-15. The ing will be held on Tuesday, events and projects that have feed February 3, at 6 p.m. at City Hall. Pizza and beverages will be provided. This m eeting will be held to get started on the planning and be brought up to date and plugged in on been planned so far will be discussed. C all the H eppner C ham ber at 676-5536 to RSVP or send an email to heppnerchamber@century- tel.net. DA’s Report Morrow County District Attorney Elizabeth Bal lard has released the follow ing report: -Christopher Alan Snipes. 31, was convicted of attempt to commit a class B felony (robbery-2), and was sentenced to three years probation, 180 sanction units w ith 90 jail units, complete 80 hours o f community service, and other numerous conditions. He was also convicted o f theft in the second degree, a class A misdemeanor, and was sen tenced to the custody o f the local supervised authority for one year. Total fines, fees, and assessments were $1.893. -Samuel Amador Hernandez, 43, was convicted o f manufacturing/delivery o f a controlled substance in sched ule II. a class B felony, and was sentenced to the custody of the Oregon Department o f Corrections for six months, two years post-prison supervision, other numerous conditions, and pay $598 in fines, fees and assessments. T he l o n e Hi gh School sophom ores will sponsor a lasagna feed on Saturday, January 31, at the lone High School caf eteria. The feed coincides with a day o f basketball against opponent, Condon/ Wheeler. D i n n e r w i l l be served starting at 3 p.m. and will last as long as sup plies last. Dinner includes homemade lasagna, tossed green salad, garlic bread and punch. The price o f the dinner is $6 per person. A child's portion is available for $4. Advertise with the Heppner Gazette-Times Call 676-922Ô
