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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (July 19, 1957)
TEW MEDFORD (OREGON) MAIL TRIBUNE Friday 19s7 Tough Old Holds Out editor s not: The IT S. Army tin been buying up New Mexico land for It McGregor guided tnlulle ranee. L'ntted Prefi tent correipondent Wil liam P. Montgomery out to talk to the thorniest holdout, rancher John Pnther. In the following ditpatcb, Montgomery telli Prather ttory. Rancher Steadfastly Aqainst Govemment Br WILLIAM P. MONTGOMERY United Pr.ti Corr.ipond.nt Orogrande, N.M. Oft Tough, bitter old rancher John Prather tightened up his hard but aging muscles for a new defiance of the U.S. Army and said for may be the 100th time, "I'm not leaving my birthright alive, by damned, government or no." Periodically threatened with forced removal from the 120 tection ranch he carved out cf the wilderness with half a cen tury of patient toil under a boil ing south-western sun, Prather repeatedly has made the Army back down from a showdown. Whether the Army will make another "strategic retreat" from the newest deadline for his re moval Aug. 1 from its 1,000 square mile McGregor guided missile range Is not clear. But Prather's attitude, as it always has been in four years of negotiations and court actions concerning government seizure q the best 40 sections of his place, Is clear. An American has got a right to die at home," he says. Headquarters for his ranch is a rock house barely one and a half miles inside the outer edge of the huge anti-aircraft missive testing ground. The Army has said that a six mile wide strip around the perimeter is reserved for a safe ty zone, but that Prather may not remain in his home unless he signs a lease limiting his occupancy to the house and yard. "That's ridiculous." Prather stormed in a voice still as steady at 82 as it was when he follow ed a chuck wagon and "little herd of sorry cattle" from Texas to New Mexico in 1883. The lease offered Prather also specifies his home and hearth would pass to government con trol upon his death. "I've spent a lifetime building this place and I've always plan ned to be buried right here," he said. "Do you think I want a bunch of Army people making my home into a beer garden within sight of my grave?" Crusty and obstinate, Prather nevertheless maintains a keen sense of humor that has sent colonels away from his home smiling in spite of assertions that "the Army had better start realizing we taxpapers have to have land to grow something to feed the damned government parasites." Prather recalls scraping up rarth with a horse-drawn slip to make surface tanks to hold water on an otherwise barren land. Under his direction, 1,000 foot deep wells have dotted the rolling plain he steadfastly de clares is New Mexico's best cattle country. The only time his voice nears a quaver is when he regards the sweeping vistas south of the Sacramento Mountains, sees the scattered bunches of Herefords and Angus "bred up from those sorry cows." Then he says: "Move out and leave home. If I did, I'd die. I might as well die at home. We'll just have to wait and see if it's of old age or if the government forces it." Fooilighfers' Play Scheduled in August The Medford Footlighters' summer show, "Mr. Angel," is now in its second week of re hearsal and will open the first week in August, according to Mrs. Max Wimmer, president. The three act comedy was written by Harry Segall. It will be shown at the Footlighters' fairgrounds theater. Thirteen characters in the play are divided between earthly and celestial beings. The directing is being managed by Frank Buchter. "Every member of the cast seems bent upon making this the best show we've ever don e," Mrs. Wimmer stated. Assisting Buchter is Lenore Zapell, Medford High School drama instructor; Bernie Rob erts, who has constructed many Footlighter sets in the past, and Michael Thorniley, set designer and artist. The cast will , include Les Boardman, Clyde Wheaten, Joe Hilesburger, Margaret Dix, Jac que Colton, Helen Ashley, Claire Flickinger, Jerry Jerome, Don na Nelson, Beverly Johnson and Madelyne Buonocore. About 92 cubic miles of water are stored up behind the Hoover dam. Dr. Campagna Joins Dr. Luce in Practice Dr. Mario J. Campagna re cently became associated with Dr. James C. Luce here in the gery. Dr. and Mrs. Campagna and their children came to Medford from Rochester, Minn., where he completed four years of neu rosurgical training at the Mayo clinic. Dr. Campagna is a native of Portland and attended Oregon State college and the Univers ity of Portland, receiving a BS degree from the latter. He was graduated from the University of Oregon medical school and served internship at Philadel phia General hospital. He was granted a master of science degree in neurosurgery by the University of Minnesota graduate school. He served in the Navy during World War II. The family is living at 215 Erie st. Augusta, Me. (1PI State elec tion officials packed a day's sup ply of ham, beans and other food, when they took a portable voting booth to the hamlet of Brookton for a special liquor referendum. There is no restau rant within miles of the unor ganized township in woodlands near the Canadian border. Legislator Cannot Be School Teacher Oregon City W Circuit Judge Ralph M. Holman ruled late Thursday that Thomas Monaghan cannot hold simul taneously 'jobs as a grade school teacher and a state legislator. Monaghan indicated he would appeal to the State Supreme court. He had based his plea on the proposition that by taking leave from the school job and serving in the Legislature he was not in conflict with an article of the state constitution. The article says that no one "charged with official duties, under one of the state depart ments shall exercise the func tions of another." Use Mail Tribune Want Ad. (mm i aauue or Men news PACIFIC industrial" 16 $. Cntral Phone SP 3-5308 SLIM HARDIN h kief "If you're that someone looking for an extra good deal see my 1957 Chevrolet V8 4-door Bel Air." This car has Power Glide, power steering, radio, washers, backup lamps and thrown in are many thousands of miles of carefree driving. I will give you a terrific discount! DON'T WAIT-CALL ME Or See Me at Courtesy Chevrolet At SP 3-4169 or SP 2-8037 I To Buy or Sell - Use Tribune Classified Ads CAUGHT IN THE ACT Olnev. Ill iw Four youths dumped a truckload of trash and debris at the homes of two of j their friends as a practical joke. They planned to spend the next . day watching their friends in j the cleanup work. Police ob- : served the "joke" though, and their friends watched as the four i boys reloaded the trash they had j dumped. Grange Notes Boxy Ann Grange At the last regular meeting of Roxy Ann Grange Master Moore and several members from Eagle Point were guests. Three applicants were voted on and will become members of the Grange. They' are Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Kennedy and Mrs. Evelyn Hendricks. The Agriculture chairman re ported the livestock prices were about the same with a small in crease in price for cattle and sheep. The hay harvest in the valley was in full swing. Irs. Eleanor Mankins had a display table of some articles of clothing and fancy work that had been in the family for years. Also of interest was a scale used by the Chinese to weigh gold. .Mrs. Joanne Lemacks was elected treasurer to finish te term vacated by Mrs. George Walters. ' Chaplain May Dalton reported a number of members sick in the hospital and at home. Roscoe Roberts gave a very interesting report on his attend ance to both te Oregon and Washington State Grange. Memberi retired to the dining room for a birthday cake and ice cream was served in celebration for those who have birthdays the last six months of the year. The next meeting will be Fri day, July 19, and Mr. and Mrs. Shy Morthland, Mr. and Mrs. Al Sims and Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Shaw will be on the serving committee. Phoenix Grange Members of Ph'oenix Grange held a picnic Sunday, July 14, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Johnson on Camp Baker rd. The long table was set up on the lawn under fir, pine and laurel trees. The meat dish of baked ham was furnished by the commit tee. Mr. and Mrs. Charles John son, Mr. and Mrs. Mark Nor ton. Mr. and Mrs. Walter Gro chocki. Mrs. and Mrs. Mervine Hixon, Mrs. Christine Dins rgpre, and Mrs. Mona Ferms. Ice cream and beverage furn ished by the Grange and those attending brought vegetables, salads and deserts. HEC Chairman Colar Sch roeder called a short business meet of the club following the dinner. The Home Economics club will hold no meetings dur ing the months of August and September. Tuesday evening. July 16. members of several Granges in the valley made a surprise visit to Bellview Grange, their regu lar meeting night. There were 46 visitors repre senting Central Point, Griffin Creek. Roxy Ann. Shady Cove and Phoenix Granges. Nine will be Tuesday, July 23, at 8 p.m. Gertrude Lewin. Publicity Chairman Don't Say Hello'' i Say "FILTER-FLO" SPRING 3-5395 TOMORROW - - SATURDAY IS THE FINAL DAY OF OUR i pBgffigl M ETEBT yj u J LZs U U U Ilia y iyj uu m W SALES A 4s With Red Hot Values . . King-Sized Trades . . . and Terrific Savings! WHAT A SALE! 8 A.M. TO 9 A.M. VALUES HOME LAUNDRY DeLuxe models at Leader model prices . . .. and. some real WORTHWHILE SURPRISES! 7 Your Exciting Response Has Been Tremendous . . . It's Going to Be a Record July for US and a Sale You'll Remember! . 1 P.M. TO 2 P.M. VALUES REFRIGERATOR-FREEZER General Electric Quality and Dependability for less than you'd pay for unknown brands! 9 A.M. TO 10 A.M. VALUES REFRIGERATOR-FREEZER Just imagine a big Deluxe Model Refrigerator for less than $270 . . . We've got it! Freezer buys with real SURPRISE "EXTRAS"! 10 A.M. TO 11 A.M. VALUES RANGES Roam the Range as far as you want Cowboy ; . . You'll never corral a Range Round-Up such as this one! 11 A.M. TO 12 P.M. VALUES. 1957 TV Just a hint: IF YOU'RE EVER GOING TO TRADE TV'S ... DO IT THIS FRIDAY AND SATURDAY . . DONT WAIT! SURPRISE HOUR SPECIALS! You'll catch the excitement of this Terrific Sale when you see the unsurpassed savings on G.E. Appliances and TV's that will be offered during the SURPRISE HOURS! For example: Any trade-in may be worth at least a brand new G.E. Vacuum Cleaner! ... Or prices may be slashed even further during a SURPRISE HOUR ... OR FOR $1 more you may buy the biggest dollars worth of VALUE that you've ever seen! No tricks ... no gimmicks . . . but the biggest WHOOP-DE-DO OF A SALE YOU'VE EVER SEEN! DON'T MISS IT! DONT MISS THIS BIG STORE-WIDE SALE! 2 P.M. TO 3 P.M. VALUES PORTABLE TV's You've wanted a famed G.E. Portable for that 2nd Set ... At these prices . . . you've got it . . . and a Big Saving too! ' , 3 P.M. TO 4 P.M. VALUES WASHERS and DRYERS Enjoy the complete luxury of the FILTER-FLO at far less money than you'd expect to pay for THE VERY BEST! A 12 P.M. TO 1 P.M. VALUES Portable Appliances Toasters, Mixers, Steam Irons ... all Small G.E. Appliances at TREMENDOUS SAVINGS! 7 O LIBERAL CREDIT TERMS O KING-SIZED TRADES O IMMEDIATE DELIVERY O MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE O LOW, LOW PRICES 4 P.M. TO 5 P.M. VALUES h RANGES All sizes, all styles . . . You'll cook better ELEC TRICALLY . . . with a new GENERAL ELECTRIC KEYBOARD RANGE . . . You'll save a lot too! WHEN YOUR TELEPHONE RINGS . .'. DONT SAY "HELLO..." SAY "FILTER-FLO!" 5 P.M. TO 6 P.M. VALUES N Portable Appliances Steam Irons, Grills, Mixers, EVERYTHING . . . You'll "pop" like a Pop-Up Toaster when you see these low pricesl . - . REMEMBER . . . EVEN DURING THE EXCITEMENT OF A SALE . . . YOU MUST BE SATISFIED OR YOUR MONEY BACK!
