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Nyssa Gate City Journal
VOLUME LX
Th» Sugar City
THE NYSSA GATE CITY JOURNAL. NYSSA OREGON, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1997_____________ Thund»r»gg Capital______________ NUMBER 6
Ylurri-Smiih Legislative Report Tags Among Seoutu Observing \aiioual Wwk Fall Rains Prime Soil; Snow Depth
At Upper Elevations Assures Owyhee
Tax Programs Advanced in Month
Irrigation Users Adequate Waler
As Russian Roulette With All Firing
Precedent Broken When Senator Takes Aim
At Proposal of House Before It Hits Senate
Conditions Much Better Than a Year Ago
Due to Deeper Snow, Higher Water Content
Should anyone desire to place a tax on the first month’s
operation of the Oregon Legislature, one could call it the
month of the Russian Roulette Tax programs. Taking the 60
members of the House and the 30 members of the Senate,
placing each one of them in a chamber with his own unique
method of reducing local property taxes, allowing one addi­
tional loaded chamber which
would represent the final de­
cision, and you would re­
semble the largest loaded re­
volver ever constructed.
Irrigation water users under the Owyhee project are as­
sured an adequate supply for the 1967 crop. That was the
statement Wednesday morning of Paul House, manager of
the North Board of Control.
House said that due to fall rains priming the ground, the
depth of snow on upper elevations with a higher than normal
water content, we are in af
much better situation than at
this time a year ago.
A preliminary report by the
SCS office in Portland, pre­
Oregon-Idaho
Onion Growers
To Meet Saturday
The annual joint meeting of the
Malheur County Onion Growers
association and Southwestern Ida­
ho Onion Growers association will
be held at Treasure Valley Com­
munity college Saturday, Feb. 11
from 9 30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
According to Steve Bosse, Mal­
heur county extension agent and
secretary of the growers aiMocia-
tion, an interesting program is
being planned. Of particular in­
terest to both groups will be s
discussion of joint participation in
the advertising and promotion of
Sweet Spanish onions as produc­
ed in Idaho and Oregon.
Up until now, Bosse advised,
Idaho has carried on its own on­
ion promotion through the Idaho
Potato and Onion commission,
and Oregon has handled its ad­
vertising on a voluntary check­
off basis through the Malheur
Onion Growers association. A
discussion will be carried on by
directors of the grower groups
pointing out advantages and dis­
advantages of a joint promotion­
al program.
Dr. Quentin Banks, extension
economist with the University of
Idaho, will talk on the economic
aspect of onions. The title of his
talk will be "Will the Onion Mar­
ket Keep?"
Other Speaker« Lilted
DeLance Frnnklin, superinten­
dent of the Parma Branch Experi­
ment station, will report on bulk
storage of onions and the progress
being made on mechanical har­
vesting of the Sweet Spanish va­
riety. Mamaro Wakasugi of Ore­
gon Slope and Lyle Andrew of
(Continued on Page 61
The Constitution provides that
the House of Representatives
must initiate any tax program
before the Senate might take ac­
tion. For the first time in mem­
ory. one senator. Sen. Boivin of
Klamath Falls, has unslung his
six - gun and taken a carefully
aimed shot at the House tux pro­
gram before it emerged from the
cocoon stage.
The House Tax committee is
drafting a proposal which would
be sent to the people for a vote
in early April, constituting 37
pei cent property tax relief. The
package includes 3 percent sales
tax, exempts food and drugs, 15
percent corporate excise tux in­
crease, a 7-null limitation on true
cash value for local school district
operational budgets, provisions
for the repeal of the 6 percent
limitation allowing cities and
counties to exceed their past
year's millage only by a vote of
the people.
All of the revenue raised by the
proposed sales tax would be di­
rected through the basic school
fund for the relief of school dis­
tricts and, of course, property tax
reduction. This tax program will
probably be sent to the Senate
next week, where the Senate will
begin deliberation on its merit.
There is no doubt in anyone’s
mind that the package will be
changed drastically, and there are
questions on many minds as to
whether an opportunity will be
given to the people to choose be­
tween no new taxes and substan­
tial property tax relief.
The Russian Roulette game is
a result of the different interpre­
tations by legislators here as to
the real needs of local taxpayers.
Some believe property taxes are
(Continued on Page 6)
Adrian-Nyssa Students Selected
To Sing in All-Northwest Chorus
Boy Seoul Week
For 5.8 Million
Being Observed
CUBS OF NYSSA PACK 450 ar* among numer­
ous Boy Scouts throughout the country who are
observing their national week. These lads, pic­
tured with Cubmaster Ed Tyner, are (front row.
left to right) Noil Oldemeyer. Alan Laurence, Fred
Stelling. Jimmy Greig and Ross Fox. Behind them
are Rex Mitchell. Mike Easton. Larry Haney.
Johnny Wahlert and Mark Strom. The lads re­
cently held their pinewood derby at Nyssa Metho­
dist church with 24 Cubs participating and many
of their parents witnessing the races. Champion­
ship honors wont to Neil Oldemeyer. with Ross
Fox placing second and Mike Easton taking third
place. Preliminary den 1 winners were Ross Fox,
first: Mark Strom, second; and Neil Oldemeyer.
third; den 2, Jimmy Greig, Johnny Wahlert and
Larry Haney; den 3, Fred Stelling, Mike Easton
and Rex Mitchell. Den Mothers are Mrs. Floyd
Ulrey, Mrs. Edwin Tyner and Mrs. Harvey Eas-
ton. respectively. Cubmaster Tyner presented
Alan Laurence with a craftsmanship trophy, silver
and gold arrows. Larry Haney and Mike Tyner
received silver arrows, with Bobcat awards going
io John Lopez. Johnny Wahlert. Renee Menchaca
and Mike Denny. Craftsmanship honorable men­
tion awards went io Fred Stelling and Ross Fox.
Nyssan Completes VISTA Training,
To Spend Year on Duly in Florida
Miss Kathleen Ann McPartland,’
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Walter
McPartland of Nyssa, is one of
40 trainees who were recently
graduated from a VISTA training
program at the University of New
Mexico.
As a volunteer, Miss McPartland
will spend one year working on
a migrant program, “Community
Action Fund” in Florida.
During the six - week training
period, she completed classroom
studies and gained field experi­
ence by working near the train­
ing site on a project similar to
one to which she has now been
assigned.
Miss McPartland, 21, a litera­
ture and sociology major at Lewis
and Clark college, is taking time
off from college work to pledge
herself to a year with VISTA.
She enrolled at Lewis and Clark
in 1963 after her graduation from
Nyssa high school, where she was
valedictorian of her class.
Active in a wide variety of
school and college organizations,
she brings to her VISTA assign­
ment practical experience gained
in summers of 1960 and '61 while
working in the children’s day
school at Nyssa labor camp.
A student library assistant at
the college last year, she spent
last summer working also as a
library assistant within the Nyssa
school district.
KATHLEEN McPARTLAND
. . . 1963 Valedictorian
AHS Student Takes
First Place Honors
In PTA Talent Event
P. Johnston Buys
Renstrom Agency
Paul Johnston of Ontario, own­
er of Malheur Insurance, recent­
ly purchased Renstrom Insurance
agency in Nyssa from Mrs. Ken
Renstrom. The agency was form­
ed 20 years ago by the late Ken
Renstrom.
The new owner will operate
under the name Malheur Insur­
ance and will retain Mrs. Janelie
Seward as office secretary. An
office manager will be moved to
Nyssa in the near future.
Johnston is no stranger to the
people of this area as he was
born and raised here. He attend­
ed Oregon Trail elementary school
for eight years and was graduated
from Nyssa high in 1938.
He graduated from OSU with
a bachelor of science degree in
1941 and served in the U. S. Navy
from 1942 to '46. From 1946 to
’56 he was director of health and
physical education in the Spring­
field (Ore.) school.
In 1957 he bought an interest
in Malheur Insurance agency in
Ontario and purchased it outright
in 1958. He has been in the busi­
ness continuously since that time
and feels he is well acquainted
with the insurance needs of the
. people of the area.
—
Two junior students from Ad- |
♦
♦
rian and Nyssa have been select- I
cd as members of the 1967 All- ¡MMikiMKMiiKai
Northwest Chorus to perform (
Earnie Lewis, a tenor from Ad­
March 29 through April 1 in Mis­
rian high school, was first place
soula, Mont.
winner of $25 in the Malheur
On those same dates, the bion- I
County PTA talent and stunt pro­
nial meeting of the Northwest di­
gram held Saturday evening, ac­
vision of Music Educators will be
cording to Mrs. Kenneth Goul,
in progress.
publicity chairman.
The two area students are Lin-
The AHS junior, accompanied
da Ballou, an NH6 junior and
by Mrs. Mary Lou Denman, sang
/laughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elvin
A meeting of the Nyssa PTA
“Rose of Allendale” and “They
Ballou; and Earnie Lewis, a jun-
Call the Wind Maria.”
I unit will be held at 8 p.m. this
ior at AHS and son of Mr. and
Second place winner of $15 was evening, Feb. 9, in the school
M rs. Harold Lewis.
Don Bishop of Nyssa, who pre­ ' cafetorium.
Linda will sing second soprano
Mrs. Floyd Rhoades, who serves
sented pantomime skits entitled
in the honor chorus. She has been
“Do I Worry” and “A Thousand with her husband as co-presidents
singing since she was a very small
of the local unit, announces that
Malheur County Farm Labor Violins.”
child and has been taking voice
Sponsors will hold their annual
lessons from Mrs. Tom (Alice)
“Battle Ax,” a skit from Har­ the program will be under direc­
meeting at 12 noon Tuesday, Feb. per, was awarded third place tion of Clyde Swisher, head of
Nishitani of Nyssa.
14, at East Side cafe in Ontario. prize money of $10. “Battle Ax,” the NHS English department and
She is a member of Nyssa First .
Christian church and is now serv­
Horace Arment, manager of the a horse, was portrayed by Judy recent recipient of a John Hay
ing as CYF president. She also
Oregon Employment service for Wagg and Lisa Laurance, while fellowship.
sings with the church choir for
LINDA BALLOU
Malheur county, and Ray Larson, ring master was Mrs. Sanford
Refreshments will be served
which she is often soloist.
. . . Also Plays Guitar
district manager of Amalgamated Wagg.
I by Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Jefferies.
Miss Ballou is also proficient on
♦
•
Sugar company, will join in a
the guitar and accompanies her­ enthusiasts, and serves as a Can­ discussion of the “Labor Outlook”
self while singing at various func­ dy Striper at Malheur Memorial for this year.
tions throughout Treasure Valley. hospital.
Financial operations for all of
She has been playing the in­
Earnie will sing first tenor in the labor camps will be viewed
strument for approximately a the chorus. He is junior class by Everett Heldt, treasurer of the
year, after taking lessons from president at Adrian high, serves association.
The county court passed a resolution Wednesday to dis­
John Wohlcke. Linda now gives as vice president of Hi-Y and the
Tom Burns, president of the tribute gas tax refunds on the basis of the 1965-66 assessed
a few private lessons to guitar Honor society. He is a member Labor Sponsors association, re­
valuation until the end of the fiscal year June 30.
♦
♦
| of Thespians and the Adrian ports that election of new direc-
This was the recommendation of the county-wide commit­
| chapter of Future Teachers of
will be held.
tee
at their meeting in Vale Thursday, Feb. 2, when this was
America.
Directors whose term are ex­
He often performs as soloist in piring are George Maeda, Oregon about the only thing decided to solve road problems of the
------------
his church and at other commu­ Slope; Varner Hopkins, Adrian; county.
nity functions.
The group did agree that
Bill Oxnam, Ontario; B. W. Fulle-
Last spring he received a I ton, Vale; and Ted Morgan, Nyssa. there should be an emergency
rating as soloist at both the Ore­
Lunch will be served at East fund on a county-wide basis
Three Oregon Jaycee officials
gon District IV solo-ensemble fes­ Side cafe through courtesy of the to replace old bridges. But
tival held at La Grande and at Labor Sponsors association. Any­ there was no agreement on the and members of District 14 units
the Idaho District III festival in one interested in the farm labor best manner to accomplish this will meet at 7:30 p.m. this eve­
ning, Feb. 9, in the basement of
Boise.
situation in Malheur county is or the amount necessary.
the Eagles hall.
The young man was first place invited to attend.
To Make Survey
State President Harris Hansen,
winner of the Malheur County
Representatives of the various State Reports and Recognition
PTA talent program held Satur- MEETING SET TO DISCUSS
i day evening in Ontario. He has MENTALLY RETARDED TOTS districts are to determine as close­ Chairman Glea Allison of Port­
sung for three years in the Adrian I According to Kay Mollahan of ly as possible the number of miles land and District Vice President
high school mixed chorus and is Ontario, there will be a meeting of roads in their areas, the num­ Pat Butson of John Day will be
vice president of that organiza­ of parents and friends of mental­ ber of bridges, occupant resi­ among those attending. Jaycees
tion this year. He has also sung ly retarded children at 8 p.m. dences on each road and attempt from Ontario, Vale, Burns, Baker
I in the Snake River Valley honor Tuesday, Feb. 14, at the Ontario to evaluate the ton-mileage use and John Day will also be pres­
of them.
ent.
' chorus.
junior high school.
Secretary Alvin Allen said the
The next meeting will be March
session will be held in room
The students were selected for ( I The
______________
I the All - Northwest chorus after 1 of the math and science sec- 2 at the court house in Vale with importance of this meeting is to
their names were submitted, to- tion. Blair Whipple of the mental successive meetings the first discuss project forms and other
gether
with tape recordings of health clinic will be guest speak- Thursday in each month at 1:30 business matters of interest to all
EARNIE LEWIS
i Jaycees.
their singing voices.
, er, according to Mrs. Mollahan. , p m.
. . Talent Event Winner
PTA Patrons to Hear
Program by Swisher
Farm Labor Sponsors
Set Tuesday Meeting
pared by snow survey supervisor
W. T. (Jack) Frost dated Feb. 1,
with the aerial inspection made
by House Sunday, Feb. 5, indi­
President Lyndon B. Johnson
cates the snow water content is yesterday told the 5.8 million
122 percent of normal.
members of the Boy Scouts of
With normal amounts of spring America that “Boy Scout Week
precipitation, the February - July calls our attention to the whole­
runoff is estimated at 650,000 acre some influence of Scouting on the
feet.
lives of millions of Americans—
and thus on our progress as a
Reservoir May Fill
nation.”
House said, “With a minimum
He voiced the hope that the XII
precipitation the runoff with the
World Jamboree to be held Aug.
carryover in the reservoir would
1-9 at Farragut State park, Idaho,
equal the water supply of 1966,
“will quicken among boys of
and with above normal precipi­
many nations the desire for un­
tation will fill the reservoir.”
derstanding and passion for peace
Comparisons from a few of the
upon which rests the future of
reporting stations show: 41 in­
all men.”
ches of snow at Silver City (27
The President’s message for
inches in 1966) with about double
Boy Scout Week, Feb. 7-13, mark­
the water content; South Moun­
ing Scouting’s 57th anniversary,
tain, 32 inches over the 15 last
was released here by the Ore-Ida
year with water content almost council. Boy Scouts of America,
triple; upper watershed in Neva­
through Bob Ferdinand, presi­
da, more snow at all locations dent. Ferdinand received the mes­
with one-third greater water con­
sage through Chief Scout Execu­
tent than last year. Increases were
tive Joseph A. Brunton Jr.
also noted in the Deep Creek
The President’s message fol­
areas and Trout Creek and Steens
lows.
mountains.
To the Boy Scouts of America
House also reported 18 inches
of snow at Logan Valley in the and Their Leaders:
Every society has vested its
Malheur drainage. And at the
marker at head of Bully Creek hope for tomorrow in the caliber
there still remained 8 inches of of its youth. For youngsters
snow in spite of the heavy runoff without purpose or inspiration
will grow into a generation with­
last week.
out leadership or concern.
Watershed Areas Located
Young men must be trained
House said the Owyhee water­ well in the duties and opportu­
shed extends about 200 miles nities of citizenship. They must
south of Nyssa with Oregon con­ develop strength of character and
taining about 40 percent of the an intense loyalty to the institu­
area and 30 percent each in Idaho tions of freedom. They must be
and Nevada. Yet Oregon supplies physically fit and mentally keen.
only about 5 percent of the water,
The Boy Scouts of America
Idaho 30 percent and Nevada adopt these qualities as goals.
(with much higher elevations) 65
Boy Scout Week calls our at­
percent.
tention to the wholesome influ­
ence of Scouting on the lives of
millions of Americans—and thus
CONSERVATION DISTRICT
MEETING SLATED IN NYSSA on our progress as a nation. It
Annual meeting of the Adrian also is an occasion for commend­
Soil and Water Conservation dis­ ing the volunteers and sponsors
trict will be held at 8 p.m. Tues­ who sustain the Boy Scout move­
day, Feb. 21, in the Nyssa school ment.
cafetorium.
And in this special year, I want
According to Wilbur L. Chapin, to join in welcoming scouts of
two state officials will be pres­ other lands to the United States.
ent. They are A. J. Webber, con- I trust that the 1967 World Scout
seivationist, and Robert C. Baum, Jamboree will quicken among
boys of many nations the desire
administrative officer.
for understanding and passion for
peace upon which rests the fu­
SENIOR CITIZENS TO MEET
Senior Citizens will meet at ture of all men.
(Signed)
10:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 10, in
Nyssa Methodist church base­
Lyndon B. Johnson
ment.
It is asked that everyone at­ Membership Figures Given
Boy membership in the program
tending take a sack lunch. All
area residents 55 years of age and shows 4,289,379 enrolled, a gain
over are welcome.
(Continued on Page 12)
County Court Resolves io Distribute
Gas Tax Refund on 1965-66 Valuation
Jaycees' District
Meet Set in Nyssa
MRS. LORIN MUNN and PHERAL DODSON are serving. r»>-mec-
tively, as chairmen of the 1967 Heart Fund campaign in Adrian
and Nyssa. The drive is now in progress, with Mrs. Doris Ballan-
tyne of Nyssa serving as Malheur county chairman and Mrs. Victor
(Sue) Marshall in charge of rural Nyssa activities. The campaign
leaders are busy planning various functions to raise funds for the
program, as well as organizing collectors for a house • to - house
canvass on Heart Sunday.