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About Nyssa gate city journal. (Nyssa, Or.) 1937-199? | View Entire Issue (Feb. 4, 1971)
Th» Ny»»a Gal» City Journal, Nyssa, Oregon Pag» Two The Gate City Journal D1R1CK NEDRY, Editor 4 Publisher RUBEN LOPEZ, Shop Foremar Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association NATIONAL NEWSPAPER -BgtlatiM ranal im rn.em.clNM SUSTAINING MEMBER SUBSCRIPTION RATES Single Copies................ 10? In Malheur County, Ore gon, and Payette and Canyon Counties, Idaho: One Year................$4.00 Six Months.............. $2.75 Elsewhere in the U. S. A. Per Year................ $5.00 Six Months.............. $3.00 Published Every Thursday at Nyssa, Malheur County, Oregon 97913 Entered at the Post Office at Nyssa, Oregon, for Trans mission through the United States Mails, as a Second Class Matter under the Act of March 3, 1879. Should Our Schools Consolidate? For a long time, in fact since I came to Nyssa, I have been intrigued with the idea that Nyssa and Adrian should be one school district. I have heard it discussed by individual members of both school boards. Educators in the area and county school officials have consiflgred the merger ideal from many angles, and almost everybody who has thought the plan through agrees that the idea has much merit. The late Warren Farmer, who served on the Nyssa school board for many years was particularly sold on the idea. If he had lived it is more than likely that the plan would have been discussed at school board and community levels, and might have been a reality by this time. The facts are that while it has been conversationally bantered around for a lot of years, nobody has ever really made the move to get the two boards together to sit down, study and talk it through, and see if the plan wouldn’t work to the best interests of all, or most, of the people in the area. There is no doubt in my mind that from an educational standpoint our students would be much better off, and that we would have a much better school system. That is the only point in bringing the subject up and getting it out into the open where it can be discussed. I have witnessed from pretty close quarters the undesirable features of having both a senior and junior high school trying to function from the same building. Scheduling two schools into one gymnasium, one library, one band room, one cafeteria, and one set of playgrounds and athletic fields is most unsatis factory. It further is considered undesirable to have the two student groups in close proximity for most of the obvious reasons, and to my knowlege we have gotten by better than is considered possible. I’m sure that the same conditions which exist in Nyssa schools also exist in Adrian schools. In short, what I am suggesting is that we explore the possi bilities of the two districts getting together, all of the high school students going to one high school (Nyssa), and all of the junior high students going to one junior high (Adrian), and all of the grade school students attending school pretty much as they are today. Let’s start first with the high school. Imagine, if you will, what a fine school we could have if the present senior-junior high school in Nyssa were a high school only. First, we would be over that magic figure of 500 students which is deemed so necessary for a full curriculum and full state support, parti cularly in the vocational areas. We would have adequate class room space, one gymnasium, one library, one cafeteria, one band room, one Vo-ag building, one shop, one home ec depart ment, and one of every other educational and vocational facility that is now shared by two schools. The student enrollment would be large enough to allow for a much wider curriculum, and this would be important particularly in the language area, and in the many vocational areas now being neglected or glossed over very gently. Let’s switch to the junior high school. Imagine, if you will, what an exceptionally fine junior high we would have with the present Adrian facilities. Much the same situation as in the proposed high school, with the junior high students by them selves and not under the influence, or intimidation, of high school students. Again, one gym, cafeteria, band room, vo-ag and other shop and vocational area; no scheduling difficulties, and overall a very fine junior high school facility and atmosphere. Before we go any further, let me hasten to say that this is not in any way to be construed as finding fault with our Adrian and Nyssa schools. We have been most pleased with the education that our children have received, and we are delighted at the end of every grading period to see the large numbers of Nyssa and Adrian students who make the honor rolls and otherwise distinguish themselves as they go on to higher education. We would match their records against any like number anywhere. We have also been impressed with the high quality of ad ministrators, school board policy makers, and instructors of both institutions; which again partly accounts for the good records’ of their students. However, they arealloperating under difficul ties which 1 don’t think are necessary, and which I think would be greatly improved through consolidation, or merger. Consolidation, incidentally, is a subject which has torn some communities apart. It has made warring faction between neighbors and friends, and has led to bitterness and wounds which take years to heal. If 1 thought that could be the situation here I would not bring the subject up. We have a different situa tion than most, and we are not abandoning any schools or tearing down any buildings. We are simply suggesting that we could make better use of our buildings, offer our students a much better learning situation, and quite possibly make better use of our tax dollars. Consolidation usually means that some locality gets a break at the expense of the other. That would not be true here, because while about 125 or so high school students would come to Nyssa High School from the Adrian area; about 250 junior high students would go to Adrian Junior High School from the Nyssa area. Grade school students would attend that grade school which was closest, or which would lend itself best to the program. There are many elementary students now attending Nyssa who live much closer to Adrian, and who more than likely would wind up there. The two districts are so close now that it would make little difference which direction several hundred students went, depending on the needs and classroom space available. We have discussed some of the pros; let’s consider some of the cons. First, about one class of high school students at Adrian would not like to attend Nyssa; and about one class of junior high students at Nyssa would not like to attend Adrian. This is natural and as it should be, because of loyalties and traditions built up through the years. Second, some parents would not like the idea that their children would have to ride those extra miles to school. Again, this is a natural apprehension. However, we are basically a rural community, we are used to driving a few miles for almost any function, and our districts are so com pact that only those students at the outer edges of the district would have even the normal riding time that students in most districts experience. Third, what about school district personnel? There are Nyssa teachers who live in Adrian, Adrian teachers who live in Nyssa, and they would soon get shifted where they could funtion the best. Normal annual losses and replacements would soon solve this problem. We are talking only of secondary teachers who require secondary certificates, so this should not pose a problem. For instance, one band leaiter would teach senior high, one junior high band. One home economics teaching senior, the other junior high. One Vo-ag instructor for senior, the other junior. These are problems which should be easily worked out by administrators depending on the instructors wishes, residence, adaptability, seniority, and other considerations. Fourth, what about cost? We see not much difference in the overall cost. 70% of school district costs are for instructional salaries, and the two district salary scales are very close. Some savings could be made in larger quantity purchases, etc., but these would be small. It is quite possible that those of us in the Nyssa district would have a slightly increased levy, and there is little doubt that the levy in what is now the Adrian district would be considerably lower. For the current year Nyssa’s levy is $13.33 per $1,000 valuation while that of Adrian is $18.80 per $1,000, including the I.E.D. levy. However, the consolidation would level the assessed valuation out, and the possibility of increased state aid is good. This is a matter for considerable study, but the overriding benefits of con- solidation are a better educational program, not money, al though I’m sure economies could be made. I have purposely timed this proposal for right now, because it fits in a period when nothing can be done about it except to meet and discuss it if the desire is evident, and if the pro posal has merit. Both districts are working on their 1971-72 budgets, and this in no way can effect those. Both districts would have 1972-73 budgets to prepare, because elections to con solidate can only be held at general elections, and the next general election would be the Primary Election in May, 1972. I would suggest that the Nyssa and Adrian school boards discuss this proposal, which as I have indicated before is not mine, nor is it original. Then, if there is merit to the pro posal it should be discussed jointly by the two boards. If it still has merit, public meetings should be held, the public should be informed, and finally it must be settled by a vote of the people. Some of you are not going to like this proposal at first, and others are going to be enthusiastic about it before you really know all about it. My purpose in this editorial is to get it out in the open where it can be discussed, cussed, studied and finally settled where it must be, at the polls. The columns of this newspaper will be available to those who have constructive thoughts on the subject, either for or against. Most of us have a Nyssa address. We all have a common background for making a living. We share the same churches, lodges, fraternal and social groups. I’m sure we share the same goals for progress and better livability in this community. For this reason I propose the consolidation of the Nyssa-Adrian schools into one school district for what I think will be for the betterment of the community, and for the benefit of our children. Dirick Nedry Oregon Blue Book Will Be Available To Public The 1971-72 edition of the OREGON BLUE BOOK, featu ring a night scene of the Capi tol on the color cover, is now coming off the presses, Sec retary of State Clay Myers said today. The first 500 copies of the 20,000-copy edition will be dis tributed free to state officials, legislators, members of the news media and various govern ment agencies. The remaining 19,500 copies will be completed around the first of February, They will go on public sale for $1.50, and will also be distributed without charge to schools, li braries and governmental agen cies, boards and commissions. “The revised format adopted for the 1969-70 edition has been retained,” Myers said, “though extensive changes were made in the text to reflect the govern mental reorganization measures passed in the 1969 legislative session.” The smythe-sewn binding was also used again in this edition, Myers said, because of its high durability and because of the favorable response from per sons who use the book con stantly. The OREGON BLUE BOOK is compiled and printed under a legislative appropriation to pro vide a reference aid to state and local government. Editor of the current edition is Assistant Secretary of State George Bell. Associate editor is Billie Reynolds. The printer is Sweeney, Krist & Dimm, Portland, which won the con tract by competitive bid. Myers said quantities of the OREGON BLUE BOOK will be Journal Classifieds Bring Results! sent to the 36 county clerks for local public sale. Mail orders will be filled by the Elections Division, State Capi tol, Salem. OREGON CANCER SOCIETY OFFICER R. William Shafer Jr., formerly of Denver, is the new executive vice-president of the American Cancer Society’s Oregon division, succeeding Mrs. Wilbur Falloon who re tired after 15 years with the division. ’-.1^ ♦ OBITUARIES ^ Joseph Staples , £ UNITED METHODIST CHURCH NEWS Jehovah Witnesses Schedule Meeting Jehovah’s Witnesses of Nyssa The United Methodist Church who associate with the Payette congregation will meet with 15 Services for E. L. (Curly) of Nyssa will observe National McEwen, 60, Fruitland, who Boy Scout week on Sunday, Feb other congregations from south died January 30 at Nyssa Me ruary 7, at the regular 11 a.m. west Idaho and eastern Oregon, morial Hospital were conducted morning service. The boys of when they go to Boise for their February 3 at the New Ply the various units in town will semi-annual convention at the South Jr. HighSchool, February mouth Ward, Church of Jesus go to the church of their choice, Christ of Latter-day Saints by and are urged to wear their 19-21. Bishop Charles Winegar. In uniforms. In announcing the Bible train * * V terment was at Rosedale Me ing convention, Charles Dodge, Sunday Feb. 7, the United presiding minister, told the con morial Garden in Payette under the direction of the New Ply Methodist Church will have a gregation of various arrange- mouth Shaffer-Jensen Memory Fellowship Dinner as soon as emnts being made to care for possible after the morning ser the delegates needs. About 250 C hapel. Everyone is invited to are expected to volunteer for the He was born at Kimberly, vice, Idaho on June 13, 1910wherehe attend, Please bring your pot, 18 departments to provide these grew up and attended schools. you luck and your own table services. He married Louise Blakeslee at service. ♦ ♦ ♦ “Implanting of the Word” Elko, Nev., on June 9, 1935. Sunday February 7, at 7:30 based on James 1:21 will be the The marriage was later solem theme of the gathering sche nized at the Logan LDS Temple p.m. the Methodist Men of the duled to begin at 6:45 p.m., Payette United Methodist on July 31, 1940. They farmed at Richfielduntil Church will conduct a special Friday, February 19. 1942 when they moved to Nampa service of Christian Witness William Young, district for a year. They moved to at the Nyssa United Methodist supervisor will be in charge of Church. Special music, inspir Fruitland in 1943. They owned the convention and serve as and operated a grocery store in ing speakers, inspiring witness, principal speaker. This will be Fruitland, farmed at the Nu- and great fellowship is pro Young’s first visit to Idaho in his Acres community south of mised. Again everyone is in new assignment. He has re vited to attend. Fruitland. presented Jehovah’s Witnesses He was an active member of in the full time ministry for 24 the LDS Church. years, the last 9 years as Survivors besides his widow CARD OF THANKS circuit supervisor. He will be ’"elude three sons, Milton, Re assisted by Douglas Rogers, dondo Beach, Calif.; Harold, Idaho Circuit #3 supervisor. New Meadows, Idaho and Roger We take this opportunity to Over 1,000 delegates are ex of Boise; a daughter, Mrs. thank our friends and relatives Orven (Orliene) Poston, Weiser; for the many acts of kindness pected to attend according to a stepson, Gene Raymond, Mo expressed in word and deed, Dodge and the department per desto, Calif; a brother, Arlo following the death of our loved sonnel and program will be an McEwen, Kimberly; 11 grand one. nounced soon he added. He also children and a great grandson. noted that all sessions are open The family of Jospeh F. He was preceded in death by Staples. to the public with no collections an infant son, two brothers and or admission charge. three sisters. E. L. McEwen Joseph F. Staples, 76, a re sident of Nyssa for the past five years, died January 28. He was born October 15,1894 in Coalville, Utah. He married Nellie Mae Moore August 14, 1917 at Salt Lake City. Later the marriage was solemnized in the LDS Temple in Salt Lake. They moved to Nyssa in 1965. Mr. Staples was active in civic and church affairs. He was President of the Town Board South Weber, Utah for 15 years. At the time of his death he was a member of the High Priest Quorum of the Nyssa First Ward, He was employed at farming and drove a truck for Weber Central Dairy for many years and was with the company until his retirement. Survivors include his wife, Nellie Staples, Nyssa; two sis ters, Mrs. Nellie Wright,Coal ville, and Mrs. Cecilia Gunn, California; and a nephew, Sam William Tyrrel L. Moore, Nyssa. William Henry Tyrrel, 60, Services were conducted Nvssa, died January 24. He February 1 at the Church of was born September 28, 1910 Jesus Christ of Latter-day in Oregon. Saints Stake House with Bishop Survivors include his wife; Reed Ray officiating. Interment Minnie, Nyssa; and two sisters, was at Nyssa under direction of Mrs. Alice Laughton, Reno, and Lienkaemper Chapel. another sister whose name is not available. Clyde J. Gilbert Services and interment were at Fallon, Nev., with local ar Clyde J. Gilbert, 85, Nyssa, rangements under direction of died January 26 at Nyssa Me Lienkaemper Chapel. morial Hospital. He was a long time resident of the Nyssa area and a retired farmer. CARD OF THANKS Mr. Gilbert was bom Aug. 5, 1885, in Missouri. We wish tothank everyone for Survivors include one nephew, the many acts of kindness and Frank Wood, Emmett, and one expressions of sympathy ex niece, Mrs. Glen Nichols, Em tended to our family at the pass mett. ing of our father. A special Services were conducted Jan thank you to the wives of the uary 29 at Lienkaemper Chapel Adrian Volunteer Firemen and by the Rev. Robert Manley of the Jolly Jane Club. the Nyssa NazareneChurch. In The family of Howard E. terment was at Owyhee. Hatch. / Shafer has been a representa tive of the ACS for the past 31/2 years, covering 7 states— Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Oklahoma and Wyoming. Prior to joining the ACS as a national representative, Shafer spent 6 years with the Texas division of the society as a field representative and campaign director. He is a graduate of the University of Texas. Thursday, February 4, 1971 PLACE YOUR SEED CORN ORDERS EARLY TO BE SURE YOU GET LOCALLY GROWN SEED * SEED GRAIN * VALE BARLEY ♦ FEDERATION WHEAT • LEMHI WHEAT FARMERS FEED AND SEED CO. Phon® 372-2201 Nyssa, Oregon Have you heard a computer • •I talk? *'»"THANK YOU INTERIOR LATEX WALL PAINT $3« Choose Any Color - Gal. SEMI GLOSS ENAMEL Any Color - Ot...................................... 2^ LATEX LOW LUSTRE ENAMEL Any Color - Ot.............................. $2« 7 in. Roller Cover. . . . 39‘ 4 in. Wall Brush. . . . . . 99' Roller & Tray Sets. . . . . . CLEANER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. S|69 SHOWER i FIXTURE W® Giv® & Redeem SRV Stamps Don B. 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