25 years ago this week — 1999

There were a few sprinkles from above — tears, perhaps? — as five students at Sam Boardman Elementary School planted a tree to remember the fathers they each lost during this school year.

The four boys and one girl hoisted the snow dwarf crabapple tree into a hole dug by janitor Dave Horn and then took turns adding planting soil. The students plan to add a plaque for their late fathers during the next school year.

Micki Fabian, the school’s counselor, said the children brain-stormed the idea of planting a tree. The crabapple tree, donated by Westwinds Nursery of Hermiston, represents the time many of them spent with their late fathers out-doors.

“(The students) are doing really well but it’s just really bizarre that we lost four fathers that affected five students and all pretty sudden,” Fabien said.

The counselor said this year has been tough for the children, all of whom lost their fathers without much warning. One died of cancer; one of an alcohol overdose, one in an automobile accident and another in a plane crash.

Last week the students wrote letters to their fathers on biodegradable rice paper and sent them adrift in the Columbia River.

The students said planting the tree made them feel better about their fathers’ deaths.

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More than 3,000 Oregon teachers will be leaving their schools in coming weeks and not returning. A third of them will leave intending to go into retirement, but without definite plans for the future.

In the Pendleton and Hermiston school districts, 84 of the 256 teachers departing this year fall into that category.

As recently as the 1995-96 school year, 35 percent of all certificated personnel – administrators included – were taking the same course. Do current departures point to a trend or a statistical anomaly, and why do teachers quit?

Some sources claim that a vast majority of current Pendleton High School sophomores did not meet the criteria for earning their certificates of Initial Mastery in the first year of the benchmark program. Could it be that new gun that teachers are under nudges them into retirement or other fields?

“I would be very surprised if many are leaving the profession because of new performance measurements,” said Ozzie Rose, executive director of the Confederation of School Administrators. “We may find that it is having an effect on marginal performers, however.”

Even with that new dynamic looming on the horizon, it’s difficult to get an answer form those who are ending their careers. Emotions in the world of today’s public education run high among everyone involved, even many of those making their way down the hallowed halls of their careers for the last time.

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For the last time in the 20th Century, a Pendleton High School graduating class moved its tassels to the right.

The graduating class of 1999 received diplomas Saturday in the 107th PHS commencement exercises.

Following the opening processional in the school’s gym, Principal Jim Gadberry introduced the district’s board of directors and asked for a second round of applause for soon-to-retire Superintendent Al Meunier.

Class President Kim Ely asked for a moment of silence in memory of two deceased classmates, and class speakers Brytni Mueller and Leslie Bradshaw set a tone for the ceremony by reminding classmates of the importance of friendships and being understanding of the shortcomings found in everyone.

“Our class can be defined by its faults, as well as its successes,” Bradshaw said, in relating how she was enlightened by a chance conversation with a homeless man in Portland. “What counts, though, is how we react to both.”

Mueller brought a chuckle from the class with reflections on junior high dances, parties and school gossip, but she encouraged classmates to remember the value of friendship.

“There is a difference between acquaintances and friends,” Mueller told her classmates. “Hold on to your friends.”

50 years ago this week — 1974

A first has been added to the 4-H summer school program this year. Over 50 4-H members and leaders in Oregon will be at Oregon State University June 10 to 15 for a 4-H Horse Workshop.

During the week the 4-H members, all 15 and older, and experienced in the 4-H horse program, will participate in a series of classes including animal health, feeds and nutrition and other aspects of horse management.

OSU faculty members from the departments of animal science, agronomic crop science and veterinary medicine will teach the sessions. Dick Shrake, 4-H leader from Oregon City, will conduct the only class in riding.

Training older youth in the fundamentals of horse management so they can assist the 4-H groups in their home counties is the goal of the program.

The workshop is the only state-wide program for youth enrolled in 4-H horse projects besides the horse show at the Oregon State Fair.

Duane Johnson, OSU extension 4-H and youth specialist is on-campus coordinator for the workshop.

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Boyles told a press conference that four inches of pipe filled with an undetermined explosive were electrically exploded Monday when Lawless, 50, opened a package in his courthouse chambers.

About 20 experts from the Treasury Department’s Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Bureau and the U.S. Postal Service were examining Lawless’s chambers Tuesday, Boyles said.

He said that the second-floor office was not badly damaged by the bomb, which exploded in a shrapnel-like manner.

“We do not have a suspect at this time,” Boyles said. “We’re attempting to run down any and all leads.”

Boyles said he did not know the strength of the bomb, but he said, “It didn’t look too sloppy,” indicating it appeared to have been constructed by an individual who knew what he was doing.

The courthouse was closed off to all by emergency use Tuesday, he said. He said police protection would continue for the other two Benton-Franklin County Superior Court judges.

Boyles did not rule out the possibility that the bombing was related to the April bombing of a Benton County deputy sheriff’s patrol car or apparent arson fires in the area. But he said there was no evidence establishing that link.

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“To Matt, Peace & Happiness — Bill Walton.”

Matt Neal couldn’t have been happier.

The autograph was the result of several visits last week between the graduating Pendleton High School senior and 6-foot-11 basketball star were patients at Portland’s St. Vincent Hospital. Walton, released Monday, underwent minor knee surgery.

Matt, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ellis Neal, Pendleton, was in the hospital recuperating after a relapse from surgery March 1. A tumor had been removed from his brain. After six weeks in the hospital we was allowed to return home to Pendleton. He was readmitted May 24 for another week at St. Vincent.

“His lids in the hospital had become pretty narrow,” said his mother.

At the other end of the hospital from Matt’s room Walton was being admitted for the knee surgery. Walton is the former All-American basketball star from UCLA who was signed to play for the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association for more than $2 million.

The nurses in the hospital had become quite acquainted with Matt over the weeks and knew he was a big sports fan. “They were determined he would get to see Walton,” said Mrs. Neal.

Last Thursday the nurses helped Matt down the hospital corridors so he could get a glimpse of Walton in his room.

Later Matt got the chance to actually meet Walton for a few minutes. “He looked awfully big,” said Matt. The hospital had to rent an extra large bed for him.

100 years ago this week — 1924

Pendleton has a new baseball manager, the fourth in fact, to take over the ribbons since the present season started. Jack Hayed who managed the Ontario club this season until that club blew- up was last night chosen to handle the playing affairs of the club. Hayes who played center field against La Grande last Sunday will both play and manage for the Buckaroos and will take Hoskins’ place behind the bat with Charlie scheduled to do his stuff around first base.

Walt Lehman who has had control of the club during its last three games put Hayes name in nomination last night at a meeting of baseball fans and directors and the former O. A. C. athlete and one time Salem Senator receiver was unanimously elected. Hayes has a tough job ahead of him in as much as it is too late to get any new players and his first game, with La Grande at La Grande Sunday will be a tough christening. However, Hayes has considerable managerial experience and is prepared to devote all of his time to the handling of the club and with the material on hand may be able to work out winning combination

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At first glance, the chances of recovering a handbag containing $100, and lost on Pendleton’s Main Street, seem pretty slim to those who believe that Diogenes, with his lantern, would meet with as little success today as he did in ancient times.

But here’s what happened when a purse containing five $20 bills, representing the savings of Mrs. D. K. Charlton, of Kamela, was dropped by its owner as she stepped into a car near the Quelle restaurant. Someone, whose name is unknown, picked up the purse, and threw it into a nearby car, evidently thinking it belonged there.

That car was owned by K. G. Warner. He found the purse and took it to Bond Brothers. Charles Bond came immediately to the East Oregonian office to insert an advertisement regarding the finding of the purse. He learned then that Mrs. Charton, having discovered the loss, had just ordered the insertion of a notice. The purse was restored to its owner.

Mrs. Charlton, who is in her seventies, stated that she had been saving the money for some time and the loss was a serious one.

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Oregon is to be represented at the Olympic games by two great track and field athletes. Ray Dodge of O. A. C. and Ralph Spearrow of Oregon are leaders in the half mile and pole vault, respectively in the world today. The following from the pen of L. H. Gregory, sports editor of the Portland Oregonian is interesting to local sports followers:

When results of the Olympic track and field competitions at Paris flash back over to the cables to America between July 5 and 13, look high in the lists for the names of two athletes from the good old state of Oregon – Ray Dodge, Oregon Agricultural colleges’ great distance runner, and Ralph Spearoow, the University of Oregon preacher-pole vaulter.

Mike Butler, track coach at O. A. C. was in Portland with Dodge yesterday and announced that Dodge shoves off tonight for the olympic tryouts at Boston June 13 and 14. His college is sending him.

And from Oregon late yesterday came a telegram announcing that arrangements have finally been completed to send Spearrow to the tryouts and to the Olympic games, for he is almost certain to qualify.