LEFT: 1998 — Kevin Walker, of Milton-Freewater, right, on his horse, Melody, herd some of the 160 head of cattle down Upper Dry Creek Road near Weston. About 25 cowboys and cowgirls drove the herd from its summer and fall grazing area to the winter feedlot at the Kirk-Hall Ranch in Weston. RIGHT: 1998 — Hermiston’s Ann Lopez (42) goes to the basket against Pasco’s Sharae Howard (52) while Hermiston’s Audry Yunker (32) looks on during the Bulldogs’ 55-44 season-opening victory.

25 years ago this week — 1998

Vafa Aflatooni knows how lucky Americans are to enjoy the religious freedoms and the protection of human rights that exist here. Many of his relatives and friends back in Iran face persecution and even death by practicing their Baha’i faith.

The Pendleton pharmacist’s aunt was in prison for nine months, and her husband was confined for three and a half years. Their son was jailed between 1980 and 1985. His aunt and uncle have had no contact with him since he was again detained in early October.

“Everyone who’s come to this county will have a story like that,” Aflatooni says. “My next door neighbors in Iran were a wonderful husband and wife. They were both summarily executed without a lawyer or a trial. It’s become, unfortunately, a way of life for a lot of the Baha’is in that country.”

In the Islamic world there is said to be one night – the Night of Nights – during which the secret gates of the sky open wide and the water in the jugs tastes sweeter. But for followers of the minority Baha’i faith, each day seems to bring the bitter taste of persecution and denial of basic human rights.

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A 1999 calendar featuring photographs of the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Parade Unit are now available.

The unit is the brainchild of Umatilla County Sheriff John Trumbo. Made up mainly of sheriff’s department officers and staff and several members of the sheriff’s search and rescue personnel, the unit functions primarily as a parade team.

The member’s uniforms are fashioned after a 1880’s deputy marshal uniform, and they ride their mounts in parades.

“It allows the public to see police out of their traditional patrol vehicles and uniforms,” Trumbo said.

The 1999 calendar features black and white photographs of the group and a leatherette cover embossed with the Unit’s badge. It will sell for $10 and be available at Hamley & Co., Armchair Books and Frazier Book Store in Pendleton, Adams Grocery in Adams and the sheriff’s offices in Pendleton and Hermiston.

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Oregon House Speaker-elect Lynn Snodgrass is joining Senate President Brady Adams in supporting tax cuts as part of the 1999 Legislature’s budget agenda.

The development may set the stage for lawmakers to carve funds from some parts of Gov. John Kitzhaber’s budget to fund tax reductions for low-income wage earners and pensioners.

Kitzhaber on Tuesday issued a proposed $10.7 billion state budget he said would target new spending toward education, juvenile crime and Oregon’s livability.

The governor said his recommended two-year budget doesn’t advocate any tax increases but would finance his programs by shifting money within the budget.

Adams, R-Grants Pass, said the majority Senate Republicans who have issued their own budget plan aren’t at great odds with the Democratic governor’s budget.

50 years ago this week — 1973

Most service station owners across the country plan to close their gas pumps because they don’t have the fuel to sell or because they’re trying to conserve energy as requested by President Richard Nixon.

The president requested the voluntary ban on Sunday gas sales in his energy speech last Sunday. A bill pending in Congress would give him the power to make the closing mandatory.

An Associated Press survey showed the great majority of stations expect to close this Sunday. Industry spokesman and trade association representatives in 31 states said at least 75 per cent of the stations would sell no gas from 9 p.m. Saturday to midnight Sunday.

Stations in some areas already have been closing on Sunday because of lack of fuel. Spokesman for the Oregon Gasoline Dealers Association said that between half and two-thirds of the state’s 2,800 stations have been closing Sunday for several months because of the fuel shortage.

75 years ago this week — 1948

America’s farm land won’t blow away or become barren if the current crop of 4-H young people has anything to do with it.

Eight young farmers, named today as winners of the 4-H national soil conservation contest, have reported methods of checking soil losses which range from seeing, crop rotation, changing the course of a creek, and building dams, to contour strip cropping and terracing.

Winners include David Shoemaker, 18, of Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Five girls and three other boys were named winners of the 4-H home grounds beautification project. Each receives an all-expense trip to the congress, donated by Mrs. Charles R. Walgreen of Chicago.

Winners in this division include Bobby Miller, 19, Forrest, New Mexico, and Charlotte Smudla, 16, Portland, Ore.

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Dr. Gordon W. McGowan, 34, specialist in obstetrics and gynecology, is now associated with Drs. J. P. Brennan and E. S. Morgan.

Following graduation from high school in The Dalles, Dr. McGowan attended the University of Oregon and was graduated in 1938. In 1942 he was graduated from University of Oregon Medical School. He served his internship at Multnomah and Doernbecher Memorial hospitals in Portland.

He comes here following three years as resident surgeon in obstetrics and gynecology at Multnomah Hospital and University of Oregon Medical School Clinics, positions he held since return from service as captain with the 30th Infantry Division, in 1943-45. This service was in England, Normandy, Northern France, Holland, Belgium and Germany.

100 years ago this week — 1923

That the Red Cross roll call is still $500 behind and that genuine cooperation will be needed in order to make up Pendleton’s quota was stated at the Rotary luncheon today by Geroge Hartman, city chairman. Mr. Hartman urged that the city not fall behind its quota because it is essential that the Red Cross chapter be maintained.

Most of the program today was devoted to the reading of questionnaires filed last week by the various members, each man being asked to state this idea of rotary. The various answers aroused much interest.

The Rotarians were favored today by Miss Lillian Culley with a vocal solo and an encore, Miss Culley being accompanied by Mrs. Mae Hager.

At the outset of the meeting today E. B. Aldrich was asked to lead with the O. A. C. yell in honor of the football victory Saturday. Mr. Aldrich responded with a compliment to the sportsmanship of the University of Oregon men.

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The extension of the railroad from Milton to Umapine, a consummation of which has been the devout wish of the east end district for many years, was authorized by the board of directors of the Walla Walla Valley Railroad Co. in a meeting at Seattle, Nov. 27.

Information of this action is contained in a copy of the resolution adopted by the board of directors which has been forwarded here to County Clerk R. T. Brown for being recorded on the county books.

A survey of the proposed route to be taken was made last summer. In the resolution adopted, instruction is given to the engineer to deviate from the route surveyed where less damage will be caused to property by making a change. Changes may also be made to decrease the cost and to improve grades, it is stated.

The estimated cost of the road and the time when construction will be begun are not mentioned in the resolution.

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The Indian who is handling his own affairs has need at times to be cautious not only in his dealings with the white man but also with educated members of his own tribe. There are many cases where the red-man has been induced to sign instruments he should not have signed. At times he is told to sign what he thinks is a lease and it may prove a deed to his property. The intermediary in such cases may be an Indian in whom the party concerned has wrongfully placed his trust.

These facts are from J. A. Farris, a full blooded Indian from Kansas who is now here as a representative of the Protective Association for the American Indian. Mr. Farris accompanied by Mrs. Farris is on a visit to northwest reservations and he spoke to the Umatilla Indians yesterday.