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It has been said that "Religion does not equal integrity" also , "Separation of religion and government is a valuable lesson taught in history". What is integrity?

Doubleday dictionary states: Integrity: Up righteousness of character, honesty,
unimpaired state and most of all , soundness. Being upright suggests religion
of some sort for over the years as history has taught us, along with all religious teachings, that the uniformity of thought in preserving the balance of what we found when we came into this world along with satisfying the needs of multiplying numbers, has provided generation after generation the opportunity to develop ever newer ways of management.
All the influences from long, searching thought, prayer and physical effort through trial and error. (Progress comes just that way.) whether it be by one political party or another.
Integrity is not meant to be a weapon of the unjust to claim when their actions belie their words but rather a goal that we should all pursue. Setting the best example of
fair dealing in everyday encounters, not just once in awhile.

The unimpaired state is one that is whole, working unimpaired by breakdowns, undue pressure, immoral behavior, all things suggesting the body of political and religious beings lack both integrity and lack of attention in renewing thoughtful application of values so long established by foregoing generations.

There must be a combination of religious and political unity in governing ourselves
because as history has proven, man is as great as time allows. Work plus reward plus charity toward all. Religion offers hope.

Gopher Valley
Written By Carol Stanford Hall

This is a true story about my honeymoon in 1943. My to-be husband was in the U.S. Army and stationed at the time in Camp Adair (or Swamp Mudaire as the men called it) It had been built on low ground and was subject to flooding with ensuing mud. He got a pass to come into town, Salem, for the weekend of Jan. 30th. The USO sent him up to my parents' home to rent a room they had extra for Fri. and Sat. nights. My mother had a banner with 3 stars on the front door in honor of my 3 brothers. Two in the U.S. Navy and the other in the U.S.

Coast Guard. George talked with mother a bit and I overheard her ask him to remove his heavy overcoat and sit down. He answered" Thank you but I have to pay you for the room and then go uptown to buy some new socks."

I had been doing up the lunch dishes in the kitchen and decided to go see what the soldier looked like. I liked what I saw. 6' tall; light brown-red hair like mine and neatly cut; very erect and slim. He had the bluest of eyes and a nice broad smile. Mother introduced us and I asked if he would like to take off his heavy overcoat and sit down.?

He said, " Believe I will."

Mother later kidded him, saying that was your 1st mistake. We talked about Camp Adair where I had attended a few USO dances in groups. Time went by and my mother remarked that she had to prepare supper for my Dad and would George like to join us? He readily agreed. After my Dad got home, washed up and came in to meet George, we all had a nice hot meal. I then asked my Dad if he still wanted to attend the basketball game at the Univ. that I had two tickets for.

He said "I'm just too tired. Maybe the Srgt. would like to see it."

George said, "That would be great." It was our first date...walking in the 6" deep snow to the Univ. Gym, and back again after the noisy game. I told him that it had been fun seeing it with him and goodnight. I went into my bedroom and he, into the guest room. The next morning about 9: a.m. my mother woke me up saying" Carol, get up!!! That soldier is still here and I don't know what to do with him."

I got up and was soon dressed. He was all dressed and freshly shaved so suggested that we walk downtown for breakfast. Thus began a every weekend "date" and from Jan 30 until May 8th we saw each other as much as we could plus phone calls. He didn't want any other soldier renting "his room". We were married in my parents' home by the Dean of Religion of the Univ. My sister then took us to Portland for our Honeymoon night in the New Heathman Hotel.

We journeyed by train the next morning to Ft. Lewis, the main Army station George was assigned to at that time. I rented a room in a large house and we could see each other most nights and every weekend he had free.

In the fall when the leaves were turning, George got a 2 week leave. We took the train to Portland where my sister met us and took us to my parents home back in McMinnville. They had rented the Salem house only for a short while. My sister drove Geo. and I up toward Sheridan, Or. to a road called "Gopher Valley," which led to the Mt. Cabin she owned on a side hill. The view from the deck of the cabin was magnificent. In the V of the hills, the bright moon would come up and you would wonder how perfect a spot. The cabin was on 5 acres and included a creek access down a trail that one could wade in when it was hot. The cabin had 2 bedrooms, a bath, a kitchen and a huge stone fireplace along the front room south wall. We were so happy to have this special time together.

We built a small fire and laid pillows in front of it...we were getting comfortable when all of a sudden we heard heavy footsteps on the deck!! We couldn't imagine anyone being anywhere near as the closest neighbor lived 2 miles away. I went to the door and there stood Tom and his life-long friend Lloyd. I knew both, Tom was the Skin Specialist Dr. that my sister worked for the past 10 years, Lloyd...his old fishing buddy. They were on their way to the beach to fish and came by for the night. We made them welcome by giving them hot coffee and rolls. Tom took one bedroom and Lloyd the other. That left Geo. and I to drag out the large roll up mattress and put it down with blankets and pillows in front of the now receding fire.

After we were just about asleep, we heard loud snoring...snoring and Tom yelled at Lloyd to turn over. Not 15 minutes later. Again ..snoring- snoring and another loud hollering from Tom telling Lloyd to turn again. We thought that would do it but no...he was at the snoring again...this time Tom just exploded. He exclaimed" Well....Jeeee-susss" and walked out to the kitchen, got some cold water in a pan and dumped it over Lloyd.

That did the trick...the shock must have stopped the noise as it was quiet until morning. Geo. and I were laughing as quietly as we could. We prepared the men their breakfast and saw them off early for their fishing venture. We finally had the cabin to ourselves and enjoyed the freedom of the trials, creek and most of all privacy to see the moon come up and no one to bother us. We talked about our honeymoon for years to come.

Crown Point
Written By Carol Stanford Hall

Along the Columbia River highway, there is a large round building that tourists can view the spectacular Columbia River Basin. It is high on a cliff overlooking the Oregon lands on the south side of the Columbia and the lands of the State of Washington to the north. It is best to drive there in good weather as it can get very icy and windy in the winter months. The Columbia is the largest river in Oregon and hundreds of miles long, leading to the Pacific Ocean.

On a nearby cliff site, two hills to the West was a lovely mountain cabin on a road out of Corbett, Oregon. My sister had that cabin built to house her many antiques. A spinning wheel, old leather wooden rockers, a round dining table and bunks for sleeping. My carpenter husband built the Dutch Doors out of knotty pine which was popular in those years. It took more time to get them completed because he said the frame was neither plumb or square. They were so pretty when finished and admired by every visitor.

The fireplace was made of natural stone and a large hearth out of used firebrick. Colorful rag rugs decorated the floors. The windows all along 3 walls were small paned and one could see for miles. The traffic down on the Columbia was fun to watch. Barges and boats with people fishing , tugs and the usual river business. A train track ran along the river up on a ledge. I remember what year it was at our first use of the cabin as our best friends had their 3 month old baby with them and I was expecting my husband's and my first child. We drove up to a little town called Corbett and turned off onto the long winding road to the cabin.

The baby's name was Nancy and we placed her on the pillowed top of the wide window sill, on her back so that we could watch her. We adults played pinochle and as we played, all of a sudden I noticed Nancy had turned over !! We all hurrahed as any new parent or about to be's...feel elated at every progressive step a baby makes.

A fire was lit in the fireplace and we gathered around the table for our picnic supper and to watch the sun go down on the Colombia. It was really gorgeous. After enjoying the nice day, we bunked down to sleep. Nancy was being nursed by her mother and we all slept well.

The next morning we enjoyed hot pancakes, sausage, fruit and coffee before going out along the paths to the cabin, hunting wild blueberries which were plentiful. We were fearful of poison oak bushes as they were all along the area, also. That was one of many trips to the cabin but the one most remembered. In later years, my sister loaned the keys to the cabin to a Dr. she worked for a short time. He was an avid hunter and took his rifle up with him thinking he could bag a deer. He cleaned his rifle on the fireplace hearth spilled oil and left the cabin with a fire going. About two hours later, sparks ignited that oil and the cabin was afire. The Corbett fire dept. did what they could in containing the fire but all that was left was the fireplace and the chimney. The family only had pictures and memories of a beautiful location left. My was sister paid by the Insurance Co. she had it insured with but because of its' location...only about a 10th of what it cost to build and no way to replace the antiques. We were sure we would never allow any guns near our properties from then on.

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