FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 9
Local
Hospital holds community BBQ Turbo helps in
meth arrest
• St. Alphonsus
celebrates five years
in Baker City
BY GINA K. SWARTZ
Gina@TheBakerCountyPress.com
A hospital is a staple
of any community. St.
Alphonsus took over St.
Elizabeth’s, a pillar of the
community for over 100
years, just fi ve years ago
and with it many strides
have been made to im-
prove rural health care.
April 10, 2010 was the
offi cial acquisition date
and the fi ve-year mark
was celebrated last Friday
with an open house that
included tours and a free
barbecue.
Improvements to the
health care system have
not only included renova-
tions and additions to the
facility and equipment but
personnel as well.
In addition to the St.
Alphonsus medical group
that is housed at the medi-
cal center, Baker Clinic
was added in 2011 with
Valley Medical Clinic
being added in 2012. St.
Alphonsus Medical Group
provides Dr. Tylka, Gen-
eral Surgery, who will be
retiring in the fall.
Dr. Zachary Bastain has
been hired and will begin
in August to fi ll the void.
Dr. Sandefur and
assistant Autumn Swiger-
Harrell PA-C provide
orthopedics and Dr. Leslie
Jackson rounds out the
group with her specialty in
Rheumatology.
Baker Clinic staffs
Melissa Knutson, D.O.
family practitioner, sports
medicine and acupunctur-
ist and Zach Allen PA-C.
Valley Medical Clinic is
Dr. Charles Hofmann,
Internal Medicine, Bryan
Braun PA-C and Kara Wil-
liamson, MSN FNP-BC.
Dr. Hofmann is looking at
retiring in 2016 so a new
physician will be hired to
replace him.
CEO Ray Gibbons, who
came to St. Alphonsus
in 2010 said, “Dr. Jack-
son also sees patients in
Ontario and La Grande by
telemedicine.”
With the closing down
of the Long-term Care
Center, the area that was
the dining room for the
facility has been redone
into what is now called the
Powder River Conference
Room.
“It’s set up to do video
conferencing in here, web
or phone conferenc-
ing. One of the things
we’ve found is by doing
Gina K. Swartz / The Baker County Press
St. Alphonsus—Baker City CEO Ray Gibbons with Sommer Sargent, who is an
RN and nurse supervisor in obstetrics.
a teleconference that can
be a very effective way to
educate. So instead of a
lot of the staff or myself
travelling up and down the
road to attend meetings we
can come in here have our
meeting by video or phone
and go back to work. This
room has been a nice addi-
tion,” Gibbons explained.
There is also a deal in
the works that could bring
New Directions Northwest
to the facility utilizing
unused space that was pre-
viously the care center.
Another area recently
constructed was The Gath-
ering Place, which was
unused space just beyond
the Powder River Confer-
ence Room.
“It is an extension of our
cafeteria, just additional
space for families to come
and have a nice place to
sit. This space was made
possible with a donation
from NORCO,” said Gib-
bons.
Last May saw the unveil-
ing of the newly remodeled
lobby. “One of the fi rst
the fi rst things I noticed
the fi rst time I walked in
was the lobby. I stepped in
and took a step back. We
have a nice lobby now. It’s
comfortable now. People
can come in and have a
conversation. That’s been
a big plus for the commu-
nity,” Gibbons commented.
In addition to the re-
model of the lobby was the
addition of a gift shop. At
the same time the Mam-
mography Women’s Suite
was introduced.
“Right across the hall is
the ultrasound machine so
if that is needed it can just
be wheeled over very eas-
ily. And we also have our
new CT machine, well we
have had it for two and a
half years now but it’s still
new,” Gibbons said.
Approximately three
years ago the medical
center opened the Billie
Ruth Bootsma Clinic. The
clinic has proved valuable
to many providing cancer
treatments that before
required out of town travel.
The clinic also provides in-
fusions, blood transfusions
and wound care, and also
treats Rheumatoid Arthri-
tis, Multiple Sclerosis and
Osteoporosis.
In addition the Clinic
staffs a dietician.
Updates are in the works
for the Birthing Center,
in fact new glider rockers
have been ordered with
plans for additional rockers
being added in the future.
All birthing suites have
state of the art equipment
that simply hides away in
closets and drawers when
not needed providing a
calm, comfortable envi-
ronment. Aside from the
bed for “Mom” there is an
additional bed in the room
for the birthing coach. All
rooms except for one have
Jacuzzi bathtubs and the
one that does not has a
walk in shower for women
that required a caesarian
section. That room also
has a different type bed
to provide comfort since
women that have caesarian
deliveries usually require a
longer hospital stay.
Although the birth-
ing center doesn’t have a
traditional nursery, new
mothers are encouraged to
keep newborns with them,
there is all the necessary
stabilization equipment
available for newborns.
The birthing center also
has extreme security to
ensure safety, doors are
locked at all times and
either a code is required or
you must contact a nurse
by phone to gain entry.
Gibbons pointed out
fl yers on the walls that
highlighted some of the ac-
complishments the last fi ve
years have brought though
out the facility in areas
such as Heath Information
Management, Radiology,
Physical and Occupational
Therapy and Clinical Cod-
ing.
Gibbons stressed “Stan-
dard of Care” being a main
focus, the idea behind that
being you could go to any
Trinity Health Care facility
and expect to see the same
practices at the same level
being exercised.
One thing Gibbons said
he has seen implemented
and would like to see grow
is what they call the LEAN
program. “It is a new pro-
gram, the concept is to get
the people involved that do
the work. Empower them
to fi nd ways to improve,
fi gure out how to imple-
ment improvements and
replicate it across our sys-
tem. The more standard-
ized we can get the better
things are for everyone.
The more we can take
some of these back offi ce
type things and make them
more effi cient, lowest
cost we can then we get to
really focus on the people
service. The best people to
know how to make things
better are the ones who do
the work,” he said.
Five years have seen a
many changes and from
the vision it does not ap-
pear to be slowing down.
BHS honor roll announced
Baker High School re-
cently announced its honor
roll for the third quarter
of 2015. The students
included are:
Seniors:
*Kate Averett, *Aria
Carpenter, *Rebekah
Compos,*Grant Ermov-
ick, *Elizabeth Hardy,
*Matea Huggins, *Mi-
chelle Lehman,*Levi
Mansuetti,*Ashley
McMurray, *Anna
Payton,*Madison
Richards,*Zachary
Tomac,Michael Brady, To-
bin Brown, Zarom Bruce,
Angelee Calder, Elizabeth
Calder, Bridger Cook,
Skye Crabill, Brooke
Duby, Austin Folkman,
Celina Fuzi, Clayton Lea-
Master, Farrell Linscott,
Micah Mespelt, Tatiana
O’Neal, Kaitlyn Sandefur
and Elijah Witham.
Juniors:
*Makenna Bachman,
*Samuel Baxter, *Ame-
lia Bott, *Megan Burk,
*Christopher Conant,
*Madison Elms, *Melissa
Foltz, *Kassidy Hertel,
*Sierra Mastrude, *Han-
nah Myers, *Hollis Robb
*Morgan Scilacci, *Braden
Staebler-Siewell, *Hannah
Wilson, Cody Bingham,
Lena Bowers, Stella Bow-
ers, Dylan Chaves, Raelin
Davis, Isaac Farber, Jayden
Freeman, Rachel Free-
man, Dusty Gyllenberg,
Koby Hansen, Jennifer
Hoernschemeyer, Nathan-
iel Illingsworth, Ashley
Knoll, Lindsay Livingston,
Gracie McCarrell, Danielle
McCauley, Mackenzie
Patterson, Megan Pin-
tok, Jacob Rilee, Emily
Sandefur, Rory Scilacci,
Bryson Smith, Brandon
Stairs, Hunter Stone, Te-
ancum Taylor, Marco Vela,
Autumn Weideman and
Savannah Wirth.
Sophomores:
*Micah Bradford, *Jo-
sephine Bryan, *Kourtney
Lehman, *Marcus Plum-
ley, *Elizabeth Rea,*Erik
Ruby, *Ryan Schwin, Erin
Blincoe, Katrina Bott,
Boston Colton, Brooke
Conklin, Thomas Dunn,
Jace Hays, Kirsten Hebner,
Tyler Joseph, James Maz-
zagotte, Shane McCauley,
Jared Miller, Kayley Point-
er, Elizabeth VanGaasbeck
and Kirsten White.
Freshmen:
*Katya Brown,*Kaylee
Burk, *Emily Carter,
*Carson Lien, *Mason
Tomac, Josie Ash, Kylie
Callaway, Ashlie Chastain,
Augustena Cook, Jackson
Cutler, Kyra Davis, Isa-
bella Evans, Kaeli Flana-
gan, Samuel Hamilton,
Jesse Johnson,Vicky Ortiz,
Khiana White, Tiger Lily
Wilhelm and Ericka Wirth.
* Denotes a 4.0.
On April 13, 2015 Baker City Police received informa-
tion that three local individuals, two of which were want-
ed for probation violations, were involved in drug activity
and would be driving a vehicle to a local residence during
the morning hours. At about 10:55 am Baker City Police
Offi cers observed that vehicle with multiple occupants. At
about 10:57 am Offi cer Shannon Regan initiated a traffi c
stop near the intersection of 10th Street and Broadway
Avenue, after recognizing one of the occupants was a
subject wanted in relation to a probation violation.
Subsequent to the traffi c stop and arrest of two subjects
from the vehicle for probation violations, BCPD’s drug
detection dog Turbo was deployed on the vehicle. Turbo
alerted to the scent of illegal narcotics and a search was
conducted. A controlled substance was found in the
vehicle and the driver, Heather Govern, was arrested
for Possession of a Controlled Substance (Methamphet-
amine).
At that time the search ended and the Baker City Police
wrote and obtained a search warrant to continue the
search. Additional evidence was found.
Arrested were: - Heather Nicole Govern (01/15/1990)
3670 9th Drive, Possession of a Controlled Substance
(Methamphetamine); - Loren Dean Alexander Prevo
(11/05/1992), 2355 Carter Street, Probation Violation
(Detainer); - Andrew Jay Culley (01/04/1989), 1519 10th
Street Probation Violation (Detainer).
This investigation will be ongoing and additional ar-
rests are likely.
Alice Trindle,
SVRR receive
awards
EUGENE, Ore. – April 13, 2015 – The Oregon Tourism
Commission (dba Travel Oregon) is proud to announce
the recipients of the 2014 Travel and Tourism Industry
Achievement Awards, presented at the 2015 Governor’s
Conference on Tourism in Eugene, Ore.
The annual awards recognize people and organizations
across the state that go the extra mile to enhance the trav-
el and tourism industry in Oregon. The award recipients
are outstanding examples of professionals who, by virtue
of their vision, perseverance and dedication, are a credit
to Oregon’s tourism and hospitality industry.
The state’s most prized recognition is the Governor’s
Tourism Award. This year’s award was given to Alice
Trindle, Executive Director of the Eastern Oregon Visi-
tors Association. A tireless worker with an uncanny knack
for building partnerships, Trindle has led the way in
placing the great expanse of Eastern Oregon in the eyes
of visitors.
“It’s an honor to recognize Alice for her passion and de-
cades of service to Oregon’s travel and tourism industry,”
said Todd Davidson, CEO of Travel Oregon. “She has an
incredible ability to accomplish great undertakings with a
limited budget. She is also a champion of building local
partnerships to help Eastern Oregon achieve much more
than any one person or entity could do on their own, all
while ensuring that the region maintains its unique char-
acter and charm.”
The Oregon Heritage Tourism Award recognizes out-
standing incorporation of Oregon’s authentic cultural or
natural history as a way to draw visitors to the state. One
of only two mobile historic districts listed on the National
Register of Historic Places, the Sumpter Valley Railroad
was named the winner of this year’s award. Volunteers
from across the state pitch in every summer to continue
the restoration and operation of the railroad. Many of
these volunteers share the history of the railroad and the
important role it played during the region’s early timber
and mining heyday with visitors.
Salem man
killed in crash
Oregon State Police (OSP) troopers are continuing the
investigation into Sunday morning's fatal traffi c crash on
I-84 near milepost 274 - 12 miles west of North Powder
in Ladd Canyon.
Shortly after 3:00 a.m., a white 2002 Chevrolet Ex-
press Van, with seven occupants rolled over at milepost
274. One passenger, a man from Salem, was pronounced
deceased at the scene. One man was transported by air
ambulance, and the fi ve remaining were taken by ground
ambulance.
Troopers report icy conditions in the area, which may
have been a factor in the crash.
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