A8 News Blue Mountain Eagle A tree of thanks Wednesday, December 20, 2017 Ferrioli honored by state associations Blue Mountain Eagle State Sen. Ted Ferrioli of John Day was honored by two state associations this month. Ferrioli was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Oregon Rural Electric Cooperative Association and the Legislator of the Year Award by the Association of Oregon Centers for Indepen- dent Living. Wasco Electric Cooper- ative Board President Ron Holmes presented the life- time achievement award, ac- cording to a press release. “I am honored to accept this award from ORECA,” said Ferrioli. “Being the voice for rural Oregonians has been my privilege.” Ferrioli will begin serving on the North- west Power Planning and Ted Ferrioli Conservation Council Jan. 16. He is leav- ing the state Senate after 20 years of service. The Association of Ore- gon Centers for Independent Living presented the 2017 Betha Kagayama Legislator of the Year Award to Ferr- ioli “for his extraordinary advocacy and leadership in government on behalf of the Independent Living Move- ment and the thousands of men, women and young peo- ple with physical, mental and sensory disabilities in the state of Oregon,” according to a press release from the as- sociation. Throughout his tenure as a state legislator, Ferrioli was a staunch supporter of pro- grams that empower people with disabilities in Oregon. In the 2017 session, he sup- ported legislation to fund childhood screening for vi- sion and hearing impairment, to require additional training for professionals in suicide risk assessment and treatment, to provide services for adoles- cents experiencing a mental health crisis and to prevent discrimination against people with disabilities who require an organ transplant. Hospital givers bring winter warmth to area youths By Angel Carpenter Blue Mountain Eagle Contributed photo Leslie Barnett of the Long Creek Lodge decorated this tree in honor of veterans, military personnel, emergency medical responders, firefighters and police. ‘They should know how much we appreciate them,’ she said. Staffers at Blue Mountain Hospital in John Day shared the season’s spirit of giving, donating enough warm winter clothing for 130 Grant County school children. Blue Mountain Home Health and Hospice and com- munity members were also in on the project, donating coats, gloves, scarves and warm hats. Dorothy Piazza, the hospi- tal’s executive assistant to the CEO, said human resources director Kerri Fulton came up with the idea. The winter clothing drive began Nov. 27, and Fulton de- livered the bundles of warmth Thursday, Dec. 14, to the area schools. Piazza said the response from school officials was pos- itive. “They were very apprecia- tive,” she said, adding one of Blue Mountain Eagle Contributed photo Blue Mountain Hospital staff sort out winter clothing to distribute to Grant County school children. several emails they received was from Long Creek Superin- tendent/Principal Del Dykstra who thanked them for organiz- ing a worthwhile cause. Additional clothing was reserved for the children who recently survived a Prairie City house fire. Piazza said the goal was to distribute the clothing before Christmas. Let our family of Pharmacists serve you! EARLY DEADLINES for the January 3rd edition Classified, Legal & Display deadline isThursday, December 28 th at NOON Give us a call today 541-676-9158 - Heppner 541-384-2801 - Condon We welcome the opportunity to visit with you about our services! For more information or to place an ad, call Kim at 541-575-0710. Our office will be CLOSED J anuar y 1st Heppner & & Condon Heppner Condon Blue Mountain Eagle EARLY DEADLINES for the December 2Fth edition Classified, Legal & Display deadline is Thursday, December 21 st at NOON For more information or to place an ad, call Kim at 541-5F5-0F10 Our office will be CLOSED December 25 th Every other Monday in John Day at Blue Mountain Hospital 170 Ford Rd. • 541-575-1311