Business
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, June 6, 2018
A3
Local medical supply
service to continue
Norco not to
scale back
as happened
in Burns
Contributed photo
Pomp Latshaw works in the gardens at the Guyon
Springs Inn in Dayville. The site is one of three in Grant
County that will offer agritourism dinners this summer.
By Richard Hanners
Blue Mountain Eagle
The Norco store in John
Day will continue business
as before, providing durable
medical equipment such as
beds and walkers, oxygen
and related breathing equip-
ment, splints and braces, in-
continence supplies and oth-
er medical equipment.
That was the word from
Eagle file photo
Wayne Barker, the branch Darla Carpenter, the owner of Norco Medical, poses for a photo in the John Day store.
manager at Norco’s office in The business will continue providing durable medical equipment after concerns that
it could reduce its offerings to oxygen only.
Bend.
“Things will continue as
normal,” he told the Eagle.
beds. In addition to the hos-
pice and assisted living fa-
“Negotiations have complet-
cilities, she estimated Norco
ed. There will be no change
services hundreds of private
to service.”
Word that the local Norco
homes.
store might scale back ser-
Barker, the branch man-
ager, said declining reim-
vices to supplying only oxy-
bursement rates from Medi-
gen had raised concerns with
care and other insurers over
Grant County businesses
the past years have signifi-
that rely on Norco for med-
cantly impacted rural areas
ical equipment and supplies,
across the United States. In
including Blue Mountain
The Eagle/Richard Hanners
Central Oregon, the result is
Hospital District, which op-
erates Blue Mountain Home The Norco store in John Day is a stock point, meaning
that only two durable medi-
cal equipment providers re-
Health & Hospice, and Val- it handles deliveries of equipment and supplies and
not financial transactions.
main in business: Norco and
ley View Assisted Living.
Lincare.
Local concerns were re-
inforced after the Norco
In some cases, resi- pital District CEO Derek
Norco’s goal is to provide
store in Burns closed, and dents need access to cer- Daly said he began inves- quality service and still make
reduced medical supply tain equipment and supplies tigating options once he a reasonable profit, which is
service was offered by a re- right away, such as patients learned about the rumors.
increasingly difficult in some
spiratory therapist under the returning home from the
The Norco store in John rural areas, Barker said.
name Frontier Medical.
emergency room or people Day is a “stock point” or Norco, through its trade as-
Grant County residents who transition from assisted delivery location. Sales are sociations, lobbies Rep. Greg
already deal with the eco- living to hospice.
handled by the branch of- Walden and other political
nomic impacts of living in
“That could mean longer fice in Bend. According to groups to continue to support
an isolated rural area. For hospital stays,” Valley View Melissa Chesley, who works rural areas.
hospice and assisted living Administrator
“We hope that wiser
Stephanie at the local Norco store, the
clients, along with disabled Rodriguez said. “We can’t store had expanded its offer- minds will prevail, but it’s
and elderly residents who re- readmit people at Valley ings after Darla Carpenter a concerning issue,” he said.
ceive special care in private View without the required became the manager last
Chesley said Carpenter
homes, not having a local equipment.”
year and the local staff ex- will continue to manage the
store with a ready invento-
Norco store in John Day,
Rodriguez said she was panded to four.
ry of special equipment and devastated when she heard
Chesley said the staff use and plans are to continue
supplies could mean placing through the grapevine that their own vehicles to deliver stocking existing inventory
an order and waiting one or Norco might reduce ser- supplies across Grant Coun- and to maintain the staff of
vices. Blue Mountain Hos- ty. A van is used for moving four.
two weeks for delivery.
Peterson elected chairman of BEO board
BEO Bancorp and its
subsidiary, Bank of Eastern
Oregon, upon completion of
the annual shareholders meet-
ing in Heppner, elected Joel
Peterson as chairman of the
board and Joe Gonzalez Jr. as
vice chairman.
Peterson joined the board
in 1993 and is the current
board’s longest serving direc-
tor. He is president of Daily
Bread Farms, a family owned
farm near Ione. He and his
wife, Lea, a middle school
teacher, have three children.
Gonzalez joined the board
in 2015. He owns an electri-
cal contracting business in
Richland, Washington. He
and his wife, Delia, live in
Richland.
“We are excited to have
Joel and Joe lead the board
of directors for the next
year. Both gentlemen are
active and engaged board
members. Joel continues his
service as chair of the funds
management committee, also
serving on the compensation
and loan committees. Joe
serves on the audit and funds
management committees,”
T-O Engineers celebrates 30 years in aviation
Blue Mountain Eagle
T-O Engineers, Inc., a
full-service planning and en-
gineering firm, is celebrating
30 years in the aviation sector.
T-O Engineers has served
the Grant County Regional
Airport since 2012 and has
successfully completed proj-
ects including the reconstruc-
tion of Runway 9-27 and de-
velopment of the new Airport
Master Plan. T-O is currently
in the design phase of a proj-
ect that will reconstruct the
corporate and general aviation
aprons and relocate the airport
fueling facility.
Aviation team members
will be traveling to visit cli-
ents throughout the Northwest
and thanking them for their
continued support.
“We truly care about our
clients and about doing things
the right way,” said Avia-
tion Services Manager Dave
Mitchell. “We care about the
communities we serve by
improving their airports, and
we work hard to help those
Billy (Buddy) Iven Warren
Born March 19, 1929
Passed away February 2, 2018
There will be
a memorial
service for his
burial where
he will be
laid to rest
June 16th at
1 p.m. at the
Prairie City
Cemetery.
61701
communities accomplish their
goals for their airport.”
said President and CEO Jeff
Bailey. “The vast experience
and leadership qualities of
these two men will serve our
shareholders well.”
By Richard Hanners
Blue Mountain Eagle
Three inns in Grant County
that have turned to agritourism
to increase business and bring
awareness of small agricultural
producers in the area will host
three special dinners this sum-
mer featuring locally harvested
seasonal ingredients along with
an astronomy presentation.
Guyon Springs Inn in Day-
ville will host a dinner June 16,
Land’s Inn in Kimberly on July
7 and Diamond Hitch Mule
Ranch in Kimberly on Aug. 11.
Dinners and the show are $30
per person.
Amy Bilbeisi, a former Na-
tional Park Service interpretive
ranger, will provide an astron-
omy show following each din-
ner. The event helps to show-
case Bilbeisi’s new business,
Oregon Star Safaris, a mobile
astronomical experience.
Agritourism, a growing eco-
nomic niche, involves commer-
cial enterprises at a working
farm or ranch conducted for the
enjoyment of its visitors and to
generate supplemental income
for the owner. Activities for
visitors might include outdoor
recreation, educational experi-
ences and on-farm direct sales.
According to a 2003 survey
of 400 Oregon cattle ranches
by Oregon State University, 21
percent of the 177 respondents
promoted agritourism and re-
ported that agritourism con-
tributed about 8 percent of their
household income.
Seventy-nine percent of
responding owners reported
their agritourism business was
a success. About 82 percent of
guests in the study were from
Oregon, and 73 percent were
repeat customers. About 38
percent of guests learned about
the operation from friends or
family.
Some agritourism busi-
nesses offer stays at a bed and
breakfast. Educational opportu-
nities range from experiencing
ranch or farm work to attending
cooking classes or wine tast-
ings. Entertainment can include
harvest festivals and barn danc-
es.
The Oregon Agritourism
Partnership nonprofit estab-
lished in 2014 works to connect
the public with Oregon farms,
ranches, wineries or other ag-
ricultural value-added opera-
tions. “Farm loops” to Canby,
Farmland, Molalla and Marion
feature pet farm animals, hazel-
nuts and chocolates, festivals
and rodeos and pick-your-own
produce.
Travel Oregon launched the
Oregon Agritourism Network
in 2015 to promote agritour-
ism businesses. Travel Oregon
also convened an Agritourism
Working Group to identify six
priority focus areas and devel-
op a 2025 vision for agritour-
ism.
The Guyon Springs Inn din-
ner on June 16 will feature tra-
ditional lamb asado with meat
from the Cade farm in Monu-
ment, field green salad from
the inn’s garden, Dutch oven
spanakopita made with greens
from the garden and strawberry
shortcake for dessert. For tick-
ets, call Kerri Latshaw at 541-
620-4950.
The Diamond Hitch Mule
Ranch dinner on July 7 will
feature Painted Hills grilled
sirloin, cheese from a local
fromagerie, seasonal grilled
vegetables and local greens
and homemade pies using fruit
from Kimberly Orchards. For
tickets, call Jody Foss at 541-
934-2140.
The Land’s Inn dinner on
Aug. 11 will feature chicken
and vegetables from Grimma
and Dan Horgan’s Happy Hens
farm. For tickets, call Carol or
Tom Buce at 541-934-2333.
1809 First Street • Baker City • (541)523-5439
BARGAIN MATINEE IN ( ) Adults $7
ALL FILMS $6 ON TIGHTWAD TUESDAY
MOVIE SCHEDULE JUNE 8-14
OCEANS 8 (PG-13)
Debbie Ocean gathers an all-female crew
to attempt an impossible heist at New
York City’s Met Gala.
FRI-THURS (4:00) 7:00
9:40
A TTENTION G RANT
C OUNTY
V ETERANS :
BOOK CLUB
(PG-13)
Did you know a service-connected
disabled veteran is entitled to
FREE use of Oregon State Parks?
Four lifelong friends have their lives
changed after reading 50 Shades of Grey
in their monthly book club.
FRI-THURS (4:10) 7:10
9:45
See your Grant County Veteran Services
Officer today for more information,
Katee
located at Grant County Courthouse. Hoffman
SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY (PG-13)
Call 541-620-8057 for an appointment
530 E. Main, Ste. 5, John Day, OR
Han Solo meets his future copilot Chew-
bacca and encounters Lando Calrissian
years before joining the Rebellion.
FRI-THURS (3:45) 6:45
9:35
49762
$9 Adult, $7 Senior (60+), Youth
GROWING GENERATIONS TOGETHER
Since 1945, Bank of Eastern Oregon has had roots in eastern
Oregon. We believe in the value of a handshake and provide
unparalleled and unbiased service because we know you – we are you,
your neighbors, and your community members. BEO keeps working
hard for you to ensure that our banking services are never difficult.
Visit your local branch & let us help you realize your financial dreams.
Term Loans
Member FDIC
Lines of Credit
Ag & Commercial Real Estate Loans
beobank.com
61702
Blue Mountain Eagle
Three rural inns combine
food with astronomy
