NEWS
MyEagleNews.com
Wednesday, December 29, 2021
NE Oregon hospitals bank $8M
award was $500, which went
to 88 Oregon suppliers and
providers.
Provisions in the pro-
gram allowed providers in
the Portland metropolitan
area to receive funding, even
though there was a separate
fund of $9 billion already ear-
marked for providers and sup-
pliers in non-rural areas. Clin-
ics and providers in Portland
that received funding included
Northwest Urology in the
Pearl District of Portland,
which received just more than
$90,000.
According to U.S. Health
and Human Services, provid-
ers who serve Medicaid, CHIP,
and Medicare patients who live
in rural communities are eli-
gible for the ARP Rural pay-
ments. As well, providers who
serve any patients living in
Federal Offi ce of Rural Health
Policy-defi ned rural areas with
Medicaid, CHIP, or Medicare
coverage, and who otherwise
meet the eligibility criteria, will
receive a minimum payment.
Other Portland businesses
that received funding include
optometrist clinics, acupunc-
turists, a dentist offi ce, retire-
ment homes and Portland State
University — which received
just more than $1 million,
though the university does
have its own on-campus clinic.
U.S. Health and Human
Services did not respond to
requests for comment about the
requirements for the payments
before publication.
By ALEX WITTWER
EO Media Group
Ben Lonergan/East Oregonian, File
Motorcycles fi ll a portion of the parking lot at Good Shepherd
Medical Center in Hermiston on Dec. 5, 2020, following the
Echo Toy Run. Good Shepherd Health Care System, which op-
erates the hospital, received $2.6 million in funds through an
American Rescue Plan program for rural hospitals.
tional COVID expenses we
have incurred or to lost rev-
enue due to the COVID pan-
demic,” Caitlin Cozad, mar-
keting and communications
director for Good Shepherd
Health Care System, said in
an email.
An offi cial with Baker
City’s Saint Alphonsus Med-
ical Center said the funds will
be crucial in renewing depleted
resources and hiring temporary
staff such as nurses.
The American Rescue Plan
Rural payment program pool
totals nearly $7.5 billion in fed-
eral funds, and was targeted
toward suppliers and provid-
ers that serve rural Medicaid,
Children’s Health Insurance
Program and Medicare bene-
fi ciaries, according to a release
from the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services.
“Health care providers in
rural communities have been
hit hard by the COVID-19 pan-
demic, and they continue to
experience signifi cant fi nan-
cial hardships,” U.S. Health
and Human Services Secretary
Xavier Becerra said in a press
release. “The infusion of these
funds will be critical to ensur-
ing rural communities maintain
access to high-quality health
care and addressing urgent
needs like workforce recruit-
ment and retention.”
Payments ranged from as
little as $500, which went to
providers such as individu-
ally licensed psychiatrists and
social workers, to several mil-
lion dollars. The largest sin-
gle award for Oregon went to
Central Oregon’s Saint Charles
Health System, which received
more than $10.5 million.
Of the nearly 500 awards
distributed, the most frequent
NCBA recaps its eff orts in 2021
By CAROL RYAN DUMAS
Capital Press
WASHINGTON, D.C. — It was a
busy year in the nation’s capital for the
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association,
with some signifi cant wins to show for
the eff ort.
“We really had a focus this year
on increasing opportunities for pro-
ducer profi tability throughout the sup-
ply chain,” said Ethan Lane, NCBA vice
president of government aff airs.
NCBA linked all policy priorities
back to that central focus in considering
opportunities and challenges facing the
industry in the new administration, he
said during a virtual meeting on Dec. 22.
NCBA spent a lot of time educating
Congress, consumers and others about
the threat to cattle producers created by
onerous proposals to help pay for the
Build Back Better initiative and other
large spending bills, he said.
They included elimination of the
stepped-up basis, decreasing the death
tax exemption and increasing the capital
gains tax to more than 40%.
“All could have a dramatic impact for
cattle producers just at a time when as an
industry we’re transitioning or expecting
to transition about 40% of our operations
to the next generation within the next 15
years,” he said.
The pushback on those propos-
als turned into one of the largest grass-
roots campaigns the industry has ever
launched, and Congress heard the mes-
sage, he said.
“So we’re really proud of that work
… and we know we’re going to have
to continue that focus moving into
2022 as we see whatever the next ver-
sion of Build Back Better might be,”
he said.
Many support keeping
Snake River dams
By MATTHEW WEAVER
Capital Press
SALEM — A new survey
commissioned by Northwest
RiverPartners indicates broad
public support for keeping the
Snake River dams.
Less than 30% of respon-
dents favor removing the four
dams.
The survey, conducted by
DHM Research, an indepen-
dent and nonpartisan research
fi rm in Portland, reached a total
of 1,200 Northwest residents —
400 each in Idaho, Oregon and
Washington.
According to the survey,
60% of respondents indicate
support for “the use of hydro-
electric dams on the lower
Snake River to produce elec-
tricity” while 17% oppose it,
and 23% don’t know.
Only 29% of respondents
agreed that the dams should be
removed to protect wild ani-
mals and their habitats. The
rest opposed removal or didn’t
know, according to the survey,
which did not indicate the per-
centages for other answers.
Asked to rank their top
concerns about removing the
dams, respondents most often
highlighted higher electricity
costs, losing a source of car-
bon-free energy and impacts on
agriculture.
About 14% said they had
no concerns about the potential
removal of the dams.
Kurt Miller, executive direc-
tor of Northwest RiverPartners,
told the Capital Press he wasn’t
sure what to expect prior to
commissioning the survey.
“I was defi nitely pleased
with the results,” Miller said of
the survey. “I was heartened,
gratifi ed to see that.”
He pointed to messag-
ing from advocacy groups and
media attention surrounding
Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson’s
proposed plan for dam breach-
ing and Washington Gov. Jay
Inslee and Sen. Patty Mur-
(cardio, weight machines,
free weights), fitness classes,
silver & fit member.
Open 24 hours a day.
WHAT’S HAPPENING
THURSDAY, DEC. 30
Laser tag
• 4-6:30 p.m., Humbolt
Elementary School, 329 N.
Humbolt St., Canyon City
The John Day/Can-
yon City Parks and Recre-
ation District presents a fam-
ily-friendly laser tag night.
The cost is $2.50 per half-
hour session. Register online
for specifi c time slots at
https://jdccparksandrec.org/
winter/.
FRIDAY, DEC. 31
Prairie City fi reworks
show
• 7 p.m., multiple viewing
locations, Prairie City
Prairie City had to cancel
its traditional Fourth of July
fi reworks display this year
because of the Dixie Creek
Fire, so city leaders decided
to reschedule for New Year’s
W HAT’S
HAPPENING
Eve, when fi re danger is low
and holiday spirits could use
a lift. The fi reworks will be
staged at the industrial area
west of the mill but should
be visible from anywhere in
town.
Do you have a commu-
nity event in Grant County
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 29
Nixyaawii, boys 6:30 p.m.,
girls 8 p.m.
Grant Union Basketball @
Burns, boys 11 a.m., girls
12:30 p.m., Baker Invitation-
al, Baker City High School
Grant Union Basketball vs.
Pilot Rock, girls 6 p.m., boys
7:30 p.m.
Prairie City Basketball @
text/call Karen
541-620-1581
(541-620-5720)
or email kdbroemeling@hotmail.com
677 W. Main John Day
Covid-19 Guidelines followed.
THURSDAY, DEC. 30
S271888-1
you’d like to publicize? Email
information to editor@bmea-
gle.com. The deadline is noon
Friday for publication the
following Wednesday.
Parade Theme:
Light Up the Night
Monday - Thursday
7am-
6pm
Monday
- Thursday
7am-
6pm
Friday
8am
- 5pm
Friday Sharpe
8am - 5pm
Mendy
FNP
2021 TIMBER
TRUCKER PARADE
MERCHANTS
THANK YOU
Mendy
Sharpe FNP
Apppointments
available
S270817-1
139101
Kickball
• 4-6:30 p.m., Humbolt
Elementary School, 329 N.
Humbolt St., Canyon City
Presented by the John
Day/Canyon City Parks and
Recreation District, this fami-
ly-friendly activity is free and
open to all.
"Great time to think
about your health
and getting fit"
SPORTS SCHEDULE
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 29
ray’s federal-state assessment
of salmon recovery, including
dam breaching, as reasons for
his uncertainty.
“People are being told that
their neighbors essentially sup-
port dam breaching, and I don’t
think that’s the case,” he said.
“It’s important for the pub-
lic to know it’s only a smaller
minority that believes this
would be good policy for the
Pacifi c Northwest.”
Miller hopes policy mak-
ers such as Inslee and Murray
pay attention to the survey’s
fi ndings.
“We want to fi nd the most
productive ways of helping
salmon without harming soci-
ety,” he said. “If we’re con-
cerned about the will of the
people, it’s certainly the will of
the people to keep the dams in
place.”
Miller believes the survey
results show residents under-
stand the energy challenges
ahead, citing 100% clean energy
objectives, initiatives for electric
cars and other forms of transpor-
tation and the loss of fossil-fuel
resources such as coal and natu-
ral gas generation plants.
“I think what people see
there is that resources that are
carbon-free and can produce
electricity 24-7 are going to be
really important in the region’s
future,” he said. “I think people
can do the math.”
Eff orts to breach the dams,
especially Inslee’s and Mur-
ray’s proposed initiative, rep-
resent a “signifi cant clear and
present danger” to the future
of the dams, and eventually
the entire hydropower system,
Miller said.
“A lot of the arguments that
are made in favor of breaching
the lower Snake River dams
are often not based on complete
information, or even (based
on) inaccurate information,” he
said. “Our concern is that those
same questionable arguments
will be applied to other dams if
these dams go.”
Wishing you the Peace and Joy of the
Christmas Season. Best wishes for 2022 from
your friends at Eastern Oregon Realty.
Jerry, Traci, Pete, and Jo
160 E. Main, John Day, OR 97845 • 541-575-2121
www.EasternOregonRealty.net S275017-1
Bank of Eastern Oregon
Gardner Enterprises
O’Rorke Logging, Inc.
Whiskey Gulch Gang
Mary Ellen Brooks Ranch
Huffman’s Market
Old West Federal Credit
Union
Pioneer Feed
Oregon Telephone Corp.
Iron Triangle Logging
Gibco Ag & Industrial
Hutch’s Printing
Radio Shack
Len’s Pharmacy
John Day Video Shoppe
Blue Mt. Chiropractic
Murray’s Furniture of Hood
River
Rudio Mt. Land & Timber,
LLC
Snaffle Bit Dinner House
Grubsteak Restaurant
Timber’s Bistro
State Farm Insurance
Les Schwab Tire Center
Ed Staub & Sons
Greg & Melody Jackson
Ty’s Mobile Welding
Grant Western Lumber
Malheur Lumber Co.
Squeeze In Restaurant
Bar W B
Dave & Karen Barntish
Sherrie Ringinger
Jerome Natural Resources
Doug’s Auto Repair
Mosier’s Home Furnishings
Ted Ferriolli
Michael DesJardin Dentistry
Roan Coffee Co.
Frontier Equipment
Front & Center Salon
Mobile Glass
Wild West Salon
KJDY
John Day Hardware
Nydam’s Ace Hardware
1188 Brewing Co.
A Flower Shop ‘N More
Squeezie’s V (Chucks Little
Diner)
Chester’s Thriftway
JD Rents & Power Equip.
Grayback Forestry
Brett Morris Forestry
H & R Block
John Day Elks Lodge 1824
Better Blooms & Gardens
Grant County Chamber of
Commerce
Ugly Truth Bar & Grill
Eastern Oregon Realty
Tidewater Contractors
John Day Auto Parts
Oregon Trail Electric
Blue Mt Eagle
Wendy Cates Real Estate
Hair It Is Salon
Kathy Bishop
Town of Canyon City
DR Johnson Family
Velvet Touch Car Wash
Java Jungle
Rude Logging
Solutions CPAs
Patriot Plumbing
Outpost Restaurant
Parade Announcer,
Mark Bagett
Dinner MC, Kelly Workman
Thank you for your continued support of this event. Timber Truckers Committee
S275020-1
LA GRANDE — A bevy
of local hospitals and provid-
ers are receiving more than
$7.8 million in funds through
the American Rescue Plan
via a program specifi c to rural
hospitals.
While the fund allocated
$118 million to hospitals across
the state, nearly 25%, or more
than $29.4 million, was sent to
hospitals in Portland — mostly
to Providence, a hospital chain
that serves the Willamette Val-
ley and coastal regions of
Oregon.
The largest single pay-
ment in Northeastern Ore-
gon went to Good Shepherd
Health Care System, Herm-
iston, which collected a lit-
tle more than $2.6 million,
while Baker City’s Saint
Alphonsus Medical Center
received more than $1.1 mil-
lion through the program. The
list of providers and suppliers
that were awarded funds also
includes: Interpath Labora-
tories, Pendleton; Center for
Human Development Inc.,
La Grande; Wallowa County
Health Care District, Enter-
prise; Blue Mountain Hos-
pital District, John Day; and
Morrow County Health Dis-
trict, Boardman.
“Good Shepherd Health
Care System did receive the
$2.6 million, and we plan
on using it for either of two
areas — to be applied to addi-
A3