TOUR - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner. Oregon Wednesday, July 3, 1991
The Official Newspaper of the
----- City of Heppner and the
County of Morrow
J O N PA
=
The Heppner
GAZETTE-TIMES
Morrow County’s Home-Owned Weekly Newspaper
U S.P .S 240-420
Publish'd c>ery Wedncsdiy and entered as second-class matter at the Post Office
at Heppner. Oregon under the Act of March 3, 1874. Second class postage paid
at Heppner. Oregon. Office at 147 West Willow Street. Telephone (503) 676-9228.
Address communications to the Heppner Gazette-Times, P.O. Box 337, Hepp
ner, Oregon 97836. Subscriptions: $15 in Morrow, Wheeler, Gilliam and Grant
Counties; $23 elsewhere.
Joyce H u g h es............................................................Office Manager, Typesetting
April Sykes ........................................................................................... News Editor
Carol Atherly ....................................................................... Graphics Department
Becky Evans .........................................................................Graphics Department
Monique P a r r e l......................................................................................Distribution
Penni Keersemaker........................................................................................Bindery
Bob S m ith ........................................................................................................Printer
David and April Svkes. Publishers
Letters to the Editor
Takes issue with article on Pioneer
Memorial Hospital
To the Editor:
We cannot help but respond to last
week’s article in the Gazene-Times,
“ North End Favors Hospital
Closure” . The Health Care Goal
Setting Session from which this goal
was derived is part of a study design
ed to gather opinions and ultimately
focus on solutions to county-wide
health issues. Certainly the citizens
of North Morrow County are entitl
ed to their opinions as freedom of
speech is an inalienable right.
We must however take issue with
the second priority item which was
to close Pioneer Memorial (PMH)
' based in large measure upon the in
ordinate high cost of maintaining
PMH compared with its lack of abili
ty to care for patients requiring
hospital treatment.”
First, all medical care is expensive
and prices at PMH are competitive.
Rural hospitals and doctors have
been receiving less reimbursement
than their urban counterparts even
when they provide exactly the same
services. This has created so much
furor among the medical communi
ty that laws will soon be enacted to
rectify this discrepancy. As any
small business in a rural communi
ty can attest to, in today’s economic
environment and for many reasons
operational costs can be oppressive.
However, the second part of the
reasoning to close PMH was even
harder to fathom and could be inter
preted as libelous. We took it per
sonally and, so did every other self-
respecting PMH employee we’ve
talked with. Perhaps the writer in
tended to say that PMH couldn’t take
care of a wide variety of hospital pa
tients, which is true. We do not do
obstetrics or surgery and most of our
cardiac patients are transported to
Portland. But there are many
medical illnesses that are handled
here including nonsurgical trauma,
infections,
pneum onia,
gastroenteritis, diabetic emergencies
and gastrointestinal hemorrhages to
name a few. To imply that the staff
is
incom petent
cannot go
unanswered.
All RN’s are ACLS (Advanced
Cardiac Life Support) and trauma
certified as are all physicians, in
cluding doctors who cover for us
when we are not here. Our
laboratory and X-ray technicians are
all certified by federal and state
credentialling processes. All LPN’s.
nurses aids, etc. attend regular inser
vices to upgrade their skills. We are
surveyed each year by the State
Trauma Survey team and the Oregon
Health Division and are in good
standing with both. We would go on
but suffice it to say we are proud to
work in this atmosphere. The entire
staff takes pride in the quality of its
work as well as a professional and
personal interest in the outcome of
its patients.
Recently we received an un
solicited letter from a neurosurgeon
who is director of the trauma com
mittee at his hospital:
ESTATE AUCTION
Ed Gonty
135 N. Gale
Heppner, Oregon 97836
Sat. & Sun. 1:00 p.rp.
July 13-14, 1991
H eppner Businessman - 80
year family business. Com
plete radio, T .V .(som e new),
& shoe repair business, tools
o f all kinds, antiques. &
m iscellaneous items.
Too many items to list. This
is a BIG SALEH Open Satur
day morning 10:00 a m. All
sales final day of sale and
becomes your responsibili
ty immediately
Auctioneer - Gary (John) I urgent
(503) 670-9915
Owner - Eleanor Gonty 676-9264
"W e want to forward to you our
congratulations on the excellent job
that you did in Heppner of
evaluating, stabilizing, and transfer
ring the patient. This was as good a
job as we have seen in a peripheral
hospital since we have been review
ing trauma cases.”
In south Morrow County medical
services provided include a clinic,
hospital, nursing home and home
health service. Two ambulances are
based in Heppner and first respon
dent vechicles are located in Lex
ington and lone. It has been our
understanding that tax money is fair
ly evenly distributed, between north
and south Morrow County but this
will be discussed elsewhere.
It has been our experience the past
three years working with the Mor
row County Court, the Morrow
County Medical Board and Mr.
Wick, Morrow Co. Health Ad
ministrator, that all efforts have been
made to provide optimum medical
services to the entire county.
Hopefully, we will continue in a
cooperative manner to be supportive
of each others particular needs to en
sure that a broad spectrum of high
quality medical services are provid
ed to all citizens of Morrow County.
Respectfully submitted,
(s) Edward S Berretta
Jeanne S Berretta MD
(Editor's note: The article refer
red to was an article published in the
Columbia Valley Chronicle, Board-
man , written by one o f their staff and
reprinted in the June 26
Gazette-Times.)
Chamber Chatter
By Claudia Hughes, Chamber Manager
I’ve often thought about putting
together a slide presentation entitl
ed “ Follow the Byway to Hepp
ner...our town". For a minute, put
yourself in the picture and envision
the slides that would accompany the
following or a similar version. Our
tow n...it’s about people: small
businesses and improvements;
parades and celebrations; combating
the negative with the positive; work
ing together on projects such as the
hotel, Cycle Oregon, clean-up pro
jects, St. Pat's weekend and the fair
and rodeo. It's about putting the past
behind us; good schools; music, art;
recruiting new businesses and sup
porting existing businesses. It’s
about year round recreation
swimming, fishing, camping, hik
ing, hunting, snowm obiling,
mushrooming; being welcome in the
church of your choice; belonging to
a variety of organizations. It’s about
ranchers and farmers raising our
food; protecting our industries; doc
tors and medical facilities; govern
ment involvement; working toward
what we believe in; keeping our
town clean and attractive; preserv
ing our history. It’s about friend
ships; its about being there for each
other; it’s about dreams becoming
reality. It’s about all of us and future
generations. Aren’t we fortunate to
live in a small community.
Thought for the week: “ As you
think, so shall you be.”
Mike Nelson gets an ‘A’ plus
To the Editor:
Now that the political dust is
beginning to settle over the capital
in Salem, Eastern Oregon can take
a long awaited breath of fresh air and
turn to damage control as it does
every two years.
Of course most legislators would
like to think that their best efforts at
Salem were productive and some
cases proved that they could repre
sent thieir constituents. Case in point,
The Regional Strategies Program
survived the budget ax and even
picked up some support among
lawmakers. Eastern Oregon has
benefitted immensely from this pro
gram and we give the legislature a
plus on this one. True there have
been some growing pains in the
Morrow/Umatilla County Regional
Strategy program especially within
the Marketing fund of our strategy
after $100,000 was diverted to the
Continental Flour Mill project which
caused a stir among those of us in
Morrow County. Latest word from
the Oregon Department of Economic
Development is that this marketing
fund has been reimbursed the full
amount of $100,000. This is a plus
for Morrow County.
The legislature should get a
scolding for not addressing the pro
blems of Measure 5. School funding
should have been a number one
priority of the legislature and they
failed to come to grips with this
issue. It reminds me of an old dead
fish; the longer it lies around, the
more it stinks. For this the
legislature gets a minus.
One of the most difficult issues
that the legislature addressed was
whether or not to increase the state's
gas tax. No politician in his right
mind would want to go on record as
increasing taxes, especially coming
from a conservative agricultural
county. Sure enough, most of
Eastern Oregon’s legislators cast a
no vote on this sensitive issue and
with some good reasons. But as the
East Oregonian editorial of June 24
explained, the legislators aren't the
ones who have to answer to the local
wheat haulers and log truckers and
ranchers complaining about pot
holes and deteriorating highways
wiping out wheel alignments, blown
tires and rerouting because of poor
ly maintained roads. It's the local
county commissioners, mayors and
city managers that hear about the
problems.
Good roads and highways are the
lifelines of rural communities to pro
fitable markets. Thank goodness
Representative Mike Nelson, Mor
row County’s representative, took
the lead on this one. Because of his
leadership, the legislature passed this
bill which will fund the much need
ed improvements on Eastern Oregon
state highways and assist in funding
Morrow County roads as well.
We agree, no one wants to pay
higher taxes and it’s the safest route
for any politician to vote no on such
issues, but when it comes to long
term tough decisions that will impact
Eastern Oregon residents for many
years to come. Representative Mike
Nelson is on the right track. That’s
a plus for Mike.
Sincerely,
(s) Louis Carlson
Morrow County Judge
4-H News
Marriage Licenses
The Clerk’s office at the cour
thouse in Heppner reports issuing the
following marriage licenses during
the past week:
July 1: Guillermo Ramos, 52,
Kennewick, WA.; and
Margarita Sanchez, 42, Grand
view, WA.
Justice Court
Report
The Justice Court office at the
courthouse annex building in Hepp
ner reports handling the following
business during the past week:
Gregory Ralph Sweeney, 28,
Heppner-Disobeyed Stop Sign, $20
fine;
Budd Richards-Allowing Dog to
Run At Large, $37 fine.
Health Dept.
The Morrow County Health
Department lists the following mon
thly schedule for July:
July 9: blood pressures and im
munizations, 1-4 p.m. Irrigon.
July 11: blood pressures and im
munizations, 8:30 a.m .-4:30 p.m.
Heppner office.
July 16: blood pressures and im
munizations, 1:30-4 p.m. Boardman
City Hall.
July 17: blood pressures, 2-3 p.m.
Bank of Eastern Oregon kitchen,
lone.
July 18: blood pressures and im
munizations, 8:30 a.m-4:30 p.m.,
Heppner office.
July 23: blood pressures and im
munizations, 1-4 p.m. Irrigon coun
ty office.
July 25: blood pressures and im
munizations, 8:30 a.m .-4:30 p.m.
Heppner office.
Market Report
Compliments of the Morrow County Grain Growers
Tues. July 2
Soft White
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Jan.
*3.39
*3.40/*3.41
*3.42/*3.43
*3.44/*3.45
*3.50/*3.51
Ewes R Us
By Jenny Krein, Reporter
On May 21 the Ewes R Us sheep
club held a meeting at Kate’s Pizza
at 6:30 p.m. Members planned
transportation for Tygh Valley Judg
ing, reviewed judging techniques
and reviewed overall judging.
Members discussed picking lambs;
what to look for, shots that need to
be given and what feed to start them
on. Members weighed and sheared
lambs on June 8. The members will
need to help with the wool. A
workshop on pigs wil be July 9 and
one on sheep and beef will be July
20 .
Heppner Police
Report
The Heppner Police department
reports handling the following
business during the past two weeks:
June 18: 10 p.m.-request officer
for Security Check.
June 19: 10:32 p.m.-report of
Fight; 11:50 p.m.-request officer for
Security Check.
June 20: 8:42 p.m.-arrest for
Domestic Assault.
June 21: 4:30 p.m.-report of
Truck Blocking Driveway; 4:50
p .m .-assist M orrow County
Sheriffs dept.
June 22: 11:34 p.m.-request of
ficer for Security Check.
June 23: 10:12 a.m.-Emergency
Message delivered; 11:08 a.m.-
Animal Complaint; 9:36 -citation
issued for 48 mph in a 25 mph zone
and Open Container; 10:21 p.m-
assist Morrow County Sheriff s
dept.
June 25: 7:55 a.m.-report of
Criminal Mischief; 8:28 p.m.-civil
matter; 9:15 p.m.-civil matter;
11:05 p.m.-Citizen Assist.
June 26: 6:13 p.m.-citation issued
for Permitting a Dog to Run At
Large.
June 27: 9:43 p.m.-assist Morrow
County Sheriffs department.
June 28: 11:20 a.m.-report of
Assault.
June 29: 1:40 p.m.-Motorist
Assist; l:45-assist ambulance.
What? Eat The
Momma Cow?
This is a test. And it will be graded.
You can fail this test so you might con
sider studying for it before you take it.
Remember, this is a test.
This test is to be given when the en
tire family is at the dinner table. Ac
tually any meal will do but the test must
be given in the next 24 hours, then give
the test the next available time and
deduct one point. There is only one
question and it is not for you, but rather
for your children. If you have a child
under five, add one point. Here's the
Bv Ed Glenn
question:
Where does the food on your plate
come from?
If your child, any child, answers something like the famous Jimmy
Stewart line about "W e planted it, we watered it, we harvested it, we cook
ed it, but we thank you for it anyway, Lord,” then score three points.
An equally good response would be "from the sweat of my brow.”
If your child says something about the farm, the land, or some reference
to the primary source of America’s agricultural production, then score two
points.
But if your child responds like thousands of others across the nation and
answers “ the store,” worse, a specific store-Safeway-or a processor’s
brand name like Campbells, well, your score is zero.
So what? What do these scores mean?
Well, if your kids think that food comes from the store, they are likely
to experience a significant rise in the percentage of their income spent on
food in their lifetime.
Americans have the highest standard of living in the world, the most
ski boats, the most personal automobiles, the fanciest homes, the nicest
clothes for just one reason: Americans spend the lowest percentage of their
disposal income on food or any nation in the world and it’s still declining.
When food costs less than 18 percent of one’s after-tax income, there
is money left for the other things that make for the good life. But that is
true only because America has followed a cheap food policy for years.
When we forget (or never know) that food comes from a farm or ranch
somewhere across the nation, we run the risk of changing that cheap food
policy.
Take the grazing fee on federal lands, for example. Congressman Bob
Smith says the bill to raise the grazing fee from $1.96 per animal per month
to $8.50 was really motivated by the folks who simply do not want cattle
grazing on Forest and BLM land. Why? Well, those lands are thought to
be national treasures that should be locked up and preserved for future
generations.
And what about the cattle that used to graze on public lands? Well, they’ll
just be sold off and ground into hamburger and be eaten up. But any kid
who scored three on the test above can tell you that if you eat up the mom
ma cow. that’s the end of it. There won’t be any more baby beef to come
along to make hamburgers in the future. Well, sure there will be, but they’ll
be pretty expensive.
What about the business of knocking out the registration on all these
farm chemicals? Well, a kid who scores three will tell you that fertilizers,
herbicides and insecticides make farm crops like tomatoes, and beans and
com grow better. When they grow better, there’s more of them and they
are cheap to buy. Part of the cheap food policy. But when we take the
chemicals away from the farmers, they don’t grow as much (maybe some
crops not at all) and the price goes way up.
The kid who flunked the test will be in the fore front of the movement
to destroy those nasty chemicals to purify the planet. He’ll never know
why the price of bread is so high he can’t afford a new car.
So why is this a test of parents if it’s the kids who answer? One of the
things parents should do is prepare their kids for the life ahead of them.
If parents don’t teach kids about where their food comes from, and the
kids suffer the inevitable decline in standard of living, well, it must be
the parents who have failed.
My kids got a three last night. Right after we got in out of the field.
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