Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (June 21, 1995)
i ... . 'Ice' returns to lone for a visit 50 < unes VOL, 114________NO. 27________8 Pages Wednesday, June 21, 1995,________ Morrow County Heppner, Oregon New physician hired at PMH clinic With his affinity for rural practice, Dr. Ernie Atkins is a rare find among today's physi cians. While others often choose to work in urban areas with less hours and greater cultural opportunities, Atkins has chosen to join Drs. Ed and Jeanne Berretta in their busy practice at Pioneer Memorial Clinic. He began seeing pa tients on Monday, June 12. Atkins cites Heppner's rural lifestyle and the opportunity to work with the Berrettas as his primary reasons for accepting the position. He says, "I'v e always worked in rural areas and I enjoy the variety that a family practice provides. When we heard about this opening, we decided to come and see what it was all about. We liked what we saw and felt this would be a fine place to raise our child. I think it's a good match and I'm appreciative of the opportunity to serve this community." Photo by April Hilton-Sykes The Morrow County Health Susan, Jenny and Dr. Ernie Atkins. District signed a three year con Atkins had a general practice biology tract with Atkins at its June Atkins, wife Susan and nine in Fisher County, TX, before meeting. "W e're extremely year old daughter Jenny are moving to Washington. In ad pleased that Dr. Atkins has settling into their new home in agreed to join us in Morrow dition to providing general Heppner. Susan is an avid medical care, he gained exten County," said health district bowler and also enjoys golf. administrator Kevin Erich. He sive experience in emergency She was a math teacher before medicine by providing ER added, " I agree that it's a good the birth of their daughter; now coverage for hospitals through match between our needs and out the state. she devotes her time to raising Dr. Atkins' interests and areas Jenny. Along with golf and Atkins made a mid-life career of expertise. We're very glad to fishing, carpentry is a favorite have the doctor and his family shift to become a doctor; he hobby for Atkins. In addition to was a science teacher and coach here." handyman projects, he says he Erich said the board decided in McCaulley, TX, before pur has helped build two churches to hire a third physician suing his longtime dream of over the years, including one in because of the costs involved practicing medicine. He receiv Mexico. His first effort with a with providing round-the-clock ed his medical degree from the hammer in Heppner will be ER coverage. Previously, locum Texas College of Osteopathic building a swing set for Jenny. tenens (fill-in) physicians have Medicine in Fort Worth, TX, "W e designed it together," he been used to provide relief for and graduated cum laude from says, adding, "and she said she the Berrettas. "The board felt McMurry College in Abilene, knows if I build it, it'll be hiring another full-time physi TX, with a bachelor's degree in solid." cian would be a more respon sible and efficient use of funds. Now we can offer additional coverage for close to the same cost," he added. Before coming to Heppner, The annual Willow Creek tournament should sign up in Atkins' most recent position Country Club Men's Cham the club house. was as medical director and Coffee, fruit and rolls will be pionship will be held Sunday, sole physician at the Selkirk served before play and sand July 9. Registration is at 7:30 Family Medicine Clinic in lone wich service will be provided a.m., with a shotgun start to WA. There, he provided fami by People for the Pool as a fund follow at 8 a.m. ly practice and emergency The competition consists of raiser. medicine services. He notes The champion in 1994 was three nine-hole rounds for a that the geographic isolation of the late George Waterland. He total of 27 holes of medal play. the area is very similar to that has been designated the Golfers will be divided into of Heppner; the nearest hos honorary chairman of this three flights by handicap. pital or other physician is 50 year's event. In recognition of Prizes will be awarded by flight miles away. When federal fun his contributions to junior golf, for gross and net scores and for ding for his Washington posi a target shoot fund raiser will special events. The tournament tion ran dry, Atkins began sear be included in the activities. entry fee is $5. ching for another community For more information, con Members of WCCC are eligi that would offer the quality of tact John Edmundson, ble to play in the tournament. life he and his family wanted. 1 676-5177. Golfers planning to play in the Country club plans championship When Asbjom Sigurdarson of Iceland visited Morrow County during the 1991-92 school year as an ASSE ex change student, he made many close friendships. Earlier this spring, he got a chance to renew ties with old acquain tances when he made a three month-long return trip to the lone area. Circumstances sur rounding his visit were unfor tunate in that he was schedul ed to arrive in time to visit with his former host father, Gale Gray, who was seriously ill with cancer. However, Gray had passed away by the time Asbjorn, more commonly known as "Ic e " arrived. A group of friends around lone took up a collection to pur chase Ice's ticket from Iceland, allowing him to make the trip. The price was well worth it, ac cording to many who said Ice provided a big boost to Gale's widow, Betty Gray, and to other members of the com munity hard hit by Gale's death. "It was wonderful to have him here," said Betty Gray. "H e was a real support at the time. Everyone enjoyed having him around ," she added. After leaving lone the first time in the summer of 1992, Ice returned to a job he had held for several years, working for the president of Iceland. In a country of 265,000, being an assistant to the president covers everything from mowing the lawn to driving the car. Ice noted that Iceland's president is a woman, the first female president in the world, elected in 1980. When he returned to Iceland this May, he reported for his sixth summer of this same job, a job he enjoys. In the fall of 1992, Ice and his family moved and he changed schools, moving into the age 16-20 school. Last Christmas, he graduated ‘Ic e ’ Asbjorn S igurdarson gives Betty G ra y a hug and he and 20 classmates celebrated by spending 27 days in Thailand. There were many highlights of the trip, but he noted that being directly over Moscow on midnight of December 31 was a special feeling. In Thailand, the group stayed right on the beach and did the things tourists do, such as para sailing, jet skiing, taking boat trips, and event an elephant trip. The elephants, figurative ly, made quite an impression, as members of the Iceland con tingent let the elephants walk over them and pick them up with their trunks. Ice said the main reason they chose Thailand was to see something totally different. He said the trip was very enjoyable and "really unique". Even with the sadness sur rounding his return to lone, Ice said he had a good time. He was able to get together with most of the people in his class, and attended a couple of wed dings and three Blazer games. He helped out around the Pad- berg ranch where he stayed for part of his visit, and even got the opportunity to pull a calf. As for what the future holds, Ice answered in Shakespearean style, "That is the question". He was looking into a college in Oregon or Idaho where he could get into the ROTC pro gram and train to be a pilot. Some red tape would need to be worked out and a special visa obtained to meet this goal. "If all goes well, I'll be back here by fall or next Christmas," remarked Ice. Classified union charges bad faith The Oregon School nothing left to negotiate at the Employees Association has bargaining table. We feel the charged that the Morrow actions constitute bad faith bargaining." County School District has "There is no done deal as far bargained in bad faith concer as contracting transportation," ning the district's decision to countered Morrow Countv contract school bus services. School District Superintendent OSEA says that the district solicited bids and selected a Chuck Starr. "The district has done everything in its power to bidder before bargaining was negotiate with the association completed by the employees. on this issue. The association "It's a done deal," said OSEA has refused to meet with us legal counsel Mike Tedesco. with the exception of one occa "T h e district has done sion on June 5. We had a se everything except cross the I's cond negotiation scheduled for and dot the T's. There was June 15 and they cancelled." Starr said that the district had been negotiating with the association on the transporta tion issue over a year. "W e still stand ready to negotiate," said Starr. "And we plan to do so." A hearing on the issue of sub contracting was held Wednes day, June 14, between the district and association before administrative law Judge Dave Siteler. A decision is expected within 30 days. The district board earlier voted to pursue contracting of bus service as a money-saving measure. Board approves extra duty contracts The Morrow County School Board, at its June 12 regular meeting, approved extra duty contracts for the 1995-% school year. Following are those hired for district positions: Heppner High School, grades 7-8: football, Dave Gunderson, head coach, Jess Osmin, assistant; Volleyball, head coach open, Vicki Broden, assistant; Boys' Basketball, Dave Gunderson, head, Greg Grant, assistant; Girls' Basket ball, head and assistant open; Track, open; Talented and Gifted, Linda Shaw; Chorus, open; Band, Geneva Mathews. Heppner High School, grades 9-12: Football, Greg Grant, head, Les Payne, assis tant, second assistant open; Volleyball, Terri Gentry, head, Nancy Swarat, assistant; Boys' Basketball, Lee Padberg, head, Bob Ployhar, assistant; Brian Padberg, assistant; G irls' Basketball, head, assistant open; Baseball, Rick Johnston, head, Robin Graff, assistant; Track, Dale Conklin, head, Steve Brownfield, assistant; Golf, Greg G rant, head; Drama, Nancy Swarat; Athletic Director, Dale Conklin; FFA, Bill Umbarger; TAG Linda Dut- cher; Annual, Linda Dutcher; Band open; Chorus open; Cheerleader Advisor, JoLynn Britt; Head Teacher, Les Payne. lone High School: Football, Gregg Rietmann, head, Robin Graff, assistant; Volleyball, Charity McElligott, head, Anne Bedortha, assistant; Boys' Basketball, Del LaRue, head, Dean Robinson, assistant; G irls' Basketball, Dana Heideman, head, Kelley Swarat, assistant; Track, Del LaRue, head, assistant open; Tennis, Jim Raible. lone Middle School: Football, Dean Robinson, head; Volleyball, Barb Collin, head; Boys' Basketball, Dale Holland, head; Girls' Basketball, Steve Schaber; Track, Dean Robin son, head; Head Teacher, Bet ty Rietmann; TAG, Diana Kin caid; Athletic Director, Del LaRue; Annual, Sarah Rucker. Coordinating Council to meet The next regular meeting of the Heppner Coordinating Council will be held Tuesday, June 27, at 7:30 a.m. in the GEODC office. Topics to be discussed in clude the Heppner Foundation, the Shobe Creek Watershed, the old swimming pool, the summer youth program and the HCC meetings' schedule and agendas for the summer quarter. The public is welcome to at tend HCC meetings. StuttHtefc Sole Ends Saturday Morrow County Grain Growers Lexington 989-8221 1-800-452-7396
