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'Ice' returns to lone for a visit
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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