Ground broken for new fair building
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HEPPNER
Participating in the groundbreaking at the new building are (L-R) Guy VanArsdale, Marlene
Gray, Commissioner John W enholz and Judge Louie Carlson on the shovel, Gary Oberg Shirley
Adams, Sam Bellamy and Joe Yocom on other shovel, Kelwayne Haguewood and Bob Adler o f
Intermountain Steel Buildings from Idaho Falls.
By Merlyn Robinson
imes
VOL. 117
NO. 6
8 Pages
Wednesday, February 11,1998
Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon
PMH has no plans to cut services or staff
Pioneer Memorial Hospital and PMC.
Haack's
three-year
Morrow County Health District contract will be in effect through
chief financial officer Dan Grant Feb. 28, 2000.
told the Gazette-times Monday
Grant extended an invitation to
that the district does not plan to the public to attend the district's
cut staff or services at the budget hearing which will be
hospital.
held
Monday,
March
2,
Grant is acting chief executive beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the
officer in the absence of CEO Home Health Office in Heppner.
Ken Schmidt who is attending A regular meeting will follow.
meetings this week at the
Adventist Health corporate
offices at Roseville, CA.
Grant's statement comes in
reply to community concern over
the possibility of downsizing
following the regular MCHD
Board meeting Monday, Feb. 9,
at the Lexington school district
offices.
At the meeting, Karen
Whitaker, with the Office of
Rural Health, spoke on a federal
program, the Medicare Rural
Hospital Flexibility Program,
which, she said, "might be good
news for a hospital like the one
in Heppner." The program,
enacted by Congress in 1997, is
not yet in effect and will be
formulated by each state. The
state of Oregon has not yet begun
planning details for the program.
The program that Whitaker
outlined would allow for cost-
based reimbursement for in
patient Medicare and Medicaid
patients and subsequently would
increase Medicare and Medicaid
payments to the hospital.
Currently, the hospital receives
Chris Meyer
cost-based reimbursement only
Chris Meyer, general manager
for out-patient Medicare and
of Rosalia Producers, Inc., in
Medicaid patients. The program
Rosalia, Wa, has been named
would also encourage regional
new manager of the Morrow
networking among hospitals.
County Grain Growers, it was
Whitaker added that the
program's staffing requirements
are not as stringent as required
for
Level
IV
Trauma
certification, which the hospital
now has.
A rumor that Kinzua Resources
However, district officials
plans to shut down in Heppner or
stress that the program would not
that the mills will be taken over
call for downsizing of staff or by the city of Heppner is
services, including those required
baseless, according to Heppner
for
Level
IV
Trauma
City Manager Gary Marks.
A KOHU radio program, "Bits
certification, and believe that
Whitaker's comments may have and Pieces", apparently attributed
such a statement to Heppner
been misconstrued.
Grant also told the Gazette that Mayor Bob Jepsen, who spoke in
the board is beginning contract an interview at the radio station.
negotiations with Dr. Ernie However, a review of a tape
Atkins, physician at PMH and
Pioneer Memorial Clinic. Atkins'
three-year contract expires June
1. "Dr. Atkins is a wonderful
A Valentine's dance will be held
caregiver," said Grant. "We're
very happy with him and at lone High School on Saturday,
anticipate a new contract." February 14, from 9 p.m.-12
Atkins' only comment to the a.m., in the high school cafeteria,
Gazette concerning that issue
was that he is "officially in
contract negotiations with the
The St. Patrick’s Day Auction
district."
Grant added that the board is Committee is looking for people
also
pleased
with
the who make jams and jellies to help
performance of Wendy Haack, out with the new addition to the
nurse practitioner at PMH and auction this year, the “Country
Store.” Handmade items would
Concerns about the rumored
downsizing at the hospital
prompted the Heppner Chamber
of Commerce Tuesday to
approve a resolution calling for
an open forum with the health
district board. The MCHD Board
agreed to a public forum which
will be held Tuesday, Feb. 17. at
7 p.m. at the St. Patrick's Senior
Center.
A large multi-purpose building
on
the
Morrow
County
Fairgrounds will be built this
summer, thanks to county-wide
support.
A ground breaking ceremony
was held Wednesday, Feb. 4.
Completion date for this 125' by
225' covered facility is targeted
for July 1.
This building will be constructed
on what was formerly known as
the Little League Field. It will
provide ample space for all 4-H,
FFA and open class livestock
exhibits plus show ring space.
This building will also be large
enough
to
accommodate
community events such as
auction sales, flea markets,
commercial fairs, sports or
school activities throughout the
year.
To date around $195,000. in
labor and money has been
pledged for this building. This
includes the fair board’s building
fund and a loan of $45,000. In
addition to the $30,000 given by
the Dick Wilkinsons, for whom
the building will be named, there
are
several
other
large
contributions.
The Morrow
County Livestock Growers, the
Morrow County Grain Growers
and Northwest Metal Fabricators
will a each have 8’ by 12' colorful
banners displayed inside in
recognition
of
individual
contributions of $25,000 or more.
The building material was
purchased from Intermountain
Steel Buildings, Inc., of Idaho
Falls, Idaho, This company will
provide the concrete work for
foundations and bleacher seating.
Northwest Metal Fabricators is
donating the labor to put up the
bam framework. Volunteer labor
may be used to put up the roofing
and siding.
Approximately $13,000 in
donations is still needed for the
expense of building new wash
racks, metal panels and other
enhancements to accommodate
usage.
"The interest and financial
support has been tremendous,"
said Fair Board Chairman Sam
Bellamy. "We want all livestock
producers to have their brand
boards permanently displayed."
There will be other donor listings
and plaques as well as banners.
Brand board donations are $100.
Other donations of $100 will be
recognized
with
name
inscriptions. Larger 16" by 32"
wooden plagues will recognize
donors of $500. And the large 8'
by 120' nylon banners in varied
colors denote contributions of
$2,500 or more.
Bank plans major building expansion
Washington man picked
to head MCGG
announced last week.
Meyer, 41, has been manager at
Rosalia Producers, which is
mainly a grain co-op with about
half the gross income of MCGG,
for the past two years. Prior to
that he was with the Oakesdale
Grain Growers in Oakesdale,
WA. His other experience
includes grain export with
Columbia Gram, and working the
family farm at Colton, WA, for
several years. He grew up on the
family farm and is a 1978
graduate of Washington State
University.
Meyer and his wife, Mary Jean,
have two daughters, Jackie, nine,
and Kelsey, seven. Meyer starts
on the job the first of June and
plans to bring his family here
when school is out in the spring.
Meyer replaces long-time
manager Larry Mills, who is
retiring.
"I look forward to getting here
full time and we are excited
about the move," Meyer said.
Mill rumors baseless
made of the interview indicated
that Jepsen did not mention
Kinzua, according to Marks.
Unfortunately, the incorrect
story was also picked up by
another radio station said Marks.
"The mayor had no comment
on the issue," Marks said. "He
(the mayor) had no way of
knowing
(about
Kinzua's
operations)."
Marks said that Kinzua was
contacted concerning the error.
lone high plans Valentine dance
following the basketball game
versus Wheeler.
All lone High School students
are encouraged to attend.
St. Pat's Auction seeks items
also be welcome.
To donate, call 676-5306, or
items may be dropped off at
“Twice Upon a Time” bookstore
by the Heppner City Hall.
Front of existing bank
ì
New addition to back of present bank building
A new construction project
planned by the Bank of Eastern
Oregon will double the size of
the bank, bank officials said last
week.
The bank plans to break
ground on the new project the
last part of February, and be in
the new structure by late August.
The new 3,900 square foot
office
building
will
be
constructed behind the present
bank, and will be used mostly for
bank operations offices, freeing
up the present structure for
customer related uses, says bank
general manager George Koffler.
Koffler says the building will
be made of brick and will house
about 12 of the bank's 25
employees. "We just outgrew this
building," Koffler says.
Located in the new structure
will be the bank's data processing
and computer systems, bank
operations
and
accounting
department.
The
mortgage
department offices will be
moving in from across the street.
The old TV office on main
street will be tom down to make
way for the new project, which
will include customer parking
and landscaping.
General contractors on the
project will be Allstott and
Gentry of Heppner. The architect
is Gale Sergeant of Hermiston.
"We plan to use local sub
contractors when ever possible,"
Koffler said.
"This project will help us better
serve our customers and better
position
ourselves as an
independent bank into the 21st
century," Koffler said.
The bank experienced growth
in loans and deposits the past
year and reached $50 million in
total assets in 1997, he said.
Sweek drops of out
of race
family and professional
Greg Sweek, the only Democrat
running for Morrow County
Judge in the primary election,
has announced that he will
withdraw from the race because
concerns.
Four Republican candidates
will face off in the pnmary-Bill
Doherty, Guy VanArsdale, Rollie
Marshall and Keith Lewis.
Pizza feed this Friday at Heppner HS
A pizza feed has been planned
for this Friday, Feb. 13, from
4:30-8 p.m. at the Heppner High
School home ec room during the
HHS basketball games versus
Wahtonka. Games begin with
girls JVs at 3 p.m.
Cost is $2.50 for a slice of Papa
Murphy's pizza and a dnnk.
Proceeds will go toward the
HHS senior class drug and
alcohol free senior tnp to Seattle.
Garden Seed ~ Flower Beds
are now in...
just in time for the early bird gardener
M orrow C ounty G rain G rowers
Lexington 989-8221 » 1-800-452-7396_________________