Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (March 4, 1998)
Medical district, community meet in emotional exchange s s i f 'A’ r T : r u O R È N F WS P Ä T E R L I T EUGENE O F ' 97403 p f u VOL 117 NO. 9 8 Pages OF Wednesday, March 4, 1998 Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon lone athletes in Top 10 academically The Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) together with Dairy farmers of Oregon has announced that lone High School athletes have been included in the top 10 winter 1998 academic all-state standings. lone boys' basketball players are number five on the list with a grade point average of 3.37. The lone girls are sixth/seventh with a GPA of 3.59. The OSAA received nomination entries from 143 schools with more than 74 percent having at least a 3.0 GPA or better. Schools submitted their team rosters to the OSAA, complete with each student's grade level and previous semester grades. The grades used to determine athletic eligibility for all high school student athletes are the same grades used to conclude the academic all-state award winners. Awards will be presented to the winning schools at the corresponding state championship events. "The Dairy Farmers of Oregon stepped into support this new program because they know the true value that kids receive from interscholastic activities," said a n OSAA news release. " However, they also know that good grades should come first. The academic all-state award reinforces this important message and rewards the teams that excel in both academics and activities- regardless of their win/loss record." Top 10 1A academic all state schools are as follows: Boys: A drian-3.70, D am ascus C hristian-3.61, C ountry Christian-3.40. Jordan Valley- 3.40, lone-3.37, Burnt River- 3.35, Crane Union-3.33, Condon- 3.30, Alsea-3.22 and Prairie- 3.15; Girls: Adrian-3.83, Wallowa-3.78, Damascus Christian-3.73, Crane-3.72, Prospect-3.61, Dufur-3.59, lone- 3.59, Umpqua-3.56, Condon- 3.51, and Alsea-3.50. T /s painting o' the green Colleen Williams and apprentice Liberty Wambeke 'Tis the time for the annual painting o' the green. Colleen Williams of Colleen Williams Creations of Umatilla was assisted by her apprentice Liberty Wambeke, 10 years old of Hermiston, in preparing the downtown Heppner businesses for the annual Heppner St. Patrick's Celebration the weekend of March 13-15. Williams has been painting area windows for the past four years, following the death of painter Tom Simonton. "That first year, I had some big footsteps to fill," said Williams. Williams has had a custom art business in Umatilla for the past six years, but now primarily paints windows. "I sure enjoy coming into Heppner," says Williams. "There's kind of a homey peace about coming here. I just love it." Sports dessert Correction Leann Rea, a candidate for Morrow County Commissioner, was inadvertently omitted from a story concerning candidates who have filed for the position. The Gazette-Times regrets the error. set for HJH/HHS The winter sports dessert for Heppner Junior High and High School students will be held Tuesday, March 10, beginning at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria. Start thinking about Parade It's time to start thinking about your entry for the Heppner St. Patrick's Day Parade which will be held Saturday, March 14, beginning at 1 p.m., right after the races. Cash prizes and ribbons will be awarded for the top entries in each parade entry category and there are many to choose from. The parade chairman is looking for Irish floats, characters, groups, musical groups, cars, bikes, golf carts and more. "Really, the chances look very good that if it's at all "Irish", there's a place in the parade," said parade chairman Bob Kahl. For an entry form or for more information about the parade, call Bob Kahl at 676-9113 days or 676-5422 evenings or stop in at Van Matter & Kahl Insurance. The Morrow County Health District Board’s monthly meeting Monday night set the scene for an emotional exchange between the board and an audience of around 20 people. The audience, comprised of a majority of Pioneer Memorial Hospital employees, asked the board to dispel rumors of staff cutbacks and possible closure of the hospital. "As far as I'm concerned," said board chairman Cara Osmin, "the hospital will never close." "I don't know how these rumors start," added board member Meg Murray. "They are not true. The feeling of the board is that the hospital is critical to our community." Osmin assured the audience that the board and not Adventist Health, the company contracted to provide administrative and computer services for the district, makes the final decision in keeping the hospital open. She added that the board also has final say in the hiring of a physician. The board and PMH CEO Kenneth Schmidt surmised that the rumors about the hospital's closure or cutbacks began following a presentation by Karen Whitaker who is with the Office of Rural Health concerning a proposed federal program that would not require the hospital to maintain a Trauma Level IV designation, which it now has. The program, which is not even in effect, is designed to provide PMH and other rural hospitals with increased Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement. However, the board said that it would maintain the hospital's Level IV designation whether or not it was required by this proposed program. The audience also voiced concern that the board was not actively recruiting another doctor for the hospital and Pioneer Memorial Clinic. "Yes, we are trying to get a doctor," said Schmidt, who added that the district has retained a recruiter but can also go through Adventist Health. Osmin added that the board would like to have two physicians and one nurse practitioner for the hospital and clinic. But, added board member Sharron Meyers, "It's obvious that it's difficult to recruit." Schmidt said that an Adventist Health representative is looking into a relationship with Good Shepherd Hospital in Hermiston or St. Anthony Hospital in Pendleton to provide physicians for a specified period of time. However, members of the audience were concerned that a different doctor would come every week and that the doctor might take patients back to his respective practice out-of town. "It would not be a new physician every week. It would be the same one coming from Hermiston and Pendleton," countered Schmidt. "And it would cut out recruitment costs. We would have access to specialists and it would save people in the community from having to drive." Schmidt said that it costs around $25,000 to recruit a and PMC, Dr. Ernie Atkins and come on board with the district at Nurse Practitioner Wendy Haack. the end of March; Dr. Atkins and the board are -learned of a positive state currently in the process of inspection for the district's contract negotiations. Atkins' radiology program; three-year contract expires June -learned that the siding and 1 . roof have been completed on the "I want to encourage the new Imgon clinic and intenor board to work with Dr. Atkins," painting has begun; said PMC nurse Tnsh Maben in -learned of the approval by the a tearful plea. "If we don't have Imgon City Council of the him we probably don't have donation of two stnps of land Wendy. . . "I'm a taypayer. I adjoining the Imgon clinic to the encourage you to keep what we distnet for possible expansion or have. If it's a few more bucks out parking; of my pocket, I'll be glad to pay -heard an update on Rural it." Health Clinic status, which "The board knows how valued would increase reimbursements you are," responded Osmin. to the district; "There wouldn't be a hospital -heard a revised emergency without you." services policy concerning The hospital employees also patient transport, which was read said they were upset by the "lack by Dr. Atkins; of communication between the -approved a request from administration and the staff'. The Schmidt for requests for employees say that they haven't proposals for an insurance agent have staff meetings since the of record; resignation of former -discussed with NP Haack administrator Kevin Erich. medical procedures which could "There hasn't been a lot of up be performed by her with front discussion with the staff," additional training; said director of nursing services, -learned that a new human Peggy Johnson, who has services director has been hired submitted her resignation, citing which the board hopes will a proposed move from the area. increase employee- In other business, the board: administration communication, -approved a motion to increase -heard a report from Grant that the status of receivables have nursing home fees and to "quantify" other fees. Grant said ltnproved; -heard that a new Medicare that rates have not been raised reimbursement plan is expected for several years. -announced a budget meeting to negatively affect the home open to the public to be held health program; -heard of an increase in Monday, March 9, at 7 p.m. at the Home Health office in patients at the Boardman clinic; -learned that a new dentist will Heppner. Earl Woods, Jr. files for DA spot Earl R Woods Earl R. Woods Jr. has announced that he has filed with the Secretary of State a petition to be re-elected as the district attorney for Morrow County. Woods has served in that position since December 1992. Woods has been a prosecutor for 12 years, was in the private practice of law for 12 years and served as a deputy sheriff for two years. He is a member of the Oregon National Guard where he has attained the rank of lieutenant colonel and is a member of the lone Fire Department. Woods recently served in Bosnia as a part of the U S. Peace Keeping Force, is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and is a physical fitness buff. Woods has been endorsed for re-election by Morrow County Sheriff Roy Drago, Heppner Police Chief Doug Rathbun of Heppner and Boardman Police Chief Greg Sayles and pledges to continue to aggressively prosecute crime in Morrow County. Woods says he has successfully prosecuted more than 3000 crimes since coming to Morrow County and indicates that the law enforcement agencies in Morrow County deserve a great deal of credit for making Morrow County a safe place in which to live. He says he enjoys prosecution and would like the opportunity to continue to serve law enforcement and Morrow County as their district attorney. Curfew crackdown follows vandalism Heppner Police Chief Doug Rathbun says that the police department will crack down on curfew violations of minors following several recent incidents of tire slashing. Rathbun said that all four tires doctor for the district. were slashed on three vehicles Both Schmidt and chief financial officer Dan Grant parked at the St. Patrick's Senior concurred that the days when a Center and one tire was slashed doctor "came into the community on a vehicle parked on Gale with his family and set up his Street. Rathbun said that the curfew shingle" in a private practice are for teens 14 and older who have no longer. Kay Robinson, a member of the begun high school is from 11 Heppner community, said she p.m. to 6 a m. on school nights was concerned about keeping the district's medical providers. "Are we going to be able to keep the doctors we have now," she asked. Meyers said the board The lone High School winter appreciated the urgency of the sports dessert will be held search, adding "We've got Thursday, March 12, at 7 p.m. in providers here who are getting the lone High School Cafeteria. tired." Tennis practice at lone High Two providers currently School starts on Tuesday, March provide medical services at PMH and midnight and 6 a.m. on nights when there is no school the next day, unless accompanied by a parent. An exception will be made if the minor is engaged in a school activity or work. The curfew for children under 14 who have not begun high school is 9:15 p.m. to 6 a.m. According to city statutes, any minor who violates the curfew may be taken into temporary custody and may be subjected to further proceedings for curfew offenses. A parent of a child violating curfew may be fined. lone slates sports dessert 10, at 3:45 p.m. Track practice for middle school and high school students will begin on March 16. Save $ $ $ $ During Our Spring Oil Drum Sale through March 14th M orrow C ounty G rain G rowers ______ Lexington 989-8221 • 1 -800-452-7396
