IHS holds commencement exercises
NATIJ RE D
IT U a i l M E
HEPPNER
School board chairman John Rietmann (center) and Senator Gordon
Smith congratulate lone graduate Kara Miller at the lone High School
commencement exercises held May 29.
imes
VOL. 117
NO. 22
12 Pages
Wednesday, June 3,1998
Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon
CEO candidate visits PMH
The Morrow County Health
District has announced that a
candidate for CEO of the district
and administrator for Pioneer
Memorial Hospital would visit
the hospital and clinic on
Tuesday, June 2.
The CEO position became
vacant
after
previous
administrator Ken Schmidt
resigned, saying he wanted to
"pursue other interests". Dan
Grant, chief financial officer,
will serve as CEO until Adventist
Health,
which
provides
administrative, computer and
other services for the district,
hires a new administrator
In other business, the board
voted to approve raises for non
union employees. The employees
will receive a two percent cost of
living increase for 1999; a two
percent increase for 2000; and a
three percent for 2001.
The employees will also see
increases in their medical/dental
premiums from $276 for a single
to $290 in 1999, $304 in 2000
and $320 in 2001. Family
premiums will go up from $380
to $399 in 1999, $419 in 2000
and $440 in 2001.
Shift premiums will increase
from 50 cents to 55 cents for
evenings and from around 70
cents to 90 cents nights. Call
time rates will also increase,
from $1.30 an hour to $1.50 an
hour in 1999, $1.65 in 2000 and
$1.80 in 2001.
Paid time off for employees
with 20 or more years of
seniority will be raised from 20
days to 25.
The board read aloud a letter
from they received from MCHD
Budget Committee member Gene
Allen, who protested the district's
budget. He said, in the letter, that
the board had a "siege mentality"
concerning the board's inability
to come to a contract agreement
with Dr. Robert Boss of
Boardman. Dr. Boss was
previously paid by the district to
provide
medical
care
in
Boardman. When he and the
district could not come to a
contract agreement, he built a
new clinic next door to the
district-owned clinic where he
had previously worked.
Allen said that the board,
through
its
"destructive
competition" was forcing the
closure of Boss' Boardman
Health Care Center.
The board received and read
aloud a letter from John Prag,
also of Boardman, who said he
was disturbed by the district's
position concerning the budget
and the district's clinic in
Boardman. He said that the north
end of the county provides 2/3 to
3/4 of the district's tax base, but
the district is contemplating
reducing a physician to 1/2 time
in Boardman.
Grant, however, says that the
district is in the process of
recruiting
physicians
and
dentists. A possible reduction in
medical provider hours for the
district's Boardman clinic, that is
being
considered, would be
temporary to provide coverage
for the new medical clinic in
Irrigon until additional providers
can be hired. The Irrigon clinic
has received its certificate of
occupancy.
The district agreed to pursue an
agreement with Good Shepherd
obstetncian/gynecologist to have
office hours a the Boardman
Clinic at least once a week, and
possibly a dermatologist. Grant
said that a dentist has indicated
interest in either the Heppner or
Boardman dental offices.
Dr. Paul Marshall, dentist for
Heppner Dental, will leave the
district at the end of July. Dr.
Blair Smith, dentist at the
Boardman dental clinic will
leave the district in November.
Pioneer Memorial Hospital has
hired a new director of nursing
services, Tammy Henderson.
The board approved a request
from Gaylin Fickel, director of x-
ray services at PMH. to purchase
a new image intensifier for the x-
ray department at Pioneer
Memorial Hospital and x-ray
equipment for the Imgon clinic.
Fickel said that the department is
examining tele-radiology, which
would allow them to have x-rays
read
by
radiologists
via
computers rather than sending
patients away from home.
The board also heard a report
concerning a proposed assisted
living facility in Heppner.
Willow Creek Road construction update
The U.S. Dept, of
Transportation lists its planned
construction activities on Willow
Creek Road for the week of
Monday, June 1.
Tidewater will continue the
clearing, grubbing, burning of
debris and hauling of logs
operations, working ahead on
line from the beginning of the
project, which is near the south
limits of Cutsforth Park and
continue towards the top of Coal
Mine Grade and the end of the
project.
Willow Creek Road (Coal Mine
Grade) is closed to through
traffic from the south entrance to
Cutsforth Park to the intersection
of Forest Service Roads 53, main
line, and 21, Penland Lake Road.
This intersection will remain
open, for the present time, until
construction activities close it
sometime in late June.
Willow Creek Road will remain
open to local traffic only to the
south entrance to Cutsforth Park.
Cutsforth Park will remain open
during the construction season.
The road closure will continue
through the length of the
contract, which has a completion
date of October 9. The detour
route through the Shaw Creek
Road will be the main travel
route through the four comers to
Penland Lake and Ukiah.
The road closure has been
accomplished
by
placing
barricades with Hashing lights
across the Willow Creek Road at
both ends of the construction
zone. Drivers are asked to please
observe the warning signs prior
to the detour route and barricades
at both ends of the construction
zone. Have a safe summer and
remember that the barricade road
closure is for public safety.
Federal Highways asks the
public for their patience,
consideration and cooperation
during this construction season
and hopes that the work will be
completed with a minimum of
delays.
For more information, contact
Robert G. Toops, project
engineer, at
676-5904 in
Heppner
for
additional
information.
HES academic
awards set June 4
The
Academic
Awards
Assembly
for
Heppner
Elementary School will be held
in the gymnasium Thursday,
June 4, at 7 p.m.
Students will be recognized for
participation and achievement in
special academic activities and
contests. The evening will
conclude with the presentation of
the
Presidential
Academic
Excellence Award to qualifying
sixth graders.
Refreshments will follow in the
school cafeteria. The public is
invited to attend.
New city
manager
should be on
job by Oct.
The Heppner city council is in
the processes of picking a new
city manager, and the job should
be done by October, acting City
Manager Renee Devin predicted.
Devin said the city now has 34
resumes for the managers job.
She said there is a June 12
deadline for resumes, and then
by July 9 the council will select
five applicants for background
checks by the League of Oregon
Cities.
By the end of August the city
will be bringing in applicants for
interviews, and the new manager
should be on the job by October
1 or the 15 she said.
The lone High School Class of
1998 held their commencement
exercises Friday, May 29, at the
lone High School gymnasium.
U.S. Senator Gordon Smith was
guest speaker. Jenny Sullivan
delivered the valedictory address
and Kara Miller, the salutatory
address. The lone Fifth and Sixth
Grade Band performed "Pomp
and Circumstance" and Kate
Garrett sang "The Wind Beneath
My Wings. The senior class
made special presentations and
Morrow
County
School
Superintendent Chuck Staff and
school board chairman John
Rietmann presented diplomas.
The class of 1998 included
Brenda Lee Burright, Kathryn
Joyce Garrett, Tiffani Mae Jones,
Jacob Lee McElligott, Kara
Brooke Miller, Marc Thomas
Orem, Leonard John Rietmann,
Nathan Robert Rietmann and
Jennifer Nicole Sullivan.
The following students
received
scholarships
and
awards:
-Brenda Burright: Class of
1968-S250;
Lion's
Club
Scholarship-S200; Ken Snider
Memorial Scholarship^ 1,000;
Blue Mountain Community
College tuition waiver.
-Kate Garrett: Blue Mountain
Community College tuition
waiver.
-Jake McElligott: South
Morrow County Trust-$500;
Mike
Matthews
Memorial
Scholarship-$ 1,000;
Carl
Troedson Scholarship^ 1,000;
lone Youth Group Scholarship-
Si 50; Cargill Scholarship-$200;
DUSSAULT Scholar (Gonzaga
University)-$ 10,000;
Jason
Halvorsen
Memorial
Scholarship-$500;
Elk's
Scholarship-$700; Cardinal Club
Scholarship-$300; Outstanding
Senior Athlete.
- Kara Miller: South Morrow
County Trust-$500; Ken Snider
Memorial Scholarship-$ 1,000;
Carl Troedson Scholarship-
S i,000; Linfield Scholarship-
$5,000; Elk’s Scholarship-$700;
Photo by Theresa Hamms
lone Volunteer Fire Department-
$200; 4-H Leadership Council-
$300;
Outstanding
Senior
Athlete.
-Marc Orem: lone Youth
Group Scholarship-$ 150; Bank
of Eastern Oregon-$500; Jason
Halvorsen
Memorial
Scholarship-$500.
-Len Rietmann: Blue Mountain
Community College tuition
waiver; American Legion Post-
$200;
Carl
Troedson
Scholarship-$ 1,000.
-Nathan Rietmann: South
Morrow County Trust-$500; Carl
Troedson Scholarship^ 1,000;
Willamette University Academic
Grant-$9,000; Jason Halvorsen
Memorial
Scholarship-$500;
Lion's Club Scholarship-$200;
Oregon
Wheat
League
Scholarship-$500.
-Jenny Sullivan: South Morrow
County
Trust-$500;
Carl
Troedson Scholarship^ 1,000;
lone Youth Group Scholarship-
Si 50; Jason Halvorsen Memorial
Scholarship-$500.
HHS holds graduation ceremony
The Heppner High School
Class of 1998 held its graduation
ceremony Saturday, May 30, at
the HHS gym.
Honor speakers were Petra
Elguezabal, Travis Wilhelm,
Maci Childers, Jayme Hansen
and Josh Roy.
Jessica Van Winkle and Katie
Nichols
presented
honored
guests, Valery Campbell, Dave
Gunderson, Stub Lewis, Les
Payne and Walter Pilgrim.
Petra Elguezabal, Lexi
Matteson, Katie Nichols and
Jessica Van Winkle presented the
slide show.
Principal Ron Anthony
presented
scholarships
and
awards and Morrow County
School Superintendent Chuck
Starr affirmed the graduation.
Anthony and school board
member Russ Morgan presented
diplomas.
The Heppner High School
Band played "Pomp and
Circumstance".
Grand marshals were Jill
Barber and Derek Gunderson.
Ushers were Tim Dickenson,
Jared Eckman, Bias Elguezabal,
Casey Evans, Brian Knowles and
Shane
Matheny.
Kathleen
Greenup and Jaci Hughes were in
charge of programs and Janelle
Healy and Amber Peck, gifts.
Graduating seniors were:
Christopher Anthony, Sarah
Baker, Mindy Binschus, Brian
Bumside, Maci Childers, Jarrod
Clark, Melissa Cutsforth. Adam
Doherty,
Petra
Elguezabal,
Emmet Evans, Jayme Hansen,
Jonas Healy, Miles Hill, Annie
Hisler, Kathryn Kenny, Lexi
Matteson, Caleb McDaniel. Kan
Mohni, Katie Nichols, Jaylene
Papineau, Judy Peck, Josie
Proctor, Linsey Ropp, Joshua
Roy, Keith Scott, Genny
Sneddon, Timothy Sumner,
Cameron Sweeney, Andrew
Sykes, Christopher Taloney,
Jessica VanWinkle and Travis
Wilhelm.
Those students receiving
HHS seniors Brian Burnside and Mindy Binschus proceed into the
gymnasium prior to graduation ceremonies.
graduation awards are as follows:
Sarah Baker: American Legion
Auxiliary-$200.
Mindy Binschus: Kinzua
Resources-$500; Carl Troedson
Scholarship-$ 1.000.
Maci Childers: Blue Mountain
Community College academic
tuition waiver-$2,100; Oregon
School Employees Association-
$200;
Pioneer
Memorial
Hospital-$350; Lions Club-$500:
Troedson Scholarship-S 1,000.
Melissa Cutsforth: Oregon
School Employees Association-
$ 200 .
Adam Doherty: Booster Club-
$300; Doherty Family-$2,500;
Elk's Scholarship-$200.
Petra Elguezabal: Booster Club-
$200; Diversity Scholarship
Western Oregon University
tuition for four years-$12,612;
Lightfoot Scholarship-$2,500;
Eastern
Oregon
University
Enrichment Scholarship for four
years-$ 12,636 (declined).
Jayme Hansen: Elk's
Scholarship-$250;
Troedson
Scholarship^ 1,000.
Annie Hisler: Booster Club-
$300; Mike Currin Memorial
Scholarship-$800; Hilda Yocom
Scholarship-$200;
Columbia
Basin Conference Scholarship-
S200; Jim Barratt Memorial
Award trophy; letter of intent to
play volleyball at Mt. Hood
Community College.
Katie Kenny: Pioneer
Memorial Hospital-$350.
Lexi Matteson: National High
School Rodeo-$500; Walla
Walla Community College
Rodeo-$500.
Katie Nichols: BMCC tuition
waiver-$2,100.
Josie Proctor: BMCC
academic tuition waiver-$2,100;
Morrow County 4-H Leaders
Council-$300; Elk's Scholarship-
$250; Masonic Lodge-$250;
continued page two
BIG
SAVINGS!
Ju n e 4 th -1 3 th
M
orrow
C o u n t y G r a in G row ers
Lexington 9 8 9 -8 2 2 1 * 1 -8 0 0 -4 5 2 -7 3 9 6
For farm equipment, visit our web nte at www mcgg.ntt
%
•
i
*
_ - „ ■ L
».
, -
"
*>*•*■
. 1 »
"
«.
:
• A
.*1
w
- 1