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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (April 7, 1999)
TW O - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, April 7,1999 Proof required for animal shelter need Letters to the Editor Editor's note Letters to the Editor must be signed The Gazette-Times w ill not publish unsigned letters Please include your address and phone number on all letters for use by the G-T office. The C -T reserves the right to edit Health district needs care providers on board To the Editor: The last time I wrote an open letter the Morrow County Health District had just been declared dead. That diagnosis was shown to be false. The health district is today in much better shape but 1 believe it is still a long way from being declared healthy. My analysis of the situation initially was that there were two problems. First, that the health district had a board of directors, which was in over their collective heads, with insufficient business and management skills and experience. And second, that board had allowed itself to be spoon-fed and guided by a series of hired gun administrators. The first problem, the board itself, has received the attention of the people and Mr. Larry Mills and Mrs. Linda LaRue will shortly be joining the board. 1 personally look forward with pleased anticipation to their service. The are both experienced, well seasoned business people. Balance sheets will carry no surprises for them and hard questions will be asked. The second problem I initially saw was that the board was taking advice and direction only from those hired gun administrators. The health district is a health district. It is not an administrative district. It is a mechanism to provide medical care, not administrative care. If there is any such thing as administrative care I don't want any. The people who know the most about providing medical care are the people who actually provide that care. Doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, home health nurses, physical therapists, lab and x-ray technologists, emergency medical technicians, and all the other specialists who provide care are the central elements of Morrow County Health District. The providers of medical care, and in particular the medical staff, must be the primary advisors of the board. While the health district is in the process of change, as it is now, I believe the board must reform its relationship with the providers of medical care. Every decision that is made in the health district is a medical decision not an administrative decision. I am sure it is obvious from the recent near disaster what happens when administrators tell medical care providers what to do. If the health district is to provide health care as the people of Morrow County require, a major input as to how it is done must be from the medical staff. The board should, in its bylaws, require a member of the medical staff at every meeting. At every meeting, on every single issue, the chief of the medical staff, or his or her designee, should be present to advise the board. The board is, after all, discussing no issues that are not medical issues. The board should, in its bylaws, require that the chief of the medical staff, or designee, meet weekly with the administrator to discuss the past week's events and plan the coming week's activity. After all, every single issue dealt with every single day is a medical issue. The board should, in its bylaws, direct that the medical care providers, doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants be immediately appointed as department heads o f their respective clinics or clinical department. The present non-system of expecting physicians or practitioners to be responsible for the operational and financial success of a clinic or department without actually being in charge is against every management principle I know. I personally find it unacceptable to have major responsibility for a situation where I am not in charge. The board cannot ask a practitioner to take responsibility for lives and then deny him or her the authority necessary to do so safely and efficiently. The board should direct that, immediately and hereafter, administration goals, plans, directives, etc., be published in all cases. Management by word of mouth is unacceptable. The recent near disaster should have taught us the importance of maintaining a paper-trail in order that the board can monitor performance at all levels in the health district. These changes, and more, should be in the health district bylaws and in everyday operation before a new administrator comes into the system. The people have said, and will continue to say, that they want medical care for all of Morrow County. It is the board's responsibility to satisfy those requirements. I believe that all of the medical care providers, but particularly the medical staff, must have a major voice in how the district satisfies those requirements. Then the administrative staff can do the day-to-day work of getting the board's policies accomplished. In the past, it appears to me, administrators have had far too much input and the medical care providers have had far too little. A number of excellent medical care providers in the past have had similar concerns about the direction of the health district and they have been ignored or over-ruled. They have responded in the only way they could, they have left. The health district is now at a crossroads. It can transform itself into an organization which can provide modem health care services for Morrow County or it can continue the mistakes made in the past and founder. (s) Clyde M. Burnham, M. D. Heppner Police unprofessional To the Editor: I was in your city on March 23 for a vacation. I had the misfortune to get a ticket for not wearing a seat belt, which I deserved. But what I observed with the officer, I felt was very unprofessional. I wonder how you, the taxpayers feel about your law officials out joyriding with friends, in an official vehicle, during business hours. I can only assume they were friends, since none of them were in uniform. Is it standard practice for your law officials to pull a citizen over and have several other people in his jeep laughing and carrying on because you're getting a ticket? The taxpayers pay their salary. But what are you paying for? The gas to go joy riding around to impress his friends. Wouldn't it be nice to know your taxes are going to pay officials that protect and serve as they took an oath to do? About my ticket. I read your local court report in your local newspaper. Every person that was given a ticket for not wearing a seat belt paid $54. My fine was $74 for the exact same violation. Is this the way all out of town people are treated? I appreciate you letting me voice my opinion. (s) Robert Cromwell Ridgecrest, CA. Umatilla or Morrow counties, To the Editor: please jot down this information, People of the Umatilla Morrow date it, sign it and mail it to Pio county regions- We need information. Only you neer Humane Society, P.O. Box can give it to us. How many dogs, 361, Hermiston, OR 97838. That how many cats, livestock, potbel information will provide the “proof lied pigs, horses, etc., have ap of need" that the grantors de peared at your location in the past mand. It you add that you agree a year? shelter is needed, and include a Until we can compile such in check (tax deductible), that would formation for this rapidly growing be "proof of local support” which area, our grant writers cannot the foundations with money also prove the need for an animal shel demand. ter. So, now, immediately, yester (s) Rose Hoosier, financial chair Pioneer Humane Society day even, if you live in or around Stanfield Knightens celebrate 50th anniversary Howard-Botefuhr Stormy Howard and Jeff Botefuhr Kenneth and Maureen Howard, Heppner, announce the engagement of their daughter, Stormy Howard, to Jeff Botefuhr, both of Heppner. Jeffs parents are Rob and Loma Botefuhr, Heppner. Stormy graduated from Heppner High School and attended Blue Mountain Community College, Pendleton. She is employed at the Bank of Eastern Oregon, Mortgage Division, Heppner. Jeff graduated from Heppner High School. He is employed at Les Schwab Tire Center, Heppner. The couple plan a May 8, 1999, wedding at the Heppner Elk’s Lodge. 4-H leaders to meet in Astoria Doris and Doss Knighton, March 25,1949-1999 Doss and Doris (Worden) Knighten of Gladstone have celebrated their 50th anniversary. The couple were married on March 25, 1949, in Heppner. Mr. Knighten retired in 1989 from Cascade Counseling Center, Portland, where he was senior partner and a therapist. He is active in the Mulino Pilots Association. Mrs. Knighten retired in 1990 » i . -a ■ • i > •* i . • •. « | . m second, Mark Schlichting; and third, Dennis Wall. Twenty yard handicap: first, Mark Schlichting; second, Curt Day; third, Dennis Wall. The next scheduled shoot will be held on Sunday, April 11 at noon. The day was chilly, but the shots could still be heard at the weekly shoot of the Morrow County Gun Club on Easter Sun day, said spokesperson Sandi Day. Winners of the 16 yard event are as follows: first. Curt Day; 4-H News Just Horsin' Around The club is still looking for horses to buy or lease, as well as any unused helmets. Anyone who has either, please call 676- 5591. The next meeting will be held at the fairground at 5 p.m., Monday, April 19. By R.J. Farrens The last meeting of Just Horsin' Around was March 29. Members present were: Brooke Boyer, April Drew, Che' Green, R.J. and Jesse Farrens, Mahaley Huddleston, Ashl ey Zimmerman, Bobbie Rankin, and Tasha Hollis. Just Horsin' Around would like to say, "Please get well Sibbia Jones." S I iNDAY 4 Heppner Hermiston Oregon 4-H leaders have an opportunity to spend some time in historic Astoria at the mouth of the Columbia River at the annual 4-H Leaders' Forum April 9 and 10. The forum is for all adult 4-H leaders and teen and junior leaders in grades 10-12. "It's a time for leaders to get new ideas for 4-H activities, meet other leaders from around the state and to share 4-H experiences with others," said Bill Broderick, Oregon State University Extension 4-H agent in Morrow County. Participants have a number of workshops to choose from, including horse showmanship, pet first aid, teaching children with disabilities and conflict management. Other workshops will concentrate on specific 4-H activities, such as family history and genealogy, 4-H Adventures clubs for five to eight year olds, and 4-H resources for water education. This year's keynote speaker is Bob Leamy, a former 10-year 4- H member from Clatsop County. He now works for the Oregon Youth Authority. Leamy will APRIL M ONDAY TUESD AY 6 5 LETTERHEAD • ENVELOPES • BUSINESS CARDS STATEMENTS • INVOICES • and morel 1999 W EDN ESDA Y 7 12 MCQC Shoot Bowl-a-thon Or East Symphony at Heppner City Council Mo Co School Bret OTPR Fair Bra Campus Lite Club 18 19 20 Chamber Lunch Museum Bra Baseball here Softball at P Rock Track at John Day MCGC Stioot 26 MCGC Shoot B'Ka a thon 1 1 Retaiers A ^ Chamber Lunch Bookworms Comm on Child A Fam Bra Softball here 27 Housing Aulh Bra 14 1 F R ID A Y 1 2 3 8 9 1 Q A 16 17 15 Strategic Planning 2 \ H EDCBra Morrow Co Court 23 22 WCVAL Brd Mo Co Creative Arts 4 Crafts B PO L 28 Chamber Lunch Morrow Co Court Base baa at Athena Track at Condon Strategic Planning 29 Track at Umatilla 24 Softball at Du fur Baseball at P Rock 30 BPOE B R O U G H T T O Y O U BY: Twice Upon a Time... • M SW ak Bowl-ajhon S c i - F i Invasion Museum League Ball Tryouts Softball here Track al Umatilla Plant Exchange Softball here Track at Condon BPOE C O M M U N I T Y C A L E N D A R O F E VEN TS Color C opies SA TURDAY Morrow Co Court Used B ooks • W ord Processing N ex t to C ity H all o n W illo w St. in H ep p n er 676-5504___________ 567-8750 THU RSDA Y WCVAL BrO SW CDBra M ea Disi Bra BPOE 11 talk about the importance of 4-H and how 4-H leaders made a difference in his life. On Friday evening, staff at the Fort Clatsop National Memorial will give a presentation on the Lewis and Clark Expedition that spent a winter near Astoria. Special features of this year's forum include educational displays from clubs and county programs throughout the state. In addition, a silent auction will raise money for scholarships to summer camp, leadership camp at OSU and other educational opportunities available to 4-H members in Clatsop County. Registration is $35. Registration includes the leaders' recognition luncheon, two breaks, the conference program and speakers and a reception on Friday night. Morrow County provides full or partial scholarships to attend. For more information on scholarships, housing, a complete list of workshops, the conference schedule and registration forms, contact Bill or Charle at the Morrow County Extension office, 676-9642 or 1 - 800-342-3664. Heppner Gazette-Times Printins 676-9228 !Toot S pecialist will be at the Pioneer Memorial Clinic on April 14th for the diagnosis and treatment of all foot problems from the Multnomah Education Service District, Portland, where she was employed as a secretary. She is a volunteer with the Northwest Medical Teams. The Knightens are members of St. John's Episcopal Church. The Knightens have three children, Jen Lynn McCormack, Pnneville; Greg Knighten, Payette, Idaho; and Sue Wilson, Tualatin; and eight grandchildren.. Gun club holds Easter shoot 25 'Dr. (Donald J. CarCson < Ù 2 ÌÉ & E ngagem ent To have your activity listed in the community calendar of events, contact Doris Brosnan at Twice Upon a Time... 6 7 6 -5 8 8 6 I
