TW O - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, April 7,1999
Proof required for animal
shelter need
Letters to the Editor
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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
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