FOUR - Heppner Gazette-Tim es, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, June 2,1 9 9 9
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 G-T reserves the right to edit.
R ea l issu e is b o a rd in c o m p e te n c e
To the Editor:
Open Letter to Morrow County
Mrs. Dahlman, interim CEO of
Morrow County Health District,
has written a letter published in
the Times-Gazette on 26 May as
did I. My letter was an apology
although I have much less to be
apologetic for than Mrs.
Dahlman. Her letter was more
of the same, more threats to ruin
my career, more attempted
smears. Her letter is yet another
attempt to divert attention from
the real issue. That issue is the
incompetence of the board of
directors of Morrow County
Health District. Nearly from the
beginning of my service here in
Morrow County I have loudly
and continuously said that the
district was being run by people
who have neither the training or
experience to operate a multi
million dollar facility .
There cannot be 10 people in
Morrow County who seriously
believe anything other than that
I am being punished for being
outspoken.
The attempt to
discredit me, to demonize me, is
shameless. It is not decent. It is
not right. And it is not moral.
But considerable money has
been spent to make sure it was
"legal". Mrs. Dahlman, willing
handmaiden to the board, has
done this with great gusto. I
have no idea how much time,
energy and health district money
she has spent dredging through
my history. She has dredged up
mistruths, misinterpretations,
innuendoes and opinions; all to
discredit me. But even if she
could discredit me that would
not make this board any more
competent. They would still be
unsuitable for the job they were
elected to do. That is the issue,
not me.
Morrow County cannot afford
even one more debacle by this
* board. New businesses will
come to an area that recently lost
a mill. They will not come to an
area that recently lost a hospital.
That1 is tjhe risk tl>e board has
placed in front of Morrow
Couhty. The board is now, I
believe, paying locum tenens
(temporary)
physicians
to
provide coverage to the hospital.
We can assume they are paying
a premium for this service. And
they will continue to pay a
premium for that service.
However Mrs. Dahlman assures
us that qualified physicians are
being interviewed and are eager
to come settle here.
What physician in his right
mind is going to step into a
situation where a series of
physicians have left under
mysterious circumstances. Who
in their right mind is going to go
to a place where an experienced
board-certified doctor is having
his career threatened by the
board of directors. Every attack
on me is one more reason for a
physician not to come to
Morrow County . Even Mrs.
Dahlman and the board should
be able to see that every action
they take to harm me harms the
health district more. The only
physicians that are now likely to
come into this buzz saw are
foreign-trained people who have
little other choice or people who
are incompletely trained.
The board seems not to grasp a
key issue in providing medical
care. Good medical care is not a
commodity.
Medical care
means the establishment of a
relationship between the patient
and the doctor. They must take
the time to learn about each
other, to know each other, to
trust each other. The doctor
must study each patient to the
depth and breadth that his
experience tells him is needed.
The patient must decide if they
will place their life, or the life of
their loved ones, in the hands of
the physician. Time after time
the people here have given that
trust to a medical care provider
only to have the doctor run off
by the board.
The only real assets that the
health district has are the
medical
care
providers.
Somehow the board has still not
figured that out. Somehow the
board still doesn't listen to the
medical care providers, or to the
public that supports the health
district, but it does listen to
administrators. Somehow the
board still hasn't figured out that
the administrators are there to
make the job of the doctors
easier. The board appears to
think that the doctors are there to
make
the job
of
the
administrator easier.
I have said from the very first
that public involvement would
be the redemption of the district
if there was to be any
redemption. If the Morrow
County Health District is to
survive it will be because the
public once again takes charge.
When the board was ready to
close the health district the
turnout of hundreds of people at
the board meeting saved the
district. The public must again
make its displeasure with the
board known. The business
people who haven't wanted to
get involved for fear of harming
their businesses must get
involved. If the hospital dies
your businesses won't be far
behind. And that includes the
Times-Gazette. Retired people
who need nearby medical care
must speak up. Young families
who need accessible care for
their children must speak out.
Farmers and ranchers who need
emergency care must speak out.
Every person who is concerned
about the future of Heppner and
of Morrow County must stand
up and speak out now. Write to
the paper. Write to the board.
Call the board members. Go the
board meetings. Sit on your
hands much longer and you will
wake up and your town will be
dead. Shortly you will have two
competent people on the board.
It should be simple to get a new
board member from Iqpe and
then you would have.,three of
five competent people on the
board.
Morrow County and Heppner
have been very kind to my wife
and me. We appreciate the
support so many kind people
have offered us. I have been
honored and privileged by the
trust so many patients have
given me.
I am very
comfortable that I have done my
best for my patients. I feel
strongly that the truth will be
seen and will not harm me. I
will never have to explain to my
children that what I did was
legal but then have to convince
them that it was also moral.
This is a good place and it
deserves better than it has gotten
from the board. Each and every
one of you must now take the
initiative to repair the damage
they have done.
(s) Clyde Burnham, M.D.
Heppner
UofI awards
scholarships
The University of Idaho has
awarded scholarships to students
who will be attending UI for the
1999-2000 academic year.
Students received scholarships
for excellent academic records
as well as activity involvement
and leadership on campus and in
communities.
Local students who qualified
include:
Matthew
Jepsen,
Presidential, Heppner; Jessica
Krebs, Presidential, lone; and
Ryan
Neal,
Presidential,
Boardman.
Copies
m
Tiepjmtr Qazette-Ttmes
The Official Newspaper
of the City of Heppner and the County of Morrow
R e sto r e fa ith th a t life can be b ea u tifu l
To the Editor:
Upon arriving for work this
morning I was dismayed to
observe that my two terra cotta
pots full of geraniums and cover
flowers were not in the places
that they have occupied for the
past five years. Someone helped
themselves to these pots full of
blooms sometime between
Saturday afternoon and Tuesday
morning.
Maybe whoever did this
thought that they were stealing
"from an institution," since the
pots decorate the area in front of
the home health office. Or
maybe they just don't care. The
pots of flowers belong to me. I
purchased the pots, the potting
soil, the plants and the fertilizer.
And everyone that goes past or
comes into our office is able to
enjoy them.
These were more than just pots
of flowers to me. People in our
line of work deal with sickness,
trauma and death on a daily
basis; sometimes we need
reminding that there are still
many things in life that are
beautiful. Now some of those
reminders are gone too.
If you are the person that took
these pots, I'm asking you to
please return them to their
places. Help restore our faith
that at least sometimes, life goes
on, and it can be beautiful.
(s) Molly Rhea
Home Health Director
Heppner
H eppner
GAZETTE-TIMES
U.S.P.S. 240-420
Morrow County's Home-Owned W eekly Newspaper
Published weekly and entered as periodical matter at the Post Office at Heppner, Oregon
under the Act of March 3,1879. Penodical postage paid at Heppner, Oregon Office at 147
W Willow Street Telephone (541)676-9228. Fax (541)676-9211. E-trwil gt@heppner net
or gt@rapidserve net Web site: www heppner.net Postmaster send address changes to
the Heppner Gazette-Times, P.O. Box 337, Heppner, Oregon 97836. Subscriptions: S22 in
Morrow County, S16 senior rate (in Morrow County only; 62 years or older); $29 else
where.
•
David Sykes...............................................................................................................Publisher
Apnl Hilton-Sykes........................................................................................................ Editor
Engagement
B r in g b a c k th e g o o d d octors,
r e p la c e th e b o a r d
To the Editor:
For the last few weeks we have
been exposed to contradicting
views concerning Dr. Burnham.
My experience with Dr.
Burnham has been very positive.
My first visit with him resulted
in the most complete physical
that I have had in years. He
followed up on every medical
call that I had on record,
insisting on getting a full and
complete understanding of all
my medical history.
The problems of the Morrow
County Medical District did not
begin with the hiring of Dr.
Burnham. They existed long
before he came, and continue
today. The medical board, in my
opinion, is not as concerned
about quality medical service as
they are in increased revues. I
feel that there are ample
revenues, but expenses are
completely out of line. As soon
as they realize they are top
heavy in the office help,
maintenance, and even in the
lab, and too much time by the
EMT supervisor spent qn the
road and in coffee shops, they
will close the gap between
income and expenses.
I think the time has come to
bring back the good doctors and
replace the medical board.
(s) Randy Lott
Heppner
Robinson-Dunaway
Obituary
Tanya Robinson and Dwayne Dunaway
W.C.C.C. C o ir
WCCC Ladies’ Play
Tuesday, May 25
Low gross of the field: Betty
Christman (42).
Low net of the field: Karen
Wolff (23).
Least putts of the field: Harriet
Batty (14).
Flight A: low gross-Bev
Gunderson (45); low net-Carol
Norris (32); least putts-a tie be
tween Luvilla Sonstegard and
Lois Hunt (16).
Flight B: low gross-Deborah
Kendrick (46); low net-Bemice
Lott (30); least putts-Sandi Hanna
(17) .
Flight C: low gross-D ella
Heideman (50); low net-Melba
Miller (33); least putts-S&ndi Day
(18) .
Long drive, flight A-Luvilla
Sonstegard; flight B-Betty
Christman; flight C-Karen Wolff.
Chip in: Bev Gunderson #2,
Betty Christman #5.
Birdie: Betty Christman #1.
K.P., second shot #2: Sandi
Day.
WCCC Family Barbecue
Monday, May 31
Women: first low gross, Pat
Edmundson (-33), second low
gross, Jan Paustian (-36), third
low gross, Deborah Kendrick (-
38); first low net, Elaine Miller,
second low net, George Naims,
third low net, Cam Wishart; spe
cial events, Pat Edmundson, Kay
Anderson.
Men: first low gross, Jeff
Edmundson (-31), second low
gross, John Edmundson (-33),
third low gross a tie between Jeff
Hugginr and Les Paustian (-34);
first low net, Kiel Naims, second
low net, Jim Wishart, third low
net, Dave Kendrick; special
events, Kiel Naims, Earl Norris,
Mark Miller.
Arlington Saddle
Club plans Jr.
rodeo
The Arlington Saddle Club will
host a Cayuse Junior Rodeo June
5-6.
Participants eight to 18 years
old will participate in barrels,
pole bending, goat tying,
breakaway roping, bronc riding
and other events.
Events begin at 10 a.m. daily.
Everyone is invited to attend.
Henry H. Halvorsen
lone native Henry H.
Halvorsen, 92, died Thursday,
May 27, 1999, at Medford.
The funeral was held Tuesday,
June 1, 1999, at Hillcrest Chapel
in Medford. Entombment was at
Hillcrest Memorial Park in
Medford.
Mr. Halvorsen was bom June 2,
1906, at lone. He served in the
U.S. Army Reserves during
WWI.
On August 8, 1930, he married
Margaret
M.
Cargill
at
Pendleton.
Mr. Halvorsen was employed
as a telephone repairman by
Pacific Northwest Bell from
1929 until his retirement in
1965.
The Halvorsens moved to the
Rogue Valley from Pendleton in
1941.
Mr. Halvorsen authored two
books on the history of
Jacksonville Warren Masonic
Lodge 10 where he was a 50-
year member and past master.
He enjoyed researching
genealogy. He researched and
authored the Padberg/Halvorsen
family histories.
Survivors include his wife,
Margaret,
of
Medford;
daughters, Donna Carradgan of
Medford, and Carole Rosenbalm
of Phoenix, Arizona; nine
grandchildren and 11 great
grandchildren. He was preceded
in death by one brother and three
sisters.
Memorial contributions may be
made to the Jackson County
Historical Society.
Conger-Morris Funeral
Directors, Medford, was in
charge of arrangements.
The parents of Tanya Leigh Robinson and Dwayne Trevor Dunaway
announce their children's engagement.
The bride-elect is the daughter of James and Dalene Robinson of
Bend. A graduate of Crook County High School, she is employed at
Budget Rent-A-Car in Redmond.
The groom-elect is the son of Harlan and Linda Dunaway of Heppner.
He is a graduate of Heppner High School and of Blue Mountain
Community College. He is employed at Cascade Cable in Prineville.
The couple will be married Jane 25, 1999, at 6 p.m. at HollinsHead
Park In Bend.
H APPY
40th
BIRTHDAY!
Tyson, Treve, Genia, Josie
Mom. John, Bobbi & Families
O ur n e w
“M ille n iu m Cl ) ”
r a te s a r e w e] 1
w o r th c e le b r a ti ng!
48
Month Term
^30%ApY*
EFFECTIVE APRIL 22: Adult and Family Services will change the date
60
M onth Term
¿*50% *
a py
s to p
and time a case manager will be available to serve Heppner residents.
b y y o u r lo c al b ra n c h fo r all th e d e ta ils
Walk-in intake: SECOND AND FOURTH THURSDAYS,
9 a.m .-11 a.m ., 1-3 p.m.
120 S. Main, in basement, Heppner.
Other times can be scheduled in advance on Thursdays if necessary.
RaNae Brooks, case manager, can be reached at 1-800-213-8475, ext. 273.
^piam ath
1 s t Federal
W e ’d be honored.
120
Month Term
^75% APY*
H ep p n er B ranch:
111 N. M ain S treet
676-5407
•APY ■ Annual Percentage Yield • APY it acculale a t of M ay 27, 1999
Minimum Deposit • F D t Insured up to $ 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 • Rate subject la change
Interest Compounded Daily • Interest penalty is required for early withdrawal
$100