Princess a dedicated county ambassador
BESSIE
WET- ELL
U OF ORE
news p ap er
E U 6 L II L
VOL. 118
NO. 31
8 Pages
OK
li t ?
0 1 ^ ^
Wednesday, August 4,1999
Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon
Health District hears success story
The Morrow County Health
District, now in the middle of
applying for a 30-year $1.5
million
expansion
and
remodeling loan for the Pioneer
Memorial Hospital and Nursing
Home, while at the same time is
losing an average of $30,000
per month, Monday heard a
success story from a hospital
with similar problems on the
Oregon coast.
Sandra Reese, administrator
of the Lower Umpqua Hospital
in Reedsport. told the medical
board how that hospital
overcame financial problems
similar to MCHD's.
Reese said Lower Umpqua
took $3,600,000 in long-term
government loans, a $150,000
forest service grant and
$599,000
in
community
development block grant funds,
upgraded the hospital and
turned the financial situation
around. She said an alliance
was also formed with three
other hospitals in nearby towns,
which helped cut costs and
increase revenue.
"We decided to change the
way we did things," Reese said.
She said the hospital board
realized that people wanted
modem nice looking medical
facilities, and once the upgrades
and improvements were made,
people began using the hospital
more and its financial situation
improved.
Similar to Heppner, a large
mill in the Reedsport area also
recently shut down, costing the
town over 300 jobs.
Currently in the planning
stages at Pioneer Memorial
Hospital and Nursing Home are:
expanding the nursing home
113 feet and adding 22 beds;
moving administrative offices
to the basement; relocating
access for the general public to
a "dramatic" and "more
inviting" space in the basement;
Burkenbines sell Market
adding a pharmacy, which they
propose to contract with Murray
Drugs to operate; adding a
cafeteria;
expanding
the
emergency room; remodeling
areas for mammography and
ultrasound;
and
grouping
hospital departments in a more
efficient manner.
The project is estimated to
cost $1.5 million and a 30-year
Rural Economic Development
loan is being applied for to fund
the work.
In other business the board:
• heard that the medical district
is still losing an average o f
$30,000 per month (after tax
income is included).
- learned the nursing home
occupancy has increased from
19 up to 24.
- learned the Irrigon medical
clinic is showing increased
usage by the citizens in Irrigon
(188 patients were seen in July).
- approved an assisted suicide
policy as proposed by Home
Health Director Molly Rhea.
And learned that it will
probably be more than three
months before a new doctor will
be moving to the area. The
district has a contract with a
new doctor, but certain paper
work and procedures must be
followed with the Immigration
and Naturalization Service
before he can begin practicing
here.
County, union
sign
bargaining
agreement
Bart, Kim, Charlene and Jason Houweling.
Central Red Apple Market in Heppner has been sold to a couple from
Gig Harbour. Washington.
Bert and Kim Houweling will take over operation of the store Aug.
30 from Forrie and Gail Burkenbine, who will be retiring.
The Houwelings have two children Charlene, 11, and Jason, 10.
"Our family is looking forward to living In Heppner," said Bert. "We
plan to provide the same quality service that Gail and Forrie have
given, and we very much look forward to meeting everyone."
By Doris Brosnan
The Morrow County Court and
Local 2479, Sub-Local 2 signed
a
three
year
collective
bargaining agreement on July
28.
The union is affiliated with the
Association o f Federal. State.
County
and
Municipal
Employees (AFSCME) Council
75 and is composed of
approximately 35 general county
employees who work in the
courthouse and other annexes
around the county
The tow organizations' mam
areas o f agreement included a
cost-of-living adjustment and a
proportional cost split for health
insurance. AFSCME Council 75
representative Alison Hamway
stated, "We started out with a
good contract to negotiate from.
While we did not make any real
gains, we did not lose anything
either" Morrow County Judge
Terry Tallman added, "Our
employees are valued and
appreciated, so we are very
pleased to have successfully
negotiated a new contract."
By Meriyn Robinson
Blondes do have lots o f fun."
says Morrow County Fair and
Oregon Trail Pro Rodeo Princess
Nonnee Walters But this year’s
all-blonde four member court
have also become dedicated
Morrow County ambassadors
who take their responsibilities
seriously.
The royal families have had a
busy summer promoting the fair
and rodeo. This has involved
miles o f trailering horses,
leaving home in the wee
morning hours and often arriving
back home in the middle o f the
night. Days o f preparation are
involved plus patiently waiting
in the hot sun during parade line
ups.
Official court outfits topped by
their white hats easily become
soiled during dusty arena run-
ins. And then there are the
chilly moments, like the pool
party at the Shilo Inn following
the Fort Dalles Days luncheon
when Queen Bobbie and
Princess
Nonnee
bravely
plunged in.
For Nonnee and her court
members, horse washing is a
weekly chore to keep parade
mounts presentable.
But
Nonnee says the recognition
they receive makes it all worth
the effort.
Horses have always been a
focus in the life o f Princess
Nonnee who is an accomplished
hand. She has been a member o f
the Martingale 4-H Horse Club
for seven years
Riding her
paint horse "Kara" in the 1998
Morrow County Open Horse
Show, she won the champion
high point rider award for the 16-
and-over-age group. As reserve
intermediate champion for last
year's Morrow County 4-H horse
show she qualified to go to the
state 4-H horse show in Salem.
There she received a blue nbbon
in showmanship and a red
ribbon in the trail horse class.
This year Nonnee was the grand
champion at the Morrow County
4-H horse show held August 1.
For her mounted court
appearances. Princess Nonnee is
riding a 10-year-old black
Quarterhorse
mare
dubbed
"B.B." belonging to Monte
Crum. This mare has become a
’sweetheart" who enjoys all the
attention while sharing the
spotlight in parades and run-ins.
Input sought on
old pool project
Input is being sought on the
possibility o f turning the old
Heppner swimming pool into a
family center.
Anyone interested in becoming
a part o f the project or for more
information
call
Becky
Breazeale, 676-5735.
Open horse
show set
for Sunday
The Morrow County Open
Horse Show will be held Sunday,
August 8, beginning at 8 a m. at
the Morrow County Fairgrounds
in Heppner.
The closing date is Friday,
August 6, at 5 p.m. Entry fees are
$4 pier class per day or $20 all
day per person. Late entries will
be accepted with a $1 charge per
class accessed.
The champion and reserve
champion will win leather
headstalls. Winners 10 years and
under will receive trophies; and
those 1 i-14 and 15 and over will
receive gift certificates.
Sponsors include Green Feed,
and Gardner's Men's Wear,
Heppner, Morrow County Grain
Growers and Temple Veterinary
Clinic, Lexington. Inland Empire
Bank, Boardman, Columbia
River Tack, Irrigon, Pendleton
Grain Growers, Hermiston and
Pendleton.
For more information about the
show call the fair office, 676-
9474. Entries should also be
mailed to the fair office.
Nonnee and B B
P rin ces
N onn ee' i
W alter\\
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Blonde
Age: 16 years old,
a junior at IHS
Parents:
Nonnee Walters
says Nonnee.
Princess Nonnee is an
involved lone High School
student where she will be a
junior this year. Along with
being a honor roll student she is
a track star. Nonnee placed fifth
in long jump and fifth in 100-
meter hurdles during the 1998
state 2A track meet. She's also
an avid basketball and volleyball
player and an accomplished flute
and piccolo player.
Other
interests include swimming and
horses, of course.
She
participates in both English and
Western classes, jumping and
trail events.
As a. former court pennant
bearer for two years. Nonnee
was knowledgeable as to court
obligations. This year’s court and
families have become a close-
knit group, she says. Nonnee
says she, along with the others,
are fortunate to have that family
support
which
includes
horsemanship tips. Nonnee
laughs about Joe, her stepfather,
giving his horsemanship advice
to her. He says he once schooled
a horse by following instructions
from a book.. "So he tells me
how to do everything. Ha! Ha!."
she says.
Nonnee's birthplace is Gold
Beach, Oregon. When she was
10 years old the family moved to
Eastern Oregon. She attended
the Olex school until it was
closed and since then she has
been a student at lone. After
moving to lone. Nonnee's
mother. Linda, worked at
Beecher's for five years. She is
now a busy homemaker. In
addition, Linda's horsemanship
skills, gained from 10 years of
Joe and Linda
Halvorsen,
and Danny Walters
Activities: 4-H, horse
shows, rodeos, high
school basketball,
volleyball and track,
music and swimming
raising and showing paint
horses, has led to working at the
Jim West horse ranch where she
has helped prepare horses for
their production sales.
Princess Nonnee's stepfather.
Joe Halvorsen, is a Morrow
County native who currently
works
for the
Specialty
Transportation
Service
in
Arlington. He also operates the
Tri-County Wheat Treating
business. Nonnee has a younger
sister, Stacie Jo. who is four
years old. She has an older
sister, Monica Coleman, 27. and
a brother Eric Walters. 22, who
live in Corvallis where Nonnee's
father. Danny Walters, also
resides.
Grandmothers Dot
Halvorsen and Isabell Perry,
both lone residents, are also
among her staunch supporters.
The whirlwind of attending a
summer of events has been
exciting. Nonnee says, and will
be capped by the Morrow
County Fair and Oregon Trail
Pro Rodeo.
In their elegant, stylish split-
skirt outfits, fashioned by
Yvonne Morter, lone, this court
has captured numerous first
place wins in other parades.
Princess Nonnee is looking
forward to seeing everyone at
the Saturday, August 21. events
that include breakfast at the city
park, the parade, the queen's
iuncheon and the afternoon
PRC A rodeo performance.
Evening events include the 4-H
and FFA livestock auction plus
karaoke performances under the
stars.
lone to commemorate
100th anniversary
To commemorate the 100th
anniversary of the city of lone,
music has been planned in the
lone City Park every Friday
evening from 7-9 p.m. through
the month of August.
The citizens of lone voted to
incorporate on August 12, 1899.
Music, which is free of charge,
will feature local singer. Tim
Cundell on August 13. the Old
Time Fiddlers on August 20 and
the local group. Final Warning
on August 27.
Everyone is invited to bring a
lawn chair, a picnic basket and
"join in helping lone celebrate"
its 100th year.
Arts and crafts people are also
invited to bring their wares for
sale during the concert.
The lone Amphitheatre, stage
and extended park are available
for public use. Contact citv hall.
541-422-7414.
for
more
information.
Burning permits
revoked
The Oregon Department of
Forestry revoked all burning
permits as of August 2.
The restrictions have been
placed into effect because of the
hot. dry weather conditions and
increasing fire danger.
on Monday, August 9th
Mon-Fri: 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. • Saturday: 7 a.m. - noon
M orrow C ounty G rain G rowers
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