Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (June 7, 2000)
Dr. Sam Datta new physician in Heppner p f% g T I. •‘J r. 31-sali . f,i U o f 0 í¿ c s 3 p y ^ ’ un ' 9 H J 3 Eusans Dr. Sam Datta VQL. 119_______ NO. 23______ 10 Pages Wednesday, June 7,2000 Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon lone holds 38th annual IUCC auction There’s a new health provider in Heppner-one who has traveled half way around the world to be here. Dr Saumyajit "Sam" Datta. 34, originally from Calcutta, India, is now' on the job at Pioneer Memorial Hospital and Clinic. Dr. Datta attended medical school in Calcutta, where he met his wife, Deepa. After graduation from medical school in 1989. he and Deepa both completed an internship in New Delhi. India. Dr. Datta’s clinical internship was at the V.S.S. Medical College. Sanibalpur University from 1989-90. During the internship he did a "little bit of emergency medicine, a little bit of surgery and psychiatric care." He completed his residency on the house staff at All India Institute of Medical Sciences from January-November 1991, working in " the areas of emergency medicine and neurosciences. He completed another residency on the house staff at Safdarjung Hospital at New Delhi from April-December 1992, working in the areas of bums and plastic surgery and out-patient psychiatry. From July 1993-November 1994, Dr. Datta was senior medical officer at Jeewan Hospital at New Delhi, providing acute care and ambulatory care as a tamily physician. From Julyl995-June 1996, he served as an intern in internal medicine at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center at Brooklyn, New York, working in telemetry and the coronary care unit, on the infectious disease/pulmonary floor, in emergency medicine and ambulatory care clinics. Dr. Datta also completed a residency in family practice at the Bronx-Lebanon Hospital, Institute of Urban Family Health/' Albert Einstein College of Medicine. During this residency he worked in ambulatory and preventive care in a community clinic, in-patient management on the family practice floor, in the emergency room, in prenatal care, labor and delivery, newborn follow-up, pediatrics, geriatrics, intensive care unit, gynecology, completed surgical roations and was the supervising resident of procedures and management and precepted physician assistants and medical students. Dr. Datta spent the last 10 months in a fellowship which provided training in geriatrics. He cut the 12-month program short because of the "call of duty" from Heppner, but says he may complete the fellowship in later years. He is board certified with a specialty in family practice.. As a youth in Calcutta. Dr. Datta attended missionary schools in both elementary and high school where he learned to speak very fluent English. While some of the stereotypes Americans have about India are may be true, including the big divide between the rich and the poor. Dr. Datta points out that the education system in India is very good and is subsidized to a great degree. For example, four years of med school cost him only around SI00. India is also one of the leading countries in the world in computer programming. He says that training in the modem way of medicine available in the U.S. was the biggest impetus in his coming to America. "I wanted to acquire more skills and more knowledge," he said. While moving from New York to Heppner w ill be a big change. Dr. Datta says he feels the experience will be a good one "Physicians are so plentiful there (in New York), and oversupplied, I thought it would be more worthwhile to provide care in a small town," he said. "It’s easier to make a difference. It’s a small town, but there's a lot of activity. Everyone I’ve come into contact with has been wonderful." Deepa Datta, a pathologist, is currently completing fellowship training in blood bank transfusion medicine in California. After she completes her training, she plans to join her husband in Heppner in July with their two children. Argho, 3-1/2, and Shibam, one. Her mother, Pratima Debnath. who lives in San Jose, will join the Dattas in Heppner for a time to help get things settled. She also stayed with the family during their residency training. "Our biggest source of help and support has been my mother-in- law," says Dr. Datta."She has been such a support. I wish everyone had a mother-in-law like her." Dr Datta's parents still live in India, but he has a sister who lives in Ottawa, Canada. Although Dr. Datta hasn't had much time for hobbies, he enjoys reading the newspaper and "spends hours on the computer." He adds that his wife is more of the "handy person" around the house. The community is invited to meet Dr. Datta and other health providers at Pioneer Memorial Clinic on Tuesday, June 20. People are invited to stop by and get acquainted, enjoy cake and punch and take advantage of the clinic's "free appointment with the provider day." Call 676-5504 for a free appointment. Appointments are limited to the first 75 callers. Willow Creek Water Park to open Saturday Two-vear-old Ann Rietmann, daughter of Jerry and Lisa Rietmann of lone, seems to be enjoying herself at the 38th Annual lone United Church of Christ Auction. Little Ann is carrying on a family tradition started when her father attended the first auction when he was only a year old. He also got his photo in the newspaper. Kid’s fishing derby to be held In celebration of National Oregon Dept, of Fish and. Fishing Week, June 3-11, the Wildlife. For more information USDA Forest Service's Pacific call Greg Lynch at (511) 676- Northwest Region, along with 9187. the Oregon Department of Fish North Fork John Day Ranger and Wildlife and Washington District, Ukiah: The North Fork Department of Fish and Wildlife, John Day District is sponsoring a have adopted the concept of free "Kid's Fishing Derby" Saturday. fishing for specified days during June 10, at Twin Ponds, located that week. Free fishing days six miles south of Ukiah on offered this year will be Saturday Forest Road 52 (follow signs and Sunday, June 10 and 11 in from Ukiah). Oregon and Washington and all The Fishing Derby will take four Ranger Districts on the place from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Umatilla National Forest are Hot dogs, hamburgers and sodas planning free events in are provided for everyone who conjunction with National registers and participates in the Fishing Week. Children Derby. A special fly casting participating in these events need competition and "biggest fish" to bring their oven fishing gear contest will also be held. and must be accompanied by an This event is sponsored by the adult. Forest Service, Blue Mountain Fishing week will be Chapter of Trout Unlimited, commemorated in the following Oregon Department of Fish and districts; Heppner Ranger Wildlife, Battle Mountain Am District: The Kid's Fishing Derby Vets and Ladies Auxiliary, as will be at the Willow Creek well as numerous businesses and Reservoir on June 11, 2000 individuals in Pendleton. Pilot between 1 and 5 p.m. Rock, Ukiah, and LaGrande. For The derby is open to all kids 12 more information, call (541) 427- years and under. Registration is 3231. required, so to beat the lines and have more fishing time, fill out McElligott named the registration form and bring it all conference with you and your parents to the Melissa McElligott of lone has registration booth. Prizes will be awarded in several categories. received University of Nevada- The prizes will also be awarded Reno student-athlete Academic by age groups; 0-5, 6-8, 9-10 and All-Big West Conference honors 11-12 years old. A casting in women's track and field. To be contest, held during derby hours, eligible for this award, student-ath is a "great time to get pointers for letes must maintain a 3.2 cumula the youngsters." There will also tive grade point average, have at be prizes for the Casting Contest tained a sophomore standing aca Parents are invited to come out demically and competed in at least and watch their kids catch bass, 50 percent of their team's con sunfish. trout and some great tests. prizes. Sponsors include Mid McElligott is a senior majoring Columbia Bass Club. NW in elementary education Her par Steelheaders. Heppner Lions ents are Joe and Jen McElligott Club, Ducks Unlimited and of lone Cemetery to be cleaned The Heppner Cemetery staff requests that people, if they w ish. remove flowers, flower arrange ments, etc. from the cemetery as the cemetery will be cleaned on Monday, June 12. Christian Women’s salad luncheon slated A potluck salad luncheon sponsored by Eastern Oregon Area Board of Aglow International will be held at the Nazarene Church in Heppner at noon, Wednesday, June 14. Babysitting will be provided. The guest speaker. Dorothy Biamont, is an anointed teacher; "a woman of passion, love, and fun." "She leads people into a more intimate relationship with the Father," according to a news release.. Dorothy has traveled extensively, ministering in Australia. Mexico, Indonesia. Israel, Finland, the former Soviet Union, Canada and the USA. She has been active in Aglow International for 30 years. She speaks and ministers at retreats, local churches, conferences, on television, radio, in prisons and even on the streets. "Come expecting to receive from Jesus," added the release. "We are fortunate to have a woman of this calibre willing to come and minister in our community. Please come." For more information call Peggy Connor at 676-9408. Kari Keown at 676-5884 or Connne Miles at 676-5016 The Willow Creek Water Park in Heppner will open for the season this Saturday, June 10. Hours will be 1-5 p.m. Saturday. The pool will be open for open swim seven days a week: Monday through Friday, 1-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 1-5 p.m. Adult swim will be week days from 8-9 a.m. Aquatic exercise is tentatively scheduled for 8-9 a.m. and 6:30-7 p.m. with fees to be announced. A family swim pass will be $125; an individual pass, $60. Daily admission is $1.50 for children five and under; $2 for students six to 18 years; and $2.50 for adults. Swim lessons will be held weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to noon and 6-7 p.m. with the first session planned June 19-30. The second session will be held July 10-21 and the third, July 31- August 11. Cost is $25 per session. Space is limited, so those wishing to take lessions should call to reserve a spot. Private lessons are also available. The therapy pool will be open during all outdoor pool hours and by appointment. Water park manager Bobette Lovgren has also planned some special programs for kids and teens during the summer if grant monies become available. She is hoping to be able to schedule teen nights on Tuesdays, where all teens swim for free, and youth game days. New to the water park this year are pool covers which should help retain heat in the pool and cut down on the electricity bill. Lovgren says that the pool's heater has been fixed and the pools temperature should be maintained between 76-80 degrees. For more information or to reserve a swim lesson date, call 676-5752 and leave a message. Committee examine rural health issues The Joint Committee on Health and Human Services traveledto Eastern Oregon Monday, June 5 on a four-day fact-finding tour to examine rural health issues. While touring safety net health clinics, rural hospitals, and emergency services departments, members of the Committee will have an opportunity to discuss the most pressing issues these community providers face in bringing essential health care services to rural Oregonians. Cities the committee will visit include: Heppner, Hood River. Condon. Pendleton, Enterprise, Elgin. Union. La Grande. Baker City. Sumpter, John Day. Bums and Bend. A copy of the itinerary is attached. Committee members look forward to hearing from hospital administrators, board members, and practitioners about Oregon's rural health care delivery system, how legislatively passed initiatives such as the rural practitioner tax credit have allowed providers to remain in our rural communities, and what barriers still exist that impact their ability to deliver quality health care services to rural Oregonians. The legislators will also see how rural emergency services will be impacted by the new Emergency Medical Serv ices grants made available as a result of SB 911 (1999). The tour will be led by committee co-chairs Senator Bill Fisher (R-Roseburg) and Representative Jeff Kruse (R- Roseburg). Other committee members who will participate in the trip include: Senator Verne Duncan (R-Milwaukie), Senator Cliff Trow (D-Corvallis), Representative Jerry Krummel (R-Wilsonville), Representative Bill Morrisette (DSpnngfield), and Representative Vic Backlund (R-Keizer). Senator David N elson (R -P endleton), Representative Mark Simmons (R-Elgin). Representative Bob Jenson (I-Pendleton). and Senator Ted Femoli (R-John Day) will host the committee in their districts. Business retention training The Willow Creek Valley Business Retention Steering Committee will host an evening training for community volunteers on Thursday, June 8, between 5:30-8 p.m at the Bank of Eastern Oregon Conference Center in Heppner Twenty community volunteers will leam how to visit businesses to better understand the business climate The volunteers will visit businesses in lone, Heppner, and Lexington in the coming w eeks The goal of the effort is to identify ways to improve profitability for local businesses. For more information, contact Lisa Breckenndge at 276-6745. Hi Qual W ater Troughs Sale good through June 1Qth M orrow C ounty G r a in G row ers Lexington 989-8221 • 1 -8 0 0 -4 5 2 -7 3 9 6 fw (»m fqwpment. *mt w* w«b wt*it*ww men w
