Ione Youth Group plans food drive
Dìstile Baiseli
u o f 0 r: 3 V 3 P -I 3 r L i b r a r y
E u ; 3.13, 0.1 9710J
Receiving lone Youth Group Footstep Awards are (left to right): back Tracy Griffith. Natalie
McElligott, Salli McElligott. Karl Morgan. Jeff Hunt: front-Emily Rev. Diana McElligott. Caitlin Orem.
Aaron Tworek.
VOL. 120
NO. 44
10 Pages
Wednesday, October 31,2001
Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon
Health district hears good financial news
The Morrow County
Health District heard good news
from their auditor at their regular
meeting held Monday night in
Lexington.
According
to
the
auditor's report, presented by
Konrad Capeller, CPA with
Michael R. Bell & Company.
Spokane, WA, the district has
shown a significant improvement
its financial situation.
"During 2001, the district
incurred a net gain of $142,930
and experienced a large increase
in working capital," the report
said. '"'Management feels that
the current operating situation, as
well as the implementation of the
plans mentioned above (facility
remodel, implementation o f new
services and participation in the
Critical
Access
Hospital
program)
eliminates
the
uncertainty o f the district's
ability to continue."
"We think you'll see a
more positive bottom line in the
years to come," said Capeller.
"The district is probably out of
danger o f collapse."
Capeller , said
that
Pioneer Memorial's designation
as a "Critical Care Access
Hospital" would increase the
district's financial stability by
enabling them to receive more
Medicare reimbursements than
they are eligible for at this time.
Much o f the credit for
the district's turnaround was
credited by the accounting firm
and the district's board to
administrator Victor Vander
Does.
The
district
had
recovered from a net loss of
$328,065 for the year 2000 to a
, net gain o f $ 142,930 for 2001. At
one
p o in t,
previous
administration had considered
. shutting
Pioneer
Memorial
Hospital down because of
financial problems.
The
district
ended
September 2001 with $219,317’
to their credit, due to a $243,479
payment from "Pro Share", a
federal government program.
The positive bottom line
prompted the board to share the
prosperity with the district's
employees who were scheduled
for cost o f living increases and
contract renegotiation in July of
this year.
The
board
Monday night approved cost-of-
living increases, for union and
non-union employees, of three
percent, effective immediately,
and two-and-a-half percent for
2002. They also approved an
increase in fringe benefits.
Two additional step
increases were added to the
current program with a three-
percent step increase
for
employees with 10.5 years in
their present position (step six)
and a three-pcrccnt step increase
for employees w ith 15.5 years in
their present position (step
seven).
Other aspects o f the
union contract are as follows:
-hours and overtime:
licensed practical nurses and
aides' shift differential to $1.05
for evenings and $1.35 for
nights;
-paid time off: increased
accrual o f hours from 240 to 320;
80 hours o f paid time off per
year;
-travel rate increased
from $.275 to $.345 per mile;
-district posts job m-
house if it is a union position and
may advertise it outside at the
same time;
-employer contribution
toward insurance changed to
$360 per month for employee
only and $480 per month for
employee
with
enrolled
dependents; on Jan. 2002, the
deductible will increase from
$100 to $200 for employee only
and from $300 to $500 per
family maximum;
-retirement: first year,
three percent minimum: second
and third year, 3.5 percent
minimum; mimmums may be
increased
1.5 percent per
hundred thousand dollars of
excess o f revenue;
-district will provide
annual Air Life coverage for
benefit eligible employees and
their families;
-on
call
standby
increased from $ 1.80 to $ 1.85 for
all personnel who take call,
effective immediately, increased
EMT-Basic from $8.04 to $9 per
hour, effective immediately;
increased
EMT-lntermediate
from $9.19 to $10.20 per hour
effective immediately.
In other business, the
board:
-discussed a suggestion
by board member Ed Glenn that
the district's financial system be
changed to a cash basis rather
than an accrual basis so that
financial reports would be easier
for district patrons to read.
Capeller said that the change­
over process would be very
difficult and added that the
accrual method was the accepted
accounting practice for hospitals
and health districts.
-saw a report on patient
statistics for September w ith 342
patients
seen
at
Pioneer
Memorial Clinic and 194 patients
seen at the Imgon Clinic.
-heard a CEO report
from Vander Does as follows:
the lone emergency response
vehicle, donated from Arlington,
is almost ready and a thank you
will be sent to Arlington; the
construction at PMH continues
on schedule with installation of
the new boiler to be completed
by the end of this week; the
district's youngest vehicle is 10
years old and purchasing of more
energy efficient vehicles is
recommended;
Tri-County
Ambulance billing management
by Air Life was to be evaluated
by the board; a 20-minutc
department
description
or
educational component for board
members is planned for future
board meetings.
- scheduled an executive
session meeting for Monday,
November, 19, at the Port of
Morrow to discuss Vander Does'
two-year evaluation.
-scheduled an executive
session for the January regular
board meeting to discuss a
contract with Dr. Robert Boss.
He has two years remaining on
his current contract.
Football playoffs
set in Heppner
The Columbia Basin
Conference district football
playoffs, to be held in Heppner
this year, have tentatively been
scheduled
for
Saturday.
November 10, at 1 p.m.
Heppner High School
athletic director Dale Conklin
said that Heppner's opponent will
"probably" be Portland Christian.
Co-gen plant
outlook
improves
The outlook for the
electrical co-generating plant in
Heppner
has
improved,
according to Jerry Healy. Port of
Morrow Board member.
Healy said that while the
electric rates are not good, they
have improved from a low of $22
per megawatt to around $38 per
megawatt.
Healy stressed that the
co-gen
plant
had
been
temporarily shut down due to
mechanical problems, but was
not closing permanently.
He said that there were
about four problems that needed
to be fixed before start-up, some
of which w ere minor and some of
which were more serious in
nature. He said that they have
contractors working on the issues
and the port has hired additional
workers to solve the problems.
"Certainly sooner is better than
later," said Healy. "But it's just
going to take time."
The lone Youth Group met at
the United Church of Christ Sunday.
Oct. 21.
The group discussed the upcoming
food drive. The high school youth
will be collecting nonpenshable food
items for the needy of South Morrow
County on Halloween night. Oct.
31. They will go door-to-door in
lone, starting at around 6 p.m.
Anyone who won’t be home that
evening or people living out of town,
may drop donations at Pete and
Laurel Cannon's home.
Club members will sell Chnstmas
trees in November as a money maker
again this year. Tree order forms
will be mailed out to people who
have previously ordered trees. Order
forms will also be available at the
post office and the Bank of Eastern
Oregon, along with area churches.
A service trip to Burnside in
Portland is planned for Monday.
Nov. 12. Students wanting to make
the trip will be able to sign up on
the school bulletin board. As always
The Heppner United
Methodist Church will hold its
Fall
Harvest
Bazaar
this
Saturday, November 3. from 10
a.m. to 6 p.m. at the church. 175
W. Church Street in Heppner.
The bazaar will feature
baked goods, homemade jellies,
handmade crafts, holiday aprons,
pies and Ida's "Twice Around"
table.
A luncheon o f chicken
casserole, salad, pie and beverage
will be served from 11 a.m. to 1
p.m. at a cost o f $5 each.
Extension hours set
In observance of the upcoming
holidays, the OSU Morrow County
Extension office will be closed on
Veteran's Day. Monday, Nov. 12.
A group of community members
have begun planning fund raising
activities to assist the Dav e Mathenv
family in funding medical needs
caused by Dave's accident on Sept.
9. Dave is currently at Good
Samaritan Hospital in Portland in
the rehabilitation unit, where he will
be for a number o f weeks.
Starting on Saturday, Nov. 10,
during the quarter-final football
playoff game, the grobp plans tt>
serve homemade soup, bread and
cookies or brownies w ith punch or
coffee. This meal will begin two
hours before the game starts and will
be served through half-time in the
annex at the fairgrounds.
Cost will be $4 for a bow I of soup,
a roll, cookies or brownie and a
drink.. Most everything for this
dinner will be donated so the
proceeds will go directly to the
Mathenv fund.
Plans are also being made for a
barbecue hamburger and bean dinner
that evening at the Elks Lodge.
A Mexican food dinner will be
served during a high school
basketball game in Heppner on
Friday. Jan. 18. This meal will be
prepared by Mary Ann Elguczabal
and her crew.
and Friday, Nov. 23; Christmas,
Monday, F)ec. 24, and Tuesday, Dec-
25.
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The Morrow County Grain
Grower's annual meeting will be
held on Monday, November 5. at
the Morrow County Fairgrounds
in Heppner at 6:30 p.m.
ITtc Willow s Grange of lone will
serve dinner at 6:30 p.m. Guest
speaker for the evening will be John
McCulley from the Agriculture
Cooperative Council o f Oregon.
Door prizes will be drawn
throughout the evening The Blazin'
Bows fiddler group will provide
entertainment.
Free babysitting will be provided
in the dormitory next to the pavilion
for those with small children
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Holly Rebekah Lodge w ill host
their November card party this
Saturday. Nov. 3. starting at 7:30
p.m at the I exington Odd Fellow
Hall. Cost is S3 per person.
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On Saturday, Feb. 16. the group
is planning a prime rib dinner and
auction at the new Port of Morrow
facility in Boardman. Entertainment
is being planned for the evening
following the auction. The group
is planning a silent auction, raffle
and main auction. Auction items
will be donated by community
members, friends and classmates
of Dav e and his family and anyone
else who would like to donate.
Monetary donations may lie made
directly to the Mathenv fund at the
Bank of Eastern Oregon, P.O. Box
39. Heppner, Oregon 97836.
Those with ideas for future fund
raisers, donations to the auction, or
for more information, contact Jean
Mane 1 lealv, (503)289-9711: Judy
Eckman. 989-8498; Sonja McCabe.
676-5231; Molly Rill. 676-5455;
I .indsay 1 larle. 989-8171: or Marcia
Anderson. 676-5182.
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lone Youth Group Footstep
Awards were given to members for
their participation in the group last
year. Ihose receiving awards were
Adam McCabe, Kristina Powell,
Derek Campbell, Cyndi Heagy.
Amellia Peck, Adam Neiffer. Salli
McElligott. Tracy Griffith. Caitlin
Orem. Cayle Krebs. Karl Morgan.
Diana McElligott, Aaron Tworek.
Jaysi Bennetto, Emily Key. Natalie
McElligott, Jefi l lunt. Tim Doherty.
Paul Neifier. Meghan McCabe. Billy
Gates and Sarah Barrow.
Refreshments for the ev ening were
provided by Jamie Vandenbrink.
Fund raisers to assist Mathenv Family
Methodist bazaar
planned Saturday
#3
meeting Nov. 5
adult drivers are needed. Anyone
interested may contact Cathy
Halvorsen or Jen McElligott.
Sponsoring a fund raiser for the
lone Creative Care Preschool was
discussed. The group also expressed
interest in helping to remodel the
preschool building.
Lea Mathieu was the guest speaker
for the evening. She shared her
experiences living in Muslim areas
throughout the world. Her talk,
"Islam: The Basics," taught the youth
group members how the Muslim
faith began, and what their core
beliefs are. Comparisons were made
to the Christian religion.
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M o r r o w C o u n t y G r a in G r o w e r s
Lexington 989-8221
•
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