Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 30, 2002)
C om m ittee gears up for St. Pat’s Celebration E C 3 3 1 0 T : t z ; H U o f 0 :.’ C , 3 ? T : Q7 w / 1 C u ’ 3 n 3 , I DT VOL. 121 NO. 5 10 Pages Wednesday, January 30,2002 Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon Health district board turns down physician’s request The Morrow County Health District voted against paying for retirement benefits and a year-end bonus for the year 2002 for a physician’s assistant employed by Dr. Robert Boss of Boardman. Dr. B oss asked the district to pay a $1,000 year-end bonus and a $ 1 ,(>49.24 retirement contribution for the PA for 2001, which the board approved, and a $1,000 bonus and $1,919.23 retirement contribution for 2002. In denying the request for 2002, the board said that they had not received a request for payment - o f the PA’s retire m e n t contribution previously and also objected to the eight-percent -salary increase the PA would receive in 2002. A PA employed by the MCHD received only a three-percent raise. The increase would have give the PA a $500 a month raise over the previous year. The district pays Dr. Boss $ 5 0 ,0 0 0 an n ually for operation o f his Boardman Clinic, plus a $5,000 year-end bonus for the doctor and an additional amount for salary and benefits for Dr. Boss’ PA. Dr. Boss submitted to the d istric t a list o f PA expenses amounting to $71.964.29 for 2001; and $78,396.59 for 2002. The board agreed to pay Dr. Boss around $ 1 26,964 for 2001, including monies for operation of the clinic, the doctor's bonus and the PA’s expenses, including the bonus and retirement contribution. T he am ount w hich Boss requested for 2002 would have amounted to around $133,396, including monies for operation of the clinic, the doctor’s year-end bonus and PA’s ex p en ses, including the bonus and retirement contribution. The b o ard d ire c te d M CH D a d m in istra to r V ictor V ander D oes to in itia te negotiations with Dr Boss. The board also discussed plan s for e sta b lish in g focus g ro u p s in north co u n ty communities to determine what those communities want and need in terms o f health care services. T he board p lan n ed to hold separate focus group meetings in Irrig o n and B oardm an w ith em p h asis on the H ispanic communities, senior citizens and emergency/health care workers. The board stressed importance of Spanish speaking health care providers. Vander Does outlined a strategic plan for possible future operation o f clinics in Boardman and Irrigon, which would call for one physician who would divide Sheriff’s office to honor heroes Morrow County Sheriff Verlin Denton recently announced that the sheriff s office will be putting “Let's Roll 9/11/01" on the front fenders o f sheriff patrol cars. “Members of the sheriff’s office wanted to pay tribute in some way to Todd Beamer and the passengers o f Flight 93 for their heroic action on Sept. 11,” said Sheriff Denton. “One of my deputies sug gested having the words Todd Beamer’s wife. Lisa, heard her hus band say as they prepared to confront the hijackers, printed on our new patrol cars as a tribute to him and those who sacrificed their lives to save hundreds and maybe thousands o f others that day. Rather than confine the tribute to the three new patrol cars. I decided to put it on all o f our patrol cars. As long as America has these kind of people as our country's foundation, we will never submit to these terrorists acts and will only grow stronger in our resolve to wipe terrorism out.” said Sheriff Denton. his time between the two clinics, perhaps spending two days a w eek at each c lin ic ; tw o physician’s assistants, one at each clinic; and additional support sta ff. The d istric t c u rre n tly operates a clinic in Irrigon and has an em pty c lin ic b u ild in g in B oardm an, w hile Dr. B oss operates a private clinic nearby. The district's contract with Dr. Boss is up in two years and the d istric t has begun exploring d ifferent scenarios to ensure continuing health care in the Boardman community in the event that Dr. Boss retires or leaves the com m unity. The board also d iscu ssed the p o ssib ility o f employing Dr. Boss as a physician for the two clinics. In other business, the board: -heard a financial report from Nicole Mahoney, which showed a $26,032 loss for the month of December. The financial situation, while not good, was an improvement over the previous month which showed a $74,539 loss. Vander Does said that the district's bottom line will improve w hen the h o sp ital receiv es designation as a critical access facility; -d iscu ssed co n cern s about office hours at the Irrigon clinic. Vander Does said that the problem s should be now be resolved. Board m em ber Ed Glenn suggested, and the board ag reed upon the use o f call forwarding at the clinic in the event that staff there are called away for em ergencies or are away during the lunch hour; -approved for sale a list o f surplus items; -discussed the Oregon H ealth P la n 's red u ctio n in reim bursem ents for drugs for M edicaid p a tie n ts and the resulting adverse effects on the patients and on small, independent pharmacies, especially in rural areas. WWII vet speaks at UMW meeting Vie Oliver, Heppner. was the guest speaker at the January meeting o f the Heppner United Methodist women. Oliver was a lieutenant in the United States Army and served as a nurse in Europe during World War II. “ Her talk was humorous and heart-wrenching.” said a spokes person. Peggy Connor served chick en soup with homemade noodles by Archie Padberg. Just as the town o f Heppner has put away their Christmas decorations, the St. Pat’s Auction Committee is gearing up for the 20th Annual “ A Wee Bit O ’ Ire land" Celebration to be held March 14-17. This year’s Auc tion Committee is chaired by Kay Fow ler and John and Ann Murray. The weekend promises to be packed full of activities, delicious foods, music, history, a classic car show, and. of course, kinship. The St. Pat’s Annual Auction will be held on March 15 at 7 p.m. in the upstairs area at the Heppner Elks Club. The auction is the main fund raiser for the continual advertising and spon sorship of the weekend celebra tion. The committee will be fo cusing on the silent and regular live auctions featuring antique and collectable items as well as new items such as travel packages, gift baskets, service and or gift cer tificates. The “Country Store” which had featured used items and crafts, has been retired, so will not appear this year. Dona tions for the auction items are still being sought both locally and from other communities. Secur ing donations is the key source o f ensuring a successful auction for the St. Patrick’s celebration. E n tertain m en t by Joe Lindsay’s group “’’Somebody Else” will be provided before the auction and during breaks. The committee is welcoming any vol unteers to help with the auction. “Small” jobs are available and any help is greatly appreciated. It promises to be a fun filled evening. For more information about the annual auction, dona tions or volunteering to help out, contact Kay Fow ler, 676-9109, or John/Ann Murray, 676-9631. The 20th annual celebration schedule of events is available at local Heppner merchants or by calling Heppner Chamber at 541- 676-5536. Library/city hall surveys in mail The Heppner Library/City Hall Survey Committee has com pleted the first o f its tasks. This week a survey designed by the committee will be in the mail to registered voters. “The Heppner Library/City Hall Survey Com mittee was formed to develop a survey that will provide a clear indication o f the people’s views toward continuance o f the Li- brary/City Hall project,” said Mary Nixon, a community devel opment coordinator with Rural Development Initiatives. Committee members repre sent citizens with “views on all sides of the issue,” according to Nixon, and were selected during the public meeting about this project held on Jan. 3. Commit tee m em bers include G race Drake. Cyde Estes. Bob Ployhar, Ann S picer and Tom Wolff. Nixon was hired to facilitate the committee meetings. The cost for the facilitation service was paid for with funds provided by the Or egon Economic and Community Development Department. Survey responses will be tal lied by committee members Feb. 11 -15. To be included in the tally, surveys must be returned in the envelope that was provided in the mailing. Sealed envelopes may be returned to drop boxes located at Klamath First Federal Bank and the Bank o f Eastern Oregon no later than Friday, Feb. 8. at 6 p.m. Sealed envelopes may also be returned by mail and must be postmarked by Feb. 8. The Heppner City Council and the Oregon Trail Library Board are hoping to hold a joint meeting the evening of Wednes day, Feb. 20, to receive the sur vey results and report from the committee. For more information o f the exact time and location of the meeting, contact City Hall. Elks Hoop Shoot winners announced Photo by Sandy Matthews Eight-nine-year-old winners (left to right): front-Zac Orem. Jessica Hughes, back-Ian Murray, Sarah Kendrick, Justin Yocom, Kylie Sieler. Photo by Sandy Matthew s Ten-11-year-old winners (left to right): front-Jared Huddleston. Whitney Matthews, back-Matt Holland. Jenna Bowman, Sean Murray. Jessica Heliker. Zac Orem of lone and Jessica Hughes of Heppner took first place in the eight-nine-year-old Elks Hoop Shoot Contest held Sunday in Heppner Jared Huddleston and Whitney Matthews, both Heppner, were winners in the 10-11-year- old category. Second place in the eight-nine-year-old category went to lan Murray and Sarah Kendrick, both Heppner. Third place went to Justin Yocom and Kylie Sieler, both Heppner. Second place in the 10-11-year-old category went to Matt Holland and Jenna Bow man, both Heppner. Third place was won by Sean Murray and Jessica Heliker. Heppner. Assisted living facility receives donation The Willow Creek Valley assisted living facility received a donation of $900 in January from a small group o f Hinton Creek residents. The seven households represent a group who have con tinued the maintenance of a TV antenna, translator, and lines along Highway 74 and Hinton Creek. The seven current participants in the system have turned to satel lite TV system s and recently agreed to dissolve the alliance. A discussion among the Hinton Creek parties resulted in the equal distribution of their re maining funds among three wor thy causes, one of which is the assisted living facility project. The contribution comes as work at the construction site again shows progress. Suzanne Jepsen, who accepted the dona tion for the board of directors, re ported that the facility’s plumbing lines will soon be completed and sidewalk superintendents should begin to notice weekly advance m ents tow ard a late-sum m er opening o f the 16-unit facility. “The donation from the Hinton Creek group reinforces the faith o f the board members.” Jepsen said, “that the remaining need for some funding w ill be met, and a quality facility will fill an impor tant need in the Willow Creek Valley.” Heppner GazetteTimes News Deadline 5 p.m. Monday Square dance lessons set in Heppner Square dance l e s s t < will be offered in Heppner staring Tuesday, February 5. Lessons w ill be held on Tuesday nights from 7-9 p.m . at the H eppner Elementary School gym. The first two lessons are free: cost for 16 weeks o f lessons is $12.50 for adults. There is no charge for youth ages 10-18. Younger children may attend, but must be accompanied by their parents. Those attending do not have to wear square dance clothes. Instructor is Dave Hughes. For more inform ation, contact Jo Meligan. 676-5805. St. Paddy’s Cruz-In planned March 16 V The second annual St. Pad dy's Cruz-In will begin Saturday. March 16, at 10 a m. in Heppner during the 20th annual St. Patrick’s celebration. Pre-regis tration for the Cruz-In is $ 10, due before Friday, Feb. 15. Those who pre-register w ill receive five free raffle tickets. After Feb. 15. the entry fee is $15 and will include one free raffle ticket. Each participant in the Cruz- In will receive a dash plaque, w ith winners in 25 categories re ceiving larger plaques. Partici pants are encouraged to “cruz” through town before coming to the staging area at 10 am. Shirts, hats, visors and other items will be for sale at the competition. Entry into the parade w ill be optional. For more information contact Dick Sargent at 676-9621 D O N ’T M ISS O U R C U ST O M E R A PPR EC IA TIO N DAY on Saturday, February 9th from 8 a.m.-12 noon SEE INSIDE AD FOR MORE DETAILS Morrow County Grain Growers Lexington 9 8 9 -8 2 2 1 • 1 -8 0 0 -4 5 2 -7 3 9 6 i« tm w n m im ii—
