Medical district losing money, but receives
critical access designation
B e s s i e . . ei
11
Ü o * j .& e a 3 pà e
E um ene, OR 9 /4 J J
VOL. 121
NO. 13
8 Pages
w - ■ _
Wednesday, March 27,2002
Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon
Downtown basketball tourney promises fun
When the H eppner M er­
chants’ basketball teams - the
“Gold Trotters” and the “Blue
Blazers” - take to the court at
Heppner High School on Tues­
day, April 2, they will be deter­
mined to leave a lasting impres­
sion in the minds of the fans.
The two teams shared the
basketball floor at a practice re­
cently, affording the press an op­
portunity to make a pre-game
evaluation of the two and to in­
terview some of the players.
Immediately obvious was the
confidence of the Westside-Main
team, the Blue Blazers. They are
so sure of their skills and superi­
ority, most of the team did not
show for the practice. One team
member added that the team does
not plan to have all members
present at any one practice be­
cause they do not want to reveal
their strategies and key plays to
the Gold Trotters.
(An unidentifiable source has
confirmed that within the inner
circle of the basketball world, the
“Trotters” are actually known as
the “G old Walkers" and the
“Blazers” are called the “Blue
Bruises." When asked for an
explanation, the informer said,
“You figure it out.”)
Adequate descriptions of the
skills witnessed at the practice are
difficult to produce. All players
demonstrated levels of ball han­
dling rarely seen on a high school
floor. As the teams first discussed
tactics, modesty kept players from
taking credit for particular play­
ing skills, but gradually everyone
became aware of one another’s
capabilities.
Part of the evening was de­
voted to a light scrimmage be­
tween the two teams, giving each
team and the press some ideas of
what to expect at the April 2
game. The T ro tters’ “ Scis-
sorhands” Wright made the first
basket of the scrimmage, a skill-
filled lay-up behind a screen of
four players. Almost immediate­
ly, however, the Blazers’ “Silk"
Van Liew was dead center with
her shot from just inside the key.
No video of the scrimmage ex­
ists, so one question cannot be
answered: Did “The Big Cheese"
Houweling drop the ball into the
basket, while his feet remained on
the floor?
Player-coaches o f the two
teams are “Dead Eye" Sweeney,
for the Blue B lazers, and
“AWOL” (the press's nickname
at this time) O tt . for the Gold Trot­
ters. Orr has all but disappeared
since accepting the coaching re­
sponsibility. and many sources say
that he is locked away, planning
various strategies for a win on to the fans that the game on April
April 2. He was not present at 2 will be like none other they have
the practice to watch his oppo­ attended. And by the time 7 p.m.
nent-coach miss two shots in a rolls around that night, that secre­
row. Sweeney, when asked to tive Westside team will have to
explain the failed attempts, said, be ready to take on the Eastside
“Strategy. Just remember the Trotters, who might have a slight
name! I didn’t get that by miss­ edge. As “ Hammer H ead”
ing!”
Green, who last appeared on a
After his first opportunity to basketball court 47 years ago, has
watch a few members of his al­ cautioned the Blazers, “Eastern
m ost-form ed team practice,
Oregon equals eastside o f the
Sweeney offered this assess­ state, the best side of the state.
ment: “I think they are twice as Figure it out. Eastside of Main
good as people half their age.” equals the best side of Main.”
Two of his team members volun­ Fact or fiction? Players and
teered hints of what they will be spectators can find out on April
bringing to the Blazers’ game: 2 .
“Pokey Joe” Jepsen said he will
Following are the team ros­
offer “class,” but did not elabo­ ters:
rate... or exaggerate. “Hustlin’”
Gold Trotters: # 10-“Nail It!”
Harrison revealed that she will be Kay Fowler, # 1-“Hammer Head”
“forward.” She added that she is Cliff Green; # V«ac-“Camo” Tif­
confident that she will make a fany Greenup; # triple ^ - “Pan­
great showing because “Baseball sy” Rhonda Helfrecht; # 5. g-
is really my sport, and the ball is “The Tool Man" Russ Hickerson;
much bigger in this one. Much # 2#-“The Big Cheese” Bert
easier to hit.”
Houweling; # 15”r-“Blowout”
The Trotters had obviously Amy Kohlman; # 20°- “Ice Man”
been coached to not disclose de­ Bruce Lindsay; # 3-“Wannabe
tails about their individual talents, Cheerleader” Sandy Matthews; #
but some of the players did offer 23-“O.O.R” Jeff Orr; # 6 ply-
clues to their game plan: Sisters r e tr e a d " Richard Schmidt;# 0
“Pansy” Helfrecht and “Scis- psi-“Air” Jeff Shank; # 2x4-
sorhands” Wright could be pre­ “Plumb Bob” Bev Steagall; #
paring a twosome maneuver of
16%-“Lean Machine” Janet Tay­
some sort. They both mentioned
lor; # 10 penny-“Galvanized" John
“run,” though one also used the Wight; # vo5-“Scissorhands"
term “duck” and the other Leann Wright.
“scared" in conjunction with that.
Blue Blazers: # 0-“City
Helfrecht admitted that she also Slicker” Jerry Breazeale; # 20%
has an eagle eye that enables her down-“Hustlin’” Sharon Harri­
to tattle to the refs when neces­ son; # size 9-“Slow Shoe” Jerry
sary. “Air” Shank alluded to be­ Hollomon; # 123456789101112-
ing “hot.” He cloaked this threat “Whatever!” Claudia Hughes; #
in a euphemism, however, by say­ over 55-“Pokey Joe” Bob Jeps­
ing something about “warming the en; # $150 per-“The Brief’ Bill
bench.” Number 2x4 for the Trot­ Kuhn; # $$-“Banker’s Hours”
ters. “Plumb Bob” Bev Steagall, Linda LaRue; # 7 Vi apr-
(with a piece of chalk hanging “Speedy" Missy Lindsay; # 52-
from a string around her neck?) “ Abstract" Tom McElligott; # Rx-
said that she plans to be “useful “Make My Day" John Murray; #
as a scorer” in the game. “Blow­ 25%-“High %” Harley Sager; #
out” Kohlman, while pretending 9 to 4:30-“Claims” Brenda Sher-
to be winded after the scrimmage, rell;
# 6’ under-“Dead Eye"
admitted that the team will be Pat Sweeney; # 17x34-“Silk”
looking to her for “ lightning
Sandra Van Liew.
speed.” “Nail It.” Fowler said
that, yes, she is “good". “I am all
Ladies’* fun day
over that ball and a sure-shot, and
planned at Willow
I have several tricks up my team
jersey," she said. “Lean Machine”
Taylor indicated that her advan­ Creek Country Club
The Willow Creek Country
tage lies in being short and able
Club ladies’ golf will start the
to run between the tall players'
2002 season with a “fun day” on
legs.
Tuesday.
April 2. Breakfast will
The competitive spirit be­
be
held
at
9 a m. followed by the
tween these two Main Street
merchants' teams continues to semiannual club meeting and tee-
grow. These players concentrate off at 10 a.m.
The officers will host the
on merchandising during the day
but become determined dribbling, exent. so “just bring yourself, your
shooting, running machines at golf clubs and come ready to
night. The press can only suggest play,” said a spokesperson.
Morrow County Health
District accounting supervisor,
Nicole Mahoney, presented the
district’s financial report at their
regular meeting March 25 in
Boardman. The report reveals that
the district lost more than $50,000
in the month o f February.
Mahoney pointed out the district
is losing an average of $28,157
per month.
Victor Vander Does,
MCHD CEO, informed the board
the hospital renovations are nearly
completed. The carpet in the
main hall will be installed this
week. On a bright note, the
renovations, which were financed
with an USDA loan, came in
under budget. The extra funds will
be used to make additional
improvements throughout the
district.
It was announced the
budget process is currently
underway, and the first budget
meeting will be held following the
next regularly scheduled board
meeting on April 29, at the school
district office in Lexington. The
April meeting will have a 6 p.m.
start, to allow extra time.
With no complications,
the budget will be ready for the
required public hearing in May,
with adoption slated for June.
Board member Ed Glenn
subm itted a proposal for a
resolution to publish a summary
o f revenue and expense by
facility and function. Vander
Does and Mahoney explained to
the group that with Pioneer
M emorial H o sp ital’s recent
change (as of March 1) to being
a Critical Access Hospital, which
applies district-wide, it would be
quite difficult to accurately
Fifty-five Alive
class offered
County, economic development
specialist discuss contract
A one-day Fifty-Five Alive
class will be offered in Heppner
on Thursday, April 11, at the
Colum bia Basin Electric
conference room from 8 a.m. to
5 p.m. The course consists of
classroom instruction for mature
drivers age 50 and over. Laws and
safety will be stressed. Many
insurance com panies offer
premium discounts to drivers age
55 and over who complete the
class.
The cost is $10 payable to
AARP at the class. Pre­
registration is required as
minimum enrollment is necessary
to hold the class. To sign up,
contact Anne Morter, BMCC
coordinator at 422-7040 or
instructors John and Judi
Swanson, at 922-9568.
Service club
plans luncheon,
presentations
The annual Senior G irls’
Luncheon and presentations on
“Spring Planting” and “The Dying
Teach Us To L ive,” plus
necessary business, outline
upcoming April meetings of the
Willow Valley Service Club. The
club meets on Thursdays at John’s
Other Place in Heppner from 12-
1 p.m.
Margo Scherer, lone,
treasurer and chairperson,
announced the WVSC-sponsored
annual Senior Girls’ Luncheon on
Thursday, April 4, will be held
once again at All Saints Episcopal
Church, Heppner. Lunch will be
catered by the Episcopal Church
women. Reservations are by
invitation only.
Chuck Bailey, H eppner
Garden Club president, will return
to offer suggestions for “spring
planting” at the Thursday, April
11, meeting.
Carolyn M. Willey, WVSC
president, will use her six years
o f experience as a full-tim e
employed chaplain with a large
hospice in Florida and her 22
years on church staff as the basis
for her presentation, “The Dying
Teach Us How to Live,” on
Thursday, April 18. The Rev.
Willey, native of Buhl. ID, now
retired, came to Heppner as a
permanent resident three and a
half years ago.
Services provided the
community in March by WVSC
included sponsorship for and work
shifts for the American Red Cross
Blood Drive, coverage of the
Cham ber
of
Comm erce
Information Booth and greeting
the Tri-City Irish Dancers during
the St. Patrick's Weekend events.
Anyone interested in the
WVSC April meetings are invited
to attend, with the exception of
the Senior Girls' Luncheon.
By Doris Brosnan
At the March 20 meeting of
the Morrow County Commission­
ers, economic development con­
sultant Martin Davis addressed
his proposal of a contract to con­
sult with the county for his ser­
vices. He said he has not termi­
nated his employment with the
Port of Morrow yet but has given
notice. The court agreed to have
county counsel review the con­
tract, with a scope of work as an
attachment, and they approved
the contract subject to his en­
dorsement. Judge Terry Tallman
agreed to write a letter to termi­
nate the contract with the port to
share the employment costs for
Davis's services.
Davis and Carla McLane of
the planning department updated
the Court on the proposed city/
library/county building in Irrigon,
sharing the diagrams that they are
working with. The commissioners
offered some input as several is­
sues were discussed.
To keep the Court informed,
McLane and Carol Michael re­
ported on two applications the
Heritage frail Committee has
made, one for a grant to fund sig­
nage and one to the National Park
Service for consideration as host
of the traveling exhibit. They add­
ed that the Confederated Tribes
are working on the project in
Umatilla County. Michael showed
pictures of the type of trail-access
panels they hope to obtain with
grant money.
Davis advised the Court that
a letter was sent to the State E-
Board regarding the money that
is to come to the County from the
land sale in the north Morrow
County. He said that the land sale
will not go through until the County
is satisfied on the road easement,
which is a condition of the sale.
Judge Tallman reported dis­
agreement between the purchas­
er and the owner o f adjacent
property on how the easement
should be laid out. The commis­
sioners noted that public works
director Burke O'Brien has in­
formed the purchaser where the
County wants the easement, so
the County now awaits the pur­
chaser's completion of that ease­
ment.
M ichelle Long o f ODOT
spoke to the Court about the pro­
posal for the formation of the
Northeast Area Commission on
Transportation, now signed by
Union and Wallowa counties.
Commissioner Dan Brosnan and
Martin Davis suggested some
changes in wording, and. after
some discussion, the Court ap­
proved the proposal with the cor­
rections.
Brosnan reported on the An­
imal Damage Committee meeting
of March 19. The State plans to
hold a meeting regarding the mi­
gration of wolves into Oregon.
Brosnan asked the Court to re­
search whether or not the Coun­
change how the financial reports
viewed. This was discussed at
length, with the consensus that
Mahoney will contact Mike Bell,
the d istric t’s accounting
consultant, for advice on if, and
how, this could be accomplished.
Several board members,
as well as Vander Does, plan to
attend the Boardman Chamber
of Commerce focus group on
Wednesday, April 3, to take part
in discussions regarding the
medical wants and needs of the
Boardman area. The MCHD
board and administrator have also
been invited to attend the Latin
Commission meeting, tentatively
scheduled in Boardman. for May
8 .
The next MCHD board
meeting will be held at the school
district office in Lexington, on
Monday, April 29, at 6 p.m.
ty has a resolution prohibiting
wolves and added that the shoot­
ing of a wolf now carries a fed­
eral penalty. He recommended
that the County be involved in a
meeting on April 11 at the ODFW
office in Portland.
Commissioner John Wenholz
reported on the budget for the
Special Transportation fund,
which will, he believes, remain the
same. He also said that Special
Transportation will move forward
on bus purchases for Irrigon and
Boardman and sell the replaced
Boardman bus but keep the Irrig­
on one for backup.
Wenholz also reported that
the Boardman City Council
agreed on March 19 to pay half
the attorney fees, up to $ 10.000.
on the dairies-building-permit is­
sue. He added that the council had
found prudent the County action
that had already been taken.
O ’Brien reported on the
meeting of the Parks Committee
of March 19. Park hosts will be
Carolyn Paris at Anson Wright
and Judy Horton at Cutsforth.
DEQ will not allow dumping in the
new septic system at Anson
Wright Park, but the County will •
try to make the other system in
place work for that.
O 'Brien and Karen Wolff
reported having met with a rep­
resentative of the State Parks
and representatives of the Mor­
row County Fair Board to discuss
use of the fairgrounds facility for
a regional training site for ATV
safety training programs. Wolff
detailed how the grounds buildings
would be used and discussed the
need for qualified trainers. Already
the department has received in­
quiries, resulting from an item in
The Oregonian and from informa­
tion on the web site, Wolff add­
ed.
O'Brien noted completion of
work on the contestant parking lot
at the rodeo arena and reported
repair and improvement work at
the shop building. He said the
crew had plowed snow on Wil­
low Creek and Blake Ranch
Roads and had put out traffic
counters on Tower and Kunze
Roads as part of a traffic study.
O'Brien also offered an update
on the Valby Road project.
He said he expected the cone
unit for the crusher to arrive this
day and reported having adver­
tised for bids on a crawler tractor
for the rock pit and bids for hot
mix asphalt for summer projects.
Judge Tallman opened the one
bid on the purchase o f a jaw
crusher. Learning from O'Brien
that it meets the bid specifica­
tions, the Court approved pur­
chase of a rebuilt I960 Pioneer
jaw crusher from Spokane Ma­
chinery.
The Court also approved
$ 1000 from tippage fee discretion­
ary funds for the Willow Creek
Symphony
Lawn Thatchers & Rototiller
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Morrow County Grain Growers
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