Heppner gazette-times., April 26, 2006, Page TWO, Image 2

TWO - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, April 26,2006
The Official Newspaper
of the City of Heppner and the County of Morrow
Heppner
GAZETTE-TIMES
U S PS 240-420
Morrow County’s Home-Owned W eekly N ew spaper
Published weekly and entered as periodical matter at the Post Office at Heppner.
Oregon under the Act of March 3 . 1879 Periodical postage paid at Heppner. Oregon
Office at 188 W Willow Street. Telephone (341) 676-9228. Fa* (541) 676-9211 E-
matl: editors rapidserve net ordavidtP heppner net Web site: www.hqjpner.net. Post­
master send address changes to the Heppner Gazette-Times. P.O Bo* 337, Heppner,
Oregon 97836 Subscriptions: $25 in Morrow County: $19 senior rate (in Morrow
County only; 62 years or older). $31 elsewhere; $26 student subscriptions.
David S y k e s.................................................................................................... Publisher
Katie Foster.......................................................................................................... Editor
All News and Advertising Deadline is Monday at 5 p.m.
For Advertising advertising deadline is Monday at 5 p.m. Cost for a display ad is $4.90 per
column inch. Cost for classified ad is 50« per word. Cost for Card of Thanks is $10 up to 100
words Cost for a classified display ad is $5.50 per column inch.
For PuWic/Legai Notices: public/lega! notices deadline is Monday at 5 p.m. Dates for publi­
cation must be specified. Affidavits must be required at the time of submission. Affidavits
require three weeks to process after last date of publication (a sooner return date must be
specified if required).
For Obituaries: Obituaries are published in the Heppner GT at no charge and are edited to
meet news guidelines. Families wishing to include information not included in the guidelines
or who wish to have the obituary written in a certain way must purchase advertising space
for the obituary.
For Letters to the Editor: Letters to the Editor MUST be signed by the author The Heppner
GT will not publish unsigned letters. All letters MUST include the author's address and
phone number for use by the GT office. The GT reserves the right to edit letters. The GT is
not responsible for accuracy of statements made in letters. Any letters expressing thanks
will be placed in the classifieds under "Card of Thanks" at a cost of $10.
On the HEPPNER WEBSITE: www.heppner.net
• Start or C hange a Subscription
• Place a C lassified Ad • Subm it a N ew s Story
• View Real Estate for Sale • City Council & Planning Minutes
•Local Businesses • County Park • Willow Creek Park Reservations
• Free Digital Postcards • Senior Housing • and more!
ICABO supports speedway and
excise tax
To the Editor:
The
lone
Community Agri-Business
Organization (ICABO) was
created almost two decades
ago, to prom ote the
e n rich m en t
of
our
com m unity, school and
businesses. We have had
many successes and still, we
as a group, need to look to
the future in creating a better
way o f life in our
communities.
A fter
atten d in g
informational meetings, and
a hard look at the proposed
O regon
In tern atio n al
Speedway project, it became
ab u n d an tly c le a r that
economic development this
project brings to Morrow
County is in the best interest
for the communities and the
taxpayers. It needs to move
forward and succeed and the
first step is to support the
effort.
The second step is to
pass the excise tax for the
Speedway D istrict and in
doing so will fund roads to
and from the speedway and
freeway improvements to
mitigate traffic concerns. It
w ill provide for the
d ev elo p m en t
of
in fra stru c tu re s,
w hich
include w ater, w aste
d isp o sa l, e le c tric and
co m m u n icatio n s for the
Speedway and surrounding
businesses in the district.
At our ICA BO
m eeting held A pril 12,
members present voted to
support both the Speedway
Project and district excise
tax. We would like to ask
you, the voters, to help with
a yes vote on May 16, 2006.
Our future is bright.
Be in support.
(s) lone Community Agri-
Business Organization
Loyal R. Bums, Jr.
President
Spicer will be fair and impartial
judge
To the Editor:
It is a pleasure to
write a letter of support for
Ann S p icer for C ircuit
Court judge. I have known
Ann since she and her
husband moved to Heppner
in 1977. Ann and I have
worked together in several
areas including serving on
the Oregon Trail Library
board together. She has
always been knowledgeable,
caring and fair in her dealings
with other people. She has
c o n sid e ra b le
legal
experience is a wide variety
of arenas. I believe she will
be a fair and impartial judge,
(s) Barbara Hayes
Heppner
Join Us a t John’s Place
fo r a Mexican B uffet
on Chico de Mayo from 5-8 pjn.
ALL YOU CAN EAT!
- JOHN’S PLACE -
1 loin Street, H e f n e r
____________~
Letters to the Editor
~ ___________
The Heppner Gazette Times w ill print all letters to the Editor w ith the following
criteria met: letters submitted to the new spaper will need to have the name of
the sender along with a legible signature We are also requesting that you provide
your address and a phone number where you can be reached. The address and
phone number w ill only be used for verification and will not be printed in the
newspaper. Letters may not be libelous. The GT reserves the right to edit. The
GT is not responsible for accuracy of statements made in letters. Any letters
expressing thanks will be placed in the classifieds under "Card of Thanks" at a
cost of $ 10.
Grieb has
dedication and
passion
To the Editor:
The
v o ters
of
Morrow County will soon
have an opportunity to vote
on
a
new
county
commissioner. Please join us
in voting for Ken Grieb. Ken
has proven to be a very
e ffe ctiv e co m m u n icato r
through his work with the
Wheat Growers' League and
the many committees and
boards he has voluntarily
w orked for. He and his
family give endless volunteer
hours to the community, and
to our kids, through the
schools, athletics, service on
boards of local businesses
and local districts.
We think that Ken is
d ed ica te d to M orrow
County and its future and has
proven that dedication over
and over. We believe he will
carry that dedication and
p assio n w ith him as
commissioner and work hard
to do what is best for the
county. Join us in voting for
Ken G rieb for M orrow
County Commissioner.
(s) Steve and Lisanne
Currin
Heppner
Sheriff’s
Association
endorses
Elizabeth
Ballard for DA
To the Editor:
The Morrow County
Sheriff’s Office Association
is proud to endorse Elizabeth
Ballard for Morrow County
District Attorney.
For the past three
and a half years, Elizabeth
has had a good professional
re la tio n sh ip w ith the
association as deputy district
attorney. Elizabeth is trusted
by
the
d ep u ties
to
ag g ressiv ely pursue and
prosecute cases brought to
the district attorney’s office.
She w orks hand-in-hand
with deputies in prosecuting
drug related crimes, ensuring
the
best
p o ssib le
adjudication.
Elizabeth also works
clo sely w ith the V ictim
Advocacy Program ensuring
that victim ’s of domestic
violence and other personal
crim es are protected and
informed.
Elizabeth has proven
to be d ed ica te d and
professional and is an asset
to our association as well as
our county as a whole. Join
the association on May 16
and vote for the best
candidate. Elizabeth Ballard
for district attorney.
(s) John A. Bowles,
President
Morrow County Sheriff’s
Office Association
FIGHT DRUGS. FIGHT CRIME.
Speedway gives
county and local
economies boost
To the Editor:
Having worked with
local government finances as
well as in private industry in
Morrow County for the last
13 years, I can say from
e x p erien c e s, that the
proposed speedway activity
d istrict and surrounding
p ro p o sed d ev elo p m en t
would provide a desperately
needed boost to the
economic base of many of
the districts and communities
in Morrow County.
B ecause M orrow
County’s assessed value is so
h eav ily w eig h ted w ith
utilities, as those utilities
depreciate in value, it has
been very difficult for the
county and other county­
wide districts to maintain
their assessed value and
thereby collect the taxes
n ecessary in o rd e r to
maintain existing services. In
addition, I have watched our
local co m m u n ities get
smaller and smaller over the
last several years. While this
is a wonderful place to live,
with lots of great people, the
county desperately needs
additional industry, and this
project sounds like it may be
the catalyst to start that ball
rolling.
Even better, with the
proposed excise tax, you will
only pay if you use the
facilities. However, you will
benefit by the increase in
jobs, increase in economic
development potential and
hopefully an increase in
value for our local taxing
districts. Please join us in
voting yes for the Morrow
County Speedway Activity
District excise tax, providing
a much-needed boost to our
local economies.
(s) Steve and Lisanne
Currin
Heppner
_
F OgClSOfl
trustworthy of
^
judge position
To the Editor:
I am writing to let
you know about my father,
Steve Fogelson, and how
qualified he is to become
your circuit court judge.
From an early age, my dad
in stille d
in me the
im portance o f telling the
truth and doing right by
others. He also has taught
me the meaning of being a
part of my community. My
brother and I have helped
him in many com m unity
pro jects w ith the L io n ’s
Club. My dad has been a
p ro se cu to r,
p ro tectin g
children from abuse and the
p u b lic from crim e. I
rem em b er him being
passionate about his job and
his clients, doing whatever
was necessary to accomplish
justice. I know of no other
person who I would trust as
your circuit court judge as
much as my dad. So please
vote Steve Fogelson for
circuit court judge.
(s) Leslie Knight
Cottage Grove
Health District Board unanimous in
support of speedway project
continued from page one
district and plans on moving
to the area with his wife and
two children. Vander Does
said that Dr. Zachary Hale of
the Tri-Cities has indicated
that he anticipates arriving in
the community within three
to six m onths, pending
accreditation and licensing.
Vander Does said that he
may be able to work for the
district part-time prior to
coming to the community
full time.
Dr. Sam Datta, who
works for the district full­
time, has announced that he
will leave the district in May.
Dr. Ed Berretta, who lives
out of the area, currently
works for the district part-
time; Heppner physician. Dr.
Ken W enberg, w orks
prim arily in the Pioneer
M em orial
H ospital
emergency room; physician’s
assistants Sheridan Tamasky,
H eppner,
and
Terry
Anderson, Irrigon, are both
employed full time by the
district.
Vander Does said
that another doctor from the
John Day area, Dr. Russell
Nichols, has also indicated
interest in working full time
for the district. Vander Does
said that Russell may initially
be able work for the district
part-time as an emergency
room doctor. Dr. Russell and
his wife have three children,
according to Vander Does.
In other business the
board:
-received the 2006-
07 proposed budget which
shows $4,895,477 in total
resources, excluding taxes,
and $875,357 in anticipated
taxes for $5,770,804 in total
resources; and $5,922,180 in
total expenditures, which
resu lts in a $ 1 5 1 ,3 7 6 ,
shortfall. Mahoney said the
cash shortfall “is due in part
to the fact that the $219,500
of
b u d g eted
cap ital
expenditures are anticipated
to be paid in full at the time
of purchase as opposed to
being Financed over several
years. In order to cover all
of the budgeted expenditures
for $2006-07, cash reserves
from prior year operations
w ill need to be u se d .”
Mahoney said the proposed
budget does not include any
new borrowing.
T he
pro p o sed
budget includes $45,000 for
a new telephone system and
conversion to a fiber optic
system, which should result
in dramatic savings for the
district; a hospital heating
system service/upgrade at
$13,000; a defibrillator for
the Boardman Ambulance at
$ 18,000;
$ 2 0 ,0 0 0
in
im p ro v em en ts to the
administrator’s house, which
is owned by the district;
$6,000 for a patient “EZ
stand/walker/scale”; $7,500
for resurfacing the hospital's
back park in g area; and
$ 110,000 for a new
am bulance. “ W e're in a
pretty good position to fund
e x p e n d itu re s ,”
said
Mahoney.
Board m em bers,
however, indicated some
concern with the timing of
the expiration of the district’s
three-year tax levy in 2007.
The levy will expire at a time
when an election for a new
levy would require a double
majority. Vander Does and
the board ag ree that an
election for an additional tax
levy would best be held in the
2008 general election, which
would not require a double
majority.
Mahoney said that
N ate
A rb o g ast
w ith
WindWave Communications
has discovered a federal
p ro g ram , w hich w ould
enable the health district to
afford to run fiber optic cable
into health district facilities
in Heppner and Boardman at
an 80 percent cost reduction.
Mahoney said the system
would result in a significant
savings for the district, as
opposed to traditional phone
lines, and w ould greatly
improve com m unications
between the Heppner and
Irrigon facilities and with
medical specialists, including
the St. C h arles M edical
Center at Bend and OHSU.
Fiber optic cable has already
been installed throughout the
county.
The b o ard also
ap p ro v ed an ad d itio n a l
$4,500 towards purchase of
d e fib rilla to rs
fo r all
elementary schools in the
county-Heppner Elementary
School, Irrigon Elementary,
A.C. Houghton Elementary
in Irrigon, Sam Boardman
Elementary, Windy River
Elem entary at Boardman
and lone Elementary. The
contribution would cover
h a lf the cost o f the
defibrillators, with the school
districts asked to pick up the
remainder.
In other business, the
board:
-learned that Pioneer
M emorial Clinic had 404
patients in March; with 31
new p a tie n ts and an
additional 51 seen by a nurse;
Irrig o n C lin ic had 195
p a tie n ts w ith 31 new
patients, 47 seen by a nurse
and 27 no shows; Heppner
Ambulance had 20 total runs
w ith 18 tra n sp o rts for
$14,708
in
rev en u e;
Boardman Ambulance had
28 to tal runs w ith 17
transports for $15,138 in
revenue; Irrigon had 17 total
runs with 14 transports for
$11,268; there were five
flights; Pioneer Memorial
H o sp ital
had
eig h t
admissions for March, 449
outpatients, 57 emergency
room encounters, 1363 lab
tests, 93 x-ray procedures,
35 CT scans, 17 EKG tests,
six treadmill procedures, one
sigmoid procedure and two
re sp ira to ry
therapy
procedures; Home Health
had 171 visits; pharmacy had
1055 drug doses for $65,174
in revenue.
-learn ed
from
Director of Nursing, Home
H ealth and H ospice and
trauma coordinator Molly
Rhea that Pioneer Memorial
Hospital has been awarded
a three-year full status Level
IV
trau m a
h o sp ital
categorization. “It’s a great
letter and a good report,”
com m ented board C hair
Larry Mills.
-accepted the PMH
Home Health annual agency
evaluation.
C U ST O M
BA N N ER S
H eppner
G azette-Tim es
676-9228
V isit O ur
START FEELING SAFE AGAIN.
ELECT JOHN L. BALLARD
MORROW COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY
Straight talk New leadership
-
Paid for by the Committee to Elect John I.. Ballard for Morrow County District Attorney
I
M
NAPA OPEN HOUSE
M onday , M ay 22n d
Special Prices On ALL NAPA TOOLS A FILTERS
M o rro w C ounty G rain G row ers
Lexington 989-8221 • 1-800-452-7396
For farm rquipmrnt, «h it our w tb tit* at w w w .m cu.not
r