Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, September 10,2008 - FIVE ~ Letters to the Editor ~ The \leppner Gazette Times will print all letters to the Editor with the following criteria met: letters submitted to the newspaper 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 will 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 o f Thanks” at a cost of $ 10. Local businesses and services continue to be a value to MW BH To the editor: This letter is written to respond to a few statements made in a previous letter to the editor regarding the resi dential treatment facility in Boardman named Columbia River Ranch. In the previous letter to the editor written by Mr. Raymond Michaels (9/3/08), he infers that Columbia River Ranch is owned by Morrow Wheeler Behavioral Health (MWBH). Originally it was hoped that MWBH would be able to own the facility, and as such have local control and purchase locally. However, two Morrow County Com missioners voted against this and a new corporation took over. Columbia River Ranch is owned by Columbia Care Services, which has administrative offices in Grants Pass. As such MWBH has no say or influence over where such items as groceries or prescriptions are purchased, or where patients go for their medical care. Initially medications were purchased locally and Columbia River Community Health Services saw the clients, but Columbia Care Ser vices decided to use different providers. MWBH does provide the counseling services at CRR. The services are locally based and we have clinicians that reside in either Morrow or Umatilla County. The one contracted provider at Columbia River Ranch is a psychia trist. Unfortunately there are no psychiatrists in Boardman and the few who reside in Umatilla County do not have time available. Therefore, telemedicine is utilized. The facility that was proposed for Boardman, and will now be located in south Morrow County, will be lo cally owned and operated by MWBH, and the $65,000 payroll would be for residential staff. The one contracted provider for the proposed the facility is the psychiatrist and this is not part of the quoted $65,000. MWBH is com mitted to purchasing locally and using local services. My staff and I have enjoyed working with Ray at the Board- man pharmacy over the past 12 years. I have found Ray to be courteous and professional and am appreciative o f that. Utilizing local businesses and services has something that has always been and will continue to be a value to MWBH. Kimberly Lindsay Community Counseling Solutions (formerly Morrow Wheeler Behavioral Health) Lexington Read this book regardless of political affiliation To the editor: 1 just recently read a very interesting and thought provoking book and encourage everyone, regardless o f political affiliation to do so, before you cast your vote for president this fall. “The Case Against Barack Obama” which was written by a political reporter for National Review Online David Freddoso, can be purchased at either Bi-Mart or Wal West Nile Virus detected in rural Irrigon The West Nile Virus has been detected in mosqui toes collected on September 2, 2008 from traps in east and southwest rural Irrigon M orrow C ounty officials reported. Oregon State Uni versity Animal Diagnostic Laboratory in Corvallis con firmed the positive mosquito pools, said Greg Barron, Manager o f North Morrow Vector Control District. B arron ex p lain ed that North Morrow Vector Control District routinely sets up to 20 adult mosquito traps baited with dry ice twice a week in the Irrigon and Boardman areas. The mosquitoes caught are then counted, identified accord ing to species, pooled into groups o f 50 and sent onto the OSU Animal Diagnostic Laboratory in Corvallis for testing. West Nile Virus was previously detected on Sep tember 5, 2007 in mosquito traps in south rural Irrigon. The September 2, mosquito traps are the first to be con firmed as West Nile Virus positive since last year. To date in 2008, four humans, one bird and 16 mosquito pools have tested positive to the virus through out Oregon. Eight out o f 36 counties in Oregon are now' reporting infection either by human or animal with West Nile Virus in 2008. Dead bird surveil lance has been ongoing in the district. People that no tice sick or dead birds such as crows, magpies, jays and robins should contact the vector control district so that they can be picked up for testing, Barron said. M ost p eo p le w ho become infected with West Nile Virus do not become sick. Som e may develop mild flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, body ach es, and o c ca sio n ally swollen lymph glands or a rash. In rare cases West Nile may cause encephalitis, or inflammation o f the brain. Individuals with severe or unusual headaches should seek medical care as soon as possible. There have been no hum an, avian or equine cases o f West Nile Virus reported in Morrow County this year. Last year the cen ters for D isease C ontrol and Prevention reported 27 confirmed human cases in Oregon and 3,630 cases in the United States with 124 fatalities. The s ta ff here at North Morrow Vector Con trol District will increase surveillance and control measures in the area o f the positive mosquito pools. “The risk o f West Nile Virus is low but we do encourage people to take appropriate precautions to protect themselves against mosquito bites,” said Shel ley Wight, o f the Morrow County Health Department. Shelley offered the follow ing suggestions to reduce the risk o f exposure to West Nile Virus: -Eliminate all sourc es o f standing w ater that can be a breeding ground for biting mosquitoes such as watering troughs, bird- baths, clogged gutters and old tires. -Avoid outdoor ac tivities at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active. -Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when in mosquito infested areas. -Use m osquito re pellents containing DEET, Oil o f Lemon Eucalyptus and Picardin making sure to follow the directions on the container. -Make sure all screen doors and windows are in good repair and fit tightly. Local officials and h ealth care p ro v id ers in Morrow County have been notified of the virus detec tion. The State o f Oregon has set up a West Nile Vi rus Hotline at 1(800) 702- INFO. Additional informa tion on West Nile Virus is on the Web at: U.S. Centers for D isease C ontrol and Prevention http://ww w.cdc. gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/; Oregon Department o f Hu man Services http://oregon. gov/DHS/ph/acd/diseases/ w nile/survey.shtm l; M or row County Health Depart ment http://w w w .oregon/ gov/DIIS/ph/lhd/county di- rectories/Morrow.pdf; and Morrow County http://mor- rowcountyoregon.com/. Morrow County students lead pack of area schools reaching benchmarks -Continuedfrom Page ONE at the Morrow Education C enter was up, and gave credit to its administrator for streamlining the enrollment process there. Burrow s also reported on the positive start to the new school year. (Ac cording to figures released by the respective schools Monday, Heppner Elemen tary School has 183 students this year, down from 192 last year; H eppner High School has 238 students this year, including 23 exchange students, up from 228 at the end o f last year; lone Com m unity Schools has 175 students this year, including nine exchange students, up from 150 students at the end o f last year.) -heard a report from technology students who attended a Technology Stu dent Association field trip to Orlando and the Epcot Cen ter. HHS technology teacher Dave Fowler took his son and two other students. They were the only three students from Oregon who attended the ev en t out o f around 5,000 total attendees. -ap p ro v ed a state and fe d e rally m andated policy to provide a “ Mother Friendly Workplace” to al low for breast feeding and expressing breast milk at the work place. -ap p ro v ed a state and fe d e rally m an d ated policy to allow for military family leave. -approved the cur rent board goals for another term. -approved setting up a committee on account ability. -accepted the fol lowing resignations/retire- ments: Robin Huxoll, Riv erside High School secre tary; Cindy Velasquez, RHS English language learner ed assistant; Teresa Mounts, retiring as o f January 1, 2009, from her ed assistant position at Sam Boardman Elementary. -approved employ ment for Cheryl Costello, from RHS department secre tary to RHS head secretary, replacing Robin Huxoll. -approved the fol lowing extra duty contracts: Josh Coiner, Heppner Junior High head football coach; Kyle Carpenter, Riverside Junior High assistant foot ball coach; William Pullen, RHS Talented and Gifted program coordinator; Jan- nie Allen and Pam Dowdy, Heppner Elementary TAG joint coordinators. -heard the following an n o u n cem en ts: O regon School Board Association fall regional meeting, Blue Mountain Community Col lege, Oct. 6, 6 p.m.; next board meeting, Sam Board- man Elementary, Oct. 13, 7 p.m. candidat^*"rea^open ^oure^es as t0 pres'^eni*a* Local woman wants farmer’s market in Heppner Luella Taylor Lexington -Continuedfrom Page ONE be rem odeled first. Then In other police busi ness Bowles said he had lone Football 2008 Mustang been trying to solve the Schedule Football Schedule break-in at Bucknum’s Tav ern last week, which saw an Sept. 12 - at McKenzie, 7 Sept. 12 - at White Salm undisclosed amount o f mon p.m. on, 7 p.m. ey stolen after a dead bolt Sept. 19 - Touchet in lone, Sept. 19 - Elgin at home, was jimmied between 1 a.m. 6 p.m. 7 p.m. and 4:40 a.m. the morning Sept. 26 - at Condon, 7 Sept. 26 - at Stanfield, 7 o f Thursday, August 28, but p.m. p.m. w asn’t having much luck. Oct. 3 - South Wasco in Oct. 3 - Union at home, 7 The Bucknum’s one is “still Maupin, 7 p.m. p.m. out there,” he said. “Some Oct. 10-A rlington in Oct. 10 - at Pilot Rock, 7 one knows something, but lone, 7 p.m. p.m. Oct. 17 - Dufur in lone, 7 Oct. 17 - Irrigon at Irrigon, they haven’t said anything yet.” He urged anyone with p.m. 7 p.m. Oct. 24 - Weston McEwen information about the crime Oct. 24 - at Echo, 7 p.m. to please contact him. Oct. 31 - at Nixyaawii, 2 at home, 7 p.m. He also reported that Oct. 31 - at Enterprise, 7 the department has been is suing tickets for not using 2008 Mustang Volleyball Schedule seat belts, and also cracking Sept. 11 - Ione/Riverside at home at 5 p.m. (A/B teams). down on people making “J” turns in Fleppner. Sept. 12 - Yakima Tourney in Yakima at 9 a.m. (A St. Pat’s Apart team). Sept. 13 - Heppner JV Tournament in Heppner at 9 a.m. ments to be renovated The council was in (JV team). formed that the bids on the Sept. 15 - Arlington in Arlington at 5 p.m. (JV team). renovation of the Heppner Sept. 16 - Umatilla at home at 5 p.m. (A/B teams). St. Patrick's Senior Apart Sept. 18 - Union at Union at 5 p.m. (A/B teams). ments had been opened and Sept. 20 - 4-Way Tournament in Stanfield at noon (A awarded to W.C. Construc team). tion, Inc. o f Elgin. Sept. 23 - Condon at Condon at 5 p.m. (A/B teams). Their low bid was for Sept. 25 - Irrigon at Irrigon at 5 p.m. (A/B teams). $599,998 and work should Sept. 27 - Enterprise at home at noon (A/B teams). start “soon” city manager Oct. 2 - Stanfield at home at 5 p.m. (A/B teams). Bogart said. Oct. 4 - 4-Way Tournament in Enterprise at noon (A W.C. Construction team). is the same company that Oct. 4 - Heppner B/C Tournament at home at noon (JV built the new Hamley’s in team). Oct. 9 - Pilot Rock in Pilot Rock at 5 p.m. (A/B teams). Pendleton and the Board- man City Hall. Oct. 11 - Elgin at home at 11 a.m. (A/B teams). There are currently Oct. 16 - Weston Me at home at 5 p.m. (A/B teams). three empty apartments at Oct. 18 - 4-Way Tournament at home at noon, (A/B the center and those will teams). Oct. 21 - Stanfield in Stanfield at 5 p.m. (A/B teams). the other residents will be m oved into those a p a rt ments while theirs are being remodeled. There were a total o f four bids with the oth ers being $645,338 from Michael A. Becker, GC of La Grande, Colamette Con struction Co o f Sherwood at $635,773, and McCormack Construction o f Pendleton at $675,000. B ogart was pleased as the bids came in low er than ex p ected . “They’re hungry out there,” he said at one point. The construction is expected to take six to eight months at two weeks per apartment. It was also an nounced that M ayor Les Paustian will be the city’s representative on the job site to keep an eye on the remod eling work. There could be up to 20 people at one time in Heppner to work on the project and that the sidewalk in front o f the apartments will be blocked off and the parking lot in back fenced off as a construction stag ing area. Mental fa cility looking for site property w ithin the city limits above Rock Street that the facility is interested in, however, Bogart said Lifeways has not settled on the area and is “still looking at other properties.” In o th er b usiness Bogart said numerous trees have been trim m ed and three Spruces removed at the city park. He said the stumps would most likely be ground down. ATV ordinance dumped The council voted to throw out an ordinance allowing All Terrance Vehi cles (ATVs) to be driven on city streets. The vote in ef fect bans the popular ATVs from now being driven on the streets. The issue came up when a local resident was ticketed by the state police for driving on city streets with an ATV. The resident thought it was legal and in fact the city had an ordi nance allowing the ATVs, but only if there was signs posted around tow n. No signs had ever been posted so ap p aren tly the ATVs were not legal. Throwing out the ordinance effectively ends the controversy and keeps the vehicles off o f city streets. B o g a rt to ld th e council he has met with Kyle Robinson and Life- ways, the developer o f the eig h t-b ed secure m ental Proposed Tippage facility looking to locate in projects Heppner, about the citing o f T h e c o u n c il r e the facility. viewed the proposed city R o b in s o n o w n s projects for the Needs & Issues funding for 2008. Needs and Issues divides up the $500,000 in “tip- page” money received by the county from the Finley Buttes landfill. The county m akes the m oney a v a il able for grants to county governments and other or ganizations for projects and purchases. The following is a list of the proposed city issues being considered. They are not listed in order o f priority, which will be done later before turning in the requests. -Flow meter at sewer plant- $15,000 -Water Street storm drainage - $40,000 -Well #5 fencing - $3.000 -Sidewalk match or trust fund - $ 10.000 -TV city sewer line - $ 12,000 -Reservoir fencing (four) - $20,000 -Hager Park picnic shelter/restrooms - $25,000 -Sperry St. bridge matching funds - $82,000 -New Court St. sew er line - $83,000 -F e n c e at t e n n i s courts - $5,000 -Willow Street foot bridge (lover’s bridge) repair or replacement - $25,000 -Water master meter at reservoir # 1 - $ 15,000 -Fire d e p a r t m e n t turnouts - $3,000.