SIX - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Eastern Oregon pharmacy and Rep.
Smith team up for rural Oregon
A measure to help
thousands of patients across
Eastern and Central Oregon
was unanimously adopted
by the Oregon House o f
Representatives. Represen
tative Greg Smith (R-Hep-
pner) said during his floor
remarks, “We are taking a
great step in maintaining
access to rural health care in
frontier Oregon. By passing
Senate Bill 735 we’re going
to assist a rural pharmacist
in continuing to remain a
viable small business.”
The Murray Drug
Stores approached Smith
over a year ago because
they were not getting a fair
reimbursement rate from
the new Oregon Prescrip
tion Drug Program. The
Oregon Prescription Drug
Program started in 2003 as a
way to help Oregonians get
medications at discounted
prices. Today the program
serves over 100,000 unin
sured Oregonians. SB 735
allows more flexibility in
the current OPDP contracts
which are now “one-size-
fits-all.”
“This program as
it was written did not allow
for negotiation with rural
pharmacies. As the rate
of reimbursement offered
did not cover our costs of
dispensing the medication
we were not able to fill
prescriptions for OPDP
clients, leaving a large area
of Central and Eastern Or
egon w ithout access to
local pharmacy services,”
explained Ann Murray, Co-
Owner of Murray Drugs.
Currently in Gil
liam, Morrow, Sherman,
W allowa, and W heeler
Counties there may not
even be one pharmacy par
ticipating in OPDP. Ac
cording to the Rural Policy
Research Institute, there
has been a net loss of 500
independently owned ru
ral pharmacies across the
country since 2006. Many
residents can only use the
program through mail-order
or they must drive long
distances to a participating
pharmacy.
“ If we lose any
m ore rural pharm acies,
and we are losing them at
an alarming rate over the
past couple of years, those
distances increase to 150 or
200 miles to get prescrip
tions filled,” said Repre
sentative Jim Thompson
(R-D allas), former head
o f the Oregon Pharmacy
Association. “I think we’re
doing the right thing, mov
ing in the right direction.
It’s going to help a lot of
people over a lot of square
miles.”
John Murray added
passage o f this new law
should allow the state to,
"address the issues rural
pharmacies have and hope
fully preserve access to
pharmacy services in our
rural hometowns. We are
celebrating our 50th anni
versary in business this year
and are extremely grateful
for Rep. Smith’s dedication
to preserving the fragile
health care delivery system
in rural Eastern Oregon.”
O PD P re c e n tly
added the benefits program
used by Oregon’s teachers
and will now add the one
used by state retirees. Smith
pointed out, “hundreds of
teachers across rural Or
egon have had a tough time
getting access to prescrip
tions because there were
not enough participating
pharmacies.”
To learn more about
the Oregon Prescription
Drug Program go to www.
opdp.org or call 1 -888-411 -
OPDP.
Ballroom dancing
lessons being offered
Fire chief announces promotions
Jodi Chapa will be offering ballroom dancing
lessons from 7-8 p.m. on Tuesday evenings through
August 25.
“1 will be teaching six different dances, one each
night,” said Chapa. “1 make sure to start at the beginning
level and move at the group’s speed so people don’t feel
left behind. It is a great form of exercise and is a lot of
fun too.”
Walts, Cha Cha, Rumba, Salsa, Sw ing and Tango
are the dances that will be taught. Group and private les
sons are available as well as single lessons and lesson
packages.
For more information call 676-8022 or informa
tion sheets can be picked up at Sweet Productions Ice
Cream Parlour.
DA’s Report
M orrow C ounty
District Attorney Elizabeth
Ballard has released the fol
lowing report:
-B ry n n N ic h o l
Kulbe, 27, was convicted
of possession of marijuana,
a Class B felony, and was
sentenced to three years
supervised probation, 180
sanction units with 90 jail
units, 80 hours of communi
ty service, other conditions,
and pay $ 1,173 in fines, fees
and assessments.
-Rocky Gerard, 21,
was convicted of harass
ment, a Class B m isde
meanor, and was sentenced
to 90 days incarceration
with 90 days suspended,
18 months bench probation,
20 hours of community ser
vice, other conditions, and
pay $913 in fines, fees and
assessments.
-Debra Jean Por
tillo, 49, was convicted of
possession of methamphet-
amine, a Class C felony, and
was sentenced to 18 months
supervised probation, 90
sanction units with 30 jail
units, six months driver’s li
cense suspension, and other
conditions. Portillo was
also convicted of tampering
with physical evidence, a
Class A misdemeanor, and
was sentenced to 18 months
bench probation, complete
40 hours of community ser
vice, and other conditions.
Total fines, fees and assess
ments are $1,276.
-Michael Anthony
Mullikin, 25, was convicted
o f contempt o f court, an
unclassified misdemeanor,
and was sentenced to 180
days incarceration with
160 days suspended, 18
months bench probation,
other conditions, and pay
$913 in fines, fees and as
sessments.
Several Heppner firemen recently received promotions. Fire
Chief Rusty Estes has announced. Dean Robinson (right) has
been promoted to the position of Safety Officer, filling a spot
left vacant when longtime fireman Tom Wicklund passed away.
Promoted to Captain was Andrew Johnson (center) and to
Lieutenant, Brian Harmon (left). Photo by David Sykes
M.C. Dryland Crop Tour to be held
The Morrow County Dry land Crop Tour w ill be
held Friday, June 19. Participants w ill meet at the School
District building in Lexington for a departure time of
1:15 p.m.
After the tour, a social hour and potluck dinner
will be held at the City Park in lone. Refreshments will be
available at 5:30 p.m. with dinner to be served at 6 p.m.
Participants w ith last names beginning with A-M
are asked to bring a dessert and N-Z a salad or side.
For more information contact the OSU Extension
Service at 676-9642.
Valby Lutheran Church
to host ice cream social
Valby Lutheran Church invites members of
the community to join them for an ice cream social on
Sunday, June 14, beginning at 2 p.m. In addition to ice
cream with all the toppings and games for all ages, there
will be a display of Sarah Carlson’s calligraphy and live
entertainment that will include Alex Carlson and Amanda
Tullis playing fiddle tunes.
For more information or for directions to the
church, call Pastor Katy Anderson at 989-8174.
Penturf graduates with
nursing degree
LaRena Marie Penturf recently graduated from
Blue Mountain Community College with a degree in
Nazarene/7,h Day Adventist Church members will be nursing as a registered nurse. She is currently employed
serving lunch on Wednesday, June 17. The menu will include with a traveling nursing agency and a job awaits her in
beef stroganoff, mixed vegetables, apple salad, hot rolls, pine the emergency room at Desert Springs Hospital. She plans
on furthering her education as she wants to become a life
apple upside down cake.
flight nurse.
Penturf is the great-granddaughter of Sally Mar
iait of Heppner.
Senior Center Menu
I
'J f ! l )
.Civ
i . • i
Come ceie6rate with us
♦ ♦ ♦♦ ♦
Sheriff's Report
The Morrow County
Sheriff's Office reports han
dling the following busi
ness:
March 12 cont.:
-Heppner Ambulance re
ceived report that a resident
at the St. Patrick’s Senior
C enter in H eppner had
fallen and his door was
locked and the reporter
was unable to assist him.
Entrance was made. There
was no transport.
-Irrig o n A m bu
lance received report of a
54-year-old female with a
racing heart and a previous
heart attack. She was trans
ported to Good Shepherd
Hospital.
March 13: The
Morrow County Sheriff’s
O ffice received several
complaints of cows in the
road and in the park in Ir
rigon.
-M CSO arrested
Joseph Lee Swope, 28,
on an Oregon State Parole
Board felony warrant for
Parole V iolation/Sexual
A ssault-attem pted rape.
He was lodged at Umatilla
County Jail with no bail.
-MCSO received
report of two four-wheelers
riding up and down the road
in front of the bowling alley
in Heppner without a hel
met. The sheriff did not w it
ness the subject riding on
the road, but warned subject
where to ride vehicle.
-MCSO received
report that the M arion
County S h eriff’s Office
arrested Todd Patrick Co-
penhaver, 26, on a Mor
row County Circuit Court
warrant for Possession of
a Controlled Substance II
and DUI1. He was lodged
Tfte Port
of Morrow is celebrating its 50th
Anniversary at our new T ransloaa building.
71401 Rait Loop drive, B ourdmun, OR
This Friday June 12th from 4:00-7:00 p.m.
Come as you please.
-Continued on Page EIGHT
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