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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (July 1, 2009)
Vander Does prepares to turn over health district’s reins to new administrator Il,I,.1,,.1.1..Ill.... II.I...II Bessie W e t/e ll N ew spaper I ih rar\ Univ ersity o f Oregon Eugene. OR 97403 By April Sykes Outgoing Morrow County H ealth D istrict CEO Victor Vander Does introduced new adminis trator Michael Blauer at the board meeting Monday night in Irrigon. Vander Does said he expects to be on the HEPPNER job for around six to seven more days to assist Blauer with the transition. Vander Does, who has been MCHD admin istrator for the past 10 y ears, has been cred ite d w ith bringing the district back fro m th e p r e c i p ic e v ,ct',r .. ot financial collapse imes VOL. 128 NO. 26 8 Pages Wednesday, July 1, 2009 Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon Farmer’s Market open for business Ginger Keithley shows Sheryll Bates and Chris Bailey items for sale at her table at the Farmer’s Market. The market will be open every Friday through September 25 from 3-7 p.m. Photo bv Sandy Matthews Articles wanted for annual fair edition The annual Morrow' County Fair is fast approaching. Once again this year the Heppner Gazette-Times w ill be putting together a special fair edition. Anyone interested in writing any fair related articles are asked to turn in those articles by Friday, July 15. Articles can be dropped of at the Heppner Gazette-Times or emailed to editor@ rapidserve.net. Community meeting to be held for Strategic Plan With the assistance o f Willow Creek Valley Economic Developm ent Group (W CVEDG) and G reater Eastern Oregon Development Corporation (GEODC), the City of Hep pner will be updating its Strategic Plan in 2009. A community meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 7, at 7 p.m. at City Hall. A committee will be formed to complete the planning process. Future committee meetings will be Tuesday, July 28, and Wednesday, August 12, both at 6 p.m. at City Hall. The Strategic Plan provides the framework for community and economic growth for years to come. Public input into the process is needed in order to reflect the needs of the community. and closure. The board expressed their apprecia tion to Vander Does and his wife Nancy for the work they have done to get the district back to solvency and respect. “Things were tough and they jumped in,” said board member Linda LaRue. Nancy Vander Does assisted the district in a va riety of ways and Vander Does had even remodeled the district-owned adminis trator's home. Board Chair Larry Mills said at the meet ing that he had only three short words to say to Vander Does, ‘Job well done.” “Nancy and 1 are both proud of everything we’ve done,” said Vander Does. It's been a lot o f fun, a lot of friends, almost family.” The board also ap proved an amended contract with Dr. Betsy Anderson which includes an increase in paid vacation time from 16 to 20 days in exchange for reduced paid sick leave time from 12 to six days. The board also approved an automotive three-year renewal in Dr. Anderson’s contract. T he b o a rd a p proved an increase from 20 to 25 days of paid vaca tion for mid-level provider Sheridan Tarnasky, PA, based on longevity with the district. Tarnasky has served the district in a va riety of capacities, includ ing as a nurse, director of nursing and physician’s assistant. The board also increased her continuing education allow ance to $2,000, increased her on- call pay to $35 per hour and approved an automatic three-year contract renewal. They also authorized pay ment of time and a half to Tarnasky to travel to the Irrigon Clinic. The update of the Strategic Plans for Heppner. lone and Lexington is funded, in part with funds received from Morrow County. For additional in formation, please contact The City of Hep- Karen Kendall/GEODC, pner’s 2008 Water Quality project facilitator at 541 - Report has been mailed to 276-6745 or Sheryll Bates/ residents. WCVEDG project coordi The re p o rt de- nator at 541-676-5536. In other business Vander Does told the board that he has encountered difficulty in recruiting a mid-level provider for the Irrigon Clinic, since both mid-level providers there had resigned to accept po sitions elsewhere. "1 think we’ll have to start looking at other recruiting firms,” he said. Vander D oes said th e y had to c l o s e the clin ic a “ co u p le d a y s,” but co v e ra g e will contin- Michael ued to be Blauer provided by a combination of doctors and the PA. Also at the meet ing: -the board learned that the Bend clinic has informed the district that they will not be sending a cardiologist to MCHD any longer. Dr. Hanlon had previously provided that service, but, according to reports, is no longer affili ated with the Bend clinic. LaRue expressed her regret at the district’s loss of Dr. Hanlon. -approved a resolu tion to change check writ ing signatures from Vander Does to Blauer. Authorized signers besides Blauer will include chief financial of ficer Nicole Mahoney, di rector of nursing Molly Rhea and board Chair Larry Mills. -approved surplus- ing a riding lawn mower that is currently not operat ing. -adopted the 2009- 2010 budget for the total of $8,163,752 with $5,007,157 for p erso n al se rv ic e s, $1,924,106 in m aterials and supplies; $933,055 for revenue deductions and bad debt; $75,000 for capital/ building reserve; $62,800 for capital purchases; and $161,634 for capital lease and loan reduction. -imposed the tax rate of $.6050 per $1,000 assessed valuation for op erations; and $.3900 per thousand of assessed valu ation for the local option tax for operations. -approved creden- tialing for Dr. Ken Wen- berg, Dr. Russell Nichols, Sheridan Tarnasky, P.A., and Dr. Ed Berretta. Dr. Betsy Anderson’s was com pleted earlier. -received the fol lowing financial report for May: 605,732 in gross pa tient revenue and $65,970 in total revenue deductions for $539,762 in net patient revenue, plus $56,802 in tax revenue and $2,993 in other operating revenue for $599,557 in total operating revenue. The district had $565,573 in total operat ing expenses, a $33,983 gain from operations and a $9,590 non-operating gain for a $43,574 gain for the month and an av erage $16,690 monthly year-to-date loss. In April, the district had a gain of $14,168. CFO Nicole Ma honey told the board not to anticipate as high a gross patient revenue in June. But she said that the new fiscal year w ill begin in July and the district will see local option tax bond revenues come in. -approved autho rization for investment of money held by the country treasurer. -received the fol low ing report: Pioneer Memorial Clinic had 416 patient visits with 31 new patients, 43 seen by a nurse and 12 no shows; Irrigon Clinic had 195 patient vis its, 24 new patients, 55 seen by a nurse and 21 no shows; Pioneer Memorial Hospital had six admissions in May; five swing bed admissions; eight admitted for observation; two swing nursing facility admissions; 497 total outpatients; 70 total emergency room en counters; 1839 lab tests; 120 x-ray procedures; 41 CT scans; 33 F.KG tests; seven colonoscopies; three endoscopy procedures; 69 respiratory therapy proce dures; Boardman Ambu lance had 29 page-outs and 2 1 transports for $24,288 in revenue; Heppner Ambu lance had 26 page-outs and 21 transports for $22,712 in revenue; Irrigon Ambu lance had 16 page-outs and 10 transports for $ 10,426 in revenue; Home Health had 138 patient visits; Hospice had six admissions; phar macy had 2301 drug doses for $79,024 in revenue. City of Heppner mails water report scribes the quality of the city’s drinking water and explains health informa- tion, monitoring data, and the sources of water. Anyone who did not receive a copy of the report in the mail can pick one up at City Hall or call 676-9618 to receive one. Holiday closures announced Rietmann named 4th of July grand marshal The 4 ,h o f July com m ittee selected Bill Rietmann to lead the lone celebration this In dependence Day as grand marshal. B i l l ’ s grandparents came to Morrow County from Illinois in the late 1800s. They first worked in Walla Walla and then came to Morrow County to homestead just outside o f lone. Vera Engleman and Victor Rietmann were parents to Bill, Bob. and Ruby Ann(Rhode). Bill was bom October 8, 1928, grew up attended school in lone and graduating in 1947. He worked on the family farm until he was dratted in the Army in 1953, his training was done at Fort Lewis in Washington and also Camp Roberts in California. After finishing his Army duty he returned home to work on the family farm. On September 18, 1955 he married M a rily n H u rst o f Arlington and honeym ooned at Disneyland. They had three children Mark, Brian, and G regg. M ark is married to Tami (A nderson) and have two daugh ters Shelley and Shanna. Brian is married to Sharon (Crowell) and they have four boys and one daughter. Gregg is married to Shel ley (Turner) and they have two boys and one daughter. Bill worked on the family farm for 48 years. He and Marilyn were very active in the lone Community, sup porting school and church activities. Bill continues to be involved after Marilyn passed away. Pioneer Memorial Clinic in Heppner and Irrigon Medical Clinic w ill both be closed on Friday, July 3, for the July Fourth holiday. Pioneer Memorial Hospital’s Labo Bill served on the ratory and Radiology Departments will also be closed for non-emergent services. lone City Council for 32 years, when he retired from that job he was on the board o f the lone Fire Depart ment for 20 years. He is a life member of the Oregon Wheat League. Heppner Elks 358, lone Commu . ..ir— nity Church and the South Morrow Scholarship Trust Board. He and Marilyn traveled to Germany. Wash ington D.C., Disneyland several times, and to St. Louis. Every community should be so fortunate to have a Bill Rietmann and family in their community. Bill is supportive to grand Cam Day puts out his rival durine a recent game between the two Heppner Babe Ruth teams. children, lone Schools. lone Photo by Sandy Matthews Community Church, and any project that needs to be done in a caring and loving community. The parade w ill begin at 1 p.m. on July 4,h A ll M C G G store s and facilities on Main Street. Babe Ruth season winding down We will be closed July 3 & 4 HAVE A JAFE & HAPPY 4TH OF JULY! ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE: MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M. Morrow County Grain Growers Lexington 9 8 9 -8 2 2 1 * 1 -8 0 0 -4 5 2 -7 3 9 6 For t»rm rquIpniriH visit our web «It* »immmre* Dot I, ? - t V
