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N ew sp aper L.brarv
II.
By April Sykes
The Morrow Coun
ty Health District Board, at
their Monday night meeting
in Boardman, awarded a bid
to install new tile flooring
in seven hospital rooms
at Pioneer Memorial Hos
pital in Heppner to local
flooring businessman Tim
Universits of ürçgon
Eugene. ÓR 97403
VOL. 129
NO. 10
8 Pages
Health district awards flooring bid
Wednesday, March 10,2010
Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon
28th Annual Wee Bit O’lreland Schedule of Events
Thursday, March 11,2010
*5:30 p.m.: Donkey Basketball Game between Heppner and Pilot Rock FFA - Heppner Elementary Gym. Pre
sale tickets $8 (adult) $6 (6,h- 12th grade) $4 (K-5th grade); tickets available at the door $9, $7, $5. Half-time
activities and Alumni Dessert Auction. Sponsored by Heppner FFA. 541-676-9138 x2542.
*7:30 p.m.: “Ireland in Story, Song and Humor" Variety Program - St. Patrick’s Catholic Parish Hall, 560 NW
Jones. Variety Program written by Father O’Condon, with original music by Joe Lindsay.
Friday, March 12, 2010
*9 a.m.-5 p.m.: Friends o f the Library Annual Book Sale to benefit the Heppner Library - at City Hall
* 10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Oregon Trail Library District/Heppner Branch: 12-1 p.m.: Exchange Students Nuria Zellweger
from Switzerland and Laurien Staal from The Netherlands; 2 p.m. - Movie “Jumanji” with Robin Williams
will be shown.
* 10 a.m.-6 p.m.: Morrow County Creative Arts & Crafts show at Les Schwab Tire Center.
*10 a.m.-6 p.m.:“Wee Bit O ’ Western Fine Art Photography" by Denise Smith & Celia Moyer at City Park.
‘ Vendor’s Square: crafts, food and other treasures from local and visiting vendors all day Friday, Saturday
and Sunday at Neighborhood Center on Main Street across from the Library/Museum/City Park. Contact:
541-676-5024.
*1-5 p.m.: Morrow County Heritage and Agricultural Museums
*4 p.m.: Alumni Softball Game at Bob Kilkenny Field, contact Petra Payne 676-9138.
*5 p.m.: Willow Creek Park District dedication o f “Turner Day Park" at Willow Creek Reservoir
*5-7 p.m.: Mrs. O ’Leary’s Stew Feed - at St. Patrick’s Senior Center, 190 N. Main Street, prepared by the
Heppner United Methodist Church members
*6:30 p.m.: Shuttle bus to Irish Boxing Smoker event. Meet at sign in front o f Heppner Family Foods
*8 p.m.: Irish Boxing Smoker Event will be held at Heppner High School Gymnasium; sponsored by Heppner
Chamber of Commerce/UROCK Radio. Gates open at 7 p.m.. Admission - $10 (Adult-12 years o f age); $5
(11-8 years o f age) 7-under free. For information call Chamber office at 541-676-5536.
Drawing for $100
Pot O’Gold.
‘ Outside Food Vendors (pick up map and hours for local food merchants):
9 a.m. Fri-Sun: Lind’s Concession: Featuring com dogs, elephant ears, funnel cakes, nachos, beer battered onion
rings, cotton candy, caramel apples. Located in parking lot of Heppner Family Foods on Main Street
10 a.m. Fri-Sat: Rolling Thunder BBQ: Featuring barbecue sandwiches (tri-tip; cabbage and corned beef; pulled
pork, pulled chicken; BBQ nachos). Set up next to Heppner Family Foods on Willow Street.
11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat: Kessler’s Catering O ’BBQ: Chicken & Ribs at the City Park on Main Street
Saturday, March 13, 2010
‘ Daylight to dark: Sheep Dog Trials will be held at Thompson’s Ranch, 3 miles northwest of Heppner on Bunker
Hill Rd. offHwy. 74, between mileposts 41 & 42
*7-10 a.m.: HES Parents for Parents O ’Breakfast at St. Patrick’s Senior Center; $6-adult $3-12 & under.
•All day: Vendor’s Square at the Neighborhood Center across the street from Library/Museum/City Park
•All day: Cornerstone Gallery: Rock & Gem Collection Display (over 50 unique rocks and gems)
*8 a.m.-6 p.m.: “Wee Bit O ’ Western Fine Art Photography" by Denise Smith & Celia Moyer at City Park.
*8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.: Morrow County Creative Arts & Crafts show and sale at Les Schwab Tire Center.
*9 a.m.: St. Paddy’s Arena Cross (Sign up from 7-8:30 a.m.). Sponsored by Morrow County Fair & ClearView
Auto Glass. $5 admission. Ages 5 and under are free. Contact JefTBotefuhr @541-314-2876.
*9 a.m.-3 p.m.: Kissing of Heppner’s Blarney Stone: Job DeJong/Zech Hintz,"Leprechaun In Charge"
*9:30 a.m.: 5K Run/Walk in memory o f Donna Schonbachler: Meet at United Methodist Church; coffee @8:30
a.m..
*10 a.m.: Iron Man Bike Ride: Meet at Shamrock on Main Street
*10 a.m.: KUMA Coffee Hour upstairs at the Elks Club. Come hear music, stories and blarney. Enter the Irish
Brogue Contest and win cash prizes. 9 Drawing for $100 Pot O ’Gold.
*11 a.m.-3 p.m.: Oregon Trail Library District/Heppner Branch
*10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Live Mannequin Show by HHS Drama Club in window of Sweet Productions Ice Cream
Parlour
*11 a.m. Columbia Basin Mounted S h o oterstlub at Morrow County Fairgrounds - Wilkinson Arena - 11-12
shooting demo; open from 8-4. Contact: 541-571-1153.
*9 a.m.-3 p.m.: Friends of the Library: Annual book sale to benefit the Heppner Library - City Hall.
*10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Morrow County Heritage and Agricultural Museums
*11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.: O ’Senior Center Lunch: Have a taste of homemade Irish soup/rolls, cobbler, ice cream/
coffee for $6 A dult; 12 & under $3. Catered by Dino’s Delectable Catering Services.
* 11 a.m.: “Throw The Welly": Come test your skill at this new activity. Held on Willow Street (between Mur
ray’s & Artisan Village) Ages Kindergarten-Adult welcome to participate.
* 11:30 a.m.: Leprechaun Run for grades K-6; meet at 11:15 a.m. at the steps of the library/museum
*12 p.m.: St. Paddy’s Cruz-In Parade downtown Main Street. The Antique and Classic Cars will be on display
immediately following the parade in the Forest Service Parking Lot (May and Main Streets).
*1 p.m.: The Great Green Parade downtown Main Street with Royal Condon Highland Guard Pipes and
Drums
•Immediately Following Parade: O'Kiddie Tricycle Races for 2-5 year olds. Event to take place at BEO drive
through. Tricycles will be provided. The event is sponsored by the Heppner Daycare & Preschool.
*2 p.m.: Stuart Dick will be at City Hall - Book signing and presentation on Morrow County and Mattieson
School House
*2-4 p.m.: Ceili upstairs at the Elks. Irish entertainment featuring John Doherty & the Irish Singers and more
*2 p.m.: Ewe-Do-Bingo - Live sheep activity - between BEO/AmeriTitle. Sponsored by the cheerleaders.
*3 p.m.: O ’Ducky Race - starts at the bridge in front of the Morrow County Courthouse. Adopt a duck to win
a prize o f $10 to $100. Sponsored by Colt Football Program
*3 & 5 p.m.: Stable of Youth/Shamrock Lanes will have Irish Sweepstakes/Mixed Doubles No-Tap Bowling
Tourney
*4-7 p.m.: St. Pat's Ham Dinner & Homemade Pies at St. Patrick’s Catholic Parish Hall, 560 NW Jones Street
Live musical entertainment on stage. Irish of course. $9 Adult; $5 4-12 years of age; 3 and under free
*6-9 p.m.: Elks Irish Buffet Dinner-Corn Beef & Cabbage with live music.
*8-11 p.m.: Teen Disco Club Night for ages 14-19 years. Music, dancing, snack & specialty drink menu - $2
charge Location: Sweet Productions Ice Cream Parlour & Diner.
*6:30 p.m.: Entertainment with “Old Time Fiddlers Show-at the Fairgrounds Dance Hall. No admission charge,
funded by the Morrow County Unified Recreation District. Stomp your feet and clap your hands to some good
old fiddle music.
*7-9:30 p.m.: Entertainment “Tiller’s Folly with intermission by “Brenda Sue" at Heppne^Elementary Gymna
sium. No admission charge, funded by the Morrow County Unified Recreation District » Drawing for $100
Pot O ’Gold.
*9 p.m.-2 a.m.: Wee Hours O' The Momin' Breakfast at the Fireball; sponsored by HHS Boys Baseball Team
Sunday, March 14, 2010
•All Day: Vendor's Square at the Neighborhood Center across from Library/Museum/City Park
•All Day: Sheep Dog Trials at Thompson's Ranch See Saturday for location
•Visit Local Churches: Attend the church o f your choice - All Visitor's Welcome
*1:30 p.m. Road Bowling at Balm Fork Road. Get your team of up to four people ready to play Meet at I
p.m.
For More Information visit www.heppncrchamber.com or call 541-676-5536.
Hedman.
Hedman, H epp
ner, submitted the low bid
at $9,545. Carpet One in
LaGrande bid $11,524 and
Carpet One in Richland bid
$11,935.
MCHD CEO Mi
chael Blauer said at the
meeting that provider staff
ing at the Irrigon Clinic was
going smoothly following
the resignation of a nurse
practitioner in January, with
Dr. Ken Wenberg stepping
in to cover office hours, in
addition to Dr. Ed Berretta,
Dr. Betsy Anderson and
Dr. Russ Nichols. Blauer
said that the district will
continue to search for a
permanent provider for the
Irrigon Clinic and added
that the position has gener
ated a lot more interest than
when advertised earlier. He
said that he had spoken with
a physician’s assistant from
Hermiston who may be in
terested in the position.
Blauer told the
board that a strategic plan
ning session, which will
include board members, ad
ministration, providers and
department heads at various
times throughout the day,
has been planned for Tues
day, March 9, beginning at
11:45 a.m. at the St. Patrick
Catholic Parish Hall.
In other business,
the board:
-heard a report
from Blauer on a proposed
community health outreach
program. Blauer said that
the big obstacle would be
getting seed money for
the project. “I’m confident
that we will get this one
way or another,” he said,
adding that the district has
applied for a grant and he
is researching additional
funding avenues. He said he
is hoping the project could
be done as a team, perhaps
with Columbia River Com
munity Health Services in
Boardman. Andrea Fletcher
is the projected coordinator
for the project.
- le a r n e d from
Blauer that he has been in
contact with Dr. Hanlon
concerning offering cardi
ology services at Pioneer
Memorial Hospital once
again. Blauer said he also
spoke with a cardiologist
in The Dalles.
- le a r n e d from
Blauer that a “surprise vis
it” at PMH from OSHA
went very w ell and the
OSHA representative was
very complementary o f the
hospital.
-learned that work
is underway on the bath
rooms and they are expected
to be up and running within
the next couple weeks.
-learned that Blauer
is still researching programs
and other requirements for
eventually employing elec
tronic health records at the
hospital and clinics. He said
he plans to schedule on-site
visits at other facilities to
further research the issue.
-learned that the
district had $545,869 in
gross patient revenue for
January; had $22,842 in
total revenue deductions;
received $95,521 in tax
revenue and $1,941 in oth
er operating revenue for
$620,488 in total operating
revenue; had $635,634 in
total operating expenses
with a $15,146 loss from
operations and a $11,732
non-operating gain for a
$3,413 loss for the month.
The district had a $6,230
average monthly year-to-
date gain.
-received the fol
lowing report: Pioneer Me
morial Hospital had four
admissions in January, three
swing-bed admissions, 16
admitted for observation,
425 total outpatients, 64
total emergency room en
counters, 1424 lab tests,
117 x-ray procedures, 24
CT scans, 29 EKG tests,
one treadmill procedure, six
colonoscopy procedures,
one endoscopy procedure,
one colon/endoscopy proce
dure, 49 respiratory therapy
procedures; Pioneer Memo
rial Clinic had 424 patient
visits with 31 new patients,
43 seen by a nurse and 10
no-shows; Irrigon Medical
Clinic had 169 patient visits
with 16 new patients, 33
seen by a nurse and nine
no-shows; Heppner Ambu
lance had 21 page-outs with
20 transports for $ 16,025 in
revenue; Boardman Ambu
lance had 27 page-outs with
12 transports for $ 10,619 in
revenue; Irrigon Ambulance
had 24 page-outs with 11
transports for $8,158 in rev
enue; Home Health had 126
patient visits; Hospice had
two admissions; pharmacy
had 989 drug doses for
$53,776 in revenue.
City of Heppner prepares for
St. Patrick’s Day Celebration
warn
lit
Robert Whalen of the City of Heppner works on refreshing
the paint on the shamrock in the center of town. -Photo bv
David Sykes
Farewell party to be held for Ballard
A going away party for Morrow County District Attorney Elizabeth Ballard
will be held on Thursday, March 11, from 3-5 p.m. at the courthouse. Ballard’s last
day will be Friday, March 12.
Area pastors invited to submit Easter messages
Easter will be celebrated April 4 this year. Area pastors are invited to submit
their Easter messages to be published in the March 31 edition of the Heppner Gazette-
Times.
The deadline to submit articles is Friday, March 26. Messages can be emailed
to editor@rapidserve.net, faxed to 541-676-9211, or dropped off at the office.
Daylight Saving Time to begin Sunday
Daylight Saving Time begins Sunday, March 14. Don’t forget to turn your
clocks forw ard one hour.
N O A A issues monthly climate summary for Heppner
According to pre
liminary data received by
NOAA’s National Weather
Service in Pendleton, tem
peratures in Heppner aver
aged warmer than normal
during the month o f Febru
ary.
The average tem
perature was 41.3 degrees
w hich was 3.1 degrees
above normal. High tem
peratures averaged 50.3
degrees, which was 3.2
degrees above normal. The
highest was 58 degrees on
the 28th. Low tempera
tures averaged 32.4 de
grees, which was 3.0 de
grees above normal. The
lowest was 22 degrees, on
the 21st.
There were 13 days
with the low temperature
below 32 degrees.
Precipitation to
taled 0.39 inches during
February, which was 0.84
inches below normal. Mea
surable precipitation -at
least .01 inch- was receiv ed
on 10 days with the heavi
est, 0.11 inches reported on
the 5th.
Precipitation this
year has reached 2.42 inch
es, which is 0.27 inches be
low normal. Since October,
the water year precipitation
at Heppner has been 5.56
inches, which is 0.92 inches
below normal.
The outlook for
March from NOAA’s Cli
mate Prediction Center
calls for above normal tem
peratures and near to be
low normal precipitation.
Normal highs for Heppner
during March are 54.3 de
grees and normal lows are
33.6 degrees. The 30 year
normal precipitation is 1.60
inches.
The Nat i onal
Weather Service is an office
of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administra
tion, an agency o f the U.S.
Commerce Department.
GREEN FEED & SEED IN H EPPN ER :
WINTER CLEARANCE Spring is coming!
Nursery Stock
SALE 30% OFF
• Electric Heaters
•Insulated Coveralls
Afc 'Coats
»Pack &oots
•Stock lank PeiCers
Now Arriving
Wrangler Sale
13m w z
Ordinal Cowboy
Cut jeans on $3|e
A k * Pansies H
'Primroses
•Soil Amenities
H «Rototiller &
Thatcher rentals
*
$1999
All other wrangler
apparel 15% off
M orrow County Grain Growers Green F eed & S eed
242 W . L in d e n W a y , H e p p n e r • 6 7 6 -9 4 2 2 • 9 8 9 -8 2 2 1 (M CG G main office)
I