Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 29, 2012)
SIX - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, August 29,2012 IONE SCHOOL DISTRICT -Continuedfrom PAGE ONE were from the Lexington area. Also at the meeting, the board: -learned from Archer that the extra-duty sala ry schedule has been re vamped, so that high school varsity coaches are all being paid the same amount per sport-$3,752. Mulvihill said that normally the extra-duty salary schedule is achieved through collective bargain ing, but the teachers re quested that administration complete it this year. Mul vihill also said that he did not believe that some extra duty assignments should be funded at the same level, such as football and tennis, but added that there was agreement from the staff. -learned that swimming pool attendance was “great" despite the pool heating system being on the fritz. The district did not charge pool admission because of the lack of a heating system. The solar company, Live- light, which was to install solar panels to heat the pool has gone bankrupt, leaving the district with no recourse for reimbursement, said Mulvihill. Mulvihill said that “ IMESD should not have paid half the cost of the project up-front” and said that IMESD would pay any legal fees incurred up to that point. He said that he did not recommended pursuing a lawsuit against the company any further because they have no assets to recover. “ This is one o f the times you have to cut your losses and move forward,” he said. “We did our due diligence.” The district is sched uled to pick up a propane heater, which they hope to have installed and working by May of next year. Pool management and staff were credited with the increase in pool attendance, along with consistent hours— noon to 7 p.m. seven days a week. The hot summer was another factor in the pool’s success. “We only have to heat the pool two, three de grees,” said Archer. “The tem perature worked out really well.” The board also learned that gate receipts are nor mally less than $3,000 per season. -learned that the new high school weight room has been painted and car peted and the weights were scheduled to be moved in. Archer reported that Ash ley McCabe has said that the Rietm ann Building, which previously housed the weight room, is now completely empty. Archer advised that the Rietmann B uilding has been pur chased. Anne Morter ex pressed concern that anoth er year has passed without a working weight room, especially for the benefit of the football players. So far the new weight room can not accommodate members of the community because o f oversight and liability issues. -received the following financial update: the general fund collected $250,582 for two months of basic school support, $1,679 in prop erty taxes and $6,502 from the Common School fund; Oregon Department of Edu cation updated the basic school support estim ates which is $18,000 less than the estimate dated May 3 due to a reduction in the 2011-12 weighted average daily membership. -scheduled a board re treat for Tuesday, Septem ber 25, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. at the lone Community Church, with a work session to be held from 2:30-4:30 p.m. at the school; and the regular meeting to begin at 4:30. Some items to be discussed include: board goals, the charter, the Eastern Prom ise, pre-kindergarten and sustainability. FSA provides assistance to livestock producers Morrow County USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director Kyle Camine announced Mon day that special provisions will be made to the FSA emergency loan program and to the Risk Manage ment Agency (RMA) fed eral crop insurance program in order to provide greater flexibility for livestock pro ducers facing forage and feed shortages as a result of drought. On August 22, Secre tary o f A griculture Tom V ilsack announced that modifications will be made to the emergency loan pro gram, allowing them to be made earlier in the season. In the past, emergency loan eligibility was determined after the production cycle. -Continuedfrom PAGE ONE a seat on the board, which appears to be financially unlikely for the district, or signing a contract with the CCO would be beneficial to the district. “There are concerns as to whether it’s going to fly,” said Blauer. “There are some concerns that the rates (reimbursement amounts to health care facilities) are too low. “We’re in contact with ODS about what our con tract would look like,” said Blauer. “We don’t have to sign the thing, but it may be to our advantage to do so.” -approved the creden- tialing file for Dr. Russ Nichols. -learned from Mahoney that the district has received permission from USDA to purchase another am bu lance. -heard from Blauer and Director of Nursing Ser vices Molly Rhea that a state survey for a Level 4 Trauma Center designation, an important designation, was conducted at Pioneer Memorial Hospital on Au gust 27. Blauer reported that the survey went well overall; however, the state outlined several areas that they deemed needed im provement. -receiv ed a request from board member Leann Rea to hold future MCHD meetings scheduled in Lex ington at the new Lexington Fire Station. -heard from Rhea that the hospital and emergency room have been busy. -learned from Mahoney that the district is expecting a sizeable reimbursement, in the neighborhood o f $200,000, from Medicare. -received the follow ing profit/loss statement for July: the district re ceived $643,181 in gross patient revenue, less $9,256 Morrow County USDA Farm S erv ice A gency (FSA) Executive D irec tor Kyle Camine, reminds producers that they have until Tuesday, Sept. 4, to purchase coverage through the Noninsurable Crop Di saster Assistance Program (NAP). The sales closing date is actually Sept. 1, but producers have until Tues day, Sept. 4, to purchase for bad debts and $45,777 coverage this year because for contractual (Medicare/ Sept. 1 falls on a weekend M edicaid) and other ad and the following Monday justm ents for $55,034 in is a holiday. NAP provides financial total revenue deductions assistance to producers of and a net patient revenue noninsurable crops when o f $588,146; $99,405 in low yields, loss of inventory tax revenue and $9,595 in or prevented planting occur other operating revenue for due to normal disasters. $697,147 in total operat “Purchasing a crop in ing revenue, $697,027 in surance policy is an easy total operating expenses for an $18,119 gain from way for producers to miti- operations, plus $35,4T 2r8ate risk-” said Carnine. in an non-operating gain ----------------------------------- for a total $53,532 profit ---------- ----------------------- for the month. She said the finances were “definitely .......... on target,” with revenue The M orrow around $55,000 over the County Sheriff’s Office previous year. -received the follow reports handling the fol ing report for July: Pio lowing business: neer Memorial Clinic had June 13 (cont.): -BPD 423 patient visits, with 28 received a call from a man new patients, 36 seen by who reported there was a nurse and 12 no-shows; something under his house. Irrigon Medical Clinic had Deputy responded; it was 174 patient visits, with 21 a cat. new patients, 40 seen by -BPD issued a citation a nurse and six no-shows; to a 21-year-old male for Heppner Ambulance had driving uninsured and il 37 total page-outs with 28 legal window tint. transports for $36,240 in June 18: -MCSO re revenue; Boardman Ambu ceived a call from a report lance had 43 page-outs with ing person in Irrigon who 28 transports for $38,210 said he was threatened by in revenue; Irrigon Ambu a subject with a weapon. lance had 36 page-outs with Female subject was threat 19 transports for $23,329 ened; suspect was gone at in revenue; Pioneer Me that time. Hotel manager morial Hospital had three made the call. Robert Ver- admissions, two swing bed duzsco, 23, was arrested admissions, five admitted on an Irrigon Justice Court for observation, 514 total warrant for failure to pay outpatients, 81 emergency fine on angling license, with room encounters, 1,528 other charges. lab tests, 109 x-ray proce -A woman in Irrigon dures, 23 CT scans, 23 EKG reported to MCSO that tests, two colonoscopy pro she had a mother and baby cedures, six endoscopy skunk living under her procedures, 16 respiratory house. Deputy will be look therapy procedures; Home ing into contacts for getting Health had 96 patient visits; rid of the skunks. Hospice had two admis -Stefani Marie Work sions; Pharmacy had 1,052 man, 29, was cited for vio drug doses for $80,198 in lating the basic rule 76/55. drug revenue; PMH had -MCSO cited Andrew $37,947 in revenue for Dale Baker, 25, for defec hospital encounters. tive equipment. -Vasily M. Doroshchuk, 82, was issued a citation by Sheriff’s Report Archery season now open The Oregon D epart ment of Fish and Wildlife has announced that archery season for deer and elk opened last Saturday, Aug. 25, in the Heppner and Fos sil units. Hunters are reminded that the elk bag limit is one bull in the Heppner unit. Elk are well distributed across the forest. While our forest lands are dry, there has been enough rain with the thunder storms to keep some grass green. For best chance of suc cess, seek elk on north facing slopes that have green grass and good shel ter cover with water sources nearby. The Heppner unit is becom ing in creasin g ly crowded, especially in the Four Comers area. For deer, Heppner and Fossil unit hunters are re minded that the bag limit is buck only. Deer are well distributed across the forest. For best chance of success, look for bucks in areas that have good shrubs and grasses with dense cover nearby. should consult with their insurance agent, according to RMA. “A dding more flex ibility to current program requirem ents will make much-needed assistance m ore readily av ailab le to producers affected by d isaster,” said Carnine. “These changes, in particu lar, should benefit livestock producers who are facing higher feed costs or are at risk of liquidating their herd due to the drought,” she said. For more information regarding special provi sions to the emergency loan program, contact the Mor row County FSA office at 541 -676-9011 or visit www. fsa.usda.gov. Closing date for noninsurable crops approaches HEALTH DISTRICT would increase survival chances for heart attack victims by sending critical information to specialists via cell phones or other electronic devices even before the patient reaches a hospital. The foundation granted the district half o f the $50,000 request. The district had earlier pledged $ 15,000 toward the purchase if Turner’s granf funding was approved. -learned from Blauer that GOBH1 and ODS have received approval to be come the Coordinated Care Organizations for Eastern Oregon. Medicaid patients’ care, from doctor and hos pital visits to psychological and dental care, would be managed through CCOs, as a way to save money by allotting the M edic aid patients a set amount, regardless o f how much or how little care they re ceive. Blauer reported that Family Care (the Oregon M edicaid program ) has dropped its application to become the CCO. Blauer said that larger hospitals have put up considerable amounts of money, in effect to have a seat on the CCO board which has yet to be formed. “Smaller hospitals have been invited to put money in, but I don’t think we’re going to do that,” he said. It was estimated that the recommended five per cent buy-in percentage that would enable MCHD to opt in would end up being in the neighborhood of $350,000, which would be prohibitive for such a small district. He said that the smaller hospi tals are hoping to eventu ally have one seat on the board (combined). Blauer estimates that the board would consist o f at least 15 members. It has not yet been determined whether Producers will no longer have to wait until the end of the production cycle to obtain a loan. This change will support producers who currently need assistance to help offset high production costs. Vilsack also announced that a special provision will be made to the fed eral crop insurance program through RMA that will allow producers to hay or graze cover crops without forfeiting crop insurance eligibility on planted 2013 spring crops. This change is beneficial to livestock producers, making forage and feed available this fall and winter. However, be fore making any plans to plant crop cover, producers “The past few years have shown that natural disas ters can severely impact an otherwise successful opera tion,” she said. The following crops have a NAP application closing date o f Sept. 1, 2012: all small grains (rye and triticale), beets, broc coli, cabbage, cauliflower, garlic, sod grass, greens, herbs, lettuce, radishes, strawberries and turnips. In order to meet eli gibility requirements for NAP, crops must be non insurable, commercially- produced agricultural com modity crops for which the catastrophic risk protec tion level o f crop insur ance is not available. If the Risk Management Agency (RMA) offers coverage for a crop in the county, then NAP coverage is not avail MCSO for no ops. -BPD received a call from a reporting person who said he was hit by a car and the subjects took off running. Deputies, of ficer, UPD and ambulance responded. Saul Salas, 23, was arrested for assault II and menacing. A warrant was placed on Robert Ver dusco, 23, for assault II, menacing, and hit and run with property damage. June 19: -MCSO was advised that Nolan Brice Brock, 52, was arrested by Hermiston PD on LSA warrant for probation viola tion and an Irrigon Justice Court warrant for failure to appear on driving while suspended. Subject was lodged at Umatilla County Jail on multiple warrants from other agencies. -MCSO arrested Joseph Lee Newby on a Umatilla Circuit Court warrant for failure to appear on DUII. -MCSO arrested Jaime L Booker, 20, on an Irri gon Justice Court warrant for failure to appear on possession of a controlled substance - marijuana. -MCSO issued a cita tion to Giles Larsen Ellett, 20, for unlawful use o f a cell phone in a vehicle. -MCSO was advised that SPB arrested Emest Erickson, 19, for probation violation. Ju n e 20: -MCSO re ceived a call from a woman in Heppner who reported she able for that crop. In the event of a natural disaster, NAP covers the amount of loss greater than 50 percent of the expected production based on the approved yield and reported acreage. Eligible producers can apply for coverage using form CCC-471, Application for Coverage. Producers must file the application and service fee by the Sept. 1 deadline. The service fee is the lesser of $250 per crop or $750 per producer per administrative county, not to exceed a total of $1,875 for a producer with farm ing interests in multiple counties. For more information on sales closing dates and NAP, contact the Morrow County FSA office at 541- 676-9011. had multiple items missing from her residence; thefts occurred some time it the past two weeks on separate occasions. Items included prescription medications, a large change jar with $200- 300 and a 30-case of beer. -MCSO arrested Rob ert Edward Flannagan, 37, on a U.S. Marshall service warrant for theft o f U.S. government property. -MCSO arrested Toby Dale Rodriguez, 41, on a Umatilla County Circuit Court warrant for failure to appear on aggravated theft I. -MCSO was advised that Hermiston PD arrested a 26-year-old male subject on a Morrow County Circuit Court warrant for failure to appear on strangulation. -A woman in Lexing ton reported to MCSO that prescription drugs had been stolen from her residence. Theft happened in the last four or five days; pills were the only thing taken. -MCSO received a call from a man in Irrigon who said a female was driving driving down Hwy. 730 and had to slam on her brakes due to a baby in the road. Female took the baby to a residence and to an adult and then left. -MCSO was advised Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 29-year- old m ale on a M orrow County Local Supervisory -Continued on PAGE EIGH T TH E H EPP N E R G A Z E T T E -T IM E S WILL BE CLO SED M ONDAY, S E P T E M B E R 3 FO R LABO R DAY. Deadline f o r th e S ep tem ber 5 th paper will be Friday A u g u s t- 3 1 a t 5 :0 0 p.m. H A VE A S A F E & H A P P Y LABO R D A Y W EEKEND! I
