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