Mustangs continue to
leap ahead in standings
Bessie Wetzell New spaper Library
University o f Oregon
Eugene. OR 97403
5(K
Mustang #28 Brian Kill escapes a tackle attempt by the Outlaws last Friday in Heppner.
Mustang football is now 4-0 overall and ranked fifth among 2A teams in the state. See this and
other sports stories on PAGE FOUR. - Photo by Sandy Matthews
Heppner sees record
wet for September
VOL. 132
NO. 39
10 Pages
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
According
to
preliminary data received by
NOAA's National Weather
Service in Pendleton, OR.
Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon
Heppner hasn't seen this
much rain in a September
since 1927; with a total of
2.37 inches, 1.81 inches
above normal, September
o f 2013 was the second-
w e tte s t S e p te m b e r on
record. The area received
2.55 inches in September
o f 1927.
M e a s u r a b l e
particular option is called
precipitation
o f at least .01
“Moda Home.”
inch
was
received
on 13
“ We are c o n c e rn e d
days
with
the
heaviest,
0.38
that Moda Health did not
inches,
reported
on
the
3rd.
c o m m u n ic a te w ith us
D
e
s
p
ite
th
e
r
a
in ,
directly regarding this new
option for the school district
employees,” said Grigg. He
said, however, that a second
o p tio n , an in -n e tw o rk
plan, does include MCHD
clinics, and a third option
w as for o u t-o f-n e tw o rk
By David Sykes
providers.
Casey Beard o f Blue
G rig g said th a t the
M
o
u
n ta in C o m m u n ity
health d istrict has since
College
was the featured
been in contact with the
sp
e
a
k
e
r
at last w e e k ’s
school district and “they
H
e
p
p
n
e
r
C ham ber of
h a v e a s s u r e d us th a t
C
om
m
erce.
B eard, who
com m unication has gone
now
w
orks
for BM C C ,
out to m ake sure th e ir
employees know that we explained the upcom ing
are still an option for them.” election, when voters will
He said the district plans be asked to approve a $28
-See HEALTH DISTRICT million bond levy to finance
UPDATE/PAGE FIVE to facilities and upgrades
for BMCC.
If approved by voters,
the bond levy will replace
B M C C ’s c u rre n t bo n d ,
which expires in June 2014,
at the same tax rate ($0.31
per $1,000). The new levy
will raise approxim ately
$28.1 m illion to support
c o n s tr u c ti o n f o r n ew
workforce training programs
in Boardman, Herm iston
and Pendleton, as well as
New physician expected
in March; health district
receives good audit report
By A pril Sykes
M o rro w C o u n ty
Health District CEO Dan
G rigg to ld the board at
their regular m eeting in
Boardman Monday night
that Dr. Dan Hambleton has
received his Oregon license
and the district anticipates
him com ing to H eppner
around March, which would
give him sufficient time to
relocate. He said that they
are m oving forward with
the credentialing process.
G rig g also to ld the
board that he is working
on b rin g in g a group o f
o rth o p e d ic su rg eo n s to
Heppner one to two days
a month.
“ I ’m e x c ite d a b o u t
e x te n d in g the se rv ic e s
offered to patients in the
so u th p a rt o f M o rro w
C o u n t y ,” c o m m e n te d
Grigg.
The board approved
a three-year contract for
John Adair, a physician’s
assistant who works at the
Irrigon Medical Clinic, and
a six-month contract for Dr.
Ed Berretta, who works for
the district on a part-time
basis.
A lso at the m eeting,
Grigg voiced concern that
one o f the Morrow County
School District insurance
plans through Moda Health
requires that school district
employees use a clinic that
is certified as a “Patient
C e n te re d P rim ary C are
Home.” This option would
leave the health district out
in the cold, considering
th a t th e o n ly P C PC H
clinic in Morrow County
is Columbia River Health
Services in Boardman. This
tem peratures at Heppner
also averaged warmer than
normal during the month of
September.
The
average
te m p e ra tu re w as 6 4 .6
degrees, which was three
degrees above normal. High
temperatures averaged 78.2
d eg rees, w hich was 1.6
degrees above normal. The
highest was 92 degrees on
the 16th. Low temperatures
averaged 51 degrees, which
w as 4.4 d e g re e s above
normal. The lowest was 41
degrees, on the 27lh.
O n fiv e d a y s , th e
tem perature exceeded 90
degrees.
Hie outlook for October
from N O A A ’s C lim a te
Prediction Center calls for
near-normal tem peratures
and near- to above-normal
precipitation. Normal highs
for Heppner fall from 71
d e g re e s at th e s ta rt of
October to 58 degrees at
the end o f October. Normal
lows fall from 42 degrees
to 35 degrees. The 30-year
normal precipitation is 1.14
inches.
T h e N W S is a n
o ffic e o f th e N a tio n a l
Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, an agency
o f the U .S . C o m m erce
Department.
Beard explains BMCC
budget levy to chamber
G-T Trophy Corner
Casey Beard of BMCC spoke to the Heppner Chamber of
-See BEARD AT CHAMBER/ Commerce last week about the upcoming bond levy. -Photo
PA GE EIGHT by David Sykes
lone board talks school
safety, video surveillance
By April Sykes
lone C o m m u n ity
S chool P rin cip al S arah
Crane-Simpson, at the Sept.
24 regular board meeting,
reported that the school
“had a great startup” and
now has 203 students.
The board is in the
p ro c e s s o f e v a l u a t i n g
safety procedures at the
school, including video
Twelve-year-old Sabashtian Futter of Heppner shot his first buck with his first shot on the first
su rv e illa n c e , re -k e y in g
day of hunting season. Sabashtian bagged his 2 l 1 buck while hunting with uncle Jim Healy
school
doors and locking
under the Mentored Youth Hunter Program. -Contributedphoto
e x te rn al and classroom
doors.
“ I f y o u can s l o w
something down, you have
a c h a n c e ,” com m ented
board member Anne Morter
concerning recent school
shootings. “ It can happen
anywhere.”
While the most obvious
reason for installing video
and t aki ng other safety
measures, such as locking
and rekeying doors, is to
The Heppner Gazette-Times wants to see pic
tures o f your trophy animals from this hunting
season. Stop by to have your picture taken,
drop off photos, mail them to PO Box 337 in
Heppner, email them to editor@rapidserve.
net or text cell phone photos to 541-980-6674.
V
\
\
avoid a school tragedy,
“ M o r e c o m m o n is a
custody issue.” commented
Superin te nd ent Mark
M ulvihill. This would be
an instance where a parent
is not allowed access to his
or her children.
“ W hat’s perceived as
‘big brother’ doesn't have
to b e,” Mulvihill added.
The board discussed other
-See ¡ONE TALKS SCHOOL
SAFETY/PAGE SIX