Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, October 29, 2014
VETS HONORED
-Continuedfrom PAGE ONE
but, “Don’t worry,’ they
said,”
A1 Riney also was low
er on the list, but due to
cancellation and schedul
ing conflicts, both veterans
found themselves in the
final list of 25 Eastern Or
egon vets for the September
flight.
Krebs, Riney and Reid
and their “guardians” be
gan their journey on Sept.
17 when they arrived in
Portland and were greeted
with a welcome party at the
Shiloh Inn that night. The
group of 50 veterans plus
guardians—25 veterans
from Western Oregon and
25 from Eastern Oregon—
left early the next morning
on their flight to D.C.
The veterans knew they
would be visiting the World
War II memorial and other
monuments in D.C. What
they were not prepared for
was the adulation that greet
ed them at every turn, from
the party in Portland and
down every concourse and
runway during the trip. The
veterans seemed stunned
and were very emotional at
the greeting they received
in Denver, Chicago, Wash
ington D.C., and upon their
return to Portland. This very
“private” generation was in
awe when airport terminals,
tourists and employees took
the time to thank them for
their service and shake their
hands.
“On the concourse in
the restaurants, in the ho
tels, in the monuments,
people com ing up and
thanking them for their
service,” said Linda Riney.
“People would be lining the
concourse, clapping, salut
ing them, thanking them for
their service. You couldn't
get off that plane without
shedding tears.”
For many of the vet
erans, it was the first time
in 70 years they had heard
“Thank you for helping to
keep America free.”
Their first full day in
D.C., veterans were treated
to a reception at the Capi
tol, where Oregon State
senators and representatives
greeted them and spoke of
their military service with
appreciation and gratitude.
After their time at the Capi
tol, veterans were taken to
the World War 11 memo
rial for a flag presentation
ceremony. The trip also
included visits to monu
ments like the Lincoln Me
morial and the Tomb of the
Unknown Soldier, where
veterans were able to watch
the changing of the guard,
and some even participated
in the laying of wreaths.
“Every effort is made
for their comfort, care,
and accessibility to all the
sights in Washington,” said
Robin Krebs. “Every effort
is made to make travel pos
sible no matter the physical
limitations of the veteran.”
“It’s a wonderful thing
for veterans. I so admire
some of these guys; we
had people in their 90s who
were in wheelchairs,” add
ed Linda Riney, who said
the group had two buses,
each with an attending doc
tor and several volunteers.
“(We had) 30 wheelchairs
on the buses and they’re
all lined up waiting when
the veterans get off. They
did everything you could
imagine to make things as
easy as possible for these
Outdoor club roughs
it at Penland Lake
Al and Linda Kiney at the flag presentation at the World War
11 Memorial in D.C. -Contributedphoto
people.”
“The fellow that led
it.. .he’s wonderful,” Linda
said. “He has the connec
tions with the airlines, the
hotels, he’s on the phone
all the time making sure
things get done. He even
makes sure that, if possible,
they don’t have to switch
planes.”
After two full days in
D.C., the veterans returned
home on Sunday to more
fanfare. When the plane
touched down in Portland,
they said, fire trucks were
lined up on the runway
in honor; local and state
police lined the way from
the plane to the concourse,
saluting the veterans. Vet
erans were then asked to
return to their hotel before
returning home, where they
received more gifts, includ
ing individualized hand
made quilts.
“It was a fabulous trip
for them. For all the veter
ans. There was nothing they
didn’t do for them,” said
Linda Riney. “It was just
overwhelming, how they
honored them. I don’t know
anything (else) where they
would do so much to honor
these people.”
A ccording to HFN,
time is of the essence for
our World War II veterans.
Most of the veterans on
the tour were between 88
and 95 years old, with the
average age of World War
II veterans being in their
late 80s; we have already
lost 90 percent of World
War II veterans, and close
to a thousand die each day.
“Their stories and dedi
cation to their country touch
the heart. Hie Honor Flight
has made it possible for
them to feel the gratitude
of our nation,” said Robin
Krebs.
“I cannot describe it.
It was so emotional. I have
never been honored like
that,” Henry Krebs said.
“It was just unreal. Those
Honor Flight people did
a terrific job of doing the
whole trip and seeing that
we were honored and taken
care of. It brings tears to
my eyes even now to talk
about it.”
Visit http://honorfiigh-
tofeasternoregon.org/ for
more information on the
program, or visit them on
Facebook at “Bend Heroes
Foundation, Honor Flight
of Eastern Oregon & Port
land.”
HEALTH DISTRICT
-Continuedfrom PAGE ONE
Grigg said that esti
mates are based on the
projection that 30 percent
of the lone population will
use the clinic one and a half
times a year.
MCHD’s costs, in ad
dition to taxes, insurance,
equipment, medical sup
plies and normal start-up
and operating costs, include
an office assistant at $ 18 per
hour for 17 hours per week;
a nurse practitioner at $45
per hour for 12 hours per
week; and a $600 per month
building lease.
Grigg said that the fa
cility will be required to be
open at least three days a
week and a mid-level prac
titioner will be on site at
least 10 hours a week.
Betty Hickerson, direc
tor of the Pioneer Memo
rial Hospital laboratory
and imaging and radiology
departments, presented an
overview of those depart
ments. She and Molly Rhea,
MCHD’s director of nurs
ing, also provided an update
on the facility’s infection
prevention plan, with an
emphasis on their Ebola
preparedness plan.
A table-top exercise
was planned for Oct. 28 to
consolidate the hospital’s
response in the event that
such an infection presents
itself at PMH. Grigg said
that “The Centers for Dis
ease Control and Preven
tion (CDC) strengthened
its guidelines regarding
hospital workers treating
Eboloa patients.”
He said, “The guide
lines now include recom
mendations on appropriate
‘Personal Protective Equip
ment,’ as well as specific
instructions on the ‘donning
and doffing’—or putting on
and taking off—of the gar
ments used to shield staff
working direction contact
with Ebola or suspected
Ebola patients.” He said
the exercise will “ensure
that the plan is well under
stood and functional for our
staff.”
While the presentation
of an Ebola patient at PMH
is unlikely, Rhea said that
the exercise will hone the
hospital’s response to fight
ing infectious disease.
The board also ap
proved a contract extension
for Physician’s Assistant
Sheridan Tamasky, effec
tive Aug. 1 of this year for
a period ending Oct. 31 and
an additional extension un
til Jan. 15,2015. Grigg said
that Tamasky has indicated
that she would like to move
to a part-time position.
Also at the meeting,
the board:
-approved reappoint
ment to the staff for Dr.
Jacob Cambier, M.D. a
radiologist who has worked
with the district for many
years.
-voted to move the
Nov. 24 meeting in Hep
pner to Dec. 1 and the Dec.
29 meeting in Irrigon to Jan.
5 to better accommodate the
holidays.
-received notice of the
board strategic planning
follow up meeting set for
this Saturday, Nov. 1 from
8-10 a m. at Heppner City
Hall.
-held an executive ses
sion concerning the risk
management/quality report
and the county annex build
ing adjacent to Pioneer Me
morial Clinic, which will
be vacated by the county
Chamber Chatter
Friday, Oct. 31 - Hep
pner Haunt - 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
- at downtown businesses:
Get your costume and trick-
or-treat at the local busi
nesses. Some businesses
will have judging of the
best costume. Businesses,
contact Heppner City Hall
if you would like to par
ticipate and get a poster for
your business.
Sunday, Nov. 2 - Day
light Savings Time Ends
- Change clocks back an
hour: Remember to turn
back your clock an hour
before going to bed and
take advantage of an extra
hour of sleep. Don’t forget
- SEVEN
following the completion
of the new county building.
-learned that the district
lost $53,923 in September,
with $653,285 in gross pa
tient revenue, less $12,765
in bad debts and $86,810
in contractual and other
adjustments for $553,710
in net patient revenue, plus
$122,740 in tax revenue
and $16,996 in other oper
ating revenue for $693,446
in total operating revenue.
Operating expenses came
to $753,293, plus $5,924 in
a non-operating gain for the
$53,923 loss.
-heard from Grigg that
the cardiac monitoring
system approved by the
board in September is in
the process of being imple
mented. He said training
was scheduled for Tuesday
of this week with go live on
Wednesday.
-learned from a True
North and patient satisfac
tion survey that 83.5 per
cent of people for the first
quarter of the year would
recommend the health dis
trict; 77.9 percent would
recommend the district in
the second quarter; and
83.3 would recommend the
district in the third quarter.
The district’s goal is for 84
percent.
-learned from Grigg
that the district has been
involved in a partnership
that makes information on
patients’ emergency depart
ment visits available to care
providers from anywhere in
the state.
-learned that PMH re
cently received a trophy
and $2,500 from a national
collaborative to reduce pa
tient harm.
-heard from Grigg that
the district anticipates re
ceiving $24,000 from East
ern Oregon Coordinated
Care Organization as an
incentive for meeting im
provement goals for Med
icaid members.
-learned that the dis
trict will implement an
online policy management
system over the next sev
eral months with 1,000
policies, currently stored in
each manager’s department,
soon available to allow staff
instant access.
-received the following
report: Pioneer Memorial
Clinic had 382 patient vis
its with 18 new patients,
43 seen by a nurse and 12
no-shows; Irrigon Medical
Clinic had 265 patient visits
with 38 new patients, 51
seen by a nurse and 16 no-
shows; Pioneer Memorial
Hospital had five admis
sions in September, three
swing bed admissions, nine
admitted for observation,
one admitted for hospital
respite, 437 total outpa
tients, 68 emergency room
encounters, 1,436 lab tests,
89 x-ray procedures, 28 CT
scans, 19 EKG tests, two
colonoscopy procedures,
one endoscopy procedure,
two colon/endoscopy pro
cedures, 12 respiratory
therapy procedures; Home
Health had 138 patient vis
its; Hospice had one admis
sion; Heppner Ambulance
had 24 page-outs with 19
transports for $23,179 in
revenue; Boardman Ambu
lance had 44 page-outs with
22 transports for $33,258
in revenue; Irrigon Ambu
lance had 30 page-outs with
16 transports for $22,090
in revenue; there were five
flights out.
to “fall back.”
Saturday, Nov. 22
& Nov. 23 - Lexington
Grange Craft Sale - 9 a.m.
to 4 p.m.: Lexington Grange
will be sponsoring this craft
sale; the entry fee will be $2
or canned food items.
If you are interested in
being a vendor, please email
Iex.grange726@gmail.com
to be sent an application
form (deadline is Nov. 1).
Monday, Nov. 24 -
Thursday, Dec. 18 - Col
lection of “Rewards Cards”
for shopping local: Start
collecting your “rewards
cards" as part of our Cel
ebrate Christmas event on
December 18.
Make sure you put your
name on them and bring
them to the event for a
Len Havermeier, Daichi Walters, Bryan Fowler, Justus Schoen-
born, kai Arbogast. Tim Jaca and Cade Arbogast, all members
of the Heppner High School Outdoor Club, participated in a
camping trip to Penland Lake recently. Amidst the rain show
ers, students cooked over the campfire, climbed trees, made
pine-pitch torches, fished and boated on the lake thanks to John
and Ann M urray’s loan of their canoe and boat. Planned trips
include ice skating, skiing and snow boarding with an overnight
ski trip to Anthony Lakes Ski Area. -Contributedphoto
Record number of stu
dents, schools gaining
Academic Momentum
LA GRANDE, Ore -
Michelle Jensen devel
Preparing younger students oped the unique curriculum
for higher education is be being used now, but it was
coming more of a focus originally modeled after a
for elementary schools in program implemented in
20 area districts, including Minnesota schools. It in
Morrow County, thanks to cludes eight to 12 weeks of
a program called Academic post-secondary and career
Momentum.
related study.
New data shows an
Fifth-graders also visit
estimated 3,550 students Eastern Oregon University
and 150 educators from 42 or another four-year college
schools are participating in their area to get a sense of
this year from Gilliam to what it is like to be a student
Wallowa counties.
there. In the seventh-grade,
“ We’re in practically they visit Blue Mountain
every school district in and Treasure Valley com
eastern Oregon,” said Dan munity colleges. All three
Mielke, executive direc institutions—along with
tor o f Eastern Promise, the InterM ountain and
the parent organization for Malheur education service
Academic Momentum.
districts—are partners in
Schools in Grant, Har Eastern Promise.
ney, Malheur, Morrow,
As the curriculum pro
Umatilla and Union coun gresses through sixth, sev
ties are also participating. enth and eighth grades,
Tailored for grades five students and parents be
through eight, the program come more acquainted with
begins by asking students, navigating the college ap
parents and their schools to plication process, acquir
sign a “compact” asserting ing financial aid and other
students will work toward aspects of higher education.
developing academic habits
Other programs avail
to prepare them for post able through Eastern Prom
secondary education or ise create a continuum for
training.
students once they enter
This is the first step in high school, enabling them
shaping a 10-year strategy to begin earning college
known as the Academic credits.
Momentum Personal De
“It’s about creating ear
velopment Plan that helps ly awareness of the oppor
clarify students’ projected tunities students will have
educational and career fu later in life and helping
ture.
them be better prepared to
The Pendleton School make decisions about their
District piloted the pro future,” Mielke said.
gram during the 2012-13
Another way Academic
school year. Last year, 17 Momentum sets up students
additional districts signed for success is by breaking
on with 1,809 students and down potential barriers
63 educators at 32 different to education for under
schools.
represented populations,
Additional outreach including those at risk due
began in earnest last spring to poverty.
when Vickie Read, Aca
As program coordina
demic Momentum program tor, Read sees many partici
coordinator, visited or con pating school districts with
tacted all of the schools in 50-percent or more of their
the region to let them know students taking advantage
about the various train of free or reduced lunch
ing opportunities available programs.
through Eastern Promise.
“A child from poverty
“We’re growing more has an even tougher path to
quickly than expected, as college and post-secondary
schools are communicat preparation for many rea
ing with each other and sons,” Read said. “Our
spreading the excitement,” teachers need to be alert
Read said.
and prepared to help them
The flexible syllabus is overcome those additional
one reason schools are so obstacles.”
enthusiastic about getting
For more information,
involved.
including how schools can
“We hand them a cur get involved with Academic
riculum they can implement Momentum, visit www.
in a way that works best for eastern-promise.org/pro-
them and their students,” grams/academic-momen-
Mielke explained.
tum or call 541-962-3941.
chance to win some great
prizes that have been do
nated.
Thursday, Dec. 4 - Lo
cal Merchants Customer
Appreciation Day with ex
tended evening hours for
early Christmas Shopping
and participate in our com
munity activities to kick off
the upcoming Christmas
Season:
Check out the activi
ties being coordinated by
local merchants including
Christmas tree decorations
placed on the city tree by
Heppner Day Care and
HES Students; bring you
camera and take a picture
with Santa.
More information soon.
Put the day on your calen
dar and plan on joining us.