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Crash outside Lexington
claims life of Richland man
Oregon State Police
(OSP) say they are continu-
ing the investigation into
the fatal traffic crash that
occurred on Highway 207
just outside of Lexington
April 22.
According to OSP
Lieutenant Mike Turner,
last Wednesday around 1:13
p.m., troopers from the OSP
Hermiston and Pendleton
offices responded to a re-
ported fatal crash on Hwy.
207 near Nichols Road.
Preliminary investiga-
tion showed that a red, 2009
Honda Fit, driven by Neal
Reau, 35, of Richland, WA,
Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon was traveling southbound
G T
azette
imes
VOL. 134
NO. 16
10 Pages
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
This crash near the Lexington airport claimed the life of
Richland man Neal Reau. -Photo courtesy of Oregon State Po-
lice
when, for an unknown rea- a white, 2009 Chevy pickup
son, his vehicle failed to ne- towing a flatbed trailer.
Reau was pronounced
gotiate a curve and crossed
into the northbound lane.
-See LEXINGTON CRASH
KILLS ONE/PAGE TWO
The Honda then sideswiped
Getting to Ione holds prom
know your
exchange
students
Getting to
know your
exchange
students
Nupur Gorain
Age 17, Junior, Ione
Where are you from? New
Delhi, India
Host Parents: Joel Peterson
& Lea Mathieu
What do you think of Ione
and Morrow County?
“It’s pretty amazing.
I’m glad I came to a small
town be-
cause I got
to meet a lot
of people.
Everyone’s
caring and
helpful. I
Nupur Gorain got a lot of
opportuni-
ties thanks to the people
here. I got to design the
prom tickets and posters.
That was a pretty big deal.
I designed the book cover
for Tupper. I like to draw,
but I got a lot of opportuni-
ties here.”
How has the experience
been for you?
“Really amazing. I’ve
changed a lot. I’m more
confident and responsible—
mature, I’d say. It’s like life
in a year.”
What was the most difficult
thing about this experi-
ence?
“Adjusting to a small
town. I couldn’t go out on
my own because we had
to drive everywhere. The
school system is also pretty
different from what I’m
used to.”
What did you like best?
“Definitely the people.
The first day, I remember
going to practice volleyball,
and I was nervous because
I didn’t know how people
would react, but my friends
came up and talked to me. I
definitely feel at home now.
My host family is amazing;
they treat me like family.”
Did you have the chance to
attend any special events?
What did you think of that
experience?
“Yes, it was amazing.
This was my first experi-
ence (with a school dance).
We don’t really have any
high school dances. It was
really fun. Sports are pretty
important here in the U.S.
That was fun. I like to play.”
Anything else?
“I’d like to thank my
host family a lot. I wouldn’t
have made it through the
year if they hadn’t helped
me a lot. My classmates
and sports teams were re-
ally helpful. I really like the
way people go out of their
way to help you. I really
appreciate that.”
David Smidmajer
Age 18, Junior, Ione
Where are you from? Pisek,
Czech Republic
Host Parents: Deacon &
Erin Heideman
What do you think of Ione
and Morrow County?
“It’s a really nice town;
people are
really nice.
I love that
everyone
knows ev-
eryone else,
everyone
helps every- David
body else. Smidmajer
I love it. I
could live here. The town
I’m from has about 40,000
people. I like the small town
better than the big town.”
How has the experience
been for you?
“It was pretty awe-
some. A lot of things were
really different in the begin-
ning but I like it.”
What was the most difficult
thing about this experi-
ence?
“I don’t think there was
something really hard. I got
used to everything pretty
easy. I guess the hardest
thing would be 10 months
away from my parents. I
miss them, for sure.”
What did you like best?
“Sports. Basketball and
football were the best. I
have a lot of new friends
and I like them a lot. I like
school, too. It’s very easy
for me. It’s nice that school
is only four days. School
is much more fun. I like it
better.”
Did you have the chance to
attend any special events?
What did you think of that
experience?
“Prom, Homecoming.
It’s pretty similar to ours.
It’s fun.”
Anything else?
“I would like to thank
my host parents.”
Ione High School held its annual prom aboard the Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler in the Tri-Cities Saturday, April 18. Pic-
tured above left are Ione prom king T.J. Patton with date Taylor Davis and above right are prom queen Karina Rios with date
Enrico Macciotta. –Contributed photos
Ione names new school principal
Ione has selected Henry but moved to Oregon in
Ramirez as the new prin- 1986 to attend Concor-
dia University and
cipal at Ione Com-
Portland State. His
munity School Prin-
educational roles
cipal, Ione School
include child de-
District Superin-
velopment special-
tendent Phil Star-
ist for elementary
key announced last
students, a teacher
week. Ramirez will
at an alternative
replace current prin- Henry
school for teen par-
cipal Sarah Crane, Ramirez
ents, and a behavior
who has announced
she will step down from her consultant for NWRESD
position at the end of the (Northwest Regional ESD).
He has been both a vice
school year.
Born in California, principal and a principal at
Ramirez grew up in Texas the kindergarten through
Ramirez is the right choice
for Ione. He is an experi-
enced educator and admin-
istrator, dedicated to the
success of every student,
and knowledgeable about
important instructional ini-
tiatives.”
Ramirez will take over
as principal July 1; how-
ever, Starkey says com-
munity members will likely
see him around before that
time as he works with Crane
through the transition pro-
cess.
Health district talks budget at
monthly meeting
By April Sykes
Andrea Fletcher, rep-
resenting the Community
Health Improvement Part-
nership of Morrow Coun-
ty, presented the Morrow
County Health District
Board with the 2015 Health
Assessment at the MCHD
Board meeting Monday
night in Boardman.
Fletcher presented a
wide range of data, includ-
ing: demographics, the per-
centage of disabled in the
county, the percentage of
people in poverty, educa-
tion, the leading causes of
death, deaths per year, age-
adjusted death rate, cancer
incidences, chronic and
communicable diseases,
health behavior, oral health,
maternal and child health,
teen pregnancy and student
health concerns.
MCHD CEO Dan Grigg
commended Fletcher on her
report and he, the board and
MCHD personnel indicated
that the information would
be invaluable in aiding the
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high-school levels. Ramirez
also says he enjoys hobbies
for which Eastern Oregon
is known, including fish-
ing, camping and archery
hunting.
“The board and I ap-
preciated all the feedback
from staff and community
members, as well as stu-
dents,” stated Starkey of the
selection process. “After
completing the interview
process and doing a thor-
ough reference check, we
feel very confident Mr.
district in responding to
Morrow County’s varied
health-care needs.
Also at the meeting
county health district Chief
Financial Officer Nicole
Mahoney presented the
proposed fiscal year 2015-
16 budget.
The proposed budget
shows $11,837,074 in total
resources and $11,645,697
in total expenditures,
resulting in a $191,377
net increase in cash. The
district’s proposed bud-
get is up slightly over last
year when they adopted a
$11,075,778 budget and
spent $11,090,058, result-
ing in a $14,280 loss for
the year.
FY 2016 resources
and expenditures are pro-
jected as follows: Hos-
pital-$6,411,526 in re-
sources/$6,713,975 in ex-
penditures; Home Health
and Hospice-$488,441
resources/$635,550 ex-
penditures; Boardman
Ambulance-$348,067
resources/$309,747 ex-
penditures; Irrigon Ambu-
lance-$266,686 resourc-
es/$194,926 expenditures;
Ione Ambulance-$15,086
resources/$17,076 expen-
ditures Ione Ambulance and
Lexington EMS; Pioneer
Memorial Clinic in Hep-
pner-$1,151,205 resourc-
es/$1,259,964 expenditures;
Irrigon Clinic-$827,885
resources/$648,733 expen-
ditures; Ione Community
Clinic-$54,925 resourc-
es/$112,340 expenditures;
Other revenue-$334,920
resources; Donations and
grants-$133,000 resources;
Interest income-$11,000
resources; Communi-
ty Service fees-$70,000
resources; Electronic
Health Record reimburse-
ments-$116,178 resources;
Capital leases-0; Operating,
capital, long and short term
loans-$190,400 resourc-
es; Community benefit
grants-$50,000 expendi-
-See HEALTH DISTRICT
BUDGET/PAGE THREE
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Bev Crum of Ione poses with the turkeys shot by herself and a
companion on April 18 at Wallowa. –Contributed photo
Morrow County Grain Growers Green Feed & Seed
242 W. Linden Way, Heppner • 676-9422 • 989-8221 (MCGG main office)