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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (March 30, 2016)
Fire hall taking shape HEPPNER G T 50¢ azette imes VOL. 135 NO. 14 8 Pages Wednesday, March 30, 2016 Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon Workers inspect the groundwork for Heppner’s new ire hall as construction progresses on Riverside Ave. in Heppner. -Photo by David Sykes Sheep dog trials ‘mom’ Health district CEO announces receives plaques on progress on clinic provider search behalf of her daughter By April Sykes nurse practitioner from with four more candidates. scheduling a visit with a Back (L-R): Alita Nelson, Jessica Kempken, Kevin Murray. Front (L-R): Kacie Gray, Kellie Nelson, Meredith Huwe, Sheryll Bates. Not pictured: The Barnyarders members Meranda Lemmon, Mikel Jaca, Joseph Sherman, Hunter Gree- nup, Tim Gould, Roy Collins, Brian Lindsay. -Contributed photo A sense of nostalgia was present at this year’s sheep dog trials as par- ticipants and planners rec- ognized the absence of a familiar face. Karen Mohney had been coordinating the Wee Bit o’ Ireland sheep dog trials for the past several years. She said she enjoyed it, and having her own dog in the competition made it even more important to keep the event going dur- ing our local St. Patrick’s Celebration. This was her passion. Last year, on Saturday night, March 14, Karen had a serious medical event that eventually took her life. Although everyone stepped up to finish the Morrow County Health District CEO Bob Houser said, at the MCHD monthly meeting at the Port of Mor- row in Boardman Monday night, that after the latest interviews he was optimis- tic about inding a mid-level provider for the district. “Things are progress- ing nicely,” he said. He reported to the board that interviews with prospective mid-level pro- viders were conducted on March 17. A mid-level pro- vider would be a nurse practitioner or a physi- cian’s assistant, rather than an MD. He said that one the Eugene area visited on March 24 and a second can- didate, from Virginia, who was inishing up her physi- cian’s assistant program, would not be available for an onsite interview until mid-April. The third was once a physician’s assistant at Columbia River Health Center in Boardman, but that person was not willing to relocate to Heppner from Portland and instead pro- posed commuting. Houser said he was also trying to set up a telephone interview with a candidate formerly from the Boise area and plans to set up interviews “Some very good can- didates,” he added. One issue is finding enough housing for the candidates in south Morrow County. He also spoke about the possibility of moving two staff to ofices downstairs in the Pioneer Memorial Clinic Building, after the physical therapy depart- ment moves to the county annex building adjacent to the clinic. He said that will also leave room for a more spacious meeting room downstairs. Houser said that he was also in the process of respiratory therapist inter- ested in working part-time at MCHD and assuming other duties as well. He added that Elizabeth Peter- son has volunteered to be the district’s new quality improvement director. He said that the district is now advertising for a business office employee to replace Eva McMasters, who has been accepted into a radiology tech certiica- tion program. That hiree will also assume some of Peterson’s duties. Also at the meeting, -See HEALTH DISTRICT/ PAGE THREE Pursuit of an end to MS takes Heppner woman to DC By Andrea Di Salvo tional Multiple Sclerosis “It’s a place for MS cal Research Program. Mc- When Merilee Mc- Society to attend a confer- activists to meet. There Dowell says the National Dowell of Heppner was ence in Washington, DC were over 300 MS activists Multiple Sclerosis Society diagnosed with Multiple this month. McDowell trav- there,” McDowell explains. invested about $54 million Sclerosis, or MS, in 1977, eled to the nation’s capital “It’s to connect with other to MS research last year -See SHEEP DOG TRIALS/ she knew her life would with four other Oregon people with MS and then alone, and often partners PAGE FOUR change. She probably never women on March 13 to researchers and doctors, with the NIH on MS re- expected that her journey attend the 2016 MS Public and learn about the issues search projects. with the disease would take Policy Conference. The and different bills to be pre- “Research is how we her to Washington, DC to other attendees were MS sented to legislators for re- can stop MS in its tracks, speak with the nation’s Oregon Chapter President search and other funding.” restore what has been lost movers and shakers. Lisa Roth, Oregon Chapter Legislative concerns and end MS forever,” she Yet that’s exactly what staffer Carol Choutka, and include National Institutes says. happened when the local Pamila Hussie and Brie of Health (NIH) research According to the MS woman was invited by the Stoianoff, whose lives have funding and the MS Con- -See MS ACTIVISM/PAGE Oregon Chapter of the Na- both been affected by MS. gressionally Directed Medi- PAGE EIGHT in applying for funding through this grant. Grant requests will be accept- ed from Monday, April 4, through Friday, April 29. A review and decision of grants awarded will be Oregon The driver, decided by the WCVEDG State Police J a m e s W. board and the winners com- is investigat- Crow, 62, of municated. i n g a m i l k Kennewick, To receive a grant t ank er that WA , w a s application form and an overturned on trapped in the eligibility and exclusions I-84 in Mor- severely dam- information sheet, contact row County aged cab. The Sheryll Bates at 541-676- early Monday truck was also 5536 or email to heppner- morning, kill- leaking diesel chamber@centurytel.net. ing the driver fuel and milk. Forms can also be picked and leaking OSP trooper up at Heppner, Ione and a s i g n i f i - John Juzeler Lexington city hall ofices. cant amount arrived on the All completed grant of milk into scene shortly applications will need to nearby water- after and be- be forwarded to Bates at ways. gan a crash the chamber ofice. Grants At 5:41 investigation. can be emailed, mailed or M o n d a y A f t e r hand delivered, but must m o r n i n g , a b o ut two This milk tanker overturned on I-84 near Boardman Monday, killing the driver and spilling be received in the chamber M o r r o w h o u rs, the thousands of gallons of milk into nearby waterways. -Photo courtesy of Oregon State Police ofice no later than Friday, County Sher- B o a rdman April 29. iff’s Ofice reported that it contents onto the interstate. fire crew was able to re- received multiple 911 calls MCSO, Boardman Po- move the driver from the saying that a Milky Way lice Department and Board- truck cab. Boardman am- semi-truck hauling milk man ire were the irst on had overturned on Interstate the scene, arriving less bulance transported Crow 84 westbound near milepost than 10 minutes after the to Good Shepherd Medical 167, just east of Boardman. irst call. First responders Center in Hermiston. He Callers reported that the determined the truck, which was subsequently trans- truck, which apparently was hauling double tankers, ported by air ambulance to -See TRUCK ACCIDENT/ carried around 20,000 gal- had rolled over on its side PAGE THREE lons of milk, was spilling its on the shoulder of the road. Community, public enhancements grant funds available Willow Creek Valley Economic Development Group (WCVEDG) has received funds from the Columbia River Economic Zone (CREZ) Board to be used for community and public enhancement for South Morrow County. Applicant organiza- tions must be local orga- nizations, clubs, special districts or governmental entities that reside in the South Morrow County Ser- vice Area (as deined by the WCVEDG Service Area Map). The requestor must have at least 50 percent of funding (which may include in-kind and cash contributions from local and regional sources) for the total project budget committed before applying. Exceptions may apply at the discretion of the board. A grant application has been developed for use Washington man killed when milk tanker overturns on I-84 Bunny Sightings NOW IN STOCK The Easter Bunny did some quick hopping this year, appearing in both Heppner and Ione for Easter egg hunts. Top: Nolan Freeman, 2, son of Shelbi and James Freeman, sits on the Easter Bunny’s lap in Heppner. Bottom: Moira Di Salvo, 7, daughter of Carmelo and Andrea Di Salvo, poses with the Easter Bunny in Ione. -Photos by David Sykes and Andrea Di Salvo SEED POTATOES - ONION SETS POTTING SOIL & AMENDMENTS, GARDEN SEEDS COLD CROP VEGETABLES Morrow County Grain Growers Green Feed & Seed 242 W. Linden Way, Heppner • 676-9422 • 989-8221 (MCGG main ofice)
