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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (March 30, 2016)
SIX - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, March 30, 2016 MS ACTIVISM Oregon’s 2 nd District Representative Greg Walden with (L-R back) MS Oregon Chapter delegates Merilee McDowell, Carol Choutka, Brie Stoianoff, Lisa Roth and Pamila Hussie (front). -Contributed photo -Continued from PAGE ONE Society, MS is an “unpre- dictable, often disabling disease of the central ner- vous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and be- tween the brain and body.” The cause of MS is still unknown. Many sci- entists believe the disease is triggered by unidentiied environmental factors in a person who is “genetically predisposed” to respond. Two to three times more women are diagnosed with MS than men. That wasn’t the case with one of the Oregon dele- gates, however; Stoianoff’s husband has MS. He’s also a veteran, and McDow- ell said they learned there might be a link between the two. “(We learned that) Sta- tistically, there are a high amount of people from Desert Storm who have MS, and they’re trying to igure that out,” she says. And iguring it out— talking about research and coping strategies and fun- draising plans—was part of what excited McDowell about the opportunity. “I wanted to talk to some of the doctors who are doing the research. I met a woman who is doing won- derful research. I shared some spiritual things that have helped me, and she shared with me things she’s found that have helped. We helped each other. Positive reinforcement is so impor- tant to all of us in our lives,” McDowell says. She wasn’t at the con- ference because she’s a rookie, though. Rather, McDowell, the only Oregon delegate from east of the Cascades, was instrumental in starting the Eastern Or- egon Walk MS in Heppner, now in its 18 th year. She has also chaired or co-chaired the event every year. She believes she was asked to attend the conference because of the success of Eastern Oregon Walk MS. “Our small commu- nity has raised such a large amount of funds compared to other, larger areas,” she says. “They have said we are their example to other walks of how to put a walk together.” McDowell, of course, says she jumped at the chance to travel to the na- tion’s capital and speak about her passion. “I felt very privileged that I was even asked. I saw it as an opportunity to share my story with a broader au- dience. And just the chance to go to DC!” she says. And share her story she did. Aside from meet- ing with other MS activ- ists and hearing speakers, conference attendees also underwent training for one of the biggest pieces of the event—going up to Capitol Hill to speak with legislators. As resident of Oregon’s 2 nd District, Mc- Dowell met with Rep. Greg Walden. “I’m a constituent of Greg Walden, so I told my story to him. Everyone had certain legislators to talk to,” McDowell explains. McDowell added that not everyone at the confer- ence got to speak with their legislators; Congress was in session that day, and some had to content themselves with sharing their stories with congressional staffers. However, “Greg Walden came off the loor to speak with us, and I got to tell him my story.” She also says she had the chance to speak brief- ly with Sen. Ron Wyden, though not share her story as she did with Walden. McDowell says she felt the visits to her congress- men were successful. “Everybody was very receptive and considerate of us. I felt like I was really heard by my congressmen and their staffers,” says McDowell. While the visits to the Capitol were unforgettable, McDowell says other parts of the ive-day trip were just as memorable in their own way. Choutka made it pos- sible for delegates to tour some of Washington during their stay. “I was able to, because of Carol Choutka, see the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial—which was awesome—and the relecting pool. I got to see the World War II memorial, Vietnam memorial and Ko- rean memorial.” It was during that por- tion of the journey that she says she had her most notable moment. “I stood in the Lincoln Memorial and I looked over the relecting pond to the Washington Memorial and thought of Martin Luther King standing there and giving his speech, the ‘I have a dream,’ speech,” she recalls, “and I was think- ing, ‘He stood right here.’ I would hope we all have that dream.” “I really had a new appreciation of being an American and what that means. Way too many peo- ple died for our freedom. You realize what a gift it is to wake up in a free country and be able to do whatever it is I would like to do,” she says. But, with all the emo- tions contained in the trip, there was also a lighter— and quite surprising—side. “I was walking out of my hotel in Washington, DC my irst day and saw someone in front of me with a t-shirt that said ‘Hep- pner,’” recalls McDowell with a chuckle. It turned out to be Jeff and Christine Bai- ley of Heppner, who were also in DC for a conference. “I had to stop and say, “Am I in Washington, DC? Did I really ly here?” she says. “Then I was in the air- port to leave and come home, and Jerry Healy came and sat beside me and said, ‘How are you doing?’” she adds. “I said, ‘I can’t get away with anything!’” Despite the humor, though, McDowell re- mains serious about being an MS activist and inding a cure for the disease she has lived—and struggled— with for nearly four de- cades. Her goal? “To end MS,” she says, adding that when she was diagnosed there were no treatments, let alone a cure. “Some progress rapidly. I haven’t, and I’m very grate- ful for that.” McDowell says there are now 13 FDA-approved therapies for people with relapsing/remitting MS, and the FDA is currently reviewing a drug for pro- gressive MS. “It’s not hereditary but I’ve seen it happen in fami- lies. I have a grandson, and I don’t want him, or my daughter, to be diagnosed with MS. Anything I can do to keep that from hap- pening, I will.” The Eastern Oregon Walk MS is planned for Sat- urday, April 23, in Heppner. Registration will begin at 9 a.m. at All Saints Episco- pal Church, with the walk beginning at 10 a.m. Pre-registration is ap- preciated and can be done at www.walkms.org or by calling 503-445-8342, but walk-ons are welcome and may register the day of the event. There is no registra- tion fee; donations of any amount are welcome. Starbucks will be serv- ing coffee, and fruit and cinnamon rolls will be pro- vided, and a hosted lunch and door prizes will follow. The 5k walk is wheelchair accessible. A route map will be available for the 5k Run and 10k Run. For more in- formation, contact Heppner MS Walk Co-Chairs Barb Orwick at 541-256-0455 or Taylor Disque at 541- 256-0295. A View from the Hill By Doris Brosnan Everyone at Willow Creek Terrace leaped from February into March with some symbolic menu items: “rabbit” legs, “wallaby spuds,” “frog-eye” salad, and grasshopper cake. It was tasty fun to be silly, but maybe not as much fun as the paper airplane com- petition on Aviation Day, Feb. 23. Most residents joined in as spectators or com- petitors for the flying of paper airplanes down the hall. One resident who expected to simply watch even became a late entry by building a plane on site and giving it a heave-ho. Winning, longest flights were those by the planes de- signed by Bud Wilson and newcomers Millie Hanna and Caroline Hall. March began with a conversation about the Peace Corps, which became a reality on March 1, 1961. Several residents remem- bered that former resident Liz Beuhler had joined the Peace Corps after retiring from her career. Several Residents ob- served the World Day of Prayer on the fourth by gathering privately to add their prayers to the effort. And everyone gathered two days later to enjoy the foot-tapping music of the Ol’ Time Fiddlers, the en- tertaining musicians always welcome on the Hill. When Daylight Sav- ings Time began on March 13, residents were reminded to “spring forward,” wheth- er or not individuals agreed with the state on fiddlin’ with time, which can be confusing for a day or so. That day is also chosen by staff for the replacement of batteries throughout the Terrace’s common areas and residents’ apartments. Heppner’s annual St. Pat’s Celebration was again a hit with some residents. Nine individuals attended Fr. Condon’s new drama on March 17. They enjoyed the thought-provoking play, and they appreciated the Father’s reserving them a table near the stage. (The gunshot ending startled everyone and caused some to shoot out of their chairs a bit!) The Big Green Parade on the 19 th was, the eight attendees agreed, an espe- cially good one, and they appreciated the cooperative weather. Last Friday, residents hosted some children and grandchildren of the staff for Easter-egg coloring, ac- companied by some treats, of course. And then, on Sunday, the residents had an Easter-egg hunt, accom- panied by some laughs, of course. March’s special days will end on the 30 th , which is Doctors Day. The Terrace honors and thanks their doctors and other health- care specialists by taking trays of healthy treats to the clinic and the hospital. Residents and staff view the medical attention available to the Willow Creek Terrace Community as a definite bonus for living there. They view the avail- ability of one apartment as an opportunity for someone to join their Community on the Hill. Interested parties should call 541-676-0004 for information. Boardman to sponsor spring clean up The City of Boardman will sponsor a community- wide clean-up the month of April. The city has garbage vouchers available, with a $50 limit, to residents of the City of Boardman. The vouch- ers are valid during the month of April at Finley Butte Landill and the North Morrow Transfer Station. The garbage voucher program is meant to encourage citizens to clean up their residences by disposing of yard debris. City residents may pick up their vouchers at Boardman City Hall at 200 City Center Circle beginning March 31. For more information on this program, call Boardman City Hall at 481-9252. ADVERTISING Made Easy HEPPNER GAZETTE-TIMES CALL MEGAN at 541-676-9228 to get started today! THIS FRIDAY- APRIL 1ST E E FR LAST SEEN: LURKING IN YOUR HOME... UNDER THE SINK, IN THE GARAGE IN THE BASEMENTS THESE HAZARDOUS WASTE ITEMS ARE DANGEROUS. THEY CAN Household HARM STREAMS, WILDLIFE, DRINKING WATER AND WE NEED TO KEEP THEM OUT OF OUR LANDFILL. MORROW COUNTY IS HOLDING A FREE Hazardous HAZARDOUS WASTE EVENT SO YOU MAY TAKE SOME OF THESE ITEMS. information, please call Morrow County Public Works Waste Event For at more 541-989-9500 or email: mcpublicwork@co.morrow.or.us Cleaners, pool and spa chemicals Garden chemicals like pesticides, fertilizers Fluorescent light bulbs, batteries APRIL 1ST, 2016 8AM - 11AM Lexington Road Department Yard 365 W. Hwy 74, Lexington, OR 97839 Gasoline, used motor oil and antifreeze Butane, propane, gas Oil based paints, stains, strippers ACCEPTED DURING THE EVENT: Used oil, Oil filters, Spent Antifreeze, Automotive batteries, Alkaline & recharge-able batteries, Propane Tanks (smaller than 25 gal.) Oil based paint, Paint thinners and solvents, Roof and asphalt patch, Adhesives, glues and contact cement, Caulks sealers and joint compounds, Lawn and garden chemicals and fertilizers, Pool chemicals, Household cleaners (including bleach, ammonia, furniture polish, toilet bowl cleaners, carpet shampoos) Sludge (soil contaminated with oil) Mercury thermometers, Florescent lamps, All types of aerosol cans, Used cooking oil, Road flares, PCB ballasts, Organic peroxides (hardening agents)
