MCHD buys Windwave building
for home health, hospice
By April Sykes
Morrow County Health
District CEO Bob Houser
announced that the dis-
trict has purchased the
Windwave building at 162
Main St. in Heppner for
$122,500. MCHD plans to
move the offices of Pioneer
Memorial Home Health and
Hospice into the building
after the restroom there
has been remodeled to be-
come handicap accessible.
Administration and board
say they believe this is a
good move to transfer the Morrow County Health District has purchased the Windwave
facility to Main Street and building on Main Street in Heppner for use in the district’s
home health and hospice program. -Photo by David Sykes
will improve patient access,
Houser said that Wind- wave, a fiber optics compa-
especially for seniors.
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon
ny and subsidiary of Inland
Development Corporation,
is moving into a building
they are in the process of
constructing in Boardman.
Windwave, founded in
2004, took over the former
Heppner TV, a television
“These are good jobs,” cable company.
By David Sykes
Neal points out. “Right
Editor’s note: The Port
Houser also announced
here in our own backyard that he has met with Mindy
of Morrow has experienced
we are creating a lot of Binder, CEO of Columbia
major successes in attract-
good-paying jobs and these River Community Health
ing and expanding indus-
businesses are having a Services, a federally-fund-
trial development in the
hard time filling them.” ed migrant clinic located in
Boardman area, and that
He says that workers need Boardman that also serves
development has brought
to be skilled and certified, the general public, concern-
thousands of new jobs and
and in a plus to the local ing a possible “joint venture
employment opportunities
workforce, he says some- of services, recruitment
to Morrow County. Helping
times people brought in efforts and the possibility
local people access these
from outside the area do of board representatives
jobs is a major goal of the
not always adapt well to the meeting as well.” Houser
Port and our local schools.
In an effort to better un- Port of Morrow General Manager Gary Neal checks out a local lifestyle. “I think we said that Dr. Robert Boss,
derstand what jobs are construction project at the Port. The Port is working in col- have a good workforce here former head of the clinic
available, and how people laboration with local educators to better train local youth in Eastern Oregon. The kids before it became federally
in preparation for the new jobs becoming available there.
by and large have a good affiliated, was also pres-
may prepare for them, the -Contributed photo
work ethic and know what ent at the meeting, but no
Gazette-Times recently sat
down with Port of Morrow Port, and the surrounding maintenance, energy ef- it’s like to live in a small agreement was made.
General Manager Gary Boardman area, there are ficiency, industrial safety, rural town. Lots of times
Also at the meet-
Neal to discuss the issues. now about 6,000 jobs in the mechanical lubrication, it’s a better fit,” Neal says. ing, the board approved
“There are a lot of good different businesses of food pumps and valves and the Currently about 75 percent a $12,125,791 budget for
jobs here that don’t require production, data processing list goes on and on—all of the work force at the Port fiscal year 2017-18.
a four-year degree,” Neal and energy production, and the jobs needed to keep of Morrow comes from out-
Chief Financial Officer
says right away. “But in- Neal says these industries the wheels of production side Morrow County.
Nicole Mahoney outlined
Over the years, Neal next year’s budget as fol-
dustry is evolving and be- are always looking for good turning at the Port. There
coming more technical so workers. The jobs avail- are also new jobs becom- has spoken about his desire lows with revenue listed
good training is absolutely able are many and varied ing available in the energy to see local educators do a first and expenditures sec-
necessary if our young all the way from computer sector, with gas-powered better job of collaborating ond:
people want to get them,” processing technician to generating plants being with the industries at the
Nursing: proposed rev-
refrigeration, cooling sys- built near Boardman at the Port, and gaining a bet- enue-$1,245,878/proposed
he emphasizes.
Just to get a perspective tems, electricians, welding Portland General Electric
-See PORT JOBS/PAGE expenditures-$1,944,147;
FIVE E m e r g e n c y / p r o f e s -
on what is going on at the and fabrication, mechanical Carty Reservoir site.
sional fees: proposed
revenue-$1,209,412/
proposed expendi-
tures-$931,003; Ambu-
lance: $402,405/$262,461;
Central Supply:
$104,651/$91,883; Labora-
tory: $1,907,092/$797,547;
EKG/Treadmill:
$42,169/$12,456;
By David Sykes
Chamber members that in grass areas for training and R a d i o l o g y - X - r a y :
The Howard and Beth
the future she would like to a mixed sports area with 10 $489,237/$292,780; CT
Bryant Foundation will be
see groups use the money to 11 pieces of equipment. Scan: $449,501/$104,672;
of “great benefit to Hep-
from the foundation as Cutsforth said they are even P h a r m a c y :
pner,” foundation board
matching money for other planning a stage with picnic $1,099,273/$417,471; Pro-
member and director Kim
grants.
and spectator area and pub- cedure: $367,026/$29,358;
Cutsforth told the Heppner
“I want to help people lic restrooms. She expected R e s p i r a t o r y T h e r a p y :
Chamber of Commerce last
get more money,” she said. the sports facility to be done $65,646/$52,380; Thera-
week.
Cutsforth urged anyone by October.
pies: $157,676/$25,141;
Cutsforth gave a talk
from a qualified organiza-
Several people have Home Health: $341,616,
to chamber about how the
tion with an idea to stop compared the Bryant Foun- Hospice: $215,160/Home
foundation works, and its
by and talk to her about a dation to the Leo Adler Health & Hospice $713,247;
latest project, a new sports
possible application. Her Foundation in Baker, which Boardman Ambulance:
training facility being built
office is located in the for- has done many good things $391,320/$383,478; Ir-
near the swimming pool
mer chamber of commerce for the community.
rigon Ambulance:
and agricultural museum
office next to city hall.
“This is an incredible $ 2 9 7 , 7 7 5 / $ 3 4 5 , 2 8 6 ;
Kim Cutsforth briefs the Hep-
in Heppner.
For the latest project gift to the city of Heppner,” I o n e A m b u l a n c e :
pner Chamber of Commerce
First off Cutsforth ex- last week on the work of the Cutsforth said she was ap- County Commissioner Me-
$12,634/$11,358; Lexing-
plained the trust was funded Howard and Beth Bryant proached by Heppner coach lissa Lindsay told the cham-
ton EMS: /$6,978; Pio-
by a large donation from Foundation, including the new Greg Grant about funding ber meeting.
neer Memorial Clinic,
life-long Heppner natives sports training facility being a sports circuit training
“People will not fully Heppner: $1,434,273;
Howard and Beth Bryant. built near the swimming pool park on Riverside near the appreciate this until they
$1,390,443; Irrigon Clinic:
She said the Bryants in Heppner. -Photo by David swimming pool and the see it happening,” Cutsforth
$1,554,395/$1,147,453;
made the bulk of their for- Sykes
agricultural museum.
added. “I am super excited
-See HEALTH DISTRICT/
tune from investing in Pre-
She said there would be about it.”
PAGE THREE
She says so far this
cision Cast Parts, which
was bought out by investor year they have given out
$410,000 and hope to reach
Warren Buffet in 2015.
Before passing away $1 million by the end of
Howard Bryant wanted to 2016.
Although not a com-
make sure the foundation
was up and operating and, plete list Cutsforth says
although he did not talk a some of the examples of
lot about it, began giving grants given already in-
out grants to local groups cluded the assisted living
center, cemetery, walking
and organizations.
Under the rules of the path, senior center, mu-
Morrow County Grain Growers Green Feed & Seed
foundation Cutsforth says seum, city of Heppner and
242 W. Linden Way, Heppner • 676-9422 • 989-8221 (MCGG main office)
cash grants will be made for fire department.
“It’s a long list with a
betterment of the commu-
ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE:
nity to nonprofits, munici- range of things,” she said.
Cutsforth told the
palities and special districts.
HEPPNER
G T
50¢
azette
imes
VOL. 136
NO. 17
8 Pages
BPA
Accessing the jobs in our own backyard
planned
Port of Morrow, schools strive to collaborate on
workforce training
outage
scheduled
for Ione
area next
week
Columbia Basin Elec-
tric Cooperative, Inc. would
like to announce to its mem-
bers in the Ione area that
the Bonneville Power Ad-
ministration will be having
a planned outage on May 5
and 6 at its Ione substation.
The outage is scheduled to
begin Friday, May 5, at 11
p.m. with re-energization
scheduled for 5 a.m. on
Saturday, May 6.
BPA personnel will
be servicing and testing
equipment and performing
routine maintenance on
their substation equipment
during that time.
Columbia Basin Elec-
tric states it would like to
apologize to its affected
members for any incon-
venience this outage may
cause, but says every mea-
sure was taken to schedule
this outage at the least dis-
ruptive time possible.
The outage will affect
only the CBEC members
served out of the Ione sub-
station. Those areas in-
clude: Town of Ione, Ella
Rd., Lower Rhea Creek,
Brenner Canyon, Ione
Gooseberry Rd., Dry Fork,
Lower Willow Creek, North
Lex and the surrounding
areas. The communities
of Heppner and Lexington
will not be affected by this
outage.
Members unsure
whether or not they will
be affected by this outage,
please call Columbia Basin
Electric at 541-676-9146
and a CBEC representative
will be happy to assist in
answering any questions.
Merkley to
hold town
hall in
Heppner
Sunday
U . S .
Senator Jeff
Merkley
will host a
town hall
meeting in
Heppner
this Sunday, Sen. Jeff
A p r i l 3 0 , Merkley
from 5:30
to 6:30 p.m. at Heppner
Elementary School, 235
Stanbery St. the public is
invited to attend.
Bryant foundation is ‘incredible gift to
the city of Heppner’
Foundation director Kim Cutsforth speaks to Chamber
NOW IN STOCK!!
Selection of Flowers,
Vegetables, Shrubs,
Trees and more!
MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M.
Have a news story or photo for the Gazette? Email to editor@rapidserve.net
Want to advertize in the Gazette? email megan@rapidserve.net
Call 541-676-9228 or stop by our office at 188 Willow Street, Heppner