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Local woman encouraged by
MS news
Potential ‘game-changer’ in fight against
multiple sclerosis
By David Sykes
Local woman Merilee
McDowell, who has multi-
ple sclerosis and is an active
fundraiser and advocate to
find a cure, says researchers
at Oregon Health and Sci-
ence University in Portland
say they’ve had a break-
through in treatment of the
disease. So much so they
are calling it a “potential
game-changer.”
Researchers say
they’ve developed a com-
VOL. 138 NO. 17 8 Pages Wednesday, April 24, 2019
Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon
pound that can lead to the
repair of a protective cover
for cells in the brain and
spine. That cover, called
myelin, is often damaged
in patients diagnosed with
MS.
“This is a huge break-
through,” says McDowell.
“To repair the damage that’s
been done is huge for every-
one with MS.”
Two of the senior au-
thors involved in the study
say the drug they helped
create is a first for the treat-
ment of multiple sclerosis.
“There are no known drugs
currently available that
stimulate myelin. That’s the
one big problem remaining
with MS therapy,” said Tom
Scanlan, Ph.D. at OHSU.
Doctor Dennis Bour-
dette said he expects it will
Pictured back row (L-R): Cason Mitchell, Jayden Mitchell, Zavier Glover, Casey Fletcher, be a few years before the
Roy Collins and Derek Smith. Front row (L-R): Mrs. Collins, Kennisyn Wilkins, Madison compound is ready for clin-
Combe, Claire Grieb, Cami VanArsdale, Hunter Nichols, Blake Wolters, Carson Brosnan,
ical trials. McDowell said
Kason Cimmiyotti and Cody Fletcher.
she has met Dr. Bourdette
Twenty-one Heppner High School students spent the first weekend of April com-
peting at the state FBLA competition in Portland, OR, with many students placing in
the competition.
Jaiden Mahoney placed second in Agribusiness; Madison Combe, Jenna Mc-
Cullough and Claire Grieb placed second in Hospitality Management; Cason Mitchell
and Hunter Nichols placed second in Sports Management; Cami VanArsdale and
Keegan Gibbs placed fourth in Entrepreneurship and Casey Fletcher, Gavin Robinson
and Zavier Glover placed fifth in Sports Management.
By David Sykes
Morrow County voters
will be asked to approve a
five-year Morrow County
Health District tax levy to
BEO Bancorp and its cated in the Sierra Building and Union Counties, both help with funding the dis-
subsidiary, Bank of East- at 202 SE Dorion, Suite with an office in Hermiston, trict. The levy is a continu-
ern Oregon, announce the 102, Pendleton.
as well as additional staff ation of the one currently in
opening of a Hermiston
Bank of Eastern Or- in our existing locations. place and approved in 2014.
The district says it will
Loan Production Office egon has also added staff These bankers are well
use
the revenue to main-
located at 1475 N. 1st to its Island City Loan respected in the industry
tain
and expand services
Street; formerly the EONI Production Office. David and bring many years of
throughout
the county and
location. The office will be Stirewalt, Craig Nightin- banking experience with
“continue
to
advance the
staffed by veteran bankers gale, Carly Davis and Jack them to Bank of Eastern
quality
of
care
provided in
Lucas Wagner, Jared Lath- Wright join Kristy Nelson Oregon. Their knowledge
each
patient
care
area as
rop, Jennifer Berry and at our Union County office of the local markets and a
Melissa Samms.
located at 10201 N. McAl- loyal customer following
Additionally, Bank of ister Rd., Island City, OR. will serve our bank well. I
Eastern Oregon has hired
In announcing the new welcome these bankers to
veteran bankers in Pend- office and additional staff, our banking family. I am
leton. Tracy Hamby and president and Chief Exec- confident that their cus-
Jennifer Mulvihill join the utive Officer, Jeff Bailey tomers and prospective
Board certified foot and
existing Pendleton staff of said, “We are pleased to customers will enjoy Bank
ankle
specialist, Dr. Kessa
Mike Short and Shayne have the opportunity to add of Eastern Oregon’s brand
Mauras,
of Mt. Hood Podi-
Wagner. Their office is lo- to our presence in Umatilla of banking.”
atry, is now serving Morrow
County residents at Morrow
County Health District’s
Pioneer Memorial Clinic
in Heppner. Currently, Dr.
Mauras will see patients
from one to two Fridays
per month, with the poten-
tial of increasing her time
in Heppner based on the
needs of the community and
patients.
While podiatric medi-
cine and surgery encompass
many areas, Dr. Mauras is
most passionate about dia-
betic foot ulcer prevention,
azette
imes
FBLA students compete at
state competition
Merilee McDowell with grandson Henry Burnside at an MS
walk fundraiser in Heppner.
and had a meal with him
when she was in Washing-
ton DC.
McDowell has been
active in organizing MS
walks in Heppner for many
years, which have raised
thousands of dollars toward
researching a cure for the
disease. And fulfilling her
role as an advocate for peo-
ple who have the affliction,
McDowell says she is going
to contact her legislators
about “keeping the cost of
the drug down so everyone
can afford it when it’s ap-
proved,” which she says is
probably years away. She
said she may try and get
into the study in the early
stages of testing.
Health District tax levy to be
on ballot
BEO opens loan office in
Hermiston
A continuation of current levy
well as ensuring that our
facilities, technology and
infrastructure, workforce of
124 employees and 67 vol-
unteers continue to meet the
needs of our communities.”
The district says the
levy is essential to maintain
emergency medical ser-
vices throughout the county
with paid full-time staff,
replacement of ambulances,
equipment and recruitment
of additional providers and
specialists. It says the levy
is necessary as the perma-
nent tax rate will continue
to be insufficient to fund
district operations.
According to estimates
from the county assessor’s
office the proposed levy
will generate approximately
on average $702,741 per
year in fiscal years 2019-
2010 through 2023-2024
for a total of $3,513,705.
Ballots with the levy
included are scheduled to
go into the mail May 1 and
are due back to the clerk’s
office by May 21.
Podiatry services now
available in Morrow County
Elementary school holds mock
training exercise
wound healing, and limb
salvage. According to the
Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC), ap-
proximately 73,000 ampu-
tations of lower limbs are
performed on those with
diabetes in the U.S. every
year.
Dr. Mauras is commit-
ted to educating patients
about the prevention of foot
related medical conditions,
providing them with as
many resources as possible
so that in her words, “they
don’t become a statistic.”
She also shared that too
often, a skin injury or a
small wound can quickly
Dr. Kessa Mauras
escalate to something more
serious when there is a de-
lay in receiving a medical
evaluation and appropriate
treatment.
Questions for Dr. Mau-
ras regarding her services in
Morrow County, or to in-
quire about an appointment,
contact Mt. Hood Podiatry
at 541-386-1006.
Brandi Sweeney, Jessica Lentz, Tiffanie Greenup, Darcy Robinson, Jennifer Jaca, Missy Cuts-
forth and SRO Ken Kippley participated in the mock gas leak exercise.
Heppner Elementary
School held a mock gas
leak exercise recently, with
Morrow County School
District staff and volunteers
pitching in to help. The
exercise focused on the
re-unification process of
getting the students back
to their families after such
an event.
During the exercise,
which began at the elemen-
tary school, the group fol-
lowed the process to safely
evacuate the students to
the re-unification site at the
fairgrounds. The process to
be followed includes order
and careful documentation
to allow students to be
reunited with their parents.
Morrow County Sher-
iff’s Office participates in
this type of training ex-
ercise with all schools in
Morrow County, working
with community partners to
keep everyone safe. School
Resource Deputy Ken Kip-
pley assisted in the training
process to keep it running
smoothly.
ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE:
MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M.
MORROW COUNTY GRAIN GROWERS
350 MAIN STREET, LEXINGTON OR 97839
CONTACT: JUSTIN BAILEY, 541-989-8221 EXT 204
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