HJSHS hires new
principal
ten years of administrative
experience in Prairie City
and Grant school districts.
The committee was im-
pressed with his second-
ary background, having
served the last seven years
as the principal at Grant
Union High School in John
Day. Having worked in
both Prairie City and Grant
school districts, Ryan is
familiar with rural commu-
nities and is committed to
the continued growth and
success of the students, staff
and programs at HJSHS.
Matt Combe told the
Gazette, “Additionally, we
are excited to have him join
the MCSD administrative
team. He brings not only
a wealth of educational
knowledge and secondary
experience but also experi-
ence as an athletic director.”
50¢
VOL. 141
NO. 16
8 Pages
Wednesday, April 20, 2022
Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon
Health Department employee files labor
complaint against county
Debra Green claims retaliation following whistleblower complaint
ministration (LPHA) Direc-
tor Darrell Green. Darrell is
not only the LPHA Director
but also Debra’s husband
and the county adminis-
trator.
Debra Green alleges
that on April 26, 2021, the
county Human Resource
Director Lindsay Grogan
issued a disciplinary action
against her “claiming that
I should not have sent the
email to the LPHA because
the director is my husband.
Prior to my whistleblow-
ing activities, respondent
(Morrow County) had no
problems with my commu-
nication with the LPHA and
never informed me that I
should not contact them,”
Green says in her BOLI
complaint. Green went on
to say she was told to con-
tact Rivera, and then county
counsel Justin Nelson. She
was then told not to contact
the LPHGA “because of my
family relationship.” Green
said she never received a
response after reporting the
alleged falsifying incidents
to the county.
Following filing the
whistleblower complaint
alleging falsification of vac-
cine documents, Green says
the county retaliated against
her. “After my reports, my
workload has increased,
and I am doing duties that
are not within my clas-
sification.” She went on
to say she asked Morrow
County to pay her a higher
classification for working
“out of class,” but the re-
quest was denied. She then
added that the retaliatory
actions continue. “Respon-
dent (Morrow County) sub-
jects me to different terms,
conditions or privileges of
employment and retaliates
against me, because I en-
gaged in whistleblowing
activities and for my family
relationship.” Debra Green
has been employed in the
Health Department since
December of 2019 as a front
office assistant.
The Heppner Ga-
April “Snowmageddon” hits
zette-Times contacted all
three county commission-
ers for their response to
the BOLI complaint. Our
inquiry was forwarded to
county counsel Justin Nel-
son who replied: “Morrow
County has received a copy
of the Bureau of Labor
& Industries Complaint
filed by a county employ-
ee. Morrow County takes
these complaints seriously
and the county is working
with human resource legal
counsel to respond to any
allegations made in the
complaint. Based upon the
ongoing review and inves-
tigation of this matter, the
county has no other com-
ment at this time regarding
the personnel matter,” Nel-
son told the Gazette.
The BOLI complaint
was obtained by the Ga-
zette-Times through an
inquiry to the state agency.
All complaints are pub-
lic record and, along with
a copy of the complaint,
BOLI Public Records Man-
ager Kelsey Dietrick told
the Gazette, “I am attaching
a civil rights complaint that
was filed with our agency
on 3/4/2022. This com-
plaint is currently under
investigation and the inves-
tigatory information is ex-
empt from public disclosure
until the case is resolved,”
she said.
Heppner Jr/Sr High
School has announced the
hiring of Mr. Ryan Gerry
as the new principal for
the 2022/2023 school year.
Gerry will take the place
of Matt Combe who has
been hired as the superin-
tendent for Morrow County
schools.
Gerry has 23 years of
educational experience and
Taylor Rollins
selected by EOU
By Doris Brosnan
Taylor Rollins has been
awarded a partial athletic
scholarship as well as the
University Scholar Award
from Eastern Oregon Uni-
versity. This senior at Ione
will be reporting in La
Grande next fall for foot-
ball and for furthering his
education.
Taylor’s mother, Tricia
Rollins, reports that “his
love for football started
when he was very young.
He played flag football in
Hermiston until he was old
enough to play Colt foot-
ball in Heppner in the fifth
grade.”
Taylor, a three-sport
athlete yearly, was a four-
year varsity starter in foot-
ball and basketball for Ione,
and he played baseball as a
freshman for Heppner.
Taylor has been select-
ed for the eight-man All-
Star game in June and is
Taylor Rollins
one of the few 1A alternates
selected for the East-West
Shrine game in August.
An outstanding record
of honors received, extra-
curricular activities, and
community service, as well
as Taylor’s achievements
in the sporting arenas, ex-
plains the value EOU places
on this young man. Today
at school he will make his
EOU intentions official at a
5 p.m. signing.
Easter egg hunt must go on
Pictured: Harley Anderson, K.C. Anderson, the Easter Bunny, Olson and Erin Anderson
Many brave families showed up for the annual Heppner Easter Egg Hunt last
Saturday, despite the weather. Snow and frigid temperatures weren’t going to stop the
hunt for the children of Heppner. The annual event is sponsored by the Heppner Elks
Lodge #358 and put on by Past Exalted Ruler Colin Anderson, his wife Erin and their
children Harley, K.C. and Olson.
Heppner Elks secretary Teresa Hughes was the Easter Bunny wrangler, and ev-
eryone appreciated the Easter Bunny himself. This year over 2000 eggs were stuffed
and hidden at the Morrow County fairgrounds.
E L E VAT E YO U R A DV E N T U R E
CALL
541-989-8221
ext 204
Heppner and the surrounding areas of south Morrow County
were hit by unusual April snowfall early last week.
-Contibuted photos.
NEW
2022
FOR
By David Sykes
Morrow County Health
Department Office Assis-
tant Debra Green has filed
a Bureau of Labor and
Industry (BOLI) complaint
against the county alleg-
ing she has been retaliated
against after she became a
whistleblower by report-
ing COVID-19 vaccine
documents allegedly being
falsified by her department
head.
In the complaint, filed
March 4, 2022, Green said
in April of 2021 she “found
out that the Morrow County
Health Department was not
following the Data Submis-
sion Guide required by the
Oregon Health Authority
in regard to the COVID-19
vaccines.” Green said
Health Department Direc-
tor Nazario Rivera, who has
since resigned, “falsified
medical documents” in
April 2021, which she then
reported to her supervisor,
who was also Rivera, and
to Local Public Health Ad-
Ryan Gerry
for more
information
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