Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, June 1, 2022 -- THREE
~ Letters to the Editor ~
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A heartfelt letter to my
community
To the editor;
It won’t come as a sur-
prise that I’ve been fol-
lowing the negative social
media campaign and the
letters to the editor that tar-
get Morrow County Health
District.
My response to this
has largely been to turn
inward and focus on trying
to build up our team at the
district. If I could absorb
and deflect the negativity
from our team, I would do it
in a heartbeat. The truth is,
I can’t and it’s hard on our
staff. It’s hard on all of us.
Gosh, it’s been a long
two years. The district has
been through a huge amount
of change, it’s true. We’ve
also worked through years
of COVID now and it hasn’t
been easy. Yes, our staff are
tired. Yes, burnout is a very
real risk.
…But, do you know
what else our staff are?
They are hardworking,
kind, resilient people that
keep showing up day after
day. They are your family,
your friends, your neigh-
bors. They are the district.
I’ve been in healthcare
since 2004 and never have I
seen a community that cares
so much. It’s an amazing
thing.
It’s easy to be negative
and it’s easy to tear others
down. My heartfelt ask to
our community is this –
let’s build each other up.
If there’s a problem, let’s
work together to solve it.
Sincerely,
Emily Roberts
Heppner
Mustangs look to
upset Loggers
By Blake Carter
The Mustangs had
a quick turnaround after
their first round play-in
game with the Bonanza
Antlers. The following
night Heppner departed on
the long trip to Astoria to
meet with the Knappa Log-
gers Wednesday afternoon.
Knappa got off to a slow
start this season, going 1-3
in the first four games. After
this start Knappa rattled
off 18 straight wins to lock
up the number three seed.
Heppner would try to knock
off the Loggers but in five
innings, Knappa captured a
13-1 win.
Knappa got hot early,
scoring eight runs in just
the first innings. Using five
walks, two singles, and a
triple to put the Mustangs in
a hole early. Heppner could
not get anything going,
having just one hit through
the first three innings of
play. Knappa would score
three more in the third, and
two more in the fourth,
making it 13-0 after four
innings. Heppner would get
a single from shortstop Car-
son Eyenetich, and Tucker
Ashbeck would be hit by a
pitch. The runners would
move around, stealing bas-
es before Eyenetich came
home on an error by the
Logger catcher. Ryan Lind-
say would also single in the
next at bat, before being
thrown out stealing second
base. Heppner would fall
13-1 and end their season.
Heppner finished 16-9
in a turbulent season. Hep-
pner will graduate five se-
niors, Jace Coe, Zander
Fisher, Kason Cimmiyotti,
Brock Hisler and Toby
Nation.
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MCHD announces
medical staff update
E a r l i e r t h i s y e a r,
MCHD welcomed Dr.
Joshua Sirucek to its Hep-
pner medical staff to pro-
vide care in both the clinic
and emergency room. Dr.
Sirucek resides in Iowa
with his family and in-
tended to relocate to our
community. Unfortunately,
due to a change in family
circumstances, Dr. Sirucek
is unable to relocate to Hep-
pner at this time.
Dr. Sirucek will con-
tinue seeing patients in the
clinic and ER as scheduled
through the end of August
2022. After that time, Dr.
Sirucek will be unable to
see patients in the clinic,
however, he will contin-
ue to work in the ER as
available. Dr. Sirucek and
MCHD are mutually inter-
ested in having Dr. Sirucek
resume his clinic duties at
a future date when his cir-
cumstances change.
“We fully recognize
that many in our commu-
nity have come to know
and appreciate being cared
for by Dr. Sirucek. MCHD
echoes their sentiments
and acknowledges patients’
frustrations in wanting to
establish a long-term rela-
tionship with a primary care
provider in the communi-
ty,” the press release stated.
MCHD will welcome
Amanda Roy, PA-C in July
of 2022 and Dr. Rodney
Schaffer in August of 2022.
Look for additional details
about their arrival on social
media and in the upcoming
summer newsletter, “Living
Healthier.”
In the meantime,
MCHD reminds all served
by the district that our
health care teams continue
to provide high-quality,
patient-centered care in
Heppner, lone, Lexington,
Boardman and Irrigon. Visit
healthymc.org for details
about each of the providers
and locations.
“Additionally, MCHD
continues its unwavering
commitment to advancing
access to care, working
with several recruitment
resources to identify candi-
dates with a desire to serve
our unique rural commu-
nities,” the press release
continued.
Also, according to the
press release, “Lastly, we
ask that our community
turn to MCHD for the facts
about staffing and other
district news. Though it can
be tempting to join a chorus
of negative voices, we’re
focused on creating a sym-
phony of health, wellbeing,
and community harmony.
We invite the communi-
ty to send questions and
comments to community@
mocohd.org.”
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