EIGHT - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, October 19 , 2022
Home health staff recognized at state awards 4-H members honored
color to match the patient’s and hospice engaged with
personality. Although she the community through with Becky Smith
is busy she is often caught special events like a butter-
sharing a joke, snack or fly release and Lanterns on
Memorial Award
funny story. She is also the Lake.
MCHD Home Health and Hospice staff members were recently
recognized at a state-wide award ceremony. L-R: Katilyn Zinter,
Home Health Aide of the Year; Molly Rhea, recipient of the Hope
Runnels Award; Jacqueline Alleman, Volunteer of the Year; and
Jerry Conklin, Chaplain of the Year. -Photo by Kirsten Espinola
Four staff members
from M o r r ow Count y
Health District’s Home
Health and Hospice pro-
gram were honored recently
at the OAHC Oregon As-
sociation for Home Care
(OAHC) annual award cer-
emony in Newport, OR.
Award winners were Molly
Rhea, who received the
Hope Runnels Award, Kat-
ilyn Zinter, Home Health
Aide of the Year; Jacqueline
Alleman, Volunteer of the
Year; and Jerry Conklin,
Chaplain of the Year.
Awards are given to
home health employees
who demonstrate outstand-
ing service in either direct
or supportive services to
home care patients.
Hospice chaplain Jerry
Conklin received the 2022
Chaplain of the Year award.
He was nominated for the
award because of his ex-
cellence in patient care,
teamwork and dedication.
His nomination pointed to
activities above and beyond
the normal scope of his
10-hour-per-week chaplain
position.
“When his wife was
diagnosed with metastatic
breast cancer, he retired
and they moved to our rural
area close to their daugh-
ter,” his nomination stat-
ed. “Knowing the real-life
stress of caring for his wife,
he brings solid credibility as
he communes with the fam-
ilies of his hospice patients
and validates their plan.”
Conklin has worked
not only to walk with fam-
ilies in the midst of home
care, but also to provide
follow-up grief counseling.
He stays in contact with
families and writes notes of
encouragement regularly.
He is described as always
being ready to dress up in a
costume, be part of a team
activity, or give a hearty
“’atta boy.”
Katilyn Zinter received
the 2022 Home Health
Aide of the Year award.
She is described as “an
old softy.” She lobbied
long and hard for a blanket
warmer for her car so she
could heat blankets for her
patients, and she personally
crocheted eight blankets
for hospice patients last
Christmas, choosing each
described as “tough” and
“knowledgeable.”
“She knows how im-
portant it is that our care-
givers have complete infor-
mation, so she teaches them
how they can care for their
loved ones,” one nomina-
tion stated. “Her primary
concern is for caregivers
to have the strength to con-
tinue to help throughout the
length of the illness.”
Katilyn also fills in at
the hospital on her days off,
is a member of the Heppner
Volunteer Fire Department
and coaches the junior high
girls’ softball team.
Volunteer of the Year
award for 2022 went to
Jacqueline Alleman, known
to most as “Jackie.” She
has served as the MCHD
Home health and Hospice
volunteer coordinator since
January of 2020. During
COVID-19, she assumed
the duties of visiting hos-
pice patients herself on a
weekly basis.
“Jackie is an amazing
example of a self-less lead-
er, from making sure each
staff member is remem-
bered on their birthday with
a card and a potluck; she
has taken it upon herself to
make sure the garbage gets
out on the appropriate day
and the office kitchenette
is tidy,” her nomination
stated.
She has also designed
and built parade floats for
the health district and has
worked to keep home health
The Hope Runnels
Award is given to “an in-
dividual in a management
role who demonstrates out-
standing leadership, service
and achievement as a pio-
neer in furthering the scope
of home health services
in Oregon.” According to
those who nominated Molly
Rhea, she exhibits those
qualities and more.
“Molly has been a nurse
in this area for a long time.
Many older folks in town
call her first if they have a
problem. She makes them
feel that they are human
beings of great worth,” one
said. “Her work doesn’t
stop at the door; she is al-
ways giving.”
Those who work with
her say that Rhea’s individ-
ualized care for the patient
and family is what has
made her the example to
follow; when the work she
does would burn out many,
a large sign on her bulle-
tin board reads, “Finish
Strong.” At the same time,
they say, she helps team
members see their own
talents and how they fit into
the team at home health and
hospice.
“She can move from
attending department head
meetings and solving in-
surmountable problems in
health care to donning a
paint brush to help us paint
the latest hospice fundrais-
er. She is indeed our trea-
sured example to follow.”
Pictured L-R: Morrow County 4-H members honored with
the Becky Smith Memorial Award are Gage Heideman
(Junior, Ione), Landon Szasz (Intermediate, Boardman),
Arianna Worden (Senior, Heppner), Pat Smith (sponsor),
Callahan Baker (Beginner, Heppner). -Contributed photo
Morrow County 4-H held its
annual achievement night at
the Sage Center on Sunday,
Oct. 16. One of the most
coveted awards given is
the Becky Smith Memorial
Award. For 30 years, Karl
and Pat Smith have spon-
sored recognition of 4-H
members with this award
in honor of their daughter,
Becky, who passed away
in a car accident in 1989.
Becky was a dedicated 4-H
sheep showman and had an
enthusiasm for her project
unmatched by most.
The 2022 recipients,
receiving a buckle, are:
beginner, Callahan Baker
from Heppner; junior, Gage
Heideman from Ione; inter-
mediate, Landon Szasz from
Boardman and senior, Arian-
na Worden from Heppner.
The recognition goes to
a beginner, junior, interme-
diate and senior 4-H member
who go above and beyond
their regular responsibilities
at the county fair in the live-
stock barns. Members do not
have to place highest in their
class, but have the enthusi-
asm and willingness to help
others; traits that embodied
Becky. The recipients are
nominated by county 4-H
leaders and volunteers and
are voted upon by the Lead-
ers Association, 4-H Agent
and award sponsor.
MCSD to hold
special meeting
Morrow County School
District will hold a special
meeting on Oct. 19 at 6 p.m.
at the north district office/
Congratulations!
Morrow Education Center in
Irrigon. The purpose of the
meeting is OSBA Training –
Board/Superintendent Transi-
tion Program.
Ione-Arlington Volleyball!!
Good Luck at Districts in The Dalles Saturday 10/22
Back Row L-R: Jolene Serrano, Leilani Weiser, Sunem Calvillo, Calli Troutman, Victoria De La Torre, LeeLynn
Vandever. Front Row L-R: Analisa Vakdez, Madison Orem, Kelly Doherty, Naijiah Knight, Noelia Ramirez.
Not Pictured: Lizzy Doherty, Coach Dawn Eynetich, Asst. Coach Ethan Weiser, Asst. Coach Jill Martin.
Ione Booster Club & Supporters
Allen & Nancy Anderson
Allstott Construction
Bank of Eastern OR
Betty Gray
Blown Away Ranch
Columbia Basin Electric
Dale & Karen Holland
Dan & Sandi Richardson
Dances with Mules
Darrin Padberg
Dean & Florene Robinson
Devin Oil Company
Dick & Jannie Allen
Dickenson Chiropractic
Family Health Associates
Fourth Street Family Dental
Gar Aviation
IRT, LLC
Jim & Monica Swanson
Joe & Donna Rietmann
Joe & Linda Halvorsen
Joel Peterson & Lea
Keith & Judy Rea
Kip & Sarah Krebs
Les Schwab Tires
Lexington Pump
Loren & Della Heideman
Marvin & Tanna Padberg
Mid Columbia Producers
Morrow County Grain Growers
Morrow County Health District
Murray's Drug
Neiffer Ranch
Northwest Farm Credit
Perk & Brews
Peterson's Jewelry
Tacos Hometown
Tom & Arlynda Gates
Virgil & Debbie Morgan
Wayne Hams
Wheatland Insurance