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VOL. 143
NO. 44 8 Pages
Wednesday, November 1, 2023
Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon
Pioneer Memorial Hospice Celebrates 20
years of Service with Luncheon for the
community
In a world where com-
passion, comfort, and care
seldom take center stage,
a group of unsung heroes
deserve our heartfelt thanks
– hospice professionals,
volunteers, and family care-
givers. These dedicated
individuals work tirelessly
to provide end-of-life care
and support to patients and
families during one of life’s
most challenging journeys.
Pioneer Memorial
Hospice is part of Morrow
County Health District
and gained Medicare
certification in 2003 through
the guidance and diligence
of our original chaplain
and volunteer coordinator,
Carolyn Willey, and our
original hospice director,
Robanai Disque.
November is National
Hospice Month, and Pio-
neer Memorial Hospice is
celebrating 20 years of ser-
vice to the community by
honoring the many people
who have provided comfort
in the face of pain, hope in
the midst of despair, and
peace at the end of life’s
journey. Their sacrifice
and dedication have been
immeasurable gifts to those
in need.
Hospice nurses, doc-
tors, aides, social workers,
counselors, volunteers, and
many others go above and
beyond to ensure that pa-
tients facing life-limiting
illnesses can find peace,
comfort, and dignity in their
final days. Their service is
not just a job; it’s a calling
driven by empathy and a
deep sense of purpose. “We
hope all the friends of Hos-
pice will come.” said retired
Hospice Director Molly
Rhea. “We have many
colleagues, volunteers, and
family caregivers through-
out Morrow and Gilliam
counties, and we want to
recognize their contribution
to building the exceptional
program in this area.”
The care provided by
hospice professionals ex-
tends far beyond medical
treatment. They also offer
emotional support, guid-
ance, and companionship
to patients and their fami-
lies, helping them navigate
end-of-life care’s physical,
emotional, and spiritual
challenges. Their presence
brings solace and reassur-
ance during times of uncer-
tainty and grief.
Not only do hospice
professionals and volun-
teers need to be celebrated,
but also the family caregiv-
ers dedicated to their loved
ones in the last months of
life. “It’s crucial to recog-
nize their remarkable com-
mitment. Countless times,
we marvel at the families
that come together to help in
the caregiving,” states Jerry
Conklin, Pioneer Memorial
Hospice’s Chaplain. “Their
unwavering commitment to
sustaining the quality of life
for those facing life’s end is
a testament to the strength
of the human spirit.”
If you have been in-
volved in Hospice as a
volunteer, a professional,
or a caregiver, or would like
to celebrate and learn more
about Hospice and how you
can become involved, we
are thrilled to invite you to
the 20th Anniversary Cel-
ebration Luncheon of Pio-
neer Memorial Hospice on
Wednesday, November 8th
at 12:00 pm at St. Patrick’s
Center in Heppner.
Please join us as we
commemorate two decades
of providing compassionate
care and support to those
in need. Please RSVP to
(541)-676-2946 by Friday,
November 3 rd , to ensure
we have a spot reserved for
you. “We look forward to
celebrating this significant
milestone with you.” states
former Hospice Director
Molly Rhea. “If you cannot
attend, thank you for your
incredible service. Your
work leaves an indelible
mark on the lives of those
you touch, and for that, we
are grateful.”
Lexington revamps its Woolery Project
Town Hall parking lot host a Successful
Heppner boys and girls cross country team.
-Contributed photo
Heppner Boys and Girls
have qualified for the state
championships in 2A Cross
Country. The team will be
competing at Lane Commu-
nity College on Saturday,
November 4th. While the
boys automatically secured
their spot by finishing 2nd
at Districts, the girls re-
ceived a wild card entry.
Lily Nichols and Grady
Greenwood both clinched
-Continued to PAGE EIGHT
Dance is in session
Nov. 8 th
Dance instructor Paige
Counsell - Photo by Annalynn
Black
By Annalynn Black
Heppner is buzzing
with excitement as The
Element dance company
makes its grand entrance.
The brainchild of the tal-
ented and ambitious Paige
Counsell, a mere 20 years
old, this dance company has
already started accepting
registrations for children
aged 3 to 15 and starts No-
vember 8 th
Paige’s love affair with
dance began at the age of
8 at Dance Unlimited in
Hermiston. Since then, she
has embraced various dance
styles such as hip-hop, tap,
ballet, contemporary, and
jazz. Out of all these genres,
jazz, and contemporary
hold a special place in her
heart, igniting her passion
for movement and expres-
sion.
Driven by her enthusi-
-Continued to PAGE EIGHT
Oktoberfest auction Senior Matters
Wendy West speaking at the 9th annual Oktoberfest
- Contributed Photo
Lexington Town Hall new parking lot - Contributed Photo
By Annalynn Black
In a triumph for the
town of Lexington, a
much-needed renovation
project has reached its suc-
cessful completion, bring-
ing a breath of fresh air to
the community. The state
of both the Town Hall and
Fire Hall parking lots had
been a pressing concern,
threatening the safety and
accessibility of these vital
public spaces. Thanks to a
timely grant from the Wil-
low Creek Valley Economic
Development group and
the AWS In Communities
Eastern Oregon Fund, the
town was able to revamp
the parking lots. Another
grant from AWS enabled
the town to upgrade the
garage door of the Fire
Hall, ensuring a heightened
level of security for both the
firefighters and the public.
The core objectives of
this endeavor aimed at en-
hancing the safety of public
access, implementing clear
signage to define parking
areas and ADA-compliant
spaces, as well as creating
appropriate driveways for
the Fire Hall, and granting
an unimpeded right of way
for fire trucks in emergen-
cies.
It is undeniable that the
completion of this project
holds value for the residents
of Lexington. The Town
Hall serves as a hub of
community activities and
a conduit for conducting
business. By addressing
the pressing issues with the
parking lots, Lexington can
now provide a welcoming
and accessible space for its
citizens. The town’s com-
mitment to its residents’
needs and its proactive
approach to securing grants
acts as a standard for other
towns seeking to revitalize
their infrastructure.
The Ninth Annual Ok-
toberfest Auction and Din-
ner, hosted at the American
Legion Hall in Ione, proved
to be an astounding success
for The Woolery Project.
Though the event did not
draw a large crowd, the at-
tendees more than compen-
sated with their immense
generosity and unwaver-
ing enthusiasm. Thanks to
their support, The Woolery
Project achieved its most
successful fundraiser to
date, enabling them to make
a considerable contribution
of $10,000 to Anderson
and Perry for the building
site plans and engineering
work. The runners of the
Woolery Project and Okto-
berfest extend their heart-
felt gratitude to all those
who attended the event, as
well as those who generous-
ly sponsored and donated to
this noble cause. It is thanks
to your unwavering support
that The Woolery Project
has made such remarkable
progress. They would also
like to extend a special
note of appreciation to the
dedicated students from Ar-
lington High School. Their
invaluable assistance with
overseeing raffles, manag-
ing auctions, and helping
with the cleanup after the
event played a vital role in
its smooth operation.
The Senior Health In-
surance Benefits Assistance
(SHIBA) program is a valu-
able resource for individu-
als enrolled in Medicare.
Covering the entire state of
Oregon, SHIBA consists of
a network of well-trained
counselors who specialize
in providing guidance and
assistance to seniors nav-
igating the complexities
of Medicare. Among the
dedicated representatives is
Edgar Chavez-Lopez, who
serves as a local SHIBA
representative based out of
Good Shepherd in Herm-
iston. Recognizing the im-
portance of educating se-
niors about their Medicare
options, Mr. Chavez-Lopez
will be speaking at the
senior lunch on Tuesday,
November 7th, starting
at 11:30 AM. During his
visit, Mr. Chavez-Lopez
will be available until 2 PM
to address any questions
or concerns individuals
may have regarding their
Medicare coverage. With
the Medicare open enroll-
ment period spanning from
October 15th to December
7th, this event presents an
opportune moment for at-
tendees to seek clarification
on any uncertainties they
may have.
The senior lunch, held
weekly, takes place at the
St. Patrick’s Apartments
meeting room, located at
190 N Main St. in Heppner,
Oregon. Lunch commences
at 11:30 AM every Tuesday
and is provided free of
charge for individuals aged
60 and above. A nominal fee
of $5 is requested for those
under the age of 60, and
any voluntary donations are
greatly appreciated.
For seniors seeking
guidance to make the most
informed decisions about
their Medicare coverage,
Mr. Chavez-Lopez’s pres-
ence at the senior lunch
provides an invaluable op-
portunity to address any
questions or concerns they
may have. As the open
enrollment period draws
near, it is crucial to take
advantage of these resourc-
es and ensure that you are
well-informed about your
Medicare options.
CALL
541-989-8221
ext 204
for more
information