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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 14, 2024)
$QQXDO6W3DWULFN¶V :HH%LW2¶,UHODQG Celebration March 15 - 17 50¢ VOL. 144 NO. 7 10 Pages Wednesday, February 14, 2024 Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon County, Health District take tenative steps toward peace, but will it last? By Chris Sykes Feb 8th - As the am- bulance service dispute escalates, tensions have run high with a flurry of Facebook attacks, threats, rumors, innuendo, battling media press releases, and a waves of misinformation circulating. This has created a challenging environment for reaching a civil conclu- sion on the matter. Howev- er, a potential breakthrough meeting took place on Feb- ruary 8th between the Mor- row County Commissioners and the Morrow County Health District Board. This PDUNHG D VLJQL¿FDQW PLOH- stone in the ongoing at- tempts to resolve the future of the ambulance service in Morrow County. One of the primary ob- jectives of this meeting was to address the rampant drama and misinforma- tion that has been fueling discussions in the public. Additionally, the aim was WRHVWDEOLVKPRUHH൵HFWLYH communication channels, organize future joint meet- ings, and joint statements, and ensure that interactions with the media and on Face- book are handled appropri- ately. The meeting attracted considerable attention, with 55 individuals from the public joining remotely via the Zoom. Representing the Mor- row County Health District were Diane Kilkenny, the Chair of the Morrow Coun- ty Health District, Trista Seastone, serving as Vice Chair of the Health District. Additionally, John Murray, Steven Munkers and Scott Ezell, who hold positions as Board Members of the Health District, were also in attendance. Also in attendance were Emily Roberts, the CEO of the Health District, and Sam Van Laer, the Chief Medical Officer of the Health District. Representing Morrow County were Board Chair Dave Sykes, Commissioner Roy Drago, and Commis- VLRQHU-H൵:HQKRO]9DOHULH Ballard, a Morrow County representative, and Greg Goebel, Morrow County Council were also present. Diane Kilkenny from the Health District began the meeting with an open- ing statement, stating that the purpose of the meet- ing was to find common ground and move forward. The meeting would discuss rules for future meetings, the framework of future meetings, media, and press release discussions, and the set of future meetings. She said the focus should be on what is best for the residents, government, and Health District of Morrow County, and the importance of being good community partners and collaborators. David Sykes made his opening statement from the County’s side, saying he agreed with Kilkenny’s remarks but also wanted to add to it. Sykes stressed the importance of mov- ing forward and avoiding getting caught up in past grievances. He suggested that focusing on history and SRLQWLQJ¿QJHUVZRXOGRQO\ hinder progress and poten- tially worsen the situation. Sykes said, “If we sit here around this table and start saying, well, you said this and you did this, this is going to circle and we’re not going to get anywhere.” Instead, he proposed setting goals for the next meeting DQGZRUNLQJWRZDUGV¿QG- ing solutions to specific issues without dwelling on past transgressions. Sykes believes the meetings could be more productive and constructive. John Murray from the Health District spoke. Mur- ray was out of town at a conference but attended the meeting via Zoom and agreed with all the opening comments that were made. The rules Kilkenny aske if there were any sug- gestions about rules and refraining from delving into past matters. After outlining the agenda, she opened the ÀRRUIRUVXJJHVWLRQV6\NHV ZDV WKH ¿UVW WR VSHDN XS highlighting the need for this discussion to involve only the Health District Board of Directors and the Morrow County Com- missioners, noting that the 0&+'VWD൵ZDVDWWKHWD- EOH+HVRXJKWFODUL¿FDWLRQ on the extent to which the 0&+' VWD൵ ZRXOG EH DO- ORZHGWRSDUWLFLSDWH:RXOG they be allowed to join in when they wanted, would they be strictly forbidden from speaking or would they be permitted to re- spond if directly addressed? :KDW FLUFXPVWDQFH ZRXOG they be allowed to join the discussion? Sykes empha- sized the need to establish these guidelines upfront to avoid any misunderstand- ings or assumptions moving forward. He also asked about public participation and people-watching on Zoom. Murray favored hold- ing discussions directly between the boards. He proposed that if anyone had any inquiries for the VWD൵ WKH\ VKRXOG DGGUHVV them directly. Both parties reached a consensus that the conversation should primarily involve the board members and the com- PLVVLRQHUV ZLWK WKH VWD൵ being questioned by their respective boards and both sides agreed. Facebook and press releases The topic of Facebook and press releases was EURXJKWXSWR¿QGDQH൵HF- tive method to deliver press releases and statements to the public. The main concern was addressing the spread of rumors and misinformation on both Facebook and other media platforms. Murray proposed the idea of a joint press release, which gained interest from both parties. This sparked a shift in the discussion towards assigning respon- sibility for releasing infor- mation. Several suggestions were put forth, including the idea of having all infor- mation run up through the board chairs exclusively for posting on Facebook and the same with their press releases. This suggestion garnered some support. However, Commis- sioner Drago raised a valid concern. He pointed out that this approach may not be feasible due to a restric- tion that prohibits com- missioners from engaging in discussions related to county matters outside of regular business meetings. This concern prompted further consideration and exploration of alternative approaches. It was decided that both the MCHD and the County would engage in a collaborative process of exchanging statements via email or written and deliv- ered in-person letters. The participants agreed to have both parties thoroughly review the statements and press releases, making any necessary changes, before WKHLUR൶FLDOUHOHDVH -Continued to PAGE SEVEN $6$GHEDWHFRQWLQXHV%2&PHHWLQJ)HE th Morrow County Board of Commissioners Chair David Sykes told the audi- ence it was not a debate or question and answer time, but that the commissioners did welcome discussion outside of the meeting. He pointed out that the agen- da contained the contact information for the three commissioners. ³:HZRXOGEHKDSS\WR talk to any of you whenever you want to,” Sykes said. Emily Roberts, Mor- row County health Dis- trict CEO, said the health district did not oppose the county considering all pro- posals, but that MCHD felt a single-provider ASA was the best for the county and that she understood no other proposals had been received. She added that Boardman Fire had three years to submit a proposal and had yet to do so. She also said that considering interim providers rather than MCHD was not the best choice for the county and did not “consider the will of the people.” ³:HKDYHRQO\GD\V to resolve this situation,” she said. “Morrow Coun- ty residents have been speaking out in support of MCHD’s ambulance services for the past three years.” She also called it “offensive” that Morrow County Administrator Mat- thew Jensen would consider MCHD’s EMS advisory committee “compromised.” :KLOH VKH GLG QRW HODE- orate, the comment may have referred to previous statements by Jensen that having MCHD control the EMS committee invited an inherent ethical concerns. “I would trust any per- son on that committee with my life,” said Roberts. “Regardless of any- thing that has happened in the past, we have 35 days left to resolve this situation in a way that continues the same level of service we have had,” Roberts said. ³:HDUHDVNLQJWKHFRXQW\ to put in a final effort to make this happen on behalf of our residents.” Tina Davidson of Hep- pner, who has been an EMT for 14 years, spoke about WKHSHUVRQDOH൵HFWVRIDQ\ ASA decision. ³,EHOLHYHWKDWDGL൵HU- ent ambulance service will not be familiar with our area, our mountains, rural PHGLFLQH´VKH VDLG ¿JKW- LQJ WHDUV ³:H NQRZ WKLV DUHD,W¶VD൵HFWLQJDOORIXV It’s been stressful. “I didn’t get into EMS for all of this to happen. I got into EMS to help my community, and I still feel that way.” Stephen Munkers of Irrigon, a MCHD board member, “I was under the im- pression that this is the county of Morrow, not the county of Boardman or any other large entity,” he said. “This divisiveness isn’t good for the county. “I want the commis- sioners to represent all of the people, not just one end or the other or whatever.” Nicole Mahoney, CFO and COO for MCHD, said a recent county press re- lease falsely accused the health district of deceptive accounting practices before having a negotiated and signed agreement, calling the statements “misleading and slanderous.” “You make it appear WKDW ZH KDYH QR ¿VFDO DF- The Annual St. Pat- ULFN¶V :HH %LW 2¶,UHODQG Celebration is scheduled for Friday, March 15 through Sunday, March 17, 2024. If \RXUEXVLQHVVQRQSUR¿WRU church group is planning an event/activity during the St. Patrick’s weekend, please contact Madison Rosen- EDOPDWWKH&KDPEHUR൶FH at 541-676-5536 or hep- pnerchamber@gmail.com. :HZLOOLQFOXGH\RXUHYHQW in the printed program. Submit your event/activity by Thursday, February 15 th . This year’s St. Patrick’s Day Celebration will in- clude most of its traditional activities, along with some new, and older, revitalized events. All entertainment will be free, with sponsor- ship from Morrow County 8QL¿HG5HFUHDWLRQ'LVWULFW Hanna and Matheny advance to regionals in Elks Hoop Shoot (L-R) Berkley Hanna with her third-place trophy, Sonny 0DWKHQ\ZLWKKLV¿UVWSODFHWURSK\- Contributed Photo East District competitors for each age group with District Director Corey Sweeney and East District Vice President Charles Caughlin. - Contributed Photo Sonny Matheny and Berkley Hanna competed at the State Elks Hoop Shoot on February 10 in Silver- ton. Berkley received third place for the 8–9-year-old JLUOV 6RQQ\ UHFHLYHG ¿UVW place for 8-9 boys shooting 19 of 25 and will advance to the regional competi- tion. Regionals is the same format as the local, district and state competitions and will be held on March 16 at Kamiakin High School LQ .HQQHZLFN :DVKLQJ- WRQ7KH¿UVWSODFHZLQQHUV from regionals will advance to the National Elks Hoop Shoot in Chicago, Illinois from April 18 - 21. The Elks National Hoop Shoot is a free throw program for youth aged 8-23. The program was established in 1946 by the late-Past Na- tional President Frank Hise in Corvallis, Oregon. To SDUWLFLSDWH¿QGDFRQWHVWE\ entering your zip code and DJHJURXSRQWKHR൶FLDO(ON Hoop Shoot website. MCHD Press Release: Update to Heppner City Council :K\ ZRQ¶W 0RUURZ County Health District extend the 90-day notice period? First and foremost, we do not believe an extension is in the best interests of our communities or our ambulance crews. A swift -Continued to PAGE FIVE resolution to this situation is necessary to mitigate se- rious, ongoing safety issues RFFXUULQJ LQ WKH ¿HOG DV D UHVXOW RI WKH FRQÀLFW RYHU which entity should provide ambulance service. Although there is a tight timeline for resolu- -Continued from PAGE TEN CALL 541-989-8221 ext 204 for more information
