Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 28, 2024)
Stalemate returns in ambulance negotiations 50¢ VOL. 144 NO. 9 10 Pages Wednesday, February 28, 2024 Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon Tensions continue to ride high over county ambulance services By Andrea Di Salvo Tensions continue to ULVHDQGDFFXVDWLRQVÀ\DV the debate over ambulance services in Morrow County continues with no end in VLJKW The Morrow County Board of Commissioners PHHWLQJODVWZHHNLQ,UULJRQ EHJDQ ZLWK D FRQWLQXDWLRQ of the same debate that has enveloped Morrow County IRU PRQWKV UDLVLQJ FRQ- troversy over the future of ambulance services in the county. Meanwhile, the Mor- row County Health District 0&+' UHMHFWHG DQ R൵HU by the Morrow County Board of Commissioners at WKHKHDOWKGLVWULFW¶VPHHWLQJ 0RQGD\ QLJKW D IXQGLQJ request from the health district was tabled pend- LQJUHFHLSWRI¿QDQFLDOUH- cords, and the county seems poised to move forward ZLWK %RDUGPDQ )LUH 5HV- FXH'LVWULFW %)5' DVDQ interim ambulance service provider for the county. BOC Backlash The board of commis- VLRQHUVKDVEHHQUHFHLYLQJ plenty of public backlash UHFHQWO\LQFOXGLQJDUHFDOO HIIRUW EHJXQ HDUOLHU WKLV month, and last Wednes- GD\¶V PHHWLQJ ZDV QR GLI- ferent. 'HVSLWH KDYLQJ D FRX- SOHRIPHHWLQJVEHWZHHQWKH Morrow County BOC and the health district board, MCHD CEO Emily Rob- erts was present to rehash SUHYLRXV JURXQG GXULQJ public comment. Roberts laid out the his- tory of the dispute from the health district’s perspective and commented that it was reasonable to conclude that the county “revoked” the 2021 Ambulance Service $UHD SODQ VLPSO\ WR JLYH %RDUGPDQ)LUHDFKDQFHWR become another ambulance service provider. Roberts did say that the county and the health district had come to an DJUHHPHQWRQWKHWHUPVRI the ASA plan and ordinance but added that the remain- LQJSLHFHRIWKHSX]]OHIRU the health district was a service contract. “Without a service con- tract in place, our current ambulance service will cease to operate on March 13, 2024,” she said. She said a two-year H[WHQVLRQDJUHHPHQWZRXOG avoid the problem. “We have serious con- cerns about the county’s ability to provide substitute services, and we continue to hope that the county will PDNH WKH ULJKW GHFLVLRQ´ Roberts said. Aaron Palmquist, Irri- JRQ&LW\0DQDJHUDQGIRU- mer member of the MCHD ERDUGVDLGWKDWWKRXJKWKH county’s documents look better than they did in De- cember, there continued to EH UXPRUV À\LQJ FRQFHUQ- LQJ WKH DPEXODQFH VHUYLFH area plan. “There’s still very PXFKVWURQJVXSSRUWLQ,UUL- JRQRIKRZZHNHHS,UULJRQ whole,” Palmquist said. He VDLGWKHPHHWLQJVEHWZHHQ the BOC and health district need to be more public, and warned commissioners RI WKH PHVVDJH WKH\ ZHUH VHQGLQJ ³, ZRXOG VWURQJO\ VD\ that there people not only across South County but LQ,UULJRQWKDWGRQRWZDQW %RDUGPDQ )LUH RU DPEX- lance over here,” he said. ³:HVWDQG¿UPRQWKDWDQG I think the commissioners need to hear that and say, µ*HWWRWKHWDEOHVWRSGRLQJ WKH GDQFLQJ DQG PDNH LW work.’” John Kilkenny of Hep- SQHUDUXUDO¿UHGLVWULFWYRO- unteer and the husband of MCHD board chair Diane Kilkenny, said Boardman )LUH¶VLQWHULPSODQZDVQRW ZHOOWKRXJKWRXWDQGOHDYHV Heppner without adequate backup if a second ambu- lance is needed. ³,W¶VQRWJRLQJWRZRUN´ he said. “It looks like some- ERG\¶VKLJKVFKRRODVVLJQ- ment to come up with an ambulance service plan for this entire county.” ³<RX FDQ¶W MXVW SOXJ WKHVH ZLGJHWV LQWR \RXU model and make it work,” he added. “Get back to WKH WDEOH DQG VLJQ D FRQ- tract with Morrow County Health District.” Gus Peterson of Ione said he was “immensely disappointed” in the way the ambulance service area situation has been handled. Peterson stated that the county told MCHD that VLJQLQJDQDJUHHPHQWQRZ was unreasonable, as the new ASA would be ready “soon,” but that the pro- SRVHGFRQWUDFWZLWK%)5' FRXOGJRXSWRGD\V ³2QH KXQGUHG HLJKW\ -Continued to PAGE NINE Friends Helping Friends Committee: Providing a Helping Hand The Friends Helping Friends Committee (L-R) Kathi Dickenson, Kristen Harrison, Peggy Fishburn, Shelly McCabe, Jacque Wilson, Janelle Ellis, Susan Hisler and Patty Matheny. - Contributed Photo By Annalynn Black 7KH )ULHQGV +HOSLQJ )ULHQGV FRPPLWWHH ZDV established in the year 2009 with a noble pur- pose - to provide support DQG DVVLVWDQFH LQ FRYHULQJ community medical ex- SHQVHV 5HFRJQL]LQJ WKH financial hardships faced by individuals and families GHDOLQJZLWKPHGLFDOLVVXHV the committee aimed to al- OHYLDWHWKHEXUGHQDQGR൵HU DKHOSLQJKDQGGXULQJWKHVH FKDOOHQJLQJWLPHV In their quest to raise funds for this cause, the committee conceived the LGHDRIRUJDQL]LQJDQHYHQW WKDWZRXOGQRWRQO\JHQHU- DWH ¿QDQFLDO FRQWULEXWLRQV EXWDOVRVHUYHDVDWRXFKLQJ tribute to Donna Schon- bachler, a beloved local UHVLGHQWZKRWUDJLFDOO\ORVW her battle with breast can- FHU 7KXV WKH ¿UVW DQQXDO Remembrance Walk was born. The St. Patrick’s Day Remembrance Walk/5K Run is an annual event that WDNHVSODFHRQWKHPRUQLQJ of the St. Patrick’s parade and festivities on the 16 th RI 0DUFK UHJDUGOHVV RI the weather conditions. Participants can choose to either run or walk the des- LJQDWHGURXWHHDFKDGRUQHG with vibrant Shamrocks. These Shamrocks serve as heartfelt memorials to individuals in our commu- nity who have passed away, and they include pictures to honor their memory. It DFWV DV D WULEXWH EULQJLQJ WKHFRPPXQLW\WRJHWKHUWR remember and celebrate the lives of those who are no ORQJHUZLWKXV 7KH )ULHQGV +HOSLQJ )ULHQGVFRPPLWWHHKDVEHHQ VXFFHVVIXO LQ UDLVLQJ VLJ- nificant funds each year WKURXJK WKLV HYHQW 7KHVH funds are then allocated WRZDUGV DVVLVWLQJ ZLWK H[- penses in the community. 9DULRXV RUJDQL]DWLRQV DQG facilities have benefited IURPWKLV¿QDQFLDOVXSSRUW LQFOXGLQJ 3LRQHHU 0HPR- rial Home Health/Hospice, PMH, Heppner Day Care, St. Patrick’s Senior Center, 6RXWK0RUURZ&RXQW\)LUH and Ambulance Service and EMT’s, Elks Club, Willow Creek Terrace, and Pioneer Memorial Therapy Ser- vices. These contributions help alleviate the burden of medical costs for individ- uals and families in need, HQVXULQJ WKDW HYHU\RQH UH- ceives the care and support they deserve. When asked by a re- SRUWHU IURP WKH *D]HWWH Shelly McCabe, Heppner resident and member of WKH )+) &RPPLWWHH VLQFH 2011, says “My favorite SDUWRIWKHPRUQLQJLVKDY- LQJWKHNLGV¿QGRXUORYHG RQH¶VVKDPURFNVDQGWHOOLQJ them stories about the spe- cial people that have passed on. The St. Patrick Day Re- membrance Walk/5K Run KLJKOLJKWV WKH LPSRUWDQFH of “community” in Hep- pner. The Remembrance Walk/5k Run starts a time most would refer to as early on Saturday of Heppner’s St. Patrick’s Day festivities and often it is cold, snowy, or rainy. Despite the time RUFRQGLWLRQVSHRSOHJDWKHU IRU D ZRUNRXW D PRUQLQJ walk, a delicious snack, a YLVLWDKXJDPHPRU\DQG a cause. I’ve been fortunate WR EH RQ WKH JLYLQJ DQG UHFHLYLQJHQGRIWKLVHYHQW )ULHQGV +HOSLQJ )ULHQGV raised money to help fill Pioneer Memorial Thera- S\ 6HUYLFHV¶ QHZ EXLOGLQJ with top-of-the-line equip- ment and tools to be able to provide PT, OT, and SLP services to our community. Ultimately, everyone that participates in the Remem- brance Walk/5K Run both JLYHV DQG UHFHLYHV DV LW provides everyone a place WR JDWKHU UHPHPEHU DQG celebrate our community.” The St. Patrick’s Day Remembrance Walk/5K Run is a cherished tradition in our community. It not only commemorates those we have lost but also show- FDVHVWKHVWUHQJWKDQGXQLW\ of our community. By com- LQJWRJHWKHUZHKRQRUWKH SDVW ZKLOH PDNLQJ D SRVL- tive impact in the present. 7KHUHJLVWUDWLRQDQGVRFLDO hour for the event will take SODFHRQ0DUFKWKDW am at the Methodist Church in Heppner. The walk/run ZLOOVWDUWSURPSWO\DW am. Additionally, shirts for the event will be available IRUSXUFKDVHDW)ORRG7RZQ Books on Main Street. Before the walk/run EHJLQVWKHUHLVDVRFLDOKRXU DW$0GXULQJUHJLVWUD- tion. Attendees can enjoy a variety of food and hot GULQNVFUHDWLQJDZDUPDQG ZHOFRPLQJDWPRVSKHUHIRU all participants. It provides an opportunity for people WR PLQJOH FRQQHFW DQG share their own stories and experiences. 5 year contract and $1 Million SHU\HDURৼHUUHMHFWHG By Andrea Di Salvo After a couple of weeks RI DSSDUHQW SURJUHVV LQ UHDFKLQJ D UHVROXWLRQ UH- JDUGLQJWKH0RUURZ&RXQ- ty Ambulance Service Area (ASA) plan, talks between Morrow County JRYHUQPHQW DQG WKH 0RU- row County Health District VHHP WR KDYH JURXQG WR D KDOWDWWKH0&+'PHHWLQJ 0RQGD\QLJKW The county presented the health district with a contract option that would KDYH JLYHQ 0&+' WKH contract for the Northeast ASA, which covers the ,UULJRQ DUHD DQG 6RXWK Morrow County. The North $6$FRQWDLQLQJ%RDUGPDQ DQG WKH VXUURXQGLQJ DUHD would have been awarded WR %RDUGPDQ )LUH 5HVFXH 'LVWULFW %)5' XQGHUWKH DJUHHPHQW In addition, Morrow County Administrator Mat- thew Jensen said the coun- ty would “make whole” WKH KHDOWK GLVWULFW ¿QDQFHV E\ UHLPEXUVLQJ WKH KHDOWK -Continued to PAGE EIGHT O’ Ducky Race -Contibuted Photo Since the 1990’s the O’Ducky Race has been a part of the Wee Bit O’ Ireland Celebration in Hep- pner! Over the years, many GL൵HUHQWRUJDQL]DWLRQVKDYH sponsored the event. This will be the third year that WKH +HSSQHU +LJK 6FKRRO VRIWEDOOWHDPLVVSRQVRULQJ the event. This serves as an annual fundraiser to KHOSWKHSURJUDPSXUFKDVH equipment and apparel for each season. How does the O’Ducky 5DFHZRUN\RXPLJKWDVN" You purchase a rubber duck; each duck has a num- ber and symbol to track who purchased the duck. All the ducks that are purchased are dumped into Willow Creek DW WKH EULGJH EHKLQG WKH library and they race to the ¿QLVKOLQHEHKLQGWKHSOD\- JURXQG DW WKH SDUN )LUVW second, and third place GXFNVZLOOZLQDFDVKSUL]H Ducks can be purchased in front of Bucknums from 9-1 on Saturday, March 16 th . Be on the lookout for additional times and days WR SXUFKDVH GXFNV OHDGLQJ up to Saturday. Ducks are 1 for $5 or 5 ducks for $20. 7KH0XVWDQJ6RIWEDOOSUR- JUDPWKDQNV\RXLQDGYDQFH IRU\RXUVXSSRUW/HW¶VJHW ready to race! MC press release following Monday MCHD meeting Morrow County - )HEUX- ary 27, 2024 - It is with con- cern and sadness that Mor- row County must report that ODVWQLJKW0RUURZ&RXQW\ Health District (MCHD) rejected consideration of a compromise option that would have had MCHD continue ambulance service LQ WKH ,UULJRQ DQG 6RXWK County areas. The compro- mise option was a frame- work for a possible contract and was open to further development. It featured the IROORZLQJFRQVLGHUDWLRQV x MCHD would con- tinue to operate ambulance VHUYLFH LQ ,UULJRQ DQG WKH South County areas as cur- rently constituted. Board- PDQ )LUH 5HVFXH 'LVWULFW would provide ambulance service in the Boardman area. This approach would save residents of Morrow &RXQW\XSWR x M C H D w o u l d KDYHD¿YH\HDUFRQWUDFWWR SURYLGHVWDELOLW\DQG¿VFDO SODQQLQJDVVXUDQFHV x Morrow County would compensate MCHD IRU¿QDQFLDOORVVIRURSHU- DWLQJ DPEXODQFHV LQ WKHLU areas in the amount up to $1 million per year. Per MCHD records, the Ir- ULJRQ DQG 6RXWK &RXQW\ areas reported a loss of over LQ)<:KLOH current loss projections IRU)<KDYHQRWEHHQ provided by MCHD, the PLOOLRQ ZDV D VWDUWLQJ point to help make MCHD whole for the increase of VWD൶QJ WKDW KDV RFFXUUHG -Continued to PAGE SEVEN CALL 541-989-8221 ext 204 for more information
