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