Heppner players selected
for Shrine football game
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VOL. 145 NO.14 8 Pages
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon
CEO resigns from health district
Roberts issues statment and parting words to community
Emily Roberts
MCHD CEO
By Andrea Di Salvo
Morrow County Health
District CEO Emily Rob-
erts is stepping down amid
recent controversy sur-
rounding the health district.
The move sparks mixed
feelings from the commu-
nity—relief from commu-
nity members who wanted
Roberts gone, but anger
from board members and
supporters who praised
Roberts’s work in her time
as CEO.
Her resignation was
announced at the MCHD
regular meeting Monday
night in Lexington. Roberts
issued a statement to the
Gazette-Times, which is
also included at the end of
this article.
The MCHD board took
a detour from its regular
agenda and held an execu-
tive session at the beginning
of the March 31 meeting.
When the board re-
turned to open session,
health district attorney Troy
Bundy announced Rob-
erts’s resignation, calling
the event “regrettable.”
“It’s important to note
that Ms. Roberts’s resig-
nation was not requested
or desired by the board or
anyone, but she felt that it
was in her best interests and
the interests of her family to
step away at this time,” said
Bundy. “It’s regrettable but
understandable.”
“The board will be ac-
cepting her resignation and
wishes her all the best,” he
added.
Bundy said a sever-
ance agreement had al-
ready been prepared and
would be signed by the
board. However, Roberts
has agreed to stay on as
health district CEO for “a
reasonable time” until the
MCHD board can hire an
interim CEO.
“She will also assist in
transitioning that replace-
ment, assuming it can be
done within a reasonable
period of time,” Bundy
said.
Unrest regarding the
condition of the Morrow
County Health District has
been growing over the past
several years.
While MCHD critics
have cited several con-
cerns over the running of
the health district, much of
the worst vitriol has been
directed toward Roberts
as the CEO. Most recent-
ly, someone posted flyers
around Heppner calling for
Roberts’s removal.
However, the health
district board members
spoke of Roberts in glowing
terms.
After the announce-
ment of Roberts’s resigna-
tion, MCHD Board Chair
Diane Kilkenny of Heppner
shared some of the things
she felt Roberts had ac-
complished during her time
as CEO.
Those included the
opening of a mobile, rural
health clinic extension,
improvement of produc-
tivity across the district’s
clinics while reducing the
cost to provide care, pass-
ing of a five-year tax levy,
implementing primary care
behavioral health, and im-
plementing new strategies
to improve employee en-
gagement and patient sat-
isfaction.
“I’m sorry to see Emily
go,” she added. “Regret-
tably, I’m sorry this has
come to this, and I wish her
nothing but the best for the
future.”
Other board members
also expressed regret and
wished Roberts well, while
some showed anger toward
the community.
“I’m ashamed of what’s
going on,” said Irrigon
board member Stephen
Munkers.
Board member Scott
Ezell, also of Irrigon, had
the harshest criticism for
the Heppner community
especially, saying people’s
behavior was “appalling.”
“This is not how the
healthcare system for a
local, rural area should be,”
he said. “I am angered by
the self-righteousness of
people.
“I don’t have a vested
interest in this good old boy
club,” he added. “It makes
me angry that we’re treating
our own community mem-
bers like this.”
He also said he thought
there is a group of people
trying to get involved with
the MCHD board out of
“spite.”
“If that’s who you want
directing the board and tak-
ing control of your health
district, you’re welcome to
vote,” Ezell said.
Roberts responded with
gratitude.
“I love the district, and
the district absolutely has
my full support. We have
amazing staff at the district,
and they have my absolute
full support and always
will,” she said.
The board unanimously
appointed Kilkenny to sign
the severance agreement
and oversee any minor
Another wolf depredation by the Madison Butte pack was
confirmed on Upper Rhea Creek last month. -File photo
Another wolf depreda-
tion occurred on the morn-
ing of March 19 on Upper
Rhea Creek. The wolves
killed a two-month-old calf,
eating half before being
found by the owner, John
Qualls, at approximately
7 a.m.
The kill occurred less
than a quarter of a mile
from the home of Qualls’s
parents, Roscoe and Kay
Rene Qualls. The Oregon
Department of Fish and
Wildlife (ODFW) con-
firmed the wolf kill later
that morning.
“I noticed something
was wrong when I went
to feed the cattle, and they
were all gathered in a tight
group with the calves in
the middle; they were very
nervous,” said Qualls. “Af-
ter feeding the cattle, I took
the four-wheeler around the
small 150-acre pasture and
found the half-eaten calf
just up from the barn.
“As soon as I saw it, I
suspected wolf,” he added.
“It was a terrible scene
where you could see where
the calf had been attacked,
dragged and basically
ripped apart.”
Qualls said this is the
second year in a row of a
wolf kill on his cattle.
“I caught the wolf in
the act last year as it was
attempting to drag a calf
away from the cow. I wasn’t
as lucky this year, as it
occurred in the dark,” he
said. “An adult wolf is very
large; I’ve been close to
them, and it surprised me
how big they really are.
“I pack a gun with me
when I go out now, as they
don’t seem to fear people,”
added Qualls.
On Thursday, March
20, Qualls sent an email
with a picture and details
of the incident to Oregon
Representative Greg Smith
and Oregon Senator Todd
Nash. The elected officials
had a joint phone call with
Qualls on March 21, asking
what could be done.
Sen. Nash stated he had
introduced Senate Bill 777,
which would enhance wolf
depredation compensation
for ranchers. Rep. Smith
stated he would support
the bill.
Qualls told them their
Two Heppner High
School senior football play-
ers were recently selected
to play or be an alternate
player for the 2025 East
vs. West Shrine Hospital
football game.
Nick Wenberg, son of
Peter and Sheena Wenberg,
was selected as a player for
the East team. Nick was an
all-state defensive back and
running back/receiver for
the Mustangs.
“He will be very versa-
tile for the team,” stated his
coach, Greg Grant. “Nick
will be valuable on either
side of the ball.”
Mason Orem, son of
Eric and Brandi Orem, was
selected as an alternate
for the East team. Mason
will be available to play if
another player is injured or
unable to play.
“Mason will be capable
of playing quarterback or
receiver on offense, and
multiple defensive posi-
tions,” said Grant. “I hope
he is able to play. However,
if he does not, he should be
very proud to be selected as
an alternate.”
The 74 th shrine game
will be played in Baker
City, OR on July 26.
Easter Bunny to visit Lexington
The Easter Bunny
is coming to Lexington.
That’s right; on April 12,
the Easter Bunny will be at
the Holly Rebekah Lodge
-Continued to PAGE EIGHT Hall on Main Street from
9-11 a.m. for the second
annual Breakfast with The
Easter Bunny.
Pancakes, two link sau-
wolf attacks.
“This will cost me an-
other truck load of hay,
but I feel it is important to
provide as much protection
from the wolves as I can;
I thought they were safe
BOARDMAN—Mor-
being so close to the house,
but I guess I was wrong,” row County Public Transit
(MCPT) is expanding ser-
he said.
There are currently vice with three new fare-
two confirmed wolf packs free, deviated fixed routes:
in Morrow County. Steve Morado, Rojo, and Amaril-
Cherry of the ODFW con- lo. Transit supervisor Pat-
firmed that the wolf depre- rick Keely says these routes
dation was by the Madison are designed to increase
Butte pack. Qualls said his accessibility and mobility
cattle have been attacked for residents, connecting
by the Madison Butte pack communities and essential
services throughout the
before.
There were five con-
firmed work depredations
by the Madison Butte pack
last year. This is the first
attack of 2025.
Area pastors are invit-
Meanwhile, Qualls
ed
to
submit Easter mes-
isn’t optimistic about the
sages
to
the Heppner Ga-
future unless laws change.
zette-Times
for publication
“I fear that the interac-
in
the
April
16
edition. The
tions with wolves are only
deadline
for
submission
is
going to get worse with the
5
p.m.
Monday,
April
14.
limited number of options
Messages may be
ranchers have,” he said.
Wolf kills calf on Upper Rhea Creek
efforts were greatly appre-
ciated but that he wished
local ranchers could do
something to protect their
livestock.
Since this attack oc-
curred on the west side of
Highway 395 the wolves
are protected and ranchers
have limited ability to pro-
tect livestock, even if they
witness wolf depredation.
Qualls is also hopeful
President Trump will help
with the situation.
“These attacks affect
the entire cattle herd, reduc-
ing milk output, decreasing
pregnancy rates and reduc-
ing the docility so that they
become difficult to work
and develop a hatred for
dogs,” said Qualls.
After they were locked
up in a 10-acre parcel near
the house for better protec-
tion, the cow who lost her
calf to the wolves jumped
the fence two days in a row
to try and find her calf.
“It just breaks your
heart to witness her confu-
sion and loss. She misses
her calf. I feel like a poor
steward of the cattle, as I
can’t do anything to protect
them,” Qualls said.
ODFW representa-
tives met with Qualls on
March 20 and provided
some non-lethal measures
to implement. They provid-
ed blinking lights that ran-
domly turn on and change
color throughout the night.
Qualls must move them
every three to four days so
that pattern is changed.
Qualls also stated that
he decided after the attack
last year to keep the cattle
on feed throughout April
to better protect them from
(L-R) Nick Wenberg and Mason Orem.
sages, scrambled eggs and a
drink will be served for only
$5 per person. Juli Kennedy
will once again be taking
photographs.
“So stop by, have a
yummy breakfast and en-
joy the fun,” says a lodge
spokesperson.
Morrow County Public
Transit expands service
with three fixed routes
region.
The Amarillo Route
serves approximately 19
stops within Boardman, op-
erating on a 45-minute loop
from 6:15 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.,
completing 15 trips daily.
The Morado and Rojo
routes have significantly
expanded service to the Irri-
gon community, providing
greater regional connectiv-
-Continued from PAGE SIX
Pastors invited to submit
Easter messages
emailed to editor@rapid-
serve.net, mailed to Ga-
zette-Times at P.O. Box
337, Heppner, OR 97836,
uploaded to the website
Heppner.net or brought into
the Gazette-Times office,
177 N. Main in Heppner.
CALL
541-989-8221
ext 204
for more
information