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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (April 2, 2025)
EIGHT - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, April 2, 2025 CEO resigns from health district CEO Roberts’s message to the -Approved medical Morrow County community provement and value based staff privileges for regis- purchasing. modifications. They also -Continued from PAGE ONE appointed Kilkenny and Ezell to lead the search for a replacement with Board member Donna Rietmann of Ione as an alternate. The board intends to hire an interim CEO to serve until they find a per- manent replacement for Roberts. Also at the meeting, the board approved a physician employment agreement with Christine Seals, MD as MCHD Chief Medical Officer. The contract is for half time. Seals will be on- site a full week of every month and available for telemedicine at other times. Seals has been working for the health district since 2021 under various agree- ments, including clinic medical director and hos- pice director, and Roberts said this contract will roll all of those into one. “We’re lucky to have her,” said Roberts. “I was really excited that she was able to make the commit- ment of a full half time with us.” Seals also brings ex- perience in quality im- “Ultimately what that means is better outcomes for our patients, and our payers will pay us more be- cause we’re achieving the outcomes that we want to be achieving in our clinics,” said Roberts. Specifically, payers like Eastern Oregon Coordi- nated Care Organization (EOCCO) and Moda re- imburse at higher rates for better quality measures. Roberts said 20 percent of Morrow County residents use EOCCO. In other business at the March 31 meeting, the board: -Approved a commu- nity benefit request for an AED (automated external defibrillator) unit for Mur- ray’s Drug in Heppner. Roberts suggested includ- ing an AED for the Condon store, which the board also approved. -Approved a commu- nity benefit request for the health district to act as fiscal agent for the Morrow Discovery Center until the fledgling organization re- ceives its nonprofit status. tered dietician Christine Guenther and for a roster of Oregon Health and Sci- ence University staff for TeleStroke services. -Approved a physi- cian associate employment agreement with Amanda Roy, PA-C. Roy will con- tinue to provide care at the Heppner clinic but will also be working part-time in the Good Shepherd emer- gency room. Roberts said Roy’s intention is to devel- op emergency skills that she can bring back to benefit Morrow County. “She been totally transparent,” said Roberts. -Discussed CDS grant funds and strategic plan- ning. Roberts told the board that the health district has grant requests in for two items. The highest priority is a new CT machine, while the second is a new six- bed hospice care facility in Boardman. Right now, the nearest hospice care facility is in the Tri-Cities, while the nearest Oregon facility is in Bend. -Elected Ezell as board vice chair. South Morrow scholarships open to Heppner and Ione seniors Deadline to apply April 29 College or Trade The South Morrow County Scholarship Board will award scholarships to Heppner High School and Ione Community School Seniors based on academic achievement and school/ community/work involve- ment. Students must have a 2.5 GPA or higher to apply. Students must be continu- ing their education at a community college, trade school, or four-year college or university. Funds are to help students pay for tui- tion, program fees, books, supplies, rent and other expenses. To apply, please com- plete the form and attach a high school transcript and resume of school and com- munity activities and work experience. Multiple scholarships will be awarded. If selected, students will need to submit their current college class schedule or verification of enrollment to receive the funds. Applications are due by 4 p.m. on April 29. To receive the application link, contact Brandi Sweeney at brandi.sweeney@mor- rowsd.org. Coach LaRue Schol- arship The Coach Del LaRue Scholarship was developed in memory of Del LaRue, a long-time teacher and coach at Ione High School. LaRue had a passion for coaching basketball and track and loved seeing students set and achieve their goals. After retiring from teaching, he contin- ued to coach track for 12 additional years. During that time he helped many student athletes achieve their goals and was honored as National Track Coach of the Year. This fund awards one $1,000 scholarship to a college-bound Ione High School senior based on demonstrated academic achievement, community involvement and with pref- erence given to students who have participated in the Ione High School track program. Students must be con- tinuing their education at a community college, trade school, or four-year college or university. Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 accumulated GPA and show involvement in community/ school activities. Applications will be accepted and awarded by the South Morrow Coun- ty Scholarship Board of Directors using the Coach LaRue Scholarship Google Form Application. Applica- tions must include a tran- script and activities/work experience sheet. The applications are due by 4 p.m. on April 29. To receive the application link, contact Brandi Swee- ney at brandi.sweeney@ morrowsd.org. WWW.HEPPNER.NET Last week, I made the difficult decision to resign from my role as Chief Ex- ecutive Officer of Morrow County Health District. This decision was not made lightly, but after careful reflection, I’ve concluded that it is time to prioritize and protect my family. Unfortunately, recent actions by certain com- munity members and staff have crossed boundaries that challenge both decency and legality. These actions have ultimately led to my decision to step down. The Board of Direc- tors and I have agreed to a severance agreement, which will be made public once finalized. Both par- ties are committed to full transparency regarding my departure. I will remain with the district in the short term to assist the board in selecting an interim CEO and to en- sure a smooth transition for the team. I want to emphasize that my decision is not based on concerns about the district’s financial health or future. The district is not failing. In fact, we’ve made signif- icant strides in improving patient access, outcomes and satisfaction. The data backs this up (healthymc. org). I have seen our staff do incredible things over the past few years and I have full confidence in the board, the management team and the staff to continue provid- ing exceptional care to our community. Certain behaviors by a small group of community members have created an environment where some staff feel silenced, belittled and unable to speak openly about their experiences. I strongly encourage our community to stand up against this kind of behav- ior. The health district needs your support to thrive, and that includes standing be- hind its board of directors and leadership team. Be the change you want to see. Emily Roberts MCHD CEO Alyssa’s Law passes Oregon House unanimously Legislation named in honor of Alyssa Alhadeff moves forward to improve emergency response times in Oregon schools SALEM, OR—Last week, Alyssa’s Law (HB 3083), legislation that re- quires school districts in Or- egon to consider installing a panic alarm system in their schools consisting of either a wireless or wearable panic alarm, passed the Oregon House 50-0. Introduced by Repre- sentative Emerson Levy (D-Central Oregon), HB 3083 is named in memo- ry of Alyssa Alhadeff, a 14-year-old student who lost her life during the Mar- jory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in 2017. “As a mom, I know it’s essential that our kids are safe at school,” said Levy. “From a student needing an EpiPen, to a natural disaster or man-made emergency, this legislation will give our schools, faculty and students the resources they need to react in the little time they have and save lives. In an emergency, ev- ery second counts.” The mobile-based emergency system is not limited to increasing re- sponse time in the worst- case scenario. Schools around the country that utilize the system found that 80 percent of alerts have been utilized for students having allergic reactions, seizures and heart issues. DEADLINE: MONDAYS AT 5PM We’re Growing GENERATIONS TOGETHER WITH OUR COMMITMENT TO AG FAMILIES AMBER SCHLAICH 270 N. Main Street Through these systems, teachers or school staff can immediately connect to Emergency Medical Ser- vices and first responders. Funding for Alyssa’s Law is available to school districts through the Or- egon Department of Ed- ucation’s School Safety and Emergency Manage- ment (SSEM) program. The Wireless Panic Alarm Grant is open to school districts that provide ser- 177 N. Main P.O. Box 337 Heppner, OR 97836 Chris@sykesrealestate.net vices to students during the regular school year. Applicants may request grant funds for every school building used by students during the school year. School districts will be re- imbursed $2,000 per school in their district. House Bill 3083 now moves to the Senate for a vote. It is currently in the Senate Committee On Ed- ucation. Broker Chris Sykes 541-215-2274 2 Lots Approx 38 acres Price Reduced $170,000 Bare land to build! Expansive 38-Acre Property Heppner with Two Tax Lots – Endless Possibilities!Unlock the potential of this remarkable property, offering approximately 38 acres of prime land ready for your vision. Two adjoining tax lots are being sold together, providing incredible flexibility and value for buyers seeking a blend of opportunity and space.Property Highlights:Total Acreage: ~38 acres across two parcels.Parcel 1: 35.44 acres Tax ID: 370: located within Heppner city limits.Parcel 2: 3.23 acres Tax ID: 1752: situated just outside city limits. 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