Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, April 23, 2025 -- THREE
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Enough
Already!
I am writing this let-
ter to the editor as a con-
cerned community member
of Morrow County. I was
born at Pioneer Memorial
Hospital and have spent
most of my life as a citizen
of Heppner.
I am really frustrated
with the statements made
by some Morrow County
Health District Board mem-
bers, calling out the citizens
of Heppner for making
current employees of the
district feel unsafe and for
bullying the current CEO
into resigning her position.
Bullying people into
resigning their positions at
the district has been going
on for years. I am speaking
from my own personal
experiences with certain
members of administration
and a current board mem-
ber. I attended some board
meetings, I even stood up
and gave a statement, and a
member of the administra-
tion team rolled her eyes as
I stood up to speak. A board
member questioned the
validity of the statement/
questions I was going to
ask. There were many other
members of the community
that spoke at this meeting,
but I was the only one who
was asked about the validity
of questions/statement I
was going to ask. I can say
I left the meeting feeling
even more angry and un-
settled than when I went in.
This is the culture at
the hospital, the culture
previous employees had
to work in. I have spoken
with some of the previous
employees of the district
regarding their experiences
while being employed at the
district. Their statements
were all very similar.
I can say that I com-
mend the handful of com-
munity members who
started making statements,
attending meetings, and
asking for meetings with
the current CEO. Their
hope was that attending
board meetings and having
one-on-one conversations
regarding their concerns
would be heard and ad-
dressed. It seems their con-
cerns fell on deaf ears.
These community members
felt the only thing left to do
was vote for change.
I feel that, had the
board done their own in-
vestigations into why these
people who had worked at
the district for so long were
leaving or being fired, we
wouldn’t be where we are
today. You don’t lose 50-
plus employees because
they just couldn’t get on
board with the culture
change. Why didn’t any-
one ask why? Why didn’t
the board do their own in-
vestigations into what was
going on?
Is there a possibility
that some of these employ-
ees just didn’t work out?
Sure! But the majority of
these people saw them-
selves retiring from the
hospital. They put many
years into their work at the
hospital only to be bullied
and belittled to the point
they either quit on their
own or were forced to quit
because they couldn’t han-
dle it anymore. Some of
these employees came to
the district with a stellar
record and were admired in
their field only to have these
records tarnished while in
the employ of the district.
These are people who live
in our community, who are
raising their families in
this community and have
been forced to drive an
hour-plus one way to work.
They certainly aren’t doing
this because they want to.
They are doing it because
that’s what they were forced
to do.
I, myself, am voting for
change. I encourage every-
one in Morrow County to
do the same. Russ Nichols,
Janet Greenup, Jason Han-
na and Ann Spicer-Kuhn
have my vote.
Amy Kollman
Heppner, OR
So-called
‘trouble-
makers’ are
heart and soul
of Morrow
County
There has been some
very harsh criticism lev-
eled against concerned
citizens of Heppner and
south Morrow County from
the ex-CEO and MCHD
(Morrow County Health
District) board members.
According to news reports,
these citizens have exer-
cised every possible effort
(letters to the editor, public
comments at MCHD meet-
ings, campaign statements,
social media sites) to have
their concerns addressed.
Which are:
1) Their local doctors,
nurses, medical profes-
sional that are no longer
welcome at MCHD (over
40 in four years).
2) Smear campaign
against Dr. Russ Nichols.
3) Negative response
from MCHD board to open-
ly consider their grievances.
These citizens of south
Morrow County have lost
most of their local medical
professionals and caregiv-
ers and now must drive
long distances for medical
care. Many are elderly and
may be forced to move clos-
er to medical care facilities.
These citizens have been
accused of spite, ignorance,
trouble making and worse.
These so-called trouble-
makers that have lost their
health care providers are
the heart and soul of south
Morrow County. Remem-
ber that when you vote for
a new MCHD board.
Stuart Dick
Irrigon, OR
Salt and Light
The older I get, the
less I like change, which
is rather strange for an
ADHD brain owner like
myself. For much of my
life, boredom has been a
formidable enemy. Any
difference from the status
quo was welcome. May-
be the years have taught
me that change doesn’t
always equal satisfaction
and there’s often peace and
safety in the familiar.
Our world has changed
dramatically since I was
a youngster. The country
we call our own today is
unrecognizable to anyone
who was paying attention
30 years ago…or even 15.
Spend 10 minutes watching
the news or five minutes
thumbing through social
media, and the evidence
is overwhelming. There’s
been a rapid decline in de-
cency, respect and the gen-
eral moral code on which
society used to thrive. This
isn’t Mayberry anymore,
that’s for sure.
Makes me wonder.
Why was it so hard to main-
tain? What if more had
bucked the downfall, spo-
ken up, pointed out bad be-
havior, and done more than
just watch it happen? How
different would the world
look today? And I also won-
der, when did we go from
parents raising children to
form a decent society, to
a society that became the
enemy of children? Parents
today seem to be little more
than apathetic spectators. I
guess the “Me Generation”
has spoken.
Not to disparage all
current parents today. Some
are trying. But the swim up-
stream is a difficult one and
societal rapids are deadly.
Remember when every-
one knew honesty, respect,
self-discipline, kindness,
purity and faith were admi-
rable qualities? Law-abid-
ing citizens were an asset
and criminals were not. Par-
ents had the ultimate say,
and their children were to
be protected, in and out of
the womb, at all costs. The
difference between good
and evil was obvious, and
we all knew the difference.
But that was then. It all
seems upside down today.
But bravo to those try-
ing hard to stop the decline.
If you’re not afraid to stand
up for what’s right, speak
the truth, discipline your
children, and risk the loss of
friends and even family…
you can make a difference.
It’s a difficult battle, and
yes, you will be called
names, slandered, mocked,
blocked and even sued. But
stay the course.
And remember the sig-
nificance of the fight. It
doesn’t matter what you
believe if what you believe
doesn’t matter. I know my
convictions are deeper than
nostalgia for what was,
and deeper than politics.
They’re based on a firm
belief in a God to whom I
will answer someday. He’s
called His people to be salt
and light. We live in a dark
and tasteless world. Make
a difference. It’s worth the
price.
“You are the salt of
the earth. But what good
is salt if it has lost its fla-
vor? Can you make it salty
again? It will be thrown
out and trampled underfoot
as worthless. You are the
light of the world—like a
city on a hilltop that cannot
be hidden. No one lights a
lamp and then puts it under
a basket. Instead, a lamp is
placed on a stand, where it
gives light to everyone in
the house. In the same way,
let your good deeds shine
out for all to see, so that
everyone will praise your
heavenly Father” (Matthew
5:13-16).
Susie Crosby
Prineville, OR
Continue Port
commission
change, vote
for Fletcher
Hobbs
Richard (Rick) Stokoe
has served as a Port of
Morrow commissioner for
10 years and is the act-
ing Boardman City Police
Chief. During his tenure he
has seen significant conflict
of interest on the commis-
sion and said nothing. He
also defended the status
quo of operations at the
CDA, which recently re-
sulted in the loss of federal
funding and yet another
black eye for the port. As
a commissioner he stated
in a 2015 letter to BRAC
(Base Realignment and
Closure), a federal agency,
that the port would legally
oversee the employment of
the CDA executive director,
and did not.
He defends the port’s
ownership of a local golf
course in Boardman, which
the port has spent over three
million dollars on and con-
tinues with yearly operating
expenses. Where was his
foresight in 2016 when se-
rious issues of wastewater
disposal began to come to
light?
It is time to finish the
commissioner leadership
change begun in recent
elections and that is why I
endorse and will be voting
for Fletcher Hobbs for port
position #1.
We voters have this
and other important issues
before us that will signifi-
cantly affect our county for
many years; three out of
five Port commissioners,
four out of five Morrow
County Health District
board members and a Mor-
row County School District
bond measure for badly
needed capital improve-
ments.
We are blessed in Mor-
row County for several
reasons: one is that local
industry and Amazon will
pay over 70 percent of the
bond value, and two, we
have candidates for these
positions that are motivat-
ed, informed and willing
to serve.
Take the time to learn
what the candidates stand
for and why. Do they rep-
resent the vision, goals and
priorities you have? Or your
community?
Please join me in vot-
ing for Fletcher Hobbs for
port commissioner #1 and
yes for the school bond
measure.
Sincerely,
John Murray
Heppner, OR
who are concerned is to
call, email and write your
congressional representa-
tive, Cliff Bentz, and your
senator, Jeff Merkley, and
share your concerns.
Joan Larson
Heppner, OR
Vote for
positive
change in
health
district
our team has the necessary
resources, support and work
conditions to succeed.
Our hope is for a board
of directors that shares our
values and aligns with the
goals of the community.
We are committed to the
care of our patients, and we
recognize that we cannot do
this without the continued
strength and support of this
hospital and community.
We believe that, with
positive changes and a fo-
cus on community engage-
ment, Pioneer Memorial
Hospital can once again
be staffed with a dedicated
workforce from within our
own community.
Given the challenges
we currently face, we see
an urgent need to priori-
tize the sustainability and
effectiveness of our hos-
pital’s workforce. We look
forward to a future where
the board encourages open
communication, listens to
the caregivers within the
hospital, and works togeth-
er with us to strengthen the
care we provide. Please join
us in voting for the positive
change our community
deserves.
PMH Oregon Nurses
Association and Technical
Team:
Kalah Barnett (R)(CT)
(VI)(ARRT), Jimmy Wimer
(R)(CT)(ARDMS)(ARRT),
Eva McMasters (R)(CT)
(ARRT), Brittnie Wage-
naar (R)(CT)(ARRT), Katie
Heath (R)(CT)(ARRT), Em-
ily Inman (R)(CT)(ARRT),
Kathleen Greenup, RN,W-
CC,PICC, Brandy Bom-
mersbach, RN,SANE-A,
Diane Hardy, RN,BSN,
Heidi Wimer, RN, Sasha
Jimenez, RN, Mindy Smith,
RN, Rachel Schonbachler,
RN, Rachel Hudson, RN
To the Morrow County
community,
We, the nursing staff
and technical staff of Pio-
neer Memorial Hospital are
a newly formed union. We
are committed to working
collaboratively and build-
ing a positive relationship
with the board of directors
through collective bargain-
ing.
Our vision for the fu-
ture of Pioneer Memorial
Hospital includes strength-
ening our workforce by
focusing on the recruit-
ment and retention of lo-
cal full-time and part-time
employees. Among our
bargaining team, we have
current full-time workers
and individuals who have
previously worked as full-
time employees and are
passionate about bringing
our community’s talent
back to the hospital.
We are dedicated to
fostering a workforce cul-
ture that prioritizes the
well-being of our caregiv-
ers, supports a sustainable
and positive work environ-
ment, and ensures the high-
est standard of care for our
patients. We believe that in
order to best serve our com-
Saturday, April 19, was munity, we must ensure that -Continued to PAGE EIGHT
a Day of Action, a coor-
ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE:
dinated protest, under the
50501 banner. This is a
grassroots organization
founded to protest policies
and actions of the second
Trump administration. Pro-
tests were held in all of
the 50 states. Over three
million people participated.
I had the opportunity
to participate in Heppner. 177 N Main St.
Broker
A couple days prior a friend Heppner, Or 97836
Chris Sykes
and I decided that we want- O: 541-676-9228
ed to participate and stand E:sykeschris@hotmail.com 541-215-2274
up for democracy. We made
signs, got our chairs and
settled on the sidewalk
on Main Street for three
hours. We were more than
a little nervous and anxious
not knowing how our pro-
testing would be received.
When all was said and done
we were glad that we had
exercised our Constitution-
al rights.
Cars and trucks drove
by; some looked and some
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did not. Kids usually waved.
enthusiasts, with a livestock pasture, year-round
There were a couple honks
creek, two chicken houses, a barn with a lean-to,
and no finger pointing. By
and a deer-proof garden with a greenhouse for year-
the end of the afternoon we
round produce. A 10x12 storage room.
had chatted with a number
The 5-bedroom, 2.5-bath home, including a master
of people. A couple indicat-
suite, features modern updates like new flooring,
ed they did not agree with
hardy plank siding and new windows.
us, but the others were most
Energy-efficient ductless heating and cooling.
positive and supportive.
Outside, rock retaining walls, a tool shed, and
We learned there are many
a partially finished basement add function and
people in Heppner who
flexibility. Located within city limits, it’s a short
have concerns about the
walk to Main Street
Trump administration but
Perfect for animal care, gardening, and quiet living,
are reluctant to get involved
this move-in-ready property is a rare find.
or express their views.
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My suggestion to those
Day of Action
MONDAY AT 5:00 P.M.
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