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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (April 30, 2025)
FIVE- Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, April 30, 2025 Candidates forum Morrow County Health District -Continued from PAGE ONE His critiques were inci- sive, blaming a poorly cho- sen CEO for losing “30 plus local employees and 500 plus clientele” and slam- ming the board’s “business model” as one that discards talent and evades account- ability, perpetuating a fail- ing status quo. “Observe the current interim CEO, Mr. Burke… Leave him in that place for 90 days, 180 days. Get the right person,” he stated. “The failure to place a CEO with qualifications has… led us to losing 30 plus local employees and 500 plus clientele.” He added, “The dis- connect is when questions aren’t answered by the board.” Hanna also noted, “The North End… they want to see something for their tax dollar.” In his closing, he declared, “Two options: keep it the same… or change? I’m change.” He further said, “You have board members that are distancing themselves from failures.” Laura Torres, who re- turned in 2024 and joined the MCHD board in Janu- ary 2025, brings workforce development expertise. To fix the district, she proposes hiring an energetic CEO to foster positivity, creating internship programs to re- tain young talent, securing national grants to fund in- frastructure and staffing, improving staff morale through better workplace policies, promoting North- South unity through youth engagement and commu- nity networking, and advo- cating for federal support to enhance rural healthcare. She criticizes the “dis- connect” in services and the board’s failure to support employee morale, which drives turnover. “Identifying the right person, co-leader that will… infuse that positive, energetic, vibe… advo- cate nationally… funding grants,” she said. “The troublesome, the services, the disconnect that there is out there in our health care… infuriates me.” She asked, “Why are they not feeling they have a sense of belonging? Let’s look into that.” Torres also proposed, “Activating our youth to kind of bridge that gap.” She added, “I want to be the eyes, the ears and the voice of South over in the North.” Donna Rietmann, a 45-year farmer appointed in 2024, sees potential in the district’s clinics. To fix the district, she proposes hiring a permanent CEO to stabilize leadership, recruit- ing doctors for Heppner and Irrigon to expand services, holding inclusive meetings in northern communities to ensure representation, improving engagement through outreach to Board- man residents, leveraging existing facilities to attract patients, and fostering col- laboration to move past election disputes. She points to low north- ern attendance at meetings as disengagement and notes the board’s needs reach out to the north end. “So many times I’ve seen… they don’t engage or they don’t even come to the meetings and we need to see them.” She added, “We’re really fortunate. We have a hospital… build upon that.” Rietman also said, “We need to reach out to them wherever we can find a way to integrate with them.” She noted, “We cannot provide excellence without listening to people.” In her closing, she emphasized, “I do not consider myself part of the status quo… health care is the backbone of our com- munity... we need strong leadership and a shared vision.” Janet Greenup, born at Pioneer Memorial and run- ning for position 3, holds deep ties to the hospital. To fix the district, she proposes securing a permanent CEO, implementing quarterly financial reports for trans- parency, fostering board collaboration to streamline decisions, conducting exit interviews to understand staff losses, building trust through school outreach and community forums, and reviewing budget allo- cations to ensure equitable resource distribution. She sees a “common denominator” in leadership failures, criticizing a toxic workplace with no exit interviews. “Find a permanent CEO… finances… I want a quarterly report… work with the rest of the board,” she said. “There’s a com- mon denominator here… what’s going on? Why is this happening?” She em- phasized, “There’s no exit interviews… a hostile, toxic work environment.” Greenup also noted, “A lot of people left because it was not a good environ- ment.” She added, “Get to know them… build some trust.” In her closing, she said, “We’re on our way to a better health district.” Molly Rhea, a nurse with 40 years’ experience running for position 2, seeks to calm community tensions. To fix the district, she proposes collaborating with the CEO to stabi- lize leadership, conducting anonymous employee sur- veys to address workplace issues, answering com- munity questions openly, engaging face-to-face to resolve North-South di- vides, monitoring funding risks to protect services, and promoting a culture of transparency to rebuild trust. She calls the district “shaky” due to the CEO’s resignation amid board con- flicts, criticizing disruptive behaviors. “Talk to the CEO… look at the employee sur- veys… answer questions,” she said. “It’s also shaky that our CEO felt she was forced to resign due to behaviors that were untow- ard.” She observed, “I’ve never seen a health district board with so many contes- tants.” Rhea also said, “It’s going to take legwork… to hear the people.” She added, “Increasing trans- parency… can build trust.” Russ Nichols, a health- care veteran also running for position 2, aims to strength- en programs like home health, fix weaknesses, and ensure fiscal responsibility. To fix the district, he pro- poses supporting successful services like home health and hospice, addressing operational flaws through detailed reviews, improving financial oversight to allo- cate resources efficiently, creating a welcoming work- place to attract providers, engaging the community to understand needs, and leveraging his healthcare expertise to guide deci- sions. He criticizes a “not friendly” workplace where “people are scared,” blam- ing an oversized adminis- tration. “Find the things that are currently… working well… home health and hospice… find the things… not doing well… financial responsi- bility,” he said. “Currently, this is not a friendly place to work. People are actually scared to work here.” He noted, “There’s just a pile of them and we have four providers.” Nichols also said, “I’ve been lucky enough… to be approached by hundreds of community members… who are concerned.” He added, “I know a lot about all the aspects of clinics, hospitals.” In his closing, he emphasized, “I actually became a doctor… to go work in Heppner.” Annetta Spicer, an at- torney in the county for 48 years, left the district due to access issues. To fix the district, she proposes fully staffing clinics with permanent doctors, defin- ing administrative roles to reduce bloat, creating ac- cessible and readable bud- gets, prioritizing local hires to strengthen community ties, fostering county unity through cooperative models like the library district, and improving service access to prevent residents from seeking care elsewhere. She laments the ab- sence of full-time doctors and local ER staff, faulting the board for unclear bud- gets and excess adminis- tration. “Get a complete staff in the county… write the job descriptions for the ad- ministrative employees… budget both accessible and readable,” she said. “We don’t have any doctors in the district right now that are… manning the clinic on a full-time basis.” She added, “Not a single per- son up there was… from Morrow County.” Spicer also stressed, “We’re here to provide as good of care as we can.” She noted, “Everybody worked for the benefit of the entire district.” In her closing, she said, “Who on the board is going to be able to work together to accomplish the goals?” Scott Ezell, a firefight- er and EMT, is driven by commitment to Morrow County. To fix the district, he proposes hiring a highly BASEBALL Bob’s Tours Bob’s BASEBALL Tours Ultimate Baseball Tour Tour Ultimate Baseball Sports Lover’s Tour See 7 MLB games in 11 days including See 7 MLB in 11 days including Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park & Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park & Field. Wrigley Field. Pro Wrigley Also included: Football and Baseball Halls of Fame Also included: Pro Football and Halls of and a Baseball day at the Little League $2,800/person based on double World Series! hotel Fame & occupancy a day at the Little League World Series! August 11-21, 2025 August 11-21, 2025 Please call or text for FREE brochure 507-217-1326 or visit our website: Please call www.bobsbaseballtours.com or text for FREE brochure 507-217-1326 See an NHL & NBA game, visit Pro Football Hall of Fame and tour Lambeau Field & see 4 MLB games from April 8-16 Be prepared before the next power outage. PUBLIC NOTICE qualified CEO, forming partnerships with other hospitals to share resources, tightening financial controls to ensure sustainability, ensuring merit-based rehir- ing to maintain standards, enhancing community trust through strong leadership, and setting high operational goals to elevate services. He disputes unfair firing claims, suggesting some staff left for reasons “not something they were proud of,” and critiques the board’s financial oversight. “Top three stability, re- sources and finances… find somebody that has the most qualifications… look at our existing resources… tighten our belt,” he said. “Some of those reasons were not something they were proud of and maybe didn’t share with you.” He stressed, “Just because you live here doesn’t entitle you to any- thing… earn that job.” Ezell also noted, “We have to find somebody that you guys are going to like.” He added, “I want our health district to be world class.” In his closing, he said, “There’s people that are riding anger.” The forum concluded with a shared resolve to renew the district, each candidate’s voice adding depth to a collective vision for change. Seastone’s financial clarity, Hanna’s sharp ac- countability, Torres’s in- novative outreach, Riet- man’s practical optimism, Greenup’s truth-seeking, Rhea’s steady wisdom, Nichols’s healthcare exper- tise, Spicer’s transparency, and Ezell’s community focus offered diverse, ac- tionable solutions. Their critiques—of leadership missteps, work- place challenges, and frac- tured trust—were out in front. As the election nears, Morrow County faces a pivotal choice for a path toward a stronger health- care future. -Continued from page 4 obtained on or after the 1st day of May, 2025 at 911 SW Tatone Street. Please call (541) 481-3473 between the hours of 9:00 am and 4:00 pm for arrangements. This is a public meeting where deliberation of the Budget Committee will take place. Any person may appear at the meeting and discuss the proposed programs with the Budget Commit- tee. Published April 16, 30, 2025 The Town of Lexington is now accepting letters of interest for Lexington Town Council Position 4. Letters of interest can be emailed to lexington. oregon@gmail.com or turned into the Lexington Town Hall on Monday – Thursday from 8:00am – 5:00pm, any questions can be directed to Town Re- corder Autum Crumpton (541) 989-8515. February 5, 2025 utf IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE STATE OF ORE- GON FOR THE COUN- TY OF MORROW Probate Department In the Matter of the Estate of: PATRICIA F. WALK- ER, NOTICE Deceased. Date of Death: February 11, 2025 No. 25PB02373 NOTICE TO INTEREST- ED PERSONS Notice is given that the undersigned has been appointed and has qualified as the per- sonal representative of the estate. All persons having claims against the estate are required to present it, with proper vouchers, within four months after the date of first publication of this notice, as stated be- low, to the personal rep- resentative at Kuhn Law Offices, 267 N. Main Street, P.O. Box 428, Heppner, Oregon 97836, or they may be barred. All persons whose rights may be affected by the proceedings in this es- tate may obtain addition- al information from the records of the court, the personal representative or the attorney for the per- sonal representative. DAT- ED and first published April 9, 2025. Signed by: PERSONAL REPRE- SENTATIVE: Kandice Salomone 2 Roundys Hill Marblehead, MA 01945 ATTORNEY FOR PER- SONAL REPRESENTA- TIVE: William J. Kuhn, OSB No. 762075 P.O. Box 428 Heppner, OR 97836 Telephone: 541-676-9141 FAX: 541-676-5502 Email: klo@kuhnlawof- fices.com Published April 16, 23, 30 2025 Affid 3c MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M. INOGEN ® PORTABLE OXYGEN CONCENTRATORS Call us toll-free at 1-855-839-0752 1 30-day risk-free trial- Return within 30 days of purchase for a full refund of purchase price. PM230469 EN_EX_USA | Rx Only. © 2024 Inogen, Inc. 859 Ward Drive, Suite 200, Goleta, CA 93111 Inogen® is a trademark of Inogen, Inc. The usage of any Inogen, Inc. trademark is strictly forbidden without the prior consent of Inogen, Inc. All other trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners or holders. Donate Your Car Print & Mailing Services Imagine the Diff erence You Can Make Vehicle donations are fully tax-deductible and the proceeds help provide services to help the blind and visually impaired. FREE TOWING & TAX DEDUCTIBLE When you donate your car, you’ll receive: voucher ✔ a 2-night, 3-day hotel stay at one of 50 locations Call 1-844-533-9173 Sykes Publishing 541-676-9228 FORM LB-1 & ✔ a $200 restaurant *Design *Print *Mail Help Prevent Blindness Get A Vision Screening Annually NOTICE OF BUDGET HEARING A public meeting of the Ione Lexington Cemetery Maintenance District will be held on May 12, 2025 at 11:00 am at Ione Rural Fire District Hall, 150 W Main, Ione, OR. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025 as approved by the Ione Lexington Cemetery Maintenance Distric Budget Committee. A summary of the budget is presented below. A copy of the budget may be inspected or obtained at Bank of Eastern Oregon 280 Main St, Ione OR, between the hours of 9:00 am and 4:00 pm or email for a copy at ionelexcemdist@gmail.com. This budget is for an annual budget period. This budget was prepared on a basis of accounting that is the same as the preceding year. Contact: Laurie Barrow Secretary-Treasurer Telephone: (541)379-0608 Email: IONELEXCEMDIST@GMAIL.COM FINANCIAL SUMMARY - RESOURCES TOTAL OF ALL FUNDS Actual Amount Adopted Budget Approved Budget 2023-2024 This Year 2024-2025 Next Year 2025-2026 $254,780.15 $200,000.00 $164,000.00 Beginning Fund Balance/Net Working Capital $7,507.73 $6,500.00 $7,500.00 Fees, Licenses, Permits, Fines, Assessments & Other Service Charges Interfund Transfers $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 All Other Resources Except Current Year Property Taxes $17,613.07 $12,400.00 $20,500.00 Current Year Property Taxes Estimated to be Received $105,694.75 $109,000.00 $108,000.00 Total Resources $385,595.70 $327,900.00 $300,000.00 FINANCIAL SUMMARY - REQUIREMENTS BY OBJECT CLASSIFICATION Personnel Services $41,703.73 $61,000.00 $59,000.00 Materials and Services $13,527.10 $53,900.00 $59,500.00 Capital Outlay $0.00 $70,000.00 $9,500.00 Interfund Transfers $42,000.00 $60,000.00 $150,000.00 Contingencies $0.00 $50,000.00 $12,000.00 Unappropriated Ending Balance and Reserved for Future Expenditure $0.00 $33,000.00 $10,000.00 Total Requirements $97,230.83 $327,900.00 $300,000.00 FINANCIAL SUMMARY - REQUIREMENTS AND FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT EMPLOYEES (FTE) BY ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT OR PROGRAM * Name of Organizational Unit or Program Ione Lexington Cemetery Maintenance District FTE for that unit or program 1 1 1 Not Allocated to Organizational Unit or Program N/A N/A N/A FTE 1 1 1 Total Requirements 1 1 1 Total FTE 1 1 1 PROPERTY TAX LEVIES Rate or Amount Imposed Rate or Amount Imposed Rate or Amount Approved 2023-2024 This Year 2024-2025 Next Year 2025-2026 Permanent Rate Levy (rate limit .2401 per $1,000) .2401 .2401 .2401 Local Option Levy 0 0 0 Levy For General Obligation Bonds 0 0 0 STATEMENT OF INDEBTEDNESS Estimated Debt Outstanding Estimated Debt Authorized, But LONG TERM DEBT on July 1. 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Transform your bathroom with a new bath or shower (Address) (Date) The purpose of the meeting is to receive the budget message and to receive comment from the public on the budget. This is a public meeting where deliberation of the Budget Committee will take place. Any person may appear at the meeting and discuss the proposed programs with the Budget Committee. Lexington Town Hall May 9, 2025 A copy of the budget document may be inspected or obtained on or after __________________________at ______________________________, (Location) (Date) a.m. a.m. p.m. and ________________________________. p.m. 8:00 5:00 between the hours of ______________________________ Published April 30, 2025 1c ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE: SCHEDULE A FREE IN-HOME CONSULTATION 1-833-347-0517 *Subject to 3rd party credit approval. Minimum monthly payments required. Offers valid thru 6/30/25 MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M.
