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About Nyssa gate city journal. (Nyssa, Or.) 1937-199? | View Entire Issue (Dec. 9, 1976)
University Of Oregon ib>-ary ugene, Ore* 774C3 X X X X X JOURNAL The Sugar City 70th Year 50th Issue Nyssa, Oregon Thursday, December 9, 1976 Financial Problems Facing Hospital By James A. Mattes. Administrator Most small hospitals in recent years have been plagued with financial diffi culties. Many have become victims of the same problems that Malheur Memorial Hos pital is facing. These prob lems and their net effect can be identified, but their solutions are not quite as easy. Our biggest problem is the poor utilization of the acute hospital and it's services. Occupancy, the best measure of hospital business activity, has been below 35% since 1967. Business has gradually declined each year since then, to its present level of about 20 percent. To state the converse, this means that 80 percent or approximately 21 of our 26 licensed hospital beds arc not used. Few hospitals have an ideal 100 percent occupancy, but also, few survive with occupancy as low as ours. Part of our occupancy problem is the nature of the business itself. We arc almost completely dependent upon Nyssa doc tors, because only physician members of our medical staff can admit patients. Conse quently, when patients do not choose to see or are not able to see Nyssa doctors, they usually do not end up in our hospital. Poor occupancy is not our only woe; other problems have also adversely affected our finances. One is the cost of quality care, which re quires »pensive equipment and professional personnel. Another is inflation, which has significantly increased our service and supply costs. A third problem is the role that government plays tn hospitals and the net cost result. Compliance with rules and regulations and the By Pat Savage Only 16 days left before Santa comes. Right now he is probably wondering whether to warm up the reindeer or the helicopter. If a little snow doesn't fall, he and many others will just be looking at their skis and sleds and just wishing. White Christmas?? • • • The Legion Auxiliary pac ked a very large variety of cookies Monday and sent them to the Veterans' Hos pital in Boise. Many thanks to all who donated. The 125 bags of cookies will be deeply appreciated and shows the true meaning of Christmas is in giving and bringing joy to others. • • • Aren't the Christmas win dows most attractive? If you haven't seen them don't miss the opportunity. The prize winners were most deserving but believe the others are really beautiful too. In fact. I think the town is really in the Christmas Spirit and looks very colorful. Even had some cantiers singing last week. Sure enjoyed those old-time songs. • • • Think it is refreshing to see more outdoor decorations and lights in the residential section this year. The energy crisis and the theft of lights and decorations certainly made people stop decorating these last few years but it sure makes Christmas a lot more cheerier to see and enjoy these decorations. Thanks to all who do. from all of us who don't. • a a Don't forget the annual Christmas Ball is Saturday night at the Eagles Hall from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Gals put on your prettiest Christmas dress, gather up your escort, neighbors or whoever, and come and have a fun evening of dancing, visiting, eating the buffet (which will be served at 11:30) and most of all help contribute towards the newly constructed fence at the nursing home. 1 increasing write offs caused by governmental patient pro. grams not paying their fair share of expenses, has helped jeopardize the fiscal viability of small hospitals. Our hospital is financed through fluctuating borrow ing. The financial problems we have been experiencing, cause our deficit to increase and prevent us from provid ing adquate funds for build ing and equipment needs. In the past five years there have not been any actual capital expenditures on the building, and only a total of $10,100 in equipment purchases. Also, money has not been set aside for replacement or renovation and depreciation has not been funded for future use. We have gone to great efforts to contain costs by utilizing technical manage ment tools and developing expertise in accounting. How ever, very little management control can be exerted over parts of our operation when revenue cannot be increased nor expenses reduced. In our nursing home, for example, about 40 percent of our expenses are for supplies and services which are essentially Axed, even with prudent purchasing. The other 60 percent is for labor, which is entirely controlled when ad hering to minimum staffing patterns set by the state. Revenues for government patients, which represent about 80 percent of the nursing home business, are paid strictly on a perdiem reimbursement, regardless of what you charge. In effect then, we haze little leverage in making significant fi nancial improvements in the nursing home, when both revenues and expenses arc controlled by the government. Last fiscal year the hospital experienced an operating loss of $93,520; which re sulted in an increase in the district's debt, even when offset by current taxes within the 6% limitation (published in today's paper is the Hospital's audited profit and loss statement;. The bank has placed a limit upon the hospital's rising debt, and when credit can no longer be extended, the hospital will be forced to dose. Additional funds are desperately needed to cover these operating losses, and more importantly provide a solution to our financial crisis. That solution being the recruitment of physicians! Physidans are not only vital to the hospital, but also to our entire health care delivery system and to the economic stability of our community. Recruitment and establishing them in practice is very expensive and there certainly are no attached guarantees we can obtain (hem or that they will stay. Only the community’s needs, enthusiasm, encouragement, and friendliness can in fluence retention of a good doctor. However, the dis trict’s proposed physician recruitment plan has worked in other areas of the state, and we certainly know they could not have a greater need than our community. With enough new physi cians, sufficient revenues will be generated through patient care to solve our financial problems. But the people in Nyssa and Adrian com munities must want a hospi tal and doctors badly enough to patronize the local fadli ties and be proud of the fine care we can provide. WEATHER Date Max. Mln. Pree. 41 14 Dec. 1 11 38 Dec. 2 16 43 Dec. 3 19 .08 45 Dec. 4 18 42 Dec. 5 18 39 Dec. 6 19 41 Dec. 7 23 Dec. 8 Owyhee Reservoir Storage 12-6-76 455,120 Acre Feet 12-6-75 551.380 Acre Feet Thunderegg Capital 15’Per Copy Burned Out Family Needs Help By Pat Savage Totally wiped out, home less, and in a state of shock, but happy to be alive, would be the terms most aptly applied to the Bob Frank family the morning after Thanksgiving when their trailer home was completely destroyed by fire. Bob Frank, 35, an Airforce veteran of 12 years, brought his wife Dixie, 19, and their small daughter, Sandra, eight and one-half months, from Santa Rosa, Calif, to Nyssa four weeks ago. They moved because Santa Rosa was getting so crowded and they wanted to live in a smaller town. Bob found employment with Archie Bauman's Draws Crowds THE ANNUAL PANCAKE FEED was a great success last Friday evening, with part of the large crowd shown above. In the top photo is a close-up of the pancake cookers, with Henry Schneider. Monty Burbank. Norma Burbank and Gilbert Wells in foreground. In the background are other Chamber of Commerce members at the serving line. Nyssa Junior High Hires Mark Stringer Mark Stringer, son of and Mrs. Bill Stringer of Nyssa, has been hired to finish out the school year of Barry Cotterell at the junior high school, according to Superintendent W. L. Mc- Partland. Cotterell submitted his resignation for personal reasons, and it has been accepted, McPartland said. Mark graduated from the University of Oregon in March of this year with a BS in Political Science. He married the former Sherry Turner of Klamath Falls and the young couple lives at Fruitland where she is employed as a Speech Thera pist in the Fruitland and Weiser schools. "This is a new expe rience for me," Stringer said, "but 1 am enjoying it.” He plans to go back to school and work towards a degree in Law, but may wind up as a school teacher. He is helping Mel Calhoun as an assistant wrestling coach in addition to teaching. Nyssa Police Give Holiday Warnings The Nyssa Police Depart ment would like to issue the following warning to shop pers and residents during the Holiday Season. Lock your packages and gifts in the trunk of your car while shopping and do not leave them out in the open. Residents are also encour aged to lock (heir cars at night and not leave valuables in their vehicles. The theft of several C.B. Radios (his past week has prompted this warning. Chief Allen said. Engraving machines are available at the police station and residents are encouraged to come in and pick one up and mark their valuables This will greatly assist the police in identifying stolen property. Residents are also encour aged to notify the police department if they are planning to be gone during the holidays as their home will be placed on the vacation list. Travelers can also call the police department for up to date road reports that come in oo the teletype four times daily. B&MEquiPmen< To Show Film ''Farming Frontiers ’77”, a film program devoted to the business of farming, will be presented Saturday. De cember 11. at B & M Equipment beginning at 11 a.m.. it was announced today by Les Burbank, the John Deere dealer in this area. The program includes Fur row on Film subjects, which show the latest developments in farm management. These films provide guidance that could affect your plans today and in the years to come. Also included will be motion pictures showing the new John Deere balers, grain drills, forage harvesters, and other farm equipment being introduced for 1977. A 23-piece John Deere Vi-Inch Drive Socket Wrench Set and three John Deere Insulated Vests will be given away as door prizes. Burbank said. He also said lunch will be served at noon. OSU Lists Student Totals From County More than 13.600 of the 16,228 students enrolled at Oregon State University this fall are h.>m Oregon, includ ing 108 nom Malheur County All 3b Oregon counties are represented in the student body as well as 47 of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Foreign students at Oregon State came from 70 countries. A breakdown of Malheur County shows: Adrian. 1; Jordan Valley. 2; Nyssa. 19; Ontario, 66; and Vale. 20. Students from surrounding counties include: Baker. 68; Grant. 15; and Harney. 21. Hawkins Re-elected President Bert Hawkins. Ontario, was re-elected President of the Oregon Cattlemen's As sociation on the closing day of the Annual Convention held in Portland last month. Bill Ross, Jordan Valley, was re-elected First Vice-presi dent, and the OCA Treasurer Sam Dement. Myrtle Point, was also re-elected. VPs completing their second yeai of their term of office include: George McGee, Riley; Reid Johnson. Wallowa; and C. E. Rhoads. Culver. 2nd VPs elected for a two-year term are: Les Marks, Hermiston, replacing Raymond French. Heppner; Richard Cain. Po well Butte, replacing Martin Howard. Prineville; Ed Mee ker. Klamath Falls, replacing Dalton Straus, Central Point; and Bill Stevenson. Eugene, replacing Roger Dumdi, Day ton. Donald Ostensoc. the Executive Vice-President of the Association was retained Meeting with the cattle- men for their annual session were the Oregon Cow-Belles. Their agenda included con siderable beef promotion programs to stimulate con sumer buying for 1977. Mrs. Martha Jane Jacobs, Baker, was .elected state CowBelle President for the coming year replacing Mrs. Liz Hyde of Blv. More than 500 Oregon calttlcmcn, wives and Cow- Belles attended this year's meeting. The Grand Opening of Bauman's, Inc. last week was a great success, according to Larry Bauman. He said that the showroom of their new building was packed all weekend, and that over 400 were served lunch on Thurs day. Winners of the many door prizes were as follows: Giles Carey. Timing Light; Ed Bagley.CB Radio; Luit Sum. Tool Box; Tony Klein, Delco Cooler; Louis Sum. Colum bus Jacket; Jenny Hansen. Columbus Jacket; Patricia Werner, Indoor-Outdoor Thermometer; Harold Dail. Skillet; Ken Findling. Biscuit Warmer; Glad Chadwick, S&K Tool Set; Karen Bur ress. Hot Shaver; Randy Armstrong, *4” Skii Drill; Vera McCrady. Smuckers Jam Set; and Mrs. Ed Bagley. Gas Pump. Bauman said that there were many other winners of Goodyear jackets, caps and blimps, and enforcer shirts. The store owner said that he wished to thank all who con tributed in making the opening so successful. Barclay who owns A-l Heating and Cooling and things were looking pretty good. They had a nice Thanksgiving and talked of Christmas and the coming baby, which will be born in about five months. Yes, everything was going fine. On that cold, windy, Friday morning Mrs. Frank found she couldn't turn off the oil furnace and the oil kept coming in. She went to the barrel and found the outside switch was frozen open. She put out the family pets, a dog and a cat and picked up the baby, she just had gotten outside when the trailer exploded ripping out the front end of the home. During the excitement the animals somehow got back into the trailer and were lost. Aware that they had nothing left, as far as material things, but, oh, so glad to have each other, this young couple weren’t sure what they were going to do. However, many people in their new town soon took the situation in control, and the Franks found out first-hand the meaning of small town concern and compassion. They spent their first few nights at the Arrowhead Motel and ate their meals at Brownie's Cafe and people they didn't even know brought food, clothing blank ets, money and helped them realize they weren't alone in their plight. They found permanent lodging in a nice warm house on the Mike Stam farm and are busy getting settled. "We can't believe all these people care about us. It just wouldn’t happen in Cali fornia." says Mrs. Frank. When 1 talked with this cheery, young mother, she said, “We really have about everything of necessity but there are a few things we still need. I am old fashioned perhaps, but 1 like to use cloth diapers on Sandra and I really need some." Hesitating, as though she feels that people in this area have done so much already. I finally got her to tell me they need serving bowls, mixing bowls and refrigerator sto rage bowls; men’s thermal underwear (small); regular underwear and T-shirts (small); end tables; ladies knee socks (5-7); a man’s warm work jacket (small); ironing board; old vacuum cleaner, sheets-top and bot- (full size) and of course all donations of food and money would really help right now. Ali that was saved from the burning trailer was a sewing machine that was stored in the back room. The case was burned but the machine wasn't. And a large picture of the Guardian Angel was intact except for a small amount of damage to the outer frame. The Franks want everyone to know how much they appreciate everything that has been done for them. "It’s hard to mention everyone individually, but you can’t imagine how deeply thankful we are to be living in Nyssa.” "We do want to say a special thanks to the Arrow head Motel, Bill and Sue Fletcher, Brownies Cafe, Reba and Mel Fisher and Blackers in Ontario, and to everyone who helped by giving us things and for the much needed thoughts and prayers of others." If you want to lend a helping hand and make Christmas a little brighter for the three Franks, yonr donations may be left at the Gate City Journal. GeorgeBain To Retire George Bain. County Ex tension Agent will retire December 31. He started his career in 1946 and since that time has been directly involved in agricultural edu cational programs with a short two year tenure in Harney County and one year with the Northwest Produc tion Credit Association at Portland, according to Ray Novotny. County Extension Agent. Novotny went on to say he has worked specifically with the livestock industry and was instrumental in organiz ing one of the top range improvement programs in the country. Some 220,000 acres was sprayed and 30,000 acres seeded to crested wheat grass for improved forage and resource develop ment. He is recognized, according to th'* agent, as one of the leaders in helping Malheur County receive bru cellosis and TB certification, and he worked closely with the feed lot industry and assisted in improving the calf crop from 65% to 85% due to better management. During his tenure he served as an active partici pant in the County Agents’ Association, local school boards. County Fair Board, Eastern Oregon Hereford Breeders Association, to name « few. Mr. Bain's retirement w ill become effec tive December 31. 1976. Novotny concluded. MRS. BOB [DIXIE] FRANK and daughter Sandra, are busy getting settled into their rented home following the recent loss of their residence by fire. The Franks are newcomers to Nyssa and because of the help and concern shown to them since their tragedy, they believe it is the best town they could ever call home. Nyssa Schools Receive Additional Title I Money The Nyssa School district has been allocated an addi tional $21,488 or ESEA Title 1 federal monies. The total allocation for the 1976-77 school year is now $138,048. according to CTarice Poor, supervisor of that program. Title 1 monies provide additional help to students who are academically "bog- ged-down” in the communi cation skills and math. The current Title 1 budget is $106,956. it provides salaries and employee benefits for seven teachers and eleven teacher aides. $8,145 for supplies and equipment, and $5,161 in supportive services (bus rental and driver, food services). The remaining $31,092 available will be held over and used to supplement the 1977-78 allocation that will support next year's program. Mrs. Poor said that to qualify for Title 1 monies each school must have a Parent Advisory Council that is informed about the needs and Title I operation for that school. A representative from each building PAC is appoin ted to serve on the district PAC Committee. Parents involved this year to date are: Pre-School & Primary: Mrs. Debbie Tengs. Chair man; Mrs. Donald Sloggett, Mrs. Rodolfo Longoria, and Mrs. Procaro Ramirez. Elementary School: Mrs. Donna Blackburn. Chairman; Mrs. Reed Ray, Mrs. Frank Grimaldo, and Mr. Pancho Rios. Junior High School: Mrs. David Ballantyne. Chairman; Mrs. Joe Madrid, Mrs. Gerald Moore, Mrs. Robert Moore. Mrs. Dick Wagstaff, Mrs. Dorothy Nolen and Mrs. Enos Cook. High School: Mrs. Owen Froerer, Chairman; Mrs. James Shaw, Mrs. Frank Grimaldo. Mrs. Dee Gamer, and Mr. Muri Lancaster. Each committee has met to plan its agenda for this year.
