Nyssa Gate City Journal
Dlrick
Nedn................ .......... Editor
and
Publisher
Rene Van BRjouw......... .................. Production Manager
Pftt S«VBge............. ......... Office Manager, News
.....................Social, Circulation
Ruth Klinkenberg..... ..................... Production Staff
Lucille Callahan.......... .......................Production Staff
Published Every Thursday al Nyssa. Oregon '*7913
Second elass postage paid at Nyssa. Oregon 9'913
under aet of Congress of March 3. 18'9
MEMBER
Oregon
Newspaper s
Publishers .
Association II
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
Malheur Counts. Oregon,
and Pas etti' and Canyon
Counties. Idaho;
NATIONAL NEWSPAPER
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Thursday, January 6, 1977
Nyssa Gate City Journal, Nyssa, Oregon
Page Two
NMA SUSTAINING
Our Hospital Needs Support
Can you imagine this community without a hospital?
Can you imagine this community without a nursing home?
Can you imagine this community without ambulance
service?
Can you imagine this community without doctors, nurses,
and skilled medical practitioners?
No. we can't imagine it, and it need not happen. And it
won’t happen if we go to the polls next Tuesday. January 11.
and affirm our support of the one-year levy requested.
Malheur Memorial Hospital isn’t just a little institution out
on the edge of town, casually left to its own devices. Instead,
it is a living organization daily contributing to the lives of 40
nursing home residents, and varying numbers of medical
patients. Very few of us have not been touched by our
association with this hospital in some way over the years.
All of the arguments have been presented, and there is no
intention of trying to rehash them here. Thfe facts are that the
hospital needs a one-shot financial boost/and it is up to us to
provide it. Only one time previously haZ the hospital board
asked the patrons of the district to provide tax money, other
than the small amount imposed each year within the six
percent limitation.
Hospitals do not make money, nor should they. With few
exceptions hospitals are financed by revenues from patients,
plus either tax revenues or money from religious or charitable
organizations. Rarely is any hospital so busy, and collections
so good, that additional monies are not needed.
We are a taxing district. Each year we have supplemented
hospital revenues with a small tax levy. Now the demands for
building and equipment modernization, physician recruit
ment. and helping with the operating expenses requires some
additional money.
It appears that additional doctors will be made available to
this community. Passage of the budget will insure the
necessary repairs and operating expenses. There appears no
reason why an additional effort by all of us should not assure
another good 25 years of successful operation of the hospital,
with renewed life and vigor.
We can’t sit idly by and see something that so many worked
so hard to establish, and which has been supported by the
patrons of this district for so many years, go by default We
are dealing with human life, ours and others, and we can’t
afford to gamble on the consequences.
The late Dr. J.J. Sarazin. pioneer doctor, said at the
dedication ceremonies back in 1949, “We must remember
that this is just the commencement, and our support must be
continued in the future as it has been in the past. I feel sure
from your past performance, there is no doubt about the
future of the hospital."
There should be no doubt of the future, but only if we here
today are as dedicated and interested as those who built the
hospital over 25 years ago.
The Circuit Writer
Standing On A Snowy Sidewalk
With A Shovel, Gloves And Three Blisters....
By Jim Monroe
Why is it..........
that, which when sitting inside,
was such pretty white fluff,
becomes, upon shoveling,
lead-weighted junk 'n stuff?
O tiny flakes!
You tug my melancholy strands -
making my heart and feet ache,
while freezing my hands!
You fickle flakes;
frivolity of snowmobiling buffs -
you always come calling
when I've lost my ear muffs!
But. alas. Spring wouldn't be Spring,
if you weren't around......
Giving God's angel of moisture
to our dehydrated ground!
So. snow on! And. snow on! But. if you
please.
Try coming, this year, without your friend
sneeze........ !
Mrs. Dyre Roberts and
Mrs. Jim Carroll accom
panied Mr. and Mrs. David
Krause to Boise Sunday
morning taking Wayne and
Rochelle Roberts to catch a
plane for a flight home to
London. England.
OPEN TILL 6:00
“If there’s a way
the new tax law
can save you money,
we’ll find it.”
Henry W. Block
The new 1976 tax law is full of changes.
New credits... new deductions... new
rules that affect you and every taxpayer
H&B BLOCK
THE INCOME TAX PEOPLE
214 N. Main
372-3396
NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY • W II KDAYS 9 A M 6 P M . SAT
Letters
To The Editor
Editor, The Journal.
Malheur Memorial Hos
pital District has set an
election for January 11, 1977,
seeking voter approval of a
levy of $274,675 outside the
6% limitation. The money is
needed by the hospital for
current operating expenses,
physician recruitment and to
correct building and equip
ment deficiencies. The need
for the funds is urgent; so
much so that the voters of the
District will really be de
ciding whether or not after 26
years, the Nyssa and Adrian
communities will continue to
be served by a hospital.
The Board of Directors and
staff of Malheur Memorial
Hospital have worked very
hard to avoid this situation
and they have taken far
sighted and aggressive action
to recruit doctors and to
improve the hospital's non
tax revenues. We believe
that the hospital deserves the
support of the District's
patrons at this critical time,
and that they will willingly
give it; not just because of
the past work they did and
the sacrifices they made to
build their hospital and to
maintain it. but because they
and their families know how
necessary it is to have a
hospital to serve our present
and future health needs.
Sincerely yours.
Nyssa Chamber of Com
merce
Stephen B. Fonda
President
Editor, The Journal:
On January 11. 1977, an
election will be held in the
Malheur Memorial Hospital
District which will indicate to
the Board of Directors the
future course the patrons of
this District wish for them to
take. I would like to give you
a few reasons why the levy-
should pass.
1 believe that each voter
must decide for himself what
this institution means to him,
his family, and his freinds.
Some say they do not need a
hospital in Nyssa because
they go elsewhere for their
medical care. If some such
person is injured from an
industrial or farm accident,
or has a heart attack, or some
similar grave medical situa
tion. they would be only too
glad to have a hospital, an
ambulance service, and train
ed personnel ready to give
them care.
The wonderful care that
everyone has received at
Malheur Memorial Hospital
is the backbone of our
institution. The Hospital,
however, is in a present
slump because we lack
enough medical doctors in
Nyssa to take care of the
medical needs of this com
munity. Only doctors admit
patients to hospitals-no one
else. Without doctors practi
cing in our community, the
Hospital understandably has
a difficult time.
With the program the
Board of Directors has
proposed, more doctors will
be attracted to the com
munity and the Hospital is
ready to serve you for all of
your hospital needs.
The staff of Malheur
Memorial knows that it
operates the best nursing
home in the whole Treasure
Valley area. Isn't it worth a
lot to know that your friends,
relatives, and even yourself,
someday can have this
excellent facility available.
This is only the third time
since the Hospital District
was organized, that the
Board of Directors has gone
to the voters for additional
operating funds. They have
managed the institution pru
dently and the administrator^
James Mattes, is performing*
financial miracles to keep the
institution open. But he
cannot continue without your
help.
So the question really for
every voter in our District is
whether or not you want
Malheur Memorial Hospital
to move ahead or to
disappear.
The choice is
each ot ours and I hope that
every voter will weigh the
consequences of his vote and
if in doubt, decide in favor of
the continuation of Malheur
Memorial.
Very truly yours.
Gene Stunz
Editor, The Journal:
Mr. James A. Mattes,
Administrator.
Malheur Memorial Hospital.
District
1109 Park Avenue
Nyssa. Oregon 97913
Dear Mr. Mattes;
It is a pleasure to inform
you that your application for
two physicians for the com
munity of Nyssa. Oregon
through the National Health
Service Corps has been
approved. Dr. Roger Rosen
blatt of my staff has already
initiated recruitment efforts
and he, and his staff, will be
in contact with you as the
project develops.
We look forward to work
ing with you and your
community in improving the
health services available to
the people of Nyssa.
Sincerely yours.
/s/David W. Johnson, M.D.,
Regional Health Adminis
trator
Dept, of Health, Education
and Welfare.
Region X
Arcade Plaza Building
1321 Second Avenue
Seattle. Washington 98101
Editor. The Journal:
I am concerned that in all
the discussion about voting
“Yea" or “Nay" on the
increased Malheur Memorial
Hospital Budget, a very
important consideration is
not being brought to light.
We hear the arguments
about increases in taxes,
danger of losing our Nursing
Home and Emergency Room,
income generated in the
Nyssa area that might be
lost, etc......However, we are
forgetting that there is an
important moral issue at
stake in our vote on January
11th! What is a human life
worth?
While all of the arguments
have major points of validity,
the basic fact remains that we
will be voting either yes or no
on the issue of saving lives!
The distances involved in
reaching other area hospitals
could be the major fadors in
life or death of a human
being needing prompt atten
tion. To allow this to be the
major fador, in the hopes of
guarding a piece of our
pocketbooks is to place the
value we hold for the dollar
above the value we place on
human life.
Christ said, ”1 was naked,
and you clothed me, 1 was
sick and you visited me...”
What a terrible commentary
upon our area if he had to
say. “I was naked and sick
and you sent me on my way. “
I believe that Christian
morality and Christian ethics
must lead us to vote “Yes”
on January 11. "Yes" to
“feeding, and clothing and
visiting”; "Yes” to our
responsibility to care for
human life; “Yes" to placing
people-needs above our sel
fish needs.
Sincerely.
James P. Monroe. Pastor
United Methodist Church,
Nyssa. Oregon.
Editor. The Journal:
1 would like to respect
fully propose that the tax
payers of the District Vote
“no” on January 11 to the
proposition that we submit to
an additional one-time tax
levy providing further funds
for the Malheur Memorial
Hospital. It is more than
obvious that this facility has
been an unsound investment
for quite a while.
There is no guarantee
additional money will provide
needed staffing and physi
cians. Nor is there any reason
to believe, if a physician
could be found, that he'd stay
any great length of time. The
physical inadequacy of the
local facility, coupled with
lack of opportunity in the
area, offer no great induce
ment toward long-term resi
dency for younger, new
doctors; and who may also be
inexperienced.
It would seem the tax
payers of this District would
be demonstrating a really
sound, financial judgment if
they tried to work out an
agreement with Ontario to
upgrade that hospital rather
than to continue pouring
good money after bad into
the Nyssa facility. One really
good hospital serving the
area would be
far more
advantageous to all of us than
two, smaller, inadequate
ones.
After all. Ontario is practi
cally in our backyards!
Doctors could be much more
easily attracted to an im
proved Ontario medical cen
ter. and the two districts
working together could pro
vide us all with the long-
needed availability of good
medical care!
Sincerely yours.
Mrs. O M. Cook
510 N. 4th St..
Nyssa, Oregon
Editor. The Journal:
Our Hospital Needs Help?
Or do the taxpayers need
relief and freedom? The
taxpayers
donated
great
sums of money to get this
hospital started with assur
ance it would be self-sup
porting. It was not and the
taxpayers have supported it
to the tune of $740.772.74
from 1959 through 1975
taxes. Now we are told again
it will sustain itself with more
doctors but it ran in the red
with seven doctors support
ing it in 197] and 72. Let
these facts speak for them
selves and lets face this issue
with common sense. Times
have changed. All small
factions have had to be
concentrated into big ones to
survive. Lets not pay the 83c
plus the $3.19 per $1.000
valuation this year and more
and more in the years to
come.
Lets let Malheur County
take over the hospital and
bring our nursing home up to
standard by using Federal
Revenue sharing and in
crease its capacity as needed.
As reported in the local
newspapers. Malheur County
is down between $7 and 8
million dollars in farm
income. Can we continue to
support a hospital that has
cost the taxpayers $17,809.89
in 1959 with a steady increase
each year to $69.024 in 1975?
Delbert Gamer
Route 2, Box 404
Nyssa. Oregon
A MAJOR SNOWSTORM arrived Monday
morning, finally giving skiiers and snow-
mobilers hopes, and making it rough on
Snow
Blankets
Area
motorists. City crews took care of Main Street
and major intersections, and soon had traffic
moving in relative safety.
Church Directory
United Methodist
Church News
The
United
Methodist
Students in area schools Church and the Rev. Jim
received an extra day of Monroe welcome you to all
church activities.
vacation as all school closed
Thursday, January 6 *
except the Payette School
District due to adverse General meeting of the
United Women’s Society, at
weather conditions. Schools
in Nyssa. Adrian. Vale. 'the church. 2 p.m.
Sunday, January 9 -Pra
Ontario. Weiser and Harper
were closed. Schools re yer Service. 9 a.m.
Sunday School. 9:30 a.m.
opened Tuesday as the storm
Worship Service, “Chris
that dumped approximately
eight inches of snow stabi tian Ministry and Pain,” by
Rev. Monroe. Study Second
lized and highway crews
Editor. The Journal:
were able to clear the roads.
Corinthians 4:7-18.
The primary concern of the
Tuesday, January 11 •
The long-awaited snowfall
Hospital Board is to give
did. just as some oldtime Be Sure To Vote For The
direction ia cooperation with
Hospital Election.
our Administrator and Medi weather observers said it
Wednesday, January 12 •
would-all at once. The eight
cal Staff, work within Local,
State, and Federal regula to nine inches began falling Open Forum at the church, 7
early Sunday bringing ex p.m.
tions. and keep cost in
Administrative Board. 8
balance with our financial clamations of glee from
children and some equally p.m.
resourses.
If interested in a mid-week
Our decline in revenue audible groans from those
over the previous four years old enough to shovel walks study of "Death In A Chris
has resulted from a decline in and driveways and drive tian Perspective” contact
business on the Hospital vehicles. The agricultural Jim.
side. We have lost business sector has been wishing for
for two primary reasons. snow along with operators of
First--there are not enough ski areas
Area law officers including
Physicians to go around--we
are an Official “Disaster Oregon State police reported
Area" in this respect and no major traffic accidents.
Roy T. Carter
have lost 80% of our However they were busy
community's business to the helping motorists who were
Services for Roy Truman
North and the East. Second, stuck or stalled and there
Carter. 70. Nyssa, who died
new regulations imposed on were some fender bender
of natural causes Sunday,
the Medical Profession limit accidents.
Forecast calls for partly
January 2, 1977 at home will
length of confinement and
be conducted at 2 p.m.,
arbitrarily restrict admission cloudy weather with a chance
Thursday at the Church of
by setting up "standards” of snow showers.
Jesus Christ of Latter-day
that specify how sick you
Saints, Nyssa Stake house,
have to be before qualifying
by Bishop Gary Thompson.
for Hospital admission. This,
Interment will follow in
with the spector of malprac
Nyssa Cemetery, under the
tice suits have greatly cur
APPLE VALLEY • Mr.
direction of Lienkaemper
tailed Hospital admissions by
and Mrs. Lester Robinson
Chapel. Nyssa.
Doctors throughout the in
Tereca and Donald of Con
He was born April 5. 1906.
dustry.
nell. Washington were Wed
at Preston. He married
Availability of Physicians
nesday and Thursday over
Marjorie Briggs. April 5.
for small towns and remote
night guests of Mr. and Mrs.
1941. at Preston. They moved
areas is a problem. Both
Dwight Seward. Trena and
to the Nyssa area in 1946
income and the opportunity
Kayleen Fowler, cousins of
from Trenton, Utah. He
to practice specialties are
the Robinson children were
worked for Amalgamated
limited. The solution to
also overnight guests on
Sugar Company, retiring in
obtaining physicians is a
Thursday at the Sewards.
1971.
comprehensive recruitment
Ronda. Betty and Larry
Surviving are his wife.
program, or to make applica
Downs of Nampa; Kimberlee
Nyssa; three sons. Jack,
tion to the Government for
and Kent Pierce of Boise and
Nyssa. Ralph of Coulee Dam.
new young Doctors that have
Gary Seward enjoyed a
Washington and Roger. Ven
obligated themselves to ac
skating party on Friday north
tura. California; a daughter,
cept assigned service in
of town and later had
Mrs. Robert (Louise) Quick,
return for educational aid.
refreshments at the Dwight
Salem, Oregon; two brothers,
Our community does qualify,
Seward home.
four sisters, and two grand
the application has been
Mr. and Mrs. Albert Scofe
children.
made and approved, however
of Ashton. Idaho were
the Community must provide
Thursday evening visitors
the clinic and initial operat
and Mr. and Mrs. John
ing funds-We have to prime
Hohhalter of Pocatello were
the pump in either case.
Wednesday evening visitors
Federal and State regula
of Mr. and Mrs. Henry
tions are biting us on both
Trapp.
ends. On one hand we must
Mrs. Lavone Fox of Cald
meet stringent controls and
well was a New Years eve
regulations imposed by law
The Malheur Memorial
dinner guest of Mrs. Helen
on Hospitals which greatly
Hospital
visitation schedule
Wilson.
increase our fixed costs.
for the month of January is as
Mr. and Mrs. Roy Rook
Next, payment of bills by
follows:
stool and Mrs. Zora Edens
State and Federal funds
Faith Lutheran Church,
attended the potluck Bubble
(Medicare and Welfare) is
Chaplain
Rev. Walt Schmidt
Hop for Senior Citizens at the
limited to the lesser of
from December 27 to January
Eagles Hall in Nyssa on
provable cost or charges.
2, with nursing home service,
Thursday.
Medicare payments are fur
Sunday. January. 2.
Sunday afternoon. Mr. and
ther discounted 15%, thus
The Conservative Baptist
Mrs. Roy Rookstool, Mrs.
we do not make a profit on
Church, Chaplain Rev. Don
Pierce and Mr. and Mrs. Ron
State or Federal business.
Beattie from January 3 to
Rookstool
and family en
The revenue to survive must
January 9 with nursing home
joyed pizza at Ontario. Then
come from private-pay pa
service. Sunday, January 9.
came home for ice cream and
tients and from taxation.
The St. Bridget's Catholic
birthday cake to celebrate
Our operating Revenue
Church, Chaplain Rev. Bob
anniversaries for Kim. Stacey
last year was approximately
Simard from January 10 to
and Ron Rookstool.
$700,000 from patient char
January 16 with nursing
ges and $46,000 from Tax
home service Sunday, Ja
It is my conviction that we
Money; a ratio of $15.00 from
nuary 16.
need to maintain Malheur
charges to $1.00 from Taxes.
Latin Assembly of God
Memorial Hospital and Nurs
During my term on the
Church, Chaplain Rev. Alex
ing Home as a part of our
Hospital Board we have
Najar from January 17 to
Community Health Care. To
survived by “biting the
January 23 with nursing
do this we need Building
bullet" existing on a break
home service Sunday. Ja
repair. Capital Expenditures,
even basis by deferring
nuary 23.
and Physicians to capture
Capital Expenses and per
United Methodist Church,
business--a portion of that
forming minimum maintan-
Chaplain
Rev. Jim Monroe
80% now going elsewhere.
ence. Now we have to ask
from January 24 to January
I urge every one to vote
you -the Tax District-for an
30 with nursing home service
their personal convictions.
additional $275.000. this year
Sunday, January .30.
Wc need your “Yes" vote,
only, for Building Main-
your confidence, and your
tanence. Improvements to
Meala on Wheel» volunteer
business.
meet regulations, and some
workers
for the
month of
Sincerely yours.
form of Physician recruit
January will be women from
Paul Kunkel
ment.
the Faith Lutheran Church.
Board Secretary
OBITUARIES
Apple Valley Items
Hospital
Visitations
♦ • •
N azarene
Church News
Sunday, January 9. Mor
ning Prayer at the Church, 7
a.m.
Christian Education Clas
ses. 9:45 a.m.
Children's Church. 11 a m.
Morning Worship with
message by Pastor Russell,
11 a.m.
Choir practice. 6:45 p.m.
Evening Gospel Hour. 7:30
p.m.
Tuesday, January 11, La
dies Bible Study was post
poned last week due to
inclement weather so is again
scheduled to meet with Linda
Taylor. 9:30 a.m.
Wednesday, January 12,
Bible Study at the Nursing
Home, 4 p.m.
Midweek service for Cara
van children. Teens, and
Adult study. The Growing
Congregation. 7:30 p.m.
Chuch Board meeting fol
lowing Prayer service.
a
a
a
“Divine forgiveness meets
a deep human need.”
Park Avenue
Baptist Church
Sunday, January 9
day School for all ages. 10
a.m.
Worship Service in the
sanctuary with message by
Pastor Dale Mitchell, 11 a m.
Choir practice and Bible
study. 7 p.m.
Tuesday, January 11 *
Youth group, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, January 12 •
Business meeting. 7 p.m.
FAITH LUTHERAN
CHURCH NOTES
Thursday, January 6, Con
firmation Instruction, 6:30
p.m.
Adult Bible Study, 8 p.m.
Sunday, January 9. Sunday
School. 9:45 a.m.
Worship Service, II a.m.
Parish Luther League Tubing
Party. 2 p.m.
Wednesday, January 12,
Nyssa Ministerial Associa
tion. 7:30 a.m. meeting at the
Twilight Cafe.
Choir Rehearsal, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, January 13,
Confirmation Instruction.
6:30 p.m.
Adult Bible Study. 8 p.m.
Thursday, January 6 ■
Oregon Trail Grange. “Ques
tions on hospital Election" by
Jim Mattes at the Oregon
Trail Hall, 8 p.m. Public
invited.
Friday,
January
7 •
Friendship Club. IOOF Hall,
weather permitting. 2 p.m.
Saturday, January 8 - Uni
ted Methodist Church rum
mage Sale. Church Basement
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Monday, January 10 ■
Stardusters. Sadie Metcalfs.
Adrian Blvd., weather per
mitting. 8 p.m.
Tuesday, January 11 •
Yellow Rose Rebekah Lodge.
IOOF Hall. Installation, 8
p.m.
Wednesday, January 12 •
Nyssa Senior Citizens. Club
house on Bower Avenue,
potluck 10:30 a.m.
Job’s Daughters Bethel
No. 33. Masonic Hall, wea
ther permitting. 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, January 13 ■
OKKClub to meet at home of
L. Vandewall at 2 p.m. Roll
call will be election of
officers.