The Thomases will sell their meat at the local Farmers Market

By Randy Parks
Burns Times-Herald

The first Farmers Market of the year is set for Saturday, July 3, at Hines Park, and Dave and Blythe Thomas will be there selling bison meat, as they have been for the past four years.

The Thomases were one of the first four vendors to sign up when the market was organized in 2007, and they have attended every one since. “It’s been a good way to get the product out to the public,” Dave said.

The bison ranch

Before moving to Harney County, the Thomases were living and working in Central Oregon, but they were looking for a change. “I was tired of painting cars,” Dave said, and Blythe, working as a program analyst for the state, longed for more freedom than her job’s cubicle provided.

After purchasing land in Harney County, the Thomases moved in May 2006, and began to kick around different ideas for a business. One day Dave blurted out, “Let’s raise buffalo,” and their venture began.

They first purchased 21 head from a ranch in Wyoming and continued to add to the herd in the coming months. “At first, I was going all over the country picking up bison and having a great time,” Dave said. But now, with 53 head and more calves on the way, the herd is somewhat sustainable without traveling over hill and dale to purchase animals.

Their plan is to keep all heifers until they get 100 breeders, and they figure it will take seven years to accomplish that goal.

The bison graze on more than 400 acres of pasture land, and the Thomases provide additional feed for eight or nine months of the year.

The animals are processed locally by Buermann’s Ranch Meats, and the Thomases get an average of 500 pounds of meat from each animal. Dave pointed out that bison meat is very high in protein and iron and very low in fat, calories and cholesterol. “It’s really good too,” added Blythe.

Farmers Market

Their first year of operation, the Thomases were introduced to Farmers Markets in Bend and Portland and used those venues to sell their product. Then in 2007, they heard they were organizing a Farmers Market locally, and were one of the first to sign up. “Having a market here lets us use a lot less gas and still sell the meat,” Blythe said.

The Thomases have taken over as directors of the event this year and plan to have 15 to 20 vendors each Saturday. “It’s growing every year,” Blythe said.

The market will begin earlier this year, opening at 7:30 a.m., and Blythe added that one goal they have is to have concession stands set up in the park during the market so people don’t have to leave to get a bite to eat.

Just like their bison herd, the Thomases are hoping to keep the Farmers Market healthy and growing.

For more information on the operation, visit dandbbisonranch.com.

Staff decides unanimously that clinic will no longer accept visits from drug reps

By Lauren Brown
Burns Times-Herald

Starting July 1, the High Desert Medical Center (HDMC) will join others such as Madras Medical and Oregon Health Sciences University in cutting ties with pharmaceutical companies.

This means the clinic will no longer accept visits from pharmaceutical drug representatives, free samples or free products such as notepads, pens and clocks with product logos.

Dr. Kevin Johnston, one of HDMC’s family practice physicians, recently sat down for an interview to explain the new policy. He said that drug representatives visit the medical center two to three times per week to push brand new, expensive, poorly tested medications. “Our belief is that the only way to protect our patients from the downside of pharmaceutical companies is to completely eliminate their influence,” he said.

Johnston said that studies show that medication costs for patients at clinics where drug representatives frequent are 50 percent higher than clinics that have no relationship with pharmaceutical drug representatives. This is because when a patient receives a free month’s sample of a certain drug, the physician is more likely to continue to prescribe that drug rather than a generic, which would often be just as effective and cheaper.

In devising the new policy, clinic staff agreed they wanted to make medical decisions based on the best available science, not based on free samples or incentives from pharmaceutical companies, which are in the business to make money. Drug representatives don’t necessarily have the best interest of the patient in mind. “Do you really think you’re going to get an unbiased opinion from a drug rep?” Johnston asked. He noted that it would be like going to a Chevrolet dealer and asking them what would be the best kind of car for you. They’re not going to convince you to buy a Toyota. “We really need to divorce ourselves from the pharmaceutical industry,” Johnston said.

Even free gifts, such as notepads and pens, have a subliminal effect on what doctors prescribe, Johnston noted. There is a reason advertising works. While many physicians may believe free gifts from drug reps don’t influence their decisions, just the simple act of looking at a clock with a branded logo repeatedly throughout the day can have a subtle effect on what a doctor prescribes.

Pharmaceutical companies have access to information such as how many prescriptions a doctor writes and what those prescriptions are for.

Johnston used the example of Vioxx, a drug touted to provide pain relief for those suffering from arthritis, to show that seemingly popular drugs are not always completely safe. Vioxx was heavily promoted by drug reps and in 2003, reached sales of $2.5 billion despite studies that indicated that the drug had some dangerous side effects, including heart attack and stroke. The drug was then withdrawn from the market in 2004 because of serious health concerns.

While the medical field cannot entirely escape the business of pharmaceutical marketing, Johnston said HDMC staff know their first allegiance is to provide quality care to patients. “My ethical obligations for any patient who walks through my door is to find the best, most effective, cheapest medication for them,” he said.
The new policy, which takes effect July 1, will be an adjustment, Johnston said, especially for patients who have been used to getting free samples. However, he said it will benefit patients in the long run. Would a patient rather try a generic drug at a cost of $10 per month or a patented drug at a cost of $200? As far as generics go, Johnston said, “There are so many good alternatives out there.”

Pharmaceutical companies have been trying to influence doctors for years and it has been a lucrative industry. “It was the way of the world for a long, long time,” Johnston said. But as more and more studies prove that doctors are not immune to the influential tactics of drug reps, Johnston said, the medical community must react and change its course.

Johnston hopes the community embraces the proactive step that HDMC is taking to lessen the influence of pharmaceutical companies. “I hope they take some pride in the fact that we’re trying to do the right thing. I hope people eventually feel as strongly about it as we do,” he said.

Pete Joyce and Ryan Opie earn state championships

By Debbie Raney
Burns Times-Herald

The High School National Finals Rodeo in Gillette, Wyo., will have eight Harney County cowboys and cowgirls competing for national titles.

The National Finals Rodeo will be held July 18-24. Qualifying for the rodeo were Ryan Opie, Pete Joyce, Nic Nyman, Jesse Northrop, Max Miller, Brooke Nyman Kenny Haworth and Riley Joyce. To qualify for nationals, competitors must have placed in the top four at the state level.

Opie came away from the Oregon High School Finals rodeo with a season championship in team roping. He and his partner, Cully Stafford, finished the year with 236 points, only five points ahead of the second place team of Harney County’s Northrop and Gus King. The third place slot in the team roping was claimed by Nic and Brooke Nyman who compiled 202 points during the year.

Nic Nyman will also compete at the national level in the tie down roping. For his rookie year in high school rodeo, Nyman compiled enough points to claim the Boy’s Rookie of the Year title as well.

Pete Joyce wrapped up the year as the Oregon High School Rodeo champion in the steer wrestling. During the state finals he took first in the opening round of competition, sixth in the second round and then won the final round to seal his championship.

In the rough stock events, Harney County will be represented by Haworth and Miller. Haworth took third in the state in the bareback, finishing the season with 93.5 points. Miller placed fourth in the saddle bronc, earning 58 points during the year.

Rounding out the local athletes qualifying for the National Finals was Riley Joyce. Joyce will represent Harney County in the Shooting Competition after capturing a third place in the rifle trap shoot at the state level.

In addition to the qualifiers for the nationals, five rodeo team members from the area will compete in the Silver State International Rodeo (SSIR) in Fallon, Nev., beginning on July 5 and running through July 9. To qualify for the SSIR, competitors had to finish in fifth through 10th place in the state finals.

Paige Landon qualified for the SSIR in two events, the goat tying and the barrel racing. Landon finished the year in sixth place in the barrels and ninth in goat tying. At year end, she had also compiled the most points in the Girls’ Rookie race and earned the state title for that.

Raime O’Sullivan qualified for the SSIR in team roping. She and her partner, Daniel Ibarra finished the year in eighth place.

Opie qualified for the SSIR in tie down roping, finishing the year in 10th, as well as the boys cutting, finishing in ninth. Brooke Nyman qualified to compete in the breakaway roping at the SSIR with a 10th place finish.

Rounding out the local competitors, Nic Nyman qualified in the steer wrestling, with a seventh/eighth place tie at the state level for the year.

Joyce Avon (Cole) Kerns, 74, died at her home on June 17 surrounded by family.

Kerns was born on June 18, 1935, in Mound Valley, Kan., to Rolland and M. Irene ( Wilkinson ) Cole. She and her family moved to Baker City in 1941.

Music lessons at St. Francis Academy were a special treat for her. Kerns graduated from Baker High School in 1953. She was very fortunate to have made and kept many good friends from her school days in Baker City.

This group of friends met yearly even when Kerns and her family had moved to locations all over the United States.

On June 21, 1953, Kerns married the love of her life, Tom “Mac” Kerns. They celebrated just short of 57 years together.

Kerns attended and graduated from the Baker Business College in 1955. She later engaged those skills as an employee of the OSU Dairy Science Department while her husband, Mac, attended classes.

Kerns was fortunate enough to be working at home while her children were young. Baking was one of her talents, and any event or gathering could count on pies, rolls or sheets of cookies.

She worked hard at making her house a home. Kerns and her young family lived in 24 houses in 32 years, which was no mean feat. She and her husband designed and built three of these 24 homes. Kerns was the general contractor (emphasis on the general) on each of these projects. When building supplies were needed, she drove the family’s 1947 International  truck to Portland and Baker City. She was responsible for roofing the family home in Klamath Falls and John Day.

When her children left home, she started a career in the insurance business. When her husband was transferred to Washington D.C., she accepted a job with the CIA. She told her family that of all her jobs that one was the most interesting and enjoyable. When she left the CIA, she worked for the U.S. Forest Service.
She finished her career at the Wallowa Whitman Forest office in Baker City. Her work continued as a partner in the family ranch at Haines.

She was always active in the United Methodist Church wherever they lived. Most recently, Kerns was a member of the Haines United Methodist Church. She also attended Methodist Women’s Circle meetings in Baker. She played bridge weekly and was a hard working member of the Haines Mutual Improvement Club.
Weekly Kerns read to students at the Haines Elementary School, supporting their SMART Reading Project.

Kerns supported the livestock industry and was a member of the Baker County Cattlewomen.

Kerns is survived by her husband, Tom “Mac” Kerns of Haines; sons, Brent and wife Mary of Haines, Wes and wife Mary (Davies) Kerns of Princeton; daughter, Janni Kerns Eggers and her husband John of Haines; grandchildren, Jacque Cobb and husband Josh, Logan Kerns and wife Holly, Andy Johnson all of Haines, John Kerns and wife Catie of Baker City, Jeff Kerns, Mark Kerns of Princeton, Petty Officer Second Class Eli Eggers and Zach Eggers of Haines; great-grandchildren, Colt and Orin Cobb and Lance Kerns; brothers, Lloyd Cole and wife Midge of Palm Desert, Calif., Don Cole and wife Glenda of Baker City; sisters-in-law, Janice Cole of McMinneville, Ellen Stevenson and husband Philip of Haines and Jean Griffith and husband Tom of Belgrade, Mont.; brothers-in-law, Tim Kerns and wife Jan, James Kerns and wife Marge; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Rolland and Irene Cole; brother, Bill Cole; and infant, daughter, Diane.

Kerns was born into a Great Depression Midwest. Her family came west to start a new life and have a future for her and her brothers. Her parents made many sacrifices and instilled an ability to conquer adversity and thrive. Kerns was happy with her life and happy to have just what she had been given. She made the best of it all.

A service was held on June  22  at the Baker United Methodist Church. Sally Wiens officiated.

Arrangements are with Gray’s West & Co., 541-513-3677. Memorials may be made to the Haines United Methodist Church.

A funeral service for Thomas L. Jennings of Burns will be held on Aug. 10 at 10 a.m. at the Bible Baptist Church, 101 E. Pettibone in Hines.

Jennings died on May 5. He was born on May 14, 1955.

He is survived by his children, T.J. Jennings, 14, and Jennifer Jennings,

Make a splash at Harney County Library! The summer reading challenge continues. Play with the National Guard at 10:30 a.m. Free.

Burns Butte Sportsmen’s Club holds Twilight Trap Practice every Wednesday through September. For more information, call Ralph Steelman at 541-573-2099.

Bring the babies to Lapsit Storytime at Harney County Library, each Wednesday at 10 a.m. Enjoy music, stories, rhymes and fingerplays especially for babies and toddlers.

Burns Elks Lodge, 118 North Broadway, meets each Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Alcoholics Anonymous meets each Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Four Square Church, 74 S. Alvord, Burns.

A Women’s AA meeting is held every Wednesday at noon at the Harney Behavioral Health Building.

Food Pantry — Community in Action and Secure Food offering supplemental food to the community, the first Thursday of each month, from 1 to 3 p.m. at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Crane. For other dates or times, call 541-493-2807, or 541-493-2776.

Dr. Tom Fitzpatrick and the Mobile Health Clinic, sponsored by Harney District Hospital, will be in Drewsey and Crane on Thursday, July 1. The Clinic will be at the Drewsey Community Hall from 9 a.m. to noon and in the Crane School Modular Annex from 1 to 4 p.m. This is a full-service health clinic which comes to you. Appointments are encouraged to ensure adequate time, supplies and equipment for your appointment, but walk-ins are always welcome. Call High Desert Medical Center at 541-573-8605 to schedule an appointment, and bring your insurance information to assure proper billing.

Burns Butte Sportsmen’s Club meets the first Thursday of each month at the State Office Building, 809 West Jackson, at 7 p.m.

Tai Chi is held every Thursday at the Harney County Senior and Community Services Center, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. All ages are welcome to participate.

Kiwanis Club of Burns-Hines meets for a no-host luncheon each Thursday at Glory Days Pizza, 690 Oregon Ave., at noon.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly meets each Thursday at Hines City Hall, 101 East Barnes, at noon. Call 541-573-2896.

Narcotics Anonymous meets each Thursday at 7 p.m. at Four Square Church, 74 S. Alvord, Burns.

Dr. Tom Fitzpatrick and the Mobile Health Clinic, sponsored by Harney District Hospital, will be in Fields and Frenchglen on Friday, July 2.  The clinic will be in the Fields School Gym from 9 a.m. to noon and the Frenchglen School Gym from 1 to 4 p.m. This is a full-service health clinic which comes to you. Appointments are encouraged to ensure adequate time, supplies and equipment for your appointment, but walk-ins are always welcome. Call High Desert Medical Center at 541-573-8605 to schedule an appointment, and bring your insurance information to assure proper billing.

Reading Club meets at the Harney County Library each Friday, from 9 to 10 a.m.

Oregon Old Time Fiddlers, District 9, meets the first, third and fourth Friday of each month. Call Micky, 541-573-2515, for time and place.

A Patriotic Breakfast in the Park, hosted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, will be held on July 3, from 8 to 10 a.m., at the Hines Park. Bring lawn chairs, folding tables or blankets for your family to enjoy a french toast breakfast, and honor the country and community. Those wishing to contribute can bring fruit or muffins.

The 2010 Farmers Market will begin Saturday, July 3, at the Hines Park and will continue every Saturday until early October. The market hours are 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Applications are available at the Hines City Hall. All craft items for sale must be made in Harney County.

Diabetes Support Group meets at the Harney County Health Building, 420 North Fairview, the first Saturday of each month at 2 p.m.

ALANON meets each Saturday at 7 p.m. at Four Square Church, 74 S. Alvord, Burns.

HAPPY 4th OF JULY!

Harney County Fourth of July fireworks display, will be held at the Harney County Fairgrounds, beginning at 9:45 p.m.

Alcoholics Anonymous meets each Sunday at Foursquare Church for 12X12 study, at 7 p.m.