Safeway and Thriftway improve the grocery shopping experience for locals

By Lauren Brown
Burns Times-Herald

The two largest grocery stores in Burns have both had some new additions this summer that make the shopping experience for customers a little more enjoyable.

Thriftway checkstands

Erickson’s Thriftway has implemented some new changes that will help both customers and checkers.

The store recently installed new checkstands that allow customers to unload groceries onto conveyor belts, which eases the burden on the checkers. Bigger display screens also allow customers to see their items as they are scanned, so they can check to make sure the prices are correct.

Burns Store Manager Tom Rogers said the new checkstands speed up the checkout process and are much more efficient. He noted that Madras, Bend and Prineville Erickson’s stores have all been upgraded to the new checkstands.

“Almost everyone has thanked us for investing in our store and our community,” Rogers said.

Safeway remodel

The most prominent remodel took place at Safeway,  which hosted its official grand re-opening on Aug. 28. The store was the 91st Portland Division store to be re-modeled to Safeway’s lifestyle store format. The deli was completely re-vamped and has added numerous products, the most notable of which is fresh baked French bread.

The store has new flooring throughout and has had upgrades in the produce, floral and meat departments as well.

According to a press release, “Safeway launched its lifestyle store concept in late 2003 to showcase its commitment to quality, particularly in the perishables departments, with high-quality fresh produce, meat, seafood and floral departments.” The stores feature an earth-toned décor with lighting to  highlight products and departments, custom flooring and display features.

Burns Store Manager Merle Reid said that the grand re-opening was phenomenal. “A lot of people were excited about the  fresh bread,” he said. The store will now offer fresh baked French bread at 10 a.m and 5 p.m. daily.

Safeway has operated a store in Burns since 1924, and opened the store in its current location in 1978. “We’ve had loyal Burns customers here for nearly 90 years. We’re proud to reinvest in Burns and we thank our local customers for their continued support,” said Safeway Division President Steve Frisby.

Currently, the store employs 79 people and 24 percent of those employees have been employed by Safeway for more than 10 years. Safeway increased the workforce during the store remodel by 22 employees, which is 29 percent of the workforce. Safeway will permanently retain those employees.

Committee presents landscaping proposal

By Randy Parks
Burns Times-Herald

After many months of research and information gathering, the City of Burns is ready to move forward on several improvements at the Burns cemetery.

At their regular meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 25, the city council approved a proposal from the Cemetery Executive Committee that outlined the steps for landscaping the cemetery within the parameters of the bequest of Goldie Racine.

Before approving the proposal, Councilor Dan Hoke, who is a member of the cemetery standing committee, provided the council with a background of how the committees have worked to solve several issues at the cemetery.

Hoke explained that about 18 months ago, the city appointed Jean Cain, Jan Cupernall and Dick Day to the executive committee and asked them to provide a cemetery evaluation and recommendations for improvements. At the same time, the standing committee came up with their own list of priorities for the cemetery. Hoke said the lists were very similar, and from there they came up with five main priorities.

The first was to develop a 20-year plan that would include understanding the budget and how to deal with other issues such as infrastructure, beautification and cemetery trends.

The other four identified priorities are non-compliance issues, the re-plotting plan, the development of a beautification plan using the Racine fund and the Racine Memorial.

Cain gave a brief review of the proposal, explaining how it adheres to the guidelines of Racine’s bequest. The Racine Fund makes it possible for the city to replace and add trees to the cemetery with the stipulation that 80 percent of the trees are evergreens and the other 20 percent of the trees have red or purple leaves. The submitted proposal would result in a total of 165 trees by removal, replacement and addition of trees.

Also according to the Racine Fund requirements, items to be planted must be 80 percent evergreens, 10 percent red or purple trees, 10 percent tulips and no lilacs.

Cain said that there are currently 120 trees in the cemetery, mostly elm and cottonwood, which are problem species. The proposal would remove and replace 75 percent of the the current species over a nine-year span, making it possible to enhance the landscaping while growing replacements.

The first step of the proposal includes hiring an arborist to determine the health of existing trees, and then hiring a landscape architect to devise an overall plan.

The committee also came up with a lengthy list of trees and shrubs that would meet guidelines and could be used in the architect’s design.

Cain added that there is sufficient money in the Racine Fund for the project, so the city would not be using any of the general fund.

Hoke also told the council that the surveying work for the re-plotting resulted in tripling the amount of grave space available for one section of the cemetery, from 450 to about 1,400, while maintaining the size of the grave at 10 feet by four feet.

City Manager Don Munkers reported the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had conducted an inspection at the airport and, with the exception of one runway light out, everything was found to be in satisfactory condition.

Munkers said work on the new runway was moving along, the concrete plant was up and the workers were expected to start laying concrete in two to three weeks. He added that he had attended a meeting in Hermiston and ConnectOregon III would be awarding the city $1.4 million for a fire suppression system at the airport.
The city is also planning to replace the west apron at the airport with funds from the FAA, the state Airport Improvement Program and city money.

In other business:

• Shirley Thompson was present to ask for permission to hold a parking lot dance at the Pine Room on Thursday, Sept. 9, for youth 20 and under. The council agreed the dance was a good idea and advised her to talk with Police Chief Randy Cook to work out the details;

• the council voted to donate $100 to Harney County  Arts in Education Foundation to help with the expense of bringing the Portland Youth Philharmonic Orchestra to Burns on Oct. 30;

• Chris Pratt asked the council for a letter of support to the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) requesting them to continue funding a study of Harney County groundwater. Pratt said the study was about two-thirds complete,  and was important as to development in the county. The council agreed by consensus to submit a letter;

• the council voted to accept a bid on a used vehicle from Burns Ford for the Public Works Department, providing the vehicle passes inspection;

• Scott Franklin asked where the city was in the hiring process for the airport manager position, and also stated he had concerns that the airport was looking shoddy because of weeds and areas that hadn’t been watered. Munkers said the bid proposals for the manager’s position were in and would be on the agenda for the council’s next meeting. As for the appearance of the  airport, that would be addressed after the construction work is completed.

The next council meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 8, at city hall.

Hospital board listens but does not comment on accusations

By Dylan Thompson
Burns Times-Herald

The Harney County Health District Board of Directors met on Wednesday Aug. 25, with the delicate situation in the Emergency Medical Services Department (EMS) and former emergency medical technician Ron Copeland in attendance to speak.

Many members of the community attended the meeting to show their support for Copeland, who had been terminated from his position as an EMT. All commentary concerning Copeland came from the public. The board and the administration declined to comment.

Copeland attended the meeting to deliver a message concerning the direction of the EMS. He expressed his worries about the upcoming September EMS schedule in which he singled-out the new EMS director for not being on call, or on the primary or secondary schedule throughout the entire month.

Copeland insisted that his concerns were more for the taxpayers and the public than for his own job. After giving the board a copy of the September schedule, Copeland pointed out that there are holes where the EMS is not fielding three technicians and that this compromises the 24/7 coverage paid for by the taxpayers.

Quickly, however, Copeland’s commentary turned to an attack on the new EMS director and the hospital administration responsible for hiring him. He claimed the administration failed to do a complete observation before the hire. He blamed the new director for low EMT morale, and a number of EMTs who have quit or been fired because of opposition to the director.

Copeland finished firmly, declaring that if the board didn’t think there was a problem with the hospital and EMS administration they needed to wake up. Board Member Buck Taylor thanked Copeland for speaking.

More members of the public made comments to express their support for Copeland, including Toby Cronin and Mike Fine, while others, also in support for Copeland, posed questions about hospital and department policies.

Board member Tim Smith answered these questions by explaining that each department has their own policies in which the board is not involved. He detailed the system in which complaints about policy should be issued, starting first with an employee’s immediate supervisor, or the head of that particular department.

Board member Bob Otley stated that all policies concerning the hospital are public information.

Smith also explained that the situation is currently in appeal, therefore disallowing the board to make any comments concerning the EMS issue, though he acknowledged the issue’s importance, stating that “untended wounds begin to fester.”

John Stinnett offered a presentation to the the board on the hospital’s switch to LS Networks for a new high speed connectivity. This switch could possibly cost the hospital $45,000 in installation and a recurring cost of $3,000 a month, but a Federal Universal Services Administrative Company (USAC) grant would pay 100 percent of the installation and 85 percent of the recurring costs.

The hospital would keep its current connectivity with Eastern Oregon Technology for patient usage.

In other business:

• Sam Caizza and Ann Vloedman met with Osters Professional Group, who were very complimentary of the job done by Chief Financial Officer Catherine White;

• Chief of Medical Staff, Dr. Holland Haynie informed the board that he was still having issues with the Veterans Administration. He has spoken with Steve Bull on how to give better local care to veterans, claiming that if the process is more difficult, those veterans won’t want to get care locally;

• CFO Catherine White and CEO Jim Bishop reported struggles with US Bank regarding the Hotchkiss Foundation. US Bank has offered to come again to speak with the board and administration;

• Chief Nursing Officer Barb Chambers reported that the staff experienced no preventable revenue losses and that the nursing staff had been very successful. She also stated that new manager, Bill Cross, would be here next week;

• the board reported that the $1,000 check to the 2009 4-H sale was never cashed, and that that check would be canceled and a new check would be issued. The hospital will donate another $1,000 to the 4-H sale this year to boost base price on all of the animals.

The next Harney District Hospital Board meeting will be on Sept. 22 in the hospital’s downstairs meeting room.

Harney County Judge Steve Grasty makes presentation before U.S. Secretary of Agriculture

Oregon county commissioners and members of Oregon’s Congressional delegation made a compelling argument for a long term reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act during a roundtable discussion with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack last Friday in Portland.

The elected Oregon officials were joined in their request by representatives of Trout Unlimited, the Wilderness Society and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

“We asked Secretary Vilsack to include a long-term reauthorization of Secure Rural Schools in the President’s 2012 budget,” Harney County Judge and Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) President Steve Grasty said following the meeting. “He seemed receptive to the concept, and we hope that translates into concrete action.”

“Everyone has a stake in the survival of rural America,” Secretary Vilsak said. “I’m here on your side.”

Federal agencies are currently working on the final drafts of their 2012 budget requests, which will go the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) by Labor Day. Having a commitment from Secretary Vilsack would be a major step forward for the reauthorization of Secure Rural Schools to be ultimately included in President Obama’s 2012 budget request to Congress.

“We tried to convey the urgency that these programs are a lifeline for the people of Oregon. On our watch, we are going to prosecute the case relentlessly to insure that a historical compact is honored. This is the No. 1 priority for Oregon’s Congressional delegation,” U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-OR said.

Secretary Vilsack and the members of Oregon’s congressional delegation briefed 38 elected Oregon county commissioners and judges from 24 of Oregon’s 36 counties Friday. Thirty-three of Oregon’s 36 counties receive funding under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act. Douglas County Commissioner Doug Robertson, who is also president of the Association of O&C Counties, told the secretary and members of Congress that reauthorization is vital to preserving vital public services in impacted Oregon counties.

Robertson said “It was a very frank discussion, a good dialogue between the secretary and the commissioners. He (Secretary Vilsack) came away with a very different view of Oregon than when he came to the state.”

Judge Steve Grasty told Secretary Vilsack that rural communities will be adversely impacted economically and roads in and out of federal land will suffer from a lack of maintenance if Secure Rural Schools isn’t reauthorized. Clackamas County Commissioner Bob Austin said Secure Rural Schools impacts 39 other states, notably California, Washington and Idaho as well as Oregon. “The Secretary heard us,” Austin said, “and asked for more of the human side of the story.”

U.S. Rep. Kurt Schrader, D-OR said Secretary Vilsack challenged the Oregonians in the roundtable to tell their stories so the president and other members of Congress will get a better understanding of the challenges Oregon faces with the potential loss of Secure Rural School payments. Rep. Schrader was instrumental in setting up the round table with Secretary Vilsack, his colleagues in Congress and the county officials.
“We deeply appreciate Congressman Schrader’s efforts on our behalf,” said AOC Executive Director Mike McArthur. “He’s brought a hugely important issue to the attention of the Secretary of Agriculture and hopefully, the President will respond.”

O&C Executive Director Rocky McVay offered that Oregon’s entire Congressional delegation has been working tirelessly for a long term reauthorization of Secure Rural Schools.

“This was a great opportunity for our members of Congress to express their commitment to the secretary,” he said.

Many of the county commissioners who participated in the roundtable offered personal stories from their counties on the loss of the federal funds. Lake County Commissioner Dan Shoun said, “I think the secretary left with a much better appreciation of the situation.”

Klamath County Commissioner Cheryl Hukill said, “The stories Secretary Vilsack heard about the impacts on children and public safety made a deep impression on him.”

The current act expires Sept. 30, 2011. The final 2011 payments will be distributed in January 2012. Oregon has historically received an average of $250 million a year from Secure Rural Schools. That amount represents the revenue lost from the unprecedented reduction in timber harvests.

By Randy Parks
Burns Times-Herald

A number of visitors from around the state ventured into Harney County for the first time for the Oregon Association of County Clerks Annual Conference held Aug. 16-19.

Harney County Clerk Maria Itturiaga said 35 of the state’s 36 counties were represented at the conference, and for many it was their first visit to Burns. “This is the first time in 98 years it has been held here,” Itturiaga said. “It’s held each year in the home county of the association president, and because I was president this past year, the first from Harney County, we got to host it.”

More than 100 people attended the event, including county and deputy clerks, software and election machine vendors, as well as guest speakers Secretary of State Kate Brown, Attorney General John Kroger and State Representative Cliff Bentz.

Topics of discussion ranged from legislative and recording issues to the developing electronic recording.

“Electronic recording is coming, and we have to be ready for it,” Harney County Deputy Clerk Dag Robinson said.

Itturiaga said they accomplished a lot from the hard work by those in attendance, and the event also had a positive economic impact on the community.

“We used local vendors for all meals except the final banquet that was a Basque dinner catered by a friend of mine from Boise,” Itturiaga said. Meals included a barbecue at Sage Country Inn catered by Wendy Reid, lunch at Linda’s Thai Room, dinner at the Diamond Hotel and a catered lunch by Bella Java. Itturiaga noted that the breaks were catered by Reid as well, and gave her high marks for her work.

The group also visited the Round Barn and occupied more than 80 motel rooms for their three-night stay. “I think the economic impact on the community was huge,” Itturiaga said. “And thank you to the business people who were really gracious to our guests as they shopped around town.”

During the final banquet on Wednesday, Aug. 18, Terri Turi of Coos County was elected as the new president of the association, meaning the event will be held on the other side of the state in 2011.

“It was a lot of work, so I’m glad it’s over, but it was a lot of fun too,” Itturiaga said.

Town hall offered residents chance to ask questions

By Randy Parks
Burns Times-Herald

With our country enduring a rising national debt, high unemployment and an overhauled health care system, U.S. Congressman Greg Walden (R-Ore.) made a stop in Burns to visit with local citizens about the issues facing Americans today.

About 50 people attended the town hall meeting on Aug. 12 to hear Walden’s views and ask questions.

Using charts to illustrate his points, Walden explained that the country’s national debt, already at a record high, could triple in 10 years if it remains unchecked. He added that this is the first year that the U.S. House of Representatives did not approve a budget.

Walden then produced a chart illustrating the new national health care system and talked about what he perceived as flaws in the system. Walden stated that the new health care requires everyone to purchase insurance and if they don’t, they can be fined. But a person can pay the fine and then be covered under the system for less than what it would cost for insurance.

Having Congress require citizens to purchase insurance is also unprecedented. “Congress has never dictated how individuals have to spend their money. States have, such as auto insurance, but not Congress,” Walden said. He cautioned that it could open the door to other requirements.

With the November election expected to shake up Congress somewhat, Walden said he is against holding a “lame-duck” session in the months preceding the election winners taking office.

Regarding the national debt, Walden was asked if the country was beyond the point of no return?

“To fix it, we need to sit down and work it out together. It can be done,” Walden answered. “We need to get a handle on reckless spending, and eliminate waste, fraud and abuse of public funds.”

To improve the economy, Walden said the government needs to control spending, ease regulations on private business and prevent the large tax increases on the horizon. “I’d change forest laws, as well,” Walden said. “Get people back in the woods, creating jobs and providing healthy forest management.”

Walden also fielded questions on China purchasing U.S. debt, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, unemployment and the increase of capital investments in foreign counties.

While answering questions, Walden stated the country’s troubles can’t be attributed to one particular party.

“Both parties have strayed,” he said. “We can’t assign blame to just one party. But this plan (pointing to the national debt chart) is one we have to get a new GPS for. The theories aren’t working in reality.

“Our goal should be to get this country back on track, and that means less spending. Sometimes you’ve just got to say, ‘No.’ ”

$117 million allocated for Oregon

By Dylan Thompson
Burns Times-Herald

The Harney County District No. 3 School Board meeting opened on Tuesday, Aug.  10, with big news concerning the education jobs bill, which passed in the House of Representatives, 247-161.

The bill, part of an emergency stimulus package aimed toward job creation, will provide schools in the state of Oregon with $117 million that would be used to recall or rehire former school staff members,  increase salaries and hire new staff members.

A special session of the legislature will be called in September to address the bill and funds could be on the way to Oregon schools no later than October.

Katie Baltzor, principal of the recently renamed Silvies River Charter School (SRCS), reported that she met with Morgan Smith of the Oregon School Board Association (OSBA), and Phyllis Guile of the Oregon Department of Education (ODE), to revise the charter school’s contract. She stated that the ODE has signed off on the action plan. The board will perform a complete review of the contract after the completed document is achieved in the next two weeks.

Bond Project Manager Bill Renwick came to the meeting with both good and bad news. Though he reported that the windows at the high school cafeteria were still not finished, he was pleased to inform the board that he had received the go-ahead from the State Historical Preservation Office to replace the windows at the Lincoln District Office Building.

The State Historical Preservation Office also expressed a desire to design a website that would keep the histories of all the school buildings and other notable buildings within the district. Renwick added that the project would benefit from student involvement.

The overall plan would assume certain costs and particular performance criteria would be involved, being that the preservation office doesn’t want to lose the integrity of the building’s look. The table decided to hold off a vote to approve the action until next month.

In other news:

• Nancy Walker reported that the play structure being built at Slater Elementary School is now up and secure. The landscaping of the surface below the structure will need to be completed before the structure is cleared to be played on. Everything will be done before school;

• Hines Middle School Principal Gail Buermann announced that registration would be held on Aug. 24;

• Student Services Director Geoff Robinson stated that the bottom corner of Lincoln will be used to house kids from the Eastern Oregon Academy. They will be enrolled in the same program as the alternative school, but will not be mixed in with those alternative education students;

• Business Manager Petrina White reported that she has updated the projected budget, but that not much will happen with the budget until next month.

The next meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 14, at the Lincoln building.

Department needs votes from locals to take lead in contest

With just over two weeks left, the Hines Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) is stepping up its campaign to win a new $250,000 fire engine. Hines VFD is one of seven department finalists in the U.S. competing for the fire truck.

Sponsored by E-One, an Ocala, Florida emergency vehicle manufacturer, the contest is designed to find the most deserving volunteer fire department in the country. E-One has narrowed down the field of original submissions down to the final seven.

Now it is simply a popularity contest where the public will decide the most deserving fire department in the country based on an internet vote, which started in April and will end in late August. The winners name will be announced at a fire department exposition and trade show held in Chicago on Aug. 27.

Hines firefighters have been hard at work soliciting support for the community and the story that placed them in the contest, but finds themselves behind the leader who has a much larger population base to draw from. In fact, the leader has received media coverage from five or six TV stations and press from a city with a metro population of 1.3 million.

So far Hines has received some national attention and support but needs to be sure all local citizens have cast their votes in the effort to help ourselves.

The website to read and vote for the Hines VFD story is www.WinAFireTruck.com.

“We need people to share the story with all their family and friends, we need votes from more than the Burns and Hines communities,” said Jonathan Manski, a Lieutenant with Hines VFD.

Everyone with an e-mail address can vote and each e-mail can  cast one vote , however you can use multiple e-mail addresses. The process is simple. At the bottom of the story page is a vote button. Enter your name, e-mail, Hines VFD, and answer two marketing questions with any of the drop down menu choices, the answers don’t matter but must be filled in to have your vote count. “It only takes 30 seconds to vote,”,  Chief Bob Spence said. “It doesn’t cost you anything.”

If you have any questions or need help contact any Hines firefighter for assistance.

Residents will have the opportunity to see maps and alternative routes as well as provide comments

Two public meetings to discuss a proposed right-of-way for the construction of a transmission line in the north Steens Mountain area are set for the end of August in Burns and Bend. The proposed 29-mile long transmission line would cross Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge and private lands.

The public meetings will allow attendants to see maps of the proposed transmission line location and alternative routes, discuss issues and provide comments to BLM and Malheur National Wildlife Refuge resource specialists and managers.  Meetings are set for:

• Monday, Aug. 23, in Burns, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Harney County Community Center, 484 North Broadway.

• Tuesday, Aug. 24, in Bend, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Phoenix Inn & Suites, 300 Northwest Franklin Ave.

A Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) analyzing the effects of the transmission line was released to the public on July 16,  initiating a 45-day comment period that was originally scheduled to last through the end of August.  The comment period has recently been extended for two additional weeks and will now end on Sept. 17.

The Draft EIS includes analysis of the proposed route, two deviations of the proposed route, a northern route, a 115kV construction alternative and a “No Action” alternative. Because the wind farm developments and transmission line on private land are connected actions under the National Environmental Policy Act, the DEIS also analyzes the effects of these proposed facilities. Hard copies or compact discs containing the Draft EIS are available at the BLM Burns District Office. The document is also available online at:
www.blm.gov/or/districts/burns/plans/index.php and at the Harney County Library, Bend Public and Multnomah County libraries during regular business hours.

Formal written comments on the Transmission Line Project can submitted at the public meetings, delivered or mailed to the Burns Office, or submitted by e-mail to  OR_Burns_NS_Transmission_Line_EIS@blm.gov.

Entire comments, including personal identifying information,  may be published as part of the EIS and Decision process.

The Final North Steens Transmission Line EIS is scheduled for completion in late 2010.

For further information about the Draft EIS or to have your name added to the project mailing list, contact North Steens Transmission Line Project Lead at 541-573-4400.

POW/MIA flag on display below Old Glory

On Sunday, Aug. 1, the Desert Riders dedicated a newly erected flag pole and flag in the Burns Cemetery. Desert Rider president, Craig LaFollette presented the following dedication:

“This flag pole is an example of a vision to provide our community with a flag in our cemetery that is predominately displayed. The Desert Riders came together and made a vision become a reality.

This is an example of a group of people, the Desert Riders, who came together through a common bond, a passion for motorcycles, working together and accomplishing what individuals cannot.

On behalf of all the Desert Riders we dedicate this flag to all those who have selflessly served our country, to all veterans here or gone and to the citizens of this great community.

You will also note, we will display the POW/MIA flag below Old Glory that we tell the world that they are never forgotten.”