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port Reeds ., e v A wy Wednesday, September 11, 2013 1500 H
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Chamber hands out over $42K to groups THE UMPQUA POST REEDSPORT — Thursday, Sept. 5, was a big day for some local organizations and the Reedsport/Winchester Bay Chamber of Commerce. The chamber handed out $42,500, made possible by the charity auction at DuneFest in early August, which included $36,500 bid for a donated ATV from Polaris. The checks were handed out in conjunction with the ribbon cutting for the purchase of Dunes Family Health Care by Lower Umpqua Hospital. Chamber President Nancie Hammond handed out the funds. “This is the most fun I’ve ever had as the president,” she told the crowd of about 100 people. “In case you don’t know why we’re here, it’s to give free money. And, who doesn’t like that?” She explained the process of getting the funds to give the annual donations. “Every year at DuneFest,” she said, “it’s a huge project, but it’s a lot of money and it’s a lot of money back out. It brings so many people to town and we benefit so much from it that we’re really committed to it. “We have a great committee
this year that includes our two chairs, Bobby del Re and Clark Anderson … they did a great job this year.” Hammond related the story of how Polaris brought a new ATV, the RZR XP 1000, to unveil at DuneFest. “They said no one has seen it yet,” she said. “It hasn’t been unveiled. They’ve done a big leadup to it. Everyone wanted to see. No one had purchased one. No one had even test driven it. They brought it to Winchester Bay to unveil and to have it onsite and to have it in our auction.” The successful bidder got the vehicle for $36,500. It retails for $19,999. “It was a great event and everyone was so happy,” Hammond said. “We always give away the charity auction money. Every cent.” She said last year’s auction brought in $6,800. “This year we sat down with the chamber board and the DuneFest committee and made a list of everyone that could, probably, use some money,” Hammond continued. “We made a few phone calls and today we’re giving away 28 checks to community organizations that are deserving.”
By Steve Lindsley, The Umpqua Post
More than 100 people attended a Sept. 5 ribbon cutting to celebrate the purchase of Dunes Family Health Care by Lower Umpqua Hospital. LUH Board Chairwoman Dorothy Denman led the proceedings.
LUH’s purchase of Dunes Family links health facilities BY STEVE LINDSLEY The Umpqua Post
SEE AWARDS, PAGE A8
REEDSPORT — About 100 people braved the rain Thursday, Sept. 5, for a ribbon cutting to celebrate the purchase of Dunes Family Health Care by Lower Umpqua Hospital in what was called a “Bridging Our Futures” celebration and also watched 28 organizations receive donations from the Reedsport/ Winchester Bay “Keith Anderson from the DEQ Chamber of Commerce. was granted time to approach the LUH Board Chairwoman board with a question,” the minutes Dorothy Denman led the hospital’s read. “He asked what the board’s festivities, which were held just in plan of attack was concerning the front of the facility, and just across future project. Board Chairwoman Jackie (Degman) responded that they the parking lot from the clinic. “We’re just really pleased to see still plan to go with the ‘north to the so many of you,” Denman told the IP site.’ Mr. Anderson responded enthusiastic crowd. “We did order that as far as the DEQ is concerned a day like yesterday, but I guess that the clear choice for the district they ran out.” would be to replace the pipeline The day started with thunder, going to Reedsport and would like lighting and a lot of rain, but the the district to make an expeditious plan because the time has come to move one way or the other. The MAO that the district entered into with the DEQ is past due and needs to be updated. Jackie responded that we are unable to do anything without settling the dispute with Reedsport over what and/or how much is owed to them, so that is what they are moving to try to resolve now.” Andersen said time is of the essence. “The danger is the pipeline could THE UMPQUA POST catastrophically fail at any time,” he said.“It’s a problem that we’ve REEDSPORT — At least one known has existed since it first start- person believes wave energy will ed leaking in 2004. In 2008, we got to happen off the Oregon coast. the point where we got this Mutual “We are definitely going to see Agreement and Order in place with ocean energy happening in the expectation that we would have a Oregon.” solution in place. Unfortunately, it’s Jason Busch is the executive been a couple of years now that it’s director of the Ocean Wave Energy sort of been on hiatus. We got to the Trust (OWET). point where Gardiner identified a “OWET is a private, non-profit solution that would have required that’s funded through the state of Douglas County to participate. Oregon through something called Douglas County, appropriately, the Oregon Innovation Council; wanted to know more about various Oregon INC for short,” Busch options and … commissioned a explained. “Oregon INC is a group report that would help them decide of business leaders from around the whether or not they would support a state that volunteer their time, block grant application for Gardiner come together on a volunteer basis, to go their own way.” to look at opportunities for the state A “one-stop” meeting in Salem to invest in industries that have the in June did not produce a potential to grow and produce jobs.” Community Block Grant to allow Busch says Oregon INC distribGardiner to move forward with the utes funds to handful of initiatives. IP site. The district was told it would “OWET is one of those initiahave to settle its financial squabble tives,” he continued. “We receive with the city of Reedsport before funding on a biennial basis from financing could be considered. Oregon INC to, essentially, capiThe result of the county report talize on Oregon’s natural advantages for ocean renewable energy,
DEQ proposes timeline to Gardiner as a starting point BY STEVE LINDSLEY The Umpqua Post
GARDINER — The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has been patient with the Gardiner Sanitary District regarding repairs to the district’s pipe under the Umpqua River. That patience may be wearing thin. Keith Andersen, the Western Region Administrator for the DEQ, says they’re doing what they can to get GSD to move forward with those repairs. The district’s board, meanwhile, is trying to move ahead with a plan to use a lagoon at the old International Paper site as its wastewater treatment facilities. Currently, GSD contracts with the city of Reedsport for treatment of its wastewater, but the two entities have been at odds for years on how much is owed for use of those facilities. That dispute may be headed to court. Andersen has appeared at two board meetings to urge GSD to move forward with a plan. “We have an existing MAO (Mutual Agreement and Order) with them,” Andersen said. “We’re obviously way past all the dates that are in that particular document. We are trying to reset the schedule with Gardiner to accomplish the objective of the MAO, which is to ensure that we don’t have a serious problem relating to the force main that the Gardiner Sanitary District owns under the Umpqua River.” He said the agency has given GSD a draft MAO with a proposed timeline as a “starting point for a conversation.” He says the negotiations with GSD are ongoing. “We plan to have another conversation with them, hopefully, no later than their next board meeting in September,” Andersen said. That board meeting comes Sept. 19 at 6:30 p.m. The district’s board meeting minutes from July 18 reflect Andersen’s appeal to the district.
weather had settled a bit for the ceremonies. “This really is a happy occasion for all of us,” Denman continued. “It’s the joining of these three health facilities, here. The hospital, the Dunes across the parking lot and Reedsport Medical Center.” Reedsport Medical Center is also owned by LUH and is just down the street from the hospital and Dunes facility. Denman said the three, together, would make a strong health community in Reedsport. “It really enhances the Partners In Care philosophy,” she continued, “that we have long cherished around here. So, it will just help bring things all together and provide the very best health care that we have always had here in Reedsport.” Denman says health care is a big part of the community. “The reason that we moved here, 20 years ago or so, was
Ocean Wave Energy Trust seeks to energize renewable effort
Photo contributed by Ocean Power Technologies
This wave energy buoy, designed and built by Ocean Power Technologies, awaits deployment in Scotland in April 2011. It was OPT’s first real-world test of its wave energy generation technology. A similar buoy was scheduled to be deployed off the Oregon coast near Reedsport last year, but the project has been stalled. primarily wave energy.” Busch says OWET focuses on four primary goals. “Research and development;” he said, “regulatory policy; market development, which is, basically, work with utilities and, then finally, education and outreach.” The organization recently staffed a booth at Art By the Bay in Winchester Bay to talk with the public about the organization and explain what it does. Busch said their mission is to promote “responsible development” of ocean renewable energy.
SEE GARDINER, PAGE A8
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because of this little hospital,” she said. “I’m sure all of you are as proud of it as I am.” The purchase of Dunes Family Health Care was official in early August. The hospital purchased the building, its assets, and will hire employees for the facility. Sandra Reese, the administrator of Lower Umpqua Hospital, said they purchased the Dunes building for $760,000. She said they plan to keep all facilities open. Doctors at Dunes signed 90day contracts to continue working at the facility. The sale took two years to complete. “We’re going to continue and have the best little hospital on the Oregon coast,” Denman concluded. After the ribbon cutting, done by Denman and board member Tamara Szalewski, guests were treated to a buffet provided by hospital chef Wes Morris.
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“Our vision is to attract and build the ocean renewable energy industry in Oregon,” he said. The ultimate goal is to create electricity from the ocean. Busch talked about the efforts of Ocean Power Technologies (OPT), which has proposed building a wave energy site off the coast of Reedsport … an effort which is
SEE WAVE ENERGY, PAGE A8