Pathways to Prosperity
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Rural Pathways to Prosperity Conference, April 17 at Pastime
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O’Halloran on board as temporary NVH Administrator
TIME TO HIT THE TRAIL
Retired CEO plans to ‘stay the course’ BY KATIE TEACHOUT KATHERINE@GAZETTE-TRIBUNE.COM
TONASKET - Ron O’Halloran has stepped in as interim hospital administrator for North Valley Hospital while the search for a new CEO to replace Linda Michel continues. As this article went to press, three candidates had been interviewed. Michel originally tendered her resignation for October, 2015, then moved the date up to April 1 before being placed on paid leave with the hospital Feb. 26. Chief Financial Officer Helen Verhasselt served as acting administrator from that time until April 1. Katie Teachout/staff photo O’Halloran started with NVH April 1 on a month-to-month contract, and Ron O’Halloran of Curlew is filling in at will remain at the helm until the hospital NVH until a new administrator can be finds a suitable replacement. found, and said he has been enjoying meet“I have no idea how long it will take; ing hospital staff and community members. I’m sure it will be less than three years but I really have no idea how long,” O’Halloran said, adding “Someone needs hospital; just stay the course. Things hapto be found who will fit the community pen, and people need to keep their vision for a long time.” alive,” O’Halloran said. “Knowing that Administrator at the Ferry County vision, I can help prod them to do so.” Public Hospital District #1 for eleven He said the CEO years before retiring search could be a in 2011, O’Halloran lengthy process, as not spoke lightly about only do resumes come “We’re just looking for a his decision to come in needing reviewed, out of retirement early person who can grasp but applicants begin to before voicing his real a hold of where the get serious about the motivation. job search and inves“I was working too district is at and the tigate the areas they’ve hard being retired; to; sometimes direction it wants to applied trimming trees, mowtaking themselves out ing lawns, fixing fenchead to and can put all of the running. So far, es and chasing grandcandidates applythe pieces together to two kids,” O’Halloran said, ing at NVH have adding, “I was keepmake it happen.” found other jobs. ing up with what was Some of the qualiRon O’Halloran, Temporary CEO going on in Eastern fications sought in a North Valley Hospital Washington healthnew CEO include care, and when I saw the ability to underhappening I let them stand the business of know I would be willing to help out. healthcare, which “has a lot of moving With my background and experience, I parts,” according to O’Halloran. The new knew some of the board members and administrator will need to understand they felt it could be a comfortable fit for different licenses and certification, the me to fill in.” different avenues of finances and reimO’Halloran said he intended to add- bursements, and the ability to be able to ing just “stay the course,” and not try to deal with uncompensated care and bad change things; leaving any changes up to debt. the new administrator. “When it comes to paying the bills, a “My job is a bridge; I’d like to help lot of people have a hard time with that, them achieve what goals they have out- and it’s not like going to the service bay lined for themselves so they don’t fall to get your car fixed, and you don’t get behind and get discouraged. It may be your keys back until the bill is paid,” awhile, and I would like to help the person who comes in get on course with the SEE O’HALLORAN | PG A3
Above, the Similkameen Trail to Enloe Dam is bursting with sunflowers over Easter weekend. Right, even before springtime fully greens the land, the Whistler Canyon Trail is packed full of breathtaking views. Below left, the remains of the Enloe Dam powerhouse hold stories of hard labors that fulfilled big dreams while the Similkameen flows on. Below right, the late-winter view from Whistler Canyon Trail peaks into Canada while looking out over fields anxious for spring. The Oroville Chapter of the Pacific Northwest Trail Association will be honoring both these sites on National Trails Day. For more information, see page A10.
Katie Teachout/ staff photos
‘Princes Heritage’ name of new Oroville park No decisions yet on what kind of park BY GARY A. DE VON EDITOR@GAZETTE-TRIBUNE.COM
OROVILLE – While there has been a big push to make a soccer field out of the new Princes’ Heritage Park, no decision on what kind of park the former bin storage lot will become has been made. The park, both the name and what kind, were discussed at the Tuesday, April 7 Oroville City Council meeting. “I would like to suggest something that incorporates the Prince family for all they have done for the town over the years,” said Mayor Chuck Spieth. After talking about the name, Councilman Ed Naillon suggested Princes Heritage, to honor the community involvement of the Prince family
over the years, and their leasing of the property to the city for $1 for five years, with an option for a second five years. Naillon, who serves on the park committee, along with Councilman Tony Koepke, suggested the city gather public input before making any decision about what kind of park it would be. “If we are going to have public events, we have got to do some planning on traffic patterns, especially if we have large vehicles like busses turning around,” he said. Rod Noel, head of the parks department asked for some guidance on irrigation. He said at the very least he’d like to get permanent sprinklers installed and grass growing so as not to have a dust problem with the now vacant and leveled off lot. He presented the council with some very preliminary drawings of the park, including his proposal for parking and what it would look like if a soccer field was developed on the south
OKANOGAN VALLEY GAZETTE-TRIBUNE Volume 111 No. 16
end. Noel said such a field would take up more than half the park and that a group of proponents for a soccer field had approached him. “I think we’d be safe to design parking lots for the most intensive use possible,” said Naillon. Noel said with his working cost estimates he wasn’t sure the city could afford to fence off the entire park this year. “Chain link is expensive. And of course another issue is rest rooms. If we look at permanent rest rooms they are expensive as well. You are looking at about $50,000 and that’s pretty spendy. Since we do not own the property I’m assuming we are looking at sani cans,” he said. Noel was given the go ahead to proceed with the irrigation and getting some grass growing. He said that he felt there could be as many as 150 parking spots. “We’re going to need parking regardless of the use of the park,” said Naillon. Other suggestions besides a soccer
field have included a walking track around the perimeter, swings and other playground equipment, as well as a skate park. No matter what is constructed the council agreed that since the park land is only being leased, anything of a permanent nature would be hard to justify at this juncture. The council would like additional input on what kind of park the public would like to see. The Gazette-Tribune will have a new opinion poll online at www.gazette-tribune.com for people to vote on what they would like. Representatives for the Run for the Border charity motorcycle ride and the Rally at the Border Blues Festival were on hand to discuss the upcoming events, slated for Armed Services Day, Saturday, May 16. Vicki Hinze, spoke about the progress being made to prepare for the blues festival which takes place at Deep Bay Park in and coincides with the annual charity ride from Wenatchee to
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Oroville. “Everything seems to be moving in an upward direction. We’ve sold more tickets online at this point than we did last year. She added that the event would start at noon, rather than 2 p.m., as it had in 2014, its inaugural year. Jeff Bunnell said the city should expect more riders this year, as several had turned around last year due road construction on the highway between Wenatchee and Oroville. He said the group already expects many more Canadian riders to participate and feels the event will continue to expand. Tina Janowitz, representing the Harley Owners Group, asked the council to approve a parking plan along Main, Golden and Appleway that was similar to last year. However, the Rally at the Border group asked that even more of Main be set aside for motorcycle parking. The council voiced their approval for both events.
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