Our Neighbor Yolanda Solano Page A2
❂ Proudly Serving Quincy, George, Crescent Bar, Sunland, Trinidad and Winchester ❂ Thursday, October 27, 2011 • Quincy, Washington • Volume 63, Number 20 • USPS No 453-080 • 12 pages • www.qvpr.com • 75 cents
One killed, others hurt in crashes
Three serious vehicle collisions on area roadways in the past seven days
Chuck Allen
editor@qvpr.com One person was killed and five others were injured in three separate motor vehicle crashes on local roads last week. An 86-year-old Ephrata woman died from injuries sustained following a onecar, rollover crash on Thursday, Oct. 20 near Trinidad. According to a report from the Washington State Patrol, Marjorie M. Ashen-
brenner was driving a 2003 Honda Accord four-door eastbound on Highway 28 at 3:20 p.m. when it left the roadway to the right. She overcorrected and swerved off the right shoulder, rolling the vehicle near the intersection of Crescent Bar Road, about five miles west of Quincy. Ashenbrenner was transported to Central Washington Hospital by MedStar helicopter ambulance. She died at the hospital the next day. The cause of the crash is still under
investigation. On Tuesday, Oct. 25, three people were injured in a three-vehicle crash on Highway 28 at the intersection of Road J NW about 9 miles east of Quincy at 7:23 a.m. According to the state patrol, Christena A. DeLong, 45, was stopped at the intersection in the eastbound lane to make a left turn onto Road J NW, when her 1986 Ford Please see Crashes page A6
File photo
Candy-eating ghosts and other Trick-or-Treaters can get their fill in Quincy on Halloween.
Trick-or-Treaters welcome in Quincy
Area businesses to give candy on Halloween
Chuck Allen/Post-Register
The crew at Les Schwab is planning a benefit dinner/auction for their former co-worker, Keith Massey (in center of the photo), who was recently diagnosed with ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease. The event is Saturday, Oct. 29 at the Quincy Moose Lodge.
Rallying to help a friend
Friends of Keith Massey plan benefit dinner/auction to help in fight with ALS By Chuck Allen editor@qvpr.com
Quincy native Keith Massey, 44, had always enjoyed an active, healthy life. For the past 13 years, he worked at the Quincy Les Schwab Tire Center, performing the difficult task of wrangling tires and wheels in all kinds of weather. It was a job that Massey enjoyed. When not working, he could be found playing in the outdoors, fishing and hunting. But something strange started to happen last spring. Massey was losing strength and dexterity. It was becoming more difficult to perform his daily duties. It worsened. And in August, when he couldn’t make his hands work to take a
valve cap off a tire, he decided to figure out what was happening. He did some preliminary research on the Internet and found a number of possible conditions. One of the diseases — amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease — seemed to match his symptoms, but he figured there was no way it could be that. In fact, he joked to his co-workers that he probably had it. Then when he went to Seattle to be checked out by a specialist, he received the terrible news that he did have ALS. “It was pretty devastating,” said Massey, who is now on disability and is no longer working at the store. ALS is a disease of the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that controls vol-
untary muscle movement. Those suffering from ALS lose muscle strength and coordination. The disease eventually affects swallowing and breathing. Only about 25 percent of those with ALS survive for more than 5 years after diagnosis. “It’s mind-boggling,” said Marty Wilder, manager of the Quincy Les Schwab, who has worked with Massey for six years. “He’s always been so healthy. He was one of the most dependable employees, always here and always ready to work.” Wilder and many of Massey’s other friends are planning a benefit barbecue dinner/auction for him at the Quincy Please see Friend page A6
Quincy businesses will be opening their doors to ghosts, goblins and every kind of juvenile candy-eating creature on Monday, Oct. 31 for the annual Quincy Halloween Downtown Trick-or-Treat event, which runs from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Businesses that have an orange pumpkin in the window are participating in the event. Children must be in costume to take part. The following is a list of businesses that will welcome Trick-or-Treaters: Ace Hardware, Akins, American Nationwide Mortgage, Barb’s Place, Basin Insurance, Brian’s Barber Shop, The Cambridge, Casa Jalisco, Central Market, CHS Petroleum (Cenex), The Crescent Hotel, Desert Sun
Dental, Duda Insurance, Edward Jones, Gates True Value, Gillispie Eye Care, Gotta Have Java, The Grainery, Heartland Pharmacy & Gifts, Key Bank, LarsonAllen, Law Offices of Brian Chase, Les Schwab, Quincy Liquor Store, MartinMorris Insurance, Princess Fashions, Pro-Fit Nutrition & Training, QMS Auto Supply, Quincy Realty, Quincy Valley Swim and Gym, Quincy Inn & Suites, Quincy Valley Chamber of Commerce, QVMC - Physical Therapy, Rob’s Video, Studio 90, The Club, The Grape, Tijuana Restaurant, Time Out Pizza, Vordahl’s, Washington Trust Bank, Wavelengths, Wheatland Bank and Windermere.
Dust off your denim for the Chamber-Rotary auction By Chuck Allen editor@qvpr.com
The Quincy Valley Chamber of Commerce and Quincy Rotary Club are inviting community members to dress up in their best denim duds for the biannual Chamber and Rotary Club Benefit Auction on Saturday, Nov. 5 at the Quincy Community Center. The theme for the event is
Denim and Diamonds. Those who attend are encouraged to wear their best “Western Glam” clothes, said Karen Vizena, director of the chamber. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for the silent auction, dinner will be served about 6:30 p.m. On the menu is prime rib, chicken, scalloped potatoes, salad and all the trimmings. A Please see Auction page A6
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Valley News
A6 October 27, 2011
QVMC prepares budget to recover losses expected in 2011 Hospital anticipates losing $348,107 for 2011, prepares a preliminary 2012 budget that calls for a profit of $410,785 By Chuck Allen editor@qvpr.com
Quincy Valley Medical Center will likely lose money for a second year in a row. According to a report from Dean Taplett, QVMC controller, to the hospital’s board of directors, the medical center is projected to finish the year with a loss of $348,107. Last year, the hospital lost $134,259. According to Taplett’s financial report, the hospital is expected to generate $10.163 million in revenue through 2011 and have $11.758 million in expenses. The medical center is ex-
Auction: Continued from front page dessert dash will be part of the fun as those who attend will get to bid on their choice of delicious desserts from the dessert table. Also, there will be a diamond raffle with tickets sold for $10 during the event. Prior to the live auction is the presentation of the chamber’s Business of the Year and Lifetime Achievement awards.
Crashes: Continued from front page LTD was struck from behind by a 2010 Chevrolet express van driven by Juan M. Rivera, 28, of East Wenatchee. The force of the collision pushed DeLong’s LTD into the westbound lane where it was stuck by a 1997 Dodge Intrepid driven by Jose C. Santiago, 47, of Quincy. DeLong, Santiago and
pected to finish the year with $1.246 million in non-operating revenue, which will add up to a loss of $348,107. Taplett and the medical center’s financial committee also presented the board with a preliminary budget for 2012. The budget calls for revenues of $10.680 million and operating expenses of $11.369 million and non-operating revenue of $1.1 million for a net income of $410,785. Taplett said the majority of the $389,000 in cuts to the expense will come from not operating an ambulance service. In July, the medical center gave up its ambulance service to Protection-1,
Continued from front page Moose Lodge on Saturday, Oct. 29 at 5:30 p.m. Admission is $15 per plate. The money raised from the event will help Massey and his family with their expenses. “We’re doing this because we love him and care for him,” Wilder said. “He’s been there for a lot of people and we want to be there for him now.” Massey said it’s difficult to be in a position of need. “It’s kind of embarrassing,” he said. “I don’t really like all of the attention.”
In other business, Taplett gave a report on how collections and billings are going with the new electronic medical records and billing system at the hospital. The system was installed earlier this year as part of a federal mandate. Taplett said the conversion had created a temporary log jam in the billing office that is now being reduced. The medical center currently has $3.360 million in receivables. Usually, the medical center has between $1.8 million and $2 million in receivables, he said. Taplett said he was optimistic that the changes the staff are making will yield big results in reducing the number of outstanding balances.
The live auction will feature a number of fun and exciting items, including winery tours and packages, tickets to sporting events, specially prepared meals, getaway packages and other great items. The auction is the main fundraising event for the Chamber and Rotary Club. Proceeds from the event help support their activities and charitable contributions in the community. Tickets for the event are $50 each and are going fast, said Vizena. To purchase tickets or donate to the event, call 787-2140.
Manuel G. Cisneros, 26, of Chelan, who was a passenger in the Chevrolet van, were all transported to Quincy Valley Medical Center with injuries. Patrol investigators determined the cause of the crash as failure to yield and charged Rivera with failing to yield to a left turn. Two people were injured in a crash at the intersection of roads E NW and 5 NW at 12:50 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 20. According to a report in The
Friend:
a private ambulance service run by Quincy paramedic Brian Williamson. Administrator Mehdi Merred said the expected gains in revenue will come from more accurate billing procedures and gaining more market share for the services the medical center provides to the community. The medical center plans to increase its exposure in the community by purchasing space on a billboard in Quincy. The billboard ad will remind local residents of what the center has to offer and will also direct visitors to the hospital facility, said Michele Wurl, director of community relations.
Grant County Journal, Brenda Lucero, 48, of Ephrata, was driving south on Road E NW in a 2011 Kia Sorento when she ran a stop sign. Her vehicle collided with a 1985 Freightliner tractor, which was hauling empty trailers, driven by Klayt H. Long, 29, of Quincy. Lucero received broken ribs and was transported to Columbia Basin Hospital in Ephrata. Long received a bruised left leg, but declined treatment.
He said he does appreciate the care and concern his friends have shown him and his family. Massey and his wife, Crystal, live in Ephrata. He was two children, Kyle, 20, and Kristen, 19. His mother, Sharon Kirkpatrick, and brother, Kraig Massey, both still live in Quincy. Massey said there is little that can be done for his disease. There are some medicines that help with some of the symptoms, but they are expensive and not very effective. “There really isn’t much they have to offer for ALS,” Massey said. “You just have to hope for the best.” For information on the barbecue or to make a donation, call Wilder at the Les Schwab store at 787-1551.
Tammara Green/Post-Register
Teachers and students participate in Walk to School Day, on Oct. 20.
School walk day promotes fitness By Tammara Green writer@qvpr.com
Last Thursday, Oct. 20, marked Quincy’s involvement in the International Walk to School Month. “This is the first one Quincy has ever participated in,” said PEP grant coordinator Matt Tait. The event was facilitated by the Quincy School District, Quincy Police Department and Quincy Fire District 3 in partnership with Safe Kids of Grant County. That morning, children were dropped off at a central location close to their school, and they
walked several blocks. Participating schools were Mountain View Elementary, Pioneer Elementary and Monument Elementary. Tait assisted in drawing safe routes for kids, so they would also be more prepared next year when more students will likely walk to their neighborhood school if they live close enough. “There are grants for cities through Safe Kids of Grant County to help install more sidewalks and crosswalks,” he said. Tait is most excited about how the event raised health awareness, which ties in to PEP (Physical Education Program) goals of increasing activity and healthy lifestyles for kids. The
Benefit dinner-auction to help Keith Massey and family
Saturday, Oct. 29 at the Moose Lodge from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Earlier this year, Massey, a Quincy native who worked for 13 years at Quincy Les Schwab, was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). His friends in Quincy will hold a benefit dinner with a silent auction to raise money to help him and his family in their time of need.
Quincy Valley
CHAMBER COMMERCE OF
Admission to the barbecue dinner is $15 a plate at the door. There will be many items up for bid during the silent auction. For information or to make a donation, contact Quincy Les Schwab manager Marty Wilder at 787-1551.