Remote Surveillance Trailer in John Day, OR

Cuts come in response to financial pressures, One Big Beautiful Bill

JOHN DAY — Blue Mountain Hospital in John Day has laid off nine of its employees and cut a contract administrator position as the hospital faces financial pressures and expected Medicaid cuts following the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

The hospital sent out a press release Sept. 16 explaining that operational losses, a lower than expected utilization of services, increasing labor and supply costs and anticipated Medicaid cuts following the passage of the OBBA are concerns that led to the cuts. In total, four clinical staff, five mid level administrators and one contract administrator were let go in what the hospital called strategic restructuring.

The hospital reported it is taking additional cost reduction strategies to focus on the rising costs of supplies and materials and to standardize some of its practices with the health care industry. There are no plans for additional workforce reductions or leadership restructuring.

In a follow-up press release Sept. 19, Blue Mountain Hospital reported it restructured its financial stability. The release highlighted that the hospital district as a whole, which includes the Blue Mountain Hospital, Blue Mountain Care Center and Strawberry Wilderness Clinic, had a $2.05 million operational revenue loss last fiscal year.

The hospital itself had a $1.72 million operational loss, the Blue Mountain Care Center posted a $988,000 operational loss and the Strawberry Wilderness Clinic posted just more than a $1.3 million operational revenue loss last fiscal year. The district did have $1.875 million in nonoperating revenue, but that was not enough to balance the nearly $4 million operational loss the district posted last fiscal year.

The release said 70% of the Blue Mountain Hospital District’s costs are personnel costs.

“That means we have had to make extremely difficult decisions which affect good people,” the release said.

Blue Mountain Hospital District CEO Misty Robertson said the restructuring has been hard for everyone in the district.

“We have leaders that have been rounding, we have been just supporting each other, but it’s challenging,” she said.

Robertson said the district has been evaluating its options for the past couple months and the decision to move forward with the restructuring was not a decision made lightly.

“It’s a very difficult decision, these are our colleagues and we needed to look at our areas which were experiencing the most problems and try to start with those areas,” she said.

The hospital district has posted multimillion dollar losses every year since the pandemic. Robertson said the hospital has had to tap into its savings to offset the losses and cannot do so long term.

Rising costs, lower revenues and Medicaid uncertainty in relation to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act have converged into what Robertson calls the perfect storm facing the hospital district, which has 24% of its patients and 95% of nursing home patients on Medicaid.

The concern is the changes to Medicaid, which may force some off the program or result in less reimbursements to the hospital district. Those who are no longer on Medicaid for whatever reason are essentially uninsured while the hospital is obligated to provide care for them.

“We’re already at a net operating loss, we’re not getting enough revenue now and we know 24% of it could potentially be decreased, or people could find themselves uninsured and needing care and we still have to provide and want to provide care,” Robertson said. “There just wouldn’t be a reimbursement for it.”

Robertson said the restructuring by the hospital was done both as a reaction to current circumstance and proactively for what could occur with the OBBBA.

Blue Mountain Hospital District Chief Financial Officer Mike Ellis said those coming into the hospital can expect the same level of care as prior to the restructuring.

“We’re open for business,” he said.

Robertson echoed those sentiments but said the hospital district additional changes are possible.

“We’re very committed to being here,” she said. “All of us really feel our leadership and board really feel the immense responsibility for being here and providing care in this community.”

Was John Day inspired by a Spanish film? I really don’t give a fig where writer-director Ahishor Solomon got the raw material for this gripping cat-and-mouse tale. Does the kitchen where the food on the table originates really mean anything? What counts is the quotient of curiosity and suspense simulated by the script. And there, John Day ranks very high.

Not for a while have we seen a film so steeped in despair, so swathed in anxiety, so audaciously draped in despair, and yet it engages our senses without miring the plot in morbidity.

The story, let me tell you, is not for the squeamish. The two main characters are constantly haunted by their irrevocably tragic parts. Naseeruddin Shah and Randeep Hooda—real-life guru and pupil—play people who do not know happiness. Incidents from their past continue to shadow and chase their present. There is scarcely a moment in the plot when John (Shah) and Gautam (Hooda) are happy except when they are with their beloved ‘Other’.

But then Shernaz Patel, who plays Naseer’s wife and the very beautiful foreigner Elena Kazan, who plays Randeep’s girl (quite like Parveen Babi in Deewaar), are troubled by their own ghosts. So where do we go for comfort?

John Day is a restless edgy drama of the doomed and the damned. The characters, no matter which side of the law they occupy, are on the run from their enemies and from themselves. This is not the first time Randeep has played a fugitive shadowed by his own past. But this is certainly his most layered character which he performs with the kind of gravelly gusto that allows us to get only as close to the sullen character as he wants us. Towards the end-game when the momentum gets frenzied beyond recuperation, Randeep’s character’s softer side emerges.

He has a brilliantly written monologue with a comatose character, where we get to know how much this brutal man loves his woman. When the character softens, Randeep let the emotions reach his eyes.

Yup, this man can die for money and for love. It’s a dichotomous character torn between self-abnegation and vendetta.

In a way, Randeep character plays a mirror-image of Naseer’s banker gone amok. This is not the first time that India’s most vaunted actor has played a wizened common man pushed to a corner by the monstrous corruption in out socio-political system.

Remember Neeraj Pathak’s A Wednesday? Here in John Day, the terror that Naseer’s character battles is far more personal, and hence in many ways, much more moving and compelling. Naseer seldom allows his character the luxury of tears and recrimination. His greatness as an actor doesn’t come in the way of letting the character of the common man have his say in the most natural way possible.

It is very difficult to speak out openly about the characters and their motivations without giving away the plot. John Day is the kind of clenched yarn that makes you forget that yawning distance between cinema and the audience. You become one with the character’s battles, without getting judgmental over their actions.

Some of the things that the characters do are unmistakably brutal. An innocent woman’s head is shattered by a hammer, a man’s tongue is bitten off and another man’s neck is also bitten off. It’s a cold, brutal world with no comic relief, at least none where you laugh out loud at the ironies of life. There are two very ironic references to Amitabh Bachchan’s cinema (to Trishul and Zanjeer, if you must know).

Hooda, in fact, conveys the kind of brooding implosive intensity that the Big B had patented in the 1970s. But I doubt the Big B’s Vijay could have ever been haunted by the demons that chase Hooda’s character in this unwavering dark drama. This is a thriller with a mind, heart and balls narrated with precision and temperance.

John Day brings the indomitable Naseeruddin Shah and the intriguing Randeep Hooda for a taut cat-and-mouse chase that stays a step ahead of the audience right till the shattering end-game.

While the two principal actors get under their characters’ skins, other actors seem equally at home in this inky kingdom of greed and gluttony. Vipin Sharma and Makrand Deshpande are very engaging in their supporting parts. They make doom seem anything but dull. But the film’s third hero is Sandeep Chowta’s background score. It creates a world of emotions beyond the spoken words for Naseer and Randeep.

This is a world where there is no escape from sorrow and grief. Enemies are clobbered and butchered mercilessly. Not because they deserve to die. But because life is as randomly brutal as we make it for ourselves. And cinema such as this reminds us that moral values of Good, Evil, justice and comeuppance mean nothing to those who have nothing to lose.

For a film about losers, John Day proves to be a paradoxically profitable movie-viewing experience for the audience.

This is no place for the weak. This world as we know it. And this film, as we discover with a thrill of chancing upon an unexpected little gem.

An updated report from the National Weather Service was issued on Friday at 8:18 p.m. for strong thunderstorms until 9:15 p.m. for John Day Basin.

Anticipate pea-sized hail (0.25 inches) and wind gusts of up to 40 mph.

"At 8:17 p.m., Doppler radar tracked a cluster of strong thunderstorms 13 miles northwest of Mitchell, moving north at 15 mph," says the weather service. "Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation and localized heavy rainfall is possible."

The weather service comments, "If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. Localized heavy rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. Frequent lightning is occurring with this storm. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle."

Each year, lightning strikes the United States approximately 25 million times, mostly during the summer. It claims the lives of about 20 people annually, according to the weather service. The threat of lightning becomes more pronounced as thunderstorms draw nearer, peaking when the storm is directly overhead and gradually waning as it moves away.

To ensure your safety during a thunderstorm, keep these recommendations in mind:

Lightning safety plan:

Indoors safety measures:

Wait for the all-clear:

When indoor shelter isn't available:

If you find yourself outdoors without access to indoor shelter during a thunderstorm, take these steps to maximize your safety:

In summary, when facing the threat of lightning, vigilance and preparedness are your best allies. By following these guidelines, you can significantly reduce the chances of lightning-related accidents and prioritize your safety.

When heavy rain sets in, the risk of flooding and hazardous driving conditions rises. Whether it's prolonged rainfall or rapid runoff, being prepared is essential. Here are some valuable safety tips from the weather service to ensure you stay safe in heavy rain:

Beware of rapid water flow:

During heavy rain, avoid parking or walking near culverts or drainage ditches, where swift-moving water can pose a serious risk.

Maintain safe driving distances:

Use the two-second rule to maintain a safe distance from the car in front of you and allow an extra two seconds in heavy rain.

Slow down and stay cautious:

On wet roads, slowing down is paramount. Gradually ease off the accelerator and avoid abrupt braking to prevent skidding.

Choose your lane wisely:

Stick to the middle lanes to minimize the risk of hydroplaning. Outer lanes are more prone to accumulating water.

Visibility matters:

Enhance your visibility in heavy rain by activating your headlights. Be particularly vigilant for vehicles in blind spots, as rain-smeared windows can obscure them.

Watch out for slippery roads:

The first half-hour of rain is when roads are slickest due to a mix of rain, grime, and oil. Exercise heightened caution during this period.

Keep a safe distance from large vehicles:

Large trucks and buses can reduce your visibility with tire spray. Avoid tailgating and pass with caution.

Mind your windshield wipers:

Overloaded wiper blades can hinder visibility. If rain severely impairs your vision, pull over and wait for conditions to improve. Seek refuge at rest areas or sheltered spots.

When stopping by the roadside is your only option, position your vehicle as far off the road as possible, ideally beyond guardrails. Keep your headlights on and activate emergency flashers to alert other drivers of your position.

In the face of heavy rain, these precautions can make a significant difference in ensuring your safety on the road. Remember to stay informed about weather conditions and heed guidance from local authorities for a secure journey.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

JOHN DAY — The city of John Day is getting ready to challenge a pair of court orders the Grant County Circuit Court issued.

The city council at its meeting Tuesday, Aug. 26, voted 6-1 to have the city challenge the writs of mandamus that Nick and Morgan Green and Iron Triangle filed with the circuit court, alleging the city hasn’t fulfilled legally required obligations. Both writs were in relation to the city’s urban renewal agency.

The Greens filed the petition on April 22, seeking urban renewal agency incentives they believe they are entitled to. Iron Triangle filed its petition July 2 and is seeking the approval of the final plat for phase two of the Ironwood Estates URA development.

A writ of mandamus is a court order directing a government official or entity to perform a duty they are legally obligated to do. The Grant County Court issued writs for both cases on Aug. 12.

The court ordered the city to pay the benefits, pay for the development of their property, complete the installation of a water meter and cover attorney fees and costs.

For Iron Triangle, the court ordered the city council to act on Iron Triangle’s final plat application for the Ironwood Estates Addition II.

The court has set show cause hearings for both cases Sept. 26. The hearing for Nick and Morgan Green’s case is at 8:30 a.m. while the hearing for the Iron Triangle’s case is at 10:30 a.m.

The city declined to comment on the issuing of the writs or the council’s decision to challenge the orders. City Councilor Chris Labhart was the lone vote in opposition to challenging. The Blue Mountain Eagle has not been able to reach him for comment.

A representative from Iron Triangle said the city already approved its plan and paid for it. That representative went on to say the city is well within its rights to alter its URA arrangements, but that right does not extend to arrangements that have been mutually agreed upon.

Legal representation for the Greens and Iron Triangle did not immediately respond to requests for comments.

Iron Triangle to be resolved within 90 days, Greens to refile

CANYON CITY — A pair of show-cause hearings Friday, Sept. 26, for two writs of mandamus against the city of John Day has city administration wondering what’s next.

Nick and Morgan Green filed one write, and Iron Triangle filed the other.

The first hearing was brief, with attorneys for the Greens and the city agreeing to dismiss the case without prejudice. The Greens are demanding plan benefits based on an approved application from July 12, 2023.

They also seek a payment or credit for $7,354 in system development charges, structural permit approval, water meter installation at their property and the payment of all attorney fees, costs and disbursements.

The second hearing, involving Iron Triangle’s writ, included six witnesses and numerous exhibits. The company is seeking approval of the final plat for the second phase of the Ironwood Estates Urban Renewal Agency development.

A late motion to add the John Day URA to the Greens’ writ prompted the dismissal agreement.

Their attorney, Andrea Coit, said the amendment aimed to clarify all involved entities, noting blurred lines between the city and URA.

“They share a bank account,” she said.

Boyd denied the motion, noting the city and URA are legally separate, even if they share members. After a brief conference, legal counsel for the city and the Greens agreed to mutually drop the case without prejudice.

The Greens plan to refile their writ to include the URA.

Testimony in Iron Triangle’s case largely centered on two key issues: whether there are substantial deviations between the final and preliminary plats for Ironwood Phase 2, and whether former Public Works Director Casey Myers’ acceptance of the final plat means the city approved the plan.

Portland-based attorney Lawson Fite argued the plat met all approval conditions and the city had paid invoices for public improvements.

Witnesses Iron Triangle called included land surveyor Mike Springer and civil engineer Joe Hitts, who testified the city raised no concerns about adjustments to the final plat and similar changes were approved in a separate development known as The Ridge.

Consultant King Williams, also testifying for Iron Triangle, said no city objections were raised about changes to Ironwood Drive and invoices were paid, including one initially disputed and reduced by $9,000. Williams said the city’s refusal to sign the final plat has cost Iron Triangle lot sales, despite the public improvements being completed, accepted and paid for.

The city argued that changes between the preliminary and final plats were substantial enough to warrant a public process and Myers shouldn’t have approved public improvements unilaterally.

Associate Planner Henry Hearley, civil engineer Aaron Speakman of Dyer Partnerships, and City Manager Melissa Bethel testified for the city.

Hearley and Speakman testified the plats did not match and described the changes as significant. Both said some public improvements, including roads, water, sewer and storm drains were either unapproved or not built to standard.

Hearley noted Iron Triangle had submitted a modification request, but the city deemed it incomplete. He said the company still has time to submit additional details.

Speakman testified that 15 lots not part of the plat had sewer service, and the development’s sewer system would not meet Oregon Department of Environmental Quality standards without a redesign. He also cited erosion issues, a grade break on Ironwood Drive, and discrepancies between as-built plans and what is on the ground he noted during a March 11 site visit.

City Manager Bethel testified she had instructed Myers not to sign further documents. During the hearing, she was shown a document Myers signed without her knowledge. She questioned whether he was qualified to approve public improvements and said she should have authorized the signature.

Under cross-examination, Fite pointed to a letter from Bethel to Myers suggesting his acceptance of the improvements was not beneficial to the city.

In closing, Fite said Iron Triangle met all conditions for final plat approval and the city’s objections were inconsistent with prior practices. He described the city’s actions as a “last-minute bait and switch,” noting it had paid the full development agreement.

Hawkins countered that Iron Triangle’s modification request was open and deserved public input. He pointed to Springer’s testimony that such deviations between plats were rare in his 30-year career.

Judge Boyd said some shortcuts were taken and handshake agreements made while acknowledging the case’s complexity. Boyd also called the city’s initial approval of the final plat by one group and subsequent rejection of that plat at a later date by a separate group into question.

Judge Boyd said he would issue a decision within 90 days.