Health Options Digest
May 23, 2004
Coalition for Health Options In Central Eugene-Springfield (CHOICES)
In This Issue
From the Editor
Week in Review
The big news this past week in hospital siting is that McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center announced a design for a new hospital at the current EWEB site in downtown Eugene.
The other big news is that Kitty Piercy led mostly progressive-leaning candidates in a sweep of the Eugene elected official races.
Also, the City of Springfield is beginning to explore stepping away from the Eugene-Springfield General Metro Plan, which has served to coordinate activities in the metropolitan area for two decades.
New highways -- or at least talk about them -- appear to be springing up all over the place. This despite the fact that there just isn't much money to build these new highways.
In Washington, D.C., there's a show down brewing between President Bush, who wants to cut government spending (expect on those programs he supports) and Congress (who want highway projects to bring jobs to their states). At issue is $15 million for the I-5/Beltline project, which is essential to a new PeaceHealth hospital in the Gateway area.
Lastly, we grieve the passing of long-time Register-Guard reporter and associate editor Henny Willis. I last saw Henny just a month ago at Oakway Center, enjoying a glass of wine while working the crossword puzzle. He said retirement was treating him very well.
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Looking Ahead
The public hearing this Monday, May 24, at 1:00 p.m., at Harris Hall is very important. At issue are the Certificate of Need (CON) rules that determine if and how a new hospital can locate (or an existing hospital can relocate) in the Eugene-Springfield area. The current rules allow PeaceHealth to relocate anywhere at all. But McKenzie-Willamette can't move outside Springfield's 97477 or 97478 zip codes (not even to Glenwood, which is 97403) without going through a full review! This state of affairs is ironic, because the rules were originally designed to protect smaller community hospitals from larger hospitals coming in and taking away their business.
Also on Monday, CHOICES is will be filing our brief with the Court of Appeals regarding Eugene's hospital zoning ordinance.
Some public relations people think that a ruling from the Court of Appeals in the PeaceHealth case will come by the end of this month. But the attorneys in the case aren't so sure. Who are ya gonna believe? In any case, it's ain't over until the three black-robed judges speak.
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Rob Zako, Editor
343-5201
rzako@efn.org
Calendar
Monday, May 24 -- Oregon Department of Human Services, Health Services Division
1:00 p.m., Public Hearing, Harris Hall, Public Service Building, 125 East 8th Ave., Eugene
The public is invited to testify to the Oregon Department of Human Services, Health Services Division, about the importance of Certificate of Need (CON) rules that support hospital competition and facilitate community goals.
The public is also invited to submit written comments by Tuesday, June 1 to: Jana Fussell, Certificate of Need Coordinator, Portland State Office Building, Room 120C, 800 NE Oregon St., Portland, OR, 97232, (503) 731-4320, Jana.Fussell@state.or.us
For more information, contact Jana Fussell.
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Friday, May 28 -- Oregon Department of Human Services, Health Services Division
1:00 p.m., Public Hearing, Room 120C, Portland State Office Building, 800 NE Oregon St., Portland
The public is invited to testify to the Oregon Department of Human Services, Health Services Division, about the importance of Certificate of Need (CON) rules that support hospital competition and facilitate community goals.
The public is also invited to submit written comments by Tuesday, June 1 to: Jana Fussell, Certificate of Need Coordinator, Portland State Office Building, Room 120C, 800 NE Oregon St., Portland, OR, 97232, (503) 731-4320, Jana.Fussell@state.or.us
For more information, contact Jana Fussell.
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Opportunities
Applications accepted for mental health panel
| The Register-Guard | May 21, 2004 |
Citizens with knowledge of mental health, developmental disabilities and substance abuse issues -- and who can devote time to attend two to four daytime meetings each month -- may want to apply for five vacant positions on the county's Mental Health Advisory Board.
The 12-member panel meets at 11 a.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month. Members also serve on a subcommittee that meets two or three times monthly. The group serves as an advisory committee to the Lane County commissioners.
Applications may be obtained from the commissioners' office in the Public Service Building at 125 E. Eighth Ave. in downtown Eugene. Completed applications must be returned there by 5 p.m. May 30. For information, call 682-4203.
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PeaceHealth
Hospital eyes end of month for ruling
By Joe Harwood
The Register-Guard | May 18, 2004 |
SPRINGFIELD -- A state Court of Appeals ruling that may clear the way for -- or throw obstacles in the path of -- PeaceHealth's proposed RiverBend regional hospital could come before the end of the month. (more...)
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McKenzie-Willamette/Triad
McKenzie-Willamette maps out EWEB plan
By Joe Harwood
The Register-Guard | May 20, 2004 |
Seeking to whet the public's appetite for a new Eugene hospital, McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center on Wednesday unveiled a preliminary design for a new facility on 26 downtown acres now occupied by the Eugene Water & Electric Board.
With the move, McKenzie-Willamette for the first time made it clear it thinks the hospital would be a great fit for the riverside spot.
But the announcement brings to the fore the question of just how accommodating EWEB and the city will be to the plan (more...)
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McKenzie-Willamette Eyes EWEB Site
EUGENE -- Architects give McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center the thumbs up on building a new hospital in Eugene.
They say the structure would fit on Eugene Water and Electric Board property, but hospital officials still have some concerns about the site. They like the property because of its location on the south side of the river and the fact that it's close to the city's core, but worry about access issues and noise from passing trains. (more...)
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McKenzie-Willamette Identifies Top Eugene Site
29 acres on the banks of the Willamette River: prime real estate, and possible home of a new hospital. Rosie Pryor, of McKenzie-Willamette Hospital says, "At this point I'd say EWEB is our number one site, we're very interested in EWEB."
What McKenzie-Willamette has in mind, is a 250 thousand square foot hospital, 5 stories tall, with room for 125 to 150 beds. The current EWEB building would become doctor's offices. Pryor says, "There's no question that a hospital could work well on that site." (more...)
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Hospital eyes river site, EWEB
By Christopher Stollar
The Springfield News | May 21, 2004 |
The Ferry Street Bridge may soon overlook McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center.
The Springfield hospital has revealed a potential plan for a new facility on 29 acres now occupied by the Eugene Water & Electric Board, entrenching McKenzie-Willamette's hopes that the hospital will rest along the banks of the Willamette River in Eugene. (more...)
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EWEB eyes west Eugene sites for new home
By Joe Harwood
The Register-Guard | May 22, 2004 |
In its search for a new home, the Eugene Water & Electric Board is looking to the far reaches of west Eugene.
Noting that big parcels of land close to the city's core are scarce and too costly, EWEB General Manager Randy Berggren said Friday that the search has turned west.
Though Berggren didn't disclose specific sites during a brief board meeting, he said he has identified a few locations in west Eugene that meet many of the criteria the utility seeks in a new home.
Real estate sources told The Register-Guard earlier this week that EWEB is close to making an offer on about 45 acres on the south side of West 11th Avenue, between the Wal-Mart store to the east and Willow Creek Road to the west. (more...)
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Editorial: Picturing a hospital: Drawings show EWEB site would work for Triad
| The Register-Guard | May 23, 2004 |
After weeks of wondering what to make of the mysterious silence, nervous observers had just about run out of fingernails to gnaw. Had the high-stakes negotiations involving McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center, the city of Eugene and the Eugene Water & Electric Board hit a deal-killing snag?
Far from it. McKenzie-Willamette officials ended the suspense on Wednesday when they unveiled a preliminary design for a new facility on 26 acres now occupied by EWEB. Suddenly, hopes for a new hospital in Eugene popped out of neutral and shifted into a higher gear.
The working drawings signalled for the first time that a five-story, 250,000-square-foot hospital would nestle nicely near the center of EWEB's riverfront site. The drawings are part of $100,000 worth of design work McKenzie-Willamette and its majority partner, Texas-based Triad Hospitals Inc., authorized to see if an $80 million replacement for McKenzie-Willamette's Springfield facility would fit on the wedge-shaped EWEB property.
Fits really well. Looks really sharp. Seems really smart. (more...)
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Commentary: Roy Orr: Hospital solution rests on new rule
In our search for a place to build a brand-new hospital, we've learned there are no hospital sites, per se. There are places in Eugene and Springfield where someone thinks a hospital would be a fine idea. In every case, there are existing businesses that would have to move, and transportation and neighborhood impacts that would have to be mitigated. (more...)
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Cost of Health Care
Job cuts stay as panel OKs city budget
By Bob Keefer
The Register-Guard | May 19, 2004 |
SPRINGFIELD -- The Budget Committee on Tuesday night approved without alteration the city manager's proposed spending plan for 2005. If the City Council signs off on it, the budget will cut two full-time police positions -- including the DARE officer -- and a part-time children's librarian while dipping into reserves to arrive at a general fund operating budget of $24.1 million, a slight increase from last year's $24 million. (more...)
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Budget heading to council -- as is
By Amber Fossen
The Springfield News | May 21, 2004 |
The proposed city budget will go to City Council intact.
The Springfield Budget Committee gave divided approval to the city manager's proposed 2005 budget despite community appeals to adjust the budget to provide additional funding to keep the DARE program and increase support for library and museum services. (more...)
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City brass: We want to go our own way
By Amber Fossen
The Springfield News | May 21, 2004 |
City of Springfield officials want to slip the surly bonds of the metro plan.
When the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area General Plan came before city council Monday for housekeeping and periodic review, frustrations over the cumbersome process were aired leading Mayor Sid Leiken to direct legal council to explore the possibility of stepping away from the intergovernmental agreement that has bound Springfield, Eugene and Lane County together for more than two decades. (more...)
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Nearby Developments
Blueprint for urban makeovers
By Bob Keefer
The Register-Guard | May 21, 2004 |
SPRINGFIELD -- The last time urban renewal came to town, a city park blossomed where an equipment yard once stood. Pioneer Parkway was created along an old railroad line. An industrial stretch of old mills and wigwam burners along the west end of town became apartment houses and a nursing home.
That was in the late 1950s, when Springfield became the second city in Oregon -- the first was Portland -- to try its hand at urban renewal, a legal mechanism for fixing blighted neighborhoods by government intervention.
In the late 1950s, an old equipment lot stood at the site of what's now Meadow Park in Springfield.
Largely funded by the federal government, that initial project was a great success -- and the city hasn't had an urban renewal project since then. (more...)
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Risky rentals: Developers plan more apartment projects in a glutted market
By Diane Dietz
The Register-Guard | May 17, 2004 |
Developers across Eugene-Springfield are launching big apartment construction projects at a time when market trends indicate that they should leave their bulldozers idle.
After a three-year lull in multiunit development, more than a thousand new units are either under construction or in planning. Yet the market is going begging for tenants -- unless some economic factors change drastically and soon. (more...)
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Commentary: The time for citizen review of big boxes is now
| By Jill Schwab and Hope Marston | May 20, 2004 |
What do you call a business that comes into your community and three jobs disappear for every two it creates? What do you call a business the massive size of which enables it to lower prices below its own cost, thereby forcing existing businesses to close their doors? What do you call a business that pays near-poverty wages, causing some of its employees to seek public assistance at taxpayer expense, yet rakes in billions of dollars in profits?
Today, we call such businesses big box stores.
Because the Eugene City Council plans to discuss big box stores at its work session May 24, it is an excellent time to consider options for our community. (more...)
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Editorial: Boxed in: Consider consequences of limiting big stores
| The Register-Guard | May 23, 2004 |
The Eugene City Council will hold a work session Monday on ideas for banning or controlling "big box" retail stores. The aim is to stop Wal-Mart from building a "superstore" in west Eugene. The result, however, would be to give Wal-Mart a superstore monopoly. (more...)
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Transportation
Hopes Rise For Proposed Interchange
Glenwood -- Big changes could be coming to the Eugene-Springfield area if proposals are OK'ed for a new I-5 interchange at Glenwood. Local leaders say it would improve traffic, economic development and even public safety. (more...)
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Glenwood Interchange Edges Toward Reality
| KEZI | May 17, 2004, 7:10 p.m. |
In January KEZI News told you about a plan to see about adding an I-5 interchange at Glenwood. Well, a step has been taken to see that happen.
It may not sound like much, but it is an important step in the process. It was announced that an environmental impact study will be funded, to see if the interchange could be built.
Every local official you can think of, is pretty much in support of the interchange. It would give I-5 drivers easy access to downtown Eugene, the U of O, downtown and Springfield and Glenwood. (more...)
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Mayors want to build more direct I-5 access
By Edward Russo
The Register-Guard | May 18, 2004 |
Ever do the Glenwood loop-the-loop?
Southbound motorists on Interstate 5 who want to enter southeast Eugene on Franklin Boulevard have to.
That's because I-5 lacks a direct southbound off-ramp to the boulevard, one of the city's main entryways. Instead, southbound motorists cross the Willamette River, take the Glenwood exit, loop back over I-5 and re-enter the interstate heading north for a short distance before exiting to Franklin Boulevard.
Meanwhile, northbound I-5 motorists headed to Glenwood or Springfield exit at Glenwood Boulevard, which drops them into town at a T-intersection.
If local officials have their way, these less-than-efficient paths could be replaced in several years with more direct and attractive entrances to southeast Eugene and the Glenwood area of Springfield.
On Monday, officials announced that the Oregon Department of Transportation will study possible designs for a new I-5 interchange for Eugene-Springfield at the Willamette River. The interchange would bring commerce to Eugene and Springfield, officials said, and help trigger redevelopment in Glenwood, an industrial area home to auto parts stores, used car lots, heavy equipment dealers, fabrication shops, and retail and other types of businesses. (more...)
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New interchange for Glenwood?
By Amber Fossen
The Springfield News | May 19, 2004 |
Navigating access to Glenwood and southeast Eugene from Interstate 5 could get easier.
Local officials announced Monday that the Oregon Department of Transportation will explore a possible upgraded interchange on I-5 at Franklin Boulevard as part of a major highway study.
The option will be included in an expanded environmental impact statement for the permanent I-5 replacement bridge -- estimated at $58 million.
Springfield Mayor Sid Leiken said a new interchange would bring additional opportunities for development. (more...)
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New Interchange Faces Tough Problems
By Alan Pittman
Eugene Weekly | May 20, 2004 |
Eugene Mayor Jim Torrey wants a big new freeway interchange at Franklin Blvd. and Interstate 5, but the proposal could face tough engineering, environmental and planning problems, not to mention a huge price tag.
This week, Torrey, Springfield Mayor Sid Leiken and Rep. Peter DeFazio announced that they had successfully urged state highway planners to study the interchange as an option in a $2.7 million environmental impact statement for a planned I-5 replacement bridge. (more...)
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New Funds for Lane County Road Work
It's not the sexiest sounding project in the whole world. But when it's finished, and you're getting around Eugene/Springfield a lot easier, you'll be happy. It's almost 14 million dollars set aside for local road projects. The idea is to make traffic flow a lot easier in the near future. Dealing with traffic isn't always easy. It's a headache. So many cars. But relief is on the way. $14 million in relief. (more...)
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Local road projects win state funding
| The Register-Guard | May 21, 2004 |
Four major transportation projects in the Lane County area will receive a total of $13.9 million from the Oregon Department of Transportation, county Commissioner Bobby Green announced this week.
Green, who represents the county on the ODOT panel that makes the funding decisions, said the funding includes $4.1 million for the intersection of Belt Line and Coburg roads, as well as $7.8 million for the interchange at Belt Line and Interstate 5.
The Belt Line/Coburg grant will cover the cost of on/off ramps and traffic signals. The work probably will be undertaken in two or three years.
The I-5/Belt Line funding will supplement $15 million in pending federal funding and $19 million currently earmarked for the huge project by ODOT. That project involves new northbound to westbound traffic lanes, a realigned southbound off-ramp, and a bike/pedestrian bridge, as well as purchase of additional right-of-way, moving of utilities and design engineering. Before it's completed, the project will need at least another $15 million in funding to cover the cost of additional right-of-way, soundwall construction and further utility relocation.
The other grants awarded by ODOT include $1 million for wetlands mitigation work associated with the proposed West Eugene Parkway and $1 million for environmental study and preliminary engineering for the Belt Line corridor from Coburg Road to River Road.
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State approves road funds for upgrades at Country Coach
SALEM -- The Oregon Transportation Commission on Wednesday unanimously approved a $252,500 subsidy for road upgrades associated with an expansion of Country Coach's Junction City RV factory.
With little discussion, the five-member commission approved the grant from the state Transportation Department's Immediate Opportunity Fund, which is fed by state gasoline taxes.
The $252,500 is in addition to a $247,500 Immediate Opportunity Fund subsidy approved in 2001 for the same expansion project at Country Coach.
Country Coach had announced plans for a $10 million expansion in 2000, but put them on hold when the RV market slowed.
Country Coach has not yet said exactly when it will restart the expansion project, or how many jobs would be created by it.
Lane County earlier this month approved $250,000 in county funding for the roadwork.
The required road upgrades will cost about $1 million.
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Elections
Deputy tops Springfield council race
By Scott Maben
The Register-Guard | May 19, 2004 |
SPRINGFIELD -- Joe Pishioneri, a Lane County sheriff's deputy, led the vote tally Tuesday night in a four-way race for an open seat on the City Council.
But Pishioneri fell far short of collecting more than half of the votes, meaning he and one other candidate will head into a runoff in the Nov. 2 general election.
However, who his opponent will be wasn't certain Tuesday night. The three other candidates -- Deborah Davis, Debi Baker and David Jacobson -- were running neck and neck (and neck). At 10 p.m., the three were within 35 votes of each other. (more...)
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Springfield Ward 6 race to end in runoff
By Bob Keefer
The Register-Guard | May 20, 2004 |
SPRINGFIELD -- Lane County sheriff's deputy Joe Pishioneri and University of Oregon projects manager Debi Baker will most likely face each other in a November runoff for Springfield's vacant Ward 6 City Council seat representing Thurston.
In final but unofficial results from Tuesday's primary election, Pishioneri received 1,828 votes, or 31 percent, and Baker received 1,377 votes, or 23 percent, qualifying them for the general election. The two other candidates, Deborah Davis and David Jacobson, received 1,345 votes and 1,320 votes, respectively. (more...)
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Pishioneri, Baker headed for runoff
By Amber Fossen
The Springfield News | May 21, 2004 |
The election results are in, but one Springfield race won't be over until November.
Tuesday's Primary Election failed to elect a clear winner for the Ward 6 seat on Springfield City Council. Four locals vied for the spot -- including Joe Pishioneri, Debi Baker, Debbie Davis and David Jacobson -- and while the race was close, only two will advance to the November election since no candidate was able to secure the necessary 50 percent margin.
Pishioneri had the lead Tuesday with 1,850 votes or 31.05 percent, followed closely by Debi Baker with 1,397 votes or 23.45 percent; Debbie Davis with 1,367 votes or 22.94 percent; and David Jacobson with 1,344 votes or 22.56 percent.
Annette Newingham, chief deputy county clerk, said while the race was close and ballots are still being verified, it's not likely to come down to an automatic recount. (more...)
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Ex-mayor declines temporary council post
By Bob Keefer
The Register-Guard | May 22, 2004 |
Former Springfield Mayor Sandra Rennie will not be the interim city councilor from Ward 6 for the rest of this year.
Not that you probably thought she would be. But after Tuesday's primary election failed to produce a decisive winner, Mayor Sid Leiken figured that Rennie, who lives in the ward, would make a good council representative until January.
That's when either Joe Pishioneri or Debi Baker will take the Ward 6 seat, depending on the outcome of their runoff in the November general election.
But the former mayor turned him down. "She declined," Leiken said Friday. "She's got a full schedule of things she's involved in."
The seat has been vacant since Tim Malloy resigned in February to move to Washington state. The council is tentatively scheduled to discuss interim appointment possibilities at its June 7 work session and could make an appointment that night at its meeting.
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Runoff in fall to fill post for East Lane
By Randi Bjornstad
The Register-Guard | May 19, 2004 |
Voters for East Lane County commissioner will get to do it all over again come November.
None of the six candidates came close to mustering 50 percent of the vote in Tuesday's primary. So incumbent Don Hampton -- the top vote-getter -- and challenger Faye Stewart -- the No. 2 based on incomplete returns -- appear to be headed for a runoff to decide who will represent the eastern portion of the county on the board of commissioners.
Cedric Hayden ran a close third, while the remaining three candidates -- Mark Herbert, Jim Gillette and Ross Johnson -- trailed far behind.
With unofficial final results at midnight, Hampton led the pack with 32.6 percent, with Stewart polling 30 percent and Hayden receiving 29 percent of the vote. (more...)
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Editorial: Hampton's challenge: Stewart emerges as a formidable foe
| The Register-Guard | May 21, 2004 |
Don Hampton won the battle Tuesday night, but the incumbent county commissioner is far from a sure bet to win the war this fall.
Hampton was the top vote getter -- barely -- in a six-way contest for the East Lane seat on the Lane County Board of Commissioners. Now the former Oakridge mayor and retired public school teacher faces a formidable challenge in the fall as he takes on second-place finisher Faye Stewart, a Cottage Grove businessman and member of the prominent Stewart timber clan.
The numbers do not tell an encouraging story for the incumbent, who was appointed to the county board last year to replace Tom Lininger. Lininger left to join the University of Oregon law school faculty. (The election is for the remaining two years of Lininger's term.) (more...)
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Piercy leads liberal sweep
By Edward Russo
The Register-Guard | May 19, 2004 |
CORRECTION (ran 5/21/04): Floyd Prozanski of Eugene is a state senator. He was misidentifed in an article on Wednesday on Page A1.
Eugene voters on Tuesday moved city politics to the left, electing Kitty Piercy mayor and knocking City Council incumbent Scott Meisner from his seat, in favor of political newcomer Andrea Ortiz.
The votes put an end to the short-lived conservative majority that has held sway on the City Council since 2002, under the leadership of business-friendly Mayor Jim Torrey. (more...)
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Eugene Council Changes Course
EUGENE -- The day after means taking political stock. Things will look different on the council when it turns over,leaving the Eugene business community guessing what's next.
As city business grinds on a day after an election remakes the Eugene council, Nancy Nathanson and Scott Meisner face a post-election hangover having lost their seats, two pro-business council members swept out as things now lean to the left.
Nathanson was running for mayor with the support of local business. She lost to Kitty Piercy who is not exactly the choice of the Eugene Chamber of Commerce. (more...)
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City Council Changes
As election night wrapped up, it was clear times in Eugene are changing. Councilor Bonny Bettman told us, "I'm very excited about the future of Eugene right now." New councilor Andrea Ortiz was also watching the numbers and looking forward to the future. "If the trends hold for all the races including mayor, I think, my personal opinion, we'll have a cohesive team."
The trend did hold, and the cohesive team appears to be made up of power hitters who tend to lean to the left. That started people talking about whether the council will take a more liberal direction. "You know if that's the term people want to use that's fine- yeah, probably," said Ortiz. Scott Meisner, Andrea's opponent, had his own thoughts on the changes. "In the short term probably a bit more of a direction toward, if you will, "Eugene progressivism." In the long term, probably not a lot of change, Eugene is growing and changing and that will always be the case." (more...)
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Kitty Wins
People power defeats developers in mayor, council races.
By Alan Pittman
Eugene Weekly | May 20, 2004 |
Eugene elected the first progressive mayor in the city's history May 18, defeating development interests after one of the hardest fought and closest mayoral contests the city has ever seen.
Mayor-elect Kitty Piercy won 51.4 percent of the vote, enough to avoid a November run-off against Nancy Nathanson, who trailed with 46 percent, in unofficial final results. Nathanson was backed by big campaign contributions from development interests but Piercy prevailed with small donations and volunteer time from more than 600 active supporters.
Piercy campaigned on a pledge of being a mayor for all Eugene and after the vote promised to continue that theme of "trying to find ways for us to move forward together." (more...)
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Piercy-led council could take new path
By Edward Russo
The Register-Guard | May 20, 2004 |
Kitty Piercy's supporters on Wednesday basked in her primary election victory for Eugene mayor and said they're eager to push proposals that have been thwarted or neglected in the past.
Other city residents, meanwhile, fretted about what the leftward tilt at City Hall will mean, especially for Eugene's business atmosphere.
But some business advocates said Piercy's style is to seek consensus. (more...)
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Long Transition to City Council
EUGENE -- The primary is over in Eugene's city elections but those taking office will have to wait another seven months. The general election in November is a mere formality for local office holders-to-be with no runoff election needed. (more...)
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Editorial: Eugene's left turn: Piercy, Ortiz wins will change city politics
| The Register-Guard | May 20, 2004 |
What does Tuesday's liberal sweep in the Eugene mayor and City Council primary election races mean for the direction of city politics? (more...)
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Slant: Election Results
| Eugene Weekly | May 20, 2004 |
Tuesday's election results sent a strong message to the city -- and country. Decided victories by progressive mayoral candidate Kitty Piercy, City Council incumbents Bonny Bettman and Betty Taylor, and newcomer Andrea Ortiz, who ousted comfy Scott Meisner, prove Eugene is ready to head in a new direction. With this election, citizens have voiced their desire to protect the environment, to create sustainable jobs and to keep power where it belongs -- in the hands of the people.
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2004 Oregon Primary Final Uncertified Results For Contested Races
| The Register-Guard | May 20, 2004 |
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Other
Actor, newspaper editor Henny Willis found dead
By Joe Mosley
The Register-Guard | May 22, 2004 |
Eugene resident Henny Willis, who enlightened his audiences in print and delighted them on stage, was found dead in his home Friday morning. He was 70.
Willis retired from a 38-year career at The Register-Guard last December, serving his final 20 years at the paper as an associate editor and writer of daily editorials. He had been a reporter for 18 years, mainly covering Oregon politics as a one-person bureau at the state Capitol. (more...)
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Editorial: A friend to his readers: Henny Willis connected with people
| The Register-Guard | May 22, 2004 |
"Newspapers should have no friends," Joseph Pulitzer once growled. He was right, sort of -- a newspaper should be prepared to report stories people don't want told, and that people don't want to read. But the people who work for newspapers are a different matter. For 38 years at The Register-Guard, Henny Willis was proof that a newspaperman could have many friends without compromising his professional standards.
Willis was an associate editor of this newspaper for 20 years, and was The Register-Guard's political reporter for most of the 18 years before that. His death Friday at age 70, coming too soon after his retirement in December, is deeply mourned. (more...)
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