The Othello Independent 3-11-09

Current Resident March 11, 2009 I INSIDE O OTHELLO THEATRE GUILD PRESENTS G T Music by Galen Blum, Wayne Barker Vinnie Martucci MARCH 20, 21, 27 & 28 hIAWAthA ELEMENtARY GYMNASIUM TICKETS AVAILABLE AT The Old Hotel & First Choice Realty FAITH A 5 Raising Funds SCHOOLS A 6 OTHELLO NDEPENDENT ROCkIN HOP www.OthellOIndependent.cOm at thE THE MUSICAL Peter De Pietro Based on the Parker Brothers’Board Game Book by Lyrics by Tom Chiodo ECRWSS PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Othello, WA Permit No. 46 Volume 2, No. 27 HOSPITAL Board against assisted suicide RosemaRy DellingeR Editor Physicians practicing at Othello Community Hospital will not be al- lowed to offer physician-assisted suicides to their patients. The Othello Hospital board has voted to opt-out of the newly en- acted legislation that took effect on Sunday, March 1. State voters passed Initiative 1000 last November. The Death with Dignity act allows health care providers to “opt in” or “opt out” of the process. According to Othello Hospital Administrator Harry Geller, the act raised many questions for physi- cians, pharmacists, counselors and hospitals across the state. “After careful, thoughtful conver- sations with our medical staff and trustees and based upon a recom- mendation from the medical staff, the Board of Commissioners has de- cided that Othello Community Hos- pital will not participate under the Washington State Death with Dig- nity Act,” Geller said. “This means that physicians, employees, indepen- dent contractors and volunteers can- not assist a patient in ending the pa- tient’s life per the act on the premises of the hospital or in property owned by the hospital,” Geller said. Hospitals that choose to not allow participation are required to provide public notice of their policy. Geller noted providers may, out- Photo by bess Reneau McFarland Junior High eighth grade students performed a tribute the golden era of rock n’ roll during their annual sock hop event Monday. Pictured above: Tessa Johnston and Juston Lind. Left: David Garza. H20 Fun BUSINESS A 8 Omak musician wins 2009 Byway Idol Omak singer/songwriter Scott Smith was named the 2009 Byway Idol winner during the Coulee Corri- dor’s annual Big Event on Saturday, March 7. Smith, 31, wowed the more than 400 audience members with his rendition of “She’s Country.” Smith received $5,000 in cash and prizes during the entertainment portion of the festivities. He was one of 11 con- testants who performed during the Idol contest, which was a take-off of the popular TV show, “American Idol.” Smith is attempting to launch diggin’ it AG A 9 his musical career after spending 10 years teaching individuals with disabilities. Last summer, Smith opened for Emerson Drive, a coun- try group from Canada during the North Central Washington Fair. He is scheduled to appear again in 2009 at the fair in Waterville as the open- ing act for country music’s Bucky Covington. Denise Jordan Krober, a mu- sic teacher from Moses Lake was named first runner up at the compe- tition on Saturday night at the Soap Lake High School. Jordan Krober who sang the hit song, “I Will Always Love You,” re- ceived $2,500 in cash and prizes. Other performers included: Barry Black of Coulee Dam, Jason Evers of Almira, Clara Karras of Soap Lake, A J Longo of Ephrata, Steph- anie Martinez, Miss Moses Lake 2005, Dave McClure of Nespelem, Kayla Newland of Coulee Dam, Mi- chelle Storry of Hartline and Helen Terry of Soap Lake. The Big Event is the major fund- raising project for the Coulee Corri- dor consortium. The 150-mile Cou- lee Corridor begins in Othello and travels 150 miles north along High- way 17 to Omak. The scenic drive encompassing the byway was created more than 15,000 years ago during the Ice Age floods. There are nine towns and more than 15 points of interest highlighted along the drive. The byway is listed on the National Natural Landmarks register and is a National Historic District. In addition to the talent show, those attending the Big Event were able to view a number of displays on the area’s geological and wildlife exhib- its. Proceeds from the event fund the overall Byway operations. Birds arriving for Othello’s annual Sandhill Crane festival RosemaRy DellingeR Editor spRing planting SPORTS B 1 “How fast can a woodpecker peck?” “Do bats really sleep hanging upside down?” and “How many spe- cies of cranes are there?” Find out the answers to these and many oth- er bird and wildlife questions next week during the 12th annual Othello state Begins today Sandhill Crane festival. More than 20 guided tours and 30 lectures will be a part of Othello’s unique festival celebrating the mi- gration of the Sandhill cranes. The tours will feature boat trips on area waterways to see the area’s spring birdlife and waterfowl. There will also be tours to a local wind turbine facility, dry and wetland habitats along with specific tours of crane nesting and burrowing owls. The wide range of lectures at this year’s Crane activities are part of the Please see CRANES A 3 side their role at Othello Community Hospital participate in the Act, but only off hospital premises. Under the law, a physician is al- lowed to prescribe a lethal pill, but cannot administer it. A dying patient must request for the assisted suicide two times, two weeks apart. The act also lays out a series of steps and re- sponsibilities for the attending phy- sician who must adhere to the pro- cess under the new state law. Under the hospital’s policy, any patient wishing to receive life-end- ing medication per the Act while a patient at Othello Community Hos- pital will be assisted in transferring to another facility of the patient’s choice to assure the patient’s conti- nuity of care. “All providers at Othello Commu- nity Hospital will respond to any pa- tient’s query about life-ending medi- cations with openness and compas- sion. Othello Community Hospital believes our providers have an obli- gation to openly discuss the patient’s concerns, unmet needs, feelings and desires about the dying process,” Geller said. “Providers should seek to learn the meaning behind the pa- tient’s questions and help the patient understand the range of available options including but not limited to comfort care, hospice care and pain control.” He noted ultimately, the hospital’s goal is to help patients make in- formed decisions about end-of-life care. Othello Community Hospital is one of several hospitals in the Co- lumbia Basin who have decided to opt out of Death with Dignity. Red Cross hosts quarterly blood drawing in Othello The American Red Cross will have a blood drawing in Othello on Tues- day, March 17. The blood drawing will be from 1 to 6 p.m. at Pilgrim Lutheran Church, 640 E. Elm St. According to Elaine Little, local Photo couRtesy PhilliP FenneR The annual migration of the Sandhill Crane is beginning in Othello. The cranes nesting in local fields is a part of the annual Sandhill Crane events March 20, 21 and 22. blood drawing chairman, the goal of the drive is 56 units. All blood types are needed. Local residents who want to do- nate can call in advance to schedule an appointment at 1-800-787-9691. Donor identification is required when donating.

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