The Lebanon Express from Lebanon, Oregon • 1

Rob Allen steps down as head track coach at LHS In sports CONGRATULATIONS LHS, ELCA Class of 2010 Lebanon The hometown voice of Lebanon, in print and online www.lebanon-express.com 123 Years, No. 16 50 Cents Wednesday, June 9, 2010 EC School budget passes Cuts identified in budget By Emily Mentzer Lebanon Express The Lebanon Community School District budget committee approved the $48.3 million 2010-11 budget with some cuts. The district should have an ending fund balance of $4.4 million. "With a $4.4 million ending fund balance, we have some for a rainy day," Superintendent Rob Hess said. "And it is.

It's been rain 1 I nmmf rW C7 If Oi UTMEARI ft 'r 4f JEFF SMITHLebanon Express Members of the Lincoln County Shrine Club wave to spectators during the Grand Parade on June 5. throughout the valley, painted horses and even miniature horses, the Grand Parade is very horse -friendly. Ashlie and her brother Tyler, 10, come to the parade every has been coming to watch the Grand Parade "forever." Valerie Weaver, who has beencom ing to the festival for 35 years, said her favorite part of the festival ing since November." The district response to Gov. Ted Kulongoski's budget cuts was an immediate end-of-year spending freeze and a "touch all" strategy. Hess asked the committee to consider passing the budget as proposed with the understanding members, will be asked to reconvene in October or November when more is known about the economy and available money.

"We want to be thoughtful and take our time," Hess said. "We don't want to cut pro- grams." Hess outlined proposed cuts to the original budget: 3 percent reduction in overall salaries and benefits in the general fund. He said one way he hopes to accomplish this is by working with the associations and not by A look at the district's budget The Lebanon Community School District budget committee unanimously approved the 2010-11 budget, which includes $100,000 for the capital projects fund and $1.6 million in cuts required by the governor. The budget goes to the board for adoption on June 17. The total budget is $48,342,463.

The budget includes a general fund of $33,271,135 and a tax rate of $4.99 per $1,000 of assessed value. The budget committee plans to reconvene in October or November, after the fall revenue forecast, to make any changes that become necessary. Other funds: $11,599,104 for special revenue fund. $3,281,224 for debt service fund. $100,000 for capital projects fund.

$191,000 for internal service fund. year, she said. Tyler could not choose his favorite. He said he liked everything about the parade. Want more? Check out page A4 for more photos of the 2010 Lebanon Strawberry Festival.

is the strawberry shortcake. Her mother Ora Jelden, 93, of Marysville, has been coming with her for the By Emily Mentzer i Lebanon Express The sun came out and shone on the cavemen and women at the 101st annual Strawberry Festival Grand Parade. It was a blast from the past in B.C.-era attire, in keeping with the "Stone-aged Strawberries" theme. The streets were lined with people soaking up the sun and enjoying the parade. Ashlie Nofziger, 13, said her favorite part of the parade was the horses.

And the parade was not short of those, with the Linn County Sheriff's Mounted Posse, rodeo queens from last 15 years. "I love when they show the school bands, and the cars, and of course the troops," Jelden said. The Red Hat Society ladies ditched their traditional red hats for something See Festival, A5 After the parade, the Nofzigers planned to walk around a bit before heading home to enjoy the rest of the day. Allison Presley, 14 months, ran to pick up candy from the parade. This was her first Strawberry Festival.

Her mother, Misty, said her family laying off employees. Kitzhaber to speak at hospital public, will open to the address challenges facing health care access in rural communities, particularly to the workforce. Health 5 percent reduction in all non-people budgets, such as technology, the PERS reserve and athletics. In addition, Hess said he wants to initiate a new way building principals handle building budgets. Rather than taking money back at the end of the year and reclistributing money to buildings at the start of each year, Hess said he wants to follow a "roll-over" situation, allowing building principals to save for specific things.

This has shown to save money because it eliminates the "use it or lose it" mentality and creates more fiscal responsibility in buildings. A reduction in the contingency fund, from $1.7 million to $1 million. 20 percent reduction in all transfer accounts: textbooks, capital improvements, athletics, PERS reserve fund, technology. "We're still putting money See School budget, A2 will bring many changes to the current health care delivery system. Those changes could have an even larger impact on rural Oregon.

Provider shortages have had a major impact on access to health care in rural Oregon, according to the association. With coverage being extended to more people, demand will increase and access may be limited. The summit will address John Kitzhaber, Democratic candidate for governor, will speak to the Oregon Rural Health Association's rural health policy summit at 11:30 a.m. on June 11. GOP candidate Chris Dudley also was invited to speak, but is unable to attend.

The two-term Oregon govenor (1995 and 1999) was an emergency room physician in Roseburg from 1973 to 1986. The summit, which is not these challenges and look at programs that will enhance the recruitment and reten- tion of health care providers in rural communities. The summit will address issues of health care reform on rural communities, cultivating a rural health care workforce, mental health and health information technology. Speakers will look at economic development and ways to attract health care providers. 1 IV JOHN KITZHABER care reform passed by the 2009 Oregon Legislature and national health care reform passed by Congress earlier this year Lebanon Express ,11111111 26 Driver flips iruck near Jalr Greek Way 50 cants JuthcWftte httpiftnmlcbaiwn-nprKicai) A single-vehicle crash on South Main Road near Oak Creek Way left the 1993 Ford Ranger pickup stuck in a ditch CJ 61 0 "3 Mao .8 td 8 Hi I 1.

l.j I 3 -1 tn 8 on June 7. At about 7:58 a.m., the driver of the pickup, Phillip Groce, 24, of Lebanon, was driving on South Main when he became distracted. Groce drove off onto the shoulder, while apparently looking for the charger for his cell phone, said Sgt. Shawn Fielders with the Linn County Sheriff 's Office. The driver was cited for careless driving.

The vehicle was towed from the scene. Groce only had minor injuries and was not transported by medics. Deputies with LCSO and emergency personnel with the Lebanon Fire District were called to the scene. JEFF SMITHLebanon Express Onlookers wait for a tow truck to take care of the flipped pickup on South Main on June 7..