Sue Labasan, RN, shows off the different name badges she has had through the years at Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital. Pictured with her are CEO Dr. Lesley Ogden, left, and Vice President of Patient Care Services Kathy Skipper. Phil Mengucci, also honored for 40 years of service, is not pictured.
Staff at Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital (SNLH) took a mid-afternoon break on Monday, May 13, to recognize co-workers who have reached employment milestones – including two employees with 40 years of service, Phil Mengucci and Sue Labasan, RN.
Sue Labasan
With a hire date of November 1978, Mengucci has worked the past four decades in the hospital lab as a medical laboratory scientist. Labasan’s hire date of May 1979, plus two previous years of hospital employment, give her a total of 42 years of service. Unlike Mengucci, who faithfully performed one role through the years, Labasan found her job changing through the years: emergency room clerk, EMT, nurse assistant, LPN, cardiac rehab nurse, nursing educator, dialysis nurse, nurse recruiter and even temporary vice president of nursing for a few months; since 2008, she has been a part-time house supervisor.
At the 2019 Service Awards Celebration, held in the hospital cafeteria, CEO Lesley Ogden, MD, praised the employees’ dedication to serving the community through their work at the hospital and medical clinics. Others who were honored were:
30 years of service: Susan Richwine, RN, of ambulatory infusion.
15 years of service: Robert Bumgardner of nutrition services; and Dr. Karen Niehaus of Samaritan Coastal Clinic.
10 years of service: Keith Blanchard of emergency services; Wanda Bolopue of Samaritan Lincoln City Medical Center; Mona Brooks, Kathey Edwards and Charlotte Grant, all of Samaritan Early Learning Center; Bobbie Cuenca of Pharmacy; Jan Inman of nutrition services; Patrosia Kuhn, RN, of wound/ostomy; Maria Gonzalez Tamayo, RN, and Leilani Ibayan, RN, both of ICU/CCU; Cherie Melton, RN, of labor/delivery; Darin Minnich of environmental services; Cassandra Nair, RN, and Gladys Sundling, RN, both of the medical/surgical unit; and Deidre Pearce, RN, of surgical services.
5 years of service: Mari Lasagna-Kircher and Dr. Meredith Mann, both of Women’s Health Center; Larry Slattery of information services; Theresa Via of quality improvement; and Rich Waller of community health promotion.
Cougar Mountain Riders Association and SOLVE Oregon are seeking volunteers from the Lincoln City area for the ninth annual Woods Clean-Up, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, alongside National Forest Development Road 1726 off East Devils Lake Road.
According to event organizers, a staging area for the cleanup will be approximately one mile up 1726, where a sign will be posted.
“North Lincoln Sanitary is sponsoring us by allowing us to dump trash for free, which can be a significant amount,” Cougar Mountain Riders Association President Eric Creighton said. “We do this to keep roads open so they don’t get closed down. It’s important to keep it clean.”
Creighton said volunteers easily fill two dump trailers each year, holding approximately four cubic yards each.
Members of the public who wish to volunteer can sign up at https://www.solveoregon.org/ or show up Saturday at the staging area.
SOLV Used to be an acronym for Stop Oregon Litter and Vandalism, the “E” has been added to address a call to action. SOLVE as an action verb, deploying tens of thousands of volunteers to improve our environment and build a legacy of stewardship. SOLV has Evolved and will continue to do so as we move forward.
Each year SOLVE provides resources to communities throughout Oregon, focusing on litter cleanup, tree planting, and invasive removal projects. There are SOLVE projects in every county in Oregon. SOLVE creates an average of 35,000 volunteer opportunities across the state annually.
Cougar Mountain Riders Association is a nonprofit organization joining together all-terrain vehicle enthusiasts of all ages and abilities to pursue, promote and protect ATV riding in Lincoln County.
Lincoln City Police arrested a Lincoln City man Wednesday night after he fell through a plastic awning while allegedly attempting to enter an occupied second-story apartment over Oceanlake Storage.
Nicholas A. Ballentine
Two brothers, who requested anonymity, said they heard a commotion outside as they ate dinner at 7:10 p.m. in their residence at 1990 SE E. Devils Lake Road. Upon investigating, the brothers said they went to the backdoor and found Nicholas A. Ballentine, 30, breaking in. The two quickly shut the door on Ballentine and told him to get out.
“He claimed to be working on our neighbor’s roof, but we don’t have neighbors,” one of the brothers said. “We screamed at him, telling him to get out. We escorted him out the front door and contacted Lincoln City Police and the property manager.”
Police said they found the tattoo-sleeved man, wearing a black beanie, in the area a short time later and arrested him for criminal trespass and criminal mischief and transported him to the Lincoln County Jail.
Ballentine allegedly climbed up from the railing on the right
“Ballentine scaled a chain-link fence and then proceeded to climb to the second-story deck,” LCPD Sgt. Jeffery Winn said. “He fell through a plastic corrugated awning and climbed back up.”
The property management company is providing surveillance footage of the incident to police, the brothers said. They said they were glad they were home, but expressed concern about young women or the elderly who might be home alone.
Winn said Ballentine is no stranger to police, having dealt with him several times. His most recent Lincoln City arrest was for a parole violation and carrying methamphetamine in October of last year.
Sgt. Oscar Escalante, left, and Chief of Police Lt. Jerry Palmer
Sgt. Oscar Escalante played “good cop-bad cop” as school resource officer and de facto teacher and counselor to 700 teenagers for 17 years at Taft High 7-12. On Monday, he was recognized at City Hall for those years of devotion and more, having served two decades with the Lincoln City Police Department.
“It’s been a fun ride and I’ve enjoyed myself,” the 64-year-old Escalante said. “I guess that’s the biggest thing, enjoying what you’re doing. You have to find ways to do that, obviously, in this profession.”
Both friend and foe to middle and high school students while patrolling the hallways of Taft as a law enforcement officer beginning in the 2000-01 school year, Escalante has watched kids grow up in those corridors as their “authority figure” — from their introduction to prep school as wide-eyed seventh-graders through their graduation six years later as young adults.
Escalante said it’s gratifying to see children grow and make the proper choices in life more times than not.
“It is that young energy that keeps me on my toes,” he said.
A former firefighter and SWAT team member, first responder and drug recognition expert, Escalante not only tutored kids on how to mature into young men and women in his role as “hall monitor,” he instructed and counseled parents, teachers and staff before mentoring fellow officers on how to be a good cop.
Married with four grown children, Escalante grew up in the San Diego area before moving to Oregon in January 1979 after vacationing on the Central Oregon Coast.
Originally a firefighter, he learned quickly there weren’t a lot of paid fire positions in Newport and took a couple of jobs working in the sawmills in Toledo. With the timber business struggling in the early 80s, he applied at the Sheriff’s Office in Newport and started at the jail before being promoted to patrol officer.
He later left county employment to work with city government as a police officer in Lincoln City. In 2000, he took on an instructional role in the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program, where he taught fifth- and sixth-grade kids. He split his time between counseling, writing reports and simply observing.
He was promoted to sergeant in January 2017 after joining the department in May 1999 and becoming school resource officer in 2000. Chief of Police Lt. Jerry Palmer called Ecalante’s promotion “one of the best decisions we’ve made since I’ve been here.”
Escalante said he appreciates the high bar Palmer has set as police chief because motivated and dedicated law enforcement officials tend to attain whatever demands expected of them.
“It’s a great department and will be for years to come with the standard the chief has set,” he said.
During his time with the local law enforcement agency, Escalante has served as a certified instructor for DARE, Standard Field Sobriety Tests (SFST), Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE), the Intoxilyzer 8000, Drug Impaired Training Educational Professionals (DITEP), and Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) training. He continues to instruct SFST training and serve as a DRE for Lincoln County.
Escalante has received numerous awards and accolades, including the Top Shooter Award in his Basic Police Class #154; life saving awards from the North Lincoln Fire & Rescue and LCPD; Law Enforcement Officer of the Year from the Lincoln City Community Days Committee; and Officer of the Year twice from the LCPD.
Considered his most outstanding achievement was receiving the “Senior Trooper Maria Mignano Dedication to Duty Award,” a statewide recognition presented to a sworn law enforcement officer who exemplifies behavior, dedication and professionalism in all aspects of impaired driving detection, apprehension and prosecution.
Lt. Jerry Palmer, left, and Oscar Escalante, are lauded at Monday’s Lincoln City Council meeting
Lincoln City Police Officer Cody Snidow and Newport Officer Aaron Bales proved to be the sharpshooters in their respective departments last week by scoring 100 percent on all four qualification courses in rifle familiarization training for new hires.
Officers participated in extensive training and testing May 8-9, learning how to safely handle and operate the AR-15 rifle in an urban environment.
Find out how to take control of your kidney health at a free Kidney Smart class led by certified kidney care educators. The class will be offered the last Friday of the month from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital, beginning May 31.
Some questions the class will answer include:
What causes chronic kidney disease and how can it be delayed?
What is a kidney-friendly diet and what information is available to help make the right food choices at home and while dining out?
What actions can be taken to lower blood pressure, manage blood sugar and make simple lifestyle changes?
How can medication management help lead to better kidney health?
How does continuing to work and having insurance coverage help with quality of life?
What treatment options are available that can fit a variety of work and lifestyle needs (including dialysis performed during the day or night, at home or in a clinic)?
How does the transplant process work, who can receive this treatment and how may it lead to better health?
Anyone who is interested in supporting a patient’s kidney health journey is also welcome to take a class and ask questions. Registration is required by calling 855-343-4951.
Classes, presented by DaVita Kidney Care, will be held in the Education Conference Room at Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital.
Oregon Army National Guard soldiers honor a howitzer salute by the “Governor’s Own” Bravo Battery, 2-218th Field Artillery Battalion (Photo by Major Wayne Clyne)
The Oregon National Guard honored all military members and veterans Tuesday during the annual Armed Forces Day ceremony at the State Capitol Mall in Salem.
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown and Major Gen. Mike Stencel spoke at the ceremony that included an F-15 Eagle flyover by the Oregon Air National Guard’s 142nd Fighter Wing and a howitzer salute by the “Governor’s Own” Bravo Battery, 2-218th Field Artillery Battalion.
The Oregon Army National Guard’s 234th Army Band played, and Salem residents Rita Hathaway, a ‘Rosie the Riveter’ during WWII and war bride, Joy Beebe, were honored, along with families and other veterans.
This year’s Armed Forces Day ceremony paid special acknowledgment to WWII veterans and families and those who supported the war effort.
A large display of military equipment from various units throughout the Oregon National Guard was displayed. The celebration gave Oregonians a chance to see the capabilities of the Oregon National Guard.
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, left, Major General Mike Stencel and honoree Joy Beebe, a WWII bride, stand for a howitzer salute (Photo by Major Wayne Clyne)
An American flag is being flown for each fallen officer from Oregon who died in the line of duty adjacent to the Oregon Fallen Officer Memorial at the Oregon Public Safety Academy in Salem this week.
At the foot of each flag, a marker displays the name of the fallen officer, agency and date they died.
“One-hundred-eighty-seven Oregon law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty since the 1880s are honored and remembered at the Academy,” Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training Director Eriks Gabliks said. “This includes officers from city, county, state, tribal and federal law enforcement agencies who have served as law enforcement officers, corrections officers, and parole and probation officers.”
The names of 371 fallen officers are being added to the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial; 158 of them died in 2018 and 213 died in prior years.
The national monument now contains the names of 21,910 fallen law enforcement officers — from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S.. territories, federal, corrections, railroad, and military police agencies — who died in the performance of duty throughout history. The oldest historical death now engraved on the Memorial is that of Chesterfield County, Va., Sheriff Benjamin Branch whose end of watch was April 29, 1786.
The Oregon Law Enforcement Memorial Fund raised funds to build the state memorial more than 20 years ago and hosts the annual ceremony. For more information on the Oregon Law Enforcement Memorial Fund and the statewide license plate that is available to honor fallen law enforcement officers and firefighter: http://www.oregon.gov/DPSST/MF/pages/policememtrustfund.aspx
The FBI is intensifying efforts to arrest fugitives believed to be involved in the assault or murder of law enforcement officers during Police Week, including David Anthony Durham, who allegedly shot and critically injured Lincoln City Police officer Steven Dodds in January 2011.
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to Durham’s location and arrest.
According to the FBI, at approximately 11 p.m. on Jan. 23, 2011, Dodds pulled over an SUV for a traffic violation. During the traffic stop, the driver, later identified as Durham, shot the officer multiple times, critically wounding him.
Durham fled the area in the vehicle. A police chase ensued and Durham exchanged gunfire with officers after spike strips were administered and he abandoned his vehicle in Waldport.
Durham fled on foot and began shooting at a crab fisherman in Alsea Bay before disappearing. Durham’s whereabouts remain unknown. He was added to the FBI’s Most Wanted List on Jan. 29, 2011.
Durham is known to possess survival skills. He was wearing full green camouflage at the time of his disappearance, as well as tan or dark boots, and a dark-colored beret. In the past, he has expressed a desire to travel or is believed to have traveled to California, the Caribbean and Thailand.
A local arrest warrant was issued for Durham in the Circuit Court of the State of Oregon for the County of Lincoln on Jan. 27, 2011, and he was charged with the various violations listed above. A federal arrest warrant was issued in U.S. District Court in Portland, on Jan. 29, 2011, and Durham was charged with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution and numerous other charges.
No matter where you looked on the hardwood floors and playing fields at Taft High over the past several seasons, you were virtually certain to find Savannah Russo leading the way.
Her last hurrah will come this weekend in the Class 3A OSAA State Track and Field Championships in Gresham.
Having earned a wild-card spot with a career-best javelin throw of 112 feet at last week’s Special District 2 finals in Dayton, Russo will join seniors David Jin, Jacob Mayoral and Mad Scott; juniors Kaden Wright, Edson Fuentes and Ella Knott; and sophomores JJ French and Avery Nightingale in the State finals Friday and Saturday at Mt. Hood Community College.
A National Honor Society student, the 18-year-old Russo has participated in volleyball, basketball and track and field all four years at Taft. She was named Most Valuable Player in volleyball and basketball and became a three-time Athlete of the Month during the current track season.
“Not only do I know Savannah through friendship, but I also know her through sports,” fellow Taft senior Lilly Salsbery, also a multisport athlete, said. “She is an amazing player, leader and friend.”
While she specializes in the javelin, her favorite event, Russo’s preferred sport is basketball “because of how fast-paced it is and how competitive it can be,” and her favorite position point guard “because I get to set the pace while we’re on offense.”
It’s her love of the game, passion for success and willingness to try new things that rubs off most on not only her teammates, but coaches.
“Savannah is the epitome of a selfless teammate,” Taft track coach Sam Moore said. “She consistently works to her capability and does whatever is asked of her for the good of the team.”
Moore shares her remembrances of Russo’s desire to occupy a vacant 300-meter hurdles opening the squad needed to accrue team points.
“Our team had no athletes running in the 300 hurdles, among the most difficult events in track, and when Savannah was approached, she not only said she would run it, but is now ranked sixth in the District after only running it a few times,” Moore said. “Savannah not only does everything that is asked of her, but continues to go above and beyond in all she does.”
Russo’s mom, Susan, is a nurse at Salem Hospital, and her dad, Rob, owns Russo Surfboards. She has lived in Lincoln City her entire life.
Mother Susan and daughter Savannah share a moment
Fiercely competitive but passive in her approach to athletics, Russo said she likes the camaraderie competing in sports can bring.
“One of my favorite memories is when our volleyball team had a dance party in the locker room before our game and some of the girls from the other team joined us, so we became friends,” she said.
Being rewarded for the successes teamwork can bring doesn’t hurt either.
“A highlight would be when we made it to playoffs in basketball my sophomore year despite having a long losing streak before that. It really brought us together,” she said.
A second-team all-league volleyball player and honorable mention in basketball, Russo enjoys hiking, surfing, working out and playing video games.
“The most influential people in my life are my parents and my best friends,” she said. “My parents always give me advice when I’m not performing at the level I want to be in sports because I tend to put a lot of pressure on myself.
“My best friends are also a big influence because we’ve been close since the eighth grade and have been through a lot together.”
She also credits basketball coach Jake Tolan for instilling knowledge in her on the importance the mental approach can be to success.
“He believes that your mindset is the most important thing when it comes to sports, and life, in general.” she said. “That stuck with me the most. He would also push me to work hard in weights and that helped create the passion I have for it.”
Upon graduation in June, Russo said she plans to attend Chemeketa Community College in Salem.
“I don’t have a specific field of study yet, but I’m interested in careers that involve helping people, whatever that may be,” she said. “I’m also interested in how the body works and how exercise affects it, so exercise science is an interest, too.”
After that, travel and skydiving might be on the agenda, she said.
Regardless of what the future brings, she promises to have a lasting impact on her classmates and fellow athletes at Taft.
Savannah and good friend Lilly Salsbery
“Savannah isn’t an aggressive leader. She does not react on impulse, but on logic,” Salsbery said. “She assesses the situation and is able to visualize everything going on in the game, and can easily and calmly communicate it to her teammates.”
Tolan concurs. He’s watched Russo grow as a person and tutored her as a player the past three years.
“She has always been one of the hardest workers on and off the court and a player I could always count on,” he said. “Savannah was a highly skilled basketball player and devoted quite a bit of her time in the offseason on getting better.
“She is the kind of athlete every coach wants in their program. Even though she wasn’t the most vocal player, her presence, skills and work ethic made her a leader on her team and gained the respect from her opponents. Savannah’s leadership and positive influence will be greatly missed next year.”
As one of her best friends, which includes classmates Maleah Smith, Kayla Brown and Charlotte Huppert, Salsbery says she will stay in touch and connected with Russo long after they accept their diplomas next month in the same school gym Russo starred in.
“She brings such a calming and focused presence to any game that she’s in, and always picks someone up if they’re feeling down,” she said. “Being one of her best friends, I have seen how she acts the same way off the court as well as on.
“Any time I have a problem, I feel like I can go to Savannah and she’ll have my back. I know if anyone were to try to hurt me or talk bad about me, I know Savannah will always stick up for me. If there were any person I could call hard working, dedicated and loving, it’d be Savannah Russo.”
From left, Maleah Smith, Kayla Brown, Charlotte Huppert, Savannah and Lilly Salsbery
“It’s been a fun ride and I’ve enjoyed myself,” the 64-year-old Escalante said. “I guess that’s the biggest thing, enjoying what you’re doing. You have to find ways to do that, obviously, in this profession.”
Lincoln City Police Officer Cody Snidow and Newport Officer Aaron Bales proved to be the sharpshooters in their respective departments last week by scoring 100 percent on all four qualification courses in rifle familiarization training for new hires.
