Yachats Oregon Writer Rick Schultze

As columnist I often get my topics to write about from listening to people when I go various places. It could be at the market, the post office, the coffee shop or restaurant, at church, or any number of other spots where people in small towns congregate. So when I’m at any of these places my ears are open and because my column is in the paper weekly I often get calls and emails alerting me to things.

Well, recently my phone has been ringing and my email humming with an issue that is becoming the topic of Yachats, Waldport, Seal Rock and the surrounding areas including Florence. It’s all about the Yachats Community Health Clinic and the disagreement between the business manager and staff members.

If you’ve read the papers you’re aware that there is something going on and it’s not something that is making the community stand up and cheer about.

No, it’s a battle between factions that has turned a beautiful concept; first class health care for this rural area, into a cauldron of evil arguments.

As a columnist I try to be entertaining and enlightening and often get teased by segments of the reading population about why I don’t cover them instead of covering someone else but it’s mostly in jest and provides great dialogue of the positive upbeat nature. However the dialogue scorching ears about this Health Clinic is downright mean and tasteless. I can say for a fact that I know how hard the workers and volunteers and board members of the clinic work. It is sorely needed and in this day of economic shrinkage it becomes even more necessary. But people are being hurt, humiliated, misquoted, slandered, stabbed in the back and generally retreating into mini battle groups against one another. I know that early in March there will be a Town Hall Meeting at the Yachats Commons so that the facts can be put forth. I’m sure this will be a meeting well worth attending and I’m also sure there will be some vocal fireworks. I know people on both sides of the issue and frankly I don’t get the negative view. My concept of Health Care is to help, not hinder, to nurture, not destroy, to show compassion, not hate.

I’ll close with this; for all of you that have been served by the Clinic and those that will be served by the Clinic, this is the most important time in the Clinic’s existence. Please keep an open mind until you’ve been to the Town Hall Meeting, don’t aim more evil thinking and speaking at people who are trying to serve us all.

To contact Rick Schultze email yarick@pioneer.net