Feds fine local nonprofit for referring to helicopter it uses as "our"

Parson said he didn't know why the Transportation Department didn't simply tell Mercy Flights to change its wording when it was first contacted late last fall.

"I don't have a good answer; everybody was pretty frustrated," said Parson, whose nonprofit has lost money two years running because of decreased insurance reimbursements and reduced Medicare and Medicaid payouts.

"It's not like we've been misleading people or selling tickets for service we don't provide."

Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 541-776-4463 or e-mail business@mailtribune.com.