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Wednesday, January 7, 2015 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Avian flu found
in backyard flock
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP)
— Avian influenza has
been found in a backyard
poultry flock in southeast
Washington after previ-
ously showing up in wild
birds in the northwest part
of the state, but there is no
immediate public health
concern, state officials said
Friday.
The virus has not been
found in commercial poultry
in Washington or elsewhere
in the United States, state
Agriculture Department offi-
cials said. They say the virus
poses no apparent threat to
humans but highly patho-
genic strains can be deadly to
domestic poultry and some-
times to wild birds.
Avian influenza does not
affect poultry meat or egg
products, which remain safe
to eat, the agency said.
Officials say the owner of
the flock of about 150 birds
near Benton City contacted
the Agriculture Department
after losing nearly 50 birds in
the past week.
The state Agriculture
Department says it has
activated a multi-agency
response and will work
closely with U.S. Department
of Agriculture officials.
The highly pathogenic
H5 avian influenza virus
confirmed in the flock is
similar to the virus found in
a Washington captive gyr-
falcon last month, although
additional testing is being
conducted to identify the
strain. The falcon had been
fed wild birds killed by
hunters. A separate strain of
the H5 virus was found in
a wild duck. Both viruses
have been found in other
parts of the world and have
not caused any human infec-
tion to date, the USDA has
said.
Last month, federal agri-
cultural officials confirmed
the presence of a strain of
the H5 virus in guinea fowl
and chickens in a 100-bird
backyard poultry flock in the
southern Oregon community
of Winston.
Agendas...
Sisters School Board
Sisters School District
Administration Building
January 7, 6 p.m.
• Historical and current
enrollment trends.
• Revenue/expenditure.
• Facilities — surplus.
• Superintendent report.
• Enrollment report.
• Presentation
to
Deschutes County Commis-
sioners – February 4.
• OSBA campaign — The
Promise of Oregon.
• Health teachers request
to put health information on
district website.
Sisters City Council
City Hall, 520 E. Cascade
Ave.
January 8, 2015; 7 p.m.
• Recognition of outgoing
Mayor Brad Boyd.
• Oath of office for newly
elected councilors.
• Election of mayor.
• Election of council
president.
• Visitor communication:
Tina Brockway.
• City Parks Advisory
Board appointments.
• Council intergov-
ernmental committee
appointments.
Smile,
Sisters!
We’re
committed
to your dental
health!
Exceptional Health,
Prevention & Aesthetics
Ben Crockett, D.D.S.
p 541-549-9486 f 541-549-9110
410 E. Cascade Ave. • P.O. Box 1027 • Sisters, Oregon 97759
Hours: Mon., 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Tues.-Wed., 8 a.m.-4 p.m.;
Thurs., 7 a.m.-3 p.m.
Family program begins winter term
Being the parent of a
young child during the
Central Oregon winter
months can sometimes be
a challenge as you look for
playmates or appropriate
activities for your young one.
Equally difficult may be find-
ing time to engage with other
adults. Together For Children
is a parent/child program, led
by professional early-child-
hood and parent educators.
Together For Children has
been in Sisters for over 25
years, providing help to many
and creating long lasting
friendships between families.
Their winter term, of 10
weeks, begins on Tuesday,
January 13, at the Sisters Park
& Recreation District pre-
school room at the west end
of the Sisters High School
parking lot. Starting at 9:30
a.m., the first hour will be
spent in engaging activities
appropriate for the children
attending, giving parents
many ideas of fun things to
do while at home. The sec-
ond hour provides time for
parents to meet together, raise
questions and learn about
child development, behav-
ior management, discipline
strategies, communication
skills and knowing that there
is support for those difficult
moments when answers elude
you.
In addition to the weekly
meetings, a new service is
being offered in Sisters to
parents of all ages. Once a
month, Together For Children
will be bringing a free presen-
tation open to the public, on a
variety of subjects. Childcare
will be provided. Dates and
times will be announced. To
learn more about the regu-
lar weekly sessions and the
special presentations, visit
www.together-for-children.
org or contact Linda at
541-420-8110.
Applications sought for Earth Day
SOLVE is currently
accepting applications for
volunteers to lead Earth Day
projects for the 26th annual
SOLVE IT event. SOLVE IT
events will take place across
the state on Saturday, April
18, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. As
part of SOLVE IT, teachers
are encouraged to involve
their students in service-
learning activities between
April 13 and April 24.
The deadline for applica-
tions is Saturday, January 31.
Project leaders receive
assistance for Earth Day vol-
unteer projects, including
free project planning assis-
tance and training, event fly-
ers and pre-event publicity,
online volunteer registration,
and cleanup project supplies.
SOLVE also has a limited
number of grants of up to
$100 for reimbursement of
project expenses.
The SOLVE IT pro-
gram supports Oregonians
who help take care of parks,
waterways and neighbor-
hoods by picking up trash,
pulling invasive weeds,
planting trees and taking care
of watersheds in other ways.
Last year, SOLVE IT helped
6,700 Oregonians volun-
teer at over 180 sites across
Oregon.
“The health and beauty
of Oregon depends on the
volunteer leaders who step
up and commit to making
a positive difference in the
environment for Earth Day,
SOLVE is ready to help indi-
viduals, community groups,
and government agencies
organize successful volun-
teer events in their commu-
nity to take care of the spe-
cial natural areas, parks and
neighborhoods they love,”
said Quintin Bauer, SOLVE
Statewide Team Leader.
Since 1990, SOLVE IT
volunteers have removed
more than 15 million pounds
of invasive plants and lit-
ter from illegal dumpsites,
neighborhoods, and natural
areas.
Interested volunteer lead-
ers can visit www.solve
oregon.org to apply online or
call SOLVE at 503-844-9571.