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About Appeal tribune. (Silverton, Or.) 1999-current | View Entire Issue (July 3, 2019)
SILVERTONAPPEAL.COM ❚ WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 2019 ❚ 3B Kimberly Thoma, an Oregon State Hospital employee and SEIU union official who has concerns about understaffing and safety at the state-run psychiatric hospital. KELLY JORDAN / STATESMAN JOURNAL OSH Continued from Page 3A Court earlier this year found the state in contempt of court for not admitting pa tients quick enough. Since then, a feder al judge has declined to issue a con tempt finding and given the state more time to work on improvements and end its backlog of patients waiting to enter the hospital. Part of the hospital's plan includes opening two, eightbed cottages on the Junction City campus for patients who are civilly committed and open another 10 beds in Junction City for civil com mitments. This will free up more space in Salem for "aid and assist" patients. The hospi tal will convert a civil commitment unit to treat "and assist" patients. Flat Water Continued from Page 1B er water levels at other times. Waldo and Other High Lakes Waldo Lake is not just one of the best places to paddle in Oregon, it is one of the best places to paddle in the world. The water is indescribably beautiful hues of blue and green, you can paddle as much or as little as you want, you will never have a close encounter with a jet ski or a motor boat, and you can even The hospital aims to complete that work in September. "This is the right thing to do, both for the patients already in the hospital and for those people who are waiting to be admitted," hospital superintendent Dolly Matteucci wrote in a June 11 staff memo. "We understand this change will be difficult for both patients and staff, and these changes are consistent with our mission and charge to serve all Ore gonians who need hospitallevel care." The hospital's plan also highlights the obvious: there are other options, in cluding community care for those who no longer need hospitallevel care. The hospital's goals include develop ing plans for putting another $7.6 mil lion into community restoration ser vices in Oregon, so patients who no longer need to be in the hospital can go there for care. Those plans are due by Aug. 2. At the same time, community mental health providers are raising concerns about the proposed budget for the Ore gon Health Authority, which cuts fund ing for community mental health pro grams by $15.4 million. The Association of Oregon Commu nity Mental Health Programs says that will hurt communitybased services and programs that help people in the justice system avoid highercost care at the hospital. “Simply adding to one new program while cutting another will not move us in the right direction.” said Kimberly Lindsay, president of the association and executive director of Community Counseling Solutions, which serves Morrow, Wheeler, Grant and Gilliam counties. Oregon policymakers will be watch ing the issue closely. The governor's office said given those concerns raised by community mental health providers, the Oregon Health Au thority will take steps to ensure they are not impacted for the next 18 months. This will give them time to review ca seloads and funding formulas and come back to the Legislature with recommen dations, said Morawski, with the gover nor's office. Hospital employees say ending the need for hospitallevel care would serve Oregon well. But it's unlikely to happen, given the high need in Oregon. "It would be great if there was no longer a need for my unit and what I do," Thoma said. "Unfortunately, that's not the case." Ben Botkin covers Oregon state gov- ernment. You can reach him at bbot- kin@StatesmanJournal.com, 503-399- 6687 or follow him on Twitter @BenBot- kin1 backcountry camp with your SUP, kay ak, or canoe. But we are fortunate to have many high lakes with similar ap peal. Timothy Lake and Crescent Lake have great beaches. Blue River Lake and Davis Lake have great solitude. Sparks, Hosmer, and Wallows lakes all have fan tastic views. movies and TV shows, marinas filled with luxury yachts, shipping traffic, grain terminals, giant marine cranes, and even the nautical homeless. Oh, and all of Portland’s many bridges. If you paddle during the Rose Festival, you can also see dragon boat races and im mense Navy ships. This should be done as a oneway downriver float, from Sell wood Park to Cathedral Park. Be pre pared to have virtually nowhere to land on that approximately 10mile stretch of busy river. sive; 15,000 acres of wetlands adjacent to Agency Lake and Upper Klamath Lake. The Upper Klamath Canoe Trail is a maze of narrow waterways through the marsh, lined with reeds, bulrushes, cattails, and lily pads. The paddling is virtually endless, and the birdwatching is among the best anywhere. My favor ite resident is the belted kingfisher, which perches silently on posts or reeds before diving headfirst into the water to catch fish and other aquatic prey. Go in the springtime to see the huge floating yellow flowers of the wocus lily. Bring plenty of mosquito repellent. Willamette River at Portland This paddle is not for the faint of heart, nor is it for beginners. But it is, quite simply, really cool and totally unique. The Willamette River in Port land is filled with fascinating things, like an attack submarine that has been in Upper Klamath Canoe Trail The Upper Klamath marsh is mas CLASSIFIEDS Find a new job or career Discover Discover Disc Di scov sc over ov er your y your ourr new ou new ne w ho home home me JOBS.STATESMANJOURNAL.COM Place an ad online 24/7 at StatesmanJournal.com or call 503-399-6789 • 1-800-556-3975 Turn here for your next vehicle HOMES & RENTALS JOBS silvertonappeal.com Auctions, pets, services & stuff AUTO STUFF StatesmanJournal.com/classifieds in print Wednesday through Sunday STATESMANJOURNAL.COM/HOMES WE WISH YOU A HAPPY JULY 4TH! 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