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About Appeal tribune. (Silverton, Or.) 1999-current | View Entire Issue (July 14, 2021)
2A | WEDNESDAY, JULY 14, 2021 | APPEAL TRIBUNE Address: P.O. Box 13009, Salem, OR 97309 Phone: 503-399-6773 Fax: 503-399-6706 Email: sanews@salem.gannett.com Web site: www.SilvertonAppeal.com Staff News Director Don Currie 503-399-6655 dcurrie@statesmanjournal.com Advertising Westsmb@gannett.com Deadlines News: 4 p.m. Thursday Letters: 4 p.m. Thursday Obituaries: 11 a.m. Friday Display Advertising: 4 p.m. Wednesday Legals: 3 p.m. Wednesday Classifieds: 4 p.m. Friday News Tips A water bottle is placed at a small vigil for Sebastian Francisco Perez as the community gathers to remember him at Ernst Nursery and Farm in Saint Paul. BRIAN HAYES / STATESMAN JOURNAL Heat Continued from Page 1A “They aren’t perfect, but as written, the emergency rules are probably the most protective in the nation right now,” Pang South said. “I do think both the pressure and advocacy from various groups and the death of Sebastian Fran- cisco Perez prompted them to make some pretty strong rules in a short peri- od of time.” She said she hopes the state will issue similar emergency rules to protect work- ers during times wildfire smoke creates hazardous breathing conditions, some- thing advocacy groups have also been pushing for. Samantha Bayer, policy counsel at the Oregon Farm Bureau, which repre- sents about 7,000 growers and ranchers, described the rules as reasonable. The new rules In temperatures above 80 degrees, employers must maintain one or more shade areas easily accessible from work- sites, and provide workers, at no cost, at least 32 oz. of drinking water between 35 – 77 degrees per hour. By August, employers must also train supervisors and employees, in a lan- guage they understand, on the signs of heat illness, the importance of immedi- ately reporting signs of heat illness in themselves or co-workers, and the em- ployers’ duties in extreme heat as well as employees’ rights and protection against retaliation if they exercise these rights or report violations of these rules. When temperatures exceed 90 de- grees, employers must develop acclima- tization plans for employees, ensure ways to effectively monitor and commu- nicate with employees, designate at least one employee to call emergency services if needed, and make sure em- ployees take a mandatory paid 10-min- ute break in the shade every two hours. Employers can either create a man- datory buddy system or communicate via phone or radio to check in on people who work alone. Employers must also develop a med- ical emergency plan in the case of some- one showing signs of heat illness, which must include first aid measures and im- mediately giving employees a break and a way to cool down if they show signs of heat illness. Hopes, concerns Pang South said she would have liked more specificity in the section about ac- climatization, but is confident OSHA will include details in the permanent rules. Bayer said the 80-degree trigger may seem low to some people, but she under- stands why the rules activate at that temperature. She is concerned that because the rules go into effect immediately, em- ployers may run into compliance is- sues due to having to learn the rules and train workers quickly. “It’s not going to be easy for people to meet the compliance deadline, but I’m hopeful the state will lean in and provide us with a lot of training docu- ments so we can get people under- standing what’s required of them,” Bayer said. PCUN (Oregon’s farmworker union), the Northwest Workers’ Justice Project and the Oregon Environmental Council said in a joint news release they have concerns about enforcement of the emergency rules, pointing out that the nursery where Perez worked and the contractor he worked for had both had prior workplace violations. “Advocates will continue informing workers on their workplace rights as the emergency rules are implemented because the rules will have no signifi- cant impact on workers if they are not fully enforced by Oregon OSHA,” the release said. Reyna Lopez, executive director of PCUN, said in a news release that the Oregon rules can be a model for other states. “Farmworkers are asking for basic protections and working conditions. Oregon OSHA is taking an important step forward in leading the nation on standards for outdoors workers,” he said. “It’s crucial that we continue to take steps towards long-term policy shifts in our state, that take climate change, and workers’ safety seriously.” The high heat protections for tem- peratures above 90 degrees are differ- ent than California’s 95-degree trigger for similar protections because aver- age temperatures in Oregon have been much lower, Pang South said, and workers are not as acclimatized to such high heat. Permanent rules soon OSHA is in the process of develop- ing specific permanent rules to protect employees who work outdoors in ex- treme heat. The agency currently has general requirements about water, breaks and access to shade in high temperatures that advocates say are difficult to en- force. The pandemic delayed the time- line of completing the permanent rules to September. OSHA has also opened investiga- tions into Ernst Nursery and Farms and Brother Farm Labor Contractor, who provided workers to the nursery. OSHA spokesperson Aaron Corvin said last week the investigations may take three to four months to complete. Dora Totoian covers farmworkers through Report for America, a program that aims to support local journalism and democracy by reporting on under- covered issues and communities. You can reach her at dtotoian@statesman journal.com. The Appeal Tribune encourages suggestions for local stories. Email the newsroom, submit letters to the editor and send announcements to sanews@salem.gannett.com or call 503-399-6773. Educators are aware of the dispropor- tionate impact on many students who have to choose between buying their text- books, buying groceries or paying rent. The Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 2919 this spring, and it goes into effect this January. The bill requires each public university To Subscribe Call: 800-452-2511 $21 per year for home delivery $22 per year for motor delivery $30.10 per year mail delivery in Oregon $38.13 per year mail delivery outside Oregon Main Statesman Journal publication Suggested monthly rates: Monday-Sunday: $22, $20 with EZ Pay Monday-Saturday: $17.50, $16 with EZ Pay Wednesday-Sunday: $18, $16 with EZ Pay Monday-Friday: $17.50, $16 with EZ Pay Sunday and Wednesday: $14, $12 with EZ Pay Sunday only: $14, $12 with EZ Pay To report delivery problems or subscribe, call 800-452-2511 USPS 469-860, Postmaster: Send address changes to Appeal Tribune, P.O. Box 13009, Salem, OR 97309. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID: Salem, OR and additional offices. Send letters to the editor and news releases to sanews@salem.gannett.com. Drought forcing water restrictions State, some cities take measures to limit usage Bill Poehler Salem Statesman Journal USA TODAY NETWORK Amid a shortfall of rain and lower- than-normal water levels, Oregon and some of its cities took measures Wednesday to curtail excessive water use in the face of droughts in the state. Gov. Kate Brown issued an executive order requiring state agencies to imple- ment water conservation measures, in- cluding stopping nonessential water use. More than 80% of the state is experi- encing severe drought conditions or worse, according to the latest survey by the U.S. Drought Monitor, which is based on temperature, precipitation, soil moisture and streamflow measure- ments. In Oregon, 19 counties have declared drought emergencies and more are fac- ing drought. According to U.S. Drought Monitor, parts of Marion and Polk counties are in severe drought, while parts of Linn and Lane Counties are in the higher ex- treme drought. In the monitor, drought levels are labeled as moderate, severe, extreme and exceptional. “Many local governments have also curtailed water use on city and county facilities,” Brown said in a statement. “I appreciate their leadership and en- courage all local governments in drought-stricken counties to conserve water and begin implementing drought resiliency strategies as we face a wors- ening drought together.” Dallas announced it is entering early-stage drought conditions and asked its water customers to conserve and reduce water use. The city’s drinking water is supplied by Mercer Reservoir at Rickreall Creek. It stopped flowing over its spillway, about two weeks ahead of schedule. Dallas water customers are asked to water in the early morning or late eve- ning and to not overwater plants. An executive order from the City Council also requires restaurants to not serve water except upon request. Supporters hold signs as Clatsop Community College instructor Fernando Rojas-Galvan arrives on bike to Chemeketa Community College in Salem, Oregon on Tuesday, July 6, 2021. Rojas-Galvan is biking 1,600 miles between all 17 community colleges statewide during the month of July to raise money for student textbooks. BRIAN HAYES / STATESMAN JOURNAL and community college to display the es- timated costs of all required course ma- terials and related fees for no less than 75% of all for-credit courses offered. This is especially important so stu- dents can budget in advance, rather than make difficult decisions between school and basic needs. Call: 800-452-2511 Hours: until 7 p.m. Wednesdays; until 3 p.m. other weekdays Published every Wednesday by the Statesman Journal, P.O. Box 13009, Salem, OR 97309. Continued from Page 1A Making textbooks, higher ed more accessible Missed Delivery? To Place an Ad Cycling Bandit Biking challenge. Gaterud said community colleges are in a unique position to help their stu- dents. “It certainly helps being at a smaller institution like Chemeketa,” she said. “The doors open a little more when you’re working on a book project and you can ac- tually test it in the classroom and get feedback from the students directly. “There’s not the (same) hesitancy to try different things,” she added. “Every- one’s in it for the right reasons – to make a better place and better experience for the students.” Classifieds: call 503-399-6789 Retail: call 503-399-6602 Legal: call 503-399-6789 Meredith Schreiber, director of Che- meketa’s bookstore, used to work for well-known Powell’s Books in Portland. She’s been on a quest since she started at Chemeketa to right the wrong of high textbook costs and fix what she called a “broken system.” “[B]ack in 2012, I got really upset and The water level at Detroit Lake is currently 1,542 feet above sea level, about 20 feet below its normal of 1,563 at this time of year. BRIAN HAYES/STATESMAN JOURNAL “Irrigation is an area where we can make a huge difference,” City Manager Brian Latta said in a release. “The city, county and schools will be reducing our irrigation by 50%, and we ask others in the community to follow our lead.” Silverton City Manager Ron Chan- dler said the current water level at Sil- ver Creek Reservoir, from where Silver- ton’s drinking water is drawn, is below the six-year average. The city is plan- ning to encourage water users to con- serve water. Salem has received 4.24 fewer inch- es of rain than normal from Oct. 1 through July 6 at Salem Airport with 33.82 inches, according to the National Weather Service. The water level at Detroit Lake is currently 1,542 feet above sea level, about 20 feet below its normal of 1,563 at this time of year. The all-time low was 1,425 feet. Detroit Lake feeds the North San- tiam River, which supplies drinking water for cities including Salem, Stay- ton and Gates. Detroit Lake Marina – one of two marinas in the city – closed earlier than normal due to the falling water levels, requiring all boats to be removed by last Sunday. Normally boats at the marinas are removed by Labor Day. Bill Poehler covers Marion County for the Statesman Journal. Contact him at bpoehler@statesmanjour- nal.com or Twitter.com/bpoehler told my new boss that I hated my job,” she said. “I shouldn’t be taking in more mon- ey than I did my best day ever at Powell’s.” Since, Schreiber’s been working with her team on increasing awareness, lower- ing costs and showing other colleges how to do the same. “Everything being done by the Legisla- ture, we’ve already done,” she said, add- ing that Chemeketa was the role model for related bills this past session and pri- or. This coming year, she said, Chemeketa will use federal CARES Act money to pro- vide free, digital materials for about 90% of all courses in the fall, winter and spring terms. Class sets will be provided through lending libraries for as many courses in the remaining 10% as possible. This way, Schreiber said, “everyone will start day one with their books.” Follow Rojas-Galván’s trip on Face- book at www.facebook.com/clatsopcc, on Instagram at www.instagram.com/ clatsopcc, or via the “Bandit Tracker” map online. Learn more and donate at www.clat- sopcc.edu/event/bandit-biking-for- books. Natalie Pate is the education reporter for the Statesman Journal. She can be reached at npate@statesmanjour-
