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About Appeal tribune. (Silverton, Or.) 1999-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 1, 2021)
SILVERTONAPPEAL.COM | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 | 3B Marion County wants to talk syphilis as COVID-19 spikes son is just as dead if they die from syphi- lis as if they die from COVID." Syphilis is a curable sexually trans- mitted disease that caused 128 still- births or infant deaths in the United States in 2019, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Marion County reported 96 cases of syphilis in 2019, according to the Oregon Health Authority. In comparison, there have been 263,164 cases adn 3,086 deaths attribut- ed to COVID-19 in Oregon from March 2020 through Wednesday, according to the Oregon Health Authority, including the 27,724 cases and 348 deaths in Mar- ion County. There have been 629,139 deaths from COVID-19 in the United States, accord- ing to the CDC. Commissioner Kevin Cameron at- tempted to bring the conversation back to the pandemic, reiterating the county data showing the "very, very small per- centage" of those who have been vacci- nated are hospitalized with the virus. "Those vaccines are working," he said. Bill Poehler Salem Statesman Journal USA TODAY NETWORK When Marion County Public Health Division director Katrina Rothenberger concluded a presentation recently about the spread of COVID-19 and the importance of vaccinations, the county commissioners didn't have anything to say about the virus that has killed 348 county residents. Instead, Commissioner Danielle Be- thell asked Rothenberger to talk about "the other issue" the county is having: an increase in sexually transmitted dis- eases, specifically syphilis. Rothenberger said it is an issue she's concerned the county hasn't put enough time and effort into preventing "because we have been focused on COVID." She noted Marion County had the state's first case of a stillbirth due to syphilis immediately before the pan- demic. She then went on to say the county is not able to call everyone who has CO- VID-19 through its contact tracing pro- Marion County Commissioner Kevin Cameron speaks to community members about recovery steps on Friday, Sept. 25, 2020 in Detroit, Oregon. ABIGAIL DOLLINS / STATESMAN JOURNAL cedures, and "we need to be able to think about these other serious health issues." Commissioner Colm Willis agreed. “There are a number of diseases that impact our community that you guys keep working on and have been working on over the past year even though it seems all the news is about COVID,” Commissioner Colm Willis said. "These other diseases can also be deadly. A per- County officials urged people to get vaccinated rather than imposing re- strictions or mandates. Marion County was one of the first lo- cal governments to drop indoor mask mandates for vaccinated people in its offices when it did so in June. The commissioners approved a reso- lution supporting local oversight of CO- VID-19 response on Aug. 11 after a public hearing where a large group of people who were largely unmasked – prior to the reinstatement of indoor mask man- dates – were vocal about their dislike of mask mandates in schools. Marion County reported 66.6% of people ages 18 and older have been vac- cinated and of the 175,000 people vacci- nated, there have been a reported 972 breakthrough cases. The county has had 13 deaths and is averaging 128 new cases a day since the start of August, its highest rate of new cases since the start of the pandemic. Bill Poehler covers Marion County for the Statesman Journal. Contact him at bpoehler@statesmanjournal.com or Twitter.com/bpoehler Obituaries Martha Jane Todd Wertz June 10, 1922-August 19, 2021 Martha Jane Todd Wertz peacefully left her earthly journey in the morning hours of Thursday, August 19th, 2021. Martha was born in Missouri to Owen & Ivah Todd, occupying a place right in the middle of a healthy pack of, eventually, 12 Children. She at- tended grade school near Hale Missouri—barefoot in the summer and wearing hand-me-down shoes and flour sack dresses, sewn by Ivah, during the school year. During the Depression Years, Owen was searching for better work to support his growing family. Relatives in Oregon encouraged them to move west. They moved to the Willamette Valley when Martha was beginning her teen years. Her par- ents packed up all the kids and one uncle to drive west in ONE Old pick-up truck. Owen, Ivah, Uncle “Whiss”, and one baby rode up front, as the rest of the kids sat in an enclosed space with side benches in the bed of the vehicle, taking turns laying down in the middle for a rest. Owen found farm work on the Oscar Loe farm in Evan’s Valley where they lived in a large two story house with a large wrap around front porch. The younger kids attended Evan’s Valley grade school while, Martha and the older sibs attended Silverton High School. Martha graduated from Silverton High in 1940. She and her sister, Lela, were close school buddies in those years and continued as best friends always. We can still hear them laughing together. A romance budded on the “Loe” farm in 1940 during the summer “Thresh- ing” season when Roger Wertz came to work and Martha was helping Ivah cook for the Crew. After dating for a few months, the couple were married at the home of Roger’s parents’ in Aurora, Oregon, with Roger’s brother Dale and his wife Ernestine “standing up’ for them. Martha wore a beauti- ful shade of burgundy red velvet dress and “Rod” was in a smart dark suit. Such a handsome couple! During the WWII years Roger served in the Army, first “State Side” and then in Guam. Also during those years, their 2 children were born: Donald Dean in 1942 and Karen Lee in 1945. Martha lived with relatives in the Willamette Valley, caring for the children while Roger was away. Roger & Martha lived in various places in the Willamette Valley, Oregon: The City of Donald, McClain St. Silverton, and Maple Ave., Silverton, and Main St, Silverton. On Maple Ave., Rod and Martha grew a large garden, and raised chickens and a beef cow each year. As a Wife and Mother, Martha canned and preserved every kind of fruit, vegetable, and meat one could grow or gather. The family enjoyed eating all the results of her hard work all winter long. She took her children to pick strawberries and green beans in the summers, working alongside them in the fields, usually as “row boss”! She was teaching them the value of hard work and the joy of having some money of their own. Martha could make Gravy out of anything. And we all loved it! She was famous for her cast iron fried chicken with mashed potatoes and milk gravy & home raised roast beef with gravy--not to mention sausage (or Bacon) gravy over home-made baking powder biscuits. Her hand kneaded yeast bread was a treat also. Sewing was one of Martha’s strong suits. She mostly sewed clothes for herself and Karen. Notable were the outstanding formal dresses she created for Karen’s School Dances. She attended Marion County Home Extension and even made herself a beautiful pair of dress gloves. She taught Karen to sew and embroider. Martha Jane mended everything! Martha had various employment around Silverton: working at the” Rex- all” Drug Store Ice Cream counter, office work at the “JC Penny Store” and of course as a “Beautician” at “Jean’s Beauty Salon”. She attended “Beauty School” after both children had left for college. She did lots of haircuts, “permanent waves” and “spit curls” over her many years at the “Beauty Shop”. Every Saturday she washed, cut, and “set” her mother’s hair so that Ivah was ready for Sunday Church. “Jean’s” was definitely a place to catch up on town stories. She and Roger faithfully attended & supported the Silverton Methodist Church where they cultivated many wonderful friendships. They enjoyed traveling in their “5th Wheel” camper with many of these friends. After Roger retired, they traveled to places all over the USA, making a point to visit each state capitol and collecting stickers to decorate the camper from each of those states. When Roger preceded Martha in death, times got hard for her. The house seemed too big, empty, and lonely. She wanted to move to a facility where, she said; “Someone else can cook for me”. She chose to live at Mt. Angel Towers, where, “low and behold”, some of her High School class mates were also living. She enjoyed “sit down” meals, family visits, and time for compan- ionship at the “Towers” for 5 years. She then moved to “Davenport Place” in Silverton where she was lovingly cared for during her remaining 6 years. Martha cherished her Children, Grand Children, and Great Grand Chil- dren, clapping, laughing and hugging each arrival, even up to her last days. She will be sorely missed here, but she is at rest, joining the ones she loved that have gone before her. Biological Family: Son, Don, deceased-2019, Daughter, Karen (Russ) Elliott 3 Grandsons: Hank Elliott + his daughters, Remi & Saffi Elliott Jude Elliott (Shelly Elliott) Todd Elliott (Cathi Elliott) + children, Easton & Eleanor Elliott Due to the holiday, our offi ce hours and obituary placement times may vary. Lou Ann Johnson Maass SALEM - Lou Ann Johnson Maass (Hat- teberg) passed away Monday, August 23rd in Salem She was born in Silverton, Oregon Jan- uary 1, 1931, where she resided until 2019 when she moved to Orchard Heights Assisted Living in West Salem. She made many new friends there and will be missed by many. She loved working in the courtyard, planting various flowers for every- one to enjoy. She also recruited manly residents to help her. Over the years, she not only enjoyed her flowers but made many quilts for family members and others. Survivors include her dauther, Darlene “Sue” Scherf (Tom) of Keizer, Grandchildren Daniel Neadow(Brandy) of Silverton, Jennie Kime(Dan) of Wilsonville, Tonya Neadow of Keizer and Erik Jacobsen of Monmouth, 10 great grandchildren and 1 great great granddaughter. Memorial service will be held Saturday, Sep. 11, 2021 at 2:00 pm at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Silverton. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church. Live Stream Links: www.facebook.com/im- manuelsilverton or www.youtube.com/imman- uelsilverton arrangements by Unger Funeral Chapel - Sil- verton. Please contact us at 503-399-6789 or obituary@statesmanjournal.com for further details. OR-GCI0667856-01 Simple Cremation $795 Simple Direct Burial $995 Church Funeral $2965 SALEM 275 Lancaster Drive SE Salem, OR 97317 (503) 581-6265 TUALATIN 8970 SW Tualatin Sherwood Rd Tualatin, OR 97062 (503) 885-7800 PORTLAND 832 NE Broadway Portland, OR 97232 (503) 783-3393 TIGARD 12995 SW Pacifi c Hwy Tigard, OR 97223 (503) 783-6869 EASTSIDE 1433 SE 122nd Ave Portland, OR 97233 (503) 783-6865 MILWAUKIE 16475 SE McLoughlin Blvd Milwaukie, OR 97267 (503) 653-7076 “Easy Online Arrangements” OR-GCI0571428-02 www.CrownCremationBurial.com Margaret Grant Oct 10, 1920 - July 4, 2021 Margaret was born in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada to James R. and Margaret M. Waldron. The family re-located to Bainbridge Island, Washington, when she was a young child. After graduating from Bain- bridge High School, she attended college and taught school in Eastern Washington for 3 years. During WW2, she moved back home to help her par- ents while her brothers were fighting in the war. There, she learned com- puter data entry at the Winslow Shipyard. She spent the rest of her working life in adminis- tration and managerial positions in Seattle and Portland. She retired in 1983. Margaret passed away at age 100 in her home in Mt Angel Towers, Or- egon. She was preced- ed in death by her son, James Webb. She is sur- vived by a son, Robert Webb, two granddaugh- ters, Crystal and Athena and three great-grand- sons.