FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2016
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 9
Local
YMCA hosts cancer
survivor group
BY MEGHAN ANDERSCH
Meghan@TheBakerCountyPress.com
The YMCA hosted the
Baker County Cancer Sup-
port group on January 21st
for a wellness presentation.
Attendees included cancer
survivors, family members,
nursing students, and other
support persons.
The class covered the
importance of nutrition,
exercise, and weight
management in surviving
cancer or preventing recur-
rence, as well as specific
YMCA classes that may
benefit survivors or those
in treatment.
Heidi Dalton, CEO of the
YMCA, and Elissa Mor-
risson, Health and Well-
ness Director, welcomed
attendees.
Dalton shared informa-
tion on the Cancer Well-
ness Program, which offers
50 free visits to cancer
patients or survivors. The
only qualification for the
program is a verifying doc-
tor’s note and completed
membership application.
One attendee remarked,
“The people here are so
good when you walk in to
the front desk and tell them
you’re a cancer survivor,
they make me want to cry.”
Participants introduced
themselves and shared
where they are in their
journey, ranging from one
year since cancer surgery
to a survivor of 33 years.
Dalton gave an overview
of YMCA services, saying
that everyone who accesses
their services is “here to
improve their lives in some
way.”
She said they are like a
big family, serving around
5,000 members of the com-
munity through classes,
preschool, youth sports,
walking facilities, and
literacy outreach, among
others.
She said, “We want to
support you. We want to
help make your wellness
journey easier.”
Morrison first asked what
participants wanted to
learn during the presenta-
tion. Answers ranged from
helping encourage a spouse
to exercise to cancer sup-
port group chairman Gloria
Schott’s answer: “I want
to walk in and not be a
stranger.” At this, some-
one in the group asked if
Schott has ever in her life
met a stranger, drawing
laughs.
Morrison provided a
handout with information
on wellness and during
her talk referenced various
studies on physical activity
and nutrition in cancer
survivors. (These studies
can be accessed at cancer.
org.)
Morrison shared that
being active has a tremen-
dous effect on the quality
of life after cancer diag-
nosis and emphasized the
importance of physical
activity, even when not
feeling good.
Morrison discussed nutri-
tion, pointing out that the
recommendations proposed
for minimizing risk of
recurrence and optimizing
chances of cancer survival
are good guidelines for
everyone: fill your plate
with vegetables, fruits, and
whole grains.
Morrison spoke about
weight management and
said that being overweight
has been show to increase
the risk of recurrence of
various cancers, including
breast, prostate, and colon
cancer.
She also spoke about
setting SMART (specific,
measurable, achievable,
realistic, timely) goals
regarding activity and
shared specific tips to be
aware of, such as check-
ing before beginning a
swimming regimen, as
some cancer treatments are
chlorine-sensitive. Mor-
rison recommended that
anyone check with their
doctor before beginning
a fitness routine, whether
or not a cancer patient or
survivor.
Morrison shared in-
Meghan Andersch / The Baker County Press
Elissa Morrison leads an exercise demonstration.
formation on the new
Enhanced Fitness program,
which has the fitness com-
munity partnering with
the medical community
nation-wide to help pre-
vent illness and enhance
strength. She said many
physicians haven’t realized
the need to emphasize the
importance of nutrition,
activity, and weight in
fighting cancer.
The local class is called
Strength and Flex and
includes a simple warm up,
balance and strength exer-
cises, and a cool down, all
completed within an hour.
Morrison led a demon-
stration of several of the
exercises and explained
various accommodations
that can be made depend-
ing on a participant’s
health needs and level of
fitness.
Morrison also recom-
mended Tai Chi and
Strength Yoga classes. She
said all classes and instruc-
tors should offer accom-
modations.
She offered if anyone
is shy about working out
in front of others, YMCA
members can access rooms
not currently in use for a
private workout.
Morrison said that she
and Robin Stone, Per-
sonal Trainer, have studied
cancer and exercise and
that they could customize
a program for survivors
depending on the type of
cancer and where they are
in recovery.
Attendees were offered
the opportunity to sign up
for the Cancer Wellness
Program before leaving
and Morrison then led a
quick tour of the facility.
For more information
on YMCA classes or the
Cancer Wellness program,
call the YMCA at 523-
9622. The Baker County
Cancer Support group
meets the third Thursday
of the month at St. Luke’s/
EOMA at 7 PM. For more
information on this group,
call Gloria Schott at 403-
2659.
5J School Board discusses ‘enhanced Friday’
plans—teachers express unhappiness with them
BY SUNNY WERNER
Sunny@TheBakerCountyPress.com
The 5J School Board
met on Thursday, Janu-
ary 21, at 6:00 p.m.. at
the Baker 5J building on
Broadway and Fourth
Street.
The meeting room was
standing room only with
some attendees gathered
in the hallway outside the
door.
A sign-in sheet was
available for those who
wished to speak to the
Board during the Public
Comment section of the
meeting.
After the Call to Order
and the Pledge of Allieg-
ance, both Baker Technical
Institute and Eagle Cap
Innovative and School
presented their “Promise
Student of Baker.”
Dusty Gyllenberg was
celebrated as Promise
Student from BTI, with the
Director of BTI, Jerry Pea-
cock, presenting him to the
School Board as “a young
man full of character and
integrity.”
Loriena Osborn was
the recipient of the award
from Eagle Cap Innovative
School.
Following the students’
presentations, School
Superintendent Mark
Witty read a proclama-
tion from Governor Kate
Smith, naming January as
“School Board Recogni-
tion Month.”
Following the reading,
Superintendent Witty and
Assistant Superintendent
Betty Palmer, assisted
by CFA Doug Dalton,
presented plaques to each
School Board member in
recognition and thanks for
their service.
The Board then approved
the Meeting Agenda and
the Minutes from the pre-
vious month’s meeting.
Section E of the Agenda
was the Information sec-
tion. This covered the
Superintendent Evalua-
tion Timeline, the School
District Enrollment Report,
a Classified Retirement and
the Principal’s Reports.
Section F was Discus-
sion, during which the
BHS Report was presented
by Byson Smith. Smith in-
formed the Board that BHS
sports teams were perform-
ing well, and that the BHS
Cheerleaders had qualified
for State Competition.
Upcoming events includ-
ed the annual Pink Game,
FFA fundraisers, and the
Sadie Hawkins Day dance
on February 6th. Byson
told the Board that the high
school students had con-
cerns about the proposed
calendar changes for the
next school year.
Following Smith’s re-
port was the First Reading
of policies covering Use of
Tobacco Products, Alcohol,
Drugs or Inhalant Delivery
Systems; Prohibited Use,
Possession, Distribution or
Sale of Tobacco Products
and Inhalant Delivery
Systems; Harassment/In-
timidation/Bullying/Cyber
bullying/Teen Dating Vio-
lence/Domestic Violence
Student; and Suspension.
Superintendent Witty
then presented his report
on the proposed “Cradle to
Career” 2017-2017 School
Calendar.
In his report, Witty ex-
plained how the suggested
“Enhanced Friday” would
look:
8:00-9:00 a.m. Staff
meetings
9:00-12:00 p.m. Stu-
dents - Strategic Inter-
vention by Invitation
and Enhanced Opportuni-
ties
12:30-2:00 p.m.. Profes-
sional Development and
Prep Time for Staff
Principals Chris Car-
mienke (BMS) and Nanette
Lehman (SBI) each spoke
on how they believed the
proposed changes would
affect students.
The State educational
hours requirement for each
grade level and the actual
educational hours received
by students are:
K - 8: Required: 900
Brooklyn (actual)
996
Haines. (actual)
985
Keating. (actual) 1009
SBI (actual)
1009
9 through 12: Required
990
BHS. (actual) 1040
There will be a Parent
Advisory meeting on
February 1st from 5:30-
7:30 p.m. to go over this
information and discuss
alternative approaches.
Assistant Superintendent
Betty Palmer presented
her report, covering the
suggested Math curricu-
lae. Palmer explained that
she is hoping her group
will come up with three
publications to present.
She will be meeting with
the Secondary group to
continue their work.
Palmer also described the
“IREADY” online assess-
ment tool.
Next was Doug Dal-
ton’s CFO Budget Report.
Dalton appraised the Board
of the preliminary work
he has done on identify-
ing the best procedure to
identify and move forward
in replacing the old boiler
at the High School.
The time for Public
Comments arrived, and
Board Chair Kevin Cassidy
explained to the audience
that the Board had the op-
tion to not allow comments
but believed it was in the
best interest of all involved
to proceed. Cassidy told
the attendees that each
speaker would be limited
to three minutes to allow
all to be heard.
Melissa Garner (Kin-
dergarten teacher) was
the first speaker. She was
representing the elemen-
tary teachers. Garner
said, “There are several
arguments from our staff
regarding the proposed
calendar change.”
Katy Collier (Haines
staff) said, “Staff is against
the proposal.”
Donna O’Grady (SBI)
said, “We have the same
objections.”
Silas Turner (BMS),
said, “We have logisti-
cal questions and general
concerns.”
Kris Perpara (BHS) said,
“Fridays are going to be
one and a half hours of
student time and four and
a half hours teachers meet-
ings? How does this make
students our priority?”
Applause rang from all
teachers present.
Perpara went on to say,
“The Board says it is go-
ing for transparency, but
teachers and staff were
not included in planning
this calendar. Instead, we
were left to find out from
Press Releases.” (More
applause).
Sharon Defrees, BHS
said, “This has set the
Board and Administration
versus educators. How
about if we work together
to solve the issues?”
Gail Lemberger (BHS)
said, “We have unhappy
teachers. Unhappy teachers
make unhappy students.”
Following the Public
Comments, most of the
audience left the meeting.
Next were the Action
Items:
Retirement—Pat
Brougham and Gere Rich-
ardson; and
Policies— first reading
of Policies listed in Discus-
sion section of Agenda.
CFO Dalton then
presented the Technical
Energy Audit and Project
Development Plan Pro-
posal.
The steam boiler for the
High School: a comprehen-
sive project would be cost
efficient. An energy audit
will show a more efficient
system, cost will be in the
region of $600,000 to one
million.
Dalton recommends the
Board authorize Energy
Service Performance Sys-
tems. Dalton explained that
the costs would be similar
but that the job would
proceed faster under the
one company which “does
it all.”
The State of Oregon
Department of Energy has
verified six companies as
being qualified to perform
all the work necessary.
Dalton has contacted one
of the DOE certified com-
panies and told the Board,
“These companies do it
all, so it will save 5J about
four months in planning
and accomplishment.”)
The company offers an En-
ergy Savings Performance
Contract, which guarantees
that, should the District not
receive the annual savings
predicted, the company
will reimburse the overage.
The Future Agenda items
are “Promise of Baker”
program - ongoing, “Prom-
ise of Oregon”- ongoing,
and the Superintendent
Evaluation.
Felon arrested with gun Missing woman found
According to Baker City
Police Chief Wyn Lohner,
at about 12:26 p.m. Ser-
geant Mike Regan arrested
an individual for Felon in
Possession of a Firearm,
following multiple 911
calls regarding a man
walking down the street
yelling and carrying a gun.
Arrested was George
Patrick Wesley, age 41, of
2533 10th Street #6.
Wesley also received
treatment for what was
determined to be narcotics-
induced behavior.
Ms. Fay Irene Moore of
Baker City was located
Saturday night by Wash-
ington County Idaho depu-
ties when her vehicle broke
down in the Brownlee dam
area.
She was transported to
Cambridge, Idaho for the
evening. Her family was
notified and put in direct
contact with Washington
County deputies.
Moore suffers from
mental health issues and
had been reported missing
earlier that same day.