community news
november2
13
Leptospirosis Strikes Sea Lions Along Oregon Coast: Keep Pets Away
2017
Oregon and California
are seeing an increase in the
number of stranded sea lions
along the coast due to leptospi-
rosis, a bacteria that can also
sicken dogs, livestock, people,
and other wildlife.
“Over the past few
months, we have been getting
calls for multiple sick or dead
sea lions daily, which is higher
than normal,” said Jim Rice, an
OSU Marine Mammal Institute
researcher who works at the
OSU’s Hatfield Marine Science
Center in Newport. At least
eight cases of leptospirosis have
been confirmed through OSU’s
Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic
Laboratory since the outbreak
began in late September, mostly
on beaches in Lincoln, Tilla-
mook and Clatsop counties.
While leptospirosis oc-
curs worldwide, outbreaks oc-
cur only sporadically in marine
mammals, with the last Oregon
outbreak seen in 2010. The dis-
ease can spread when an animal
comes into contact with urine
or other bodily fluids of an in-
fected animal and can lead to
kidney failure, fever, weakness,
muscle pain, and other symp-
toms. In Oregon, young male
sea lions are typically affected
and usually show signs of dehy-
dration, depression and reluc-
tance to use their hind flippers.
While there is a small
risk of transmission to people,
dogs are most at risk of becom-
ing infected by approaching
stranded sea lions on the beach
or coming in contact with body
fluid from sick or dead sea li-
ons. People walking their dogs
on the beach should keep their
dogs on a leash and not allow
them to get close to stranded sea
lions.
“Pets should be kept
away from sea lions as leptospi-
rosis can cause severe disease,”
Martin Arms Opens Storefront
Bipartisan Legislation to Boost
Apprenticeships continued from page 12
industry about four years ago, where he worked in
Portland and the suburbs, and moved his family to
Vernonia, looking for a slower pace and a career
that would be less stressful. “We liked the slow-
er lifestyle here and wanted to raise our kids in a
smaller community,” says Petra.
“We wanted to get out of the rat race,” adds
Dennis. “We are in love with Vernonia. This town
is awesome. People have really been supportive in
both our business and our personal lives.”
Dennis says one of the most important
things for him as a gun shop owner is safety. “The
best way to emphasize that is to educate people, es-
pecially young people,” says Dennis. “They need
to know how to handle a firearm respectfully and
know and understand the basic rules and habits.”
Martin Arms carries a variety of gun locks and sup-
ports a variety of gun safety and training classes in
the community. “We want to start introducing more
and more of that because I’m a big believer in it. It’s
important that kids get the concepts of what these
are and understand that these are a tool.”
The Martins say they are happy to be part
of the Vernonia community and collaborate with
other gun owners.
“On a daily basis there is someone who
stops by and visits with me,” says Dennis. “I enjoy
idly growing sectors like health care and technology. We can
build pathways to get more people back to work and provide
our nation’s businesses with a skilled workforce that will im-
prove productivity and efficiency.”
“The Central Education Center in Newnan led Geor-
gia by implementing an innovative style of apprenticeship
that prepares our young people for 21st century careers,” said
Ferguson. “I am introducing this bill to allow workers across
the nation to have access to work-based training. The Unit-
ed States needs a workforce that’s competitive on the world
stage, but we must also face the stark realities of our current
fiscal situation. By using H-1B visa fees to fund a direct path
into the workplace, we can ensure the next generation receives
an education for success at no cost to the American taxpayer.”
Bonamici crafted the legislation with input from the
Oregon Employment Department, Worksystems, Inc., and
Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. “Registered apprenticeships, and
the employer partnerships that lead to coordinated multi-em-
ployer apprenticeship programs, are a critical part of Oregon’s
workforce strategy,” said Kay Erickson, Director of Oregon
Employment Department. “The value of a nationally recog-
nized credential that is part of a career pathway is proven. Pri-
oritizing funds for helping employers expand these programs
is an essential part of our state’s workforce solutions.”
Bonamici and Ferguson are strong advocates for
apprenticeships and work-based learning programs in Con-
gress. One of Bonamici’s first bills, the WISE Investment
Act, aimed to foster collaboration among local businesses and
workforce training programs. Bonamici supported the Work-
force Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) when it passed
Congress in 2014, and she has led efforts to increase funding
for WIOA and apprenticeship programs.
Mist-Birkenfeld
Fall Festival
that. We sit around and talk hunting, we talk guns,
we talk about our kids, and we talk about life in a
small community.”
As another way to outreach to the commu-
nity, on Thursday, November 2 from 5:00 to 6:00
pm, Martin Arms was hosting a pop up display with
local Damsels in Defense distributor Nicole Pen-
ney.
Dennis says he is interested in support-
ing the start of a trap shooting team at the Verno-
nia High School. “The high school trap shooting
state championship is held in Hillsboro every year,”
says Dennis. “The high school trap shooting league
starts up in March each year. I know there has been
some interest around the community in starting
something like that. Personally, I’m too busy to
coach that right now, but I’m hoping someone will
pick that up and run with it. It would be great to add
that as a sport in Vernonia.”
Martin Arms is located at 725 Bridge Street. (971)
777-4108. Hours: Tue-Sat 11:00 am - 6:00 pm.
NEW LOCATION
825 Bridge Street
503-429-0214
D
DM
an
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continued from front page
Open Every Day at 6:00 am
Vernonia
Dental
h
. r C
State Police at 1-800-452-7888.
(OSP shares these reports with
the Oregon Marine Mammal
Stranding Network.)
Even when sea lions are
healthy, it’s never a good idea to
approach them. It’s also a vio-
lation of federal and state laws
to harass, disturb, touch, or feed
marine mammals.
For more informa-
tion
about
leptospirosis,
visit ODFW’s fact sheet or
the Center for Disease Control
website. For more information
about wildlife diseases, contact
ODFW’s wildlife health hotline
at 1-866-968-2600.
Fresh Roasted Coffee
espresso • baked goods
Please bring your family and join the
Mist-Birkenfeld Helping Circle for their
Fall Festival on Saturday, November 4.
Held at the Mist School, 69163 Hwy 47.
h
p
o
is t
said Emilio DeBess, state pub-
lic health veterinarian of the Or-
egon Health Authority. “Note
that there are vaccines avail-
able to protect dogs and horses
against leptospirosis, please
contact your veterinarian for
more information.
If your dog becomes ill
after being exposed to sick or
dead sea lions, contact your vet-
erinarian immediately,” added
DeBess.
People who observe
sick sea lions or other marine
mammals on the beach should
say at least 50 feet away from
them and report them to Oregon
M
er
.
h
S c
eu
622 Bridge Street Vernonia, OR 97064
phone (503) 429-0880 -- fax (503) 429-0881
