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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 2017)
Governor signs bill to raise age to purchase tobacco to 21; now in effect NEWPORT, Ore. — In August, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown signed a new law raising the required minimum age to legally buy or obtain tobacco products from 18 to 21. Oregon is the fifth state to implement this type of law, often coined “Tobacco 21.” The new law took effect Sept. 1, with enforcement and fines set to begin Jan. 1, 2018. This year, Oregon celebrates 20 years of tobacco prevention work and Tobacco 21 is a step forward in this work and in protecting the health of Oregon youth. Tobacco is highly addictive and starts early – 90 percent of individuals report starting tobacco use before turning 18 and nearly 100 percent before turning 26. Youth statistics in Lincoln County 13.5 percent of 11 th -graders report using some form of tobacco products • • • • 9 in 10 retailers sell flavored tobacco Nearly 1 in 2 retailers display tobacco advertising outside 33 percent of retailers sell tobacco at discounted prices “Lincoln County tobacco use remains much higher than the state average,” said Rebecca Austen, Public Health Division director, Lincoln County Health and Human Services. “The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners is in the pro- cess of passing an ordinance prohibiting tobacco use on all county properties, including parks. This is another example of changing policies to protect the public from harmful effects of tobacco use, including secondhand smoke.” Tobacco use increases risks for chronic disease like asthma, heart disease and can- cer. In Lincoln County approximately 64 percent of adults have at least one chronic disease. Tobacco control strategies like raising the age of tobacco use and creating Additionally, Selene Rilatos, tobacco prevention coordinator, leads the Siletz Tribes’ effort to keep people from starting and help them to stop smoking cigarettes. She’s available at 541-444-9682 or 800- 600-5599. Learn more by visiting oregon. gov/oha/PH/PREVENTIONWELL- NESS/TOBACCOPREVENTION/Pages/ retailenvironment.aspx. Email questions to Tobacco.Inspections@state.or.us. Tom Rinearson, Superintendent FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Kristin Bigler Communications Specialist Lincoln County School District Cell: 541-270-3366 Kristin.bigler@lincoln.k12.or.us Two Lincoln County High Schools Awarded Bronze Medal NEWPORT, OR September 19, 2017– US News & World Report Best High Schools Rankings awarded both Waldport High School and Siletz Valley Early College Academy each a Bronze Medal in the 2017 rankings. These rankings include data on more than 22,000 public schools in 50 states and the District of Columbia. Schools were awarded gold, silver or bronze medals based on their performance on state assessments and how well they prepare students for college. There are seven high schools in the Lincoln County School District. Waldport High School Principal Diana MacKenzie writes, “I’d like to congratulate Waldport High School on receiving the 2017 US News & World Report Best High Schools Bronze ranking for the third consecutive year! We are a nationally recognized school! With the college readiness strategies we are implementing this year, our goal is to be ranked Silver by 2019. Smarter Balance State Assessment scores were released and I'm proud to say that the Irish exceeded State averages in both Language Arts and Math. Our kids and staff are competitive and willing to put in the work it takes to exceed expectations!” At Siletz Valley Early College Academy, Principal Sam Tupou reports, “I got a quote from a Siletz student, Julia Trachsel. When I shared the US News and World Report 2017 High School rankings with her, she said, "That's awesome!" When I asked her why she thought this news was awesome, she said with a smile, "Well, I always knew we were a cool school but I now feel reassured by it." Julia is a senior this year preparing to pursue a career in broadcast journalism. She has over 20 colleges that are interested in having her apply to them, but her priority focus is getting into Boston University, University of Oregon, UCLA, Columbia University or George Mason University. George Mason University is where she attended the Washington Journalism and Media Conference this summer and got to meet many of the power journalists and media personnel. Tupou continued, “I echo what Julia said, and agree that Siletz is a pretty unique school. Anytime you get any kind of positive recognition, you have to celebrate it. At Siletz, like most schools, we provide a solid education for our students. My teachers do this kind of work day in and day out and behind the scenes where it often go unnoticed. So, the national high school rankings recognition is a welcome gift; a new benchmark for us to build on.” Siletz News • • For more information, visit smoke- freeoregon.com. Lincoln County School District P.O. Box 1110 Newport, OR 97365 www.lincoln.k12.or.us • Effective immediately, retailers and certified smoke shops can no lon- ger sell tobacco products, inhalant delivery systems or tobacco delivery systems to people younger than 21. There are no exceptions. Retailers and certified smoke shops that sell tobacco products or inhalant delivery systems are required to dis- play a sign stating the prohibition of tobacco product or inhalant delivery system sales to persons younger than 21. Failure to post a sign stating this would be a Class A violation. In a previous issue of Siletz News, we published a photo of Agnes Pilgrim, Alton Butler and Nat Butler. After the issue came out, we mailed the photo back to Sylvia Butler, but it did not arrive. If you happen to have it or come across it, please mail it to Siletz News, P.O. Box 549, Siletz, OR 97380-0549 or bring it to the Tribal administration building at 201 SE Swan Ave. in Siletz. Thank you! 12 • “This new law offers a powerful component for public health to combat the tobacco industry’s continuing efforts to secure lifelong users of their products,” said Cheryl Connell, director of Lincoln County Health and Human Services. “It gives this age group the means to avoid becoming a tobacco user and therefore, the opportunity to live longer and healthier lives free from tobacco addiction.” Congratulations to our sister, Juanita Howell-Roth, on her 2017 championship at the Fairview Moun- tain Golf Club in Oliver, B.C. So proud of you, Sis! NEWS RELEASE: Information for retailers and certified smoke shop owners tobacco-free spaces will help to reduce the rates of these chronic diseases. October 2017
