A6 THE SPOKESMAN • TUESDAY, JULY 19, 2022
COVID-19 cases are rising again in Central Oregon
BY SUZANNE ROIG
CO Media Group
The pace of COVID-19 deaths in
Central Oregon appears to be increas-
ing, with four occurring in the first
six days of July.
That compares to three deaths
in June and four in May. All of the
deaths have been at St. Charles Health
System hospitals in Central Oregon.
What’s more, about 10% of the
hospital beds are occupied with
COVID-19 patients who are experi-
encing illness from the latest subva-
riant circulating, said Mike Johnson,
St. Charles Health System senior data
scientist.
“We’re seeing a high transmissibil-
ity with the subvariants of omicron,”
Johnson said. “When that many peo-
ple have it, it will push more people
into the hospital. COVID-19 is not
over.”
St. Charles hospitals have seen
on average 35 to 40 patients with
COVID-19 coming through the hos-
pital on any given day over the past
two weeks, he said. It’s a concern
given that the hospital system is still
experiencing a staffing shortage, said
Lisa Goodman, St. Charles Health
System spokeswoman. Initially, the
hospital cared for COVID-19 patients
only at its Bend location, but recently
began admitting COVID-19 patients
at all of its hospitals in Redmond,
Bend, Prineville and Madras.
“We already are so full that we’re
boarding people in the emergency
department while we wait for beds,”
Goodman said. “We’re very busy.”
It’s the same at other hospitals
around the state, Johnson said. More
than three-fourths of the intensive
care hospital beds in the region St.
Charles serves — Crook, Deschutes
Grant, Harney, Jefferson, Klamath,
Lake and Wheeler counties — are
filled, according to the Oregon Health
Authority.
Since the start of the pandemic,
300 people have died in Deschutes
County. Since the beginning of the
pandemic, St. Charles has cared for
3,650 patients with COVID-19, John-
son said.
In Central Oregon, the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention had
classified Deschutes County in the
high risk category, said Emily Horton,
Deschutes County Health Services
COVID-19 program manager. That
was because of the number of hospi-
talizations, not because of high case
counts, Horton said.
FLASHBACK
Caterpillars invade forest at Sisters in 1972
social was held in the commu-
nity hall in true frontier fash-
ion. Activity lasted until dawn
when the horses were saddled
and the party rode eight miles
to the Devil’s Garden lava beds
for the buckaroo breakfast.
Following serving of the
chow, Long rounded up his
broodmares and colts, which
were pastured near Devil’s
Garden, for the inspection of
the visitors.
The Spokesman
100 YEARS AGO
July 20, 1922 — Boys will
leave for training camp
Maurice Gates, Forest
Ehlers, Harold Cline, Harry
Hansen and Edgar Petersen
have made application and are
preparing to take advantage of
the month spouting offered by
the government at Ft. Lewis,
Wash.
This is a splendid chance for
the young man, as it not only
gives them a full month of
recreation but improves them
both physically and mentally
by learning army tactics and
good health-giving exercises
of all kinds. It would be a good
thing if more of the boys took
advantage of this big offer.
50 YEARS AGO
75 YEARS AGO
July 23, 1947 — Riders at-
tend western party
About 48 members of Red-
mond Saddle Club joined a
party of 125 people from three
counties for a western party
held over the past weekend
at Fort Rock. Ruben E. Long,
northern Lake County stock-
man, was host to the large
Archived Photo
Anthony Jager, 12, with his pig, Speckles. Both will appear with some
22 other swine at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds next week.
group and presided over the
rangeland breakfast that was
served Sunday morning at 6
o’clock.
Horses were transported by
truck and trailer to the area
Saturday afternoon and that
night a dancing party and pie
July 26, 1972 — Caterpil-
lars invade forest at Sisters
SISTERS — Snow brush in
the Sisters area has been at-
tacked by caterpillars of the
tortoise shell butterfly, with
entire bushes, denuded of
leaves, sprouting new ones in
an attempt to survive.
Up to 90 percent of the foli-
age has been removed in some
areas with about 700 acres af-
fected around Abbott Butte,
Cash Mountain and Minto
Burn.
Ernest Nelson, forester, said
two generations will probably
occur during the season but
he believes a virus or parasite
will control the invaders by
next season.
The entomology depart-
ment of the U.S. Forest Service
regional office in Portland re-
ports the infestation is state-
wide.
Several caterpillars, taken
to the Sisters Ranger District
office, have been the center of
interest as they emerge from
their chrysalis as butterflies.
25 YEARS AGO
July 23, 1997 — County
youth ready for fair auction
The contestants have been
weighed in and are ready to
step into the ring.
However, this is not the next
heavyweight boxing champi-
onship match — it’s the 4-H/
FFA Livestock auction.
More than 450 cows, pigs,
sheep, rabbits and poultry
will be auctioned off Aug. 2 at
the Deschutes County Fair-
grounds.
The animals are shown in
three classes: open, showman-
ship and market class. Con-
testants who do not wish to
have their animals slaughtered
enter them in the open and
showmanship class.
“Any animal that is shown
in Market Class and gets ei-
ther a red or blue ribbon
is then eligible for the auc-
tion,” said Bob Shive, auction
co-chairman.
Auction livestock are sold,
then slaughtered. If an an-
imal is sold above market
value, the buyer has the op-
tion to sell it back to the mar-
ket, donating the difference
to the 4-H member. Each
buyer receives a placard and
a picture of the animal pur-
chased.
“It’s designed uniquely in
Deschutes County as an edu-
cational process,” Shive said.
“We don’t pay them exactly
what they get at auction.”
Shive explained that the
4-H members get the market
value of the meat, even if that
value is a little above or below
what the animal was bid at.
“Most of them use the
money to buy animals for the
next year‘s auction or for edu-
cation,” Shive said.
Like last year, there will be
two auction rings running si-
multaneously due to the large
number of animals.
“The first round will be the
champion and grand cham-
pion animals,” said Shive.
The auction will begin at
4 p.m. with the champions,
followed by the swine and
poultry auctions at 4:30 p.m.
More than 150 sheep, 50 beef
and 220 swine are entered
into the auction this year.
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