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About The Hood River news. (Hood River, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 14, 2015)
SPORTS What’s Going On? Cheer goes to State – – A2, A3 W EEKEND E DITION Vol. 109, No. 13 A7 HOOD RIVER, OREGON Official Newspaper, City of Hood River and Hood River County Schools face grim budget projection ‘Disappointed’ Supt. Goldman heads to Salem By KIRBY NEUMANN-REA ■ SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2015 2 Sections, 22 Pages www.hoodrivernews.com Vaccine exemptions jeopardizing ‘herd immunity’ in local schools By BEN MITCHELL News staff writer The state of Oregon has the highest percentage in the U.S. of people seeking non-medical ex- emptions for childhood vaccina- tions and new data shows that some schools in Hood River Coun- ty are above that already high state average. A report re- leased last week by The Ore- gonian o f com- News editor A cold million. That’s how much less the Hood River County School District can expect to receive in State School funding in the next biennium, based on current spending projec- tions out of the Oregon Legisla- ture. In statements to the Hood River County School Board Monday, Su- perintendent Dan Goldman said he was “really disappointed” at the forecast, adding that it ap- pears he will need to go back on his statement to the board in its last meeting that there would be “no district budget cuts for the first time in a decade” . The latest state budget frame- work currently presented to the Legislature, now in session in Salem, is for $7.235 billion in 75 cents piled data from the Oregon Health Authority shows Oregon’s rate of non-medical childhood vaccine ex- emptions — sometimes referred to as personal or philosophical belief exemptions — was 7.1 percent as of the 2013-14 school year. The Ore- gonian’s study only included both public and private schools and child care facilities that enrolled 50 or more students, which still amounted to more than 1,700 insti- tutions. At Hood River Middle School, the non-medical exemption rate is just under the state average at 6.5 percent. But at May Street Ele- mentary, the opt-out rate is 8.6 per- cent. At Horizon Christian School, it’s 12.9 percent. And at Bright Beginnings, a preschool and kinder- garten childcare facility locat- ed on State Street in Hood River, the non-medical exemption rate is 23.1 percent, which would put it as the 54th-highest non-medical exemp- tion rate in the state. Oregon is one of 18 states that allow philosophic exemptions, ac- cording to the Centers for Disease Control, with more still allowing for religious exemptions, which Oregon also allows. The OHA re- quires parents seeking a non-med- ical exemption submit a “Vaccine Education Certificate” to their child’s school, which is obtained by either receiving education from a healthcare provider or by completing a module on the OHA’s website and then printing out the certificate at home. However, cur- rently there is a bill in the state legislature that could remove those philosophical exemptions in an attempt to increase vaccine rates. According to Ellen Larsen, di- See SHOTS, Page A10 Superintendent Goldman will hold the second of two “listening sessions” on the district budget, Wednessday at Wy’east Middle School from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Goldman will give a short presentation and take input from commu- nity members. Spanish trans- lation will be provided at each forum. See SCHOOLS, Page A2 Maxam Nutraceutics’ Jim Cole hit with injunction Court order results in shutdown of HR business against Hood River businessman James Cole, who has been accused by the federal government of sell- ing “adulterated” and “unap- proved” dietary supplements under his company Maxam Nu- traceutics. The injunction was entered by Judge Michael Simon in U.S. Dis- trict Court in Portland on Feb. 5, S p o t l i g h t By BEN MITCHELL News staff writer A U.S. District Court judge has ordered a permanent injunction See MAXAM, Page A6 a t u r d a y Photo by Ben Mitchell A SYRINGE is stuck into a vial of measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine. Data shows that Oregon has the highest average rate of non-medical vaccine exemptions in the U.S. at 7.1 percent. Some schools in Hood River County have opt-out rates that are even higher. A weekly series about a day in the life ... Sebastian Barajas ‘super dedicated’ in school, sports BY TRISHA WALKER News staff writer Photo by Trisha Walker; submitted SEBASTIAN BARAJAS, HRVHS junior, is a hard- working student, student athlete and Special Olympics assistant coach. He’s a two-time state discus champion, seen here on the podium his freshman year. To say Hood River Valley High School junior Sebastian Barajas, 17, is busy would be an understatement. He just fin- ished his Extended Application — or EA — project, has start- ed volunteering with Special Olympics, works Saturdays at Wy’east Orchards and is gearing up for the start of track sea- son with daily workouts. And then there’s school. Barajas is taking many higher level classes this year, but that wasn’t always the case. He describes himself as “an av- erage guy” when it came to schoolwork as a freshman. By his sophomore year, his guidance counselor had helped him get into higher classes, which he finds challenging, but not hard. “In honors and AP, everything is quick,” he said. “You learn so much; the teacher is constantly talking and you’re constantly learning new material.” He’s taking zero period athletic development — weight training — and AP U.S. History, Honors Junior English, health, chemistry, yearbook and geometry. A teacher’s aide positon gives him time to practice discus with teammate See SEBASTIAN, Page A2 Three To Go ‘Remember Nhu’ benefit concert Feb. 28 Alzheimer’s class Feb. 20 at Adult Center Gorge Kids Soup deadline extended to Feb. 17 Local musicians will perform from 6-9 p.m. Feb. 28 at The Pines Tasting Room, 202 Cascade Ave., Hood River, to raise funds for teams traveling to Kenya to serve the international program Remem- ber Nhu. Chris Stewart, Avery Hill, Kelly Bosworth and Kit Garoutte will perform in the benefit. Remember Nhu is a non-profit organiza- tion that works in developing nations to prevent children from falling victim to the scourge of sex trafficking. The Alzheimer’s Association Oregon Chapter holds a class, “Living with Alzheimer’s: For Caregivers — Early Stage,” from 1:30-5 p.m. Feb. 20, in the multipurpose room of Hood River Valley Adult Center, 2010 Sterling Pl. In the early stage of Alzheimer’s disease, families face new questions. What does the diagnosis mean? What kinds of plans need to be made? What resources are avail- able to help? The class provides practical answers to the questions that arise in the early stage. Hear from those di- rectly affected and learn what you can do to cope with the changes that come with an early-stage diagnosis. This class is free, but registration is required. To regis- ter, call 800-272-3900. For a full list of upcoming classes, visit alz.org/oregon. With Gorge Kids Soup, students have a chance to win $3,000 or so for a business or project start-up, but more applicants are needed to make the 2015 Kids Soup a go. As of Friday, Kids Gorge Soup had too few applicants for the Feb. 26 dinner at Springhouse Cellar.. Therefore, organizers are extending the deadline for applications to Gorge Soup for Kids to Tuesday, Feb. 17; applications must be postmarked by this date. Students who are working on a business idea, or commu- nity project, or a program that they would like to implement at their school, in their neighborhood, among their peer group, whatever the case or need. Past Gorge Soup for Kids events have given away roughly $3,000 a night. ”We want to help make these students’ dreams a reality,” said Julie O’Shea of Gorge Soup. For questions, please email gorgesoup@gmail.com 7 05105 97630 3