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