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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 20, 2021)
October 20, 2021 Page 2 In Loving Memory Daryl Renee “Deedee” Woodland Born June 23, 1964 -- Passed Oct. 15, 2021 Hit Again by Legionnaire’s Disease New case at Rosemont senior apartments The Multnomah County Health Department last week confirmed a new case of Legionnaires’ Disease at Rosemont Court, despite efforts to fix the building’s water system. A historic property in north Portland retrofitted into senior and low-income apartments some years ago, Rosemont residents were evacuated from their homes under a public health advisory last January after at least 10 cases of the bacterial disease were report- ed to have caused hospitalizations and at least one death. But residents were allowed to return under new precautions and A new case of Legionnaires’ Disease has been confirmed at many of them cited the affordabil- Rosemont Court, a senior apartment complex. Corrections: Peterson for Sheriff – In our Sept. 22 story on Capt. Derrick Peterson running for Multnomah County Sheriff we had some errors we regret. Peterson has been employed in the sher- iff’s office since 1986, currently supervising the county jail system as a commander, not as a deputy sheriff. He is the first Black person to run for the office this election cycle, not the first Black man or woman to ever run for the office. Vera Pool ran in 1993, 1995 and 2002 and Mohammad Ra’oof was a candidate in mid 2007 or after. The current sheriff is Mike Reese. ity of the complex with month- ly rents much lower than can be found elsewhere, as a reason for staying. Legionnaires’ disease typical- ly spreads from a water source and officials believe it somehow got into the building’s water supply. The building, a former convent and religious school at 597 N. Dekum St., is owned by Northwest Housing Alternatives. The disease is not known to spread from person-to-person. And most healthy people exposed to Legionella do not get sick. But for people at increased risk, breathing in very small droplets of water with the bacteria can lead to severe pneumonia, health officials said. People at increased risk for infection include the elderly, smokers, those with chronic dis- eases such as COPD or diabetes, and the immunosuppressed. For those who get symptoms, the first to appear are usually flu- like (fever, tiredness, muscle aches, and headache). Signs of a serious Legionella lung infection (pneumonia) include cough and chest pain. Many people sick with Legionella also have diar- rhea. In January, Multnomah County created a plan with building man- agers to treat the Rosemont water system with chlorine, including shutting off the water for con- sumption and providing bottled water. A disinfection system and filters were also added on faucets in the apartments. The Week in Review in northeast Portland, drawing around 400 runners. The Soul Dis- trict Business Association event honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of social and econom- ic justice for all. Proceeds support DA Advocate Resigns Ernest Warren, a longtime crimi- communities of color and minori- ty-owned businesses. nal defense lawyer from the Black Unvaccinated Coach Fired community hired Washington State fired football to lead a new unit coach Nick Rolovich and four reviewing convic- of his assistants on Monday for tions and sentences refusing a state mandate that all in the Multnomah employees get vaccinated against County District COVID-19, making him the first Attorney’s office, resigned last major college coach to lose his job Wednesday without comment. over vaccination status. DA Mike Schmidt wished Warren well and said he would continue to be an ally for integrity in the crim- inal justice system. Woman in July 4 Fire Dies A woman who suffered critical burns after she was trapped during a July 4 fire at the Heidi Manor apartments in northeast Portland died Thursday. Kelsi Edmonds had been undergoing treatment at the Oregon Burn Center at Legacy Emanuel Hospital. Her boyfriend and a roommate died in the inferno. Vandalism Returns Downtown Widespread vandalism in down- town returned Oct. 12 when a group of about 100 people targeted dozens of businesses by breaking windows, causing an estimated Police Want 840 New Officers $500,000 in damages. Dumpsters The Portland Police Association and garbage cans were also set on says the city will need to hire 840 fire in the street. additional officers in the next 5 School Employees Vaccinated years. That’s more than the entire Portland Public Schools announced number of sworn-members cur- Monday that over 96.3% of its rently serving. The bureau cur- employees were fully vaccinated rently has 129 vacancies. against COVID-19, the deadline for Gov. Kate Brown’s mandate MLK Dream Run Held The 10th-annual MLK Dream requiring all school staff to be vac- Run took to the streets Sunday cinated against COVID-19.
