Spilyay Tymoo, Warm Springs, Oregon
May 4, 2022
Team monitoring latest covid incidence
The tribes’ Covid-19 Re-
sponse Team continues to
monitor the covid virus by
testing at the clinic, utilizing
home testing kits and moni-
toring the waste water at all
the lagoons.
Warm Springs had a total
of five positive covid cases
in the month of April.
Three cases were confirmed
in the clinic, and two cases
were reported to the clinic
that showed positive with
home test kits.
Waste water continues to
be monitored at all the la-
goons, monitoring for any
potential increase concentra-
tion of the covid virus.
Over the last month the
numbers within the waste
water has bounced up and
down for the virus.
The last reading was on
April 26 and the numbers
were low for the virus. Flu
cases are on the rise locally,
and sometimes it is unclear
if you have the virus or the
flu.
The recommendation is to
get your flu shot and to test
for the Covid-19 virus with a
home test kit.
If you do not have a home
test kit, they are available at
no charge and can be picked
up at Emergency Manage-
ment Monday to Fridays
from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Or you
can pick up at the Fire De-
partment at any time.
This is not the time for
us to relax but to pay atten-
tion to what is happening na-
tionally and across the state,
and to stay safe and not
spread the virus.
Wear a mask if you do
not feel safe, sanitize regu-
larly, wash your hands
throughout the day, maintain
distance when you can, have
home kits available, and get
fully vaccinated for the vi-
rus.
Treatments
If you do test positive for
covid, there are now treat-
ments available to help resolve
the situation. The drug treat-
ments are called Paxlovid,
and Molnupiravir. They are
available to eligible patients.
The treatments are avail-
able to people who test posi-
tive, and who are at at high
risk of severe covid illness.
If this applies, consider
the option with your care pro-
vider, and do so quickly, if
you are interested: The treat-
ments must be administered
within five days of the on-
set of symptoms.
Roadway projects okayed for tribal Construction
The Twenty-Eighth Tribal
Council in April approved a
series of road improvement
agreements with the Bureau
of Indian Affairs.
A first order of business
was approval of an update
to the 2014 Warm Springs
Reservation Long Transpor-
tation Plan, and the Trans-
portation Improvement
Project List to include
projects identified in the an-
nual tribal review and Tribal
Council approval. A partial
list of projects in the updated
plan include:
Trails for School Access.
B-100 Grade, Drain and Re-
Gravel; Ongoing Route 3
Maintenance and Resurfac-
ing. Simtustus Street Grind,
Resurface and Pedestrian
Access. Sunnyside Drive
Grind, Resurface and Pedes-
trian Access. Chip Seal
Countyline, Wolfe Point,
Holllywood Boulevard.
Years for work include 2022
through 2026.
Each of the projects is
then addressed in separate
resolutions. The School Ac-
cess Trails project, for in-
stance, is approved at
$319,000 through a 638
contract, with a tribal match
of $37,000. Warm Springs
Construction is identified as
the entity to perform the
work. (Resolution no.
12,912.)
The B-100 Aggregate
Design project is identified
as integral to the safety of
the Warm Springs roads sys-
tem and school bus routes.
The resolution identifies the
cost at $60,000, and Warm
Springs Construction as the
entity to perform the 638
contract work. (Resolution
no. 12,913.)
The Quail Trail Extension
Project has an estimated cost
of $100,000, with Construc-
tion doing the 638 contract
work. (Resolution no.
12,915).
The Simtustus Street Re-
surface and Pedestrian Ac-
cess Design project also has
a cost estimate of $100,000
with Construction doing the
work. These are some of
projects approved by the out-
going Twenty-Eighth Tribal
Council in April.
Youth can apply now for a summer work position
Warm Springs youth in-
terested in summer work can
apply now. The first day of
work will be Tuesday, July
5.
It’s open to students ages
Community
notes...
The Warm Springs Com-
munity Pet Food Bank
provides free pet food on
the second Saturday of each
month. The next distribu-
tion is Saturday, May 13
from 10 a.m. until noon.
You can reserve your pet
food by calling or texting
503-319-9838 or email:
pettoodbank@fencesforfido.org
A skateboard event is
coming up this Friday start-
ing at 6 p.m. at the Warm
Springs Skate Park across
from the Community Cen-
ter.
14 to 24. They will need to
provide proof of tribal
memberships, transcripts, a
resume with cover letter and
a Covid-19 vaccination
card.
All ages and skill levels are
welcome, including those who
have never skated before.
Everyone is invited to partici-
pate or just to watch the con-
tests and demonstrations.
Warm Springs Recreation
is hosting the Annual Spring
Yard Sale this Friday from
9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on the
front lawn of the Community
Center. To sign up for a table
call Carol at 541-553-3243.
In Madras High School
sports: This Thursday, May
5, the baseball team is hosts
North Marion, game time
4:30. Softball is at North
Marion.
IHS latest covid numbers
across Indian Country
Close to half a million Na-
tive American people in the
U.S. have tested positive for
Covid-19 since the pandemic
began in March 2020. The
latest data from the Indian
Health Ser vice says that
460,771 people have tested
positive across Indian Coun-
try.
The total positive tests are
from more than 4 million
tests administered by the
IHS.
Based on the cumulative
percent positive, the highest
rates have been seen in five
of 12 IHS areas. Two of
them include the state of
Arizona. The highest positiv-
ity rate has been with the
Navajo Area at 16.4 percent
positivity; followed by the
Oklahoma City Area at 15.4
percent. The Phoenix Area
saw 14.9 percent positivity;
and the California Area, 11.8
percent
The Portland IHS Area,
including the Warm Springs
Reservation, saw a compara-
tively modest positivity rate
of 6.5 percent. The very
lowest positivity rate have
been the Oklahoma City
Area, 1.8 percent; and the
Tucson Area, 1.5 percent.
Overall, 11.4 percent of
IHS tests have been positive
since the onset of the pan-
demic. Meanwhile, the
seven-day positivity rate has
been steadily rising during
the last couple of weeks,
according to the IHS na-
tional office.
The Confederated Tribes
of Warm Springs have seen
decreased covid numbers, al-
lowing the tribes to re-open
the public buildings, and
schedule community events.
Apply online at the Con-
federated Tribes’ job
oportunities website. The
youth work program is listed
under ‘Assorted work expe-
rience jobs (youth).
Or stop by the Education
Building, top floor, office
307. Intakes can be done by
calling 541-553-3324. For
more details on require-
ments call 541-553-3324.
Page 3
Regional jobs almost
at pre-covid level
Central Oregon posted strong job gains through
March and April. This strong hiring led to continued
improvement to local unemployment rates, which
are approaching record low levels from before the
pandemic.
The Jefferson County unemployment rate, includ-
ing the Warm Springs area of the reservation,
dropped to 4.6 percent, down from 4.8 percent ear-
lier in the year.
The unemployment rate is fast approaching lev-
els in March 2020, when it was 4.1 percent before
the first impacts from Covid-19.
Total nonfarm employment rose by more than
20 jobs earlier this spring, a normal pace of hiring
for this time of year.
Employment levels in Jefferson County remain
down 140 jobs from levels just before the onset of
the pandemic in February 2020.
Jefferson County added 10 jobs over the past year,
slower growth than other parts of Central Oregon.
The county posted job gains in local government,
including the tribal government, adding 70 jobs. There
were also modest gains in retail trade and leisure and
hospitality, each adding 20 jobs.
However, these gains were largely negated by de-
clines in manufacturing, down 40 jobs; and private
education and health services, down 30 jobs.
Deschutes County: The seasonally adjusted un-
employment rate fell to 3.6 percent, down from 3.8
percent earlier in the year. The unemployment rate
is now near the record low level of 3.3 percent be-
fore the onset of the pandemic.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that
Deschutes County added 660 jobs this spring, much
stronger gains than the 200 job increase typically ex-
pected this time of year.
Crook County: The seasonally adjusted unem-
ployment rate dropped significantly to 4.9 percent,
down from 5.2 percent earlier in the year.