COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL JANUARY 18, 2017
3A
Storm clean up costs
BY CAITLYN MAY
cmay@cgsentinel.com
Over 30 tons of sand was
used to clean-up the streets of
Cottage Grove after back-to-
back winter storms closed much
of the city and caused delays for
travelers.
“Ice storms are diffi cult be-
cause there’s not a lot you can
do,” said public works director
Jan Wellman.
Residents who could, were
urged to stay home but those
who had to venture out into the
weather generated complaints
over the condition of the roads.
However, according to Well-
man, traditional clearing meth-
ods are often ineffective when
dealing with ice and the best
course of action is for those who
are able to avoid traveling, to do
so.
“Snow can be plowed and
pushed out of the way…the
snow blade just skitters over the
top of the ice and if you can lift
the ice with the blade, sections
of asphalt usually come along
with it,” Wellman said.
The cost of the clean-up ef-
forts included 38 tons of sand
at $12 a ton and approximate-
ly eight hours of overtime for
two employees at $50 an hour.
The cost of the equipment and
work-week manpower were
not included as those expens-
es are part of the city’s standing
budget.
While some residents raised
concerns over the conditions
of the streets and an inabili-
ty to travel from their homes,
Wellman said it’s not within the
city’s procedure to clear resi-
dential streets.
“If we get a call that there’s
a particular street that’s bad or
if it’s a severe storm we might
clear those streets but generally
we do the collector streets and
the business district,” Wellman
said.
Oregon State Police urged
motorists to stay off the roads,
warning of dangerous condi-
tions and implementing chain
requirements for much of Inter-
state 5. It’s a request Wellman
agreed with noting residents
who can, should can stay home
and off the roads during inclem-
ent weather.
“The storm was nowhere near
as bad as the ice storm from a
couple of years ago and Cottage
Grove fared much better than
our neighbors to the north and
south of us.”
Cottage Grove Police were on the scene to aid Oregon State Police on Jan.12 after a hit-and-run accident led back to
Cottage Grove. Social media noticed police presence on Lincoln St. between 6th and 8th streets on Thursday afternoon.
Reports of an individual being barricaded inside their home drew speculation with neighbors gathering outside.
However, authorities on the scene said the cause of the commotion was a previous hit-and-run accident on the freeway with
an individual returning from that scene to Cottage Grove and driving a truck into the garage of their residence. That same
individual than fl ed inside the house and refused to comply with police orders to exit the residence.
The individuals’ actions cause law enforcement to have concern for their mental and emotion health, subsequently blocking
the street to the public. The issue was resolved shortly before 4 p.m. with authorities on scene noting that an ambulance
would be arriving to “check-out” the individual and insure their safety while the street was re-opened to the public.
The individual’s identity has not been released.
State warns of fl u season
Cottage Grove sees a spike in cases
The fl u is making its way down the I-5 and according to Peace-
Health, cases have increased in Cottage Grove.
"We've defi nitely been seeing more people coming in with the
fl u," said Becky Fisher of the Cottage Grove Community Health
Center. According to Fisher, providers and staff from local clinics
have been going home sick and walk-in clinics are, at times, at ca-
pacity.
Oregon has released specifi c tips on fi ghting the fl u and offered
the following information:
People should call 911 if someone they know with the fl u has
severe shortness of breath or is diffi cult to wake. For those 65 and
older, pregnant women, children, and those with chronic medical
conditions or weak immune systems who get fever with cough or
sore throat, talk to a health care provider.
Flu cases in Oregon have spiked in recent weeks. Laboratories in
the state reported 1,641 specimens that were positive for infl uenza
during the week of Dec. 25-31. That's up from 609 positive fl u spec-
imens the previous week. Most of the cases have been infl uenza A,
this season's predominant fl u type, with one strain, H3N2, hitting
the elderly population particularly hard.
Hospitalizations also have been on the rise. There were 143 hos-
pitalizations during Dec. 25-31, which was nearly double the previ-
ous week's total. The week before that saw just 33 hospitalizations.
There have been no pediatric deaths attributed to the fl u this sea-
son, offi cials say. The Public Health Division does not track adult
fl u deaths.
Offi cials offer these tips:
-- Get the fl u vaccine. It's the most effective way to prevent the
fl u. The fewer people who get the virus, the fewer who will need
care.
-- "Know when to go." Understand fl u symptoms and their sever-
ity, and when it's OK to just call your doctor or stay home.
Even though most people only have mild illness, some people
with severe illness do need emergency care. Adults having a hard
time breathing or shortness of breath; pain or pressure in the chest
or abdomen, sudden dizziness, confusion, severe or persistent vom-
iting, purple or blue discoloration of the lips, or seizures should be
seen promptly. This is also true for people with fl u who get better,
then have a fever and cough that return.
Children should be seen urgently if they have fast or troubled
breathing, bluish skin color, are not waking up or interacting, be-
come so irritable that they do not want to be held, or have fever
with a rash. They also should be seen if symptoms of the fl u get bet-
ter but then come back with a fever and cough. Infants should get
medical help right away if they are unable to eat, have a hard time
breathing, do not have tears when they cry, or have many fewer wet
diapers than normal.
-- Stay home and limit contact with others if you are sick, includ-
ing staying home from work or school when you are sick.
-- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or
sneeze. Throw the tissue out when you are done.
-- Wash hands with soap and water. Use an alcohol-based hand
rub if soap and water are not available.
-- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
-- Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may have fl u
germs on them.
-- Avoid getting coughed and sneezed on.
Just in time for National Hobby Month
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Find a hobby that works for you
Hobbies can serve many functions.
Some men and women turn their
hobbies into careers, while others
rely on their hobbies to provide a
relaxing respite from the hustle and
bustle of daily life.
Inspiring hobbies can make life
more rewarding. While many
people experience some trial and
error as they seek something to fi ll
their downtime, the following are a
few tips to fi nding a hobby that will
enrich your life and maybe even the
lives of others.
• Consider your interests. Much like
you considered your interests when
choosing a career path, you can
benefi t from doing the same when
the time comes to fi nd a hobby. If
your work remains your passion,
look for ways to share that passion
with others. Perhaps you can teach
a class at your community’s learn-
ing annex or volunteer to work with
high school kids who might have
expressed an interest in your line of
work. If you want to leave the offi ce
behind in your downtime, consider
your other interests. Avid readers
may want to start a local book club,
while fi lm buff s may enjoy start-
ing a local fi lm appreciation group.
Th e more passionate you are about
a topic or activity, the more likely
you can turn it into a successful and
rewarding hobby.
• Consider your needs. Another
way to fi nd a successful hobby is to
consider why you want one in the
fi rst place. If your workdays tend
to be hectic and you want a quiet
escape, then a peaceful hobby such
as painting might do the trick. If
you’re looking for a hobby that can
add some spice to your social life
and help you meet new people,
look for something that encourages
teamwork or interaction with other
people your age.
• Consider your availability. Anoth-
er thing to consider when choosing
a hobby is how much time you will
have to pursue it. If your schedule is
especially hectic or unpredictable,
avoid hobbies that require a big time
commitment, as such activities may
prove too diffi cult to commit to. In
such situations, a hobby that allows
you to embrace it on your own time
will likely prove more enjoyable
than one where you must adhere to
a schedule that you simply can’t
honor. If you have a substantial
amount of free time, then some-
thing that requires more involve-
ment on your part might be right
up your alley, whereas hobbies that
don’t require much regular par-
ticipation likely won’t provide the
respite or fulfi llment you’re look-
ing for.
• Consider those closest to you.
Many people fi nd that the best
hobbies are the ones that allow
them to spend more time with
their loved ones, whether those
loved ones are their own children,
their parents or their close friends.
Parents may want to fi nd an activ-
ity that allows them to bond with
their children, while young work-
ing professionals may want to fi nd
an activity that provides them with
opportunities to spend time with
their equally busy friends.
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35655 Shoreview Drive Dorena, Oregon 97434