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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 10, 2016)
News Blue Mountain Eagle Search and Rescue group becoming more active By Ramy Jisha To the Blue Mountain Eagle Since the search for the missing boy July 22, there has been increased interest in our local Search and Res- cue group. We have recently been making some changes to develop a group that is more active. We are now meeting and training every second and fourth Satur- day morning. For the loca- tion, please contact either the Grant County Sheriff’s Ofice (in person or at 541- 575-1131), or Ramy Jisha at 541-575-0212. In the last few months, we have participated in sev- eral trainings. We had a swift water rescue class with Wil- derness Rescue Internation- al, and then we had trainers from Emergency Response International come and give a three-day course where we learned about the newest scientiic methods for search management and search techniques. It was a great class that covered a large variety of information and gave a kick- start to the current direction we are taking. Our goal is to develop an active, effective Search and Rescue team that can be quickly and eficiently deployed in a variety of set- tings. Our goal is the incor- poration and effective coor- dination of many resources. Some of the areas, in addi- tion to traditional ground search, that we are working on developing are: swift water rescue, search dogs, mounted searchers, snow- mobiles and person-track- ing. Even if you are not capa- ble of participating in such active endeavors, please don’t think there is no place for you in Search and Res- cue. Any time there is a search going on, there is a need for support personnel. If you want to be involved but are not physically capa- ble of hiking long distances through rough country, we are working on organizing the team so that there is an auxiliary level of partici- pation. Auxiliary members perform such important support services as assisting with communication, orga- nization and resource pro- curement (food, water and shelter for searchers, etc.) in addition to anything else needed to make it possible for the team to perform to the best of its abilities. In order to become a member of our Search and Rescue team, please drop by either the sheriff’s ofice in Canyon City or you can talk to Jisha at Canyon Creek Veterinary Clinic, 813 S. Canyon Blvd. in John Day. At either place, you can pick up a form to let us know you are interested and get on the contact list so you will be kept up to date regarding the team’s activities. After you have attended a few meetings, if you decide you want to oficially join our team, there is an applica- tion to ill out. A background check is required before membership will be granted. If you have questions about the process, please contact the sheriff’s ofice. The ofice is located next to the courthouse in Canyon City. In addition to the full group meetings, we are go- ing to begin meeting sepa- rately for anyone interested in trailing dogs. If you have a dog and would like to learn about training for trailing, or you would simply be interest- ed in helping us train dogs, please contact Jisha. We can always use vol- unteers who are willing to lay trails or act as lankers, the support person who goes with the dog handler on a search. Wednesday, August 10, 2016 A3 HEALTH From Pittsburgh to John Day Experienced FNP is new face at health department By Angel Carpenter Blue Mountain Eagle F amily nurse practitioner Jess Furka is a new face at the Grant County Health Department in John Day. She settled in a few weeks ago and said she’s enjoying the small community, which is a big change from her urban back- ground. Her most recent experience as a family nurse practitioner includes four years at the Chil- dren’s Hospital Pittsburgh of the University of Pittsburgh Medi- cal Center and, previously, two years at a walk-in clinic. She also worked as a nurse for four years at the children’s hospital. She replaces Karen Triplett, who retired in June and will return in the fall to work at the school-based health clinic at Grant Union Junior-Senior High School. Furka and her iance, Nate Wilson, made the cross-country trek to John Day in June. Before moving, Furka said she hadn’t been any farther west than Kansas. “So far, I really like it,” she said. “All the people I’ve met have been very friendly, and I like the small-town feel.” Furka said she and her iance enjoy hiking, biking and kaya- king. Their excursions have in- cluded a hike through the Paint- ed Hills. Wilson works remotely from home as an international inte- grator for SAP Ariba, a software and information technology ser- vices company. Furka said she enjoys help- ing patients of all ages, covering everything from well-child ex- ams to women’s health to gen- eral medicine. Eagle photos/Angel Carpenter Family nurse practitioner Jess Furka examines a patient Thursday at the Grant County Health Department. The Grant County Health Department at 528 E. Main Ste. E in John Day is open with new hours of 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. Fridays, the health department is open 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. with a nurse available. Joann Moles greets patients at the front desk at the Grant County Health Department in John Day. “I like meeting new people and learning new things,” she said. “It’s nice to see different aspects of medicine. I’ve seen little kids all the way up through elderly. It challenges me, and I like challenges.” She added she especially likes to assist patients with de- pression and anxiety issues. “I think it’s not talked about enough,” she said. Health department manager Jessica Winegar said she’s heard positive feedback from patients about the new family nurse practitioner. “She’s a wonderful addition to the health clinic,” Winegar said. “She has a calmness and patience, with energy and youth to meet the needs of our com- munity.” Nurse Nancy Jimenez said Furka is thorough, eficient and takes the time to listen to pa- tients. “The patients love her,” of- ice support specialist Joanne Moles added, “and she’s won- derful to work with.” W E S UPPORT G RANT C OUNTY . V OTE NO ON R ECALL Kristin Long Bill Long Kelsey Long Darla Long Shelby Long Kip Mortimore Nancy Viggers Mike Springer Jason Hatfield Bob Bagett Sarah Russ Matthew Goodwin Janine Goodwin Rick Minster Pam Minster Jim Spell Beth Spell Truman (Andy) Anderson Carla Anderson Jennifer Carter Mat Carter Lynn Larssen Ken Larssen Mary Rowell Vic Pike Zola Pike Mark Cerny Adele Cerny Jan Keil Jennifer Barker Lance Barker Sandy Murray Mark Murray Andy Lusco Angie Lusco Kris Beal Roy Beal Jerry Barrow Elaine Mezzo Sheilah Mezzo Kathryn Latham Amy Charette Kyle Cline King Williams Barbara Williams Linda Gingrich Oran Wyatt Lindsay Rausch Susan Church Tom Winters Brad Armstrong Mary Armstrong Mytchell Mead Jan Mead Tim Unterwegner Tracie Unterwegner Chris Labhart Kris Labhart Dave Hannibal Ken Holliday Pat Holliday Eva Harris Sharon Livingston Sophie Cosgrove Mike Cosgrove Ted Phelps Theda Phelps James Bellmore Cheryl Bellmore Bubba Lindley Tom Sutton Dan Becker Joe Clarke John Aasness Diane Aasness Dean Nodine Joyce Nodine Dan Cronin Chris Cronin Jerry Cowger Bruce Strange Larry Vote Leon Skiles Clarence O’Leary Sheila M Bruce Leslie Stillwater Jim Soupir Lana N Abarr David M Abarr Danielle Page Matt Jones Charlene Morris Micah Wilson Bruce Ward Mark Crissman Barbara L Clarke Dennis Reynolds Julie Reynolds Dillon Winters Hans Magden Haley Hueckman Jim Kelly Sue Kelly Gail Enright P.L. Gerstner Shirley Enright Bob Phillips Alysia Hafer Sherri Webb Mark Webb Vicki Waters Helen Bogart Kay Scheurer Steele Terry Steele Silver Kelley Richard Randleas Vicki Thompson Richard Thompson Chris Lewallen Dave Lewallen Carolyn Hoeffner Dr. James Johnson Jim Hammett Patti Hammet Chris Kennedy Tonya Wood Terry L. Whitten Sregon Gabriel Greg Moon Robert Warrington Justin Lafata Isaiah Bradford Travis Goddard Sue Burton Lyle Jarvis Nick Stiner Amy Stiner Kevin Duvall Derek Magnan Robert Larkin Alicia Whitten Ernie Smith Brett Reed Kelly Ashmead Claude Baker Bobetta Baker Judy Schuette Steve Schuette Molly Finley Larry Finley Amy Hoppe Sherry Nehl Ryan Nehl Zach Williams Gail Beverlin Brenda Lovell Doug Lovell Billi Newman Gregg Smith Jeff Thomas Heather Rookstool Sean Kelley Jeanne Strange Tim Holly Carole Holly Chris Bravos Shannon Bravos Dan Herold Dallas Newton Jack E Johns Katie Johns Darlene Forrest Join us in supporting our County Commissioner Boyd Britton by voting NO on RECALL! Paid for by Vote No on Boyd Britton Recall, PO Box 64, John Day, OR 97845 • (541) 575-0435 Lynn Larssen, Treasurer
