A8
Community & History
Blue Mountain Eagle
Community HEALTH BEAT
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
W HAT’S
HAPPENING
Quality Healthcare Close To Home
170 Ford Road, John Day • 541-575-1311 • www.bluemountainhospital.org
Contributed photo
The Blackwood Legacy Quartet, from left, Paul Secord,
Rick Price, Luke Yates and Hunter Sparkman, will perform
at 7 p.m. March 10 at the John Day Seventh-day Adventist
Church. Admission is free.
By Keith J. Thomas, MD, FACS
Board Certified General Surgeon
Blue Mountain Surgery
Statistics don’t lie. Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer
death that affects both men and women. More than 140,000 Americans are diagnosed
each year and more than 50,000 of them will die from the disease. This translates into a
lifetime risk of 1 in 20 for the average person and 2-3 times higher when there is a family
history of colorectal cancers or polyps.
However, the one statistic that matters the most is that greater than 90% of these
cancers and deaths could be prevented, but only when detected early. This is greatly due
to the use of colonoscopy and the removal of benign polyps that over time would have the
potential to develop into cancer. Colonoscopy, the “Gold Standard” tool for CRC screening,
is therefore unlike any screening tool we have in medicine in that it allows us to not only
detect cancers at an early stage, but also prevent future ones.
It is recommended that colon screening, including colonoscopy, begin at age 50
(younger for those at increased risk). Unfortunately, only about 50% of patients over 50
years old are being screened, leading to Colorectal Cancer’s high prevalence and death
rate.
Symptoms of CRC are often vague and nonspecific. They may include a change in
bowel habits with constipation or diarrhea, narrowed stools, blood in the stool, abdominal
pain or cramps, bloating, weight loss, weakness, nausea, vomiting and fatigue. But more
importantly, the first symptom is “No Symptoms at All”. By the time symptoms do occur,
the cancer is likely to be at a later stage when a cure is less likely.
So if you are 50 years old or older, get screened now. If you think that you may be
at higher than average risk (i.e. a personal or family history of CRCs and polyps, or a history
of Inflammatory Bowel Disease such as Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis) ask your doctor
about getting screened early and schedule your colonoscopy. The bottom line is that
Colonoscopies Save Lives.
The deadline for What’s Happening items is 5 p.m. Friday. Call the
Eagle, 541-575-0710, or email editor@bmeagle.com. For meetings this
week, see our list in the classifieds on Page A17.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1
Lenten luncheon
• 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., First Christian Church, 311 NE Dayton St.,
John Day
A soup meal will be served, followed by a service. All are wel-
come. For more information, call 541-521-2247.
THURSDAY, MARCH 2
Circus arts and more
• 6-7:30 p.m., Humbolt Elementary gym
W.E. C.A.R.E. Sports and Humbolt Elementary will host
stations where families can participate in a variety of non-com-
petitive activities, such as juggling and fl ower sticks. For more
information, call 541-575-0454.
FRIDAY, MARCH 3
Addiction recovery ‘Story Time’
• 5:30 p.m., Cornerstone Christian Fellowship, 139 NE Day-
ton St., John Day
After a free dinner at 5:30 p.m., speakers will share stories
of recovery from addiction and mental health issues at 6 p.m.
SATURDAY, MARCH 4
Hope 4 Paws ‘Spay-ghetti’ dinner
• 4-8 p.m., John Day Elks Lodge
Support local animals at this fundraiser benefi ting Hope 4 Paws.
The third annual all-you-can-eat meal includes spaghetti with meat
sauce, salad, bread, dessert and a beverage. Admission is by donation
to Hope 4 Paws. Proceeds benefi t the Hope 4 Paws spay and neuter
programs. For more information, call 541-667-7666.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8
Lenten luncheon
• 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., United Methodist Church, 126 NW Canton
St., John Day
A soup meal will be served, followed by a service. All are wel-
come. For more information, call 541-521-2247.
Grant County geology meeting
Presents...
• 5:30-6:30 p.m., St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Canyon City
Forest Service geologist Hannah Grist will talk about the sedi-
mentary rocks of the Aldrich. Coffee, tea and cookies will be provid-
ed. There is no cost, and all are welcome to attend. For more infor-
mation, call 541-575-3346.
March Visiting Specialists
THURSDAY, MARCH 9
Special Olympics vs. law enforcement basketball
1st - Bend Urology - O’Hollaron
13th - Baker Podiatrist Dr. Rushton
21st - Bend Neuro Korina Farris
22nd - Bend Carido Dr. McLellan
• 6:30 p.m., Grant Union Junior-Senior High School
Grant County Special Olympians will host local law enforcement
for a friendly basketball battle. There will also be audience-involved
games and a bake sale. The cost of admission is $3, or $10 for a
family. The Special Olympics athletes are also seeking sponsors, and
those who donate $25 or more will be mentioned on the game pro-
gram. Proceeds will be used to pay for delegation fees, uniforms and
travel expenses for competitions. For more information, call Deron-
da Lallatin at 541-620-4295 or visit Sue-Z-Q’s Thrift Store.
arrived in time for the ‘62 dance days where she met
a confirmed 33 year old bachelor who only wanted
to dance with her. As Helen and the “old bachelor”
were dancing, an acquaintance of the man remarked
o them, “Oh Eugene Ricco, you have just bought
your own ranch, and so now it’s time for finding a
wife I see!” It would be two years before Eugene
finally proposed and married Helen, and this only
after a letter from Helen wanting to know his
intentions.
BLUE MOUNTAIN
CARE CENTER
Resident of the Month
HELEN
ELIZABETH RICCO
Helen was born in Metzenseifen,
Czechoslovakia, September 25, 2918. Her
father sought a better life for his family in
Cleveland, Ohio. He work 7 years to earn
enough money to bring his family to The
United States in 1929.
Helen was the second of four daughters and
spoke only German when she moved to Ohio
with her mother, sisters, one large suitcase
and a willingness to work.
Helen enjoyed her German roots by finding
dances that specialized in German music. She
loves to dance! Her favorite is the polka.
Well into her 80s, is a polka dancing
opportunity can her way, she could still see
the lightness in her toes, the quickness of
stop, and the graceful poise she had learned
from her youth in Ohio. It was her love of
dance that brought her face to face with her
destiny.
In 1943 Helen managed to take a trip with
her friend Ruth to Canyon City, Oregon. They
FRIDAY, MARCH 10
Blackwood Legacy Quartet gospel performance
• 7 p.m., John Day Seventh-day Adventist Church, 110 Valley
View Drive
The Nashville group will perform a free show. For more informa-
tion, call the church, 541-575-1216, or visit blackwoodlegacy.com.
FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MARCH 10-11
Love and respect video conference
• 6:45-10:15 p.m. Friday
• 8:45 a.m.-1:45 p.m. Saturday
• Prairie Baptist Church, 238 N. McHaley St., Prairie City
Everyone is welcome to attend a seminar designed to help cou-
ples and singles achieve the relationship of their dreams, based on
Ephesians 5:33. The cost to attend is $20 per person. For more in-
formation or to register, visit eventbrite.com. For more information,
call 541-820-3696.
If there were bumps and hard times for Helen in
transition from Cleveland, Ohio to Prairie City,
Oregon, I could not tell you for she rarely mentioned
it other than to say how she had missed her parents.
No one cooks or bakes like Helen! Her culinary skill
was invaluable as she and Gene ran the Blue
Mountain Guest Ranch and Hot Springs beginning in
1967. Helen has never been one to idle. If she wasn’t
cooking, then she was cleaning, sewing, doing
books, yard work, gardening, of crocheting. Yet
somehow, she still seemed to find time for family.
THURSDAY, MARCH 16
Social Artwork guided painting class
• 5:30 p.m. Outpost Restaurant, John Day
Blue Mountain Community College is sponsoring a social art-
work guided painting class. Artist Kim Randleas will lead the fi rst
class. The cost is $25 and includes instruction, canvas, supplies and
light refreshments. All skill levels are welcome. Participants should
“dress for the mess.” For more information, or to reserve a spot, con-
tact Ashley Armichardy at 541-575-1550. Preregistration is required,
and forms may be picked up at the Grant County Education Service
District at 835 S. Canyon Blvd.
She kept old beach sized towels so her grandkids
could make little tent houses, and a couple of apple
boxes filled with toys neatly set in her library rooms
which was the special spot for her grandkids to play.
When the weather permitted, Helen played
croquette, baseball, kick ball, or took the
grandchildren for a swim. At bedtime, her
granchildren begged her for story after story of the
real life bear encounters she had experienced at the
Blue Mountain Hot Springs.
O UT OF THE P AST
Blue Mountain Eagle
March 5, 1992
25 years ago
Eugene and Helen were married until Eugene’s
death in 1978. They had four girls and one boy. God
blessed Helen with children that honor her and care
for her in a multitude of ways. Even now, they prefer
to launder her clothes themselves. When it came to
buying her a new chair, it took them days to decide.
It wasn’t because it was a difficult decision, but
because they so desperately wanted her to have the
perfect chair. Helen holds a special place in our
hearts and has supported us all in so many ways. She
has given to her family, and we will quite simply
never be the same because of how she loved us.
05328
Local skiers earn honors at
Anthony Lakes Ski Resort
Anthony Lakes Mountain
Resort recently hosted a Mit-
ey-Mite giant slalom race.
With perfect weather and snow
conditions, approximately 50
skiers, 4-12 years of age, com-
pleted the two run race. Under
the direction of head coach Ken
Nelson and assistant coach Jes-
sie Rosin, the skiers all did ex-
tremely well in the races.
Some of the Anthony Lakes
Ski Resort Association local
fi nishers included: Chantel
Phillips, fi rst place, 7-8 girls;
Charlie Johnson, second place,
7-8 boys; Eric Straw, third
place, 7-8 boys; and Ethan
Stone, fourth place, 7-8 boys.
Jaimie Clarke took second
place in the 9-10 girls, followed
by Taron Phillips, who took
fourth place in the same age
group. Luke Brown placed sec-
ond in 9-10 boys, while Andy
Stone placed fi fth.
Jenny Coughlin took fi rst
place in the 11-12 girls, fol-
lowed by Brenna Knowles in
third place, Morgan Brinton
in fourth place and Kim Elliot
in fi fth.