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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 4, 2019)
NEWS MyEagleNews.com Angie Jones named Transit Manager of the Year Wednesday, December 4, 2019 A9 Community HEALTH BEAT People Mover director receives state recognition By Angel Carpenter Blue Mountain Eagle Grant County People Mover Executive Director Angie Jones was awarded Outstanding Transportation Manager of the Year Award in Salem. Oregon Transit Associa- tion President Allan Pollack, who is general manager of Salem-Keizer Transit, pre- sented Jones with the award at an Oct. 30 Oregon Public Transportation Conference. Jones, a John Day resi- dent, said she was honored, surprised and thankful to receive the award. “We have a really good team,” she said. “We all work hard to make good things happen for Grant County.” Jones has been executive director of the People Mover, headquartered in John Day, since March of 2011. She was recognized for running “an ambitious, inno- vative, and often one-woman transit shop with a mission to change the rural world,” Pollack said at the meeting. “As a Special District that has historically declined to levy a tax, she consistently surpasses the expectations about what can be achieved on a shoe-string budget.” He said the Grant County Transportation District was quick to adopt the Statewide Transportation Improve- ment Fund. “Angie used it to launch a route deviation system in the third quarter of Fiscal Year 2019, serving the four communities of Prairie City, John Day, Canyon City, and Mt. Vernon,” he said. “The combined population of the cities weighs in at under 4,000 souls, but by the close of its sixth month, Ang- ie’s new service recorded an average of almost 1,100 monthly boardings — and it’s growing.” Jones said that having the free local bus service has “definitely increased access to transportation for the public.” A Dial-A-Ride service to intercity destinations can also be reserved a day ahead of the time, and out-of-town routes run five days a week to six locations, includ- ing Bend, Pendleton, Walla Walla, Ontario, Baker City and Burns. Both of these services have a cost. Contributed photo People Mover Executive Di- rector Angie Jones of John Day, left, accepts the Transit Manager of the Year award, presented by Oregon Transit Association President Allan Pollack Oct. 30 in Salem. “Overall, the progress really has grown by leaps and bounds, and we have a robust program that we can be proud of,” she said. Jones’ team includes 10 drivers, a dispatcher, board of directors and People Mover bookkeeper Karin Barntish, who is a licensed tax consultant. “Karin has done an excel- lent job for us,” Jones said. Drivers include: Frank Bingham, Doug Boyer, Roger Hartwick, Terry Hartwick, Lonnie Coizil, Ray Proper, Rod Strang, David Davis, Lisa Johnson and Patrick Wasiluk. The dispatcher, who also drives part time, is Diana Smith. The board of directors are: Deronda Lallatin, Bryan Nelson, Ron Smith, Blaine Huffman, Jim Jerome, Peggy Molnar and Linda Cook. Pollack said Jones is a “key asset to the entire region,” noting that she serves on the Southeast Area Commission on Transporta- tion, ODOT’s Public Tran- sit Advisory Committee and the National Rural Transit Assistance Program Review Board. “She’s the regional point person on intervention for human trafficking and an active alternate on the STIF/ STF Consolidation Advisory Committee,” he said. “Her generosity with her time and expertise has been a criti- cal part of capacity building with all the new talent com- ing online in east and cen- tral Oregon. She is a stand- ing line item contributor to the monthly Region 5 Con- ference Call, where her col- leagues have mostly fixated on learning her technique for maximizing value from cap- ital dispositions.” For more information, call 541-575-2370 or visit grantcountypeoplemover. com. Quality Healthcare Close to Home 170 Ford Road, John Day • 541-575-1311 • www.bluemountainhospital.org National Influenza Vaccination Week: December 1 - 7 Influenza, commonly known as the “flu” means a fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle aches, fatigue, and miserable days spent in bed. Every flu season is different but millions of people get flu every year, hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalized and thousands to tens of thousands of people die from flu-related causes every year. Flu viruses are constantly changing, so flu vaccines are updated from one season to the next to protect against the viruses that research suggests will be common during the upcoming flu season. CDC conducts studies starting in January to determine how well the influenza vaccine protects against flu illness for the upcoming flu season starting 10 months later in the Fall of that year. While vaccine effectiveness can vary, recent studies show that the flu shot reduces the risk of flu illness by between 40% and 60% during seasons when most circulating flu viruses are well- matched to the flu vaccine. Flu vaccines cause antibodies to develop in the body about two weeks after vaccination. These antibodies provide protection against infection with the viruses that are used to make the vaccine. Most flu vaccines in the United States protect against four different flu viruses. Getting the flu vaccine has been shown to have many benefits including reducing the risk of getting the flu illnesses, being hospitalized and even the risk of flu-related deaths in children. Flu vaccination has been shown to reduce the severity of illness in people who get vaccinated but still get sick. A yearly flu vaccine is recommended for everyone 6 months and older. Vaccination is especially important for protecting people at high risk of serious flu complications, including: young children, pregnant women, adults 65 years and older and anyone with chronic health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease. “Getting a flu vaccine is simple, and it’s the most important thing you can do to protect yourself and your family from flu,” says Dr. Jernigan of the CDC. Hundreds of millions of Americans have safely received flu vaccines over the past 50 years, and there has been extensive research supporting the safety of seasonal flu vaccines. Flu vaccines are offered in many locations, including doctor’s offices, health departments, pharmacies as well as by many employers and schools. You may call the Strawberry Wilderness Community Clinic (541) 575-0404 to get your flu shot… protect yourself and your family during this flu season! Vaccinate your family this flu season. It’s the best way to fight flu. Information from the CDC Website, November 18, 2019 Provided by Pamela S. Bruhn, RN, BSN, Infection Control Blue Mountain Hospital District December Baker Podiatry - Dr. Rushton 12/9, 12/30 Visiting Bend Ortho - Dr. Lilley 12/12 Specialists Bend Neuro - Dr. Tien 12/20 Carrie Young Memorial Silent Auction and Dinner. December 6th at 5pm at the Elks Lodge in John Day. Please support this wonderful event. December 14th at 6:00 pm Downtown John Day Hello Everyone, heme T e d Para torybook s A S stma Chri Preregister at John Day Auto Napa, Bank of Eastern Oregon, or Register day of City of John Day 3-5:30pm@ $10 entry fee Grant Western Winners will be announced at the Elk’s Lodge following the parade. We cordially invite you to our annual Christmas event. The Blue Mountain Care Center is hosting a Christmas Party for the residents, their families, and anyone who would like to attend. All are welcome and encouraged to join in the festivities. Please come and help us celebrate “A Gingerbread Christmas” December 13, 2019 at 2:00pm: snack food, non-alcoholic drinks, Santa and music will be provided. Please RSVP by December 9th by calling Lorna or Kendra at 541-820-3341. Our gratitude cannot be expressed enough to all those who have donated and helped us through the years. Sincerely, The Residents and Staff at Blue Mt. Care Center A heartfelt Thank You and farewell to all of my patients... I’m grateful to have spent the past 15 years caring for the good people of Grant County. Wishing you health and much happiness! Dr. Keith Thomas S157327-1 S149680-1
